Ariadne - Jennifer Saint

 

I was super excited to receive Ariadne for my birthday because, as we know, I adore a Greek myth retelling, especially if it’s female-focused! 

This novel follows the Cretian princess Ariadne who finds herself betrothed to a repulsive king who she dreads marrying. Ariadne is the daughter of Minos and Persiphae, and her half-brother is Asterion - the infamous Minotaur - who was born of her mother’s transgression by mating with a bull under the influence of a curse. When the mighty and handsome Theseus arrives in Athens to slay the Minotaur, which many have attempted but never succeeded, Ariadne falls head over heels and agrees to show Theseus the way into the centre of the labyrinth for the greater good - the destruction of the Minotaur. Following her betrayal of her family to assist Theseus, the pair flee to a remote island with the plan to marry.

The following morning, Ariadne awakens to find herself alone, with little food and water, on an island in the middle of nowhere. Sensing that Theseus has used her, she resigns herself to an imminent death and curses her naïvety - that is, until she is joined by the charming and handsome Dionysus. Her new friendship with a powerful god sets her on the path to happiness - or so she believes. Meanwhile back in Athens, Ariadne’s sister Phaedra has been promised to Theseus - who claims that Ariadne died tragically on the island. Phaedra’s own life has been shaped by the events following the Minotaur’s death - with the family now in tatters and her hope to find true love a distant dream - and Phaedra still doubts the story of her sister’s death.

This is an absolutely enrapturing and captivating novel which I cannot recommend enough. Saint’s depiction of scenery is particularly mesmerising, and the prolific nature metaphors peppered throughout the novel brought pure joy to my heart. What’s more, the characterisation is spectacular - helped, perhaps, by the small cast of characters.