BOOK OF THE WEEK

Ariadne by Jennifer Saint, Headline Publishing Group, £14.99

The late, great Norah Ephron said that everything is copy, and as the years go by it seems, when it comes to books and films there’s increasingly more truth in this statement. There are some exceptions, and Ariadne by Jennifer Saint is one of them. The last few years in the literary world have seen a resurgence in the retelling of Greek myths and legends. Ariadne may be jumping on this bandwagon but due to Saint’s storytelling skills, its a refreshingly unique tale that will have readers gripped from start to finish.

Based on the Greek myth of the minotaur and its defeat by Theseus, Saint turns the traditional tale on its head to focus on the role of Ariadne and her sister Phaedra, princesses of Crete. Growing up in the shadow of their family’s shame, when Theseus, Prince of Athens, arrives as a sacrifice for the minotaur, the princesses’ lives are transformed. Falling in love with Theseus, Ariadne plots to help him defeat the beast but helping Theseus gain his notoriety comes at a price for both princesses.

Like recent retellings of Greek mythology, the spotlight in Ariadne is cast on the minor, often forgotten female characters, with spectacular results. While the foundations of the story rest on a classic tale, Saint is able to breathe fresh life into it in a way that doesn’t feel contrived. Whilst centred in a mythical world, the voices of Ariadne and Phaedra and the issues they face as downtrodden females, make it a story readers can empathise with.

Ariadne could well draw comparisons with Madeleine Miller’s hit Circe, the pinnacle of Greek mythology fiction, as others of this genre have. The difference, though, is while the others have failed to reach the standards of writing and storytelling that Circe possessed, Ariadne is more than deserving of the comparison. Saint weaves a rich, magical tale that transports the reader into a mystical world.

The quality of writing is fantastic, making it even more extraordinary that this is Jennifer Saint’s debut novel as she writes with the confidence and skill of a seasoned author. Greek mythology is fascinating at the best of times but with a talented author like Saint at the helm, it makes it even more exciting and accessible.

A vivid escape from reality, Ariadne is a novel to savour. Be sure to pick it up, as it may just be one of the best books of the year.