Stone Blind

Medusa's Story

Hardcover, 384 pages

English language

Published Nov. 1, 2022 by Pan Macmillan.

ISBN:
978-1-5290-6147-5
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4 stars (3 reviews)

Medusa is the sole mortal in a family of gods. Growing up with her Gorgon sisters, she begins to realize that she is the only one who experiences change, the only one who can be hurt. And her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know.

When the sea god Poseidon commits an unforgivable act in the temple of Athene, the goddess takes her revenge where she can – and Medusa is changed forever. Writhing snakes replace her hair, and her gaze now turns any living creature to stone. The power cannot be controlled: Medusa can look at nothing without destroying it. She is condemned to a life of shadows and darkness.

Until Perseus embarks upon a quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon . . .

5 editions

An absolute tragedy

5 stars

In 2008 Luciano Garbati created "Medusa with the Head of Perseus", and a modern version of the Medusa myth was lodged in minds, of a defiant strong woman taking revenge on her agressors.

That's not the Medusa myth Natalie Haynes tells.

Natalie tells the story of Medusa the victim, who did nothing wrong except exist and was tormented, tortured and then killed. Even after death, she's still a weapon, used by a cowardly mortal who solves all his problems with death. The Gods have done nothing but do what Gods do, which is use her as a pawn for her entire existence.

This is not a triumpant story, it's a story about the roles women play in society, and their relationships with Gods and men.

Review of 'Stone Blind' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I feel I have been waiting for a retelling of the Medusa myth from her POV for several decades, as she always seemed to get a pretty raw deal in the traditional versions. However, while I very much enjoyed this, Haynes' skillful and sometimes darkly funny version turns out not to be what I thought I wanted.
So, I feel I can't give this a rating yet. I am going to need to reread it later in the year, and savour it again, with different expectations.

avatar for dht6000

rated it

4 stars

Subjects

  • English Literature
  • Mythology
  • Fantasy
  • Greek Mythology
  • Retellings