Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - Ariadne

Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

109 reviews

queerbookworm's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense 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

5.0

This book is so emotional and thought provoking. I'm writing this review just after finishing reading so I haven't really sat with it for long but I thought it was beautiful. A lot happens in this book, Ariadne is from a family with quite a few associated myths, and even though I have read all of them several times it felt brand new.

This book focuses on two perspectives not often cared for in Greek mythology, that of humans and that of women. If you are a fan of these myths I can guarantee that this book will at least change how you think about the myths recounted in this book, but it may change how you view Greek mythology as a whole. I wholeheartedly recommend it. It is beautiful written and, if you're an audiobook listener, the narrator does a fantastic job of making you feel.

Content Warnings

kimblah's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark sad tense 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

4.5

I want to start my review by saying that before this book, my most recent reading of Greek mythology would have I guess been probably in college but I can’t remember it, so I’ll rephrase — my most recent & memorable reading of anything Greek mythology was in middle school. I do not remember much other than some names, maybe some of the things the gods/goddesses were gods of? NOT MUCH.

So, with that in mind — Ariadne is King Minos’ daughter. I really enjoyed all of the little tidbits of Greek mythology that Ariadne recounted as we start this journey with her. She sets the scene for how women have constantly been on the shit-end of the stick with Medusa’s backstory (blew my mind) & told us about a few of Zeus’ lovers & how they’d become Hera’s unfortunate victims. I was kind of appalled, but not really. Typical.

Oh, and her own mother, Pasiphae’s story? Ya know— the birth of the Minotaur? LAWD. By this point I’m not even that far into the book, but I’m like man, Greek mythology is fucked up because shewieee.

Anyways. Ariadne helps Theseus defeat her brother, the Minotaur, and then plans to run off with Theseus to be his wife. All will be happily ever after of course. Clearly that’s what happens to all these Greek women, obviously.

Well, that’s not exactly what happens. But I don’t know how much other people know, so I don’t want to give anything else away. I enjoyed Dionysus’ character, and while I really wanted to like Phaedra I had a hard time doing so.

I took away half a star for the end. For pretty much everything that happens in Part IV of the book. Well, not the entirety of Part IV, but quite a bit of it. I was mad and sad and jaw dropped.

I will read more Greek mythology retellings I think. I did enjoy this one a lot.

Content Warnings

thalia16's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional 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

Content Warnings

reachmars's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes

4.5

Even though it's just a straightforward retelling of the myths, it was very engaging. Especially as someone who didn't know a lot about this specific story going into it, I couldn't put it down. It's a story that makes it make sense that it would survive thousands of years of oral tradition.

Content Warnings