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Reading lists

The best novels based on mythology from around the world

Medea

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 
 
From an unmissable new voice comes the powerful and epic story of mythology's darkest heroine 
'Delightfully devastating' Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen 
 
'A fiery and dramatic novel, starring one of mythology's most notorious women, this is a fascinating descent into darkness' Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne 
 
'Full of thwarted love and dark magic . . . Vivid and powerful, this is a book with teeth' Luna McNamara, author of Psyche and Eros 
 
_____________________________________ 
 
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... 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
Readers have fallen under Medea's spell... 
 
'This book is up there with Song of Achilles as one of my all-time favourite retellings' 
'Heart-breaking and beautiful' 
'Any readers of mythological retellings struggling to find a rival to Madeline Miller should look no further than Rosie Hewlett' 
'Absolutely spellbinding' 
'Dark, moody, at times heartbreaking, and utterly phenomenal, this book is an absolute must read for any fans of Circe or Ariadne!'

A fiery and dramatic novel, starring one of mythology's most notorious women, this is a fascinating descent into darkness

So delightfully devastating! A deeply humanising, visceral portrayal of one of myth’s most controversial figures, Rosie Hewlett's Medea explores the polarising possibilities of humanity, from our capacity for pain and heartbreak to our potential for vengeance and retribution

Bea Fitzgerald. bestselling author of Girl, Goddess, Queen

An incredible tale of love and power as spellbinding and complex as Medea herself

Deliciously dark in its portrayal of obsession, manipulation and the terrible temptations of power, Medea is a compelling read, every bit as enthralling as it's heroine

Dark, visceral, unrelenting, searing – it’s the story of Medea we have been waiting for, and more. The female villain par excellence takes the stage to give her version of events, in a tale that is as gripping as it is powerful and uncompromising

A dark retelling . . . Fans of Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne, Elektra and Atalanta will love Medea

Having secured a first-class honours degree in Classical Literature and Civilisation at the University of Birmingham, Rosie Hewlett has studied Greek mythology in depth and is passionate about unearthing strong female voices within the classical world. Rosie currently lives in Kent with her husband and is now a full-time author spending her days lost inside her favourite stories from mythology. 
 
Rosie's first traditionally published novel, Medea, was an instant Sunday Times bestseller. Her self-published debut novel, Medusa, won the Rubery Book of the Year award in 2021 and is being re-released in hardback for the first time in autumn 2025.

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 gift: witchcraft. 
 
But when a dashing young hero, Jason, arrives to claim the famed Golden Fleece that her father protects, Medea sees her opportunity to 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. 
 
But when faced with the ultimate betrayal, Medea is driven to an act of desperation so brutal it rips apart the lives of everyone involved...

Rosie Hewlett

I was so absorbed by the furious, passionate voice of Medusa

Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Hera

Hewlett impressively captures the voice of a woman who has been silenced and shaped by men into something she never wanted to be. Lovers of mythology are sure to be pleased by this deeper look into Medusa’s origin story

You know her name, you know her story. Just not the right one... 
 
Within the depths of the Underworld the formidable snake-haired Gorgon has finally had enough. Tired of being eternally and unjustly brandished a villain, Medusa has found the courage to face her tragic past and speak out. Determined to expose the centuries of lies surrounding her name, Medusa gives unparalleled insight into her cursed life, from her earliest memories and abandonment at birth, right through to her tragic and untimely death at the hands of the hero Perseus. Through telling her story, Medusa finally reveals the lost truth behind antiquity’s most infamous monster. 
 
Medusa breathes new life into an ancient story and echoes the battle that women throughout millennia have continued to wage – the opportunity to simply be heard.

Rosie Hewlett

Praise for Medusa

I was so absorbed by the furious, passionate voice of Medusa

Hewlett impressively captures the voice of a woman who has been silenced and shaped by men into something she never wanted to be. Lovers of mythology are sure to be pleased by this deeper look into Medusa’s o ...

Books by Rosie Hewlett

Articles featuring Rosie Hewlett

The best novels based on mythology from around the world

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