Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - A Touch of Darkness

I thought this was a great mix of Greek mythology and modern fiction, but at times it did get predictable and cringe. If you read Percy Jackson as a kid and now like ACOTAR… I would recommend!

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katerina_l's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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emilywemily6's review against another edition

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dark 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

3.75

This was a very easy adult read that I got through extremely quickly. Many (many many) spicy scenes and lusty comments/thoughts. There wasn’t a lot of plot or backstory in this book, and Persephone annoyed me with how deliberately she distrusted Hades even when he answered her questions. And her jealousy towards Minthe was ridiculous and very contrived. This book was a fun time, but not a well-written time (though it wasn’t poorly written, it was just average). Bumped up to a 4 because I couldn’t wait to read the next book and absolutely devoured this one. I did really enjoy the world of this book- a modern day Greece with gods/goddesses being the famous people of the world.

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ninahuynh's review against another edition

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emotional funny fast-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

Another Greek mythology modernization for my bucket list! I like the inclusion of other characters in Greek Mythology and not just sticking with the (main) Gods. I like the exploration of identity and self we have through Persephone. Everything is technically new to her since she was sheltered all her life. Romantic relationship, standing up for herself, understanding her powers and what it means to be a Goddess. It was done well. I like that she stands her ground on her boundaries with Hades too.

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littlered22's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

I really liked the characters and I want to see how their story develops

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nyquillll's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful 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? N/A

4.0

I started this book on a whim - my first audiobook and my first dive back into Greek mythology in years. I had little expectations and was just looking for a romance book with some mythology.

I’m happy to say I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! I finished it in one day, listening on 1.95x speed. The writing style was descriptive and the audiobook narrator’s changing voices for characters and energetic, fully committed effort really helped bring the world to life.

I really appreciated the updates and changes to the classic story of Persephone and Hades. (Though I will admit that I don’t remember the original mythology around the two super clearly.) I liked how Persephone’s character was firm in her convictions and knew what she wanted, even if Hades was someone who helped her gain confidence in herself. I liked how the book touched on learning how to find a sense of independence when a parent was too controlling, finding out who’s a friend and who’s using you, sticking up for yourself in a work setting (props to Dimitri for taking swift action!!!), learning to fight your own battles instead of relying on/expecting others to do it, how fame and celebrity status (as a god) can warp public perception, how actions can seem far removed from their original intent (but when you look at the reasoning, there’s a humanizing aspect), how two lonely souls can find peace in each other, how safe it feels to finally find someone who wants to understand you more, friends who hold you in the bad times, and the struggle of reckoning with the world our parents build and describe for us versus the one we start to experience on our own.

I definitely enjoyed reading about the two and how their romance bloomed - and I especially liked how Persephone made it clear that

even if she loved him, it would never be true love for her if the reason she stayed in the Underworld was because of the deal and not of her free will

. I also really really loved the choice to humanize Hades and

how Persephone learns he’s not a cruel, sadistic god but rather one who understands the gravity of death and the afterlife and uses the bets/stakes he sets to try and set people on a more righteous path to a better life

. I also liked the bonus two chapters in Hades’ pov where we learn about

his bet with Aphrodite, Aphrodite and Hephaestus, and his first impression of Persephone - as well as his acute read on her with how she was a young woman struggling to find a concrete sense of self (which then informed what was wagered and how to meet the terms of the bargain)

.

I’ve already downloaded the second book and I’m looking forward to listening to it :)

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sweill803's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

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

5.0

The world-building was done beautifully and I felt fully immersed in 'New Athens.' While it's mainly a romance novel, I think there is something to be said about the friendships in the book, about women supporting women and protecting and inspiring each other. If you're a girl's girl and like some spice to your books, this is a great book for you.

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lorepanda's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious relaxing tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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