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Quick answer: If you are interested in I, Medusa, read Natalie Haynes's Stone Blind, Jessie Burton's Medusa, Madeline Miller's Circe and Jennifer Saint's Ariadne. All retell Greek myths from the viewpoint of women the stories usually portray as monsters or victims.
Ayana Gray's novel retells the myth of Medusa, reimagining the figure who is usually remembered as a monster. Medusa retellings are popular because they let readers see the story from the woman's side. The books below offer similar adult myth retellings, with fresh voices and strong feminist angles.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Blind | Natalie Haynes | Adult | Medusa's story |
| Medusa | Jessie Burton | Adult | short retelling |
| Circe | Madeline Miller | Adult | witch of the Odyssey |
| Ariadne | Jennifer Saint | Adult | Minotaur retold |
| Elektra | Jennifer Saint | Adult | House of Atreus |
| Atalanta | Jennifer Saint | Adult | huntress heroine |
| A Thousand Ships | Natalie Haynes | Adult | women of Troy |
| Pandora's Jar | Natalie Haynes | Adult | women in myth |
| Clytemnestra | Costanza Casati | Adult | queen of Mycenae |
| The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller | Adult | Trojan War |
| The Silence of the Girls | Pat Barker | Adult | the Iliad's captives |
| Daughter of the Moon Goddess | Sue Lynn Tan | Adult | Chinese mythology |
| Lavinia | Ursula K. Le Guin | Adult | Roman epic |
| Ithaca | Claire North | Adult | Penelope's court |
| Metamorphoses | Ovid | Adult | the source |
1. Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
The Gorgon Medusa tells her version, with the gods at their worst. Sharp, moving and well researched.
Best for: Medusa's story.
2. Medusa by Jessie Burton
The Gorgon Medusa as a young woman. Short, lyrical and illustrated.
Best for: short retelling.
3. Circe by Madeline Miller
The goddess Circe tells her story from exile to power. Lush and thoughtful.
Best for: witch of the Odyssey.
4. Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Ariadne's story of love, betrayal and her sister Phaedra. Emotional and well paced.
Best for: Minotaur retold.
5. Elektra by Jennifer Saint
Three women tell the story of the doomed royal house. Dark and powerful.
Best for: House of Atreus.
6. Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
The huntress Atalanta in a world of heroes. Fast and feminist.
Best for: huntress heroine.
7. A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
The women of the Trojan War tell their own stories. Witty and sharp.
Best for: women of Troy.
8. Pandora's Jar by Natalie Haynes
Haynes looks at the women of Greek myth. Smart, funny and accessible.
Best for: women in myth.
9. Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
The queen tells her story from Spartan childhood to revenge. Vivid and violent.
Best for: queen of Mycenae.
10. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Patroclus tells the story of his love for Achilles. Lyrical and heartbreaking.
Best for: Trojan War.
11. The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
The Trojan War told through Briseis. Harsh and powerful.
Best for: the Iliad's captives.
12. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
A girl raised on the moon trains as a warrior. Lyrical and inventive.
Best for: Chinese mythology.
13. Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin
A princess in Virgil's Aeneid tells her story. Calm and beautiful.
Best for: Roman epic.
14. Ithaca by Claire North
Penelope's story while Odysseus is away. Elegant and slow.
Best for: Penelope's court.
15. Metamorphoses by Ovid
A collection of transformations, including Perseus and Medusa. Playful and strange.
Best for: the source.
How to Choose
For another Medusa read Stone Blind or Jessie Burton's Medusa. For lyrical retellings choose Circe, Ariadne or Lavinia. For Trojan War stories pick A Thousand Ships, The Silence of the Girls or The Song of Achilles. For short, sharp retellings try Medusa. For the original myth read Ovid's Metamorphoses, preferably in a modern translation. Medusa retellings often change a key detail of the myth, so reading Ovid first helps you spot what each author changed. If you are new to myth retellings, begin with Circe or Stone Blind, which are accessible and vivid, then move to harsher books like Clytemnestra. If you enjoy the Medusa story most, collect the different versions and compare how each author treats Athena and Poseidon. Audiobooks of myth retellings are popular, as the narrators often capture the epic voice. Check content notes before reading, since Medusa's myth includes sexual violence in some versions and retellings approach it differently.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is I, Medusa about?
A retelling of the Medusa myth from her own point of view.
Who wrote it?
Ayana Gray.
What genre is it?
Adult fantasy and myth retelling.
Is it a standalone?
Check current listings for series information.
Is it based on Greek myth?
Yes, on the myth of Medusa, Perseus and the Gorgons.
What else has Ayana Gray written?
The young adult Beasts of Prey series, inspired by West African myth.
Is it violent?
Medusa retellings often include violence and assault, so check content notes.
What should I read next?
Try Stone Blind or Circe.
Why is Medusa a popular subject for retellings?
Her story is usually told as a monster tale, but modern writers show the injustice behind it.
Do I need to know Greek myth?
No. The books explain what you need, though a short summary of the myth helps.
What should I read first?
Stone Blind for a full novel, or Medusa for a short, lyrical version.
Are these books suitable for teens?
Most are written for adults, so older teens should check the content first.