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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
reflective
I’ve read a few Greek myth retellings recently, and while I enjoyed parts of Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne, it didn’t resonate with me as much as Circe or The Song of Achilles.
What I did appreciate was the way Saint wove together Ariadne’s story with her sister Phaedra’s. Their contrasting personalities and choices added depth, and I liked the fresh perspective on how two women navigated a world where they were constantly overshadowed by men. The theme of female sacrifice for male glory comes through strongly — time and again, women are used as stepping stones for men to fulfil their destinies. I found myself marking those moments and reflecting on how often this pattern repeats across mythology.
Where the book fell short for me was in the emotional connection. I struggled to really engage with the characters, particularly Ariadne herself.
Overall, it’s an interesting and thoughtful retelling that highlights the hidden voices of mythological women.
What I did appreciate was the way Saint wove together Ariadne’s story with her sister Phaedra’s. Their contrasting personalities and choices added depth, and I liked the fresh perspective on how two women navigated a world where they were constantly overshadowed by men. The theme of female sacrifice for male glory comes through strongly — time and again, women are used as stepping stones for men to fulfil their destinies. I found myself marking those moments and reflecting on how often this pattern repeats across mythology.
Where the book fell short for me was in the emotional connection. I struggled to really engage with the characters, particularly Ariadne herself.
Overall, it’s an interesting and thoughtful retelling that highlights the hidden voices of mythological women.
An insightful and refreshing retelling of the story of Ariadne (and Phaedra) - with enough variations to surprise and engage even those already familiar with the mythology
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book only made me hate Theseus - slightly more than I hate this book, which is a shame because it had potential.
It was going so good until the final part.... that seemed too unnecessarily tragic to me.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No