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kylieacko's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If you're reading this for a Greek mythology retell then you've picked up the wrong book. If it's a sexy, smutty modern take with very little in common with the real story you're craving, then you've come to the right place.
For the most part, I really enjoyed this and it entertained me the whole way through. The spicy scenes were delicious, toe curling and definitely a big part of the book. The characters could have been a bit more like their namesakes. Hades is supposed to be a brute, the king of the underworld, a man not to be reckoned with. Although I liked him, I felt like he should have been a bit rougher, a smidge tougher, a tad more formidable. We all love a softy at the core, but his exterior didn't take much to crack. I wanted dark Hades not another Christian Grey.
I was also disappointed by the seasons. The seasons are already established in this story where traditionally, the seasons are brought about because Persephone stayed with her mother 6 months of the year, the other 6 months was with Hades. During spring and summer with her mother, the harvest was allowed to thrive. In fall and winter, Persephone was with Hades, which would cause Demeter to become depressed and things didn't grow. I loved that tale and thought it would be woven into the story but, disappointingly, it wasn't.
Overall, an enjoyable read and I'll definitely continue with the series. I'm not 100% sold on the male narrator. He needed to be more gritty. He was a bit too posh for my liking.
For the most part, I really enjoyed this and it entertained me the whole way through. The spicy scenes were delicious, toe curling and definitely a big part of the book. The characters could have been a bit more like their namesakes. Hades is supposed to be a brute, the king of the underworld, a man not to be reckoned with. Although I liked him, I felt like he should have been a bit rougher, a smidge tougher, a tad more formidable. We all love a softy at the core, but his exterior didn't take much to crack. I wanted dark Hades not another Christian Grey.
I was also disappointed by the seasons. The seasons are already established in this story where traditionally, the seasons are brought about because Persephone stayed with her mother 6 months of the year, the other 6 months was with Hades. During spring and summer with her mother, the harvest was allowed to thrive. In fall and winter, Persephone was with Hades, which would cause Demeter to become depressed and things didn't grow. I loved that tale and thought it would be woven into the story but, disappointingly, it wasn't.
Overall, an enjoyable read and I'll definitely continue with the series. I'm not 100% sold on the male narrator. He needed to be more gritty. He was a bit too posh for my liking.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, and Murder
levilore_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this take on Greek gods and was very happy with how consent was a main plot point in the story.
All the characters were very interesting and I thought the author did a good job of showing the Persephone and Hades dynamic as equal. Also I enjoyed the mention of them both being queer (although not labeled)
I actually wanted more information on the overall world, so hopefully I will learn more in the other books.
All the characters were very interesting and I thought the author did a good job of showing the Persephone and Hades dynamic as equal. Also I enjoyed the mention of them both being queer (although not labeled)
I actually wanted more information on the overall world, so hopefully I will learn more in the other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Drug use, Suicide, Vomit, Sexual harassment, and War
abbyynormal's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent and War
jaxx88's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-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
4.25
Loved this Greek retelling. Hades is perfection. Wish there was a book two just about them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement and Kidnapping
wickeddaisy's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
aamcclure41's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Confinement
Bdsm (cursing and sexual content, minor confinement)shelcmb's review
dark
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
justjess28's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
nclausel25's review
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Classism
erinkellyreads's review
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I'd heard about this series, but didn't know anything about it. I did end up hate-reading (it didn't start out that way!) all six of the "Touch of Darkness" books that this book gets compared to, and the main things that I've seen have been that this book has more spice and less plot but is written better than ToD. First off, 100000% this book is written better than ToD, but this is still not literature. It definitely has more spice of a kinkier variety, but I sat through three books of the Hades half of ToD that was way less tasteful (I can't get over the interest in "ball slapping").
"Neon Gods" felt in the tradition of the singular romance novel series where each book is about one couple within a larger world (and it is - looks like Psyche is up next). It is an easy read, and I ended up finishing it quickly. No, it doesn't have a whole heck of a lot of plot, but I liked this Hades more, and the concept of The Thirteen vs them being actual gods was neat. If you like a quick, kinky, romance novel with a darker flavor and some nods to Greek mythology, you'll be entertained.
*I will note that I started this book out with the audiobook but switched over to the paperback because I did not like the readers. They had a reader for each perspective, but then in their respective chapters they would do imitations of the other instead of just having the other voice actor read the dialogue. Took me right out, especially in the spicy scenes. Didn't have a problem once I switched to the paperback.
"Neon Gods" felt in the tradition of the singular romance novel series where each book is about one couple within a larger world (and it is - looks like Psyche is up next). It is an easy read, and I ended up finishing it quickly. No, it doesn't have a whole heck of a lot of plot, but I liked this Hades more, and the concept of The Thirteen vs them being actual gods was neat. If you like a quick, kinky, romance novel with a darker flavor and some nods to Greek mythology, you'll be entertained.
*I will note that I started this book out with the audiobook but switched over to the paperback because I did not like the readers. They had a reader for each perspective, but then in their respective chapters they would do imitations of the other instead of just having the other voice actor read the dialogue. Took me right out, especially in the spicy scenes. Didn't have a problem once I switched to the paperback.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death, Eating disorder, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Classism