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shmadsie's review against another edition
4.0
Ohhh, I liked this more than I expected to! Persephone was definitely finding herself here and it was really rewarding to me that she was the only one she allowed to do that. It would've been easy to define herself by her relationships - romantic, platonic, familial - but, instead, whenever anyone else tried to tell her who she was, she promptly shut that down. And considering she was getting into a relationship that could easily overtake her, it was nice to know that she wasn't going to let it.
I didn't love that she fit the societally approved standards of beauty - white, blonde, and thin (I mean, really?) - but I did love her character. And it did get a little repetitive with the endless dance of: 'Hades is so hot, but I musn't! But I'm so attracted to him, but I musn't!' to the point where my eyes kind of started to glaze over after a while. Overall though, it was a surprisingly good read!
I didn't love that she fit the societally approved standards of beauty - white, blonde, and thin (I mean, really?) - but I did love her character. And it did get a little repetitive with the endless dance of: 'Hades is so hot, but I musn't! But I'm so attracted to him, but I musn't!' to the point where my eyes kind of started to glaze over after a while. Overall though, it was a surprisingly good read!
petite_courgette's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
tiaaislin's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
literarydia's review against another edition
1.0
I give it one star for the mythology....thats it.
This was not the reimagined mythology it thought it was. It read like fanfiction and gave me that one greek mythology webtoon (idk the name but yall know it) vibes and not in a good way. The spice was ok and not too bad but the rest of the plot and writing was confusing and at times boring. There were chapters that I felt were not relevant to the story and hindered my enjoyment for me. It took me, oh so long to finish because I kept putting it down. I understand some people enjoy it and I am not trying to offend those who did but I really don't get the hype out of it other than the spice. Also, I am so tired of the Persephone and Hades retellings and reimagines. It isn't anything different or mindblowing and that is ok if it was enjoyable and well-written. I also have a huge problem with her being objectified all the time and how the romance was like so random. like they fucked and we are supposed to be like YEAHHHHH...nope. The character archetypes were so outdated and not interesting at all and tbh a bit damaging. when will it be ok for a woman to not be a virgin? It would have been different if Persephone was just as promiscuous as Hades and he still did not care but instead, we got the "you are a virgin and untouched and so pure and that makes you better than every woman out there"
This was not the reimagined mythology it thought it was. It read like fanfiction and gave me that one greek mythology webtoon (idk the name but yall know it) vibes and not in a good way. The spice was ok and not too bad but the rest of the plot and writing was confusing and at times boring. There were chapters that I felt were not relevant to the story and hindered my enjoyment for me. It took me, oh so long to finish because I kept putting it down. I understand some people enjoy it and I am not trying to offend those who did but I really don't get the hype out of it other than the spice. Also, I am so tired of the Persephone and Hades retellings and reimagines. It isn't anything different or mindblowing and that is ok if it was enjoyable and well-written. I also have a huge problem with her being objectified all the time and how the romance was like so random. like they fucked and we are supposed to be like YEAHHHHH...nope. The character archetypes were so outdated and not interesting at all and tbh a bit damaging. when will it be ok for a woman to not be a virgin? It would have been different if Persephone was just as promiscuous as Hades and he still did not care but instead, we got the "you are a virgin and untouched and so pure and that makes you better than every woman out there"
lilytruppi's review against another edition
5.0
This book is everything a lover of romance and Greek mythology could ever want. WARNING: VERY HOT AND STEAMY....but so good. The relationship between Persephone and Demeter was different but not terrible, just different. As soon as I finished it, I went and bought the second in the series, and essentially read this book all in one day. BUY THIS BOOK!
jujumoon333's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What can I say, but I loved this book. I truly loved it. A Touch of Darkness opens with Persephone, a young “powerless” goddess posing as a mortal, living in the modern mortal world. Persephone has mortal friends; is in mortal college; and has a mortal job. Yet, as mythology goes, the gods and goddesses in this book LOVE to romp around the mortal world. Taking mortal lovers and, if you’re the Lord of the Underworld Hades, making bargains with mortals. Then one day, the lovely Persephone appeases her best friend Lexa, and goes to Nevernight, Hades’s nightclub. And of course Hades is in love on first sight, but handles it like a typical male, by doing some dumb shit and striking a bargain while engaging in some deceitful behavior. I’ll leave it at that as to not spoil the story too much. However, Persephone, unwittingly probably due to being by being in love and lust at first sight with Hades, enters into a bargain with the sexy, dark god. Throughout this book, we get to meet the mythological characters from this ancient myth in a whole new light. A modern light. One that is sexy, fun, and truly was a delight to read. Hades and Persephone’s love story is just beginning in a Touch of Darkness, and my my what an intense love story it is…and this is only book one in the series. Needless to say, I can’t wait to read Hades perspective in a Game of Fate anddddd continue on with the story with a Touch of Ruin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
anyssasmith1's review against another edition
4.0
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Their attraction was carnal and greedy and burning. It stole her breath, crowded her mind, invaded her body.”
“Respect could build an empire. Trust could make it unbreakable. Love could make it last forever.”
Persephone is the Goddess of Spring with no magic. She was locked up in her mom’s greenhouse for most of her life. She finally convinces her mom to let her go to college in the mortal world to be a journalist. She finding her way until she ends up at Hades’ nightclub and has a run in with the God of the Dead himself. The rule from her mom was to stay away from the Gods mostly Hades. After her run in, she finds herself in an impossible construct with the God. She has to create life in the underworld and everything she touches does. The longer she around him, the more the undeniable connection grows stronger and Persephone struggles to understand those forbidden feelings or keep the very freedom she fought so hard to get.
I read this book so fast and I really enjoyed it. I think I read this in a day. I really liked the bargain part of it. I liked their connection right off the bat. I know many don’t like Persephone and how she is written but I think it is crucial because she so sheltered and her mom literally stalks her. I hope as the series goes on and she gets more experience it will be better. I found myself giggling at the smut though. Like the impaling
“Their attraction was carnal and greedy and burning. It stole her breath, crowded her mind, invaded her body.”
“Respect could build an empire. Trust could make it unbreakable. Love could make it last forever.”
Persephone is the Goddess of Spring with no magic. She was locked up in her mom’s greenhouse for most of her life. She finally convinces her mom to let her go to college in the mortal world to be a journalist. She finding her way until she ends up at Hades’ nightclub and has a run in with the God of the Dead himself. The rule from her mom was to stay away from the Gods mostly Hades. After her run in, she finds herself in an impossible construct with the God. She has to create life in the underworld and everything she touches does. The longer she around him, the more the undeniable connection grows stronger and Persephone struggles to understand those forbidden feelings or keep the very freedom she fought so hard to get.
I read this book so fast and I really enjoyed it. I think I read this in a day. I really liked the bargain part of it. I liked their connection right off the bat. I know many don’t like Persephone and how she is written but I think it is crucial because she so sheltered and her mom literally stalks her. I hope as the series goes on and she gets more experience it will be better. I found myself giggling at the smut though. Like the impaling
_an1cka's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
madsforbooks13's review against another edition
5.0
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but IMO this book was EVERYTHING and more! I actually really enjoyed the world building, and loved the characters (especially my husband Hades). Going to buy the rest of the books tomorrow
farsotstein's review against another edition
4.0
Four stars because the spicy scenes are too much for me. Otherwise, the story was great.