Stone Blind

Natalie Haynes

45 pages 1-hour read

Natalie Haynes

Stone Blind

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Medusa is the mortal, youngest Gorgon sister raised by immortals. Unlike her formidable siblings, she is vulnerable to physical pain and possesses a gentle, compassionate nature. She enjoys watching the sea and observing mortal life from afar, displaying a deep empathy that distinguishes her from the Olympian gods.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Ceto

Daughter of Phorcys

Younger Sister of Sthenno

Younger Sister of Euryale

Target of Poseidon

Cursed by Athene

Hunted by Perseus

Sthenno is an immortal Gorgon who discovers a mortal infant outside her home. She possesses leathery wings, tusks, and a fiercely protective demeanor. She shuns contact with mortals but learns to experience love and fear while raising her vulnerable younger sister.

Key Relationships

Older Sister of Medusa

Sister of Euryale

Daughter of Ceto

Daughter of Phorcys

Euryale is an immortal Gorgon who shares a secluded cave with Sthenno. She shows a curious fondness for mortals and animals, often reuniting lost sheep with their mothers. She exhibits immense physical power and uses it to violently alter the earth when her family is threatened.

Key Relationships

Older Sister of Medusa

Sister of Sthenno

Daughter of Ceto

Daughter of Phorcys

Poseidon is the Olympian god of the sea and brother to Zeus. He exhibits extreme entitlement, feigning courtesy while using his overwhelming power to coerce women into submission. He aggressively pursues Amphitrite and later corners Medusa inside a newly built temple.

Key Relationships

Husband of Amphitrite

Attacker of Medusa

Brother of Zeus

Rival of Athene

Athene is the Olympian goddess of war and wisdom, born directly from her father's head. She develops a brutal bloodlust during the gods' war against the Giants and frequently aligns herself with patriarchal power structures. She directs her divine anger at mortal women rather than the male gods who cause the offenses.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Zeus

Daughter of Metis

Rival of Poseidon

Punisher of Medusa

Half-Sister and Guide of Perseus

Target of Hephaestus

Perseus is the demigod son of Zeus and Princess Danaë. Raised in exile on the island of Seriphos, he benefits heavily from divine intervention and exhibits a deep sense of entitlement. He accepts a dangerous quest to retrieve a Gorgon's head to spare his mother from an unwanted marriage.

Key Relationships

Son of Zeus

Hunter of Medusa

Mentee of Athene

Mentee of Hermes

Adversary of King Polydectes

Ward of Dictys

Zeus is the ruler of the Olympian gods and god of the sky. Having overthrown his own father, he constantly fears being overthrown himself by a future son. He frequently abuses his supreme authority to satisfy his desires, acting with extreme violence and selfishness toward mortals and immortals alike.

Key Relationships

Husband and Brother of Hera

Attacker of Metis

Father of Athene

Father of Perseus

Attacker of Princess Danaë

Brother of Poseidon

Princess Danaë is a mortal royal locked away due to a prophecy predicting her future child will kill her father. After Zeus forces himself upon her and subsequently frees her, she lives in exile on Seriphos. She focuses entirely on protecting and raising her son.

Key Relationships

Mother of Perseus

Target of Zeus

Daughter of King Acrisius

Guest and Friend of Dictys

Target of King Polydectes

Princess Andromeda is the mortal daughter of the Ethiopian monarchs. She resents her arranged engagement to her older uncle Phineas and displays a rebellious spirit. Her life is upended when divine retribution targets her home due to her mother's vanity.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Queen Cassiope

Daughter of King Cepheus

Niece and Fiancée of Phineas

Rescued by Perseus

Supporting Characters

Hera is the Olympian goddess of marriage and Zeus's sister-wife. She directs her intense anger over Zeus's constant infidelities toward his female victims rather than holding her husband accountable. She actively encourages Zeus to destroy his rivals.

Key Relationships

Wife and Sister of Zeus

Mother of Hephaestus

Rival of Metis

Metis is a Titan and Zeus's first wife. She possesses shape-shifting abilities and attempts to use them to escape Zeus's violent pursuit, transforming into various animals before being overpowered.

Key Relationships

Victim of Zeus

Mother of Athene

Hephaestus is the Olympian god of the forge and son of Hera. He creates intricate metalwork and assists Zeus by splitting his skull to relieve a headache, an act that introduces Athene to the world.

Key Relationships

Son of Hera

Subordinate to Zeus

Suitor of Athene

Amphitrite is a water nymph who seeks refuge from Poseidon's coercion. She eventually yields to his demands, reasoning that he is less violently destructive than other Olympian gods, though she later encourages him to punish mortals.

Key Relationships

Wife of Poseidon

Dictys is a fisherman on the island of Seriphos. He provides Danaë and her infant son with shelter, food, and a safe home, acting as a rare source of genuine, unselfish support.

Key Relationships

Host and Friend of Princess Danaë

Caretaker of Perseus

Brother of King Polydectes

King Polydectes is the arrogant ruler of Seriphos. He attempts to force Danaë into marriage and sends her son away on a seemingly impossible quest to eliminate him as an obstacle.

Key Relationships

Brother of Dictys

Unwanted Suitor of Princess Danaë

Adversary of Perseus

Gaia is the ancient earth goddess and mother of the Giants. She attempts to protect her children during their war against the Olympians, enduring immense emotional and physical pain as they are killed and absorbed back into her soil.

Key Relationships

Adversary of Zeus

Queen Cassiope is the beautiful ruler of Ethiopia. She boastfully compares her appearance to that of the immortal water nymphs, inadvertently bringing divine wrath upon her kingdom and her daughter.

Key Relationships

Wife of King Cepheus

Hermes is the Olympian messenger god who assists Perseus on his quest. He provides the young demigod with crucial information and magical winged sandals to help him travel vast distances.

Key Relationships

Divine Helper of Perseus

Companion of Athene

Ceto is an ancient sea goddess and mother to the Gorgons. She commands massive sea creatures and is compelled to obey Poseidon's destructive orders regarding the shores of Ethiopia.

Key Relationships

Mother of Medusa

Mother of Sthenno

Mother of Euryale