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A review by o0o
Persephone: Hades' Torment by Allison Shaw
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? No
2.5
So this is a cute little Persephone/Hades retelling, but looking back on it I can’t say I liked it as much as I initially did after the first read. This left me with more cons than pros BUT that’s mainly because I’m disillusioned to P/H retellings by now.
(This review will contain spoilers!)
Pros:
• The art style is lovely, there’s no objective fault to it. It’s a warm colour scheme of mostly pinks and oranges, fitting the romantic tone of the book.
• Even though the comic was wrapped in plastic I was STILL surprised by the smut. Not that that’s a bad thing, it was drawn quite nicely. The extra scene with Minthe was 👍
Cons:
• HOWEVER, it uses the whole ‘blood on the bedsheets’ schtick to symbolise loss of virginity. To anyone reading this, you’re not supposed to bleed during your first time, or ANY time for that matter. That’s an antiquated myth that is not based on reality. The scene just looks bad and frankly I don’t blame Demeter’s reaction ‘cause she had no way of knowing if it was even consensual, ESPECIALLY since it happened right after Apollo’s attempt with Daphne. Yea…
• I know it’s fast-paced, but the pacing of their relationship was really unbalanced. Most of the book was spent on Hades coming to terms with his feelings, but almost nothing on Persephone’s side of the whole thing. He basically confesses his feelings and she somehow also returns the sentiment and they proceed to do the hanky-panky. Insta-love on laced caffeine.
• This is mainly a pet peeve of mine but this book is yet ANOTHER P/H retelling that demonizes Demeter by making her this emotionally abusive asshole. My problem with it comes down to one thing: the myth is called Homeric Hymn to Demeter, it has always been about Demeter looking for her daughter who was kidnapped purposely behind her back (Hades sought out Zeus for Persephone’s hand in marriage because both of them knew Demeter would never allow it) all the while no-one was willing to tell her what happened until ten days after her disappearance. I am TIRED of people making Demeter out to be a villain for ‘getting in the way of a romantic relationship’ simply because she was a grieving mother. I wouldn’t have cared if this were an isolated case, but the fact that this happens almost EVERY TIME is just misogynistic at this point.
• Even taking in account Artistic License for the characters’ case, really nothing stands out. If I smudge out everyone’s names, what I get is a painfully average romance comic with pacing issues.
So this review has been long and for as negative as it is, upon retrospect I came out of the book more mindful of how pervasive internalised misogyny is even within works that are supposedly empowering for women (i.e P/H retellings), so that’s a good thing. If you want a P/H retelling that really encapsulates the point of it with the additional helping of smut, then by all means pick up this book.
(This review will contain spoilers!)
Pros:
• The art style is lovely, there’s no objective fault to it. It’s a warm colour scheme of mostly pinks and oranges, fitting the romantic tone of the book.
• Even though the comic was wrapped in plastic I was STILL surprised by the smut. Not that that’s a bad thing, it was drawn quite nicely. The extra scene with Minthe was 👍
Cons:
• HOWEVER, it uses the whole ‘blood on the bedsheets’ schtick to symbolise loss of virginity. To anyone reading this, you’re not supposed to bleed during your first time, or ANY time for that matter. That’s an antiquated myth that is not based on reality. The scene just looks bad and frankly I don’t blame Demeter’s reaction ‘cause she had no way of knowing if it was even consensual, ESPECIALLY since it happened right after Apollo’s attempt with Daphne. Yea…
• I know it’s fast-paced, but the pacing of their relationship was really unbalanced. Most of the book was spent on Hades coming to terms with his feelings, but almost nothing on Persephone’s side of the whole thing. He basically confesses his feelings and she somehow also returns the sentiment and they proceed to do the hanky-panky. Insta-love on laced caffeine.
• This is mainly a pet peeve of mine but this book is yet ANOTHER P/H retelling that demonizes Demeter by making her this emotionally abusive asshole. My problem with it comes down to one thing: the myth is called Homeric Hymn to Demeter, it has always been about Demeter looking for her daughter who was kidnapped purposely behind her back (Hades sought out Zeus for Persephone’s hand in marriage because both of them knew Demeter would never allow it) all the while no-one was willing to tell her what happened until ten days after her disappearance. I am TIRED of people making Demeter out to be a villain for ‘getting in the way of a romantic relationship’ simply because she was a grieving mother. I wouldn’t have cared if this were an isolated case, but the fact that this happens almost EVERY TIME is just misogynistic at this point.
• Even taking in account Artistic License for the characters’ case, really nothing stands out. If I smudge out everyone’s names, what I get is a painfully average romance comic with pacing issues.
So this review has been long and for as negative as it is, upon retrospect I came out of the book more mindful of how pervasive internalised misogyny is even within works that are supposedly empowering for women (i.e P/H retellings), so that’s a good thing. If you want a P/H retelling that really encapsulates the point of it with the additional helping of smut, then by all means pick up this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse and Sexual assault