I was very excited to read Neon Gods, a hit erotic romance novel that is a retelling of Hades and Persephone’s myth. I really enjoyed this particularly spicy romance and hope you will too!
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The summary, from Amazon:
He was supposed to be a myth.
But from the moment I crossed the River Styx and fell under his dark spell…he was, quite simply, mine.
*A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Hades and Persephone that’s as sinful as it is sweet.*
Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that’s ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city’s dark facade.
With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil’s bargain with a man she once believed a myth…a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed.
Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he’s spent years craving, it’s all the excuse he needs to help her—for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he’ll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her close…
“Deliciously inventive…Red-hot.”—Publishers Weekly STARRED
“I get shivers just thinking of their interactions. SHIVERS.”—Mimi Koehler for The Nerd Daily
Buy Neon Gods here.
Persephone lives in the modern world in the city of Olympus, which is governed by the Thirteen. The city is split between the upper city and the lower city, and though once Hades was in charge of the lower city, that position is, to Persephone’s knowledge, long gone. When her mother, Demeter, has Persephone engaged to Zeus – meaning she’ll be the next Hera – Persephone runs away. Zeus has a history of killing off his wives, and Persephone certainly doesn’t want that as she has plans to leave Olympus and start a new life. Though there’s a barrier that makes it difficult to pass into the lower city, she does, where she immediately encounters Hades. The two strike a deal – Persephone will begin a very public relationship with him as a way for her to get out and for him to get revenge.
This is a super steamy romance novel with a heavy dash of kink. There’s some very solid world-building, and I’m excited to see how the rest of the series goes. I won’t say it was the most well-written story ever, but it’s a fun read and the erotica itself is well-done. It was a 4 star read for me.
Neon Gods by Katee Robert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was fun! I’m not goin to say it was the most well-written thing I’ve ever read, but it was a good retelling with some solid world-building and a ton of kinky, sexy love scenes. I’m excited to read the rest of the series and more by this author.
Book Club Questions
- In what ways is this novel like the original myth and in what ways does it divert from it?
- How does the depiction of kink and consent in this novel compare to novels with similar themes? (Think 50 Shades.)
- Explain the relationship dynamic between Hades and Persephone.
- Are there other characters you’re excited to read about in this series?
- Who was your favorite of Persephone’s sisters?
Interested? Buy Neon Gods.
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