What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
11 days and 11:35:21
10 copies available
U.S. only
Between Sun and Shadow
Not yet published
Expected 5 May 26Win a free print copy of this book!
11 days and 11:35:21
10 copies available
U.S. only
Hades and Persephone reimagined on a tidally locked planet, for fans of queer romance, mutant superpowers, eccentric robots, and speculative tech.
Featuring fun and stylish case art beneath the hardcover dust jacket!
Sixteen-year-old Kori struggles to be a dutiful heiress to the Daylands, a post-cataclysmic society reliant on chip implants to retain memory. With a strict routine and an overly cautious mother, Kori has only one friend, Aspect—an industrial robot she’s repurposed. Determined to awaken sentience in her metal companion, Kori crash-lands in enemy territory while hunting for a memory that might do the trick.
Ravaged by radiation from a meteorite, the citizens of the Shadowlands have evolved into beast-like creatures with supernatural abilities. Adria, a winged mutant, has wrested control of the Shadowlands from her bloodthirsty parents—but not everyone is so willing to embrace her leadership. What better way to instill confidence in her court than by capturing a foreign princess and demanding ransom?
However, what began as a political maneuver transforms into a potent attraction as Kori’s longing for relationship echoes Adria’s own. Granted free rein of Adria’s fortress, Kori stumbles upon a startling revelation that could upend the Daylands entirely. As rebellion grows and Adria’s precarious hold on her throne wavers, Adria and Kori must join forces to avert all-out war. Does a queen of shadows really stand a chance with a princess of sunlight? Or has the chasm between their nations grown too wide?
A science fantasy "Beauty and the Beast," this action-packed adventure is written in dual point of view and layered with a charming robot, a cuddly three-headed dog, mind-bending twists, and sapphic yearning.
Featuring fun and stylish case art beneath the hardcover dust jacket!
Sixteen-year-old Kori struggles to be a dutiful heiress to the Daylands, a post-cataclysmic society reliant on chip implants to retain memory. With a strict routine and an overly cautious mother, Kori has only one friend, Aspect—an industrial robot she’s repurposed. Determined to awaken sentience in her metal companion, Kori crash-lands in enemy territory while hunting for a memory that might do the trick.
Ravaged by radiation from a meteorite, the citizens of the Shadowlands have evolved into beast-like creatures with supernatural abilities. Adria, a winged mutant, has wrested control of the Shadowlands from her bloodthirsty parents—but not everyone is so willing to embrace her leadership. What better way to instill confidence in her court than by capturing a foreign princess and demanding ransom?
However, what began as a political maneuver transforms into a potent attraction as Kori’s longing for relationship echoes Adria’s own. Granted free rein of Adria’s fortress, Kori stumbles upon a startling revelation that could upend the Daylands entirely. As rebellion grows and Adria’s precarious hold on her throne wavers, Adria and Kori must join forces to avert all-out war. Does a queen of shadows really stand a chance with a princess of sunlight? Or has the chasm between their nations grown too wide?
A science fantasy "Beauty and the Beast," this action-packed adventure is written in dual point of view and layered with a charming robot, a cuddly three-headed dog, mind-bending twists, and sapphic yearning.
464 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 5, 2026
About the author
Laura Genn
1 book20 followersLaura Genn writes about queer teens confronting fantastical challenges. She graduated with a BS in strategic communication and enjoys building with LEGO® bricks, having TV marathons, and playing competitive Street Fighter. She lives with her girlfriend and three goofy rescue cats somewhere in New Jersey, surrounded by an ever-growing collection of dragon tchotchkes. Follow her on Instagram and Threads @lauragennauthor.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 10, 2026
A big thanks to YABC for providing a physical ARC, and NetGalley and Edelweiss for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
"A science fantasy "Beauty and the Beast," this action-packed adventure is written in dual point of view and layered with a charming robot, a cuddly three-headed dog, mind-bending twists, and sapphic yearning." I can't have better described this book, than this.
Between Sun and Shadow by Laura Genn is a YA science fantasy novel that gives Gideon the Ninth, with Hades and Persephone coded characters and robots instead of necromancers. Hades and Persephone reimagined on a tidally locked planet, for fans of queer romance, mutant superpowers, eccentric robots, and speculative tech—featuring fun and stylish case art beneath the hardcover dust jacket! Sixteen-year-old Kori struggles to be a dutiful heiress to the Daylands, a post-cataclysmic society reliant on chip implants to retain memory. With a strict routine and an overly cautious mother, Kori has only one friend, Aspect—an industrial robot she’s repurposed. Determined to awaken sentience in her metal companion, Kori crash-lands in enemy territory while hunting for a memory that might do the trick. Ravaged by radiation from a meteorite, the citizens of the Shadowlands have evolved into beast-like creatures with supernatural abilities. Adria, a winged mutant, has wrested control of the Shadowlands from her bloodthirsty parents—but not everyone is so willing to embrace her leadership. What better way to instill confidence in her court than by capturing a foreign princess and demanding ransom? However, what began as a political maneuver transforms into a potent attraction as Kori’s longing for relationship echoes Adria’s own. Granted free rein of Adria’s fortress, Kori stumbles upon a startling revelation that could upend the Daylands entirely. As rebellion grows and Adria’s precarious hold on her throne wavers, Adria and Kori must join forces to avert all-out war. Does a queen of shadows really stand a chance with a princess of sunlight? Or has the chasm between their nations grown too wide? A science fantasy "Beauty and the Beast," this action-packed adventure is written in dual point of view and layered with a charming robot, a cuddly three-headed dog, mind-bending twists, and sapphic yearning.
Between Sun and Shadow is one those books that best read without any initial context. Much like Tamsyn Muir's The Locked Tomb series, which this book reminded quite a lot of. Regardless, I really liked this book as it provided a breath of fresh air in terms of its romance and plot and unique worldbuilding. As I get older, I find most of the YA genre is filled with the same old story and character, rehashed time and time again. But Between Sun and Shadow is one that provides it's audience both a familiar story with it's ties to Hades and Persephone, and a novel one with its colorful cast of characters.
One thing that I didn't quite like about Between Sun and Shadow, is the general chaos that radiates from the plot. In that it was hard to keep up at some points, and at other times make it out to be quite unreliable. But this was not a major fault of the book, but more so mine. As it's quite hard to wrap my mind around novels that present items from different genres, ie. monstrous beasts that resemble Cerberus and robot companions.
Regardless, Between Sun and Shadow is a novel designed to be fun and engaging with twists and turns that most readers won't expect. While also being a familiar narrative and a novel one. I recommend it to anyone looking for something to fill the void of having to wait for Alecto the Ninth's eventual release.
"A science fantasy "Beauty and the Beast," this action-packed adventure is written in dual point of view and layered with a charming robot, a cuddly three-headed dog, mind-bending twists, and sapphic yearning." I can't have better described this book, than this.
Between Sun and Shadow by Laura Genn is a YA science fantasy novel that gives Gideon the Ninth, with Hades and Persephone coded characters and robots instead of necromancers. Hades and Persephone reimagined on a tidally locked planet, for fans of queer romance, mutant superpowers, eccentric robots, and speculative tech—featuring fun and stylish case art beneath the hardcover dust jacket! Sixteen-year-old Kori struggles to be a dutiful heiress to the Daylands, a post-cataclysmic society reliant on chip implants to retain memory. With a strict routine and an overly cautious mother, Kori has only one friend, Aspect—an industrial robot she’s repurposed. Determined to awaken sentience in her metal companion, Kori crash-lands in enemy territory while hunting for a memory that might do the trick. Ravaged by radiation from a meteorite, the citizens of the Shadowlands have evolved into beast-like creatures with supernatural abilities. Adria, a winged mutant, has wrested control of the Shadowlands from her bloodthirsty parents—but not everyone is so willing to embrace her leadership. What better way to instill confidence in her court than by capturing a foreign princess and demanding ransom? However, what began as a political maneuver transforms into a potent attraction as Kori’s longing for relationship echoes Adria’s own. Granted free rein of Adria’s fortress, Kori stumbles upon a startling revelation that could upend the Daylands entirely. As rebellion grows and Adria’s precarious hold on her throne wavers, Adria and Kori must join forces to avert all-out war. Does a queen of shadows really stand a chance with a princess of sunlight? Or has the chasm between their nations grown too wide? A science fantasy "Beauty and the Beast," this action-packed adventure is written in dual point of view and layered with a charming robot, a cuddly three-headed dog, mind-bending twists, and sapphic yearning.
Between Sun and Shadow is one those books that best read without any initial context. Much like Tamsyn Muir's The Locked Tomb series, which this book reminded quite a lot of. Regardless, I really liked this book as it provided a breath of fresh air in terms of its romance and plot and unique worldbuilding. As I get older, I find most of the YA genre is filled with the same old story and character, rehashed time and time again. But Between Sun and Shadow is one that provides it's audience both a familiar story with it's ties to Hades and Persephone, and a novel one with its colorful cast of characters.
One thing that I didn't quite like about Between Sun and Shadow, is the general chaos that radiates from the plot. In that it was hard to keep up at some points, and at other times make it out to be quite unreliable. But this was not a major fault of the book, but more so mine. As it's quite hard to wrap my mind around novels that present items from different genres, ie. monstrous beasts that resemble Cerberus and robot companions.
Regardless, Between Sun and Shadow is a novel designed to be fun and engaging with twists and turns that most readers won't expect. While also being a familiar narrative and a novel one. I recommend it to anyone looking for something to fill the void of having to wait for Alecto the Ninth's eventual release.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Thank you, Edelweiss, for allowing me to get advance access to this title.
I want to begin with the fact that I prefer Fantasy over Science Fiction any day of the week. Give me dragons and fairies over robots and the infinity of space. However, the author skillfully blended the two genres in such a way that I think it needs to be its own separate genre. That said, anyone who may have misgivings for that reason, you ought to put them aside now.
The first thing that jumped out at me was the alternating POV, which can make or break a novel. In this case, it was a huge win, because it was an asset in character development, as well as a vehicle for generating suspense. The back and forth between Kori and Adria built anticipation while I tried to figure out how their worlds would end up colliding.
Once the young royals finally met, the story was action-packed with all the excitement I could hope for. Their relationship developed subtly and believably, and included the nuances of their best friends...along with plenty of humor. I will say that about two-thirds of the way through, I began to panic because I could not fathom how the story could fully play out in a single volume. But never fear, for those of you who are afraid of cliffhangers, you are safe!
Nonetheless, Kori and Adria's relationship is far from the major plot point of this story. I found myself mesmerized by Pagonian history and politics. In reality, I could happily enter the Shadowlands' library, and devour all the non-fiction volumes outlining the natural and societal evolution of the planet. In fact, I would be remiss to say that there is still so much unknown in about this world, that the author could continue to tell stories here. I cannot stress enough how unique the setting and characters were.
Overall, I adored this book. It hit all the important targets that I aim to enjoy when I read fiction: action, fantasy, unique world, and quirky relationships. I highly recommend this book, and cannot wait for everyone to be able to read it!
I want to begin with the fact that I prefer Fantasy over Science Fiction any day of the week. Give me dragons and fairies over robots and the infinity of space. However, the author skillfully blended the two genres in such a way that I think it needs to be its own separate genre. That said, anyone who may have misgivings for that reason, you ought to put them aside now.
The first thing that jumped out at me was the alternating POV, which can make or break a novel. In this case, it was a huge win, because it was an asset in character development, as well as a vehicle for generating suspense. The back and forth between Kori and Adria built anticipation while I tried to figure out how their worlds would end up colliding.
Once the young royals finally met, the story was action-packed with all the excitement I could hope for. Their relationship developed subtly and believably, and included the nuances of their best friends...along with plenty of humor. I will say that about two-thirds of the way through, I began to panic because I could not fathom how the story could fully play out in a single volume. But never fear, for those of you who are afraid of cliffhangers, you are safe!
Nonetheless, Kori and Adria's relationship is far from the major plot point of this story. I found myself mesmerized by Pagonian history and politics. In reality, I could happily enter the Shadowlands' library, and devour all the non-fiction volumes outlining the natural and societal evolution of the planet. In fact, I would be remiss to say that there is still so much unknown in about this world, that the author could continue to tell stories here. I cannot stress enough how unique the setting and characters were.
Overall, I adored this book. It hit all the important targets that I aim to enjoy when I read fiction: action, fantasy, unique world, and quirky relationships. I highly recommend this book, and cannot wait for everyone to be able to read it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.75 stars (Rounded Up)
"There are no gods but what we become."
"Is that how you picture yourself?" I pry, "A god?"
Adria laughs, mirthless. "If I'm the planet's last god, then we're all well and truly damned"
I absolutely adored this book. The cast of characters was so endearing, the magic/sci-fi system was so well developed, and the politics of the two different lands and their inner workings were just chef's kiss!
This is such a unique retelling of Hades and Persephone, not only because most I've seen are fantasy or contemporary romance, and this is sci-fi, but also because the events from the original were used in surprising, different ways. I also adored some of the easter eggs/references to Greek mythology, like the name of Kori's ship (Charon) and the pomegranate seeds. The way all the political conflicts were written kept me absolutely hooked, and the weaving together of the two storylines (political conflict and the romance) was just masterful.
The characters in this book have my whole entire heart. The two main characters each have well-developed families and histories that inform all their choices, and seeing them grow and learn from each other was beautiful. As for side characters, I will always be a sucker for an endearing weirdo (yes, Aspect, that's you) or a furbaby, so to have both of them? I was over the moon. I gave many a squeal or high-pitched "AWWW "s while reading, and that's how you know this found family is written right.
Overall, this book gave me all the feels and delivered an action-packed read, and I will be discussing with anyone who will listen
"There are no gods but what we become."
"Is that how you picture yourself?" I pry, "A god?"
Adria laughs, mirthless. "If I'm the planet's last god, then we're all well and truly damned"
I absolutely adored this book. The cast of characters was so endearing, the magic/sci-fi system was so well developed, and the politics of the two different lands and their inner workings were just chef's kiss!
This is such a unique retelling of Hades and Persephone, not only because most I've seen are fantasy or contemporary romance, and this is sci-fi, but also because the events from the original were used in surprising, different ways. I also adored some of the easter eggs/references to Greek mythology, like the name of Kori's ship (Charon) and the pomegranate seeds. The way all the political conflicts were written kept me absolutely hooked, and the weaving together of the two storylines (political conflict and the romance) was just masterful.
The characters in this book have my whole entire heart. The two main characters each have well-developed families and histories that inform all their choices, and seeing them grow and learn from each other was beautiful. As for side characters, I will always be a sucker for an endearing weirdo (yes, Aspect, that's you) or a furbaby, so to have both of them? I was over the moon. I gave many a squeal or high-pitched "AWWW "s while reading, and that's how you know this found family is written right.
Overall, this book gave me all the feels and delivered an action-packed read, and I will be discussing with anyone who will listen
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Publishers | Peachtree Teen for providing an ARC ahead of this review! The following feedback is my own opinion.
BETWEEN SUN AND SHADOW is a sapphic reimagining of Hades and Persephone that follows Shadowlands queen Adria and the Daylands heiress Kori as they navigate the complex dynamic between their two worlds and a romance full of delightful yearning. Readers will enjoy the perfect blend of science and magical wonder in this YA science fantasy.
When I first came across BETWEEN SUN AND SHADOW, I was blown away by the cover’s unique color scheme and the premise’s retelling told through a diverse lens. I’m always on the hunt for more sapphic fantasy, and it ticked off all the boxes I have when searching for something new to read. The world is absolutely wondrous, spinning several figures and creatures of Greek mythology in a completely new way. For any myth lover, identifying those easter eggs is the greatest joy I find in reading any retelling/reimagining. It stays true to the source material while becoming an exciting adventure that can stand on its own.
Queen of the Shadowlands, Adria, resonated with me the most in the story as she navigates the pressure of being the queen everyone wants her to be, while aspiring to be someone she can be proud to see in the mirror every day. I really enjoyed her banter with Lori and watched as it grew into something more. Each word is written with such care and depth. AND THE YEARNING!! The yearning is so visceral, it left me hungry for more.
BETWEEN SUN AND SHADOW is a sapphic reimagining of Hades and Persephone that follows Shadowlands queen Adria and the Daylands heiress Kori as they navigate the complex dynamic between their two worlds and a romance full of delightful yearning. Readers will enjoy the perfect blend of science and magical wonder in this YA science fantasy.
When I first came across BETWEEN SUN AND SHADOW, I was blown away by the cover’s unique color scheme and the premise’s retelling told through a diverse lens. I’m always on the hunt for more sapphic fantasy, and it ticked off all the boxes I have when searching for something new to read. The world is absolutely wondrous, spinning several figures and creatures of Greek mythology in a completely new way. For any myth lover, identifying those easter eggs is the greatest joy I find in reading any retelling/reimagining. It stays true to the source material while becoming an exciting adventure that can stand on its own.
Queen of the Shadowlands, Adria, resonated with me the most in the story as she navigates the pressure of being the queen everyone wants her to be, while aspiring to be someone she can be proud to see in the mirror every day. I really enjoyed her banter with Lori and watched as it grew into something more. Each word is written with such care and depth. AND THE YEARNING!! The yearning is so visceral, it left me hungry for more.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
There isn't anything inherently wrong with this book, it's just that the part of the blurb that I was most interested in turned out not to be a significant factor of the book. This book is labeled as a genre mashup between fantasy and science fiction. I think it's useful to note that, in my opinion, it's mostly fantasy. I was hoping for more descriptions of the tidally locked planet and the science of what happens on such a planet. Instead, the book leans heavily into the speculative in which the asteroid and the tidal locking causes fantastical mutations and superpowers-- but without an explanation, or a logical 'magic system' of how that happened, if that makes sense. If I could draw a parallel it's like Peter Parker got bit by a radioactive spider and instead of getting radiation sickness he got superpowers. Because he just did. Don't think about it.
So, what I'm saying is that this is a perfectly fine fantasy book as long as you don't come hoping for science. I would be tempted to market the book as just fantasy and take off the science fiction label. I'm not sure a fun robot and being in space scratches the itch that people who read sci fi are hoping to scratch.
As a fantasy book, though, it's doing just fine. People like Peter Parker and people who show up for Spiderman don't care that it's not a very science-forward way to gain superpowers. I think it's very possible that these characters could spark their own fandom.
So, what I'm saying is that this is a perfectly fine fantasy book as long as you don't come hoping for science. I would be tempted to market the book as just fantasy and take off the science fiction label. I'm not sure a fun robot and being in space scratches the itch that people who read sci fi are hoping to scratch.
As a fantasy book, though, it's doing just fine. People like Peter Parker and people who show up for Spiderman don't care that it's not a very science-forward way to gain superpowers. I think it's very possible that these characters could spark their own fandom.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I would first like to start this review by thanking Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for providing a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I think, for me personally, this book was a miss. I also know, for me, this book was a miss because I had different expectations going into it than I was given because of the description. I was expecting a little more sci-fi in the story than I was given. This book was mostly marketed to meet as a queer science fiction retelling of Hades & Persephone. Most of the rest of that marketing is accurate, but this was much more of a science fantasy than a science fiction.
This is also just another personal preference, but I just really couldn’t get into the main characters. For me personally, it felt like they were frequently acted upon rather than acting, and I just have a really difficult time with stories where that feels like the case. So, because of both of these things combined I quickly lost interest in the story and almost didn’t finish reading it. I think, if I related to the characters more and it had been marketed to me as science fantasy, I could have maybe given it a 4 star review.
Overall, I would rate this book a 2 out of 5 star rating for me personally. I think others might enjoy it if they know more about what they are going into.
I think, for me personally, this book was a miss. I also know, for me, this book was a miss because I had different expectations going into it than I was given because of the description. I was expecting a little more sci-fi in the story than I was given. This book was mostly marketed to meet as a queer science fiction retelling of Hades & Persephone. Most of the rest of that marketing is accurate, but this was much more of a science fantasy than a science fiction.
This is also just another personal preference, but I just really couldn’t get into the main characters. For me personally, it felt like they were frequently acted upon rather than acting, and I just have a really difficult time with stories where that feels like the case. So, because of both of these things combined I quickly lost interest in the story and almost didn’t finish reading it. I think, if I related to the characters more and it had been marketed to me as science fantasy, I could have maybe given it a 4 star review.
Overall, I would rate this book a 2 out of 5 star rating for me personally. I think others might enjoy it if they know more about what they are going into.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Between Sun and Shadow by Laura Genn is a Hades and Persephone retelling with an imaginative spin. The setting is a Sci-fi style world split between endless light and permanent shadow. The story is deeply character-driven, with Kori and Adria carrying the weight of leadership, loneliness, and expectation, and their relationship building with a mix of tension, softness, and real emotional pull. The worldbuilding is creative and a little chaotic, it leans heavily on Fantasy and Science Fantasy with world building that focuses on the plot and characters rather than scientific explanations.
**This review is based on an e-ARC generously provided to me through Netgalley**
**This review is based on an e-ARC generously provided to me through Netgalley**
Review of advance copy received from Author
I adored this queer sci-fi with Hades/Persephone vibes--it has fascinating world-building, snappy banter, and deep discussions of consciousness and sentience. So honored to provide a blurb!
“An enthralling, intricately-built, and hopeful sci-fi that feels simultaneously fresh and nostalgic. BETWEEN SUN AND SHADOW features characters who’ll steal your heart, explosive political intrigue, and high-chemistry sapphic yearning to swoon for.” 💖
“An enthralling, intricately-built, and hopeful sci-fi that feels simultaneously fresh and nostalgic. BETWEEN SUN AND SHADOW features characters who’ll steal your heart, explosive political intrigue, and high-chemistry sapphic yearning to swoon for.” 💖
April 12, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Between Sun and Shadow is probably the most unique reinvention of the Hades and Persephone myth I’ve ever come across. A planet that has stopped spinning, resulting in half that live in perpetual light and half in perpetual dark, the latter mutated by radiation into something monstrous and supernatural—brilliant! I absolutely adored the world building so much.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Love beauty and the beast / hades Persephone retellings and this one has a really unique twist. Enjoyed the sci fi / fantasy feel and the world building was well done where I can picture it and understand it but is in the background with the focus being on our characters and their relationship. Thanks to Netgalley the author and the publisher for this arc
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I can not emphasize enough how much I loved this book. The storytelling was marvelous, the moments of levity through despite the ever growing conflict through kept it from being completely dark and gloomy, and the romance at the center of the story was well developed and thought out.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews