Overview

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A “captivating villain origin story” (People Book of the Week) reimagining one of the most iconic monsters in Greek mythology as a provocative and powerful young heroine “Ayana Gray brings her fresh, dynamic storytelling to one of the most monstered, maligned, and misunderstood women of Greek myth, imagining all the girls that Medusa was and could have been.”—Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Meddy has spent her whole life as a footnote in someone else’s story. Out of place next to her beautiful, immortal sisters and her parents—both gods, albeit minor ones—she dreams of leaving her family’s island for a life of adventure. So when she catches the eye of the goddess Athena, who invites her to train as an esteemed priestess in her temple, Meddy leaps at the chance to see the world beyond her home. In the colorful market streets of Athens and the clandestine chambers of the temple, Meddy flourishes in her role as Athena’s favored acolyte, getting her first tastes of purpose and power. But when she is noticed by another Olympian, Poseidon, the course of Meddy’s promising future is suddenly and irrevocably altered. When her locs are transformed into snakes as punishment for a crime she did not commit, Medusa must embrace a new identity—not as a victim, but as a vigilante—and with it, the chance to write her own story as mortal, martyr, and myth. Exploding with rage, heartbreak, and love, I, Medusa portrays a young woman caught in the crosscurrents between her heart’s deepest desires and the cruel, careless games the Olympian gods play.

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Reviews

“Known for her young adult books, Gray makes her adult debut with a retelling of the Medusa myth. . . . But Medusa is no monster, and she is determined to find justice for the wrongs committed against her and correct the record about her life.”—The New York Times Book Review “A compelling, emotional and unexpected coming-of-age story...Gray’s adult novel offers a bold interpretation of Medusa’s monstrous origins, making it a must-read.”—NPR “[Gray’s] choice to revisit Medusa’s mythology through a lens of race and femininity is a powerful one. . . . An instant classic of Greek mythological retellings.”—Bookreporter “As vast and vivid as ever, Gray’s worldbuilding is anchored by centuries-old myths but is still unmistakably her own. . . . Gray asks us to reconsider every story built to excuse cruelty.”—Arkansas Times “[Ayana Gray] reimagines one of mythology’s most infamous figures with nuance, passion, and a sharp eye for justice. . . . Both faithful to myth and daringly new . . . This bold feminist retelling asks whether Medusa was ever truly a monster—or simply made into one.”—Booklist, starred review “A daring reworking of the most misunderstood monster in Greek mythology . . . bursting with anger heartache, and resiliency.”—BookTrib, Editors’ Picks “A captivating reimagining of one of mythology’s most well-known villains that is both heartbreakingly tragic and overwhelmingly empowering.”—Ms. Magazine “[Gray’s prose] is an enjoyable high note. . . . Those who enjoy mythological retellings will doubtless be interested.”—Library Journal “This captivating villain origin story brims with female empowerment.”—People “Retellings of Greek myths are so common they’ve become their own sub-genre, so it’s always a delight to find one that feels genuinely fresh.”—ELLE “Ayana Gray flips the script with this incredible villain origin story retelling.”—SheReads “Gray reimagines Medusa as a fierce heroine given to righteous anger . . . Both empowering and infuriating, it's a strong take on the classic character.”—Publishers Weekly “A vivid, searing reimagining of the infamous villain . . . A bold new classic as heartbreaking as it is hopeful.”—Ann Liang, New York Times bestselling author of A Song to Drown Rivers “A stunning reimagining of Greek mythology’s most misunderstood villain.”—K. X. Song, bestselling author of The Night Ends with Fire “I, Medusa [deftly explores] sisterhood, friendship, and the rage felt by unfairly maligned women all the way back to antiquity.""—Sabaa Tahir, bestselling author of An Ember in the Ashes “Melodic and menacing, Gray’s treatment of the Medusa myth is as tender as it is tragic.”—Roshani Chokshi, bestselling author of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride “Deeply relevant to both the ancient and the modern worlds, I, Medusa packs a punch as hard as stone—yet still leaves room for the fragile joys of the mortal condition.”—Samantha Shannon, bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree “Gray has granted us all a gift in this thoughtful and heartfelt retelling. But perhaps it is Medusa who has been given the greatest gift by Gray: a chance to tell her truth and be listened to—an opportunity so few Black women get. Vindication and vengeance are a heady mix.”—Saara El-Arifi, bestselling author of Faebound

“Ayana Gray brings her fresh, dynamic storytelling to one of the most legendary and misunderstood women of Greek myth: the monstered, maligned Medusa. I loved how this novel engaged with all the girls that Medusa was and could have been, and conjured something vivid and striking and new. Medusa’s myth never ceases to be relevant and important, and this heartfelt and compelling book delves into all the complexities while sweeping the reader away in a beautifully written story.”—Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Hera and Atalanta

Author Information

Ayana Gray is a New York Times bestselling author. Her works have been translated into eleven languages across five continents. She currently lives and writes in Arkansas. I, Medusa is her adult debut.

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