Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A Hades and Persephone dark sapphic retelling. This is my first dark ff and I’m already addicted but this left me wanting. I did not develop any strong feelings for the characters and I found I did not care about their fates.
Fast burn with restraints, strap-on, spanking, face slapping, and biting. I did wish that the sex scenes were more detailed, they were pretty vague.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
POV: Solo 3rd
dark
emotional
tense
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:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Captive In the Underworld by Lianyu Tan is a novel that explores the concept of abduction and captivity in a unique way. The author has a talent for writing that is undeniable, and the story is well-crafted and engaging. However, the novel has some serious issues that need to be addressed.
One of the main problems with Captive In the Underworld is the portrayal of marital rape. The book is filled with explicit scenes of sexual assault that are portrayed in a way that is uncomfortable and unsettling. This is particularly troubling given the fact that the author seems to view these scenes through rose-colored glasses, minimizing the harm done to the victim and romanticizing the abuser's actions.
Reading this book can be a distressing experience, as the portrayal of rape and abuse is graphic and disturbing. It is hard to ignore the fact that the victim is being violated and traumatized in a way that is glorified by the author. This can leave readers feeling nauseated and upset, and it is not something that should be taken lightly.
Despite these serious issues, the book does have some redeeming qualities. The plot is interesting and engaging, and the author manages to keep the reader hooked throughout the story. However, there are also a lot of loose plot threads that don't seem to go anywhere, leaving readers with a sense of dissatisfaction by the end of the book.
Overall, Captive In the Underworld is a difficult book to read. While the writing is strong, the problematic portrayal of rape and abuse is hard to overlook. The loose plot threads also leave something to be desired. For these reasons, the book can only be given a 2-star rating.
One of the main problems with Captive In the Underworld is the portrayal of marital rape. The book is filled with explicit scenes of sexual assault that are portrayed in a way that is uncomfortable and unsettling. This is particularly troubling given the fact that the author seems to view these scenes through rose-colored glasses, minimizing the harm done to the victim and romanticizing the abuser's actions.
Reading this book can be a distressing experience, as the portrayal of rape and abuse is graphic and disturbing. It is hard to ignore the fact that the victim is being violated and traumatized in a way that is glorified by the author. This can leave readers feeling nauseated and upset, and it is not something that should be taken lightly.
Despite these serious issues, the book does have some redeeming qualities. The plot is interesting and engaging, and the author manages to keep the reader hooked throughout the story. However, there are also a lot of loose plot threads that don't seem to go anywhere, leaving readers with a sense of dissatisfaction by the end of the book.
Overall, Captive In the Underworld is a difficult book to read. While the writing is strong, the problematic portrayal of rape and abuse is hard to overlook. The loose plot threads also leave something to be desired. For these reasons, the book can only be given a 2-star rating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence
The book is rooted in greek mythology so i was not surprised to see a trigger warning about rape, violence, etc.
those scenes were hard to read and Persephones pain oozed out of the book but I think it was intended exactly like that
However i was very pleased to see that it isn’t the beauty and the beast all over again, Persephone never forgives and forgets and is struck by love, Hades doesn’t see herself as the hero
It makes the growing romance more believable, without erasing the horrors that happened
All in all i enjoyed the book, because i was prepared for the cruelty that was pictured, because there is a warning at the beginning of the book
those scenes were hard to read and Persephones pain oozed out of the book but I think it was intended exactly like that
However i was very pleased to see that it isn’t the beauty and the beast all over again, Persephone never forgives and forgets and is struck by love, Hades doesn’t see herself as the hero
It makes the growing romance more believable, without erasing the horrors that happened
All in all i enjoyed the book, because i was prepared for the cruelty that was pictured, because there is a warning at the beginning of the book
simply WHAT THE FUCK WAS THIS??? I was truly expecting some dark things but not the whole book being around rape. The characters don't develop any sense of wrongness, neither they have much scenes of becoming closer or redemption. it was just romanticized the rape and the violence all over it.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I *met* the author in a mutual FB book group she was kind enough to let me read her upcoming release. I have had this for a while now and have struggled with how to rate it.
There were parts of this I really liked and parts not so much. Leaving me conflicted.
The ending especially left me conflicted it was rather sudden but I liked the methodology and the story build up.
I will be keeping an eye out for further release author has a lot of raw talent that I hope to see honed in future books
SAFETY -Definitely NOT.
There were parts of this I really liked and parts not so much. Leaving me conflicted.
The ending especially left me conflicted it was rather sudden but I liked the methodology and the story build up.
I will be keeping an eye out for further release author has a lot of raw talent that I hope to see honed in future books
SAFETY -Definitely NOT.
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After really enjoying the more recent book I read from Lianyu Tan, I decided to take the plunge and give her previous book, Captive in the Underworld, a chance. Once again, this is not for the faint-hearted reader, and while I’m more than willing to call out things I see as wrong in most romance, I was more than happy to go for the ride once again, especially as Tan writes dark romance with self-awareness about the toxic dynamics of her stories, including 100% transparent content warnings.
Given how messed-up the Greek Gods and Goddesses are (especially the Hades/Persephone myth), I love that Tan plays with that in all its full glory, with the twist that Hades is a woman. The impact that has on her interplay with the other gods, given Hades’ already-tenuous position, is perhaps one of the most fascinating concepts here.
Given I’m not super well read on Greek mythology, I do find it fascinating how many of these darker retellings cast Demeter as manipulative and an abusive mother, in order to make Hades seem like a better option, when my understanding of the tale has always been that Demeter and Persephone had a pretty loving relationship, and the interceding of Hades, plus Demeter’s sadness, supposedly created the seasons. But it was nonetheless easy to understand this incarnation of Demeter being this way, even if it was about isolating Persephone in a toxic way.
This incarnation of Persephone definitely leans more into the traditional demure territory than I would like, but I suppose that’s par for the course for the more “standard” dark romance. However, the softness doesn’t mean she lacks grit and inner strength, even if she does often lack agency. And while dub- and non-con do play major roles in Hades acquiring Persephone, Tan is also effective in creating a relationship that ultimately works. Hades ultimately becomes less villainous and easier to take in as the story goes on, and their romance is beautiful in a dark way.
While this book will not be for everyone, the lush, self-aware writing and the great concepts make it more than worth it if you’re open to trying it. I would most recommend it to anyone looking for sapphic dark fantasy or romance.