Sisters of Crete

In the past few years I have become fascinated with novels that retell Greek myths from the perspective of women. Madeline Miller's Circe is perhaps the best example, taking a fairly minor character from Homer's Odyssey and putting her centre stage. Pat Barker's delicious trilogy about Troy is narrated by Briseis, Achilles' slave. Natalie Haynes, Margaret Atwood and other authors have retold these myths for a contemporary audience.

I am not entirely sure why I love these novels so much. Perhaps it is because the authors take a familiar story and tell it through a female lens. Perhaps it is because the novels breath new life into classic tales. Regardless, I anticipate my obsession will continue and I am currently planning a trip to Greece where I can walk in the mythical footsteps of these wonderful characters. 

My most recent adventure is with Jennifer Saint's debut novel, Ariadne (2021). The story of Ariadne is well known, but for those unfamiliar the next paragraph contains spoilers. 

The daughter of King Minos of Crete and his wife Pasiphae, Ariadne and her sister Phaedra grew up in a palace. Their half-brother was the Minotaur - a half-man, half-bull beast - who resided in a complex labyrinth under the palace. Each year the seven young men and women were sent from Athens to be sacrificed to the Minotaur, as Minos' price for the killing of his son. One year, Theseus, son of Aegeus, King of Athens, is among those to be sacrificed. He slays the minotaur and takes Ariadne with him to Naxos. On Naxos, Ariadne meets the god of wine, Dionysus, whom she eventually marries. The tale, of course, ends in tragedy with Ariadne meeting her fate at the hands of Perseus, slayer of Medusa. 

Jennifer Saint tells the story of Ariadne's life with the first third concentrated on her time at Crete, the next third on Naxos, and the final part wraps up the tale. In telling this story, Saint was able to bring in many different myths - Icarus, Medusa, Semele, Daedalus, Acoetes, and more. While this was enjoyable, I can't help but think that some of these side-stories could have been left out to allow more time for Phaedra's story and to flesh out the characters. 

As a protagonist, Ariadne was passive and frustrating. She was a compliant daughter destined to become a compliant wife. Ariadne makes a significant decision early on which sets the story in motion. But just when you think she will be the hero of her own story, she reverts to be passive and compliant again. She spends a lot of time walking around her vineyards, turning a blind eye to what might be happening around her. Her sister Phaedra is far more interesting. A curious, adventurous child, Phaedra ends up in Athens, forced into a role she does not want. The chapters then alternate between Ariadne and Phaedra, which enliven the story and I found myself wanting more Phaedra.  But as the novel heads towards its conclusion, when both women take their fates into their own hands, the ending is hurried and unsatisfying.  

Despite my reservations about Saint's passive characterisation of Ariadne, the pacing which felt rushed at the end, and some jarring language choices, overall I enjoyed this debut novel. Saint's second novel, Elektra (2022), is already on my bookshelf.