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bastireads's review
5.0
Amazing alteration to the stories of Persephone and Hades. I love tales that make Hades a female, it fits the emotional dynamic of the character in all the stories better than a male, in my humble opinion. And the tale of Persephone and Hades has always been one of my favorite, I only wish it had been a longer book.
isabelbrieler's review against another edition
5.0
I'm going to quickly cover my actual review of this book, but then I have a tangent to get into (lol). This rating is not for the romance (although I did enjoy it, it wasn't a 5 star romance). It is for the hope and the love and the peace and the forgiveness that permeates this book. It is about healing from trauma and moving towards a more beautiful future. And that's just what I needed tonight.
“Treachery had been paid back with kindness: such was the rule of the queen of the dead.”
I've been thinking, because of this book, about retellings. The nature of them.
There's a lot of controversy around the Hades and Persephone myth, particularly around the recent-ish trend of retelling it into a romance rather than a violent and brutal rape and kidnapping. So here are my unsolicited two cents:
Hades and Persephone is a story. Persephone is not a real person being talked over and erased with these retellings. It is not injustice against her to give her a happy ending rather than a tragic one.
I see nothing wrong with using a known narrative structure to tell the story you want to tell.
As a sidebar response to one gripe I saw about this book: I do not think the existence of this story implies the author's lack of knowledge of mythology (although, to be honest, I do not require it of her. I do not think an academic knowledge of ancient Greek society is required to be inspired by a well-known story).
“Treachery had been paid back with kindness: such was the rule of the queen of the dead.”
I've been thinking, because of this book, about retellings. The nature of them.
There's a lot of controversy around the Hades and Persephone myth, particularly around the recent-ish trend of retelling it into a romance rather than a violent and brutal rape and kidnapping. So here are my unsolicited two cents:
Hades and Persephone is a story. Persephone is not a real person being talked over and erased with these retellings. It is not injustice against her to give her a happy ending rather than a tragic one.
I see nothing wrong with using a known narrative structure to tell the story you want to tell.
As a sidebar response to one gripe I saw about this book: I do not think the existence of this story implies the author's lack of knowledge of mythology (although, to be honest, I do not require it of her. I do not think an academic knowledge of ancient Greek society is required to be inspired by a well-known story).
dykebeals's review against another edition
5.0
I finally got what I deserve, lesbian Hades and Persephone and Zeus rotting in Tartarus. It was an easy to read book and I enjoyed every second of reading it. I definitely will reread it in the future.
maybeiwill's review against another edition
3.0
Loved Hades but on the fence about Persephone. Had I been a little more taken with her this would be a solid 4, which is pretty much as good as it gets in my book.
ceena's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
The tale of Hades and Persephone is one I've always enjoyed reading about ever since I read a YA book based on it, the title of which I'e forgotten. Looking for something different to read, I decided to see how the book would tell the tale differently and oh was I in for a surprise.
See, I didn't read the synopsis so I didn't realize this was a LGBT take on the tale!! Wow! I really like how the relationship is handled and the talk of love amongst the immortal. I also liked how Zeus is actually showcased as the horrible dude he is! UGH... Zeus. Really all of them have their flaws and some are even mentioned-- not everything is hidden, but brought out and acknowledged which I really liked. This is a pretty dark book because of all that.
The writing and how the story is told didn't always work for me, so I wasn't always gripped by the tale, which is why the lower rating. I do think many people will really like this look at this tale and will recommend it when I can :)
The tale of Hades and Persephone is one I've always enjoyed reading about ever since I read a YA book based on it, the title of which I'e forgotten. Looking for something different to read, I decided to see how the book would tell the tale differently and oh was I in for a surprise.
See, I didn't read the synopsis so I didn't realize this was a LGBT take on the tale!! Wow! I really like how the relationship is handled and the talk of love amongst the immortal. I also liked how Zeus is actually showcased as the horrible dude he is! UGH... Zeus. Really all of them have their flaws and some are even mentioned-- not everything is hidden, but brought out and acknowledged which I really liked. This is a pretty dark book because of all that.
The writing and how the story is told didn't always work for me, so I wasn't always gripped by the tale, which is why the lower rating. I do think many people will really like this look at this tale and will recommend it when I can :)
wanderlustlover's review
5.0
I'm moving this one to presently reading as a sneak peak of the Prologue and the First Chapter came out earlier this week as a wonderful, amazing gift from herself. I'm so intrigued and curious to see where this goes. All the girls, and different characters, how people interact, and the gorgeous, silky flow of the words.
And how soon it will be when I will have the whole of it in my hands to devour whole!
----
Finished it and I love it so, so, so, much. My favorite quote is "I'm not afraid of being afraid" between Persephone and Hermes, which remind me so much of September and Ly's conversation in The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making ("Be careful with me, I'm fragile," Ly Said, and September, Replied, "It's alrught. I'm not.")
I devoured this book so quickly once it was finally in my hands. I smiled at how simple and right it felt all the choice Persephone made that changed everything, and cried at her scene/choice in the Elysian Fields. I can't wait to see everything else Sarah writes.
And how soon it will be when I will have the whole of it in my hands to devour whole!
----
Finished it and I love it so, so, so, much. My favorite quote is "I'm not afraid of being afraid" between Persephone and Hermes, which remind me so much of September and Ly's conversation in The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making ("Be careful with me, I'm fragile," Ly Said, and September, Replied, "It's alrught. I'm not.")
I devoured this book so quickly once it was finally in my hands. I smiled at how simple and right it felt all the choice Persephone made that changed everything, and cried at her scene/choice in the Elysian Fields. I can't wait to see everything else Sarah writes.
flowerwebs's review against another edition
4.0
the reason i fell in love with the hades and persephone trope BUT very clunky and vague at times. prose was very awesome
cab65's review against another edition
4.0
I have always been a sucker for fairytales and myths I consider myself doubly lucky that “The Dark Wife” is a retelling of the mythical story of Persephone and Hades with a romantic twist. Certainly I could say that it was a lesbian twist but I think qualifying this story as a lesbian retelling would not do the story justice especially because I think anyone who enjoys myths and fairytales would also enjoy this story.
The story is told from Persephone’s perspective. Her life has been idyllic, until Zeus rapes and kills her lover. As if that is not horrific enough she quickly finds out that Zeus has set his sights on her. As Persephone contemplates all of this she says: “In a life of no choices, this one brash act could set me on a path toward the freedom I longed for more than anything else on – or above – the earth.” For me, this line summarizes the Persephone’s story. Can she “Rebel” and set her own course in life.
This was a well written, engaging story.
The story is told from Persephone’s perspective. Her life has been idyllic, until Zeus rapes and kills her lover. As if that is not horrific enough she quickly finds out that Zeus has set his sights on her. As Persephone contemplates all of this she says: “In a life of no choices, this one brash act could set me on a path toward the freedom I longed for more than anything else on – or above – the earth.” For me, this line summarizes the Persephone’s story. Can she “Rebel” and set her own course in life.
This was a well written, engaging story.