The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
lydiawilson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
5.0
guys. i am so. Wow. This was 5 stars for me. Theres nothing I love more than a Greek Myth retelling and this DELIVERED. I was thinking about this book constantly during the 2 months it was on my currently reading.Â
Some things that stayed in my head rent free:
Some things that stayed in my head rent free:
- the joys of being in the company of other women
- The imperfect sisterly relationship between Ariadne and Phaedra
- The power of a Mother's love for her child with Pasiphae and the Minotaur
- Contrasting different experiences of motherhood with Ariadne being fulfilled and enriched by it and Phaedra struggling with it (hello postpartum depression)
- The question of "What is a righteous man?" being a centering theme. And seeing different examples and failures in Daedalus, Minos, Theseus, Dionysus, Hippolytus, and Perseus. Literally oy, I could write a 20 page essay just centering on this.
- Dionysus talking about why the gods can't love OH MY GOSH!! and!! THE FOLLOW UP TO THAT SPEECH AT THE END HAD ME CRYING ON THE FLOOR.
Anyway. the men in the book are just, a huge disappointment (duh, it's greek myth) (but also Daedalus is excluded from this, he's a perfect angel). BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, it provides suuuuuuuuch a rich meditation on what really makes a good man. I went into this story actually not knowing the myth surrounding Ariadne at all but was so pleased with the way the story unfolded. Just so very my cup of tea.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Rape and Domestic abuse
quinnisabel'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Sexism
themirrorball's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
i really loved the beginning and end of this book, but the middle seemed to be stagnant, with nothing of interest really happening, internally or externally. it felt like a lot of unnecessary descriptions and storytelling that wasn't going anywhere.Â
one of my favorite things about this book was the complexity of the relationships. i was genuinely invested in many of the relationships, like the sisters, each of them with their husbands, and ariadne and her mother. they all felt real and raw, in a way i haven't experienced when reading other greek mythology retellings. however, i think that it all could have been pulled together better, considering the ending felt quite abrupt and random.Â
one of my favorite things about this book was the complexity of the relationships. i was genuinely invested in many of the relationships, like the sisters, each of them with their husbands, and ariadne and her mother. they all felt real and raw, in a way i haven't experienced when reading other greek mythology retellings. however, i think that it all could have been pulled together better, considering the ending felt quite abrupt and random.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Child death and Rape
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Alcohol, Body horror, Gore, Vomit, Death, Confinement, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Incest, Misogyny, Suicide, War, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
franticfreya's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Suicide, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, and Blood
Moderate: Pregnancy, Body horror, Alcohol, and Death
Minor: Child death, Grief, and Rape
sarah_speaks'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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Suicide, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, and Pregnancy
soarintotaylor's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
The DRAMA, the AUDACITY of these characters sometimes
Overall it was a beautiful, emotional story that accurately portrays the struggles women face throughout their lives
Overall it was a beautiful, emotional story that accurately portrays the struggles women face throughout their lives
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
hckilgour's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
While this book does a great job of following Ariadne’s myth, it was just slow and boring.
So much of the book was just Ariadne on an island… doing nothing interesting.
And as far as plot goes… yes I get the story follows the myths. But there was no seeing where the story was trying to go or even a discernible climax.
Honestly, just not the story for me. Though it was well written.
So much of the book was just Ariadne on an island… doing nothing interesting.
And as far as plot goes… yes I get the story follows the myths. But there was no seeing where the story was trying to go or even a discernible climax.
Honestly, just not the story for me. Though it was well written.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Animal death
emilywemily6's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really enjoyed this book! I listened to the audiobook and I thought it was really good. This story is a simple retelling of some women of Greek mythology, and I kept having to stop myself mid book so I wouldn’t go check Wikipedia for what happened to these characters before I read it in this book. It was intriguing and had some strong themes throughout; it definitely had a moral to the story and gave me some things to think about, but it was a little shallow in its storytelling. Like others have mentioned, it didn’t show much, only told you straight out what happened. But I enjoyed listening to it and want to dive back into Greek mythologies and retellings!Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Suicide, Alcohol, Violence, Animal cruelty, Death, Child death, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness
Minor: Cursing and Miscarriage
elizlizabeth's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
It was better than other retellings I've read but honestly I'm giving up on the genre after this. I wish more authors took into account what societies at the time were like, instead of portraying characters with contemporary values and sensibilities.
This retelling, as Circe, was so busy trying to portray the titular woman as someone who can't do or think evil to the point it distorted any semblance of character development for anyone. Phaedra was the only mildly interesting one, but otherwise I was bored for 60% of this. Worse is, if you're trying to be an "empowering" retelling, by removing Ariadne from all knowledge or complicity of ill doings you're rendering her powerless to truly make decisions.
This retelling, as Circe, was so busy trying to portray the titular woman as someone who can't do or think evil to the point it distorted any semblance of character development for anyone. Phaedra was the only mildly interesting one, but otherwise I was bored for 60% of this. Worse is, if you're trying to be an "empowering" retelling, by removing Ariadne from all knowledge or complicity of ill doings you're rendering her powerless to truly make decisions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Murder, and Suicide
Minor: Child death