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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Found this book on Kindle Unlimited and thought it might be good. I was actually very impressed. The plot was good and not the traditional Hades/Persephone retelling. Definitely worth a read
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
I really wanted to love it.
The story was pretty cool but the writing sometimes felt unnerving and drawn out. A lot of it was pretty predictable as well but I wanted to see the series through. Had some good moments! I’m afraid they weren’t enough to make me love it.
The story was pretty cool but the writing sometimes felt unnerving and drawn out. A lot of it was pretty predictable as well but I wanted to see the series through. Had some good moments! I’m afraid they weren’t enough to make me love it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Hades Trials: The Complete Collection was a story that caught me off guard. I wasn’t immediately drawn in—the early shifts in the plot felt abrupt and threw me for a loop. But something about it kept pulling me back, making me want to see how everything unfolded. I’m glad I stuck it out because, by the end, it turned out to be a good book—a story that made the journey worth it, even if it wasn’t perfect.
At its core, the relationship between Hades and Persephone carried the story. I’ve always loved the dynamic of opposites attracting, and their connection delivered exactly that. Hades was everything dark and brooding, with a commanding presence that exuded power. Persephone, on the other hand, was light and life—full of resilience, energy, and an undeniable strength. Together, they didn’t just balance each other; they amplified what made the other special. Their romance was a slow burn, building with every chapter, and watching it unfold felt like the reward at the end of a long, winding road.
The supporting characters brought something extra to the story, and I can’t not mention Hecate and Skop. They were both hilarious and endearing, adding a lightheartedness that balanced the darker, more suspenseful elements. Without them, the Underworld might have felt too heavy, but their banter and quirks gave the story some much-needed warmth. Every scene they were in felt brighter because of it.
The trials Persephone faced were one of the most gripping aspects of the book. Each one revealed more about who she was—her courage, her vulnerabilities, and her deep connection to her past. The big reveal about what happened in her previous life was woven in so carefully that when it finally hit, it felt impactful. I appreciated how the story took its time with that, allowing the suspense to simmer instead of rushing to lay all the cards on the table.
The pacing overall worked well, but I wasn’t a fan of how quickly the story shifted in the beginning. Once the focus settled, though, everything came together. Persephone’s transformation of the barren land into something green and flourishing was such a poetic conclusion. It felt true to her nature and tied the story together beautifully—a reflection of how she brought life and hope to everything around her, including Hades.
Now, I need to talk about Zeus. He was, in every sense, infuriating. His arrogance, his manipulative nature, his overbearing need for control—it all reminded me of every narcissistic man I’ve ever known. I dreaded his presence on the page because of how toxic and oppressive he was, but at the same time, I have to admit that he added an important layer of conflict. He wasn’t a character I loved to hate; I just hated him.
The ending, though predictable in some ways, still managed to surprise me. I knew it couldn’t end on a sad note, but how everything fell into place wasn’t quite what I anticipated. That unpredictability made it even better. Persephone’s journey was full of struggle, redemption, and transformation, and seeing her come into her own by the end was deeply satisfying.
The story wasn’t without its flaws. The grammar mistakes stood out, which was a little frustrating, but they didn’t ruin the book. If anything, it speaks to how much I enjoyed the story itself that I was able to overlook them.
Overall, The Hades Trials is a story of light meeting dark, love meeting power, and the triumph of transformation. It’s not perfect, but it has a way of drawing you in and making you want to see it through. If you enjoy slow-burn romantasy with suspenseful twists, layered characters, and a touch of humor, I’d say it’s worth picking up. Just be prepared to be a little frustrated at times—both by the characters and the writing
At its core, the relationship between Hades and Persephone carried the story. I’ve always loved the dynamic of opposites attracting, and their connection delivered exactly that. Hades was everything dark and brooding, with a commanding presence that exuded power. Persephone, on the other hand, was light and life—full of resilience, energy, and an undeniable strength. Together, they didn’t just balance each other; they amplified what made the other special. Their romance was a slow burn, building with every chapter, and watching it unfold felt like the reward at the end of a long, winding road.
The supporting characters brought something extra to the story, and I can’t not mention Hecate and Skop. They were both hilarious and endearing, adding a lightheartedness that balanced the darker, more suspenseful elements. Without them, the Underworld might have felt too heavy, but their banter and quirks gave the story some much-needed warmth. Every scene they were in felt brighter because of it.
The trials Persephone faced were one of the most gripping aspects of the book. Each one revealed more about who she was—her courage, her vulnerabilities, and her deep connection to her past. The big reveal about what happened in her previous life was woven in so carefully that when it finally hit, it felt impactful. I appreciated how the story took its time with that, allowing the suspense to simmer instead of rushing to lay all the cards on the table.
The pacing overall worked well, but I wasn’t a fan of how quickly the story shifted in the beginning. Once the focus settled, though, everything came together. Persephone’s transformation of the barren land into something green and flourishing was such a poetic conclusion. It felt true to her nature and tied the story together beautifully—a reflection of how she brought life and hope to everything around her, including Hades.
Now, I need to talk about Zeus. He was, in every sense, infuriating. His arrogance, his manipulative nature, his overbearing need for control—it all reminded me of every narcissistic man I’ve ever known. I dreaded his presence on the page because of how toxic and oppressive he was, but at the same time, I have to admit that he added an important layer of conflict. He wasn’t a character I loved to hate; I just hated him.
The ending, though predictable in some ways, still managed to surprise me. I knew it couldn’t end on a sad note, but how everything fell into place wasn’t quite what I anticipated. That unpredictability made it even better. Persephone’s journey was full of struggle, redemption, and transformation, and seeing her come into her own by the end was deeply satisfying.
The story wasn’t without its flaws. The grammar mistakes stood out, which was a little frustrating, but they didn’t ruin the book. If anything, it speaks to how much I enjoyed the story itself that I was able to overlook them.
Overall, The Hades Trials is a story of light meeting dark, love meeting power, and the triumph of transformation. It’s not perfect, but it has a way of drawing you in and making you want to see it through. If you enjoy slow-burn romantasy with suspenseful twists, layered characters, and a touch of humor, I’d say it’s worth picking up. Just be prepared to be a little frustrated at times—both by the characters and the writing
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Persephone has been sent to the human world without her memories for some reason and Zeus being the dick he is kidnaps her to compete in the ‘Hades Trials’ which is a competition to win Hades hand in marriage and more importantly for the rest of the contestants true immortality. Persephone has to navigate Hades realm as a mortal, hijinks issue, Hades pines, Persephone slowly re-falls in love with Hades. Clearly I am a slut for Greek mythology so this was obviously my shit. Things I loved about this series – Zeus is a huge dick and the gods are all kind of capricious assholes, the story is really fun and balanced Persephone being a mortal with a mortal perspective with slowly coming to terms with her godliness or whatever you want to call it. I will say while I enjoyed the book a lot the general trend of Persephone/ Hades as oh it was always super romantic the whole time is hugely problematic when it is accepted as fact or positioned as if there is a basis in history for it, I like it as a fun modern story but that trend is super problematic. Ignoring the rabbit hole of original sources this was a very fun read, the story is engaging and well paced for it spanning 600+ pages, the sex was good and contributed to the plot and didn’t feel like it belonged in a different book, the ending is well done and feels like it was earned.
4 but minus 0.25 for formatting issues like lack of quotation marks and loooooong paragraphs, as well as minor grammatical issues that made it feel like fanfiction at times
So 3.75
So 3.75
Wonderful
This was a wonderful retelling of Persephone and Hades and I loved the ending! It was nice to see a story where they get to live in realms they control and be together.
This was a wonderful retelling of Persephone and Hades and I loved the ending! It was nice to see a story where they get to live in realms they control and be together.