Minotaur, Greek Minotauros (“Minos’s Bull”), in Greek mythology, a fabulous monster of Crete that had the body of a man and the head of a bull. Hidden in a maze underneath the castle was the Minotaur, the terrifying beast birthed by Pasiphae, in an act of vengeance by the gods. Many tragedies have befallen Ariadne and her family, but it was Pasiphae’s nightmarish and life-changing experience that transformed their father’s lot, turning him into a threatening and formidable enemy. Her mother is now a mere shadow of herself after suffering the humiliation of an angered god and floats about her day in her own internal world. But Ariadne is very much aware of the oppressive nature of her father.

To the outside world Ariadne and Phaedra live a cocooned and wealthy life, dancing, eating and brushing their hair while the turmoil beyond the palace walls continues. He is a tyrant ruler, a man who drives terror into the minds of all who hear his name and cross his path. This is her story.ĪRIADNE by Jennifer Saint will be published April 29th with Wildfire (Headline Imprint) and has been described as ‘ a mesmerising retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur.‘ Gods, monsters and heroes are all wonderfully brought to life in ARIADNE transporting the reader back to those mythical days of Greek legends and lore.Īriadne and her younger sister Phaedra live with their mother Pasiphae and father King Minos, a man feared across the lands of Greece. In one of the most famous Greek myths, Ariadne betrayed her father, King Minos, to help Theseus defeat the Minotaur. Beautifully written and completely immersive, this is an exceptional debut novel.

In a world where women are nothing more than the pawns of powerful men, will Ariadne’s decision to betray Crete for Theseus ensure her happy ending? Or will she find herself sacrificed for her lover’s ambition?ĪRIADNE gives a voice to the forgotten women of one of the most famous Greek myths, and speaks to their strength in the face of angry, petulant Gods. But helping Theseus kill the monster means betraying her family and country, and Ariadne knows only too well that in a world ruled by mercurial gods – drawing their attention can cost you everything. When Theseus, Prince of Athens, arrives in Crete as a sacrifice to the beast, Ariadne falls in love with him. The Minotaur – Minos’s greatest shame and Ariadne’s brother – demands blood every year. As Princesses of Crete and daughters of the fearsome King Minos, Ariadne and her sister Phaedra grow up hearing the hoofbeats and bellows of the Minotaur echo from the Labyrinth beneath the palace.

Jennifer saint ariadne