I really enjoyed this final book from Persephone's POV (with the exception of one final chapter). Synopsis --- Adonis (Aphrodite's favored) is found dead and there is suspicion that this was an act against the divine. Persephone is called a "Lemming" by a mortal stranger (blind follower of the Gods). This stranger, Lara, was raped by Zeus, and has an understandable hatred towards Gods because of it. Harmonia, Aphrodite's sister, is assaulted and nearly dies. A net was used to restrain the God and make her lose her powers. Demeter is suspected to have something to do with the attempted murder. Persephone is tasked to determine who is doing these acts, as she is close with both mortals and Gods alike. Persephone finds out that Hades cannot father children, as he has given up the ability to give a mortal woman divinity. Persephone meets Theseus, the leader of Triad, and immediately senses his off-putting nature. Hades and Persephone have sex at Demeter's temple in retribution for her snowstorm. Persephone learns how to heal herself (by cutting herself over and over again), and gets help from Hypnos to sleep, as she is having nightmares about the kidnapping she endured. Helen leaves Persephone's business to join with Theseus in Triad. Thanatos is spending time with Lexa in Elysium, and they are becoming more intimate. The goddess Tyche is killed at the Panhellenic Games by Okeanos, a son of Zeus. Persephone is hurt by her own power and Hades arrives just in time to heal her. Whisking her away to their island of Lampri, they spend a weekend together away from the chaos. Hades is summoned to Olympus for a meeting about Demeter's storm. Persephone listens with The Helm of Darkness, making her invisible. Tyche tells Persephone that Demeter kept her a secret in part because of Hades, but mostly because Demeter was raped by Poseidon. Zeus refused to punish Poseidon for this, and it could have led to Demeter's hatred for the Olympians. Hades postulates that Triad is restraining Gods with a new version of Hephaestus's net and stabbed with a Hydra-poisoned arrow - a relic. At the Olympian engagement party, Zeus' oracle predicts that their "marriage will produce a god more powerful than Zeus himself." Hades convinces Zeus that this is not possible, as he cannot father children. If ever their was a child, it would be killed. Hades and Persephone marry that night, so as to not wait for Zeus to change his mind. Persephone and Thanatos talk about Lexa - Thanatos knows Lexa will one day reincarnate, and he does not want to fall in love with her because of his fear of losing her. Persephone wishes for Thanatos to tell Lexa he loves her anyway. Persephone finds Theseus in Sybil's apartment, and Sybil and Harmonia have been kidnapped to make Persephone cooperate. Hades owes a favor to Theseus for him returning a relic back in book 1, and claims it by making him stay behind while he kidnaps Persephone. Persephone knows Hades will follow, so she restrains him, and leaves with Theseus. Theseus takes Persephone's ring, seemingly knowing that Hades can track her through it. They are all held in a hotel room (Persephone, Harmonia, and Sybil). Zofie tries to save them, but is killed by Theseus in the process. Theseus wants to enter the underworld through Lerna Lake and wants to use Persephone to help him get The Helm of Darkness. Hades tries to find Persephone by tracking her ring, and ends up in a maze made of Adamant which could bind Gods. A net traps him as he finds the ring, and he is unable to move or use his power. Persephone leads Theseus to the arsenal, and Hecate helps to save Harmonia and Sybil. Demeter arrives and Persephone unintentionally kills her with the weapons in Hades' arsenal - Hecate informs her that Demeter's thread is cut anyway, and there is nothing they can do. At the end, Theseus releases the Titans from Tartarus. Hades' fate is unknown.
Graphic: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death
Minor: Rape
Overall, a really great read. Persephone is really growing as a character, learning to heal, and properly harness her powers. Hades is starting to see that Persephone is becoming a powerful Goddess, and can take care of herself and of his people in the Underworld. The real challenge will be saving Hades this time, and it will be up to Persephone to do so. I also love the development of Thanatos/Lexa, Harmonia/Sybil, and Apollo/Ajax/Hector pairings. I also hope that Hephaestus and Aphrodite are able to reconcile before the end of the series.