Scan barcode
reading_historical_romance's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Persephone Honeyfield is twenty-seven and resigned to spinsterhood as a permanent fixture of her father’s estate in the rural English countryside. But fate has made other plans, and Persephone soon finds herself in a compromising situation with neighboring estate owner, Aidon Barrington. Reformed rake and owner of the most exclusive funerary services firm in London, Aidon has been christened “Lord of the Dead” by the scandal sheets. Persephone initially dismisses the gossip as ridiculous, and agrees to accept Aidon’s offer of marriage to preserve her reputation. But after being safely ensconced in her new home at Aidon’s manor, Gallowsgate, Persephone is alarmed to discover that her serious but attentive new husband is harboring dark secrets that threaten to destroy their blossoming romance.
Within the few first pages, I could immediately see why this author was signed. Her voice is absolutely suited to the historical romance genre. Her prose is gentle and measured, the pacing is even, the tone is airy with a whimsical quality. She hits all of the notes that a charming historical romance should have, like elegance, comportment, longing, repression, and sexual tension. I loved the way that the author incorporated consent into the story, which empowered Persephone to chart the course of her and Aidon's sexual relationship. The book is sex positive, which is always refreshing to see in a hist-rom.
Unfortunately, there is just not enough story here to justify a full-length novel. As is, I think this would have worked much better as a novella because Aidon and Persephone’s story, as written, is not complex. The secrets Aidon is keeping aren't earth shattering or particularly interesting, nor do they require much resolution to facilitate his and Persephone's HEA.
We are told that there are a lot of things in Persephone and Aidon’s pasts that inform the choices they make as adults, but we aren’t shown any of it. There are no flashbacks, or even any dialogue between any of the characters that would give us a solid frame of reference for Persephone’s persistent and lifelong insecurity, or Aidon’s compulsion to prove himself a man after his father’s death.
As a result, I was never fully invested in the main characters' internal or interpersonal conflicts. By 50%, I realized that Aidon and Persephone are just not that interesting as people. Aidon is boring, Persephone is insecure. We never seem to get past those two aspects of their characters. To some extent, I really have to look at the editor on this one. It is the editor’s responsibility to facilitate story development, plug the holes, tighten the narrative, and put the focus where it needs to be when it comes to the romance arc and the major themes. I actually felt a little frustrated at times while reading, as I think that under a better editor’s guidance, this could have been a 4-star read based on the author’s writing ability and style.
The characters that I want to know more about are the ones that have real stuff going on in their lives. Ezra and Christianna: mild-mannered and innocent for all to see, but behind closed doors they both make radical choices for the time. And Cassius, who is written like a real human person fighting serious demons as opposed to the “I’m emotionally scarred so all I do is work like an automaton even though I hate my job” Aidon.
I will be watching for the next book from this author because I believe she does have potential as she perfects her craft, and given the opportunity to work with an experienced editor who has story development skills.
Tropes: Regency romance, forced marriage, slow burn, insta-love, spinster, brooding hero, fated mates
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own.
Within the few first pages, I could immediately see why this author was signed. Her voice is absolutely suited to the historical romance genre. Her prose is gentle and measured, the pacing is even, the tone is airy with a whimsical quality. She hits all of the notes that a charming historical romance should have, like elegance, comportment, longing, repression, and sexual tension. I loved the way that the author incorporated consent into the story, which empowered Persephone to chart the course of her and Aidon's sexual relationship. The book is sex positive, which is always refreshing to see in a hist-rom.
Unfortunately, there is just not enough story here to justify a full-length novel. As is, I think this would have worked much better as a novella because Aidon and Persephone’s story, as written, is not complex. The secrets Aidon is keeping aren't earth shattering or particularly interesting, nor do they require much resolution to facilitate his and Persephone's HEA.
We are told that there are a lot of things in Persephone and Aidon’s pasts that inform the choices they make as adults, but we aren’t shown any of it. There are no flashbacks, or even any dialogue between any of the characters that would give us a solid frame of reference for Persephone’s persistent and lifelong insecurity, or Aidon’s compulsion to prove himself a man after his father’s death.
As a result, I was never fully invested in the main characters' internal or interpersonal conflicts. By 50%, I realized that Aidon and Persephone are just not that interesting as people. Aidon is boring, Persephone is insecure. We never seem to get past those two aspects of their characters. To some extent, I really have to look at the editor on this one. It is the editor’s responsibility to facilitate story development, plug the holes, tighten the narrative, and put the focus where it needs to be when it comes to the romance arc and the major themes. I actually felt a little frustrated at times while reading, as I think that under a better editor’s guidance, this could have been a 4-star read based on the author’s writing ability and style.
The characters that I want to know more about are the ones that have real stuff going on in their lives. Ezra and Christianna: mild-mannered and innocent for all to see, but behind closed doors they both make radical choices for the time. And Cassius, who is written like a real human person fighting serious demons as opposed to the “I’m emotionally scarred so all I do is work like an automaton even though I hate my job” Aidon.
I will be watching for the next book from this author because I believe she does have potential as she perfects her craft, and given the opportunity to work with an experienced editor who has story development skills.
Tropes: Regency romance, forced marriage, slow burn, insta-love, spinster, brooding hero, fated mates
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Grief, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Child death, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Temple of Persephone by Isabella Kamal evidences evocative writing and a unique premise. While Hades and Persephone retellings are not uncommon, I've never read one that called back so directly to the original tale and that used the mythology through so much of the plot's throughline. Aside from that inspiration, the characters also felt very reminiscent of our cast from Pride and Prejudice - a surly (but largely just misunderstood) male main character, a hoydenish female main character aging into spinsterhood (in her mid-20s) in the countryside with an elderly, doting (but distant) father, and a secondary romance between two sunshine characters who fall immediately and hopelessly in love.
Despite all the familiar beats in this romance (marriage of convenience is usually a favorite set-up for me!), I struggled to feel the chemistry between the two main characters and wished for more on-page tension between them through the first half of the book. This is a very introspective book, with most page-space devoted to inner monologue, and there were moments I wanted more interaction between characters, more showing and less telling, more push and pull between them. The secondary plot - and the primary cause of tension between our main characters - felt like it was carrying too much in the final act, as I struggled to imagine the back-and-forth truly being as drawn out as it was.
In another call-back to Pride and Prejudice, in the final act, we have our male main character threatening to interfere in a secondary plot in a way that didn't feel as resolved as I needed it to be - his actions are frustrating and limit agency for these characters in a way that rankled a bit. This, alongside our female main character's continued negative self-talk throughout the narrative (more telling than showing, as we don't see a lot of evidence for why she may have felt that way among her family and friends), made it hard for me to really root for the main characters through the final conflict.
While I struggled with the plot and characters, I did find the writing to be compelling, and I'll read more by this author in the future, in hopes that this was just a set-up that didn't quite work for me. Thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced reader copy!
Despite all the familiar beats in this romance (marriage of convenience is usually a favorite set-up for me!), I struggled to feel the chemistry between the two main characters and wished for more on-page tension between them through the first half of the book. This is a very introspective book, with most page-space devoted to inner monologue, and there were moments I wanted more interaction between characters, more showing and less telling, more push and pull between them. The secondary plot - and the primary cause of tension between our main characters - felt like it was carrying too much in the final act, as I struggled to imagine the back-and-forth truly being as drawn out as it was.
In another call-back to Pride and Prejudice, in the final act, we have our male main character threatening to interfere in a secondary plot in a way that didn't feel as resolved as I needed it to be - his actions are frustrating and limit agency for these characters in a way that rankled a bit. This, alongside our female main character's continued negative self-talk throughout the narrative (more telling than showing, as we don't see a lot of evidence for why she may have felt that way among her family and friends), made it hard for me to really root for the main characters through the final conflict.
While I struggled with the plot and characters, I did find the writing to be compelling, and I'll read more by this author in the future, in hopes that this was just a set-up that didn't quite work for me. Thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced reader copy!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Grief, Alcoholism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death
Brief mentions of stillbirth. Notes on consent: verbal consent throughout.
More...