7th Circle

Hades #1

by Tate James

Five years ago, I masterminded the infamous massacre of the Tri-state Timberwolves.

The streets outside the Wolves HQ ran red with the blood of the old guard, and not one of those members loyal to my father were spared mercy. Not a single one.

I let the media twist and distort the story. My new recruits eagerly proved themselves in spreading false news, in covering our tracks. To the general public, the Tri-State Timberwolves were extinct.

But that couldn’t have been further from the truth. We changed, we grew, we evolved and came out stronger than ever. Now, I live, eat, sleep and breathe Timberwolves. I’ll do anything to keep my empire safe and thriving. To keep the people depending on me safe.

So, what do I do, when it’s my own weakness that places us all in danger? When I let sex cloud my judgment, and my people pay the price?

Simple. Kill the distractions.

I’m called Hades for a reason, after all.

Genres: Romance, Dark Romance, Why Choose, Dark, Contemporary, Audiobook, Smut

380 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 8, 2021

Reviews

[Namera [The Literary Invertebrate] · Rating 4 out of 5]

⤅ THIS is the heroine I wanted Madison Kate to be.

Hades is probably the most genuinely badass heroine I've encountered in a while. Yes, heroine - not a spoiler, you find out pretty much on page 1 that she's the woman on the cover, even though the MK series led you to believe she was male. Also, I want to add here that you never meet Hades in MK's series, so the cliffhanger at the end where Madison reacts with shock at the identity revelation is extra mean. But whatever, let's dive in.

⤅ PLOT

23-year-old Hades (birth name Hayden, fake name Daria) is the most powerful, vicious, and feared gang leader in the area. She masterminded a massacre years ago that killed most of the other gangsters in the area (I think, the book gets confusing at times). Unfortunately, even gang leaders are prone to embarrassing crushes. When she's turned down by rival gang leader Cass because he thinks he's too old for her, at 34, she ends up drinking alone in one of the clubs she owns.

Enter Lucas Wilder. She knows he's younger than her, an innocent, and a soon-to-be stripper employee at the club. But she ends up having a one-night-stand with him to get Cass out of her system, only they can't stay away from each other, so one night turns into many. Also hovering is her best friend Zayden 'Zed' de Rosa, her second-in-command, who's always been a manwhore but is now acting weirdly. Hades has got to juggle these three men while running her criminal empire, looking after her headstrong younger sister Persephone, and dealing with the fact that a man she killed years ago is apparently back and wants revenge.

⤅ THE GOOD

✔️ Hades is AWESOME. This is one of the very few books I've read where the author tells me that the heroine is a bad bitch, and I actually believe it 100%. She's the reason the book gets 3 stars and not 4. Her single-minded commitment to her duty, the way she never loses her brain, and how she handles men who screw up... I'm here for it. All the heroes kind of tiptoe around her, because she's even more alpha than they are and they know it. Simultaneously, she acknowledges that sometimes having all that control is too much for her, and the bedroom is one place she'd like to be dominated. This isn't really explored too much here in book one, but I'd definitely like to see it go further.

✔️ I was a big fan of Lucas's character. He's younger than Hades, and provides a good counterpoint to Cass who's so much older. The relationship with him is VERY fast-burn which I don't tend to like, but since the one with Cass is extremely slow-burn and the one with Zed hasn't even gotten off the ground yet, I could handle it.

✔️ Speaking of - I like how all the relationships progressed at such different paces. It felt very individualistic and way more natural.

✔️ I think might be James's best-written book yet. Tight, fast-paced prose, feeling very spare and stripped-down.

⤅ THE BAD

❌ Some bits of the plot are just... confusing. I don't really get the whole TriState Wolves/Copper Wolves/Silver Wolves or whatever thing, and I don't remember anything about the massacre. This feels like readers were being expected to remember more from the MK books than they actually would, and a first-time reader would probably be totally lost.

❌ The whole thing with a stalker trying to kill the heroine is too much MK for my liking. We need different plots, because right now it looks like I already know where this one goes.


⤅ Overall

Definitely excited for the sequel.

[Blog]

[Yana · Rating 1 out of 5]

No, no thank you. DNF at 30%

[Jessica ❥Chatterbooks Book Blog❥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow, I bought the 7th Circle audiobook without realizing it, and I'm so fucking glad I did! It's incredibly well done. The male narrator's voice in particular is a new favorite of mine, but the female's voice screams Hades. Both are absolute perfection! You're never forced to hear a female narrator's cringe worthy attempt at a male's dialogue or vice either which has to be hands down my favorite thing about the entire experience! Lucas Webley and Noelle Bridges killed it!

As far as the actual story goes, 5 stars all the way! It's well-written, perfectly paced, intriguing, and full of mystery and sexual tension. I'm so excited to be diving into a brand new series in this world!

Though I'm enjoying the plot, the characters are where it's at for me. Tate James has outdone herself with the character of Hades a.k.a. Hayden Darling Timber. She's a badass in every single way, but I love when we get to see glimpses of her softer side shining through. I'm also a fan of all 3 of her love interests! How could you not adore Lucas with his model tier good looks, huge heart, and massive dick to match, Cass, the sexy, tattooed giant with his growly personality, or Zed, her hot, loyal, ride or die still resisting stepping over the friendship line with Hayden even though he clearly wants to? I can't wait to see how their relationships develop over the course of the series. Something tells me it's going to be one hell of a ride!

If you're debating whether or not you should read this series, stop, take this review as a sign, and one-click 7th Circle right now! You won't regret it!

Reverse harem fans, this one's for you!

*This series is meant to be read after the Maddison Kate series.

[Al *the semi serial series skipper* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book about nothing.

This book was lukewarm the entire read. I kept expecting more. I didnt buy into the criminal mastermind shtick they had going either.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the Madison Kate series, I expected something similar with this book. Maybe it's because of the covers? But I was pleasantly surprised that this really wasn't anything like that series. Hades is such a fun heroine and I loved how she was this underwood boss that didn't take crap from anyone. She could handle herself and had a whole empire to run. What I really enjoyed about this book, though, was the relationships. She slowly developed a relationship with three different characters and had such a different relationship, history, and vibe with each of the guys. I am definitely a fan of Lucas and can't wait to see more of what happens with their relationship. I know this is a reverse harem, so I'm excited to see how that plays out in the next book. And that ending!! What's going to happen next?? I have to know. The middle of the book did slow down a bit and lost my interest until the plot picked up again, which is why I'm giving this four stars, but I am definitely hooked on this series!

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ☆

my experience with this book was all over the place, i couldn’t figure out if i liked it or not until i got to the end and realized i need to know what’s gonna happen next. Hades is known for being this badass in the crime world and i don’t know if i agree necessarily because there’s too much telling and not showing. i would’ve loved to see moments of her actually in action to make the claims more convincing and believable for me.

“You carry so much weight on your shoulders.. let me be an outlet for all that stress, beautiful. I’ll be your lighthouse if you let me.”

the love interests also threw me for a loop especially cause she’s the most sexual with Lucas, but then i find out he’s 18 and it all felt a bit weird.. i do really like him though, he’s really sweet and direct but i just wish he wasn’t a teenager lol. Zed is probably my favorite cause he’s her best friend and there’s so much amazing tension between them as they keep circling eachother and the deeper feelings they both clearly have but are too stubborn to say out loud. then there’s Cass who’s the leader of a rival gang and a lot older than Hades’ is, so there’s some push and pull there on his end too as he tries to deny their connection. i don’t think this book was the best in setting up the series but it was so entertaining that im willing to ignore all the issues i had.

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hades rises from the ashes!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚💜❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎
Character development: 🤐🤫🫣☺️🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration

The heroine: Hayden Darling Timber (a.k.a. Hades, a.k.a. Daria Wolfe, a.k.a. Dare) - a 23 year old successful businesswoman. Along with 7th Circle, a male/female strip joint, she is the owner of a bunch of other businesses and she is the CEO of a multi-billion dollar hospitality corporation. She is also the leader of the Tri-State Timberwolves crime syndicate after she organized the coup and massacre of all the Timberwolves that had been loyal to her father. She herself killed her father and put a stop to the human trafficking of children in her town.

The Heroes: Lucas, Cass, Zed - Lucas is model handsome and ballsy with an edge, though he is a bit naive. Cass is a big, muscular, tattooed mountain of a man with bad attitude to boot and is head of the Shadow Grove Reapers, Zed is Hayden’s best friend who stands by her side no matter what and resists any feelings he might have for her.

The Story: Hades is quite a bad girl and a fierce woman. Though Hayden is somewhat damaged. She once had a crush on her best friend Zed, but now they are just friends. He goes through women like they are candy and acts jealous at times. She now has a crush on Cass, but he turned her down flat saying that he wasn’t interested in children, though she is only eleven years younger than the big gang leader.

Recovering from that slight, Hades gets drunk and meets a young man at 7th Circle who came to apply for a job as a stripper. They hook up and begin to get closer. Hayden finds she is much more interested in Lucas than she expected. She liked that he brought some light into her dark world. Though she has a policy of not sleeping with her employees, so she doesn’t plan to see him after the first time, but can’t help herself.

This book is a good introduction to all the characters, which is a must in the first book of a reverse harem romance. It shows that the three men are all attracted to Hades and her to them in different ways. It also shows how each of the three men have their own unique personalities. It gives background on the criminal organization Hades runs and how she got to the position she is in.

I must say, I do love a strong female character, but I am not too sure about Hades. She is brutal and cutthroat, though she seems to be always telling us or showing us how terrible she is and it just seems that people that are really bad to the bone, don’t have to inform you how bad they are. Plus the fact that she carries a Desert Eagle handgun, which looks ridiculous in a girl sized hand.

I did like the fact that Hades looked after her sister Persephone who is in high school and the fact that someone from her past is after her. I was not happy to find out Lucas had secrets and what some of those secrets were.

Narrated via Duet Narration by Noelle Bridges and Lucas Webley. Noelle has a great voice, which sounds age appropriate and is very sonorous while still being believable as the hard as nails woman that Hades is. Lucas also has a pleasant sounding voice which is deep and sexy enough to keep me interested. I loved the fact that this was done in duet narration. I hate when women do men’s voices and vice versa, so this was a nice change of pace and there are three more to go in this series.

Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY SMOKES- 7th Circle is nothing like I expected- so pretty much the total Tate James experience. This is Shadow Grove like we’ve never seen it - and I am obsessed. Entertaining and sexy- of course. But what has me most enamored with 7th Circle are the deeply complicated character dynamics and the artful contrasts that make up this story. By far Tate’s most psychologically interesting series to date- and we’ve only just begun!

I’ve written and deleted this review so many times, because when it comes down to it, I don’t want to spoil a single thing. That is part of what makes this story so incredible- the anticipation of discovering the much teased identity of the mythic Hades. And the only way to REALLY absorb this story as it is meant to be told is to just dive in.

This story is BRILLIANT- and I’m convinced that this is going to be Tate’s most complex, most revolutionary series yet. Most certainly, this is her strongest writing to date. But unlike my normal review approach, I can’t really dive into the literary magic with much specificity without risking inadvertent allusions to our namesake's identity- so, this review will be shorter than normal and incredibly vague. But know this- this story is literary genius. Tate is going somewhere here that is incredibly inventive, radically fresh, and so cleverly constructed. (and hey- Once you read, join the spoiler room- you’ll find my more thorough/specific analysis speckled throughout comments, haha)

What I love so much about Tate James as an author is that she always sees the big picture- not just the story in the moment. Remember this, dear reader, because each book in her series advances the story in a very meticulous and artfully crafted way. 7th Circle is about foundations- helping us understand the players, understand the landscape, and re-orienting us as readers to a world we think we know. We’ve seen Shadow Grove through MK’s eyes- but MK is no longer our protagonist. We now see Shadow Grove, and some of the characters we’ve met before, through very different eyes. And Tate lays this out brilliantly, because this world, these people, feel somehow both familiar and entirely new. Oh, we have the same gritty darkness, the urgent intensity and explosive chemistry we loved about MK’s version of the world, but we also get to experience it in a whole new light. And Tate is so clever in how she uses tone, character voice, and pacing to establish this series as a world of its own. This is one of the most interesting, compelling, and original character voices I’ve read in a while. But the pacing is what I loved most here- Tate takes her time laying the foundation. The “action”/ the suspense and drama we know is coming builds slowly- so that we can REALLY immerse ourselves in this new Shadow Grove, but most importantly so we can really immerse ourselves in this harem. Because their dynamics are what steal the show.

I want to talk about this creative genius of this harem SO much, but I can’t say too much without spoiling anything, but I will say this- this harem feels very different than MK’s, or any other harem I’ve read. The foundation of this harem, the connective tissue is radically different- and SO interesting. There are so many complexities to the relationship dynamics. The role of history and power is going to be a huge factor in how this story evolves, I think, and it is going to make things messy and fluid in ways that are so energizing. The way these characters are matched is just insanely brilliant writing- the way Tate has gotten to the core of the characters and understood the harem’s construction through that lens, WOW- I just can’t wait to see where it goes. And the parts she focuses on in this story in the harem progression- not at all what you’d expect, but turns out to be just such smart character writing. Remember, we have books to go, so Tate makes an important investment in this story- she's establishing our main character, the heart of this series. So I can already see the writing on the wall- this harem is going to be original, and dynamic.

For those wondering, I LOVE HADES. Though I loved every character in this story. Regardless of whether your theories were right or wrong (I was wrong…), buckle up for this ride, because Hades is 10x better than I ever imagined. This is a revolutionary character in many ways- and Tate is letting this character breathe in gritty glory.

This is going to be a wild ride- and most certainly Tate’s most inventive series yet. The first few chapters alone establish just what this story alone established this- and, of course, in typical Tate fashion, she leaves us with a cliffhanger that has been battered, bruised, and mystified. I am ALL in!

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.6 stars.
I remember not really being sure about the Madison Kate series when I read the first book.
This gave me a similar feeling…

This felt like half the story was all smut. I don’t think I would have minded quite so much if it wasn’t for Hades saying this is not usually how they acted.

The relationship with Lucas seemed entirely rushed.
Not to mention the shift in Cass’ actions. Then again, I can submit something freed up inside him when that ‘pass’ was made.

I do like Zed though. He’s the best friend and they’re both too blind (or stubborn) to see what everyone else can.

I like Hades as a character. I just would have liked a little more of the boss b*tch version.
I appreciate James’ effort to make her feel like a real human.

I really liked the snippets of backstory we received! I can’t wait to explore that more.

Lucas Webley is back as the male narrator and I still think his voice works very well for these characters.
Noelle Bridges is the female narrator for this series. I was a little sad at first (because I really liked Brooke Daniels) but Bridges quickly won me over.
Her voice works really well for the story.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how the roles were reversed 🥵 she was the badass mafia/gang boss I ATE THIS UP!!

I did the audiobook and OMG the narrator did phenomenal!

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is this even better than the Madison Kate series? What is this sorcery?!!!


Find me on:

[Marguerite (M) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Hate and it was incredibly meh, I barely skimmed by it til the cliffhanger. Yet, my KU was basically empty and 7th Circle was my first rec.

Well, fuck me. That was everything MK could have been and more. The first book of Hades was basically what RH and dark romance should be in my (super humble) opinion: broody love interests and a motherf*cking strong heroine who actually is in charge.

Seriously, I love a dark romance but boy, I'm getting tired of all of those dumbasses who get thrown around by sex gods because their panties keep auto-combusting. Makes me really wonder how more than one overbearing psycho dude can be into those chicks and willing to share when they have the backbone of an abandoned puppy.

Anyhoo. Hades -Hayden, Dare, Darling, sir, ma'am, Red, Daria- is BADASS. She's not perfect, she's defo psycho, she shoots people between the eyes, she's hot for a barely legal piece of ass and her panties do auto-combust. But dang if this lady ain't in charge... Her boys -sorry, men in her case- actually grovel. The first one begs her, the second is worse than me on my period and the third one is *muah* (chief's kiss), aka her awesome, loyal 2nd in command who doesn't want to mess things up (and totally a manwhore).

Like, I don't know where book 2 went yet cause I literally just read book one's cliffy. But right now, it's one hell of a ride and not as disappointing as all the dark romance BS I've read lately. It has some really basic cliche tropes but the cast makes it enjoyable as hell. This thing just after Make My Move -the boys pov book from Hannaford prep- renew my faith in RH. Hallelujah, and down the rabbit hole I go again.

> No MM
> No FF
> Three guys
> Single POV
> Who falls first? One she does, two they do.

Trigger warning:
A bit of everything, Hades runs a criminal Empire. Two age gaps (yum): one guy is 11 years older and one is four years younger (and in high school).

[Lilith *EUPHORIA_READS_* · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE REVIEW FOR THE BOOK: 7TH CIRCLE.


GENRE:REVERSE HAREM.
AUTHOR:TATE JAMES.
TYPE: BOOK #1 OF HADES SERIES.
POV: FIRST PERSON: SINGLE POV.
MY RATING: 5 ++++ stars.



I am in a serious dilemma here guys!!!
This book was perfection and I am getting more and more excited just to think that this is just a start to a series which will be...I AM SO SURE... the best one from author James yet...

If you are a fan of her works or a new reader, no matter how much mentally prepare you are for the plot twists and surprises coming your way, you still are in the war unarmed....
If you have read Madison Kate's series like me...then you must be familiar with the world of Shadow Grove, but here, it is seen in a new light...

The biggest Question... WHO THE HELL IS HADES?!!! ...any guesses?!! ...DON'T! because you couldn't be more wrong...And I was Wrong!🙈🤣.
I LOVE HADES...the character development is Brilliant.
There were so many familiar character but a newness was indeed created cleverly by this author so every chapter...page...darn it...even a sentence was a shocking aspect in its own.

It was slow-paced but it was needed to be to create the engrossing plotline with suspense...
Action-packed with steamy scenes to melt your Kindle ....a number of showers were needed here..( just telling you..😜)



I knew CLIFFHANGER will be a big one so I was mentally prepared to suffer the consequences of reading 8t before the release of all the books in the series but I have no regrets....😍😁🙈.
Definitely recommending this to all MK series lovers and to new readers searching for thrill and steam in books with Characters to mess with your head.

[aeryn rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

Wow wow wow oh my god wow! I will seriously eat up anything this woman writes. While I didn't like this one as much as the MK series, I still absolutely loved it.

Any woman that Tate James writes is automatically a badass and Hades is no exception. I know she's supposed to be widely feared, but that vibe didn't feel entirely genuine to me. Like yes she's a bad bitch but I found some of the tough guy dialogue to be a bit cringey. I liked all of the MMC's, especially Luke and Zed. 🤭 Cass is an a-hole but I was told to wait it out and to not hate him yet.

I read this book in less than 12 hours. It was sooo easy to binge!! The plot was SO GOOD? I was fully invested the entire time I could not put the book down. I don't know if it's the overall plot that I'm attracted to or if it's just how Tate James wrote the plot. Either way I'm not complaining cause it had me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

I am so glad I bought the entire series so I don't have to wait for the next book to come out. I liked the little cliffhanger at the end of this, so I might have to jump into the second book right after this. 👀

This entire universe has me in a chokehold. I don't need to explain anymore. 😭❤️

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tate James the woman you are 🧎🏼‍♀️
I will read anything she writes so here we are 😌

[Lacey (laceybooklovers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having so much fun reading the Madison Kate series, I knew I had to read more from Tate James! I waited until the Hades series finished releasing before starting though because of cliffhangers... and I'm so glad I did. This was a great first book and I'm enjoying all the characters! Hades is the badass leader of the Timberwolves and pretty much owns her city. We're mostly told about her character though so I'm hoping we'll get more background in the next books.

[Poppy Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

Tate James literally never fails me, LOVING being back in Shadow Grove with a new set of characters 🤩 the storyline is so fun and such a page turner, Hades is such a great character she’s so fiery I love herrrr
Is it a literary masterpiece piece, no (neither was Madison Kate still on my fav series ever) but it’s just so easy to sit down and get lost in a Tate James storyline
Onto book 2 🤩

[vee · Rating 3 out of 5]

💫 2.9 - 3.2 stars

im not sure what the plot (or what the author aimed for) was by the end of the book. what even is this book about? chase lockhart’s revenge? the bad guy pretending to be his ghost? hades’ inner struggle over her boys? cas’ schoolboy tantrum? who knows. but it matter not coz the most fastpaced book ive read in months deserves a place in the 3 stars shelf

one weak point was though u could say the heroine is badass and all that (she has balls but i dont think she is), shes so flat to me. personalitiless? more so boring tbh. i still needed much more convincing on her connections / whatever it was that pulled her in to the guys were, (/ them her) and even the chemistries needed work. but my ranking for now :

lucas
zed

cas

although bout lucas, it felt like his point of existing at all in the book was to chase hades around like a lil puppy begging for attention, which got annoying pretty fast. i do like their chemistry, it seem to me that he was the main focus in this book seeing as he spent most times w hades, but well. if homeboy doesnt man up in the next installment and have an actual life outside of pining for a gangleader older woman, then he might switch places w cas (chances r low though. there were barely any spark between him and hades. but he is the grumpy of the bunch, so theres hope for the guy still). i do like zed as a character most but hades’ attraction to him in this book (which showed up just near the end) literally came outta nowhere. let us just see

no relationship by my definition yet, but theres still 3 books

[Sammie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, I really liked this! Normally I don’t love reading such strong and fierce and dominant female main characters, but Hayden has a real femininity and humanity about her. She doesn’t feel like a one dimensional caricature like some strong females can come off the page as.

And sweet, sweet Lucas. How he has my heart. I hate how oblivious Hayden is to his love, and for that matter, how Zed is obviously in love with her and probably Cass, too. Big fan of this possibly turning RH!

I really like the criminal aspects of this, just the grittiness and unflinching ability for these characters to get shit done. I went into this book blind, and I’m getting the sense that I should have read the Madison Kate series first, buuuuut I’m excited to keep reading. But if Lucas is dead then I am throwing this fucking book in the lake and starting a new life!

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an action-packed, extremely sexy, dark and addictive series from the Queen of Reverse Harems.

Tate James is back with another kick-ass, take-no-shit heroine with Hayden. Hayden–Hades–is the leader of the criminal underworld in Shadow Grove and she does it wearing tight leather pants and high-heeled Louboutins. A girl after my own heart, truly. I adored her as the main character and would let her step on me. She is so strong, but she also has a lot of trauma and vulnerability that she keeps hidden.

I loved this start to the series! The very first chapter had me utterly hooked and I fell in love with Lucas instantly. Hayden's budding relationships with Cass and Zed were also interwoven in the first book and I truly found myself loving all her men. This book is just the beginning, and the plot only gets darker, messier, and bloodier from here. There are so many players on the board, but Tate James gives you a glimpse as Hayden's past comes back to haunt her.

TW: PTSD/trauma from past SA and drugs

"Mentally, I wrote a quick eulogy for my panties because they'd officially drowned."

"I'm not asking for forever, Hayden. Just a chance. You carry so much weight on your shoulders... Let me be an outlet for all that stress, beautiful. I could be your lighthouse if you let me."

[Abstract ♥ Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS





Star Rating : 4 Stars

POV : Single

Cliffhanger : Yes

Pace of the story : Slow

Angst Rating : 4/10

Heat Rating : 6/10

Triggers Involved : Past Trauma



Plot Summary : I am not going to divulge much about the storyline at the risk of giving away any Spoiler. This is Hades story who is the Leader of the TimberWolves. I guess you'll have to read the book to know who Hades actually is 😌❤️.



Overall Opinion : The book was Good. I absolutely loved how badass Hades was !! As you know , this was an RH Romance , which means the main girl had more than one love interest. The pace of the story was very slow . There were times when I was getting bored but The suspense element of the book was great so that kept me hooked. The characters were perfect and I can't wait to see how this story turns out!! The Cliffhanger was a really big one so please read at your own risk. Hades was one scary badass and I bet you'll love getting to know who that is and how his story turns out! I think that the book was lacking an emotional upfront in it. But I guess that was how the characters were made , so emotions were never their thing. The book didn't answer any of my questions but since this was the first book , I kind of expected that! The author has successfully managed to hook me in this book and I can't wait to know what happens next!

Final Verdict :
The pace of the book was slow.
The suspense element was amazing and kept me hooked throughout the book!!
The book was lacking Angst and emotional stuff but that was ok for me.
Had a big Cliffhanger.
I am hooked and can't wait to know what happens next.




Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Bookbub | My Blog

[R.E. Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my God. This didn't cure my Madison Kate hangover, its worse! Being thrown back into the same universe with some old and new characters is always good, but im blown away by this book! You need this book, dont even wait for the next one!!

[Miftahul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hell fucking no. The cliffhanger dude. Woah! 😱😱 ok let me calm down first...huh..ok, like the way i devoured each page of this book dude...holy fucking shit. Hayden aka hades is hands down the most badass character i have ever read about and i loved it. This story is about Hayden aka hades who is a 23 yr old girl but rules the gang world, then there is Zen who is her second in command and kind off like her bff, then there is Cass who Hayden has a crush on but he rejected her saying he is too old for him but the sexual tension between the two cannot be mistaken and then there is Lucas who works for Hayden as a stripper but he starts to fall in love with Hayden for who she is. I freaking love Lucas cuz he is so innocent and such pure soul in the middle of darkness and Hayden is gonna corrupt the fuck outta him and i love it. Its clear that Cass, Zed and Lucas is gonna be her harem and she has chemistry and bonding with all of them, while Cass is that grumpy older dude, Zed is Hayden’s bff who always supports her and then Lucas is the light in her darkness. There is so much difference between all the guys even their age cuz Cass is 11 yrs older than Hayden, Zed is 8 yrs older while Lucas is 5 Yrs younger but that didnt change the fact that all three of them has serious bonding and protectiveness for Hayden and i cant wait for the guys to have a bonding between them as well. Lucas is the youngest of them all and so sweet! i legit wanted to cry while reading it but the problem was there were no tears but if there were i swear i would have cried because of all the twists and turns this book has and i enjoyed so much reading this and cant wait for the second book! Cass’s feelings towards Hayden was a bit confusing cuz i couldn’t understand if he wants her or not cuz one moment he is kissing her and then he says he is not attracted to her..so he was kinda confusing. Other than that i love love loveeed reading this book! Hayden is such a badass who doesnt let her emotions control her, she is so fucking strong like... i freaking love this women. She is like the freaking alpha queen and even the guys respect her so much, she is the boss of everyone literally.. i love her seriously and the cliffhanger! Dude i need the next book asap!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I never needed you to protect me."
"Yes, you did. I was just too late."

* * * * *

Jesus, Tate. Could you warn a girl before you're gonna blow her mind?!

7th Circle, the first of the Hades series, takes us back into the seedy underbelly and gang riddled streets of Shadow Grove. Our last time in Shadow Grove, we saw the story from MK's perspective, and she was unsuspecting and oblivous from the jump. MK knew nearly nothing of the dark secrets her hometown held and had us blindsided and tumbling down a rabbit hole.

But this time around, we don't enter the world of Shadow Grove under the same pretense. Nearly every man, woman and child in this story knows what they're in for, knows the stakes, the players and the rules of the game. And they all know the devil works hard, but to control the board, Hades works harder.

I am so UTTERLY in love with Hades I can't see straight. I mean shit, what a badass, and with a heart of gold, balls of steel and an iron will. Hades is used to knowing all, controlling all, and is willing to do anything it takes to protect what matters.

I know we're always yelling WTF, TATE?! and damn if the ending of this book didn't have me screaming that, too. But after finishing this story and diving back in for a reread because I might be just a little bit obsessed, all I can think to shout is oh HELL YEAH, TATE!

[✧ FLINN ✧ (Semi-Hiatus)]

DNF around 26%.

I couldn’t connect with the characters or the story. Everything is so confusing.
Maybe I should’ve start with the Madison Kate
series ?
I’m tired of reading sh*tty books tbh.
I’ll probably pick this up one day because the hype surrounding this series is pretty high and I want to understand the fuss about it but I think that Tate james books aren’t made for me, none of them worked so far 😓.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a fun start to this series! I love Hades so far--and as usual, that cliffhanger slayed.

[One chapter more · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am so so sorry... So sorry I didn't like it, so sorry to be ruining the rating. Just sorry.

But I also don't understand the appeal. Hades boinking an 18 years old? Nope, thank you, but no.

My issue could be that I haven't read the MK series but not sure if I'm going to either at this stage.

If you take out the love interests the plot is actually good so 2 stars for that, unfortunately the 'sexy' parts hold too much of Bleh for me to continue.

I am really sorry I didn't like it as the parts that I enjoyed are actually unique and awesome. Pitty the overall was not enough.

I'm sorry.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been waiting to start this spin off series because I absolutely loved the MK books. I was a bit worried at the beginning of this one that it wouldn’t live up to MK and her boys, but by the middle of it I fell in love with these characters and am so happy to be back in Shadow Grove.

I will say I don’t feel as connected yet to this story but I love that there is another mystery and that we are hearing a lot about the old characters. If anyone’s interested in reading these I 100% rec the Maddison Kate series to be read first! I now need to buy the rest of these books 😭

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread! I absolutely LOVE this series. is it odd for a spicy RH gang series to be my #1 comfort series? idc. these boys are my heart.

[Carla]

DNF at 28%
My mood isn’t good right now for this book!

[daemyra, the realm's delight · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because reviews praised the heroine for being what a strong heroine would actually be like if she was the leader of a motorcycle club... This also looked funny.

The reviews are right. Hayden/Hades/Darling is a badass. I could believe she is a leader. She doesn't hesitate to shoot, has quick reflexes and instincts, and dresses great. I also love that one of her love interests (she has 3) is an underaged dancer. The high school student/club love interest reminded me a lot of Justin from Queer as Folk US. Very earnestly in love/in lust with Hades, very puppy love.

I wasn't too into the drama with her sister having a crush on him. Actually let me correct myself. There was no drama - this is a pretty lighthearted read. But I didn't like the whole making out while the sister was in the other room. I guess if it's a lighthearted read, I want it to be squeaky clean. As much as a romance about the underworld can be :P

I was very much interested in this story for the first 50% but I didn't feel that invested in the club politics. There's a rat. There's mystery about the dancer. There is a thing about the past. However, some authors can really create an atmosphere of tense waiting, of teasing mystery. But this book wasn't that. There was a lot of action but I didn't feel too in it. It also wasn't funny as I was hoping it to be.

As it is, this ends on a cliffhanger that doesn't interest me enough to pick up the next book.