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The Rape Trial Of Medusa
Words would fail to tell the glory of
her hair, most wonderful of all her
charms-A friend declared to me he saw its lovely splendor.
-Ovid's Medusa in Metamorphoses
Young and beautiful, Medusa was alone in Athena's Temple, where she was raped. She did not see her attacker and Athena blamed and punished the young maiden for her rape.
Athena cursed Medusa into the infamous snake-headed monster whose gaze turns any man into stone. After all her years in exile, on her rocky island, Medusa Gorgon will finally have her trial, in New York City.
Medusa will be defended by Maggie Harper, the famous defender of women and their rights. This international trial of the century is loaded with politics, moralists, and media of all types, asking the questions: Was Medusa raped? If so, who raped her? And why was she cursed into a monster?
All truth passes through three
stages: First it is ridiculed;
second, it is violently opposed; third,
it is accepted as
self-evident.
-Arthur Schopenhauer
her hair, most wonderful of all her
charms-A friend declared to me he saw its lovely splendor.
-Ovid's Medusa in Metamorphoses
Young and beautiful, Medusa was alone in Athena's Temple, where she was raped. She did not see her attacker and Athena blamed and punished the young maiden for her rape.
Athena cursed Medusa into the infamous snake-headed monster whose gaze turns any man into stone. After all her years in exile, on her rocky island, Medusa Gorgon will finally have her trial, in New York City.
Medusa will be defended by Maggie Harper, the famous defender of women and their rights. This international trial of the century is loaded with politics, moralists, and media of all types, asking the questions: Was Medusa raped? If so, who raped her? And why was she cursed into a monster?
All truth passes through three
stages: First it is ridiculed;
second, it is violently opposed; third,
it is accepted as
self-evident.
-Arthur Schopenhauer
281 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 17, 2020
16 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
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July 17, 2020"Why not?" Medusa asked. "I am a freak, something to fear. Lepers are feared. Fat people are ridiculed. The homely ignored. We are raised to be perfect, especially women- we are bred to be beautiful. It's human nature to be curious about the pain that others endure. We are told at a young age not to stare, so we look away and pretend that freaks like me don't exist. We dont ask how it feels to be so ugly, so crippled, so fat, so- odd- unless we want to hurt them, and we do, sometimes, then we go in our way laughing at the pseudo-justice of our cruelty; laughing into our wine or with whoever we want to sleep with."
This book surprised me pleasantly and became one of my favourite books.
The infamous Medusa is put to a modern day trial in NYC and Zeus, Athena, Poseidon etc, the Olympians are not the gods but rich people, so rich that they were assumed to be gods, once upon a time. Medusa was raped in the temple of Athena by Poseidon who tempted her but Medusa was the one who was punished because why not? She is a woman for god's sake and how can a man be wrong. But Maggie, and her colleagues are lawyers and are bent to provide justice to Medusa and burst the myth.
The story was not only focused on showing the problems with Greek mythologies and how over the centuries they have wronged women but also how women are still in a deplorable position. It provided various details of killing of girl child, killing of brides for dowry, and even though it's embarrassing to acknowledge how backward my country is in this sense, its not negligible and it's the bitter truth.
The mentality that a girl's beauty, her need to dress herself and look good can be moulded into 'she asked for it!' is so wrong. The part where Medusa said " He did everything and I did nothing yet am the whore" made my heartache because it is so true specially where rich men are concerned.
There is an element of mystery to the story which was again very interesting. Honestly this perspective made me feel the need to question why are the greek heroes still called heroes when they just raped, and killed, tricked and deceived!
The use of Hijab and the cultural appropriation of it into Greek mythology retelling is concerning though.
The trickle of romance and friendships provided softness to the otherwise aggravating narrative. Elements of humour and wonder against cross-generational aspects provided a novel angle. Does this book have issues? Yes. So will I recommend it, yes! I just feel that Medusa was a victim and everyone should know it. Also, I loved how contemporary the writing style felt even when dealing with a greek myth retelling!
I received an advance reader copy of the book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book surprised me pleasantly and became one of my favourite books.
The infamous Medusa is put to a modern day trial in NYC and Zeus, Athena, Poseidon etc, the Olympians are not the gods but rich people, so rich that they were assumed to be gods, once upon a time. Medusa was raped in the temple of Athena by Poseidon who tempted her but Medusa was the one who was punished because why not? She is a woman for god's sake and how can a man be wrong. But Maggie, and her colleagues are lawyers and are bent to provide justice to Medusa and burst the myth.
The story was not only focused on showing the problems with Greek mythologies and how over the centuries they have wronged women but also how women are still in a deplorable position. It provided various details of killing of girl child, killing of brides for dowry, and even though it's embarrassing to acknowledge how backward my country is in this sense, its not negligible and it's the bitter truth.
The mentality that a girl's beauty, her need to dress herself and look good can be moulded into 'she asked for it!' is so wrong. The part where Medusa said " He did everything and I did nothing yet am the whore" made my heartache because it is so true specially where rich men are concerned.
There is an element of mystery to the story which was again very interesting. Honestly this perspective made me feel the need to question why are the greek heroes still called heroes when they just raped, and killed, tricked and deceived!
The use of Hijab and the cultural appropriation of it into Greek mythology retelling is concerning though.
The trickle of romance and friendships provided softness to the otherwise aggravating narrative. Elements of humour and wonder against cross-generational aspects provided a novel angle. Does this book have issues? Yes. So will I recommend it, yes! I just feel that Medusa was a victim and everyone should know it. Also, I loved how contemporary the writing style felt even when dealing with a greek myth retelling!
I received an advance reader copy of the book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2020
I wanted to like this book. I love the premise. Medusa deserves justice. Poseidon deserves punishment. Athena deserves a swift kick in the backside. However, I have some major issues with Michael Kasenow's writing.
First, the usage of hijab to describe the headscarf worn by Medusa to cover her snakes. The first time I read the word, I stopped and googled its definition. Maybe I was wrong about its meaning. Nope, I was right. Hijab is the head covering used in the Muslim faith and is born out of the qur'anic tradition. Medusa isn't Muslim! Why would she wear a hijab? Why would her team of supporters wear them in solidarity? Why would her legal team consistently refer to her head covering as a hijab? Especially Crystal, the researcher. She should know better!
My next issue was the fact Medusa was on trial, not Poseidon. So how is this her rape trial? Why does she have to prove she was raped? Why isn't Poseidon even there to be questioned? This is the biggest shitshow of victim blaming I have ever seen.
Lastly and the final reason I DNF'd this book, was the way Medusa's legal team treated her. Hardy's "Jesus Fucking Christ!" comment at seeing her face the first time was completely uncalled for and not appropriate to his place as a supporter. Haven't you ever seen Medusa's image before? Seriously, what did they expect?
Overall, I think this story needs to be done, but it should be done right. And this just isn't it.
DNF at 15%
Thank you NetGalley for a gifted ebook for exchange of a honest review.
First, the usage of hijab to describe the headscarf worn by Medusa to cover her snakes. The first time I read the word, I stopped and googled its definition. Maybe I was wrong about its meaning. Nope, I was right. Hijab is the head covering used in the Muslim faith and is born out of the qur'anic tradition. Medusa isn't Muslim! Why would she wear a hijab? Why would her team of supporters wear them in solidarity? Why would her legal team consistently refer to her head covering as a hijab? Especially Crystal, the researcher. She should know better!
My next issue was the fact Medusa was on trial, not Poseidon. So how is this her rape trial? Why does she have to prove she was raped? Why isn't Poseidon even there to be questioned? This is the biggest shitshow of victim blaming I have ever seen.
Lastly and the final reason I DNF'd this book, was the way Medusa's legal team treated her. Hardy's "Jesus Fucking Christ!" comment at seeing her face the first time was completely uncalled for and not appropriate to his place as a supporter. Haven't you ever seen Medusa's image before? Seriously, what did they expect?
Overall, I think this story needs to be done, but it should be done right. And this just isn't it.
DNF at 15%
Thank you NetGalley for a gifted ebook for exchange of a honest review.
June 25, 2020
Please note this is a 4.5.
I absolutely adored this novel. There was just so much to love about it- characters who were wonderfully idiosyncratic, action that was fast-paced, and a concept that is absolutely marvellous. One does tend to frequently wonder what would happen if the old gods were held to the modern standards (their myths do little to flatter their behaviour) and so to drag them, kicking and screaming into modernity was marvellous to see. The positioning of Zeus as a Trumpian dictator who secretly runs the world was really quite something, and I loved that it was done so irreverently. It's not subtle satire, but it speaks volumes and works horribly well.
I think the development of the characters (especially Medusa) was also very good. They grow with the case and you find yourself rooting for them very easily in the face of plain evil. I have to give a special mention to 'The Theatre' as one of the most messed up things I have read about in a long time- this was a standout, delivering something horror novels in recent times have absolutely failed to do. The behaviour of the Olympians is beyond messed up, and I adored reading a book that didn't shy away from that kind of depravity (which, again, is an essential element of the myths). The ending was also wonderful- it is rare that I am so satisfied at the end of a book, but this managed to deliver.
My only critique is that sometimes the dialogue felt a little stunted and didn't always feel organic (strangely, mostly from the human characters in this book). A little adjustment in relation to some of it would go miles (and honestly, make this a five star for me). However, all in all, this was a fantastic read in the vein of the myths themselves and I appreciated it enormously.
I absolutely adored this novel. There was just so much to love about it- characters who were wonderfully idiosyncratic, action that was fast-paced, and a concept that is absolutely marvellous. One does tend to frequently wonder what would happen if the old gods were held to the modern standards (their myths do little to flatter their behaviour) and so to drag them, kicking and screaming into modernity was marvellous to see. The positioning of Zeus as a Trumpian dictator who secretly runs the world was really quite something, and I loved that it was done so irreverently. It's not subtle satire, but it speaks volumes and works horribly well.
I think the development of the characters (especially Medusa) was also very good. They grow with the case and you find yourself rooting for them very easily in the face of plain evil. I have to give a special mention to 'The Theatre' as one of the most messed up things I have read about in a long time- this was a standout, delivering something horror novels in recent times have absolutely failed to do. The behaviour of the Olympians is beyond messed up, and I adored reading a book that didn't shy away from that kind of depravity (which, again, is an essential element of the myths). The ending was also wonderful- it is rare that I am so satisfied at the end of a book, but this managed to deliver.
My only critique is that sometimes the dialogue felt a little stunted and didn't always feel organic (strangely, mostly from the human characters in this book). A little adjustment in relation to some of it would go miles (and honestly, make this a five star for me). However, all in all, this was a fantastic read in the vein of the myths themselves and I appreciated it enormously.
June 22, 2020
The Rape Trial of Medusa is a phenomenal premise. The classic tale of Medusa is given a modern twist, alone and abandoned after her ordeal, she is now in Modern Day NYC awaiting trial against the Olympians.
Full Disclosure: I DNF'd this book at 31%.
My biggest frustration was the lack of emotion and motivation from any of the central characters, Medusa especially. For example, when Medusa sees her face for the first time in a thousand years, rather than getting an insight into how she has become a monster, we get a repeated description of what she looks like and a tear falls down her cheek. This could have been the perfect opportunity to humanise the mythical story, where is her trauma? Her horror? Her fear?
We are repeatedly told, as readers, how traumatic her life has been, but never is this truly felt. She happily tells her story to the legal team - why does she trust these people? It felt like key parts of her life were skipped, especially when she arrived in NYC. We're told that she doesn't understand modern life and they have to get her encyclopaedias to learn, but in the next chapter she's making jokes with the legal team? I would have been far more invested in her journey if we had seen her fight and determination to learn.
That said, the idea of brining the Olympians into modern day as politicians was fantastic. Zeus as a Donald Trump like figure, tweeting fake news? Hilarious! Unfortunately, I just found myself too frustrated to be truly engaged in the story.
*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Full Disclosure: I DNF'd this book at 31%.
My biggest frustration was the lack of emotion and motivation from any of the central characters, Medusa especially. For example, when Medusa sees her face for the first time in a thousand years, rather than getting an insight into how she has become a monster, we get a repeated description of what she looks like and a tear falls down her cheek. This could have been the perfect opportunity to humanise the mythical story, where is her trauma? Her horror? Her fear?
We are repeatedly told, as readers, how traumatic her life has been, but never is this truly felt. She happily tells her story to the legal team - why does she trust these people? It felt like key parts of her life were skipped, especially when she arrived in NYC. We're told that she doesn't understand modern life and they have to get her encyclopaedias to learn, but in the next chapter she's making jokes with the legal team? I would have been far more invested in her journey if we had seen her fight and determination to learn.
That said, the idea of brining the Olympians into modern day as politicians was fantastic. Zeus as a Donald Trump like figure, tweeting fake news? Hilarious! Unfortunately, I just found myself too frustrated to be truly engaged in the story.
*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
January 10, 2025
Trigger warnings for this review; rape, torture, racism, antisemitism
I don’t like leaving negative reviews but I really struggled with this book and nearly abandoned it on several occasions. I just don’t know who the intended audience of this book was meant to be as it seesaws between women’s rights and senseless violence to women that really doesn’t belong on the page.
My biggest issue, as mentioned above, is the gratuitous violence, largely to women, written on the page. Medusa’s rape itself is violent and devastating to read, going into great physical detail - and yet the same detail doesn’t remotely go into the emotional pain or recovery of a rape survivor, but I’ll come back to this. One moment the author writes paragraphs showing enlightened, researched consideration for the oppression of women, to the point it feels preachy as he talks of the use of women by men, and then the pain and violation of women is used to juice up the book. There is absolutely no need at all to blindside readers in a book about a rape trial of a long misunderstood character (and therefore implying this book is for people who seek justice for survivors) to read such a detailed account of a violent rape. Furthermore, the main villain of the story, Zeus, (although yes, society is largely the main villain, you could argue) has people who displease him brought to ‘The Theatre’, a modern day, underground colosseum where they are tortured and killed for entertainment. There is a graphic, detailed account of a woman barbarically tortured that is so disturbing that it made me incredibly angry, starting with her restrained on a dog chain naked, tongue removed, bruised and bleeding, and ending with her husband and SMALL CHILDREN ripped apart and eaten by boars as she was made to watch. A book that tried to be so self aware had these moments where it felt like it revelled in that violence. Similarly there is no need for the n-word to be used like 3 times, or the anti-Semitic slurs, I fully got that Zeus was a bad guy without this abuse added.
On another note, the appearance of all the women characters is their primary introduction and for some it goes no further, We know straight away that Maggie Harper (Medusa’s lawyer) is attractive, a former model in fact. Jack Harper, her junior partner however has a whole backstory of childhood abuse, getting involved in drugs and gangs and moving into law. That said, he goes from being an immature, cocky man boy on one page, his first reaction to Medusa’s appearance is “Jesus f-ing Christ” and then he has a think about it and his next appearance he’s this thoughtful man seeing Medusa’s true beauty, it’s bizarre. Crystal, Harper’s other partner though is just fat - the largest, possibly only exploration of her character is how she was larger at school, lost weight and guys were creeps, and now she’s put weight back on. Medusa, you would think would have credible character development though, right? No. In fact a point is made that Harper coming to visit her is the first time she has been alone with a man since she was raped, and yet there is no exploration of her trauma, no talk of her fear of intimacy or of men, she actually appeared to have no problem trusting Jack or of moving on sexually. In most paragraphs when she talks she says “I was raped” and yet you never get to hear of the emotional scars of that. The character remained unheard and I read this book because I wanted to hear her. She also has been isolated for a long time in a cave, away from civilisation, and yet a set of encyclopaedias later and she is fully adapted to people in a modern day society. The loneliness, the fear of what happened to her could have been explored and instead her rape just seemed like a physical violation and the true pain was that she was made ugly.
There were elements I did appreciate. Harper in court had some brilliant scenes and there were elements from her that had satisfying justice, she was a fantastic character. I don’t understand why Medusa needed a lawyer though, the point of the trial was whether she was raped and her punishment of ugliness just or not - however no rapist was on trial. Several of the court scenes are heavy on victim blaming as well which is hard to read. There was also some information that was interesting and well researched, particularly regarding the worldwide inequality of women, heavy on facts and figures, although you don’t have to anecdote all the research you have found and it didn’t really seemlessly slot in at times.
The portrayal of the Olympians started off as a novel touch, Zeus, Athena, Hera, Hades etc integrated into modern day and the abuse of their power. The novelty of Zeus clearly being Trump wore off pretty quickly though, down to Him posting angry, slanderous tweets, “fake news” and grabbing women and getting away with it because you can do what you want when you have power - a subtle nod would have been very clever, this felt like a wink to the audience every time.
Like I started with, I’m not sure the intention behind this book and I was disappointed by such a missed opportunity to give Medusa some justice. I found this book incredibly hard to read. Thank you NetGalley for the copy to review nonetheless.
I don’t like leaving negative reviews but I really struggled with this book and nearly abandoned it on several occasions. I just don’t know who the intended audience of this book was meant to be as it seesaws between women’s rights and senseless violence to women that really doesn’t belong on the page.
My biggest issue, as mentioned above, is the gratuitous violence, largely to women, written on the page. Medusa’s rape itself is violent and devastating to read, going into great physical detail - and yet the same detail doesn’t remotely go into the emotional pain or recovery of a rape survivor, but I’ll come back to this. One moment the author writes paragraphs showing enlightened, researched consideration for the oppression of women, to the point it feels preachy as he talks of the use of women by men, and then the pain and violation of women is used to juice up the book. There is absolutely no need at all to blindside readers in a book about a rape trial of a long misunderstood character (and therefore implying this book is for people who seek justice for survivors) to read such a detailed account of a violent rape. Furthermore, the main villain of the story, Zeus, (although yes, society is largely the main villain, you could argue) has people who displease him brought to ‘The Theatre’, a modern day, underground colosseum where they are tortured and killed for entertainment. There is a graphic, detailed account of a woman barbarically tortured that is so disturbing that it made me incredibly angry, starting with her restrained on a dog chain naked, tongue removed, bruised and bleeding, and ending with her husband and SMALL CHILDREN ripped apart and eaten by boars as she was made to watch. A book that tried to be so self aware had these moments where it felt like it revelled in that violence. Similarly there is no need for the n-word to be used like 3 times, or the anti-Semitic slurs, I fully got that Zeus was a bad guy without this abuse added.
On another note, the appearance of all the women characters is their primary introduction and for some it goes no further, We know straight away that Maggie Harper (Medusa’s lawyer) is attractive, a former model in fact. Jack Harper, her junior partner however has a whole backstory of childhood abuse, getting involved in drugs and gangs and moving into law. That said, he goes from being an immature, cocky man boy on one page, his first reaction to Medusa’s appearance is “Jesus f-ing Christ” and then he has a think about it and his next appearance he’s this thoughtful man seeing Medusa’s true beauty, it’s bizarre. Crystal, Harper’s other partner though is just fat - the largest, possibly only exploration of her character is how she was larger at school, lost weight and guys were creeps, and now she’s put weight back on. Medusa, you would think would have credible character development though, right? No. In fact a point is made that Harper coming to visit her is the first time she has been alone with a man since she was raped, and yet there is no exploration of her trauma, no talk of her fear of intimacy or of men, she actually appeared to have no problem trusting Jack or of moving on sexually. In most paragraphs when she talks she says “I was raped” and yet you never get to hear of the emotional scars of that. The character remained unheard and I read this book because I wanted to hear her. She also has been isolated for a long time in a cave, away from civilisation, and yet a set of encyclopaedias later and she is fully adapted to people in a modern day society. The loneliness, the fear of what happened to her could have been explored and instead her rape just seemed like a physical violation and the true pain was that she was made ugly.
There were elements I did appreciate. Harper in court had some brilliant scenes and there were elements from her that had satisfying justice, she was a fantastic character. I don’t understand why Medusa needed a lawyer though, the point of the trial was whether she was raped and her punishment of ugliness just or not - however no rapist was on trial. Several of the court scenes are heavy on victim blaming as well which is hard to read. There was also some information that was interesting and well researched, particularly regarding the worldwide inequality of women, heavy on facts and figures, although you don’t have to anecdote all the research you have found and it didn’t really seemlessly slot in at times.
The portrayal of the Olympians started off as a novel touch, Zeus, Athena, Hera, Hades etc integrated into modern day and the abuse of their power. The novelty of Zeus clearly being Trump wore off pretty quickly though, down to Him posting angry, slanderous tweets, “fake news” and grabbing women and getting away with it because you can do what you want when you have power - a subtle nod would have been very clever, this felt like a wink to the audience every time.
Like I started with, I’m not sure the intention behind this book and I was disappointed by such a missed opportunity to give Medusa some justice. I found this book incredibly hard to read. Thank you NetGalley for the copy to review nonetheless.
July 2, 2020
I went into this book with a open mind. I know some about greek mytologie so i thought by myself why not. It was very interesting to read more about the mythe. And i really like how it was turned into a today trial. It felt more real somehow.
August 12, 2020
Review on my blog: https://behindmybookcase.wordpress.co...
TW: Rape, Racial Slurs, Anti-Semitic Slurs
If you’re looking for a badass feminist take over of the Medusa myth where she gets justice by being empowered, this is not the book for you.
I’ll start with what I did like about this book. It was a very simple, quick read. While at times quite obvious, there was some interesting political commentary surrounding rape culture and particularly how those with money and power are exempt from being held accountable. It was particularly interesting to read how the Olympians fit into our modern day world, with what they are gods over translating into departments in a company. The character of Zeus takes a lot inspiration from Donald Trump, this is witty in the beginning of the book, but after multiple references to “grabbing by the p*ssy” and “fake news” it comes across more as a cheap joke.
The lazy parody of Zeus is disappointingly one of the more interesting characterisations in this book. The characters all come across as very flat, and I found myself not caring about what happened to them either way. I couldn’t identify with any of the characters, nor could I empathise with them. This was in part due to a lot of telling and not showing- it felt like I was being told how I should think and feel about the characters, without actually being made to feel that way. The book does become more engaging in the latter half, however it still doesn’t quite hit the mark for me.
The aspect of this book that bothered me the most was the inherent misogyny. There are certain times where I can overlook badly written women, but in a book that seems to set itself up as a commentary on sexism in our society, I really expect more. Every female character in the story is described by her body type. We’re told twice that the head of Medusa’s legal team “keeps her features slim” and “was tall and slim and looked good on camera.” Medusa was “slim and feminine.” Another female character is described as being “dressed casually in a sexy way” (I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean either). The only character that was not slim was “always on a diet” and “wounded by the reality of [her] fatness.” The male character on the legal team, however, gets almost five pages dedicated entirely to his backstory, favourite sport team and favourite music.
This book has some noble intentions, but unfortunately lacks the nuance to achieve its aims satisfactorily.
TW: Rape, Racial Slurs, Anti-Semitic Slurs
If you’re looking for a badass feminist take over of the Medusa myth where she gets justice by being empowered, this is not the book for you.
I’ll start with what I did like about this book. It was a very simple, quick read. While at times quite obvious, there was some interesting political commentary surrounding rape culture and particularly how those with money and power are exempt from being held accountable. It was particularly interesting to read how the Olympians fit into our modern day world, with what they are gods over translating into departments in a company. The character of Zeus takes a lot inspiration from Donald Trump, this is witty in the beginning of the book, but after multiple references to “grabbing by the p*ssy” and “fake news” it comes across more as a cheap joke.
The lazy parody of Zeus is disappointingly one of the more interesting characterisations in this book. The characters all come across as very flat, and I found myself not caring about what happened to them either way. I couldn’t identify with any of the characters, nor could I empathise with them. This was in part due to a lot of telling and not showing- it felt like I was being told how I should think and feel about the characters, without actually being made to feel that way. The book does become more engaging in the latter half, however it still doesn’t quite hit the mark for me.
The aspect of this book that bothered me the most was the inherent misogyny. There are certain times where I can overlook badly written women, but in a book that seems to set itself up as a commentary on sexism in our society, I really expect more. Every female character in the story is described by her body type. We’re told twice that the head of Medusa’s legal team “keeps her features slim” and “was tall and slim and looked good on camera.” Medusa was “slim and feminine.” Another female character is described as being “dressed casually in a sexy way” (I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean either). The only character that was not slim was “always on a diet” and “wounded by the reality of [her] fatness.” The male character on the legal team, however, gets almost five pages dedicated entirely to his backstory, favourite sport team and favourite music.
This book has some noble intentions, but unfortunately lacks the nuance to achieve its aims satisfactorily.
July 20, 2020
I didn't expect to love this book so much. In The Rape Trial of Medusa, the author created this world where the Greek gods live among us, some are ambassadors and senators and practically they are the people with the most power and money in the world.
At the beginning of the story, Medusa Gorgon is brought by the police to the city of Manhattan, where she'll be housed in a special jail. Medusa is going to get her trial to see if the punishment was justified by the alleged crime. The Olympians claim that no one committed rape and Medusa only seduced her brother Poseidon. If Medusa loses the case, she returns to the island where she has spent thousands of years locked up, but if she wins, she will gain back her youth and her freedom. The villain of the story are the Olympians and especially Zeus who with his power floods social media with hatred and torture in a placed called the theater people who are disloyal to him and do not follow his "rules".
I really like everything about this book the characters and the modern twist of the story. If you like to read about Greek mythology you probably enjoy this book.
5 stars for me
thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.
At the beginning of the story, Medusa Gorgon is brought by the police to the city of Manhattan, where she'll be housed in a special jail. Medusa is going to get her trial to see if the punishment was justified by the alleged crime. The Olympians claim that no one committed rape and Medusa only seduced her brother Poseidon. If Medusa loses the case, she returns to the island where she has spent thousands of years locked up, but if she wins, she will gain back her youth and her freedom. The villain of the story are the Olympians and especially Zeus who with his power floods social media with hatred and torture in a placed called the theater people who are disloyal to him and do not follow his "rules".
I really like everything about this book the characters and the modern twist of the story. If you like to read about Greek mythology you probably enjoy this book.
5 stars for me
thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2020
“The Rape Trial of Medusa,” by Michael Kasenow, is a trigger-warning novel crafted for our times. The story is based on Greek mythology's Medusa, who was raped and impregnated by her brother Poseidon, god of the sea, in Athena's temple. Legend has it that Medusa was a beautiful winged human, but Athena cursed her, turning Medusa's hair into serpents, her face into something so hideous that anyone who looked at her would turn to stone. Medusa was beheaded by hero warrior Perseus, but her head still kept its power to turn beholders to stone.
Flash forward to modern-day New York, where Medusa's trial begins after being secluded on an island for ages. The trial begs: Was she really raped by Poseidon, or did she seduce him? Will she earn freedom or have to return to banishment? Will her beauty be restored, or will she forever be cursed? If she wasn't beheaded, then who was? Medusa has renowned Maggie Harper for an attorney, famous for championing and defending women's rights. This sets the stage for a mind-bending courtroom drama worthy of the international media attention it receives.
This clever book does several things at once: Holds a mirror up to societal norms, cultural trends, and historic customs of blaming the victim for her/his attack, and for having certain attitudes toward women (appreciating them for their bodies more than their minds)--in this case, even a Greek goddess named Medusa. It also plays imaginatively with the characters and events from Greek mythology. And it offers entertainment for entertainment's sake. Kasenow is skilled at setting up the characters, events, backstory, and trial. The plot is easy to follow and is engaging from the first pages. I like Kasenow's energetic style, and his tactile, sensorial descriptions. It feels like a real trial--a real media event. Medusa is forced to wear a hijab for the trial and sprays an ambrosia mist on the serpents that are her hair to weaken them, and it's little details like this that make the story come to life in a fun way.
My favorite parts are when the author blends the ancient with the modern--social media, Manhattan, etc. It's cliche to say, but this would make a great film. I also like how he used the media as almost a character unto itself, and the influence it has on trials, public opinion, and society/culture in general. This book perfectly depicts the phrase “tried in the media.”
Medusa Gorgon is a sympathetic character. You really begin to care for her and want justice. High-profile attorney Maggie Harper is also an interesting character, who reminded me somewhat of Gloria Allred. “The Rape Trial of Medusa,” by Michael Kasenow, could be the most controversial courtroom drama of the year. 5 stars!
Flash forward to modern-day New York, where Medusa's trial begins after being secluded on an island for ages. The trial begs: Was she really raped by Poseidon, or did she seduce him? Will she earn freedom or have to return to banishment? Will her beauty be restored, or will she forever be cursed? If she wasn't beheaded, then who was? Medusa has renowned Maggie Harper for an attorney, famous for championing and defending women's rights. This sets the stage for a mind-bending courtroom drama worthy of the international media attention it receives.
This clever book does several things at once: Holds a mirror up to societal norms, cultural trends, and historic customs of blaming the victim for her/his attack, and for having certain attitudes toward women (appreciating them for their bodies more than their minds)--in this case, even a Greek goddess named Medusa. It also plays imaginatively with the characters and events from Greek mythology. And it offers entertainment for entertainment's sake. Kasenow is skilled at setting up the characters, events, backstory, and trial. The plot is easy to follow and is engaging from the first pages. I like Kasenow's energetic style, and his tactile, sensorial descriptions. It feels like a real trial--a real media event. Medusa is forced to wear a hijab for the trial and sprays an ambrosia mist on the serpents that are her hair to weaken them, and it's little details like this that make the story come to life in a fun way.
My favorite parts are when the author blends the ancient with the modern--social media, Manhattan, etc. It's cliche to say, but this would make a great film. I also like how he used the media as almost a character unto itself, and the influence it has on trials, public opinion, and society/culture in general. This book perfectly depicts the phrase “tried in the media.”
Medusa Gorgon is a sympathetic character. You really begin to care for her and want justice. High-profile attorney Maggie Harper is also an interesting character, who reminded me somewhat of Gloria Allred. “The Rape Trial of Medusa,” by Michael Kasenow, could be the most controversial courtroom drama of the year. 5 stars!
June 29, 2020
The Rape Trial of Medusa is about exactly that--and Kasenow does a fantastic job building parallels to the world we know today and weaving in Greek mythology in a seamless and believable manner. I was initially skeptical about whether I would enjoy this novel, but within the first few minutes of reading I was hooked/was taken on an emotional rollercoaster that didn't end until I finished the book. I feel like explaining any further/in an more detail would be a disservice to the reader and Kasenow's ability to create a new reality from myth. Even if you're unsure about delving into such a deep topic, I would highly recommend giving this book a shot.
I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2020
- This book has a little bit of everything, some Greek mythology retelling, social commentary and even a bit of romance sprinkled in. I don't think think book is for everyone though. It definitely deals with some adult themes and mature content. Trigger warning: Abuse, Sexual assault.
- The story takes place in modern day where the Olympians are still the ruling class and control the world with influence and power. Medusa, the main character in the story, is trying is trying to convict her rapist and find justice against the wrong doings that were done to her centuries before. This takes a modern twist where Medusa seeks justice through the legal system. The court room aspect of the book drew me in immediately.
- I did really enjoy the social commentary aspect of this book as it dealt with sexism, class-ism, power and media glamorization. Medusa is scrutinized by the media for two things, being a women and being ugly. The book shows us the lack of empathy the media has and the "monsters" it creates. It portrays the media as a fear mongerers who ignore the facts and believes what it wants to. It assumes guild as face value. This was very interesting to read and to see a polarizing figure such as Medusa deal with it was my favourite thing.
- The modernization of the Olympians was also something I enjoyed in this book. Though they may not be gods any longer, they are still idealized and have essentially become modern day celebrities. The parallels between Zeus and Trump was also an interesting point but I do think it was a bit dramatized and stuffed down my throat by the time I reach the end. I wish Zeus has more dimension to him rather than being blanket evil. He felt very one toned to me. Hes also the biggest asshole you have ever seen.
- This book has has heavy feminism tones to it and I'm not sure if it dealt with it well or not. The book hammers how into your hear how women are untrustworthy and only beauty define them. This I didn't mind but I didn't like how other than Medusa and her lawyer, all the other women were represented in less than stellar ways. I also didn't appreciate the amount of time the word "whore" was used. I felt that gave me a bad taste.
- Overall I still enjoyed reading this book and it's really the small details that made the book for me - like its integration of mythology.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinions.
- The story takes place in modern day where the Olympians are still the ruling class and control the world with influence and power. Medusa, the main character in the story, is trying is trying to convict her rapist and find justice against the wrong doings that were done to her centuries before. This takes a modern twist where Medusa seeks justice through the legal system. The court room aspect of the book drew me in immediately.
- I did really enjoy the social commentary aspect of this book as it dealt with sexism, class-ism, power and media glamorization. Medusa is scrutinized by the media for two things, being a women and being ugly. The book shows us the lack of empathy the media has and the "monsters" it creates. It portrays the media as a fear mongerers who ignore the facts and believes what it wants to. It assumes guild as face value. This was very interesting to read and to see a polarizing figure such as Medusa deal with it was my favourite thing.
- The modernization of the Olympians was also something I enjoyed in this book. Though they may not be gods any longer, they are still idealized and have essentially become modern day celebrities. The parallels between Zeus and Trump was also an interesting point but I do think it was a bit dramatized and stuffed down my throat by the time I reach the end. I wish Zeus has more dimension to him rather than being blanket evil. He felt very one toned to me. Hes also the biggest asshole you have ever seen.
- This book has has heavy feminism tones to it and I'm not sure if it dealt with it well or not. The book hammers how into your hear how women are untrustworthy and only beauty define them. This I didn't mind but I didn't like how other than Medusa and her lawyer, all the other women were represented in less than stellar ways. I also didn't appreciate the amount of time the word "whore" was used. I felt that gave me a bad taste.
- Overall I still enjoyed reading this book and it's really the small details that made the book for me - like its integration of mythology.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinions.
July 15, 2020
3.5 ⭐️
January 8, 2022
PLEASE CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS!
I am a huge fan of Medusa and her story. She is often viewed as a symbol of feminist rage. Athena's actions can be viewed from different angles as well. Did she curse Athena for boosting her beauty, or did she pitty Medusa and curse her so no man can touch her again?
Medusa was constantly victim-blamed throughout history. If you are a survivor of abuse, rape, intimate partner violence then this novel can be triggering. There is a lot of content that is hard to read. It made me outraged because it's all valid in today's society.
How many times do you hear this comment, ' she was asking for it.' or ' She was practically begging for it.' Or my personal favorite, ' Grab her by the pussy,' - hello Trump. The language used in this novel is something that is hard to read but also relatable.
There is this message in The Rape Trail of Medusa's story that if you are beautiful, then what is consent? Your beauty is consent. Because you are beautiful, and you wear perfume, and you have a curvy tight body, you're saying, " Hey my legs are open, fuck me anytime." AGAIN, this is so hard to read. It is so painful.
When we are born we do not have hate. Hate is something that is learned. And for these Olympians, believe that they are above the law. They foster hate and use it to their own advantage to line their pockets and keep themselves on top of the world. The idea of consent is relevant to them. Women do not have the choice of consent because rape is non-existent to people who hold this power. - Sicking right?
So, one thing that I didn't like is that I felt 80 pages of this book could have been left out. After the rape trial is over, the past couple of pages just felt like fluff.
This novel is not for everyone, I believe people who couldn't get based on this victim-blaming quickly put this novel down, and rightfully so. The first time I heard the 'N-word being used I had a moment. That was before we really got into the victim-blaming of this story.
Overall, this is a story that really made me think about how women are treated in today's society. The concept of 'asking for it,' is still happening. This is a sad, and thought-provoking novel that I am truly happy that I read.
I am a huge fan of Medusa and her story. She is often viewed as a symbol of feminist rage. Athena's actions can be viewed from different angles as well. Did she curse Athena for boosting her beauty, or did she pitty Medusa and curse her so no man can touch her again?
Medusa was constantly victim-blamed throughout history. If you are a survivor of abuse, rape, intimate partner violence then this novel can be triggering. There is a lot of content that is hard to read. It made me outraged because it's all valid in today's society.
How many times do you hear this comment, ' she was asking for it.' or ' She was practically begging for it.' Or my personal favorite, ' Grab her by the pussy,' - hello Trump. The language used in this novel is something that is hard to read but also relatable.
There is this message in The Rape Trail of Medusa's story that if you are beautiful, then what is consent? Your beauty is consent. Because you are beautiful, and you wear perfume, and you have a curvy tight body, you're saying, " Hey my legs are open, fuck me anytime." AGAIN, this is so hard to read. It is so painful.
When we are born we do not have hate. Hate is something that is learned. And for these Olympians, believe that they are above the law. They foster hate and use it to their own advantage to line their pockets and keep themselves on top of the world. The idea of consent is relevant to them. Women do not have the choice of consent because rape is non-existent to people who hold this power. - Sicking right?
So, one thing that I didn't like is that I felt 80 pages of this book could have been left out. After the rape trial is over, the past couple of pages just felt like fluff.
This novel is not for everyone, I believe people who couldn't get based on this victim-blaming quickly put this novel down, and rightfully so. The first time I heard the 'N-word being used I had a moment. That was before we really got into the victim-blaming of this story.
Overall, this is a story that really made me think about how women are treated in today's society. The concept of 'asking for it,' is still happening. This is a sad, and thought-provoking novel that I am truly happy that I read.
April 10, 2022
kind of a weird one
I really thought this was going to be good… until politics got involved and there were some really vulgar uses of words and phrases that could have been left out or worded in a more appropriate manner.
I hated that every male character except maybe two was a massive misogynist. I hated Zeus, although that was a given, and every other Olympian introduced.
The ending was… a let down. The book should have ended when the trial ended. We should have had our verdict, and that be it really. The last 100 pages didn’t really add much to the book, and I found myself just skim reading.
Would recommend reading, but won’t pick up from this author again, just because of the word choices.
I really thought this was going to be good… until politics got involved and there were some really vulgar uses of words and phrases that could have been left out or worded in a more appropriate manner.
I hated that every male character except maybe two was a massive misogynist. I hated Zeus, although that was a given, and every other Olympian introduced.
The ending was… a let down. The book should have ended when the trial ended. We should have had our verdict, and that be it really. The last 100 pages didn’t really add much to the book, and I found myself just skim reading.
Would recommend reading, but won’t pick up from this author again, just because of the word choices.
July 6, 2020
*NetGalley provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review* TRIGGER WARNING - This novel is based firmly on the rape of Medusa and her subsequent punishment. Only read if you are not triggered by this topic.
I clicked on this book because of the title. I mean, really how could you not be intrigued by this? This novel is a modern-day parallel to the stories of the Greek gods and today's powerful Elite. There were good things and bad things about this novel; but mostly good! This novel takes place in present day New York where the mythical Medusa Gorgon has finally achieved representation for the trial of the century: her rape, and subsequent punishment for being raped by a powerful, rich, and influential male. In this case, an Olympian.
I'll start with the Bad parts: PACING. The beginning starts slow, and is written as if it is a news article. We meet the players, we have narration by the news casters covering the trial, and slowly we get introduced to the players. The trial itself is solid, we get an idea of how the whole thing is moving, we have delays and extensions, and we get to see the witnesses called to the stand. However, after a pretty big reveal in the novel, the deaths of our influential Olympian are numerous, but we don't really get to see the devastation. It happens rather quickly and is breezed past essentially, that I didn't feel drawn in or vested in suspense for this particular part. The third-quarter of the book sped up and continued that fast-paced momentum through to the end. Normally a fast-pace is a good thing, but this was just a bit too fast for me. There were so many things happening, big reveals, big moments, that I just felt the author could have slowed down just a hair to let those moments really wash over us.
I was also a bit disappointed with the ending, because the set-up of the story-line was preparing me to root for women and to expose those male supremacists and their idea that women who are beautiful and accentuate that beauty are at fault for any sexual crime against them, but the ending, and the person responsible for the whole thing fell on: a woman. Yuck. It just felt a bit conflicting at the end, but I did appreciate the twist because the idea that women break each other down is also common in our society. Ugh. I was left a bit conflicted at the end.
The Good: I liked the way the novel was written. It felt like a news feature in some chapters and then an actual novel in others. The character development was interesting; and the parallels to today's political climate towards women, the idea of rape, and the politicians involved in both rape allegations and legislation was perfect. There was a lot of allusion to "fake news", "twitter posts", "locker room talk", and commentary regarding the victimization of the perpetrators. There were parts in this novel where I was literally shaking with rage, because there are so many people who consistently blame the victim for his/her rape and the author really portrayed the villains in this mindset that was sadly, very accurate to today. Particularly, the commentary on the way the news outlets handle this case, the ruling, and the subsequent events regarding those involved in this affair.
The cover could have been a bit less "legal-ish" -- kinda reminded me of a crime textbook I had back in college, but nonetheless, the novel was provoking, enraging, endearing, and at times absolutely heart-breaking for many reasons. As a woman, this novel spoke to me on many levels, and I recommend it for both male and female readers with an interest in fiction and political crime. I rated this a FOUR-star for the political commentary and creative use of the Medusa myth.
I clicked on this book because of the title. I mean, really how could you not be intrigued by this? This novel is a modern-day parallel to the stories of the Greek gods and today's powerful Elite. There were good things and bad things about this novel; but mostly good! This novel takes place in present day New York where the mythical Medusa Gorgon has finally achieved representation for the trial of the century: her rape, and subsequent punishment for being raped by a powerful, rich, and influential male. In this case, an Olympian.
I'll start with the Bad parts: PACING. The beginning starts slow, and is written as if it is a news article. We meet the players, we have narration by the news casters covering the trial, and slowly we get introduced to the players. The trial itself is solid, we get an idea of how the whole thing is moving, we have delays and extensions, and we get to see the witnesses called to the stand. However, after a pretty big reveal in the novel, the deaths of our influential Olympian are numerous, but we don't really get to see the devastation. It happens rather quickly and is breezed past essentially, that I didn't feel drawn in or vested in suspense for this particular part. The third-quarter of the book sped up and continued that fast-paced momentum through to the end. Normally a fast-pace is a good thing, but this was just a bit too fast for me. There were so many things happening, big reveals, big moments, that I just felt the author could have slowed down just a hair to let those moments really wash over us.
I was also a bit disappointed with the ending, because the set-up of the story-line was preparing me to root for women and to expose those male supremacists and their idea that women who are beautiful and accentuate that beauty are at fault for any sexual crime against them, but the ending, and the person responsible for the whole thing fell on: a woman. Yuck. It just felt a bit conflicting at the end, but I did appreciate the twist because the idea that women break each other down is also common in our society. Ugh. I was left a bit conflicted at the end.
The Good: I liked the way the novel was written. It felt like a news feature in some chapters and then an actual novel in others. The character development was interesting; and the parallels to today's political climate towards women, the idea of rape, and the politicians involved in both rape allegations and legislation was perfect. There was a lot of allusion to "fake news", "twitter posts", "locker room talk", and commentary regarding the victimization of the perpetrators. There were parts in this novel where I was literally shaking with rage, because there are so many people who consistently blame the victim for his/her rape and the author really portrayed the villains in this mindset that was sadly, very accurate to today. Particularly, the commentary on the way the news outlets handle this case, the ruling, and the subsequent events regarding those involved in this affair.
The cover could have been a bit less "legal-ish" -- kinda reminded me of a crime textbook I had back in college, but nonetheless, the novel was provoking, enraging, endearing, and at times absolutely heart-breaking for many reasons. As a woman, this novel spoke to me on many levels, and I recommend it for both male and female readers with an interest in fiction and political crime. I rated this a FOUR-star for the political commentary and creative use of the Medusa myth.
September 3, 2020
This incredibly written book that deals with the what ifs the Olympian gods are alive and well and everything we knew about them was real. It also asks the questions of where would they be now and the ego maniacs that they would be today. We also take a look at Medusa and for once, she is not a villain but a victim of a cruel fate.
Kasenow gives a fascinating look into the modern world and the ideas of the human race when it comes to women. On my show, I have been raving about this book and this will definitely be on our must read selection in our newsletter that goes out every month. When I was reading the book, I was a bit surprised that this was written by a man as the ideas and theories put forth come from a highly contextualised human being looking how things are not that different from ancient times when it comes to the role of women in society. I think for the best way forward with this review that I will break the novel down in two ways, plotting and political emphasis on a study of the human condition.
The novel is well written and well paced which keeps the reader fully engaged throughout its length. Setting it against a modern world and using media as a tool with the plotting to help frame the story, is a huge asset. The circus around the actual trial and the way the media paints this is masterfully done with a huge emphasis on this. The interconnecting story from the multiple points of view, whether this is the Olympian gods themselves, the law team defending Medusa, Medusa herself or the components found surrounding the characters lift the story to something other than what it is.
On another note, the book is a politically charged understanding of the world around us whether it is media and how we are forced with opinion news with very little facts surrounding the trial and a lot of background noise to distract from the actual case. We also have a story that looks at the roles of women and how they are objectified and their roles in society. On another note, we look at how money and influence can buy themselves into society and get away with whatever they would like and there are huge reflections on how abuse can happened if you have the clout behind you.
The characters are very well described and written. The reader is left with a depth of understanding and feelings for the motivations of each of the characters. Medusa is a tragic figure which the heart yearns for justice, whilst the Olympian goes maniacal planning and plotting keeps things going steady forward. The defence team are a team with the rights of the people at the forefront but through their own guilt, complexities in relationships and human frailty gives them that extra edge of realness. The characters felt fresh and three dimensional and it is quite a feat to take characters that everyone has an understanding of and take them beyond their two dimensional character studies from history class.
Overall, this is a highly exceptional read that has excellent plotting, character development, understanding of the world around and asks a lot more questions than what it answers leaving the reader a lot of thoughts to ponder about long after reading the last words. The story truly resonates with the world around us. Kasenow is able to use plotting devices from mythology and weave this into a tapestry for our time and shows that he is an exciting writer with fantastic insight. I really can’t wait to see what he comes out with next. In fact, I am so impressed that this book will be included as our must read for the month of October newsletter which goes out to 895,000 subscribers as I feel this strongly for it. This is a definite must read.
Kasenow gives a fascinating look into the modern world and the ideas of the human race when it comes to women. On my show, I have been raving about this book and this will definitely be on our must read selection in our newsletter that goes out every month. When I was reading the book, I was a bit surprised that this was written by a man as the ideas and theories put forth come from a highly contextualised human being looking how things are not that different from ancient times when it comes to the role of women in society. I think for the best way forward with this review that I will break the novel down in two ways, plotting and political emphasis on a study of the human condition.
The novel is well written and well paced which keeps the reader fully engaged throughout its length. Setting it against a modern world and using media as a tool with the plotting to help frame the story, is a huge asset. The circus around the actual trial and the way the media paints this is masterfully done with a huge emphasis on this. The interconnecting story from the multiple points of view, whether this is the Olympian gods themselves, the law team defending Medusa, Medusa herself or the components found surrounding the characters lift the story to something other than what it is.
On another note, the book is a politically charged understanding of the world around us whether it is media and how we are forced with opinion news with very little facts surrounding the trial and a lot of background noise to distract from the actual case. We also have a story that looks at the roles of women and how they are objectified and their roles in society. On another note, we look at how money and influence can buy themselves into society and get away with whatever they would like and there are huge reflections on how abuse can happened if you have the clout behind you.
The characters are very well described and written. The reader is left with a depth of understanding and feelings for the motivations of each of the characters. Medusa is a tragic figure which the heart yearns for justice, whilst the Olympian goes maniacal planning and plotting keeps things going steady forward. The defence team are a team with the rights of the people at the forefront but through their own guilt, complexities in relationships and human frailty gives them that extra edge of realness. The characters felt fresh and three dimensional and it is quite a feat to take characters that everyone has an understanding of and take them beyond their two dimensional character studies from history class.
Overall, this is a highly exceptional read that has excellent plotting, character development, understanding of the world around and asks a lot more questions than what it answers leaving the reader a lot of thoughts to ponder about long after reading the last words. The story truly resonates with the world around us. Kasenow is able to use plotting devices from mythology and weave this into a tapestry for our time and shows that he is an exciting writer with fantastic insight. I really can’t wait to see what he comes out with next. In fact, I am so impressed that this book will be included as our must read for the month of October newsletter which goes out to 895,000 subscribers as I feel this strongly for it. This is a definite must read.
April 9, 2021
This book had a lot of promise but ultimately failed to deliver. Several times, the writing showed blatant sexism, which is ironic considering the book is supposed to be a thought-provoking novel and a social commentary on misogyny.
For starters, every female character is described by their body type and is sexualized in some way. They are all described as being "slim, sexy" and is essentially appealing to the male gaze. The only female character who is described to fat...is also “wounded by the reality of [her] fatness.” The male characters, as you can expect, are not described similarly and the focus is never on how muscular they are or how insecure they are about their beer bellies. A book that is supposed to discuss misogyny in society should be treating its female characters with much more respect instead of focusing solely on their appearance.
There were also many, many senseless depictions of violence. I am not one to shy away from graphic scenes of blood and gore, let me be clear on that. I have read and loved Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott, which also details the horrifying experiences of a rape victim forced to live with her abuser. I am perfectly fine with graphic violence IF they serve a purpose in the story or in character development.
What I absolutely do not accept, is violence for the sake of violence. As a survivor myself, my blood boils when I see authors depicting graphic scenes of violence just for the shock factor, just to horrify readers instead of using those scenes to raise awareness about the severity of abuse.
Another note; a book that explores misogyny by depicting a rape trial shows absolutely no emotional scars of sexual trauma. Not once did we get to see the emotional effect of abuse on Medusa's mental well-being; we even see her moving on sexually with a character without any fear of intimacy, which is so unrealistic that it almost made me laugh. Take this from a survivor; when you have been sexually abused, it is NOT EASY to be intimate again, especially without having some difficult conversations about what is triggering and what isn't.
I also didn't understand why the author kept referring to Medusa's headscarf as "hijab". A hijab is more than a head covering, it is the practice of modesty and is mandatory to be observed by both Muslim men and women alike. The fact that the writer did not do this basic research did not set well with me.
It's very disappointing really, because the concept of this book was so promising. I loved the hilarious modern take on ancient Greek mythology and Greek gods, and some of the parodies such as Zeus as a stand-in for Donald Trump was super creative. Kudos to the author for that. But the rest of the book was a complete let down.
If you really want to read a book that explores sexism and misogyny in our society, there are plenty of other good options. The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis is the first that comes to mind; it should be required reading in schools and colleges, it's that good.
For starters, every female character is described by their body type and is sexualized in some way. They are all described as being "slim, sexy" and is essentially appealing to the male gaze. The only female character who is described to fat...is also “wounded by the reality of [her] fatness.” The male characters, as you can expect, are not described similarly and the focus is never on how muscular they are or how insecure they are about their beer bellies. A book that is supposed to discuss misogyny in society should be treating its female characters with much more respect instead of focusing solely on their appearance.
There were also many, many senseless depictions of violence. I am not one to shy away from graphic scenes of blood and gore, let me be clear on that. I have read and loved Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott, which also details the horrifying experiences of a rape victim forced to live with her abuser. I am perfectly fine with graphic violence IF they serve a purpose in the story or in character development.
What I absolutely do not accept, is violence for the sake of violence. As a survivor myself, my blood boils when I see authors depicting graphic scenes of violence just for the shock factor, just to horrify readers instead of using those scenes to raise awareness about the severity of abuse.
Another note; a book that explores misogyny by depicting a rape trial shows absolutely no emotional scars of sexual trauma. Not once did we get to see the emotional effect of abuse on Medusa's mental well-being; we even see her moving on sexually with a character without any fear of intimacy, which is so unrealistic that it almost made me laugh. Take this from a survivor; when you have been sexually abused, it is NOT EASY to be intimate again, especially without having some difficult conversations about what is triggering and what isn't.
I also didn't understand why the author kept referring to Medusa's headscarf as "hijab". A hijab is more than a head covering, it is the practice of modesty and is mandatory to be observed by both Muslim men and women alike. The fact that the writer did not do this basic research did not set well with me.
It's very disappointing really, because the concept of this book was so promising. I loved the hilarious modern take on ancient Greek mythology and Greek gods, and some of the parodies such as Zeus as a stand-in for Donald Trump was super creative. Kudos to the author for that. But the rest of the book was a complete let down.
If you really want to read a book that explores sexism and misogyny in our society, there are plenty of other good options. The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis is the first that comes to mind; it should be required reading in schools and colleges, it's that good.
July 6, 2020
I’m a big fan of Greek mythology so was grateful to get this book from net galley. It’s a modern retelling of the Medusa story but framed in modern times. Medusa wasn’t killed by Perseus but has survived all this time and has been rescued from her island to accuse the Olympians - the former Greek gods who are now claiming to be a different specie of human with “ichor” in their blood which grants them near immortality. They have lived so long the6 have amassed fortunes and power like no other.
Medusa doesn’t know who raped her but Ovid’s account names Poseidon (now an ambassador with diplomatic immunity) and Athena as the one who punished her for “besmirching” her temple by allowing herself to be raped or for seducing the gods as they see it with her beauty - beauty so famed as to rival Athena’s own beauty.
The first 60% of the book is about the trial. Parallels are drawn to modern times with Zeus cast as a modern day businessman/politico who has everyone in his pocket. He controls goats, buys politicians and people and is a deep misogynist who openly admits to using women as he sees fit as they let him do whatever he wants to them (sound like anyone we know?). During the course of the trial, it comes out that he raped his sisters, some of his daughters and married his sister Hera. Athena seems to be the only one that was spared his affections. The trial also expands on the plight of rape victims and how they are treated in different societies. It touches on issues from honour killings to victim shaming till it concludes with a surprising conclusion.
The next bit of the book talks about the aftermath of the trial and the relationships Medusa builds with people - particularly the people involved in her case. It also turns into a slight whodunnit as it turns out all the Olympians are being killed off one by one. Zeus becomes super paranoid and goes into overdrive. Again the author draws parallels to modern day fame culture and the power celebrities wield as well as the pressures and lack of privacy they face.
The last bit is the “shocking” conclusion and how nothing is as it seems. I’m giving this a 3.2 out of 5. The premise was interesting but I felt like 9 was reading lectures for half of it. The modern day parallels to idiots we know and our current society were depressing. The conclusion was a somewhat interesting twist but I wasn’t locked in enough to be truly invested in any of the characters or what happens to them. I struggled to get through the first half of the book and had to push myself t9 keep reading it. The book definitely gets better in the 2nd half but not enough to raise the rankings. Interesting concept but could have been better executed. What should have come across as really clever just comes through as really disjointed and flat.
Medusa doesn’t know who raped her but Ovid’s account names Poseidon (now an ambassador with diplomatic immunity) and Athena as the one who punished her for “besmirching” her temple by allowing herself to be raped or for seducing the gods as they see it with her beauty - beauty so famed as to rival Athena’s own beauty.
The first 60% of the book is about the trial. Parallels are drawn to modern times with Zeus cast as a modern day businessman/politico who has everyone in his pocket. He controls goats, buys politicians and people and is a deep misogynist who openly admits to using women as he sees fit as they let him do whatever he wants to them (sound like anyone we know?). During the course of the trial, it comes out that he raped his sisters, some of his daughters and married his sister Hera. Athena seems to be the only one that was spared his affections. The trial also expands on the plight of rape victims and how they are treated in different societies. It touches on issues from honour killings to victim shaming till it concludes with a surprising conclusion.
The next bit of the book talks about the aftermath of the trial and the relationships Medusa builds with people - particularly the people involved in her case. It also turns into a slight whodunnit as it turns out all the Olympians are being killed off one by one. Zeus becomes super paranoid and goes into overdrive. Again the author draws parallels to modern day fame culture and the power celebrities wield as well as the pressures and lack of privacy they face.
The last bit is the “shocking” conclusion and how nothing is as it seems. I’m giving this a 3.2 out of 5. The premise was interesting but I felt like 9 was reading lectures for half of it. The modern day parallels to idiots we know and our current society were depressing. The conclusion was a somewhat interesting twist but I wasn’t locked in enough to be truly invested in any of the characters or what happens to them. I struggled to get through the first half of the book and had to push myself t9 keep reading it. The book definitely gets better in the 2nd half but not enough to raise the rankings. Interesting concept but could have been better executed. What should have come across as really clever just comes through as really disjointed and flat.
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August 4, 2020Review based on ARC from NetGalley:
One of the most important skills for a writer is the ability to actually do enough research into aspects of the book being written to avoid coming across like you don't know anything. Unfortunately, "The Rape Trial of Medusa" fails on a number of levels, due to shoddy or non-existent research surrounding trial law.
It's clear in the beginning that the author is unsure if this is a civil case or a criminal case. That the case is moved from Greece to New York is absurd, and not in a readable, believable way..
Medusa constantly being referred to as the defendant - as the one who was raped it's questionable that she's not the victim - yet the attacker has diplomatic immunity. Given that the incident happened in Greece, between to people from Greece - Poseidon is supposedly the ambassador for the Olympians - he would not be able to claim diplomatic immunity just because the trial was moved.
Aside from the legal issue that were clearly not researched, the author spends an inordinate amount of time writing about the male member of the "defense" team, while relegating the female members to minimal description. That all of the descriptions of these people are hackneyed and full of cliches doesn't help.
The pretentious references to "the Handsome Anchor" "the Former Senator" "the Greek Expert" rather than actually naming these people shows that the author is pretending to write the great modern Greek tragedy without a clear understanding of how that would work. It's also more than a little offensive that "the attractive Reporter" (his writing not mine) is treated in an overtly sexist manner.
None of the characters are remotely interesting. There is a great deal of treating women as objects, while the men are the epitome of overbearing boorishness. Medusa for her part is taunted for being raped and disfigured, yet is so brilliant even though she only got through A in the encyclopedia she can converse with her male attorney about the 1927 New York Yankees baseball team?
All of this review is based on reading less than 30% of this drivel. I will not be finishing it and do not recommend anyone bother.
One of the most important skills for a writer is the ability to actually do enough research into aspects of the book being written to avoid coming across like you don't know anything. Unfortunately, "The Rape Trial of Medusa" fails on a number of levels, due to shoddy or non-existent research surrounding trial law.
It's clear in the beginning that the author is unsure if this is a civil case or a criminal case. That the case is moved from Greece to New York is absurd, and not in a readable, believable way..
Medusa constantly being referred to as the defendant - as the one who was raped it's questionable that she's not the victim - yet the attacker has diplomatic immunity. Given that the incident happened in Greece, between to people from Greece - Poseidon is supposedly the ambassador for the Olympians - he would not be able to claim diplomatic immunity just because the trial was moved.
Aside from the legal issue that were clearly not researched, the author spends an inordinate amount of time writing about the male member of the "defense" team, while relegating the female members to minimal description. That all of the descriptions of these people are hackneyed and full of cliches doesn't help.
The pretentious references to "the Handsome Anchor" "the Former Senator" "the Greek Expert" rather than actually naming these people shows that the author is pretending to write the great modern Greek tragedy without a clear understanding of how that would work. It's also more than a little offensive that "the attractive Reporter" (his writing not mine) is treated in an overtly sexist manner.
None of the characters are remotely interesting. There is a great deal of treating women as objects, while the men are the epitome of overbearing boorishness. Medusa for her part is taunted for being raped and disfigured, yet is so brilliant even though she only got through A in the encyclopedia she can converse with her male attorney about the 1927 New York Yankees baseball team?
All of this review is based on reading less than 30% of this drivel. I will not be finishing it and do not recommend anyone bother.
May 19, 2021
1.5 STARS?
That’s a first for me...
Usually, I reserve my 1-star reviews for books that I just can't stand... and I mean, I didn't completely HATE this one, but I still didn't really like it. I thought the premise was super interesting overall, but it was executed very badly. The book itself seemed like it needed to go through the editing process another time or two. The dialogue was very stilted, often characters would wax on philosophically (in the middle of a normal, every day conversation) and the whole book just felt really... distant and removed to me. I didn't get a clear view of any of the characters, their past, what motivates them, who they are, why they are. Everything just felt super surface-level.
There were a lot of moral, ethical, and political points to be made but I can't help but to feel super uncomfortable this was written by a man. The story is that Medusa was punished for being the victim of a rape, and in our modern-day times, she is trying to get justice and be freed from her punishment. The trial is focused on her -- solely on releasing her from her isolated prison island, there is nothing about bringing the actual rapist to trial. Which, like...?? Also, there was a lot of graphic violence, but the detailing of the rape itself just felt very... graphic for no reason? Trauma porn? Violence porn? There is so much misogyny seeping through the pages, it was very weird and confusing because the book somewhat makes itself out to be this big feminist revenge story, which it is not. More focus was put on Zeus (given a not-subtle-at-all Tr*mpian twist) than Medusa herself.
I would like to read this story, of Medusa getting justice for the horrible crime committed against her, as well as Athena getting what she deserves. But this is not the right book (...or author) to tell this story.
Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC.
Usually, I reserve my 1-star reviews for books that I just can't stand... and I mean, I didn't completely HATE this one, but I still didn't really like it. I thought the premise was super interesting overall, but it was executed very badly. The book itself seemed like it needed to go through the editing process another time or two. The dialogue was very stilted, often characters would wax on philosophically (in the middle of a normal, every day conversation) and the whole book just felt really... distant and removed to me. I didn't get a clear view of any of the characters, their past, what motivates them, who they are, why they are. Everything just felt super surface-level.
There were a lot of moral, ethical, and political points to be made but I can't help but to feel super uncomfortable this was written by a man. The story is that Medusa was punished for being the victim of a rape, and in our modern-day times, she is trying to get justice and be freed from her punishment. The trial is focused on her -- solely on releasing her from her isolated prison island, there is nothing about bringing the actual rapist to trial. Which, like...?? Also, there was a lot of graphic violence, but the detailing of the rape itself just felt very... graphic for no reason? Trauma porn? Violence porn? There is so much misogyny seeping through the pages, it was very weird and confusing because the book somewhat makes itself out to be this big feminist revenge story, which it is not. More focus was put on Zeus (given a not-subtle-at-all Tr*mpian twist) than Medusa herself.
I would like to read this story, of Medusa getting justice for the horrible crime committed against her, as well as Athena getting what she deserves. But this is not the right book (...or author) to tell this story.
Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC.
July 12, 2020
"Zeus: "These were affairs. Rape is relative."
Harper: "Or in your case, mostly relatives."
This book was a really interesting concept, where the Greek gods are alive in present day New York and are the most powerful elites of society. Thousands of years ago, Medusa was raped and Athena punished her by stripping away her beauty and turning her into a monster. The book follows the trial against the Olympian family.
I loved the idea of Medusa getting justice. The crimes committed against her were horrific and the author did an amazing job of making the Olympians vile and easy to hate. Medusa, on the other hand, is quiet and apologetic. I felt so sorry for her all the way throughout the book and I wanted her to get her HEA.
I found the court case really interesting. I liked Maggie Harper and I loved the way she built her case. The changing of the jury was such a high moment and again when Harper questioned Zeus. I also liked that the judge was honorable and beyond bribery. The tweets about "fake news" were amusing and I enjoyed the snippets which showed the Olympian's dysfunctional family dynamic.
However, I didn't like the ending although it was completely unexpected. I also found the torture and abuse was at times too graphic and unnecessary. Overall however, I would recommend and would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2022
Medusa, a single look can turn any man to stone. We all know the myth: she was cursed by Athena for disgracing her temple by seducing Poseidon and breaking her vow of celibacy. But, wait.. is that really what happened?
A millennia has past. People still fawn over the beautiful and the rich. Technology has made the worship that much easier. Here enters the trial of the century: Medusa is claiming that she was attacked and taken against her will, but she never saw her attacker. Her lawyer, Maggie Harper, with the aid of her two assistants, Jack and Crystal, they take on none other than the Olympian’s themselves. Taking the stand are Poseidon, Athena, Hera, Hades and Zeus.
Damn. I don’t know where to begin with this book. It was intense and a different look at the age old story. It digs into the misogyny that is so deeply interwoven into our past and present, and highlights the lack of empathy we feel sometimes feel for the so-called “monsters “.
This book definitely has trigger moments, and there were times I had to put it down for a minute to process what I was reading. I felt anger and sadness and disgust. It was beautifully written. ONLY THING I HATED was the name of one of the characters: Crystal Ball. Wtf! But other than that, I loved it.
Chose this for 52 Book Clubs 2022 Reading Challenge, prompt #13: Includes a Club.
A millennia has past. People still fawn over the beautiful and the rich. Technology has made the worship that much easier. Here enters the trial of the century: Medusa is claiming that she was attacked and taken against her will, but she never saw her attacker. Her lawyer, Maggie Harper, with the aid of her two assistants, Jack and Crystal, they take on none other than the Olympian’s themselves. Taking the stand are Poseidon, Athena, Hera, Hades and Zeus.
Damn. I don’t know where to begin with this book. It was intense and a different look at the age old story. It digs into the misogyny that is so deeply interwoven into our past and present, and highlights the lack of empathy we feel sometimes feel for the so-called “monsters “.
This book definitely has trigger moments, and there were times I had to put it down for a minute to process what I was reading. I felt anger and sadness and disgust. It was beautifully written. ONLY THING I HATED was the name of one of the characters: Crystal Ball. Wtf! But other than that, I loved it.
Chose this for 52 Book Clubs 2022 Reading Challenge, prompt #13: Includes a Club.
July 10, 2020
I chose to read this book as I have heard the story and myth of Medusa so many times and in so many ways. I was curious what new twist this book would take on it. I was nothing like what I expected!
The story of Medusa Gorgon begins in ancient Athens with a beautiful maiden who was raped in the Temple of Athena and later punished for said rape by being transformed into the infamous monster with snakes for hair that turns men to stone with a mere glance. After hundreds of years, Medusa comes out of her exile on a reptile and vermin infested island, to finally have the trial she was never given, in modern New York City.
The book portrays the Olympians as a powerful and influential family of billionaires. It explains away their being worshipped as gods but there is no doubt that they are the villains of this story.
As the trial of the century, with coverage all over the world, the book sets to determine if said alleged rape occurred and if so by whom.
This book is loaded with difficult topics of violence, morality, politics, sexism, rape culture and, most importantly, female injustice. It is at times a rather difficult read with the rawness of its content. It shed a different light on the story of Medusa and the famous Greek god and goddesses. However, it very skilfully weaves the old and the current events together into a very thought-provoking piece.
Not sure if I can confidently say I liked it. However, I was most certainly intrigued. It was a very modest twist to an age old story but written and presented in a very relevant way that captures the reader's attention, almost like a car wreck where you want to look away but you cannot.
The story of Medusa Gorgon begins in ancient Athens with a beautiful maiden who was raped in the Temple of Athena and later punished for said rape by being transformed into the infamous monster with snakes for hair that turns men to stone with a mere glance. After hundreds of years, Medusa comes out of her exile on a reptile and vermin infested island, to finally have the trial she was never given, in modern New York City.
The book portrays the Olympians as a powerful and influential family of billionaires. It explains away their being worshipped as gods but there is no doubt that they are the villains of this story.
As the trial of the century, with coverage all over the world, the book sets to determine if said alleged rape occurred and if so by whom.
This book is loaded with difficult topics of violence, morality, politics, sexism, rape culture and, most importantly, female injustice. It is at times a rather difficult read with the rawness of its content. It shed a different light on the story of Medusa and the famous Greek god and goddesses. However, it very skilfully weaves the old and the current events together into a very thought-provoking piece.
Not sure if I can confidently say I liked it. However, I was most certainly intrigued. It was a very modest twist to an age old story but written and presented in a very relevant way that captures the reader's attention, almost like a car wreck where you want to look away but you cannot.
May 9, 2023
Ugh, I barely started chapter 3 but I can’t continue. Please read the reviews before you buy!
I was also very excited about this premise and to get some feminist fiction with social commentary and greek goddesses and gods. Beautiful!
But the misogyny, islamophobia and quiet white supremacy sprinkled throughout the book is really ruining it all for me. Then I remembered that I had avoided picking this book up when I realized it was by a man…Sometimes, its disappointing to be right.
Here was the last comment I read that was such a prevalent and consistent theme throughout the book I had to put it down for good.
“The local authorities denied that any such travesty had occurred, but the 8 year old died bleeding in the hospital-or what passes for a hospital in Yemen.”
1. That comment was so far from neccessary and so unrelated to the topic.
2. The book goes to great lengthes to focus on how “backwards” other parts of the world-esp the mid-east-are when it comes to gender, but I dont see the reasoning in consistently making that point other than ignorance and prejudice.
I wouldn’t even put this book in the Little Free Library down the street. Maybe some books do need to get thrown away. 🤷🏼♀️
I was also very excited about this premise and to get some feminist fiction with social commentary and greek goddesses and gods. Beautiful!
But the misogyny, islamophobia and quiet white supremacy sprinkled throughout the book is really ruining it all for me. Then I remembered that I had avoided picking this book up when I realized it was by a man…Sometimes, its disappointing to be right.
Here was the last comment I read that was such a prevalent and consistent theme throughout the book I had to put it down for good.
“The local authorities denied that any such travesty had occurred, but the 8 year old died bleeding in the hospital-or what passes for a hospital in Yemen.”
1. That comment was so far from neccessary and so unrelated to the topic.
2. The book goes to great lengthes to focus on how “backwards” other parts of the world-esp the mid-east-are when it comes to gender, but I dont see the reasoning in consistently making that point other than ignorance and prejudice.
I wouldn’t even put this book in the Little Free Library down the street. Maybe some books do need to get thrown away. 🤷🏼♀️
July 10, 2020
Set in the modern-day New York, Medusa Gorgon is awaiting her trial against the Olympians, the Elites. Someone raped Medusa in Athena's temple, and Athena, an Olympian, blamed and punished her for the rape. [hmmm]. Once young and beautiful, Medusa is now a monster whose gaze can turn any man into a stone. She hides the snakes coming out of her head with a hijab and is in confined in a single facility. Maggie Harper, Medusa's attorney, and her team is prepared to take the Olympians down.
Starting with somethings that I didn't like:
The pacing is problematic. It starts incredibly slow, and if you're not aware of the Medusa curse, you're bound to DNF it. Medusa's character lacked depth. She's lived for a thousand years on an island, and her entry to Manhattan didn't particularly surprise her. When she sees herself for the first time in the mirror, snakes out of her head, tears stream down her eyes. Umm...that's all?
The characters of the Olympians were brilliant. They are one of the elitists- politicians, senators and influentials. Zeus TWEETS. Modernisation at its peak, I'd say. Athena's character is vile. I could feel my blood boil when she spoke.
The courtroom drama is impressive. Harper knows her job and strips down Olympians in one of the best courtroom showdowns ever! Kasenow's attempt to bridge the gap between Greek mythology and the modern world is commendable.
Had the pacing been speedy, this would have been one of the best modern retellings for me.
Starting with somethings that I didn't like:
The pacing is problematic. It starts incredibly slow, and if you're not aware of the Medusa curse, you're bound to DNF it. Medusa's character lacked depth. She's lived for a thousand years on an island, and her entry to Manhattan didn't particularly surprise her. When she sees herself for the first time in the mirror, snakes out of her head, tears stream down her eyes. Umm...that's all?
The characters of the Olympians were brilliant. They are one of the elitists- politicians, senators and influentials. Zeus TWEETS. Modernisation at its peak, I'd say. Athena's character is vile. I could feel my blood boil when she spoke.
The courtroom drama is impressive. Harper knows her job and strips down Olympians in one of the best courtroom showdowns ever! Kasenow's attempt to bridge the gap between Greek mythology and the modern world is commendable.
Had the pacing been speedy, this would have been one of the best modern retellings for me.
July 11, 2020
As the title suggests, the book deals with (in)famous rape of Medusa. After centuries, she is finally able to fight for justice. Against her stand the incredibly powerful Olympians, they have money and influence and they don’t hold themselves back from being cruel to get what they want and need and to get their message across (and sometimes also just for fun). It’s during this trial that the perfect facade they wore disappears and people become more critical of them.
I absolutely loved this part of the story, even though it was awful and heartbreaking. The way in which the story is told is very intriguing. It really felt as if I were watching an actual trial unfold in front of me. I simply could not stop reading and constantly needed more.
Unfortunately, my excitement dropped with the last 50 or so pages. It took a turn I didn’t really enjoy, so I finished this book with a slightly bitter taste in my mouth.
I will still recommend this book to my friends, though, because for the most part, the book was great.
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I absolutely loved this part of the story, even though it was awful and heartbreaking. The way in which the story is told is very intriguing. It really felt as if I were watching an actual trial unfold in front of me. I simply could not stop reading and constantly needed more.
Unfortunately, my excitement dropped with the last 50 or so pages. It took a turn I didn’t really enjoy, so I finished this book with a slightly bitter taste in my mouth.
I will still recommend this book to my friends, though, because for the most part, the book was great.
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 22, 2020
It’s not often I ever rate books below three stars, unless I truly had difficulties with enjoying them for reasons other than personal preference.
The Rape Trial of Medusa is, unfortunately, one of these books. I had great familiarity with Greek myths, and had always felt a sympathy for Medusa. When I hear the gods would be trumplike, I found myself even more interested in the book.
Unfortunately, I was vastly disappointed. The gods, free in their prejudices, seem to mostly exist so that the writer can have pleasure in writing the taunts. The violence is overstated, seemingly meant to be titillating for both reader and writer. All but one of the women in the story are one-dimensional, focused on little else but beauty. Medusa herself swings between the history of her rape, and once that’s resolved, how lovely her beauty is and was. She has no hesitations about leaping into a new sexual relationship, though the man brings very little to the table.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Rape Trial of Medusa is, unfortunately, one of these books. I had great familiarity with Greek myths, and had always felt a sympathy for Medusa. When I hear the gods would be trumplike, I found myself even more interested in the book.
Unfortunately, I was vastly disappointed. The gods, free in their prejudices, seem to mostly exist so that the writer can have pleasure in writing the taunts. The violence is overstated, seemingly meant to be titillating for both reader and writer. All but one of the women in the story are one-dimensional, focused on little else but beauty. Medusa herself swings between the history of her rape, and once that’s resolved, how lovely her beauty is and was. She has no hesitations about leaping into a new sexual relationship, though the man brings very little to the table.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2020
This was a good book from start to finish. I'm not going to bother you with the blurb or my own description of it, since, if you came this far, you already read it.
What I liked:
This is what originality means. I can't say I've encounter books with a similar plot or setting.
It is well written, characters are defined in detail. Something I thoroughly enjoyed.
The antagonists, not so much, but I don't think it was needed, since these are guys that have being on earth for eons doing the same thing over and over again.
What I didn't like.
The author hints strongly at upcoming events. For instance, after Medusa's first description of her assault, within the first pages of the book, you know exactly who done what to whom. This happens constantly through out the book.
The trial, the main reason to read this book, goes without a glitch, all the way to the "I'm so angry, I'm going to confess" cliché.
That aside it was a great read, but not an "I can't put this book down" one. Still I enjoyed it and recommend it.
thank you for the book guys!
What I liked:
This is what originality means. I can't say I've encounter books with a similar plot or setting.
It is well written, characters are defined in detail. Something I thoroughly enjoyed.
The antagonists, not so much, but I don't think it was needed, since these are guys that have being on earth for eons doing the same thing over and over again.
What I didn't like.
The author hints strongly at upcoming events. For instance, after Medusa's first description of her assault, within the first pages of the book, you know exactly who done what to whom. This happens constantly through out the book.
The trial, the main reason to read this book, goes without a glitch, all the way to the "I'm so angry, I'm going to confess" cliché.
That aside it was a great read, but not an "I can't put this book down" one. Still I enjoyed it and recommend it.
thank you for the book guys!
January 7, 2022
This was a deep in-depth depiction of Medusa and her rape trial. Medusa was treated like many women who have been raped. It was her fault and she was asking for it. Medusa was punished for her beauty and turned into a monster. Her rage, are the snakes that came forth from her head demanding justice.
THIS BOOK HAS A LOT OF HARD CONTENT.
I believe around 65% of the novel the Victim blaming mentality started to show. Also, this book shows how powerful men and women believe they are above the law.
This can be very emotional and trigger for those who have ever been blamed for their rape. It's horrible that even in 2022 this can connect with so many women.
I thought this was a really thought-provoking read and would highly recommend it for those who wish a deeper understanding of this side of Medusa.
She is a survivor of domestic violence from her mother and father, child molestation, and rape. She is often looked at as a symbol of feminist rage. But she is more than a victim, let's be clear, this story only shows one aspect of her many faces.
THIS BOOK HAS A LOT OF HARD CONTENT.
I believe around 65% of the novel the Victim blaming mentality started to show. Also, this book shows how powerful men and women believe they are above the law.
This can be very emotional and trigger for those who have ever been blamed for their rape. It's horrible that even in 2022 this can connect with so many women.
I thought this was a really thought-provoking read and would highly recommend it for those who wish a deeper understanding of this side of Medusa.
She is a survivor of domestic violence from her mother and father, child molestation, and rape. She is often looked at as a symbol of feminist rage. But she is more than a victim, let's be clear, this story only shows one aspect of her many faces.
July 23, 2020
I really enjoyed this book.
Its the story of Medusa and the Olympians but done in modern times. So modern that Zeus is in the story riding in limousines and sending out tweets. When I first read about Zeus sending out tweets I was not sure I would like this book, but it really grabbed me and I enjoyed all of the story.
The story is focused on Medusa going to court to seek justice for her rape and 'curse'...her disfigurement, that left her as the icon we all know, ugly, with serpents growing out of her head. This disfigurement was placed on her as a punishment for being a rape victim, so you can just imagine the rage and hurt Medusa is carrying with her.
The story does not end once her rape trial is over but continues on for a few years afterward.
Its a very interesting and well thought out retelling of the story of Medusa and a statement about being true to yourself and standing up for justice no matter what.
Its the story of Medusa and the Olympians but done in modern times. So modern that Zeus is in the story riding in limousines and sending out tweets. When I first read about Zeus sending out tweets I was not sure I would like this book, but it really grabbed me and I enjoyed all of the story.
The story is focused on Medusa going to court to seek justice for her rape and 'curse'...her disfigurement, that left her as the icon we all know, ugly, with serpents growing out of her head. This disfigurement was placed on her as a punishment for being a rape victim, so you can just imagine the rage and hurt Medusa is carrying with her.
The story does not end once her rape trial is over but continues on for a few years afterward.
Its a very interesting and well thought out retelling of the story of Medusa and a statement about being true to yourself and standing up for justice no matter what.
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