Reviews with content warning for Murder - A Game of Retribution

This book was "A Touch of Ruin" from Hades' POV. It was interesting to see the other side of Persephone's struggles with losing Lexa. We get more of an understanding of why Hades cannot help her with bringing Lexa back to the mortal world. Not only does Hades have to bargain with the Fates to save a person, but another life will be lost to replace the one saved. Hades bears the scars for these bargains. He bears the grief he has for these decisions, therefore they must be made sparingly and only when a person WANTS to be saved. I believe the character development in this part of the story is for Persephone alone (other than Hades learning to trust Persephone a *little bit* more). Persephone must learn to let go of Lexa and also learn to trust Hades in return. This story in particular dove into Hera's labours for Hades, which he must complete to receive Hera's favour for marriage to Persephone. There are some very good scenes (namely Hades killing some deities, participating in a battle arena, etc.) allowing Hera to continue her pursuit of Zeus' throne and challenging Hades in new ways. Persephone starts to gain and learn about her powers, understanding her role as eventual Queen of the Underworld, and dealing with grief and loss. Hades responds the best way he knows how, but by intentionally keeping information from Persephone, clearly not trusting her, and not being physically present for events, and during Lexa's death, she feels a gap in their relationship which must be rectified. In the future, Hades will have to start trusting Persephone fully (and not treating her like a fragile object) and Persephone will have to trust Hades and have faith in their relationship.

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

3.5

So the note at the back of this book says the author doesn't like it when people show her version of Hades all the love while bashing Persephone. My response to that has to be that, while I like Persephone's story arc and am keen to see her grow into her powers and role as Queen of the Underworld, I'm thinking the reason she doesn't get the same amount of love is because Hades has his opportunity to shine in both her PoV and his. This book tells the story of 'A Touch of Ruin' from Hades PoV and, once again, you get to explore what happens when Persephone isn't around and see just what other s**t he has to deal with. At this point, I'm very much preferring seeing things from his perspective; I appreciate he is a few millenia older than Persephone, but his jaded, world-weary outlook seems so much more real to me than Persephone's quite immature attitude.

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!

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mlh95's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I really do like Hades books more than Persephone. Maybe it's because I get to know him better along with the gods.

Just like in Persephones book, the communications problems are testing me. Someone who values communication it is torture! It's strange to see that Hades doesn't even think about telling Persephone stuff, I think he's been alone for too long.

Can we all cheer for Hecate! She's not afraid to tell Hades he's messed up

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alicia_joy's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

I have a hard time not finishing series that I start, but I am on the struggle bus with this one. I don't get why there are two separate series that are supposed to be read together, and have portions of duplicate content. Like it's really weird to be reading parts of the same book twice. And also, we get it. They are just insatiably horny all the time, and Hades is just broody, and Persephone is immature and unaware from being sheltered her whole life...it's just kind of getting old. Honestly, Hermes is saving the series for me at this point. He is by far my favorite character.

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