I love my Greek Myths so have been looking forward to reading Jennifer Saint’s debut novel Ariadne. I know the story of Ariadne, the Minotaur and Theseus from school through Ovid’s poem Ariadne to Theseus and from translating Homer, so was interested to hear the story from Ariadne’s point of view, and how she would deal with the story, as it does change slightly from author to author. Ariadne is a princess of Crete, an Island that fills many with fear due the Minotaur, her brother, kept in a Labyrinth under the palace. When King Minos’s son is killed in Athens, he seeks retributuon by demanding that every year Athens send him seven maidens and seven youths who will enter the labyrinth to be slaughtered by the Minotaur. One year there is a surprising addition to these sacrificial lambs in Theseus, Prince of Athens. Ariadne sees Theseus and is drawn to his tales of bravery and handsome looks, offers to help him kill the Minotaur and end the sacrifices for good, but to do this she will be betraying her family and her country, a big price to pay. Ariadne has choices to make, in a world run by rich men and Gods who toy with humans lives as they see fit, will she survive and what kind of life will she have. Her sister Phaedra also plays a big part in the book and narrates some of the story from her perspective. She has a close bond with her sister and as the tapestry of their lives knits together it reveals a story of love and lies, but also the strength and intelligence of women in a mans world.

I’m going straight out to say I loved this book so much, it was such a joy to read. The idea of Ariadne and her sister Phaedra telling the story is brilliant. Women were very much beholden to men in this time, and in the myths, but if it hadn’t been for Ariadne then Theseus wouldn’t have slayn the Minotaur and found fame. Araidne’s story is a difficult one at times, she is the eldest daughter and has to help and watch her mother give birth to the monster that becomes the Minotaur, who is her brother. She is the one who helps her mother raise the child, loving it like a brother until it becomes too big and strong to control. After her mother sinks into depression, Ariadne also finds herself playing a mother figure to her youngest sister Phaedra, building a close bond that is hard to break. To make the decisions she does shows a strength of character and wisdom beyond her years. This is a choice that changes her life forever, she will no longer be a princess of Crete, and she may pay with her life if the Gods go against her or her father finds her.

Ariadne is very much a tale of bertayal and the consequences that come with it. Minos betrayed the God Poseidon by not sacrificing a bull to him. Pasiphae, Ariadne’s mother, betrays Minos by mating with the bull, whilst in a wooden cow, thus giving birth to the Minotaur. Ariadne then betrays her father and mother by helping Theseus slay the Minotaur, and then finds herself betrayed by Theseus, who also betrays her sister Phaedra, who in turn betrays him. This is a dominoe effect that destroys the lives of all those involved. Jennifer Saint’s prose is simply beautiful as she builds the classical world through the book, and her passion for her subject shines through. Her characterisation was wonderful, she breathed new life into the voices of Ariadne, Phaedra and Theseus, bringing their story to a new audience, and an old one like me. Dotted throughout are also references to other classical myths including Icarus, Perseus, Medusa and King Midas, all brilliant stories in their own right.

Ariadne is such an amazing book to read, I loved this retelling of this myth with its focus on the bonds of sisters. These classical myths are always fantastic stories, quite often with a moral warning in them, and I think it is so important that they are not forgotten. Jennifer Saint, like Pat Barker and Madeline Miller before, has given the characters and the story a new life and a new voice, a female voice. An absolutely amazing read, one to get totally lost in, and a herione you want to succeed. Sublime!!!

The mythological made credible

I find it hard to believe that this novel is the author’s first. It is so accomplished and absolutely pitch perfect.

It tells the story touched on in Madeline Miller’s ‘Circe’ of the Minotaur’s origins and what happens after it is overcome. Like the Mary Renault novel (‘The King Must Die’) that I read in my youth, it is a gripping tale of deceit, bravery and passion, with a strong sense of jeopardy that is there right from the prologue.

I found the birth of the Minotaur and the maternal love of Pasiphae for her unnatural offspring believable and sad, set within a realistic family tale where two girls – Ariadne and Phaedra – grow to womanhood. Pasiphae is often represented as scheming and evil, here she is the unlucky victim of Poseidon’s revenge on her husband. As always, it is the women who suffer, caught in the crossfire between men and gods.

Some reviewers have found the novel too unbalanced on the battle of the sexes, but I found Jennifer Saint’s depiction of the renowned craftsman Daedalus (“a young man full of energy and the fire of creativity”) most attractive. The bee pendant he and Ariadne discuss “like two equals” surely has its provence in the famous bee pendant in Iraklion Museum on Crete.

Let’s hope this debut novel is the first of many from this gifted author. As a lover of all things Cretan, I found this wonderful story a real treat. I am looking forward to rereading it and enjoying the language at my leisure on a Cretan beach!

One of the most gorgeously made books I've seen in years. It is a stunning new addition to any bookshelf. The story is such a fresh take on a greek myth you think you've heard a hundred times, but this time, from the correct point of view. Jennifer Saint is a wonder.

Wow!! How is this absolute masterpiece a debut novel? I have found myself completely unable and unwilling to put this one down and have devoured this in just one sitting.

This is a Novel outside of my comfort zone, however I was instantly intrigued by the retelling of Greek mythology. This is a book that hasn’t disappointed and one I’ve been pulled into, captured and mesmerised by.

This is a stunning debut, I am absolutely converted as a fan of this author. This is beautifully written and flows perfectly. The author has brought the characters to life and written in a way that I have felt as though I have been with the characters.

I have been completely blown away by this book. This is a superb literary masterpiece which has completely engaged me within the pages. I have absolutely loved the journey with Ariadne and Phaedra. This is a book that I have absolutely adored and one hundred percent recommend.

This is wonderful read and one that must be added to the TBR.

‘What I did not know was that I had hit upon a truth of womanhood: however blameless a life we led, the passions and the greed of men could bring us to ruin, and there was nothing we could do.’

Ariadne is a powerful story retold. Jennifer Saint breathes life into an ancient tale, and gives a voice to those long forgotten. I absolutely adored her description of Crete, of Asteron, and of Ariadne’s bitter story of love and betrayal. Her painful manipulation by Theseus was gripping, and I simply could not get enough of her inner monologues. It is a powerful read, and I truly hope that Jennifer Saint decides to take on another classical woman and craft her story. These are voices that need to be heard.

A tell all tale following the unfavourable fates of women within mythology. Ariadne tells her story with an honest simplicity, taking you by the hand and guiding you through the ordeals ensures by herself and the women around her. Saint gives a voice to these women - this is a female centred retelling in the vein of Circe and The Silence of the Girls.

It’s mostly beautifully written. For a debut, it is impressive. I liked that it has two POV as well. Unfortunately, Some chapters (7, 8 and 19) felt information dumpy. Just one man talking and talking and talking. I appreciate Greek myths is tricky to tell, but these chapters felt out of place and completely turned me off. Fortunately, the information provided was easy enough to follow, so it probably won’t bother most readers. I just feel a bit fed up with information dumping in fantasy and Greek myth genres! So I didn’t enjoy the book personally as much as I wanted to, but all in all I think this is a good retelling and definitely a good debut novel, so I do recommend it if you are interested in Greek myths!

I'll be the first one to tell you that I HATED mythology in school. And hated doesn't seem to be a strong enough word. Ugh, it was the thorn in my side in English class and I've avoided it like the plague since then (Can we say plague these days? Too soon?) I chose to read this novel because so many people love mythology and the description intrigued me. I'm definitely glad I stepped out of my comfort zone with Ariadne. First, a content warning for violence, suicide, mental illness, and generally women being treated terribly by men. Despite the heaviness, I thought this was extremely well written and unique picture of the women behind the men, who are so often neglected in literature.

Firstly, a huge thank you to Wildfires and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as I discovered that this novel was being released I immediately added it to my wishlist and started counting down the days. Not only was it incredible to finally hold Ariadne in my hands but the novel itself was every bit as wonderful as I thought it would be.

Like many others, I know the basics of the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, however I never quite knew what happened after and I don’t often hear Ariadne or her sister, Phaedra, spoken of in these tales. So it was very refreshing to hear their stories and to see how they fit into the famous myths. I also loved how distinctive their personalities were, although they are sisters and witnessed Posideon’s cruelty to their mother, among other events, they viewed them so differently which impacted some of their decisions later on. Ariadne was gentle, considerate and strong, although Phaedra was also strong she was fiercely independent and more impulsive. They were also a great contrast to Theseus and Dionysus, both of which were very different to the Theseus and Dionysus that we’re used to.

Saint does an excellent job with the pacing of the novel; we get a brief history of Ariadne’s and Phaedra’s parents. Not only does this help us understand their position and relationship to the Gods, but it also gives the reader a firsthand look at how fickle the Gods can be with mortals too. As this is Ariadne’s story, I really liked the way Saint handled the story of Theseus and the Minotaur with it only serving as a stepping stone for Ariadne’s story, highlighting her and her sister’s involvement instead. Whilst the opening chapters are primarily from Ariadne’s perspective, I really enjoyed how, later on, we started to occasionally alternate with Phaedra’s perspective too. This dual narrative was incredibly insightful and added so many more layers to what is already a fascinating and complex myth.

The entire novel is written in such a lyrical and captivating way; I really feel that Saint captured the magic of the myth. The way that a sense of foreboding would be subtly weaved through scenes keep the reader grounded in the fact that this is still the story from mythology, and how nothing is as it appears at first, even just by ending a seemingly happy chapter with a single sentence that will overwhelm you with unease. It was this atmosphere and pacing that had me gripped and devouring the book in just two sittings.

Overall, this novel offers a fresh perspective on a myth we think we know and had me questioning many aspects of this myth as well as others, particularly whether the heroes truly are the heroes they are painted to me. This beautiful book is a must read for mythology fans, and I am so thrilled that I have been able to learn Ariadne’s story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wildfire publishing for sending me an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.


A breathtaking tale of treachery, greed and the unsung power of women in a world ruled by ruthless men and pitiless gods.


Ariadne’s story begins in the shining palace of Knossos, where she and the women of her family exist beneath the control of their husband and father, King Minos and the fear fueled power he wields over the people of Crete and even those beyond his shores, in the form of the fearsome Minotaur.
We are introduced to the characters of this epic greek tragedy through Ariadne’s narration as she remembers the sordid events that lead to her life as we first see it.
Her mother’s broken mind and heart, her brothers, the human and beast so different in fate and temperament and her sister, Pheadra who’s indomitable will and bravery is admirable in the face of all she has suffered.

This tale does not rush, it unfolds each aspect of Ariadne’s story with the care and delicacy of a spring flower unfurling.
The stage is set as handsome Thesus arrives on Crete’s shores to defeat the Minotaur and free his own city of Athens from the terrible tribute it has had to pay in the name of peace.

Our heroines are swept off their feet on meeting this legendary prince but in a world where legacy and the echo of a man’s fame throughout time is more important than one woman’s sacrifice - even if without that sacrifice there would be no heroic tale to tell - no woman is given the respect she is due.
Ariadne’s world changes in the wake of one fateful decision of the heart and from there our story truly begins.

The plot itself feels a little slow in places but as you continue to read you will discover the quiet moments were necessary in building the emotional foundations for what is to come.
I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns of Ariadne and Pheadra’s stories and how they presented the very different dreams and desires women can hold in their hearts and how neither is less than the other for what they contain.
The writing was rich and descriptive, poetic in parts, brutally raw and real in others and overall just a pure pleasure to read.
I turned the final page of Ariadne with a tear in my eye and so very many emotions in my heart.

I highly recommend this excellent feminist retelling of a classic Greek myth to fans of Circe, Boudica Dreaming the Eagle and The Queens of Innis Lear or anyone who wants to dip a toe into the beautiful and often brutal world of historical fantasy.

4.5/5

A retelling of the myths of Ariadne and Phaedra, with a decidedly feminist slant and an examination of the underlying oppression and cruelty at the heart of those myths. Ariadne grows up a princess of Crete, knowing from an early age that her mother Pasiphae was the instrument, as well as the victim, of Poseidon's rage at her husband Minos. Maddened with lust, Pasiphae had sex with a bull, conceiving the Minotaur: now her shame is all Greece's amusement and she's withdrawn into herself.

Ariadne knows her father is cruel, and when she sees the flower of Athenian youth brought for her half-brother to slaughter in the Labyrinth, she is determined to help them escape. Besides, their leader Theseus has such fine silken hair, such compelling green eyes ... Ariadne betrays her father and her country and sails away with Theseus -- though without her little sister Phaedra, who wasn't at the appointed meeting place. But soon after, Ariadne awakes alone on the isle of Naxos, abandoned by Theseus. Fortunately the god Dionysus makes his home on the island, and the two become close: their mothers, after all, have both been innocent victims of a god's rage. Ariadne comes to love Dionysus, even when she discovers his powers over life and death. Even when she finds out that he's kept the truth about her sister -- now married to Theseus in Athens -- from her.

And Phaedra, too, has a voice in this narrative: distrustful of men, mourning the sister who Theseus tells her was slain by a serpent sent by Artemis, complicit in the betrayal of her country and yet, somehow, no more important than the gems and gold that Theseus' men looted from Knossos while he fought the beast below.

There are so many variants of the myths that one could select other sources to construct a far kinder narrative than is set out in Ariadne. For instance, I wasn't familiar with the story of what Dionysus did to the Argive women. And I have a lingering fondness for Theseus after reading Mary Renault's marvellous 'The King Must Die' and 'The Bull from the Sea' at an impressionable age. But, sadly, the story here is all too credible. Theseus is invested in his own myth: he lies and cheats to achieve lasting fame. He is only too ready to believe the worst of his wife and stepson: I found Phaedra's death, and Theseus' response, horribly convincing. Dionysus, for all his divinity and his gentleness, is still prone to some very human emotions. His language is that of a seducer. "The other gods are not like me ... we have our mothers' stories in common ..." He holds all the power, all the agency, in the relationship: after all, he is a god, and a better one (so he insists) than his more mortal half-brother Perseus. And it's his arrogance, at the end, that sends Ariadne to her death.

Ariadne's fury at the ways in which men and gods have abused women, including her own mother -- including her -- is thoroughly relatable, as is the gradual evolution of her feelings towards Theseus, from youthful infatuation and the hope of being 'a fitting wife for a legendary hero' to the realisation that Theseus, like so many other heroes, will 'measure his glory in female torment'. The unfair ways in which women are victimised, objectified, discarded, are timeless, and Saint brings them to life with empathy and anger: #yesallmen #andallgods.

There were a couple of places where the writing sprawled a little, and I was vexed with the repeated references to the sisters' blonde hair: but on the whole I found this a compelling and fascinating read, though sometimes uncomfortable and sometimes -- with some knowledge of the underlying myths -- deeply melancholy.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advance review copy, of which this is an honest and personal review.

The year 2021 is the year I decided to finally dive into the Greek Myths and learn them from scratch. And I mean, FROM SCRATCH, i.e. The Titans, The Olympians, The Trojan War and everything in between and after.

Judging by my reading so far, it is safe to conclude that the women of the Greek Myths are barely given a voice, perhaps it is just how they have been documented, but who doesn’t love a story told from a different perspective? After all every coin has two sides.


My Thoughts

With Ariadne, Jennifer Saint has brought to life one of my favourite Greek Myths, that of the Theseus and Minotaur but told from Ariadne’s perspective.

In the original myth, Ariadne languishes in the shadows, portrayed only as the woman who helped Theseus vanquish the Minotaur and then was abandoned. The myths then go on to focus on Theseus’ various conquest, but, Ariadne barely gets a mention.

With this book, Jennifer Saint ensures we encounter all the familiar characters – Minos, Phaedra, Dionysus, Pasiphae, but most importantly, makes sure that we see the story as Ariadne saw it.

How did she feel being left back my Theseus like that? How was her relationship with her mother and her sister? And how did it feel being married to Dionysus, and actual Olympian God?

Saint has done right by addressing these topics, and making sure that Ariadne gets a much overdue spotlight. I especially loved the portrayal of the tender relationship between Ariadne and Dionysus, similarly how Jennifer Saint has not wavered too much from the original myth – including Phaedra and Hippolytus except at the end.

Unfortunately, the narrative, after a very promising start, falls a little flat. It is not heart wrenching, and certainly did not make me want to despair. However, it is a good retelling, shows promised and could potentially go on to join the ranks with the likes of Circe and The Song of Achilles. (Notice I have left out Pat Barker from the list though  )

Final words:

Worth a read, but do not push out books from your TBR for this one.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Headline for the Advanced Readers Copy

DNF at 180 pages.

I was excited for this. I love anything to do with mythology, and so I thought I would love this, but it wasn’t to be.

The writing is pretty. I can’t argue that. Saints can craft a beautiful sentence, but I can’t say the same for her storytelling capabilities. I know the myths pretty well, but I found myself getting bored with how Saints retold it, and I didn’t want to push through it anymore. I think that when it comes to books, I’d rather have a great story than great writing. Yes, it’s nice to have both, but if I had to pick one then the story sticks with me more.

Also, I couldn’t shake the feeling as if Saints was trying too hard to emulate Madeline Miller’s style. Or maybe Miller is so popular that every writer doing a Greek mythology book is trying to copy her. Or maybe it’s just me.

I would recommend this to Madeline Miller and Natalie Haynes fans, but I don’t think this is for me.

There have been several novels published recently retelling Greek myths from a feminine perspective; this is another – and one that I really enjoyed. As the title suggests, it’s the story of Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos and Queen Pasiphaë of Crete, but it’s also the story of another woman, her younger sister Phaedra.

As two princesses of Crete, Ariadne and Phaedra grow up in the comfort of the palace at Knossos, but their brother Asterion is not so lucky. Born half man and half bull, he has become known as the Minotaur and banished to the underground labyrinth designed by Daedalus. Each year fourteen young men and women arrive from Athens to be sacrificed to the Minotaur – until the year when Theseus, Prince of Athens, is one of the fourteen and Ariadne falls in love. Swept away by the prince’s good looks and courage, Ariadne decides to help him kill the Minotaur and escape from the labyrinth, but this means betraying her family and the people of Crete.

If you have any knowledge of Greek mythology, you probably already know all of this, but I think Ariadne’s adventures after she is forced to flee Crete with Theseus are less well known, so I won’t go into too much detail here. The Minotaur story only occupies the first few chapters of the novel, with much more time spent describing what happens after that, and it was fascinating to read about Ariadne’s relationship with the god Dionysus on the island of Naxos, as well as the fate of Phaedra, left behind to deal with the aftermath of her sister’s betrayal.

Jennifer Saint has a lot to say in this novel about heroes and hero worship, particularly in her depiction of Theseus (very much the villain of the book and certainly not the Theseus we meet in Mary Renault’s The King Must Die) and of the cult of Dionysus and his female followers, the maenads. She touches on why people feel the need to put their faith in heroes and what happens when their eyes are opened to the truth, as well as exploring the differences between mortals and gods, the position of women in Ancient Greek society and how, in Greek mythology, the gods usually make the women pay the price for the acts of men.

When I first began to read, I hadn’t expected part of the novel to be written from Phaedra’s perspective, but I think using her as a viewpoint character as well as Ariadne adds more scope to the story and makes it even more interesting than it would otherwise have been. However, I thought Phaedra’s storyline suffered near the end from the weak characterisation of Hippolytus, who plays such an important role in her later life. The conclusion of Ariadne’s story is slightly disappointing too; it felt rushed and didn’t have quite the impact it should have had. Still, I enjoyed this book, particularly the first half, and I think it compares well to Circe by Madeline Miller.

The first thing that drew me to this book was that I was fortunate enough to visit the site of Knossos on a holiday to Crete many years ago. I was also intrigued by the idea of a book that puts its titular heroine, Ariadne, centre stage in the retelling of the myth of the Minotaur.

A recurring theme of the book is the male domination of society and the imbalance of power between men and women. As Ariadne observes, women – including her own mother, Pasiphaë – are blamed and punished for the actions of men, both mortal and divine. In fact, it’s not quite as simple as that because, as the book shows, mortal women also suffer at the hands of female Gods. For example, Ariadne ponders on Athena’s actions in punishing Medusa for her seduction by Poseidon: ‘She must punish the girl who was so shameless as to be overpowered by Poseidon… So Medusa had to pay for Poseidon’s act. It made no sense at all.’

Arguably, the book illustrates the misuse of power per se. For example, Ariadne observes that her brother, the Minotaur, for whom she shows a touching pity when he’s a baby, becomes a display to the world of her father Minos’s dominance. Similarly Minos keeps Daedalus a virtual prisoner on Crete because of his genius for invention and to prevent his knowledge of the secrets of the labyrinth beneath the palace falling into the hands of others.

The author draws the reader into the stories of Ariadne and Phaedra, showing how each in their different way attempt to find their identity and gain some control over their lives. For Phaedra, used as a political bargaining chip by her brother after the death of Minos in order to secure peace with Athens, it’s about gaining what knowledge she can of the workings of the Athenian state and using that to her advantage. For Ariadne, living alone in exile on Naxos, it’s about finding the courage and determination to survive. As she says defiantly, ‘I was not Minos’ captive daughter; I was not Cinyras’s trade for copper; nor was I Theseus’s diversion between heroic feats of glory. Somehow I had survived them all and here I was, free of them at last’. She does survive, albeit with the help of the male God, Dionysus. In fact, both Ariadne and Phaedra are destined ultimately to be disillusioned, let down and deceived by men who don’t deserve them.

Alongside the stories of Ariadne and Phaedra, there are references to other characters from Greek mythology, such as Medea, Jason and Heracles. At nearly 400 pages, Ariadne is a chunky read but if some sections move at a rather leisurely pace, there are plenty of scenes that are full of energy and drama. For example, the description of a descent into the Underworld.

Although I was aware of the story of Ariadne up to the point of the slaying of the Minotaur and was vaguely aware that she spent time on Naxos, I knew nothing about events in her life thereafter. I had also never heard of her sister, Phaedra, or her mother, Pasiphae. (I obviously should have paid more attention during my Classical Studies lessons at school!) I think this lack of knowledge hampered my ability to fully judge what degree of imagination the author has brought to her retelling of the story of Ariadne. This may also explain why, whilst full of admiration for the superb quality of the writing, my feelings about Ariadne do not quite match the wild – dare I say, Dionysian – enthusiasm of other readers. However, for lovers of Greek mythology, Ariadne is a book I can definitely recommend. And wouldn’t it be great to be reading it on a beach in Crete?

'I would be Medusa, if it came to it, I resolved. If the gods held me accountable one day for the sins of someone else, if they came for me to punish a man's actions, I would not hide away like Pasiphae. I would wear that coronet of snakes and the world would shrink from me instead.'
I am loving the Greek Mythology books that have been hitting the shelves over the last year! And I am especially loving how so many of them are focusing on the unsung heroines that never get the spotlight they deserve. I know, we love the Greek gods and the heroes and the epic stories that surround them but there are so many fantastic women that played such pivotal roles in these timeless tales and it is so great that they are finally getting their well deserved shout out.
As soon as I read the description for this, I had to read it. Not only am I a huge fan of Greek mythology but I visited Crete two years and went to the ruins of Knossos. So being to truly immerse myself in the story of Ariadne, Phaedra, Pasiphae and the Minotaur was something I didn't want to miss.
This story is not just about a princess of Crete who falls in love with a prince of Athens. If anything, that only sets the scene for what is an epic telling of two sisters and the roles they played in some of Greece's most epic tales. This book also has such an interesting message throughout that I had never thought of before but now seems so obvious; 'What I did not know was that I had hit upon a truth of womanhood: however, blameless a life we led, the passions and greed of men could bring us to ruin, and there was nothing we could do.' In all of the great Greek Myths, it is always the women who pay the price for the folly of the gods and men. From Medusa, to Circe, to Pasiphae and many more, it is the women who had to bare the weight of the weakness of men and gods and who continue to do so to this day.
I loved the bond between Ariadne and Phaedra and it broke my heart to see the many difficulties and challenges they had to overcome, both together and apart. I am extremely close to my sisters so this is something that I felt really gave an extra level of depth to the story. There are a lot of other important topics that are addressed throughout the book but I won't go into it as I don't want to spoil it. Just know that there is so much more to this story and it goes far beyond the glory that we always hear when listening to these epic tales.
The writing is excellent and really accessible. I find sometimes those wo retell great stories like these, over complicate them with the narrative but this was a perfect balance of atmospheric and descriptive and easy to understand.
My only critique is the ending...the final 25% was a little bizarre and then it just suddenly ended...up until that point the pace had been perfect but then it suddenly went from 0 to 90 and I was overwhelmed by the many things being thrown at me.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. If you're a fan of Greek Mythology, a feminist, a fan of adventure, Ariadne has something for everyone and is a book I would highly recommend. A big thank you to NetGalley for letting me read it before it was published.

This is a brilliant reimagining and Ariadne’s story will capture your heart. I loved how this was the story from the women’s viewpoint - told from both Ariadne and Phaedra, you learn about the conflict and love from these two strong women, and how they survive in the world ruled by men and gods. Jennifer Saint’s writing is beautifully descriptive and I was engrossed from the very beginning.

I have to admit to being a little nervous when I picked up Ariadne. Jennifer Saint’s much vaunted debut has been spoken about with ALL OF THE PRAISE by book bloggers, booktubers, and booksellers and has been compared to Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles and Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls. High praise indeed but, for me, I always get nervous that maybe I just won’t ‘get’ the book that everyone is talking about, or that the hype will mean I enter a book with unrealistic expectations.

Fortunately, I need not have been concerned about Ariadne. It is as compulsively readable and compellingly affective as everyone has been saying and I now find myself in the position of adding yet another voice to the vase torrent of bookish love for this Jennifer Saint’s brilliant debut.

Following in the footsteps of Miller, Barker, and, perhaps most relevantly, Natalie Haynes, Ariadne is a feminist literary retelling of Greek mythology that places Ariadne, Princess of Crete, firmly back into the centre of her story. Beginning with her childhood on Crete, we feel her pain and anger as the whims of gods and men result in her beloved mother’s shame and madness, and follow her as she encounters the Athenian hero Theseus and helps him escape his fate – or possibly, to fulfil his destiny – within the depths of her father’s labyrinth.

Ariadne is a smart, intelligent narrator of her story, combining a naiveté that wishes to see the good in everyone with an awareness that she inhabits a world where women – even strong, courageous, intelligent women – suffer because of the capriciousness of both men and gods. Bought to life in lyrical prose, Ariadne’s world is enthralling combination of the mythological and the human and her life – and that of her beloved sister Phaedra – is equally affected by both the divine games being played upon Olympus and the more petty machinations of kings and city-states.

Although Ariadne is probably best known for her role in Theseus’s story, the novel whips through this part of her life with relative speed, moving to focus upon the woman Ariadne becomes as a result of her encounter with Theseus. I won’t spoil the story for anyone unfamiliar with the myth but it’s definitely fair to say that Ariadne’s tale only BEGINS with Theseus – and that her famous encounter with him is far from the most interesting part of her story.

Whilst I enjoyed re-treading the more famous aspects of the myth, for me Ariadne really came alive once the novel entered the less familiar territory of her marriage. As the book developed, I really enjoyed seeing the different threads of Ariadne’s life being woven together into a compelling – and emotionally affecting – ending that places Ariadne firmly back at the centre of her own story, even when the control of her fate is being wrested from her by petulant gods and treacherous men alike.

Beautifully written whilst remaining accessible for those less familiar with classical mythology, Ariadne continues a fine recent tradition of recent myth re-tellings that consider the supressed and forgotten voices that lie behind many of the ‘great’ deeds of bravery and heroics that form the heart of such stories.

As a lover of all things myth and legend, Ariadne was always going to be right up my street. But with its accessible style and focus upon the all-too-familiar challenges that a young women encounters when forging her own path in life, I think it’s an immensely relatable novel that speaks to problems we still face today. In Ariadne, Jennifer Saint has created a heroine with a humanity that provides an emotional compulsion to her tale despite its temperamental gods and mystical monsters – and that makes this a novel that is sure to appeal to any lover of a good story and not just to myth aficionados.

There have been quite a few books retelling Greek myths from a feminist perspective (Circe, Silence of the Girls, A Thousand Ships etc). I was worried that this would be a pale shadow of these wonderful books.
It tells the story of two daughters of King Minos of Crete, Ariadne and her more spirited sister Phaedra. Ariadne is sickened by the human sacrifices that are brought as tributes each year from Athens. They are to be throw into the Labyrinth which contains her half monster brother the Minotaur. She has ambiguous feelings about her brother but is clearer about her feelings towards her tyrannical father.

When hero Theseus arrives and she locks her gaze with his green eyes, it is the catalyst for change. She plots with him to help destroy her monstrous brother and save the other Athenian tributes. She gives him a ball of thread with which to navigate the Labyrinth of Knossos and a weapon.. The plan is that he will then meet her and take her away to Athens. Phaedra has her own ideas...
Ariadne is not taken to Athens, her fate takes a different direction, as does that of her sister.

The push/pull relationship between the two sisters is a strong component of the story. they are both bound together and divided by their earlier decisions upon Theseus's arrival. What choices can they really make? Will they find peace, contentment and love?

I really enjoyed this book. It stands easily with Circe, Silence of the Girls etc in this genre.

The story of Ariadne is one I remember from my childhood. In this beautiful retelling, Jennifer Saint gives Ariadne a voice. Not only is she a woman in Ancient Greece but also the daughter of a king. Through her relationship with her sister Phaedra, she comes to life on the page as we see how difficult it must have been to carve out an identity for herself. It's interesting that the Minotaur takes back stage in this story, always present, yet it is Ariadne who is the focus. This is an absolutely compelling story and I can't wait for the next one.