Medusa’s Sisters: Review
By Sioph LealMedusa and her sisters, Stheno and Euryale, were immortals who entered the human world seeking a place to belong. They faced Olympian rivalry and learned that Gods' love is violent. Stheno and Euryale, once horrifying hags, now reveal their journey from sea-born origins to the Parthenon outskirts. They struggle against the inherent conflict between sisterhood, individuality, myth, truth, and vengeance and peace.
Written by Lauren J.A. Bear, Medusa’s Sisters is narrated by Medusa’s two older triplets Stheno and Euryale. The story starts with the triplet’s birth, where it’s revealed that Stheno and Euryale are immortal, while Medusa is mortal. All three grow up with Medusa’s death looming over them. In search for a place to belong, Stheno and her sisters enter the human world, quickly finding out the dangers of humanity, but more so how violently the Olympian God’s love.
Many authors have told countless retellings of the Greek myths and Bear manages to make this a refreshing take on Medusa’s myth, without making Medusa the main character. Stheno and Euryale are virtually unknown, but Bear manages to bring these women to the forefront of this story, examining the sister’s lives beyond their Gorgon curse. As a reader, you get to witness retellings within this story, from Semele to Leto, these three young women are witness to the Olympian gods and their cruelty.
It's a beautifully written story that is full of heart. As these sisters grow together, you will feel their grief. Bear perfectly captures sisterhood in every possible way. From the ups and downs, once you finish reading Medusa’s Sisters, you will feel like you truly have gotten to know and understand their motives, no matter if you agree with them or not. Being the oldest sibling, Stheno is always trying to balance each sister, while her crippling fear that one day Medusa will die, has her swaying more in her favour. It's understandable given her love for her sister.
One of the things that resonated with Stheno was her anger. At the start of the novel, she is hurt and angry at the world and how her sisters have been treated. If anyone has experienced any kind of grief or loss, Bear perfectly encapsulates this feeling in her books through Stheno. Stheno loves her sisters with every ounce of her being and in doing so, silenced herself for many years. When Stheno speaks out, it’s as if a fury has been released to protect the two people she cares deeply for.
Bear creates a very vivid world within her pages, and it's evident that a lot of research has gone into Medusa’s Sisters. Many things are explored, from sisterhood, jealousy, grief, and individuality are all explored with each sister, but also the cruelty women have endured at the hands of the gods. From the way the chapters vary from first person to third person was perfectly executed. Bear also includes Perseus, one of the greatest in Greek mythology.
Perseus had to be included in this book, given his involvement in Medusa’s death. Bear adds him to the story, showing his background without it eclipsing the main storyline. His chapters are named differently, and could have been a story on its own, but it weaves perfectly with the main story of the sisters.
Medusa’s Sisters show each sister with their own distinct personalities and aspirations that make it easy for any reader to connect with. It’s a brilliant, heart wrenching story and given it is only Bear’s debut novel, Medusa’s Sisters will leave readers eagerly awaiting Lauren J.A Bear’s next book.
Medusa’s Sisters releases on September 12th 2023.