Written by Linda Temple
One thing I enjoy about reading books is when authors write different stories. Particularly, when an author jumps between genres, with the newer work being distinct to what came before. In the case of Linda Temple, SIMBiotic, which I reviewed last week, is the new, distinct work. Where that looks to the future with a cyberpunk story, The Medusa Deception is set in the modern day, looking back to ancient Greece and its mythology. Where SIMBiotic is (thus far, at least) a standalone novel, The Medusa Deception is the first book in a trilogy (I’ll have my reviews for the second and third books to you over the course of the week). As a fan of cyberpunk, I was looking forward to reading SIMBiotic, and as a fan of Greek mythology, I was looking forward to reading The Medusa Deception. The aforementioned book doesn’t disappoint as a cyberpunk story, and this book doesn’t disappoint as one rooted in ancient Greek myth. As different as Temple’s works are, they are thoroughly engaging and entertaining reads.
One similarity the two works share is a female protagonist who is written as a three dimensional character and brings a level of wit to the book. In The Medusa Deception, that protagonist is Mandy. Mandy is an entertaining character whose point of view adds colour to the book, livening every scene. Although the reader is unlikely to share Mandy’s experiences from the book, she is easy to relate to and empathise with. While following the character’s adventures through the novel, I was invested in her story and wanted her to succeed. While the other characters aren’t presented in as much depth, they are generally fun to read about, even if they’re entirely unpleasant. There is one exception to this rule, however: Ryan. As Ryan enters Mandy’s life, he doesn’t feel as fully formed, and it’s as if there’s something off about him. As a whole, his character doesn’t ring entirely true.
My issues with Ryan extend to his relationship with Mandy after entering her life early in the book. Like the character himself, something about this doesn’t quite click into place, and their combined story arc feels off kilter. I was expecting a twist to come into play about his character that would make sense of him, but this never came. However, as I mentioned at the beginning of this review, this is the first book in a trilogy. Since I write reviews before reading the next book in a series (so as to not colour my view of the book itself), it’s possible that a twist will come, or at least more information that will put him, and his relationship with Mandy, into perspective.
At 355 pages in paperback (or an estimated 357 pages on Kindle), there’s far more to The Medusa Deception than Ryan’s relationship with Mandy. The novel is an urban fantasy that casts a wide net as the story takes its twists and turns. Given the nature of the book’s plot twists and the air of mystery it builds around Mandy’s story, I won’t discuss the plot here, but I will say it works well. I found Mandy’s connection to Greek mythology to be fairly obvious, though it feels like this was a deliberate decision, letting the readers connect the dots. However, in case this isn’t the intent, and since the blurb doesn’t mention it, I will avoid discussing that, too.
If you follow these reviews, you’ll know that I enjoy stories that take mythology and blend it in with the modern day. When I’m a particular fan of the mythology, like I am with ancient Greece, I find myself particularly intrigued by how the author approaches the subject matter. Temple approaches this incredibly well, crafting a take on Greek mythology that is sure to draw fans in. The Medusa Deception takes a deep dive into this mythology, and I appreciate the level of knowledge and/or research required for the book. Another thing I appreciate—perhaps more than the level of knowledge—is how the book remains approachable for readers who aren’t well-versed in the mythology. The book explains everything the reader needs to know, getting them up to speed and able to follow along with the book’s events.
After reading SIMBiotic, I hoped The Medusa Deception would cast a similarly inviting tone that is easy for the reader to digest. Temple’s writing in this book is a little denser than the aforementioned book, but not to the point where it undercuts what I enjoyed about SIMBiotic’s writing. With this denser level of writing, the issues I had with that book’s prose don’t appear in The Medusa Deception’s. One thing I wasn’t prepared for is this book’s dream sequences, which touch upon horror tropes for some arresting and eerie moments.
The dialogue doesn’t work quite as well as the prose. While the characters all sound distinct from one another, there are areas where it doesn’t flow as naturally as I would have liked. This is particularly true of moments where characters provide exposition, which slows the conversation down. However, these issues are the exception, not the rule, with the dialogue clicking more often than not.
Although The Medusa Deception is the first book in the Medusa Legacy trilogy, it largely stands alone. The book feels like a complete read, and one that rewards the investment. Readers won’t be left feeling like they need to read The Dodona Prophecy and The Olympus Reckoning to finish the story, but it’s entirely likely they’ll be left feeling like they want to read those books, to see what else the author has in store for the characters and world.
While one of the major characters doesn’t work for me and some dialogue doesn’t flow naturally, The Medusa Deception is an entertaining novel that’s easy to dive into. Regardless of whether you’re a fan of Greek mythology, if you enjoy urban fantasies led by fun protagonists, The Medusa Deception will be sure to entertain you.
Favourite Passage
The writhing serpents crawled along the base of the walls, moonlight dancing off their jet-black scales. Amber yellow eyes penetrated the gloom. Forked tongues flicked the air. Smelling. Tasting. All around her a moving blackness. A snake pit.
Mandy tensed, her heart thudding in her chest. The snakes circled, but kept their distance.
What the hell? Mandy blinked repeatedly, trying to reset the scene in front of her.
A large snake slid out of the fray. It paused, its calm manner in stark contrast to the frenzy behind. Its forked tongue, black as night, incessantly probed the air. Its beady eyes unwaveringly stared.
The Medusa Deception: Book One of the Medusa Legacy Trilogy, Chapter 1
The Medusa Deception: Book One of the Medusa Legacy Trilogy was provided by the author for the purpose of an honest review.
The Medusa Deception is available in both paperback, exclusive to Amazon, and eBook from retailers, including—but not limited to—Amazon.
Note: I do not post scores for reviews on this website, but do post them on my Amazon and Goodreads reviews:
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Interested in purchasing The Medusa Deception?
Please find a link below; please note I do not collect any proceeds from the sale.
The Medusa Deception (The Medusa Legacy Book 1)
wastanley.com 