Author: Ayana Gray
Series: Standalone
Genre: Fantasy/Mythology/Retelling
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: November 18, 2025
Edition: Ebook
Source: NetGalley
Pre-Order: Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | BAM | Bookshop | Kobo | Powell's |
Synopsis:
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 Athens’ colorful market streets 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, a drunken night between girl and god ends in violence, and the course of Meddy’s promising future is suddenly and irrevocably altered.
Her locs 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 cross currents between her heart’s deepest desires and the cruel, careless games the Olympian gods play.
In Athens’ colorful market streets 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, a drunken night between girl and god ends in violence, and the course of Meddy’s promising future is suddenly and irrevocably altered.
Her locs 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 cross currents between her heart’s deepest desires and the cruel, careless games the Olympian gods play.
*********************
A book written for and about Medusa is not something that I would ever expect. She's so often a footnote in everybody else's story. Her origins are rarely mentioned, she's always only been a monster who "had to die". And this book shows us a different side to the story.
This book brings a new perspective to her character. The tragedy of her existence, the injustice of how it ended. The betrayals from almost everybody in her life. Even her sisters weren't there for her in the way she needed them to be, they treated her like she wasn't as capable as she was. In their goal to protect her, they left her open to manipulation, and made her less safe. But her parents were so consumed with themselves they never considered her safety or well-being. Keeping her isolated as possible, even when none could leave the island, they set her apart by reminding her anytime they could of her mortality, when they were immortal.
I had hope Athena wouldn't be quite the monster I assumed she always was. Let's be real in Greek mythology the Gods are never what anyone would call 'nice'. She's supposed to be the Goddess of logic and reason, yet when it comes to what she finds personally offensive, she forgets all that. It was frustrating how she didn't always equally dole out punishment on her Priestesses. It was often as if she expected more from Medusa, while also treating her like a ignorant child. It's a position women are often placed in. I did like that Poseidon was painted as a creep the moment he shows up on page. Sure, he acts charismatic and charming, but he was a creep. I do wish he got some kind of punishment though.
The one thing that I struggled with in the book is pacing, for me this felt like a very slow-paced book. I don't need lots of action, but something made the book feel slow for me. I might be in the minority for that though.
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