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Natalie Haynes: Stone Blind (Hardcover, 2022, Pan Macmillan) 4 stars

Medusa is the sole mortal in a family of gods. Growing up with her Gorgon …

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.