Ariadne: A Novel by Jennifer Saint
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Web ID: 14352565Had potential
I really wanted to like this book. I’ve been on a Greek mythology kick and was super excited to read it. It had me for the first 100 pages and then just started to lose me.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A terrific story
Although this story is from long ago, this telling makes it live for modern readers. Even the deities are relatable.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
New take on an old myth
I finally finished this one. It’s been on my TBR for a while, and it took me longer than I wanted to read it. However, it was a good read. I’m a huge classics nerd, so Greek myths and books around ancient history are always something I can get behind reading. I’ll put a Greek myth book on my TBR without even reading the blurb. I knew going in that this was Ariadne’s story told from her point of view. She is absolutely one of my favorite females from Greek myth, second only to Persephone. I love how her story starts with the heartbreak of Thesus, and ends with the love of Dionysus. So let’s get into the story! Ariadne is the princess of Crete, daughter of King Minos and Queen Pasiphae. Queen Pasiphae is the daughter of the sun god Helios, and her sister is the witch Circe- the subject of the fantastic novel by Madeline Miller. Being of royal blood Ariadne has lived a life of comfort for most of her life. Her domestic peace is shattered when her mother is seduced by a white bull sent by the god Posedion. Some time after her mothers seduction, she gives birth to a fearsome monster- the Minotaur. Ariadne attends the birth and helps to deliver her baby half brother. She tries to love him as her mother does, but it just does not come as easy for her. Not long after his birth the Minotaur is locked in maze below the palace. Pasiphae is never quite the same after the birth of the Minotaur. She is distant and not the same mother Ariadne remembers. Ariadne’s father King Minos forces the King of Athens to send him 7 boys and 7 girls each year as tribute. These poor 14 children meet their violent end in labyrinth below the palace as food for the Minotaur. Ariadne is torn between love of her half brother, and pity for the children and parents of Athens who must endure this cruel tribute year after year. She loves her brother, but she cannot stand by any longer and watch these innocent children murdered year after year. She becomes determined to see the end of the suffering of her brother and of the sacrifices. But what will it cost her? Only the gods can know. That’s all of the story I’m going to tell in an effort to keep the review spoiler free. I don’t want to assume that everyone knows how this story goes. I thought this was a solid read. I didn’t love it and I didn’t dislike it. The prose of the story is absolutely beautiful and reminded me a lot of Madeline Miller’s books (which I ADORE). I just found that this book fell short of her writing, and seemed a bit flat. I couldn’t connect with the characters which made it very difficult to read. Without that emotional connection it’s difficult for me to feel invested in a book. I think that may be one reason why I felt it was difficult to get started and finish this book. Overall, I am glad I read it, and I will definitely pick up Elektra by Jennifer Saint which comes out on April 26. The last thing I’m going to pick on here is the ending. I won’t tell what happens, but I wasn’t a huge fan of how Saint chose to end the story. The end was a bit dark, and definitely not a HEA, but with the way the story was going I figured this was the ending I was in for. That wasn’t a deal breaker for me, so I still say, if you want to read a good solid retelling of a Greek myth give this one a read- I give it a solid 3.5 stars.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com