I had thought he brought salvation with him. Instead he had traded my existing bondage for another.
I just cannot pass up a Greek mythology retelling, and the story of Ariadne is an undeniably fascinating one. Growing up in Crete as the daughter of King Minos, she sees her mother suffer at the hands of the gods as retribution for their anger towards her father. Ariadne vows to never be a pawn for the gods or mortal men. When she is faced with the terrible atrocities happening under King Minos, will she have the courage to do the right thing and finally accept her destiny?
I love stories about strong female characters, and immediately found Ariadne to be a captivating heroine. Her character is well fleshed out in all of its complexity, triumph, and heartbreak. She displays strength and resilience in the face of adversity, and it was fun to follow along and cheer her on. I also found her relationship with her sister Phaedra heartwarming to read.
However, I did find the pacing a bit uneven throughout. This is the story of Ariadne's life instead of just one event in it, so certain parts definitely feel more essential and cohesive than others. The first 100 pages were absolutely unputdownable, with a riveting story arc that just propels the narrative forward. The next 100 pages slows down a bit. Not much happens, and we get a lot of background stories on tangentially related mythology characters. But then it ends on a strong note, with the last 100 pages picking up the arc of another interesting storyline and taking it all the way to a satisfying close.
The struggle for females to break free from the influence and punishment of men is a familiar tale, and the infusion of Greek mythology makes it that much more exciting. I'm always thrilled to come across a compelling debut, and I cannot wait to see what else Jennifer Saint comes up with.
Readaroo Rating: 4 stars
This was my Book of the Month pick for May. If you're curious about BOTM or want to find out how to get your first book for $5, click here.
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