The Midnight Readers discussion

Here’s where we can talk about Ariadne!

Hey! So I don't like to read multiple books at once, and I don't have to work a lot next week. So I could read a lot next week, so for this buddy read I'd like to read it pretty fast. Maybe we could do it Wednesday, Thursday, Friday? I'm free those 3 days so could read a lot. It looks like the book has 40 chapters and a prologue and epilogue, so would make an even 14 chapters a day. That would be about 150 pages day 1 and 2, and 86 the last day (in my edition anyway). But I get if that would be too much for you

Nope that fine with me!

Oooh wait so from the 3-5 of august right??

Oh yeah sorry, not this week but next. So 3-5 yes :)

Ahhh ok that’s good with me then!

Perfect! So the schedule would be:
Wednesday 3/8: Prologue + Chapters 1-13 (~140 pages)
Thursday 4/8: Chapters 14-27 (~155 pages)
Friday 5/8: Chapters 28-40 + Epilogue (~90 pages)

Sounds good to me!

Hey! Are we still on for this buddyread Wednesday? It should be all good on my end! :)

Yep!

Perfect!

I just finished today's reading and I'm liking it so far! I read Circe recently, so in the beginning I was trying to link both stories, but soon I realised that didn't really work since both books are by different authors. I don't really know the myth, but I had a bad feeling from the start about Theseus... which was obviously proven right. Although I somehow think there was still a good reason for it... although I'm betting that's just wishful thinking lol

Wow! I haven’t finished yet I’m probably about a quarter of the way through because I had appointments this morning so I didn’t get to read as much as I usually do. I also read Circe and tried to make connections but it just wasn’t working! I love how differently the authors wrote Pasiphae though. I’ll probably be done the reading by four-ish cause I have more appointments. :/

Don't worry about it!! I read it in my afternoon, but because of timezones I guess that was your morning haha. We can discuss later today (I'm in CEST). I agree with you regarding Pasiphae; she was indeed very different in both books. I suppose that's partly because in Circe she was meant to be a source of torment, whereas in Ariadne she was meant to be a kind of warning of how you can be punished when a man defies a god

Oh wow ok the time zones make sense. I’m EDST.

So far the story reminds me a bit of Jason and Medea. The way that a powerful king’s daughter ‘falls in love’ with a foreigner set to die. But so far I’m enjoying the book. Greek mythology retellings are my favorite types of books!

Looks like you're 6 hours behind me then :) I'll most likely read in my afternoon tomorrow and Friday too, but I'll make sure to use spoiler tags for any big plot reveals!

I have to admit I'm not familiar with a lot fo the myths, but I have been reading more books based on myths. First Mythos by Stephen Fry a couple of years ago, then Song of Achilles and Circe earlier this week. I also read Lore this year, but that's more loosely based on Greek myths. I wouldn't say they're my favourite times of books, but I definitely enjoy them!

Today's thoughts: I am enjoying this more than Circe. This book feels a lot more accessible, and also pulls me a lot more into the story rather than just an outsider looking in. I already know Phaedra's "quest" will go miserably wrong. She will be punished like her mother, like Ariadne says, because that's what the entire book is about lol. I do feel for her. It seems to me she has post-partum depression or something similiar, and she has absolutely no one around her to help her. I can't imagine living like her. Also I'm curious as to what is really going on with Dionysus, obviously something more is going on but I'm not sure what. It's more than cheating, since cheating in that time was barely blinked at.

Hii i just woke up and read till chapter 21. I agree that this book is better than Circe. I find it more interesting as well since I’ve never really heard of the story of Ariadne. The author wrote Theseus really well because I can’t help but despise him. Although I’m not surprised about what he did. I saw it coming because what great prince would share his glory with a measly princess of Crete? I hope at least that Phaedra will continue to question what Theseus told her about Ariadne. But y’a know Phaedra is super smart with the way she manipulates everyone to get what she wants. I kinda love her for that. Anyhow I should be finished todays reading pretty soon. Although with the time difference it might be pretty late for you.

Ok I just finished todays reading and boy did I want to continue. I feel like there’s something up with Dionysus but idk. Ariadne seems to be happy so that’s good I suppose. I feel like something big is coming but like I could be wrong.

Also on your previous comment theres a part of it that I can’t see. It just says spoilers removed and I don’t know how to access it.

Oh that's weird... I just put spoiler tags but I'll remove them haha

Ok thx! :)

But yeah something is definitely going on with Dionysus. I almost wonder if it has something to do with Phaedra, since he left the island the day she came. And obviously she's at a turning point in her story too, with something big likely happening next

Ya I totally agree.

Same tho. I feel so bad for Phaedra. She’s had like a horrible life even though she’s surrounded by luxury.

Well no woman/girl in the story actually had a good life. I feel like that's part of the message; no matter how innocent the woman is, she'll still get punished for the sins of men, whether that be her husband, father or whatever.

So I just finished todays reading and I kind of guessed the way it would end. I’m not gonna say anymore tho so I don’t spoil it for you.

I just finished. I wasn't expecting this ending to be honest, but it also doesn't quite surprise me. It made me sad though. Once again the women were punished for the sins of their men. At least Naxos was left alone and became a sanctuary for women and children who needed it.

I didn’t exactly expect her to be turned to stone I just expected her to die because of Dionysus’ actions because all the other women in the stories were punished because of their husbands actions. The death of Phaedra made me so sad :(
This was a super good book even though it was not what I was expecting. (Partly because of Circe) but ya I hope u liked it. :)

Yeah I definitely expected her to die too. The entire book and all the myths that were told were basically foreshadowing it lol. I love how they humanized Medusa too; often times she's seen as this horrible monster but in reality her hair gave her the opportunity to defend herself. If she was just left alone like she wanted to be, none of the men would have turned into stone, but instead their own greed made them turn out that way. Guess it's ironic that the one time Ariadne stood up for herself, she got turned into stone herself. I did like it, probably more than Circe. This really felt like a full, ongoing story, whereas Circe felt more... choppy?

Yeah I totally agree