Title: Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

Published: May 4, 2021

Genre(s): adult, historical, mythology

Read as: hardback, owned

Rating: 4

Ariadne, Princess of Crete, grows up greeting the dawn from her beautiful dancing floor and listening to her nursemaid’s stories of gods and heroes. But beneath her golden palace echo the ever-present hoofbeats of her brother, the Minotaur, a monster who demands blood sacrifice.

When Theseus, the Prince of Athens, arrives to vanquish the beast, Ariadne sees in his green eyes not a threat but an escape. Defying the gods, betraying her family and country, and risking everything for love, Ariadne helps Theseus kill the Minotaur. But will Ariadne’s decision ensure her happy ending? And what of Phaedra, the beloved younger sister she leaves behind? (Goodreads)

My favorite genre used to be historical fiction. In recent years it has shifted into the realm of fantasy but picking up a historical fiction with mythology roots feeds both sides of my book loving soul. Ariadne certainly filled that void.

I loved the mix of historical setting and Greek gods and mythos that shaped this book. I had heard the name Ariadne before, but didn’t know off the top of my head why. Getting to know her and her sister was both a delight and heart wrenchingly painful. We all know that history is rarely kind to female figures and the tale of Ariadne and her sister Phaedra is no different.

These are two women whose lives were ruled and shaped by the decisions of men and who had to live with the consequences of the choices that others forced upon them. It is harsh, it is painful, but this story felt alive to me in a way that so few do.

If you enjoy historical fiction or stories that include Greek mythos then I would certainly recommend this book.