Stone Blind

In 2008 Luciano Garbati created "Medusa with the Head of Perseus", and a modern version of the Medusa myth was lodged in minds, of a defiant strong woman taking revenge on her agressors.

That's not the Medusa myth Natalie Haynes tells.

Natalie tells the story of Medusa the victim, who did nothing wrong except exist and was tormented, tortured and then killed. Even after death, she's still a weapon, used by a cowardly mortal who solves all his problems with death. The Gods have done nothing but do what Gods do, which is use her as a pawn for her entire existence.

This is not a triumpant story, it's a story about the roles women play in society, and their relationships with Gods and men.

Natalie's audiobook narration is so entertaining! Who gets to decide who is a monster? This story tells the story of Medusa as innocent victim, unfairly punished for her rape. And Perseus is such a wet blanket, rather than the hero of myths.

I see some complaints that this is told from lots of perspectives, not just Medusa's but I enjoyed the story of Andromeda and the bickering gods too. And the scene between Perseus and the Graeae was so much fun. Although ultimately sad that one naive young man did so much damage to people he dismissed as monsters