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Ariadne: A Novel Hardcover – May 4, 2021

by Jennifer Saint (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 9,019 ratings
Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction
See all formats and editions
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A mesmerizing debut novel for fans of Madeline Miller's Circe.

Ariadne, Princess of Crete, grows up greeting the dawn from her beautiful dancing floor and listening to her nursemaid’s stories of gods and heroes. But beneath her golden palace echo the ever-present hoofbeats of her brother, the Minotaur, a monster who demands blood sacrifice.

When Theseus, Prince of Athens, arrives to vanquish the beast, Ariadne sees in his green eyes not a threat but an escape. Defying the gods, betraying her family and country, and risking everything for love, Ariadne helps Theseus kill the Minotaur. But will Ariadne’s decision ensure her happy ending? And what of Phaedra, the beloved younger sister she leaves behind?

Hypnotic, propulsive, and utterly transporting, Jennifer Saint's Ariadne forges a new epic, one that puts the forgotten women of Greek mythology back at the heart of the story, as they strive for a better world.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Flatiron Books
  4. Publication date
    May 4, 2021
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    125077358X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1250773586
  8. See all details
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Popular Highlights in this book
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  1. I would not let a man who knew the value of nothing make me doubt the value of myself.
    Highlighted by 2,119 Kindle readers
  2. No longer was my world one of brave heroes; I was learning all too swiftly the women’s pain that throbbed unspoken through the tales of their feats.
    Highlighted by 1,299 Kindle readers
  3. The stories of Perseus did not allow for a Medusa with a story of her own.
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

The most famous part of Ariadne's story, helping Theseus escape the labyrinth and defeat the Minotaur, is only the beginning of this sweeping mythological novel. Saint cleverly combines sources, many with conflicting events and time lines, into the compelling story of a young woman who falls in love, experiences betrayal, and carves a life for herself outside the traditional narratives of gods and heroes. In doing so, the author underscores the cost of these narratives, which relegate women's complex and valuable lives to background incidents in heroes' stories, including horrifying incidents of sexual violence. Saint's writing is slow, atmospheric, and character-driven, purposefully setting aside the action-packed male hero narratives of Greek mythology to work in an alternate mode. While some readers may be put off by the book's slower pace and Ariadne's fulfillment through motherhood and domesticity, others will revel in the complex psychology of the characters. Perhaps most telling is the focus on Ariadne's younger sister, Phaedra, who "wins" the perfect marriage to a hero, becomes queen of Athens, and still finds herself trapped in an endless cycle of pregnancy and depression despite her intelligence and talent for politics. VERDICT This will appeal to older teens interested retellings that give voice to women's stories; offer it alongside books by Madeline Miller, Adèle Geras, Elana K. Arnold, and Jane Yolen.-Molly Saunders, Manatee County P.L., Bradenton, FLα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

A Most Anticipated Book (Bustle, Buzzfeed, PopSugar, Goodreads)
IndieNext Pick

“A page-turner…If you like Madeline Miller's Circe and Son of Achilles, you will eat up Ariadne, a retelling of yet another engrossing and horrifying classic Greek myth.”
―Glamour

“Beautifully written and nuanced, Ariadne explores the bonds between women and their epic quest for agency in patriarchal Greek society.”
―BuzzFeed

“The story broadens, forks,spins, and braids through the perspective of multiple narrators, and the resultis fascinating and unpredictable…A great read.”
―Chicago Review of Books

"Circe fans would do well to take note."
―Bustle

“If you loved Madeline Miller’s Circe, then you have to check out Ariadne by Jennifer Saint.”
―PopSugar

“Saint’s immersive novel thrusts the reader straight into the heart of Greek mythology with this wonderful reimagining of the story of Ariadne.”
―The Independent (UK)

“A lyrical, insightful re-telling.”
―The Daily Mail

“Energetic and compelling.”
―The Times (UK)

“Captivating…Saint’s mesmerizingly beautiful prose makes Ariadne a fascinating read.”
―The Nerd Daily

“An illuminating read.”
―Woman & Home

“Relevant and revelatory.”
―Stylist (UK)

“A beautiful epic…In a world ruled by temperamental, petulant gods, Ariadne is a shining beacon of female strength and courage―making this a story that’s impossible to forget.”
―CultureFly (UK)

“Enchanting…Saint expertly highlights how often the women of this world pay the price for the actions of the men around them. Lovers of mythology should snap this up.”
―Publishers Weekly

“Complex―and bold…Fans of Madeline Miller's Circe will enjoy this faithful retelling that centers the often-forgotten women of Greek myth.”
―Booklist

"Ariadne is a shimmering tapestry of two sisters bound by deceit and the shadows of family history. One marries a hero, the other a god. As their lives criss-cross through girlhood and womanhood, the secrets that their husbands keep become a monstrous backdrop to their relationship. With a fresh voice and keen insight, Saint adds flesh and bone to an ancient myth, drawing the reader into an uneasy world of ever-afters."
―Yangsze Choo, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Tiger

“An ancient story of love and sisterhood reimagined, Jennifer Saint's Ariadne is a truly masterful debut―compulsive, absorbing and lyrical. Saint breathes new life into the forgotten women of Greek mythology with a novel that's both incredibly absorbing, and full of heart.”
―Katie Lowe, author of The Furies

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Flatiron Books; First Edition (May 4, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 125077358X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250773586
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 9,019 ratings

About the author

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Jennifer Saint

Jennifer Saint

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Jennifer Saint grew up reading Greek mythology and was always drawn to the untold stories hidden within the myths. After thirteen years as a high school English teacher, she wrote ARIADNE which tells the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur from the perspective of Ariadne - the woman who made it happen. Ariadne was an instant Sunday Times bestseller, shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year in 2021 and was Waterstones Book of the month in January 2022. Her second novel, ELEKTRA, was a Number One Sunday Times bestseller and explores the curse upon the House of Atreus, giving voice to three women who are caught up in its shadows: Clytemnestra, Cassandra and Elektra whose lives are shattered by the Trojan War and who seek to find justice at any cost. Her third novel, Atalanta, tells the story of the only female Argonaut and is a Number One Sunday Times bestseller. Jennifer Saint is now a full-time author, living in Yorkshire, England, with her husband and two children.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
9,019 global ratings
Good Mythology Retelling
3 Stars
Good Mythology Retelling
“I would not let a man who knew the value of nothing make me doubt the value of myself.”I really liked the writing style of this book and the audiobook narration was fantastic. I’ve listened to books narrated by Barrie Kreinik before and would highly recommend her adaptations!The story itself was an adaptation of Theseus and the Minotaur and the remainder of Ariadne and Phaedra’s lives, which are stories that I am interested in. I was maybe expecting more artistic license to be taken, but this really felt like a straight retelling just from different points of view. A lot of the story was other characters telling tales to Ariadne or Phaedra that were essentially just recounting existing mythology without any new flavor really added. It did make the story feel real for the time though, since that is the only way information could really be shared at that time.I did like how the stories of Ariadne and Phaedra were interwoven and both included. The story was made more dynamic by including first hand accounts of both sisters’ experiences. I just wished there was more interpretation of the stories rather than just a retelling.
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Top reviews from the United States

Sangria
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully written tale. I couldn’t put it down
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
Ariadne, by Jennifer Saint, is a captivating reimagining of the Theseus and the Minotaur myth. The novel centers around Ariadne, the Cretan princess who aids Theseus in his quest to slay the Minotaur. Saint breathes new life into Ariadne, portraying her not as a helpless victim but as a complex woman yearning for agency.
The novel explores themes of love, betrayal, and the power dynamics between men and women. Saint's evocative prose transports readers to the Minoan civilization and brings the characters and their struggles to vivid life. Ariadne is a must-read for fans of mythology and historical fiction alike.
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Ina
4.0 out of 5 stars Bittersweet
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2023
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I couldn't put it down, I found it completely captivating, and I just as engrossed as I was with Circe by Madeline Miller. Though if you are looking for happy endings, this is not for you.
2 people found this helpful
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Robert Campbell
5.0 out of 5 stars A vibrant and compelling account
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2022
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I found this a very engaging and engrossing telling of the ancient story from a very modern view of character and motivation, while embracing the worldview the story grew from unreservedly. This can be food for our imaginations, trying to grow beyond the narrow horizons of our own contemporary worldview. The narrative style, too, was suspenseful and compelling, while rich in detail not to be missed but deserving at least a second reading.

I loved Saint’s Dionysus, so wise and humane and full of feeling (and how this is plausibly motivated by his life story). This is not unlike Robinson Jeffers' view of the god we find in "The Humanist's Tragedy." Saint's Dionysus' digressions offering his view of the human condition are highlights of the book for me.

The reviewer who was troubled that Ariadne and Phaedra were blonds when the ancient Cretans depicted themselves with straight, black hair might note that the women’s grandfather Helios was described as having golden locks in the old stories. And they might be thought of as having inherited his genes. (A sun god may have many dominant genes!) Here we may see a further consequence of taking the old stories seriously.

I look forward to Saint's Elektra, whom I know only as a sort of foil to Jeffers' Orestes, who won through the tumult, rejected the power games, and found oneness with the natural world.
8 people found this helpful
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markedouglass
3.0 out of 5 stars Little flaws mean a lot
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2022
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I am enthralled with all mythology and recently returned from Crete, where my wife and I intentionally sought out the goddess in all her forms. As such, when Ariadne was on offer, I was excited to buy it and it quickly rose to the top of my reading list. I will admit that many if not most of my problems with this book are details and most readers may never brush against them. First, the most persnickety of details. The Author betrayed her setting on numerous occasions: Knossos is not on or near the sea and the directions the Author cites simply do not match the geography, which is easily surveyed on Google Maps, but which is that much more glaring on the ground. She informs at one point, Daedalus and Icarus appeared as dots in the sky, but then said the molting feathers from Icarus' wings were also visible. She also used utterly anachronistic phrases, the one which glared worst was that one of the characters had to "tune in" regardless of the fact this would only be a possible sharpening of senses in the age of transmitted communications. Yes, these are small details, but details matter when they snap the reader out of the story through their sharpness. I would possibly more easily get past these crashes were the story more fluid. Don't get me wrong: This story is good and the Author shows some mastery over the subject matter: I really appreciated her "looping in" relatively minor characters, but perhaps she tried to gather too many loose strands of the tapestry and would have done better sticking to more streamlined narrative. For my part, additionally, I found the use of Ariadne and Phaedra as major narrators somewhat jarring and not useful. I would rather have heard the story from a single point of view, and occasionally the Author struggles to keep the two isolated, allowing one to "know" what only the other has experienced. I finished the book, which suggests I found the story engaging enough, and I appreciate having made the effort (after struggling to get past some of those details which really jolted me out of the storyline). Overall, the book is good, but not great, not even really good, in my opinion.
23 people found this helpful
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MaryAnn Carey
4.0 out of 5 stars Well Written and Horrifically Tragic
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2023
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I would not read this if you are experiencing emotional turmoil of any kind. The book is written beautifully, the characters are so well described, the scenery is so clear. My only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because the ending of this book is so disheartening and very, very sad. It is an incredibly detailed story of adventure and womanhood. If you are struggling with anything right now, I would not read this.
12 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars wowwwww
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2024
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Wow this was suchhhh a good book I love her perspective so much 10/10 read one of my favorites now for sure
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shree
5.0 out of 5 stars oh
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2023
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this is single-handedly the most well written book i have read this year. it moved at the right pace, i was able to vividly imagine every scene, and most importantly, i strongly empathized with the women of this story. the author finished this story beautifully, and it will probably be a story i will never forget.
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Josie
4.0 out of 5 stars Captivating Greek mythology tale
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2023
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“What I did not know was that I had hit upon a truth of womanhood: however blameless a life we led, the passions and the greed of men could bring us to ruin, and there was nothing we could do.”

Ariadne’s tale was one filled with heroes, deception, love, loss, and character growth (some for the better and some for the worse). This story goes beyond just Ariadne’s involvement in defeating the Minotaur, and describes her trials and the life she made for herself after. It also gives a glimpse of her sister’s life after leaving Crete. These women must come to terms with a life ruled by deceitful men and dangerous gods, while trying to keep some semblance of their selves and values alive. A great addition to the world of Greek mythology tales, and I highly recommend it for lovers of “Circe”.
8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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marilyn simmonds
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
Reviewed in Canada on April 29, 2024
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Good story. Fast read
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A. S'A
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing retelling of one of my favorites stories
Reviewed in Brazil on April 19, 2024
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"A story about broken hearts, impossible loves, blood ties, and destiny... A retelling of the famous legend of the Minotaur's Labyrinth, this time from a female perspective, about the women who suffered, fought, and lived trapped in the consequences of choices they did not make. "Ariadne" is not just a book based on mythology, but a space to reflect on the relationship between family, social roles, power, pride, and love. A mother's love, the love between sisters, the love of a God (or several), and how fighting for your own path can have the most incredible (or terrible) results."
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A. S'A
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing retelling of one of my favorites stories
Reviewed in Brazil on April 19, 2024
"A story about broken hearts, impossible loves, blood ties, and destiny... A retelling of the famous legend of the Minotaur's Labyrinth, this time from a female perspective, about the women who suffered, fought, and lived trapped in the consequences of choices they did not make. "Ariadne" is not just a book based on mythology, but a space to reflect on the relationship between family, social roles, power, pride, and love. A mother's love, the love between sisters, the love of a God (or several), and how fighting for your own path can have the most incredible (or terrible) results."
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CXPC
5.0 out of 5 stars Lo recomiendo ampliamente
Reviewed in Mexico on February 21, 2023
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Me gusto mucho los temas que se manejaron y como se manejaron, el cómo la infancia y relación que tuvieron con su madre definió su futuro y la forma en que afrontaban los problemas. Como somos títeres de los dioses. Me dejó con ganas de aprender más sobre la mitología griega.
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CXPC
5.0 out of 5 stars Lo recomiendo ampliamente
Reviewed in Mexico on February 21, 2023
Me gusto mucho los temas que se manejaron y como se manejaron, el cómo la infancia y relación que tuvieron con su madre definió su futuro y la forma en que afrontaban los problemas. Como somos títeres de los dioses. Me dejó con ganas de aprender más sobre la mitología griega.
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Dr. RI
5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant
Reviewed in Germany on May 6, 2024
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Beautifully written. A journey through the Greek myths from the female perspective in an honest and strong way. Women who are brave, strong, and incredibly resilient. There is no wallowing in self pity. They make decisions and act upon them. Love it!! Thank you, Jennifer Saint for another masterpiece
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Kirsty Carson
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical Heartbreak
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024
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Yet again another prime example of the suffering that women have been subjected to under the whims of men. Ariadne, Phaedra, Medusa… the list goes on. Such an emotive and heart-wrenching depiction of Ariadne’s life. From the halls of her overbearing corrupt father Minos, to the deception of Theseus and the betrayal and heartbreak of Dionysus; Ariadne’s strength, love and kindness permeates the pages of her story and reminds me of the importance and makes me proud of being a woman!
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