Reviews with content warning for Sexual harassment - A Touch of Darkness

Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair

152 reviews

nyquillll's review

adventurous dark hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I started this book on a whim - my first audiobook and my first dive back into Greek mythology in years. I had little expectations and was just looking for a romance book with some mythology.

I’m happy to say I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! I finished it in one day, listening on 1.95x speed. The writing style was descriptive and the audiobook narrator’s changing voices for characters and energetic, fully committed effort really helped bring the world to life.

I really appreciated the updates and changes to the classic story of Persephone and Hades. (Though I will admit that I don’t remember the original mythology around the two super clearly.) I liked how Persephone’s character was firm in her convictions and knew what she wanted, even if Hades was someone who helped her gain confidence in herself. I liked how the book touched on learning how to find a sense of independence when a parent was too controlling, finding out who’s a friend and who’s using you, sticking up for yourself in a work setting (props to Dimitri for taking swift action!!!), learning to fight your own battles instead of relying on/expecting others to do it, how fame and celebrity status (as a god) can warp public perception, how actions can seem far removed from their original intent (but when you look at the reasoning, there’s a humanizing aspect), how two lonely souls can find peace in each other, how safe it feels to finally find someone who wants to understand you more, friends who hold you in the bad times, and the struggle of reckoning with the world our parents build and describe for us versus the one we start to experience on our own.

I definitely enjoyed reading about the two and how their romance bloomed - and I especially liked how Persephone made it clear that

even if she loved him, it would never be true love for her if the reason she stayed in the Underworld was because of the deal and not of her free will

. I also really really loved the choice to humanize Hades and

how Persephone learns he’s not a cruel, sadistic god but rather one who understands the gravity of death and the afterlife and uses the bets/stakes he sets to try and set people on a more righteous path to a better life

. I also liked the bonus two chapters in Hades’ pov where we learn about

his bet with Aphrodite, Aphrodite and Hephaestus, and his first impression of Persephone - as well as his acute read on her with how she was a young woman struggling to find a concrete sense of self (which then informed what was wagered and how to meet the terms of the bargain)

.

I’ve already downloaded the second book and I’m looking forward to listening to it :)

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tamaraloraine89's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-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

slow start but heated right up to sizzling. I wasn't sure I'd like it in the beginning but quickly became hooked and couldn't put it down

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alimcb74's review against another edition

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emotional funny relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The book was fun and I enjoyed it, but personally some of the characters infuriated me a little. There was a lot that could have been fixed with communication and it wasn't so much "yay miscommunication trope" and more "omg just talk and explain yourself!". It was a great short read to get me back into reading after a slump, but I'm unsure whether I'll continue the series.

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alyxbeau's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

1.5

This has a high spice rating in my opinion. And no plot to care about at all. The plot is the spice. I dont care for spice only, so this wasn't for me. Particularly in audiobook format spice makes me really uncomfy. This is definitely open door explicit. I didn't care for the characters either. I have very little tolerance for those who make clubs as their go to activity their only personality trait.

I'm not sure that I will continue these despite owning the full set of books in physical form. Curse my habit of being lured by pretty covers and Greek mythology. It's been doing me dirty. I bought these a long while ago before knowing my opinion on spice, and not knowing that's what these were. Apparently the next get more spicy? This was already too much.

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sweill803's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The world-building was done beautifully and I felt fully immersed in 'New Athens.' While it's mainly a romance novel, I think there is something to be said about the friendships in the book, about women supporting women and protecting and inspiring each other. If you're a girl's girl and like some spice to your books, this is a great book for you.

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lorepanda's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious relaxing tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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caroras's review against another edition

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hopeful tense slow-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? Yes

2.75

This book is perfect for you if you want something that’s easy to read, and can act as an escape from reality or whatever.
And yet, honestly, it didn’t captivate me. I’m usually an easy-to-please reader, so not being very interested in a “simple” book like this is weird.

Some factors were definitely not helping.
The main character, Persephone, was annoying to a ridiculous extent. She kept on doubting, misjudging and misconstruing everything about hades. Even when she was proven wrong, she just kept seeing all the bad things, even when these bad things have no substance to be based upon.
Hades was a good character in my opinion. Easy to love despite his flaws.

Last half of the book was hard to drag myself through.
Every time I put the book down to go to sleep, eat and what not, I found it really hard to pick back up.

My favorite part of the book was the portrayal of Hecate and the Underworld.

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