A review by amy_reads4
A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-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

I cannot believe how long it has taken me to actually pick this book up, I wish I had done it sooner! This took me by complete surprise, this is everything I have wanted from a Hades and Persephone retelling. 

In this world the Gods have come from Olympia to improve the lives of the mortals, meaning they run businesses and enterprises all over, and are also the centre of attention and celebrities. Persephone is the Goddess of Spring who has been hidden by her mother for her whole life, until it is agreed she can attend university under a mortal glamor, as long as she promises to stay away from the Gods. When one night she entered Nevernight, the club owned by Hades, where she plays what appears to be an innocent card game with a handsome stranger. Unknowingly she enters into a deal with the God of the Underworld himself, and her life changes forever. 

This kept the powers and supernatural elements of the Gods which is something I enjoy, and the world building felt effortless. The Underworld is everything I would hope it to be. I also really enjoyed the key role that Hecate played as she is one of my favourite Goddesses. 

The relationship between Hades and Persephone is so charged from the get go, this a slow burn but it still burns so not between them. The spice, oh my goodness, the bathroom scene and the balcony stick out to me but I enjoyed all of it, Hades had me swooning the whole way through and has now become a top book boyfriend for me! I personally enjoy a romance that moves quickly and any miscommunication is solved in a fast manner. 

I cannot wait to see what happens next in this world and I am really having to fight the urge to binge them all!