kfergey's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
brichney's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
lacrimaeignis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
I absolutely loved A Game of Fate even more so than A Touch of Darkness! While AGOF is labelled as Hades' POV of ATOD it is so much more than that. The story is it's own, but some of the scenes do overlap as it is occuring at the same time as ATOD.
As someone who got a degree in Classics with a focus in mythology, it is very difficult for me to find and enjoy mythological retellings. It's so easy to spot the authors who think research is just reading the Wikipedia page. But Scarlett St. Clair isn't that type of author. It is clear she has a love for the myths and has done thorough research into the different versions of a single myth and choosing and adapting what works best for her tale. She is able to reach a modern audience and stay true to the original myths while making them new at the same time.
I adored all of the subtle Easter Eggs and the interactions/relationships with the various gods. I was so happy to see her give realistic interpretations of them! It was amazing to be able to delve further into Hades' psyche and his motives. And see the gods as these beings who are just as flawed as humanity. Gods who make mistakes and are forced to deal with the consequences and find solutions to right their wrongs.
Oh and we can't forget the level of spiciness this novel offers. It takes a little while to get there but when it happens, the spice just keeps building. I can't wait to read the rest of this series and delve even further into these timeless characters!
As someone who got a degree in Classics with a focus in mythology, it is very difficult for me to find and enjoy mythological retellings. It's so easy to spot the authors who think research is just reading the Wikipedia page. But Scarlett St. Clair isn't that type of author. It is clear she has a love for the myths and has done thorough research into the different versions of a single myth and choosing and adapting what works best for her tale. She is able to reach a modern audience and stay true to the original myths while making them new at the same time.
I adored all of the subtle Easter Eggs and the interactions/relationships with the various gods. I was so happy to see her give realistic interpretations of them! It was amazing to be able to delve further into Hades' psyche and his motives. And see the gods as these beings who are just as flawed as humanity. Gods who make mistakes and are forced to deal with the consequences and find solutions to right their wrongs.
Oh and we can't forget the level of spiciness this novel offers. It takes a little while to get there but when it happens, the spice just keeps building. I can't wait to read the rest of this series and delve even further into these timeless characters!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, and Blood
literaryhedgehog's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
As a companion to A Touch of Darkness, A Game of Fate adds interesting information and detail to Hades and Persephone’s story. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Hades’ perspective has a completely different arc and central conflict than Persephone’s. There is insight into Hades’ character that provides a different perspective for the personal conflicts in a Touch of Darkness, and the central conflict lays the groundwork for future interactions with Triad (a mortal/demigod organization opposed to Olympian rule) that is highly relevant post A Touch of Malice.
As a stand-alone novel/series, the story can feel a little disjointed. Hades’ story is a very different kind of plot than Persephone’s during the equivalent span of time, but with the restrictions of a flipped perspective retelling, the pacing often felt interrupted to fit in Hades perspective on scenes from A Touch of Darkness. As the series progresses I would be curious to see if the pacing of Hade’s narrative is able to become more cohesive.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has read and enjoy The first three books in the Hades and Persephone series.
As a stand-alone novel/series, the story can feel a little disjointed. Hades’ story is a very different kind of plot than Persephone’s during the equivalent span of time, but with the restrictions of a flipped perspective retelling, the pacing often felt interrupted to fit in Hades perspective on scenes from A Touch of Darkness. As the series progresses I would be curious to see if the pacing of Hade’s narrative is able to become more cohesive.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has read and enjoy The first three books in the Hades and Persephone series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, and Drug use
blkunicorn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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, Violence, and Torture
mollydollydoodah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25
I liked this book more than any of the original ones in the Hades and Persephone series. It was so refreshing to see everything through the perspective of Hades, and I’m so happy I gave it a chance after not really loving the original books. It was also super duper spicy, which was fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Sexual content
readwithde's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Gore, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Death, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and War
boomwormbrittany's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
A Game of Fate is the first book in the Hades Saga series by Scarlett St. Clair. This book follows Hades throughout the course of the plot of the first book in the Hades and Persephone series.
First off, I want to know what Scarlett St. Clair puts in her writing that makes it so addicting? I just want to know because this book was absolutely addicting. Whenever I picked up this book, I was absolutely drawn into this book. I loved Scarlett's writing so much and it really made this story stand out in its own way. She managed to make the book so easy to read and quickly read through.
Secondly, I really loved Hades character. He's so quiet and its hard to read him when it comes to reading the book from Persephone's perspective. It was interesting to see how he saw Persephone and was able to interact with her and those around her. He is definitely a grumpy character who only seems to light up whenever Persephone was around. Scarlett did a great job of showing how Persephone really changed Hades and taught him how to be loving.
I really loved reading from Hades point of view. I can't wait to see where the story is going to go and especially to see it from Hades perspective.
First off, I want to know what Scarlett St. Clair puts in her writing that makes it so addicting? I just want to know because this book was absolutely addicting. Whenever I picked up this book, I was absolutely drawn into this book. I loved Scarlett's writing so much and it really made this story stand out in its own way. She managed to make the book so easy to read and quickly read through.
Secondly, I really loved Hades character. He's so quiet and its hard to read him when it comes to reading the book from Persephone's perspective. It was interesting to see how he saw Persephone and was able to interact with her and those around her. He is definitely a grumpy character who only seems to light up whenever Persephone was around. Scarlett did a great job of showing how Persephone really changed Hades and taught him how to be loving.
I really loved reading from Hades point of view. I can't wait to see where the story is going to go and especially to see it from Hades perspective.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
beccaslittlebooknook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Violence, and Cursing
elenamarmiroli's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Ho di gran lunga preferito scoprire questa storia dal punto di vista di Persefone nel libro A Touch of Darkness, rispetto a leggere quest'opera dal punto di vista di Ade.
Ciò è dovuto a una side plot poco interessante, ma soprattutto a quello che si scopre di lui attraverso il suo pov, tra cui il fatto che abbia spiato la protagonista in un momento privato senza il suo consenso e quando confrontato sulla cosa lui abbia praticamente mentito a riguardo. Se uniamo ciò all'essere iperprotettivi e tenere spesso nascoste delle informazioni alla protagonista, la situazione comincia a diventare non troppo gradevole da leggere, facendo sì che apprezzassi di più il suo personaggio quando visto tramite gli occhi di lei.
Inoltre, è impressionante il numero di erezioni che questo personaggio sperimenta all'interno di queste pagine, tanto da sembrare un'erezione ambulante.
La nota più positiva di quest'opera è il personaggio di Ecate, dea della magia, che ha preso maggior rilevanza in questo pov rispetto a quello di Persefone, e che sto adorando intensamente.
Ciò è dovuto a una side plot poco interessante, ma soprattutto a quello che si scopre di lui attraverso il suo pov, tra cui il fatto che abbia spiato la protagonista in un momento privato senza il suo consenso e quando confrontato sulla cosa lui abbia praticamente mentito a riguardo. Se uniamo ciò all'essere iperprotettivi e tenere spesso nascoste delle informazioni alla protagonista, la situazione comincia a diventare non troppo gradevole da leggere, facendo sì che apprezzassi di più il suo personaggio quando visto tramite gli occhi di lei.
Inoltre, è impressionante il numero di erezioni che questo personaggio sperimenta all'interno di queste pagine, tanto da sembrare un'erezione ambulante.
La nota più positiva di quest'opera è il personaggio di Ecate, dea della magia, che ha preso maggior rilevanza in questo pov rispetto a quello di Persefone, e che sto adorando intensamente.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Stalking