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A review by misplacedselchie
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ariadne is the daughter of Minos and Pasiphaë who helps Theseus defeat the Minotaur by providing him with string to find his way through the labyrinth. Both her and her sister Phaedra are instantly smitten with the Athenian hero when they see him.
After his escape, Ariadne flees with him and he leaves her stranded to die in Naxos, whereupon Dionysus finds her. They end up falling in love and getting married. Slowly she finds him becoming more like the Olympians he had previously mocked and it puts a strain on their relationship.
Phaedra ends up being sent to Athens to create peace between their kingdoms and she married Theseus. She, however, has no trust of the hero. Slowly she inserts herself into the politics of the day and helps to make Athens great.
Both sisters find themselves in strained relationships as they get to make their way in a world that doesn't always allow women to take any sort of lead. And as Phaedra becomes more frustrated with Theseus and Dionysus more obsessed with his cult and argument with his brother Perseus, both groups are on a trajectory for pain.
After his escape, Ariadne flees with him and he leaves her stranded to die in Naxos, whereupon Dionysus finds her. They end up falling in love and getting married. Slowly she finds him becoming more like the Olympians he had previously mocked and it puts a strain on their relationship.
Phaedra ends up being sent to Athens to create peace between their kingdoms and she married Theseus. She, however, has no trust of the hero. Slowly she inserts herself into the politics of the day and helps to make Athens great.
Both sisters find themselves in strained relationships as they get to make their way in a world that doesn't always allow women to take any sort of lead. And as Phaedra becomes more frustrated with Theseus and Dionysus more obsessed with his cult and argument with his brother Perseus, both groups are on a trajectory for pain.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide