A Fun Twist to a Familiar Story

“She cannot look on any living creature without destroying it.” (p. 245)

Like Haynes I watched ‘Clash of the Titan’s’ growing up. And, like her, I always felt a kind of horrible fascination for that monster with the snake-hair that can turn you to stone with a glance. Because of this, and because I loved Pandora’s Jar, I was really looking forward to this novel.

The story is that of Perseus, son of Zeus, ordered by a king to bring him a Gorgon’s head lest said king claims his mother in marriage. This time, it is told from the perspective of the Gorgon Medusa, giving us her take on the affair and making us wonder who is the monster here.

Stone Blind is fun, engaging and well-researched. Haynes succeeds in giving Medusa (who was born human) a human voice. Despite the serious subject-matter, there is plenty room for comic relief. Especially in the shape of the Olympic Gods who are presented as a bunch of power-hungry, squabbling children with little regard for the fates of men.

I did feel Haynes went a bit far in portraying Perseus as a dim-witted, cowardly, privileged white man. He never became more than a caricature. I also struggled with the chapters where Medusa’s head seemed to speak directly to me. Though giving an insight into the mind of the 'monster' at times it felt like she was telling me how to interpret the story. The feminist message would've been clear enough without laying it on quite so thick.

Overall, this was a fun twist to a familiar story. If you're into retellings of Greek Myth you should check it out!