Book talk - Medea by Rosie Hewlett

    ''Heav'n has no rage, like love to hatred turn'd, nor hell a fury, like a woman scorn'd' -  William Congreve

Pre-order it here: Medea by Rosie Hewlett (UK Hardcopy) available 21 March 2024 

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From an unmissable new voice comes the powerful and epic story of mythology's darkest heroine.

Shunned. Persecuted. Tormented.

Medea longs for a different life. Since childhood, she has been separated from her sister, shunned by her mother, and persecuted and tormented by her brother and father.          

All because of a unique and dangerous talent: witchcraft.

Fierce. Powerful. Sorceress. 

But when a dashing young hero, Jason, arrives to claim the famed Golden Fleece that her father fiercely protects, Medea sees her opportunity for escape. Her offer to help Jason overcome the trials set by her father sets in motion a journey that will test every ounce of her strength, magic and loyalty; a journey that will see her battle monsters, dethrone kings and fall in love.

When faced with the ultimate betrayal, Medea is driven to an act of desperation so brutal it rips apart the lives of everyone involved.

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Excuse the pun, but this book is certainly no tragedy. Rosie's novel expertly delivers a very raw, passionate and deeply compelling drama. Medea absolutely hums with sultry darkness and what I would call quite impassioned theatrics. 

 Thinking back to my first read back in November, all cosy and wrapped up, there were no dull bits that come to mind, even still after my second read through, or even parts where I felt a shift in pace. The book starts with a very strong introduction to Medea and her somewhat peculiar nature. I mean, who hasn't dreamed of turning their siblings into livestock? 

 As an avid enthusiast of this genre, I am well-versed in the rich history of Athens and its tragedians, yet none have captivated me as Euripides has. Despite the sketchiness of his biography, his life remains a fascinating subject of study. His literary accomplishments are noteworthy and the characters in his plays stand out through their vulnerabilities. This has always set his works apart for me and render his plays among my personal favourites. Medea stands firmly at the top of those ninety odd plays, so I was really intrigued to see how this adaptation played out. I was not disappointed. 

 It is of course no secret that this is one of the more disturbing tales in Greek mythology, but it is also a remarkable story of revenge, sorrow, injustice, and betrayal. It could not be spicier if it tried and so it is no surprise that I loved it as much as I did. Rosie did very well in capturing all the above in this retelling, which is no easy feat. The story is layered very well and gradually reveals more and more of Medea and her harrowing journey. Rosie masterfully weaves clever foreboding throughout the book, and I really like the natural flow of her writing. Her writing style is captivating and steadily gains momentum throughout the narrative, culminating in a powerful and emotionally impactful climax. 

 

Thank you to Penguin for the review copy and thank you to Rosie for another wonderful and worthwhile retelling. 

*Free copy received from publisher