Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Medusa  By  cover art

Medusa

By: Jessie Burton
Narrated by: Alisha Bailey
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $14.20

Buy for $14.20

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

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

A dazzling, feminist retelling of Greek myth from the internationally best-selling author of The Miniaturist.

Exiled to a far-flung island by the whims of the gods, Medusa has little company except the snakes that adorn her head instead of hair. But when a charmed, beautiful boy called Perseus arrives on the island, her lonely existence is disrupted with the force of a supernova, unleashing desire, love and betrayal....

This astonishing retelling of Greek myth is perfect for fans of Circe and The Silence of the Girls. Illuminating the girl behind the legend, it brings alive Medusa for a new generation.

©2021 Jessie Burton (P)2021 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Critic reviews

"Easily my read of the year. Sheer perfection from start to finish." (Catherine Doyle)

"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)

"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)

What listeners say about Medusa

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    65
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    71
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    58
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Short but Sweet

From the point of view of Medusa. Jesse dared to end the story in a different way. Hooray for Jessie.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed this book

It was interesting to hear this story from Medusa’s point of view; I truly felt sorry for her.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Medusa

A beautiful retelling- felt very powerful to read and is an excellent retelling of Greek myth

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful and empowering.

I absolutely loved this telling of Medusa's story. She deserves such. Her story so resonates with many experiences that are too often forced on women. And as a trans woman, it resonates with others making you out to be a monster - that your are certainly not - and then coming for your head. Everything about this little book is a win.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • AJ
  • 02-06-22

A deep heartfelt thanks…

For putting Medusa‘s sorry and wisdom into writing or in this case spoken. What a brilliant, lovely, and powerful story for a time like this. A time where many women are healing deep wounds and affecting their way to step into their power. I appreciate so you’re heart touching metaphors and truth piercing sentences.
Medusa has been coming to me and then here I find this book. Thank you, thank you for bringing her to life in such a beautiful way. Helping her tell her story. And helping us see ourselves in it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Creative feminist retelling

I loved this updated, feminist retelling of Medusa’s story. Myths transform over time and reflect the ages they live in and this version is perfect for our times. Even though I’m familiar with the details of the story, I was still at the edge of my seat waiting for the big reveal, which is impressive! I loved the imaginative descriptions and the narrator was just perfect.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good listen

Very good listen, a bit shorter than I would have liked, but overall worth the purchase.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved

Empowering. My goddess, as one person put it”short & sweet”..might I add powerful. You can’t help but gaze into the mirror of your own reflection..like she does in the book. She is me. She is my daughter. She is every woman who has carried the weight of societal judgment & damnation by at times simply existing. This book will be an old friend I revisit …💚

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing listen

Lovely narration, and an amazing story! The ending is beautiful and helps bring new life to the myth of Medusa

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

loved it

what an amazing retelling, Jessie Burtons uses words like a paintbrush in my mind! the message was beautifully delivered! I loved it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!