Summary:
The only mortal in a family of gods, Medusa is the youngest of the Gorgon sisters. Unlike her siblings, Medusa grows older, experiences change, feels weakness. Her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know.
When the sea god Poseidon assaults Medusa in Athene's temple, the goddess is enraged. Furious at the violation of her sacred space, Athene takes revenge - on the young woman. Punished for Poseidon's actions, Medusa is forever transformed. Writhing snakes replace her hair, and her gaze will turn any living creature to stone. Cursed with the power to destroy all she loves with one look, Medusa condemns herself to a life of solitude. Until Perseus embarks upon a fateful quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon . . .
My Thoughts:
Medusa grows up with her Gorgon sisters, who found her on the beach as a baby and raised her as best they could. Despite their many differences, they all love each other as they would if they were related. Despite the protests of her sisters, Medusa goes to Athene's temple, where she is assaulted by Poseidon. When Athene curses her, she keeps her eyes blindfolded so that she cannot hurt her sisters.
When Perseus's mother seems to be doomed to marry a rather unlikable king, he jumps at the chance to save her by bringing the king a head of a Gorgon.
I really liked that each chapter alternates perspectives. You get the perspective of Medusa along with the perspectives of the gods who are both voluntarily involved and who are unintentionally involved. The world-building was not as intricate as I would like, but it does the job. While the book succeeds in developing most of the main characters, Medusa is noticeably less developed than some of them. This is disappointing as the whole story revolves around her.
I would recommend reading this, but be warned of the heavy topics involved.
My Rating: 3 stars
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