Ariadne is a compelling story about sisterhood, the strength of women, and the whims of Greek gods and heroes.

In Ariadne we follow the titular heroine though out her life, from young Princess of Crete to the wife of a god. Above all, however, Ariadne is about women in Greek mythology that are punished for the mistakes of the men (and gods) in their life. Pasiphae and Minos, Medusa and Poseidon, Semele and Zeus, and in the end, Ariadne and Dionysus.

As we follow Ariadne, and at times her sister Phaedra as well, we read about her life, but also the myths and stories of other women who have been wronged by men and vengeful gods. It’s a collection of several Greek myths of strong women, sisterhood and motherhood, with both sad and happy endings.

Jennifer Saint’s writing catches your attention and doesn’t let go until the very end. Her lyrical way of writing matches Greek mythology perfectly, and I could see the images she describes as clear in my head as if I was watching a movie.

I enjoyed every single word of Ariadne, and I can’t wait for Saint’s next book.

“I am Ariadne, Princess of Crete, though my story takes us a long way from the rocky shores of my home.”

Ariadne is quite simply a masterpiece. Lush and evocative, it is a rich tapestry that brings to life many of the famous Greek myths through a new lens; telling them from the perspective of the women. Narrated by Ariadne and her sister, Phaedra, we follow the sisters from their childhood days as Princesses of Crete, a time of innocence when they acquiesce to the life and duties expected of them, and watch their metamorphosis as their naivete evaporates and they grow into tenacious, feisty and formidable women.

I knew very little about Greek mythology and recognised snippets of the myths retold in this book but I had never heard the story of Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur. I was hooked; totally obsessed and savouring every word as I luxuriated in this book. Illuminating, captivating and educational, this was a revelatory experience for me and left me desperate to learn more about the subject.

“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.”

A commentary on womanhood, female agency and what it is like to live in a man’s world, the author gives a voice to the forgotten women who were merely pawns. These women were forced to endure pain and punishment for the whims of men and gods, something Ariadne learns from a young age. The author explores myths such as Medusa and the Minotaur to show how it is the women who are punished by the gods, not the wrongdoer. The rage that burns in the women is anger I recognise at the injustice of female punishment for a man’s crimes. It feels very timely, especially with the ongoing discussions surrounding the #metoo movement and our culture of victim blaming.

"No longer was my world one of brave heroes; I was learning all too swiftly the women's pain that throbbed unspoken through the tales of their feats."

An accomplished and spectacular debut from an exciting new talent, this book is exquisitely and meticulously written. The author vividly paints the world of gods and mortals as she sweeps you away to the golden shores of Naxos and Crete. The depth of her research is palpable and makes it all feel unquestioningly real as we are immersed in this mesmerising world.

Luminous, atmospheric, breathtaking and unforgettable, when I finished this book I was lost for words and felt bereft at leaving the characters behind. A truly phenomenal story that everyone needs to read, even if you’ve never been interested in Greek mythology before. READ IT NOW!

Fun fact: I almost called my youngest daughter Ariadne as she's my favourite Greek heroine. We went with Iris instead, as she's our little rainbow Goddess. So anyway, I had high hopes for this retelling of the Minotaur myth from the perspective of the daughter's of Minos and for the most part I wasn't disappointed. We get angry Gods and feminist conversations in a similar vein to Circe and The Silence of the Girls, as well as interesting character developments. It was a fun time.

Ariadne is such an interesting character who seems to fall into the shadows of the shine of Theseus in the original Minotaur myth. She's the one who helps him escape, struggles with betraying her family (the Minotaur is still her brother after all) for this man, yet gets none of the glory. She's just a woman after all. Yet Jennifer Saint gives her a much needed voice and opinion. We see her internal struggles with her decisions and the consequences of her actions.

We also see her share a complicated relationship with her mother Pasiphae, who has been broken not by her own actions but by vengeful Gods wanting to damage her husband, and sister Phaedra. Phaedra is a spirited girl when we first encounter her, helping Ariadne release Theseus, yet ultimately left behind. As a result she has to work hard at everything she does to gain some kind of power, some sense of belonging in her world. She's seen as an afterthought by many, unassuming and weak, but she's incredibly clever and manipulative when needed. I really enjoyed her character development over the course of the book, knowing ultimately where her destiny would take her and Jennifer Saint's interpretation of her story. I also liked the parallels shown between the two women. They are both ultimately women living very much in a man's world. A God's world, where women suffer because of the desires of men - whether they are immortal or not.

I also thought the writing was really well done. A lot of the novel is taken up with recounts of the stories of the Gods and heroes, interwoven with our main plot. It makes the reader feels as if the stories are being told to them aloud, as the originals were intended to be. This certainly helps create a rich storytelling atmosphere and mythological world filled with self centered, vain Gods. If you already know Ariadne's and Phaedra's stories there's not much intrigue plotwise, however I was fully invested in this world and the imaginative interpretation of these characters to really want to know how each tale would be wrapped up. If anything, I thought Phaedra's story arc was wrapped up too quickly, without much resolution. I also would have liked Aphrodite to have played more a role in her story, as it would have provided some more logical explanations for her actions.

Wonderful reimagining of some forgotten female figures in Greek mythology that starts at a Labyrinth and spirals into stories of vengeful Gods and unrequited, all consuming love. If you love mythology retellings with a feminist spin, you need to pick this up.

Ariadne is the daughter of King Minos and Queen Pasiphae. She has all the luxuries and finery befitting a princess, a granddaughter of the great God Helios, but Ariadne is familiar with hardship and toil, she knows her fate is one as bleak as her mother’s: marriage, containment, a cage. Tossed like a discus between powerful men and vain, violent Gods.
She has witnessed it first hand with Pasiphae, who birthed a monster because a God bid it. Now her brother, the Minotaur lives in the labyrinth beneath Crete, hungry always for blood.
When this year’s harvest of Athenians arrive as sacrifice to the monster, Ariadne meets Theseus, a handsome hero who is full of brave tales, and who has a single aim: to kill the monster and save his people. But for this he will need Ariadne and her sister, Phaedra’s help.
With a deft and poetic pen, the author conjures a tale of empowerment, courage and love as brightly as a God might tell a story in the stars. It is enchanting. I LOVED it. Saint has created a glorious world of gods and monsters, magic and myth, giving voices to two misunderstood, misrepresented or often forgotten women. Despite being a work of fiction, one based in a world of myth, this book has modern day sensibilities, and explores some important themes, all the while lifting womens’ voices.
The author draws our eyes to the traumas, injustices, sexisms, infinite and intolerable, which our heroines must endure and overcome. I loved Phaedra’s steady fire and steely resolve, her innocence and wit. I loved Ariadne for her quiet strength and courage, her gentle heart. They are very different but their stories equally important.
I absolutely love Greek myth retellings, and this is one book, I know I will return to time and again. It’s beautiful. Perfect for fans of Circe, The Silence of the Girls and A Thousand Ships.
Ariadne is evocative, enchanting, atmospheric, transporting. With such a power within its prose, you cannot help fall under its spell. I just love it and I can’t stop thinking about these inspiring sisters.

I have always loved mythology and have dipped in and out of various versions of the stories, most recently enjoying Stephen Fry's narrative in 'Mythos' and subsequent books. I am blessed (cursed?) with a memory like a sieve, so I don't tire of the old stories and cannot always remember how they all fit together, so I came to 'Ariadne' with only a very vague understanding of the Theseus and the Minotaur myth upon which this is based, at least initially.

The story opens on Crete, where Ariadne and her sister live in the shadow of their authoritarian and deeply unpleasant father, Minos. The jealousy of the gods causes Ariadne's mother to bear a minotaur child and this monster - trapped in a labyrinth under the palace - is fed with an annual sacrifice of Athenian youths. One year, Theseus (Prince of Athens) arrives with those to be sacrificed to the minotaur and Ariadne - blinded by love that she takes to be mutual - helps Theseus and changes the course of her own life.

That bit is just the start of the story! To cover it all would be too complex and also give spoilers, for there are several versions of the different myths and so Saint has made some intriguing narrative choices along the way. The story intersects with others that will be familiar to lovers of Greek mythology - I loved that Medusa made it in there, plus Daedalus and Icarus and so many others.

In Saint's hands, each of these characters became human - I've never really felt the tragedy of Icarus' fate before, or what it must have felt like for Ariadne's mother to know she birthed the monster that is the scourge of Crete, or how Phaedra and Ariadne felt at having their sisterhood torn apart. Saint explores the emotions of these very human stories and the result is intensely moving.

What is also apparent is just how awful the Olympian gods are. Saint presents their jealousies, their fickleness and their downright cruelty - it becomes a familiar theme that mortals never come off best in their dealings with the gods. Even those who seem preferable at first glance - Dionysus, for example - have a darker side and their immortal life renders them problematic in their relationships with humans.

One hugely appealing aspect of this book was the feminist slant on the stories - in Saint's capable hands, we are really made to feel the injustices meted out on the women of the novel by some pretty terrible men - both human and godly. This was something I was aware of already (I can recommend 'Zeus is a Dick' by Susie Donkin if you need enlightening on Zeus' general tyranny, status as rapist and general shoddy conduct - it is a very funny book too!)

However, in Saint's version, the women are constantly underestimated and often abused - yet remain strong and resolute in the face of hardship. Pasiphae, Ariadne's mother, is a prime example of this as she rises above the malicious gossip about her and ultimately grows in strength. Phaedra, Ariadne's sister and co-narrator of the book, is also a tough, honest and down-to-earth figure. I'll admit I didn't know of Phaedra before reading this book and was hoping for a different ending for her.

The main narrator of the novel is Ariadne herself and she is presented with realism and truth. She makes mistakes along the way, is too trusting at times, struggles with various situations she is presented with, is aware of her many failings - yet is also kind-hearted and a brilliant heroine of the novel. The fact it is narrated in first person allows us to really get under the skin of a figure who - in the original mythology - is rarely developed as a character in her own right, being more of a plot device within Theseus' story.

This is a beautifully-told story that brings Greek mythology to life. The things I have struggled with in regard to myth retellings - the complexity, the huge casts, the flat characterisation - are stripped away here and the result is gloriously readable. This is definitely one myth that will remain firmly fixed in my memory which - given my track record - is a miracle!

Thanks to NetGalley for granting me an advance electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve always been fascinated by the Greek myths and legends, a love which I seem to have passed on to my eldest daughter who reads every book of Greek mythology she can get her hands on and will, no doubt, pinch this now I have finished it. But most of the accounts I read when I was younger were all about the heroic feats of Greek heroes, and the temptations and misdoings of women, trying to impede the men, lead them astray, or were there simply to be rescued. How refreshing it has been to see the recent spate of books telling these stories from the female perspective, and Ariadne is the latest book to be added to this canon.

Here, Jennifer Saint has retold the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, but switching the perspective to that of the other central character in the story, Ariadne, whose contribution to the legend is essential but usually downplayed. In addition, this story goes beyond the simple story of Theseus slaying the Minotaur and takes us from Ariadne’s childhood in Crete, all the way to her marriage and motherhood, and encompasses the parallel story of her sister, Phaedra.

The author has placed herself firmly into the shoes of the two women featured in this book and imagined their lives in a way that translates quite startlingly on to the page in a way that will drag you back to the era and the palace of Knossos, to become totally immersed in what was happening. Imagine being brought up in the court of a stern and ruthless king, granddaughter of a god, sister to a monster, waiting to be used as a bargaining chip in the endless struggle for power. This is where this book takes us, and it doesn’t take much of a leap for the reader to feel what these girls must have been going through.

For this is a book that examines and laments the lot of women in Ancient Greece. Devoid of power, useful only insofar as men wanted them for their beauty and graces, at the mercy of those same virtues when some capricious god’s eye landed on them and decided to use them for their sport, and then to bear the brunt of the fallout of that sport. This is the underlying theme of the novel, how the women suffered and were punished for the misbehaviour and misdeeds, ambition and cruelty of the men – be they mortal or immortal – and what little ability they had to protect themselves.

Ariadne is a woman brought up under the shadow of a curse brought upon her family because of the behaviour of men – her father Minos and the god, Poseidon – but laid upon her mother who ended up birthing the monstrous Minotaur. She is aware from a young age how vulnerable women are, and how little agency they have, but she internally rails against this powerlessness, becoming slightly obsessed with Medusa, how she was treated, and the way she refused to take her punishment calmly. It ends up being no surprise when she rebels against the tyranny of her father and helps Theseus, only to be betrayed by Theseus soon after. Ariadne tries throughout her life to look out for herself, ever aware, ever reminding herself that all men, whether god or mortal, are the same and cannot be trusted.

The writing here is stunning, beautiful, rich, evocative and immersive. The book really brings Ancient Greece to life and gives us the characters we know from the myths as 3D, fully rounded people to whom it is very easy to relate. Such is the power of the writing that the book left me distraught and enraged on behalf of these women, so abused and mistreated and so unable to do anything about it, despite the internal strength they have, their intelligence and their awareness of their fragile situations. If this book doesn’t stir your internal feminist to roar, nothing will. A fabulous piece of work.

Ariadne is a retelling of the myth of Theseus from the perspective of Ariadne and her sister, Phaedra, daughters of King Minos and princesses of Crete. We follow their lives from their traumatic childhood and to their separate journey as they leave Crete to forge their destiny.

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3.5/5🌟

As a sucker for Greek mythology retelling, I was beyond excited to read Ariadne and the blurbs sounds so good and it would suit my reading preference perfectly. I am familiar with the original tale so I was thrilled to see how Jennifer Saint would weave Ariadnes tale. Also, the cover is exquisite! Definitely a cover love at first sight.

Ariadne is a story of the silenced voices of the women who were both objectified and victimized by gods and men. It features gender inequality, the struggles of women in a patriarchal society, and the joys and challenges of motherhood. Jennifer Saint demonstrates a detailed knowledge of Greek mythology and to weave it into an enjoyable story.

Ariadne is gentle and maternal throughout story. She's cautious and contented to live a quiet life. Meanwhile, Phaedra is headstrong and clever. She learned to influence men and wield authority.
The contrast between their personalities and perspectives was fascinating. And the portrayal of their sisterhood was spot on.

Ariadne is written in a straightforward manner which makes it a fast and easy read. It has the classic feel of storytelling but with the use of modern language.
It started of powerful but over time the prose lost its potential. I was expecting more than a recollection of events from the perspective of Ariadne and Phaedra. But I found it relying too much on telling rather than showing, especially Ariadne's POV. Also, the pacing was choppy. It started too slow, then significantly sped up that the ending felt rushed.

It is being marketed as a feminist retelling, I’m not sure which part of the boom made it feminist and it was not as captivating as Madeline Miller's, however for a debut novel, this is promising start and I enjoyed the well-crafted tale.

Thank you, Headline Wildfire, and Netgalley for the e-ARC of Ariadne. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Engrossing retelling of the Theseus vs The Minotaur myth told from Ariadne’s point of view. This is a prime example from the new wave of retellings of Greek mythology emphasising women’s voices and POVs that was sorely lacking in the original stories. Ariadne was the daughter of Minos, that helped Theseus defeat the Minotaur. She ran away with him to be his bride, but unfortunately he abandoned her in Naxos to die and married her sister. Ariadne eventually met Dionysius, married him and bore his children.

There are various iterations of the story but this Ariadne is very aware of the place women hold in their society. Women are often subject to the whims of the gods and of their men, and they are the ones that have to pay the price of the folly of men. Ariadne sees this first hand when her mother is the subject of Poseidon’s revenge on her father - Poseidon makes Pasiphae mad with lust for a bull leading to the birth of the Minotaur. Ariadne sees how her mother diminishes over time and bears the brunt of the jeers and taunts of the people. She also hears tales of Medusa - who was raped by Poseidon and punished by Artemis for the loss of her virtue, to become the terrifying gorgon that was eventually beheaded by Perseus who then mounted her head on his shield as a trophy. Then there’s the tale Minos like she to tell of Scylla who fell in love with him and helped him defeat her father - in payment he tied her to his boat and drowned her. She was then turned into a bird and is forever tormented by an eagle for sacrificing her family. All in Ariadne knows that women have no agency and determines that if she is ever subject to the wrath of a god, she would go down fighting. .

She starts of naive in trusting Theseus but does it for the right reasons to save people from the Minotaur. Her relationship with Dionysus is complex as she doesn’t want to trust him because he’s a god. However, once she realises she can be self sufficient without him, she lets him in and builds a happy complacent life for herself. For someone so conscious of what it means to be a woman in that era, she blinds herself to the true nature of Dionysus and what is going on in her island. She is willing to enclose herself in her life of domesticity and ignore everything else. She is a flawed but very interesting character. Phaedra her sister and everything that happens to her acts as a foil to expose Ariadne’s complicity in everything that is happening around her.

All in - it was a very enjoyable read and fans of Greek mythology with a feminist slant would enjoy this

This is not the book I thought it would be. Mostly, I think that's a good thing. Saint's prose is lovely; evocative, lucid sentences weave themselves into something rich and clear, and this is one of those rare books in which the the prologue is not only enjoyable but necessary. Really, it's startlingly good.

The novel has some teething problems: it's slow at the beginning, and it loses its way in the middle; when characters recount stories they come across more as first-person narrators than real people with dialogue; Ariadne is strangely passive (although that could be largely the fault of her myth). But Saint does possess something that every good mythographer needs, and that is the capacity to take a massive, seething corpus of stories and find the parts where it's malleable enough to make her tale do as she wishes. I was never quite sure how she would deal with reconciling the stories I knew to the one she was trying to tell, but it almost always came off beautifully.

The last 25% is where it really finds its feet. Without giving too much away to those who don't know the mythology, what I came to realise is that Ariadne is not so much about women as it is about the things that women must bear. Pasiphaë. Ariadne, Scylla, Medusa. The women of Argos. Even Hera. And Phaedra—brave, righteous, clever Phaedra with the world on her shoulders and a fatally stubborn, ever-impulsive streak. It's funny really, because to me Ariadne shouldn't be called Ariadne at all. Phaedra is this novel's triumph. Hers is the story I'll be thinking about tomorrow.

3.5 stars.

My thanks to Headline and Netgalley for the eARC. #NetGalley #Ariadne

Maybe readers who are not familiar with Greek myths may find Saint's novel to be more captivating than I did. As I studied them at school I am so far not all that enthused by Saint's 'retelling'. While I recognise that her writing is pretty I am finding her storytelling somewhat hollow.

I may be a cynic but I am a bit tired of American/British authors and publishers trying to capitalize on feminism and the success of Greek retellings such as Madeline Miller's Circe.

A recent surge in the retelling of the Greek myths has been a gift from the errr...gods for me. I can honestly say Jennifer Saint is up there with Stephen Fry, Madeline Miller, Natalie Haynes and Pat Barker to name just a few. An easy 5 star read, giving voice to two women who played an important part in several stories. There will be so many moments during this where you'll utter an 'ahhhh' when you realise how these stories become interwoven and overlap. So beautifully written and a joy to read! Thank you @netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review. ARIADNE is available now!

My thanks to Headline Wildfire for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Ariadne’ by Jennifer Saint in exchange for an honest review.

I love the current trend for novels inspired by Greek mythology. ‘Ariadne’ is a retelling of the story of the daughters of King Minos, Princesses Ariadne and Phaedra. They grow up aware of their half-brother, the Minotaur, who has been imprisoned in the Labyrinth beneath the palace. Every year Athens sends a ship to Crete containing seven youths and seven maidens as tribute to be sacrificed to the beast.

Theseus, Prince of Athens, arrives in Crete as part of the current sacrificial tribute. He has volunteered to come as he secretly plans to kill the monster and free Athens from its subservience to Minos. Ariadne falls in love with him and so helps him to navigate the Labyrinth. Of course, in doing this she has betrayed her family condemning herself in their eyes. And what of the capricious gods who rule over the fates of humans? Will she come to their attention?

Ariadne’s story extends beyond Crete and Jennifer Saint also explores the story of Princess Phaedra, Ariadne’s younger sister, who remains loyal to her family and yet becomes a pawn in the ambitions of powerful men.

Overall, I felt that ‘Ariadne’ was a beautifully crafted retelling of this famous Greek myth. Jennifer Saint is clearly well versed in Greek mythology and explores in depth this interlinked tale of love and betrayal as well as the powerful bonds of sisterhood. I felt transported by her rich descriptive prose back in time to ancient Crete, Naxos, and Athens to witness these events as they unfold.

I found ‘Ariadne’ an impressive debut and look forward to Jennifer Saint’s next project, which will be another mythic retelling.

I would like to thank Headline Wildfire for the review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I am a huge fan of Greek Mythology retelling, that's why when I saw Ariadne and its synopsis, I was already sold. I did enjoy the novel, but maybe because of my high expectation for this book, it had some shortcomings.

Ariadne by Jennifer Saint focused on the sisterhood of Ariadne and Phaedra in the time where women always paid the price of men's resentment, lust, and greed. Told through Ariadne's perspective, and later on Phaedra's as well, the author did a good job giving a background of how the minotaur came to be and Theseus' heroic act in the labyrinth. Also, I liked the explanation of how fickle the gods and goddesses were. On the other hand, the writing style was simple, easy and quite modern for the tone and atmosphere of the novel. I just thought that it would be something like whimsical and lyrical.

I appreciated how the author followed and stuck to the original material, but somehow because of this, it felt like the retelling lose some of its potential spark. There were a lot of things that could have been explored and given some twists to make Ariadne's story have more impact. Ariadne was aware of the injustices where women suffered in the hand's of men, and her decision to rebel by helping Theseus at the start of the story was the beginning of how she would make a difference to control her own life and destiny. This was an uplifting part of the story, unfortunately this burning fire of Ariadne dwindled away for the rest of the novel. Instead, she became passive and developed some lovesickness. There were times where she tried to confront others, but she always ended up turning a blind eye because of her self-doubt.

I saw some hope for Phaedra. Her characterization was quite strong. She adapted quickly to her environment, and she even learned how to turn people, things, and events for her own benefit. However, all of this were undone because of how she also tragically ended.

Overall, Ariadne is a tale of how women needlessly suffered for the acts of men. I recommend this to readers who like Greek Mythology retellings.

3.5 stars!

My thanks to Headline and NetGalley for a review copy of this one.

I can’t quite remember when I first heard of the minotaur and the labyrinth in Crete—it was either in my school English book (class 5?) which had the story of Theseus killing the minotaur, and finding his way out of the labyrinth with the ball of golden string or in the Bobbsey Twins’ Greek Hat Mystery where the children go to Crete (though I don’t remember if Theseus was mentioned). I don’t remember if Ariadne was mentioned in either story but the school book one did cast Theseus as the hero—and that is what this book challenges.

Ariadne is, as the description says, a retelling of the story of Theseus and the minotaur but it is much more. Opening powerfully, the initial section is told in the voice of Ariadne, princess of Crete, as she describes how her father, Minos, treated Scylla who stood with him against her own people and of Medusa who paid for the sins of another as did her own mother Pasiphae who suffered for her husband’s arrogance (I wondered why Medea’s story is not seen through this lens, though--she is seen as a witch). The minotaur, born to Pasiphae as a result, sees sympathy only from Ariadne but is soon beyond loving or ‘taming’, and becomes Minos’ weapon to terrorise everyone, including Athens, defeated at his hands. With Theseus’ arrival, Ariadne thinks she has found love and freedom but her fate is no better than that of countless other women including those she has described and she finds herself abandoned on Naxos awaiting death, until Dionysus comes upon her. Alongside we alternately follow the narrative of Phaedra, her younger sister. Also initially taken with Theseus, Phaedra soon becomes aware of his true nature—he is a hero concerned only with being a hero and having adventures that bring him fame, anyone who helps him is never acknowledged, he takes whatever he wishes, irrespective of whom he hurts, and he is not interested with any problems of everyday life, like the welfare of his people. In a marriage that circumstances force her into, Phaedra finds some solace in the power she can wield as she rules in Theseus’ place. The two sisters’ lives take them on very different paths, yet both face and constantly acknowledge the restrictions placed on them, the injustices that they must bear and the conduct expected of him as women.

Having enjoyed Circe by Madeline Miller, this one which was compared to it caught my eye and I felt it certainly lived up to my expectations. Ariadne and Phaedra are both strong characters, yet very different from the other and I liked that their voices were different even though both recognise the boundaries they must live within (whether or not they like it), and express themselves as best they can within these. While Phaedra finds she can use her intelligence as de facto ruler of Athens, Ariadne settles into a more conventional (yet very different life) when she finds Dionysus who can understand her because of his own story. But the real power unfortunately continues to lie beyond them, in social convention, with men and the gods, and this is eventually what dictates the reality of their lives.

This was beautifully written, engrossing and strongly feminist—and one I certainly recommend!

WARNING: UNPOPULAR OPINION AHEAD.

I admit that it was cover love at first sight when I first saw Ariadne... I mean, that absolutely stunning piece of art is basically irresistible! But it wasn't the cover alone that made me want to read this story. I always love a mythology element in my stories, and the blurb sounded like the perfect fit for me. I already knew part of Ariadne's story of course (blame the ancient Greek I had to take in high school), so I was excited to see how her story and that of the Minotaur, Theseus and other important mythology characters would be incorporated into the plot. I fully expected to love my time with Ariadne, so I was completely taken by surprise that I ended up struggling considerably with this story instead.

First of all I have to stress that the problem is most likely me, as most people do seem to love their time with this debut. The writing itself is more than solid, but there was just something about the tone that didn't work for me personally... It's hard to explain exactly, but I felt like there was a lack of proper personality when the different stories were told, and sometimes it felt more like Ariadne and Phaedra reciting other stories rather than developing their own characters and stories. I struggled to connect to the writing and plot as a consequence, and I would have liked to see their actual characters developed more. Don't get me wrong, in a way I do like that the author was able to incorporate so many different mythology elements and stories, but I felt it distracted a bit from Ariadne and Phaedra's story.

Ariadne switches POV between the two sisters Ariadne and Phaedra, and through their eyes we learn more about both their time with the Minotaur and what happens to them afterwards. We also learn more about other important characters in Greek mythology including Theseus, Dionysus and Perseus (and many more). The retelling has quite a feminist feel with the focus on the bad behavior of most men involved and the fact that women usually have to pay for that bad behavior. While undoubtedly true, this message did tire a bit after a while, and I have to say that the ending was quite a disappointment for me as well.

As a whole, I'm still not sure how I ended up having mixed thoughts about this story, because I usually love Greek mythology retellings... (I loved Circe and Song Of Sacrifice for example.) But the fact it that as it is, Ariadne simply wasn't a right fit for me right now. Don't give up on my account though if you think this story is your cup of tea; especially since most people do seem to love their time with this debut.

The classic Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur is brought to life in a brand new way in this immersive novel. Ariadne is a tale of gods, kings, family, love and loss, but above all else, it is the story of two young women.

The eponymous Ariadne and her younger sister Phaedra are princesses of Crete - but their lives are not as blessed as their luxurious surroundings would suggest. Their father is the cruel King Minos; their brother is the horrific Minotaur. When the charming young hero Theseus arrives in Knossos, the sisters' lives are changed forever as they set out on the paths the fates destined for them.

The myth of Theseus and the Minotaur is familiar to many, yet it is rare to read a story of Greek mythology that focuses on women. Rather than solely being mothers, slaves, objects of temptation, or fodder for the gods' cruel games, Ariadne brings the women of myth and legend to the fore. It humanises these women and girls, telling their own stories - from their perspectives - and bringing them to life as complex, individual people.

This is a beautifully written book, flawlessly balancing classic mythology with engaging prose and lively characters. It effortlessly alternates between the horrors of the labyrinth, the might of the gods, and the thoughts and feelings of two young women. The distant shores of ancient Greece come to life through the book's vivid descriptions of its people and places, making it easy to imagine the characters and their world alike.

Ariadne is a strong, vivid retelling of a classic Greek myth - with a brand new angle.

Thank you to the publishers for providing me with an eArc in exchange for my honest review.

As a lover of Greek mythology, I was so excited to receive and read this book. I wasn't too familiar with the character of Ariadne before reading but knew a good bit of information about Theseus and the Minotaur so I was walking into territory I had slight knowledge of, and I still ended up really enjoying it.

I really like how the story was told from the perspectives and experiences of Ariadne and Phaedra! Greek stories coming from the eyes of the women rather than heroes of the myth really lend themselves to the story and give the readers a different perspective. Especially in this story, I thought it worked well.

The writing and characters really drew me in and kept me interested the whole way through. I will definitely be recommending this to my friends who also love greek myth and friends who I think will enjoy this book as much as I did!

I’m a huge fan of Greek mythology so was insanely happy to get this arc from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Now, I found this book to be a VERY slow starter for me. I found it boring in the beginning and had to force myself to keep reading it. BUT. It definitely got better after the halfway point. I can’t put my finger on exactly why I found it boring. Jennifer’s writing style is good, this particular myth is incredible, I just... I don’t know.

I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of the UK paperback arc with that STUNNING cover, and honestly, I just cant stop looking at it.

Anyways...

Ariadne as a character, I really liked her, especially the growth you get to see in her throughout this retelling. She was depicted as such a strong, and yet completely fragile and breakable human and I really love her for that, and it made her all the more relatable.

If you like Circe, The Silence of the Girls, Pandora’s Jar, etc then grab a copy of this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW Ariadne by Jennifer Saint - out on the 29th of April in the UK!

This is the first review I’m writing of a book before it’s been published, so I’m very excited to share this with all of you! A big thanks goes to Headline Books and NetGalley! Review is also up on my website and Goodreads.

Ariadne is a retelling of the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. From the very beginning, Saint’s writing is captivating and has an air of magic around it. She describes the backstory of some famous Greek myths relevant to the story, firmly centring it on the stories of women, who are normally sidelined or misrepresented in tales, such as Medusa. The book starts with the creation of the Minotaur, a vengeful act of violence against Pasiphae for her husband’s actions and focuses on the title character’s experience with this overbearing and dangerous presence in her life as a constant threat.

As the story moves on, Ariadne has to make a dangerous choice of helping the Prince of Athens betray her family and slay the monster, which means she would never be able to live in Crete again, or to let him be sacrificed, along with 13 others to sate the monster’s hunger and her father’s bloodthirsty desire to rule over Athens. What I loved was how this book intertwined not one or two but dozens of Greek myths in one story. While it’s always been a subject I’ve been interested in, I’ve not had a chance to read that far into it and I was pleasantly surprised to learn about more Greek myths about the forgotten women of history and their stories. Their stories were heartbreaking but I rooted for them all and when they suffered, I felt their pain. Saint has done an incredible job empathising with these women and highlighting their stories and how they came to be. I think this books is going to be a cornerstone for readers interested in modern retelling of Greek myths and it will sit on the same shelves as Song of Achilles, Circe and The Silence of the Girls. I cannot recommend this book enough!

What is your favourite Greek myth and what’s your favourite retelling on it? Send me your book recommendations!

Beautiful writing but lacking some pace and drama. 3.5/5.

I’ve enjoyed many books in the current trend of telling mythological tales from often side-lined female characters’ perspectives. The high-water mark in this genre (or sub genre?) for me continues to be Circe by Madeline Miller.

In the case of Ariadne, I was particularly intrigued by the author’s choice of narrators because Theseus, like many of the male Greek heroes, didn’t treat the women he encountered all that well (intention understatement) and I thought it would be interesting to get the women’s point of view. And overall, I think the author’s creative depiction of Ariadne and Phaedra’s experiences is perceptive and the dual narration adds to the story and provides some interesting contrasts. The writing is beautiful and the descriptions are particularly evocative.

However, these myths have endured for a reason (and in several versions): they are gripping and dramatic. So why did I find this version of the stories a bit dull? The best-known myth – that of Theseus and the Minotaur – is covered and completed by the 30% mark and I think the story loses some of its momentum from then on, especially as that is when the narration starts to be split between Ariadne and Phaedra.

I also found there was a great deal of “telling” happening to the detriment of “showing”. Many characters tell stories within the story, and so we only get second hand accounts of events rather than getting to “see” them unfold directly. Moreover there isn’t a lot of dialogue in this book – something which usually helps to move the story along. And I thought that all the mediations of “women suffer all the time at the hands of gods and men” grew repetitive and were unnecessary. After all, the events of the narrative show us that this is the case, so why do we need to be repeatedly told this as well?

Finally, I thought the last part of the book was rushed compared to the rest of the story, especially the last couple of chapters. This was a shame because they promised to be a return to the drama of the first third of the book, but sadly the action was cut rather short.

Overall: a well-written retelling with some beautiful descriptions, but I found the story lacking in pace and drama.