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whatkatyread87's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Infidelity, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual violence, Trafficking, and Stalking
Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Trafficking, and War
yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Alcohol
Moderate: Grief, Car accident, and War
Minor: Kidnapping and Stalking
megthecatlady's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Another thing I really enjoy about this series so far is the attention to detail and the attention to side characters. I am not sure that I have ever read another book where the side characters, were fleshed out so well and are just about as important to the storyline as the main characters. I appreciate that about this series so much, and am excited to continue reading this author's works.
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Death
Minor: Suicide, Kidnapping, and Stalking
nitecrtlvr's review against another edition
2.75
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
rchulin1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
savage_book_review's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
However, I guess it's meant to be like that; it's just a struggle to remember that Persephone was essentially kept in isolation for 18 years when she seems to have so much more experience than her four years in New Athens would suggest. In some ways, she is still very much a child and, seen in that context, her erratic behaviour and desperate desire for reassurance, friendship and love becomes a little more understandable. I think the main issue I have is that, where Hades seems to genuinely feel something when taking action (whether rage, lust, sadness, pride or joy), Persephone's outbursts don't feel like they have that same depth - they're more like temper tantrums, which I guess brings me back to her essentially being a child.
Although I would say that you really should read 'A Touch of Ruin' first, this book does flow better for those who might be jumping in here. There is much more of a story going on for Hades, and it serves as a great build up to what I can only assume is going to follow in the next books. And the development of his relationship with Persephone makes so much more sense when seen through his eyes - this man who has never had anyone to ask him 'how was your day?' or who wants to be in his orbit because of him as a person, not him as a God... even though I felt for him in the last book and got why he acts the way he does, to see his thought processes and the repercussions of that really gives him a properly rounded character, and one that I'm incredibly drawn to.
I enjoyed the interactions with other Gods, Dionysius and Hephestus in particular, and the sinking feeling that the Olympians are about to come to blows. Likewise, Hades' relationships with Hecate and Hermes continue to make me smile and are giving me 'found family' vibes. I want a 'family dinner' scene with them, Persephone, Thanatos and Charon all just being relaxed and comfortable with eachother, banter flying, and everyone ganging up on Hades to poke fun at something ridiculous he says or does.
I'm also continuing to enjoy the weaving in of established mythology to the modern context. The introduction of Ariadne as a detective, for example, I thought was great. And her chemistry with Dionysius sparks off the page very well.
Overall, I'm still not completely sold on the writing, but it works well enough to trigger my imagination and for me to enjoy the retelling of the classic myth. So it's not bad! Slightly annoyed the next in the series isn't available on KU yet, but at least my library service has a copy I can borrow!
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Stalking, and Car accident
grace33's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Moderate: Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
marimoose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
And I am so ever thankful that this was the case, because I really didn't want the Persephone drama hashed out in full-blown form like it was in the second book of the Hades and Persephone saga. Yes, I am aware that both perspectives play on their different world views--particularly because Persephone is a goddess trying to play mortal, while Hades is a god who has lived a long time and is very powerful to boot--but I can't help being more engrossed in the story about the gods of Olympus and the mystery/crime aspect of Hades' story. I did wonder over the necessity with Hera's labors, particularly because it wound up amounting to little in the end, and the goddess herself was just eye-rollingly annoying to me.
Hermes and Hecate still remain my favorite side characters, and "Get wet, Daddy Death" will forever make me snicker.
Hopefully now that we've established Hades and Persephone as an actual couple, there's less hinging on the damn miscommunication trope and more of a "I'm going to fight FOR this relationship WITH my partner AGAINST the naysayers" versus whatever it was that plagued me over these book 2s.
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Suicide and Stalking
kimmy0__0's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Cursing, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
evie95's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide, Torture, and Stalking