Discover the full story of the sorceress Medea, one of the most reviled and maligned women of Greek antiquity, in this "haunting, deeply moving" (Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author) debut in the tradition of Circe, Elektra, and Stone Blind.
Among the women of Greek mythology, the witch Medea may be the most despised. Known for the brutal act of killing her own children to exact vengeance on her deceitful husband, Jason, the leader of the Argonauts, Medea has carved out a singularly infamous niche in our histories.
But what if that isn't the full story?
The daughter of a sea nymph and the granddaughter of a Titan, Medea is a paradox. She is at once rendered compelling by virtue of the divinity that flows through her bloodline and made powerless by the fact of her being a woman. As a child, she intuitively submerges herself in witchcraft and sorcery but soon finds her skills may not be a match for the prophecies that hang over her entire family like a shroud.
As Medea comes into her own as a woman and a witch, she also faces the arrival of the hero Jason, preordained by the gods to be not only her husband but also her lifeline to escape her isolated existence. Medea travels the treacherous seas with the Argonauts, battles demons she has never imagined, and falls in love with the man who may ultimately be her downfall in this fresh and propulsive "must-have" (Library Journal, starred review) read in which you will finally hear Medea's side of the story through a fresh and feminist lens. Eilish Quin is a queer writer and artist based in the smog and glamour of Los Angeles with her various cats. She enjoys conversing with plants, watching British crime dramas, photographing lizards, rereading gothic novels, and staring aimlessly into tempestuous bodies of water. She is the author of All the Beastly Things and Medea. Follow her on X @Eilish_Quin or on Instagram @EilishQuin. "Gail Shalan approaches this story of one of the most controversial figures in Greek mythology in a tone of hushed gravitas. When young Medea gains the favor of the goddess Athena, her path to notoriety paved in blood and magic is sealed. Shalan's vocal agility is undeniable; one minute she is Medea as a child, high-pitched and naïve, and the next, she embodies Medea's father, the sorcerer king Aeëtes, who has the tone of one who has glimpsed a grim future. Particularly effective is Shalan's rendering of Medea's mother, Idyia, a sea nymph and oracle whose lilting voice-marked with surprising intensity during moments of prophecy-effectively renders her intimate yet distant relationship with her husband and children."
