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A review by ambylynn
Neon Gods by Katee Robert
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I would be hard pressed to list something I liked about this book. For one, it was barely a Hades and Persephone retelling at all. If the names and minor references to the world had been changed or altered slightly, I honestly do not think I would have been able to tell what this was supposed to have been. To be fair, I'm not a huge fan of modern retellings in the first place, but I think a lot more could have been done to make this aspect of the book more apparent.
Secondly, the characters were flat and boring. Their motivations were weak and mostly uncompelling, and the plot borderline did not exist, which could be forgiven since this was clearly a thin smokescreen for what this book was really about. The smut.
Which brings me to my third point, the smut, to me, was just not very good. It was awkwardly timed, blatantly forced into existence, and every time the playroom was brought up I physically cringed. The kink, what little there was, was mostly exhibitionism and was somehow both over and under negotiated all at once. The overuse of 'cock' and 'pussy' had me begging for a thesaurus paired with the clinical way Hades talks about being 'kinky' made me want to either laugh or cry. Maybe both.
This book could be it for someone, but that someone was not me.
Secondly, the characters were flat and boring. Their motivations were weak and mostly uncompelling, and the plot borderline did not exist, which could be forgiven since this was clearly a thin smokescreen for what this book was really about. The smut.
Which brings me to my third point, the smut, to me, was just not very good. It was awkwardly timed, blatantly forced into existence, and every time the playroom was brought up I physically cringed. The kink, what little there was, was mostly exhibitionism and was somehow both over and under negotiated all at once. The overuse of 'cock' and 'pussy' had me begging for a thesaurus paired with the clinical way Hades talks about being 'kinky' made me want to either laugh or cry. Maybe both.
This book could be it for someone, but that someone was not me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Gun violence and Blood