Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

Ariadne was on my list of Top 10 Books I Can’t Wait For in 2021, so I was absolutely ecstatic to be approved for an ARC on NetGalley. Lyrical, bittersweet, and thematically rich, it did not disappoint.

Ariadne is the centrepiece of this retelling, but swirled into it are stories of many other women from Greek mythology who have suffered the consequences of men’s misdeeds. The narrative is split between Ariadne and her sister Phaedra, probing into how their traumatic childhood shapes the women they become. I loved the contrast between their very individual voices, and became especially drawn to Phaedra and her stubborn, determined character.

One of my favourite things about this book was the nuanced exploration of both the mortal and divine experience. Mortals may be at the mercy of the deities, but there’s just as much room for human manipulation when people (not naming any names!) evade responsibility for their actions by blaming the gods. I really enjoyed Jennifer Saint’s interpretation of Dionysus and Ariadne’s relationship and how she illustrated the pain that comes with the melding of human and divine.

Ariadne is a retelling you won’t want to miss. Intertwining both ancient and current issues, Jennifer Saint has created a story that reaches the hearts of modern as well as mythological women.