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vexcrest_113's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
The second volume of Lore Olympus is hardly an improvement over the first except for the art. While keeping to the same style, I noticed far fewer glaring issues with anatomy or sudden switches to unfinished, uncolored sketches. However, the inconsistency with Persephone's character design remains a problem. The general shape of her body spontaneously flips from stick-thin with a large ass and tits to more realistically, thicker proportioned depending on the scene. The colors are still lovely and the art does shine when Smythe puts the time and effort in.
The worst thing about this is the age gap. It's not the simple fact that Persephone is 19 and Hades is over 2000, it's that the characters within the story repeatedly point this out and completely arbitrarily decide when that's no longer an ethical concern. Hera and Hecate both scold Hades and call him a creep for being attracted to someone who, from their perspective, is basically an infant due to how long she's been alive. Then, for no reason at all other than pitying Hades for not being married yet, they change their opinions and not only support him pursuing a barely legal girl with no life experience but actively try to get them together. This flip-flopping attitude shown by the adults makes them all appear enabling and problematic, as ultimately they only view Persephone as a prize for Hades to win. His own emotions are what matter and Persephone's perspective on him is an afterthought.
On top of that, Persephone's immaturity is frequently and deliberately highlighted to make the age gap and power imbalance even worse. The interactions she has with Hades look less like someone in their twenties flirting with someone in their thirties, but an actual teenager being hit on by someone who should be her grandfather. There is no sense of intellectual understanding and Hades appears irresponsible and reprehensible for sexualizing her as much as he does.
And don't forget that during all of this Hades is already seeing someone. So, great, not only is he a creep but he's disloyal as well. It's true that Hades and Minthe in this volume aren't exclusive, however they are still seeing one another and Hades actively keeps this a secret to make himself more desirable to Persephone. Gross. The other gods don't respect his relationship with Minthe, a lower class citizen, and take no issue trying to break them apart.
Persephone is also given a job at Hades' company which she is entirely unqualified for and is only getting due to nepotism. Not only that, but she's being paid for an internship despite no other interns at the company being paid. The favoritism is so blatant and disrespectful to the other workers it's a shock that only a select few complain. Of course, those who do complain are meant to be seen as mean by the reader. Hades being the boss of both Persephone and Minthe puts a strange light over his relationships with both of them because it's now a pattern of him having unfair power over the women he pursues. Can this man not be attracted to a woman who can reasonably challenge his authority? Demeter could do that for a time and he hated her for it.
When not counting conversations had over the phone, Hades and Persephone interact a shockingly little amount in this book. Despite being the advertised main feature of the story their romance takes an obvious backseat to instead focus on other characters merely talking -about- the romance. It's disappointing.
And this is not a serious criticism, but I do need to ask: What is the purpose of TGOEM? What is the purpose of goddesses declaring celibacy? What do they have to prove? They're gods. They can't have a religious moral failing for having sex when they themselves are gods. It's not for practical reasons, or religious reasons, or political ones- there doesn't appear to be any reason for it except to arbitrarily dictate what women can do. This is so strange to me and I can't fathom why an entire organization has been made amongst the gods specifically to prohibit sex. It's a bit stupid.
Dare I call it a plot contrivance to give Persephone a reason to not pursue Hades?
The worst thing about this is the age gap. It's not the simple fact that Persephone is 19 and Hades is over 2000, it's that the characters within the story repeatedly point this out and completely arbitrarily decide when that's no longer an ethical concern. Hera and Hecate both scold Hades and call him a creep for being attracted to someone who, from their perspective, is basically an infant due to how long she's been alive. Then, for no reason at all other than pitying Hades for not being married yet, they change their opinions and not only support him pursuing a barely legal girl with no life experience but actively try to get them together. This flip-flopping attitude shown by the adults makes them all appear enabling and problematic, as ultimately they only view Persephone as a prize for Hades to win. His own emotions are what matter and Persephone's perspective on him is an afterthought.
On top of that, Persephone's immaturity is frequently and deliberately highlighted to make the age gap and power imbalance even worse. The interactions she has with Hades look less like someone in their twenties flirting with someone in their thirties, but an actual teenager being hit on by someone who should be her grandfather. There is no sense of intellectual understanding and Hades appears irresponsible and reprehensible for sexualizing her as much as he does.
And don't forget that during all of this Hades is already seeing someone. So, great, not only is he a creep but he's disloyal as well. It's true that Hades and Minthe in this volume aren't exclusive, however they are still seeing one another and Hades actively keeps this a secret to make himself more desirable to Persephone. Gross. The other gods don't respect his relationship with Minthe, a lower class citizen, and take no issue trying to break them apart.
Persephone is also given a job at Hades' company which she is entirely unqualified for and is only getting due to nepotism. Not only that, but she's being paid for an internship despite no other interns at the company being paid. The favoritism is so blatant and disrespectful to the other workers it's a shock that only a select few complain. Of course, those who do complain are meant to be seen as mean by the reader. Hades being the boss of both Persephone and Minthe puts a strange light over his relationships with both of them because it's now a pattern of him having unfair power over the women he pursues. Can this man not be attracted to a woman who can reasonably challenge his authority? Demeter could do that for a time and he hated her for it.
When not counting conversations had over the phone, Hades and Persephone interact a shockingly little amount in this book. Despite being the advertised main feature of the story their romance takes an obvious backseat to instead focus on other characters merely talking -about- the romance. It's disappointing.
And this is not a serious criticism, but I do need to ask: What is the purpose of TGOEM? What is the purpose of goddesses declaring celibacy? What do they have to prove? They're gods. They can't have a religious moral failing for having sex when they themselves are gods. It's not for practical reasons, or religious reasons, or political ones- there doesn't appear to be any reason for it except to arbitrarily dictate what women can do. This is so strange to me and I can't fathom why an entire organization has been made amongst the gods specifically to prohibit sex. It's a bit stupid.
Dare I call it a plot contrivance to give Persephone a reason to not pursue Hades?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Classism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
celery's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Acephobia/Arophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
varaht's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Stunning artwork. Touching storyline.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism