Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - A Touch of Darkness

I honestly loved this. My guilty pleasure books are usually dark romance or some sort of smutty retelling. I enjoyed this. Half because of the story and just the vibes. My inner Wattpad teenager was screaming. I enjoyed the side characters, especially Hecate and Hermes. But Persephone and Hades have always been a favorite fictional couple of mine. It was more funny that I thought. I also enjoyed that even in a contemporary version, "New Greece" they spoke more like how you could expect, Hades and Persephone. I really enjoyed the dialogue and banter, just the relationship in general and I am a fan of Hades. I can't wait to read his version but I am not a huge fan of the third person writing style. I got used to it overtime but not my favorite. Also, the college storyline I feel like didn't have much of a point, as I have seen it discussed in other reviews but towards the end made more sense. The spicy scenes were enjoyable but not exactly what I had expected but still fun. Last thought is that I had an

After flashback when the bet plot was revealed but Hades is so husband I got over it.

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sonatica's review against another edition

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I generally like the idea of reteölings of the Persephone & Hades Myth in new ways, but this just wasn't for me. It felt like reading fanfiction (which can be good, obviously!) to me. One obvious trope was chasing another and it felt so predictable.
But I could've looked past that for a casual read.
However, the way he speaks to her after one of the spicier scenes around the halfway point of the book completely threw me off.
I like dark romance and I can look past toxic behaviour in fantasy if it's not glorified too much, but him saying

"I have been inside you, and you will never be able to forget that." or something along those lines

after she made clear that she didn't want to continue and felt conflicted, felt so wrong and disgusting that I just can't go on.

Mind-reading or lies-tasting or whatever doesn't save that for me either.

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jessiet's review

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Too many graphic sexual scenes. Multiple were within earshot or in the same room as someone else.

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shannonvonpesach's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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amaramorgenstern's review against another edition

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emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

Basicly smutt. Das Grundkonzept mit der Griechischen Mythologie gefällt mir eigentlich ganz gut, aber es wurde leider recht kitschig umgesetzt. Das man alles so gezwungen aktuell Machen muss, dass jeder in Designer Kleidung und Stöckl Schuhen rum laufen muss - jede Göttin und somit auch das Fashion Ideal in dieser Welt ist 2013 Ellie Saab. 0 Abwechslung, die Autorin setzt das irgendwie cringy um.

Die Intimen Szenen waren nicht schlecht, dass es hier aber ausschließlich um Verlangen und Körperliche Anziehung, nicht Emotionen und Romantik geht, stört mich. Es wäre in Ordnung gewesen, hätte es einen Spannungsbogen gegeben, dass Persephone aber von Anfang an so ein starkes Verlangen hat und unrealistischer Weise Hades ebenso - das ist definitiv zu viel des Guten. Ich denke, ich gehöre einfach nicht zur Zielgruppe. Dafür war es aber nicht schlecht. Hat Ähnlichkeiten zu Jennifer Armentrout.

Update später: es ist doch einfach zu schmachtig. Und Persephones Leben hat sich nur durch Hades zum besseren gewendet. Kein einziges bisschen durch eigene Kraft und Stärke. Immer wieder ist Hades ihr Retter - ganz die Jungfer in Nöten. Es ist auch zu viel Smut, es hört gar nicht mehr auf. Ich kann mich aber auch allgemein nicht mit Persephone in Verbindung bringen.

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