Ariadne | Jennifer Saint

 

Star Rating: 5/5 Spice Rating: 0/10 Art Rating: 9 / 10

Favourite Quote: "“I would be Medusa, if it came to it, i resolved. If the gods held me accountable one day for the sins of someone else, if they came for me to punish a man's actions, i would not hide away like Pasiphae”

Synopsis;

As Princesses of Crete and daughters of the fearsome King Minos, Ariadne and her sister Phaedra grow up hearing the hoofbeats and bellows of the Minotaur echo from the Labyrinth beneath the palace. The Minotaur - Minos's greatest shame and Ariadne's brother - demands blood every year.When Theseus, Prince of Athens, arrives in Crete as a sacrifice to the beast, Ariadne falls in love with him. But helping Theseus kill the monster means betraying her family and country, and Ariadne knows only too well that in a world ruled by mercurial gods - drawing their attention can cost you everything. In a world where women are nothing more than the pawns of powerful men, will Ariadne's decision to betray Crete for Theseus ensure her happy ending? Or will she find herself sacrificed for her lover's ambition?

Review; 

Just wow. What a beautifully written book that brought me to tears. Ariadne is also Jennifer Saint's DEBUT novel, i would not have thought that when reading it. Ariadne's story reminds me a lot of Circe; isolated on an island believing it to be their punishment, but ultimately it becomes their world and they are truly loved by those around them. We meet Ariadne as a young woman, desperate for something more than the walls of her home and the constant reminder of her brother, the Minotaur below in the Labyrinth. Her mother Pasiphae, (who is very well known in Greek Mythology; mother of the Minotaur, Wife of King Mino and Sister to Circe) is a ghost of her former self after the union with the Bull due to her Husband disappointing Poseidon. Like a lot of other stories about the women in Greek Mythology, they seem to be punished for the wrongdoings of the men around them. That is why these stories are so important. We always see the hero's side of the story, never those they used along the way; there is always two sides to a story. Yes these characters are fictional & based on Mythology, but they are very relatable to the 21st Century reader. Ariadne sees her chance to redeem herself and leave the stain of her family behind by helping Theseus kill the Minotaur. 

Without knowing Ariadne's story, i could see right through Theseus. I did think at times that maybe i was too quick to judge... but no, he does what every hero seems to do; abandoned the woman right after their glory is won. If you are someone who doesn't read the prologue, then i think it would have been more of a surprise. there is a massive foreshadow in the prologue when Minos boasts about his glory of deceiving  a woman into betraying her family and then drags her behind is boat on his return home from war. A gruesome image, but also a warning to his daughters not to do the same. This however does not stop both his daughters from betraying him. This act of defiance from his children just shows that loyalty is not won by fear, it is won by respect and honour. When Theseus abandons Ariadne on Naxos, i wanted to shake her. She fell in love so hard with him that she genuinely wanted to die; she'd betrayed her family and her country... what more could she live for? But once she meets Dionysus she allows a new life to begin for herself on Naxos.

Another nice touch Saint adds into this story is dual narration. We get to see some chapters from Phaedra, Ariadne's younger sister. Her characteristics are so different to Ariadne's that it was a refreshing breaking between A's chapters. We get to see what becomes of Minos through Phaedra, and her journey to marrying Theseus instead of Ariadne. The contrast between the two sister is so interesting to read. Ariadne is content with the simple Island life; spending time raising her children and receiving her husband when he returns from his travels. Phaedra however, is a power hungry woman who uses her status to her advantage. Being Queen allows her to get involved in her country's politics and keeps her busy whilst Theseus is away. Ariadne loves her husband, Phaedra is content with the life she lives with Theseus. Ariadne adores her children and is naturally maternal, whereas Phaedra is not. They are polar opposites and it is great to read  each of their perspectives on life and one another. For me, it allows a wider audience to relate to the narrative. Everyone is different, therefore has different views about certain aspects in life. It also highlights that even though you are raised in the same environment, siblings can be so different from one another and that was very relatable to me. 

One final thing i want to talk about is both of the sisters deaths.  Even though their fate is not a surprise to most of the readers, it is still sad to read. They didn't deserve to die the way they did and i believe that they both (in their own way) did it for love; Phaedra's rejection from Hippolytus & the fear of returning to the life she so desperately tried to leave and Ariadne for the love of her children and the women of Naxos. I felt that their deaths emphasises the fact that even though they didn't directly die for the wrong doings of men, they still played a crucial part in it. 

I could talk for hours about this book. It is just so beautifully written and i am looking forward to reading more of Saint's work! 

Let me know your thoughts in the comments!