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bookishmillennial's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
I know it's the fourth volume and I know a lot of this is available on WebToon but I wait until I grab these print volumes! However, I am just realizing this is such a character-driven story, and that we are in it for the long haul with these characters. That's not a bad thing, I just was viscerally aware of it as I flipped the pages of this book. I genuinely feel so much for Persephone, as RS really illustrated so many thoughts that survivors replay in their minds here! I felt uncomfortably seen in this, and I want so badly for Persephone to *heal* but I'm simply projecting my own trauma onto her, and it's only been a few weeks so why am I rushing her journey?! I don't know! Because I want her to be okay!
Anyway, I think what I love most about these characters is that even though they are gods, they are all so human and so messy. I love how much they fumble, I love how much they let their emotions get the best of them, and I love how we have to read this story at a glacial pace so that we cannot rush past the development. Thank you RS for both making me ache with discomfort as I want everything wrapped up nicely with a bow, and for illustrating such authentic journeys.
I know it's the fourth volume and I know a lot of this is available on WebToon but I wait until I grab these print volumes! However, I am just realizing this is such a character-driven story, and that we are in it for the long haul with these characters. That's not a bad thing, I just was viscerally aware of it as I flipped the pages of this book. I genuinely feel so much for Persephone, as RS really illustrated so many thoughts that survivors replay in their minds here! I felt uncomfortably seen in this, and I want so badly for Persephone to *heal* but I'm simply projecting my own trauma onto her, and it's only been a few weeks so why am I rushing her journey?! I don't know! Because I want her to be okay!
Anyway, I think what I love most about these characters is that even though they are gods, they are all so human and so messy. I love how much they fumble, I love how much they let their emotions get the best of them, and I love how we have to read this story at a glacial pace so that we cannot rush past the development. Thank you RS for both making me ache with discomfort as I want everything wrapped up nicely with a bow, and for illustrating such authentic journeys.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Infidelity
ninahuynh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Give it to him, Persephone! Apollo needs to hear it and get it said right to his face- even though he’s still trying to gaslight her, himself and the situation. Eros is once again, the best friend she needs. Oh gods! That last episode 😭 Hades is just a hopeless romantic and I am here for it!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Violence
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Rape, and Sexual assault
amandapanda27's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
madmadmaddymad's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I love Ares. He gives me such Cassian from ACoTaR vibes. I especially love the scene where he tricks Persephone to making out with him. It just goes to show, there is such a thing as being a jerk without violating someone’s consent (ahem ahem APOLLO)
I also love the confrontation with Persephone and Apollo! I think it’s so important what this series is doing in terms of displaying a relationship like theirs. Apollo thinks he’s a nice guy, and that he’s done nothing wrong. It is so vital what Rachel Smythe is doing, because rape doesn’t always look like someone holding a threat of violence over you for it to be rape. I love this comic’s take on this difficult subject, and I love the art, I love the way Persephone’s trauma is always drawn with those discordant music notes, striped across the panel.
I’m so proud of her for standing up to her rapist.
This series is such a pleasure to read. I love, love, love the characters, the art, the story, and basically everything there is about it.
I also love the confrontation with Persephone and Apollo! I think it’s so important what this series is doing in terms of displaying a relationship like theirs. Apollo thinks he’s a nice guy, and that he’s done nothing wrong. It is so vital what Rachel Smythe is doing, because rape doesn’t always look like someone holding a threat of violence over you for it to be rape. I love this comic’s take on this difficult subject, and I love the art, I love the way Persephone’s trauma is always drawn with those discordant music notes, striped across the panel.
I’m so proud of her for standing up to her rapist.
This series is such a pleasure to read. I love, love, love the characters, the art, the story, and basically everything there is about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infertility
celery's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Classism, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Stalking, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Medical trauma, Medical content, Incest, Blood, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Infertility, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
amylynn44's review against another edition
emotional
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
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
And I'm caught up! Though it looks like Volume Five will be published later this year and I will definitely be continuing with this series, because after the first two volumes it has really picked up! I definitely sped right through this in a single (possibly less than an hour) sitting. And it hit the spot.
This is just a continuous story carried over volumes, so this picks up right where the third left us. But, with a major perspective switch to start. This installation opens with the background on and character development for Hades that I have been waiting for (perhaps why I liked it so much, tbh). We get to see deeper into some of his insecurities, stemming from wanting something serious but (due to his position) tamping it down or taking what he can get, because he assumes no one would want to be with him. Between that and the trivialization of his romantic dreams from both his brothers (Zeus and Poseidon), it all very much explains why he is in (and stays in) such an unhealthy - really emotionally abusive - relationship with Minthe. Really, all that elaboration on his history is really kinda heartbreaking (and as a reader, I have all the more emotional investment in his successful outcome with Persephone now - a perfect opposites attract).
I also remain thrilled to see the ever more fully dimensional Persephone. Her emotional range and standing up for herself and just generally having more and varied feelings was everything I thought she was missing earlier and love it here. Like you go girl, with the shutting down of Apollo's horrific emotional manipulation. The entire flashback to her first meeting with Ares, and then "re-meeting" in real time here, was similarly good, as far as building that dimension and flushing out her story. I also have to say that, while fairly heartbreaking, it was great development writing to see her trying to deal with everything (specifically related to Apollo and her future with TGOEM) on her own and keeping it on the DL. I mean, I hope over time she finds a way to talk to more people about it and get support, but it's a very realistic emotional journey and I'm glad she's getting that.
And of course, the centerpiece relationship: Hades and Persephone together. *Big* yes on that front here. It is a deliciously slow burn, first of all. Alongside that, they are talking (at least a bit more openly) about their feelings and concerns, but still with their own shit they're playing more close to the chest. It's a great balance. And the playful and yearning interactions are too sweet. Plus, Persephone is already making Hades work on himself more, which is awesome because he deserves that in general, but it's also leading him towards benevolence and respect elsewhere because he sees goodness and a reason to in her and just...oh my heart.
A last few thoughts... This is like candy for the eyes, color wise. It's just so fun, stylistically. Though, there are still some panels where the characters' features change enough (or resemble another’s so much) that I can’t pinpoint who they are for a bit. It's slightly disconcerting but overall doesn't take away too much - the context of the words and interactions helps place them reasonably quickly. The story arc is really coming into its own and feeling much less scattered and disconnected and confusing. So that's awesome. And I'm personally looking forward to more on the secret fertility goddess plot line and how that plays out. Plus, all the bonus side plot stories (because when talking about Mount Olympus and the gods, there is *so much* drama to choose from and adapt), Smythe does a great job keeping all that ridiculous (and careless) sleeping around and family drama, but doing it in a way that doesn’t make you hate *all* of them (exceptions being Apollo, and Zeus, of course), or at least complicates the hate with other reaction and dimension.
Unputdownable fourth volume. Really looking forward to the fifth now!
“Joking aside, being optimistic doesn’t make you naive. / You see things not for what they are, but for what they could be.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Violence
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Every volume leaves me wanting more. I don’t know when the next volume gets released but I’ll be waiting with baited breath. Breathtaking imagery paired with a beautiful story of coming of age and learning about love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Bullying, Violence, Death, Rape, Abandonment, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Gaslighting, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Torture
vr_alyssa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? No
3.25
Even more miscommunication, manipulation, and pettiness - but also more deities! I could read this forever
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Violence
dododenise's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Rape, Toxic friendship, and Sexual assault