I, Medusa

A Novel

De: Ayana Gray

Narrado por: Tyla Collier, A'rese Emokpae

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A “captivating villain origin story” (People Book of the Week) reimagining one of the most iconic monsters in Greek mythology as a provocative and powerful young heroine

“Ayana Gray brings her fresh, dynamic storytelling to one of the most monstered, maligned, and misunderstood women of Greek myth, imagining all the girls that Medusa was and could have been.”—Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne

AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

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 the colorful market streets of Athens 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, the course of Meddy’s promising future is suddenly and irrevocably altered.

When her locs are 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 crosscurrents between her heart’s deepest desires and the cruel, careless games the Olympian gods play.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Ayana Gray brings her fresh, dynamic storytelling to one of the most monstered, maligned, and misunderstood women of Greek myth, imagining all the girls that Medusa was and could have been.”—Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne

“A vivid, searing reimagining of the infamous villain . . . By deftly peeling back the layers to reveal the young, misunderstood woman inside the legend, Ayana Gray has crafted a bold new classic as heartbreaking as it is hopeful.”—Ann Liang, New York Times bestselling author of A Song to Drown Rivers

“A stunning reimagining of Greek mythology’s most misunderstood villain.”—K. X. Song, bestselling author of The Night Ends with Fire

“I, Medusa grips you from the first page, deftly exploring sisterhood, friendship, and the rage felt by unfairly maligned women all the way back to antiquity."—Sabaa Tahir, bestselling author of An Ember in the Ashes

“Melodic and menacing, Gray’s treatment of the Medusa myth is as tender as it is tragic. Few would meet Medusa’s eyes, but in Gray’s assured retelling, it is impossible to look away from her.”—Roshani Chokshi, bestselling author of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride

“Deeply relevant to both the ancient and the modern worlds, I, Medusa packs a punch as hard as stone—yet still leaves room for the fragile joys of the mortal condition.”—Samantha Shannon, bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree

“Gray has granted us all a gift in this thoughtful and heartfelt retelling. But perhaps it is Medusa who has been given the greatest gift by Gray: a chance to tell her truth and be listened to—an opportunity so few Black women get. Vindication and vengeance are a heady mix.”—Saara El-Arifi, bestselling author of Faebound

“In this stirring fantasy, bestseller Gray reimagines Medusa as a fierce heroine given to righteous anger, with a strong drive for justice and a deep desire for acceptance, all of which puts her squarely at odds with the capricious gods. . . . Both empowering and infuriating, it’s a strong take on the classic character.”—Publishers Weekly

Fantastic

I have 893 titles. I have listented to all sorts of titles. This was a fantastic book of mythology . Its a great bioggraohy type of Medusa. It humanizes Medusa. It is extremly well told, narrated and it is quite interesting.

I highly recommend it.

Wow! A MUST read!

Wow! This was amazing read. I couldn’t stop listening! It was the perfect mixture of it all. I love how this book tells the story of Medusa. Makes me appreciate the Greek mythology I learned in school.

The story of Medusa

I am ashamed that I never really knew the story of Medusa and what I have seen was that of women survivors of SA. Now listening to this story and researching her it’s is angering and also inspiring to see this version of the story.

This is easily one of the strongest mythology retellings I’ve read.

Ayana Gray truly did what needed to be done with I, Medusa. From the very first page, this story grabbed me by the collar and pulled me straight into a sharp, reimagined world of gods, mortals, and the brutal politics that bind them. There isn’t a dull moment—not a wasted sentence, not a single flat line. The writing is rich, immersive, and intentional in every way.

What captivated me most was the decision to center Medusa not as the monster we’ve always been handed, but as a girl, a human—a young woman shaped by family, faith, betrayal, rage, and resilience. Watching “Meddy” grow from a curious child on a secluded island, to an Acolyte of Athena with hopes of priesthood, to a woman slowly caught in the crosshairs of divine cruelty felt both heartbreaking and empowering. Gray doesn’t just retell a myth; she reclaims it.

The themes in this book hit hard: sisterhood, victimization, agency, righteous fury, and the complicated ways women must survive in systems built to punish them. The bond between Medusa and her Gorgon sisters—Stheno and Euryale—was beautifully written and gave the story its emotional spine. The portrayal of brown-skinned characters throughout added depth and representation that made this mythological world feel fresh, grounded, and long overdue.

This is easily one of the strongest mythology retellings I’ve read. Thought-provoking, emotional, and thoroughly human. Ayana Gray breathed life into a figure often reduced to a symbol, and instead gave her the voice she always deserved.

First person story telling

truly enjoyed the full character and imagery development and description throughout the entirety of the story