This Divine Revelry is a magnificent ending to Bea Fitzgerald’s YA retellings for now. It is bold and brave in its story, treats difficult topics with nuance and care and above all, the characterisation soars.
We focus on the story of Ariadne and Dionysus here. Both of them are fantastically three-dimensional characters that evolve over the course of the way in surprising and heartfelt ways. The characterisation truly shines, you are so connected to their voices and those glimpses of joy, love and vulnerability. You start from a familiar touchpoint and then where we go from there is a rollercoaster that you do not want to end. The dynamic that grows between the two of them is also stellar. It is so rich and complicated, with dialogue that zings off the page and an undeniable chemistry. This is a gorgeous relationship and I really loved the message Fitzgerald is conveying through their stories. This quartet has always played with established tropes so well with a cheeky wink in their eyes. There is clear love and respect but also a distinctive twist. It mirrors the way Fitzgerald plays with the original myths that inspire these tales too. You can recognise her distinctive style and instantly fall head over heels for each character, as well as the brilliant found family around them.
Alongside the heart and romance, there is true darkness in this story. It explores monstrosity in different forms, abuse of power and sexual assault. The cultural conversations around these mimic that of today’s society and there is a clear political message being shouted through these pages. It is anger-inducing but also reminds you of the power of collective action, hope and love. Both Aridane and Dionysus have endured true horrors and Fitzgerald explores this with sensitivity and nuance. A particular focus is the enduring impact of trauma and how it reverberates through someone’s life. I liked that love did not magically heal them but it did complement a healing journey they have both embarked on. There is such power in that commitment to each other, to stay together through the storm and be a true shelter for one another. Life will not be kind to them and tribulations will still come their way, but their love will endure and manifest in their care and support for one another. Mental health is such a key theme of this story, portrayed in different ways and a language that makes sense for this universe. It feels raw and poignant but also truthful in a way that readers will connect with.
Something I have always enjoyed about Fitzgerald’s work in the YA space is her active decision not to patronise her readers. These are difficult topics but ones that teenager readers might be grappling with and she delivers stories that are full of nuance, acknowledge the darkness but also give you hope. You leave them feeling inspired and with a wonderful new twist on a familiar tale that serves a modern day audience. They feel timeless but also very much of our current time, imbued with love, rage and passion. This quartet of stories together defines what YA retellings can do for me. They work as standalones but there’s also subtle details and cameos woven between them, which make it feel like a cohesive shared universe.
This Divine Revelry is a heartfelt story that lands with its readers and reminds you of light in the darkness. It may mark the end of an era but what an empowering and empathetic one.
This Divine Revelry is available from Bookshop.org, Waterstones, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
Will you be picking up This Divine Revelry? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis
When Ariadne, Princess of Crete, vows to help free the Athenian prince, Theseus, and his fellow tributes – sacrifices for the monster which allegedly lurks beneath her palace’s floors – she hopes she will free herself from the savage rule of her father, too.
Instead, she finds herself abandoned on an island the morning after Theseus has sworn love and marriage – watching his ship sail away without her.
In return, Ariadne swears revenge. Which is all very well – except for the aforementioned being abandoned on an island thing. Luckily for her though, the island happens to belong to a god. Alright, currently a fairly minor one (though only if you think wine and partying are minor concerns) – but it quickly turns out Dionysus and Ariadne may be able to help each other.
Dionysus needs followers to maintain his fragile, threatened power. Ariadne wants to stop Theseus from spreading rumours of his own greatness any further. Together, they may be able to make a story so powerful, it will elevate them both to the status of legends.
Ariadne isn’t interested in real love any more – of course – which is a shame, as there’s something irresistible about the pull between her and Dionysus – even if he is completely infuriating. And he is the first person to agree with her that women can be more than just footnotes in men’s myths.
They have a power of their own.
And once that power is unleashed – the men of Ariadne’s story, and even the gods themselves, should prepare to tremble . . .
