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megthecatlady's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The character development for Persephone in this book was so freaking good. The development of her relationship with Hades was also great to watch. I love that the author has continued to make the side characters have stories just as interesting as the main characters and that they each bring something to the table. I'm also really glad that Persephone has friends - I feel like that's so rare to get in romance novels because it's usually just the hero and heroine pining for each other with no time for anyone else. Or maybe that's just my lack of knowledge in the romantasy genre speaking. I love, love, love this series and this was probably my favorite book of the series so far - I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could.
Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Rape
ninahuynh's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
- A few of the sex scenes are confusing, some of which I think could do without. As the amount of explicit scenes increase and how they arrive to it feel... sudden and might I say, cheap. I makes their relationship's foundation as sex. In some cases, it just feels out of place.
- I like how Scarlett St. Clair illustrates the deep trauma that comes with boundaries violation and sexual assault. I like that it wasn't just glossed over or simplified; everyone deals with trauma and heals from trauma differently.
- Who is Theo? Dunno if that's a typo in my ebook but could not find who Theo is. First scene with Theseus.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Cursing, Body horror, Rape, Pandemic/Epidemic, Misogyny, Gore, Sexual content, Hate crime, Grief, Vomit, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Death of parent, Abortion, Alcohol, Violence, Alcoholism, Blood, War, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Sexual assault, and Death
Minor: Pregnancy, Abortion, Child death, Torture, Cannibalism, and Vomit
ophelia_so_sad'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: Murder and Death
Minor: Grief, Kidnapping, Torture, and Death of parent
rchulin1's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Vomit, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, War, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Grief, Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Classism, Death, Dementia, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Cursing, Death of parent, Gore, and Panic attacks/disorders
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? Yes
4.0
Overall, I think it's the best paced and most enjoyable story of the series to date. I'm enjoying seeing Persephone grow into her powers and the slow expansion of the 'found family' (even if most of them are actually related in some way...), the twists and turns of the over-arching narrative and Hades just being Hades. And for the first time, I didn't get annoyed by Persephone's immaturity - her character has shifted in to something a little more befitting of the future Queen of the Underworld; she's still a little bit immature and naive in places, but the darker thread of her power coming to the surface and the development of her persona to match Hades, gaining satisfaction from the torture of the souls of those that wrong people makes her feel far more rounded.
That being said, there's a small part of my brain berating me for liking this. I think my main issue is that, while the trauma Persephone went through in the last book is addressed and it does affect her relationship with Hades, it only feels like it's addressed on a surface level and then discarded in favour of a quick recovery. Likewise, the sufferings of other characters are dismissed fairly quickly and one dimensionally - the author had a great opportunity to give us a deeper insight and context into Demeter's motives, but instead it's referred to in a single sentence and she's branded a hopeless case.
I also think the author has come to rely on the spicy scenes as a bit of a crutch. Persephone claims that she feels at her most powerful when in bed with Hades, and that could be illustrated so, so well to add layers to the story. But instead, it feels like the choice was quantity over quality, and for the most part Hades is the one in the position of power IMO. She can certainly write the scenes, I just think she needs to be more selective about placing them.
As before, I do like the way the author has seamlessly weaved in elements of various myths to expand the world, and reading some of her explanations in the Author's Notes really make these moments stand out. In particular, I like the twist in the character of Helen, the development of Apollo's character and acknowledgement of his past errors, and the continued back and forth between Aphrodite and Hephestus.
The writing is far from perfect and I would kill for more depth, but I couldn't help but enjoy this. Looking forward tonreading Hades' POV shortly!
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Torture, Body horror, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Rape, Stalking, Infertility, Car accident, Murder, Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, Gore, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Child death, and Blood
sbauer2894's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault
kitten's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Death of parent, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infertility, and Stalking
mlh95's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Rape, Gore, Violence, Death, Blood, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Genocide, and Torture
majormnkey's review
- 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? Yes
3.5
- ‘Are you well?’ said about 500 times.
- Again, sex seems to be the cure-all of all Hades’ and Persephone's problems.
- Some chapters had about five sex scenes in 15 pages. Quite the overkill. They started to feel like filler chapters.
- I had to remind myself very often that she’s a goddess, because she’s written so much like a mousy, insecure young student.
Positives:
- Hecate, Apollo, Hermes! I LIVE for their storylines.
- Easy read, good flow most of the time.
Will probably read the last book, as I’ve come so far by now.
Graphic: Violence and Sexual content
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Grief, and Torture
Minor: Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Cursing, and Child death
maxinesf's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Death, Grief, Alcohol, Murder, Torture, Sexual content, Gore, Blood, Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, and Infertility