Medusa

A beautiful and profound retelling. Burton's text and Lomenech Gill's art are a perfect match, offering a powerfully feminist, elegiac and original twist on this old story. The book tackles pain and trauma without flinching, but its message is ultimately one of joy and hope * Madeline Miller *
Easily my read of the year. Sheer perfection from start to finish * Catherine Doyle *
This book is a beautiful excavation, uncovering the girl beneath the gorgon, the power within the punished. Exquisitely told, Medusa stole my heart from its first fierce lines * Mary Watson *
Fierce and tender and full of heart; the reclamation of self that Medusa is owed, the version of the myth that deserves to be told, passed girl to girl, painted across walls and screamed from rooftops * Melinda Salisbury *
This glorious retelling of MEDUSA will stay with me for a very long time. The writing is stunning, as one might expect with Jessie Burton, and the story feels searingly, heartbreakingly relevant for the world we live in. It’s a work of art * Louise O’Neill *
With Jessie Burton’s characteristic lyrical and beautiful writing matched by stunning illustrations, I loved this story of survival, healing and bravery of all kinds. A moving retelling that will hold so much appeal for teens but also captivate adult readers of Circe and Ariadne * Amy McCulloch *
A beautiful and compassionate retelling that gives the serpent-headed monster of myth a powerful and haunting humanity ... Medusa's vulnerability, strength and journey of self-acceptance is one that will stay with me. Not only that by the illustrations by Olivia Lomenech Gill are so exquisite I would frame every single one and put them on my wall * Jennifer Saint *
A magnificent retelling of the Gorgon we know the most - Medusa - this title shows you the woman behind the myth * Buzzfeed *
[A] beguiling, lyrical, but also relatable retelling of the myth of Medusa ... [that] reclaims her both as an ordinary teenage girl who was exploited, brutalised then punished and also as a feminist icon who refuses to be a victim when she can be a proud survivor. With gorgeous illustrations from Olivia Lomenech Gill, Medusa is a must read for women of all ages * Red Magazine 'Best Books to Read This October' *
Immerse yourself in Jessie Burton's poetic, powerful reclamation of Medusa's story... brought dramatically to life through magical illustrations by the British artist Olivia Lomenech Gill * Harper's Bazaar *
This stunningly illustrated novel, from the author of The Miniaturist, refreshes an ancient myth in a way that empowers young women. If you enjoyed Pat Barker's The Silence of the Girls, this is one for your Christmas List * Woman&Home *
Medusa is an impressive addition to the shelves of feminist retellings, balancing rage with beautiful storytelling * Irish Times *
This stunningly illustrated novel ... refreshes an ancient myth in a way that empowers young women. If you enjoyed Pat Barker's The Silence of the Girls, then this is definitely one to add to your Christmas list * Woman's Weekly *
Filled with vulnerability, raw emotion, betrayal and self-acceptance, this is a story that transcends its ancient time into a surprisingly relevant tale for girls today * i *
Burton turns one of Greek mythology's most contested figures into a heroine fit for modern fiction -- Emily Bearn * Oldie *
Destined to become as much an artefact of our own age as it is an illumination of the ancient past [...] bracing and powerful * Guardian *
It’s an ideal gift for teenage girls finding their voice and their power * Stylist 'Gift ideas for the book lovers in your life' *
Filled with vulnerability, raw emotion, betrayal and self-acceptance, this is a story that transcends its ancient time into a surprisingly relevant tale for modern girls * The Courier 'Young adult book of the week' *
Medusa is perfect for young adults looking to dive deeper into the story of Medusa and the strength, love, and resilience that actually characterises her * i *
A thought-provoking and gorgeously illustrated retelling * Daily Mail Christmas Roundup *
Utterly transporting ... This dynamic feminist retelling is illustrated with stunning, polychromatic power * Guardian Books of the Year *
[A] haunting reimagining ... Burton’s take on the traditional adversaries humanizes both characters, blurring boundaries between hero and monster ... [the] angular, full-color illustrations add another layer of depth to the story * Publisher's Weekly *
A gorgeous gift. The writing is beautiful, the story heartbreakingly relevant, and the illustrations are sublime -- Louise O'Neill * Irish Examiner *
Olivia Lomenech Gill’s hypnotic full-colour art makes this one of the year’s most desirable gift books -- Fiona Noble * Guardian/Observer's Best Children's Books of 2021 *
In her beautifully illustrated young-adult novel... [Jessie Burton] reclaimed the story of the Gorgon to reveal a vulnerable yet resilient girl * i *
A fiercely feminist undercurrent fuels Medusa's unflinching voice * Shelf Awareness *