Excellent. Just excellent. A truly talented writer

Just blown away by both the story and Hewlett's shining and obvious literary talent.
An about to scour the Kindle library for further works by this so talented writer.

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Absolutely gripping

I just want more more not please.
Such a fantastic spin on the well known story.

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I LOVED this novel

i really enjoyed this novel. I was totally gripped. the characters were great and the ending made me cry! Im recommending to everyone!

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A gripping journey of a book

I found myself completely absorbed onto MEDEA's world. This isn't my usual read but I wasn't disappointed. The narrative was so cleverly done it makes you hold a mirror up to society now and draw many comparisons. Enjoy!

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If Medea had a theme song...

If Medea had a theme song it would be Rose's Turn (the Glee cover version). At one point I was literally singing "All that work and what did it get me" out loud because Rosie Hewlett's Medea really did put in work, sacrificed so much and so often, only to be gaslighted, rejected and scorned.

Despite the narrator's excellent performance and the life she brings to the characters in this book, the story isn't always easy listening because our lead protagonist, for quite a significant portion of the book, is to be frank, quite stupid. It's unfortunate and it's understandable. Rosie Hewlett beautifully illustrates a tragic back story to Medea's life which is that of an isolated and abused girl with a burgeoning power developing within her. She is unloved and made to feel like a monster. So when the ambitious and selfish Jason (a brilliant villain) arrives on the shores of her kingdom with the intent of securing the golden fleece and starts showing her the attention she craves, it is only a matter of time before she falls for his charms. Their meeting sets the course for the rash and ultimately devastating decisions that leave Medea essentially an outcast.

The language in this book is beautiful and really carried me into every emotion that Medea was feeling and her interpretations of the world she's been forced to inhabit. I also appreciated just how difficult and limiting it was to be a woman in those times and this is portrayed beautifully by the juxtapositions of Medea with Circe and Atalanta. Two central female figures in Medea's life who attempt to shape their own narrative in different ways but yet at different points are reminded of their limitations because of their gender.

The story is gripping and I cannot praise the narrator enough however there were elements which I did find challenging. Circe, for example, is a very integral figure in Medea's life but after a certain point she is never thought of or mentioned again which I found a bit strange. Also, from a feminist standpoint, it often felt like it was often the women who served as cannon fodder for Medea's wrath instead of the more heinous characters in her story. With that being said I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading whatever else Rosie Hewlett creates in the future.

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Gripping from beginning to end

Beautiful telling of medea’s story who I feel I now see in a different light

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Extraordinary

Apart from the fact that it was a fascinating story, the narration was excellent. I recommend this book 100%.

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An amazing retelling of Medea’s story

This was one of the best versions of Medea’s story that I have come across. I have a Masters in Classical studies and for my dissertation I compared the ‘Femme Fatales of the Fables’ concentrating on Medea, Circe and Calypso and how they were portrayed as dangerous so this book kept me totally engaged. The writing is brilliant with the overall story in keeping with the many, many versions of the story of Medea and Jason with delightful twists woven throughout, plus it was narrated brilliantly.
Excellent book 10 out of 10!!!!!

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Great Story

Such a good re-telling, I absolutely loved it! Easily as soon as Madeline Miller's books, if not even better. The narration was also perfect.

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Darkly delicious

A fantastic interpretation of the myth of Medea. I particularly enjoyed the enlarged role Circe had to play compared to the myth, and the way Medea's actions, while still horrific, felt like plausible extensions of the emotional states she's in. I've read other versioas that attempt to sanitise her, but this one embraces tbe darkness.
Bravo!

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