Neon Gods: A Scorchingly Hot Modern Retelling of Hades and Persephone (Dark Olympus, 1)
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 Dailey
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Book Accolades
Why You'll Love This
Welcome to Neon Gods, where the underworld isn't just dark—it's sizzling. Olympus, but not the postcard version. It's split by the River Styx, where gods don't lounge on clouds but rule the urban sprawl. Persephone finds herself a pawn in a game she never wished to play. But where does one hide in a city of gods? The answer lies in the enigmatic embrace of the lower city, where myths are more real than one might think. Especially one myth in particular: Hades, who's very much real and not the myth everyone believes him to be. The interplay between Hades and Persephone is everything I needed in my life that I didn't know I was missing. Persephone is not your damsel in distress. She's observant, intelligent, and knows how to play the political game of Olympus. She's also kind-hearted, cares deeply for her sisters and the citizens of Olympus (lower and upper city.) Hades, on the other hand, is the brooding type with a soft center. He's built a reputation of being ruthless, but he genuinely cares for his people. And his people adore him all the more for it. As their paths intertwine, Persephone discovers Hades's world, a place where desires are laid bare and exhibitionism is an art form. Together, they hatch a daring plan to defy Zeus, it ends up becoming less about revenge and more about showing Zeus how passion truly looks. Their relationship isn't just a fleeting romance; it's a dance of mutual respect, trust, and electric chemistry. What truly enamored me was the depth of their relationship. Hades and Persephone aren't just another tragic love story. Neon Gods beautifully prioritizes consent and trust, elements often overlooked. It was refreshing, to say the least. Every interaction between Hades and Persephone was built on mutual respect and understanding. Their relationship wasn't just about passion; it was about two souls finding and trusting each other amidst chaos. The BDSM elements are handled with care, emphasizing the importance of consent and communication. The raw vulnerability and thrill of being seen, of displaying one's desires and passions so openly, made me wonder if there might be a hidden exhibitionist deep within me. Those scenes were scorchingly hot. Anytime I was reading in public, I felt like I was smuggling spices in a world of only vanilla... Final Verdict Neon Gods felt like riding Pegasus through a thunderstorm. If Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo had a bookish love child with a hint of "Blade Runner" vibes, this would be it. It's not your grandma's romance, and thank the gods for that!
From Lala’s Book Reviews I’ve basically had this book since it was first released, and I cannot believe that I have never read it until just now even with me owning special edition books of the first three books in the series. In this world of Olympus, the Thirteen is made up of a group of people who assumes the role/characteristic of the Greek God typically from being passed down through the family line or voted upon when there are no successors. Persephone is the sunshine daughter of Demeter who plays peace keeper among her mother and sisters. She wants nothing more than to leave Olympus when she turns 25 and a handful of months when she is able to get her inheritance to go into the world and discover who she is beyond the role that she’s been forced to place. That is until her mother and Zeus announces a surprised engagement announcement between Zeus and Persephone which leaves her blindsided. In efforts to try to recollect her thoughts and come up with another plan, Persephone decides to take a walk to clear her head only to realize that she is being followed by Zeus’s men. Feeling trapped, she’s left with no other option than to cross the Styx River into the lower city where they mythical Hades lives, but to Persephone going into the devil’s den is better than the option of returning to Zeus and ending up like the last two Heras. Luckily the mysterious Hades is somehow on the other side of the river to help Persephone to safety as she is near hypothermic with torn up feet from running through the city. Despite the unknowing that surrounds this Hades, Persephone wasn’t expecting to find this man who cares that her feet are cleaned up and properly tended to or that she has proper clothing for the cold temperatures. She’s desperate to stay hidden for three months until her birthday so she can leave, and despite everything that Hades represents and embodies, she feels no ill intentions and decides to strike up a deal with him where he is able to get revenge on Zeus for killing his parents and ruining Persephone’s reputation where she is no longer the sparkly woman that the Upper City is used to seeing in the headlines. Hades is determined to care for Persephone as he finds out that she isn’t caring for her body like she should, and throughout their conversations and time together, he finds himself slowly starting to open up for this woman and longing to see her after work, but he has to remind himself that with each smile and laugh that she give him, Persephone wants nothing more than freedom and he won’t be the person to confine her to his city. Persephone has been able to lose the sunny persona that is “her” in the upper city and feels like she is finally able to start to breath a little with Hades and the Lower City. When she’s out with Hades on their adventures, she sees that all of the people that they meet are excited to speak with him and even joke with him. She sees that man behind the dark and brooding exterior that he has up, and they start to see the other behind the scars that life has given them. But, they are on borrowed time as the days seems to fly by. When push comes to shove, both Zeus and Demeter are determined to get Persephone back to the Upper City and will do it by any means leaving her with the options of going back to prevent any further damage to the Lower City and Hades or leaving Olympus all together. All I can say is that we all love a morally gray character who is perceived as the villain with a tragic back story that falls head over heals for the love interest (and he’s a d o m) *swoon*. The main thing that keeps Hades going is his need for revenge with Zeus and ensuring that his city is safe, but then Persephone comes in and changes his priorities and suddenly life has a new meaning for him and he starts to envision a life with her despite knowing that he would never be the villain in her story and force her to stay with him. The love story between Persephone and Hades is *chef’s kiss*.
Spicy spicy SPICY! The romance - AMAZING The plot - THRILLING The character development - EMPOWERING One of the few books you can pick up and it instantly gets intense from the first chapter and just does not stop with the same intensity. Definitely worth the read! If your looking for an actual Greek mythology story telling, I suggest not starting off with the book, but once you understand the Hades and Persephone relationship in original Greek mythology it makes this book that much more interesting with the modern day twist.
Siempre Sin excepción llegan en excelente estado , y la entrega Perfecto!
Amei a história! Envolvente e a maioria dos detalhes são iguais ou muito parecidos com os contos de Zeus e Hades.
Great christmas present for daughter.
I'm a sucker for mythology, and this modern re-telling of Hades and Persephone is just sublime. Smut, sexy, full of intrigue. Not only I've read it in one take, but as soon as I was done I pre-booked the next of the series. Yes, it's a series. AAAAAH! First book I read by Katee Roberts, but it DEFINITELY won't be my last.