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whynterdesaina's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? N/A
4.0
The opinions i've heard about this book lean more to the bad side.
In my honest opinion, I loved the creative plot of the book, I loved how it mixed the ,,modern day" with greek mythology, gods and it was fascinating how well each god's personality traits were displayed. It was exactly how I imagined the gods personalities.
As a greek mythology lover, this book was an absolutely good read for me.
The writing is rather childish and weak, but FOR ME, the plot made up for it.
On the contrary with the following books of the series, I had to DNF the second one. The plot did not make up for the writing anymore and the book felt dull. I might give it another chance later on, but so far, except for the first book, I do not recommend the whole series. However, A Touch Of Darkness was a fun time for me.
In my honest opinion, I loved the creative plot of the book, I loved how it mixed the ,,modern day" with greek mythology, gods and it was fascinating how well each god's personality traits were displayed. It was exactly how I imagined the gods personalities.
As a greek mythology lover, this book was an absolutely good read for me.
The writing is rather childish and weak, but FOR ME, the plot made up for it.
On the contrary with the following books of the series, I had to DNF the second one. The plot did not make up for the writing anymore and the book felt dull. I might give it another chance later on, but so far, except for the first book, I do not recommend the whole series. However, A Touch Of Darkness was a fun time for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Stalking
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
razalicious's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
shellballenger's review against another edition
slow-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
2.5
Type of read: Commuter Read.
What made me pick it up: The story of Hades and Persophone is one of my absolute favorites and I love it when stories are rethought and retold.
Overall rating: "Are you well?" No, Hades, I am not well. I don't know what I think of 'A Touch of Darkness' and it's about as frustrating as that sexual tension between you and Persophone. Here's the thing, I absolutely love the story of Hades and Persophone - like the actual Greek myth of the two gods and how they became, quite literally, one of mythology's power couples. And I think that is absolutely why I have a love/hate relationship with 'A Touch of Darkness.' I LOVED how Hades was portrayed and the layers and complexity we saw within him; however, Persophone was nauseating and lackluster. She was a whiny child that needed to grow a pair of pomegranates (which she does at the end of the book, but damn...that was a painful journey to get there) .
I think one of the things I also struggled with in 'A Touch of Darkness' was the human/god dichotomy and how they lived together but separately. I didn't feel like that was fully fleshed out. There were parts where it was normal to see a god on the street or in a bar, but then there were other parts where it was like they were held to this crazy celebrity status and the informality didn't make sense. I'm not rushing to pick up the second book in the series anytime soon.
Reader's Note: 'A Touch of Darkness' includes themes of consensual sex, consensual first-time sex, brief instances of sexual assault, torture, and death. Also, fair warning, after you get about 1/3 of the way through the book, until a few chapters from the end, there are some <i> detailed </i> spicy scenes. Although, I did think they were tasteful...for being straight-up smut.
What made me pick it up: The story of Hades and Persophone is one of my absolute favorites and I love it when stories are rethought and retold.
Overall rating: "Are you well?" No, Hades, I am not well. I don't know what I think of 'A Touch of Darkness' and it's about as frustrating as that sexual tension between you and Persophone. Here's the thing, I absolutely love the story of Hades and Persophone - like the actual Greek myth of the two gods and how they became, quite literally, one of mythology's power couples. And I think that is absolutely why I have a love/hate relationship with 'A Touch of Darkness.' I LOVED how Hades was portrayed and the layers and complexity we saw within him; however, Persophone was nauseating and lackluster. She was a whiny child that needed to grow a pair of pomegranates
I think one of the things I also struggled with in 'A Touch of Darkness' was the human/god dichotomy and how they lived together but separately. I didn't feel like that was fully fleshed out. There were parts where it was normal to see a god on the street or in a bar, but then there were other parts where it was like they were held to this crazy celebrity status and the informality didn't make sense. I'm not rushing to pick up the second book in the series anytime soon.
Reader's Note: 'A Touch of Darkness' includes themes of consensual sex, consensual first-time sex, brief instances of sexual assault, torture, and death. Also, fair warning, after you get about 1/3 of the way through the book, until a few chapters from the end, there are some <i> detailed </i> spicy scenes. Although, I did think they were tasteful...for being straight-up smut.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Sexual assault
Minor: Torture
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
anneenichole's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
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
hevlav's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Idk I’m just not a fan of eternally old being and young girl being in love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
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
megmei's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
cringe
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content