I, Medusa
A Novel
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4.5 • 126 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A “captivating villain origin story” (People Book of the Week) reimagining one of the most iconic monsters in Greek mythology as a provocative and powerful young heroine
“Ayana Gray brings her fresh, dynamic storytelling to one of the most monstered, maligned, and misunderstood women of Greek myth, imagining all the girls that Medusa was and could have been.”—Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne
AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
Meddy has spent her whole life as a footnote in someone else’s story. Out of place next to her beautiful, immortal sisters and her parents—both gods, albeit minor ones—she dreams of leaving her family’s island for a life of adventure. So when she catches the eye of the goddess Athena, who invites her to train as an esteemed priestess in her temple, Meddy leaps at the chance to see the world beyond her home.
In the colorful market streets of Athens and the clandestine chambers of the temple, Meddy flourishes in her role as Athena’s favored acolyte, getting her first tastes of purpose and power. But when she is noticed by another Olympian, Poseidon, the course of Meddy’s promising future is suddenly and irrevocably altered.
When her locs are transformed into snakes as punishment for a crime she did not commit, Medusa must embrace a new identity—not as a victim, but as a vigilante—and with it, the chance to write her own story as mortal, martyr, and myth.
Exploding with rage, heartbreak, and love, I, Medusa portrays a young woman caught in the crosscurrents between her heart’s deepest desires and the cruel, careless games the Olympian gods play.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this stirring fantasy, bestseller Gray (Beasts of War) reimagines Medusa as a fierce heroine given to righteous anger, with a strong drive for justice and a deep desire for acceptance, all of which puts her squarely at odds with the capricious gods. Meddy, a dark-skinned 17-year-old, is a mortal among immortals, the exception in a family of primordial sea gods, but she's still subject to the same pressures as her sisters: uphold her family's honor and marry to strengthen their standing within the Sea Court. Restless, stubborn, and book smart, but painfully naive, Meddy attracts the goddess Athena's attention and is invited to serve at her temple in Athens. Becoming a priestess is no easy feat as Meddy faces tests from the goddess and racist and xenophobic aggression from her fellow acolytes, who don't know her divine origins and believe she is from Africa. Her life takes a dramatic turn when the sea god Poseidon sexually assaults her. Outraged by this violation of Meddy's oaths, Athena transforms her into a snake-haired monster who can petrify with a glance. Caught between anger and grief, Meddy must find a new purpose. In focusing on the young Medusa's coming-of-age in a toxic environment and the assault that redefines her life, Gray emphasizes the tragic aspects of the original myth and the pervasiveness of rape culture. Both empowering and infuriating, it's a strong take on the classic character.
Customer Reviews
My fav book
Girll, I started my book journey and this was my second book. Just wow. I really enjoyed the way the author wrote. I could literally imagine everything as if I were there. I would read this again and I would definitely recommend this book to another.
Amazing !
a powerful, emotionally intense retelling that highlights Medusa’s resilience and growth. The story stood out through her unwavering strength, her refusal to back down against those who wronged her, and her transformative awakening into her full power.
A great read with an important lesson
As a woman, as many women have experienced, who has experienced assault that was never punished this book resonated deeply. Medusa is a hero, not a monster.