Blog tour: Ariadne

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Welcome to the blog tour for Ariadne by Jennifer Saint.

More about the book…

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?

Ariadne 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. Beautifully written and completely immersive, this is an exceptional debut novel.

More about the author…

Due to a lifelong fascination with Ancient Greek mythology, Jennifer Saint read Classical Studies at King’s College, London. She spent the next thirteen years as an English teacher, sharing a love of literature and creative writing with her students. ARIADNE is her first novel and she is working on another retelling of ancient myth for her second.

My impressions…

How did this book end up in my hands? I received a free digital copy of this book so that I could participate in this tour.

Was it a page-turner? Not being familiar with the story of Ariadne and Phaedra, I was drawn in from the very beginning, wanting to know more. The author writing style is engaging and evocative and I probably would have felt compelled to keep reading regardless.

Did the book meet my expectations? While being relatively familiar with the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, I must confess I had little knowledge of Ariadne and her sister. I started this book curious to learn more – and hoping that it would be as beautifully narrated as Circe by Madeline Miller. All my wishes were granted. I have been enriched by this novel and the vivid descriptions of the locations have transported me to a different time and place, far away from my life in lockdown. It’s ironic how this book gifted me all the freedom that the women at its heart lacked.

Three words to describe it. Fascinating. Evocative. Tragic.

Do I like the cover? The cover of this book is utterly stunning. I’ve read this book on my Kindle, where the cover is in black and white, and I can’t wait to visit a bookshop again to see the book it all its physical glory!

Have I read any other books by the same author? This is the author debut novel and I am already eagerly awaiting for her second retelling of a Greek myth.

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