A review by withlivjones
Neon Gods by Katee Robert

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is a really interesting retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone. I adore the worldbuilding aspect of the novel - Katee Robert has managed to create such a vivid image of a city that feels modern while still abiding by ancient laws and customs. 

The characterisation of the main pairing is good, particularly Persephone - I love that she is a complex, stubborn, independent, sexually liberated young woman who still manages to be a ball of sunshine, and I’m glad that she gets the space to voice her thoughts and opinions. Hades’ characterisation as a tall, dark, and handsome man of mystery who secretly has a heart of gold has been done to death but hey, if it’s not broke don’t fix it. At first, I hated the characterisation of Demeter as I thought she would be villainised like so many modern adaptations do in order to make Persephone a trapped, controlled daughter who finds freedom through her marriage with Hades. However, as soon as I found out that Zeus was the only real villain all along and Demeter was actually plotting against him, I grew to enjoy the more ruthless aspect of her character being brought out, an aspect we see clearly in the original myth when Demeter causes the famine. I also really enjoyed a lot of the supporting characters, particularly the bromance between Hermes and Dionysus. 

I didn’t particularly enjoy the smut, however. While it wasn’t completely unbearable, there were many moments that made me cringe and I ended up being glad that Hades and Persephone got separated towards the end of the book so that more actual plot could occur. 

Overall, I think the world that Katee Robert has created has so much potential and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
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