? “There is one question that devours me still. Why didn’t I close my eyes?” In StoneBlind, English writer, classicist and comedian Natalie Haynes offers an incredibly fresh take on the tale of the infamous mythological gorgon: Medusa, a woman forced to become a monster and turn those who return her gaze into stone.

As the old myths have it, Medusa was a ruthless fiend with no heart, a beast of no logic, and a tale told to scare children. Her death at the hands of Perseus earned him his heroism, and was cause for much celebration as the poets would note. Yet, what if Medusa’s tale was drastically different? In her fourth novel, the A Thousand Ships author answers that question.

A mortal born to a family of gods. An outsider from the get-go, Medusa is born a beautiful mortal girl to a family of inhuman sea deities. Her sisters, Sthenno and Euryale, are immortal, and take it upon themselves to care for their mortal sister, vowing to keep her away from harm — yet some promises cannot be fulfilled. When Medusa is assaulted by Poseidon in the temple of Athene, the goddess of wisdom acts unwise, cursing the mortal demigoddess.

Yet this isn’t just Medusa’s story — it’s the story of every single mortal and god involved in her making. Stone Blind has a slew of narrators, including Medusa, her severed head, Sthenno, Euryale, Athene, Perseus, and more. The POV constantly shifts, and so does the tone. The reader is given an in-depth look at how each piece of the puzzle came to find its complement, and the unpleasant portrait that ultimately formed.

Haynes is a masterful storyteller, and Stone Blind cements that fact. The award-winning author writes with precision, wit, and emotion. The novel proves a page-turner, and the alternating narrators make it easy to glide through. Whether you’re a seasoned mythology aficionado or a first-time reader, Stone Blind is a pleasure to read, and carries within its pages lessons that remain relevant today.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can get Stone Blind from The Bookspot or get the e-book from Amazon. You can also listen to the audiobook on Storytel.

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