Where a lot of these newer retellings of Greek Myth will wholeheartedly embrace the mythical aspects of their stories, Pasiphae is a novel that attempts to ground the story in more of a historical reality. The consequences of trying to ground Pasiphae's story in reality is that a lot of the original story isn't really there anymore to the point where I wouldn't really recommend this as a mythical retelling, not if you're expecting something along the lines of Jennifer Saint or Rosie Hewlett. A more apt comparison would be Pat Barker's Silence of the Girls as much like in that story, we are very much in head of our protagonist. So maybe the omens and gods our protagonist believes in are real, maybe they aren't, but that's not important in the face of what's actually happening to out human cast of characters. Pasiphae is the story of a child bride being married off to a man old enough to be her Father, she is plunged into a foreign court and bloody power struggles. It is very much a story about Ancient Queendom, the delicate balance of being a woman and being in a position of power in a patriarchal society. It's also a moving portrayal of motherhood and all its difficulties, I'd say this book works more as a historical fiction than a mythological retelling. Especially as it's rich with historical details of Minoa and Kolchis. Dougherty is particularly good at capturing the ancient mind and their religious beliefs while living in a violent and unpredictable society. This book starts with concept of the Mother of the Minotaur, but this is far from another retelling of Theseus slaying the Minotaur. This is a much more subdued story about women and motherhood.

This is so wonderfully evocative. A life built around the myth of Pasiphaë. A novel I found both enjoyable and thought provoking because it took a mythical tale and added a very human touch. The portrayal of Pasiphaë herself is infused with the reality of a life, rich with a culture which appears empowering at first but is in realiity deeply oppressive. The book takes a mythical character and tells their story from the perspective of Pasiphaë herself. The threads are all bound by her thoughts, motivations, dreams, beliefs and a maternal love for her son. From the first pages I wanted to know more about her because I was living her world, exploring it through her eyes. All of which provided her with a depth that made its denouement so powerful. I look forward to reading more by Jane Dougherty.

This is for the readers who are tired of myths where women are the warning and want stories where they are the voice. I found it really hard to put into words how this book made me feel, it was a very moving read, so perhaps Natalie Haynes said it best 'And if history has taught us anything, it is that women making a noise – whether speaking or shouting – tend to be viewed as intrinsically disruptive' most fitting for this incredible feminist retelling of a woman wronged by myth. Paisphae tells the story of the famous Greek Minotaur myth from the perspective of his mother, Pasiphaë and centres her in the story for the first time. Passion, betrayal, and divine legacy collide in this dramatic reimagining of a story long overshadowed by male driven narratives. To put it simply, this is an emotionally charged exploration of power, motherhood, and the stories history chooses to tell, and those it condemns as monstrous. Dougherty’s tone and imagery is metaphorical, raw and unflinching and she beautifully brings to light the story of Pasiphaë, the mother of the Minotaur, shamed and reduced to scandal and is exactly the kind of figure modern readers want to see reclaimed especially in a society that is becoming more and more patriarchal.

I loved this book. If you're looking for an adventure this isn't the one, but for a great grounded historical fiction novel and feminist retelling of a myth this is a must read. This was darker than most Greek myth retellings I read, they're all sad but this one was dark. Greek myth has always been about 'civilised' heroes slaying monsters and d'riving back the barbarism' that existed to create space for cities and the likes and this story is meant to echo and double down on this ideas. Within its story is a secondary allegory for the expansion of Greek and western society and the spreading of those ideas. It takes the myth out of a retelling, less focused on any otherworldly godly powers or intervention and more on real people, their thoughts, feelings and ambitions and more importantly the cults and rituals of the ancient world. Pasiphaë is a high priestess from a matrilineal society, her mother is in charge on Colchis and Circe was next in line, Pasiphaë is called to Crete to be their queen while they still cling to their own matriarch but Minos, half Greek that he is, has other ideas and power and influence and his meddling spells the destruction of a way of life everywhere and not just in Crete. Despite the grand epic and sweeping nature of the Theseus and the Minotaur myth this is a very insular story, focusing on women and their every day lives, raising children, dealing with marriages, handling local disputes all whilst this looming threat grows in the background.