Dark of the Moon

Dec 11, 2011 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, retelling, historical, young-adult, vine, mythology, read-in-2011

Creative re-telling lures readers back to ancient Greece

Tracy Barrett's Dark of the Moon lures readers back to the time of ancient Greece. On Krete, Ariadne has spent her whole life being trained to be she who will be Goddess. Her only true companions are her mother, the current Goddess, and her malformed brother, Asterion, who is imprisoned beneath the palace due to his unintentionally violent ways. When a tribute ship of slaves arrives from Athens and delivers Theseus, the son of a king, Ariad...more Creative re-telling lures readers back to ancient Greece

Tracy Barrett's Dark of the Moon lures readers back to the time of ancient Greece. On Krete, Ariadne has spent her whole life being trained to be she who will be Goddess. Her only true companions are her mother, the current Goddess, and her malformed brother, Asterion, who is imprisoned beneath the palace due to his unintentionally violent ways. When a tribute ship of slaves arrives from Athens and delivers Theseus, the son of a king, Ariadne's life becomes even more complicated as death, family, and duty intertwine.

DARK OF THE MOON delivered on its promise of providing a creative re-telling of the Theseus myth involving Ariadne and the Minotaur. Myth or not, the way in which the story was written made everything believable as having happened in history at some point. Barrett was able to place the tale within the historical context of the time by bringing in fascinating information about politics, religion, and culture, and she did so in a way that kept me intrigued. The author also used a very sympathetic and human approach that I appreciated to explain the characters, their actions, and how they developed into the people described in the original myths. The book's consistent pacing also kept me turning pages, especially as the plot picked up in the second half.

However, as with any re-telling, parts of the story were very predictable, even if the paths to certain outcomes were changed. Because of this, it was sometimes difficult to feel excited about reading forward because I felt like I knew what would happen next. The writing also came off as burdensome sometimes, especially the switch from Ariadne's chapters being told in past tense to Theseus's being told in the present tense. The related jumps in time throughout the story were off-putting as well. With much less romance than the original tale and some heavy violence and implied sexuality, this book will likely appeal to a smaller niche market of older teens who like mythology and who can handle the gory descriptions of violence.

Overall, Barrett provides a creative and very human twist on the tale of Theseus and the Minotaur, but it's likely not enough to appeal to a large audience. I'll be interested to see what Barrett writes next, though I won't necessarily be rushing out to pick it up.

Note: This review refers to an advance review copy.(less)

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Mar 11, 2011 Tabby rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, arc, kindle

Received from: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Publisher)
Received Via: NetGalley.com

The Dark of the Moon asks the question,what if the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur was one big misinterpretation?

Ariadne is dealing with her loneliness of being one who is destined to become a goddess. Being a person people fear, she is left with only her mother and misshapen bother for company. That is until a ship arrives carrying the tributes from Athens. Including a prince, who doesn't seem to fear her and w...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Tatiana rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: not those in search of the next YA PNR: Greek style

Recommended to Tatiana by: Kirkus

Shelves: historical, ya, 2011, only-i-will-like

If you expect Dark of the Moon to be just another Greek mythology-inspired paranormal YA romance, look elsewhere. If you are looking for a novel based on a familiar myth but that turns this myth on its head and re-imagines it in the most unexpected but realistic way, you might have hit a jackpot here.

Traditionally, the myth of the Minotaur is a pretty straight forward tale that is mostly known for Cretan Princess Ariadne's passionate love for Theseus. She helps her imprisoned enemy to defeat her...more If you expect Dark of the Moon to be just another Greek mythology-inspired paranormal YA romance, look elsewhere. If you are looking for a novel based on a familiar myth but that turns this myth on its head and re-imagines it in the most unexpected but realistic way, you might have hit a jackpot here.

Traditionally, the myth of the Minotaur is a pretty straight forward tale that is mostly known for Cretan Princess Ariadne's passionate love for Theseus. She helps her imprisoned enemy to defeat her brother, half-bull/half-human creature Minotaur, by giving Theseus a thread that would guide him out of the Minotaur's lair located in a center of a intricate labyrinth. In return, Theseus marries Ariadne and whisks her away from Crete just to abandon her on the way back to his home, Athens.

Tracy Barrett, however, takes a different approach. Don't expect a romance-driven story here. In her interpretation, in mythologies, while some important events in history are remembered and retold, they are not always understood correctly. Every religion adds a certain magical flair to the events it builds its teachings upon. But at the core of them are true occurrences that have nothing to do with magic, miracles and divine interferences.

You search what could have been a source of the myth of the Minotaur, and a new vision emerges - the Minotaur is just a disfigured, deranged man; Theseus's heroic adventures are exaggerations of a young overactive imagination; and Ariadne's help is motivated not by her passion for Theseus, but by her position as a priestess and future Goddess-incarnate and her desire to serve her land.

I am impressed by this approach to religion and myth creation. What is even more exciting (again, for me) is how Barrett sets up the stage for her retelling in terms of political and religious intricacies. On Crete specifically Goddess worship is rampant. This religion is gory and sordid in its details, but it also vital to Crete's prosperity and integrity as a country. This short novel manages to show how and why religions may be born, how they serve their followers and what makes them fall out of grace. It reminded me a lot of one of my favorite Ursula K. Le Guin's short stories The Birthday of the World, and I use this comparison as a complement to Dark of the Moon.

To me, this historically realistic approach to retelling a myth is much more interesting than any other banking on forbidden love and betrayal.

I am not sure how many readers search for such themes in their YA fiction, but for me Dark of the Moon turned out to be a pleasant surprise that took me in a direction I never expected this Greek myth retelling to take me. The last few chapters are a little rushed and at times confusing, but otherwise this is a memorable, unconventional YA novel. (less)

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Jun 09, 2013 Julie-anne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Very well written story with some interesting takes on Greek mythology. I liked Ariadne and her relationship with her brother. While everyone sees him as a monster, he's still just Ariadne's big brother. She spends time with him and brings him gifts when everyone else would just ignore him.

Ariadne's family are a long line of contacts to the Goddess with Ariadne and her brother being next in line. This take on the Goddess is quite interesting, where she actually inhabits She-Who-Is-Goddess for 3...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Olivia Dulinski rated it 1 of 5 stars

It took FOREVER to finish this book.
When I first picked it up, I thought "Oh, a myth told in a new way, yay! I love these!" So I initially started off the right foot. But as I read the less and less I cared about Mythology.
What was so terrible about this book to get a one-star?
The author was more focused on the traditions of the Kreten culture, that she repeated information about fifty times over before the climax even devolved.
Also, there was no plot. Nothing really happened, besides her mother...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

What I liked most about this book was the whole Greek aspect to it, the retelling of the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, turned on its side and reinvented. It was interesting to read names that I vaguely remembered from 7th grade when we studied Greek culture. Most of the names however I only knew or remembered from reading the adventures of Percy Jackson.

What I really want to know though, was how authentic certain parts of their culture were represented in this book. I mean, I can see why t...more

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Jan 07, 2012 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ncbla

Two points of views are offered in this revisionist telling of the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. I really liked that part of the story is told by Theseus and part by Ariadne, and the reviewers who mentioned that this book takes the original story and spins it on its ears are absolutely right. The Minotaur, for instance, is not a bull-headed creature but the sad brother of Ariadne whose rages have doomed him to be imprisoned below the palace in a series of paths that are mazes. He does not k...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Laurie Gray rated it 5 of 5 stars

I reviewed this book for ReadersFavorites.com.

Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett plumbs the depth of Greek Mythology, re-spinning the story of the Minotaur into a tale for today’s teens. Fifteen-year-old Ariadne is Krete’s moon goddess in training. Sixteen-year-old Theseus, a misfit in the small village of Troizena, discovers his father is king of Athens. Their fates entwine when Athens sends Theseus to Krete as a royal sacrifice to Ariadne’s brother, the Minotaur. Theseus arrives shortly before...more

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Nov 17, 2011 Hylary Locsin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

In the ancient Krete, teenage Ariadne is in training to become a goddess of the moon, as her mother, mother’s mother and so on have done for centuries. Ariadne, known as She-Who-Will-Be-Goddess, spends most of her life confined in the palace walls, cut off from the world by the fear the people of Krete feel at offending the Goddess. Ariadne takes comfort in the love she feels for her older brother...more Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

In the ancient Krete, teenage Ariadne is in training to become a goddess of the moon, as her mother, mother’s mother and so on have done for centuries. Ariadne, known as She-Who-Will-Be-Goddess, spends most of her life confined in the palace walls, cut off from the world by the fear the people of Krete feel at offending the Goddess. Ariadne takes comfort in the love she feels for her older brother, Asterion. Although Asterion was born with severe deformities and a childlike nature, Ariadne is fiercely protective of him. The people of Krete greatly misunderstand Asterion, whose complete ignorance of his own strength causes him to accidentally hurt or even kill those who are offered up as his companions. In an effort to avoid the wrath of Krete’s navy, neighboring countries frequently send gifts to the island in the form of goods, luxuries, and human sacrifices. One day, Theseus, a prince of Athens, is sent by his vengeful stepmother to become a companion to Asterion, who the Athenians refer to as the “Minotaurus.” Ariadne encounters Theseus by chance shortly after his arrival and is surprised to find that he is actually friendly with her, unlike the rest of the palace residents who want nothing more than to avoid her presence. Ariadne enjoys her friendship, and budding romance, with Theseus, but senses that there is danger lurking. In the original telling of the myth of the Minotaur, Theseus kills the monster before marrying Ariadne. Will the same fate befall Asterion, Ariadne and Theseus in Dark of the Moon?

Bringing to life a centuries old myth and making it relevant to young adult readers is no small-feat, but one that author Tracy Barrett manages to accomplish in Dark of the Moon. The story of Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur are likely to be somewhat familiar to most young adult readers, even if it is limited to fleeting images of a vicious monster with the body of a man and the head of a bull. The myth is actually quite interesting in its own right, but Barrett’s re-telling brings a level of poignancy not found in the original tale. The narration of the novel changes between Ariadne and Theseus throughout the novel, allowing each character to be given a rich back-story and appropriate amount of development. Instead of being a lumbering soldier who uses his brute force to slay the evil monster, Theseus is actually a young man who struggles with confidence as a result of years of bullying and neglect from his mother and the people in his small village. Ariadne is not merely a mystical priestess, but a teenage girl who doubts that she has the ability to follow in her mother’s footsteps and bring prosperity to Krete by becoming the human incarnation of the moon goddess. Almost as interesting as the primary characters are Asterion, the lovable Minotaurus himself, and Prokris, a scheming Athenian girl who accompanies Theseus to Krete with a plan to overthrow the “barbarians” in charge. Overall, Dark of the Moon is a multi-layered and entertaining take on an old tale; certain to be equally enjoyable for adult as well as teen readers.

As a huge fan of both historical fiction and mythology I was really excited to read this book. I was glad that I did! Although I love historical fiction, I often find that the pacing can be a little slow. That was not the case with Dark of the Moon. Changing perspectives between Ariadne and Theseus was a good move on the part of the author in terms of keeping the plot moving forward. I also really enjoyed how in-depth the character development was, even for the more minor characters. I look forward to seeing if Tracy Barrett published more myth re-tellings. (less)

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Oct 29, 2011 A Canadian Girl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, 4-stars, houghton-mifflin

Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett is a re-telling of the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. As a huge lover of Greek mythology and having taken Classics courses, I debated whether to read Dark of the Moon because I was a little worried about the Minotaur now becoming a boy with a childlike mind rather than the fearsome creature that’s part bull and part man from the original myth. Thankfully, Barrett’s version works and managed to pleasantly surprise me.

Dark of the Moon’s strength is in its impec...more Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett is a re-telling of the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. As a huge lover of Greek mythology and having taken Classics courses, I debated whether to read Dark of the Moon because I was a little worried about the Minotaur now becoming a boy with a childlike mind rather than the fearsome creature that’s part bull and part man from the original myth. Thankfully, Barrett’s version works and managed to pleasantly surprise me.

Dark of the Moon’s strength is in its impeccable world building. I really felt as if I had been transplanted to Crete and yet as a modern reader, the setting also retained an element of fantasy because of people’s belief in the divine realm. I’ll admit to feeling a little lost when I first started the novel, but things slowly became clearer once the Athenians arrived on Crete because you begin to see how the Athenian and Cretan religions differ (though there is some overlap). Also, I found it interesting that the Athenians held some false assumptions about Crete because they didn’t know much about the Cretans.

The story is told through the eyes of two narrators: Ariadne and Theseus. Since not much is known about Ariadne in the original myth other than that she helps Theseus kill the Minotaur and is abandoned by him on the island of Naxos where she later marries the god Dionysus, Barrett was free to do whatever she wanted with Ariadne. Thus, in Dark of the Moon, Ariadne becomes a regular girl who loves her older brother Asterion and is rather lonely because as She-Who-Will-Be-Goddess, she commands a lot of respect and fear. It’s not surprising then that Ariadne delights in the company of Prokris and Theseus (who have their own plans for her).

Whereas you see the strength in Ariadne in that once things go wrong, she’s able to make fast decisions and isn’t afraid to do the hard thing; Theseus never really came into his own. His POV starts around the time that his mother tells him that his father left something for him under a boulder (but after Ariadne has already met him), so the transition to his story was abrupt and unexpected. Nevertheless, you soon experience his uneventful journey from Troizena to Athens and then onwards to Crete.

If you’re looking for a re-telling which incorporates Theseus having all sorts of adventures and fighting monsters, you won’t find it in Dark of the Moon. Rather, Barrett uses the well-known myths about Theseus – for example, he also encounters the Crommyonian sow and Procrustes in the book – to show how myths and legends develop and gain a life of their own.

A thoughtful, original and convincing re-telling!(less)

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Oct 04, 2011 Amy Jacobs rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

Since I never really paid any attention in school when they were discussing Greek mythology, I wasn't too sure what to expect in Dark of the Moon. It is based on the Greek myth of Theseus, Ariadne, the Minotaur and the labyrinth. Now since none of the myth was familiar to me, I knew this would be something fresh for me to read.

I really had a hard time getting into this book. It begins rather slowly and had an overabundance of narrative dialogue that was a little repetitive at times. It didn't re...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Everything thinks they've heard the Greek myth of Theseus, Ariadne, the Minotaur and the labyrinth. At least, until you've read Dark of the Moon. In this unique historical novel, author Tracy Barrett explores an alternative take on the myth, centered on a young Ariadne who's trying to accept her destiny as the future physical presence of the Goddess her people worships.

As She-Who-Would-Be-Goddess, Ariadne has led an isolated life on the island of Krete, training much of her life as a priestess,...more

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Oct 01, 2011 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, my-library, mythology

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

My Summary: Retold hundreds of times, the story of the Minotaur is one we all know well: A young hero arrives from a far off land, falls in love with the princess, and gets her help in killing the half-man, half-bull monster he's been sent to get eaten by. People swore that the story was true, handed down from generation to generation... and what if it was?
Dark of the Moon tells the story of Ariadne...more Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

My Summary: Retold hundreds of times, the story of the Minotaur is one we all know well: A young hero arrives from a far off land, falls in love with the princess, and gets her help in killing the half-man, half-bull monster he's been sent to get eaten by. People swore that the story was true, handed down from generation to generation... and what if it was?
Dark of the Moon tells the story of Ariadne - the princess of the famous myth - and Theseus - the hero who slayed the Minotaur. Ariadne is destined to become She-Who-Is-Goddess - a vessel for the goddess Artemis once a year, while Theseus was sent to Crete by his father to appease his enemy. Told through alternating points of view, Dark of the Moon shows us the 'truth' behind the famous myth, and how things aren't always what they seem.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this novel! This retelling of the myth was original and thought-provoking.

Ariadne and Theseus were great characters - so genuine that I thought they could've been real people at some point in time. Ariadne has lived in her mother's shadow her entire life, surrounded by the mysteries of the Goddess, but after her mother dies unexpectedly, Ariadne is thrust into a role she hardly understands. Theseus himself was raised as a poor fisherman, the laughingstock of his town because he has no father - that is, until he discovers that he is the son of the king of Athens and sets off to meet his father. But things do not go as expected, and minutes after arriving, Theseus is told that he is to be sent to Crete as an offering to the 'monster' - who is in fact just a poor deformed little boy. I loved the way the author revealed how history could have stretched the truth, turning this true story into a more exciting myth - it really made you believe that the story could have been true.

I really liked the way the author worked in the worship of the Goddess, and the way that there was no romance in the story - it was a refreshing break from all the romance in YA lately!

Final Thoughts: This was a great novel. I definitely recommend it to anyone who is a fan of greek mythology and anyone who likes to read the re-tellings of fairy tales and myths.(less)

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Aug 24, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Barrett does a great job on this retelling of the Greek mytho of the Minotaur. It is interesting and has some new twists that are fun. It was a fast and easy read so perfect for the summer!

Ariadne is a soon-to-be goddess. She is very isolated on Crete until a ship from Athens shows up led by Theseus. Theseus is not there to deliver a sacrifice however. He is there to kill the Minotaur. In this story, the Minotaur is a disfigured and very crazy man that is only saved by who his parents are (he al...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Grace rated it 3 of 5 stars

I found Dark of the Moon hard to get into, as the names and concepts in it were completely new to me and I got some mixed up and it just didn't endear me. I wasn't sure I would finish it but I did.

Once I understood the concepts, I thought they were pretty cool. The magic and Ariadne's role in it was interesting. I wasn't sure when the magic was real and when it wasn't, but when it was, it was fascinating.

The book is well-written and descriptive with really good twists. I think I would have liked...more

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Jan 31, 2012 Kara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: myth

Growing up, when I read the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, I always thought Princess Ariadne sounded like an especially insipid damsel in distress. So it was wonderful here to see the story from her point of view, and have her be, not some kind of Xena copycat, but a very real three dimensional character who worries, fears, loves, hopes, mourns, cries, laughs, dances, leads, and makes mistakes.

The story takes turns showing Ariadne and Theseus’s POV, and we see how two teenagers struggle with...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Anna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: european-historical

I really, really hate it when book pitches mislead you. For instance, this book. The pitch would indicate that the plot is mostly about Theseus trying to kill the Minotaur (aka, Ariadne's brother). But it isn't. Theseus is trying to be king, and killing the Minotaur hardly even crosses his mind. The people of Krete have no interest in giving him to the Minotaur, even though that was what they said they were going to do... their motivations confused me.

*sigh* that rant is over. Things like that...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Alicia rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Ariadne is destined to become a goddess of the moon. She leads a lonely life, filled with hours of rigorous training by stern priestesses. Her former friends no longer dare to look at her, much less speak to her. All that she has left are her mother and her beloved, misshapen brother Asterion, who must be held captive below the palace for his own safety.

So when a ship arrives one spring day, bearing a tribute of slaves from Athens, Ariadne sneaks out to meet it. These newcomers don’t know the wa...more

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Oct 10, 2011 TheBookSmugglers rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review originally posted on The Book Smugglers Here

Before I say anything else let me just get something off my chest: I loved this book. It is abso-freaking-lutely brilliant and smart and it really re-energised me with such book-excitement the way that only Totally Awesome Books can.

Dark of the Moon is a reimagining of the Greek myth of Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur. In Greek mythology, Theseus is a founding-hero of Athens whose adventures before becoming King included the slaying of the inf...more Review originally posted on The Book Smugglers Here

Before I say anything else let me just get something off my chest: I loved this book. It is abso-freaking-lutely brilliant and smart and it really re-energised me with such book-excitement the way that only Totally Awesome Books can.

Dark of the Moon is a reimagining of the Greek myth of Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur. In Greek mythology, Theseus is a founding-hero of Athens whose adventures before becoming King included the slaying of the infamous Minotaur of Crete. King Minos’ daughter, Ariadne, fell in love with Theseus at first sight and helped him defeating the Minotaur by giving Theseus a thread that guided him through the labyrinth where the Minotaur was entrapped. After escaping Crete together, Theseus (the bastard) proceeded to abandon Ariadne in the island of Naxos. Theseus (the bastard) goes on to marry Ariadne’s sister and become a beloved King and reformer of Athens. In some accounts Ariadne is the bride of the God Dionysus and Theseus only left her behind to not anger that God. Nevertheless, in most accounts, Theseus is the Hero and Ariadne is the fool who loved him.

Enter Dark of the Moon. In this reimagining, Ariadne is not the daughter of Minos but his niece and both are intrinsic part of the religious cult of the Goddess in Krete. Ariadne is She-Who-Will-Be-Goddess, training to become the future priestess of Krete and a Vessel to the Goddess, following up on the footsteps of her mother, She-Who-Is-Goddess. Theirs is the most important position on that matriarchal system, a position that is both political and religious. The infamous Minotaur of Krete is in fact her beloved half-brother Asterion, born with a facial deformity and mentally incapacitated. His screams and his unfortunate capacity for accidental violence have given room to the local myth of a monster-under-the-palace and he is kept away from prying eyes. Theseus is a young man who recently discovered that his father is the King of Athens and who is sent as an unwilling tribute to Minos. Theseus believes he is to be sacrificed to the monster and ends up getting involved in a plot to overthrow Minos.

The story is narrated by both Theseus and Ariadne in alternating chunks of chapters but Ariadne’s point of view is the more extensive and well developed out of the two. As She-Who-Will-Be Goddess she is both respected and feared and lives in isolation, in expectation of the role one day she will fulfil. Although Ariadne dreams about far-away places and misses interacting with her friends, she is completely dedicated to the Goddess and believes in the mysteries that surround her cult. When she meets Theseus, there are no flying sparks (in fact , there is no romantic storyline in this book at ALL) but merely an encounter with an outsider who treats her like a normal person. And although the arrival of Theseus on the island is only but the beginning of life-altering events, these are not, by any means, the direct result of any of his or her actions; instead, their actions are part of a chain of events resulting from internal struggles and external influences in a complex combination of the political, economical and religious spheres.

And this is what makes this book brilliant: its plot is a thought-provoking examination of religion, of belief and of cultural development of different places within the Greek empire. For example, Krete is under a matriarchal sphere of power whereas Athens is under patriarchal rule and this difference is part of the impetus for Theseus to join the plot to overthrow Minos. More than that though, there is also a great exploration of elements of faith and magic involved in a religion that believes that a Goddess is made human every year and what could that actually mean to those involved –the author excels in providing reasonable explanations for the “magical” aspects of the Goddess cult without removing any of the faith from those who believe in them.

The scope of this reimagining is such that it opens up a possible, realistic point of view of how real events become history to then become myth. How cool is that? Plus, bonus points for making Ariadne an awesome female character that is in charge of her own decisions and who has to take charge of her own life in the face of her world crumbling down. Another aspect that I loved was that even though this is a reimagining, the author never shies away from the darker, gorier aspects of Greek Myths and they are present on the religious depiction of the Goddess cult.

The only main quibble I have is with Theseus’ narrative – he is at first, presented as a somewhat naive boy who tells tall tales about his “adventures” and who is basically used as a tool in the scheme to overthrow Minos. But in his very final chapter, he has become the hero that the Athenians believe him to be. As his point of view is not as extensive or in-depth as Ariadne’s I found it hard to see how or when he went from Point A to Point C. But this is really my only real problem with the book and considering that Ariadne’s story was way more interesting in the first place and she is to me, the real star of this story, that didn’t diminish my reading experience at all.

To sum up, I found Dark of the Moon to be a surprisingly clever, insightful, engaging remaining of a well-known story. It is definitely one of my reading highlights of 2011 and it has put Tracy Barrett on my list of authors to watch. (less)

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Sep 16, 2011 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

Greek myths ftw! I have always loved Greek mythology, so you're going to have to let me squee like a fangirl about the awesome job Tracy Barrett has done playing with an old familiar story. While she kept some of the basics about the myth, she changed other things, but she did so with flair and authenticity. She draws on the way that history alters truth and creates a really interesting variation on the original tale.

This myth was never my favorite (hello, where are the horses?), so I think I ma...more

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May 08, 2013 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

I had the pleasure of meeting Tracy Barrett (and buying a signed copy of this book) at the SoKY BookFest last month. Here recently, I've been wanting to read only books written by women, with women as lead characters--that will hopefully pass the Bechdel test--so the feminine eye on the cover drew me to this book.

I know I've heard the story of the Minotaur, but it's been long enough that I couldn't tell it to you. I briefly entertained the idea of looking it up for a quick read before getting i...more I had the pleasure of meeting Tracy Barrett (and buying a signed copy of this book) at the SoKY BookFest last month. Here recently, I've been wanting to read only books written by women, with women as lead characters--that will hopefully pass the Bechdel test--so the feminine eye on the cover drew me to this book.

I know I've heard the story of the Minotaur, but it's been long enough that I couldn't tell it to you. I briefly entertained the idea of looking it up for a quick read before getting into this book, but I was sucked in so fast, I really couldn't put the book down long enough. Anyway, I still haven't looked it up, so I don't know what parts of the book are directly from the original story and what's from Author Barrett's mind, as this is a retelling of the Greek myth.

The main character is teenage Ariadne, known to her people as She-Who-Will-Be-Goddess. Her mother (She-Who-Is-Goddess) is her best friend, as other teenagers on the island are afraid of her for her potential power and proximity to Goddess. Now, her mother is not Goddess. This was confusing for me. Ariadne's mother is She-Who-Is-Goddess, not Goddess. So. Yeah. It does get explained in the book, so I understand now, but it still sounds confusing.

Ariadne is a lonely young woman, with only her mother and her brother to love her. And her brother is the minotaur, trapped under the palace where he can't kill everyone mindlessly. He's not a monster--he just doesn't know his own strength and isn't able to understand most of what is said to him. Ariadne goes to visit him whenever she gets a chance...

Until one day, a ship arrives, bringing tributes from Athens. The Athenians don't know that they should fear She-Who-Will-Be-Goddess, so Ariadne is able to make a few friends out of the pack, including Theseus. He's a charming, quiet young man, but with a secret--he aims to kill the monster under the palace.

Ugh, I loved this book. The writing is wonderful and the characters are sweet. It passes the Bechdel test over and over again (yay) and the romance parts are very secondary to the bigger plot. I was pleasantly surprised at how little romance there was, actually.

The story is told from Ariadne's POV (first person, past tense) and Theseus's POV (first person, present tense), which sometimes threw me off but it wasn't awful. Ariadne is strong and fierce, while still being kind and scared of her destiny. She gives me hope that there are plenty of young women characters out there to love.

5/5 GR stars. I'm very happy to have a signed copy of this book. (Review originally posted on my blog.)(less)

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Jul 18, 2012 Haley (Beach Kissed YA Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-challenge-through-this-year, reviewed-on-blog

Dark of the Moon was a very interesting read. There were points where I was a bit confused as to where they were, who certain characters were and the overall tale, but it was a truly enjoyable read.

This must be a first for me, reading a teen mythology book. Don't get me wrong, I love mythology as much as the next person, but this is the first time I have actually picked up a book like this. So of course, I dived in immediately.

The characters were the best part! Ariadne, Asterion, Theseus, Prokri...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Mara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, young-adult, mythology

This book thoroughly surprised me. Or perhaps my expectations have been lowered to a literary basement level. Regardless, I picked up Dark of the Moon expecting the same old drivel about a misunderstood protagonist falling for the heroic jerk (because if anyone is a jerk in Greek myth, it is Theseus) and instead got a story about how and why religion works until it doesn't.

Dark of the Moon isn't so much focused on the Minotaur myth as it is interested in what sort of story would spur such a myt...more This book thoroughly surprised me. Or perhaps my expectations have been lowered to a literary basement level. Regardless, I picked up Dark of the Moon expecting the same old drivel about a misunderstood protagonist falling for the heroic jerk (because if anyone is a jerk in Greek myth, it is Theseus) and instead got a story about how and why religion works until it doesn't.

Dark of the Moon isn't so much focused on the Minotaur myth as it is interested in what sort of story would spur such a myth into existence. The Minotaur is not a man with a bull's head, conceived between the queen and the sacred bull. He is instead physically disfigured and deranged--a child most Greeks would have abandoned at birth. It is only his parentage that saves him. Theseus's wild tales of adventure are only imaginative stories, and Ariadne isn't so much in love with Theseus as she is dedicated to the religion of her mother and people, which she will some day rule over as She-Who-Is-Goddess.

Minoan culture, of which we know virtually nothing down to confusion over what they called themselves, is occasionally too complex to follow clearly in Barrett's interpretation of myth and historical records. Tracy Barrett recreates at will, ensnaring tiny bits of truth (bull jumping) with greater drama (ritual slaughter, sex, human sacrifice, and hallucinations) to create her story behind the myth.

Does she succeed? Sort of. Most of the time I found myself wondering why Theseus was even around, because if he's not going to be sacrificed in the Minotaur's labyrinth as per the myth, he's given nothing better to do outside of aimlessly wandering Knossos and plotting against Minoan rule. Why did the Minos even want the Athenian prince around if that's all that was going to come of it? Wasn't punishment the point of the tribute in the first place? What self-respecting ruler lets this happen? Ariadne is similarly given little to do outside of processing her anxiety over her role as She-Who-Will-Be-Goddess and her seeming lack of preparation. Some actions are questionable, some are underwhelming, and some are rushed past the point of comprehension when crunch time has Ariadne ascending to She-Who-Is-Goddess and sees Theseus as her sacrificial lamb.

While there are certainly problematic snags in the plot, I was still pleasantly surprised by the novel and Barrett's attempt at finding the historical inside the myth.(less)

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Sep 17, 2011 Kavanand rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you've studied Greek mythology, you're likely familiar with the myth of the monstrous half-man, half-bull who lives in a labyrinth and eats young people sent from Athens as tribute to the King of Krete until he is eventually slain by an Athenian warrior. In Dark of the Moon, Tracy Barrett has a created a fascinating reimagining of the myth of the Minotaur.

In this version of the story, the so-called monster is simply a mentally challenged teenage boy named Asterion who must be confined to a ma...more If you've studied Greek mythology, you're likely familiar with the myth of the monstrous half-man, half-bull who lives in a labyrinth and eats young people sent from Athens as tribute to the King of Krete until he is eventually slain by an Athenian warrior. In Dark of the Moon, Tracy Barrett has a created a fascinating reimagining of the myth of the Minotaur.

In this version of the story, the so-called monster is simply a mentally challenged teenage boy named Asterion who must be confined to a maze-like area in the palace basement, both for his own safety and for everyone else's. Krete worships the moon goddess, and Asterion's mother Pasiphaë is the goddess incarnate and ruler of Krete. Her daughter Ariadne is in training to succeed her in both rules. Ariadne was once a normal child, but since she began her training to become the goddess, she's become isolated from her childhood friends. It's a lonely life, and her brother Asterion is her only comfort.

When a ship bearing tribute from Athens arrives, Ariadne gains two friends, Prokris and Theseus. But their motives for befriending her are ambiguous, and as Ariadne prepares for her new role, she becomes increasingly isolated.

Dark of the Moon is an interesting tale of culture clash. The Athenians arrive in Krete believing that Minos is Krete's king, but he's actually a priest subject to his sister Pasiphaë, known to her people are She-Who-Is-Goddess. The Athenians worship Zeus and the idea of a female ruler is alien to them. Barrett follows the basic structure of the myth, but it's all about the interpretation. This isn't the story you think you know.

The point of view alternates between Ariadne and Theseus, so we see the story interpreted through two characters from very different backgrounds. I felt that Ariadne was a bit more fleshed out as a character, but even though he's less developed, I still found Theseus to be interesting.

My only real issue with the book was that the ending felt a bit rushed. The author did such an interesting job of reinterpreting the myth, but when it came to the ending, so many things had to happen, and it all seemed rather quick. But this is a minor complaint, and I really enjoyed the book overall.

I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Vine. (less)

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Jan 24, 2013 Renee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: famous-story-retelling, heros-that-dont-suck, historic-event-retelling, historical-type, kick-ass-heroines, magic, princess-and-other-royalty, ya

Dark of the Moon was a brilliantly written book. It was a retelling of Theseus and the Minotaur. The characters had depth and I could actually relate to them and had genuine interest in their well being. It felt a little bit more like it should have been the story of the Minotaur’s sister, since that’s really who was high lighted, but the way the author merged her new ideas with old mythology was done very well.

This book had no love story, no insta love no love triangle. It was really very refre...more

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Sep 25, 2011 Kathy Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

This retelling of the myth of the Minotaur was a rich and thought-provoking read. It was also the story of two young people trying to find their place in the world. Ariadne is the daughter of She-Who-Is-Goddess and the next in line to be Goddess. She is learning from her mother both to be a midwife and to conduct the rituals of the Cretan religion. She is also alone and friendless because of the way a girl who will be goddess is revered and treated in their culture.

Theseus is a picked-on countr...more This retelling of the myth of the Minotaur was a rich and thought-provoking read. It was also the story of two young people trying to find their place in the world. Ariadne is the daughter of She-Who-Is-Goddess and the next in line to be Goddess. She is learning from her mother both to be a midwife and to conduct the rituals of the Cretan religion. She is also alone and friendless because of the way a girl who will be goddess is revered and treated in their culture.

Theseus is a picked-on country kid whose mother has told him that he is the son of a Poseidon which does not endear him to the other children of the village. When he finally learns that his father is the current King of Athens, he leaves home to meet him.

Theseus arrives in Athens just in time to be sent by his father as part of the tribute that must be sent to Crete every ten years. Along with him is Prokris who is a scheming young lady and also a part of the tribute. She is determined to become queen in Crete and pulls Theseus into her schemes. His father is willing to sentence this unknown son to death at the hands of the minotaur.

The minotaur is actually Ariadne's brother Asterion who is physically and mentally handicapped. But, because he was born to be the next Minos, he wasn't killed at birth. Ariadne is the only one who spends time with him and soothe him. Otherwise, he is confined to a few rooms in the labyrinthian storage areas of the palace where he doesn't pose a danger to anyone.

This story takes place at a time of great cultural change in Crete. Ariadne's mother did something when she was a new goddess that seems to have called down the wrath of the goddess. Witness, Asterion being born as he is and some poor harvests and some loss of faith. The old ways are losing their power with a lot of the people. Contact with other cultures that don't believe the same thing have also served to wear away at people's faith. Ariadne isn't sure what to believe and, when her mother dies in childbirth before she is fully trained, she is compelled to take on a role that she isn't ready for.

Theseus is also floundering wondering what his role is. After meeting Asterion he knows that the minotaur is to be pitied more than feared. But he doesn't know what will happen to him. Returning to Athens and the father who essentially threw him away doesn't sound like a plan.

This was a fascinating story with well developed characters. People who enjoy mythology should really find it interesting.(less)

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Sep 16, 2011 Asheley rated it 4 of 5 stars

(a similar version of this review can be found here at Into the Hall of Books: http://intothehallofbooks.blogspot.co...)

One of the trends in YA literature that I really have begun to warm up to is the trend of fairy-tale or classic story retellings in which an older, more mature story becomes young and fresh again. I find that this always makes for great discussion among friends and readers. When I happened upon this Greek myth retelling, I jumped on it right away because I am a huge fan of myt...more (a similar version of this review can be found here at Into the Hall of Books: http://intothehallofbooks.blogspot.co...)

One of the trends in YA literature that I really have begun to warm up to is the trend of fairy-tale or classic story retellings in which an older, more mature story becomes young and fresh again. I find that this always makes for great discussion among friends and readers. When I happened upon this Greek myth retelling, I jumped on it right away because I am a huge fan of mythology in pretty much any form. And I'm a sucker for a pretty cover.

Classic mythology taught us that the minotaur was to be feared. He was a half-man/half-bull who lived in the labyrinth and ate Athenian children/tributes that were unlucky enough to be gifted from the King of Athens to the King of Krete...until Theseus the Athenian came to town. Theseus was supposed to be sacrified to the minotaur but instead he teamed up with the beautiful Ariadne and used a string (aka Ariadne's thread) to mark his path through the labyrinth, kill the beast, and find his way back out.

I love what the author has done in her retelling. The minotaur is Asterion, Ariadne's brother, who is feared and lives in a basement labyrinth underneath the palace. Although he has the mind of a child, he is still feared by the citizens of Krete because he tends to become (violently) heavy-handed when playing with other children. As a result of the fear, no one wants their children to play with him and he is lonely and isolated.

Ariadne is a priestess, in training to become the future leader of the island. She lives in the palace, sheltered and lonely. She has her mother and brother--and she loves them--but she really longs for a different life. When Theseus comes to the island along with the other Athenian tributes--to be offered as sacrificial playmates to Asterion--she is intrigued by him and spends time getting to know him. Thesus, on the other hand, comes to the island with one goal--to kill Asterion. The more he learns about Asterion, however--and the more he gets to know him--he realizes that Asterion is not a vicious monster and does not deserve to die.

There are further differences in the classic myth and this new one: the gods/goddesses of Athens and Krete are much different, so when Theseus comes to Krete, he is completely thrown off by their customs and traditions. I enjoyed the author elaborating on these differences. In addition, Ms. Barrett spends much of the story on Ariadne's priestess-hood and impending ascension into future goddess-hood as well as the preparation necessary for these roles. This does not exist in the classic myth and while this could potentially be very boring, it is important to the story to set up exactly how disenchanted Ariadne is with her current life on Krete and exactly how much she is longing for something different--and eventually how far she is willing to go to change the predestined course for her life.

The thing I love most about this retelling is that the author chose to make Asterion, Ariadne, and Theseus young. In the classic myth, I remember them as adults. The young age, in this case, almost makes the story of the minotaur seem a little more 'realistic.' She also chose to make the relationship between Ariadne and Theseus not as much a romantic relationship (as in the classic myth) as a friendly one, and the ending of the story is a little different than the classic myth.

The author takes great liberties with this well-known story, and I think it is really awesome. The pacing is great and the story is interesting. It is told in alternating points-of-view, which I personally enjoy because I love to see two different characters' vantage points of the same events. I am aware that not everyone enjoys this structuring, which is why I mention it here.

If you are a fan of Greek mythology, or of mythology in general, I think you should give this retelling a try and see if you like it. If you are a fan of fairy-tale retellings, give this a try and see how you feel about myth retellings. I think this is something fresh and new (at least to me) and I know that I will seek out more books like this starting...now. (less)

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Jul 05, 2012 Natalie (Mindful Musings) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, classical-mythology, retelling

In a Sentence: Dark of the Moon was an extremely creative retelling of the story of Ariadne, but I would have liked to see a little more character development with Theseus.

My Thoughts

I've always been fascinated by Greek mythology, so Dark of the Moon landed a spot on my to-read list almost immediately after I first heard of it. When I saw it was one of the longlisted titles for the 2012 YA Bloggers Book Battle, I thought it would be the perfect time for me to finally pick up the book. And while...more In a Sentence: Dark of the Moon was an extremely creative retelling of the story of Ariadne, but I would have liked to see a little more character development with Theseus.

My Thoughts

I've always been fascinated by Greek mythology, so Dark of the Moon landed a spot on my to-read list almost immediately after I first heard of it. When I saw it was one of the longlisted titles for the 2012 YA Bloggers Book Battle, I thought it would be the perfect time for me to finally pick up the book. And while I didn't absolutely love Dark of the Moon, it's one of those books that I'm really glad I read, if that makes sense.

Dark of the Moon made me think a lot while reading it. Learning about Ariadne's world...seeing her experience a clash of two cultures and the crumbling of the ancient society and traditions that she had been raised in...well, it made me think a lot about how relevant that theme is to any time period - about how the world is always changing, and how hard it can be for people to accept that change. So while I think that Dark of the Moon had some flaws (which I will elaborate on later), I also really appreciated the book for its tendency to stir up these kind of thoughts in me.

Furthermore, I think that Barrett did a wonderful job combining her research with a well-structured, cohesive plot. For those of you who know the traditional tale of Ariadne and Theseus, this book will make you look at that story in an entirely different way. Dark of the Moon adds a good amount of complexity to the original tale, which to me, made this re-imagining a quick and enjoyable read. The characters made famous by Greek mythology - Ariadne, Theseus, the Minotaur - all take on roles that are familiar to students of mythology, but there are enough changes to make you feel as if you're reading this story for the very first time. For example, the Minotaur, which has always been characterized as a horrible monster in mythological lore, is a much more sympathetic, if flawed being. And Theseus isn't quite the hero that legend made him out to be. In fact, many of his heroic deeds were actually stories invented by him in order to impress his father.

Though Dark of the Moon is told in alternating points of view between Ariadne and Theseus, I was definitely more interested in Ariadne's side of the story. Though Ariadne is young, she's had to face some difficult things in her life. She is the heir to the role of "Goddess," and can't be touched by any other males other than family on pain of death. Other girls who could be friends grow silent and afraid in her presence because she is more than royalty. She is divinity. Everyone who she was friends with as a child now fears her, and therefore, Ariadne has no true friends. Theseus is able to identify with Ariadne because he too was once set apart from everyone else. In the village in which he was raised, Theseus's mother claimed that his father was the sea god Poseidon, which subjected Theseus to the scorn and bullying of the other villagers.

However, I wasn't the biggest fan of Theseus. While I didn't exactly dislike him, I often found myself bored by his side of the story. There was just nothing that stuck out about him to me. And maybe that was the author's intent...to take an incredibly famous mythological hero and turn him into an ordinary man with ordinary whims and fears. But even if that was the intent, it ended up negatively affecting my reading experience. Theseus narrates a good portion of the story, and as I've said in other reviews, when you can't connect with the person who's telling the story, I find it difficult to connect with the story.

Still, I did enjoy the story overall - especially when it focused on Ariadne. I would definitely recommend Dark of the Moon to fans of mythology because, while it might not end up being the best book you've ever read, I think that, if you like mythology, you'll be able to appreciate the amount of research and creativity that went into this book! e soon! (less)

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Sep 22, 2011 P.J. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Last year I read and fell in love with KING OF ITHAKA (read my review here) which was so much different than a retelling of a myth. And this is what I loved about it. There's something about taking the myths and twisting them up that hits the right note for me. Like this newest one from Tracy Barrett...

It's funny because not too long ago I read a fabulous article theorizing about the myth of the minotaur and what it really might have been. I mean, sure, you can hold onto the belief that there re...more

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Sep 25, 2011 Amy (Amy's Book Den) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mythology

One of my favorite subjects in humanities and art history classes was the Minoans, that first civilization that would eventually grow to become the Greeks. I’m a history geek like that and so finding a YA book with a story related to this got me really excited. And I have to say I was not disappointed in that aspect. Dark of the Moon has an enthralling story and prose that kept me reading hour after hour. Through Ariadne’s story we learn about the Kretan’s culture and belief system. There is als...more One of my favorite subjects in humanities and art history classes was the Minoans, that first civilization that would eventually grow to become the Greeks. I’m a history geek like that and so finding a YA book with a story related to this got me really excited. And I have to say I was not disappointed in that aspect. Dark of the Moon has an enthralling story and prose that kept me reading hour after hour. Through Ariadne’s story we learn about the Kretan’s culture and belief system. There is also a lot of mythology involved, and for Ariadne is not myth but reality. I mean, she is training to become a goddess and her brother Asterion is the freaking Minotaur!

The story concentrated around Ariadne, although we do get a second POV from a young man named Theseus (more on that later). She has trouble accepting the role she is to inherit. As a goddess in training she is not to be touched by anyone, friends are not encouraged, and everyone fears her. She resents this. Ariadne also dreams of traveling, but goddesses in training can’t leave the island. Her world is Krete and will forever be Krete. This makes for a very narrow view of the world and we see that when the Athenians come into the story. Athenians don’t understand how Kretan society works, because their own culture is based on politics not religion. They see the Kretan people as barbarians for their rituals and sacrifices; they also find it inconceivable for a woman to be the leader of the people.

Theseus is the son of the king of Athens, and he is the typical hero in the sense that he is there to challenge the gods and Ariadne’s view of them. He doesn’t believe that the gods dictate his life, and that he has no control over it. Ariadne is the opposite; she believes in the goddess completely and is prepared to receive whatever punishment for having done something wrong. I would have loved to read about Theseus changing Ariadne’s views, or doing some sort of heroic act, but sadly that was not to be.

Like I mentioned before I was not disappointed in the history/mythology/story aspect. However there were some things that did let down. The romance falls short, very short, almost non-existant. I don’t even know why Theseus POV was written if he ultimately didn’t affect Ariadne in any way. It became not Ariadne’s story but also not Theseus’. It was like a mix of the two that left me wanting. I would have either gone with Ariadne’s POV the whole way, or Theseus, but the story of the two together just seems incomplete.

Again I say that I liked this story because of its mythology and history aspects. But I would only recommend this to people who are really into the whole Greek past history thing.
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