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shinyfox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Infidelity, and War
phangirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A - 10
W - 10
P - 7
I - 9
L - 8
E - 9
60/70
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Infidelity, and Religious bigotry
Sexual harassment, emotional abuse, and the violence do not occur between the main characters. Minor tags are for brief mentions or depictions that occur throughout.art_books_chemistry's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Death and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault and War
angelofthetardis's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
This has been on my list to read for a while as I love the Hades and Persephone story, but when I found it was included in my Audible membership it jumped to the top of the queue. Immediately, I loved the way it brought the Ancient Greek world up to date without losing any of its mystique; it pulls in the classic motifs and symbols of the Gods, while making sure they fit into a modern world. It also makes sure to include those more mythical creatures like ogres, nymphs and oracles to really balance the aspects of a technologically advanced society and a society that can only exist in legend.
The narrator of this audiobook did a great job at bringing the characters to life; her narration is well paced and she is able to give each character a voice without sounding ridiculous. I will admit that I wasn't overly enamoured with her Hades inflection, but I recognise that that's probably down to my having devoured a load of graphic audios just lately with actors playing roles, rather than straight audiobooks, so it just felt a bit 'off' to me. I also like the fact that she got into the story; you could hear the tension, excitement etc. build in her voice at various points, which definitely assisted in painting images in my mind.
As always with stories like this, it's the 'domestic' moments that really hook me in and make me root for the couple. In this case, the all powerful God of the Underworld baking cookies and attending movie night just made me grin so broadly! To me, these scenes break down the all powerful facade of these brooding all powerful males and allow you to glimpse their 'humanity' and desire for something normal. This makes them all the more relatable, whilst allowing you to remain in awe of their magnificence.
Similarly, I found the fact that the author has teased out different characteristics of some of the Gods really refreshing. For example, Demeter being a control freak of epic proportions is not how she is normally painted. In the audio version I have, there was also a bonus scene of Hades and Aphrodite entering into a bet, which paints her and her marriage to Hephestus in a very different light.
There were aspects that I wasn't as impressed with; I struggled with Persephone's split-second changes in attitude for one. One minute she can be completely enthralled by Hades, then in the next breath she's enraged over something. It does do well to build their chemistry and connection, but the device is used multiple times and I found myself getting frustrated by it. Likewise, while I enjoyed the overall subplot led by Adonis, the latter part of it made very little sense to me... and Minthe just got on my nerves throughout - she wasn't a necessary character and seems only to have been included as an extra obstacle, with no other real purpose. There are a few elements in here that don't feel like they were given quite enough thought, but I am hoping that as the world and characters develop as the series progresses, some if these kinks will be worked out.
I am so excited and happy that the majority of this series appears to be available on Kindle Unlimited (even if the rest of the audiobooks have to be paid for), so I'll definitely be adding those to my subscription shortly!
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Death of parent, and War
sonatica's review against another edition
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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Terminal illness, and Medical content
I feel like it's worth mentioning that this book features a scene in which two characters' drinks get drugged in a party-setting, for those who may want to avoid that sort of content.scarlett_f's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
saurahsaurus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and War
violetends's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Generally, the entire narrative seemed a bit superficial throughout. I think this is mostly due to a lot of "tell don't show" the author did as well as repeated retelling of the same observations or thoughts of Persephone.
I did enjoy this and especially now, in a very stressfull moment, this is great fun to read in small breaks to get away from all these things. And I will probably continue to read the series. Overall though, it gives me a similar feeling to fast food rather than nourishment.
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Confinement and Infidelity
taleofabibliophile's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Infidelity, Terminal illness, Blood, and Alcohol