For fans of Madeline Millers Circe and Natalie Haynes Thousand Ships, Ariadne is a feminist retelling of the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur that gives a voice to not only Ariadne but her younger sister Phaedra.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, I will read anything that is a greek mythology retelling and let me tell you it did not disappoint, I loved that we not only got to see Ariadne take center stage in her story but Phaedra as well who is also overshadowed within stories.

Jennifer Saint's writing is beautiful and evocative and brings alive the stories and worlds of these two woman. A must read for any mythology lover like myself and I can't wait to see which myth she retells next.

This is the story of Ariadne of Crete. It is a superb mythological retelling based mainly on females and friendship. There is quite a cast of characters who I found to be very well written. This was a story that definitely didn't disappoint and I found myself racing through it.
An excellent debut novel from Jennifer Saint, I will certainly look forward to her next book.
Thank you to Netgalley uk and Headline Publishing for an arc of this book.

Since I loved the Song of Achilles and Circe, I was super-excited to read Ariadne. I love Greek mythology and one of my favourite things to read is tales of Greek mythology with a female viewpoint. I tore through this book, reading it in a single-setting and, overall, I loved it. The writing is beautiful- lyrical, but not belaboured- and I liked the interweaving of different Greek tales. I have only two minor complaints about this book. Firstly, the story starts with Ariadne's telling but switches suddenly, without warning, to Phaedra. I found this jarring. The stories then switch back and forth, ostensibly dovetailing, but I felt like there were missing pieces that the reader was supposed to either know, or determine. It meant that, at times, the story didn't run as smoothly as I would have liked. However, in spite of this, I really did feel that the writing was compelling enough to keep reading. Secondly, I would have liked more magic. This is more of a personal preference, but even though Saint's stories are interwoven in Greek mythology, it seems to lack the glitter of fate, godly power and witchcraft . Now, I can definitely see how the author might have wanted to step away from that- Ariadne might have been a descendent of Helios, but she herself was not a deity or even a witch. It's important to tell the story of women without having them always tangled in myth and magic. On the whole, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction, Greek mythology or compelling female voices.

4.5 stars ✨

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book early! 📚

I love Greek mythology and so all Greek mythology re-tellings are an automatic read for me.

This book tells the story of Ariadne, Princess of Crete, who helped Theseus defeat her brother, the Minotaur, and what happened to her afterwards.

There are a few different versions of Ariadne’s story, and Jennifer has done a great job at trying to fuse these together and include them in her book.

I liked how we saw different view points from Ariadne’s and Paedra’s lives, and how these two views affected the other.

I think there is still room for improvement, however for a debut book, this is a great effort and I enjoyed the journey Jennifer Saint took me on with her story. I hope she will bring out a few more Greek mythology books and we can follow her on her writing journey!

I loved this book so much! It was so beautifully written and I loved how it shone a light on both Ariadne and Phaedra who are criminally not talked about enough in the discussion of women in mythology.

The characters were all so well written and I loved seeing all of the classic mythological figures portrayed in this light. Ariadne and Phaedra were so strong and I loved seeing both of their perspectives throughout the book as their famous stories unfold. Ariadne was wonderful and was so strong and absolutely incredible as the protagonist, she experienced so much and it was so much fun to see her as the main character in the Theseus myth. The same goes for Phaedra but with the story of Hippolytus as she is not very prominent in the tragedy written by Euripides. Plus, the Minotaur was also given much more of a backstory and it made me so happy that the myths were treated this way.

The plot of the book in its essence was familiar to me as a lover of all things greek mythology and I thought it was absolutely brilliant how it was told through the writing and through the eyes of Phaedra and Ariadne. I loved how Phaedra's story was woven in because she, like Ariadne, has such an interesting story and the way it was told really bought it to life for me and made me feel even worse for the two women. The way that the Dionysus aspect of Ariadne's story is presented was absolutely wonderful because it fit so well into the theme of the gods and how they treat mortals that ran through the book. It was just so good!

The writing was stunning. It was such a beautifully written story and I just adored the language used and how it was all presented. I just loved it so much and if you, like me, love Madeline Miller then this is the book for you!!!

I adored this book!! Mythology retellings have always been my favourite and this one lived up to my incredibly high expectations. I loved Ariadne's perspective on female rage and pain. Truly an excellent novel!

I don’t tend to read many novels based on ancient mythologies but I am a big fan of Madeline Miller’s retellings as well as any story that thoroughly transports me. I knew nothing of the Ariadne myth but this book really pulled me in and refused to let go.

Ariadne is a Princess of Crete, daughter of Minos and Pasiphae. She and her sister Phaedra have grown up with the horrendous growls and stamps of their half brother, The Minotaur who is imprisoned in the labyrinth below the palace. Every year, this beast feeds on the blood of young Athenians until one year when Prince Theseus arrives with them. Falling in love with him, Ariadne helps Theseus defeat the Minotaur and escape Crete, thereby betraying her family and her people. Surely she will be rewarded with a wonderful life as his Queen?

The relationship between Ariadne and Phaedra is one of beautiful, unwaveringly loyal sisterhood. They know that their world is unflinchingly harsh to women and because of this, they naturally stick together. As the story progresses and the girls grow older, this changes slightly but I always had faith that the sisters would return to each other despite how unlikely it sometimes seemed.

Theseus is a handsome, brave hero and naturally, Ariadne is completely taken with him. Jennifer Saint managed to capture this all-consuming, innocent infatuation that all young women feel so expertly. However, I had a feeling that Ariadne’s bubble wouldn’t stand the test of time. Pretty eyes and tales of charm rarely lead to anything good!

The setting of the novel is truly breath-taking. Of course, recent times have meant that we can’t travel to all of these beautiful places at the moment but Saint’s prose was vivid enough that I could wander beside Ariadne on Naxos. I could feel the sun on my skin, the gentle breeze in my hair and the silence of the island around me. It was a complete treat!

In time, Ariadne meets Dionysus, god of wine, madness and frivolity. He is beautiful, kind and respectful of women and of course, this is something that Ariadne has never experienced at the hands of a male entity before. He shifts her perspective on what men can be and it’s no surprise that she falls in love with him.

Dionysus is thoughtful, passionate and appreciative but as the narrative unravels, we see that he is not immune from succumbing to the ways of his gender. His character development seeks to remind us that even those who appear to have actively shunned the dark side have the potential to return to it in the right circumstances. Not one being, either human or immortal, is either wholly good or bad.

Phaedra’s struggles to bond with her babies struck me as startlingly modern but of course, this is an illness that always has and always will be a reality. Post-partum depression and mental health conditions of this nature have been present in mothers for thousands of years and yet women are often still being villified for it. Phaedra’s words here echo those of 21st century women and it really served to remind me that despite all the time that has passed, very little changes.

Hippolytus is an example of a man who has been raised with no male influence in his life. He is the result of Theseus’ rape of the Amazon queen Hippolyta, who has come to live with his father in adulthood, as he can no longer live within an all-female conclave. He has chosen to live a life of celibacy and dedicated himself to the goddess, Artemis. Therefore, he treats women as his equal rather than beings to be objectified or used for his own gain. Like Dionysus, he is an embodiment of what men could be when raised away from the violence and greed of men.

Ariadne is a beautifully written novel, telling a story of unspeakable tragedy but through the medium of wisdom. My heart broke several times during the final 20% of the book but I was fully aware of all the lessons I was learning in the process. Jennifer Saint’s prose paints some stunning pictures, which were all bathed in a warm golden glow. Ariadne and Phaedra’s stories sit next to that of Medusa, Scylla and Hippolyta to illustrate the horrors that women have suffered at the hands of men. The parallels between what happened to these women and the sufferings of my contemporaries are striking. Ariadne’s tale only goes to show how far we still have to go with achieving gender equality.

It’s truly difficult to view this as a debut novel, because the writing is so clear and beautiful and considered. Jennifer gives a voice to Ariadne, daughter of King Minos who isn’t against making a show of his loved ones to send out a message that he’s not to be trifled with. Each year, a group of young men and women are sacrificed to the Minotaur, a frightening beast who lives in the labyrinth beneath the palace and who is – fortunately for some, unfortunately for others – a member of the Minos family. Though a horrific act, it’s not until Theseus, Prince of Athens, arrives as a sacrifice to the beast that Ariadne decides change needs to happen. She is bewitched by Theseus but knows that, in helping him escape the labyrinth, she will betray her family and country. Women are considered playmates for men, they offer or are viewed as offering nothing of real worth, so Ariadne’s decision – when she makes it – will have far reaching consequences. This is girl power at its finest, showing us that the women of Greek mythology are strong, independently thinking and courageous. Wonderful.

"Ariadne" by Jennifer Saint is really refreshing and enjoyable. It could feel daunting reading a book about Greek mythology which is usually heavily male dominated, but Ariadne is told from the women's perspectives. Similar in the vein of "A Thousand Ships" by Natalie Haynes which also retells Greek myths from the female perspective, it breathes new life into these stories.

Wow! This book was so good! Stunningly written, with a complex cast of characters, this novel was equal parts captivating and heart-breaking. Perfect for fans of Madeline Miller, it similarly does not shy away from the brutalities of the original Greek myths, while also telling an utterly spell-binding story of strength and womanhood.

While I feel this story may be predictable to those who are very familiar with the original stories, I would definitely recommend it for those who aren’t (such as me!). I didn’t know what was going to happen, so the story kept me hooked and I could not put the book down!

An absolutely fantastic read! I cannot wait to pick up the author’s future books!


Content Warnings: murder, death, death of a loved one, death of a child, betrayal, drowning, plague, mention of war, bestiality, rape, childbirth, blood and gore, trauma, animal sacrifice, abandonment, panic, suicidal ideation and suicide, self harm, possible postpartum depression, vomiting, gaslighting, animal abuse, infidelity

This book trumpets marketing comparing it to both Circe and Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. I was excited to segue straight into this after reading Song of Achilles which may have been a mistake; it simply doesn't shine as brightly. The tales here are familiar to anyone with an interest in mythology but with a feminist slant that I found refreshing. What lacked is the heart that an author like Miller seems to effortlessly infuse into her work. While this is a competent author, I did often feel that the stories were just crammed onto the page in the guise of conversation between characters. Over time the dialogue loses potency as merely a plot device. I wish that we had been treated to a more natural flow between characters, instead of every fact about each being dragged out like a Wikipedia entry. I welcome retellings but prefer more narrative and less regurgitation.

As soon as I saw the title of this book I was hooked in. I'm a complete sucker for a good Greek myth!

Ariadne is a retelling of the myth from the two POV's of Ariadne and her younger sister. It flows in a similar style to that of Madeline Millar, focusing on the side characters of the great Greek myths. Telling the stories of Theseus, Minos and Dionysus through the eyes of the female characters.

This book is beautifully written, though I did loose focus at some points. I really enjoyed how the novel explored the relationships of the two Princesses of Crete and how their lives were overshadowed by the men in their lives. I enjoyed this book, but I wasn't as blown away as I was with the novels of Millar. If you love a good myth then you'll enjoy this book. A three star book for me.

‘𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒕, 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒚 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒂𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒅.’

Ariadne - Jennifer Saint

Often in Greek mythology and even in retellings the men and the gods are uppermost, with their heroics and monster slaying and adventuring.
The women and the mortal women especially, are sideshows, never given a real voice. The punishments are always meted out on them for the sins of the men or gods, it can’t possibly be their fault, the woman is to blame.

‘𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒕 𝒖𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅: 𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒅, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒅𝒐.’

In this book mortal women do take centre stage; Ariadne and her sister Phaedra grandchildren of Helios the sun god. Brought up in isolation with the humiliation and horror of the punishment meted out to their father Minos but exacted on their mother Pasiphae who bore the terrifying Minotaur Asterion. This is their story.

‘𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏, 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏, 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔, 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒆.’

This book feels quite timely. An immersive and exacting commentary on womanhood, what it is to be female in a mans world and that this has rung down through the ages until now.
Ariadne learns early that women suffer at the hands of men, no matter what they do, there are many tales told, of Medusa and how she got her snakes for hair. How, because of a gods behaviour the woman is punished, not the perpetrator. This resounded with me like a clanging bell so strongly.
The effect this has on the woman, from the raging Medusa to the meek and shell like Pasiphae who was punished for her husbands behaviour and had to bear the Minotaur is varied. It is made clear that the woman is accountable for the sins of man.

‘𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒐: 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒚 𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒐 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔.’

It shows the nature of relationships, trust, love, honesty and the choices available to women, or lack of.
The chapters move between Phaedra and Ariadne’s contrasting experiences of marriage and childbirth, the difficulty some women have with both and the maternal instinct or lack of it.
It details the breakdown of a marriage, the strangling of affection and that children can affect that relationship and independence that you had. The descriptions of early motherhood that are on point, the tiredness and sometimes despair that can be felt.

‘𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅, 𝒂𝒔 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆.’

This is a tale of two sisters and what they have to do to survive a simply brilliant debut and one not to be missed! I have subsequently bought this as a keeper ☺️

✩✩✩✩

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Thanks to @annecater14 @jennifer.saint.author #randomttours and @headlinebooks for my spot on this tour

A powerfully poignant and female driven retelling of Theseus and the Minotaur. In the same vein as Circe by Madeline Miller, Jennifer Saint explores the previously silenced voices of the women who were Subjucated,objectified and victimised at the hands of both men and Gods.

Here, this retelling follows the lives of the Princesses of Crete, Ariadne and Phaedra- from their role in the defeat of the infamous Minotaur, to the tragic events that shape both of their futures.

I cannot put into words how much I loved this. Another phenomenal female centric Greek inspired retelling that I just couldn’t get enough of. Both sisters were well written and I enjoyed the juxtaposition of their similar life experiences (of marriage and motherhood) despite the differing circumstances that led them there.

Saint’s portrayal of these women provides a glimpse at how little autonomy women have had over their own lives throughout history and the vilification of those few who’d dare try.

The pacing was a little slow in the first half of the book but soon picked up as events unfolded. I loved the writing style which at times was beautifully poetic. Phaedra, as a character did annoy me a little at first but, I really sympathised with her and her sister. I was also impressed with how Medusa’s story is used to portray double standards-women being punished for the sins of men (and Gods), which becomes a life lesson for the princesses (as does the story of Scylla).

Likewise, the male characters (Theseus, Minos,etc.) were less in depth than our female protagonists which served the narrative well (I quite liked the refreshing role reversal) with Ariadne and Phaedra the sole focus. I really wasn’t ready for that ending,it brought tears to my eyes. Truly breathtaking.

Overall, Jennifer Saint’s stunningly impressive debut is an unmissable page turner, that has me eagerly anticipating her next retelling. Recommended to all historical fiction lovers and fans of Madeline Miller.

And also a huge thank you to Headline and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a brilliant retelling of the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. It was very reminiscent of Circe, with its focus on telling the stories of the female characters, and the impact on their lives of the various gods and heroes. However, this was probably an easier read that didn't require any previous knowledge of the story or of Greek mythology, bit of you do, it just adds to the story. Ariadne is an amazing character, and I loved seeing the story of the Minotaur considered from another perspective. Really absorbing, beautiful descriptions of the Greek islands, and a thrilling and obviously classic plot. Recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for a copy of this book!

4.5 stars!

This debut was stunning and vivid in so many ways. 'Ariadne' follows the perspectives of Ariadne and Phaedra, two princesses of Crete who are so often forgotten within the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Saint really breathes life into so many women within this retelling that are often presented as two-dimensional pawns caught in the lies of men and the games of gods. The writing style is so full of life and emotion that some paragraphs feel like poetry or straight out of an epic, whilst still making the story very accessible to the myth.

The portrayal of sisterhood within Ariadne is beautiful and focuses on the ups and downs that all siblings have and shows that even with a sea separating them, the sisters could never forget about each other. Saint does not categorise women into a strict mould as so many myths have done, but instead gives them agency and a life full of humanity despite the ferocity at which life can come their way, most commonly due to meddling by the gods. The theme of women being punished for the actions of men is carried throughout this story and is done so with tragic beauty. Ariadne is a book full of the tales of women wronged by men and gods, who have been abused for amusement and justice for the crimes of men.

It can feel slow at times but it is to be expected as it is not a retelling following a hero, but instead a woman who saved the life of a Prince for him to abandon her and it’s her story, not his. I did hope for a little more chemistry with Theseus as she was supposed to be so infatuated with him that betraying Crete would feel like nothing but at times, their love could feel a little flat.. I love that Ariadne is a female voice telling her own story and not a female voice to narrate the heroics of men. Admittedly, I burst into tears at the end.

This is a really enjoyable and well written read. It is such a good story and it flows in such an easy way making Greek mythology accessible to all. With its tale of strong women and powerful Greek gods this retelling of the story of Ariadne enables her to have her own voice and take her place in history. This book will definitely appeal to anyone who enjoys historical novels whether they have any knowledge in Greek mythology or not.

Headlines:
Feminist and sisterhood
Bittersweet
Betrayal
I’m so over Greek mythology men

I was captivated by the writing and story of Aridane’s world very quickly but honestly, don’t come into this story expecting gentleness. Ariadne was told with raw brutality at times, no holds barred and personally, I appreciated the gritty immersion. Please do check trigger warnings on other reviews or dm me for details.

The story was ladened with tragedy and also times of happiness but there was always that overwhelming sense of foreboding. It wasn’t a book that left you settled, it left me on edge and tense. Most of these feelings stemmed from the male characters in this book, mortal and god alike. Misogyny was rife but some of the key male characters were simply awful.

"I had cried all the tears I thought I could ever produce; I had spat and screamed and now I felt strangely cleansed."

The separate stories of Ariadne and Phaedra were so interesting and I had such hopes for their presents, futures and their ability to deal with the past. The legacy of their experiences was a heavy burden and these sisters were close but driven apart by circumstances.

The tone of the story was broadly feminist with a sense of sisterhood at the heart of it. The children were also a balm to the tragedies. I’m not going to lie, I did struggle with the conclusion a little but it was true to the tale and to the tone of the book overall.

Ariadne was an immersive experience with the kind of writing that got you lost in the page. It was a truly impressive debut. The cover is stunning and I’ve ordered myself a finished copy. I can’t wait to see which story Jennifer Saint will retell next.

Thank you to Wildfire Books/Headline for the early review copy.

Greek mythology retellings are very much my thing and, lucky me, they seem to be very much in vogue at the moment. So I was intrigued and excited by this latest example.

It starts, for me, with a slight misstep. In the open pages the language seems anachronistic and YA-esque and I was preparing myself for disappointment. Jennifer Saint appeared to be no Madeline Miller.

However, very quickly the novel hits its stride and it does so beautifully. And I was as invested in the story as I was in any of Miller's works. Saint fleshes out the mythical characters into real individuals I could understand, relate to and empathise with. She describes Knossos and Naxos so wonderfully I was transported. The familiar theme of the gods fascination with, and love for mortals as well as their cruelty and indifference is nicely explored. I particularly enjoyed the contrast in the personalities and reactions to motherhood of the two sisters. And I found the ending devastating, sadly proving Ariadne's long held belief that women pay the price for the actions of gods and mortal men alike.

In truth, I didn't find the writing quite as majestic as Madeline Miller's but perhaps that is an unfair comparison as it doesn't convey that this is still very good writing! I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and will eagerly await the next offering from the author.

I really loved the writing style! Saint writes in quite a straightforward way that shines throughout the book, making Ariadne an easy story for readers to follow and engage with, whether they know the mythology or not. Similarly, it was easy to root for Ariadne and want to see her succeed. My one qualm here is pacing, I felt like the true story of the novel took a while to get going, and the ending felt a touch abrupt.