The King of Spring

by Collette Carmon

What if everything you knew of the gods was wrong? Homer’s story ends the way all do—in death. In the Land of the Dead, Homer makes his way to Hades’s obsidian throne room. Upon a glassy throne, Homer finds a queen wrapped in darkness with eyes as white as mist. She asks if he wants to hear the real story of Hades and his queen. Beginning Homer’s new purpose—rectifying, in death, the stories he got wrong in life. Hades doesn’t want a consort, but Zeus is determined to bend Hades to his will. To keep the peace, Hades agrees to Zeus’s demands. Telling the King of the Gods that Hades will allow the farce if Zeus allows Hades to give up after a year. Kore moves amongst the gods and goddess of Olympus as all other “nameless” gods do. Demeter hates her only child and is content to keep Kore hidden in the shadows of society while heaping praises upon her perfect daughter , the Goddess of Spring. Kore wants more than Olympus and Demeter’s overbearing hold. The decree from Zeus, posted in the courtyard of the university, gives Kore the perfect opportunity to leave the suffocating world of Olympus. At the ball, no one dares step forward as consort for the Ruler of the Dead. Only Kore. Kneeling before Hades, Kore says, “I will be your consort…” All hell breaks loose, and the newlyweds who chose each other out of convenience have to decide if their love is one worth waging war for. The King of Spring is the first of The Homeric Retellings , a series of retellings based on Collette Carmon’s favorite Greek Myths. Come fall in love with the Hades and Persephone you’ve never met!

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Mythology, Romantasy, Retellings, Gods, Fiction

266 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2023

Reviews

[Fairuz ᥫ᭡. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Collette Carmon & BookSirens for the ARC! 💌

Now, let me start by saying—I don’t really have strong opinions on retellings or Greek mythology. I don’t love them, I don’t hate them. I’ve read maybe five books in this genre, and THIS was my first Hades & Persephone retelling. And guess what?? I LOVED IT.

Most of us know the myth through Homer’s words, but what if… Homer got it WRONG? What if Hades was never a king but a queen? 👑 What if Kore—the so-called Goddess of Spring—was actually a prince hidden away by Demeter, who had fabricated a whole daughter because she refused to accept that her only living child was a son? The DRAMA. 🎭 The INTRIGUE. 🕵️‍♀️ I was hooked.

The setup was fantastic. Hades, the firstborn of Kronos and Rhea, was cast aside not because of her power but because of her gender. 🚫👑 Banished to the Underworld, stripped of recognition, and forced to rule in shadows, she’s been perceived as a king simply because no one could fathom a woman holding such power. And now? Zeus demands she take a consort. Enter Kore (a.k.a. Persephone, but plot twist—he’s a he). Raised in secret, Kore is desperate to escape his mother’s suffocating grip, and when the chance to become Hades’s consort arises, he takes it. And then? CHAOS ENSUES. 🔥

🖤 Tropes & Themes:
✧ Marriage of Convenience 💍
✧ Grumpy x Sunshine 💖
✧ Gender-Swapped Myth Retelling 👑
✧ Found Family 🫂
✧ "I don’t want love, but I love you" ❤️
✧ Political Intrigue & Divine Drama ⚡

✨ THINGS I LOVED:
✔ Hecate being the ultimate bestie and work-wife (seriously, she is THAT girl). 🪄💅
✔ Thanatos giving off sassy, "I’ll fight anyone who hurts you" energy. 😤⚰️
✔ The Underworld squad being a whole chaotic, lovable family. 👻💀
✔ The way gender roles were flipped and challenged—giving major Barbie movie vibes. 💅🔥
✔ That perfect balance of plot, politics, and spice (yes, the spice is chef’s kiss). 🌶️👀

I LIVED for the slow-burn, the tension, the political maneuvering, and the deep emotional beats. 🔥 Hades and Kore? Their dynamic was EVERYTHING. They started as a mere arrangement, but the way their relationship evolved had me clutching my phone. 📖 The yearning. The vulnerability. The "I will burn the world for you" energy. UGH. 🥵

And can we talk about Macaria & Thanatos? Because I need their book LIKE YESTERDAY. 📢📚

🔮 Final Thoughts:
This book was a stunning reimagining of the Hades & Persephone myth, giving it a fresh twist with a feminist lens and a gripping romance. 🏛️💘 If you love mythology, marriage-of-convenience plots, and slow-burn passion wrapped in divine politics, YOU NEED THIS BOOK.

Now… where’s book two?! 📖✨

[Madison Sears · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: i received a copy of this as an ARC for free and im posting this willingly*

i absolutely loved this retelling. fast paced and it drew my attention quick. once i started, i could not put it down!!

I see things in my head when i read, so solid descriptions are so important for me and this book did just that. it was like i watching a movie of this Hades and Persephone retelling in my head.

these types of books usually aren’t for me, but this was beautifully written and already know a few people who will eat this up as much as i did

This book was amazing and i highly recommend reading it when it comes out!!

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this remake of hades persephone story. The writing was captivating, with good strong characters, its a well written story.

[✨Rebel Fairy Hiatus · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to thank Book Sirens and author Collette Carmon for an arc in exchange for an honest review. There might be minor spoilers in this review. All opinions are my own.

I am into Greek Myth retellings. I've read a few retellings in my lifetime. I especially love the Gods' stories more than the Greek heroes.

What I liked about this novel was:

The gender swap.

I felt the story fell short in multiple ways:

The world-building is chaotic. I wasn't sure what era they were in. (Semi-modern? Completely modern?) The world does not explain how the gods live. Are they the ones in the myths—mostly lazing around? Or do modern people still pray to them?
- insta-intrigue/lust.
- instant marriage.
-When did they fall in love?
-Most of the sentences need concising.
-I felt there are better descriptive words to use like hardening instead of stirring.
-The pacing of the story.
-Plot.

Spice: 🌶🌶/5

The characters felt fake and two-dimensional. There was no chemistry between Hades and Korè, nothing, that showed me these two were meant to be. There was no communication between them. Zeus forces Hades to take a consort . . . which is fine, but, did it have to be an 'instant' marriage? They arrive in the underworld and Hades leaves Korè alone to do whatever he pleases. They sleep together 1 evening and wham, bam, thank you ma'am - they can't live without each other.

I felt I missed something huge. How did we get here? This is where the plot falls to pieces for me. I can't feel the connection. Everything was paced to get to the finish line in haste and I might have missed the actual feeling part. There were no significant twists to the myth itself.

[Michelle Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Well what can I say about this book!

For starters I simply couldn't put it down! I read it in one sitting. The story was so well written and polished. The descriptions of everything in this book were just incredible. So much detail I really felt sacked into the world of the God's!

I loved loved loved the concept of this book and the twist on a well know myth was just incredible!

The level of spicy in this book.... well! When the spice hit, it hit! I really like it when authors include spice but it doesn't take over the whole story. This book had a good level of very full on descriptive spice seeds!

My only thought upon finishing this book? MORE PLEASE!

[Shawnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this retelling of Hades and Persephone. Despite a few errors in grammar and spelling, it was wonderfully written. Clear description of the characters and the world without being too wordy. You could feel the connections between the characters. Amazing book and probably one of my favorite Hades and Persephone retellings.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[A Pixie Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this as an ARC for free and I'm posting willing, and all opinions are my own.

So I found that this book had a bit of a slow start, but once it picked up, I couldn't put it down.
This was a really good remake of Hades and Persephone, with an interesting twist, and I'll be honest, messed with my head at first - the characters are gender swapped.
This book also had a perfect balance between spice and plot - something I find rare in Hades and Persephone books as a lot of authors prefer to focus just on the spice, and the plot gets lost. This book had it all going on; spice, complicated relationships, challenges on gender roles, and a badass FMC. I loved female Hades, she's tough yet fair, and just overall great. I also really liked the siblings dynamics with Hades and Zeus.
This book definitely moves at a good pace, and is descriptive enough that you can imagine everything, without feeling overwhelmed by "fluffy" descriptive words.

[TabbyB · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic retelling of the well known classic myth that is hades and Persephone! If you’re into story retellings then what’re you waiting for?? Pick this book up already! But be prepared to be glued to your chair for the next day as you read it!

Oh my gosh, let’s just start by saying this book was phenomenal! I don’t normally read story retellings, but once I picked this up I simply COULD NOT put it down! Everything within these pages was written so descriptively from the Gods to the world around them I truly felt as if I was seeing things through their eyes!

It was a beautiful concept that plays on defying today’s societal expectations when it comes to the roles of a male and female. Not to mention it was full of captivating turns and twists that only kept my attention glued to the next words muttered by the characters!

Lastly, we have to talk spice…after all what is a book without a little bit of spice? This retelling had the perfect balance of plot and spice, neither side was too heavy leading to imbalance but both were incredibly detailed and descriptive! It’s hard to find authors who can write a plot heavy book that also contains phenomenal spice, but this one right here? This is it folks!

Now all I can say is: when is the next???


FYI: I received a free ARC of this book, but my review is being left entirely voluntary because the book was just that dang good!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I received a ARC for a honest review"

Over all I really enjoyed reading this book with the new spin on Hades and Persephone. I really liked the gender swap between the two main characters. It was a nice play on the gods that held some of the normal descriptions of the characters but also the author's point of view in the writing. Once I started reading this book I couldn't stop it sucked me in. The spicey spots are very well written..

[ludiary ⁺｡⋆˚⁺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

retelling
Persephone and Hades gender-swap

It might seems as an insta love but I believed that their love was similar to an obsession however that’s the way gods love and it portrayed it to perfection

[Brooklyn L. Wolves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collette Carmon has crafted a truly exceptional tale with The King of Spring, a story that grabbed me from the first page and refused to let go. This isn't your typical retelling of Hades and Persephone; Carmon boldly flips the script, presenting a narrative that is both refreshingly original and deeply compelling.

Forget the damsel-in-distress trope. This story introduces us to Kore, a god yearning for more than the stifling confines of Olympus and the disdain of his mother, Demeter. His courage in offering himself as consort to Hades, a figure shrouded in darkness and rumored to be a reluctant participant in Zeus’s plans, is nothing short of heroic. The dynamic between Kore and Hades is captivating – a marriage of convenience that blossoms into a passionate and heart-wrenching love story.

Hades, far from the villainous figure often portrayed, is a powerful king grappling with unwanted obligations. His initial reluctance only makes his eventual connection with Kore all the more poignant. The book brilliantly explores his internal struggles alongside Kore's journey to self-discovery. The stakes are high, the emotions are raw, and the writing is exquisite.

Carmon’s clever use of Homer as a character, rectifying his perceived errors from the underworld, adds a unique layer of depth and intrigue. It’s a brilliant narrative device that challenges our preconceived notions of Greek mythology. The author’s portrayal of the gods and goddesses feels both familiar and strikingly original, injecting fresh life into these timeless figures.

"Would go to war for you" isn't just a line in the description; it's the very core of this book. Carmon crafts a compelling argument for love, loyalty, and fighting for what truly matters. The reader is immediately invested in Kore and Hades’s struggle, rooting for them every step of the way as they navigate the complex web of divine politics and personal sacrifice.

The King of Spring is a must-read for anyone who enjoys myth retellings, LGBTQ+ romance, or stories that challenge the status quo. This book is more than just a story; it’s an experience, one that will linger in your mind long after you’ve turned the final page. Prepare to be swept away by the passion, the intrigue, and the sheer brilliance of Collette Carmon’s storytelling. Absolutely deserving of all the stars!

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this. I mean a gender flipped Hades and Persephone? A badass QUEEN of the underworld?! But although I liked the writing style and some aspects of this story, the love story, which is central to the entire novel, fell very flat. I don’t know why these two gods love each other because they really didn’t have all that much interaction throughout the story. Besides physical attraction, they didn’t seem to really have any moments of real connection. I felt like the author spent more time describing the lonely lives and struggles these two gods faced rather than their time together. The author also skipped time ahead, sometimes by months and I would be surprised every time because I would think only a day or two had passed. First when Kore joins the underworld and then when Kore returns to Olympus. Both times I thought he had only been there a few days or a week maybe, only to be told that it had been months! I really wanted to learn more about the underworld and how Kore made it his home and fell for Hades. But it was really glazed over and it was done before I had even realized it had happened. So these two falling in love is really more implied than described and that was very disappointing. If you can imagine a stone skipping over water, barely touching the surface, that’s how I felt this story unfolded. Things I did like: dual point of view, a solid understanding of each gods inner struggles, Cerberus being a giant good boy, Zeus realizing he’s a tool, Hades’ take no shit attitude. I probably would have rated this 3 stars in my normal rating system but I am very disappointed so this book gets an “I’m being petty I know” 2 stars.

[Lauren Kloos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved so much about this book. The gender swap was good and I loved how Hades is more kind than portrayed in mythology and Persephone (Kore) is more fierce than in mythology. It gave a good depth to the characters and showed how not everyone is who people think they are. I really enjoyed it!

[alison lirio · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I’ve been coming across a lot of books where I’ve loved it so much and it’s great to have. I’m coming off from a crazy slump where I had no motivation to read and I’ve been graced with the epic choices of having three books right after another that I’ve rated 4 stars and above.

I’ll begin with telling you that I got this ARC for free and I’m here to leave my thoughts on it (not like I don’t do this for every book as of late).

So, I’m not one for retellings. I’ve tried reading the fairy tale ones, the famous Monsters and Muses series, and the Never After series but I just couldn’t find myself to ever finish it. But this book, alongside Song of Achilles, is one of the only retellings that I was ever able to finish and love completely. Actually, I lied, I didn’t like Song of Achilles too much and I was afraid to drop my review at the time since everyone had such glowing reviews about it (and because I was just shy to tell everyone why it wasn’t my cup of tea).

I think this was the most captivating retelling for me. Not only is it Greek Mythology, it’s a gender reversal type. Where Hades is Queen of the Underworld, and Persephone is a male. Although this story is about their love, I enjoyed seeing and exploring the roles and challenges of gender. Although Hades is an ever-so powerful, loving queen who is just as fearsome as her foil who rules Mount Olympus, she struggles with how she carries her role as Queen and the underlying tone of what it would be like if Hades was born a male. At the same time, we deal with Persephone whose mother shows great disapproval and disdain for the fact that he was born a boy and not a female and the power that holds in his role in Mount Olympus. It’s giving Greta Gerwin’s Barbie movie.

THINGS I LOVE ABOUT THIS NOVEL:
+ Hecate is your ride-or-die work best friend that also is your ultimate best friend outside of work
+ Thanatos being that shady-yet-dutiful kid that will be ready to rip a person’s earring out at any given point in time you feel hurt. It’s giving Joe from Princess Diaries
+ I always knew Cerberus was just the goodest boy in the world
+ The fact that the most fearsome people in the Underworld literally found a family in one another.
+ Hecate because I actually had a crush on her whenever I read Greek Myths and Legends. It’s good to know she’s really THAT friend, and you’ll know what I mean when you read this one.
+ showcasing the complexity of sibling relationships. You’ll know it when you read it. I can’t explain it, it’s something you just have to witness.

It’s wonderful how two opposite sides of the coin come together in the end and have so much love and dependency for one another. It was such a beautiful read and I encourage you to read this too.

PS. If you sign up for the author’s newsletter, you get a bonus scene/epilogue for this book. It’s heartwarming.

[Nenia Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE KING OF SPRING begins with a deceased Homer pleading his case before the gods of the underworld, hoping to be granted paradise. However, he quickly realizes he's made a terrible, possibly fate-screwing mistake: the woman he assumed was Persephone is actually Hades, and her consort, Persephone, is a man named Kore.

I loved this story so much and cannot believe it's as underrated as it is, because for me, it felt like a cross between Lore Olympus and Kaos. Carmon perfectly captures the machinations and pettiness of the gods, while also giving them a fresh new spin that keeps her story from feeling derivative or trite. It's also incredibly feminist: part of the reason everyone assumes Hades is a man is because, as the book puts it, nobody would ever believe a woman has dominion over life and death. The gods are inherently sexist: it's part of the reason Zeus demands that Hades marry. How could a woman possibly manage that much power without a man to hold her in check?

Kore's story is even sadder. His mother hates men-- largely because of the internlized misogyny of the gods-- and resents her son for being born male instead of female. The Persephone myth as we know it is a lie that borders on deadnaming: she has created a false shadow daughter, an alter-self where her son, named Persephone, is the shining beacon of femininity and life-giving power that she craves, even as she abuses and neglects her real child. He relates to Hades on a deeply personal level, seeing her as a fellow ostracized soul who isn't appreciated for her power, which deepens into a true understanding when he sees the sympathy with which she runs her realm.

I think it's hard to write a simpy himbo character who doesn't feel too fake or one-dimensional but Kore was such a great love interest-- particularly because Carmon allows him to be vicious and ferocious at times (deadly vines, anyone?). I also liked how even though he submits to Hades as ruler of her own kingdom, they subvert their roles in the bedroom. It was just such a beautiful, sexy, action-packed story with such great characters, and I seriously can't wait for the sequel. Bravo.

5 stars

[Sheng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy for free and am leaving an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this in advance!

I enjoyed reading this book. The plot twist in the beginning of the book was a great way to start the story, as there is so much that goes on in the book and it’s great that it comes full circle at the end.

The novel is well written with minor grammatical errors (super minor (like 3?) - I’m just being picky, sorry). The plot is great, the characters are great, everything about it is great! The book moves at a good pace, without it being too wordy, and it was hard to put down once I started.

This retelling of Hades and Persephone really drew me in and brought a whole new reimagining of the Greek gods. This book gives a good spin and different perspective on the myths and gods/goddesses that we usually read about. There is good character development and growth of the characters as the novel progresses. There are so many topics that were touched upon in the book (like familial ties, politics) that have never been mentioned before in other stories, which helps drive the plot and make it a fascinating tale.

The spice level of the book is good, not too overwhelming or unnecessary. IMO, the spice in the book serves as an add-on to the relationship, as it compliments the bond between Hades and Kore and helps show the progression of their relationship.

I thought I was familiar with the Greek gods/goddesses but reading this novel brought a whole new perspective to the table (in a good way) and I hope there are more books in this series!


I just have to mention that I enjoyed reading and meeting all these characters in the book (ahem, Team Hades!). I would love for there to be a prequel or spin-off so we can get more insight or a backstory to how Hecate and the others came to be in the Underworld.

[Athena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recieved an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I’m a HUGE Greek mythology person, my names Athena, I have a minor in Greek classic lit and Latin lol it comes with the territory. I was intrigued by the premise of this story line: The King of Spring - A Hades and Persephone retelling. To be fair, I read the book twice before writing this review. Even after the second reread I struggled with the flip flop of the mythology that I’ve grown to love. I enjoyed the motherly aspect of the FMC; a lot of times you don’t find a strong motherly FMC because mothering is seen as traditional and weak which contradicts strong. I also found the MMC to be a breath of fresh air, I enjoyed his character development throughout the story. Tying mint into the story made me tear up and it was seriously beautifully written. I found the book spent a lot of time setting up the world around Hades & “Persephone” which took away from their love story for me. A prequel to set up the world probably would have been better suited since it seems that this is going to be the first of a series, rather than a stand alone novel. In that regard it’s where the flip flop of gender left a further disconnect to me. The world was set up so that everything seems standard in regards to the myths except for Hades and “Persephone” and honestly if more of the world was flip flopped the story would have made much more of an impact with me. I found this ARC through a Spicy Book Group - it was advertised as “all the spice”. In reality it’s probably .5 spice level (less than one chili pepper) simply because the Main characters have s€x and it’s probably better suited for a fantasy (genre) tag than a spicy romance one.

[Vada · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I am a sucker for a good Hades/Persephone retelling and got really excited when I saw this was a gender-bent version of the myth. I devoured this book in two days! I would have read it faster but alas, I had to go to work.

The King of Spring is going down as one of my top Hades/Persephone retellings! You know the book trope “touch her and you die”? Well this is “touch him and you die.” I loved female Hades. She is a tough yet fair ruler who learns to be justifiably selfish when she is forced to take a consort and falls in love. Then we have Kore who wants to stop living a half life and escape his vindictive mother.

You can feel the chemistry between Hades and Kore immediately, but it’s not just the two main characters I enjoyed reading about. The author does a great job at creating multi-dimensional side characters. Two of them were Zeus and Minthe. This may be one of the only retellings where I liked these two characters. Zeus is not just a philandering, a-hole brother and Minthe is not an angry product of unrequited love. I love Zeus and Hades relationship. They take family disputes to an epic and chaotic level on Olympus, yet they still love each other. Also, everyone needs a ride or die like Minthe. Someone who has your back and your best interests in mind no matter what. When I started the book, I was curious as to how the author was going to work in Minthe turning into mint from mythology. I’m not going to spoil anything but I just want to say it was beautiful, and I shed some tears.

I’m really excited for more from this author! Homer needs to get to work on fixing the mistakes humans made in the myths!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[stephanie cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collette Carmon’s The King of Spring is everything I want in a mythological retelling—darkly romantic, deliciously fast-paced, and unapologetically fresh. From the first page, this book hooked me and did not let go. I read it in one sitting, fully consumed by the lush storytelling and the captivating reimagining of Hades and Persephone.

The premise itself is brilliant: Homer, in the afterlife, must reckon with the myths he got wrong in life. When he meets a shadowy queen on a throne of glass, wrapped in mist and secrets, he’s offered a new mission—tell the true stories. That hook alone? Absolute gold. And Carmon delivers.

The writing is atmospheric without being heavy, full of poetic touches that still move with the speed of a modern fantasy. The pacing is sharp, with every chapter adding layers to both the plot and the emotional tension. The world of the Underworld is hauntingly beautiful, and the romance? Whew. When the spice hits—it hits. But I especially appreciated that it didn’t overpower the entire story. There’s a rich plot here, and Carmon balances the sizzle with substance like a pro.

Hades is written with depth and edge, and Persephone is everything I want in a queen—powerful, mysterious, and in full command of her story. Their dynamic had me swooning and highlighting lines like crazy. There’s slow-burn tension, yes, but also real chemistry and emotional stakes that made it so satisfying when things finally ignited.

If you're a fan of retellings with a romantic core (Lore Olympus, A Touch of Darkness, Circe fans, I see you), this one absolutely deserves a spot on your shelf. Myth, magic, spice, and a bit of poetic justice—The King of Spring has it all. I already can’t wait to see what myth Homer tackles next.

[Sydney Victorson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

The King of Spring is a fun, gender swapped retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth. As an avid Greek mythology lover, of course I had to read this book once I saw it.

I really enjoyed the way the characters, particularly our main two (Hades and Kore), were written. I also didn’t mind Zeus too much in this book, and Zeus notoriously sucks so that’s saying something. The characters overall just felt very real in their motivations and inner monologue and were therefore relatable to the average reader.

My main gripe with The King of Spring is the random bits of modern technology and slang sprinkled in. It just felt sort of shoe horned in and out of place to me personally. The book would essentially be the exact same without Kore sending texts or trying to modernize the Underworld’s record keeping system. But that’s really down to my personal preference as I’m sure other people would love the modern bits.

The pacing of the book was good. It’s a pretty quick read. I also enjoyed the way we’re introduced to the story through Hades and Kore telling their story to Homer. It was a great way to bookend the main plot.

Overall, it was a good read! I enjoyed my time with it and would recommend it to people that love Greek mythology retellings as a quick read. Don’t go in expecting an insane amount of world building, as it’s a relatively short book, but if you have even minimal background knowledge of Greek mythology in general, you’ll be fine.

Thank you to BookSirens and Collette Carmon for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore a good mythology based retelling. I live for them. My favorite are Hades and Persephone retellings. This did not disappoint! This was an interesting and fresh twist on the myth. Hades is Queen of the Underworld and Kore/Persephone is a despised son of Demeter. I was hooked from the first paragraph and Homer meets Hades and Persephone. Then the gender role switch made things interesting. All the characters felt real and personable - main to all the side characters. They all fit perfectly and shared the load with carrying the stories, which I appreciated. Sometimes the side characters are like flies in the room - annoying and just there. There was familiarity in the retelling, which kept my interest and intrigued me. I wanted to see where things were going. Knowing about the original myth and being well verse with it, allowed me to just jump into this story. I did compare the myth with this retelling while reading and for me that enhanced the experience for me. I don't believe knowing the myth in and out is necessary to enjoy this. There were twists and turns, which kept me engaged and would hook any reader. These really elevate the retelling in my eyes, it makes it stand out. Collette Carmon's writing style was beautiful and lyrical, Homer would be proud. I highly recommend this for those mythological retelling fans like me, looking for something fresh and fantastic. I cannot wait to read the next in the series!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ashley Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

***ARC Review***

Holy wow! This is the first and only thought that pops into my head after finishing this one. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a deep love for Hades and Persephone retellings, and this one has just joined my list of favorites.

I find that most retellings while different in their own way follow the same pattern, but this one is different. Starting from the very first page the Hades and Persephone story I know and love transformed into something different that dare I say I may love more.

Well written, descriptive (but not overly so), and absolutely gripping I had a hard time putting this down after I dove in. The emotions and drive of each character are thoughtfully formed and I think that’s something severely lacking in most books these days. I’m honestly so sad that it’s over and wish it were twice as long. I’ll definitely be missing the connection between these two and all of the ups and downs that came with it! I absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for something they’ll practically speed read through.

Also, Kore is freaking hilarious and I hope everyone enjoys all the comments and quips just as much as I did.

**To add, if you are someone with childhood trauma, this book will make you emotional. I personally did not find any content triggering but as I’m reading the bonus chapter my eyes may be a little wet.

[Jordan Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: i received a copy of this as an ARC for free and I would glady PAY for the paperback of this book it was that good.

Honestly I would rate this book a 4.5 stars out of 5. I don't honeslty give out alot of 5 or even 4 star reviews but this was close to it.

I LOVE Greek Mythology and this book did not disappoint. I did not want to put it down. I easily finished this book in under 8 hours! It left me craving more! (Super excited that their is a bonus scene)

This book does a spin on Hades and Persephone with gender reversals, at first it was hard to adjust but after a chapter or two it was fine. I loved the spin to this story. It was exciting and new. The way she wrote the story was easy to see it all unfold. She made it easy to paint the picture.

I also love a good spicy book and this had the right amount of spice and the scenes gave me GOOSEBUMPS. I could have had more but I won't complain because the book was just perfect. Honestly one of my favorite Hades and Persephone retellings.

There were some grammar errors and spacing but it didn't bother me.
I look forward to reading more books from this author!!

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review:

I truly loved all elements of this book.
I expected the gender bender would be something like Mulan where the girl dresses or pretends to be a guy in hiding or vice versa. But it wasn't!! It was so much better if it was Hades who is a Queen and Persophone/Kore is the King in this book. It was such a refreshing new concept to see for hades/persophone retelling.
I also loved the world-building and how accurate it was to Greek myths and history.

Hades was a perfect balance between a strong goddess, Queen, and Lover.
Kore/Persophone was also a perfect balance of a God finding himself in the loneliness and cage his mother had him in. I loved his loyalty and communication with Hades. It's always refreshing to see communication between couples in books since it almost became a rare thing recently.

I have to admit in the back of my mind I tended to compare it to my fav retelling of Hades and Persophone book but honestly, this book is so good and different that the comparison is not valid!

My least fav parts were that there was a bit of repetitiveness in the story happening but it didn't take away from the book.

[Niké · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good example of how to take a popular myth and give it a new look. It's fast paced, full of action and romance, all while the well-known characters feel new.
While the two main characters were very intriguing and their motivations gave the story a new twist, I don't think the side characters were fleshed out enough for the book to be a 5 star read. Especially when it comes to Demeter, there was so much potential to use her desire for a daughter and her hatred for Kore to give her so much depth, but at times I couldn't really say who the antagonist was - Demeter, Zeus or Kronos, who was introduced out of the blue. The aspect of the final battle fell a bit flat because of it.
For the romance, I think that part was covered very well. Both Kore and Hades' backstories and their love lives were interesting parts of the story and I enjoyed their interactions the most out of the book.

Note: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Devon · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5/5

🌶️ 3/5

A semi urban fantasy, gender bent retelling of Hades and Persephone? Count me in!

First of all can we just say how amazing “The Homeric Retellings” is as a name for a series? The whole premise of all of the myth writers never understanding the ways of the gods is just an epic premise.

“Her sin lay in her birth. Female. The most odious of sins to the gods - gods who often forget they were all born from divine feminine powers.”

Honestly if you’re a fan of Greek myth and want a fresh take without straying from the principle of the characters definitely pick this up. The couple of spicy scenes SPICE and it was an enjoyable read.

My only point where I think it could have been a bit better is that passage of time was a bit unclear, though that may lean into the story of Homer as a mortal never being able to grasp the time progression of the gods. There was some amazing character building in this book and the feminine spin really embodied divine feminine.

Thanks so much to Book Sirens and the author for ARC access to this book!

[Kaitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this book with an expectation of a Hades and Persephone retelling and I came out of it not getting what I thought, in both good and bad ways. For the positive, I think the gender swap was a very creative change I hadn’t come across before. I enjoyed Hades’s relationship with her children, Kore’s character and the spice that was there was decent. However, I felt this book fell very short on what I was expecting. There was very little spice, the time jumps were jarring and hard to follow and the world felt both ancient and modern in a very anachronistic way. I didn’t care for the big changes in character, especially for Zeus and Demeter, and Hades herself came off as just a compassionate FMC instead of the powerful goddess she should have been. Kore came off more powerful than she did at times! This was my first book from this author and all together it wasn’t the worst, but not a great one. (This is an ARC review and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)

[SassypantsReading · Rating 3 out of 5]

First and foremost, let me get this off my chest. I absolutely detested that this book was written as a dual-POV, third-person, present-tense book. I don’t know what it was about that combination that drove me flipping bananas. It was oddly formal. “A few weeks later, Hecate watches Hades as Hades swirls color onto her lips.” That just doesn’t flow for me. I think it would’ve read smoother if it was first-person dual-POV, regardless of tense.

Moving on, I enjoyed this story! I liked the twist on Hades and Persephone. I would’ve liked to have seen more character development, which I think could’ve been achieved via first-person narration. I also would’ve liked more depth to the relationship between Kore and Hades. We go from 0 to 60 without much buildup. The love scenes were pretty hot though, so bonus! I will definitely try the next book in the series!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[The Reader of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Finally! A Hades & Persephone retelling that isn't full of smut and little plot! It is spicy, but it's well written and not every other page!

I LOVED this book! I couldn't put it down, and I fell asleep reading it, so I had to go back and reread a few parts. Oops!

The characters were perfect! It was amazing seeing Hades and Persephone gender swapped, I thought it made the story more impactful. All of the characters were well developed, and I can't wait for the next one, and hopefully, it comes out soon.

The pacing was great, and the spicy bits were well placed, so it didn't feel like there was all spice and no plot! The plot kept me on edge the entire time, and because it's a retelling, parts made me scream with eagerness and nearly throw my Kindle across the room.

I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series to see what happens next!

5/5 stars for me!

[Heather H · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a fun, unique read. Thank you BookSirens for the ARC.

What if Homer was wrong?
Imagine if Hades was the Queen of the Underworld, the only sister of Zeus and Poseidon.
And Persephone was actually the sole son of Demeter, named due to her hatred of men and disgust at having a son after each of her female children died at birth.
Demeter, refusing to accept she could ever love a male, allowed her child to be depicted to mortals as a daughter to ensure a son connected to her could never be loved more than her while keeping him hidden away under the ruse of shyness.

And what if Homer never received the truth until he found himself in the Underworld? Would he take the opportunity to rewrite the story truthfully?

When Hades and Persephone set his tales straight, you’ll find yourself enchanted with their story.