54 pages 1-hour read

Jennifer Saint

Ariadne

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Ariadne is a young Princess of Crete who slowly understands the precarious position of women in ancient Greece. Compassionate and empathetic by nature, she pities rather than hates her monstrous brother. Fearing the wrath of the gods and wishing to avoid a loveless arranged marriage, she finds herself heavily drawn to a young Athenian prince offering a chance at escape.

Key Relationships

Daughter of King Minos

Daughter of Pasiphae

Older sister of Phaedra

Sister of Deucalion

Romantic interest of Theseus

Wife of Dionysus

Ally of Daedalus

Phaedra is Ariadne's younger sister, characterized by a willful, pragmatic, and headstrong nature. Growing up in the oppressive palace of Knossos, she shares her sister's deep desire to leave the island behind. As she grows into adulthood and takes on royal duties in Athens, she becomes sharply observant and highly skeptical of the men who control the women around them.

Key Relationships

Younger sister of Ariadne

Daughter of King Minos

Daughter of Pasiphae

Sister of Deucalion

Wife of Theseus

Stepmother of Hippolytus

Theseus is the confident, ambitious prince of Athens who volunteers to face the monstrous beast of Crete. He presents himself as a selfless hero dedicated to his people, armed with tales of his past exploits. However, his actions frequently reflect a deep hunger for personal glory and renown at the expense of those who support him.

Key Relationships

Son of Aegeus

Romantic interest of Ariadne

Husband of Phaedra

Father of Hippolytus

Dionysus is the Greek god of wine, pleasure, and ecstasy. Raised by nymphs rather than on Mount Olympus, he claims to prefer the humbler pleasures of mortal life and treats mortals with warmth. He offers refuge and freedom on Naxos to his female followers, known as maenads, though a deep hunger for worship drives his travels.

Key Relationships

Husband of Ariadne

Half-brother of Perseus

Leader of Euphrosyne

King Minos is the ruthless and tyrannical ruler of Crete. He demands regular human sacrifices from Athens to feed the beast under his palace and rules his domain through fear. He treats his daughters as political pawns and exacts cruel punishments on those who disobey him, entirely ignoring his own role in his family's divine curses.

Key Relationships

Husband of Pasiphae

Father of Ariadne

Father of Phaedra

Father of Deucalion

Employer of Daedalus

Executioner of Scylla

Supporting Characters

Originally named Asterion by his mother, the Minotaur is a half-human, half-bull creature hidden beneath the palace of Knossos. A victim of divine retribution meant for his father, he grows into a ferocious beast confined within a sprawling maze, serving as a terrifying symbol of Crete's military dominance.

Key Relationships

Son of Pasiphae

Captive of King Minos

Half-brother of Ariadne

Half-brother of Phaedra

Opponent of Theseus

Pasiphae is the Queen of Crete and the daughter of the sun god, Helios. Once a radiant and attentive mother, she shrinks away into a quiet rage after bearing the burden of a divine curse intended for her husband. She becomes a shell of her former self, harboring deep bitterness and resorting to witchcraft to exact revenge on her unfaithful husband.

Key Relationships

Wife of King Minos

Mother of Ariadne

Mother of Phaedra

Employer of Daedalus

Daedalus is a brilliant inventor serving in the court of Knossos. Plagued by guilt over his role in the monstrous beast's conception, he uses his ingenuity to construct a massive underground maze to contain it. He is a pragmatic man who secretly provides a way for others to survive his traps.

Key Relationships

Employee of King Minos

Employee of Pasiphae

Ally of Ariadne

Father of Icarus

Hippolytus is the son of an Athenian prince and an Amazonian queen. Raised away from his father, he grows into a gentle, honest young man who tends to his own horses and pledges himself to the virgin goddess Artemis. His quiet sincerity sharply contrasts with the boastful nature of the Athenian court.

Key Relationships

Son of Theseus

Stepson of Phaedra

Perseus is a mortal hero and the ruler of the city of Argos. Known for slaying a gorgon and bearing her petrifying face upon his shield, he is fiercely devoted to the goddess Hera. He staunchly refuses to allow the worship of other rival deities in his city to avoid incurring divine wrath.

Key Relationships

Opponent of Dionysus

Scylla is the daughter of the King of Megara. Struck by infatuation for an invading king, she betrays her homeland by revealing her father's strategic weakness, only to suffer a brutal punishment for her lack of loyalty.

Key Relationships

Victim of King Minos

Deucalion is a prince of Crete who steps into power to manage the weakened kingdom after his father leaves. He arranges a political marriage for his younger sister to ease military tensions with Athens.

Key Relationships

Son of King Minos

Brother of Ariadne

Brother of Phaedra

Euphrosyne is a young Athenian woman who flees a miserable marriage after her husband discards their infant daughter. She seeks refuge on a remote island as a maenad, representing the desperate women who turn to divine cults for healing and freedom.

Key Relationships

Friend of Ariadne

Follower of Dionysus

Icarus is the son of a brilliant inventor. He participates in his father's daring escape from the palace using wings crafted from wax and feathers, taking to the sky to flee royal imprisonment.

Key Relationships

Son of Daedalus