Despite the fact that her brother is hideous, Ariadne loves him and cares for him as a baby, until he grows too big and dangerous. In order to punish Minos, her father, it is her mother who suffers and bears a monstrous offspring which is half human, half bull.

I had no preconceived ideas about what might happen in this story, and so therefore, everything that did happen, was unexpected.Īriadne is a Crete Princess, daughter of a feared ruler. So while I know the story of the Minotaur, I didn’t know much about Ariadne but I’m not really sure that’s a bad thing. I don’t know much about Ancient Greek mythology – just the basics really. I also really liked The Song Of Achilles by Madeline Miller and thought I’d like to read some more books that were quite similar. Beautifully written and completely immersive, this is an exceptional debut novel.īought this book solely because of the cover. 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?ĪRIADNE gives a voice to the forgotten women of one of the most famous Greek myths, and speaks to their strength in the face of angry, petulant Gods. 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. When Theseus, Prince of Athens, arrives in Crete as a sacrifice to the beast, Ariadne falls in love with him. The Minotaur – Minos’s greatest shame and Ariadne’s brother – demands blood every year. Blurb : 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.

Jennifer saint ariadne reviews