An intimate look into the life of a legendary mythical villain who has so often been stripped of her voice and humanity in this debut novel, perfect for fans of Madeline Miller's Circe and the works of Jennifer Saint.

"The only mortal daughter of two sea gods, Medusa works as a priestess in Athena's temple when she suffers a horrific violation at the hands of Poseidon. Insulted by the desecration of her name and to send a message, Athena transforms Medusa into the snake-haired creature of legend: A creature who, with one look, will petrify anyone who meets her gaze; whose power will ignite a king's fury (and fear) so greatly that he will instruct a boy, Perseus, to bring him her head. With a power that will spare no one-is it fate or punishment? a curse or blessing?-Medusa knows only that she must leave the city she has come to call home before she harms another soul. As she searches for a haven free from mortals, anger buoying her every step, Medusa journeys across ancient Greece, her eyes hidden beneath a blindfold, with nothing but the snakes tangled in her scalp for company. Should she turn back and wreak havoc on the city that has become Athena's namesake? The very thought of it threatens to consume her. As she continues forward, Medusa discovers solace and understanding in the mythical figures she stumbles upon, including a debaucherous wine god, an alluring nymph, and a three-headed dog. But one cannot escape their future forever, and even a monster can be taken down by a boy with something to prove. As Perseus closes in, Medusa faces a choice: to become the monster everyone expects her to be, or to cling to the last piece of her humanity"--