Ariadne | Jennifer Saint

This is a Greek Mythological story centered around the myths of Ariadne and her sister Phaedra, who are the daughters of King Minos and Queen Pasiphae.

Pasiphae is the Sister of Circe and the woman cursed by Poseidon to experience lust for a White Bull. King Minos requested a white bull from Poseidon, who obliged with the understanding that this bull was meant to be sacrificed. When King Minos saw how perfect the White Bull was, he intended to keep it and use a lesser one for the sacrifice instead. Poseidon felt cheated and he cursed, not King Minos, but instead his wife, Queen Pasiphae, with the curse of Lust for that same white bull. This experience and the afterward is detailed in this book as well as in Circe by Madeline Miller. It brings about a child, half of Queen Pasiphae and half bull, who she seemingly loves even more than her other children and names Asterion, who later is widely known as the Minotaur, Half man & Half bull.

We follow the daughters of this cursed queen, Ariadne and Phaedra who are the sisters of Asterion as they recount their experience of having the minotaur as a brother as well witnessing their father's, King Minos,  sick game. He kept Daedalus close to use his ability to craft a maze with Asterion at its centre requiring the people of Athens to send over 14 citizens to attempt to escape the maze and the Minotaur, which no one ever did. This game was created in retribution for the death of Minos' son Androgeos. A barbaric revenge that Ariadne couldn't bare anymore, and one day the noble Prince of Athens, Prince Theseus, came as a tribute among his own people to participate. Ariadne battles within herself knowing this barbaric ritual must be stopped and yet the beast that lays awaiting for his next victim is also her own brother that she loved. She, Prince Theseus and Phaedra need to make a decision and Quick, otherwise this Noble Prince she has began to love may be eaten.. and by her own brother.

Now, what I have described above only covers the beginning of this story, so no spoilers. I've enjoyed seeing a spotlight on mythological woman vs men. I hope we get more female focused retellings in the future!