Her Dark Wings

by Melinda Salisbury

In this powerful, passionate reimagining of the Persephone myth for fans of Lore Olympus and Melissa Albert, two former best friends--split apart by betrayal--find themselves reunited in the Underworld. But will either one make it out, or will the darkness that's growing in each of them consume them whole?

For all of Corey’s life, it’s been Bree and Corey, Corey and Bree. Best friends, the girls are inseparable—until a devastating betrayal leaves Corey shattered and alone. Corey is sure nothing could hurt more, until Bree suddenly dies. Now Corey is heartbroken and furious. How can she mourn her one-time friend when she is still so angry at her?

Yet Corey and Bree’s tale is far from finished. When Corey accidentally catches a glimpse of Bree’s spirit passing into the afterlife, she finds herself face to face with a god pulled from the darkest myths of her Hades, lord of the dead.

Turns out, the legends are real. But Hades is different from what Corey imagined—and so are the Furies, terrifying and beautiful creatures who encourage Corey to embrace her rage. The more Corey discovers about the Underworld, the more her own power stirs. But can she resist the lure of the darkness within?

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Young Adult, Romance, Retellings, Greek Mythology, Audiobook

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2022

About the author

Melinda Salisbury lives by the sea, somewhere in the south of England. As a child she genuinely thought Roald Dahl’s Matilda was her biography, in part helped by her grandfather often mistakenly calling her Matilda, and the local library having a pretty cavalier attitude to the books she borrowed. Sadly she never manifested telekinetic powers. She likes to travel, and have adventures. She also likes medieval castles, non-medieval aquariums, Richard III, and all things Scandinavian The Sin Eater's Daughter is her first novel. She can be found on Twitter at @MESalisbury, though be warned, she tweets often.

Reviews

[Leonie · Rating 2 out of 5]

"All growth begins in the dark. From the smallest daisy to the mightiest oak. It all begins in darkness."

This is a one POV book, told by the POV of Corey.

I sadly couldn´t connect to any characters in this book and even disliked Corey a bit. I get where her anger and aggression came from, but for me it didn´t justify her actions. Sadly Corey and Hades didn´t have any chemistry whatsoever, she doesn´t even think he´s handsome. Honestly she had more chemistry with Alecto than she did with Hades over the span of the whole book.

I liked the Furies as prominent side characters in this book, they truly fit their roles. I don´t think I ever saw that in a greek retelling book that was supposed to be Hades x Persephone so it was really interesting to see. Bree was a real shitty friend and a bitch as well, so sadly I didn´t end up liking any of the characters. I liked Coreys dad and I think that was about it.

Now is this truly a Hades x Persephone retelling? Personally I would say no. I feel like it is more a story about friendship, about wrong doing and about character development. If you want another spicy retelling this is not the book for you. There is no spice to find at all, they don´t even fall in love with each other. So you will be searching in vain for tension, angst or any trope. The plot itself didn´t feel like anything special and some parts felt dragged while others felt rushed. None of the reasonings the characters put forward for their actions truly made sense for me. And some parts of the book were quite confusing. I think for the first good 50 pages I didn´t understand which time we are in. They are wearing jeans and having phones but still worship Zeus and all the "old" gods.

Overall it was a confusing read that felt like it was maybe marketed a bit wrong and was not what it promised to be.

trigger warnings: loss of loved ones, torture

[renee ♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

1⭐️

if you had a gun to my head and told me to name one really good scene in this book, i’d be dead 😐

nothing about her dark wings stood out to me and it felt really bland in all aspects. i was excited because it’s a hades x persephone retelling but the characters had the personality of stale bread.

i didn’t dnf this book so that’s a plus i guess ?

thank you so much to netgalley and random house children's for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Stay Fetters · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I’m death and the dead and lonely, hopeless eternity."

Authors and readers are currently obsessed with retellings of the story of Hades and Persephone. I’m not going to lie, so am I. But I’m more interested in the actual horror story of those two. It’s not as sweet and wholesome as people want it to be. I still read these endearing retellings because we need a little love magic in this world.

Her Dark Wings jumped out at me because of the stunning golden cover. I became obsessed with it and I knew that I needed this one in my life. Plus everyone seemed to suggest this book to me. The hype was up but it kind of fell flat for me. I did enjoy it, just not as much as I had hoped.

The first half of the book was dark, twisty, and vengeful. The second part was soft and in bloom. With that said, I’m sure you all know which part of the book I liked best. (The dark side, duh!)

The fury that Corey created in this book surrounds you and you can feel it deep in your bones. Your soul wants that vengeance for Corey and all you can do is pray to the dark gods for it to happen.

Melinda created a rich and raw retelling that stands out from the others. She made us feel what it was like to have that sisterly friendship and have it torn away within an instant. We feel that raw and emotional pain develop as the main character discovers her true self. Corey was such a strong character and I was proud that she stuck to her true feelings and never let anyone cloud her judgement.

With the first half being so dark and painful, I was expecting the second half to be the same. It wasn’t. You can see that as growth but I didn’t enjoy it as much. Corey learned things about growing and herself as she traveled to the underworld. I just wanted death and vengeance to be present throughout. (I’m just a morbid individual.)

Her Dark Wings was an okay retelling. While the first half was good, the second half kind of let me down. It was still a decent read and I find that other readers will fall in love with this tale. It just missed its mark for me.

[Sophie Elaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. I just wish there was a sequel, because I desperately need more.

4.5⭐️

[Lizzie Huxley-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I tell you this is an exceptional book that I can’t stop thinking about!!!!

Her Dark Wings by Melinda Salisbury is a Hades & Persephone retelling, set in a world where the Olympians are still worshipped. It’s always been Bree-and-Corey, Corey-and-Bree. But Corey betrays Bree by taking her boyfriend Ali, and before Corey can get over it, Bree dies. Heartbroken and lost, the Underworld calls to her. And soon Corey finds the darkness and fury lurking within her.

Because I not long ago watched Yellowjackets, Bree and Corey took on the faces of Jackie and Shauna respectively, because in the same way that that story explores the horror and fury and pain of teen girlhood, Her Dark Wings does too. I love the way Her Dark Wings explores justice, how do we seek it, how do we reckon with those who harmed us, what does it mean to harm and is there such a thing as righteous vengeance. This book made me think and feel so much and now I’m going to go yell at the sea because MAN

Melinda Salisbury has long been one of my favourite writers, but I truly think this is her best yet. Raw feeling, beautifully executed. A strange quiet girl with huge horrible thoughts and feelings who I rooted for throughout.

If you love a Greek myth retelling, this absolutely has to be on your radar because I think it’s smart and thoughtful and goes places the others don’t, and I think will appeal to lovers of Greek retellings that don’t read normally reach for YA.

I honestly cannot and will not stop gushing about this. A story about home, which I brought home to Wales with me specifically because I knew it would tell a story that would resonate with many of the feelings I have here.

Thank you to DFB for the early copy!

[Nastassja · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Warning, mild spoilers ahead*

Tell me of the flower-touched girl hidden at the ends of the earth; of betrayal and vengeance, of blossoming and blame. Tell me of heartbreak and healing, tell me what it means to forgive, to plant a seed, to watch it grow.
Tell me what happens next, Muse.
Sing.

Her Dark Wings is a retelling of Hades and Persephone. But that is not what makes the story stand out. It's a theme of friendship and betrayal. I found this particular part fascinating! I liked that the story wasn't revolving around the romance between two prototypes of the aforementioned figures but centered on resentment, hurt, and finally acceptance.

Corey, the heroine of the story had a closest friend Bree - they were like sisters. Until one day Bree betrays her with Corey's boyfriend. After that Corey's world is turned upside down. She becomes an angry vicious person. The worst part is that Bree didn't even want to explain why she did what she did. So Corey had to watch her and her ex holding hands and kissing in front of her. And in a small town like Corey's there's no many places you can escape to not see. So Corey becomes so hurt and angry she wishes that Bree would die. And than Bree dies.

I will make a step aside from the friendship topic and why I liked it so much to add a couple of words on why I didn't give this story more than three starts. First of all, the world-building was quite underdeveloped? I mean, we get that the events take place in our world and our time. But as I gathered from the characters and their conversations, people in this version of the world believe in the Underworld and Gods like Hades, Zeus, Poseidon and so on. The famous Greek Pantheon. But the explanation on how's and why's was so vague I couldn't get a clear picture of how actually things are. The next thing is the Underworld itself. It was described with classic terms but I didn't really feel the vibe it should have in the story. It just felt like a stage where events were taking place at one point.
Then there's Hades and the romance which I think was anticlimactic. A lot. I wouldn't mind a good Hades and Persephone story; it's quite angst-y, but in this book we got a watered down romantic interest and Corey's conflict with Bree stood out way more than anything else. And then the charters themselves weren't fleshed out properly. We get why Corey is angry, but we do not get why and how she has her powers. It just plays as a background. And the whole line with Furies was just weird.

Now, getting back to the friendship and betrayal. That part soaked out all live from any other part of the book. It was poignant and tearful at moments. We, along with Corey, trying to understand why Bree did what she did, meanwhile we hate her along with Corey and do not feel sorry for her death. Those emotions were strong and potent. And at the end, when Corey and Bree finally meet in the Underworld and none of them is sorry for what they did but they kind of still love and miss each other, there's this little hope that maybe some day Bree would feel remorse and Corey would find it in herself to forgive her. I liked that this was a kind of an open ending because in real life when we are betrayed or betray someone we do not always get closure.

All in all, a decent story about friendship and betrayal with Greek Mythology woven in between. Melinda Salisbury has a unique voice and became one of my favorite authors after her Sin Eater's Daughter trilogy, which I highly recommend as well if you haven't read it yet. I will definitely wait for more stories from her.
See you on the other side, in the Underworld!

[Billie's Not So Secret Diary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Her Dark Wings
by Melinda Salisbury
Fantasy YA Myth
NetGalley ARC
Pub Date Dec. 12, 2023
Random House
Ages: 14+

Corey and Bree were best of friends until the day Bree betrayed Corey, taking all Corey held dear in her teenage mind and heart away in one action. Worse, everyone on the small island knew how inseparable the two girls were, and they knew what Bree did to Corey, but then Bree died and now Corey is torn between hating Bree and mourning her.

Trying to escape her torn emotions, Corey finds herself on the hill, and out of impulse looks over her left shoulder and sees Bree's spirit leaving for the Underworld.

Not wanting to believe what she just saw, she finds herself face to face with a God, who tells her to forget. But she can't, and a flower leads her to the Underworld, where the Furies take her, and all her anger, under their wings.

First off, one of the blurbs I read, the one that got me interested in the book is a little misleading, so it wasn't as scary or action-filled as I thought. And the cover designer took a few words from the story to create a really good cover that attracts more attention than the story.

It was a slow read as Corey raged over Bree's betrayal, and while I can't blame her, I don't feel it was presented with enough emotion, it was boring, and written with monotone feelings. The backstory of the island and its people wasn't there. The mainland was mentioned but there was nothing to explain why the people there and those from the island were different. There was no explanation of their rituals or lifestyle. Things were tossed out of nowhere and the reader was supposed to know what was going on.

I did like the spin on the tale of Persephone, but it needed a lot, and I mean a lot more emotions from the characters and descriptions. What there were, were flat, as monotone as the character's emotions. It was boring and I did a lot of skimming because there were pages where it was mostly rambling over Corey's feelings and betrayal.

I would have given this one more star if there were more descriptions and explanations of who, what, why, and etc, along with more emotions and less rambling.

2 Stars

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll be straight, this book was unexpected but beautiful. Simplistic, elegant and beautifully written. A story of betrayal, acceptance, grief and, most importantly, sisterhood.

I found comfort in the gentle, yet violent Furies, who were endearing, complex and all-the-while grotesque. Felt every single one of Corey’s starkly human emotions, felt her pain, her anger, tasted her desperation, and it was throughly moving. Hades was perfectly written, Salisbury does an excellent job at creating a male character who is respectful, gentle and supportive. Throughout the book I loved how real the place and story felt, with Salisbury artfully weaving in modern-day context amongst the wondrous Greek mythology. Refreshing representation was another thing I greatly appreciated, with diversity being so naturally written into the story.

I want to say so much about how sisterhood and femininity is the key convention to this novel but my words won’t do it justice. All I can say is read it for yourself and bask in the familiar, comforting maternal figure of Merry, ache from the pain caused by Bree’s betrayal, and yearn for the devotion and love of the Furies.

There is a part of me that wished that the novel were longer, that there was some bigger, epic plot — which is what I had originally expected. However, I was strangely comforted; the book is simple yes, but I think that’s the intention. It’s a story of growth, that comes to a healing end in a way that feels like closure itself. We heal with Corey as she grows into her dark wings.

[Helen Corcoran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a modern world where worship of the Greek Gods is the dominant faith, Corey thought she and her best friend, Bree, had an unshakeable bond. Until Bree betrays her in the worst way possible, and then dies suddenly, leaving Corey heartbroken, guilty—and furious. But when she finds her way to the Underworld and is taken in by the Furies, Corey is confronted not just with the depths of her rage, but the price of justice and punishment, grappling with the potentially eternal consequences of the power the Furies—and Hades—insist lies within her. But does Corey encourage life… or death?

I loved the glimpse of this world, where worship of the Greek Gods has spread in much the same way as Christianity to become a dominant religion. And if you’re feeling angry—and there’s a lot to feel angry about in the world these days—then Corey’s rage, and the unchangeable nature of the Furies, will be a balm. This is a book that deals unflinchingly with anger and fury, and vindictiveness, the worst parts of a person that they keep hidden from everyone else: their darkest impulses, the terrible things they can say or do to themselves and others.

But there is colour and light, for this is also a take on the Persephone myth, showing that light cannot exist without shadows. That acceptance doesn’t always mean forgiveness, and that repentance—or a lack thereof—is at its heart, part of human nature.

[Gabbie Pop · Rating 5 out of 5]

nobody dare talk to me as i process how fantastic this book was
rtc

[Tracy Telle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will bump this up to 4 because I love creativity in storytelling and also books incorporating mythology.

[AlenGarou · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Avete mai avuto un’allergia letteraria? Ovvero quel genere che per quanto ci proviate non vi conquisterà mai e vi lascerà sempre una sorta di prurito cerebrale sebbene i romanzi in questione non siano da buttare?
Ebbene, la mia riguarda i retelling mitologici teen.
Perché ogni volta mi domando come le divinità greche vadano a uccidersi i neuroni con ragazzini mortali dalla personalità di una sottiletta.
Figuriamoci innamorarsi!
Ma forse sono io che nel corso degli anni ho letto cose discutibili.
Le sue ali oscure sulla carta sembra trash ma alla fine mi ha stupito.
Il tutto inizia con un’amicizia spezzata a causa del pene e la protagonista, Corey, che desidera la morte della sua ex BFF, Bree.
E viene pure accontentata a tempo record, dato che baciare Ade ha i suoi vantaggi.
Corey sarà in preda ai sensi di colpa (te credo) finché le Furie, attirate dal suo odio e rabbia repressa, la rapiranno per condurla nel loro dominio nell’Oltretomba e far di lei una di loro. Davvero comodo vivere sull’Isola ai confini del mondo dove la falda acquifera si mischia al Lete.
Ma è da qui che il tutto si farà interessante. Corey passerà molto più tempo con loro che con Ade e Hermes (due fighi adolescenti ovvio) e la narrazione si soffermerà molto sul concetto di amicizia, la ricerca della vendetta e il lasciarsi sopraffare dall’odio e il vuoto di non sapere a quale luogo appartenere. E sono stati proprio questi approfondimenti ad avermi colpito in positivo, soprattutto considerando il rapporto tra Corey e Bree. Come tematiche hanno reso il libro più ricco.
Il resto… beh, potete immaginarlo.
Ade è un tavolino inutile, il worldbuilding non è prevenuto, la trama è scontata come le identità dei personaggi e se devo essere sincera Hermes meritava di non comparire proprio o di avere più spazio. Anche i poteri di Corey sono di natura misteriosa e intuibile.
Per non parlare dell’inesistente love story…
Insomma, da come si sviluppa lo considero un romanzo valido, solo non adatto a me.
Se vi piace il genere dateci un’occhiata.

[Babsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a random pick, I didn't even read the back properly before starting it. Turned out to be one of my favourite books I've read this year.

[Hannah (Vogan) Stolz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this retelling.of Hades and Persephone. I think it shows something alot of people can understand in the form of a loss in this case a friend and finding who you are as a person without the one you lost. Dealing with loss and anger and fear and even hope and love. Only problem is for a Hades retelling he is not in the story alot. If there was more between hades and Persephone it would have been a 4.

[Bryony Indecisive Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I know, as clearly as if Cassandra herself had delivered the prophecy, that what Bree and Ali did to me won’t matter to anyone any more… She’ll always be young and beautiful and dead too soon, and that will eclipse everything. Every shitty thing she did and said, wiped away.”

CW: Death of friend, drowning, grief, cheating

I really enjoyed reading Her Dark Wings. It carefully blended Greek mythology into the everyday, and I liked a Hades and Persephone retelling that didn’t focus on the romance.
I thought the setting in this was great. I felt like you could never quite get a grasp on when it was set, and I liked that it combined modernity with a world in which people still celebrated the Greek Gods. It gave the setting a sense of timelessness and charm. But the island also felt claustrophobic, everyone knowing everyone’s business.
I really liked how the Greek gods were included, how they were just there and it wasn’t really a surprise. I liked seeing how Corey interacted with them, particularly Hermes and the Furies as it allowed them to flesh out into real characters.
This books explores a young person’s grief carefully, especially when paired with anger - yet it was always easy to read. Corey has to navigate two huge events in her life at once, so I like that the book really puts the emphasis on allowing her to work through her emotions. Corey and Bree are both really detailed characters, whose lives are unmistakably twisted. You could see their friendship stretching out behind them and there’s almost a void where it doesn’t stretch out any more.
I think it was amazing that this book explored friendships more than romances. With it being YA, I liked that it placed the emphasis on the former. Corey was allowed to grow by herself, both in the usual teenage way but also the Persephone-garden-goddess kind of way, with the support of the important people around her. It also made her decisions re the Underworld seem more consensual than the usual myth retellings.

[Emma (howlsmovinglibrary) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did not quite live up to my expectations, but that was mostly because it was different from what I thought the premise was suggesting. The modern setting made me think this was perhaps a rediscovery of Persephone (more reminiscent of soulmates), instead it was just a retelling in a modern, disembodied time. While I wish it had been less reliant on simply retelling the story (and only aspects of the story, given that Demeter never features) and more on remixing it in a new and exciting way, I know that's mostly just my own imagining of what this book would be, which is unfair. I do however think the story suffered from a lack of specific location. I cannot explain how much I would've been on board had 'the Island' just been an island that exists, rather than this disembodied space that felt like a modern AU fanfic. The fact that this was a modern day UK-ish setting where the Greek Gods are worshipped but with no explanation why really frustrated me, it felt like confusing worldbuilding at best and lazy Anglocentricity at worst.

That being said, the author nailed the chemistry in the romance - I kept reading specifically for Hades and Persephone's interactions which, really, is all you can ask of for a Hades/Persephone retelling.

[Stephanie (My Book Throne) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! It was such a fast paced read, I barrelled through it! I have read Hold Back the Tide by Melinda Salisbury and I love how atmospheric she writes her settings and the creepy vibes that accompany it, this was no different. The world building was great, the characters all felt realistic and I enjoyed the plot.

I was rooting for the MC the whole time, I felt so much sympathy for her and what she’d been through. Anyone who has experienced this kind of hurt would 100% relate with the emotions in this book. I feel like this was portrayed realistically and I’m glad we got the type of ending that we did! I feel like Corey changed as a person throughout the novel and she definitely became stronger and more independent. Obviously, I was a fan of Hades.

The Furies were just plain scary, I liked how they were humanised. The punishing scenes sounded horrific and traumatising.

Would recommend to fans who like Greek mythology, romance, a strong MC, overcoming loss and adventure.

4/5 stars.

[Thank you to the publishers for a free copy in exchange for an honest review]

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

This... was a book. It comes on the heels of a bunch of dark romance Hades and Persephone retellings, and so I was initially worried about the content here. Not all books marketed as YA have YA-appropriate content in this current market. But rest assured, there's nothing to worry the younger crowd here. And perhaps as a result, this book is incredibly bland. I have a lot of questions about the worldbuilding (since none of it quite makes sense) as well as choices made about the cast of characters. I just have a lot of conflicted feelings about how a book with such good source material can come out so... flat. Utterly disappointing.

But anyway, my full review will be available on December 8th, 2023 at Gateway Reviews. Do stop by to check out more of my thoughts when the review goes live!

Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

[Tilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

I was so excited about this Hades and Persephone retelling and it definitely did not let me down!

Her Dark Wings is about Corey (Persephone), a teenager who has a broken heart and a love for gardening. The story is both modern but integrated well with some fantastic greek mythology and it is a modern living with humans knowing the greek gods exist. I won't say much about the story as I don't want to give much away but it is definitely the most different reimagining of this story that I have read so far.
Corey is such an interesting character and I loved getting to know all her different sides and seeing her grow. I also loved this verison of Hades who was much quieter and kinder than other versions I have read. He had a calmness to him that others have not had and I loved it!

The writing was fantastic and I flew through the book as it was such a fun easy read. I only hoped for more scenes between Hades and Corey which I felt were lacking as most of the time she spent qith the Furies which was such an interesting interpretation.

Overall, a fantastic YA imagining of this epic story and one I will definitely read again!

Please note that I was gifted this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Dario Pacheco · Rating 4 out of 5]

What attracted me to this book was mainly the cover and maybe the promise of a Persephone and Hades inspired retelling.
I wasn’t really sure how I would like this book in the beginning but after a slow start it began to pick up steam and ended up becoming a solid Greek Mythology inspired story.
I really enjoyed the main character’s Corey story from scorned friend to empowered woman learning a way of coming into her own power and forgiveness. I do wish this book was a tad longer to give it a more rounded vibe but overall i liked this book. 3.5 stars
Thanks to the folks at NetGalley for a copy of this book. My review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.

[Jared (jareadforfilth) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Greek myth retellings are always gonna be enjoyable to a degree for me, so it’s a good place to start. Unfortunately for this, it doesn’t go much beyond that. This retelling didn’t do much to build on the myth and I think a large issue here was also that the characters lacked any spark that made me root for them. Our “Persephone,” Cory, was rather vapid and whiny throughout with a decent enough arc towards the end but not much else. Hades was more of an archetypical regurgitation of every other Hades and honestly rather dull. Their attraction towards each other lacked genuine, palpable chemistry and felt almost more out of obligation to the myth than an actual draw towards one another.

Consensus: it’s fine. If you’re looking for something to play in the background on audio that is enjoyable on a base level, then this is honestly a solid selection. The narrator on audio did a good job as well, the Scottish accent through me off for a second but she isn’t difficult to understand and changes her tone effectively from character to character.

Thank you PRHaudio for the review copy!

[Madeleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

really great!! such an interesting take on the greek myth Persephone

[paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

honestly that was so cute???
ich lese ja wirklich nicht oft fantasy, aber irgendwie fand ichs ganz ganz süß
main character x hades kinda love story WHO would've thought dass ICH sowas mal lese

[Shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s meant to be a Persephone and Hades retelling but it definitely doesn’t seem that way. I was very excited to try this book based on its beautiful cover the blurb. But I was left solely disappointed. I felt like it was slow to start at first and a bit confusing. As the book went on, I did get into it but not as much as I would have loved to. I felt like there was no chemistry or interest between Persephone and hades. So I don’t understand why she chose to live with him in the end. If there had been a blossoming relationship being told throughout the book, I would have been in full support of her going to be with him. Like go get your cold blooded man. But nope, this book focused more on the story behind the three fates and the ideal that Persephone is also one. It’s not really a love story but more a story about betrayal, coming to terms with your true self and I guess choosing your own destiny. Cute young adult read but not what I’m into anymore.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

started off good!! then was a BIG yawn up until about 2/3rds of the book. Then it got good again. so overall, pretty average.

[Victoria Alyesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contemporary mixed with a tad a fantasy and a female lead that works through the book to find not only herself but what she really wants as well, what more could you ask for. A modern spin on a very well researched and plotted story that finds you swept into the world in which you will struggle to get yourself out of once it’s time to go to bed at night, (but what’s wrong was a 3am bedtime with a gripping novel in your hands).
Easy to read with the perfect chapter lengths that the phase ‘one more chapter’ has never been so relevant. Salisbury’s writing creates vivid scenes for you lose yourself in chapter after chapter, so what are you waiting for.

So why not 5 stars? I really struggled to get into the writing at the beginning, it was very heavy on the topic at hand and the flow of the writing just wasn’t quite there to draw me in. Once I got past a few chapters though you could tell the author had gotten into the flow and the scene was set. From there onwards it was brilliant.

[By Book and Bone (Sally) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh I wanted to love this so much more than I did. I'm a bit broken hearted because this is the first Hades/Persephone retelling that I've read after wanting to read one for ages.

It's not terrible, some great story and writing in here but it all feels very unfinished. I was originally going to write an essay but everything I could complain about comes right back to Her Dark Wings feeling like it's an early draft.

There's no way Corey wouldn't have questioned her Mother. Or even just... Thought about her? It's almost a plot hole (character gap?)

[Kristin Sledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded to 5 stars. A wonderful tale of choosing how deep your fury takes root in you.

Corey HATES her former best friend, Bree. After Corey's boyfriend leaves her for her best friend she wants nothing more than to see Bree pay....or even die. You should be careful what you wish for, especially on days hollowed to the Gods. When Bree winds up dead, Corey glimpses Bre's Shade heading into the Underworld, something no mortal should ever see. Dropped into the Underworld, the Furies of legend swoop Corey away from Hades and giving her shelter while she tries to find a way home. Will Corey escape the Underworld? Or will she find her time with the Furies one she cannot and would not escape; even if she wills it?

Okay, I'm trying to sort out all I want to say so bare with me as I process my thoughts. This book has it ALL, but if you're looking for a romance novel this isn't the book for you. The original blurb kinda makes it seem like I a going to be a whirlwind romance, but I find this story is more about Corey coming to terms with her worst thoughts and still choosing herself regardless. She's likeable but is definitely going through not just a breakup with Alistaer, but also the breakdown of her and Bree's lifelong friendship. She is super grieving, which can be a bit much for some readers but I found fitting for all she was going through.

For me, the Furies are very well written and more than serve their purpose throughout the story. Corey is conflicted, held back by society's expectations of who she should be while the Furies coax out her morally grey side. Hades isn't present through good 2/3rds of the book, but when he is present he is a treat. So different from what you would think an Olympian would be, and not overly sexualized like other recent tellings. My all time favorite delight of this book was the presence of The Oracle, aka the Goddess Hecate; of whom I am a devotee. She is described perfectly and her ways are woven through her words and actions. It was a real pleasant treat for this reader.

My gripe about this is that there are still some unanswered questions, but hopefully that leaves room for a sequel? I absolutely recommend this book to those willing to not view it as a romance with Hades novel, but a girl's journey to accept and love herself, talons and all.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a few things I like. I like the story of Hades and Persephone. I like all Melinda Salisbury books I've read so far. So, the moment I saw this book I knew I had to have it as soon as possible. And I was quite happy that for once the store where I order managed to get a book to me so close to the actual release date! I was therefore quite excited to get started and to see if this would once more be a Salisbury to love.

I have to admit that the story was different from what I expected it to be and I'm not sure why exactly I thought this was gonna be a romance. Don't get me wrong, there is still Hades and Persephone and there is still some love between them, but it's strangely enough not the core of the story. And especially because it isn't, this book made me love Hades even more. After all, at least he didn't make this story about him.

Because it wasn't. This is a story about a young girl, almost eighteen when the story starts, who has to grow into her own person and who has to discover who she is on her own, without her best friend and without her boyfriend, and what kind of powers she has and how she should use them. It's not an easy journey and at times it feels she's progressing slowly, but it's worth it watching her come to realize what she wants and needs and how to get it.

And while this book is mostly about our heroine's personal journey, I also loved the way Salisbury gave the Greek Gods and their mythology such a natural place in our modern times. Yes, the girls have cellphones and laptops and other modern stuff, but they do still believe in the Gods, keep up the rites, bless their dead with a little coin for the ferryman and never dare speak the name of the God of the Underworld. I wish the Isle was a real place I could visit.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read more reviews here!

I need to start off by saying that Melinda Salisbury is one of my favourite authors. If you haven't read the Sorrow duology yet, I highly encourage you to do so. Salisbury is a phenomenal writer, and Her Dark Wings is no different. Her writing packs a punch, and she has a talent for making you feel exactly what the characters are feeling. You could feel Corey's rage, and her heartbreak.

I do wish that this book was about 100 pages longer. I would have liked some side characters to be more fleshed out. As far as retellings go, I enjoyed this one. It's not your traditional Hades & Persephone retelling. Her Dark Wings doesn't focus on the romance so much as on the bond between friends, betrayal, and being true to yourself.

If you're looking for a Hades and Persephone retelling with a twist, I highly recommend this.

Thank you to Netgalley and David Fickling Books for the review copy.