Dang! I started writing my own retelling of Dionysus and Ariadne’s love story narrated from the point of view of Dionysus who absolutely adores Ariadne and HATES Theseus. To make it unique I changed the story by making it so that Ariadne killed The Minotaur, however Theseus (who was unconscious) claims that he killed him and even though Ariadne knew the truth, she never said anything because she didn’t want to hurt his pride. I will definitely read the book once I’m done with mine so I don’t accidentally copy anything.
As someone who wants to write a kind of Greek Myth Retelling about Ariadne and the Minotaur and the Labyrinth, this is a great video to find to see what other ways people are retelling the myth of this character and what people think of it!
This book sounds terrific the way you describe Ariadne. It's so tiring in popular culture how the way to show a woman come into her humanity is to display almost toxic masculinity. The feminine is still being degraded. Mostly of course by traditional males. I find myself buying so many good books because of your insights. Also your hair color in that light is excellent.
Absolutely! I wanted to make it clear that Ariadne represents a woman finding her own kind of feminine strength; not strength as it is defined by a hypermasculine world. I hope you enjoy the book if you get to read it!
I recently finished Netflix's Dark series and Ariadne is used as a pretty good parallel to what was happening in the series. I know the original story but wanted a deep dive and guess I finally found it!
I kept reflecting on Circe all the time I read this. Phaedra's pov is one of the strengths of this novel. Loved Dionysus' portrayal. At the end, however, I could appreciate Ariadne for what she was, a wonderful woman ...and all too human.
I was beyond excited for Ariadne. After reading Circe (which remains my favourite book to date), I really thought I’d love Ariadne. Overall I did like it, but the pacing and dialogue - when compared to Circe - were so weak. I know we shouldn’t compare too much, and just appreciate both books…but I really couldn’t help it. Circe is the superior book; a masterpiece of a retelling. Ariadne is a good retelling (of two women..not just Ariadne).
Great review! I loved this book too and I was also surprised by the way the story developed. What I really like about this genre is the way it reminds me about the Greek myths, but from such a great angle.
I totally agree. Most of us grow up knowing a few myths and about a few different heroes, but these books give us fresh angles and make the stories relevant again. I can't get enough!
I love retellings of mythology...especially Greek (like works by Madeline Miller) or Jewish (like Yochi Brandes). I will be sure to check this book out as it seems powerful. Thank you for the recommendation.
I preordered this book because I love the retellings of myths and the cover is stunning, but right before the book came to me reviews on goodreads discouraged me to read it. Now I am contemplating whether I should give it a try, since your reviews on asian books actually helped me to find some booky treasures ^^
I'm glad I didn't check Goodreads before I read it because I found Ariadne a thoroughly enjoyable read! But maybe I'm an outlier? To each their own, after all.
Firstly you’ve expanded my library so much ❤. So I just finished this, I wanna love it so bad but I just can’t, but I come from a classicist perspective. I feel like Saint has this habit of taking what she likes and doesn’t like from the source material, and that’s probably my key issue. When we get the story of the Medusa in the beginning it’s Ovids rendition, which completely rewrote the mythology, by taking place way later than Minoan Greece, she’s got her hero lineage and timing all mixed up, etc. There’re such beautiful lines of prose in this, but then she hammers on the theme super directly. I would have loved consistency in the thematics. I wish she explored Dionysus’ androgynous and gender fluid identity. Ariadne was worshiped beside him, she depicted in the revelry with maenads and satyrs. The ending had me so up the wall, it’s yes, mythological accurate, but of the ones to choose 😢. I honestly don’t think Saint was the right author for this story. I think to there were a lot of missed opportunities with honing the theme, it had commercial fiction vibes. I love “feminist “ retellings but is it feminist just because a woman is a narrator or does it push it far, I.e Meiko Kawakami or Natalie Haynes. I’m going to give Elektra a shot, but I’m nervous. Tangent about retellings: why does ever book make Medea’s character so Arthurian Morgan Le Fay like? Tbh, that’s who I want to see a retelling of. All of the retellings take such a softness or hardline to morality. I.e Pasiphae in both Circe by M. Miller or Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
I really loved The women of troy by Pat Barker (I read it out of order tho, read the second one first, I just ordered the first in the series The silence of the girls, but with that series it seems fine to me if you read them out of order)!😂
Sounds like an interesting book! I'll pick it up for sure. I kind of enjoyed Circe, I'm not sure why I'm resisting Song of Achille so strongly but I am. I'll pick this one up first, I think, thanks! Kudos for Hades, I'm just playing it now and yes I agree about the drawings, but can I point out the voiceover? Amazing, also distracting because woah Zagreus' voice.
God, yes, I keep meaning to put more hours into Hades but I have so many other distractions right now. The guy who voices Zagreus is also the game's composer; talk about talent!
Dang! I started writing my own retelling of Dionysus and Ariadne’s love story narrated from the point of view of Dionysus who absolutely adores Ariadne and HATES Theseus. To make it unique I changed the story by making it so that Ariadne killed The Minotaur, however Theseus (who was unconscious) claims that he killed him and even though Ariadne knew the truth, she never said anything because she didn’t want to hurt his pride. I will definitely read the book once I’m done with mine so I don’t accidentally copy anything.
As someone who wants to write a kind of Greek Myth Retelling about Ariadne and the Minotaur and the Labyrinth, this is a great video to find to see what other ways people are retelling the myth of this character and what people think of it!
Good luck!
This book sounds terrific the way you describe Ariadne. It's so tiring in popular culture how the way to show a woman come into her humanity is to display almost toxic masculinity. The feminine is still being degraded. Mostly of course by traditional males. I find myself buying so many good books because of your insights. Also your hair color in that light is excellent.
Absolutely! I wanted to make it clear that Ariadne represents a woman finding her own kind of feminine strength; not strength as it is defined by a hypermasculine world. I hope you enjoy the book if you get to read it!
Ahhh I was hesitant abt this book (for the same reasons as you!) but you managed to sell it to me! Thank you again :)
You're so welcome, and I hope you enjoy it!
I recently finished Netflix's Dark series and Ariadne is used as a pretty good parallel to what was happening in the series. I know the original story but wanted a deep dive and guess I finally found it!
I've been very interested in checking out Dark and now I have even more of a reason! Thanks!
Thank you for such a fantastic and thorough review - got this book today and so excited to start it!
Thank you for watching! Enjoy the book!
I kept reflecting on Circe all the time I read this. Phaedra's pov is one of the strengths of this novel. Loved Dionysus' portrayal. At the end, however, I could appreciate Ariadne for what she was, a wonderful woman ...and all too human.
I was beyond excited for Ariadne. After reading Circe (which remains my favourite book to date), I really thought I’d love Ariadne.
Overall I did like it, but the pacing and dialogue - when compared to Circe - were so weak.
I know we shouldn’t compare too much, and just appreciate both books…but I really couldn’t help it. Circe is the superior book; a masterpiece of a retelling. Ariadne is a good retelling (of two women..not just Ariadne).
Great review! I loved this book too and I was also surprised by the way the story developed. What I really like about this genre is the way it reminds me about the Greek myths, but from such a great angle.
I totally agree. Most of us grow up knowing a few myths and about a few different heroes, but these books give us fresh angles and make the stories relevant again. I can't get enough!
@@WillowTalksBooks I have Song of Achilles and The Silent Girls yet to come in my pile next to my chair!😁
I'm currently pregnant and researching names and I came across this beautiful name and myth, thank you so much for this review I now want this book.
Oh congratulations! It would make a really beautiful name!
You got a like simply for the 'FML' on the cats head 😂 (and the video is great too!)
I love retellings of mythology...especially Greek (like works by Madeline Miller) or Jewish (like Yochi Brandes). I will be sure to check this book out as it seems powerful. Thank you for the recommendation.
Me too, I'm thoroughly addicted. And you're very welcome!
I preordered this book because I love the retellings of myths and the cover is stunning, but right before the book came to me reviews on goodreads discouraged me to read it. Now I am contemplating whether I should give it a try, since your reviews on asian books actually helped me to find some booky treasures ^^
I'm glad I didn't check Goodreads before I read it because I found Ariadne a thoroughly enjoyable read! But maybe I'm an outlier? To each their own, after all.
You did it again... You keep making my list of books I want to read grow. Lol
Haha, victory!
Firstly you’ve expanded my library so much ❤. So I just finished this, I wanna love it so bad but I just can’t, but I come from a classicist perspective. I feel like Saint has this habit of taking what she likes and doesn’t like from the source material, and that’s probably my key issue. When we get the story of the Medusa in the beginning it’s Ovids rendition, which completely rewrote the mythology, by taking place way later than Minoan Greece, she’s got her hero lineage and timing all mixed up, etc. There’re such beautiful lines of prose in this, but then she hammers on the theme super directly. I would have loved consistency in the thematics. I wish she explored Dionysus’ androgynous and gender fluid identity. Ariadne was worshiped beside him, she depicted in the revelry with maenads and satyrs. The ending had me so up the wall, it’s yes, mythological accurate, but of the ones to choose 😢. I honestly don’t think Saint was the right author for this story. I think to there were a lot of missed opportunities with honing the theme, it had commercial fiction vibes. I love “feminist “ retellings but is it feminist just because a woman is a narrator or does it push it far, I.e Meiko Kawakami or Natalie Haynes. I’m going to give Elektra a shot, but I’m nervous.
Tangent about retellings: why does ever book make Medea’s character so Arthurian Morgan Le Fay like? Tbh, that’s who I want to see a retelling of. All of the retellings take such a softness or hardline to morality. I.e Pasiphae in both Circe by M. Miller or Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
I really loved The women of troy by Pat Barker (I read it out of order tho, read the second one first, I just ordered the first in the series The silence of the girls, but with that series it seems fine to me if you read them out of order)!😂
never knew why I was so into Greek mythology until I found out my name comes from it 🥰
It’s a beautiful, beautiful name!
That book is fantastic
Did someone call my name?
Cute ! Hi :)
Sounds like an interesting book! I'll pick it up for sure. I kind of enjoyed Circe, I'm not sure why I'm resisting Song of Achille so strongly but I am. I'll pick this one up first, I think, thanks!
Kudos for Hades, I'm just playing it now and yes I agree about the drawings, but can I point out the voiceover? Amazing, also distracting because woah Zagreus' voice.
God, yes, I keep meaning to put more hours into Hades but I have so many other distractions right now. The guy who voices Zagreus is also the game's composer; talk about talent!
I'm buying this now after noticing it being referenced in Russian Doll!! thank you for your recommendations :)
what are some books about retellings of British myths?
There's the brilliant Sistersong by Lucy Holland and also a new book called Storyland by Amy Jeffs (which I haven't read but heard great things).
you look like pam from the office and i mean this in a good way
I get that every day :)
Is this a bastardisation of ancient myth?
What a weird way to look at it
meow meow.......
This book was so baaaaad ugh
lol me spending hours putting together a detailed critique of the novel
Random internet person: “so baaaaad ugh”
adam mısın ulan willow