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Reviews tagging 'Rape'
Ariadne: Princesa. Irmã de um monstro. Amante de deuses e heróis. by Jennifer Saint
384 reviews
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked the treatment of the source material in terms of the themes Saint chose to draw out and capitalise on - I thought this made a scattering of only tenuously related pieces of mythology into a really cohesive novel. I didn't love it on the level of the writing - I thought it was okay, in places clichéd, and nowhere very remarkable. I also struggled with the emotional shades and characterization of the relationships. Lots of extremes, lots of very deep, existential conversations which were required to push the plot forward, but nothing that made the relationships feel particularly lived-in. Probably to its detriment that I kept accidentally comparing it to Madeline Miller's work. A bit so-so for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Rape
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was good because I enjoy Greek mythology and this dove deeper into the stories of everyone involved with Ariadne. I didn’t love the perspective changed between her and Phaedra, but I know it was pretty necessary for us readers to understand everything that was going on. The characters were likable but I didn’t love them like I did in song of Achilles.
It’s just hard to compare any Greek book so song of Achilles I loved that one so much.
This book is very good and I’m glad I read it, it just isn’t one of my favorites.
It’s just hard to compare any Greek book so song of Achilles I loved that one so much.
This book is very good and I’m glad I read it, it just isn’t one of my favorites.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Pregnancy, War
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
MAN why are Greek myths so GOD DAMN SAD. I’m getting played for a fool, expecting happy endings out of these stories 😔
Ariadne is a myth I knew only a little about, so this was an interesting and surprisingly fast paced read. I enjoyed the huge narrative differences between Ariadne and Phaedra, how distinct their voices were and how they changed through all their turmoil. It’s really cool to see the point of view of the women who have suffered at the hands of powerful men, and to see how they processed that suffering.
Also I never see a sexy version of Dionysus in any Greek retelling so shout out to that hot lil stud. He made some bad choices but he’s pretty so ya know.
Ariadne is a myth I knew only a little about, so this was an interesting and surprisingly fast paced read. I enjoyed the huge narrative differences between Ariadne and Phaedra, how distinct their voices were and how they changed through all their turmoil. It’s really cool to see the point of view of the women who have suffered at the hands of powerful men, and to see how they processed that suffering.
Also I never see a sexy version of Dionysus in any Greek retelling so shout out to that hot lil stud. He made some bad choices but he’s pretty so ya know.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Pregnancy
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Rape
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicide
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Death of parent
Minor: Rape
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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:
No
A very feminist inspiring book. I liked following the theme of women having to suffer from the choices of men and the characters were easy to love and the plot was compelling. A great book overall.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Suicide
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Man, this started out so well. I thought I was going to get a great tale of feminist revenge, but instead it just... petered out. The protagonist had character decline instead of growth. The ending that she got didn't really feel strong or built up to very well. There were several elements that irked the feminist side of me too, not the least of which being that the sister who didn't want to have children ended up going mad with incestual lust and then hanging herself???? . I really was excited to see that kind of feeling represented in a woman; the lack of fondness toward children, some representation for post-partum depression and not wanting to be a mother, but... that certainly fell flat. I'm really hoping that the author's next book will be better because I liked the storytelling and the writing for the most part otherwise.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Suicide
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Child death, Rape, Suicide
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Incest
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
******SPOILER WARNING FOR THE WHOLE REVIEW!******
I started out with really high hopes for this book, and I was sort of let down? It’s complicated. I was hoping that the story would dive more into the Minotaur and how their family dealt with that situation, but that part of the book remained really short. Can I understand why, yes, because there was a lot to cover, but I was hoping for more of that particular myth.
However, I did learn a lot about Ariadne’s story that I didn’t know before, which I think was a part of the book. We only know about her through Theseus, who turns out to be a huge jerk and doesn’t know how to control his ego. I can’t believe I actually liked him before he left her on Naxos? Anyway... at least that led to Ariadne meeting Dionysus, who was probably the best-written character in the book in my opinion. He was my favorite by far, although I did also like Phaedra. He showed the mortal side to immortality and the different sides of godliness: love and anger. Phaedra was also very well-written. Most of the time I found her chapters 10x more interesting than Ariadne’s and her story of becoming queen and having a good amount of power despite Theseus was great. There’s also the other part of her story, but I’ll talk about that separately. (Also, sticking this here because I didn’t know where else to add it: the Daedalus and Icarus myth and the Medusa myth? YES PLEASE.)
Okay, now for the things I didn’t like. It’s not that I can’t read about these tropes, but I would prefer not to. The pregnancy thing was a really big part of Ariadne’s personality, and that does make sense for her character, but I just... don’t like reading about it. And Phaedra’s foil and her struggle with motherhood also made sense, but it felt like it was just mentioned and then ignored. Once Hippolytus was introduced, everything Phaedra once was disappeared. That’s the point, but Phaedra was such a strong character and I wish the other aspects of her life weren’t ignored. Also, the whole stepmom-in-love-with-her-stepson thing... not feeling it. One, because it’s weird, and two, Phaedra knew Hippolytus wanted to remain chaste for Artemis and she should have respected that. Her death made me sad, although the way it was built up to confused me.
The last part... Dionysus and Ariadne. Wow. They’re so... wow. They had their whole thing with the rites and Dionysus always being gone and their love fading, and then in that last scene as she was being petrified... PLEASE. I just looked up her constellation and I legitimately almost cried thinking about them and this book. I think it had a good ending and I’m glad it didn’t drag on besides an epilogue. Since the book was about Ariadne, it made sense to end it with her death and not continue to talk about the men.
I can’t deny that the writing was incredible. The prose, the inner descriptions of thoughts, all of it was amazing. I don’t think there was ever a time when I thought it was too flourished, although the style is more formal than what I’m used to reading. It was great though and I loved the detail.
For fans of Song of Achilles... read this. This also makes me want to read Circe now too...
I started out with really high hopes for this book, and I was sort of let down? It’s complicated. I was hoping that the story would dive more into the Minotaur and how their family dealt with that situation, but that part of the book remained really short. Can I understand why, yes, because there was a lot to cover, but I was hoping for more of that particular myth.
However, I did learn a lot about Ariadne’s story that I didn’t know before, which I think was a part of the book. We only know about her through Theseus, who turns out to be a huge jerk and doesn’t know how to control his ego. I can’t believe I actually liked him before he left her on Naxos? Anyway... at least that led to Ariadne meeting Dionysus, who was probably the best-written character in the book in my opinion. He was my favorite by far, although I did also like Phaedra. He showed the mortal side to immortality and the different sides of godliness: love and anger. Phaedra was also very well-written. Most of the time I found her chapters 10x more interesting than Ariadne’s and her story of becoming queen and having a good amount of power despite Theseus was great. There’s also the other part of her story, but I’ll talk about that separately. (Also, sticking this here because I didn’t know where else to add it: the Daedalus and Icarus myth and the Medusa myth? YES PLEASE.)
Okay, now for the things I didn’t like. It’s not that I can’t read about these tropes, but I would prefer not to. The pregnancy thing was a really big part of Ariadne’s personality, and that does make sense for her character, but I just... don’t like reading about it. And Phaedra’s foil and her struggle with motherhood also made sense, but it felt like it was just mentioned and then ignored. Once Hippolytus was introduced, everything Phaedra once was disappeared. That’s the point, but Phaedra was such a strong character and I wish the other aspects of her life weren’t ignored. Also, the whole stepmom-in-love-with-her-stepson thing... not feeling it. One, because it’s weird, and two, Phaedra knew Hippolytus wanted to remain chaste for Artemis and she should have respected that. Her death made me sad, although the way it was built up to confused me.
The last part... Dionysus and Ariadne. Wow. They’re so... wow. They had their whole thing with the rites and Dionysus always being gone and their love fading, and then in that last scene as she was being petrified... PLEASE. I just looked up her constellation and I legitimately almost cried thinking about them and this book. I think it had a good ending and I’m glad it didn’t drag on besides an epilogue. Since the book was about Ariadne, it made sense to end it with her death and not continue to talk about the men.
I can’t deny that the writing was incredible. The prose, the inner descriptions of thoughts, all of it was amazing. I don’t think there was ever a time when I thought it was too flourished, although the style is more formal than what I’m used to reading. It was great though and I loved the detail.
For fans of Song of Achilles... read this. This also makes me want to read Circe now too...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Suicide
Minor: Rape