Medusa

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What to expect

Bloomsbury presents Medusa by Jessie Burton, read by Alisha Bailey.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL
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'A beautiful and profound retelling' – Madeline Miller, author of The Song of Achilles and Circe
'Gives the serpent-headed monster of myth a powerful and haunting humanity' – Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne and Elektra
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If I told you that I’d killed a man with a glance, would you wait to hear the rest? The why, the how, what happened next?

Monster. Man-hater. Murderess. Forget everything you’ve been told about Medusa.
Internationally bestselling author Jessie Burton flips the script in this astonishing retelling of Greek myth, illuminating the woman behind the legend at last.

Exiled to a far-flung island after being abused by powerful Gods, Medusa has little company other than the snakes that adorn her head instead of hair. Haunted by the memories of a life before everything was stolen from her, she has no choice but to make peace with her present: Medusa the Monster. But when the charmed and beautiful Perseus arrives on the island, her lonely existence is blown apart, unleashing desire, love... and betrayal.

Perfect for readers who loved Circe and Ariadne, as Medusa comes alive in a new version of the story that history set in stone long ago.
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'… a must-read for women of all ages' – Red magazine
'Utterly transporting' – Guardian Books of the Year
'… an impressive addition to the shelves of feminist retellings, balancing rage with beautiful storytelling' – Irish Times

Critics Review

A beautiful and profound retelling ... a powerfully feminist, elegaic and original twist on this old story. The book tackles pain and trauma without flinching, but its message is ultimately one of joy and hope
Madeline Miller
Utterly transporting
Guardian Books of the Year
A beautiful and compassionate retelling that gives the serpent-headed monster of myth a powerful and haunting humanity ... Medusa's vulnerability, strength and journey of self-acceptance is one that will stay with me
Jennifer Saint
[A] beguiling, lyrical, but also relatable retelling of the myth of Medusa ... [that] reclaims her both as an ordinary teenage girl who was exploited, brutalised then punished and also as a feminist icon who refuses to be a victim when she can be a proud survivor ... Medusa is a must read for women of all ages
Red Magazine 'Best Books to Read This October'
Destined to become as much an artefact of our own age as it is an illumination of the ancient past [...] bracing and powerful
Guardian
Immerse yourself in Jessie Burton's poetic, powerful reclamation of Medusa's story
Harper's Bazaar
This book is a beautiful excavation, uncovering the girl beneath the gorgon, the power within the punished. Exquisitely told, Medusa stole my heart from its first fierce lines
Mary Watson
Easily my read of the year. Sheer perfection from start to finish
Catherine Doyle
A thought-provoking and gorgeously illustrated retelling
Daily Mail Christmas Roundup
Filled with vulnerability, raw emotion, betrayal and self-acceptance, this is a story that transcends its ancient time into a surprisingly relevant tale for girls today
i
Fierce and tender and full of heart; the reclamation of self that Medusa is owed, the version of the myth that deserves to be told, passed girl to girl, painted across walls and screamed from rooftops
Melinda Salisbury
I loved this story of survival, healing and bravery of all kinds. A moving retelling that will hold so much appeal for teens but also captivate adult readers of Circe and Ariadne
Amy McCulloch
This glorious retelling of MEDUSA will stay with me for a very long time. The writing is stunning, as one might expect with Jessie Burton, and the story feels searingly, heartbreakingly relevant for the world we live in. It’s a work of art
Louise O’Neill
[Medusa] refreshes an ancient myth in a way that empowers young women. If you enjoyed Pat Barker's The Silence of the Girls, this is one for your Christmas List
Woman&Home
Medusa is an impressive addition to the shelves of feminist retellings, balancing rage with beautiful storytelling
Irish Times
A magnificent retelling of the Gorgon we know the most - Medusa - this title shows you the woman behind the myth
Buzzfeed
Burton turns one of Greek mythology's most contested figures into a heroine fit for modern fiction
Emily Bearn, Oldie
[A] haunting reimagining ... Burton’s take on the traditional adversaries humanizes both characters, blurring boundaries between hero and monster
Publisher's Weekly
A gorgeous gift. The writing is beautiful, the story heartbreakingly relevant
Louise O'Neill, Irish Examiner
A fiercely feminist undercurrent fuels Medusa's unflinching voice
Shelf Awareness

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