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Gods of Hunger #1
Drag Me Up
They say he’s a myth...
And Hades prefers it that way. He may do all the work, and Zeus may get all the credit, but at least it allows Hades to preserve the one thing he truly cares to have: his solitude. The mere mention of the Wraith of Khaos Falls is enough to keep order, and he is rarely forced to leave the shadows of Casino Asphodel.
She belongs in the spotlight...
And Persephone clawed her way out of Demeter’s shadow to reach it. Now she’s lead in Calliope’s Cirque production but not without great cost, and there is not enough money in the world to pay off the debt accrued for the simple mistake of trusting Zeus. Though it’s easier to ignore the bars when she still has room to fly.
Landing a residency at the legendary Casino Asphodel is everything she trained for. Meeting a man she’d been convinced didn’t exist? She could never be prepared for that. Hades isn’t prepared for her either, but it’s soon evident they’re a force when together. He gives her a soft place to land, and she makes him want to reach for the stars. But when Zeus ups the stakes, they must be willing to go all in, even if it means coming down from the sky. Or stepping into the light.
And Hades prefers it that way. He may do all the work, and Zeus may get all the credit, but at least it allows Hades to preserve the one thing he truly cares to have: his solitude. The mere mention of the Wraith of Khaos Falls is enough to keep order, and he is rarely forced to leave the shadows of Casino Asphodel.
She belongs in the spotlight...
And Persephone clawed her way out of Demeter’s shadow to reach it. Now she’s lead in Calliope’s Cirque production but not without great cost, and there is not enough money in the world to pay off the debt accrued for the simple mistake of trusting Zeus. Though it’s easier to ignore the bars when she still has room to fly.
Landing a residency at the legendary Casino Asphodel is everything she trained for. Meeting a man she’d been convinced didn’t exist? She could never be prepared for that. Hades isn’t prepared for her either, but it’s soon evident they’re a force when together. He gives her a soft place to land, and she makes him want to reach for the stars. But when Zeus ups the stakes, they must be willing to go all in, even if it means coming down from the sky. Or stepping into the light.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2021
182 people are currently reading
7365 people want to read
About the author
R.M. Virtues
13 books585 followersA profound lover of love and self-proclaimed son of the old gods, R.M. Virtues is an Afro-Native, Two-Spirit bestselling author of romance filled with mythology, fairy tales, and folklore. He currently resides in Nevada on unceded Nuwuvi lands. When not writing, R.M. can be found watching horror movies, playing rpg video games, or falling down a research rabbit hole.
You can currently find him online at rmvirtues.com or @rmvirtues on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Patreon.
You can currently find him online at rmvirtues.com or @rmvirtues on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Patreon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
April 20, 2021
This book made me so emotional. A roller coaster of emotions! RM Virtues wrote a magnificent Hades x Persephone romance and I truly hope everyone picks it up. You won't regret it.
Hades is the myth everyone keeps whispering about. Does he exist? Is he like the legends tell? Persephone is about to find out when she walks through his casino doors. She's there because she's an aerial silk performer in this new show at Hades's casino, so their meeting was bound to happen. They immediately feel the attraction for each other and the rest, as they say, is history.
I love seeing a soft Hades. A soft Hades for his Persephone. He can't help but be so happy whenever he's with her. When she's in the same room. When they're touching for a single moment. But also? They're really FREAKING HOT. The steamy scenes are sexy, hot, and incredible. They truly are the king and queen of the Underworld, damn. They also have such a healthy relationship, I felt so good whenever I was reading this book. There is no third-act breakup and the communication between them is *chef kiss*
♡ Black romance
♡ Trans Persephone
♡ Demisexual Hades
♡ Everyone sees they make you happy trope!! Literally, everyone ships them LOVE IT
I'm very excited about what's to come in this new series. I am already in love with every single secondary character. Aphrodite and Hephaestus? SIGN ME UP. Athena and Dionysus? THEY BETTER GET A STORY TOO! I'm obsessed with this world and characters completely.
Hades is the myth everyone keeps whispering about. Does he exist? Is he like the legends tell? Persephone is about to find out when she walks through his casino doors. She's there because she's an aerial silk performer in this new show at Hades's casino, so their meeting was bound to happen. They immediately feel the attraction for each other and the rest, as they say, is history.
I love seeing a soft Hades. A soft Hades for his Persephone. He can't help but be so happy whenever he's with her. When she's in the same room. When they're touching for a single moment. But also? They're really FREAKING HOT. The steamy scenes are sexy, hot, and incredible. They truly are the king and queen of the Underworld, damn. They also have such a healthy relationship, I felt so good whenever I was reading this book. There is no third-act breakup and the communication between them is *chef kiss*
♡ Black romance
♡ Trans Persephone
♡ Demisexual Hades
♡ Everyone sees they make you happy trope!! Literally, everyone ships them LOVE IT
I'm very excited about what's to come in this new series. I am already in love with every single secondary character. Aphrodite and Hephaestus? SIGN ME UP. Athena and Dionysus? THEY BETTER GET A STORY TOO! I'm obsessed with this world and characters completely.
June 28, 2022
This was my first book by RM Virtues, but my goodness it will not be my last. This was a brilliant debut. Absolutely brilliant and quite frankly, I can't wait to dig my claws into the rest of the series.
Drag Me Up is unlike any re-telling of Hades and Persephone that I've read before. It is a queer, Black retelling that out performs any iteration of the story I've seen thus far. There quite a few elements of this story that I enjoyed including the balancing of eroticism and romance. The sex scenes in this book were out of this world especially a particular threesome, but it was balanced with an extremely vulnerable relationship between Hades and Persephone. They both learn to give and take and support each other in a way that tugged at my heartstrings. I also appreciated the fact that readers get to see this softer side of Hades. In a lot of books that attempt to capture Greek mythology, Hades is characterized as this dark, evil god in contrast to his "good" and powerful brother Zeus and Poseidon; however, Virtues does an excellent and brilliant showing the true colors of these characters especially Zeus. I've always thought that Zeus was a complete ass, but it felt great to have my feelings confirmed on page. There is also this sense of found family that we get to see through the relationship that Hades has with a host of other characters. I can't begin to tell ya'll how much that made my heart melt.
Honestly, I couldn't praise this book enough. I'm still blown away that it's a debut. The writing style was impeccable. The pacing was on point and the character development was perfect. R.M. Virtues did many things in this debut that some writers strive to accomplish their entire career. I could not recommend this book enough and this is one that I will continue to gush over for the rest of the year. If you were hesitant about picking this book up, please just dive in. I promise you won't be disappointed. I will note that it is written in third person present tense which seems to bother some readers, but it didn't phase me at all.
We did do a live discussion of this one for the Queer Romance Readathon. You can check that out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQjTl...
Drag Me Up is unlike any re-telling of Hades and Persephone that I've read before. It is a queer, Black retelling that out performs any iteration of the story I've seen thus far. There quite a few elements of this story that I enjoyed including the balancing of eroticism and romance. The sex scenes in this book were out of this world especially a particular threesome, but it was balanced with an extremely vulnerable relationship between Hades and Persephone. They both learn to give and take and support each other in a way that tugged at my heartstrings. I also appreciated the fact that readers get to see this softer side of Hades. In a lot of books that attempt to capture Greek mythology, Hades is characterized as this dark, evil god in contrast to his "good" and powerful brother Zeus and Poseidon; however, Virtues does an excellent and brilliant showing the true colors of these characters especially Zeus. I've always thought that Zeus was a complete ass, but it felt great to have my feelings confirmed on page. There is also this sense of found family that we get to see through the relationship that Hades has with a host of other characters. I can't begin to tell ya'll how much that made my heart melt.
Honestly, I couldn't praise this book enough. I'm still blown away that it's a debut. The writing style was impeccable. The pacing was on point and the character development was perfect. R.M. Virtues did many things in this debut that some writers strive to accomplish their entire career. I could not recommend this book enough and this is one that I will continue to gush over for the rest of the year. If you were hesitant about picking this book up, please just dive in. I promise you won't be disappointed. I will note that it is written in third person present tense which seems to bother some readers, but it didn't phase me at all.
We did do a live discussion of this one for the Queer Romance Readathon. You can check that out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQjTl...
May 3, 2021
I've read my fair share of Hades & Persephone retellings over the years and I will tell you, this one has to be my favorite. A lot of it has to do with how well-executed this book was but also just how darn endearing this cast was. So we've got Hades, somewhat of a reclusive casino owner in the very dark and gothic-like city of Khaos Falls, and we have Persephone, a talented aerialist performing in a Cirque production in Hades's casino. Both of these characters are complex and multi-layered, maintaining many of the traits of their namesakes but also somehow standing on their own. Both Hades and Persephone have some baggage they need to overcome, especially Persephone, and their journeys are written with a lot of heart - they act as catalysts for each other in a sense, pushing the other to be stronger versions of themselves. You'll end up feeling a whole lot of pride for these characters by the end of the book.
This is undeniably a very steamy novel and I'll get to that in a little bit, but what made me love the book so much was how soft these two were together. Right off the bat, the chemistry and tense emotional connection between Hades and Persephone is a living breathing part of Drag Me Up. You will feel their energy as they dance around each other and the intensity of their sexual chemistry only heightens as the story progresses. The balance between the tenderness to their relationship and the absolute filthiness (I mean this in the best way possible) of their steamy scenes makes their relationship so memorable. One second I was swooning because of how sweet and shy they were being around each other, the next I was fanning myself as they burning up the sheets. And holy heck!! Those sex scenes! They were absolute fire and I loved how they served to deepen the strength of the bond between Hades and Persephone. I also appreciated how all the conflicts here are external. It was quite refreshing!
Besides the romance, I also enjoyed how seamless the worldbuilding was to understand. One thing with books inspired by Greek mythology, especially ones set in modern-day times, is that they can easily get confusing. I thought the author did a brilliant job here because I actually understood the politics of the world and didn't think it overpowered the story. Speaking of Greek mythology, there's a big cast of characters introduced here, but don't let that deter you - there are definitely characters who are more important than some, but they are all really interesting, especially their relationship dynamics with the two leads.
Anyways, I can't recommend Drag Me Up enough. It's sweet, steamy, and has two Black leads and a trans MC. It's so good and I'm now desperate for more of this series!
CWs: bomb blast, mentions of stalking/harassment, an incident involving gun violence
Relationship disclosure: R.M Virtues and I are mutuals on social media.
June 23, 2021
I’m not usually a Greek mythology retelling kind of gal, but this extremely queer Black m/f romance that’s a Hades/Persephone retelling kicked ass. Trans woman Persephone who’s a gifted aerialist? Complicated political and family machinations in an alt-Vegas? Heck yeah, and I cannot *wait* for the next book in this series.
August 25, 2021
♡ Hades/Persephone reimagining
♡ Gambling club owner (Hades)
♡ Worshipping hero
♡ Trans heroine
♡ BDSM
I'm such a sucker for Hades and Persephone retellings, and this one was soo good! Hades as a gamblng den owning worshipping hero is everything. I loved every second of how obsessed with Persephone he was! I also cannot wait for the rest of the books in this series, particularly Poseidon's story.
I love how the gods had this mafia vibe and there was this undercurrent of Moulin Rouge happening with Persephone as well. All of this made for such a great combination that makes me really excited to read this author's newest release.
I understand the hesitation people have mentioned when it comes to the tense this book was written in. I ended up getting used to the third person written in present tense, but every so often it would distract me as I was reading. I wish it was told in first person from multiple perspectives if it was going to be written in present tense, but for me, this didn't take away from my love of the story!
♡ Gambling club owner (Hades)
♡ Worshipping hero
♡ Trans heroine
♡ BDSM
I'm such a sucker for Hades and Persephone retellings, and this one was soo good! Hades as a gamblng den owning worshipping hero is everything. I loved every second of how obsessed with Persephone he was! I also cannot wait for the rest of the books in this series, particularly Poseidon's story.
I love how the gods had this mafia vibe and there was this undercurrent of Moulin Rouge happening with Persephone as well. All of this made for such a great combination that makes me really excited to read this author's newest release.
I understand the hesitation people have mentioned when it comes to the tense this book was written in. I ended up getting used to the third person written in present tense, but every so often it would distract me as I was reading. I wish it was told in first person from multiple perspectives if it was going to be written in present tense, but for me, this didn't take away from my love of the story!
June 21, 2022
This was the group book for the Queer Romance Readathon, and we had a great discussion of it here: https://youtu.be/gQjTlXJoIn8
This is such an impressive debut! Drag Me Up is an erotic, contemporary romance retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth where Persephone is a Black, trans acrobat and Hades is a Black, demi, pan-sexual man who owns the Asphodel Casino and runs the underworld of the city. It's clear the author really knows the underlying mythology and the characters/ relationships are so well executed.
This book moves fluidly from very sexy to deeply vulnerable. There are BDSM elements, but the hero and heroine both have moments of taking and giving up control. They have great communication, are pretty clear about consent, and clearly respect each other. The control play stays in the bedroom and doesn't lead into toxic relationship dynamics. They are both working through things and negotiating how they can be together and manage external conflict that might come between them. Hades is surprisingly soft despite his tough exterior and I loved him!
Zeus is rightfully painted as the philandering, self-involved ass he is and seeing him get his comeuppance is very satisfying. Some of the side characters are great and I love how the author decided to write Dionysus. Overall, just a really excellent example of indie romance and a very strong debut. And while there are couple minor instances of transphobia, it's generally a really accepting, safe world with lots of queer characters and a strong sense of found family.
Some minor quibbles with the writing at times, but again it's a first book and I will definitely read more from this author in the future!
Do note that this book includes stalking, harassment (not by the hero), and there are several explicit sex scenes including a threesome and BDSM elements.
This is such an impressive debut! Drag Me Up is an erotic, contemporary romance retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth where Persephone is a Black, trans acrobat and Hades is a Black, demi, pan-sexual man who owns the Asphodel Casino and runs the underworld of the city. It's clear the author really knows the underlying mythology and the characters/ relationships are so well executed.
This book moves fluidly from very sexy to deeply vulnerable. There are BDSM elements, but the hero and heroine both have moments of taking and giving up control. They have great communication, are pretty clear about consent, and clearly respect each other. The control play stays in the bedroom and doesn't lead into toxic relationship dynamics. They are both working through things and negotiating how they can be together and manage external conflict that might come between them. Hades is surprisingly soft despite his tough exterior and I loved him!
Zeus is rightfully painted as the philandering, self-involved ass he is and seeing him get his comeuppance is very satisfying. Some of the side characters are great and I love how the author decided to write Dionysus. Overall, just a really excellent example of indie romance and a very strong debut. And while there are couple minor instances of transphobia, it's generally a really accepting, safe world with lots of queer characters and a strong sense of found family.
Some minor quibbles with the writing at times, but again it's a first book and I will definitely read more from this author in the future!
Do note that this book includes stalking, harassment (not by the hero), and there are several explicit sex scenes including a threesome and BDSM elements.
May 6, 2021
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A persephone and hades retelling but Persephone is a black trans woman and Hades a black demisexual man?! YES YES YES
This story follows Persephone, an acrobat, that is running from Zeus and ends up on Hades' casino. They quickly realize that they have romantic chemistry and start going out. It's such a sweet romance and right from the start you can feel that connection between them, I loved their VERY steamy scenes and how they were able to bring a soft side out from each other.
I also loved their individual growth as characters. Seeing such a soft Hades that loves his family and Persephone and would do anything for them but that also undermines himself was a new and refreshing experience.
Reading about the struggles Persephone faces and how she was able to overcome them was also a great part of the story.
However, for 30% of the book I had a glaring issue with the story. The wriritng style read too... Halting?? And the present tense was not working for me, add in the fact that a bunch of names where being mentioned at the beginning and I was hopelessly lost buuut as the story goes on I just fell hard for the romance and I can't wait for the second book.
Highly recommend it!
A persephone and hades retelling but Persephone is a black trans woman and Hades a black demisexual man?! YES YES YES
This story follows Persephone, an acrobat, that is running from Zeus and ends up on Hades' casino. They quickly realize that they have romantic chemistry and start going out. It's such a sweet romance and right from the start you can feel that connection between them, I loved their VERY steamy scenes and how they were able to bring a soft side out from each other.
I also loved their individual growth as characters. Seeing such a soft Hades that loves his family and Persephone and would do anything for them but that also undermines himself was a new and refreshing experience.
Reading about the struggles Persephone faces and how she was able to overcome them was also a great part of the story.
However, for 30% of the book I had a glaring issue with the story. The wriritng style read too... Halting?? And the present tense was not working for me, add in the fact that a bunch of names where being mentioned at the beginning and I was hopelessly lost buuut as the story goes on I just fell hard for the romance and I can't wait for the second book.
Highly recommend it!
April 27, 2021
Content Warnings: sexual content, manipulative family relationships, violence
Ya’ll…YA’LL! I have been screaming about this book on Twitter since I first picked it up. This is an amazing debut by a Black Trans Indie author and when I tell ya’ll RM hit the scene running. He basically beat my ass with this and all I can say is thank you. It’s THAT amazing. I’ve been trying to figure out how to craft this review so it’s not just a rant about how you should go buy Drag Me Up immediately and I think I’ve finally got it. First, I’ll give you a sense of the story, as usual, and then, I’m going to list out all the things that are amazing about this book. It may still be a little ranty, but…..so what.
Hades is perfectly content staying behind the shadows, a myth of a man, taking care of the family he’s made for himself and the casino that is his legacy. He’s less than thrilled about his other legacy, the one that involves cleaning up the messes created by his younger brother Zeus, but that’s what happens when you set yourself up as the enforcer of the “King” of Khaos Falls. But it’s his role as casino owner, not enforcer, that brings him into Persephone’s life. Seph who wants nothing more than to fly high above the audience, showing them just why she was born to be a dancer. Getting involved with the mythical Hades isn’t the sort of attention she wants, especially when Zeus is already giving her unwanted attention, but Hades is….different. He sees her…all of her and wants nothing more than to enjoy her company because when he’s with her, maybe he really is more than who everyone thinks he is.
Ok so reasons that I love this book and why you should absolutely pick it up TODAY:
-Black Demisexual Hades: The chemistry between Hades and Persephone leaps off the page and it’s clear that Hades fascination and passion for her is rooted in the emotions that she brings out of him. There’s never any confusion about why these two fall in love and it’s clear it’s not lust either.
-Black Trans Persephone: Listen we’re always talking about how important representation is and this book puts its money where its mouth is. From the moment Persephone opens up to Hades about being trans, her entire identity is handled with care. I think it’s important to note that RM Virtues is a trans author because it shows just how important it is for Black LGBTQIA authors to be able to tell their own stories! One of my favorite lines in the book comes from a discussion between Hades and Seph when they’re talking about how she grew up. She’s talking about her safe place and life before she transitioned. He’s about to tell her just how brave she is considering what she’s been through and she tells him, “I don’t want to be brave. I want to be seen.” RM Virtues actually mentioned to me that this is one of his favorite lines because it came from a personal place as a trans person himself. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY REPRESENTATION MATTERS?! DO YOU??????
-Found Family Trope: Ya’ll know I’m a sucker for found families. It’s delicious and I eat it up every time. Hades found family is made up of his nephews and friends and they take care of him just as much as he takes care of them. His relationship with this brother leaves a lot to be desired. Zeus acts up, throws tantrums, shows his ass and then manipulates Hades into cleaning up after him. Dionysos, Hermes, Hecate, Thanatos and Charon all provide him with the love and support of a family. They see him shouldering the burden and are ready to carry it with him. Enter Persephone, who has a mother who loves her, but is controlling and manipulative. Hades family becomes her own, welcoming her without question not only because of how she loves Hades, but because of her own heart as well.
-The steam is extra steamy: Listen…..RM Virtue knows how to write a passionate sex scene okay. I literally had to fan myself while reading this book because the hot factor is off the charts. Hades definitely has a bit of a pain/BDSM kink and when I tell you I will never look at a belt or pomegranates the same, I mean it. There’s one scene in particular….a threesome. BABY THAT SHIT WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD.
-Soft Hades is soft: Hades is always portrayed as this dark brooding asshole. The boogeyman that everyone should be afraid of and while this Hades definitely has a boogeyman façade, he’s actually completely soft and gooey, especially when it comes to Seph and his friends and family. Watching how he takes care of everyone will absolutely tug at your heart strings.
-The writing: RM has a way with words that can’t be matched. Every piece of this book was so lyrical and poetic. It’s so amazingly beautiful that you can’t help but fall in love with both the characters and RM himself. I highlighted so many quotes in this book, but one of my favorites has to be, “You found a way to reach the stars without tearing them down from the sky. When you come down you leave everything up there more beautiful than you found it. And not just because you wanted to, but because you were meant to. You’re meant to fly.” Like…how can you not fall in love with that?
Listen, I think I’ve given you enough reasons to run and grab Drag Me Up, but if you need a few more, check out my live tweet thread here: https://twitter.com/lifewhitme/status....
You're welcome.
Ya’ll…YA’LL! I have been screaming about this book on Twitter since I first picked it up. This is an amazing debut by a Black Trans Indie author and when I tell ya’ll RM hit the scene running. He basically beat my ass with this and all I can say is thank you. It’s THAT amazing. I’ve been trying to figure out how to craft this review so it’s not just a rant about how you should go buy Drag Me Up immediately and I think I’ve finally got it. First, I’ll give you a sense of the story, as usual, and then, I’m going to list out all the things that are amazing about this book. It may still be a little ranty, but…..so what.
Hades is perfectly content staying behind the shadows, a myth of a man, taking care of the family he’s made for himself and the casino that is his legacy. He’s less than thrilled about his other legacy, the one that involves cleaning up the messes created by his younger brother Zeus, but that’s what happens when you set yourself up as the enforcer of the “King” of Khaos Falls. But it’s his role as casino owner, not enforcer, that brings him into Persephone’s life. Seph who wants nothing more than to fly high above the audience, showing them just why she was born to be a dancer. Getting involved with the mythical Hades isn’t the sort of attention she wants, especially when Zeus is already giving her unwanted attention, but Hades is….different. He sees her…all of her and wants nothing more than to enjoy her company because when he’s with her, maybe he really is more than who everyone thinks he is.
Ok so reasons that I love this book and why you should absolutely pick it up TODAY:
-Black Demisexual Hades: The chemistry between Hades and Persephone leaps off the page and it’s clear that Hades fascination and passion for her is rooted in the emotions that she brings out of him. There’s never any confusion about why these two fall in love and it’s clear it’s not lust either.
-Black Trans Persephone: Listen we’re always talking about how important representation is and this book puts its money where its mouth is. From the moment Persephone opens up to Hades about being trans, her entire identity is handled with care. I think it’s important to note that RM Virtues is a trans author because it shows just how important it is for Black LGBTQIA authors to be able to tell their own stories! One of my favorite lines in the book comes from a discussion between Hades and Seph when they’re talking about how she grew up. She’s talking about her safe place and life before she transitioned. He’s about to tell her just how brave she is considering what she’s been through and she tells him, “I don’t want to be brave. I want to be seen.” RM Virtues actually mentioned to me that this is one of his favorite lines because it came from a personal place as a trans person himself. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY REPRESENTATION MATTERS?! DO YOU??????
-Found Family Trope: Ya’ll know I’m a sucker for found families. It’s delicious and I eat it up every time. Hades found family is made up of his nephews and friends and they take care of him just as much as he takes care of them. His relationship with this brother leaves a lot to be desired. Zeus acts up, throws tantrums, shows his ass and then manipulates Hades into cleaning up after him. Dionysos, Hermes, Hecate, Thanatos and Charon all provide him with the love and support of a family. They see him shouldering the burden and are ready to carry it with him. Enter Persephone, who has a mother who loves her, but is controlling and manipulative. Hades family becomes her own, welcoming her without question not only because of how she loves Hades, but because of her own heart as well.
-The steam is extra steamy: Listen…..RM Virtue knows how to write a passionate sex scene okay. I literally had to fan myself while reading this book because the hot factor is off the charts. Hades definitely has a bit of a pain/BDSM kink and when I tell you I will never look at a belt or pomegranates the same, I mean it. There’s one scene in particular….a threesome. BABY THAT SHIT WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD.
-Soft Hades is soft: Hades is always portrayed as this dark brooding asshole. The boogeyman that everyone should be afraid of and while this Hades definitely has a boogeyman façade, he’s actually completely soft and gooey, especially when it comes to Seph and his friends and family. Watching how he takes care of everyone will absolutely tug at your heart strings.
-The writing: RM has a way with words that can’t be matched. Every piece of this book was so lyrical and poetic. It’s so amazingly beautiful that you can’t help but fall in love with both the characters and RM himself. I highlighted so many quotes in this book, but one of my favorites has to be, “You found a way to reach the stars without tearing them down from the sky. When you come down you leave everything up there more beautiful than you found it. And not just because you wanted to, but because you were meant to. You’re meant to fly.” Like…how can you not fall in love with that?
Listen, I think I’ve given you enough reasons to run and grab Drag Me Up, but if you need a few more, check out my live tweet thread here: https://twitter.com/lifewhitme/status....
You're welcome.
December 16, 2021
four point five stars! ❀ god, despite this taking me two weeks to get through, i absolutely ADORED this book. the writing was literally some of the best i’ve ever read, and i am very, very intrigued to pick up some of virtues’ other works! i love all things hades and persephone, and this was probably one of the better renditions of the myth that i’ve read. i loved every second of it (except for the twist at like the 90% mark :/ it felt a bit rushed to me ngl but it was still pretty good) and i am so excited to read about aphrodite and hephaestus next!! i think it’s gonna be just as good 🤍
April 5, 2021
Every once in a while I stumble across a book that knocks the wind out of me. The best part about that experience is probably that I never see it coming. Drag Me Up is RM Virtues' first finished manuscript, his first published work if I'm not wrong, and if this is his first, I'm terrified for what comes next.
A Hades x Persephone retelling which oozes charm and swagger, in 229 pages RM Virtues does what most novels of this length fail to achieve. Drag Me Up is a complete story, it manages to make us root for his version of Hades x Persephone, feel the fear and anxiety that Zeus brings, resolves it, and has us excited for which God we will meet next. Its sexy, its dangerous, its comforting. There's so many details of the book I wish to explicitly talk about, but I fear it will be spoilery. And I need everyone to actually read it and be as pleasantly surprised as I was.
Drag Me Up is a Black love story, written by a Black trans man, and it deserves every ounce of appreciation and support.
A Hades x Persephone retelling which oozes charm and swagger, in 229 pages RM Virtues does what most novels of this length fail to achieve. Drag Me Up is a complete story, it manages to make us root for his version of Hades x Persephone, feel the fear and anxiety that Zeus brings, resolves it, and has us excited for which God we will meet next. Its sexy, its dangerous, its comforting. There's so many details of the book I wish to explicitly talk about, but I fear it will be spoilery. And I need everyone to actually read it and be as pleasantly surprised as I was.
Drag Me Up is a Black love story, written by a Black trans man, and it deserves every ounce of appreciation and support.
August 20, 2021
Very unique, exciting, and a sexy retelling of Hades and Persephone.
The biggest issue for me was the writing style. It made it difficult to connect to the characters for me at times. But I'll be continuing the series for sure.
4/5 stars.
The biggest issue for me was the writing style. It made it difficult to connect to the characters for me at times. But I'll be continuing the series for sure.
4/5 stars.
May 23, 2023
DNF was trying to push through, but a quarter of the way through, I just couldn't anymore. It's like the author is trying to write a Greek mythology turned mafia without knowing either topic. Hades and Zeus are step brothers. Charon is Hades brother. Hades keeps thinking of happy memories of his father. Hades is like an enforcer for Zeus. Persephone is a trans circus acrobat. Zeus is stalking Persephone. This odd world that the author has tried to create isn't really explained well. If you want to create something new, then you need to make sure the reader knows what you created. Just trying to name every name from geek mythology in the first few paragraphs, isn't it.
March 23, 2025
Another one for the Trans Rights Readathon!
“I said, do you understand me?” she repeated.
“I do,” he breathed out.
T4T, MF Hades and Persephone retelling by an Afro-Native, Two-Spirit author.
I enjoyed Virtues' writing style and the second half of the book with more focus on political intrigue and family drama (Zeus causing issues again) was a 3.5 for me.
The first half I felt overwhelmed with names and places, I started to worry my rusty Greek mythology was going to get in the way. There are a lot of side characters, 8-10+, I believe. By the end of the book I had most of them straight and obviously there are three more books that will center around a lot of those characters.
The highlight of the book for me, other than the great rep, were the conversations between Hades and Persephone when they came out to each other.
But she did not know what to say. She had been so focused on his reaction that she never once considered what her own could or should be. Truth be told, she had never had a man come out to her, and she was almost ashamed for how out of her worldview the existence and experience of trans men in general seemed to be.
“Don’t tell me I’m brave,” she interjected, immediately soothed by his soft smile. “The only reason I’m brave is because the world is cruel, and that isn’t something to glamorize. Being my mother’s daughter shields me from a lot of it, but sometimes, that just makes it feel worse. I don’t want to be brave. I want to be seen.”
I don't want to be brave. I want to be seen. 🥺
Hades accepting her didn’t make him a hero, not in the slightest. Just as accepting him did not make her one. She would not reward him or anyone else for being a decent human being, but that didn’t minimize her relief.
The sex scenes were great, especially the out of left field shower threesome scene where both women were taking charge of Hades.
They also had a fun dominant switching routine which I don't see that often. It wasn't the two of them fighting for dominance, simply one taking charge and bossing the other one around until it was payback/role reversal time.
“Eyes straight ahead,” she whispered against his ear before drawing her tongue over the shell. “The moment you look anywhere else, I stop. Do you understand me?” Persephone taking charge in the car.
“Quite something you pulled in the car.” Her shoulders tensed. “Did you think you were going to get away with it?”
“I asked you a question,” he urged, his tone more firm as he dragged the loop of the belt against his palm.
“Yes,” she breathed.
“Yes what?”
“I should be punished.” Hades' in charge now, watch out.
I didn't connect as much with the insta-attraction or their blossoming romance, but I will pick the series back up eventually and I absolutely recommend this for anyone looking for two Black transgender MCs!
Partial tags: T4T, MF, Hades and Persephone retelling, mythology, Black romance, diverse side characters (Black, POC, transgender), pan rep, demi rep, FFM scene, yes sir, good boy, throat-grabbing, biting, marking/scratching, restraints (belt), spanking, counter fucking, hair-pulling, all bareback, explicit sex, car handjob, rough sex, on-page violence, physical violence, attempted murder, on-page death, gun violence, explosion, guns, stalking, harassment, strong family vibes, safewords, lite D/s elements, casino owner/aerialist pairing, Mafia themes, political intrigue, family drama, insta-love/insta-attraction, communication, well-written women, third-person present dual POV, Trans Rights Readathon 2025.
“I said, do you understand me?” she repeated.
“I do,” he breathed out.
T4T, MF Hades and Persephone retelling by an Afro-Native, Two-Spirit author.
I enjoyed Virtues' writing style and the second half of the book with more focus on political intrigue and family drama (Zeus causing issues again) was a 3.5 for me.
The first half I felt overwhelmed with names and places, I started to worry my rusty Greek mythology was going to get in the way. There are a lot of side characters, 8-10+, I believe. By the end of the book I had most of them straight and obviously there are three more books that will center around a lot of those characters.
The highlight of the book for me, other than the great rep, were the conversations between Hades and Persephone when they came out to each other.
But she did not know what to say. She had been so focused on his reaction that she never once considered what her own could or should be. Truth be told, she had never had a man come out to her, and she was almost ashamed for how out of her worldview the existence and experience of trans men in general seemed to be.
“Don’t tell me I’m brave,” she interjected, immediately soothed by his soft smile. “The only reason I’m brave is because the world is cruel, and that isn’t something to glamorize. Being my mother’s daughter shields me from a lot of it, but sometimes, that just makes it feel worse. I don’t want to be brave. I want to be seen.”
I don't want to be brave. I want to be seen. 🥺
Hades accepting her didn’t make him a hero, not in the slightest. Just as accepting him did not make her one. She would not reward him or anyone else for being a decent human being, but that didn’t minimize her relief.
The sex scenes were great, especially the out of left field shower threesome scene where both women were taking charge of Hades.
They also had a fun dominant switching routine which I don't see that often. It wasn't the two of them fighting for dominance, simply one taking charge and bossing the other one around until it was payback/role reversal time.
“Eyes straight ahead,” she whispered against his ear before drawing her tongue over the shell. “The moment you look anywhere else, I stop. Do you understand me?” Persephone taking charge in the car.
“Quite something you pulled in the car.” Her shoulders tensed. “Did you think you were going to get away with it?”
“I asked you a question,” he urged, his tone more firm as he dragged the loop of the belt against his palm.
“Yes,” she breathed.
“Yes what?”
“I should be punished.” Hades' in charge now, watch out.
I didn't connect as much with the insta-attraction or their blossoming romance, but I will pick the series back up eventually and I absolutely recommend this for anyone looking for two Black transgender MCs!
Partial tags: T4T, MF, Hades and Persephone retelling, mythology, Black romance, diverse side characters (Black, POC, transgender), pan rep, demi rep, FFM scene, yes sir, good boy, throat-grabbing, biting, marking/scratching, restraints (belt), spanking, counter fucking, hair-pulling, all bareback, explicit sex, car handjob, rough sex, on-page violence, physical violence, attempted murder, on-page death, gun violence, explosion, guns, stalking, harassment, strong family vibes, safewords, lite D/s elements, casino owner/aerialist pairing, Mafia themes, political intrigue, family drama, insta-love/insta-attraction, communication, well-written women, third-person present dual POV, Trans Rights Readathon 2025.
June 16, 2021
a 3.5 for me & TBH i'm annoyed I didn't like this more😩
I really do think it was just bad timing— I was in a weird reading slump when I started this book & I probably should've just waited for a better time to read it🤦🏼♀️ I was v intrigued by the world & there were aspects of the writing I really liked, but the tense felt weird to me (ie: I usually read like "he felt" but here the author uses "he feels" and that felt super odd to me— didn't like it in RWRB and didn't like it here) and idk I just got to the point where I was reading this to finish it & not to enjoy it👀 I read up to like 80% and then just skimmed the last 20 bc I wanted to know what happened. Honestly annoyed @ myself for not liking this more.
I definitely want to read more by the author though!!! I think this was mostly just bad timing & me being a moody bitch
I really do think it was just bad timing— I was in a weird reading slump when I started this book & I probably should've just waited for a better time to read it🤦🏼♀️ I was v intrigued by the world & there were aspects of the writing I really liked, but the tense felt weird to me (ie: I usually read like "he felt" but here the author uses "he feels" and that felt super odd to me— didn't like it in RWRB and didn't like it here) and idk I just got to the point where I was reading this to finish it & not to enjoy it👀 I read up to like 80% and then just skimmed the last 20 bc I wanted to know what happened. Honestly annoyed @ myself for not liking this more.
I definitely want to read more by the author though!!! I think this was mostly just bad timing & me being a moody bitch
March 29, 2024
Ok if you like Katee Robert’s Dark Olympus series I feel like you’ll really love this! First, both main characters are Trans! Which I LOVED. I personally really loved how this was written, I just struggled with how this world was structured. But I tend to always struggle with that in modern Greek Mythology retellings so it’s probably just me. I also would’ve liked the stakes to be a *bit* higher.
Overall though? Super hot Hades x Persephone retelling with some great representation and beautiful writing 🫶
Overall though? Super hot Hades x Persephone retelling with some great representation and beautiful writing 🫶
September 7, 2021
Read this in one sitting, this was so enjoyable and the writing was amazing
May 27, 2021
𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦
❧ Say hello to not only my first five star read of 2021, but also my first five star read in OVER A YEAR!
❧ So Nick basically told me to read this book and the only thing I knew before I started was that this was a Hades and Persephone retelling. I've only read a few romance mythology retellings in my bookworm life so I didn't really know what to expect going in, but Nick hardly ever leads me astray.
❧ From the first page (I repeat, FIRST PAGE), I knew this was gonna be a good story. The writing is so smooth, like nitro cold brew (yes, I'm comparing the writing to coffee, don't judge me!). From the world building to the suspense to the sensual moments, the writing was just ✨IMMACULATE✨.
❧ Petition to make Hades in all future romance retellings A SIMP! Of all the retellings I've read, this is the first one where my man Hades was letting someone else take the reins. Like don't get me wrong, Hades would still rip you a new one if you crossed him, but he was also ready to risk it all for Seph and I was here for it! If future Hades in romance retellings ain't a simp, then I don't want it.
❧ I adore Persephone's strength with all my heart. She is an aerialist who wants to step out from under her mother's shadow and shine on stage—or rather up in the air. I love her straight forwardness and how she wasn't willing to be anyone but herself and she really fits right into Hades' life like a missing puzzle piece.
❧ Me at all the sexy times:
❧ I also love how family plays such a huge part of this story and I'm curious to see which characters get an HEA next.
❧ This debut book took me by surprise and if this book is not already on your TBR yet, you need to add it ASAP!
CW: Gun violence, explosions
❧ Say hello to not only my first five star read of 2021, but also my first five star read in OVER A YEAR!
❧ So Nick basically told me to read this book and the only thing I knew before I started was that this was a Hades and Persephone retelling. I've only read a few romance mythology retellings in my bookworm life so I didn't really know what to expect going in, but Nick hardly ever leads me astray.
❧ From the first page (I repeat, FIRST PAGE), I knew this was gonna be a good story. The writing is so smooth, like nitro cold brew (yes, I'm comparing the writing to coffee, don't judge me!). From the world building to the suspense to the sensual moments, the writing was just ✨IMMACULATE✨.
❧ Petition to make Hades in all future romance retellings A SIMP! Of all the retellings I've read, this is the first one where my man Hades was letting someone else take the reins. Like don't get me wrong, Hades would still rip you a new one if you crossed him, but he was also ready to risk it all for Seph and I was here for it! If future Hades in romance retellings ain't a simp, then I don't want it.
❧ I adore Persephone's strength with all my heart. She is an aerialist who wants to step out from under her mother's shadow and shine on stage—or rather up in the air. I love her straight forwardness and how she wasn't willing to be anyone but herself and she really fits right into Hades' life like a missing puzzle piece.
❧ Me at all the sexy times:
❧ I also love how family plays such a huge part of this story and I'm curious to see which characters get an HEA next.
❧ This debut book took me by surprise and if this book is not already on your TBR yet, you need to add it ASAP!
CW: Gun violence, explosions
May 1, 2024
—casino owner hades and aerial performer persephone
—we love a supportive and healthy relationship!!!!
—no pointless drama/angst because they communicate!!!!
—strong family and political dynamics
—hades being Soft,,,,i love
content/trigger warnings; ableism, explicit sexual content (bdsm aspects, threesome), transphobia, mentions of racism, mentions of past child abuse, manipulative/toxic familial relationships, mentions of cheating, violence, harassment, stalking, arson, explosion, gun violence, attempted murder,
rep; hades (mc) is black, demisexual, and transgender. persephone (mc) is black, pansexual, and transgender. majority queer black/poc cast.
two notes that are very much Me and not the book: i’m not very familiar with greek mythology, so all the names and relationship dynamics were a little hard to follow. and i prefer sex in romances to not be gratuitous or more developed than the romance, and with this book specifically, i would’ve liked more romantic/fluffy/swoony/soft/whatever-you-want-to-call-it scenes to balance out the sex.
—we love a supportive and healthy relationship!!!!
—no pointless drama/angst because they communicate!!!!
—strong family and political dynamics
—hades being Soft,,,,i love
content/trigger warnings; ableism, explicit sexual content (bdsm aspects, threesome), transphobia, mentions of racism, mentions of past child abuse, manipulative/toxic familial relationships, mentions of cheating, violence, harassment, stalking, arson, explosion, gun violence, attempted murder,
rep; hades (mc) is black, demisexual, and transgender. persephone (mc) is black, pansexual, and transgender. majority queer black/poc cast.
two notes that are very much Me and not the book: i’m not very familiar with greek mythology, so all the names and relationship dynamics were a little hard to follow. and i prefer sex in romances to not be gratuitous or more developed than the romance, and with this book specifically, i would’ve liked more romantic/fluffy/swoony/soft/whatever-you-want-to-call-it scenes to balance out the sex.
anti-library
July 5, 2021I just came across this tweet and I–
'-Hades & Persephone
-Black, demisexual hero x Black, pansexual, trans heroine
-casino owner x aerial performer
-found family
-Zeus is the villain
-Majority queer Black/POC cast'
HOLY FUCK, I WANNA READ THIS BAD
Source
'-Hades & Persephone
-Black, demisexual hero x Black, pansexual, trans heroine
-casino owner x aerial performer
-found family
-Zeus is the villain
-Majority queer Black/POC cast'
HOLY FUCK, I WANNA READ THIS BAD
Source
May 3, 2021
A fun, scorchingly hot mythological retelling with a trans heroine and a community of trans goddesses is right up my alley. For free, I got an intriguing and actually mysterious mystery that didn't detract from the romance plot! The story does a good job balancing on a tightrope between a modern world and a mythical one; references to SUVs and cell phones are inobtrusive enough that it never quite loses the Ancient Greek mental image the names conjure up.
The romance moves FAST in this one, but the chemistry is described in volatile enough terms that I was able to buy it. The world-building has some holes in it that I expect we will see built on in future sequels; right now, it leans a lot on pre-existing mythology knowledge, and I have trouble imagining the world outside of Khaos Falls at all. And Persephone's transition experience was rather magical, but well within my expectations for a story not by a trans woman.
The romance moves FAST in this one, but the chemistry is described in volatile enough terms that I was able to buy it. The world-building has some holes in it that I expect we will see built on in future sequels; right now, it leans a lot on pre-existing mythology knowledge, and I have trouble imagining the world outside of Khaos Falls at all. And Persephone's transition experience was rather magical, but well within my expectations for a story not by a trans woman.
November 17, 2021
As some of you may know I was on a QUEST to find the best Hades x Persephone retelling. I’ve read the good, the bad, and the down-right confusing but I have to tell you this one is a very strong contender. R.M. Virtues is an author who’s work I am new to, but I absolutely LOVED Sing Me To Sleep and knew I had to give this book a try. This book has a very unique take on the Hades x Persephone mythos that I really enjoyed. Fast-paced, political scheming, and lots of smut this is perfect for fans of Neon Gods!
today-is-not-that-day
August 28, 2022This has been sitting unread on my shelf for weeks; I like it--=I do, but I rarely choose it. And it's because shame on me...
I think I'm a little fatigued of Greek Mythology retellings at the moment. I fully expect to return back to this, but as is my promise--I'm doing my best to focus on not just getting through books even if the timing is not right right now.
Please do check out other reviews. It's wildly popular. The writing is smooth. It's a me thing, I think.
I think I'm a little fatigued of Greek Mythology retellings at the moment. I fully expect to return back to this, but as is my promise--I'm doing my best to focus on not just getting through books even if the timing is not right right now.
Please do check out other reviews. It's wildly popular. The writing is smooth. It's a me thing, I think.
December 27, 2021
4 Stars - Contemporary Romance
I enjoyed this Hades and Persephone retelling. I love the Trans representation in this book and how Hades is just a tad older than Persephone.
I enjoyed this Hades and Persephone retelling. I love the Trans representation in this book and how Hades is just a tad older than Persephone.
June 5, 2021
SO GOOD. Virtues has created an incredible world in this Greek Myth retelling (not sure what's in the water this year/last year but this makes two 5 star Hades and Persephone retellings). It's so effortlessly diverse and inclusive - Persephone is DEFINITELY not the only trans character and the overall rep is fantastic. The story still holds the original myths in such a way that you recognize the characters even though Virtues has updated the setting AND made them feel like real people who change and grow.
The relationship between Hades and Persephone blooms in such a beautiful, heart-wrenching way and yet is one of the hottest damn romances I've read this year (it's kinky and wild and has an unexpected threesome that fits seamlessly with the characters). The second love story in this book is the love of this found family surrounding Hades - the nephews and friends that he took in and nurtured - and who embraces Persephone from the drop.
The relationship between Hades and Persephone blooms in such a beautiful, heart-wrenching way and yet is one of the hottest damn romances I've read this year (it's kinky and wild and has an unexpected threesome that fits seamlessly with the characters). The second love story in this book is the love of this found family surrounding Hades - the nephews and friends that he took in and nurtured - and who embraces Persephone from the drop.
September 19, 2021
This is a sex book. Just flat-out. It is. There's a bit of plot compressed throughout, but it's interspersed with lengthy sex scenes that were completely unnecessary. There have been a lot of good mythological retellings in recent years, but this one had confused world-building, making the interpretation of the characters and their roles both too straight and requiring prerequisite knowledge to really keep track. Also, the fulfillment or incarnation of the myth didn't even really happen. I appreciated the trans representation, but that wasn't explored with really any depth. Over all, the novel read deeply unsuccessful to me.
May 11, 2021
Honestly has everything I want.
February 20, 2024
Holy shit I love this book.
Me: the perfect erotic romance doesn't exist
RM Virtues: girllll sit down
I have so many thoughts.
I love how well characterized Hades and Persephone are, and how the arrogance of the gods is taken into account in refreshing ways.
I did not expect but deeply deeply love that Virtues put a really heavy twist on the original myth, away from toxic sex / control / power dynamics and toward a conflict with Zeus. Is it even recognizable from the original myth? No. Am I here for it regardless? 1,000% yes.
I also did not expect but am completely screaming about this actually being a T4T Persephone/Hades retelling! I just didn't read the description here LOL but I just. Yes. The world needs more trans romance, I need more trans romance, A+. (Like, seriously, catch me on Lex going "soooo who's read this? Can we talk?")
Literally had me over here reading on my phone and taking screenshots to send my girlfriend because the writing was so good.
Did I maybe cry a bit at the end? Maybe.
And also the sex! The smutttt! Absolutely perfect amounts of steam and kink and chemistry all wrapped up into one lil gift of a book. We love to see it.
No notes. This is perfection. Give me the next book right now ok thanks bye.
Me: the perfect erotic romance doesn't exist
RM Virtues: girllll sit down
I have so many thoughts.
I love how well characterized Hades and Persephone are, and how the arrogance of the gods is taken into account in refreshing ways.
I did not expect but deeply deeply love that Virtues put a really heavy twist on the original myth, away from toxic sex / control / power dynamics and toward a conflict with Zeus. Is it even recognizable from the original myth? No. Am I here for it regardless? 1,000% yes.
I also did not expect but am completely screaming about this actually being a T4T Persephone/Hades retelling! I just didn't read the description here LOL but I just. Yes. The world needs more trans romance, I need more trans romance, A+. (Like, seriously, catch me on Lex going "soooo who's read this? Can we talk?")
Literally had me over here reading on my phone and taking screenshots to send my girlfriend because the writing was so good.
Did I maybe cry a bit at the end? Maybe.
And also the sex! The smutttt! Absolutely perfect amounts of steam and kink and chemistry all wrapped up into one lil gift of a book. We love to see it.
No notes. This is perfection. Give me the next book right now ok thanks bye.
December 12, 2023
3.5 stars
I wanted to read this after seeing that this author was unfortunately effected by Cait's review bombing. That being said I thought this was a great hades/persephone retelling!
Set in a modern world, hades is a black casino owner and persephone is a transgender aerial dancer. The two can't seem to stay away from each other and quickly become enthralled with each other. But their happiness can't last when Zeus and many others take notice.
We love a couple with great communication skills!!
No third act break up!!
Spicy spicy spice!! (Ft. Safe words and a steamy threesome)
I don't know a lot about Greek mythology these days so I feel like I needed a chart to keep track of who was related to who but overall this was my favorite hades/persephone retelling I've read!
I wanted to read this after seeing that this author was unfortunately effected by Cait's review bombing. That being said I thought this was a great hades/persephone retelling!
Set in a modern world, hades is a black casino owner and persephone is a transgender aerial dancer. The two can't seem to stay away from each other and quickly become enthralled with each other. But their happiness can't last when Zeus and many others take notice.
We love a couple with great communication skills!!
No third act break up!!
Spicy spicy spice!! (Ft. Safe words and a steamy threesome)
I don't know a lot about Greek mythology these days so I feel like I needed a chart to keep track of who was related to who but overall this was my favorite hades/persephone retelling I've read!
April 28, 2021
[7.00/10]
These days I don't read much erotica and had I known a bit more about this book before reading it, I might not have picked it up. But, I'm happy to hold my hands up and say that R.M. Virtues is doing something rather transformative with a genre that started to feel a bit stale to me. This book excels in the writing, which is both lyrical and very sexy, as well as veering away from the typical brooding hero/young ingénue type of pairing that you usually see in this type of erotica. There was a lot of thought and nuance put into they way that Hades and Persephone were written and I think the fact that I was so pleasantly surprised by the character choices, endeared me to this book that much more.
Where I wasn't 100% sold was the plot - it just didn't hold my interest all that much because it was the only thing that felt very reminiscent of other erotica books that I have read. There was one other thing that threw me out of the story a bit but I'll bury it under a spoiler :
I thought this was a really solid debut from a fresh and exciting voice and I'm looking forward to the next instalment of the series.
These days I don't read much erotica and had I known a bit more about this book before reading it, I might not have picked it up. But, I'm happy to hold my hands up and say that R.M. Virtues is doing something rather transformative with a genre that started to feel a bit stale to me. This book excels in the writing, which is both lyrical and very sexy, as well as veering away from the typical brooding hero/young ingénue type of pairing that you usually see in this type of erotica. There was a lot of thought and nuance put into they way that Hades and Persephone were written and I think the fact that I was so pleasantly surprised by the character choices, endeared me to this book that much more.
Where I wasn't 100% sold was the plot - it just didn't hold my interest all that much because it was the only thing that felt very reminiscent of other erotica books that I have read. There was one other thing that threw me out of the story a bit but I'll bury it under a spoiler :
I thought this was a really solid debut from a fresh and exciting voice and I'm looking forward to the next instalment of the series.
March 7, 2022
3.5 stars! ok here’s the thing!!!! i’m a dumbass and don’t remember shit about dick when it comes to characters from greek mythology so i really wish i knew who was who and why they hate one another etc because we are thrown right into the middle of everything when this book begins and it left me feeling a bit behind from jump. i know persephone and hades and that’s about it because i love their dynamic in most retellings. i feel like some things are explained but not all and i’m stupid so i need the help and wish it had been included in this novel. this was my biggest reason for the rating because otherwise i really enjoyed this!
hades and persephone were incredibly sweet and i thought the way things unfolded between them was lovely!!! it does go a bit fast for my liking but i feel like that is in line with their story anyway so i’m ultimately fine with that choice!!! the side characters were so fun too and i’m very interested in the future stories/novels in this series!!!
i feel bad for not absolutely loving this book because i thought the writing was excellent aside from there not being too many explanations for who is who/what’s going on before we jumped right in. just know that i completely recommend this book especially for those of you who know a lot about greek mythology already!!!!
hades and persephone were incredibly sweet and i thought the way things unfolded between them was lovely!!! it does go a bit fast for my liking but i feel like that is in line with their story anyway so i’m ultimately fine with that choice!!! the side characters were so fun too and i’m very interested in the future stories/novels in this series!!!
i feel bad for not absolutely loving this book because i thought the writing was excellent aside from there not being too many explanations for who is who/what’s going on before we jumped right in. just know that i completely recommend this book especially for those of you who know a lot about greek mythology already!!!!
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