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green_book_gobl1n's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I did enjoy this book, but I feel it could have been written better, it felt as if the sex was the main plot point, and it had an anti-climactic ending. I didn’t really gain anything from reading it. If you are a lover of Hades and Persophone retellings, you will probably like this. Sure, it's not the worst book, but I probably won't be suggesting this to someone, unless they like smutty books. For a book that has reviews for being very sexy, and kinky, it's pretty tame.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Rape, Stalking, and War
thebookaddict's review against another edition
dark
funny
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Voordat je aan dit boek begint, lees eerst even de trigger warnings. Ik dacht dat het een romance was, maar het is bijna puur spice. Er zit een verhaallijn in, maar hier ligt helaas de focus niet. Je volgt een verhaal van Persephone en Hades, twee van mijn favoriete personages. De andere goden, zijn ook echt goed beschreven zonder dat daar de focus op ligt. Hades is zoals altijd een donkere, duistere man met een klein gouden hartje. Hij beschermt alles wat hem lief is. Ik vond de manier hoe de romance zich ontwikkelde echt mooi om te lezen. Van een deal naar echte gevoelens. Hij laat duidelijk zien dat hij alles voor Persephone over heeft zelfs het adopteren van drie puppy's 🤭 de schrijfstijl is ook erg prettig en hij leest vlot weg. Ik had het alleen fijner gevonden als het verhaallijn iets meer naar voren was gekomen. ook was het vermoorden van de machtige Zeus wel erg makkelijk . Ondanks alles heb ik toch genoten en wil alle andere delen ook lezen!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Eating disorder, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
leslinj's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I still don’t understand what time period this is supposed to be set in. Not sure why Hades has a security system and a cell phone. The book didn’t do a very good job of walking me through it. The sex scenes were steamy but still a bit cringey. Character development was not very good either. It seems like Persephone and Hades mutual hate of Zeus is what made them so horny for each other, they didn’t have much alone time before they fell for each other.
I think this book could have been better with more world building and more exploration of both main characters.
I think this book could have been better with more world building and more exploration of both main characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
jennyeliseq's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Murder
uranaishi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism
oakleylynch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Grief, Stalking, and War
While it never explicitly states it has anything to do with an eating disorder, Persephone does have quite a few times in which she puts eating on the back burner and Hades makes her eat.ashleycmms's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
olivialandryxo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
[second read, October 2022]
Currently cackling at past me saying I was ‘uncomfortable with the smut.’ Oh, how things have changed. Throughout the year, I’ve been seeking out various Katee Robert books because I’ve wanted smut. I never, ever thought I’d say that, but here I am. I love it here. It’s fun. XD
It was so good to be back with Persephone and Hades. Fierce clever girl x soft simp boy will forever be a superior trope, and they deliver it in spades. I think this is my favorite retelling of their story—it’s new and unique while still bringing in some classic details, it’s cute and funny and spicy. It’s perfect. They’re perfect. 🖤
We might be getting 10 Dark Olympus books, but there’s no ‘saving the best for last’ here. Katee Robert really decided to start this series with a bang, and honestly, I don’t think she can top this. (No innuendos intended. ;))
[first read, January 2022]
I DNFed this book back in August 2021 because, while I really liked the characters, I was uncomfortable with the smut and BDSM elements. However, Neon Gods has been in the back of my mind since then, and finally I decided to give it a second chance and just skip the explicit scenes. I really wanted to finish it, and figured it deserved a fair chance.
I didn’t expect to absolutely adore the book, or for it to be my first five-star read of 2022. I didn’t expect to find an adorable couple on the other side of the smut, one that delivered both grumpy/sunshine and obsessed boy, or for Persephone and Hades to completely steal my heart. I certainly didn’t expect the final quarter of the book to be so damn intense and make my emotions skyrocket as I sped through the final chapters even faster than I had the rest of the story.
I found the fraught politics of Olympus both disgusting and fascinating. I don’t entirely understand how Olympus fits into the modern world or where it is, but whatever. I can overlook that.
Also, I’d like to take a moment to say I freaking love Persephone’s sisters. I especially love Callisto and Psyche; I’m very excited for the latter’s book, and lowkey disappointed we’re not getting one for the former. This is absolutely me projecting, but I could see the eldest Dimitriou as an angry lesbian and getting a cute, soft girlfriend. Just saying, Ms. Robert. Just saying….. (Update: we are, in fact, getting a Callisto book, and even if it’s not going to be what I imagined, I’m very excited for it.)
So, overall, this book majorly surprised me. I stayed up all night to marathon it in its entirety and don’t regret a single thing. I’m glad Katee Robert has an extensive backlog and several upcoming releases, because I’m now insatiably curious. Although I have a feeling that none of her other books can top this one, because Persephone, Hades and their adorable puppies have stolen my heart. 🖤 (No, “puppies” isn’t a euphemism. It’s not one I’ve heard of, but just clarifying, just in case, hahah.)
Representation
Currently cackling at past me saying I was ‘uncomfortable with the smut.’ Oh, how things have changed. Throughout the year, I’ve been seeking out various Katee Robert books because I’ve wanted smut. I never, ever thought I’d say that, but here I am. I love it here. It’s fun. XD
It was so good to be back with Persephone and Hades. Fierce clever girl x soft simp boy will forever be a superior trope, and they deliver it in spades. I think this is my favorite retelling of their story—it’s new and unique while still bringing in some classic details, it’s cute and funny and spicy. It’s perfect. They’re perfect. 🖤
We might be getting 10 Dark Olympus books, but there’s no ‘saving the best for last’ here. Katee Robert really decided to start this series with a bang, and honestly, I don’t think she can top this. (No innuendos intended. ;))
[first read, January 2022]
I DNFed this book back in August 2021 because, while I really liked the characters, I was uncomfortable with the smut and BDSM elements. However, Neon Gods has been in the back of my mind since then, and finally I decided to give it a second chance and just skip the explicit scenes. I really wanted to finish it, and figured it deserved a fair chance.
I didn’t expect to absolutely adore the book, or for it to be my first five-star read of 2022. I didn’t expect to find an adorable couple on the other side of the smut, one that delivered both grumpy/sunshine and obsessed boy, or for Persephone and Hades to completely steal my heart. I certainly didn’t expect the final quarter of the book to be so damn intense and make my emotions skyrocket as I sped through the final chapters even faster than I had the rest of the story.
I found the fraught politics of Olympus both disgusting and fascinating. I don’t entirely understand how Olympus fits into the modern world or where it is, but whatever. I can overlook that.
Also, I’d like to take a moment to say I freaking love Persephone’s sisters. I especially love Callisto and Psyche; I’m very excited for the latter’s book, and lowkey disappointed we’re not getting one for the former. This is absolutely me projecting, but I could see the eldest Dimitriou as an angry lesbian and getting a cute, soft girlfriend. Just saying, Ms. Robert. Just saying….. (Update: we are, in fact, getting a Callisto book, and even if it’s not going to be what I imagined, I’m very excited for it.)
So, overall, this book majorly surprised me. I stayed up all night to marathon it in its entirety and don’t regret a single thing. I’m glad Katee Robert has an extensive backlog and several upcoming releases, because I’m now insatiably curious. Although I have a feeling that none of her other books can top this one, because Persephone, Hades and their adorable puppies have stolen my heart. 🖤 (No, “puppies” isn’t a euphemism. It’s not one I’ve heard of, but just clarifying, just in case, hahah.)
Representation
- queer protagonists (both are attracted to multiple genders)
- side characters of color
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
All things tagged minor occurred prior to the story and are briefly discussed throughout the book. One protagonist has a couple of panic attacks, but they’re not long or in any way prominent.doughtah's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Neon Gods was interesting. To be honest, I went in with a couple expectations: this is a retelling of Hades & Persephone (I’m already predisposed to like it), and if it’s based on the gods there’s going to be some sort of power system.
Now, the book is ostensibly a retelling of Hades & Persephone. It’s more of a mob (?) setting where each of the 13 Olympians controls different parts of Olympus (a city in the modern world). Each of the roles is passed from one person to the next, ie. “Demeter” is not Persephone’s mother’s birth name, rather her title. While this is true, the characters who take on these roles use their titles as their names. It’s only the 13 Olympians, however, who have these title-names. Persephone is Persephone’s name and is not a title.
The book opens with Demeter surprising her daughter Persephone with Persephone’s engagement to Zeus, the main mob boss in Olympus. Persephone is terrified of this possibility because one of the rumors around Zeus is that he kills his wives (the Heras) and Persephone doesn’t want to be another dead Hera. Plus, Persephone’s been making plans to flee Olympus entirely once spring begins. So, she runs to the Lower City/Underworld and onto Hades’ side. While with Hades, the two of them come up with a plan to piss off Zeus and to keep Persephone safe before she makes her way out of Olympus. And there we have our story.
What I liked was sort of short: if you’re into smut, you’ll probably be happy with this book; if you like a bickering couple who also are soft with one another, you’ll probably enjoy the dynamic between Hades and Persephone; healthy bdsm relationship with lots of discussion; DIONYSUS WAS ASEXUAL YES!!
There was a bit more that I didn’t enjoy in this book: I didn’t like that this story was set exactly within modern times where a character could make a throwaway reference to UC Berkeley because it didn’t make sense. These characters are from our time, they know of the 13 Olympians, they even call them gods (so they worship the 13 Olympians?),and yet they don’t make any reference to the fact that Persephone, in myth, was the wife of Hades. They never refer to the original myths at all.
Another thing that confused me was the magic system. There's some kind of barrier around Olympus that makes it difficult for people to leave. There’s also a barrier around the Upper City that makes it difficult for people to go from the Upper City to the Lower City. And I don’t mean like culturally difficult, I mean physically difficult. There is a magical layer. And that’s about the only magic in the world. Which made me pretty disappointed to be honest because that was one of my expectations. :/
Overall, it was an okay book. A little heavier on the smut than the worldbuilding than I prefer, so I don’t plan on reading the next in the series: Eros & Psyche. I wish the author luck though! It’s an interesting premise.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
thekassarole's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder