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samjunipero's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This was a really sweet regency romance! I enjoyed that it's sort of a Hades and Persephone retelling, but really gruesome.
babsreads18's review against another edition
4.0
Persephone Honeyfield lives in the English countryside with her sister and father and is well on her way to becoming a spinster. She finds herself in Gallowsgate, looking for a book of her mother’s. Gallowsgate is the Barrington estate, and Persephone thought it was abandoned, so she is startled when she finds Aidon Barrington there! Aidon is running his family’s funeral furnishing business and is known as the Lord of the Dead. He and Persepone are caught in a compromising, but innocent position, and are forced to become engaged. As they learn about each other through marriage, Persephone starts uncovering secrets, and falling for the Lord of the Dead.
The Temple of Persephone is a light and easy read. It’s a great story, with mystery, romance, and even some spice! I love Persephone’s character - she’s a strong woman who speaks her mind. Aidon is broody and reserved. I thought his secret was pretty anticlimactic, but still thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I listened to the audio and really enjoyed the narrator. Her voice fit the story incredibly well and helped me become more immersed in the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC!
The Temple of Persephone is a light and easy read. It’s a great story, with mystery, romance, and even some spice! I love Persephone’s character - she’s a strong woman who speaks her mind. Aidon is broody and reserved. I thought his secret was pretty anticlimactic, but still thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I listened to the audio and really enjoyed the narrator. Her voice fit the story incredibly well and helped me become more immersed in the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC!
andrea_author's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Former charmer Aidon agrees to marry Persephone to silence village gossip. As she settles into married life, she’s drawn to his quiet kindness, even as rumors circulate about him. As she uncovers the truth behind the whispers, has she already given her heart to a man she hardly knows?
I love the fun characters and deep emotion of this debut novel. Loosely based on the Persephone myth, the plot is clever and engaging. I enjoyed the audiobook narration. I look forward to more from this author.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I love the fun characters and deep emotion of this debut novel. Loosely based on the Persephone myth, the plot is clever and engaging. I enjoyed the audiobook narration. I look forward to more from this author.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
tufriel's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
plottrysts's review against another edition
3.5
A light, enjoyable Regency Romance. This feels like a debut, but like a debut by someone who loves historical romance. We've got a quickie marriage thanks to our characters getting caught in a mildly scandalous position: Persephone breaks in to Aidon's house (side eye, Persephone) - but just to check out his library! She falls off one of those cool library ladders into his arms when the hem of her dress rips. Conveniently, the town gossip just happens to enter the library at that moment, so Persephone's dad claims that they were already engaged. Since Aidon finds it both quite convenient to be married AND because he thinks Persephone is hot, he goes along with it.
Aidon's got secrets (his nickname is "the Lord of the Dead," which is so on the nose Isabella Kamal never tries to pretend like it's a subtle reference), Persephone has a hot younger sister she feels like she can never live up to, and they both fall in love. Where the book felt most like a debut and where it could most have benefited was in the conflict: Once you get your characters together early in the text, you need to have something keeping them from conjugal bliss. Here, there's Aidon's creepy older brother, his bumbling but sweet BFF, Persephone's own village friend, and (of course) his secret secrets. Just one of those items would have been sufficient.
Is this a closed door romance? Nope! We've got several scenes with a focus on Persephone's pleasure (this includes a bath scene and some face sitting, which is never a disappointment in a historical romance). That said, despite their early marriage, the characters spend a long time circling each other before they finally collide.
3.5 stars rounded to 4. Recommended for historical romance fans who don't mind the basics of the genre. Looking forward to seeing where Kamal goes from here.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Aidon's got secrets (his nickname is "the Lord of the Dead," which is so on the nose Isabella Kamal never tries to pretend like it's a subtle reference), Persephone has a hot younger sister she feels like she can never live up to, and they both fall in love. Where the book felt most like a debut and where it could most have benefited was in the conflict: Once you get your characters together early in the text, you need to have something keeping them from conjugal bliss. Here, there's Aidon's creepy older brother, his bumbling but sweet BFF, Persephone's own village friend, and (of course) his secret secrets. Just one of those items would have been sufficient.
Is this a closed door romance? Nope! We've got several scenes with a focus on Persephone's pleasure (this includes a bath scene and some face sitting, which is never a disappointment in a historical romance). That said, despite their early marriage, the characters spend a long time circling each other before they finally collide.
3.5 stars rounded to 4. Recommended for historical romance fans who don't mind the basics of the genre. Looking forward to seeing where Kamal goes from here.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
amyhdavis's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
enchantedtomeetcute's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
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
westtiff's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bitterblue7's review against another edition
3.0
This was a lovely and well-written book!
Persephone and Aidon were fantastic together, and I loved how their relationship progressed slowly and naturally. They were great for one another.
Without spoilers, unfortunately, the relatively low rating is due to the disappointing plot twist. For the whole book, we are left wondering why Aidon is called the Lord of the Dead, and we imagine the worst things you could think of.
The answer was so boring and disappointing, especially when Aidon struggled so much with it, but honestly, I think it was a positive thing and helpful. It was much better than the alternative.
It was built on so much tension and mystery, that when I found out what it was, I just thought: "Seriously? All that angst and secrecy for that?"
Aside from this, I really enjoyed reading their story!
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Persephone and Aidon were fantastic together, and I loved how their relationship progressed slowly and naturally. They were great for one another.
Without spoilers, unfortunately, the relatively low rating is due to the disappointing plot twist. For the whole book, we are left wondering why Aidon is called the Lord of the Dead, and we imagine the worst things you could think of.
The answer was so boring and disappointing, especially when Aidon struggled so much with it, but honestly, I think it was a positive thing and helpful. It was much better than the alternative.
It was built on so much tension and mystery, that when I found out what it was, I just thought: "Seriously? All that angst and secrecy for that?"
Aside from this, I really enjoyed reading their story!
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.