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asourceoffiction's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is an amazing retelling, that gives weight to a story I knew surprisingly little about. Ariadne's is such a tragic story which, let's face it, is pretty typical of women in Greek myth. Having only read a handful of this genre it was nice to pick up a story that wasn't centred on Troy (though I've loved all those I've read), and I really enjoyed Saint's focus on one particular woman in her stories.
The settings in this book are utterly beautiful, and I was so quickly drawn in by the beautiful writing. I felt constant tension in the presence of the Minotaur (another female tragedy; I was totally oblivious to his origins), even if that was the only part of the story whose ending I already knew. Ariadne's emotions are laid totally bear for the reader; as she is betrayed, saved (by coincidence or design I was never quite sure) and struggles to trust her safety, I was totally caught up in that with her.
Dionysus was a really interesting character to follow, his motives were so ambiguous throughout that he fascinated me. I loved Phaedra's entire story, which again I knew absolutely nothing about. The end feels sort of inevitable, what with the current of sadness that runs through the book, but it hit me really hard in how sudden and unnecessary it felt (oh look, yet more tragedy). Jennifer Saint is definitely going onto my must-read list.
The settings in this book are utterly beautiful, and I was so quickly drawn in by the beautiful writing. I felt constant tension in the presence of the Minotaur (another female tragedy; I was totally oblivious to his origins), even if that was the only part of the story whose ending I already knew. Ariadne's emotions are laid totally bear for the reader; as she is betrayed, saved (by coincidence or design I was never quite sure) and struggles to trust her safety, I was totally caught up in that with her.
Dionysus was a really interesting character to follow, his motives were so ambiguous throughout that he fascinated me. I loved Phaedra's entire story, which again I knew absolutely nothing about. The end feels sort of inevitable, what with the current of sadness that runs through the book, but it hit me really hard in how sudden and unnecessary it felt (oh look, yet more tragedy). Jennifer Saint is definitely going onto my must-read list.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Murder, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy, Child death, Violence, and Misogyny
sjpate14's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The bones of a good Greek retelling are here but this truly was not an enjoyable read as-is. There is very strong commentary on female strength which I loved but ultimately there is too much unneeded and/or chaotic unrelated stories (aka filler) that didn’t make sense which prevented it from becoming a favorite among the other retellings I’ve read. The chapters on Theseus’s backstory will literally put you to sleep and ending falls flat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child death
sarahcottreau's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
"I danced for the end of everything I knew and the beginning of everything I did not"
Overall a great read but I definitely have mixed feelings.
I adore greek mythology and aside from Ariadne as the main focus of this book we get lots of little bits of the mythology sprinkled through which I enjoyed!
This is probably the most traditional re-telling that I have read and definitely the first that I have read outside my preferred genre of fantasy/romance. I also tend to stick to looser re-tellings with happily ever afters cause I need that. I knew this wasnt that going in so I was prepared , but it still got to me!
I found Ariadne's overall arc somewhat disappointing . She has so much promise to be a strong female character and it feels like she kinda gives that up entirely for the middle of the book and then brings it back at the end just in time to break our hearts .
Phaedra's arc is a bit more promising , but obviously ends in a similarly devastating way . I will say the author's portrayal of post-partum depression could not have been more well written and described . Obviously it's not referred to exactly as such given the setting, but Phaedra's internal struggles will be relatable for anyone who has gone through that .
Overall a great read but I definitely have mixed feelings.
I adore greek mythology and aside from Ariadne as the main focus of this book we get lots of little bits of the mythology sprinkled through which I enjoyed!
This is probably the most traditional re-telling that I have read and definitely the first that I have read outside my preferred genre of fantasy/romance. I also tend to stick to looser re-tellings with happily ever afters cause I need that. I knew this wasnt that going in so I was prepared , but it still got to me!
Phaedra's arc is a bit more promising , but obviously ends in a similarly devastating way . I will say the author's portrayal of post-partum depression could not have been more well written and described . Obviously it's not referred to exactly as such given the setting, but Phaedra's internal struggles will be relatable for anyone who has gone through that .
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Animal cruelty
enmcurrie's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really really loved this book because I thought it was quite digestible, especially as someone who really doesn’t know a whole lot about Greek mythology (other than my minor knowledge from GCSE Latin). I absolutely adored the writing - I thought the narration was excellent and that it was the perfect balance of elaborate description while being relatively simple to understand and engage with.
I think Ariadne’s story is incredibly powerful and beautiful. The repeated motif throughout this book of how it is women who often pay the price for men’s actions was incredibly poignant and even though the story is set 3000 years ago, the obvious links the book has to the way modern society functions is astounding, and not what you expect when you read a book about mystical and mythological creatures and gods. Ariadne and Phaedra’s sisterly dynamic was done really well and their stories are devastating.
That being said, the book has many strengths but also a couple weaknesses. I thought plot wise that the first half of the book was much stronger than the second. I think my biggest issue was Ariadne’s character arc. I feel like the author could have gone on a more interesting path with her, as she’s a character that is initially incredibly naive when she runs away with Theseus and quickly learns of her mistakes. Ariadne ends up becoming quite a passive character and I wish she made a greater effort to enact change or be more complex as a character.For example, she makes no effort to leave Naxos and maybe look for her sister or even enact revenge (which I think would have been much more powerful storytelling) Also, when she learns of Dionysus’s grotesque rituals she merely pretends they don’t exist and learns to live with it. I love her beautiful commitment to motherhood (especially in contrast with Phaedra’s post-partum depression) but her willingness to lead a domestic life and not leave Naxos at all after being left there to die by Theseus is quite underwhelming to me - I feel like she had potential to be a more fleshed out and powerful female icon in this book. I also heard that her marriage to Dionysus was actually quite happy (and I know the novel is fictional so I don’t mind deviations from sources) but her ending up falling out of love, turning to stone and becoming a star in the sky felt quite flat and anticlimactic to me - but hey maybe that’s the whole point?
Regardless, I really enjoyed this book and I think I’ll look further into reading more historical fiction on this time period since it is so fascinating. I definitely recommend.
I think Ariadne’s story is incredibly powerful and beautiful. The repeated motif throughout this book of how it is women who often pay the price for men’s actions was incredibly poignant and even though the story is set 3000 years ago, the obvious links the book has to the way modern society functions is astounding, and not what you expect when you read a book about mystical and mythological creatures and gods. Ariadne and Phaedra’s sisterly dynamic was done really well and their stories are devastating.
That being said, the book has many strengths but also a couple weaknesses. I thought plot wise that the first half of the book was much stronger than the second. I think my biggest issue was Ariadne’s character arc. I feel like the author could have gone on a more interesting path with her, as she’s a character that is initially incredibly naive when she runs away with Theseus and quickly learns of her mistakes. Ariadne ends up becoming quite a passive character and I wish she made a greater effort to enact change or be more complex as a character.
Regardless, I really enjoyed this book and I think I’ll look further into reading more historical fiction on this time period since it is so fascinating. I definitely recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual assault
saurahsaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, and Gaslighting
kenzieniichole's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Animal death, Alcohol, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Rape, Suicide, War, and Vomit
maistfu's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this is an absolute must read if you're as obsessed with green mythology as I am. first of all, i think the writing style is great. it's not difficult but still beautiful and it makes it easy to read.
the story is not just about ariadne. it tells the struggles of the women in ancient greece and their battles with men but also the gods. throughout the book, you get the stories of different myths and also other women, which makes it great for people who don't know that much about greek mythology in general.
but well, I loved it and I definitely recommend it to everyone :)
the story is not just about ariadne. it tells the struggles of the women in ancient greece and their battles with men but also the gods. throughout the book, you get the stories of different myths and also other women, which makes it great for people who don't know that much about greek mythology in general.
but well, I loved it and I definitely recommend it to everyone :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Alcohol, Child death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, and Rape
vivivi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wow okay um. So that was...an Ending. I don't know the story of Ariadne, so I came into this with a blank slate. It was an interesting journey.
I like how the role of women in the Greek myths was addressed throughout. Kind of hard not to see it, considering it's from their perspective. It managed to poke at how women had the short end of the stick while still breathing life into all the characters.
Their mistakes, hopes, and despair are shown in full colour. There was no shying away from it in this telling of their story.
If you're here for a happy ending between a god and a mortal, this is not for you. But if you don't mind a bit of tragedy as you would expect from a Greek myth, then this is great! Everybody dies in the end! I can't fault it for being what it is, even though I usually avoid sad endings.
I love Ariadne dumping Dionysus at the end. Didn't think I'd say that at the start, but seeing their relationship go in the direction that it did gave me a change of heart.
And his arrogance caused the deaths of so many babies, and the breaking of so many women... Ariadne's final conclusion of how once again, it was the women who suffered... Dionysius's actions proved it all.
I like how the role of women in the Greek myths was addressed throughout. Kind of hard not to see it, considering it's from their perspective. It managed to poke at how women had the short end of the stick while still breathing life into all the characters.
Their mistakes, hopes, and despair are shown in full colour. There was no shying away from it in this telling of their story.
If you're here for a happy ending between a god and a mortal, this is not for you. But if you don't mind a bit of tragedy as you would expect from a Greek myth, then this is great! Everybody dies in the end! I can't fault it for being what it is, even though I usually avoid sad endings.
I love Ariadne dumping Dionysus at the end. Didn't think I'd say that at the start, but seeing their relationship go in the direction that it did gave me a change of heart.
And his arrogance caused the deaths of so many babies, and the breaking of so many women... Ariadne's final conclusion of how once again, it was the women who suffered... Dionysius's actions proved it all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Murder, Sexism, Violence, Gore, Suicide, Infidelity, and Death
Minor: Rape and Child death
bestienicoley's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Classism, Misogyny, Death, Violence, Suicide, Sexism, and Mental illness
phantomgecko's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Circe is my touchstone for mythological retellings, so I couldn't help but compare this novel to it. I was shocked to find this book was longer than Circe because it felt like less happened. One possible explanation is the splitting of the narrative between Ariadne and Phaedra. I just wasn't able to get to know either of them as well as I came to know Circe.
I enjoyed the feminist angle here, the emphasis on woman's suffering at the hands of the gods. Like, true. Men suffered too, but mostly it was their own fault?
This retelling felt softer. The buck wildness of Greek mythology was present but not as nitty gritty as in Circe. Importantly, I cried at the end because the theme of motherhood was strong, and I am but an emotional mother.
I enjoyed the feminist angle here, the emphasis on woman's suffering at the hands of the gods. Like, true. Men suffered too, but mostly it was their own fault?
This retelling felt softer. The buck wildness of Greek mythology was present but not as nitty gritty as in Circe. Importantly, I cried at the end because the theme of motherhood was strong, and I am but an emotional mother.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Gore, Body horror, Child death, Death, and Abandonment