She is fascinated by her visitors, but fears that he will either be put off by her snakes – all of which have names and distinct personalities – or else fall victim to the curse which has been placed on Medusa by the goddess Athena that harm will come to any man wholooks upon her. I loved that here, in her own words, she gets to be more than just a cautionary tale or a monster to be slayed.

Medusa’s story also sheds a light on complex issues such as sexual abuse and victim shaming along with the psychological effects of insecurity and isolation resulting from the same. I also appreciate a well-illustrated novel or novella, so this book was enticing on all counts, though I suspect it would work even better in print than it does as in electronic formats. Their relationship takes a tragic turn, however, when Medusa and Perseus reveal their true identities to one another. In this version of the story, told from Medusa’s point of view rather than from that of Perseus, and using the Greek names in spite of borrowing heavily from Ovid, Medusa is the only Gorgon with snakes for hair, while her sisters, Stheno and Euryale, are the only members of the trio to have wings. This was one of - if not the best - Medusa retelling I’d read in years and I highly recommend it to those wanting a fresh take on her myth.Given the continuing revelations about men like Weinstein and (US president Donald) Trump, and others we have each encountered on our way through life, Medusa's myth is ripe for the retelling. Following the depictions of Medusa as a monster came images that symbolized her as a sort of femme fata WMC Climate positions the people climate change affects the most – women and people of color – front and center. A feminist retelling of the Medusa myth, set in a run-down, modern seaside town, Medusa Retold is filled with the magic and fury of the original tale.

At one level, this can be interpreted as a feminist opportunity to illustrate the power of women and the deceit of men. A friend that she begins to trust, and with the desire to shed the ‘ache of loneliness’, she opens up to him. Burton tackles an old myth with unflinching honesty to reclaim Medusa's story as one of self-love and bravery.i enjoyed reading about the gods one-upping each other, how they use mortals to achieve their goals, and everything in between.

This was different to other retellings, combining elements from classic versions of the myth and offering something unique too. While her sisters can fly off, Medusa is confined to the rocky landscape with only her dog as company.As the story unfolds and secrets are revealed Perseus and Medusa must make choices that will irrevocably change their lives forever.

A muted colour palette consisting of mostly earthy tones was used for each of the gorgeous images and I would happily display every single one of them on my walls.If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.