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arialovegreen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-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
3.75
This book was a fun read, but not a masterpiece. I enjoyed the characterizations, the modern day play of Greek mythology, and the romance scenes were written well.
The pacing was pretty clumsy - at certain points of interactions I would wonder "what?? How did we get here?" and re-read back a few pages to see if I missed something. Some romance scenes or developments sort of just happened with no real lead up that made very much sense to me. Some of the exposition was corny - but I mean, it's a fantasy romance, so that's to be expected at least a little bit, I think.
Honestly, I have no idea how the author wrote 6 (?) more books for this series. This one felt like enough. It was pretty wrapped up by the end and I don't really find myself wanting for more with this universe.
TL;DR - pretty good romance fantasy. If you like Greek Mythology re-tellings and steamy romance without a ton of caring for the plot making perfect sense, then you'll probably like this book.
The pacing was pretty clumsy - at certain points of interactions I would wonder "what?? How did we get here?" and re-read back a few pages to see if I missed something. Some romance scenes or developments sort of just happened with no real lead up that made very much sense to me. Some of the exposition was corny - but I mean, it's a fantasy romance, so that's to be expected at least a little bit, I think.
Honestly, I have no idea how the author wrote 6 (?) more books for this series. This one felt like enough. It was pretty wrapped up by the end and I don't really find myself wanting for more with this universe.
TL;DR - pretty good romance fantasy. If you like Greek Mythology re-tellings and steamy romance without a ton of caring for the plot making perfect sense, then you'll probably like this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
abikale's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Loved Hades. Wasn’t so sure about some of the female characters who seemed quite shallow at first but they weren’t bad and I did prefer them as we got into the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Sexual harassment
oli_the_olive's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
Literally a fanfic but still really good
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment
ryanmaverik317's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
aliteraryescape's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment
yessicookie's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
first book in a trilogy (the only one i really liked)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
do not accidentally play this book out loud at your work when there's specific scenessamflowerv6's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
I honestly loved this. My guilty pleasure books are usually dark romance or some sort of smutty retelling. I enjoyed this. Half because of the story and just the vibes. My inner Wattpad teenager was screaming. I enjoyed the side characters, especially Hecate and Hermes. But Persephone and Hades have always been a favorite fictional couple of mine. It was more funny that I thought. I also enjoyed that even in a contemporary version, "New Greece" they spoke more like how you could expect, Hades and Persephone. I really enjoyed the dialogue and banter, just the relationship in general and I am a fan of Hades. I can't wait to read his version but I am not a huge fan of the third person writing style. I got used to it overtime but not my favorite. Also, the college storyline I feel like didn't have much of a point, as I have seen it discussed in other reviews but towards the end made more sense. The spicy scenes were enjoyable but not exactly what I had expected but still fun. Last thought is that I had an After flashback when the bet plot was revealed but Hades is so husband I got over it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Sexual harassment
faylinneicedragon's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Minor: Sexual harassment
sonatica's review against another edition
I generally like the idea of reteölings of the Persephone & Hades Myth in new ways, but this just wasn't for me. It felt like reading fanfiction (which can be good, obviously!) to me. One obvious trope was chasing another and it felt so predictable.
But I could've looked past that for a casual read.
However, the way he speaks to her after one of the spicier scenes around the halfway point of the book completely threw me off.
I like dark romance and I can look past toxic behaviour in fantasy if it's not glorified too much, but him saying"I have been inside you, and you will never be able to forget that." or something along those lines after she made clear that she didn't want to continue and felt conflicted, felt so wrong and disgusting that I just can't go on. Mind-reading or lies-tasting or whatever doesn't save that for me either.
But I could've looked past that for a casual read.
However, the way he speaks to her after one of the spicier scenes around the halfway point of the book completely threw me off.
I like dark romance and I can look past toxic behaviour in fantasy if it's not glorified too much, but him saying
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Terminal illness, and Medical content
I feel like it's worth mentioning that this book features a scene in which two characters' drinks get drugged in a party-setting, for those who may want to avoid that sort of content.annick's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
1.25
I’m so disappointed with this. It was a struggle to finish. The audiobook was slow and I couldn’t speed it up with my old software this week.
The story has such promise. And I was drawn in by the many many glowing reviews.
Spicy scenes don’t come until 60-70%.
Even though she’s a goddess of unknown age it is baffling how teen and rash she is and behaves. I also disliked the excessive use of superlatives for what characters would never do to the other ( never tire of looking at his body)
The journalism was poor in resembling what actually happens for editing front page articles and investigative journalism. This ain’t it.
If I read the next books it will be as ebooks so o can skim tedious sections about fashion and hair and misperceptions.
I don’t think the female characters are well written - as far as I can tell it doesn’t pass bechdal test. And the 2d characterisations of secondary characters are like below average fan fic
I’d rather hang out with Hecate.
The story has such promise. And I was drawn in by the many many glowing reviews.
Spicy scenes don’t come until 60-70%.
Even though she’s a goddess of unknown age it is baffling how teen and rash she is and behaves. I also disliked the excessive use of superlatives for what characters would never do to the other ( never tire of looking at his body)
The journalism was poor in resembling what actually happens for editing front page articles and investigative journalism. This ain’t it.
If I read the next books it will be as ebooks so o can skim tedious sections about fashion and hair and misperceptions.
I don’t think the female characters are well written - as far as I can tell it doesn’t pass bechdal test. And the 2d characterisations of secondary characters are like below average fan fic
I’d rather hang out with Hecate.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment