Book Review: Ariadne
5/5
For fans of: Madeline Miller, Greek myth retellings, sisterhood, coming of age, womanhood
Synopsis: The story of Theseus and the Minotaur is known throughout the world. Now, we get to witness the story of the woman who made it all possible: Ariadne, Princess of Crete. In the vein of Circe, Ariadne explores the themes of womanhood, sisterhood, and patriarchy from the point of view of minor characters in a great hero’s’ journey. From her early childhood, her teenage years, the famous episode of Theseus and the Minotaur, to her adventures afterwards. She will grapple with glory, fate, love, and the never-changing nature of the gods.
Review: Greek mythology was an obsession of mine since I was a child, so when I heard that a book on Ariadne was coming out, I was immediately sold. The story unfolds so much like many of our own when we first ventured into Greek myths. The innocence of young Ariadne in hearing the glories of the great heroes and gods reminded me of the joy of reading those tales myself. When young, handsome, and heroic Theseus enters the scene, you follow Ariadne’s naivety as she is intrigued with this new hero and the adventure he offers her outside of the gossipy and gory halls of Knossos. Even her younger sister, Phaedra, is enthralled as she too wants to escape the fate all young Greek girls must face. But the episode of Theseus and the Minotaur is just one part of Ariadne’s story. If you know the rest of the myth, you know it does not end well for the young lovers. As Ariadne’s story unfolds throughout the years of her life, she witnesses and experiences the joys and sorrows of life and death, gods and wine, politics and greed, as well as love and pain brought by men. I loved every part of her story. She both intrigued me and infuriated me. The book also includes chapters of her younger and less naive sister as she lives with the aftermath of Ariadne’s betrayal of their home. Phaedra is just as powerful a woman here. Her story is just as adventurous and probably even more tragic since she is a woman born in the wrong time. The women of this world are so wonderfully portrayed, but so are the men. Theseus, Minos, and Dionysus are well rounded, well thought out in their characterization. I was never a big fan of the god of wine, but his characterization as a young god far more humble and kind towards humans than his Olympian family has me rethinking my need to read more about him. Overall, a great addition to any collection of Greek myth retellings and an excellent debut novel.
