I, Medusa

A Novel

De: Ayana Gray

Narrado por: Tyla Collier, A'rese Emokpae

From New York Times bestselling author Ayana Gray comes 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

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

True to Story

Beautifully written to the point where it brought me to tears. There was something that I was hoping to get from this that I didn’t get from other reimaginings of Medusa, but that doesn’t detract from the story at all. It is my own inner rage for her that I write myself within my mind. Bravo

Engaging

Engaging from the start! The storyline, the weaving in of ancient characters, the narration…everything worked wonderfully!

Beautiful Retelling

Sobbing during the Epilogue of I, Medusa. This book was so fantastic, I have read so many Medusa retellings and she has felt so dear to me, as she has for many others. The Authors Note was truly so special. Thank you Ayana Gray for your work, I’ll hold this one close for a while.

Knowledge of Meddy

Gave a 4 out of 5 , very good story , the reader was very good. Stayed true to the book

Emotionally charged

It should definitely have all of the SA trigger warnings. At times it felt like watching a train wreck in slow motion and being helpless to stop it. It is beautifully written and well researched. As a woman it is quite harrowing. That being said, I would consider it a must read.

Black AF

I’m crying! Read in one day. I can’t explain how great this is. I am so happy with the diversity that was displayed within this story and telling Medusa story in such a beautiful way.

Buying the hard copy

This was a good book! Hands down .. I loved every single moment of it. It definitely has conversation starters and hidden gems that young girls need to start being told about . I hope this book gets the recognition it deserves. I hope this book sells out in every store. I hope the author knows how valuable she is and how important this book is to our community. Thank you Ayana. You’re all appreciated.

Engaging!

I loved it! I enjoyed every bit of it. I recommend you to listen to it and enjoy it too.

What a delightful read

I burned through this story in just under 2 days.
It's a wonderfully thought out, perfectly believable retelling of a myth most have heard before. it's aim is not to erase the history which paints Medusa as a monster, but to shift ones perspective on what it means to be monstrous and how a series of instances can drive one into becoming something other than what they intended to be themselves. And it succeeds beautifully.
Medusa is a tragic figure, exploited by beings with power greater than she could imagine, and punished and blamed for her own victimhood; a story unfortunately timeless in and just as tragically relatable to this day for many.
Even her faults and missteps feel disturbingly familiar because who of us has not been 17? And when exactly should one be most permitted to make mistakes than as a child?
The only thing I could say against this is that I wish it were longer. I feel if this weren't a retelling of an existing myth the author would have found a wonderful way to close the tale. As it stands though, it's simply lovely, touching, and beautifully written. A true pleasure to read.

This was a really good retelling.

This was a really good listen. The narration was great. The only issue I really have is I wish it had a trigger warning. It has on page SA, DV, grooming and other mature subjects. Otherwise, it was written well and I enjoyed listening.