Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
I really don't like what was done to Hades's character and how Persephone takes over the Underworld like it's hers to do whatever she pleases with when she has been there for all of five minutes, and Hades doesn't care. It's equal parts rom-com and fantasy while effortlessly weaving in Greek mythology elements and characters. I also loved river goddess Styx (one of the supporting characters) the best and sassiest wing woman a Goddess (or God) could ask for! When her mother, Demeter, and father, Zeus, decide it’s time for her to marry and head of to find the perfect match Kore decides to take matters in her own hands.
There needed to be more of a foundation for Persephone to grow to love the place she escaped to and want to make it better. It does explore some heavier topics and briefly mentions topics such as misogyny, sexual assault and the trauma of War, so I definitely suggest checking TWs beforehand. I think this book was supposed to be about female empowerment and all the 'down with the patriarchy' sort of things, but I personally just find it hard to relate to problems such as having men lining up to court me, let alone men who are so gorgoeus, no beauty as such existed before. Things could have moved much more quickly if Hades or Persephone had just talked, ironic because that seems to be the only thing they do with each other. And for this one, its a retelling with a bit of a mix where Persephone is the one who is smart and cunning whilst Hades is the soft one in this relationship.
They were so open verbally about boundaries, the definitions of their relationships, and very vocal about their sexual relationship which was so refreshing to see in a book about young people figuring things out for the first time. I also really liked Fitzgerald’s depiction of Hades, who is portrayed as a kind, gentle and introverted person with a love of art and heaps patience and compassion for Persephone. I didn't mind it so much and again, the fanfiction style aspect showed up in the lack of plot this novel presented.
Hades goes from absolutely wanting nothing to do with her, trying to trick her into breaking an oath that would have huge consequences… to then falling all over himself to apologise and grovel and make life long vows of the River Styx for her in the span of a few pages? However, there are some touches here that would easily raise it to four stars if the execution was better.
The other Kronids — Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades and Poseidon — were the stolen children of other titans, which then creates so many more questions. She's a badass main character while we get a more soft boy Hades which I adored with my whole heart.
Great Deal 
New Comment