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ark99's review
1.0
i reallyyy love greek mythology based books but i didnt really enjoy this one.
the romance in it didn't seem natural to me?? in the beginning when persephone and hades first meet it starts out really nice and I wish that the author kept that build up of their friendship but as soon as persephone goes to the underworld it all kind of stops and suddenly they're in love?? what?? anyways thats basically all i have to say about it. (all this is purposefully in lower case and stuff im too lazy to capitalize everything)
the romance in it didn't seem natural to me?? in the beginning when persephone and hades first meet it starts out really nice and I wish that the author kept that build up of their friendship but as soon as persephone goes to the underworld it all kind of stops and suddenly they're in love?? what?? anyways thats basically all i have to say about it. (all this is purposefully in lower case and stuff im too lazy to capitalize everything)
ashreads10k's review
4.0
Persephone lives in the most gorgeous place in the world. But her mother's a goddess, as overprotective as she is powerful. Paradise has become a trap. Just when Persephone feels there's no chance of escaping the life that's been planned for her, a mysterious stranger arrives. A stranger who promises something more—something dangerous and exciting—something that spurs Persephone to make a daring choice. A choice that could destroy all she's come to love, even the earth itself. In a land where a singing river can make you forget your very name, Persephone is forced to discover who—and what—she really is.
One of my all time favorite Greek myths is the Abduction of Persephone. Honestly, I’m obsessed. So I quickly snatched up Radiant Darkness the moment I found out it was a retelling of that very story.
Having researched so heavily on this myth, I went in reading with a head full of facts and expectations. When it came to the test, Radiant Darkness did not do justice what I was expecting. The whole point of Radiant Darkness is to tell the “truth” about Hades and Persephone: that Hades never really kidnapped her. “Okay, I’ll play along,” I thought at first. But Hades and Persephone knew each other all of a few days when he suddenly asks her to be his wife and queen. There was barely any development to their romance. Just four or five encounters and then he’s whisking her off (willingly) to the Underworld.
{Also just saying, Hades had a beard. I don’t dig beards.}
One of the aspects that I loved about this book was the Underworld itself. It wasn’t simply stone and dirt, dark and gloom, but rather a complete world of its own with the sun shining during the day and even gardens for Persephone to tend. Whitman turned the Underworld into something new and original, and I really appreciated it.
I also loved the evolvement of Persephone’s character from a girl to a woman ¾from average to goddess. Part of this evolvement was the growth of her relationship with her mother, Demeter. At first, Demeter only did was she thought was best for Persephone without any consideration for what her daughter wanted, but towards the end, she realized her daughter was a grown woman and could not be suffocated and smothered. On her part, Persephone realized that her mother loved her more than anything, and was only doing what she did because of that love.
Whitman’s writing was very elegant, and interestingly descriptive. She continually uses a descriptive technique that’s all her own, and I loved. Example:
“It’s a deep voice. I can feel it reverberate in my chest and echo all the way down to my toes. I know I should leave, but I don’t want to. I want to keep my senses like this forever. I’m all eye, all ear, all skin.”
Radiant Darkness was an all right book that I did like reading. It just could have been better.
Review from "What's Your Story? YA Book Reviews":
http://whatsyourstorybookreviews.blogspot.com/
One of my all time favorite Greek myths is the Abduction of Persephone. Honestly, I’m obsessed. So I quickly snatched up Radiant Darkness the moment I found out it was a retelling of that very story.
Having researched so heavily on this myth, I went in reading with a head full of facts and expectations. When it came to the test, Radiant Darkness did not do justice what I was expecting. The whole point of Radiant Darkness is to tell the “truth” about Hades and Persephone: that Hades never really kidnapped her. “Okay, I’ll play along,” I thought at first. But Hades and Persephone knew each other all of a few days when he suddenly asks her to be his wife and queen. There was barely any development to their romance. Just four or five encounters and then he’s whisking her off (willingly) to the Underworld.
{Also just saying, Hades had a beard. I don’t dig beards.}
One of the aspects that I loved about this book was the Underworld itself. It wasn’t simply stone and dirt, dark and gloom, but rather a complete world of its own with the sun shining during the day and even gardens for Persephone to tend. Whitman turned the Underworld into something new and original, and I really appreciated it.
I also loved the evolvement of Persephone’s character from a girl to a woman ¾from average to goddess. Part of this evolvement was the growth of her relationship with her mother, Demeter. At first, Demeter only did was she thought was best for Persephone without any consideration for what her daughter wanted, but towards the end, she realized her daughter was a grown woman and could not be suffocated and smothered. On her part, Persephone realized that her mother loved her more than anything, and was only doing what she did because of that love.
Whitman’s writing was very elegant, and interestingly descriptive. She continually uses a descriptive technique that’s all her own, and I loved. Example:
“It’s a deep voice. I can feel it reverberate in my chest and echo all the way down to my toes. I know I should leave, but I don’t want to. I want to keep my senses like this forever. I’m all eye, all ear, all skin.”
Radiant Darkness was an all right book that I did like reading. It just could have been better.
Review from "What's Your Story? YA Book Reviews":
http://whatsyourstorybookreviews.blogspot.com/
amy_inthecatacombs's review
4.0
Radiant Darkness is a retelling of the Greek myth about Hades and Persephone. Persephone’s mother, Demeter, is determined to make sure that Persephone stays a child forever. Every time Persephone wants to go with her mother to a festival or give away her dolls to the temple, her mother gets angry. Persephone never gets to leave her mother’s vale. The most exciting thing that she does is visit her friends at another part of the vale.
One day, Persephone smells a flower that almost seems to beckon her. When she starts to follow the smell, she sees a path in the vale she has never seen before and goes down it. She eventually sees a man. This is the first man she has ever seen. When she tries to ask her mother about her father, Demeter usually says that is men are greedy and pointless, so Persephone decides not to tell her mother about what she saw. She quickly runs away before the man can see her.
She comes back to the part of the vale, but this time the man sees her.
After several meetings she realizes that the man is Hades.
I really liked this book. I would have liked there to have been more of an emphasis on Persephone’s relationship with Hades, but it seemed to focus more on Persephone’s desire to be an effective queen.
One day, Persephone smells a flower that almost seems to beckon her. When she starts to follow the smell, she sees a path in the vale she has never seen before and goes down it. She eventually sees a man. This is the first man she has ever seen. When she tries to ask her mother about her father, Demeter usually says that is men are greedy and pointless, so Persephone decides not to tell her mother about what she saw. She quickly runs away before the man can see her.
She comes back to the part of the vale, but this time the man sees her.
After several meetings she realizes that the man is Hades.
I really liked this book. I would have liked there to have been more of an emphasis on Persephone’s relationship with Hades, but it seemed to focus more on Persephone’s desire to be an effective queen.
mlboyd20's review
4.0
For those that love mythology, this is right up your alley. For those that could care less about mythology, but like a good story, this is also for you. First, you have to be willing to get through the authors need to jump here and there and cut out of sequences quickly. I found at least the first half of the book to be quite choppy. You get used to it while reading, but it still drove me a bit crazy.
To the story....Persephone is the only child of Demeter. Demeter is the Goddess of the harvest. She insures the fertility of the Earth, brings rain when needed, provided the health of the crops. Demeter has sworn off men. They are not allowed in her kingdom. In turn, she has babied her daughter, who is well into her marrying years, and refuses to let her experience life outside of the kingdom. Persephone is unhappy about this, she wants to experience life. She feels that she serves no purpose.
In comes Hades, King of the Underworld, God of the dead. They meet, secretly, fall in love, secretly, and he asks her to be his Queen. She leaves her mothers kingdom behind, again secrelty, no note saying Goodbye, nothing to let her mother know where she's gone, etc.
Now the author has done something really exquisite with the Underworld. She has made it to be a land of fertile ground, a land where Shades (the dead) can live and still feel somewhat like a person. When I think of Hades, I think of hell and fire. This is a land of rivers, warmth, a sun, fertile land, etc.
As time goes, there are more and more Shades appearing. Persephone realizes, after quite some time, what is happening on Earth. She finds a way to fix it all and keep her promise to a Shade. She also finds her purpose and it is an eye opening event for her. I won't go on about who, what, why, and how, because than it would all be SPOILERS.
I will say that I was hoping that Hermes would find some romance. It felt that the author was going to link Persephone with him, but that didn't happen.
Other than the choppiness, this is a good twist on what is known in Greek mythology as the Rape of Persephone. Which I do suggest you read up on after finishing this book.
To the story....Persephone is the only child of Demeter. Demeter is the Goddess of the harvest. She insures the fertility of the Earth, brings rain when needed, provided the health of the crops. Demeter has sworn off men. They are not allowed in her kingdom. In turn, she has babied her daughter, who is well into her marrying years, and refuses to let her experience life outside of the kingdom. Persephone is unhappy about this, she wants to experience life. She feels that she serves no purpose.
In comes Hades, King of the Underworld, God of the dead. They meet, secretly, fall in love, secretly, and he asks her to be his Queen. She leaves her mothers kingdom behind, again secrelty, no note saying Goodbye, nothing to let her mother know where she's gone, etc.
Now the author has done something really exquisite with the Underworld. She has made it to be a land of fertile ground, a land where Shades (the dead) can live and still feel somewhat like a person. When I think of Hades, I think of hell and fire. This is a land of rivers, warmth, a sun, fertile land, etc.
As time goes, there are more and more Shades appearing. Persephone realizes, after quite some time, what is happening on Earth. She finds a way to fix it all and keep her promise to a Shade. She also finds her purpose and it is an eye opening event for her. I won't go on about who, what, why, and how, because than it would all be SPOILERS.
I will say that I was hoping that Hermes would find some romance. It felt that the author was going to link Persephone with him, but that didn't happen.
Other than the choppiness, this is a good twist on what is known in Greek mythology as the Rape of Persephone. Which I do suggest you read up on after finishing this book.
danicapage's review
4.0
There have been many retellings or references to the myth of Persephone. When I picked up this novel, I was entranced by the cover and decided it would be worth reading. What I didn't expect was that I'd absolutely love this novel.
Persephone had some serious attitude, I noticed that from the very beginning. But with a mother whose a goddess determined on confining you to the vale she's created and keeping you away from all things male, I guess that makes sense.
Enter Hades. Persephone encounters a mystery man in the vale and is quickly smitten by him. When she finds out he's Hades, she's surprised and angry at first. But love is no match for anger.
I really liked that Whitman deviated from the traditional myth of damsel in distress and created a story with a kick butt heroine.
I also liked the fact that she didn't stick with the stereotype of Hades. In this novel Hades was hot. No I'm not joking. Hades wasn't the one dimensional figure he's always been. I loved her description of the underworld and basically the whole novel.
A great read that is definitely worth reading.
For an extended review, please visit this link.
Persephone had some serious attitude, I noticed that from the very beginning. But with a mother whose a goddess determined on confining you to the vale she's created and keeping you away from all things male, I guess that makes sense.
Enter Hades. Persephone encounters a mystery man in the vale and is quickly smitten by him. When she finds out he's Hades, she's surprised and angry at first. But love is no match for anger.
I really liked that Whitman deviated from the traditional myth of damsel in distress and created a story with a kick butt heroine.
I also liked the fact that she didn't stick with the stereotype of Hades. In this novel Hades was hot. No I'm not joking. Hades wasn't the one dimensional figure he's always been. I loved her description of the underworld and basically the whole novel.
A great read that is definitely worth reading.
For an extended review, please visit this link.
pankadoll's review
3.0
Strange book. There are some great details: Persephone's relationship with mortal woman is the most precious part of the plot, her dialogs with Charon are beautifully written, and the beginning explains her reasons to run really well. It's all important for the lore building and possible conflicts that may arise in this story, if you desire to expand it from the little information we know, sure, but (!)
Did the author want to write Hades at all? We are told they are in love, we don't see it, we don't see them interacting much, it's impossible to understand why she is so enamored with him, as he is practically absent. And when he is there, it's not like he respects her. It becomes the more palpable the more Persephone thinks about Demeter. The comparison of mother and husband is a silver lining, and well, in the end the few facts that are given to readers indicate that they are not so different. Why she is so eager to be with him is a mystery.
Demeter's change of heart in the final chapters is suspicious as well. I don't see how she would be so stubborn before, and so quickly persuaded after.
So, it's worth to read for the goddess-human friendship thing, or as coming of age story (probably), or as a guide how to not raise a child, it's not good as a romance, because there is none.
Did the author want to write Hades at all? We are told they are in love, we don't see it, we don't see them interacting much, it's impossible to understand why she is so enamored with him, as he is practically absent. And when he is there, it's not like he respects her. It becomes the more palpable the more Persephone thinks about Demeter. The comparison of mother and husband is a silver lining, and well, in the end the few facts that are given to readers indicate that they are not so different. Why she is so eager to be with him is a mystery.
Demeter's change of heart in the final chapters is suspicious as well. I don't see how she would be so stubborn before, and so quickly persuaded after.
So, it's worth to read for the goddess-human friendship thing, or as coming of age story (probably), or as a guide how to not raise a child, it's not good as a romance, because there is none.
diandra24's review
5.0
Persephone feels trapped in her mother's vale. Demeter, her mother and goddess, never wants her child to grow up and therefore only treats her like a child who does not know the ways of the world. And it is true, Persephone doesn't know much of the world, but it is because Demeter doesn't allow her to. Persephone finds her way out of this vicious cycle when Hades happens upon her vale and they fall in love. In this twist on the classic myth, Persephone finds love, and is given the chance to find herself.
I am a lover of all books that take old classic stories and turn them into something new. That goes for myths and fairy tales alike. This story was a great read and I truly liked Emily Whitman's writing style. Our heroine goes through changes and it is easy to see that she is not the same woman she was in the beginning of the book. Hades is also depicted as a good man, immortal who may be hungry for power, but truly loves her as well.
This is the second story I have read that has to do with this myth and it is spectacular. If you liked this you would also enjoy [b:Goddess of Spring|30194|Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning, #2)|P.C. Cast|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388187186s/30194.jpg|30583].
I am a lover of all books that take old classic stories and turn them into something new. That goes for myths and fairy tales alike. This story was a great read and I truly liked Emily Whitman's writing style. Our heroine goes through changes and it is easy to see that she is not the same woman she was in the beginning of the book. Hades is also depicted as a good man, immortal who may be hungry for power, but truly loves her as well.
This is the second story I have read that has to do with this myth and it is spectacular. If you liked this you would also enjoy [b:Goddess of Spring|30194|Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning, #2)|P.C. Cast|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388187186s/30194.jpg|30583].
themostbookish's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bookluver5's review
5.0
Writing this brief review from memory since its been a while since I've read this. I thought it was a cute children's story about the relationship between Hades and Persephone. I didn't know anything from Greek mythology about Persephone's relationship with her mom but that was well done too. I liked the kinder side of Hades shown in this story. He seemed more lovable than his usual villainous depictions.