Medusa

SHORTLISTED FOR THE YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL _______________ 'A beautiful and profound retelling' - Madeline Miller, author of The Song of Achilles and Circe 'Gives the serpent-headed monster of myth a powerful and haunting humanity' - Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne and Elektra _______________ If I told you that I’d killed a man with a glance, would you wait to hear the rest? The why, the how, what happened next? Monster. Man-hater. Murderess. Forget everything you’ve been told about Medusa. Internationally bestselling author Jessie Burton flips the script in this astonishing retelling of Greek myth, illuminating the woman behind the legend at last. Exiled to a far-flung island after being abused by powerful Gods, Medusa has little company other than the snakes that adorn her head instead of hair. Haunted by the memories of a life before everything was stolen from her, she has no choice but to make peace with her present: Medusa the Monster. But when the charmed and beautiful Perseus arrives on the island, her lonely existence is blown apart, unleashing desire, love... and betrayal. Adapted from the hardback illustrated by Olivia Lomenech-Gill, this paperback edition is perfect for readers who loved Circe and Ariadne , as Medusa comes alive in a new version of the story that history set in stone long ago. _________________ '… a must-read for women of all ages' - Red magazine 'Utterly transporting' - Guardian Books of the Year '… an impressive addition to the shelves of feminist retellings, balancing rage with beautiful storytelling' - Irish Times

SHORTLISTED FOR THE YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL _______________ 'A beautiful and profound retelling' - Madeline Miller, author of The Song of Achilles and Circe 'Gives the serpent-headed monster of myth a powerful and haunting humanity' - Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne and Elektra _______________ If I told you that I’d killed a man with a glance, would you wait to hear the rest? The why, the how, what happened next? Monster. Man-hater. Murderess. Forget everything you’ve been told about Medusa. Internationally bestselling author Jessie Burton flips the script in this astonishing retelling of Greek myth, illuminating the woman behind the legend at last. Exiled to a far-flung island after being abused by powerful Gods, Medusa has little company other than the snakes that adorn her head instead of hair. Haunted by the memories of a life before everything was stolen from her, she has no choice but to make peace with her present: Medusa the Monster. But when the charmed and beautiful Perseus arrives on the island, her lonely existence is blown apart, unleashing desire, love... and betrayal. Adapted from the hardback illustrated by Olivia Lomenech-Gill, this paperback edition is perfect for readers who loved Circe and Ariadne , as Medusa comes alive in a new version of the story that history set in stone long ago. _________________ '… a must-read for women of all ages' - Red magazine 'Utterly transporting' - Guardian Books of the Year '… an impressive addition to the shelves of feminist retellings, balancing rage with beautiful storytelling' - Irish Times

"...a little on one side of me, I spied something that moved along upon the verge with a sliding writhing motion, seeming like the extremity of a sort of trunk; like the body of a huge serpent... Drawn by horror's fearful traction, I moved to the verge of the parapet and looked down..." Somewhere around the early eighteenth century, young Will Harvell joins a sea voyage in search of a mariner's missing son which gradually finds itself drawn towards an ancient and indescribable terror of the ocean in E. H. Visiak's classic novel, which returns to print featuring a new introduction by horror expert Aaron Worth. Combining elements of Conradian sea adventure with Atlantean mythology and a uniquely unsettling brand of metaphysical, sublime horror-all delivered in Visiak's high literary style- Medusa remains a distinctive, influential and still exciting work in the history of early twentieth-century weird writing.

"...a little on one side of me, I spied something that moved along upon the verge with a sliding writhing motion, seeming like the extremity of a sort of trunk; like the body of a huge serpent... Drawn by horror's fearful traction, I moved to the verge of the parapet and looked down..." Somewhere around the early eighteenth century, young Will Harvell joins a sea voyage in search of a mariner's missing son which gradually finds itself drawn towards an ancient and indescribable terror of the ocean in E. H. Visiak's classic novel, which returns to print featuring a new introduction by horror expert Aaron Worth. Combining elements of Conradian sea adventure with Atlantean mythology and a uniquely unsettling brand of metaphysical, sublime horror-all delivered in Visiak's high literary style- Medusa remains a distinctive, influential and still exciting work in the history of early twentieth-century weird writing.

__________________ 'Easily my read of the year. Sheer perfection from start to finish' - Catherine Doyle 'A beautiful and profound retelling' - Madeline Miller, author of CIRCE and THE SONG OF ACHILLES 'Utterly transporting ... This dynamic feminist retelling is illustrated with stunning, polychromatic power' - Guardian Books of the Year __________________ A dazzling, feminist retelling of Greek myth from the internationally bestselling author of The Miniaturist , stunningly illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill. 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… Filled with glorious full-colour illustrations by award-winning Olivia Lomenech Gill, this astonishing retelling of Greek myth is perfect for readers of Circe and The Silence of the Girls . Illuminating the girl behind the legend, it brings alive Medusa for a new generation. __________________ '... a must read for women of all ages' - Red Magazine '... stole my heart from its first fierce lines' - Mary Watson 'A beautiful and compassionate retelling that gives the serpent-headed monster of myth a powerful and haunting humanity' - Jennifer Saint '... an impressive addition to the shelves of feminist retellings, balancing rage with beautiful storytelling' - Irish Times 'It’s an ideal gift for teenage girls finding their voice and their power' - Stylist 'Gift ideas for the book lovers in your life'

Praise for Rosie Hewlett ' Delightfully devastating' Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen 'A fiery and dramatic novel' Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne ' Vivid and powerful' Luna McNamara, author of Psyche and Eros You know her name, you know her story. Just not the right one... Within the depths of the Underworld the formidable snake-haired Gorgon has finally had enough. Tired of being eternally and unjustly brandished a villain, Medusa has found the courage to face her tragic past and speak out. Determined to expose the centuries of lies surrounding her name, Medusa gives unparalleled insight into her cursed life, from her earliest memories and abandonment at birth, right through to her tragic and untimely death at the hands of the hero Perseus. Through telling her story, Medusa finally reveals the lost truth behind antiquity’s most infamous monster. Medusa breathes new life into an ancient story and echoes the battle that women throughout millennia have continued to wage – the opportunity to simply be heard. Readers love Rosie's writing... 'This book is up there with Song of Achilles as one of my all-time favourite retellings ' ' Heart-breaking and beautiful' ' Any readers of mythological retellings struggling to find a rival to Madeline Miller should look no further than Rosie Hewlett ' ' Absolutely spellbinding ' ' Dark, moody, at times heartbreaking, and utterly phenomenal , this book is an absolute must read for any fans of Circe or Ariadne !'

Praise for Rosie Hewlett ' Delightfully devastating' Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen 'A fiery and dramatic novel' Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne ' Vivid and powerful' Luna McNamara, author of Psyche and Eros You know her name, you know her story. Just not the right one... Within the depths of the Underworld the formidable snake-haired Gorgon has finally had enough. Tired of being eternally and unjustly brandished a villain, Medusa has found the courage to face her tragic past and speak out. Determined to expose the centuries of lies surrounding her name, Medusa gives unparalleled insight into her cursed life, from her earliest memories and abandonment at birth, right through to her tragic and untimely death at the hands of the hero Perseus. Through telling her story, Medusa finally reveals the lost truth behind antiquity’s most infamous monster. Medusa breathes new life into an ancient story and echoes the battle that women throughout millennia have continued to wage – the opportunity to simply be heard. Readers love Rosie's writing... 'This book is up there with Song of Achilles as one of my all-time favourite retellings ' ' Heart-breaking and beautiful' ' Any readers of mythological retellings struggling to find a rival to Madeline Miller should look no further than Rosie Hewlett ' ' Absolutely spellbinding ' ' Dark, moody, at times heartbreaking, and utterly phenomenal , this book is an absolute must read for any fans of Circe or Ariadne !'

"You won't be able to stop turning pages . . . it is so stinking good !" --Colby Sharp, author of The Creativity Project: An Awesometastic Story Collection From National Book Award finalist Katherine Marsh: Percy Jackson meets Wednesday Addams in this fantastical adventure about Ava, who attends a boarding school for the descendants of Greek monsters and uncovers a terrible secret that could change the world forever. Ava Baldwin has always tried to keep her anger in check, just like her mom taught her. But when know-it-all classmate Owen King tries to speak over her yet again, Ava explodes . . . and Owen freezes, becoming totally unresponsive. Although Owen recovers, Ava's parents whisk her off to her mother's alma mater, the Accademia del Forte, a mysterious international boarding school in Venice. There, Ava and her brother, Jax, discover that the Olympian gods founded the Accademia to teach the descendants of mythological monsters how to control their emotions and their powers and become functioning, well-adjusted members of society. But not everything at the Accademia is as it seems. After her friend Fia is almost expelled for challenging a teacher, Ava realizes the school is hiding a dangerous secret. To uncover the truth, Ava and her new friends embark on an adventure that could change the way they view history, mythology--and themselves--forever...or end their lives. Praise for Medusa "I'm in love with this book. Like the best Pixar movies, Katherine Marsh's Medusa is full of layers." --Jennifer La Garde, The Adventures of Library Girl! "Here is a novel that casts young people as agents of that change, while acknowledging the risks they face when adults, or a pack of patriarchal gods, lie in wait to silence those who speak truth to power. In this feminist retelling, girls take the lead while boys support and trust them." -- The New York Times "Sound the sirens! Katherine Marsh has gifted us with the Greek mythology series we didn't know we were missing!" --Melissa LaSalle, The Book Mommy and What to Read to Your Kids "A unique and distinctly feminist fantasy series launch set in a contemporary world." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "A fast-paced adventure offering a fresh, feminist take on popular themes." -- Kirkus Reviews "A story flipping traditional mythology and the voices telling them on their head starring a resourceful, brave Gorgon. Suggested where mythology stories are popular." -- School Library Journal One of Kirkus 's most anticipated books of 2024!

"You won't be able to stop turning pages . . . it is so stinking good !" --Colby Sharp, author of The Creativity Project: An Awesometastic Story Collection From National Book Award finalist Katherine Marsh: Percy Jackson meets Wednesday Addams in this fantastical adventure about Ava, who attends a boarding school for the descendants of Greek monsters and uncovers a terrible secret that could change the world forever. Ava Baldwin has always tried to keep her anger in check, just like her mom taught her. But when know-it-all classmate Owen King tries to speak over her yet again, Ava explodes . . . and Owen freezes, becoming totally unresponsive. Although Owen recovers, Ava's parents whisk her off to her mother's alma mater, the Accademia del Forte, a mysterious international boarding school in Venice. There, Ava and her brother, Jax, discover that the Olympian gods founded the Accademia to teach the descendants of mythological monsters how to control their emotions and their powers and become functioning, well-adjusted members of society. But not everything at the Accademia is as it seems. After her friend Fia is almost expelled for challenging a teacher, Ava realizes the school is hiding a dangerous secret. To uncover the truth, Ava and her new friends embark on an adventure that could change the way they view history, mythology--and themselves--forever...or end their lives. Praise for Medusa "I'm in love with this book. Like the best Pixar movies, Katherine Marsh's Medusa is full of layers." --Jennifer La Garde, The Adventures of Library Girl! "Here is a novel that casts young people as agents of that change, while acknowledging the risks they face when adults, or a pack of patriarchal gods, lie in wait to silence those who speak truth to power. In this feminist retelling, girls take the lead while boys support and trust them." -- The New York Times "Sound the sirens! Katherine Marsh has gifted us with the Greek mythology series we didn't know we were missing!" --Melissa LaSalle, The Book Mommy and What to Read to Your Kids "A unique and distinctly feminist fantasy series launch set in a contemporary world." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "A fast-paced adventure offering a fresh, feminist take on popular themes." -- Kirkus Reviews "A story flipping traditional mythology and the voices telling them on their head starring a resourceful, brave Gorgon. Suggested where mythology stories are popular." -- School Library Journal One of Kirkus 's most anticipated books of 2024!

Variously described as a fiend, a monster, a charming seductress who was felled by the righteous might of Perseus, son of Zeus, Medusa is perhaps the most misunderstood of mythological women. Described by male historians, poets and epic writers such as Hesiod and Ovid, there are many aspects of her imagined life which find resonance in the struggles of the outsider, the cursed and those used in the service of another's vision of the world around them. This fascinating collection brings together new stories and ancient origins, offering a wider perspective on the whole life of the powerful, wonderful Medusa. Introductory essay by Liv Albert, and foreword by Miriam Robbins Dexter. The modern authors whose stories feature in this book are: Alicia K. Anderson, Mel Attica, Casey Banks, Danai Christopoulou, Grace P. Fong, Rhys Hughes, Tom Johnstone, Amanda Cecelia Lang, Megan Mahoney, Tracie McBride, Zenobia Neil, Gabriella Ramalho, Oneness Sankara, Zach Shephard, Liv Strom, Theresa Tyree and Leah Warren. About the series: Discover the mythology of humankind through its heroes, characters, gods and immortal figures. Myths, Gods & Immortals brings together the new and the ancient, familiar stories with a fresh and imaginative twist. Each book brings back to life a legendary, mythological or folkloric figure, with new stories alongside a comprehensive introduction which tells the original tales and emphasizes ancient and modern connections, tracing history and stories across continents, cultures and peoples. New and emerging writers from open submissions reveal hidden themes, casting fresh perspectives on well known stories, complementing the specially commissioned story of the origins and the cultural background from the era. The first titles are Medusa , Odin , Anansi and Circe .

Medusa petrifies. Her gaze turned the ancients to stone; for Dante she was an erotic power that could destroy men. Freud saw in her serpentine hair a nest of terrifying penises signalling the castration complex, while for the Greek hero Perseus she was a dangerous female monster who must be destroyed. Yet in our time Medusa’s reputation has improved: feminists see her as a noble victim of a patriarchal society; the fashion house Versace celebrates the lure of her mysterious visage in a logo that stares out at us from his adverts; and she has served as a model for numerous theories by modern philosophers and intellectuals. In our contemporary culture she is once again a power player demanding to be recognized. Medusa still transfixes us. In Medusa: In the Mirror of Time David Leeming explores how and why the mythical figure of the Gorgon has become one of the most important and enduring of human history. He searches for Medusa’s origins in global cultures more disparate and more ancient than the well-known classical Greek and follows her path through the centuries. The author finds that the Medusa myth is a cultural dream that has continually developed and changed with each passing era, ultimately bringing him to the question: what does the Medusa dream say about us?

Medusa petrifies. Her gaze turned the ancients to stone; for Dante she was an erotic power that could destroy men. Freud saw in her serpentine hair a nest of terrifying penises signalling the castration complex, while for the Greek hero Perseus she was a dangerous female monster who must be destroyed. Yet in our time Medusa’s reputation has improved: feminists see her as a noble victim of a patriarchal society; the fashion house Versace celebrates the lure of her mysterious visage in a logo that stares out at us from his adverts; and she has served as a model for numerous theories by modern philosophers and intellectuals. In our contemporary culture she is once again a power player demanding to be recognized. Medusa still transfixes us. In Medusa: In the Mirror of Time David Leeming explores how and why the mythical figure of the Gorgon has become one of the most important and enduring of human history. He searches for Medusa’s origins in global cultures more disparate and more ancient than the well-known classical Greek and follows her path through the centuries. The author finds that the Medusa myth is a cultural dream that has continually developed and changed with each passing era, ultimately bringing him to the question: what does the Medusa dream say about us?

An intimate look into the life of a legendary mythical villain who has so often been stripped of her voice and humanity in this debut novel, perfect for fans of Madeline Miller's Circe and the works of Jennifer Saint. You know how Medusa's story ends, but you've never heard her tell her own story... until now. The only mortal daughter of two sea gods, and a priestess of Athena, Medusa was a woman who thought she had found her place in the world. But when Medusa suffers a horrific violation at the hands of Poseidon, Athena is outraged over the desecration of her name and sends a message by transforming Medusa into the snake-haired monster of legend. With one look, any who meet her gaze is turned to stone. Word of her monstrosity travels fast, igniting a king's fear so greatly that he commands the boy-hero Perseus to bring him her head. With a power that will spare no one, Medusa begins to wonder if this is a blessing or a curse. Medusa only knows that she must leave the city she has come to call home before she harms another soul. Searching for a haven free from mortals, anger buoying her every step, Medusa journeys across ancient Greece. Her eyes are hidden beneath a blindfold, with nothing but the snakes for company. Through her travels, Medusa discovers solace and understanding in the mythical figures she stumbles upon: A debaucherous wine god, an alluring nymph, and a three-headed dog. But one cannot escape fate forever. As Perseus closes in, Medusa faces a choice: become the monster everyone expects her to be, or cling to the last piece of her humanity.

An intimate look into the life of a legendary mythical villain who has so often been stripped of her voice and humanity in this debut novel, perfect for fans of Madeline Miller's Circe and the works of Jennifer Saint. You know how Medusa's story ends, but you've never heard her tell her own story... until now. The only mortal daughter of two sea gods, and a priestess of Athena, Medusa was a woman who thought she had found her place in the world. But when Medusa suffers a horrific violation at the hands of Poseidon, Athena is outraged over the desecration of her name and sends a message by transforming Medusa into the snake-haired monster of legend. With one look, any who meet her gaze is turned to stone. Word of her monstrosity travels fast, igniting a king's fear so greatly that he commands the boy-hero Perseus to bring him her head. With a power that will spare no one, Medusa begins to wonder if this is a blessing or a curse. Medusa only knows that she must leave the city she has come to call home before she harms another soul. Searching for a haven free from mortals, anger buoying her every step, Medusa journeys across ancient Greece. Her eyes are hidden beneath a blindfold, with nothing but the snakes for company. Through her travels, Medusa discovers solace and understanding in the mythical figures she stumbles upon: A debaucherous wine god, an alluring nymph, and a three-headed dog. But one cannot escape fate forever. As Perseus closes in, Medusa faces a choice: become the monster everyone expects her to be, or cling to the last piece of her humanity.