Ariadne Unraveled: A Mythic Retelling
By Zenobia Neil
Ariadne, high priestess of Crete, grew up duty-bound to the goddess Artemis. If she takes a husband, she must sacrifice him to her goddess after no more than three years of marriage. For this reason, she refuses to love any man, until a mysterious stranger arrives on her island.
The stranger is Dionysus, the new god of wine who empowers women and breaks the rules of the old gods. He came to Crete seeking vengeance against Artemis. He never expected to fall in love.
Furious that Dionysus would dare meddle with her high priestess, Artemis threatens to kill Ariadne if Dionysus doesn’t abandon her. Heartbroken, the new god leaves Crete, vowing to become better than the Olympians.
From the bloody labyrinth and the shadows of Hades to the halls of Olympus, Dionysus must find a way to defy Artemis and unite with his true love. Forced to betray her people, Ariadne discovers her own power to choose between the goddess she pledged herself to and the god she loves.
Publication Date: 7th July 2021
Publisher: Hypatia Books
Page Length: 345 Pages
Genre: Mythic retelling/ Historical Romance
Buy HERE!
INTERVIEW
Writing interview questions.
Why did you choose to write your book in this era?
I’ve always been fascinated by the Minoans and the Bronze Age. The myth of Theseus and the Minotaur always felt like it was lacking something--Ariadne’s perspective.
I ended up writing Ariadne Unraveled in kind of a mythical Bronze Age. The Minoans lived 4,000 years ago, but the stories of Theseus and the Minotaur circulated much later. I wanted to set it in the Bronze Age, but for the average modern person, it’s difficult to discern 3000 BCE from 1,100 BCE. It was all a long time ago and the recorded myths of Theseus, Dionysus and Ariadne came later.
What is the most surprising thing you discovered while you were researching this era?
The ancient Minoans had running water, flushing toilets, and possibly hot and cold taps. When I first learned this, it changed my perspective on the ancient world to think that something so advanced was created 4,000 years ago. I think we have a tendency to think of history’s great discoveries as linear, but finding out about this kind of ancient plumbing made me consider humanity’s great achievements in a more cyclical way.
Can you share something about the book that isn’t covered in the blurb?
This is a mythic retelling that’s also a historical romance centering on Dionysus and Ariadne. However, Thalia—Ariadne’s handmaiden and lover is also a big part of the story. I feel it’s important to write about the sexual fluidity in the ancient world and Thalia is a character who appeared to me and demanded to be part of the story.
If you had to describe your protagonist, in three words, what would those three words be?
For Dionysus: Divine, intoxicating, transformative
For Ariadne: Priestess, powerful, skilled
What are you currently working on?
My next book will be a prequel to my novel The Queen of Warriors: Alexandra of Sparta Book One. In that book I explore Alexandra’s travels from Sparta to Asia Minor. I also reveal how she came to be the Queen of Warriors.
Personal Interview questions.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love (and miss) traveling and going to museums. I also love reading and finding out about different time periods and cultures.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
An archeologist.
What is the best part of your day?
When the kids go to bed and my husband and I can relax and watch TV or talk.
Either or!
Tea or coffee: Coffee
Hot or cold: Cold
Movie or book: Book
Morning person or Night owl: Night Owl
City or country: Country
Social Media or book: Book
Paperback or ebook: Paperback
Zenobia Neil was named after an ancient warrior queen who fought against the Romans. She writes historical romance about the mythic past and Greek and Roman gods having too much fun.
What a fabulous interview!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting today's tour stop.