Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Ariadna by Jennifer Saint

71 reviews

pkc's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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

5.0

I’ve had this book a while and it didn’t disappoint in any way. The story was engaging, the prose was exquisite and the characters were so brilliantly realised. I thought the ending was mind blowing and when I initially finished, I couldn’t quite process what I’d just read. But a bit of reflection and I absolutely got it. Jennifer Saint needs all the pats on the back and accolades for this book! Can’t wait to read more of her work.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Suicide, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

colorcrystals's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Suicide

Minor: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

ibjilln's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Gaslighting

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and War

jedore's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

"I would not let a man who knew the value of nothing make me doubt the value of myself."

In general, I'm not a huge fan of Greek mythology...mostly because of the rampant misogyny and bad behavior of men and their Gods—which is why Ariadne sat on my shelf unread until several days ago. I really, really liked it!  

Written from the perspective of two strong, but very different, sisters—Ariadne and Phaedra, daughters of King Minos of Crete and sisters of the half-man/half-bull Minotaur whose diet was comprised of human sacrifices—this book kept me turning the pages quickly from start to finish. Although it was still filled with the tragic behavior of men and gods, the women were the focal point. 

Although I admired and loved both of them, I related more to fiery Phaedra who went after what she wanted with passion...often without the benefit of adequate life experience or deep thought...and was justifiably pissed off at the men. Been there. 

I love learning history through books like this. Whether you're a fan of Greek mythology or not, it's a worthy read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism

Moderate: Slavery, Blood, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Incest

hannahbailey's review against another edition

challenging sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I went into this excited to read a Greek myth feminist retelling that WASN'T about the Trojan war and instead focused on Ariadne, sister of the Minotaur and traitor to her family. After trudging through (barely) the clunky prose I was disappointed to discover this portrayal of Ariadne as passive and boring. I kept persisting with the hope that she would either become more interesting or begin her revenge arc, but she did neither. As I'd not read about this myth before I was interested to find out how it ended, and it seemed to be leading somewhere empowering (finally!) for Ariadne. Jokes on me, I was wrong again. The ending left me unsatisfied and a bit speechless tbh. I could go on but to spare you the pain, if you're struggling to get through this, it doesn't get better -- sorry 🤷‍♀️😔

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol

majakrmer's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, Suicide, Grief, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Incest, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Minor: War

nialiversuch's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

cassidyjennings's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

nick13's review against another edition

adventurous dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I had heard several good things about this book so when I decided to read it, I was quite excited. However, I was left quite disappointed as, even for such a short book, it seemed to drag on and on at times about myths that barely pertained to the story and the ending, to me, felt a little lack luster. Overall, it was an okay read with really amazing moments in it but everything between those moments just make my attention wonder elsewhere.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and War

Moderate: Rape and Pregnancy

Minor: Child death

lauramcc7's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail