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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
triple_m's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I was hooked the first 100 pages. I loved how we jumped right into the story and Persephone and Hades meet very early on. Then we enter this really repetitive cycle of her disliking him, him angering her, them lusting after one another and something minority sexual happens until something splashes cold water on the situation.
It picked up whenever they finally had sex but I was too checked out and annoyed with the characters by then. The problem is that Persephone really is immature and childish.
Also, I hate these stories of “female empowerment” and how “badass women are” when men are the entire catalyst for the charge. In this story Hades is right about nearly everything and literally forces Persephone into growth, taking away nearly all of her agency. It just doesn’t sit right with me.
TW:Revenge porn plot line towards the end (not by Hades)
It picked up whenever they finally had sex but I was too checked out and annoyed with the characters by then. The problem is that Persephone really is immature and childish.
Also, I hate these stories of “female empowerment” and how “badass women are” when men are the entire catalyst for the charge. In this story Hades is right about nearly everything and literally forces Persephone into growth, taking away nearly all of her agency. It just doesn’t sit right with me.
TW:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Confinement
megan_ruppert's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
aseel_reads's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.25
The .25 is because I liked this Hades, but otherwise this was so boring and very obvious from the get go. Persephone was very annoying to have as the only perspective but I also can't believe book 2 is the whole story just from Hades pov...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying, Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
whatkatyread87's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
shinyfox's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Infidelity, and War
literarymary95's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.0
Persephone's character is a bit annoying and immature, but I guess that's normal for a girl in her early 20's. I really enjoyed Hades character though.
If you're interested in a Hades-Persephone retelling, I recommend Neon Gods by Katee Robert. It's a bit better.
If you're interested in a Hades-Persephone retelling, I recommend Neon Gods by Katee Robert. It's a bit better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Death, and Violence
lizgom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I read another retelling of Hades & Persephone and as much as I love the story, I’m not sure if it was the writing that lacked or the narrator. I can’t be sure. But I found myself skimming a lot and that was disappointing considering I love retellings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Death, and Violence
sioxricky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Alcohol
millyficent's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship