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lyra_ann's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Misogyny, Slavery, Stalking, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
kayladaila's review
dark
tense
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder
mariamlyxoxo's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
horrorandscience's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
“We’re on this way to the underworld together.”
Persephone lives in the upper city of Olympus, where the 12 Olympians live. It’s a place full of money, glamor, and power. Hades lives in the lower city, where even the Olympians believe him to be a myth.
When Demeter gives up Persephone to Zeus, a known womanizer and possible wife-killer, she runs to, what she believes, the lesser of two evils: the strange man across the bridge of the River Styx. When she learns the man is the legendary Hades, she forms a plot with him: he will defile her, and Zeus will no longer be interested in her.
I’m pretty new to the dark romance genre, and Neon Gods is one I’ve been recommended time and time again. I did enjoy it! I had my phone nearby to Google some references (the last time I studied any Greek gods was in 2006 maybe?) and that did heighten the experience of the book. Between the Greek myths and the hot sex scenes, Neon Gods was a fun, quick, and enjoyable read. There are also a few deeper scenes that make it more than just fluff. Definitely recommend.
CW for death of parents, abuse, fire/fire injury, and dark sex scenes
Persephone lives in the upper city of Olympus, where the 12 Olympians live. It’s a place full of money, glamor, and power. Hades lives in the lower city, where even the Olympians believe him to be a myth.
When Demeter gives up Persephone to Zeus, a known womanizer and possible wife-killer, she runs to, what she believes, the lesser of two evils: the strange man across the bridge of the River Styx. When she learns the man is the legendary Hades, she forms a plot with him: he will defile her, and Zeus will no longer be interested in her.
I’m pretty new to the dark romance genre, and Neon Gods is one I’ve been recommended time and time again. I did enjoy it! I had my phone nearby to Google some references (the last time I studied any Greek gods was in 2006 maybe?) and that did heighten the experience of the book. Between the Greek myths and the hot sex scenes, Neon Gods was a fun, quick, and enjoyable read. There are also a few deeper scenes that make it more than just fluff. Definitely recommend.
CW for death of parents, abuse, fire/fire injury, and dark sex scenes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
meliroo's review
dark
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
abbylee28's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
bethread's review
dark
tense
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
michellebell's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent
looseleafellie's review
This adult romance modern Hades and Persephone retelling has Persephone fleeing to Olympus’s Lower City to escape a marriage to Zeus. There, she makes a bargain with Hades: he’ll keep her safe for the winter, and then she’ll escape Olympus for good. But the growing feelings between them make Persephone second-guess her plans …
I assumed this would be a fantasy romance, but it’s more of a dystopia. There isn’t much magic, but the system of government in the city of Olympus is set up to mimic the gods of Mount Olympus, which was super interesting to me.
I thought Persephone and Hades had great physical chemistry — it helps that Hades is a consent king! Unfortunately, the romance felt too insta-love-y for me. After a few days together, Hades was like, “this woman has changed my life!” and I just didn’t buy that. I also felt the general pacing was a bit wonky.
Overall, I would recommend this book if you’re looking for spice with the flavor of an interesting world and the hurt/comfort trope, but not so much if you’re looking for a tight plot or slow-burn angst.
Spice level: Graphic
CWs: Emotional abuse, sexual harassment, gun violence, blood, eating disorder, mention of parent death.
I assumed this would be a fantasy romance, but it’s more of a dystopia. There isn’t much magic, but the system of government in the city of Olympus is set up to mimic the gods of Mount Olympus, which was super interesting to me.
I thought Persephone and Hades had great physical chemistry — it helps that Hades is a consent king! Unfortunately, the romance felt too insta-love-y for me. After a few days together, Hades was like, “this woman has changed my life!” and I just didn’t buy that. I also felt the general pacing was a bit wonky.
Overall, I would recommend this book if you’re looking for spice with the flavor of an interesting world and the hurt/comfort trope, but not so much if you’re looking for a tight plot or slow-burn angst.
Spice level: Graphic
CWs: Emotional abuse, sexual harassment, gun violence, blood, eating disorder, mention of parent death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Eating disorder, Gun violence, and Blood
Minor: Death of parent
ravensandlace's review
dark
emotional
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Find this review and others like it at https://aravenclawlibraryx.wordpress.com
I am utterly ruined by this book. Completely and utterly ruined. How am I ever going to get over this book or find another book that is just as good as this one? I am going to be thinking about this book for such a long time and it was definitely the book I needed to get me out of this slump that I didn’t know I was falling into.
I adore Hades and Persephone; both in this book and in general. I just wanted to hug them both and never let them go. Hades was amazing. He cared so much about his people and what happened to Olympus even though he’s been given plenty of reasons not to. I loved that he had such a hard exterior, but really he was just a softie.
As for Persephone, I honestly thought I wasn’t going to like her but I adored her. She was so strong and I liked the way she loved her sisters. I also liked how strong willed she was. I appreciated that she was also willing to step outside her comfort zone and explore things that she normally wouldn’t explore. Her relationship with Hades was so great and so trusting. They communicated so amazingly. It was great to see that.
I loved that the theme of consent was so present. Persephone didn’t have to do anything she didn’t want to do and could even stop midway with no questions asked, which is how things should always be. Too often, in erotica, consent is forgotten but lately, I’m reading more erotica with consent and after care (especially with BDSM) has been more and more prevalent.
Overall, I could scream about this book all day long. I never wanted it to end. Everything about this book was perfect. I am not even more in love with Hades and Persephone. I probably won’t continue with the series since the next two books are about different characters and I’m not up to date with my Olympus lore. If I am bored and need something spicy to read, I might give the other two books a try but for now, I’m satisfied with reading this book. I can’t wait to read more retellings involving these two, although I hope they are as good as this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Emotional abuse