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A review by apalershadeofwhite
A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair
4.0
I'm a sucker for Greek Mythology, so it was only a matter of time until I read this series. I was a bit dubious when starting this book due to the sexual nature of some of the scenes. At first it felt a bit weird to read about the gods in that way, but I made myself dissociate this version of the gods to the ones I grew up reading about. Despite that weird first feeling, this book was pretty good; better than I expected, to be completely honest. When being recommended a book on booktok and told its 'spicy', I sort of expected all smut and no plot, which thankfully wasn't the case. Don't get me wrong, there is smut, but it wasn't the sole focus on the narrative which I enjoyed. I did hate the phrase "he speared her" though. I don't know if it was used in a warrior aspect, because the book mentions the Titanomachy and the war a few time, or whether the author just thought this was the perfect word to use. Either way, it had me howling in laughter. Also, why does Hades always have a boner? Damn, does NO ONE see it?
Smut aside, the writing had some really good sections. St. Clair creates tension between Hades and Persephone in such an effective way; it felt believable. However, some of the writing can be a bit cliché, bordering on juvenile in some miniscule areas. The most cliché thing, in my opinion, was the use of obsidian. Everything is bloody obsidian. It hard to glean whether the author means literally or just in colour in certain areas. I mean, an obsidian mountain? Huh? Something is described using the gemstone at least once in every chapter. It does play into the dark and light stereotype between Hades and Persephone, though, so I understand why it is used. It just sometimes feels like the author is digging into stereotypes of the God of the Dead and couldn't pick which one to use so they used them all. One part I think is really well done, however, is the description of the couple stripping away their humanised glamour. Despite the cliché dark and light motif, the description of Persephone's glamour leaving her like water dripping down her skin and Hades' described as smoke is really effective. Another instance I love is when Hades says she feels like like whereas Persephone says he feels like power. I just love poetic juxtapositions.
With everything dark surround Hades, both literally in this book's sense and mythologically, the humour the author uses lightens the reading process in such a refreshing way. It was nice to see Hades and Persephone both use sarcasm and comedy in such opposing manners! It softened Hades, almost, and made him feel like a real characters in this novel as opposed to an untouchable and unbelievable god; whereas with Persephone, St. Clair uses comedy and sarcasm to hide and keep secrets, to mock and frustrate the God of the Dead in an attempt to get him to see her as his equal. His comedy humanises him but her comedy divinises her.
Despite my slight grievance with clichés, St. Clair does predominantly use them in a way makes sense with the characters and personalities she paints, not just the mythology we all know of them.
Special note for the chapter titles: I LOVE when books title their chapters! I don't see it much anymore, so it got me quite excited haha. I also adored the play on the book title with the chapter names, i.e. "a touch of..." (let's note the title "a touch of home" which honestly speared my heart). It was such an interesting way to keep the title in the reader's mind! And when the actual book title was a chapter title? I metaphorically died; I LOVE THAT.
Smut aside, the writing had some really good sections. St. Clair creates tension between Hades and Persephone in such an effective way; it felt believable. However, some of the writing can be a bit cliché, bordering on juvenile in some miniscule areas. The most cliché thing, in my opinion, was the use of obsidian. Everything is bloody obsidian. It hard to glean whether the author means literally or just in colour in certain areas. I mean, an obsidian mountain? Huh? Something is described using the gemstone at least once in every chapter. It does play into the dark and light stereotype between Hades and Persephone, though, so I understand why it is used. It just sometimes feels like the author is digging into stereotypes of the God of the Dead and couldn't pick which one to use so they used them all. One part I think is really well done, however, is the description of the couple stripping away their humanised glamour. Despite the cliché dark and light motif, the description of Persephone's glamour leaving her like water dripping down her skin and Hades' described as smoke is really effective. Another instance I love is when Hades says she feels like like whereas Persephone says he feels like power. I just love poetic juxtapositions.
With everything dark surround Hades, both literally in this book's sense and mythologically, the humour the author uses lightens the reading process in such a refreshing way. It was nice to see Hades and Persephone both use sarcasm and comedy in such opposing manners! It softened Hades, almost, and made him feel like a real characters in this novel as opposed to an untouchable and unbelievable god; whereas with Persephone, St. Clair uses comedy and sarcasm to hide and keep secrets, to mock and frustrate the God of the Dead in an attempt to get him to see her as his equal. His comedy humanises him but her comedy divinises her.
Despite my slight grievance with clichés, St. Clair does predominantly use them in a way makes sense with the characters and personalities she paints, not just the mythology we all know of them.
Special note for the chapter titles: I LOVE when books title their chapters! I don't see it much anymore, so it got me quite excited haha. I also adored the play on the book title with the chapter names, i.e. "a touch of..." (let's note the title "a touch of home" which honestly speared my heart). It was such an interesting way to keep the title in the reader's mind! And when the actual book title was a chapter title? I metaphorically died; I LOVE THAT.