Medea
Quin’s Medea joins the current renaissance of retellings that recast the stories of maligned or ignored women from Greek mythology. Redeeming Medea, who killed her children when her husband Jason wanted to remarry, is perhaps the hardest challenge.
Quin’s novel portrays Medea’s difficult childhood as the daughter of a Naiad, who ultimately preferred the sea over her children, and the cruel King Aeetes, who only wanted a son. Aeetes commands various magics. For a time, he teaches them to Medea, and she continues training herself. When Jason comes seeking the golden fleece, she has impressive powers. Equally influential on Medea’s development is a prophecy her immortal mother tells her. In response, Medea conducts endless magical experiments.
From this set of circumstances, Quin develops a version of Medea’s story that aims at winning the reader’s sympathy for Medea and remaking the notorious witch into someone likeable and emotionally compelling. Quin retains the traditional events and persons of the myth, while fitting in new elements to transform the reader’s perception of Medea’s motives and heart.
The childhood chapters are satisfying and draw the reader to Medea. In later chapters, some readers may have a harder time sympathizing with Medea’s actions and her justifications for them. Quin occasionally brushes aside some significant emotional hurdles, character shifts, and plot complexities. Additionally, there are a few anachronistic slip-ups scattered through, such as “waiting seven minutes” and “rocking manically.” The regular use of the word “hummed” instead of the standard “said” as a dialogue indicator distracts from the tale rather than adds.
However, overall, the exploration and reworking of this most reviled woman’s inner world are compelling and well worth reading. Quin earns respect for her rich portrait of Medea. Highly recommended.
