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Queen of Shadows and Roses
𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝒉𝒊𝒎. 𝑺𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉?
A dark & spicy Hades & Persephone retelling. The first in an interconnected series where ruthless gods rule both ancient realms and neon-lit cities.
He would tear stars from the heavens and rip mountains from the earth to reclaim her.
She would burn the world to ash to see his kind undone.
In a modern world ruled by gods, Persephone—a fierce demon hunter forged in fire and thorns—refuses to bow.
When Hades, the fanged and arrogant King of Shadows, abducts her, she spits in the face of the prophecy that binds them as soulmates. But as her powers awaken in the Underworld, she becomes more than a captive—she becomes a prize.
At Zeus’s command, her courtship is opened to the pantheon. Sworn enemies line up to seduce her, masking treachery with divine charm. Yet it’s Hades—dark, damaged, and obsessed—who stirs something deeper.
Too bad her magic remembers what her mind does not.
And too bad Hades isn’t the only god who wants her.
Persephone refuses to be claimed. Hades refuses to let her go.
As tension builds and ancient passions reignite, one thing becomes clear:
In the realm of shadows, love is the most dangerous power of all.
Queen of Shadows and Roses is the seductive first instalment in the Brothers of Olympus series—an interconnected, spicy fantasy romance saga that reimagines Greek mythology with a dark, modern twist. Step into a world where ruthless gods rule both ancient realms and neon-lit cities, where war brews between fate and desire, and powerful, unapologetic women rise to meet it head-on. Packed with sharp banter, smouldering tension, and gods you’ll love to hate (and hate to love), this series is perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Caroline Peckham, J. Bree, and K.F. Breene.
Author’s Note Queen of Shadows and Roses is the beginning of a sizzling New Adult fantasy romance rooted in the Hades and Persephone myth. Expect slow-burn intensity, enemies-to-lovers tension, mature themes, and a growing heat level that builds with every chapter. The spark starts slow—but the fire will consume you. 🌶️🌶️🌶️ You have been warned.
A dark & spicy Hades & Persephone retelling. The first in an interconnected series where ruthless gods rule both ancient realms and neon-lit cities.
He would tear stars from the heavens and rip mountains from the earth to reclaim her.
She would burn the world to ash to see his kind undone.
In a modern world ruled by gods, Persephone—a fierce demon hunter forged in fire and thorns—refuses to bow.
When Hades, the fanged and arrogant King of Shadows, abducts her, she spits in the face of the prophecy that binds them as soulmates. But as her powers awaken in the Underworld, she becomes more than a captive—she becomes a prize.
At Zeus’s command, her courtship is opened to the pantheon. Sworn enemies line up to seduce her, masking treachery with divine charm. Yet it’s Hades—dark, damaged, and obsessed—who stirs something deeper.
Too bad her magic remembers what her mind does not.
And too bad Hades isn’t the only god who wants her.
Persephone refuses to be claimed. Hades refuses to let her go.
As tension builds and ancient passions reignite, one thing becomes clear:
In the realm of shadows, love is the most dangerous power of all.
Queen of Shadows and Roses is the seductive first instalment in the Brothers of Olympus series—an interconnected, spicy fantasy romance saga that reimagines Greek mythology with a dark, modern twist. Step into a world where ruthless gods rule both ancient realms and neon-lit cities, where war brews between fate and desire, and powerful, unapologetic women rise to meet it head-on. Packed with sharp banter, smouldering tension, and gods you’ll love to hate (and hate to love), this series is perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Caroline Peckham, J. Bree, and K.F. Breene.
Author’s Note Queen of Shadows and Roses is the beginning of a sizzling New Adult fantasy romance rooted in the Hades and Persephone myth. Expect slow-burn intensity, enemies-to-lovers tension, mature themes, and a growing heat level that builds with every chapter. The spark starts slow—but the fire will consume you. 🌶️🌶️🌶️ You have been warned.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2025
19 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Helena M. Craggs
6 books115 followersI’ve been a voracious reader ever since I was a little girl wandering the library aisles, letting my imagination run wild in fantastical worlds. These days, I’m still a devoted bibliophile, forever enchanted by the escapism of swoon-worthy romances and faraway realms. I believe books hold infinite possibilities—and mine are no exception. In my NA series, expect magic, sharp banter, morally grey heartthrobs, fierce and witty heroines, and more than a little passion. My YA urban fantasy has magic, danger, and super-hot supernaturals.
I live in rural West Yorkshire, England, with two ridiculously gorgeous pups, two perpetually cynical cats who very much run the household, a chicken with attitude… and a husband. When I’m not writing, I’m either devouring fantasy novels (the more romance, the better), laughing with friends, or rambling through the countryside with my dogs.
I'm mainly on Instagram, where I'm ready to talk fictional crushes and nerd out over books. (Okay, okay. And I've also been known to share snippets and teasers from my upcoming novels, if you're into that sort of thing...) Please feel free to chat with me there @craggshm. I love talking with fellow authors and readers.
I live in rural West Yorkshire, England, with two ridiculously gorgeous pups, two perpetually cynical cats who very much run the household, a chicken with attitude… and a husband. When I’m not writing, I’m either devouring fantasy novels (the more romance, the better), laughing with friends, or rambling through the countryside with my dogs.
I'm mainly on Instagram, where I'm ready to talk fictional crushes and nerd out over books. (Okay, okay. And I've also been known to share snippets and teasers from my upcoming novels, if you're into that sort of thing...) Please feel free to chat with me there @craggshm. I love talking with fellow authors and readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
August 17, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I enjoyed this Hades Persephone retelling and enjoyed the story as a whole.
Sephy is a ball buster and I loved her character. She's strong willed, feisty and funny! She has no memories of her life before and is living in the human realm when we first meet her. A chance encounter changes everything and she finds herself in a world surrounded by people she can't remember and who she's reluctant to trust.
Hades is our grumpy shadow daddy. He is stubborn and moody but my word does he love his woman! Towards the end his declarations of love are swoon-worthy. Definitely an MMC to remember.
The inclusion of the other gods in the storyline was really interesting and entertaining. You initially don't know who to trust but then end up loving the main ones. There's so many great side characters and these add to a great storyline.
I enjoyed the world it's set in and how there's different realms that Sephy visits and we get to see different gods in different settings.
The reason I didn't rate this higher was there was a lot of miscommunication which isn't my favourite trope if I'm honest. Plus Sephy's behaviour did get on my nerves at times.
However Helen writes fantastic spicy scenes and when she says in the authors note "The spark starts slow - but the fire will consume you." She is NOT wrong. The tension and heat between the main characters is so well written and the spicy scenes are worth the wait!
I was so excited to see that Poseidon is up next in the series. After his encounters with Sephy and their little bet they did, I absolute can't wait for what lies in store for him.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Hermana Books for the arc. This is my own honest review of the book.
I enjoyed this Hades Persephone retelling and enjoyed the story as a whole.
Sephy is a ball buster and I loved her character. She's strong willed, feisty and funny! She has no memories of her life before and is living in the human realm when we first meet her. A chance encounter changes everything and she finds herself in a world surrounded by people she can't remember and who she's reluctant to trust.
Hades is our grumpy shadow daddy. He is stubborn and moody but my word does he love his woman! Towards the end his declarations of love are swoon-worthy. Definitely an MMC to remember.
The inclusion of the other gods in the storyline was really interesting and entertaining. You initially don't know who to trust but then end up loving the main ones. There's so many great side characters and these add to a great storyline.
I enjoyed the world it's set in and how there's different realms that Sephy visits and we get to see different gods in different settings.
The reason I didn't rate this higher was there was a lot of miscommunication which isn't my favourite trope if I'm honest. Plus Sephy's behaviour did get on my nerves at times.
However Helen writes fantastic spicy scenes and when she says in the authors note "The spark starts slow - but the fire will consume you." She is NOT wrong. The tension and heat between the main characters is so well written and the spicy scenes are worth the wait!
I was so excited to see that Poseidon is up next in the series. After his encounters with Sephy and their little bet they did, I absolute can't wait for what lies in store for him.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Hermana Books for the arc. This is my own honest review of the book.
September 7, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
I really wanted to like this one, but it just didn’t work for me.
The FMC was honestly so annoying at times because she just felt weirdly mean.
Just in my opinion, the whole book felt like one giant miscommunication trope. And totally on me, but that is one of my least favorite tropes.
Some of the writing, especially the conversations, felt repetitive. I have to ask...why was “twatwaffle” used so much?!
I hate to say that parts of this felt pulled from other books I’ve read before.
That being said, I did enjoy the yearning and thought the mentions of so many beings from Greek mythology were really cool touches. It is a quick read and can definitely help to pull you out of a reading slump.
I really wanted to like this one, but it just didn’t work for me.
The FMC was honestly so annoying at times because she just felt weirdly mean.
Just in my opinion, the whole book felt like one giant miscommunication trope. And totally on me, but that is one of my least favorite tropes.
Some of the writing, especially the conversations, felt repetitive. I have to ask...why was “twatwaffle” used so much?!
I hate to say that parts of this felt pulled from other books I’ve read before.
That being said, I did enjoy the yearning and thought the mentions of so many beings from Greek mythology were really cool touches. It is a quick read and can definitely help to pull you out of a reading slump.
October 9, 2025
This is the first book in the Brothers of Olympus series and it had me hooked from the very first page.
It was told in dual-pov and took familiar greek mythology and put an exciting and modern twist on it. The plot was easy to follow and the pacing was perfect 👌
I absolutely love Helena's writing style and have done ever since reading her 'The Younglings' ya series. Her descriptions are vivid and make you feel like you've stepped right into the world she's created.
Sephy was my favourite character. She made a fantastic FMC. She was strong, sassy, fierce and fun! Loved how sarcastic she could be too 😂
I adored the banter between her and Hades and the slow burn romance was delicious. The tension was next level, so was the spice! 🌶
I enjoyed every single second of this book, definitely one of the best I've read so far this year!
Can't wait for book 2!
It was told in dual-pov and took familiar greek mythology and put an exciting and modern twist on it. The plot was easy to follow and the pacing was perfect 👌
I absolutely love Helena's writing style and have done ever since reading her 'The Younglings' ya series. Her descriptions are vivid and make you feel like you've stepped right into the world she's created.
Sephy was my favourite character. She made a fantastic FMC. She was strong, sassy, fierce and fun! Loved how sarcastic she could be too 😂
I adored the banter between her and Hades and the slow burn romance was delicious. The tension was next level, so was the spice! 🌶
I enjoyed every single second of this book, definitely one of the best I've read so far this year!
Can't wait for book 2!
October 17, 2025
Overview: A dark & spicy Hades & Persephone retelling - where Greek gods rule over the modern, mortal world as well as their realms.
Persephone is a fierce demon hunter who refuses to bow. When Hades, the arrogant and stubborn God of the Underworld, kidnaps her, Persophone finds herself caught up in an ancient prophecy of fated lovers and a court of Gods and Goddesses all working towards their selfish goals.
As Persephone refuses to be claimed, Hades refuses to let her go.
My thoughts: I wanted to love this. The blurb pulled me in hook, line and sinker. And while there was a lot to like about this book, there was a lot I couldn't move past.
The story itself was awesome - I enjoyed the blend of modern and ancient Greek mythology. I feel like both of those parts could have been explored more - we didn't really get a sense in the beginning of Persephone or her life, so the pull between the mortal and god realm didn't feel as conflicting to the audience. One of my least favourite writing styles is when things are revealed in the moment, with no hint of them beforehand - it feels like a 'spur of the moment inclusion' to make the plot coming next make sense. So, without much of a delve into Persephone's background, a lot of the revelations felt akin to that.
I did find Persephone herself incredibly frustrating as a MC. For a badass demon-hunter, she flip-flops between being shocked, biting her lip and mumbling things and being an actual badass. For someone who has apparently murdered demons, she approaches a lot of things fairly immaturely - especially in her language. How many drug-addicted animals need to be conjured up for similies?!
This book does a lot of telling instead of showing.
The spice and romance was sometimes delicious and sometimes confusing. The tension was great and I wish it had been drawn out more. I wouldn't class this as an enemies-to-lovers. Again, just saying 'this person is my enemy' does not an enemy make.
The overall storyline was fairly gentle too - there's no massive threat or crux which makes it an enjoyable read. I think I finished this in a few hours.
While I didn't overly enjoy it, this was the perfect book after I just finished an insanely violent and heartbreaking book. So something lighthearted was just what the doctor ordered!
Unfortunately, this wasn't my book but I genuinely hope it finds the audience for it.
Thank you to Netgalley, Craggs and Hermana Books for the ARC read.
Persephone is a fierce demon hunter who refuses to bow. When Hades, the arrogant and stubborn God of the Underworld, kidnaps her, Persophone finds herself caught up in an ancient prophecy of fated lovers and a court of Gods and Goddesses all working towards their selfish goals.
As Persephone refuses to be claimed, Hades refuses to let her go.
My thoughts: I wanted to love this. The blurb pulled me in hook, line and sinker. And while there was a lot to like about this book, there was a lot I couldn't move past.
The story itself was awesome - I enjoyed the blend of modern and ancient Greek mythology. I feel like both of those parts could have been explored more - we didn't really get a sense in the beginning of Persephone or her life, so the pull between the mortal and god realm didn't feel as conflicting to the audience. One of my least favourite writing styles is when things are revealed in the moment, with no hint of them beforehand - it feels like a 'spur of the moment inclusion' to make the plot coming next make sense. So, without much of a delve into Persephone's background, a lot of the revelations felt akin to that.
I did find Persephone herself incredibly frustrating as a MC. For a badass demon-hunter, she flip-flops between being shocked, biting her lip and mumbling things and being an actual badass. For someone who has apparently murdered demons, she approaches a lot of things fairly immaturely - especially in her language. How many drug-addicted animals need to be conjured up for similies?!
This book does a lot of telling instead of showing.
The spice and romance was sometimes delicious and sometimes confusing. The tension was great and I wish it had been drawn out more. I wouldn't class this as an enemies-to-lovers. Again, just saying 'this person is my enemy' does not an enemy make.
The overall storyline was fairly gentle too - there's no massive threat or crux which makes it an enjoyable read. I think I finished this in a few hours.
While I didn't overly enjoy it, this was the perfect book after I just finished an insanely violent and heartbreaking book. So something lighthearted was just what the doctor ordered!
Unfortunately, this wasn't my book but I genuinely hope it finds the audience for it.
Thank you to Netgalley, Craggs and Hermana Books for the ARC read.
October 22, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
Thank you to Helena M Craggs for an ARC copy of this book in return for my honest review.
This is a dual POV Hades and Persephone retelling. Come for the gods and stay for the 🔥
The tension and heat between the main characters is done well and overall I enjoyed the whole concept of this book.
Personally the miscommunication trope just isn’t for me, this is a personal reason as to why I marked this down slightly as it is just a trope I don’t tend to enjoy.
I loved the introduction to the other gods throughout and their personalities which really added to the story. A quick read for me, I just flew through it and I’m really looking forward to see where this series goes next!
Thank you to Helena M Craggs for an ARC copy of this book in return for my honest review.
This is a dual POV Hades and Persephone retelling. Come for the gods and stay for the 🔥
The tension and heat between the main characters is done well and overall I enjoyed the whole concept of this book.
Personally the miscommunication trope just isn’t for me, this is a personal reason as to why I marked this down slightly as it is just a trope I don’t tend to enjoy.
I loved the introduction to the other gods throughout and their personalities which really added to the story. A quick read for me, I just flew through it and I’m really looking forward to see where this series goes next!
October 22, 2025
In this book, Persephone is reborn to a witch family and is off living her life unaware that she is THE Persephone when Hades finds her and brings her to the underworld. He brings her to try to get her to remember that she was his wife and is THE Persephone. This leads to a broody Hades who has a hard time communicating feelings to this person who thinks he is a stranger. She was a bit much sometimes but when she calmed down and listened, I loved her. The two of them needed their heads banged together half of the book. I enjoyed that. Zeus was definitely a pot stirrer. I really liked Hecate here. She was my favorite of all the characters. I had a good time reading this book. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series!
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December 14, 2025This is the first book in a new series with Greek gods and goddesses, all taking place during modern times but also in their mythological homes/areas that people are familiar with - Olympus, The Underworld, etc.
This book is a slightly different twist on what we know of the Hades and Persephone mythology- and all the other Greek gods and goddesses along with them. It’s also an entertaining blend of our modern day world and gods vs witches.
Persephone doesn’t have her memories from her life with Hades and with that comes others who want to take a crack at gaining her attention. She may not remember Hades, but it’s still so clear that these two are meant for each other - as they fall in love all over again.
I don't know if the word "twatwaffle" needed to be used as much as it did LOL.
More of my review will come after the instagram tour is over.
I received this book as part of an instagram tour. My thoughts are my own.
This book is a slightly different twist on what we know of the Hades and Persephone mythology- and all the other Greek gods and goddesses along with them. It’s also an entertaining blend of our modern day world and gods vs witches.
Persephone doesn’t have her memories from her life with Hades and with that comes others who want to take a crack at gaining her attention. She may not remember Hades, but it’s still so clear that these two are meant for each other - as they fall in love all over again.
I don't know if the word "twatwaffle" needed to be used as much as it did LOL.
More of my review will come after the instagram tour is over.
I received this book as part of an instagram tour. My thoughts are my own.
September 9, 2025
This was a DNF for me. I was really excited about the premise of this story but it fell flat for me. The dialogue seemed choppy and awkward. Honestly it could just come down to the way they speak in London and I don't have knowledge of that way of speaking. I found the main character using a word like "f*cktart" cringy.
September 1, 2025
Thank you Helena M. Craggs and Netgalley for the ARC.
4.5 stars ✨ I love a Hades and Persephone retelling they are definely my favourite out of all the Greek Mythology retellings i have read, i have never read one like this before where they are rekindeling their love the one thing i do wish is that Persephone could have remembered her life before i defintely think this would have made it better, also the plot twist at the end seemed a little bit rushed and could have definetely been longer. Also lost half a star as i think some words were severly overused such as 'girl' and 'babe' but overall i did really love this book and will 100% carry on with the series for posideons story as i have never read one about him before and am looking foward to you spin on him.
4.5 stars ✨ I love a Hades and Persephone retelling they are definely my favourite out of all the Greek Mythology retellings i have read, i have never read one like this before where they are rekindeling their love the one thing i do wish is that Persephone could have remembered her life before i defintely think this would have made it better, also the plot twist at the end seemed a little bit rushed and could have definetely been longer. Also lost half a star as i think some words were severly overused such as 'girl' and 'babe' but overall i did really love this book and will 100% carry on with the series for posideons story as i have never read one about him before and am looking foward to you spin on him.
August 22, 2025
Actual stars is 4.5 but Goodreads hasn't caught up with other sites.
Queen of Shadows and Roses is first in the new series, Brothers of Olympus, by Helena M. Craggs, author of the YA fantasy series, The Younglings. (Highly recommend this, by the way, if you love a little romance with various fantasy characters such as angels and demons, etc).
The main romantic protagonists of Queen of Shadows and Roses are Hades and Persephone, which immediately had me curious and wanting to read. If we step away from the far darker myth of Hades and Persephone and lean a little towards some of the more romantic myths of the two of them, they’re probably the original opposites attract, and I confess I’m a sucker for that trope.
I loved the concept of Hades being cursed, and how the two who were deemed the perfect couple in Cragg’s Olympus were torn apart. Hades is left in the Underworld without the person who has breathed life and love into not only his life but the land of the Dead itself, and we have Persephone somewhere without any knowledge of her lineage and that she’s a goddess living a mortal life on Earth. I would have liked to see more of Hades without Persephone, because the fallout of a heartbroken, angry god would be terrifying, and perhaps the other gods and goddesses would wonder if it could happen to them too. (I confess, I just want to see Zeus having a panic attack and feeling weak and whiny because I always hate him in every Grecian tale and reimagining. He’s a pr*ck.)
Moving forward in time, we get to meet Persephone, trying and succeeding in killing demons and other things that hide in the dark, who managed to survive the aftermath of a war between the gods and magic wielders on Earth. She’s fierce and strong, which I love because she’s often seen as a people-pleaser and a weak person who’s often overly controlled by Demeter. This Persephone takes no nonsense and stands up for herself, and I loved that for her. Safely tucked away when not hunting these creatures, we see Persephone with good friends around her, and she has had a good life, and I kind of felt sorry for her because we know her life is about to be turned upside down – or perhaps be righted with the arrival of Hades back in her life? Helena is great at bringing her characters to life, something I really liked in the Youngling series, and we get that care for her creations once again. You could easily imagine yourself sitting down with Sephy, and her best friend Tee and sharing a drink and a good gossip or wandering around London with the two of them.
The world-building too is really good, especially the various areas of the Underworld. As Persephone explores this new and daunting place, we go along with her and encounter the various areas and meet some of Hades’s loyal employees and friends. It’s apparent that this book is something Helena is passionate about, and there’s an attention to detail for the visuals of the world and each god. or being from the myths and legends many of us are familiar with. I think my favourite might be Charon, the ferryman who helps people cross the Rivers Archeron and Styx. In Queen of Shadows and Roses, Charon is this loveable and kind friend to Persephone, and we get moments that are incredibly sweet between the two of them and show just how the Goddess of the Spring’s presence and then absence from the Underworld affected them all and not just Hades. I also love Styx and how Craggs writes her – because it’s often left out that she’s also a goddess and not just the river boundary. This love of the characters is present throughout the book, and even minor characters still have life and presence in them – even if they’re only part of this storyline for a short period of time. There were so many I would have loved to see in the book more, but let’s be honest. If you give everyone equal time, the book would be longer than the Great Wall of China! One I do think I would have liked to see a little bit more of is Minthe, even if it were flashbacks, because they’re only in the story briefly, but are they as they are in the legends? A nightmare and troublemaker for the God of the Dead and his beloved, I just wanted to see a little bit of trouble and perhaps the slightly darker side of Hades when Persephone isn’t around.
The author’s idea of there being trials to gain the right to marry Persephone is a brilliant one, and once again the personalities Craggs has given the gods are perfectly done. Zeus is a charmer, but he’s so arrogant, and I could well believe he would cause this kind of chaos for Hades and Persephone, but it’s also so cleverly done. (I do not want to spoil anything at all, but oh boy does it work!) I think I would have liked to have seen a little bit more of the trials themselves because I think it would have been fun and also cruelly extended Hades’s torment of just wanting Persephone back as his queen.
The spice is a slow burn between our deities, but when the two do give into their desires, I’m imagining the Underworld is aflame. It’s well done and tasteful without taking anything away from the story. I also really liked how Persephone is often the instigator, which is refreshing in a spicy romance.
I also liked how the author slowly sets us up for the next book, and that there’s a storyline that must be continuing through the three books in the Brothers of Olympus series, and I’m already chomping at the bit for the next one that comes out Spring of next year.
Queen of Shadows and Roses is first in the new series, Brothers of Olympus, by Helena M. Craggs, author of the YA fantasy series, The Younglings. (Highly recommend this, by the way, if you love a little romance with various fantasy characters such as angels and demons, etc).
The main romantic protagonists of Queen of Shadows and Roses are Hades and Persephone, which immediately had me curious and wanting to read. If we step away from the far darker myth of Hades and Persephone and lean a little towards some of the more romantic myths of the two of them, they’re probably the original opposites attract, and I confess I’m a sucker for that trope.
I loved the concept of Hades being cursed, and how the two who were deemed the perfect couple in Cragg’s Olympus were torn apart. Hades is left in the Underworld without the person who has breathed life and love into not only his life but the land of the Dead itself, and we have Persephone somewhere without any knowledge of her lineage and that she’s a goddess living a mortal life on Earth. I would have liked to see more of Hades without Persephone, because the fallout of a heartbroken, angry god would be terrifying, and perhaps the other gods and goddesses would wonder if it could happen to them too. (I confess, I just want to see Zeus having a panic attack and feeling weak and whiny because I always hate him in every Grecian tale and reimagining. He’s a pr*ck.)
Moving forward in time, we get to meet Persephone, trying and succeeding in killing demons and other things that hide in the dark, who managed to survive the aftermath of a war between the gods and magic wielders on Earth. She’s fierce and strong, which I love because she’s often seen as a people-pleaser and a weak person who’s often overly controlled by Demeter. This Persephone takes no nonsense and stands up for herself, and I loved that for her. Safely tucked away when not hunting these creatures, we see Persephone with good friends around her, and she has had a good life, and I kind of felt sorry for her because we know her life is about to be turned upside down – or perhaps be righted with the arrival of Hades back in her life? Helena is great at bringing her characters to life, something I really liked in the Youngling series, and we get that care for her creations once again. You could easily imagine yourself sitting down with Sephy, and her best friend Tee and sharing a drink and a good gossip or wandering around London with the two of them.
The world-building too is really good, especially the various areas of the Underworld. As Persephone explores this new and daunting place, we go along with her and encounter the various areas and meet some of Hades’s loyal employees and friends. It’s apparent that this book is something Helena is passionate about, and there’s an attention to detail for the visuals of the world and each god. or being from the myths and legends many of us are familiar with. I think my favourite might be Charon, the ferryman who helps people cross the Rivers Archeron and Styx. In Queen of Shadows and Roses, Charon is this loveable and kind friend to Persephone, and we get moments that are incredibly sweet between the two of them and show just how the Goddess of the Spring’s presence and then absence from the Underworld affected them all and not just Hades. I also love Styx and how Craggs writes her – because it’s often left out that she’s also a goddess and not just the river boundary. This love of the characters is present throughout the book, and even minor characters still have life and presence in them – even if they’re only part of this storyline for a short period of time. There were so many I would have loved to see in the book more, but let’s be honest. If you give everyone equal time, the book would be longer than the Great Wall of China! One I do think I would have liked to see a little bit more of is Minthe, even if it were flashbacks, because they’re only in the story briefly, but are they as they are in the legends? A nightmare and troublemaker for the God of the Dead and his beloved, I just wanted to see a little bit of trouble and perhaps the slightly darker side of Hades when Persephone isn’t around.
The author’s idea of there being trials to gain the right to marry Persephone is a brilliant one, and once again the personalities Craggs has given the gods are perfectly done. Zeus is a charmer, but he’s so arrogant, and I could well believe he would cause this kind of chaos for Hades and Persephone, but it’s also so cleverly done. (I do not want to spoil anything at all, but oh boy does it work!) I think I would have liked to have seen a little bit more of the trials themselves because I think it would have been fun and also cruelly extended Hades’s torment of just wanting Persephone back as his queen.
The spice is a slow burn between our deities, but when the two do give into their desires, I’m imagining the Underworld is aflame. It’s well done and tasteful without taking anything away from the story. I also really liked how Persephone is often the instigator, which is refreshing in a spicy romance.
I also liked how the author slowly sets us up for the next book, and that there’s a storyline that must be continuing through the three books in the Brothers of Olympus series, and I’m already chomping at the bit for the next one that comes out Spring of next year.
September 3, 2025
Queen of Shadows and Roses catapults Greek mythology into modern-day London, where gods rule once more.
Persephone, aka Sephy, a young witch who hunts demons by night and tends gardens by day, finds herself to be the focus of unwanted attention from undeniably handsome men. But all she wants is to go home to a good book, a piece of red velvet cake and an obscenely large glass of wine. Unfortunately for her, her fate is already written, and her husband is done waiting.
Hades has waited over twenty years to find Persephone again after a curse stole her away from him. Now that he has her in his sights, he has no intention of letting her go. With the help of Hecate, Hades enacts his plan to kidnap Persephone and take her to the Underworld to be his bride.
The melding of the modern world into Greek myth is interesting. The gods have grown up and appear to be making the world better. However, in their personal lives, they're still up to the amusing shenanigans they're renowned for. There are hints establishing a larger conflict, which will span the series as each installment focuses on a new romantic entanglement.
While the series has promise, this first installment is not without its problems. The repetition of jokes, insults, and vocabulary is wearisome. If I never hear the word Narcissi ever again, it will be too soon.
Persephone is unlikeable and inconsistent. Sassiness seems to be the raison d'etre for many Romantasy FMCs; however, Persephone surpasses sass and dives straight into rude and abrasive. Though, she seems to have no issue continuing to like and trust those who betray her.
Hades waited decades for Persephone, but his idea of wooing is basically ‘kidnap now, charm later... or never.' Apparently, eternal devotion doesn’t come with a personality upgrade. While some side characters liven up the story, Hecate is outright despicable. Her actions consistently conflict with the friendship and help she supposedly desires to give. With the MCs flaws and intolerable side characters like Hecate, it was difficult to find someone to root for (but I do see you, Apollo).
The high point of the story, though, is when it relies on the roots of Greek myths and focuses on the jealousy and sexuality of the gods. Watching Persephone and Hades eat themselves alive with envy as they flaunt flirtations in front of each other is funny. And once they finally give in to their desire, the spice is explosive, like tossing a match into a barrel of ambrosia. 😉
So come for the gods and stay for the heat. Queen of Shadows and Roses delivers drama and desire with a side of chaos. The spice is plentiful, but the wine is BYOB.
3🌟
5🌶
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Persephone, aka Sephy, a young witch who hunts demons by night and tends gardens by day, finds herself to be the focus of unwanted attention from undeniably handsome men. But all she wants is to go home to a good book, a piece of red velvet cake and an obscenely large glass of wine. Unfortunately for her, her fate is already written, and her husband is done waiting.
Hades has waited over twenty years to find Persephone again after a curse stole her away from him. Now that he has her in his sights, he has no intention of letting her go. With the help of Hecate, Hades enacts his plan to kidnap Persephone and take her to the Underworld to be his bride.
The melding of the modern world into Greek myth is interesting. The gods have grown up and appear to be making the world better. However, in their personal lives, they're still up to the amusing shenanigans they're renowned for. There are hints establishing a larger conflict, which will span the series as each installment focuses on a new romantic entanglement.
While the series has promise, this first installment is not without its problems. The repetition of jokes, insults, and vocabulary is wearisome. If I never hear the word Narcissi ever again, it will be too soon.
Persephone is unlikeable and inconsistent. Sassiness seems to be the raison d'etre for many Romantasy FMCs; however, Persephone surpasses sass and dives straight into rude and abrasive. Though, she seems to have no issue continuing to like and trust those who betray her.
Hades waited decades for Persephone, but his idea of wooing is basically ‘kidnap now, charm later... or never.' Apparently, eternal devotion doesn’t come with a personality upgrade. While some side characters liven up the story, Hecate is outright despicable. Her actions consistently conflict with the friendship and help she supposedly desires to give. With the MCs flaws and intolerable side characters like Hecate, it was difficult to find someone to root for (but I do see you, Apollo).
The high point of the story, though, is when it relies on the roots of Greek myths and focuses on the jealousy and sexuality of the gods. Watching Persephone and Hades eat themselves alive with envy as they flaunt flirtations in front of each other is funny. And once they finally give in to their desire, the spice is explosive, like tossing a match into a barrel of ambrosia. 😉
So come for the gods and stay for the heat. Queen of Shadows and Roses delivers drama and desire with a side of chaos. The spice is plentiful, but the wine is BYOB.
3🌟
5🌶
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 3, 2025
Queen of Shadows and Roses was exactly what I’d hoped it would be. I was hooked from the first chapter, the pacing is spot on, the worldbuilding is great, and the characters are well described and introduced naturally.
I really appreciated the Gods guide at the start, since my knowledge of Greek mythology is pretty limited. It was nice to have something to refer back to but honestly, I didn’t need it much because the gods and their abilities were explained so clearly throughout the story.
I really liked the FMC, Sephy. She had this modern Celaena Sardothian energy and attitude. Her character development was so enjoyable to read. She starts off headstrong and sure of her heritage, then becomes uncertain as the mystery of her past unravels, and finally grows into this confident, strong goddess. Our MMC Hades, was passionate, dark, brooding, and just simply delicious. The dual POV added extra depth to the story and gave it a great flow.
Helena’s writing style is exactly the kind I enjoy: easy to follow, descriptive, relatable, and funny. I loved the realistic bestie banter between Sephy and Tee, and the brotherly bickering between Hades, Zeus, and Poseidon.
There are also so many standout lines that I had to stop and highlight:
✨ “Be cute. Be clever. And bow to no one.”
✨ “You were the brightest star in an endless night.”
✨ “You are the sun’s rays that burn through the darkest of nights.”
(Also special mention to the “psychotic limpet” description because it really made me giggle)
Heat warning: this book is SPICY 🌶️🔥
From early on, I was fully invested, and the pacing never let me down. It’s one of those books that gets more and more addictive as you go along, and by the ending I was desperate for more. BOOK TWO NOW PLEASE 🙏😅
May the best God win. 👑🌹
I really appreciated the Gods guide at the start, since my knowledge of Greek mythology is pretty limited. It was nice to have something to refer back to but honestly, I didn’t need it much because the gods and their abilities were explained so clearly throughout the story.
I really liked the FMC, Sephy. She had this modern Celaena Sardothian energy and attitude. Her character development was so enjoyable to read. She starts off headstrong and sure of her heritage, then becomes uncertain as the mystery of her past unravels, and finally grows into this confident, strong goddess. Our MMC Hades, was passionate, dark, brooding, and just simply delicious. The dual POV added extra depth to the story and gave it a great flow.
Helena’s writing style is exactly the kind I enjoy: easy to follow, descriptive, relatable, and funny. I loved the realistic bestie banter between Sephy and Tee, and the brotherly bickering between Hades, Zeus, and Poseidon.
There are also so many standout lines that I had to stop and highlight:
✨ “Be cute. Be clever. And bow to no one.”
✨ “You were the brightest star in an endless night.”
✨ “You are the sun’s rays that burn through the darkest of nights.”
(Also special mention to the “psychotic limpet” description because it really made me giggle)
Heat warning: this book is SPICY 🌶️🔥
From early on, I was fully invested, and the pacing never let me down. It’s one of those books that gets more and more addictive as you go along, and by the ending I was desperate for more. BOOK TWO NOW PLEASE 🙏😅
May the best God win. 👑🌹
August 31, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ALL THE STARS for Helena M Craggs Queen of Shadows and Roses..
I was hooked from the very first page! I have always been fascinated by ancient mythology, especially the Greek gods! What Helena has done by creating an amazing mix of modern day with Ancient Greek gods, is nothing short of perfection.
Her immersive writing really lets you take a glimpse into the magical world of Olympus, I could imagine everything so clearly. Including Mr. Dark and Grumpy’s frowns.
This book is a door wide open book on the spice scale, but it fits in so perfectly with the story, nothing is too much or out of place. And it is also very in-keeping with the stories of the gods and their relationships 😏 the chemistry and tension between Sephy and Hades is delicious! Teaching a aeons old god how to be humble is quite a fun read 😜
I adore the concept that Helena has created with Sephy, I don’t want to spoil too much, but that opens up this whole world to endless possibilities and stories! And I really cannot WAIT for book 2! Because holy F*cktarts this is good.
If you love Greek mythology or books about gods, fated mates, meddling villains, great banter and all with a modern twist, this book belongs on your tbr.. and preferably quite high up!
I was lucky enough to be part of Helena’s street team, and was gifted an early copy of her book, and I am forever thankful! But you can preorder your copy now! 🤍
ALL THE STARS for Helena M Craggs Queen of Shadows and Roses..
I was hooked from the very first page! I have always been fascinated by ancient mythology, especially the Greek gods! What Helena has done by creating an amazing mix of modern day with Ancient Greek gods, is nothing short of perfection.
Her immersive writing really lets you take a glimpse into the magical world of Olympus, I could imagine everything so clearly. Including Mr. Dark and Grumpy’s frowns.
This book is a door wide open book on the spice scale, but it fits in so perfectly with the story, nothing is too much or out of place. And it is also very in-keeping with the stories of the gods and their relationships 😏 the chemistry and tension between Sephy and Hades is delicious! Teaching a aeons old god how to be humble is quite a fun read 😜
I adore the concept that Helena has created with Sephy, I don’t want to spoil too much, but that opens up this whole world to endless possibilities and stories! And I really cannot WAIT for book 2! Because holy F*cktarts this is good.
If you love Greek mythology or books about gods, fated mates, meddling villains, great banter and all with a modern twist, this book belongs on your tbr.. and preferably quite high up!
I was lucky enough to be part of Helena’s street team, and was gifted an early copy of her book, and I am forever thankful! But you can preorder your copy now! 🤍
October 3, 2025
I loveeee a dual POV since you get to see inside both of the characters heads but this one had me screaming at my book because COMMUNICATION!! Like when you see two friends who clearly are into each other but no one wants to admit it so you just wanna smack their heads together? That’s how I felt about hades and Persephone in this book in the best way lol, the frustration had me wanting to throw my book but also cheering internally when things finally happened!
This book follows after Persephone has been reincarnated into a coven in the human world with no memory of her godly powers, and is kidnapped (again!) by Hades, where she discovers she has a whole hidden previous life and slowly starts remembering things. I loved all the tension and sooo much banter that was in this book. I love a snarky FMC who knows that men should treat you well and earn your love, but also has just a bit of a jealousy streak. The plot was a fun twist on the classic tales of the gods of Olympus and I cannot wait to see where else this series goes (I’m thinking that bet Persephone made with Poseidon may come into play)! Overall I enjoyed this book, my rating 4.7/5!
Thanks to the author and R&R book tours for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
This book follows after Persephone has been reincarnated into a coven in the human world with no memory of her godly powers, and is kidnapped (again!) by Hades, where she discovers she has a whole hidden previous life and slowly starts remembering things. I loved all the tension and sooo much banter that was in this book. I love a snarky FMC who knows that men should treat you well and earn your love, but also has just a bit of a jealousy streak. The plot was a fun twist on the classic tales of the gods of Olympus and I cannot wait to see where else this series goes (I’m thinking that bet Persephone made with Poseidon may come into play)! Overall I enjoyed this book, my rating 4.7/5!
Thanks to the author and R&R book tours for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
September 12, 2025
The Queen of Shadows and Roses is a modern world retelling of Hades’ and Persephone’s love story. Sephy lives in a world where the Gods have taken the lead and rule over every other species. After being invited out for the night by her friendly roommate, she wakes up in the Underworld and is thrust into a confusing new world, where she is told she is the goddess Persephone and is fated to be married to Hades.
I had high hopes for this book as the premise was very interesting. I pictured a story about Gods, Goddesses and other mystical creatures, about learning how to love someone even if they have completely changed, and how to let go.
Unfortunately, I was really disappointed by it all
- One of the aspects I was mostly looking forward to was the worldbuilding. There is a lot of potential in what you can do with a story about the Gods! In this case, the worldbuilding felt very surface-level. I understand this is only the first book of the series, but our main character was kidnapped and thrown into a world she once loved but eventually forgot; you’d think she would be more curious about all the different kingdoms.
- The romance between Hades and Persephone seemed to me to be super forced, or even like Stockholm syndrome. The FMC has no memories of the MMC or of their life together before the life she had in London; she hates him and what he stands for, he is rude, possessive and oddly cold and dismissive, yet annoyingly, somehow she just cannot live without him, and he’s her whole life?
- I thought the yearning would feel less surface-level; instead, the main characters almost have sex about 100 times. That’s the yearning. The sex scenes felt repetitive and a bit silly as they were almost always promptly followed by an argument between the two.
- This led me to not really care about the state of their relationship. Will they end up together? Will she choose someone else? It didn’t really matter.
- There were moments I was meant to think that their relationship was in danger, that there was competition against Hades, but it never actually felt that way.
- There was a lot of miscommunication, a lot of ‘we’ll talk later’ or ‘I’ll let you know when the time is right’, which I don’t enjoy reading (and that’s just on me)
- Lastly, the cursing really put me off. Characters would say words like 'tw*twaffle' about 3000 times, and I just don't believe any 22-year-old Londoner would ever utter that word
Overall, I was disappointed with the course of the book, but I would still recommend it if you love the kind of romantasy that leads more towards the romance aspect.
I had high hopes for this book as the premise was very interesting. I pictured a story about Gods, Goddesses and other mystical creatures, about learning how to love someone even if they have completely changed, and how to let go.
Unfortunately, I was really disappointed by it all
- One of the aspects I was mostly looking forward to was the worldbuilding. There is a lot of potential in what you can do with a story about the Gods! In this case, the worldbuilding felt very surface-level. I understand this is only the first book of the series, but our main character was kidnapped and thrown into a world she once loved but eventually forgot; you’d think she would be more curious about all the different kingdoms.
- The romance between Hades and Persephone seemed to me to be super forced, or even like Stockholm syndrome. The FMC has no memories of the MMC or of their life together before the life she had in London; she hates him and what he stands for, he is rude, possessive and oddly cold and dismissive, yet annoyingly, somehow she just cannot live without him, and he’s her whole life?
- I thought the yearning would feel less surface-level; instead, the main characters almost have sex about 100 times. That’s the yearning. The sex scenes felt repetitive and a bit silly as they were almost always promptly followed by an argument between the two.
- This led me to not really care about the state of their relationship. Will they end up together? Will she choose someone else? It didn’t really matter.
- There were moments I was meant to think that their relationship was in danger, that there was competition against Hades, but it never actually felt that way.
- There was a lot of miscommunication, a lot of ‘we’ll talk later’ or ‘I’ll let you know when the time is right’, which I don’t enjoy reading (and that’s just on me)
- Lastly, the cursing really put me off. Characters would say words like 'tw*twaffle' about 3000 times, and I just don't believe any 22-year-old Londoner would ever utter that word
Overall, I was disappointed with the course of the book, but I would still recommend it if you love the kind of romantasy that leads more towards the romance aspect.
October 11, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for this kindle Arc.
I liked the idea of the plot and was excited for my first Hades-Persephone retelling, but I struggled with the writing style. The scenes felt rushed and I couldn’t relate to any characters. Persephone was difficult to like, but Hades was a delicious character to read about.
The premise of the plot struck me as something I would love - Greek gods in an urban fantasy setting - but the language used throughout the book took me out of the story too often that I struggled to feel that escape of reality. I think a lot of readers would enjoy this, especially in their early stages of fantasy reading, or if they are really into Greek mythology but it wasn’t for me.
2/5 ⭐️⭐️
I liked the idea of the plot and was excited for my first Hades-Persephone retelling, but I struggled with the writing style. The scenes felt rushed and I couldn’t relate to any characters. Persephone was difficult to like, but Hades was a delicious character to read about.
The premise of the plot struck me as something I would love - Greek gods in an urban fantasy setting - but the language used throughout the book took me out of the story too often that I struggled to feel that escape of reality. I think a lot of readers would enjoy this, especially in their early stages of fantasy reading, or if they are really into Greek mythology but it wasn’t for me.
2/5 ⭐️⭐️
October 15, 2025
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an earc in return for an honest review!
i love greek mythology and especially love a hades x persephone retelling so i was so excited when i got accepted for this arc!! it was very reminiscent of many of the urban fantasy books i grew up with and i loved how nostalgic it made me.
our main character was feisty and fun, but also quite frustrating at times and some of her inner monologue was pretty cheesy. overall i liked her and hades as characters but the side characters probably stood out the most to me! my favourite aspect was the friendships between all the different gods and their banter.
this didn’t really stand out as anything different or unique to me but i did enjoy it and would be interested in continuing the series to find out what happens next!
i love greek mythology and especially love a hades x persephone retelling so i was so excited when i got accepted for this arc!! it was very reminiscent of many of the urban fantasy books i grew up with and i loved how nostalgic it made me.
our main character was feisty and fun, but also quite frustrating at times and some of her inner monologue was pretty cheesy. overall i liked her and hades as characters but the side characters probably stood out the most to me! my favourite aspect was the friendships between all the different gods and their banter.
this didn’t really stand out as anything different or unique to me but i did enjoy it and would be interested in continuing the series to find out what happens next!
September 3, 2025
3.2 stars
Queen of Shadows and Roses is a spicy dark romance retelling of Hades and Persephone set in the modern world. Persephone and Hades, the couple of Olympus, are separated by a witch's curse. When Persephone, or Sephy, is reborn, she has no memory of her former life. But after many years, Hades plans to win back his wife.
Sephy is a demon hunter, strong and independent, and she doesn't put up with anything, especially not from Hades, who takes her to the underworld against her will. This personality is much to the chagrin of Hades, who wants nothing more than to have his wife back. Hades is a true shadow daddy: grumpy, broody, powerful, and seductive. The attraction between the two is strong, and the slow burn is really very nice.
It was very refreshing that the other Greek gods also play a bigger role, and the tensions they cause between Hades and Persephone add extra points to the story. Despite everything, the story didn't quite captivate me emotionally, and I would have liked a little more world-building, since most of the narrative takes place in the underworld, especially given that Persephone is a demon hunter in this world.
The book is also the start of a series (Brothers of Olympus) that will focus on other gods in the following volumes (and hopefully feature a few more appearances by Hades and Persephone). I will definitely be reading it.
All in all, I can recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a spicy Hades and Persephone story with a modern twist.
Many thanks to the team of Craggs, Hermana Books, and NetGalley for the free e-ARC.
Queen of Shadows and Roses is a spicy dark romance retelling of Hades and Persephone set in the modern world. Persephone and Hades, the couple of Olympus, are separated by a witch's curse. When Persephone, or Sephy, is reborn, she has no memory of her former life. But after many years, Hades plans to win back his wife.
Sephy is a demon hunter, strong and independent, and she doesn't put up with anything, especially not from Hades, who takes her to the underworld against her will. This personality is much to the chagrin of Hades, who wants nothing more than to have his wife back. Hades is a true shadow daddy: grumpy, broody, powerful, and seductive. The attraction between the two is strong, and the slow burn is really very nice.
It was very refreshing that the other Greek gods also play a bigger role, and the tensions they cause between Hades and Persephone add extra points to the story. Despite everything, the story didn't quite captivate me emotionally, and I would have liked a little more world-building, since most of the narrative takes place in the underworld, especially given that Persephone is a demon hunter in this world.
The book is also the start of a series (Brothers of Olympus) that will focus on other gods in the following volumes (and hopefully feature a few more appearances by Hades and Persephone). I will definitely be reading it.
All in all, I can recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a spicy Hades and Persephone story with a modern twist.
Many thanks to the team of Craggs, Hermana Books, and NetGalley for the free e-ARC.
September 7, 2025
Queen of Shadows and Roses well what can I say other than I need more! I need the second one 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I don't normally like longer chapters but I was so engrossed they didn't feel longer. (Normally like 5min ones not 15/20min ones)
I Love how it mentions how books are an escape to another word! Obviously this is 100% true for me I'm sure it is for you too!
One of my Favourite quotes was "for the love of sweet baby alpacas everywhere" the mix of dry humour was brilliant 👏
And the references to Disney (i wont spoil them)
The sisterly/BFF bond between Sephy and Tee was brilliant and how protective Tee was of Sephy
It had my on tender hooks throughout whether there would be a happy ending or not!
How Hades cares for Persephone after a traumatic event is Hades in cinnamon roll form but then you get how he will literally rip people apart! Let's not forget The sexual tension and spicy scenes 🌶
It was a fantastic book and re telling I enjoyed every minute and didn't want it to end!
Thank you so much for letting me read this as an Arc I can not wait for the second
I Love how it mentions how books are an escape to another word! Obviously this is 100% true for me I'm sure it is for you too!
One of my Favourite quotes was "for the love of sweet baby alpacas everywhere" the mix of dry humour was brilliant 👏
And the references to Disney (i wont spoil them)
The sisterly/BFF bond between Sephy and Tee was brilliant and how protective Tee was of Sephy
It had my on tender hooks throughout whether there would be a happy ending or not!
How Hades cares for Persephone after a traumatic event is Hades in cinnamon roll form but then you get how he will literally rip people apart! Let's not forget The sexual tension and spicy scenes 🌶
It was a fantastic book and re telling I enjoyed every minute and didn't want it to end!
Thank you so much for letting me read this as an Arc I can not wait for the second
September 19, 2025
ARC Review - 3 ⭐️
A huge thank you Helena M Craggs & Bookfunnel for the ARC!
Queen of the Shadows was a fun read, but not without its flaws. I love anything with Greek gods, and there were definitely some laughable moments. That said, I wasn’t a fan of how Ares and Adonis were written, they honestly just came across as gross. On the flip side, justice for Apollo 🥲
I also wish there had been more world building to ground the story. The swearing felt really over the top and unnatural, and if I never hear the word twatwaffle again, I’ll be fine.
Overall, entertaining but could’ve been stronger with less shock language and more focus on the world.
A huge thank you Helena M Craggs & Bookfunnel for the ARC!
Queen of the Shadows was a fun read, but not without its flaws. I love anything with Greek gods, and there were definitely some laughable moments. That said, I wasn’t a fan of how Ares and Adonis were written, they honestly just came across as gross. On the flip side, justice for Apollo 🥲
I also wish there had been more world building to ground the story. The swearing felt really over the top and unnatural, and if I never hear the word twatwaffle again, I’ll be fine.
Overall, entertaining but could’ve been stronger with less shock language and more focus on the world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2025
I want to thank the author for the ARC, even though I ended up DNFing at 42%—I really tried to get into this one.
The idea sounded amazing, and the blurb and tropes were incredibly appealing. Unfortunately, the book didn’t deliver for me. I didn’t feel much underlying tension or suspense—I wasn’t left wondering what would happen next. The main character was frustrating to read; her constant squealing and unrealistic emotional shifts (going from shocked to reassured within a few sentences multiple times) made her feel more like a child than a grown woman.
Hades didn’t fare much better—he’s possessive in a petty way and also comes across as immature. Overall, it felt like everyone was acting like a child. While the book had potential, the characters and plot lacked depth and layers, and I couldn’t connect with the story. I desperately wanted to enjoy it, but it just didn’t work for me. I really hope it found readers that loved it!!
The idea sounded amazing, and the blurb and tropes were incredibly appealing. Unfortunately, the book didn’t deliver for me. I didn’t feel much underlying tension or suspense—I wasn’t left wondering what would happen next. The main character was frustrating to read; her constant squealing and unrealistic emotional shifts (going from shocked to reassured within a few sentences multiple times) made her feel more like a child than a grown woman.
Hades didn’t fare much better—he’s possessive in a petty way and also comes across as immature. Overall, it felt like everyone was acting like a child. While the book had potential, the characters and plot lacked depth and layers, and I couldn’t connect with the story. I desperately wanted to enjoy it, but it just didn’t work for me. I really hope it found readers that loved it!!
October 10, 2025
This was a good read, I picked it up when I was in a slump so it took me a while to properly get into it.
The main characters interactions were full of wit, sharp comments and sass from the FMC. She was quite mean and feisty. I like the fact she wasn’t scared of the MMC, who is the GOD OF THE UNDERWORLD. She didn’t hold back.
The world building was quite well done, the different realms and different settings. It gave a broad overview of the gods.
The miscommunication trope isn’t my favourite. I felt that’s why the pace of the book was a bit off for me and it took me a while to get into it.
The tension between the main characters was a slow burn and I loved it. The spicy scenes are “chefs kiss”.
I will 100% be picking up the next book as I’m intrigued to see what happens next.
Thank you for my ARC from Netgalley it was a great read.
The main characters interactions were full of wit, sharp comments and sass from the FMC. She was quite mean and feisty. I like the fact she wasn’t scared of the MMC, who is the GOD OF THE UNDERWORLD. She didn’t hold back.
The world building was quite well done, the different realms and different settings. It gave a broad overview of the gods.
The miscommunication trope isn’t my favourite. I felt that’s why the pace of the book was a bit off for me and it took me a while to get into it.
The tension between the main characters was a slow burn and I loved it. The spicy scenes are “chefs kiss”.
I will 100% be picking up the next book as I’m intrigued to see what happens next.
Thank you for my ARC from Netgalley it was a great read.
October 17, 2025
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC, but unfortunately this ended up being a DNF for me. The premise definitely caught my attention, I love a good Greek gods retelling, and this had the potential to be something really fun and dark. But unfortunately, this just didn’t work for me.
The biggest issue was the characters. I couldn’t connect with them at all… they felt really childish, and the dialogue didn’t help. The way they spoke pulled me out of the story more than once, and instead of feeling immersed in a rich mythological world, I was just distracted.
The biggest issue was the characters. I couldn’t connect with them at all… they felt really childish, and the dialogue didn’t help. The way they spoke pulled me out of the story more than once, and instead of feeling immersed in a rich mythological world, I was just distracted.
November 19, 2025
This book is a story about a woman who thinks she is a witch but is actually *the* Persephone (wife of Hades) whose memory was wiped clean.
There is a push and pull between "Sephy" and Hades as he is madly in love with him and she hates the Gods.There is also a political subplot.
I was a little turned off by the modern laissez faire treatment of the Gods and by the underdevelopment of all the characters. It reminded me a TON of that Netflix show Kaos.
I know a lot of folks in the bookish community loved it, so give it a try!
There is a push and pull between "Sephy" and Hades as he is madly in love with him and she hates the Gods.There is also a political subplot.
I was a little turned off by the modern laissez faire treatment of the Gods and by the underdevelopment of all the characters. It reminded me a TON of that Netflix show Kaos.
I know a lot of folks in the bookish community loved it, so give it a try!
October 19, 2025
ARC Read:
So I genuinely liked this book. I love Persephone and Hades retellings. I genuinely become obsessed with them because their love story is so captivating. It is Grumpy and Sunshine ♥️
I have read 2 different retellings and this was extremely different to the others which I loved. They acted younger and spoke like they were in their teens. The imagery was stunning through out and you could truly imagine the areas that were travelled.
My only con to this book and why I didn’t give it a higher rating is that I felt that Persephone was a little immature. She called people twatwaffles a lot and I struggled to connect to that sort of attitude. I appreciate her world has just got turned upside down by the news she was given. But.. if she is in her 20s, she wouldn’t overly be speaking like that. It was more like she was 16.
The use of babe was thrown around a lot as well, and Hecate seemed to be extremely young too when she was thousands of years old.
Potentially more mature characters would be awesome. As the story telling was really great to read.
So I genuinely liked this book. I love Persephone and Hades retellings. I genuinely become obsessed with them because their love story is so captivating. It is Grumpy and Sunshine ♥️
I have read 2 different retellings and this was extremely different to the others which I loved. They acted younger and spoke like they were in their teens. The imagery was stunning through out and you could truly imagine the areas that were travelled.
My only con to this book and why I didn’t give it a higher rating is that I felt that Persephone was a little immature. She called people twatwaffles a lot and I struggled to connect to that sort of attitude. I appreciate her world has just got turned upside down by the news she was given. But.. if she is in her 20s, she wouldn’t overly be speaking like that. It was more like she was 16.
The use of babe was thrown around a lot as well, and Hecate seemed to be extremely young too when she was thousands of years old.
Potentially more mature characters would be awesome. As the story telling was really great to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2025
Queen of Shadows and Roses by Helena M. Craggs was such a lighter, fun take on a mythology retelling. I really enjoyed this version of Hades and Persephone—Hades was absolutely a force to be reckoned with, and his devotion to Persephone had that obsessive, all-consuming edge in the best possible way. Persephone’s fiery personality was refreshing and gave the story a spark that kept me invested.
While I’m not usually drawn to urban fantasy settings, this book struck a good balance between modern elements and mythological foundations. There were moments where the contemporary language felt a bit out of place, but I can see how it added to Persephone’s distinct voice and made her character stand out.
Overall, this was a fun, quick read with a compelling dynamic between the leads and a fresh spin on a classic myth. If you enjoy myth retellings with attitude and chemistry, this is a great one to pick up.
Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me this e-ARC.
While I’m not usually drawn to urban fantasy settings, this book struck a good balance between modern elements and mythological foundations. There were moments where the contemporary language felt a bit out of place, but I can see how it added to Persephone’s distinct voice and made her character stand out.
Overall, this was a fun, quick read with a compelling dynamic between the leads and a fresh spin on a classic myth. If you enjoy myth retellings with attitude and chemistry, this is a great one to pick up.
Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me this e-ARC.
October 15, 2025
This is a beautiful story about a Greek goddess Persephone and a Greek god Hades. The story starts off with Persephone, losing all of her memories of the underworld. Hades will do whatever is necessary in order to make Persephone remember who he is and their love they once had. Will Persephone remember Hades and the love they once had? Or will she choose to court another God?
As someone who has never read a Greek mythology based book this one absolutely blew me out of the water. I was hooked from the first couple chapters. This is a Greek mythology based book in a modern day setting. The love between the two characters is absolutely phenomenal.
As someone who has never read a Greek mythology based book this one absolutely blew me out of the water. I was hooked from the first couple chapters. This is a Greek mythology based book in a modern day setting. The love between the two characters is absolutely phenomenal.
September 16, 2025
This is the first book in the Brothers of Olympus series
Any book that has Hades and Persephone is an instant want to read for me and this one was absolutely amazing!
When Hades gets cursed to lose the love of his life, Persephone is reborn without her original memories and as a demon hunter.
This was such an interesting twist on the story and I loved all the yearning and chemistry between the characters! I was desperate for Persephone to remember her old life and the bond with Hades. It honestly had me kicking my feet and giggling every time they interacted.
I highly recommend and cannot wait for the next book in the series!
Any book that has Hades and Persephone is an instant want to read for me and this one was absolutely amazing!
When Hades gets cursed to lose the love of his life, Persephone is reborn without her original memories and as a demon hunter.
This was such an interesting twist on the story and I loved all the yearning and chemistry between the characters! I was desperate for Persephone to remember her old life and the bond with Hades. It honestly had me kicking my feet and giggling every time they interacted.
I highly recommend and cannot wait for the next book in the series!
September 23, 2025
Queen of Shadows and Roses had me invested instantly, the prologue is written so well. I immediately needed to know more!
I found the inclusion of the guide about Gods a helpful addition at the start of the book, it was helpful to refer back to as I was reading.
I adored the world and the way the author describes it all, I really felt as though I was right there as I could really visualise it. I liked all the different descriptions of each of God and we get to learn a bit more about each one.
Persephone (Sephy) was such a brilliant FMC she was fun and feisty. She totally didn’t take any nonsense or back down when it came to Hades or anyone really! I loved the dual POV it gave so much more insight into each of the characters and their feelings.
The slow burn and the tension was amazing, I felt like I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen. The spice is so so hot!!! Hades is dark and brooding as you’d expect him to be. I’m already so excited to read book two.
I found the inclusion of the guide about Gods a helpful addition at the start of the book, it was helpful to refer back to as I was reading.
I adored the world and the way the author describes it all, I really felt as though I was right there as I could really visualise it. I liked all the different descriptions of each of God and we get to learn a bit more about each one.
Persephone (Sephy) was such a brilliant FMC she was fun and feisty. She totally didn’t take any nonsense or back down when it came to Hades or anyone really! I loved the dual POV it gave so much more insight into each of the characters and their feelings.
The slow burn and the tension was amazing, I felt like I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen. The spice is so so hot!!! Hades is dark and brooding as you’d expect him to be. I’m already so excited to read book two.
October 22, 2025
I haven’t read a lot of romantasy books before but when I came across this I knew it was one I had to get my hands on.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable, entry level romantasy that was an easy read and not too wordy. I’ve been intimidated by this genre for fear of not understanding all the names etc..this book totally put me at ease.
I loved the main characters and their interaction with each other.
It’s a solid storyline that kept me engaged.
The setting was great as I was familiar with the majority of the places.
This book mixes modern day with greek mythology and was amusing in places and mighty spicy in others!!
I would recommend this book to newbies of romantasy and those who already love the genre.
Looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable, entry level romantasy that was an easy read and not too wordy. I’ve been intimidated by this genre for fear of not understanding all the names etc..this book totally put me at ease.
I loved the main characters and their interaction with each other.
It’s a solid storyline that kept me engaged.
The setting was great as I was familiar with the majority of the places.
This book mixes modern day with greek mythology and was amusing in places and mighty spicy in others!!
I would recommend this book to newbies of romantasy and those who already love the genre.
Looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
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