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saychall's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Sexism, Death, Bullying, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Drug use, Stalking, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
stellarkai's review
medium-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Violence, and Confinement
Minor: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
butilikeit's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, and Sexual assault
sweetdormeuse159's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use
diana_raquel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-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
3.75
“Respect could build an empire. Trust could make it unbreakable. Love could make it last forever.”
For a long time, I wanted to read more retellings or inspired Greek mythology books, especially from the myth of Hades and Persephone (one of my favorite myths). So, when this book started to make the rounds on social media, I was interested. However, hyped books are very 50/50 with me.
When I started to read this book, for a time, I was considering DNF because, in the beginning, there are some parts a bit boring to me. However, when the story starts to gain some speed, the story became really interesting and entertaining. So, this is a 3.75 read for me. It was good, but not enough for a 4 stars book to me. Even so, I plan to read the next book.
I would recommend this to people who want to read a romance and a modern retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone. It has well-developed characters, however, in the beginning, the slower pace can be a problem.
For a long time, I wanted to read more retellings or inspired Greek mythology books, especially from the myth of Hades and Persephone (one of my favorite myths). So, when this book started to make the rounds on social media, I was interested. However, hyped books are very 50/50 with me.
When I started to read this book, for a time, I was considering DNF because, in the beginning, there are some parts a bit boring to me. However, when the story starts to gain some speed, the story became really interesting and entertaining. So, this is a 3.75 read for me. It was good, but not enough for a 4 stars book to me. Even so, I plan to read the next book.
I would recommend this to people who want to read a romance and a modern retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone. It has well-developed characters, however, in the beginning, the slower pace can be a problem.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Death
Moderate: Drug use, Sexism, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Torture, Violence, and Stalking
livfowler's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
3.5
A very cliche plot line with such fantasy romance tropes as “ancient being pursues inexplicably alluring 20-something-year-old” but made up for by the excellent tension building and chemistry. Also slightly less creepy than usual when you consider both main characters are immortal gods and one is just younger.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
itshrewsbury's review
medium-paced
4.0
A very interesting retelling of Hades and Persephone; while the retelling of this specific myth can seem overdone, especially with the current popular online WebComic Lore Olympus, there's just enough different interpersonal god/goddess drama to make it different...plus the addition of smut (lol). Persephone and Hades' characterizations follow the Lore Olympus couples' closely; however, the Persephone in St. Clair's book is more "social justice"-y.
My biggest nitpick is that almost every argument these two have ends with one of them walking away and ignoring the other, or with sex, which is just annoying. If you're looking for a smut book, this has plenty after page 200 or so, so go for it if that's what you want!
The writing and plot kinda read like a Tumblr fanfic, but I did really enjoy the book! St. Clair also indicates she began writing for this couples dynamic on Tumblr, so that tracks.
I do want to see how the rest of the series goes.
TW/CW: roofies, gambling, sexual assault
18+
My biggest nitpick is that almost every argument these two have ends with one of them walking away and ignoring the other, or with sex, which is just annoying. If you're looking for a smut book, this has plenty after page 200 or so, so go for it if that's what you want!
The writing and plot kinda read like a Tumblr fanfic, but I did really enjoy the book! St. Clair also indicates she began writing for this couples dynamic on Tumblr, so that tracks.
I do want to see how the rest of the series goes.
TW/CW: roofies, gambling, sexual assault
18+
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Sexual assault
thecatconstellation's review
adventurous
emotional
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book was fun for a quick read. I’ll probably read the follow up books. It’s not amazing, but engaging enough. The sex scenes do get a bit repetitive and the pacing goes a bit too quick at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Death, and Sexual assault
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Violence, Pregnancy, Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Child abuse, Gaslighting, War, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse
Gamblingkarambit's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Confinement
Moderate: Cursing, Stalking, Torture, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Death, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Terminal illness, and War
fauna_n_fiction's review
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
After much experimentation with genres, I have finally concluded that the romance genre is not for me. I enjoy a romance subplot amongst a greater and more meaningful main plot or even romance as the main plot when the subplots are intriguing and captivating but I have found that I do not enjoy stories that revolve around 2 people (sometimes more) falling in love and then having a falling out and then coming back together. It's not my thing.
THAT BEING SAID:
I did really enjoy this for what it was. I enjoyed the combination of mythology and contemporary realism. I enjoyed the cast of characters, however I don't remember too much diversity.
I really enjoyed that Persephone made other significant relationships along the way; such as with Hermes and Hecate.
One thing I was not a fan of was all the tiptoeing around "creating life" and what that actually meant. Let me start by saying: I DID NOT want Persephone to get pregnant; if that had to happen I would have given a lower rating because that isn't something I want to read. HOWEVER, I felt like it kept getting alluded to that that might happen.
At first: Persephone didn't even consider it as an option. This frustrated me because it was the first thing I thought of and I feel like she didn't think of it even as a last resort option.
Then: Hecate and Hades both mentioned that there are other ways to create life than to plant a garden. After Persephone and Hades did the deed, she felt life within her and I immediately cringed. Even Hecate said the words "Hades has created life within you." But still... she wasn't pregnant so what did that whole scene even mean.
Then: I started thinking, maybe this is a metaphor. "Creating life" could mean creating "life" as in not just "existence" but then that fell through as well because the contract only ended when Persephone actually made plants grow. I am highly confused and unsatisfied about the whole contract portion of this.
Also:
We know that Adonis is TOXIC AF.
We know that Demeter is TOXIC AF.
But can we PLEASE talk about Hades? I am not referring to the possessiveness and dominance. Lived for that; loved it. I am talking about the showing up in her room in the middle of the night. If we're going to judge Edward Cullen for it, then we have to judge him for it too, you know? Besides, he is constantly just APPEARING next to her, or making her appear next to him whenever he pleases. AND MULTIPLE TIMES, SHE WAKES UP WITH HIM ALREADY KISSING AND TOUCHING HER!
But once again, romance is not my thing. So after chapter 16-18 I lost interest. All the smut scenes were very out-of-the-blue and slap-dash. Very rushed and random. The story started slowing down significantly once the tension between Hades and Persephone was gone.
THAT BEING SAID:
I did really enjoy this for what it was. I enjoyed the combination of mythology and contemporary realism. I enjoyed the cast of characters, however I don't remember too much diversity.
I really enjoyed that Persephone made other significant relationships along the way; such as with Hermes and Hecate.
One thing I was not a fan of was all the tiptoeing around "creating life" and what that actually meant. Let me start by saying: I DID NOT want Persephone to get pregnant; if that had to happen I would have given a lower rating because that isn't something I want to read. HOWEVER, I felt like it kept getting alluded to that that might happen.
At first: Persephone didn't even consider it as an option. This frustrated me because it was the first thing I thought of and I feel like she didn't think of it even as a last resort option.
Then: Hecate and Hades both mentioned that there are other ways to create life than to plant a garden. After Persephone and Hades did the deed, she felt life within her and I immediately cringed. Even Hecate said the words "Hades has created life within you." But still... she wasn't pregnant so what did that whole scene even mean.
Then: I started thinking, maybe this is a metaphor. "Creating life" could mean creating "life" as in not just "existence" but then that fell through as well because the contract only ended when Persephone actually made plants grow. I am highly confused and unsatisfied about the whole contract portion of this.
Also:
We know that Adonis is TOXIC AF.
We know that Demeter is TOXIC AF.
But can we PLEASE talk about Hades? I am not referring to the possessiveness and dominance. Lived for that; loved it. I am talking about the showing up in her room in the middle of the night. If we're going to judge Edward Cullen for it, then we have to judge him for it too, you know? Besides, he is constantly just APPEARING next to her, or making her appear next to him whenever he pleases. AND MULTIPLE TIMES, SHE WAKES UP WITH HIM ALREADY KISSING AND TOUCHING HER!
But once again, romance is not my thing. So after chapter 16-18 I lost interest. All the smut scenes were very out-of-the-blue and slap-dash. Very rushed and random. The story started slowing down significantly once the tension between Hades and Persephone was gone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Drug use