Scan barcode
pagesofplatypus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Ariadne book is beautifully narrated and the voices for the various characters are convincing and varied enough to not cause confusion.
My favorite part of the book that I was not expecting was seeing chapters from Phaedra's point of view. She offers a good foil for Ariadne and readers definitely grimace as they watch Phaedra's tragic fate unfold.
I was not very familiar with Ariadne nor her story before this book but Saint did a wonderful job traveling through Ariadne's life from childhood to adulthood. I loved the early chapters. The atmosphere was very engrossing and enveloping. I especially enjoyed seeing Ariadne's interactions with Daedalus who was the only one who truly understood her. And Asterion. Asterion, the infamous Minotaur, will always be a favorite tragic character of mine and Saint brings even more of a doomed arc to the Minotaur.
Themes of feminism, fate, power, and autonomy are all explored. Feminine rage is also at the forefront as Ariadne considers her life and everything that contributed to it. Some of it felt heavy handed and a little repetitive in certain parts (especially as Ariadne is alone on Naxus) in my opinion. But I still think it's important to portray.
Overall, I enjoyed the writing style but like I said some parts just felt very repetitive to me.
My favorite part of the book that I was not expecting was seeing chapters from Phaedra's point of view. She offers a good foil for Ariadne and readers definitely grimace as they watch Phaedra's tragic fate unfold.
I was not very familiar with Ariadne nor her story before this book but Saint did a wonderful job traveling through Ariadne's life from childhood to adulthood. I loved the early chapters. The atmosphere was very engrossing and enveloping. I especially enjoyed seeing Ariadne's interactions with Daedalus who was the only one who truly understood her. And Asterion. Asterion, the infamous Minotaur, will always be a favorite tragic character of mine and Saint brings even more of a doomed arc to the Minotaur.
Themes of feminism, fate, power, and autonomy are all explored. Feminine rage is also at the forefront as Ariadne considers her life and everything that contributed to it. Some of it felt heavy handed and a little repetitive in certain parts (especially as Ariadne is alone on Naxus) in my opinion. But I still think it's important to portray.
Overall, I enjoyed the writing style but like I said some parts just felt very repetitive to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Violence, Animal death, and Sexism
Moderate: Misogyny, Gore, Emotional abuse, Death, and Pregnancy
makaylastep's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexism, Blood, Suicide, War, Grief, Pregnancy, Self harm, Incest, Violence, Death, and Misogyny
idk_indigo's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book took me a really long time to read. It wasn't bad, and I quite enjoyed it when I was able to read for stretches of time. The pacing was all over the place, the first 1/4 felt alright, then the 2nd 1/4 was so slow I thought I might never finish it, then the 3rd 1/4 picked up, then the last few chapters I sort of just checked out. I think the author took "show not tell" to the extreme but instead of showing us or telling us she did neither. I was very confused at times, but also I am partially chalking that up to the fact that, again, it took me a really long time to read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal death
nicolewhopickedthisbook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
I honestly don’t know how to rate this book. Was this book good? Well… yes. The writing was great. Was anything that happened in this book a surprise? No, not at all. I didn’t think this book would have a happy ending. Did I want a “retelling” that was exactly the same as Greek mythology? No. Like the Greek tragedies that inspired it, countless women fall victim to the whims of men, human and god alike, and they are helpless to break the generational cycle. I feel that retellings are a chance to give these women a different, better ending and this did not deliver.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Suicide, War, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Misogyny, Murder, Death, Child death, Blood, and Animal death
miinaanastasia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Child death
bellerina2000's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, and War
Moderate: Suicide and Incest
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
saskiajva's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Definitely read content warnings for this! This book was odd. I felt like it spent a lot of time detailing unimportant things and then sailed through important bits i wish had been more detailed, so it’s hard to say if not much happens or if a lot happened. Ariadne is a timid, fretful character which was frustrating and hard to like or relate to at times. The ending is one of the darkest things I’ve ever read, but isn’t given too much detail so it loses some punch there which is not a bad thing. I wanted to love this book, but it isn’t my thing. But I can see why others like it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Child death, Murder, Sexism, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Animal death, and Grief
Moderate: Rape, Infidelity, War, and Suicidal thoughts
thefatgingerone's review against another edition
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
author2223's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Animal death, Child death, Suicide, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Rape
shavanners's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death