A Quest for Deliverance : An Ariadne and Theseus Retelling

Lives of Legends

by Cara E. Ruegg

Ariadne has never believed in the gods her father worships, the ones who demand blood sacrifices and rule with fear. She knows that they’re not gods, just people with strange powers—like her. But in a court where power is everything, revealing her secret could make her a pawn in her father’s ruthless game.

When a stranger arrives, immune to her abilities and shrouded in mystery, Ariadne is drawn to him. But falling for him could be her undoing, especially when her father condemns him to the Labyrinth, a maze that no one escapes alive. Determined to save him, Ariadne ventures into the maze herself, guided by her hidden abilities and an unlikely ally.

A Quest for Deliverance, a retelling of Theseus and Ariadne, is a standalone no-spice novella, complete with tropes like forbidden romance, enemies to lovers vibes, and self-discovery. It is part of the “Lives of Legend” series, a collection of twelve retellings of Greek myths where the tragedies become happily ever afters. Each book is written by a different author so it can be enjoyed in any order. The proceeds from this series are donated to the Human Coalition to provide for mothers facing crisis pregnancies.

Genres: Fantasy

164 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2025

About the author

Cara Ruegg is an artist who lives a happy life with her husband and children. Her days consist of bringing stories to life often while curled up in bed nursing her little one, baking and making endless messes with her toddler, lots of pretend play, and even more hugs and kisses! She is a Catholic convert and this can, she hopes, be reflected in some of her works. She hopes you enjoy her books! She writes mysteries as Eliza Floretta.

Reviews

[Abby (Reader of Clean Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC so here is my honest review.

I’m slightly familiar with the original story. I’ve only read the Usborne abridged kid version lol. So, I kinda knew what to expect.

I love Dionysus. He’s such a great guy. He also truly loves Ariadne, unlike Theseus. Theseus is rotten.

I really liked how the “gods” weren’t actually gods and that they were just people with unusual powers. It was an incredibly creative twist.

Ariadne was oddly angry with Dionysus. I know that what he did wasn’t a super nice thing to do but it took her way too long to get over it. Like, girl, it’s not a good thing to hold a grudge.

When Dionysus said that he wanted to crown Ariadne with stars it made me think of the Blessed Mother and her crown of twelve stars. I dunno if it was supposed to reflect Mary’s crown or if it was an accident but I like it anyways.

I love weddings. 🥰

Overall, I really enjoyed this. I give you, my recommendation.

Oh, and I can’t forget! Thank you, Cara Ruegg for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.

[★*☆♪Ev★*☆♪ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as an ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Wow! This is not a book I would normally have picked up. But I was immediately interested in the story. I am personally not a Greek story person, but I was open to trying this and was not disappointed.

Ariadne:
She was a really sweet character. But she was too willing to give her heart away to Theseus. I mean girl, you've known him for what was it 2 days! And you are saying you love him and want to marry him! But I really liked her power!

Theseus:
Right from the start, I knew there was something odd with him! Oh, how I highly dislike him! He was so rude and arrogant! Ugh, I was grinding my teeth whenever it was his point of view.

Dionysus:
What a sweet guy! At first, I thought him arrogant, but he was just troubled. He truly loves Ariadne, and she didn't give him the time of day! He truly was my favorite character.

Content:
God's,
Magic,
Power,
Sacrificing,
Death,
A man tricking a woman into loving him so she would help him,
Some wounds with blood. Not too descriptive,


Overall, I really enjoyed this story! I recommend this for 13+

I am really happy I got the arc, Thank you, Cara Ruegg! I recommend all books by this author.

[Evelyn (Ev’s Novel Delights) · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Clean Fantasy/Greek Mythology) *Full Review*

🕯️A Quest for Deliverance by Cara E. Ruegg🕯️

Book #4 in the Multi Author standalone series, Lives of Legends. [Books can be read in any order]

ARC Review! 🎉

📖 Expected Publication Date: August 29, 2025 📖

Blurb:

Ariadne has never believed in the gods her father worships, the ones who demand blood sacrifices and rule with fear. She knows that they’re not gods, just people with strange powers—like her. But in a court where power is everything, revealing her secret could make her a pawn in her father’s ruthless game.

When a stranger arrives, immune to her abilities and shrouded in mystery, Ariadne is drawn to him. But falling for him could be her undoing, especially when her father condemns him to the Labyrinth, a maze that no one escapes alive. Determined to save him, Ariadne ventures into the maze herself, guided by her hidden abilities and an unlikely ally.

A Quest for Deliverance, a retelling of Theseus and Ariadne, is a standalone no-spice novella, complete with tropes like forbidden romance, enemies to lovers vibes, and self-discovery. It is part of the “Lives of Legend” series, a collection of twelve retellings of Greek myths where the tragedies become happily ever afters. Each book is written by a different author so it can be enjoyed in any order. The proceeds from this series are donated to the Human Coalition to provide for mothers facing crisis pregnancies.

My thoughts:

Another great book written by Cara Ruegg!
I didn’t even realize this was part of a multi author series, until like last night… yeah, we don’t talk about that. It’s actually a pretty quick and sweet little book, I would almost call it a novella?? 🤔

I thought the Greek Mythology woven in this book was pretty cool and interesting! I had never heard of Ariadne and Theseus’s story before so it was something new. There were these little curveballs in the story that kept my mind tossing and turning.. asking myself questions furiously like, “who is she gonna end up with?” or “she better not end up with him!”. Not gonna say who though! 🙃

Ariadne —> was such a humble person and I loved that about her. She was that princess ‘god’ that visited and had compassion on the poor. She was bit naive and fell in love with this “faker” that didn’t even love her and was just messing with her emotions. But all things went well by the end! 😮‍💨😄
Theseus —> didn’t really like him 😒
He really didn’t have any depth until the end.
Dionysus —> the “god”… he grew on meeee [swoon]
I think that’s all I’ll say.. I don’t wanna give anything else away 😉😅

“I wish to kiss you now, believe me, but I want it to be at the moment I can fully say, ‘You’re mine.’”

In conclusion, this was a cute and squeaky clean little book with hardly any details in the romance, had no language, and not a lot of details on the Greek Mythology (my opinion).

I received this ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review! Thank you to Cara E. Ruegg for the opportunity!

⚠️ Age recommendation: 13-14+ ⚠️

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ages 10-12 rating: ⭐️💫

Ages 13-14 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Ages 15-16 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫


Sexual Content:
2 kisses (both were very lightly detailed), a hand kiss, a hair kiss, a cheek kiss, remembering a kiss, and wanting to kiss. A little bit of Attraction, Noticing, Warmth, Blushing, Touches, and Tingles. Some Flirting and dancing (1x). A mention of a woman may or may not still being “virtuous” because she was in the presence of men in a boat overnight (she still is). Love and the emotions.

Profanity:
None

Violence:
Some blood, death, fighting, injuries, pain, and being struck by a sword. Sacrificing people when they break a law or are guilty for crime, (killing people for the gods) and sentencing people to be killed by the Minotaur. Mentions of a curse and a bloodbath. Mentions of death and killing. Mentions of a war.
(All of this is lightly to semi-detailed)

Other Content:
This book contains Greek Mythology and the gods having powers.
Not overly detailed though.

LGBTQ Content:
None

POV’s: In 3rd person
Switches between Ariadne, Theseus, and Dionysus.
148 pages

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this books. It was really good. I think this was a really creative take on the story. It is clear there are/will be more books in this series and I would absolutely read them. The authors writing is enjoyable and the plot was unique and creative.

I will admit I got frustrated with Ariadne. She was generous and kind,but she could also be close-minded and stubborn.... she chose to hold a grudge that I found rather annoying or frustrating.

I likes Dyonesis a lot. He was a very likable character. Unlike the Narrative tells us, I dont think he changed that much...seeing he was immediately sorry for the mistake he made. He was kind, generous, and self-sacrificing.

I had my feelings about Theseus early on in the story. It will be interesting to see where his story goes as this series continues.

This story does have a resolution,but there is also a clear indication that the story will continue.

Overall, very enjoyable. I recommend to anyone who enjoys romantasy and greek retellings.

I received an ARC of this story.. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jes Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The myth of the Labrynth, Ariadne, and Theseus is a story I will never tire of. This retelling follows Ariadne, Theseus, and Dionysus, who all have their own secrets and struggles. All three of them having POVs was very fun because both men were vying for Ariadne's attention, and it made for a compelling love triangle until they finally revealed their true natures.

Besides these three, there were quite a few named characters from Greek mythology, which I loved to see. However, the story can also be enjoyed by someone unfamiliar with the myths can still enjoy the story with its intrigue and plot twists. One scene in particular, which I cannot go into detail about because it is a spoiler to anyone who isn't familiar with the myth, was extremely chilling even as someone who has known this myth from childhood. It will stay with me a long time.

This story is the perfect retelling for those who want to read Greek myths for the first time and those who have been obsessed with them for years- and even those who just wants to enjoy a story with adventure, romance, and betrayal regardless of its source material.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to start by saying I received an ARC of this book. This is clean Greek myth retelling of Ariadne and Theseus. The main characters are Ariadne, Theseus, and Dionysus. I have never heard of Ariadne and Theseus before so I didn’t know what to expect reading this book. This was a shorter book but kept me interested. Ariadne frustrated me at times. I didn’t like Theseus at all. Dionysus was by favorite in this book. He was such a sweetheart and great guy. I didn’t realize when getting an ARC that this was a love triangle. One reason it’s not getting 5 stars if for the fact it had a love triangle as I don’t like them. I was happy with how the book ended. This is the first book I have read by this author and the first Greek myth book I have ever read. Overall, this was a good book and I can’t wait to read more by this author.

[Marissa Hoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Quest for Deliverance was a quick, fast paced read that I enjoyed. It had fantasy, action, and romance - all of which I love.

While each character was unique, there was some head hopping throughout the story. Certain characters were never introduced to another character while they are strangers. Even though this is a novella, I was craving more from the story and the characters. At times, I felt I wasn’t given enough to truly feel what they felt. But the writing was enticing to keep me engaged.

I love a good retelling. The little twists and surprises in the story were very good!

If you’re looking for a quick, fun read, I do recommend this book.

Thank you for the ARC. This is my honest review. And happy pub day to the author!

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book because I really enjoyed the Kingdom of Dragons series by Cara. This story was cute, but it had a younger feel. It is written in the present tense which I found jarring, but I’m told that is common for YA fiction these days.
The story was certainly an interesting take on some Greek myths and I really liked where Cara went with them. However, the story seemed surface level and didn’t pull me in deep. Again, that could simply be due to the fact that this is YA and I’m a middle-aged adult.
I'm giving it 4 stars because I'm sure if I were younger I would enjoy this more and I do really enjoy this author's other books. This probably needed to be longer and more in-depth for adult interests.

I received an ARC and my review is my own.

[Susan K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received a free ARC, but this is an honest review:

I really liked the character-building of Dionysus the most in this story. I wasn't expecting it, especially in comparison to other things I've read with him in it. In this retelling of the Greek myth of Theseus and Ariadne, it would go back and forth among three points of view: Ariadne, Theseus, and Dionysus which was insightful. Though for me, the story ended with too many unanswered questions about Theseus. Despite this, I found it to be an enjoyable read. -- my 13 y.o. daughter

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC, and this is my honest review.

It seemed to end very abruptly, like there is a sequel coming, even though I know it is a standalone. The writing also seemed a little strange at times, for instance getting glimpses into Ariadne's mind while being in Theseus's perspective. But the story itself was great! I loved the story, loved the twist, and the fact that I could actually love and root for a particular character from Greek mythology that I never thought I'd like, heehee.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I’m going to say is that sometimes not having magical powers can be a good thing, especially when you have a deranged father who is legit power hungry. Ariadne has poor taste in men and should have left Theseus to die in the labyrinth. Dionysus deserved better and I personally wish he would’ve ended up with someone else. Y’all this novel took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions, but it was totally worth the read! The suspense was perfect, the characters were realistic, and the plot twist was devastatingly good.

[Jazmin Jordan-Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing retelling of Ariadne and Theseus!! I had never really read much about their story, but I was mildly familiar with it.

I loved all the little details. The sweet nothings. The red flags and the green flags.

I am so glad Ariadne didn’t end up with a jerk. Besides being a little stubborn and angry, she didn’t deserve ending up with a jerk. So I was so glad when she ended up with the good guy. I would love to read more about their romance.

[Alesa Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! I’m not well versed in mythology, so I can’t say how true to the myth this is, but there are tidbits woven in that I do remember, such as a labyrinth, a Minotaur, and a thread.

The romance was squeaky clean, but well written!

My only “complaint” is that the battle scenes seemed to be over too quickly. It was won too easily. But maybe that was just me. They were really well written, so maybe it just left me wanting more!

Recommended for ages 12+

[Jessica Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t typically read novellas, but this one intrigued me! I loved the ancient setting, the perspective on the gods, and the retelling of the story of Ariadne and Theseus!

It was fast-paced, clean, easy-to-read, and engaging.

Thank you to the author for this ARC! All thoughts expressed are my own.

[Jo Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved A Quest for Deliverance! It was a very fast paced and fun take on Ariadne and Dionysus. One thing I loved is how much of a simp Dionysus is for Ariadne!
One of my favorite things is also the character development! I love how some went from loved to hated and others from not caring to trying to improve themselves!

[Michelle Pomeroy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This can be an interesting take on the myth of the minotaur. But, it is also told in multi-POV, third person, present tense, which I personally find jarring and takes some getting used to. The editing could also use some work.
This is a clean read. I received an ARC from the author. I was not required to write a review but chose to do so and the opinions stated are my own.

[ChriseBee · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable tale of love, bravery, secrets, and adventure, Quest for Deliverance was a quick, exciting read. This is the first book that I've read by Cara Ruegg, and it will definitely not be the last.

I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this retelling of the myth of Ariadne and Theseus. I vaguely remembered this Greek myth from my childhood when I knew it as The Monster in the Labyrinth, and I was very interested in revisiting the story. Cara's version was a satisfying retelling. She effectively conveyed emotions and maintained the suspense, which ensured that I never lost interest. I liked the fast pace given that it is a novella, so you dive right in. I read nearly 100 pages before I realized that because I couldn't put it down. While I didn't want this story to end so soon, the best thing was Ariadne's happy ending.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, it was well-written. I wish we had learned more about Theseus but I didn’t really know much about the original myth.

[The Humorous Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rtc

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a story I had never heard so although it was a retelling I had no idea such a story existed so to me this was fresh and good change of pace from my usual reads. I teetered between denial and surety while reading this book. I liked the kind and gutsy FMC and her steadfast love interest. I truly did not see anything coming in the end of this book. Greek mythology is unmarked territory, but after reading this I would love to revisit it. No spice and zero swearing!

*Love at First Sight
*Demi Gods
*Greek mythology Retelling
*Standalone
*Fast Paced
*Magical Beast
*Love Triangle

[Cadence · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Quest For Deliverance is a retelling inspired by the Greek myth of Ariadne and Theseus. In the author's note, at the start, she mentions this is not meant to follow the myth, era, and setting precisely. She does take liberties with all of that, but I like what she does with the story.

This is a third person, multi POV novella. And as with most novellas I read, it did feel a tiny bit rushed but not too bad. I actually enjoyed the writing, the story, and the characters quite a bit. Dionysus was my favorite, I love how he changed and grew throughout the story. I really appreciated the chapters from his POV.

A Quest For Deliverance is one book in a collaborative series of 8 retellings. Each book tells the story of a different Greek myth, but instead of tragedies we get happily ever afters! I recently found out that the proceeds from this series will be donated to the Human Coalition.

If you enjoy retellings and Greek mythology then this fun and quick read is for you. Also, if you like having your reading money go to a good cause be sure to check out the rest of the series as well.


I received an advanced review copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion and thoughts

[Mic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for this lovely beta read! Such a great story. I think this is my favorite book by Cara E. Ruegg!

A Quest for Deliverance is a powerful story about redemption, resilience, and the search for inner peace. From the very beginning, the author draws readers into a vivid world filled with hardship, moral tension, and quiet beauty. The setting feels alive, and the writing captures both the external dangers and the emotional depth of the journey.

The protagonist’s arc is especially engaging. Their struggles, doubts, and gradual growth feel real and heartfelt, making it easy to connect with their quest for meaning and forgiveness. The supporting characters and conflicts add layers of complexity, and the plot balances moments of tension with introspective calm. Twists and revelations arrive naturally, keeping the pace steady and satisfying.

It’s a story that stays with you, one that blends adventure with emotion and reminds readers that deliverance often comes from within. Thoughtful, vivid, and emotionally rich, A Quest for Deliverance is a compelling read for fans of character-driven fantasy and heartfelt journeys.