BookBrowse Reviews Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

BookBrowse:

A powerful feminist retelling of Greek mythology that entertains and enthralls.

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Our First Impressions reviewers found Jennifer Saint's debut novel Ariadne to be a captivating and exciting read, giving it an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.

What the book is about:

Jennifer Saint reimagines the myth of Ariadne and her sister Phaedra, daughters of King Minos of Crete and half-sisters to the dreaded Minotaur. It is a thrilling and yet tender tale of two sisters longing for the same thing: a life free of their tyrannical father and the ominous presence of the Minotaur imprisoned in the stone labyrinth beneath the mosaic tiles of the palace. It is a story of love lost, won, and lost again—told by the sisters themselves (Peggy K).

Readers appreciated the subversive feminist angle that Saint takes in retelling Greek mythology.

I was blown away by Ariadne. It presents itself so familiarly at first with all the traditional Greek myths and epic tropes. It then quickly subverts these old traditions to shine a bright light of condemnation on toxic masculinity and the misogyny that runs through all these accepted classical narratives (Jennifer H). I feel like Jennifer Saint acknowledges the place of women in Ancient Greek society as objects used, disposable, like Medusa. ... And yet, Saint also speaks to the agency women find in their daily lives (Alyson R).

They also enjoyed the author's powerful, dramatic writing and engrossing storytelling.

Lately it seems many stories have been written offering retellings of the classics of Greek mythology. Ariadne is Jennifer Saint's contribution to this genre. Her story is filled with drama and suspense leading the reader into forbidding places. Her powerful writing kept me on the edge of my seat (Marcia C). Saint piqued my interest in Chapter One, and held it through the Epilogue. I was thoroughly engrossed in the story (Frances A).

Some found the book a little difficult to get into at first, but they felt that it picked up after Part I.

I had a hard time getting through Part I. The writing seemed biblical in style to me. In Part II and beyond, the story is told by both Ariadne and her sister Phaedra, and the different characters' voices enliven the story. … Overall, a very good book that was engrossing after Part I (Paula J). The pace and detail of the book got better after Part I and then it was a page-turner for me (Roberta W).

Reviewers mentioned that the book is accessible even to those who have little previous knowledge of or interest in Greek mythology.

I was very hesitant to read this book. Greek mythology is not really my cup of tea. I certainly am glad that I did. The story of Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, king of Crete, after the slaying of the Minotaur, her brother, is a fascinating one (Rebecca). Saint provides enough background on the different characters that even someone with limited knowledge of Greek mythology can still follow the story easily (Theresa M).

And others thought that Ariadne offers something fresh and essential for readers already familiar with the original myths.

This is a MUST READ for anyone who loves Greek mythology in all of its tragic guises, and wants to be immersed in the lives of heroes and gods (Kathryn S). You know the stories and yet — from this female perspective — you don't, so this reimagining of Greek myths grips you and you eagerly turn the pages. … Fans of Circe by Madeline Miller will find this a worthy companion, and book clubs will find much to discuss here (Deborah W).

This review was originally published in The BookBrowse Review in May 2021, and has been updated for the April 2022 edition. Click here to go to this issue.