Persephone's Revenge: A dark Hades and Persephone retelling

by Deborah J. Martins

To kill a god, she needs a monster

Persephone is going to kill Zeus.

She doesn’t care that he’s King of Olympus, she doesn’t care that he’s ruled for as long as anyone can remember, and she certainly doesn’t care what the gods will do when they realise she’s coming for his throne.

There’s just one she can’t kill Zeus alone.

To kill a god, she needs a monster.

And there’s only one both strong enough to defeat the God of Gods and mad enough to even try.

Hades, the terrifying ruler of the Underworld, hates his brother enough to say yes to Perspehone’s scheme.

Worse, he finds himself saying yes to her.

But war between gods is never simple.

Every alliance Persephone forges pulls the heavens closer to civil war and every step toward vengeance tightens the noose around her throat. A noose Hades would gladly burn the world to cut.

As the Underworld shifts beneath Persephone’s feet, she starts to realise that rather than being the monster she needed, Hades may be the one thing standing between her and becoming one herself.

Because to truly kill Zeus, Persephone must embrace the darkest parts of her nature, while Hades must decide whether he is willing to lose himself—body, throne, and soul—just to keep her safe.

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This is a dark book, please read the trigger warnings before proceeding.

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 20, 2026

Reviews

[Stefanie Verhelst · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dark romantasy where seduction , passion, vengeance and power games are perfectly intertwined!

The author creates emotional depth and captures the characters in their growth and emotional journey!

A very interesting dark romance read! I highly recommend it!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lilith's_Library_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, seductive, and emotionally powerful

Persephone's Revenge is a dark, intoxicating retelling that breathes fresh life into the classic Hades and Persephone myth. Filled with passion, vengeance, power, and emotional depth, this story delivers a seductive blend of mythology and dark romance.

Persephone’s journey is one of strength, transformation, and reclaiming power. I loved watching her grow into her darkness and step fully into her own, making her character arc both empowering and deeply satisfying. Hades was intense, brooding, and magnetic — the perfect counterpart, with their chemistry crackling on every page.

The world-building was rich and atmospheric, capturing the haunting beauty of the Underworld while weaving in danger, intrigue, and emotional tension. The romance burned slow and deep, layered with longing, control, and surrender, making every interaction feel charged and meaningful.

While a few moments felt slightly rushed, the emotional payoff, dark themes, and immersive storytelling made this a captivating read.

✨ Final thoughts: Dark, seductive, and emotionally powerful — Persephone’s Revenge is a strong four-star retelling for fans of mythological romance, morally grey characters, and fierce heroines.

[Kell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Persephone and Hades retelling. I liked that we get more of the story than ate so many pomegranates and had to stay, giving an alternative of her never needing to leave. I loved that the underworld accepted Persephone, and Hades actually had to try to prove himself. The villain arch for Zeus was a great touch to the story and showed outside appearances can be very different from reality. Persephone began the story feeling weak and ended with the greatest strength.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh the absolutely rage I felt reading this!!! Literally angry and absolutely devastated. Persephone deserved so much better than the hand she was dealt. However, her revenge and her anger was so well deserved. I love seeing characters actually get angry and actually try and do something to those who harmed them. This story, while a romance between Hades and Persephone, I adored her rage and anger. My only issue or complaint is the way it ended. Compared to the rest of the story, the ending was lacking. It felt unfinished after the intensity of the rest of the book.

[Indie · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it !! love Persephone and Hades... this is their re-telling and story... a fast paced action packed revenge saga... it was all her idea.. to kill Zeus.. she knew she needed help so, she got Hades to help... he hated his brother... and he would do anything to help her... god vs god... a civil war... becoming a monster... it was so good until....wait for it !!! yeah...

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this as a Hades and Persephone retelling, it does the concept perfectly and was engaged from start to finish. It uses the concept perfectly and had that kill Zeus plot that I was wanting when reading the description. Deborah J. Martins wrote this perfectly and was glad I got to read this and am excited for more.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chrisanna Myrena Hampton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story bad climax

The story builds and builds and builds, and you think this great amazing thing is going to happen and then your just let down and not even gently your thrown to the ground and upset at how amazing that sence could of gone, loved the story but, if you read it you would probably agree

[Sinful Bookwyrm · Rating 4 out of 5]

While some narrative pacing felt rushed, the emotional resonance, exploration of dark themes, and storytelling are skillfully executed. This dark, seductive, and emotionally potent retelling is recommended for readers of mythological romance and warrants a four-star rating. It is highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Shamy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really good. Loved the connection better Persephone and Hades. This was dark and intense. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. This was really intriguing and I loved the way it was written. Only two things I felt could’ve been better. The pacing was off, and the build up left me hanging. It didn’t jump out at me like I was expecting it to.

[Vivien R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really great retelling of Persephone and Hades. She really wants revenge against Zeus but to do that she needs a god to help her. She asks Zeus’ brother Hades for help and because he hates his brother, he says he’ll do it. I always love mythology retellings and I think this storyline is great.

[Megan Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who loves Greek God mythology . I really enjoyed this book. ☺
Highly recommend it for all.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.