The story of Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, king of Crete, after the slaying of the Minotaur, her brother, is a fascinating one (Rebecca). Greek mythology is not really my cup of tea. Reviewers mentioned that the book is accessible even to those who have little previous knowledge of or interest in Greek mythology. The pace and detail of the book got better after Part I and then it was a page-turner for me (Roberta W). … Overall, a very good book that was engrossing after Part I (Paula J).

In Part II and beyond, the story is told by both Ariadne and her sister Phaedra, and the different characters' voices enliven the story. The writing seemed biblical in style to me. I had a hard time getting through Part I. Some found the book a little difficult to get into at first, but they felt that it picked up after Part I. I was thoroughly engrossed in the story (Frances A). Saint piqued my interest in Chapter One, and held it through the Epilogue. Her powerful writing kept me on the edge of my seat (Marcia C). Her story is filled with drama and suspense leading the reader into forbidding places. Ariadne is Jennifer Saint's contribution to this genre. Lately it seems many stories have been written offering retellings of the classics of Greek mythology. They also enjoyed the author's powerful, dramatic writing and engrossing storytelling. And yet, Saint also speaks to the agency women find in their daily lives (Alyson R). I feel like Jennifer Saint acknowledges the place of women in Ancient Greek society as objects used, disposable, like Medusa. 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). It presents itself so familiarly at first with all the traditional Greek myths and epic tropes.

Readers appreciated the subversive feminist angle that Saint takes in retelling Greek mythology. It is a story of love lost, won, and lost again-told by the sisters themselves (Peggy K). 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. Jennifer Saint reimagines the myth of Ariadne and her sister Phaedra, daughters of King Minos of Crete and half-sisters to the dreaded Minotaur. 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. A powerful feminist retelling of Greek mythology that entertains and enthralls.

Ariadne by jennifer saint summary