A review by kimblah
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

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. 
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