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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 This hardcover edition features a premium dust jacket with foil and a gorgeous custom-stamped case! “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. Read more
Publisher : Random House
Publication date : November 18, 2025
Language : English
Print length : 336 pages
ISBN-10 : 0593733762
ISBN-13 : 69
Item Weight : 1.15 pounds
Dimensions : 6.32 x 1.12 x 9.52 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #4,867 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #5 in Ancient History Fiction (Books) #14 in Greek & Roman Myth & Legend #22 in Historical Fantasy (Books)
#5 in Ancient History Fiction (Books):
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Top Amazon Reviews
Format: Hardcover
I, Medusa by Ayana Gray completely reframed one of Greek mythology’s most infamous “monsters” for me. Meddy’s story is heartbreaking, empowering, furious, and ultimately so much more complicated than the version of Medusa most of us grew up hearing. I loved watching Meddy begin as a young woman who simply wants something more than the life she has been given. She feels overshadowed by her beautiful, immortal sisters and restless on her family’s island, so when Athena offers her the opportunity to become a priestess, Meddy finally feels like she has found her purpose. Her time in Athens and the temple gave her a chance to grow, make friendships, discover her own strength, and experience a world beyond her family. And then Poseidon enters the picture, and everything changes. What makes this retelling so powerful is that Meddy isn’t punished because she is a monster. She is made into one because powerful people decide that her life and suffering are expendable. The transformation of her locs into snakes is devastating, especially knowing that the crime she is punished for was not hers to commit. Athena’s role in Meddy’s story also made for some fascinating emotional complexity. Their relationship is filled with admiration, trust, disappointment, and betrayal, and I appreciated that the author doesn't make the gods simply good or evil. They are powerful, selfish, flawed, and painfully human in the ways that matter. I especially loved seeing Meddy reclaim the identity that was forced upon her. She refuses to remain a victim and instead becomes a vigilante, deciding that if the gods and the world are going to call her a monster, she gets to decide what kind of monster she will be. There is so much rage in this book, but there is also love, friendship, grief, hope, and the desire to finally have control over your own story. That is what stayed with me most. Medusa has been a villain, a monster, and a cautionary tale for centuries. Ayana Gray gives her a voice and asks us to consider what happens when we actually listen to her side of the story. Beautifully written, emotional, and absolutely worth reading for anyone who loves mythology retellings. I came for Medusa, but I stayed for Meddy. A powerful reminder that sometimes the greatest act of rebellion is simply refusing to let someone else tell your story.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2026 by C.Peter Albertson
Format: Kindle
I went into I, Medusa really excited to dive in. I had been seeing it all over my social media, and since I included it in my recommendations for books by Black authors, it naturally landed on my February TBR. I have always loved Greek mythology and have been especially fascinated by Medusa’s story, so the second I found out Ayana Gray had written a Medusa retelling, I was sold. I love when authors reclaim stories we think we know and challenge us to look at them differently. The premise alone had me hooked, and the opening chapters pulled me in immediately. The island setting, the tension with Meddy’s parents, her strong relationship with her sisters, and the way Gray rooted the story in actual Greek mythology made the world feel both familiar and fresh. I was so invested in Meddy’s journey from her family’s small island to the sprawling city of Athens. Once she arrives, the world opens up even more. The trials, the friendships, and the slow unraveling of what it really meant to serve Athena were all so well developed. Experiencing Athens through Meddy’s curiosity made it easy to stay engaged, and I was fully invested in her transformation from sheltered girl to priestess. Meddy is such a fascinating main character. She is sheltered, naive, angry, curious, and deeply human among a family of immortals. What stood out to me most is how much of her growth is shaped by the relationships around her. Her father’s cruelty and political ambition shrink her, while her sisters offer both protection and a mirror for the anger she tries to suppress. Her mother’s grief and bitterness toward the Olympians hang over everything, even when Meddy does not fully understand it yet. Theo represents safety and history, someone who has known her before Athens changed her, and their growing disconnect highlights how much she is evolving. In Athens, her friendship with Apollonia marks a new kind of growth for her. Apollonia is the first real female friend Meddy has outside of her family, and that connection feels significant. Through their bond, we see Meddy begin to open herself up to trust and loyalty in a way that is separate from her sisters or Theo. Athena’s approval becomes something Meddy quietly craves, even as we start to see the cracks in that devotion. And then there is Poseidon. Their dynamic is uncomfortable by design, and it should be. He is immortal, powerful, older, married, and selfish. He is not romanticized, and the lack of real consequences for him is frustratingly familiar. Men hurt women and often move on untouched. That parallel to real life is maddening. I, Medusa has so much to say about rage, power, control, and the way women’s bodies are politicized. The reframing of Medusa’s story is powerful, and what stood out to me most was the idea of purpose. Meddy moves from being a daughter meant for marriage, to a priestess meant for service, to a monster meant for vengeance. Her arc is strong. Where it started to lose me slightly was in the later parts of the book. We get so much build up in Parts I and II, and then once Meddy is turned into the Medusa we know from myth, everything feels compressed. I kept wanting more from her relationship with her sisters after they become the Gorgon sisters, especially a clearer emotional foundation for their rage. Meddy’s anger makes sense given what she endures, but her sisters’ descent into vengeance felt less explored. I also wanted more time with Meddy living as something other than a symbol, more space to sit with who she was becoming beyond the myth. Despite the areas where I wanted more, this was such an engaging and thought provoking read. Ayana Gray reclaims Medusa’s story in a way that feels both intimate and political, and I appreciated how unflinching she was about power and the consequences women are forced to carry. Even when I was frustrated, I was still invested. I flew through it, and it sparked so many conversations in my head about rage, justice, and who gets remembered as a monster. If you enjoy mythological retellings that center women’s voices and aren’t afraid to get uncomfortable, this is absolutely worth picking up.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2026 by Fharen
Format: Kindle
I absolutely loved this retelling of Medusa's story. Rather than reducing her to the monster of Greek mythology, the author gives her a rich, compelling backstory that made her feel fully human. It transformed a familiar myth into a story of love, betrayal, resilience, and self-discovery. One of my favorite aspects was the family dynamics. They felt believable and authentic, reflecting the expectations and power structures of the time while adding emotional depth to her relationships with her father, mother, and sister. I also appreciated how Medusa was portrayed as a feminist—not in a way that felt forced or anachronistic, but as a woman determined to find her own voice and agency in a world that sought to define her. That interpretation made her story even more powerful! Another element I loved was the portrayal of her sexuality. Rather than being reduced to labels or identity, it was presented as something that grew naturally from her emotions, relationships, and experiences. It felt nuanced, authentic, and deeply connected to her journey as a person. This was an imaginative, thought-provoking, and beautifully written reimagining of one of mythology's most misunderstood figures. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mythological retellings with strong character development and emotional depth.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2026 by tpot.nc
Format: Kindle
For a backstory, I loved it. Medusa as a teenager and the character development into the “monster” is crazy to see. I would recommend.
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2026 by victoria
Format: Kindle
I read the ebook while also listening to the audiobook of I, Medusa, and this was my first book by Ayana Gray and my first fictional read centered on Greek mythology. Going in, I was only loosely familiar with the Greek gods and goddesses, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. This also isn't my typical genre, but I'm glad the Goodreads July Challenge nudged me to pick it up because I probably wouldn't have otherwise. It was a quick, easy read, and I could immediately tell the author had written for YA audiences before (which I later confirmed). The writing felt accessible, and I flew through the story. What I enjoyed most was the perspective. Growing up, Medusa was simply "the monster." That's the version of the story I knew. This retelling asks us to look beyond that and consider how the monster was created in the first place. If she became the villain, what happened to her? I thought that was such a cool way to reframe a story that's been told for centuries. What I enjoyed most was how this story rewrote the narrative for someone I'd only ever been taught was a monster. If she was the villain, this retelling gives us a believable explanation for how the villain was born. Way to make me question a story I've accepted my whole life. This book won't turn me into a Greek mythology reader overnight, but it definitely made me more open to reading another retelling. That alone, is a win.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2026 by B Smith
Format: Hardcover
Everyone knows the story of Medusa but after reading this book you will know what lead her to be such a monster. This book was well written and will draw out feeling for Medusa that you have never had before. I felt a range of emotions while reading this novel and would recommend it to anyone who loves Greek mythology
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Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2026 by Kathleen McCladdie
Format: Kindle
Loved this book! I read it in about 3 days. It keeps your attention and the storyline is captivating. Love love love!
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2026 by Zoe Baldwin
Format: Kindle
I have to admit this was my first fantasy read as an adult. It’s really a genre I tend to avoid, but this looked interesting. I wasn’t disappointed. I loved the twist on the tale of Medusa. I found myself rooting for her. My only qualms would be the overuse of the phrase “a smile that didn’t reach his/her eyes.” I counted at least 6 uses of the phrase. That seems excessive. And the ending felt a bit rushed, while the middle was a bit slow. But overall, an enjoyable read that kept me hooked!
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Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2026 by SoCalKel