saraverboom's reviews
397 reviews

adventurous challenging slow-paced

I recommend this book to fans of Tolkien's Middle-earth who want to dive further into the lore of the Elves and the creation of Tolkien's world. The writing is somewhat archaic and might therefor be difficult to get into, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Silmarillion covers the creation of Eä (The world that is), and it tells of the ancient history of our beloved Middle-earth. It tells of the coming of the Elves, of Dwarves, and Men, and it tells of the creation of the Silmarils, the First Age, the Second Age, and of the Rings of Power and the Third Age.

I enjoyed learning more about the ancient history of Middle-earth, because I had already read bits and pieces of it in the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, so this elaborate mythopoeic story was a treat. I specifically enjoyed reading about characters I already knew, like Galadriel, Elrond, and Mithrandir (AKA Gandalf).

Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

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adventurous emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A beautiful retelling of Ariadne’s story. I had expected the book to focus on the well known myth, but was pleasantly surprised to see that the book went beyond that and rather focused on the story after the Minotaur, the Labyrinth, and Theseus.

There have been many different stories about what happened to Ariadne after she helped Theseus escape the Labyrinth, and this version is my favourite.

Jennifer Saint has succeeded in bringing the myth to life and in shining a light on Ariadne’s point of view. I loved reading from Pheadra’s point of vies as well, as it offered many insights into her role in the legendary myth.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë

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mysterious reflective slow-paced