Medousa
by Michael F. Butchin
Classic Greek mythology paints Medousa as one of the most loathsome creatures of the ancient world. Feared by man and shunned by the Gods themselves, with a visage so hideous, any living creature that looked upon her would be instantly turned to stone. But what made Medousa such a monster?
Author Michael F. Butchin retells the classic story from Medousa’s point of view, from a brutal childhood of slavery in Sparta, to her death at the hands of the hero Perseus on a remote island at the end of the world. We come to know the woman Medousa was-her hopes and dreams, her loves and friendships-rather than the monster we think we know.
When Medousa’s family is murdered by the Spartan Krypteia, she is taken and sold as a slave to the royal house of the Eurypontids. There, over the years, she gains the affections of her mistress, eventually obtaining her freedom. She devotes herself to Athena, the Goddess of wisdom, courage, and the strategy of war, and trains to be a priestess, hoping for a future of love and acceptance, only to suffer rape, betrayal of faith, and the curse that turns her into a Gorgon.
Torn from the woman she loves, Medousa flees to a life of solitude, driven mad by her loneliness and pain, and taking out her anger on travelers who cross her path.
In the end it is the Titans, not the Gods, who give her the care, companionship, and love she so longs for, but will she ever find the healing and redress of injustice she so deeply desires?
4 out of 5 fairies
I admit, I’m a sucker for a myth or fairy tale retelling done well, and this was a great read. Many people know the story of Medusa, but as it’s said the victors write history, and this is a peek into the other side of the story. Medusa was once a girl with hopes and dreams and struggles all her own before being turned into a gorgon, and this is the engaging story of her life. Highly recommend for anyone who loves mythology and alternate tellings.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
Michael Butchin is a writer currently living in Beijing. A Philadelphia native, he was born to a family of scholars, musicians, actors, and singers, and grew up in South Jersey.
Butchin attended Rutgers University, New Brunswick, from which he graduated with a degree in Chinese Language and Literature. He also attended graduate school, where he read for Early Childhood Education.
After graduation, Butchin lived in Taiwan for several years, where he worked as a kindergarten and Pre-K teacher during the day, and as an ESOL instructor at night. He has also traveled extensively in China.
A survivor of abuse, Butchin took refuge in music and literature. Over the years, he has spent much of his life amongst a fascinating variety of unconventional and bohemian characters.
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