What readers think of Ariadne, plus links to write your own review.

Ariadne is a wonderful retelling of this Greek Myth. It was certainly a page turner for a first novel by Jennifer Saint. I am looking forward to her second novel which I understand will revolve around Clytemnestra and her daughter, Electra.
It was a delight to read Ariadne and to be reacquainted with Greek Mythology in a very fun way. Great interaction between the gods, goddesses, demigods and mortals. The book has everything, lies, deceits, love, passion action and hate. Ariadne would be a good book for a book club discussion.

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 shine a bright light of condemnation on toxic masculinity and the misogyny that runs through all these accepted classical narratives. Saint develops extremely complex characters and interactions, and explores a range of different feminine traits and personalities through the two sisters. The novel manages to be both empowering and sadly resigned. I loved it and strongly recommend this book!

I really enjoyed Ariadne and the author's character development. I also appreciated how she used Ariadne as a vehicle to understand the experience of girls, women, and mothers, whether mythical or human. Growing up reading Greek myths, I didn't "see" the peripheralization of females in myths or the patriarchal structure of society for humans and gods alike. From reading Ariadne as well as Circe, my adult mind is "see"ing what I didn't when I was younger. Ariadne covers the gambit in terms of the challenges, interests, and desires of women, given societal restrictions in ancient Greece, and the flightiness as well as vengeance of the gods. I feel like Jennifer Saint acknowledges the place of women in Ancient Greek society (and perhaps a reflection into today) as objects used, disposable, like Medusa. Women and their bodies (or parts) are paraded for male heroes to show their pride, strength, and glory. Women are conquered. Women have very little rights. Women are meant to serve in domestic roles keeping house and bearing/raising children. But even then, there's an ever-present threat from men or gods, of domestic violence and even infanticide. Saint goes a step further, she speaks to the experience of postpartum depression, something that women feel the need to hide or be ashamed of, in ancient Greece or today. And yet, Saint also speaks to the agency women find in their daily lives - that they aren't hollow vessels to be used, but full of strength, desire, intelligence, and action. For me, a standout display of this agency (and protest) was when Ariadne decided to use the loom to weave a pattern of her choosing, rather than a wedding scene dedicated to Hera. I would definitely recommend Ariadne to other readers.

I rarely rarely give a book a 5 rating, but Ariadne was a delicious read! The author, Jennifer Saint, brought the gods and their human counterparts to life with compelling prose. Mythology can be daunting and mysterious, but the author writes with such clarity, the heroes and villains came into sharp focus. Ariadne, Phaedra, the Minotaur, Theseus, Dionysus, Hipppolytus, etc could be characters in a soap opera drama. The spitefulness, cruelty and disdain the gods had for mortals and each other was woven throughout the story. I would heartily recommend Ariadne to readers who enjoy a novel with compelling storyline, intriguing characters, and sharp, bright writing. Be prepared to set logic aside and enjoy the ride.

I really loved this book! It took a few chapters before I became hooked, but that is my own fault. Since childhood I have been conversant with Greek gods and heroes. My grandmother was really into Greek and Roman mythology, so as child I became enthralled with stories of gods and heroes. When I started this book, I thirsted for more 'background' so I became bogged down in refresher research, immersing myself in the Greek mythology, following online tangents that led off in all directions. Then something happened...I was suddenly swept away by the story and the characters and the author's delicious writing style. Dionysus in particular, the author brings him to life - all joy, laughter and delight, a loving husband and father to his children. But there is tragedy (as always in Greek literature) an undercurrent of darkness and god-like trickery that led him to freeze a little girl into a (fortunately reversible) statue of gold ( I knew that story well!), and more .... I will not spoil the ending ... read it for yourself. 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.

I was mesmerized by not only the writing, but the story itself. It is refreshing to hear about women who were not gods, but mortals who made the gods who they were. This story of two sisters and their lives among the immortals and men often left me with so many emotions and frustrations. There is so much to unpack in this lyrical novel concerning the narrative of womanhood.

Ariandne is a wonderful reimagining of Greek mythology from a woman's viewpoint. Jennifer Saint weaves the stories of Ariandne and her sister Phaedra around the heroes and gods they are related to or encounter. The story gave me a very different and delightful perspective on familiar mythology stories. Saint provides enough background on the different characters in the story that even someone with limited knowledge of Greek mythology can still follow the story easily.

I was swept into this novel's ancient world before I had finished the Prologue and stayed there, mesmerized, until the conclusion. Ariadne and her sister Phaedra, daughters of King Minos, tell their story in prose so beautiful that if borders on poetry. Their story is compelling and unrelenting in its emotional impact as they struggle to live with mighty gods and human men. As their story continues there are moments of joy and love, but always underneath the surface are rumblings of something dark and foreboding like the Minotaur in its labyrinth. The novel's great strength lies in giving voice to many of the women in Greek myths, bringing them out of the background where they have dwelt. It gave me a new and fresh perspective that resonated with its similarity to our times. An outstanding book.