Stone Blind: Medusa's Story

 That's the thing about the Olympic pantheon, about the figures in Greek myth, generally. Not a whole of character development. Sure the worst consequences come to some individuals but it's even odds if those consequences are the result of being punished for wrong action according to the rules of ancient society or because the gods just felt like it. Which is a reflection of how ancient Greek people thought things worked and explained via such myths. Around and around we go! I admit I was anticipating a specific POV, this was much more of an ensemble piece. Medusa we hear from very little, her severed head a bit more. There's understably feminist rage conveyed mostly via the Gorgoneion associated with the ways men in Greek myth appear to prize women who only look and act a certain way, but overall women just suffer based on men's choices. My ongoing struggle to enjoy such a retelling is that a faithful representation of the original story doesn't tend to end well for anyone. The contagious nature of casual cruelty and internalized misogyny, especially in Athene, make that all the clearer in this book. I appreciate Zeus and Perseus being danger himbos, it provides satire. ⚠️SA