What do you think?
Rate this book
Lost in the Labyrinth: A Novel
Last night I saw my sister, who is dead. She stood at the end of a long corridor, weeping. “Can it really be you, Ariadne, come back after all this time?” I whispered. She did not answer, but began slowly to sink through the floor.
Princess Xenodice is content to spend her days tending to the animals in the royal menagerie, haunting the workshop of a beautiful young man named Icarus, and visiting her brother who lives in the Labyrinth. Her safe and privileged world, however, has ominous cracks underfoot.
Soon battles for power and revenge threaten everything Xenodice loves. Betrayals from both within and without her family lead to a series of tragedies that Xenodice struggles to avert.
From the deepest layer of the Labyrinth under the Royal Palace to the topmost floor of the prison tower, this enthralling version of the myth of the maze and the Minotaur by master storyteller Patrice Kindl is filled with the marvelous and the strange.
Princess Xenodice is content to spend her days tending to the animals in the royal menagerie, haunting the workshop of a beautiful young man named Icarus, and visiting her brother who lives in the Labyrinth. Her safe and privileged world, however, has ominous cracks underfoot.
Soon battles for power and revenge threaten everything Xenodice loves. Betrayals from both within and without her family lead to a series of tragedies that Xenodice struggles to avert.
From the deepest layer of the Labyrinth under the Royal Palace to the topmost floor of the prison tower, this enthralling version of the myth of the maze and the Minotaur by master storyteller Patrice Kindl is filled with the marvelous and the strange.
194 pages, Hardcover
First published August 26, 2002
11 people are currently reading
937 people want to read
About the author
Patrice Kindl
9 books173 followersChildhood:
I was born in Alplaus New York in 1951, the youngest of four daughters. My father is a mechanical engineer, my mother a housewife. My family is very nice – I like them all a lot. As a child I loved animals and read obsessively.
We had (still have) a family cottage on Lake George. The people who live next door are life-long friends. On summer weekdays during my childhood there were ten females in the two houses, no males. As a result of this background I feel that I understand girls better than boys, which is why I write primarily for girls.
Education and other jobs:
After high school I went to Webster College in St. Louis, Missouri. Oddly enough, given the location, it was a well-thought-of theater school. I attended for a year and a half and then (this was the 60’s, early 70’s) dropped out and decamped for New York City and a real drama school (not a liberal arts college like Webster). I appeared in a few television commercials, waitressed, auditioned and did a little modeling.
After three or four years of this sort of thing I realized I was going nowhere fast. I came back upstate and worked, at first full-time and then, after I married and my son was born, part-time, as a secretary at a consulting engineering firm called Encotech. As a result, I am an excellent touch typist today, which is handy for a writer.
I only began writing seriously when I was in my late thirties and was first published in my early forties. While I worked on OWL IN LOVE (my first book) I became involved in a program called Helping Hands, in which I raised two monkeys to be aides to quadriplegics. You can check it out at www.helpinghandsmonkeys.org. You can see a photograph of Kandy on this page and Susi on the FAQ page.
Family:
My husband Paul is president of Encotech (that’s where I met him). My son Alex is 25. He and his art rock band Bible Study (no religious connotation) live with us part-time. They rehearse directly over my office, so it is lucky that I think they are great musicians (Click here to listen to one of their songs). The vocalist is one of America’s few female Master Falconers. When the band is in residence we also have several hawks or falcons.
I was born in Alplaus New York in 1951, the youngest of four daughters. My father is a mechanical engineer, my mother a housewife. My family is very nice – I like them all a lot. As a child I loved animals and read obsessively.
We had (still have) a family cottage on Lake George. The people who live next door are life-long friends. On summer weekdays during my childhood there were ten females in the two houses, no males. As a result of this background I feel that I understand girls better than boys, which is why I write primarily for girls.
Education and other jobs:
After high school I went to Webster College in St. Louis, Missouri. Oddly enough, given the location, it was a well-thought-of theater school. I attended for a year and a half and then (this was the 60’s, early 70’s) dropped out and decamped for New York City and a real drama school (not a liberal arts college like Webster). I appeared in a few television commercials, waitressed, auditioned and did a little modeling.
After three or four years of this sort of thing I realized I was going nowhere fast. I came back upstate and worked, at first full-time and then, after I married and my son was born, part-time, as a secretary at a consulting engineering firm called Encotech. As a result, I am an excellent touch typist today, which is handy for a writer.
I only began writing seriously when I was in my late thirties and was first published in my early forties. While I worked on OWL IN LOVE (my first book) I became involved in a program called Helping Hands, in which I raised two monkeys to be aides to quadriplegics. You can check it out at www.helpinghandsmonkeys.org. You can see a photograph of Kandy on this page and Susi on the FAQ page.
Family:
My husband Paul is president of Encotech (that’s where I met him). My son Alex is 25. He and his art rock band Bible Study (no religious connotation) live with us part-time. They rehearse directly over my office, so it is lucky that I think they are great musicians (Click here to listen to one of their songs). The vocalist is one of America’s few female Master Falconers. When the band is in residence we also have several hawks or falcons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
February 18, 2023
For some reason this is on my physical keepers shelf and I recall NOTHING about it.
Blast from the past, the receipt is in the book, bought it at a B. Dalton (how I miss that chain) in 2005. Let’s see if I feel that I paid too much for it or not.
Re-read, here we go!
Ok, already by the second page I dislike the way they speak to one another and how Ariadne treats her sister and how her sister takes it…
Ok, I can’t take the poor, sweet brother who was born half animal-half man, being murdered by someone who sees him as a monster and as a stepping stool for power. My heart is too soft for that right now.
Not badly written, though I dislike Ariadne and the inevitable ending.
Reduced from four to 3 stars and room for a different book on my shelf now.
Blast from the past, the receipt is in the book, bought it at a B. Dalton (how I miss that chain) in 2005. Let’s see if I feel that I paid too much for it or not.
Re-read, here we go!
Ok, already by the second page I dislike the way they speak to one another and how Ariadne treats her sister and how her sister takes it…
Ok, I can’t take the poor, sweet brother who was born half animal-half man, being murdered by someone who sees him as a monster and as a stepping stool for power. My heart is too soft for that right now.
Not badly written, though I dislike Ariadne and the inevitable ending.
Reduced from four to 3 stars and room for a different book on my shelf now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2012
I was hoping this would be like Caroline B. Cooney's Goddess of Yesterday meets Owl in Love, a Patrice Kindl book I loved as a kid, but it was disappointingly bland. The opening image -- of Ariadne's ghost descending into Hades as her sister watches -- is so arresting, and the rest of the book is such a paint-by-numbers "supposed hero is actually an ass, as observed by plain but clever middle sister."
August 14, 2022
4,5 stars - English Ebook
This retell is about the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur through the perceptive eyes of Xenodice, the younger sister of Ariadne.
In this inventive version, no Athenians are killed by the Minotaur, who is gentle despite his monstrous appearance, unless provoked.
Xenodice loves and tries to protect her human/bull brother, not only from the harshly heroic Theseus, but also from the schemes of her own family.
This novel includes many elements of the legend while at the same time creating a fully realized and original setting.
Xenodice elegantly narrates the events, introducing characters and providing background information, witch were so welcome with me, did not disrupt the flow of the storytelling.
Early on, she acts more as an observer than a participant in events, and her automatic obedience to the strong-willed Ariadne hides the courage she shows later.
The story becomed more involving when Xenodice herself takes a more active role, attempting a midnight rescue of her brother and later helping Daedalus and Icarus, whom she loves, make their winged escape attempt.
I loved the parallelsessies of the legend, the legend will enjoy the parallels and consasts, but the strong story lets Xenodice's tale stand on its own, as well. Well done!
This retell is about the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur through the perceptive eyes of Xenodice, the younger sister of Ariadne.
In this inventive version, no Athenians are killed by the Minotaur, who is gentle despite his monstrous appearance, unless provoked.
Xenodice loves and tries to protect her human/bull brother, not only from the harshly heroic Theseus, but also from the schemes of her own family.
This novel includes many elements of the legend while at the same time creating a fully realized and original setting.
Xenodice elegantly narrates the events, introducing characters and providing background information, witch were so welcome with me, did not disrupt the flow of the storytelling.
Early on, she acts more as an observer than a participant in events, and her automatic obedience to the strong-willed Ariadne hides the courage she shows later.
The story becomed more involving when Xenodice herself takes a more active role, attempting a midnight rescue of her brother and later helping Daedalus and Icarus, whom she loves, make their winged escape attempt.
I loved the parallelsessies of the legend, the legend will enjoy the parallels and consasts, but the strong story lets Xenodice's tale stand on its own, as well. Well done!
September 30, 2017
I have a soft spot for fantasy written in cultures other than a traditional medieval European background, and this one is pretty great. Appropriate to its Greek influence, there are wonderful moments of tragedy as well as some triumph.
The setting is the ancient Minoans. This is a retelling of the story of Theseus and the Minotaur from the perspective of a princess in the royal household on that island, so she's sister to her brother ?, the Minotaur. In this respect the monster is depicted much more as a brother with some serious limitations, and the princess can't understand why the Athenians who come each year are so certain they are going to be slain and eaten by her brother.
There is plenty of palace intrigue, from the friction and scheming between the queen and the king, to power games between royal siblings and even dealing with Daedalus, Icarus, and the bone-headed Theseus. Everything matches the hard facts of the myth, as far as I can remember, so it's delightful to read what's different and how a character written like a real person can make the story feel new with their perspective.
The setting is the ancient Minoans. This is a retelling of the story of Theseus and the Minotaur from the perspective of a princess in the royal household on that island, so she's sister to her brother ?, the Minotaur. In this respect the monster is depicted much more as a brother with some serious limitations, and the princess can't understand why the Athenians who come each year are so certain they are going to be slain and eaten by her brother.
There is plenty of palace intrigue, from the friction and scheming between the queen and the king, to power games between royal siblings and even dealing with Daedalus, Icarus, and the bone-headed Theseus. Everything matches the hard facts of the myth, as far as I can remember, so it's delightful to read what's different and how a character written like a real person can make the story feel new with their perspective.
April 27, 2023
3.3/5 ⭐️
April 26, 2014
I’m not really sure what to think about this book. It gave me mixed feelings, because the writing style was very simplistic and easy to read and the book itself is a not-so-huge book. So it generally gave the feel to be a kind of middle school book.
But then sentences like this would come along:
Which just seems a bit—horrifying for a middle school book? It seemed to continue in a very straightforward, concise way of writing. So parts like this…
… really stick out as humorous/witty. Which ended up giving a strange impression of Xenodice at times, being both remarkably young and yet mature about certain topics. She did seem to grow very slowly and learned to stand up to certain people—like her irritating brat of a sister. Sort of.
It was interesting how Kindl spun her story. The only problem was by the end I felt like throwing my hands up and yelling, “What is the point of all this?! Everyone dies by the end!” (“That’s what people do.” *grins*) And these aren’t quite off scene deaths either. She freaking listened to her half-brother and two servants die, while her father held her back since he orchestrated the entire thing. Traumatic much?
Anyway, while it was an… interesting… retelling of a Greek tale, I feel like it needed more in the way of story arc, and clear character development. It literally ended with her general statement of life being: “I regret nothing, though I grieve for much.” (Which is a direct quote!) And the stupid chilling, “Or so they said.” line. (Also a direct quote!)
Well, aren’t we all just a ray of sunshine by the end of this. Gosh.
In summary: It left something to be desired, instead of a summary chapter and the frankly creepy dead-Ariadne interactions… I mean. Everyone seemed to die. More closure, please. And even infamous Icarus left something to be desired. I know he was supposed to be portrayed in this as a dreamer and thinker, but he just came across as an airhead to me. So, no, I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone.
What some people might be uncomfortable reading about in this book because of personal opinion or belief (spoilers): well… it’s a Greek retelling. So there’s goddess mentionings and, um, the queen has a half bull son (‘nough said) that she, apparently, nearly died giving birth to. A sister became pregnant out of wedlock, and there was some divination type things. There isn’t any cursing I can think of. Barely PG-13, I suppose.
But then sentences like this would come along:
When at length the massive jar was tipped on its side and the contents poured out on the floor, they proved to be three in number: an enormous quantity of honey, a dead mouse, and my brother Glaucus, likewise dead, drowned in a vat of golden sweetness.
Which just seems a bit—horrifying for a middle school book? It seemed to continue in a very straightforward, concise way of writing. So parts like this…
“Yes,” she said, and then went on. “They believe that he eats Athenians. I told Theseus that he did not—really, I did, Xenodice. But once Theseus gets an idea in his head, well, it’s remarkably difficult to get it out.”
“A pleasant trait in a husband,” I observed.
… really stick out as humorous/witty. Which ended up giving a strange impression of Xenodice at times, being both remarkably young and yet mature about certain topics. She did seem to grow very slowly and learned to stand up to certain people—like her irritating brat of a sister. Sort of.
It was interesting how Kindl spun her story. The only problem was by the end I felt like throwing my hands up and yelling, “What is the point of all this?! Everyone dies by the end!” (“That’s what people do.” *grins*) And these aren’t quite off scene deaths either. She freaking listened to her half-brother and two servants die, while her father held her back since he orchestrated the entire thing. Traumatic much?
Anyway, while it was an… interesting… retelling of a Greek tale, I feel like it needed more in the way of story arc, and clear character development. It literally ended with her general statement of life being: “I regret nothing, though I grieve for much.” (Which is a direct quote!) And the stupid chilling, “Or so they said.” line. (Also a direct quote!)
Well, aren’t we all just a ray of sunshine by the end of this. Gosh.
In summary: It left something to be desired, instead of a summary chapter and the frankly creepy dead-Ariadne interactions… I mean. Everyone seemed to die. More closure, please. And even infamous Icarus left something to be desired. I know he was supposed to be portrayed in this as a dreamer and thinker, but he just came across as an airhead to me. So, no, I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone.
What some people might be uncomfortable reading about in this book because of personal opinion or belief (spoilers): well… it’s a Greek retelling. So there’s goddess mentionings and, um, the queen has a half bull son (‘nough said) that she, apparently, nearly died giving birth to. A sister became pregnant out of wedlock, and there was some divination type things. There isn’t any cursing I can think of. Barely PG-13, I suppose.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2010
Princess Xenodice belongs to the royal family of Crete. Her parents are King Minos and Queen Pasiphae, her older sister is Ariadne, and her younger brother Asterius, half-man and half-bull, lives in the center of the Labyrinth, where Xenodice visits him often. She also loves to visit the inventor Daedalus and his dreamy son Icarus, whom she loves. When the Athenian Theseus arrives as part of that year's tribute, Ariadne falls in love with him, and Xenodice must figure out how to navigate the maze of loyalties and protect her family.
My big cavil is that I found the tone too distant. Since it's in the first person, I wanted gentle Xenodice to show more emotion at times when shattering things are happening to her and her family. Still, Kindl does a lovely job weaving together myth, history, and archaeological discoveries to produce a convincing version of Cretan society. I particularly liked how she believably makes it matriarchal, with Pasiphae the real ruler, and how she turns on its head the usual Theseus as hero vs. the Minotaur as savage beast conception.
My big cavil is that I found the tone too distant. Since it's in the first person, I wanted gentle Xenodice to show more emotion at times when shattering things are happening to her and her family. Still, Kindl does a lovely job weaving together myth, history, and archaeological discoveries to produce a convincing version of Cretan society. I particularly liked how she believably makes it matriarchal, with Pasiphae the real ruler, and how she turns on its head the usual Theseus as hero vs. the Minotaur as savage beast conception.
August 14, 2011
This is a retelling of Ariadne, Theseus, the Minotaur, Daedalus, and Icarus. I think something major happened in the author's life when she was 14, as I've noticed in three of her books (Owl in Love, Woman in the Wall, Lost in the Labyrinth), the main character has her "coming to herself" at age 14, along with an intense crush that gets put into perspective in one way or another later on.
Now, the other two of the three books were very weird reads: compelling and enjoyable. This book was ... limp. It almost seems like she had too much source material and it cramped her writing, kept her from creating believable characters. The characters didn't feel real. Instead they felt like puppets going through the story. So, this book is about the plot. Her other two were about the characters. The writer has strength when she is character-driven. But when she's plot driven, it falls apart. This book holds together better than her other retelling, Goose Chase, which was dreadful, but it never takes off.
Now, the other two of the three books were very weird reads: compelling and enjoyable. This book was ... limp. It almost seems like she had too much source material and it cramped her writing, kept her from creating believable characters. The characters didn't feel real. Instead they felt like puppets going through the story. So, this book is about the plot. Her other two were about the characters. The writer has strength when she is character-driven. But when she's plot driven, it falls apart. This book holds together better than her other retelling, Goose Chase, which was dreadful, but it never takes off.
September 12, 2022
Different take on the story of Theseus and the Minotaur where the latter is almost the hero or at least the sympathetic center figure rather than the villain/monster. Told from the Cretan perspective. Ultimately a sad book with lots of death and disappointment all around. Can't really say it was memorable- the ending was a bit fuzzy. Felt I was left with much unfinished & uncertain. Definitely not my favorite Kindl
September 30, 2008
An interesting, and more historical, take on the story of Theseus and the Mintaur from the point of view of Xenodice, one of the royal family of Knossos. I would have liked more character development, particularly to illuminate the motives of King Minos and Queen Pasiphae. At only 185 pages, Kindl had plenty of room to give us more, more, more!
June 6, 2008
(by Emil Alzamora)
January 9, 2015
It didn't quiet know what I was getting myself into when I started this book but in the end I found myself caught in the web of mythology that I love so much.
December 10, 2024
The story of the minotaur and the labyrinth has been told since ancient times which originated with the people of ancient Greece which had its Origins even later in history with the Minoans on the Aegean Island Crete. The story is, the Minotaur, the son of Queen Pasiphae ruler of Crete, was a bloodthirsty man/cow creature who required human sacrifices.The Queen’s husband King Minos was embarrassed of the monstrosity offspring and ordered the construction of a labyrinth in his palace to imprison the creature. With the help of Minos’s daughter Ariadne, Theseus A hero from Athens set out to slay the Minotaur which he accomplished and later fell in love with Ariadne. The book Lost in The Labyrinth is a retelling of this story except it is told from the perspective of Ariadne’s sister Xenodice. The Minotaur is portrayed in a much different way. He is still the son of the queen but it is not the son of Minos instead the father is said to be a mystical being called The Bull in the Earth. The Minotaur is also not a bloodthirsty monster and does not require sacrifices; instead it is a peaceful creature who only feeds on grasses and herbs.
One thing I enjoyed about this book was that it gave very good details on every character and all of their actions. It also described the setting very well every time they went somewhere new. An example of this is when Theseus first arrived on Crete they gave a very detailed explanation of how he looked, how he carried himself and how he acted towards the king, and how the surrounding area looked. The author also leaves things that are not well understood like magic and curses vague which would be unimportant to the story anyway.
Something I really did not like about this book is there is very little action until the near end of the book, it is a very slow read and I would only recommend it to readers who have the patience to read a book at this slow pace. There are a few spots that have a little bit of action in the middle but there are very few instances.
Lost in The Labyrinth offers a unique perspective on a story that has been told since ancient times and allows the main antagonist of the story to have more sympathy from the reader instead of viewing him as a terrible monster who feeds on human flesh. It shows him in a more peaceful manner; he is displayed as a misunderstood creature who's oputcast just because of his looks. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes slower books with long build ups to action instead of something action packed.
One thing I enjoyed about this book was that it gave very good details on every character and all of their actions. It also described the setting very well every time they went somewhere new. An example of this is when Theseus first arrived on Crete they gave a very detailed explanation of how he looked, how he carried himself and how he acted towards the king, and how the surrounding area looked. The author also leaves things that are not well understood like magic and curses vague which would be unimportant to the story anyway.
Something I really did not like about this book is there is very little action until the near end of the book, it is a very slow read and I would only recommend it to readers who have the patience to read a book at this slow pace. There are a few spots that have a little bit of action in the middle but there are very few instances.
Lost in The Labyrinth offers a unique perspective on a story that has been told since ancient times and allows the main antagonist of the story to have more sympathy from the reader instead of viewing him as a terrible monster who feeds on human flesh. It shows him in a more peaceful manner; he is displayed as a misunderstood creature who's oputcast just because of his looks. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes slower books with long build ups to action instead of something action packed.
August 1, 2024
As a disclaimer: I found this book in the adult section of a thrift store and went in with the expectations that this was an adult grade book. Silly me should have opened the book and checked, but, alas, here we are. This is definitely YA, but some elements could be a bit grizzly for younger audiences.
My biggest issue with this book was how uncomfortable it was reading about the MC's breasts. She's 14 years old. The author describes them first when describing a special gown that she is wearing for the bull festival that reveals her chest, then again when the MC looks at her 16 year old sister's breasts, then again when her mother looks at them. I know that the "Minoans" have depictions of women with dresses in this style, but this really did not have to be put in the book like this.
This issue gets even worse when considering that the author nulled the myth of the Minotaur to the mother being possessed by the Goddess rather than getting it down with the bull. She also missed out the whole scorpions coming out of the king's parts. So yes, very strange that she went for descriptions of chests.
Other than that, the book is YA-messy. The plot is all over the place and the MC has no development. The characters are all mean to each other too, which makes them difficult to care about or like.
My biggest issue with this book was how uncomfortable it was reading about the MC's breasts. She's 14 years old. The author describes them first when describing a special gown that she is wearing for the bull festival that reveals her chest, then again when the MC looks at her 16 year old sister's breasts, then again when her mother looks at them. I know that the "Minoans" have depictions of women with dresses in this style, but this really did not have to be put in the book like this.
This issue gets even worse when considering that the author nulled the myth of the Minotaur to the mother being possessed by the Goddess rather than getting it down with the bull. She also missed out the whole scorpions coming out of the king's parts. So yes, very strange that she went for descriptions of chests.
Other than that, the book is YA-messy. The plot is all over the place and the MC has no development. The characters are all mean to each other too, which makes them difficult to care about or like.
February 12, 2023
(3.5 stars) This is a retelling of the Greek myth of the Minotaur, told from the perspective of the inhabitants of the island, particularly the young princess Xenodice. She loves animals and cares for her brother the Minotaur, although she worries about how he is changing as he grows older. She is friends with Daedalus and in love with Icarus. We are given a very different perspective on the tragic events that unfold and see the other side of the myth and the consequences of love and betrayal.
December 14, 2020
3.5 stars
I felt bad for Xenodice being bullied by Ariadne, but at the same time, I wished she'd grow a bit of a backbone and stand up for herself.
I felt bad for Xenodice being bullied by Ariadne, but at the same time, I wished she'd grow a bit of a backbone and stand up for herself.
January 23, 2017
Fantastic and well put together! I loved this story, but WEH! Why are all the characters so stupid?! I can't believe that Xenodice lets her sisters walk all over her! She doesn't know how to stand up for herself at all. D:
January 7, 2021
This is a retelling of the Greek myth about Theseus and the minotaur. As seen through the eyes of Xenodice, the third daughter of Minos and Pasiphae, this is a very interesting tale. Although somewhat dark, as Greek mythology generally is, I think it is a good book for most middle-grade readers.
May 23, 2023
This was an ok read
As a free book, I thought I'd give it a shot.
It was a good read but not great.i will return it to the free table from which I found it hopefully the next reader will enjoy it more
As a free book, I thought I'd give it a shot.
It was a good read but not great.i will return it to the free table from which I found it hopefully the next reader will enjoy it more
December 29, 2017
1.5 stars
September 13, 2019
Great book, I loved it. It was a realistic picture of the myth, and actually believably accurate (although I haven't done any research in that era.)
July 2, 2022
Daedalus and Icarus’s story always makes me emotional. What a wonderful read.
February 23, 2023
History is told by the victors and etc etc and so on
April 10, 2025
Mentions suicide
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2012
Cover Blurb: It’s so-so. It caught my attention because clearly it dealt with Ancient times. I like how the labyrinth is carved into the face. But other than that, it doesn’t have too much effect either way.
What I Liked: Asterius is probably one of the more likable portrayals of the Minotaur that I’ve read. I found it easy to understand Xenodice’s attachment to him. This made it even easier to really dislike the people who were mean to him and Xenodice - Ariadne especially. It was interesting to for once think of Ariadne as the villain in the story, and the Author pulled it off. Ariadne was a conniving, mean little thing, and I really wanted Xenodice to put her in her place. I loved the portrayal of Theseus as a boastful, hot-headed young man. It’s a common enough portrayal in mythology retellings anymore, but this one was especially good. I also loved how the Author wove in the story of Icarus and his ill-fated wax wings.
What I Disliked: It did frustrate me that Xenodice bowed to Ariadne’s will all the time. I kept wanting to shout at her to just tell Ariadne no, despite the consequences; find a way to get back at her before she can punish Xenodice. One of the character’s betrayals (I won’t say who, that’d be spoiling things) bothered me because I really liked the character, and his betrayal didn’t make absolute sense to me.
Believability: The Author didn’t really have that much magic in the story, and what small incidences of magic that occurred came across as merely how the people might see something, though it is made pretty clear that Asterius really is half bull, half man. Being a mythology retelling, it’s hard to say anything about believability.
Writing Style: It was surprisingly pleasing. It has an old feel to it, not at all movie-ish, and is simple. Though why the Author insisted on describing Xenodice’s breasts is beyond me. It also seems to me that there ought to have been more with Eumenes, considering the revelation of who his father was.
Content: Nothing of consequence.
Conclusion: The ending was very bittersweet. Naturally Asterius dies - I have yet to read a retelling of this particular myth where the Minotaur lives. The appearance of Ariadne’s ghost was rather confusing; what exactly was she trying to tell Xenodice, and why is it even important? But for the most part, it wasn’t disappointing.
Recommended Audience: Anyone who likes mythology retellings and is looking for a short read. Guys and girls would like it.
What I Liked: Asterius is probably one of the more likable portrayals of the Minotaur that I’ve read. I found it easy to understand Xenodice’s attachment to him. This made it even easier to really dislike the people who were mean to him and Xenodice - Ariadne especially. It was interesting to for once think of Ariadne as the villain in the story, and the Author pulled it off. Ariadne was a conniving, mean little thing, and I really wanted Xenodice to put her in her place. I loved the portrayal of Theseus as a boastful, hot-headed young man. It’s a common enough portrayal in mythology retellings anymore, but this one was especially good. I also loved how the Author wove in the story of Icarus and his ill-fated wax wings.
What I Disliked: It did frustrate me that Xenodice bowed to Ariadne’s will all the time. I kept wanting to shout at her to just tell Ariadne no, despite the consequences; find a way to get back at her before she can punish Xenodice. One of the character’s betrayals (I won’t say who, that’d be spoiling things) bothered me because I really liked the character, and his betrayal didn’t make absolute sense to me.
Believability: The Author didn’t really have that much magic in the story, and what small incidences of magic that occurred came across as merely how the people might see something, though it is made pretty clear that Asterius really is half bull, half man. Being a mythology retelling, it’s hard to say anything about believability.
Writing Style: It was surprisingly pleasing. It has an old feel to it, not at all movie-ish, and is simple. Though why the Author insisted on describing Xenodice’s breasts is beyond me. It also seems to me that there ought to have been more with Eumenes, considering the revelation of who his father was.
Content: Nothing of consequence.
Conclusion: The ending was very bittersweet. Naturally Asterius dies - I have yet to read a retelling of this particular myth where the Minotaur lives. The appearance of Ariadne’s ghost was rather confusing; what exactly was she trying to tell Xenodice, and why is it even important? But for the most part, it wasn’t disappointing.
Recommended Audience: Anyone who likes mythology retellings and is looking for a short read. Guys and girls would like it.
February 3, 2016
Lost in the Labyrinth is the retelling of the Greek myth of Asterius (the Minotaur) and Theseus. Kindl does a great job of setting up ancient Greece for us - the political intrigue, the lavishness of the palace, the relationship between the people and the Gods. We follow the story through the character of Xenodice, one of the daughters of the queen - an interesting point of view, since she a very minor part in a story of betrayals, murder and escapes, with several well-known Greeks (namely, Daedalus and Icarus). Not much actually happens to her, but we watch the action that happens around her.
This book is a great first taste of mythology for young adults. You really get the sense that the lives of humans and the gods were intertwined with the kings and queens that ruled over them and the author makes a point of reminding you who the different characters are in the grand story (although, after a while it got a tiny bit annoying). The Minotaur was an unusual character (half human half bull) and Xenodice's relationship with him defined her personality in a way, setting her apart in her family as the one person who didn't view him as a freak. Kindl lets us know of all these bizarre matings and illegitimate children without ever getting graphic, which I appreciated.
I only have two complaints about the book. I thought Xenodice's voice was a bit...old. She was supposed to be 14 but sometimes I felt like Kindl's efforts to make her sound royal just made her sound frumpy. And secondly, (possible spoiler here if you don't know your mythology), despite Xenodice's absolute young-love infatuation with Icarus throughout the entire book, when he finally flies into the sun - it's just noted in passing! After the wax melts off his wings and he drops into the sea, she says she's glad it's a cleaner death than crashing into the earth. Come on! She says she'll never marry anyone if she can't marry him and she doesn't shed a tear? When the story moved right on into the next scene I looked back twice to make sure I hadn't missed something. It just caught me completely off guard.
Those two complaints, though, shouldn't stop you from trying this book - it was a unique read, well suited for young adults.
This book is a great first taste of mythology for young adults. You really get the sense that the lives of humans and the gods were intertwined with the kings and queens that ruled over them and the author makes a point of reminding you who the different characters are in the grand story (although, after a while it got a tiny bit annoying). The Minotaur was an unusual character (half human half bull) and Xenodice's relationship with him defined her personality in a way, setting her apart in her family as the one person who didn't view him as a freak. Kindl lets us know of all these bizarre matings and illegitimate children without ever getting graphic, which I appreciated.
I only have two complaints about the book. I thought Xenodice's voice was a bit...old. She was supposed to be 14 but sometimes I felt like Kindl's efforts to make her sound royal just made her sound frumpy. And secondly, (possible spoiler here if you don't know your mythology), despite Xenodice's absolute young-love infatuation with Icarus throughout the entire book, when he finally flies into the sun - it's just noted in passing! After the wax melts off his wings and he drops into the sea, she says she's glad it's a cleaner death than crashing into the earth. Come on! She says she'll never marry anyone if she can't marry him and she doesn't shed a tear? When the story moved right on into the next scene I looked back twice to make sure I hadn't missed something. It just caught me completely off guard.
Those two complaints, though, shouldn't stop you from trying this book - it was a unique read, well suited for young adults.
February 22, 2017
I am not rating this as a three star because of the writing; it should easily deserve a four star rating. However, it is so sad. Even knowing what will happen, it made my heart ache to read. I appreciated the unique perspective of events.
April 19, 2010
I enjoyed this book very much, but I suspect it was largely because I have a strong interest and background in mythology. Kudos to Kindl for handling the origin of the minotaur tactfully, cleverly changing the half man/half bull from the product of the Minoan queen's lust for a beautiful white bull into a gift from the Minoan goddess. Since the Minoan culture revered the bull, it was an easy sanitizing of the bestiality inherent in the original Greek tale. Having visited the ruins at Knossos, I could envision the intricate maze of the palace, and it made it easy to accept Kindl's assertion that the labyrinth wasn't a deep, dark snarl of passages beneath the palace but the palace itself. I'm afraid that it may be harder for young readers to stick with the rather slow pace Kindl sets. But this is a solid choice for middle school readers with a real interest in Greek mythology.
January 20, 2021
Removing the minotaur as the main focus, moves the story down midway between horror and realistic fiction. It's a failed attempt to be literary. By moving away from someone who has the most to lose (freedom in the case of Asterion) or one's life (in the case of Theseus or Ariadne) to a privileged secondhand narrator, there is no drama. It might as well be a fictionalized "what I did on my summer vacation" type report read by a girl who has bored herself by writing it.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2019/comm...
A boring, stilted retelling. Instead, read Bull
Minotaur Home Labyrinth 996666
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2019/comm...
A boring, stilted retelling. Instead, read Bull
Minotaur Home Labyrinth 996666
September 16, 2011
Lost in the Labyrinth is set in a Greek mythological setting. Summary: “Fourteen-year old Princess Xenodice tries to prevent the death of her half-brother, the Minotaur, at the hands of the Athenian prince, Theseus, who is aid by Icarus, Daedalus and her sister Ariadne.” I hope I cannot be accused of writing a spoiler by saying you cannot expect an overwhelmingly happy ending with these characters, but you would not know your Greek mythology if you expected one. I think the dynamic between Xenodice and her sister Ariadne is the most interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews