Scan barcode
A review by aylea
Her Dark Wings by Melinda Salisbury
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Corey was inseparable with her best friend Bree -- until Corey's boyfriend cheated on her with Bree. Corey hates both of them for what they did to her, even when Bree suddenly dies. Things get more complicated when she realizes that she's gotten the attention of Hades, lord of the death, and Bree's death might have resulted from Corey's hatred of her. Corey finds herself in the underworld getting to know both Hades and the Furies, who want Corey to embrace the rage she feels at the betrayal she experienced. The more time she spends in the underworld, the more she learns and her powers grow.
I haven't read very many Hades and Persephone stories, but I love Greek mythology, so I was excited to give this one a try. I wanted to like this book more than I did. While I thought it had some interesting ideas for retelling this story in a modern way, it was hard to connect to the characters, and I think I would have struggled to finish it if I hadn't read it on an airplane flight.
Corey is hard to like. While her rage and feelings of betrayal are understandable, it's hard to like her when she spends the whole time feeling so angry and doing things that don't make her look like a good person. Even as angry as she is, it's hard to justify her actions or even how destructive she is willing to be in her life before she goes to the underworld. Although I enjoyed a character who is dark and angry, it's also just difficult to root for her.
The furies are more interesting as characters. I don't think I've ever seen such an interesting take. Usually, the furies are just general bad guys or all the same. I liked their different personalities and how they are both incredibly protective of Corey while being vicious.
The setting was a little confusing. It's hard to tell what kind of time period it was when they were using cell phones but also still actively worshipping the Greek gods. There aren't any answers to this. Why do these people still believe in Greek gods? What does worshipping them actually look like in the day-to-day, and if she actively worships the gods, why wasn't she a LOT more freaked out when they started showing up in her life? The underworld was also difficult to picture for the most part. When the entire world is described as gray and boring, it's, well, boring to picture.
The "romance" also falls flat. It feels more like Hades is more interested in her for a science experiment than anything else. Corey doesn't even think he's particularly attractive. The romance is less about her wanting to love him and more about deciding which side of the fight she will take. Unfortunately, that makes the book's ending feel flat. It's less about her choosing him and more about her not choosing the other option.
The most vivid aspect of this book is Corey's rage and betrayal. It is dark and strong. I did like the closure of their relationship and how Corey has to come to terms with what her best friend and her boyfriend did. Corey and Bree's relationship alone is the book's best part. While a lot of other things were lackluster, and while I don't even like either of the girls, the relationship is raw and complex and real. That and the furies made me give this book three stars.
If you're looking for a great Hades and Persephone romance, this isn't it. But if you're looking for a story about the complications of friendship and betrayal with a Greek mythology backdrop, this might be more your kind of thing.
I haven't read very many Hades and Persephone stories, but I love Greek mythology, so I was excited to give this one a try. I wanted to like this book more than I did. While I thought it had some interesting ideas for retelling this story in a modern way, it was hard to connect to the characters, and I think I would have struggled to finish it if I hadn't read it on an airplane flight.
Corey is hard to like. While her rage and feelings of betrayal are understandable, it's hard to like her when she spends the whole time feeling so angry and doing things that don't make her look like a good person. Even as angry as she is, it's hard to justify her actions or even how destructive she is willing to be in her life before she goes to the underworld. Although I enjoyed a character who is dark and angry, it's also just difficult to root for her.
The furies are more interesting as characters. I don't think I've ever seen such an interesting take. Usually, the furies are just general bad guys or all the same. I liked their different personalities and how they are both incredibly protective of Corey while being vicious.
The setting was a little confusing. It's hard to tell what kind of time period it was when they were using cell phones but also still actively worshipping the Greek gods. There aren't any answers to this. Why do these people still believe in Greek gods? What does worshipping them actually look like in the day-to-day, and if she actively worships the gods, why wasn't she a LOT more freaked out when they started showing up in her life? The underworld was also difficult to picture for the most part. When the entire world is described as gray and boring, it's, well, boring to picture.
The "romance" also falls flat. It feels more like Hades is more interested in her for a science experiment than anything else. Corey doesn't even think he's particularly attractive. The romance is less about her wanting to love him and more about deciding which side of the fight she will take. Unfortunately, that makes the book's ending feel flat. It's less about her choosing him and more about her not choosing the other option.
The most vivid aspect of this book is Corey's rage and betrayal. It is dark and strong. I did like the closure of their relationship and how Corey has to come to terms with what her best friend and her boyfriend did. Corey and Bree's relationship alone is the book's best part. While a lot of other things were lackluster, and while I don't even like either of the girls, the relationship is raw and complex and real. That and the furies made me give this book three stars.
If you're looking for a great Hades and Persephone romance, this isn't it. But if you're looking for a story about the complications of friendship and betrayal with a Greek mythology backdrop, this might be more your kind of thing.