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heather667's review
emotional
tense
fast-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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Deportation
Minor: Death of parent
30something_reads's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.25
This is a t4t, all Black, spicy Hades/Persephone retelling and the first in a series of interconnected standalones in this worlds.
The thing I always struggle a bit with is the world building in modern mythology retellings like this. Nothing is ever quite explained well enough- the power structures, the relationships. So you have to go in knowing it's a little confusing in that regard.
What I did love about this was Hades and Persephone as characters. Persephone is such a strong main character in this one. She has fought for her life and she is unrelenting in pursuing her dreams. Hades also had a well developed backstory that gave weight to the dark character he is always portrayed to be. I loved the fragility in Hades that Persephone got to see and how she gave him strength in her own ways.
And the spice was top tier.
I'll definitely be digging into the rest of the series.
The thing I always struggle a bit with is the world building in modern mythology retellings like this. Nothing is ever quite explained well enough- the power structures, the relationships. So you have to go in knowing it's a little confusing in that regard.
What I did love about this was Hades and Persephone as characters. Persephone is such a strong main character in this one. She has fought for her life and she is unrelenting in pursuing her dreams. Hades also had a well developed backstory that gave weight to the dark character he is always portrayed to be. I loved the fragility in Hades that Persephone got to see and how she gave him strength in her own ways.
And the spice was top tier.
I'll definitely be digging into the rest of the series.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Stalking
addydeejreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-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
I have a love hate relationship with retellings. There really is no in between so picking this one up was tentative but it was wholly worth it. I absolutely loved this from the writing style to the characters everything just felt right.
Sure this had all the fixings for someone familiar with the Hades and Persephone story but it really stood on it's own two legs. Set in an alternate modern day society in the "underbelly" that is beyond the River Styx in the biggest, best and most renowned casino owned by the myth himself, Hades. Truly, this man is so behind the scenes people literally question his existence. But for family, he'd do anything and by anything, it meant showing up to a production being put on in his theatre. Something new and fantastical and Dionysus would not have Hades miss it.
Enter Persephone, our badass aerial performer, the star of the show. She immediately catches Hades attention and the rest is history as they say. The story gives almost mafia type vibes where territories are sectioned off and everyone has their place. They don't interfere or there could be "war". I think fans of motorcycle club romances or mafia type stories would find a kinship with this story. I certainly did.
I loved this story so much, it's my favorite retelling to date and I can't wait to pick up the rest of the series.
The cast is unapologetically Black and Brown, there's some of the most wholesome Trans. rep I've read (I don't speak for the community I'm only going by what I know and have read in the past), and the spice gave in EVERY way. The relationships that are explored don't just stop at one thing and don't fall flat and not just of the sexual variety. Friendships, family and hierarchy dynamics are explored but weaved together so intrinsically that one cannot exist without the other.
Sure this had all the fixings for someone familiar with the Hades and Persephone story but it really stood on it's own two legs. Set in an alternate modern day society in the "underbelly" that is beyond the River Styx in the biggest, best and most renowned casino owned by the myth himself, Hades. Truly, this man is so behind the scenes people literally question his existence. But for family, he'd do anything and by anything, it meant showing up to a production being put on in his theatre. Something new and fantastical and Dionysus would not have Hades miss it.
Enter Persephone, our badass aerial performer, the star of the show. She immediately catches Hades attention and the rest is history as they say. The story gives almost mafia type vibes where territories are sectioned off and everyone has their place. They don't interfere or there could be "war". I think fans of motorcycle club romances or mafia type stories would find a kinship with this story. I certainly did.
I loved this story so much, it's my favorite retelling to date and I can't wait to pick up the rest of the series.
The cast is unapologetically Black and Brown, there's some of the most wholesome Trans. rep I've read (I don't speak for the community I'm only going by what I know and have read in the past), and the spice gave in EVERY way. The relationships that are explored don't just stop at one thing and don't fall flat and not just of the sexual variety. Friendships, family and hierarchy dynamics are explored but weaved together so intrinsically that one cannot exist without the other.
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, and Stalking
Moderate: Gun violence
potalian's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Stalking
Minor: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Transphobia, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury
looney_moons's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
R.M. Virtues has solidified himself as a dark fantasy and erotic writer for me through only one book. Whilst this is neither the best erotic novel nor the best Hades and Persephone retelling I've read, Virtues managed to have me engaged from beginning to end, all while surprising me in the best ways possible and including an incredibly diverse cast - not to mention steaming hot sex scenes that are all about consent, mutual pleasure, and intimacy. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series.
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Transphobia
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