Medusa: The Wronged

Gods & Monsters #1

by J.J. King

In the darkness, she became the monster.

Em’s very existence is a lie. According to history, or mythology, she died at the hands of Perseus, a monster defeated by a hero. Only, she’s not dead, and now her sister Eury is in trouble in the one place Em’s vowed to never set foot on again.

Everything she thought was true was a lie. After freeing their parents from an underwater prison, Eury is struck down by a deadly poison and there’s only one person in the world that can stop its fatal blow, the goddess responsible for the curse, the one that damned Em and her sisters for eternity, Athena.

The path to Olympus is littered with casualties, some of which belong to her, but Em won’t let her sister become one of them. Even if that means working with the god that stole her heart then abandoned her for eons. Only, what if that was a lie, too?

Saving her sister might mean losing herself to the darkness she’s spent lifetimes pushing away and trusting Poseidon might mean losing her heart. Will it take a monster to defeat a goddess?

Fans of Laurell K. Hamilton and Buffy the Vampire Slayer will love this sexy reverse mythology!

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Genres: Romance

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2019

Reviews

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it :)

[Evelyn Dotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all know the story of Medusa but the author decided to give her story a different turn and it is AWESOME! From the beginning, the story is action-packed and fast-paced. I did not want to leave to even take a bathroom break it held my attention so much! The story is that Em (Medusa) and her two sisters became priestess’ to Athena. But, Em fell in love and Athena felt betrayed so she cursed her and those in her family. That is how Medusa became the monster of legends! But, her two sisters suffered the same fate. After two thousand years, and not having heard from their sister for 35 of those years, they found her in danger so they left for Greece.
They are forbidden to be in Greece after Em’s betrayal. They found their parents at their sister’s home and their sister dying. Poseidon also showed up, and he was the one Em fell in love with and he happens to also be Athena’s uncle. Em and Poseidon go on an adventure to seek the cure to save her sister. Along the way they seek out Hecate (once the goddess Selene of the moon). She told them they needed Athena’s blood to cure her sister. She also let them in on how everyone was cursed by her for Athena. But, Athena did not uphold her promise to Hecate! So, Em and Poseidon part ways after a bad argument ensued. Em found out the true reason Athena cursed her and her family…it was because of Poseidon! Em and her sister Thea travel to Athena’s temple to get her blood to save their sister. A huge battle ensues and Poseidon is also battling with Athena. What will happen? Will they save their sister? Will Poseidon or Athena die? Why did Athena really curse Em and her family? I know the real reason had my mouth hanging open! The book also contains a couple of really steamy scenes! I received this book for free and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and interesting look into the world of Medusa in the current world. It still has blasts from the past, but also shows how she and her sisters navigate the delicate situations of "normal" human life. Even though they are immortal and have snakes for hair. It starts out interesting and never stops, which I appreciate. I much prefer books that aren't slow burns, I like things to kind of happen right away.

I've always been interested in Medusa, buying cosmetics using that name and even calling myself Medusa. It's been a running joke for almost 15 years now that I'm Medusa without my makeup on and have a stone garden of unfortunates out back.

I enjoyed not only the love story but also the family dynamics of this book. I also appreciated how it was inclusive and effortlessly so - as it should be. Many books I've read try to force inclusivity and it ends up reading like someone took a chisel and wedged it in. No so in this book, and honestly it feels more authentic to the whole ancient Athens gods and goddesses theme.

There is one loose end that I'm not sure what happened to though, the blood? What happened with that??

This was a great start to the series and I'm interested to see how things work out with Hecate and her situation.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Check out my blog Tayside Book Blog

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the darkness, she became the monster. Em’s very existence is a lie. According to history, or mythology, she died at the hands of Perseus, a monster defeated by a hero. Only, she’s not dead, and now her sister Eury is in trouble in the one place Em’s vowed to never set foot again. Everything she thought was true is a lie. After freeing their parents from an underwater prison, Eury is struck down by a deadly poison and there’s only one person in the world that can stop its fatal blow, the goddess responsible for the curse, the one that damned Em and her sisters for eternity, Athena.The path to Olympus is littered with casualties, some of which belong to her, but Em won’t let her sister become one of them. Even if that means working with the god that stole her heart then abandoned her for eons. Only, what if that was a lie, too? Saving her sister might mean losing herself to the darkness she’s spent lifetimes pushing away and trusting Poseidon might mean losing her heart. Will it take a monster to defeat a goddess?

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[sherri jones-teachout · Rating 5 out of 5]

After two thousand years will Medusa get her revenge on Athena? Medusa and her two sister were cursed two thousand years ago by Athena only because Medusa fell in love with Poseidon. When it happened their parents abandoned them and Poseidon never came for Medusa. Through the years her range and helplessness caused the dark side to overtake her and she killed many, but now she has learned to be happy, is a famous writer, and she and her sisters wear contacts and scarves over their hair so they can’t turn anyone to stone and scare with their snake hair. But when the one sister disappears for over thirty years and then calls for help, the get to Greece and find that their parents have been imprisoned all these years, Poseidon thought she was dead, and after rescuing her parents, her sister is on deaths door. Now she and Thea have to save Eury, but to do that Medusa will have to confront, the Grey sisters, the witch Hecate, and Athena herself. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Em bit back the fear that spiked in her heart and took a deep breath. “If she’s calling us, she’s alive. And if she’s alive, we can fix whatever’s wrong.” She tugged Thea’s hand. “Right?”

This contemporary view of Medusa: here known as Em, and her sisters brings them to Greece, where they were cursed by the Goddess Athena when Em fell in love with Poseidon, Athena’s uncle. Now Em and Poseidon meet at her dying sister’s home and they join forces to find the cure for her illness, visiting Hecate who tells them Athena’s blood is needed as part of the cure. Can Em save her family and her sister? Can the curse be defeated?

I love mythology of all types, but as someone who says The Odyssey is her favorite book, when I got a chance to be an early reader of JJ King’s new take on Medusa, I jumped at the chance and I am so happy I did. High praise and recommendation 5/5

[disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it]

[Naurarwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone knows the story of Medusa, but JJ King has taken that story and given it, its own twist. The story is action-packed from start to finish with so many twists and turns along the way. Medusa, Em for short was cursed along with her sister (Eury and Thea) by Athena, abandoned by their parents and by her lover they were alone for thousands of years. Now in the modern-day and after not having seen Eury for decades, something feels wrong and Em and Thea end up back in Athens. But what they find there isn't exactly what they were expecting. There was so much in this story, not just the love story between Medusa and her lover but all of the dynamics between Medusa, her sisters, and her parents.

This was definitely an interesting story and book two of the Gods and Monsters series looks to be about Hecate. I'm looking forward to it!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Nice Twist on Mythology

Another amazing book by this author!

A twist on the legend of Medusa, this book integrates modern life with ancient Greek mythology smoothly. This novel is peppered with many well known legends as well as some you may not have heard of.

Full of conflict, romance and action, this book kept me glued to the pages, reluctant to put it down. Perfectly detailed to allow the reader to really feel each scene.

Overall very well done and highly recommended. Can't wait to start he next book!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Medusa or Em as she likes to be called, is trying to live a normal life with her sister Thea but how normal can you be when you've been cursed with snakes for hair, a stare that can kill and a darkness inside waiting to takeover?! When Em receives news that her other cursed sister Eury is in trouble, they drop everything to rush to her side. It's here that they start to discover that things haven't always been as it had seemed and the one behind it all is also hold their own secrets!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tammy Northington · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have loved everything I've read of JJ's except this one. I couldn't stay focused on this one & found myself reading the same passages 4-5 times or more & still not knowing what I read. I started this one & after 4 chapters stopped to go read something else, but when I came back to this one, it was the same. I've always loved all the Greek Gods & Goddesses. I thought a story with Medusa not portrayed as the evil monster she's famously known for would be great, but this one just wasn't for me. Needless to say, I won't be reading the next book in this series.

[Mary Brannian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant tale crafted in such a way as to be unique and fresh. It gave me a new appreciation for the story of Medusa, and the trials and tribulations faced by her and her family. A tale of a young woman cursed by one god, abandoned by another, and her millennia-long battle to overcome her own internal darkness.... To be more than a monster, more than a lovelorn, forsaken woman... to find her place in this world, and to be reunited with those that she loves.

[Amy Hannagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am utterly in love with this book! Being a huge fan of all things Mythology, especially of the Greek variety, I couldn't wait to dive into this book as soon as I read the blurb. This didn't disappoint me in the slightest! I love the story and the fresh take on the Medusa legend. The characters are so well rounded and intriguing. The story is inventive and addictive. The weaving of this tale is flawless. I'm now dying for the next book. Any fan of Mythology needs to one click this one NOW!

[Tegan Brinkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful new take on mythology

Would have liked more POV from the male character than just hers however it doesn’t detract from the story

As an archaeologist I am often hesitant about mythology or history based stories because of the liberties taken however this story balances the true discussions around medusa with a bit of what if

Read it you’ll not be disappointed

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this story. I didn't like the main character. She was " I love you forever. I hate you and never want to see you again" so often, and about everything. I felt like I had whiplash. A couple editing issues. And the story wasn't a clean one. SO many F-bombs, and they didn't fit anywhere. Explicit love scene, I skipped, but I'm sure there were more later. I rarely stop reading a book, but I'm done with this one.

[Brenda M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

JJ King reels us in to another fabulous story. She manages to humanize Gods and Goddesses and capture the reader's attention as the story unfolds.
Medusa (Em) and her sisters were cursed with Monstrous attributes and the worst luck.
When fate brings her back to her home, she stumbles upon parts of her past that she never thought she'd have to face again. She must reconcile her past in order to save a sister.
A definite must read, and a great introduction into the world of Mythology

[Jennifer Lil'n Dunski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a amazing read! I love mythology and love that Medusa has a story that isn't bad!
Although I wish it was a longer read, it was still great! All the characters in my opinion were fantastic, the storyline was sweet and tragic, filled with love and hate, with some action and romance, I just really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next installment!

[Agata Jędrzejewska · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting story. It made me feel quite lost since we were catching details little by little. I’m not even completely sure we do know it all. It was interesting idea and nice characters, but I would prefer it to be told differently. Nevertheless I did love it. Medusa needed some kind of justice after this what we learnt from mythology. In certain way this book did it.

[Jaime Margaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love mythology especially Greek and this story had such a fantastic twist on some of the traditional tales! I love Medusa and in this story, Em is even more amazing. I love the ideation that she was cursed but is looking to make her life better and not be a monster despite her curse!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh, how refreshing to see another side to such a well known figure as Medusa. I really, really enjoyed this story! It was an interesting mix of urban fantasy and mythology, and it was really well delivered. I NEED the rest of this series a.s.a.p.!!

[Tera Comer · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** Read in Kindle Unlimited ***
Being a mythology nut I have to say WOW to this book. I loved the epic spin on Medusa's legend that this story gives. The characters and world building was perfect and I can not wait for the next book.

[Cary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh sweet Jesus!! This book is awesome. I have always loved Medusa's story and always felt that the Gods were not fair at all with her and finally I read a book in which she is seen the way I see her!! I really loved this book and looking forward for Hecate's story!!

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great new twist on older mythology and it was a good read.

This takes a classic tail and reworks it into something entirely new but there is just enough of the old mixed in to keep it familiar.

I received this book from Booksprout for an honest review.

[Terrena Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I absolutely loved this book if you like books about the gods and love then this is a must read can’t wait for book 2

[Russell Nohelty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monster mythology goodness

What's not to like about bending mythology to your will. There was just enough of the old blended in with a bunch of the new. Good job.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I have a soft spot for Greek mythology and really love a good tale told from a villain.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg! Medusa and Poseidon rock. I love this story so much. It’s about time Medusa’s story told and what a story it is.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really enjoyed this book great story with well known characters

[Aimee Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Take On The Medusa Myth

I would probably give this 3.5 stars, if I could.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but I’d read a book about Medusa a few months ago that I enjoyed so I decided to try this one too. I’m glad I waited a while between the two Medusa books because this was very different.

In this book Medusa is an urban fantasy writer with a Facebook group, which made me smile. She lives with one of her sisters and has come to accept her lot as a woman with a head full of snakes. However, her third sister, who they haven’t seen in 35 years is in trouble and they have to help her.

Whilst trying to help her sister, Medusa meets her ex-lover, Poseidon, the man who she was cursed for loving. 2000 years have passed since their last meeting and Medusa doesn’t know how to handle it.

Whilst I enjoyed the plot, I just didn’t feel a connection to Medusa. The way she was written just didn’t resonate with me. She wasn’t a particularly sympathetic character and whilst a curse and losing her loved ones is horrible, she is still very self centred. It felt as if the author had got sucked into thinking purely about mythology and plot and the characters' personalities got left a little bit by the wayside.

There were also some minor editing problems that were relatively easy for me to skim across, with one exception - ANTI-chamber! Just NO, it’s an ANTE-chamber. An anti-chamber would be the opposite of a chamber, perhaps the outdoors. It’s a silly thing to make me snarl, but it is what it is!

I’m not sure I would read the next in the series. It wasn’t a bad book by any means, but I have a really big TBR list and there are lots on there that I want to read more than the next book in this series.