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cscharfway's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
I feel like the character of Persephone goes through significant emotional growth throughout the book, something I found lacking before. She is just frustrating enough to make the plot interesting and gives the book some depth without making her storyline insufferable.
I still feel like there is one too many sex scenes between her and Hades (not that it’s always a bad thing!) but it is less ridiculous now, and served a purpose to emphasize how completely intertwined their souls are with each other.
The choices that Persephone has to make over her friend, Lexa, are just gut wrenching and really raise significant issues about life, death and morality. I also love seeing how her powers have manifested and grown alongside her confidence. I love the goddess and queen she is becomming.
One issue I have is about Persephone as a journalist/writer. From what little of her work we see in this text, she sounds kind of gossipy, cheesy and definitely not award-winning in her diction. I hope we see more of her abilities now that she has *spoiler* branched off from the newspaper, and I really hope her articles become more mature and less like the vindictive notebook of a spurned teenager.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicide, Vomit, and Medical trauma
rchulin1's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
scarlett_librarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Poorly wrapped up problem with a stalker. Done in less than five minutes, then back to poorly written sex scenes. The first book in the series was better. Very disappointed in the rushed writing. Going to read book three for grins and giggles, hoping it will be better.>
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use and Mental illness
Minor: Car accident
hi_im_tate's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
There is just so much to this book that I wouldn't have expected. Everything with Apollo (almost cried during his scene with his lover), meeting Leuce and learning more about her, the abduction, the proposal (s), the ending. It all intertwined beautifully for me. There were several times when I had to pull away from this book because it was just *so god damn good*. The love and passion Hades and Persephone share really, really touches my heart.
The author's note mentions learning more about Hades' life in the Upperworld and what he does. I am very excited for this because I just want to slurp up every piece of lore I can get about Hades. He loves so beautifully and fiercely, and I *need* to know what makes him tick.
There are some very prominent characters we have yet to meet. Where does Zeus stand in all of this? Poseidon? What's going on with Aphrodite? So many questions, so few answers.
Please make sure to read content warnings for this book. It'll make it easier.
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Confinement, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War
kimmy0__0's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Hoping Persephone is a little more palatable in the next books in the saga.
Very spicy 🥵🔥🥵🔥 🥵
Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny, Sexual content, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
firequeen_ash23's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
The author has managed to not just write a retelling of Hades and Persephone, but she's put so many other wonderful God's, Goddesses, and mortals in this series.... which has only made it that much better. Of course both A Touch of Darkness and A Touch of Ruin ended with cliffhangers. Thankfully the first three books are already published so I don't have to wait to read what comes next, but I'm sad knowing that after I read A Touch of Malice, I'll have to wait for A Touch of Chaos. 😫
I really enjoyed this book because it showed such a wide variety of challenges Persephone faced whether it be emotionally, physically or magically. She struggled with every aspect of her life especially in her relationship with Hades, but even with all her struggles and mistakes, she still went through a lot of character growth and maturity. Unfortunately that didn't stop her from all the pain and anxiety she experienced but it did make her more relatable. I've really enjoyed seeing her grow and become stronger against her mother. She's learning how to control her magic and wield it without hurting herself.
I definitely enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the book as well. I couldn't believe so much happened and I was literally on the edge of my seat, biting my nails at certain points because so many disasters could have been averted but weren't. I definitely appreciate how well the author paced the story and let things fall into place without rushing the process Persephone and Hades had to go through. I think it shows that even though they're God's, they're still capable of doing things like mortals.
I highly recommend this series to all my Greek Mythology lovers as well as fantasy lovers. This book has revenge, death, pain, love, sex, passion, heartbreak, forgiveness, and growth. There's something for everyone.
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Gaslighting
Minor: Car accident
zc2's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
aribook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Suicide
Moderate: Biphobia, Child death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, and War
karambit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicide, Vomit, Trafficking, and Stalking