A review by lizzie24601
Ariadne, by Jennifer Saint
reflective
medium-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
2.0
If you liked Circe by Madeline Miller, you'll probably enjoy this book. For what it's worth, I did like the discussion around miscarriages and postpartum depression, especially during this time period. The book's depiction of Dionysus is also very well done and shows a different side of him than many other Greek mythology retellings.
But just like with Circe, I didn't find the story of a woman abandoned alone on an island for the rest of her life very compelling. So much of this book is Ariadne (and Phaedra) just thinking and thinking about people and things - there is very little action or even compelling relationships. So much of the book is devoted to the sisters discovering all the men in their lives are deceitful and untrustworthy - and yet, they never develop relationships with the women around them as an alternative. ()
The book's structure also felt a little off. First it's only Ariadne's perspective, then for half the book it's both her perspective and Phaedra's, and then it's only hers at the end again. The first person perspective of these isolated women also means we have to read long passages of men recounting events to them that they didn't witness themselves. I wonder if it would've been better in third person.
Ultimately, this book just felt very lonely - Ariadne and Phaedra's only significant relationships are with their husbands and each other, and each of these relationships ends in tragedy. It was interesting, as a fan of Greek mythology, to learn more about what might've happened to Ariadne after the labyrinth, but the book was just okay.
But just like with Circe, I didn't find the story of a woman abandoned alone on an island for the rest of her life very compelling. So much of this book is Ariadne (and Phaedra) just thinking and thinking about people and things - there is very little action or even compelling relationships. So much of the book is devoted to the sisters discovering all the men in their lives are deceitful and untrustworthy - and yet, they never develop relationships with the women around them as an alternative. (
Spoiler
Ariadne literally has a whole community of women move onto her island, and only one is even mentioned by name.The book's structure also felt a little off. First it's only Ariadne's perspective, then for half the book it's both her perspective and Phaedra's, and then it's only hers at the end again. The first person perspective of these isolated women also means we have to read long passages of men recounting events to them that they didn't witness themselves. I wonder if it would've been better in third person.
Ultimately, this book just felt very lonely - Ariadne and Phaedra's only significant relationships are with their husbands and each other, and each of these relationships ends in tragedy. It was interesting, as a fan of Greek mythology, to learn more about what might've happened to Ariadne after the labyrinth, but the book was just okay.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Suicide
Minor: Child death and Miscarriage