I picked up Stone Blind expecting Medusa’s story, but somehow she felt more like a side character in her own book. For someone whose name and tragedy feel so central, she often seemed like just dust floating in the lives and chaos of the gods. Strangely enough, Athene had so much exposure that part of me felt like Athene should’ve been the title instead.
The book jumps through so many points of view: gods, creatures, mortals, and even a crow and an olive tree (which honestly surprised me). Sometimes it was interesting, but at times it felt too much, especially when all I wanted was more of Medusa. What stood out to me most was how awful the gods were. The story is filled with lust, greed, power, revenge, assault, and cruelty. It made me realize how dark and messy Greek mythology really is. The gods felt less divine and more painfully flawed.
Perseus also frustrated me. He came across as arrogant and too full of himself, always thinking and speaking highly of who he is, almost trapped in this hero mindset. He didn’t seem to care much about others either. But at the same time, I can’t fully blame him because part of what drives him is wanting to protect his mother. I just kept thinking there had to be another way.
Even with my frustrations, I still think Stone Blind is a good place to start if you want to understand Greek mythology better. It gives you a glimpse of the gods, their chaos, and the complicated stories around them. In the end, I enjoyed parts of it, but I think I expected more Medusa and less everyone else.
Quotes that I like:
Why would anyone love a monster?' asked Perseus.
'Who are you to decide who is worthy of love?' said Hermes.
'I mean, I wasn't...'
'And who are you to decide who is a monster?' added the messenger god.
Can a monster be beautiful if it is still terrifying? Perhaps it depends on how you experience fear and judge beauty.
Imagine being a god, she thought, and still needing to tell everyone how impressive you were.
It's important that you know this because he will try to claim there was a battle. But there is no battle to be had between an armed man and a sleeping girl. Don't forget.”
You can't prove what you believe,' she said. 'You can only believe it.”
You're homesick for somewhere you've never been?
Men often kill for trophies.
Would it kill you to be sympathetic about someone who isn't as fortunate as you are? Would it?
Mortals are all the same,' she said to her sisters. 'They think their concerns are everyone's concerns.”
No one could help being afraid of something. And being afraid of dying must be especially awful, because there was no hope of avoiding it.”
Men call you monsters because they don’t understand you.’ ‘I don’t mind being a monster,’ Euryale replied. ‘I would rather have power than not. I like being what scares them.”
She saw all his vanity and pettiness and wondered why mortals worshipped any god like this.
They care about me and protect me. That is beauty.
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