Stone Blind (Medusa’s Story) by Natalie Haynes

Synopsis Medusa is the only mortal in a family of gods. Growing up with her sisters, she quickly realizes that she is the only one who gets older, experiences change, feels weakness. Her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know.

When, in Athene’s temple, desire pushes Poseidon to commit the unforgivable, Medusa’s mortal life is changed forever. Athene, furious at the sacrilege committed, directs her revenge on Medusa. The punishment is that she is turned into a Gorgon: sharp teeth, snakes for hair and a look that turns other to stone.

Review
Retelling of the Greek and Roman Myths seems to be very popular at the moment, and I have to say they are brilliant stories; hero, heroine, good against evil and some wonderous characters. Stone Blind is the second book I have read this year on the myth of the Gorgon Medusa and the Hero Perseus, and how their fates entwine. The interpretation of this myth does change slightly between authors but all tell the story of a young woman, a gorgon herself, who is punished by Athena after she is raped by Poseidon in her temple as she can’t punish the God. From this we get the vision of Medusa we all know, her hair turned to snakes and her gaze that turned those she looked at to stone.

What I really loved about Natalie Haynes’s retelling was the many different voices and points of view that she incorporated. This wasn’t just the story of Medusa and Perseus, it was also the the story of Medusa’s sisters Euryale and Sthenno who brought her up from a baby after their parents left her on a beach for them to look after, the story of Cassiope and Andromeda and of some of the other Gods. There are also the voices of the Goddess Hera, and her perspective on the story, and that of the Gorgons themselves. Interstingly there are also chapters where a character speaks to the reader which reminded me of the narrator or chorus in Greek Tragedies. All these stories and voices blend seamlessly, drawing you into the different stories and perspectives.

Natalie Haynes has a beautiful writing style. There was a classical feel about it, influenced I think by the origional classical writers. The female perspective highlights how in these stories women are still punished for the actions of men and inparticularly the Gods; Medusa punished for being raped by Poseidon, Danae and Perseus put out to sea to die because of the actions of Zeus and even the Goddess’s being punished by male Gods. She really brought new life to Medusa, showing her vulnerability as a child, and by the end of the book I found myself asking myself just who was the monster, Perseus or Medusa?

Stone Blind was a compelling and fascinating read. Ever since I was a child and watched Clash of the Titans (a film I still love to watch) I had a fascination with Medusa, and considering I have a terrible phobia around snakes, it’s a strange fascination. Natalie Haynes’s retellng of this myth is stunning and with it’s attention to detail, and beautiful prose. Emotive, lyrical and totally gripping this is a must for lovers of the Greek Myths.

I would like to thank Pan Macmillan for my copy of this book in return for my honest review.