Reviews with content warning for Rape - Ariadne: Princesa. Irmã de um monstro. Amante de deuses e heróis.

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Ariadne: Princesa. Irmã de um monstro. Amante de deuses e heróis. by Jennifer Saint

384 reviews

thalia_r's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

One of the things I like about this story was that Ariadne is not a hero and doesn't try to be because in the context of the world she exists in being a hero means cruel actions and tragedy. She is constantly afraid and often hides from confrontation which I find realistic and a type of character that I haven't often seen as a protagonist. I appreciate that all of the characters in this story are deeply flawed. Greek mythology, which the book is based upon, is ususally tragic and this story follows suit. The descritions of individual myths woven throughout by different character provide necessary context for the most part if you're unfamiliar with the mythology although they can drag a little. I enjoy Saint's writing style and there are several events that, as someone who only has a surface level of knowlege of Greek myth, succeed in surprising and keeping you engaged.

Content Warnings

cat_universe's review against another edition

Look…I know it’s fiction. But I am obsessed with ancient Cretian history and if I’m going to read about it I want it to be as close to accurate as possible. Just taking todays patriarchal society, and today’s twisted versions of ancient stories, and placing them in ancient crete may satisfy some readers!! It’s just not for me.

Content Warnings

tunameggle's review against another edition

0.5

adventurous sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I really wanted to like this book - I loved Circe and Song of Achilles and this was marketed as a feminist retelling of a Greek myth. It took me forever to read because it felt like such a chore, and I initially rated it 2 stars because I think I may have been influenced by how relieved I was that it was over. Since completion, however, I keep thinking about how much I hated it so I adjusted my rating. More specifically, I keep forgetting that I’m not done with it and feel a deep annoyance that I have to care about these characters, and then feel so relieved to remember that it’s done. I really liked Ariadne’s sister, Phaedra, for the first half of the book. She was a really strong character and was interesting, which is not something that could be said for any other character.

UNTIL she had the most bizarre character arch I’ve ever encountered that completely ruined her. I understand that this is the retelling of a myth and truthfully I’m not familiar with the og story, but either way - if you’re writing a “feminist retelling,” wouldn’t it be prudent to add in or alter details that preserve the character you’re creating? Rather than just deciding to let your character go totally against every inclination she’d had up until that point, ignoring the long lost sister she’d pined over and falling in love with a man? Child? and then immediately killing herself when she’s rejected.

Ariadne herself is two demential and passive for the entirety of the book. She has compassion for other women, where I guess is how the author stumbles into a feminism tag, but takes so little action to do anything for any of them.

She’s a devoted mother, and oblivious to every indiscretion her god husband commits on the island he’s trapped her on. She doesn’t even ask to leave, or get info about her beloved sister, or mother, or father; nope, she’s content to just turn a blind eye to the women who live on the island as a safe haven while watching them wash blood out of their skirts and perform terrifying rituals without appearing to communicate with them in any way about it. There were strings of a sympathetic retelling of Medusa strewn throughout the whole book, and Ariadne was passionately pro-Medusa every time it was brought up. This obviously isn’t a new story the author came up with - Medusa has been portrayed as a victim rather than a villain often before this novel. Anyway I’m bringing it up now because what is Ariadne’s fate?? (This spoils the whole book so don’t read if you care), she is turned to stone by Medusa’s head at the will of a spiteful goddess. Yes that’s correct, pitting women against women. And the only reason Ariadne was even in this weird, ill-conceived battle at all was because she was worried for her children. The whole thing was just so poorly executed. This story was also told in first person, with inconsistently altering perspectives of Ariadne and Phaedra, both of whom you’ll recognize as characters who ended up dying in the book. There is no explanation about how this narrative is possible, presumably the author just could not think of a way to trick the reader into feeling any sort of compassion about them without the stories being written in their (nearly identical) voices.

I didn’t enjoy this book. I am hoping writing this review will allow me to move on with my life in peace so I’m no longer tortured with thinking about any of these characters for a second longer.

Content Warnings

archaicgambit's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I really enjoyed this book, though laced with so many tragedies! I liked the strong characterizations of Ariadne and Phaedra.

I see other reviews complaining that it didn’t take more Liberties. I like that it was “accurate” and the depth was from changing the POV and adding emotional depth.

This book just also still ‘felt’ like a debut, if that made sense? Like it could’ve been polished a little more.

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sweet_honee's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

sarahaurora628's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

This book is in four parts and the first part had me thinking this would be a five star read. Every chapter had something happening and felt purposeful. There was so much momentum, high stakes, and I was so invested and entertained.

There was a message throughout of women being the ones to pay the price for men’s mistakes which was carried out pretty well and offers a rare perspective. There are some quotes in this book that I loved and really stuck with me. However, after the first half there were a few great quotes but other than that… I was bored. The writing felt very formal. I’m stubborn so I did finish it, hoping that it would turn around, but it took me forever.

If you thought there was going to be romance, there isn’t any.

I thought Ariadne and Dionysus were platonic and all of a sudden they were getting married. There wasn’t a single word of them so much as kissing and suddenly “her belly swells”? I saw someone calling this book a love story between Ariadne and Dionysus… where?

This book had me hooked for the whole beginning so I am disappointed to give it 2.5 stars overall.

Phaedra’s part of the story where she is attending meetings in Athens was good but shortly after that the book lost me and it felt like nothing was happening. No stakes, no plot, and to be honest I didn’t even care about the ending.

Content Warnings

camerynnardello's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional 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

Content Warnings

louisa__may's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I absolutely loved this book! The beginning was a bit slow, but when the main events of the story began, I couldn’t put it down. I love how Jennifer Saint portrayed the emotions of the characters, it felt so real. The ending was perfect to close the story, I cried reading it. I would definitely recommend Ariadne, it was an amazing read.

Content Warnings