Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
DNFed at 35% because this is just straight up violent rape, kidnapping, and domestic abuse. Not for me at all. I saw it on tiktok at dub-con sapphic hades and persephone romance, but there’s nothing dub-con about it. If you have trauma with any type of abuse or sexual assault, I really advise against reading this. It’s not even a dark romance. It’s just explicit rape.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
In this digital age, there aren't many books that make it to my physical book shelves, but this one passed the 'desert island test' / IRL 'power-cut test', because it's that special one I'd reach for. I also had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook recently (more on that later).
My jaw hung loose for the majority of this novel, either in exhilarated realisation that I wasn't alone in my fascination for powerful, female, authority figures (just call me sheltered!), or else because I was mesmerised by the courage of an author to pen a more darkly sexual character than I've ever encountered in wlw fiction.
I've never blushed my way through a book before! But first, I must say that's absolutely not to make light of serious real-life issues surrounding sexual consent, for which we must continue to raise awareness. What this novel does, however, as novels should, is challenge us, enable us to safely examine difficult issues, to raise debate, to know where the line is, and teach us about respect. The author makes this distinction clear.
The trigger warnings do, in my opinion, provide an accurate assessment of the content, though individual sensitivities and interpretation might vary. For me, the story's mythological origins and varied representations throughout history, provide a context which is significantly removed from real life, and therefore a fantasy (genre) space to explore this f/f power imbalance from afar. Much like some people enjoy reading about bad behaviour in horror or crime, I think it’s only fair to have that same space in dark romance.
The world-building and strongly defined character traits really drew me in, sweeping me away, and my imagination ran wild in an epic underworld with a queer ice queen, an age gap, and forbidden love.
So yes, there I am in my garden, stifling my gasps and giggles and dodging my neighbours... because how do explain what I'm reading?!
But whilst the sexual content is undeniably dark, it’s not graphically written in explicit, hardcore language, and neither is it crude or sensationalist. It’s something I love about Lianyu Tan’s writing - her powers of description are character-driven and don’t just rely on unimaginative, functional language. I love her ability to write about dark desires in a way that’s less erotica and more psychological.
The new audiobook took me a few chapters to adjust to the accent of the narrator, which was RP English for the most part but with some vowels sounds I couldn’t place (I might only have noticed because I’m English), but in the end this quirk was actually pretty gorgeous (reminded me a little of actress, Eva Green, in terms of pronunciation!) and I really enjoyed the vocal performance - both as Hades and Persephone (who are quite opposite, really!) - which brought the pages to life. I loved having this additional layering to Lianyu Tan’s story and I think she chose her narrator well.
'Captive'. Undoubtedly. This novel just wouldn't let me go. This is my very favourite novel.
But whilst the sexual content is undeniably dark, it’s not graphically written in explicit, hardcore language, and neither is it crude or sensationalist. It’s something I love about Lianyu Tan’s writing - her powers of description are character-driven and don’t just rely on unimaginative, functional language. I love her ability to write about dark desires in a way that’s less erotica and more psychological.
The new audiobook took me a few chapters to adjust to the accent of the narrator, which was RP English for the most part but with some vowels sounds I couldn’t place (I might only have noticed because I’m English), but in the end this quirk was actually pretty gorgeous (reminded me a little of actress, Eva Green, in terms of pronunciation!) and I really enjoyed the vocal performance - both as Hades and Persephone (who are quite opposite, really!) - which brought the pages to life. I loved having this additional layering to Lianyu Tan’s story and I think she chose her narrator well.
'Captive'. Undoubtedly. This novel just wouldn't let me go. This is my very favourite novel.
*CW: On-page depictions of SA, physical and emotional abuse by parent and spouse
Yeah I don't know what to think about this.
I was excited for a f/f Hades and Persephone in the adult age range (Dark Wife is a f/f H+P retelling in YA). The reviews on this pretty varied, though it was obvious that there was either non-con or hard dub-con. To set the record straight, this is straight-up non-con. The author a couple of times seems like she wanted to make it in the style of dub-con that some romances can pull off, by almost making some scenes BDSM-y in the vein of the Wicked Villians series by Katee Robert, but it's not done that way. Persephone does not consent and literally begs Hades to stop assaulting her several times, and in no way is it ever really giving off "I am supposed to deny that I want this but I do" that is acceptable, generally, in dark romances. Persephone is SA several times in this book. It is not horribly graphic, though it is on-page and at length. This is barely a romance. Hades is genuinely just physically, sexually, and emotionally abusive to Persephone.
The tone of this book was quite odd to me. It seemed like it was imitating a women's lit style of writing such as Circe or Silence of the Girls, yet it was also written in a romance way.
Also, people saying that Hades was "soft on the inside" were really stretching to find that characterization. Just because Hades comes around to respecting Persephone's consent- literally after sexually assaulting her SEVERAL times, spanking her, literally whipping her and leaving her exposed to the elements- does not make this "soft on the inside." Gag. I like dark romances well enough, but this just didn't hit the mark for me and some of the reviews on this book are genuinely red flags.
Honestly just disappointed to get a f/f Hades and Persephone retelling- with a strap-on scene!!!!!!!- and it's literally just rape.
Yeah I don't know what to think about this.
I was excited for a f/f Hades and Persephone in the adult age range (Dark Wife is a f/f H+P retelling in YA). The reviews on this pretty varied, though it was obvious that there was either non-con or hard dub-con. To set the record straight, this is straight-up non-con. The author a couple of times seems like she wanted to make it in the style of dub-con that some romances can pull off, by almost making some scenes BDSM-y in the vein of the Wicked Villians series by Katee Robert, but it's not done that way. Persephone does not consent and literally begs Hades to stop assaulting her several times, and in no way is it ever really giving off "I am supposed to deny that I want this but I do" that is acceptable, generally, in dark romances. Persephone is SA several times in this book. It is not horribly graphic, though it is on-page and at length. This is barely a romance. Hades is genuinely just physically, sexually, and emotionally abusive to Persephone.
The tone of this book was quite odd to me. It seemed like it was imitating a women's lit style of writing such as Circe or Silence of the Girls, yet it was also written in a romance way.
Also, people saying that Hades was "soft on the inside" were really stretching to find that characterization. Just because Hades comes around to respecting Persephone's consent- literally after sexually assaulting her SEVERAL times, spanking her, literally whipping her and leaving her exposed to the elements- does not make this "soft on the inside." Gag. I like dark romances well enough, but this just didn't hit the mark for me and some of the reviews on this book are genuinely red flags.
Honestly just disappointed to get a f/f Hades and Persephone retelling- with a strap-on scene!!!!!!!- and it's literally just rape.
Originally upon reading the short story that came out before release I had very mixed feelings. My excitement was curbed by the sex scene being unconsensual, not really dubiously but overtly. Hearing about a dark bdsm like story of hades and Persephone had me more excited than you can imagine. However definite content warning that this isn’t bdsm and should not be looked at as such.
This is a dark retelling of Hades and Persephone with a sapphic twist. It isn’t dark in the fun, sexy way. It’s *dark*, it’s unsettling. But somehow, it was good because of that. I didn’t expect to like it and it took me a while to warm up to it enough to finished reading after I purchased the ebook and read a bit. My views of controversial fiction expanded while reading and finishing. With time to process, I’ve become more open to the telling of extremely taboo and politically incorrect stories. Fiction is a perfect place to explore these ideas and I don’t think they should be censored, as long as their ideas *remain* fiction.
As for the story itself, the writing is good, but I wasn’t a fan of how Demeter was handled, not because she was controlling and abusive because that fits. But because she wasn’t really given a motive or depth as to *why*. I like when characters are given motives, and I would’ve liked to see why Demeter was so controlling and cruel. She seemed very 2D and just a plot device. That’s the only thing I would’ve liked more of.
This is a dark retelling of Hades and Persephone with a sapphic twist. It isn’t dark in the fun, sexy way. It’s *dark*, it’s unsettling. But somehow, it was good because of that. I didn’t expect to like it and it took me a while to warm up to it enough to finished reading after I purchased the ebook and read a bit. My views of controversial fiction expanded while reading and finishing. With time to process, I’ve become more open to the telling of extremely taboo and politically incorrect stories. Fiction is a perfect place to explore these ideas and I don’t think they should be censored, as long as their ideas *remain* fiction.
As for the story itself, the writing is good, but I wasn’t a fan of how Demeter was handled, not because she was controlling and abusive because that fits. But because she wasn’t really given a motive or depth as to *why*. I like when characters are given motives, and I would’ve liked to see why Demeter was so controlling and cruel. She seemed very 2D and just a plot device. That’s the only thing I would’ve liked more of.
adventurous
dark
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
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
Loved how it captured your attention from page one, couldn't put it down for one second. Loved the fact that it represented the LGBT and showed how love between two people of the same sex is just as sweet as a straight couple. She did a wonderful job of retelling the story of Hades and Persephone from an LGBT perspective.
"Some flowers bloom only in the dark."
5 stars. I definitely understand why this has the rating that it does. It’s not going to be everyones thing but because I’m weirdand an awful person it totally worked for me. Hades does some terrible, inexcusable things to Persephone that was hard to read about. This really isn’t a romance despite how it ends because so much of the book is Persephone genuinely hating Hades with a passion. She wants her, sure, but she hates that she does for the longest. These two are the definition of toxic but I have to say that I loved this book. It’s so dark and messed up but it was so addicting from beginning to end. I couldn’t put it down once I started it.
I liked Persephone a lot. Life just keeps beating her down at every turn but she was so resilient and strong. I appreciate that she stood her ground and was not afraid to go toe to toe with Hades. Hades herself is a whole different thing. She’s an enigma and so hard to figure out. Again, she does awful things to Persephone so I can’t say that she was someone I particularly liked but she made for a very interesting character. There’s some damn hot sex scenes in this and I did like seeing them bond.
The writing was good, it’s paced well, and the story is very entertaining. I could see myself re-reading this at some point and I’m definitely interested in reading more by this author.
5 stars. I definitely understand why this has the rating that it does. It’s not going to be everyones thing but because I’m weird
I liked Persephone a lot. Life just keeps beating her down at every turn but she was so resilient and strong. I appreciate that she stood her ground and was not afraid to go toe to toe with Hades. Hades herself is a whole different thing. She’s an enigma and so hard to figure out. Again, she does awful things to Persephone so I can’t say that she was someone I particularly liked but she made for a very interesting character. There’s some damn hot sex scenes in this and I did like seeing them bond.
The writing was good, it’s paced well, and the story is very entertaining. I could see myself re-reading this at some point and I’m definitely interested in reading more by this author.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes