The songs of heroes are unsung and the battles among men are silenced. Finally, in this devastating Greek mythology retelling, the women's voices are heard and the pain they endure is echoed. 

This story focuses on the young mortal, Ariadne and the continuous betrayal and abandonment she endures at the hands of men. No matter how hard she loves and how deep her sacrifices,  she is ridiculed and left forgotten even by her love, Theseus. The Minotaur Slayer, the King and Hero of Athens who promised her the world but instead, set hers alight and watched it burn.

The book follows the women in Ariadne's family, and we see how their misery and downfall not only serve as sickening entertainment for the men, but used to destroy them, body and soul. 

Ariadne refuses to the let the world suppress her pain and never lets the agony endured by women be forgotten. A war has waged between Perseus and her corrupted husband Dionysus in Argos where his hunger for power consumes him whole. We see Ariadne turn her every loss, sacrifice and hardship into unyelinding strength to finally end the war waged by corrupted gods and arrogant men. To end the war that has already stolen the dignity and sanity of multiple innocent women.

With its beautiful language and magical imagery, this is my favourite Greek mythology retelling. Behind the triumphs of heroes, are the sacrifices of women and this book is a testimony to that. 

PS: Ariadne's admirable courage made her my favourite character. She embodied the exploitation of women but also their unyeiliding resilience.