For lovers of Greek mythology retellings comes a stunning new spin on a centuries-old story. Jennifer Saint’s debut novel, ARIADNE, tells the tale of Ariadne and her sister, Phaedra. It explores the classic myths of the Minotaur, the Labyrinth, Dionysus and the Argive women, and others through the heartbreaking perspectives of the princesses of Crete.

From a childhood spent with a literal monster of a brother and a mother plunged into despondence after being punished by the gods for their father’s hubris, to adulthood as pawns in the virile pursuit of greatness, we follow Ariadne and Phaedra as they attempt a dangerous dance around the seemingly endless threats to women in a world built for men. Through their eyes, we experience the revolting realities of the patriarchy; of being seen as nothing more than tools to reward or punish men for their misdeeds. We swap between the sisters’ perspectives as they live at the whims of the mightiest of gods, the bravest of heroes and the basest of men.

"[Saint] paints emotions so expertly that they may mix with the blood in your veins, inspiring ache and anger and coloring the world when you once again realize that there is a world outside of this book."

As a tale with a feminist twist, ARIADNE is especially focused on the women in Greek mythology, transforming them from footnotes into key characters with their very own personalities and plots. With heavy prose and justified conviction, Saint deftly explores the mistreatment of mythologized women and breaks their silence, amplifying it to screams as they suffer for the lust and greed of the men who claim them. She puts a voice to the boundless, ageless aches of women: the crushing weight of infidelity, the unease of unhappy marriages, and the indescribable and precious fear that accompanies motherhood.

Saint weaves the stories of other gods and mythologized mortals into the pages of her debut, breathing an entire world into her words. Through stories such as those of Scylla, Semele and Medusa, she laces a disquieting reminder throughout her novel that be they young or old, peasant or deity, no woman is safe from the objectifying male gaze or its violent consequences.

However, while Saint spells out the myriad ways women are cast aside and dismissed in Greek mythology, she also fights back by celebrating their resilience, strength and solidarity with one another. With every punishment bestowed upon the women, every heartache and deception, she reinforces the necessary courage it takes to even exist --- let alone exist in defiance.

Saint’s writing is so vivid that her descriptions make it hard to remember where you are. You could be on your couch, a beach or even a city bus and find yourself warmed by the heat of the sun on the island of Naxos or plunged into the inky quiet of the cosmos. She paints emotions so expertly that they may mix with the blood in your veins, inspiring ache and anger and coloring the world when you once again realize that there is a world outside of this book.

Ultimately, Saint guides us through a labyrinthian maze made up of cruel and vengeful gods, unrequited loves, misplaced belief and debilitating betrayal. And with her delicate prose serving as our golden thread, she leads us to freedom.