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theabibliophobe's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A lovely and gentle take on Hades and Persephone. The dialogue is a bit too modern and was highly distracting at first.
kay_reads_books6's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a delightful, light romance book with an arranged marriage, secrets and mythology references/metaphors.
After all the heavy fantasy and horror reads I've had lately, and my very emotional romance read, I really needed something sweet and light.
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After all the heavy fantasy and horror reads I've had lately, and my very emotional romance read, I really needed something sweet and light.
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allysunsun's review
fast-paced
3.75
The Temple of Persephone was a quick historical romance with lots of plays of the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades. I really enjoyed watching the characters come together and of course the secrets that got revealed along the way. I look forward to reading more from Isabella Kamal in the future.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.
andreaaaoid's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
2.0
I did not have high expectations of this book. I mean, the cover alone was enough to give me pause. But I like Bridgerton and I love Hades x Persephone retellings, so I had to give it a go.
First the positives. I love a man head-over-heels in love with a confidant, quirky woman. Aidon was adorable in his constant pining and affection for Persephone. And the plot itself was great; I love the unique spin on Hades/Persephone. I mean, Persephone Honeyfield is a bit on the nose, but I like that it's a bit cringey. And the reinvention of Hades (brownie points for using the classic Aidoneus) as a "funeral furnisher" was very creative.
Now for the negatives. The bare bones plot was great, but the slap dash, rushed pacing of the story all but ruined it. We didn't even see their wedding for Pete's sake! And honestly Aidon's deep dark secret being that he secretly buries the dead illegitimate children of the aristocracy (but only those who died by natural means of course) was a bit anticlimactic. Two hundred and fifty pages we wait for this reveal and...that's it?? Well, okay.
Also, the characterization of the two MCs? I can't imagine two more pathetic, self-pitying, insecure humans. I mean, damn. Aidon has deep seated father issues that have steered his life for over a decade. And Persephone is so convinced of her own worthlessness that she continues to believe she is ugly and unloveable, going so far as to deny Aidon's repeated procolmations of love, until the very end of the novel. And do they resolve these feelings of inadequacy and insecurity? Just barely.
And don't get me started on the spice. While there was plenty of it, I can't believe that nearly every spicy scene could be interrupted by someone knocking on the door insistently. Although thank god they did, because all-in-all it was a bit of a snoozefest.
By far the best character was Ezra, who has big golden retriever energy and was 100% willing to marry a pregnant woman because he's in love with her, pregnant or no. If you read this book at all, read it for Ezra (and for the occassionally funny/romantic pieces of dialogue sprinkled throughout the text).
First the positives. I love a man head-over-heels in love with a confidant, quirky woman. Aidon was adorable in his constant pining and affection for Persephone. And the plot itself was great; I love the unique spin on Hades/Persephone. I mean, Persephone Honeyfield is a bit on the nose, but I like that it's a bit cringey. And the reinvention of Hades (brownie points for using the classic Aidoneus) as a "funeral furnisher" was very creative.
Now for the negatives. The bare bones plot was great, but the slap dash, rushed pacing of the story all but ruined it. We didn't even see their wedding for Pete's sake! And honestly Aidon's deep dark secret being that he secretly buries the dead illegitimate children of the aristocracy (but only those who died by natural means of course) was a bit anticlimactic. Two hundred and fifty pages we wait for this reveal and...that's it?? Well, okay.
Also, the characterization of the two MCs? I can't imagine two more pathetic, self-pitying, insecure humans. I mean, damn. Aidon has deep seated father issues that have steered his life for over a decade. And Persephone is so convinced of her own worthlessness that she continues to believe she is ugly and unloveable, going so far as to deny Aidon's repeated procolmations of love, until the very end of the novel. And do they resolve these feelings of inadequacy and insecurity? Just barely.
And don't get me started on the spice. While there was plenty of it, I can't believe that nearly every spicy scene could be interrupted by someone knocking on the door insistently. Although thank god they did, because all-in-all it was a bit of a snoozefest.
By far the best character was Ezra, who has big golden retriever energy and was 100% willing to marry a pregnant woman because he's in love with her, pregnant or no. If you read this book at all, read it for Ezra (and for the occassionally funny/romantic pieces of dialogue sprinkled throughout the text).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
carolineann's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
pinkcowlandreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I wasnβt sure what I was going to get with this historical romance, but I was pleasantly surprised with the results!
The use of Greek mythology, explicitly the story of Hades and Persephone is a fun starting point for these two laws find each other and quickly find themselves married!
Persephone Honeyfield doesnβt have a lot of hopes for finding a husband in her small town. Sheβs always played second fiddle to her bright and beautiful younger sisterβ¦ so she is surprised to find herself in the arms of her mysterious and elusive neighbour Aidon Barrington.
Mr. Aidon Barrington Is known in the gossip rags as the Lord of the dead- with a reputation like that how is he ever going to find a wife? No wonder he grabs on to the first one that falls into his arms!
Quickly married, Aiden and Persephone Now need to find a way to become husband and wife, but Aidenβs secrets and infamy are threatening to tear them apart before they even come together!
I absolutely loved both these characters and how they developed after being able to flourish in the bounds of matrimony.
The narration provided by Susan Deurden turned out to be a perfect match for this story. Her sultry voice added an extra layer to the characterβs pining through the narration. Her voice work for both leads was well done and fit. The characters and the side characters were nicely represented as well. Deurdenβs voice is very recognizable, and I was worried it would take away from the story, but it ended up having the opposite resolved and made this book come to life!
The audiobook of The Temple of Persephone by Isabella Kamal and narrated by Susan Deurden is available now.
thisboricuareader's review against another edition
3.5
Interesting premise for a historical romance, for me. Using some of the premises of Hades/Persephone.
I actually liked the pacing and romance in this book. I do think it was a bit long and some of the outside people that played into the conflict were too much, but I recommend this for a filler book.
I got an alc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I actually liked the pacing and romance in this book. I do think it was a bit long and some of the outside people that played into the conflict were too much, but I recommend this for a filler book.
I got an alc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
rusereviews's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
4.0
The Temple of Persephone by Isabella Kamal is a historical romance and the author's debut.
The audiobook is narrated by Susan Duerden, and she does a fabulous job with our dual points of view.
After a fast marriage due to getting caught in a slightly scandalous position, Persephone and Aidon begin the process of getting to know one another. Persephone inherited a love for mythology from her late mother, and Aidon works in the funerary field (his nickname is "the Lord of the Dead").
Aidon's older brother, who declined to take on the family business, is kind of a big creep but I was glad to see how much Persephone stands up for herself. I identified with her a lot.
Her chemistry with Aidon is great and the book gets pretty steamy at times (with several scenes focusing on Persephone and her pleasure). I was glad to see explicit and enthusiastic consent throughout.
I was glad to see this book ended with a hook for a book following Persephone's younger sister, Venus. I look forward to reading that in the future!
If you're a fan of Regency romance or Greek mythology you should give this one a try.
Tropes in this book include: regency, folklore, bluestocking, marriage of convenience, slow burn, open door
I received a copy of this book to review. Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the complimentary audio review copy. All opinions contained herein are my own.
The audiobook is narrated by Susan Duerden, and she does a fabulous job with our dual points of view.
After a fast marriage due to getting caught in a slightly scandalous position, Persephone and Aidon begin the process of getting to know one another. Persephone inherited a love for mythology from her late mother, and Aidon works in the funerary field (his nickname is "the Lord of the Dead").
Aidon's older brother, who declined to take on the family business, is kind of a big creep but I was glad to see how much Persephone stands up for herself. I identified with her a lot.
Her chemistry with Aidon is great and the book gets pretty steamy at times (with several scenes focusing on Persephone and her pleasure). I was glad to see explicit and enthusiastic consent throughout.
I was glad to see this book ended with a hook for a book following Persephone's younger sister, Venus. I look forward to reading that in the future!
If you're a fan of Regency romance or Greek mythology you should give this one a try.
Tropes in this book include: regency, folklore, bluestocking, marriage of convenience, slow burn, open door
I received a copy of this book to review. Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the complimentary audio review copy. All opinions contained herein are my own.
kcash20's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
In one word, this book was adorable. I loved the characters and story, but what really shone was the chemistry between Persephone and Aidon. This was a perfectly wonderful historical romance, and I'm eager to see what Isabella Kamal writes next!
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.