What do you think?
Rate this book
The Door in the Mountain #1
The Door in the Mountain
The Greece of The Door in the Mountain is a place where children are marked by gods and goddesses; a place where a manipulative, bitter princess named Ariadne devises a mountain prison for her hated half-brother, where a boy named Icarus tries, and fails, to fly, and a slave girl changes the paths of all their lives forever.
300 pages, Paperback
First published March 18, 2014
1 person is currently reading
492 people want to read
About the author
Caitlin Sweet
6 books46 followersCaitlin Sweet’s first fantasy novel, A Telling of Stars, was published by Penguin Canada in 2003. Her second, The Silences of Home, was published in 2005. Between them, they were nominated for Aurora Awards, a Locus Best First Novel Award, long-listed for the Sunburst Award, and ranked in the top 5 of SFSite’s Best Novels of 2005. For a few years she was deluded enough to think that she might write some epic trilogies. Eventually she returned to her senses and wrote a stand-alone novel, The Pattern Scars, which was published in fall 2011 by ChiZine Publications. In 2014 came The Door in the Mountain (which won the Copper Cylinder Award), and in 2015, its sequel, The Flame in the Maze. You can find her blog at www.caitlinsweet.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 23, 2018
My thanks to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors ChiZine Publications for an eARC of this book to read and review.
This was a DNF at 20% for me. Not because it was a bad book, in fact, I found it to be interesting and written well. But because it is loosely based off of Greek mythology and it was a little too loose for my taste. My Roomie is what I would consider very knowledgable on Greek mythology, so I ran the first 20% past her and she told me that, while it sounded interesting, it did not follow the story of the Minotaur, Ariadne, etc. Granted, the original myth is pretty horrible, but I don't want to confuse the myth with something based off of it, if that makes any sense.
If this was just a story, not based off of Greek mythology or anything like that, I would have finished it with no qualms. It really is quite good and I would definitely read other works by this author, but this particular book did not work for me.
Having read 20% of it and finding the writing good, the fleshing out of the characters realistically and the setting nicely created in the reader's minds eye, I will give it a solid 3 stars. Not bad, but not one I would recommend to the Greek mythology purist.
This was a DNF at 20% for me. Not because it was a bad book, in fact, I found it to be interesting and written well. But because it is loosely based off of Greek mythology and it was a little too loose for my taste. My Roomie is what I would consider very knowledgable on Greek mythology, so I ran the first 20% past her and she told me that, while it sounded interesting, it did not follow the story of the Minotaur, Ariadne, etc. Granted, the original myth is pretty horrible, but I don't want to confuse the myth with something based off of it, if that makes any sense.
If this was just a story, not based off of Greek mythology or anything like that, I would have finished it with no qualms. It really is quite good and I would definitely read other works by this author, but this particular book did not work for me.
Having read 20% of it and finding the writing good, the fleshing out of the characters realistically and the setting nicely created in the reader's minds eye, I will give it a solid 3 stars. Not bad, but not one I would recommend to the Greek mythology purist.
November 2, 2014
Sweet takes Greek mythology as her inspiration, and blends and reinterprets classic elements into her own fantasy tale.
I appreciated the two main conceits of the book:
First, the two main characters, rather than being the 'special' ones with unusual powers, are actually the only two developed characters who do not have powers and are just ordinary.
Second, the main viewpoint character is the 'bad guy' rather than the hero.
Both of these are not at all what is usually seen in fiction for young people, and were quite refreshing.
Unfortunately, ultimately, the book as a whole didn't work for me. The author kept teasing me with a dark, mythological feel, but then the tone would slip into a more contemporary-YA thing that reminded me of 'Percy Jackson.' The fact that we're dealing with teens who've inherited powers from, or may be the children of, Greek gods, adds to that. Now, I don't care for Riordan's writing; many many people do - so your mileage may vary.
However, my main issue with the book is that I found Ariadne's character unconvincing. She is consumed with jealousy & resentment and filled with a drive toward vindictive, destructive actions... but why? There's a nod given toward her not living up to her mother's dreams; the old chestnut about wanting to be daddy's favorite girl. Of course, a certain amount of jealousy of an older sibling toward a younger might be normal - but what's shown here goes way beyond normal (it's murderous!), and I wanted to be given reasons to buy it. I didn't find those reasons. While I don't judge the quality of a book on the likability of its characters, it's still worth a mention that Ariadne is a thoroughly nasty person to have to spend any amount of time with.
In contrast, the slave Chara, who works against Ariadne's plots, is thoroughly wonderful. Clever, generous, loyal, accepting all indignities with equanimity... she's just too perfect.
My other issue was simply that: this is a retelling of the story of the Minotaur. Icarus is also a major character. I feel like the book is aimed at readers already familiar with the associated myths. Therefore, we anticipate the inevitability of certain outcomes. And... we don't get them. The book ends abruptly, with an appended 'teaser' chapter for the sequel. I don't always hate a setup for a sequel... but I just didn't feel that the 'shape' of the story arc here felt complete.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley for review. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
I appreciated the two main conceits of the book:
First, the two main characters, rather than being the 'special' ones with unusual powers, are actually the only two developed characters who do not have powers and are just ordinary.
Second, the main viewpoint character is the 'bad guy' rather than the hero.
Both of these are not at all what is usually seen in fiction for young people, and were quite refreshing.
Unfortunately, ultimately, the book as a whole didn't work for me. The author kept teasing me with a dark, mythological feel, but then the tone would slip into a more contemporary-YA thing that reminded me of 'Percy Jackson.' The fact that we're dealing with teens who've inherited powers from, or may be the children of, Greek gods, adds to that. Now, I don't care for Riordan's writing; many many people do - so your mileage may vary.
However, my main issue with the book is that I found Ariadne's character unconvincing. She is consumed with jealousy & resentment and filled with a drive toward vindictive, destructive actions... but why? There's a nod given toward her not living up to her mother's dreams; the old chestnut about wanting to be daddy's favorite girl. Of course, a certain amount of jealousy of an older sibling toward a younger might be normal - but what's shown here goes way beyond normal (it's murderous!), and I wanted to be given reasons to buy it. I didn't find those reasons. While I don't judge the quality of a book on the likability of its characters, it's still worth a mention that Ariadne is a thoroughly nasty person to have to spend any amount of time with.
In contrast, the slave Chara, who works against Ariadne's plots, is thoroughly wonderful. Clever, generous, loyal, accepting all indignities with equanimity... she's just too perfect.
My other issue was simply that: this is a retelling of the story of the Minotaur. Icarus is also a major character. I feel like the book is aimed at readers already familiar with the associated myths. Therefore, we anticipate the inevitability of certain outcomes. And... we don't get them. The book ends abruptly, with an appended 'teaser' chapter for the sequel. I don't always hate a setup for a sequel... but I just didn't feel that the 'shape' of the story arc here felt complete.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley for review. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
May 28, 2014
Summary
The Door in the Mountain by Caitlin Sweet is part one of a two-part YA fantasy series, and is very much like a prequel story to the classic Greek myth of the Minotaur. The Door in the Mountain tells the story of how the Minotaur gets locked away inside of a mountain maze, and how Princess Ariadne, who is bitter and resentful of her god-marked half-brother Asterion, becomes in charge of the famous labyrinth. But the story is more complex than a simple prequel story, a slave girl named Chara causes conflicts in the motives of the princess, and Icarus, another god-marked boy who is trying to fly, is conflicted between supporting his friend Asterion and resenting him. Ariadne, Chara and Icarus all hold stakes in the imprisonment of the Minotaur, and while two of them may share similar motives, none of them are willing to compromise in their objective.
Great Parts:
I really enjoyed the characters in The Door in the Mountain because of the interconnections between them. While the story is told from the third person, the story focuses well on each of the characters, and therefore, enables readers to become familiar with them, and see the relationships form between characters. I really admired the character Ariadne for the complexity in her character development. She is a brilliant character not because she is a wonderful and positive, but the opposite – she is the cunning, scheming and power-hungry. Caitlin Sweet does an amazing job with Ariadne in forming and creating her complex personality.
Another aspect I really enjoyed was the plot. The plot was well paced and tension was gradually built up as the story progressed. But what made the plot truly lovely and enjoyable was how it focused on each character’s stake in the conflict, as well as the relationships between characters, and how those relationships came into conflict with one another as the characters sought out their objectives.
Lastly, I really liked Catlin Sweet’s writing style, because it really brought to life Ancient Crete. The style of writing is not like that of a typical YA novel; Sweet’s writing really brings texture and vividness to the classical myth of the Minotaur. Detailed and clear, the world building in The Door to the Mountain was really enjoyable.
Disappointing Parts:
For me, there was only one disappointment part to the Door in the Mountain, and that was the sudden change to first-person narration. The majority of the novel, the story is told from the third-person. While it was interesting to have a more intimate perspective of the story from two of the characters’ eyes, I found it to disrupt the tone and consistency the story had developed. It felt out of place, and maybe, even a bit unnecessary.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I really enjoyed The Door in the Mountain. I am certainly looking forward to when the second and final part of the series comes out. The way it ended was movie-esque (or at least, that’s how I imagined it), and I think, anyone who enjoys Greek mythology will find this to be a wonderful read.
**I received an e-ARC (electronic Advanced Reader’s Copy) from ChiTeen for the purpose of an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions**
The Door in the Mountain by Caitlin Sweet is part one of a two-part YA fantasy series, and is very much like a prequel story to the classic Greek myth of the Minotaur. The Door in the Mountain tells the story of how the Minotaur gets locked away inside of a mountain maze, and how Princess Ariadne, who is bitter and resentful of her god-marked half-brother Asterion, becomes in charge of the famous labyrinth. But the story is more complex than a simple prequel story, a slave girl named Chara causes conflicts in the motives of the princess, and Icarus, another god-marked boy who is trying to fly, is conflicted between supporting his friend Asterion and resenting him. Ariadne, Chara and Icarus all hold stakes in the imprisonment of the Minotaur, and while two of them may share similar motives, none of them are willing to compromise in their objective.
Great Parts:
I really enjoyed the characters in The Door in the Mountain because of the interconnections between them. While the story is told from the third person, the story focuses well on each of the characters, and therefore, enables readers to become familiar with them, and see the relationships form between characters. I really admired the character Ariadne for the complexity in her character development. She is a brilliant character not because she is a wonderful and positive, but the opposite – she is the cunning, scheming and power-hungry. Caitlin Sweet does an amazing job with Ariadne in forming and creating her complex personality.
Another aspect I really enjoyed was the plot. The plot was well paced and tension was gradually built up as the story progressed. But what made the plot truly lovely and enjoyable was how it focused on each character’s stake in the conflict, as well as the relationships between characters, and how those relationships came into conflict with one another as the characters sought out their objectives.
Lastly, I really liked Catlin Sweet’s writing style, because it really brought to life Ancient Crete. The style of writing is not like that of a typical YA novel; Sweet’s writing really brings texture and vividness to the classical myth of the Minotaur. Detailed and clear, the world building in The Door to the Mountain was really enjoyable.
Disappointing Parts:
For me, there was only one disappointment part to the Door in the Mountain, and that was the sudden change to first-person narration. The majority of the novel, the story is told from the third-person. While it was interesting to have a more intimate perspective of the story from two of the characters’ eyes, I found it to disrupt the tone and consistency the story had developed. It felt out of place, and maybe, even a bit unnecessary.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I really enjoyed The Door in the Mountain. I am certainly looking forward to when the second and final part of the series comes out. The way it ended was movie-esque (or at least, that’s how I imagined it), and I think, anyone who enjoys Greek mythology will find this to be a wonderful read.
**I received an e-ARC (electronic Advanced Reader’s Copy) from ChiTeen for the purpose of an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions**
July 29, 2016
Pros: well developed characters, godmarks, clever twists on the referenced mythology
Cons: slow moving
Ariadne is an unmarked daughter of King Minos and Queen Pasiphae of Crete. As she grows up between the summer and winter palaces, surpassed in attention by her god-sired younger brother, Asterion, she becomes more and more selfish, cruel and bitter.
Chara, child of a slave and happily unmarked by the gods, befriends Asterion and helps him after the difficult and painful transformations into a bull that he must undergo to honour his father. She witnesses first hand Ariadne’s cruelties as the princess vies for power. And as time passes, she vows to save Asterion from his sister’s schemes.
Lovers of Greek mythology will find this a creative retelling of the minotaur and the labyrinth. Though the gist is the same and many familiar names come up (including Daedalus and Icarus), the author takes some liberties with the plot, increasing the suspense of the story. There were several twists I did not see coming.
I particularly loved the concept of the godmarks, magic bestowed by various gods on their subjects that allow them to do unique things. One character can communicate with animals, one can sprout wings, one can cry wine, and another commands all things dealing with water (rain, waves). I liked how the god who bestows the gift isn’t necessarily known, but can sometimes be guessed based on the nature of the gift.
The author spends a lot of time explaining Ariadne’s character. She begins the book as a child, desperately wishing for a godmark like the others in her family and feeling afraid and upset that she’s disappointing her parents. She hates and resents her younger brother and creates a veneer of calm strength to protect herself. This care makes it hard to hate her as she grows older and becomes more bitter and cruel. While I hated what she did, I found myself somewhat pitying her, which is ironic as she’d hate the idea that she could be pitied. Then she makes some horrible decisions and the pity left. I still kind of liked her, but I could no longer sympathize with her pain.
Chara on the other hand is the kind of friend you’d love to have. She’s generous, considerate, and clever. Like Ariadne she’s forced to hide her feelings but for different reasons, and she never forgets her friends.
The dynamics between the king and queen were also very interesting to read.
The story is fairly slow moving. While this does allow the author time to focus a lot on the characters, the ending dragged a little bit.
I didn’t realize this was the first book in a duology, so I was surprised when I came across the epilogue. While there’s an important event at the end of this book, it’s very much the first half of the story, and you’ll be reaching for the next volume when it comes out.
Cons: slow moving
Ariadne is an unmarked daughter of King Minos and Queen Pasiphae of Crete. As she grows up between the summer and winter palaces, surpassed in attention by her god-sired younger brother, Asterion, she becomes more and more selfish, cruel and bitter.
Chara, child of a slave and happily unmarked by the gods, befriends Asterion and helps him after the difficult and painful transformations into a bull that he must undergo to honour his father. She witnesses first hand Ariadne’s cruelties as the princess vies for power. And as time passes, she vows to save Asterion from his sister’s schemes.
Lovers of Greek mythology will find this a creative retelling of the minotaur and the labyrinth. Though the gist is the same and many familiar names come up (including Daedalus and Icarus), the author takes some liberties with the plot, increasing the suspense of the story. There were several twists I did not see coming.
I particularly loved the concept of the godmarks, magic bestowed by various gods on their subjects that allow them to do unique things. One character can communicate with animals, one can sprout wings, one can cry wine, and another commands all things dealing with water (rain, waves). I liked how the god who bestows the gift isn’t necessarily known, but can sometimes be guessed based on the nature of the gift.
The author spends a lot of time explaining Ariadne’s character. She begins the book as a child, desperately wishing for a godmark like the others in her family and feeling afraid and upset that she’s disappointing her parents. She hates and resents her younger brother and creates a veneer of calm strength to protect herself. This care makes it hard to hate her as she grows older and becomes more bitter and cruel. While I hated what she did, I found myself somewhat pitying her, which is ironic as she’d hate the idea that she could be pitied. Then she makes some horrible decisions and the pity left. I still kind of liked her, but I could no longer sympathize with her pain.
Chara on the other hand is the kind of friend you’d love to have. She’s generous, considerate, and clever. Like Ariadne she’s forced to hide her feelings but for different reasons, and she never forgets her friends.
The dynamics between the king and queen were also very interesting to read.
The story is fairly slow moving. While this does allow the author time to focus a lot on the characters, the ending dragged a little bit.
I didn’t realize this was the first book in a duology, so I was surprised when I came across the epilogue. While there’s an important event at the end of this book, it’s very much the first half of the story, and you’ll be reaching for the next volume when it comes out.
October 23, 2015
The Door in the Mountain is a retelling of the Minotaur myth told from the points of view of Ariadne, traditionally the young Minoan princess who, smitten with love for the Athenian Theseus, aids him in killing the Minotaur, and Chara, her slave, who is a creation of the author.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Like HM Hoover’s The Dawn Palace, an interpretation of Medea, Sweet has given believable motivations to her protagonists, even if – in Ariadne’s case – they make her the villain [which kind of bums me out because I’ve always harbored a soft spot for Ariadne, considering her fate in the traditional version]. I understand why Ariadne becomes the person she does but I hope Sweet grants her some redemption in the sequel(s).
The novel is categorized as YA. I would amend that to “older” YA. There’s an episode where Ariadne willingly participates in torture that some parents might consider too disturbing for their children.
I would recommend Sweet’s interpretation, and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel, The Flame in the Maze.
June 5, 2014
http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/06/05...
Publisher: ChiZine Publications
Publishing Date: October 2014
ISBN: 9781771481915
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: null
Publisher Description: The Door in the Mountain (Book 1 of a two-part series) is a place where children are marked by gods and goddesses; a place where a manipulative, bitter princess named Ariadne devises a mountain prison for her hated half-brother, where a boy named
Icarus tries, and fails, to fly, and a slave girl changes the paths of all their lives forever.
Review: Cover art is not too bad.
Sorry folks couldn’t get through this one. Almost pure situational dialogue with some fleeting torture thrown in.
Publisher: ChiZine Publications
Publishing Date: October 2014
ISBN: 9781771481915
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: null
Publisher Description: The Door in the Mountain (Book 1 of a two-part series) is a place where children are marked by gods and goddesses; a place where a manipulative, bitter princess named Ariadne devises a mountain prison for her hated half-brother, where a boy named
Icarus tries, and fails, to fly, and a slave girl changes the paths of all their lives forever.
Review: Cover art is not too bad.
Sorry folks couldn’t get through this one. Almost pure situational dialogue with some fleeting torture thrown in.
August 1, 2014
The Door in the Mountain gives us a fresh take of how life had been to Asterion as told in the eyes of his half-sister Ariadne in an alternate story of the Greek mythological creature, Minotaur. It is crisp and gritty but dragging at first. All characters are all-too-familiar if you know the famous Minoan Mythology. The author was quite good especially in her liberty of reshaping Ariadne's character as someone you would love to hate. If you love your Greek mythology, then prepare to see the Minotaur (as in the handsome man Asterion) in a different light. I never thought I'd enjoy it.
The book is divided into three parts. The first two by the scheming and selfish brat Ariadne and the last by Asterion's love interest, Chara, daughter of a household slave and his childhood friend.
In this book, aside from being born into the royalty, one earns his favor from others' eyes when he is marked by the gods. The godmark shows at random moments depending on what the person is doing or capable of doing and who among the gods marks him. Ariadne was unmarked and so she grows into this one vehement jealous girl desperate for attention from her king father Minos. She's jealous of everyone apart from herself that it's as if she doesn't recognize her family. She witnessed her queen mother Pasiphae giving birth to a younger brother named Asterion whom the queen believes is a god after doing a rite with a priest at the command of Poseidon.
My head ached reading the first chapter of this book. It's just very hard to read. I just couldn't follow the sentences. The descriptions were hard to picture. I remember The Fellowship of the Ring with very long descriptions and yet I enjoy reading that book even when I was still a kid that time. But this one, I just find it hard to wrap my brain around the narration. The narration is just so stiff.
Eight chapters later, I have finally gotten used to the way the author narrates and I've gotten the hang of the story. It actually surprised me to find myself quite enjoying the book. I find it funny every time when someone shows his transformation, the exhibition of a godmark. Some glow at random moments just before being marked by a god and yet, Ariadne is growing old and still the gods pay no attention.
Oh, how I love the third book with its twists and turns. If I haven't paid attention (note: being patient) enough, I wouldn't have appreciated all that had happened there. This third book was a sweet surprise to me. But what more way to surprise with a bang than by ending the book with such a cliffhanger.
Posted on Zirev
The book is divided into three parts. The first two by the scheming and selfish brat Ariadne and the last by Asterion's love interest, Chara, daughter of a household slave and his childhood friend.
In this book, aside from being born into the royalty, one earns his favor from others' eyes when he is marked by the gods. The godmark shows at random moments depending on what the person is doing or capable of doing and who among the gods marks him. Ariadne was unmarked and so she grows into this one vehement jealous girl desperate for attention from her king father Minos. She's jealous of everyone apart from herself that it's as if she doesn't recognize her family. She witnessed her queen mother Pasiphae giving birth to a younger brother named Asterion whom the queen believes is a god after doing a rite with a priest at the command of Poseidon.
My head ached reading the first chapter of this book. It's just very hard to read. I just couldn't follow the sentences. The descriptions were hard to picture. I remember The Fellowship of the Ring with very long descriptions and yet I enjoy reading that book even when I was still a kid that time. But this one, I just find it hard to wrap my brain around the narration. The narration is just so stiff.
Eight chapters later, I have finally gotten used to the way the author narrates and I've gotten the hang of the story. It actually surprised me to find myself quite enjoying the book. I find it funny every time when someone shows his transformation, the exhibition of a godmark. Some glow at random moments just before being marked by a god and yet, Ariadne is growing old and still the gods pay no attention.
Oh, how I love the third book with its twists and turns. If I haven't paid attention (note: being patient) enough, I wouldn't have appreciated all that had happened there. This third book was a sweet surprise to me. But what more way to surprise with a bang than by ending the book with such a cliffhanger.
Posted on Zirev
June 19, 2014
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'd been reading some dark stuff lately, and I thought this book would be a good change of pace. YA, Greek myths, light reading, right?
Oh so wrong. This is a dark book, in which Ariadne, the character whose head we spend the most time inside, is pretty much a sociopath. The book starts with her at the age of five, already jealous of anyone besides her that gets attention. Then, at age eight, she sets her cute little toddler brother on fire just to see what will happen. You see, Ariadne's family all has various god-gifts. One of her older brothers is blessed by Artemis and can speak with animals. Her little brother has been blessed by Poseidon, but at the age of two his gift is too young to manifest except as tiny horn stubs on his head. Ariadne is the only one not to have powers, and her whole life revolves around jealousy for this lack. It a pretty grim look at childhood. I also found the thought processes of these young children unrealistic. It felt as if all of them should have been older.
There are other characters too. Daedalus and his son Icarus, who is afflicted by a god-gift that makes him manifest feathers but leaves him unable to fly, are guests/prisoners of King Minos. It is Daedalus who is ultimately ordered to create the minotaur maze. Asterion, Ariadne's younger brother, has manifested his gift- the ability to turn into a bull. This transformation can be brought on by anger or pain, and he is not fully in control of it. Since King Minos's oldest son, the one who could speak to animals, was killed in Athens, he then demands tribute. I'm sure you know the myth- seven youths and seven maidens all to go into the maze (the door in the mountain) to be sacrificed to Asterion, who is trapped in the maze as well.
The other thing I didn't like about this book- it is basically just set-up. We get backstory for the Cretan characters. But the book ends just as Theseus is about to enter the mountain- that's where I want the story to start, not wait for another book!
The writing in the book is pretty decent. Imagery is good, and the characters, although I don't find them realistic, are at least interesting. It's a pretty gloomy book, though, and I was a bit grumpy by the alteration of this story. The author, on her website, said that she was thinking about this myth, and wondered why Theseus would just leave Ariadne. Then it came to her- Ariadne must have been a horrible person who deserved to be left. And that's our primary character in this book.
I'd been reading some dark stuff lately, and I thought this book would be a good change of pace. YA, Greek myths, light reading, right?
Oh so wrong. This is a dark book, in which Ariadne, the character whose head we spend the most time inside, is pretty much a sociopath. The book starts with her at the age of five, already jealous of anyone besides her that gets attention. Then, at age eight, she sets her cute little toddler brother on fire just to see what will happen. You see, Ariadne's family all has various god-gifts. One of her older brothers is blessed by Artemis and can speak with animals. Her little brother has been blessed by Poseidon, but at the age of two his gift is too young to manifest except as tiny horn stubs on his head. Ariadne is the only one not to have powers, and her whole life revolves around jealousy for this lack. It a pretty grim look at childhood. I also found the thought processes of these young children unrealistic. It felt as if all of them should have been older.
There are other characters too. Daedalus and his son Icarus, who is afflicted by a god-gift that makes him manifest feathers but leaves him unable to fly, are guests/prisoners of King Minos. It is Daedalus who is ultimately ordered to create the minotaur maze. Asterion, Ariadne's younger brother, has manifested his gift- the ability to turn into a bull. This transformation can be brought on by anger or pain, and he is not fully in control of it. Since King Minos's oldest son, the one who could speak to animals, was killed in Athens, he then demands tribute. I'm sure you know the myth- seven youths and seven maidens all to go into the maze (the door in the mountain) to be sacrificed to Asterion, who is trapped in the maze as well.
The other thing I didn't like about this book- it is basically just set-up. We get backstory for the Cretan characters. But the book ends just as Theseus is about to enter the mountain- that's where I want the story to start, not wait for another book!
The writing in the book is pretty decent. Imagery is good, and the characters, although I don't find them realistic, are at least interesting. It's a pretty gloomy book, though, and I was a bit grumpy by the alteration of this story. The author, on her website, said that she was thinking about this myth, and wondered why Theseus would just leave Ariadne. Then it came to her- Ariadne must have been a horrible person who deserved to be left. And that's our primary character in this book.
June 22, 2014
The Door in the Mountain Another book that I chose from the Read Now section, and another disappointment. I ended up dropping this one at 38%.
I’m familiar with the myth of the Minotaur, of King Minos and princess Ariadne and the labyrinth, and I think I understand that the author was trying to give a back story to the well-known myth, to make it even more relatable and create a whole new level of understanding. Sadly this wasn’t the case at all.
There were too many characters to keep track of, and some which were so poorly introduced that it got easier as I kept reading to mix them all together into one giant blob. Ariadne is a pain of a character. It’s her job, yes, to be that unpleasant, but to have one that’s so poorly written and flat only adds more agony to the reading. The characters also weren’t really described that well so they remained faceless shadows on the page of the book. Perhaps it was later explained in the book about Icarus and the servant girl and everyone else, but I couldn’t get that far. It was very difficult to get into the story and reading was a difficult task. It was easy for the eyes to skip words, sentences, even paragraphs, and the general gist of the story would still be still understandable. I know the Greeks had a huge thing about the gods and believing in them and bearing children for them but the queen and the rest of the cast were just aggravating in that department.
The writing style isn’t much better and leaves wanting more. The dialogue comes in chunks, alternating with a similar pattern for description, and the actual content in these chunks left more to be desired.
Perhaps this book will find its audience, but it was far too flat and messy for me to keep up with or even bother to pursue further.
I’m familiar with the myth of the Minotaur, of King Minos and princess Ariadne and the labyrinth, and I think I understand that the author was trying to give a back story to the well-known myth, to make it even more relatable and create a whole new level of understanding. Sadly this wasn’t the case at all.
There were too many characters to keep track of, and some which were so poorly introduced that it got easier as I kept reading to mix them all together into one giant blob. Ariadne is a pain of a character. It’s her job, yes, to be that unpleasant, but to have one that’s so poorly written and flat only adds more agony to the reading. The characters also weren’t really described that well so they remained faceless shadows on the page of the book. Perhaps it was later explained in the book about Icarus and the servant girl and everyone else, but I couldn’t get that far. It was very difficult to get into the story and reading was a difficult task. It was easy for the eyes to skip words, sentences, even paragraphs, and the general gist of the story would still be still understandable. I know the Greeks had a huge thing about the gods and believing in them and bearing children for them but the queen and the rest of the cast were just aggravating in that department.
The writing style isn’t much better and leaves wanting more. The dialogue comes in chunks, alternating with a similar pattern for description, and the actual content in these chunks left more to be desired.
Perhaps this book will find its audience, but it was far too flat and messy for me to keep up with or even bother to pursue further.
January 6, 2025
Amazing storytelling, great writing, and very descriptive. I read the book in one sitting and it immediately pulled me in from the first few pages. I love anything Greek Mythology but I’m not a stickler on it being mythically accurate, it wasn’t a retelling of the myths to a T but it still engulfs you in the world of greek mythology. I love how the author portrays Ariadne, who I at first felt empathetic towards before I realized she was actually the antagonist of the 2 part series. I immediately ordered the second book and it was just as good if not better.
June 15, 2019
A decent retelling of Greek myths. There was a little oddness with the characters making them a bit unlikeable and, if you had no basic knowledge of Greek mythology then you might find the names confusing. That said it was a decent read and she handled the nuances well. Expect more thought-provoking than action scenes.
April 8, 2018
With vivid, incandescent prose, Sweet reimagines classic Greek myths and characters, humanizing the Minotaur and showing us just how cruel and monstrous ordinary humans—the non-“godmarked”—can be.
December 15, 2019
I think this is a good book for those to which it is targeted: Teens. It is an interesting story with some strong characters.
December 11, 2014
It doesn’t take much to hook me into a story about ancient Greece so to find one on NetGalley about the labyrinth at Crete and the minotaur it housed it was a no-brainer for me. Luckily the publisher approved me and here I am. And I thank them for it.
This really was a wonderful book but it’s a story that you need to make an investment in. It’s a story that’s definitely more about people and character than about a fast action plot but I think Sweet’s painted just a brilliant portrait of all of them and I couldn’t help but follow them along on their paths. Not to mention she knows her history. She writes in exquisite detail about Crete that I had no trouble picturing it all in my head but at the same time I never felt bogged down by details. I never felt that the author’s knowledge was intruding on the story. Her setting was part of the story and it all blended so seamlessly.
Ariadne really is a repugnant, reprehensible human being. I mean there is absolutely nothing to like about her. Not a damn thing. Yeah, she’s unmarked. But so was Chara and she wasn’t a bitter snatch about life because of it. Ariadne was cruel and calculating and relished in other people’s misery and pain. She’s a true psychopath but at least she doesn’t have power. She had her father on her side and they were of one mind so her manipulation of him wasn’t really so much in her control as it was her father already leaning that way anyway. And because she was actually so powerless her situation was rather laughable. People had nothing to fear from her, at the end of the day. Not really. Especially by the end of the book when her hold was waning and control started slipping from her fingers. But no matter how vile she got I was hooked into reading her life. Every deplorable thing she did made want to see her get her comeuppance even more. I was rooting for her to die by the end of it. It would be only fitting.
Chara is Ariadne’s handmaiden and personality opposite. Where Ariadne is a psychopath Chara is kind and inviting and actually knows how to act, and treat people like, a human being. She was close with Ariadne’s half-brother, the supposed bull god, and she will stop at nothing to save him from his sister’s manipulative ways. His mother is all but powerless to help him, either resigning him to his fate because she knows she can’t do anything or is willfully ignorant of what’s going on. I refuse to believe the latter considering her antagonistic relationship with her husband. Chara is warmth and life to Ariadne’s bitter cold and calculating death. She’s steadfast and refuses to just sit by and accept what’s happening to someone whom she cares deeply for, no matter her station.
The story ends at a very pivotal moment and while, if you’re familiar with the story of the minotaur at all, you’ll know what’s coming but I couldn’t help but hold my breath at where the story left me hanging. Sweet took a familiar story and added enough suspense to it so that even though you may know how it’ll ultimately end, the path to that end is unknown so you’ll have no choice but to take it and see what means will get you to the end. She humanizes the beast so that he no longer is a beast but someone born to a crappy situation and forced to become something for the sake of a religiously delirious mother and a vindictive step-father that will stop at nothing to see him eradicated. And someone who can write such an incredibly unforgivable character as Ariadne and have her POV be half of the book and still keep me reading, is someone to keep reading. I can’t wait for the next book.
4
This really was a wonderful book but it’s a story that you need to make an investment in. It’s a story that’s definitely more about people and character than about a fast action plot but I think Sweet’s painted just a brilliant portrait of all of them and I couldn’t help but follow them along on their paths. Not to mention she knows her history. She writes in exquisite detail about Crete that I had no trouble picturing it all in my head but at the same time I never felt bogged down by details. I never felt that the author’s knowledge was intruding on the story. Her setting was part of the story and it all blended so seamlessly.
Ariadne really is a repugnant, reprehensible human being. I mean there is absolutely nothing to like about her. Not a damn thing. Yeah, she’s unmarked. But so was Chara and she wasn’t a bitter snatch about life because of it. Ariadne was cruel and calculating and relished in other people’s misery and pain. She’s a true psychopath but at least she doesn’t have power. She had her father on her side and they were of one mind so her manipulation of him wasn’t really so much in her control as it was her father already leaning that way anyway. And because she was actually so powerless her situation was rather laughable. People had nothing to fear from her, at the end of the day. Not really. Especially by the end of the book when her hold was waning and control started slipping from her fingers. But no matter how vile she got I was hooked into reading her life. Every deplorable thing she did made want to see her get her comeuppance even more. I was rooting for her to die by the end of it. It would be only fitting.
Chara is Ariadne’s handmaiden and personality opposite. Where Ariadne is a psychopath Chara is kind and inviting and actually knows how to act, and treat people like, a human being. She was close with Ariadne’s half-brother, the supposed bull god, and she will stop at nothing to save him from his sister’s manipulative ways. His mother is all but powerless to help him, either resigning him to his fate because she knows she can’t do anything or is willfully ignorant of what’s going on. I refuse to believe the latter considering her antagonistic relationship with her husband. Chara is warmth and life to Ariadne’s bitter cold and calculating death. She’s steadfast and refuses to just sit by and accept what’s happening to someone whom she cares deeply for, no matter her station.
The story ends at a very pivotal moment and while, if you’re familiar with the story of the minotaur at all, you’ll know what’s coming but I couldn’t help but hold my breath at where the story left me hanging. Sweet took a familiar story and added enough suspense to it so that even though you may know how it’ll ultimately end, the path to that end is unknown so you’ll have no choice but to take it and see what means will get you to the end. She humanizes the beast so that he no longer is a beast but someone born to a crappy situation and forced to become something for the sake of a religiously delirious mother and a vindictive step-father that will stop at nothing to see him eradicated. And someone who can write such an incredibly unforgivable character as Ariadne and have her POV be half of the book and still keep me reading, is someone to keep reading. I can’t wait for the next book.
4
Read
August 26, 2014Received from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
This is a reworking of the story of the Cretan King Minos, his family and the most famous monster of all: The Minotaur.
Everyone wants to be "GodMarked" (giving them fantastical powers) but not everyone gets so "blessed". Minos has an internal fire burning in him, and this can overspill sometimes with flames blasting from his skin. Pasiphae, his wife, controls water. Her son, Asterion, is born of heat and gods, to become one of the most iconic of figures. Icarus' mark has him sprouting feathers, but ultimately is unable to fly, not matter how hard or often he tries.
Ariadne is not the sweetness and light the myths may have lead you to believe. She is unmarked, jealous and manipulative. She only gets worse as she gets older and her younger step brother develops his GodMark powers into becoming the bull he was destined to be.
Her parents are the worst type of dysfunctional - her father is going slowly mad, frequently confronted with his wife's infidelity with her god, Poisden, every time Minos is with the bull-boy. Pasiphae realises her son is her most powerful tool, and flaunts his status in front of all who care to notice. Ariadne has the chance of friendship when younger, but turns away from this due to jealousy, and it only becomes worse as she gets older. Meanwhile, Minos develops a way to deal with the Bull Boy (and all his other "enemies"), as well as waging war on the Athenians who killed his son, which sets up the story of the Minotaur, the labyrinth and the biannual sacrifice of 14 Athenians.
I knew all the Myths and Legends as a kid (a LONG time ago) and whilst I remembered the important bits - bull, labyrinth, ball of wool so as not to lose one's way, etc etc, I had forgotten enough of the smaller pieces to appreciate that the author has taken some liberties, but none are to the detriment of this story. I dont know if knowing the original myth is a help or not - it allows the reader to predict what happens next (and the likely result of the second/final book in the series) but then the author has made it different enough to beg the question "would it matter if you didnt?".
It did drag a little at the end, but the author has left the story at a point where Theseus has turned up ready to confront the Minotaur. Apparently pitched at the YA market, this is a challenging book - not because of any inappropriate scenes - but because of the need to see it through to the end.
This is a reworking of the story of the Cretan King Minos, his family and the most famous monster of all: The Minotaur.
Everyone wants to be "GodMarked" (giving them fantastical powers) but not everyone gets so "blessed". Minos has an internal fire burning in him, and this can overspill sometimes with flames blasting from his skin. Pasiphae, his wife, controls water. Her son, Asterion, is born of heat and gods, to become one of the most iconic of figures. Icarus' mark has him sprouting feathers, but ultimately is unable to fly, not matter how hard or often he tries.
Ariadne is not the sweetness and light the myths may have lead you to believe. She is unmarked, jealous and manipulative. She only gets worse as she gets older and her younger step brother develops his GodMark powers into becoming the bull he was destined to be.
Her parents are the worst type of dysfunctional - her father is going slowly mad, frequently confronted with his wife's infidelity with her god, Poisden, every time Minos is with the bull-boy. Pasiphae realises her son is her most powerful tool, and flaunts his status in front of all who care to notice. Ariadne has the chance of friendship when younger, but turns away from this due to jealousy, and it only becomes worse as she gets older. Meanwhile, Minos develops a way to deal with the Bull Boy (and all his other "enemies"), as well as waging war on the Athenians who killed his son, which sets up the story of the Minotaur, the labyrinth and the biannual sacrifice of 14 Athenians.
I knew all the Myths and Legends as a kid (a LONG time ago) and whilst I remembered the important bits - bull, labyrinth, ball of wool so as not to lose one's way, etc etc, I had forgotten enough of the smaller pieces to appreciate that the author has taken some liberties, but none are to the detriment of this story. I dont know if knowing the original myth is a help or not - it allows the reader to predict what happens next (and the likely result of the second/final book in the series) but then the author has made it different enough to beg the question "would it matter if you didnt?".
It did drag a little at the end, but the author has left the story at a point where Theseus has turned up ready to confront the Minotaur. Apparently pitched at the YA market, this is a challenging book - not because of any inappropriate scenes - but because of the need to see it through to the end.
May 3, 2016
The book is the first of a two-part series about Minos's Labyrinth and the Minotaur. Ariadne is the daughter of King Minos and Queen Pasiphae of Crete during the Minoan era. She is not godmarked like the rest of her family, and is especially resentful of her younger brother Asterion. He is her mother's favorite as he favors the god Poseidon and can transform into the Minotaur (who the local populace worship as a god) when fire is near. Ariadne is always being left behind and ignored so she decides to plot with her father to get rid of Asterion by locking him away inside of a mountain and getting the great inventor Daedalus to build a labyrinth to contain him. Chara, a slave girl, who grows up with Asterion and is his only friend. She watches Ariadne and her scheming from behind the scenes as Ariadne's personal slave.
Honestly when I first read the description for this book, I thought "It seems like a Percy Jackson rip-off", and there are some similarities. The story was very very slow-moving and I almost lost interest in finishing it. In a way, you almost feel sorry for Ariadne. However, she brings a lot of her hardships down on her own head with all the scheming for power and control. Although I didn't like her character, it was interesting to see how she became bitter, resentful, and cruel, which ultimately leads to her downfall. I really felt bad for Asterion who ended up being the pawn in the manipulations of his mother, sister and step-father. I also felt bad for Icarus as he was always pining after Ariadne, who was completely not worth his time, and also because he was godmarked to almost fly but not very successfully. However it evident from the text that the author has really done her research into Minoan history and culture, which is something I always like and appreciate. The reader is transported back to Bronze Age Crete and I could just imagine the costumes of the royalty, especially the princess as she did the bull dance. The only thing I would have liked is a glossary of names at the front of the book as all of the names were Greek and got rather confusing after awhile. Recommended for ages 15+, 3-1/2 stars.
Disclaimer: I received this advanced reader’s copy book from the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review.
Honestly when I first read the description for this book, I thought "It seems like a Percy Jackson rip-off", and there are some similarities. The story was very very slow-moving and I almost lost interest in finishing it. In a way, you almost feel sorry for Ariadne. However, she brings a lot of her hardships down on her own head with all the scheming for power and control. Although I didn't like her character, it was interesting to see how she became bitter, resentful, and cruel, which ultimately leads to her downfall. I really felt bad for Asterion who ended up being the pawn in the manipulations of his mother, sister and step-father. I also felt bad for Icarus as he was always pining after Ariadne, who was completely not worth his time, and also because he was godmarked to almost fly but not very successfully. However it evident from the text that the author has really done her research into Minoan history and culture, which is something I always like and appreciate. The reader is transported back to Bronze Age Crete and I could just imagine the costumes of the royalty, especially the princess as she did the bull dance. The only thing I would have liked is a glossary of names at the front of the book as all of the names were Greek and got rather confusing after awhile. Recommended for ages 15+, 3-1/2 stars.
Disclaimer: I received this advanced reader’s copy book from the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review.
June 13, 2014
An engaging fresh look at the traditional Greek myth of the Minotaur.
Caitlin Sweet’s take on the popular Greek myth successfully creates a world of characters that are all flawed in their own way. No one character is fully likeable, but instead of drawing away from the story this mixture of flaws and perfection adds to its three dimensional feel, rescuing it from becoming just another story populated by people that have perfect beauty and fantastical powers. Her characters have petty grudges as well as god-like abilities which means it is difficult to predict actions and reactions, making this a fast paced read. Although she tends to be repetitive with her imagery (lots of similes involving snakes and hair), her accurate references to Greek places and names more than makes up for it.
Ariadne is the daughter the Gods did not mark with a special talent, and her bitterness towards this and her resourcefulness to achieve power regardless are revealed as the driving force behind the infamous labyrinth and its pitiable inhabitants. The concept of godmarks provides a believable backdrop for the re-imagined visions of Icarus and Asterion (who will eventually become the Minotaur), and as the characters grow and their roles in life take on more importance, past resentments cement their journey into the infamous characters we know and recognise from lore.
This is the first instalment in the series, and I am already excited for the next one as it does end rather abruptly. The sequel is due in 2015, and The Door in the Mountain will be available 21st October 2014 – add this to your TBR pile if you enjoy retellings of well knows stories and books like The Shadow of the Minotaur by Alan Gibbons and Poison by Chris Wooding.
Caitlin Sweet’s take on the popular Greek myth successfully creates a world of characters that are all flawed in their own way. No one character is fully likeable, but instead of drawing away from the story this mixture of flaws and perfection adds to its three dimensional feel, rescuing it from becoming just another story populated by people that have perfect beauty and fantastical powers. Her characters have petty grudges as well as god-like abilities which means it is difficult to predict actions and reactions, making this a fast paced read. Although she tends to be repetitive with her imagery (lots of similes involving snakes and hair), her accurate references to Greek places and names more than makes up for it.
Ariadne is the daughter the Gods did not mark with a special talent, and her bitterness towards this and her resourcefulness to achieve power regardless are revealed as the driving force behind the infamous labyrinth and its pitiable inhabitants. The concept of godmarks provides a believable backdrop for the re-imagined visions of Icarus and Asterion (who will eventually become the Minotaur), and as the characters grow and their roles in life take on more importance, past resentments cement their journey into the infamous characters we know and recognise from lore.
This is the first instalment in the series, and I am already excited for the next one as it does end rather abruptly. The sequel is due in 2015, and The Door in the Mountain will be available 21st October 2014 – add this to your TBR pile if you enjoy retellings of well knows stories and books like The Shadow of the Minotaur by Alan Gibbons and Poison by Chris Wooding.
January 24, 2015
So, wow. That happened. I hadn’t expected the ending to be so abrupt; hadn’t realized beforehand that it wasn’t the end at all – that “The Door in the Mountain” was only book one, with a sequel to follow. That surprise discovery left me reeling, but I’m glad there will be more. Though the story was strange and dark and often uncomfortable, I find that I am not all opposed to a continuation of the excruciating magic.
I picked this book up from the store’s shelf on a whim, because I had book money and this book’s cover was fetching and its premise was Greek mythological. As it turns out, it’s a take on mythology unlike any I’ve encountered before. The idea of everyone (or, well, most everyone) being godmarked – born with special powers (blessings, curses, sometimes combinations of both) from the various deities – was an inventive touch, as were the recreations of such notorious folk as Icarus, the Minotaur, and others.
The royal family of Crete was all kinds of messed up, dancing drunkenly back and forth over the line between sympathetic and repulsive. I can’t even imagine what sort of twisted things they’ll get up to in the next book. I expect I shall stare in fascinated, cringing horror.
I didn’t fully understand the bond between Chara and Asterion – the enigmatic slave girl and the boy who was both prince and bull – but you know what? I’m okay with that. Loyal friendship is chosen, with or without reason beyond that one heart has determined to love the other. Princess Ariadne might have learned an important thing or two from them, rather than follow in her parents’ venomous footsteps.
The book’s over, and doggone it, I wasn’t ready for it to be. You can be sure my eventual purchase of Book 2 will be more than random whim.
I picked this book up from the store’s shelf on a whim, because I had book money and this book’s cover was fetching and its premise was Greek mythological. As it turns out, it’s a take on mythology unlike any I’ve encountered before. The idea of everyone (or, well, most everyone) being godmarked – born with special powers (blessings, curses, sometimes combinations of both) from the various deities – was an inventive touch, as were the recreations of such notorious folk as Icarus, the Minotaur, and others.
The royal family of Crete was all kinds of messed up, dancing drunkenly back and forth over the line between sympathetic and repulsive. I can’t even imagine what sort of twisted things they’ll get up to in the next book. I expect I shall stare in fascinated, cringing horror.
I didn’t fully understand the bond between Chara and Asterion – the enigmatic slave girl and the boy who was both prince and bull – but you know what? I’m okay with that. Loyal friendship is chosen, with or without reason beyond that one heart has determined to love the other. Princess Ariadne might have learned an important thing or two from them, rather than follow in her parents’ venomous footsteps.
The book’s over, and doggone it, I wasn’t ready for it to be. You can be sure my eventual purchase of Book 2 will be more than random whim.
February 15, 2017
Book reviewed for netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
I'm actually not sure if I liked this book or not. Okay here's the deal. The book begins with Ariadne getting caught between her mother and father in a fight over godmarks. What are godmarks you ask? Godmarks are special abilities given to people from gods (i.e. communicating with animals, transforming into a bull, crying tears of wine, etc.). Unfortunately, Ariadne does not have a godmark and this comes to define her life. She watches her siblings, especially her younger brother Asterion, grow and receive attention for their godmarks. She becomes bitter and eventually commits some heinous acts that have us hating her.
I spent the first two thirds of the book waiting for Ariadne to have an epiphany moment and change. When I reached the point of no return I wondered why I was still reading at all. Seriously, it's all just so depressing. And yeah okay, I get that basically all Greek mythology is depressing but if you're going to do an updated version, at least make it a bit happier. I want a hero/heroine to read about. Someone that I can cheer for. It's possible that Chara was marked for that role but she doesn't do much until the very end and I never really connected with her.
I might read the second one when it's released but I won't go out of my way to hunt it down. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of Greek mythology but for everyone else, you might want to give this a pass.
I'm actually not sure if I liked this book or not. Okay here's the deal. The book begins with Ariadne getting caught between her mother and father in a fight over godmarks. What are godmarks you ask? Godmarks are special abilities given to people from gods (i.e. communicating with animals, transforming into a bull, crying tears of wine, etc.). Unfortunately, Ariadne does not have a godmark and this comes to define her life. She watches her siblings, especially her younger brother Asterion, grow and receive attention for their godmarks. She becomes bitter and eventually commits some heinous acts that have us hating her.
I spent the first two thirds of the book waiting for Ariadne to have an epiphany moment and change. When I reached the point of no return I wondered why I was still reading at all. Seriously, it's all just so depressing. And yeah okay, I get that basically all Greek mythology is depressing but if you're going to do an updated version, at least make it a bit happier. I want a hero/heroine to read about. Someone that I can cheer for. It's possible that Chara was marked for that role but she doesn't do much until the very end and I never really connected with her.
I might read the second one when it's released but I won't go out of my way to hunt it down. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of Greek mythology but for everyone else, you might want to give this a pass.
October 12, 2014
While I enjoyed The Door in the Mountain, by Caitlin Sweet, I’m not jumping up and down with excitement over it. It’s a retelling of the Greek myth about the Minotaur, Asterion, through the eyes of Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos of Crete, and a slave girl, Chara. The story contains all of the major players from the myth, including Daedalus, Icarus, and Theseus. It’s full of vivid imagery, and the world came alive easily in my mind. However, there were times when the pace got slow enough for me to get a bit bored.
I’m fond of the growing trend of telling old stories and myths from the perspective of the “evil” characters. Ariadne is one of those characters. As a little girl, I felt sympathy for her because of how Pasiphae, her mother, treated her. However, I also disliked her. I could see what she was becoming in order to get attention and approval. My dislike continued to grow as she became more and more conniving, deceitful, jealous, and hateful. Near the end, though, there was a moment I pitied her. I never truly hated her. Instead, I understood that she would never be redeemed because that’s all she knew how to be.
Despite the pacing issue, I still recommend reading this book. It’s a quick read, at a little over 200 pages, and anyone who loves Greek mythology will enjoy it.
I’m fond of the growing trend of telling old stories and myths from the perspective of the “evil” characters. Ariadne is one of those characters. As a little girl, I felt sympathy for her because of how Pasiphae, her mother, treated her. However, I also disliked her. I could see what she was becoming in order to get attention and approval. My dislike continued to grow as she became more and more conniving, deceitful, jealous, and hateful. Near the end, though, there was a moment I pitied her. I never truly hated her. Instead, I understood that she would never be redeemed because that’s all she knew how to be.
Despite the pacing issue, I still recommend reading this book. It’s a quick read, at a little over 200 pages, and anyone who loves Greek mythology will enjoy it.
November 19, 2014
Caitlin Sweet approaches ancient Greek mythology from the YA market with a dark retelling of Ariadne and the minotaur's labyrinth at Crete.
Sweet's world shudders with the power of the gods. It seems near everyone but Ariadne has some eldritch and scintillating ability, mostly misdirected and excessive. Therein lies the undercurrent of Sweet's story: Ariadne's envy of the gods-given powers bestowed on everyone but her, but most especially her envy of her brother who is the minotaur.
One would think with such powerful myth and motivation Sweet's story would sweep away the reader, but somehow the story stutters under the weight of all that adolescent angst. Ariadne becomes a predictable and unlikeable antihero who whines and plots and inflicts pain as though that were her own god-given power.
Unlike Sweet's earlier novel, The Pattern Scars, there is a lack of depth in The Door in the Mountain, a parsimony in her former elegant phrasing, character development and narrative arc. It is a readable story, indeed quite consumable. But for this reader it is a disappointing second novel, lacking the considerable talent of her earlier work.
Sweet's world shudders with the power of the gods. It seems near everyone but Ariadne has some eldritch and scintillating ability, mostly misdirected and excessive. Therein lies the undercurrent of Sweet's story: Ariadne's envy of the gods-given powers bestowed on everyone but her, but most especially her envy of her brother who is the minotaur.
One would think with such powerful myth and motivation Sweet's story would sweep away the reader, but somehow the story stutters under the weight of all that adolescent angst. Ariadne becomes a predictable and unlikeable antihero who whines and plots and inflicts pain as though that were her own god-given power.
Unlike Sweet's earlier novel, The Pattern Scars, there is a lack of depth in The Door in the Mountain, a parsimony in her former elegant phrasing, character development and narrative arc. It is a readable story, indeed quite consumable. But for this reader it is a disappointing second novel, lacking the considerable talent of her earlier work.
May 28, 2015
The Door in the Mountain by Caitllin Sweet I received a free kindle copy of The Door in the Mountain by Caitllin Sweet, published by ChiZine Publications from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
I gave this comprehensive story about ancient Greek myths four stars. Without a basic knowledge of those myths, I believe the character's names could become confusing. The author has clearly done research & demonstrates clear understanding of these myths.
As it was, this story had moments of slowness. However the well developed characters more than made up for that. Ariadne was impossible to like because of her scheming, jealous, bitter nature & manipulation.
I had sympathy for Icarus. His god-mark seemed painful as well as ineffective. His part veered from the myth storyline where Daedelus made wings for him held together with wax.
Chara, the slave girl, with no god-mark was the most interesting character. I look forward to the follow up book to see her further actions.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Door-Mountain-C...
I gave this comprehensive story about ancient Greek myths four stars. Without a basic knowledge of those myths, I believe the character's names could become confusing. The author has clearly done research & demonstrates clear understanding of these myths.
As it was, this story had moments of slowness. However the well developed characters more than made up for that. Ariadne was impossible to like because of her scheming, jealous, bitter nature & manipulation.
I had sympathy for Icarus. His god-mark seemed painful as well as ineffective. His part veered from the myth storyline where Daedelus made wings for him held together with wax.
Chara, the slave girl, with no god-mark was the most interesting character. I look forward to the follow up book to see her further actions.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Door-Mountain-C...
August 3, 2014
Book Summary
Published by - Diamond Book Distributors
Release Date - October 21st 2014
Pages - 300
My Rating - 3 Stars
Review
I could see where Caitlin Sweet was trying to go with this book, but it didn't quite get there for me. It could've been epic, but instead there was so much backstory and filler that it let down the tension and anticipation that should've filled the reader.
I love mythology, so I was really excited about reading this book, and we all know the story of Ariande, Icarus and the other characters from school, so we really didn't need all the unimportant filler. All in all it was an okay read, it just needed more...well, everything as far as the story is concerned.
February 8, 2015
This book was something I had picked up on a whim at Barnes and Noble knowing nothing other than what the short synopsis told me. From the synopsis, it seemed really interesting and I was really excited to read it.
However, it was not what I expected. First of all, it was very slow. There was a lot of explaining done in the beginning that made it hard to get through, and the whole book was basically just an explanation to get you to the next book. Nothing exciting really happened until the end. Secondly, the characters were annoying. I felt that they were poorly developed and that their actions had no logical explanation because of this. There were some characters that were dropped in with almost no background information and I just figured out who they were over time. I felt no attachment whatsoever to any of them.
Overall, I think that this book was not very well thought out and could have been done better. There were certainly times where I was intrigued, but really I was just disappointed.
However, it was not what I expected. First of all, it was very slow. There was a lot of explaining done in the beginning that made it hard to get through, and the whole book was basically just an explanation to get you to the next book. Nothing exciting really happened until the end. Secondly, the characters were annoying. I felt that they were poorly developed and that their actions had no logical explanation because of this. There were some characters that were dropped in with almost no background information and I just figured out who they were over time. I felt no attachment whatsoever to any of them.
Overall, I think that this book was not very well thought out and could have been done better. There were certainly times where I was intrigued, but really I was just disappointed.
December 9, 2015
As much as The Door in the Mountain is a tale of wonders, it is also a tale of human experience, focussing at its root on family conflicts. This is a tale of the toxicity of envy in a family, of rejection and the desire for belonging, of power and the loss of control. It is, at its roots, a tale of those everyday conflicts that shape the lives of people and turn them into who they will become. The power of transformation in this novel is not just one of characters who can turn into Bulls or birds (although, of course, they do) of even of characters growing into their magical powers as they discover how they are god-marked, but is also about the way that simple actions, misunderstandings, interpretations, and ideas can change a character, shaping them from childhood to adulthood and determining who they will be and what will continue to motivate, hurt, inspire, and influence them.
To read a longer version of my review, visit my website at http://speculatingcanada.ca/2015/08/1...
To read a longer version of my review, visit my website at http://speculatingcanada.ca/2015/08/1...
April 9, 2015
I want to give this five stars because I love Greek mythology more than any other, but I can't. I can't because it was a little too slow-paced for my taste. However, this rating should be a 4.5 and I will tell you why: it was so completely different than what I had imagined.
Firstly: the main character is a villain. This is amazing and is never truly done. Especially in YA. The best part? You actually feel sorry for her from the very beginning.
Secondly: unlike every other book where people have these amazing powers, the two main characters are the only real ones without any. It was a fresh way of saying that we may not be gifted, but we're all special. By this I mean that both characters do things in extraordinary ways because they need to figure out how they can accomplish their goals due to them being not godmarked.
It was clever and amazing and I couldn't put it down. I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves mythology and breath-taking stories.
Firstly: the main character is a villain. This is amazing and is never truly done. Especially in YA. The best part? You actually feel sorry for her from the very beginning.
Secondly: unlike every other book where people have these amazing powers, the two main characters are the only real ones without any. It was a fresh way of saying that we may not be gifted, but we're all special. By this I mean that both characters do things in extraordinary ways because they need to figure out how they can accomplish their goals due to them being not godmarked.
It was clever and amazing and I couldn't put it down. I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves mythology and breath-taking stories.
October 1, 2014
I'm not sure what to rate this book. It was weird and kind of confusing, and that birthing scene was unnecessarily descriptive and way too accurate.
It was interesting and well written. But since I am not very familiar with greek mythology other than just basic stuff like names of the gods and their role... I didn't know how much was liberties made by the author. I like to know more than just basic stuff about mythology when authors write books set in the mythology.
I'd recommend this book to people who like this genre, and who like greek mythology.
I received this book from Netgalley for review
It was interesting and well written. But since I am not very familiar with greek mythology other than just basic stuff like names of the gods and their role... I didn't know how much was liberties made by the author. I like to know more than just basic stuff about mythology when authors write books set in the mythology.
I'd recommend this book to people who like this genre, and who like greek mythology.
I received this book from Netgalley for review
November 6, 2014
Aah, when does the next book come? can't wait for it... fascinating and dark retelling of the myth about the Minotaur. goodmark and magic roams the lands.
As I've read one other book from Sweet I expected the book to be dark but not that one of the three main characters is a kid who is jealous of everyone and despite everyone and have the power and wits to try to destroy them too... the other characters is a slave girl and connected to Asterion, whom is the last character, and a ordinary boy with a bullhead.
As I've read one other book from Sweet I expected the book to be dark but not that one of the three main characters is a kid who is jealous of everyone and despite everyone and have the power and wits to try to destroy them too... the other characters is a slave girl and connected to Asterion, whom is the last character, and a ordinary boy with a bullhead.
Read
March 21, 2016Yet another book that I almost finished, quit, but skimmed the end. It should be a message to me if I start compulsively reading a book I only half enjoy that it's better to stop.
I also had a problem with the notion of god marks. Besides the fact that I don't like rationalized explanations for magic, because it drains all the wonder out of the tale for me, I kept thinking of My Little Pony's cutie marks. Every time someone longed for their glowing god mark, my brain inserted "cutie" for "god."
Book, it's not you, it's me. Probably.
I also had a problem with the notion of god marks. Besides the fact that I don't like rationalized explanations for magic, because it drains all the wonder out of the tale for me, I kept thinking of My Little Pony's cutie marks. Every time someone longed for their glowing god mark, my brain inserted "cutie" for "god."
Book, it's not you, it's me. Probably.
March 1, 2020
This is a bit of a prequel to the Greek story of the Minotaur.
Its an interesting telling and really gives you a reason to why the Minotaur's sister was so angry at him and treated him the way she did. I really liked that.
From what I understand the next book will be more of the classic story re told.
My only complaint is I found it a bit easy to get lost while reading this, the writing was very strong and includes thing you may have to look up or use inference clues to figure out so be prepared.
Its an interesting telling and really gives you a reason to why the Minotaur's sister was so angry at him and treated him the way she did. I really liked that.
From what I understand the next book will be more of the classic story re told.
My only complaint is I found it a bit easy to get lost while reading this, the writing was very strong and includes thing you may have to look up or use inference clues to figure out so be prepared.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews