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Faeries of the Underworld #1
Thief of Spring
The Greek Gods are real.
But they aren’t gods.
They’re faeries.
When 17-year-old Persephone accidentally stumbles upon a revel, she’s chosen as a sacrifice, but is saved from this fate when the Lord of the Underworld tricks her into becoming his companion for seven months instead. Sephy is taken to his dark palace under the earth, but the Lord of Night isn’t exactly what she expected him to be…
And neither is she.
But they aren’t gods.
They’re faeries.
When 17-year-old Persephone accidentally stumbles upon a revel, she’s chosen as a sacrifice, but is saved from this fate when the Lord of the Underworld tricks her into becoming his companion for seven months instead. Sephy is taken to his dark palace under the earth, but the Lord of Night isn’t exactly what she expected him to be…
And neither is she.
409 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2021
224 people are currently reading
3738 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Macdonald
37 books466 followersKatherine "Kate" Macdonald writes the books she wishes she could have read more of as a teen—stories of fierce girls and gentle boys, of romance and adventure, and where the "three Cs" (chemistry, communication and consent) reign supreme. There may still be a little bit of miscommunication along the way as the characters grow as people, but she tries not to rely on that trope too much!
She loves books packed with witty banter, stories where you can feel the love growing between a pair, that include excellent, well-developed side-characters and a few subtly-foreshadowed twists and turns. She despises toxic relationships and tales that rely on old-fashioned notions of male and female stereotypes. She enjoys bending expectations and crafting worlds where sexism is a thing of the past. She considers herself an LGBTQIA+ friendly author, and her stories include a range of characters from within the community and absolutely no discrimination in sight.
She holds a BA in English and Creative Writing from Lancaster University, and a PGCE in teaching English and Drama from the University of Exeter. She's been a writer since she was old enough to hold a crayon, but it was only after surviving a year of parenthood and a full-time job on less than six hours of sleep a night that she finally gained the courage to publish her debut novel, "The Rose and the Thorn." It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast inspired by a dream of a girl surrounded by snow in a field of flowers.
At her heart, Macdonald is storyteller, and it is her dream to inspire others in the way that she has been inspired.
She lives in Devon with her manic child and well-behaved cats.
She loves books packed with witty banter, stories where you can feel the love growing between a pair, that include excellent, well-developed side-characters and a few subtly-foreshadowed twists and turns. She despises toxic relationships and tales that rely on old-fashioned notions of male and female stereotypes. She enjoys bending expectations and crafting worlds where sexism is a thing of the past. She considers herself an LGBTQIA+ friendly author, and her stories include a range of characters from within the community and absolutely no discrimination in sight.
She holds a BA in English and Creative Writing from Lancaster University, and a PGCE in teaching English and Drama from the University of Exeter. She's been a writer since she was old enough to hold a crayon, but it was only after surviving a year of parenthood and a full-time job on less than six hours of sleep a night that she finally gained the courage to publish her debut novel, "The Rose and the Thorn." It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast inspired by a dream of a girl surrounded by snow in a field of flowers.
At her heart, Macdonald is storyteller, and it is her dream to inspire others in the way that she has been inspired.
She lives in Devon with her manic child and well-behaved cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
June 11, 2021
Holy smokes! I just finished Thief of Spring a few moments ago and immediately had to come on here to express the absolute love I have for this book!! It's incredible and I can't wait for part two!!
First of all, I fell in love with Hades. He's so sweet and thoughtful, but has a dark past and HORRIBLE mother. Really, she is the worst. As with all of Katherine's books, this poor guy is put through the wringer. Luckily, Persephone is there to bandage his wounds and be the light in his life.
Thief of Spring, with its action-packed plot, brilliant, slow-burn romance, and amazing cast of characters, just became my favorite of Kate Macdonald's books. Quite a feat considering how much I love the three others I read by her. Oh, and I must add that this book has quite an enormous twist!!
As always, the writing is impeccable. Macdonald is a true master of her craft, capable of making me laugh, cry, and stay up way too late glued to the pages. I seriously loved everything about this book and although I don't want to give away spoilers, suffice it to say I will 100% be buying the next one. I need to know what happens!!
5/5 Stars for this brilliant and super creative Hades/Persephone retelling!! Okay, I need to stop gushing or I'll be here all day. You need to read this book!
First of all, I fell in love with Hades. He's so sweet and thoughtful, but has a dark past and HORRIBLE mother. Really, she is the worst. As with all of Katherine's books, this poor guy is put through the wringer. Luckily, Persephone is there to bandage his wounds and be the light in his life.
Thief of Spring, with its action-packed plot, brilliant, slow-burn romance, and amazing cast of characters, just became my favorite of Kate Macdonald's books. Quite a feat considering how much I love the three others I read by her. Oh, and I must add that this book has quite an enormous twist!!
As always, the writing is impeccable. Macdonald is a true master of her craft, capable of making me laugh, cry, and stay up way too late glued to the pages. I seriously loved everything about this book and although I don't want to give away spoilers, suffice it to say I will 100% be buying the next one. I need to know what happens!!
5/5 Stars for this brilliant and super creative Hades/Persephone retelling!! Okay, I need to stop gushing or I'll be here all day. You need to read this book!
January 24, 2022
Macdonald is an expert at her craft, and it shows in each book she writes. While this wasn't my favorite, it was still a solid and well-written story. The beginning had me turning pages quickly, as did the ending, which I really liked. There was maybe just a little too much middle is all, and that's really just my personal preference coming into play.
Overall, a lovely story. Would recommend.
Overall, a lovely story. Would recommend.
June 4, 2021
“Every story needs a villain,” he says eventually. “And he looked like one.”
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Thief of Spring by Katherine Macdonald is a Hades and Persephone retelling turned fae. Persephone, the main protagonist, is out to go to a Halloween celebration with her best friend when she gets a mysterious invite to a revel. While she’s there, she’s equally intrigued and terrified of the events going on around her. She is chosen as a sacrifice, causing the Lord of the Underworld to save her by tricking her into spending seven months with him in the Underworld. She realizes when she arrives in the Underworld that there is more than just what lies on the surface, finding out more about the mysterious boy who saved her and a little bit more about herself along the way.
Upon first opening the book, the reader is thrown directly into the plot. This book is very fast paced, not leaving a lot of room for the reader to dwell on major plot points. From the first moment, this became a bit of a struggle for me. This story was very dialogue heavy, focusing on quick back and forth banter rather than expanding Persephone’s feelings upon certain subjects or other characters. Because of this, the story felt a bit flat which left me wanting more expansion of events and about why exactly the characters were saying or doing certain things. However, the dialogue did still move the story along and did have some charming moments.
The main characters had several sweet scenes together where there was room to develop the relationship between them, but some of these moments were used to info dump about the faerie world. While these could be spun as bonding moments, it again fell flat for me as I was searching for more connection or description of feelings by Persephone. Some of the moments between Hades and Persephone were a bit rushed and felt a little awkward, but I take some of that awkward dialogue to be the ‘teenage charm’ of the two main characters. The pacing of their relationship felt very rushed, though it did match the fast pacing of the book.
Overall, this was a fast paced, dialogue heavy book that left me craving more. There were many moments that could have used more expansion or more refinement, but at a base level, the book had its awkwardly charming moments. Personally, I would not read the sequel or recommend this book to my close reading friends with great enthusiasm, but for readers that appreciate a quick read about Greek mythology and the fae, this may be a great story for them. (2★/5)
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Thief of Spring by Katherine Macdonald is a Hades and Persephone retelling turned fae. Persephone, the main protagonist, is out to go to a Halloween celebration with her best friend when she gets a mysterious invite to a revel. While she’s there, she’s equally intrigued and terrified of the events going on around her. She is chosen as a sacrifice, causing the Lord of the Underworld to save her by tricking her into spending seven months with him in the Underworld. She realizes when she arrives in the Underworld that there is more than just what lies on the surface, finding out more about the mysterious boy who saved her and a little bit more about herself along the way.
Upon first opening the book, the reader is thrown directly into the plot. This book is very fast paced, not leaving a lot of room for the reader to dwell on major plot points. From the first moment, this became a bit of a struggle for me. This story was very dialogue heavy, focusing on quick back and forth banter rather than expanding Persephone’s feelings upon certain subjects or other characters. Because of this, the story felt a bit flat which left me wanting more expansion of events and about why exactly the characters were saying or doing certain things. However, the dialogue did still move the story along and did have some charming moments.
The main characters had several sweet scenes together where there was room to develop the relationship between them, but some of these moments were used to info dump about the faerie world. While these could be spun as bonding moments, it again fell flat for me as I was searching for more connection or description of feelings by Persephone. Some of the moments between Hades and Persephone were a bit rushed and felt a little awkward, but I take some of that awkward dialogue to be the ‘teenage charm’ of the two main characters. The pacing of their relationship felt very rushed, though it did match the fast pacing of the book.
Overall, this was a fast paced, dialogue heavy book that left me craving more. There were many moments that could have used more expansion or more refinement, but at a base level, the book had its awkwardly charming moments. Personally, I would not read the sequel or recommend this book to my close reading friends with great enthusiasm, but for readers that appreciate a quick read about Greek mythology and the fae, this may be a great story for them. (2★/5)
January 10, 2022
If you love the Lore Olympus series and are suffering from the hiatus, this is a book you need to pick up! I am currently obsessed with Persephone and Hades retellings but was getting tired of the countless smutty ones out there. This was a quick and fun read and loved the world the author portrayed.
You will fall in love with Lul..I mean Hades.
You will fall in love with Lul..I mean Hades.
June 21, 2021
Oh my gosh I can’t even control my thoughts about where I want this review to go. It’s amazing. This book is AMAZING. I just reread some of my favorite quotes and I am dying all over again. This book has all the feels — ALL OF THEM. The writing is *impeccable* (quotes to follow). MacDonald’s style flows beautifully and exposes the raw parts of the human heart. The world-building and dynamic characters are just… I can’t even. Her creature creation is BAR NONE and possibly my favorite part next to the romance! I literally can't find any flaws in it Maybe I'm blinded by swooning, but Kate MacDonald’s description style is one of my all-time favorites. Just… just look at these and tell me your heart isn’t exploding.
*SPOILERS TO FOLLOW*
- “I can see the lines where they’ve been torn and folded, the flaws on the hunt for perfection, the discarded failures in the bin.”
- to drink myself silly until the music pours into my veins”
- “I love the steady, quiet embers of the fire more than the roaring flame.
- “I wonder what his [heart] feels like, if it feels raw and exposed from the secrets he’s shared, or if it’s a good pain, like cleaning a wound.”
- Some are thin whispers; skin like milk, hair the soft sheen of sunlight through a fog, wind made human. Others are round, like renaissance statues, sculptured generously, with brown satin skin and curls as wild as firelight. A rainbow of colours, shimmering blue, dusky pink, forest green. Some look like they are carved of marble, or ice, or water, or summoned from the essence of a wood.
And then the ROMANCE. Oh my GOSH, the romance. In this one, Sephy and Hades are forced into close proximity by her being stranded for months in his domain, and the simmering, budding romance is PHENOMENAL. I am a gooey pile of feels the whole way through! Seriously, just READ THIS BOOK. Sephy doesn’t want to expose her feelings at first and the slow-burn that follows is soooooo goooood.
- “Not letting him know how I feel is the only power I have over him, the only power I have at all in this place. If I give in to it—if I lean across now and kiss those crumbs from his chin—I’ll have nothing. I will be entirely at his mercy. And yet I’m not so sure I mind, any more.”
- “You missed,” he says, when I draw back. “What?”“My lips. They’re right here—” I push him away from me. “In your dreams!” In mine, too. “Frequently,” he says. He’s still smiling, but there’s a ghost of a sigh. He cannot lie. He has dreamed of kissing me. Actually dreamed of kissing me. More than once! “Well…” I say, “goodnight.”
- “Dammit, Sephy, a man could break with wanting you.”
- “I stop his words with a kiss. “I love you,” I tell him. He pauses, as if he can’t quite believe what I’ve just said, and the words will vanish if he speaks again…. Perhaps the world should shudder and shake with the weight of them…”
UGGGGH I CAAAAN’T. Plus the humor, and the description, and I just… Go read this book for yourself. You’ll thank me (her) later.
*SPOILERS TO FOLLOW*
- “I can see the lines where they’ve been torn and folded, the flaws on the hunt for perfection, the discarded failures in the bin.”
- to drink myself silly until the music pours into my veins”
- “I love the steady, quiet embers of the fire more than the roaring flame.
- “I wonder what his [heart] feels like, if it feels raw and exposed from the secrets he’s shared, or if it’s a good pain, like cleaning a wound.”
- Some are thin whispers; skin like milk, hair the soft sheen of sunlight through a fog, wind made human. Others are round, like renaissance statues, sculptured generously, with brown satin skin and curls as wild as firelight. A rainbow of colours, shimmering blue, dusky pink, forest green. Some look like they are carved of marble, or ice, or water, or summoned from the essence of a wood.
And then the ROMANCE. Oh my GOSH, the romance. In this one, Sephy and Hades are forced into close proximity by her being stranded for months in his domain, and the simmering, budding romance is PHENOMENAL. I am a gooey pile of feels the whole way through! Seriously, just READ THIS BOOK. Sephy doesn’t want to expose her feelings at first and the slow-burn that follows is soooooo goooood.
- “Not letting him know how I feel is the only power I have over him, the only power I have at all in this place. If I give in to it—if I lean across now and kiss those crumbs from his chin—I’ll have nothing. I will be entirely at his mercy. And yet I’m not so sure I mind, any more.”
- “You missed,” he says, when I draw back. “What?”“My lips. They’re right here—” I push him away from me. “In your dreams!” In mine, too. “Frequently,” he says. He’s still smiling, but there’s a ghost of a sigh. He cannot lie. He has dreamed of kissing me. Actually dreamed of kissing me. More than once! “Well…” I say, “goodnight.”
- “Dammit, Sephy, a man could break with wanting you.”
- “I stop his words with a kiss. “I love you,” I tell him. He pauses, as if he can’t quite believe what I’ve just said, and the words will vanish if he speaks again…. Perhaps the world should shudder and shake with the weight of them…”
UGGGGH I CAAAAN’T. Plus the humor, and the description, and I just… Go read this book for yourself. You’ll thank me (her) later.
June 8, 2021
Dudes, I cannot stres this enough. I loved the book and the end omg I cannot stop crying. Yeah I know I do that a lot but it is because I get attached to the characters.
And let's not forget I'm a sucker for Hades and Persephone retellings so I couldn't resist.
And the humor, I laughed so hard one time that I choked so yeah definitely it was fun to read.
So yeah, if you like Hades and Persephone retellings go ahead and do read the book. Ps. It also features fae which was actually a nice touch, believe me just read it and you will know, I don't want to spoil things.
My thanks to the author for providing me an eArc I enjoyed it immensely. *Chef's kiss*
And let's not forget I'm a sucker for Hades and Persephone retellings so I couldn't resist.
And the humor, I laughed so hard one time that I choked so yeah definitely it was fun to read.
So yeah, if you like Hades and Persephone retellings go ahead and do read the book. Ps. It also features fae which was actually a nice touch, believe me just read it and you will know, I don't want to spoil things.
My thanks to the author for providing me an eArc I enjoyed it immensely. *Chef's kiss*
July 28, 2021
I loved this book. Which you know means the GIFs are coming out.
Good lord. Where to even begin. WHAT DID I NOT LIKE?! The writing style is clean and fresh and beautiful. The dialogue is snappy and keeps the plot moving. The author wove this huge, dark, tantalizing world seamlessly around the tale of Hades and Persephone, and it just totally blew me away. Then there were the characters! I am seriously attached to both Hades and Persephone.
Seriously, they are so cute it almost physically pains me. They're both so lovely and hurt in their own way, and the gentle way they put each other back together in a slow-burn that you can just drink in is absolutely fabulous.
And then the ending! Okay, I knew something was up and stuff was about to go down... but it just all happened in this intense climax, that honestly just left my jaw hanging in the best way.
I'm not huge into sequels, and I promised myself that I wouldn't download anymore until I cleaned out current Kindle TBR. But apparently I lied, because I bought it and it's on there now. So yeah. Basically, this book was a huge surprise, and if you love young adult fantasy or romance (or even better, both) you will totally fall in love with this book. Five glittering stars to one of my favorite books of the year thus far, and I can't wait to read the sequel!
Good lord. Where to even begin. WHAT DID I NOT LIKE?! The writing style is clean and fresh and beautiful. The dialogue is snappy and keeps the plot moving. The author wove this huge, dark, tantalizing world seamlessly around the tale of Hades and Persephone, and it just totally blew me away. Then there were the characters! I am seriously attached to both Hades and Persephone.
Seriously, they are so cute it almost physically pains me. They're both so lovely and hurt in their own way, and the gentle way they put each other back together in a slow-burn that you can just drink in is absolutely fabulous.
And then the ending! Okay, I knew something was up and stuff was about to go down... but it just all happened in this intense climax, that honestly just left my jaw hanging in the best way.
I'm not huge into sequels, and I promised myself that I wouldn't download anymore until I cleaned out current Kindle TBR. But apparently I lied, because I bought it and it's on there now. So yeah. Basically, this book was a huge surprise, and if you love young adult fantasy or romance (or even better, both) you will totally fall in love with this book. Five glittering stars to one of my favorite books of the year thus far, and I can't wait to read the sequel!
June 5, 2021
I wasn't sure what to expect given the Greek mythology meets Fae premise so I dove in with little knowledge of what was to come in the story! Seemed like an unlikely blend but unsurprisingly, Katherine Macdonald makes it work seamlessly!
The story surrounds Hades, ruler of the Underworld, and a 17 y.o. Persephone, whom Hades saves from being a sacrifice to the Unseelie King in clever and dramatic fashion. This story was surprising to me in the arc that it took - I expected the friendship and romance development, but found the political story surrounding the Seelie Court to be well laid out and developed. The Underworld was also described in eerie yet beautiful detail - it was easy to picture through Persephone's eyes. Maybe I should have expected more of the story surprises, but happily I didn't because I was so engrossed in the story that my mind was not ahead in the story as much as I usually might.
My favorite part of Macdonald's writing is the dialogue of the characters in all of her stories and I believe this one was the cleverest because of all the consideration that was taken because the Fae cannot lie. I found tiny treasures everywhere in their spoken words, very frequently their statements had hidden meanings. I went back and reread a good portion of the book as soon as a finished. A close second are the personalities of the characters. I found Hades to be a perfectly tortured soul - the glimpses we get into his boyhood were heartbreaking. I was truly surprised at moments in the story but I won't spoil it here for others!
This is a duology and does end on somewhat of a cliffhanger so be aware that the story will continue in book 2, releasing in July 2021, so not too long to wait for the conclusion! I thoroughly loved this book and highly recommend it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story surrounds Hades, ruler of the Underworld, and a 17 y.o. Persephone, whom Hades saves from being a sacrifice to the Unseelie King in clever and dramatic fashion. This story was surprising to me in the arc that it took - I expected the friendship and romance development, but found the political story surrounding the Seelie Court to be well laid out and developed. The Underworld was also described in eerie yet beautiful detail - it was easy to picture through Persephone's eyes. Maybe I should have expected more of the story surprises, but happily I didn't because I was so engrossed in the story that my mind was not ahead in the story as much as I usually might.
My favorite part of Macdonald's writing is the dialogue of the characters in all of her stories and I believe this one was the cleverest because of all the consideration that was taken because the Fae cannot lie. I found tiny treasures everywhere in their spoken words, very frequently their statements had hidden meanings. I went back and reread a good portion of the book as soon as a finished. A close second are the personalities of the characters. I found Hades to be a perfectly tortured soul - the glimpses we get into his boyhood were heartbreaking. I was truly surprised at moments in the story but I won't spoil it here for others!
This is a duology and does end on somewhat of a cliffhanger so be aware that the story will continue in book 2, releasing in July 2021, so not too long to wait for the conclusion! I thoroughly loved this book and highly recommend it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 17, 2021
Katherine Macdonald is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.
This book perfectly combines Greek mythology with the world of faeries and I can't get enough.
The slow burn romance was perfect... The longing and the growing friendship between the two main characters was expertly done.
I am a huge fan of faerie books, and this did not disapoint. I loved the new take on the fey and feel the myths were blended together beautifully.
The action and fight scenes were fast paced and enthralling, ensuring I did not want to put this book down.
Sephy was a fantastic heroine. Witty, funny, sweet and strong.
Hades is perfect. I love him. I need more of him.
I cannot wait to dive further into this world that Macdonald has created.
This book perfectly combines Greek mythology with the world of faeries and I can't get enough.
The slow burn romance was perfect... The longing and the growing friendship between the two main characters was expertly done.
I am a huge fan of faerie books, and this did not disapoint. I loved the new take on the fey and feel the myths were blended together beautifully.
The action and fight scenes were fast paced and enthralling, ensuring I did not want to put this book down.
Sephy was a fantastic heroine. Witty, funny, sweet and strong.
Hades is perfect. I love him. I need more of him.
I cannot wait to dive further into this world that Macdonald has created.
June 5, 2021
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Where to begin with this review? When I read the synopsis of Thief of Spring by Katherine Macdonald, I was extremely excited to read it, considering one of my favourite Greek mythology stories is that of Persephone and Hades. Knowing that this was meant to be a modern retelling, I was chomping at the bit to really sink my teeth into the story, but unfortunately by the end of the book I was still hungry for something substantial.
The story itself is almost non existent for most of the book, instead it chooses to meander along with two teenagers who constantly fawn and moon at one another through cringe like dialogue, and trope filled moments. Mentions of Harry Potter, Disney, and even small subtle mentions of other fae-inspired novels do nothing for the story, but only serve to bring you out of the fantasy of the Underworld. The dialogue, as mentioned previous, is too fast paced at times, it lacks any emotional build up or descriptive elements.
The lack of definition between characters makes it extremely hard to differentiate between each one. I found myself mixing up Irma, Emetria and others and had to go back pages to remind myself of who exactly I was now reading about. Now these characters, when properly examined, do seem very interesting and with proper characterization I think I would have found them far more engaging.
The story itself, when finally reaching it's end, does become very intriguing. Yet, some plot points during the final battle did make me raise an eyebrow and ask how, and why, as they just didn't seem to make much sense and seemed to come from nowhere with no proper exposition. Persephone and Hades are endearing during some small moments together, and what we learn about them in the last few chapters, their shared past, definitely made me melt a little more and even cheer for them a little.
Usually I devour a book like this in one sitting, but unfortunately I ended up taking two days to eventually get through this. And at one point I almost put this into my 'did not finish' pile, but I pushed through. I won't be checking out the sequel, and wouldn't recommend this to my friends, especially those who love Greek mythology like myself. I'm sure others will love Thief of Spring but it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Where to begin with this review? When I read the synopsis of Thief of Spring by Katherine Macdonald, I was extremely excited to read it, considering one of my favourite Greek mythology stories is that of Persephone and Hades. Knowing that this was meant to be a modern retelling, I was chomping at the bit to really sink my teeth into the story, but unfortunately by the end of the book I was still hungry for something substantial.
The story itself is almost non existent for most of the book, instead it chooses to meander along with two teenagers who constantly fawn and moon at one another through cringe like dialogue, and trope filled moments. Mentions of Harry Potter, Disney, and even small subtle mentions of other fae-inspired novels do nothing for the story, but only serve to bring you out of the fantasy of the Underworld. The dialogue, as mentioned previous, is too fast paced at times, it lacks any emotional build up or descriptive elements.
The lack of definition between characters makes it extremely hard to differentiate between each one. I found myself mixing up Irma, Emetria and others and had to go back pages to remind myself of who exactly I was now reading about. Now these characters, when properly examined, do seem very interesting and with proper characterization I think I would have found them far more engaging.
The story itself, when finally reaching it's end, does become very intriguing. Yet, some plot points during the final battle did make me raise an eyebrow and ask how, and why, as they just didn't seem to make much sense and seemed to come from nowhere with no proper exposition. Persephone and Hades are endearing during some small moments together, and what we learn about them in the last few chapters, their shared past, definitely made me melt a little more and even cheer for them a little.
Usually I devour a book like this in one sitting, but unfortunately I ended up taking two days to eventually get through this. And at one point I almost put this into my 'did not finish' pile, but I pushed through. I won't be checking out the sequel, and wouldn't recommend this to my friends, especially those who love Greek mythology like myself. I'm sure others will love Thief of Spring but it just wasn't my cup of tea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2022
(Actual rating: 4.5 stars)
Thief of Spring is a unique Hades and Persephone retelling that instantly captured my attention (and the gorgeous cover didn’t hurt either.)
Macdonald writes with a poetic prose that heightens the beauty of the world Sephy finds herself in. The magic of the fae intwined with the world of the Greek gods was an amazing mash up that not many authors could have pulled off. The descriptions were gorgeous and I could easily visualize most of the scenes in my head.
My favorite character was Hades, he’s a darling. Even though at times I was confused by his actions (it all made sense later) I loved his tortured soul and how he refused to let his past trauma and upbringing define him. I also enjoyed the addition of his dog with three heads (not a three headed dog) and Sephy’s cat.
I did have a few minor issues with this story. At times the plot seemed to stagnate and it was very dialogue heavy, but I still enjoyed it and the ending more than made up for it (no spoilers.) It just seemed to drag a bit more than the other stories I’ve read by Macdonald.
Overall this was a great read! The ending left me dying for more and I thoroughly enjoyed this, all small complaints aside. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out and in the meantime I’ll definitely be reading more of Macdonald’s works.
*I was given an ARC from Booksprout and this is my honest, voluntary review.*
Thief of Spring is a unique Hades and Persephone retelling that instantly captured my attention (and the gorgeous cover didn’t hurt either.)
Macdonald writes with a poetic prose that heightens the beauty of the world Sephy finds herself in. The magic of the fae intwined with the world of the Greek gods was an amazing mash up that not many authors could have pulled off. The descriptions were gorgeous and I could easily visualize most of the scenes in my head.
My favorite character was Hades, he’s a darling. Even though at times I was confused by his actions (it all made sense later) I loved his tortured soul and how he refused to let his past trauma and upbringing define him. I also enjoyed the addition of his dog with three heads (not a three headed dog) and Sephy’s cat.
I did have a few minor issues with this story. At times the plot seemed to stagnate and it was very dialogue heavy, but I still enjoyed it and the ending more than made up for it (no spoilers.) It just seemed to drag a bit more than the other stories I’ve read by Macdonald.
Overall this was a great read! The ending left me dying for more and I thoroughly enjoyed this, all small complaints aside. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out and in the meantime I’ll definitely be reading more of Macdonald’s works.
*I was given an ARC from Booksprout and this is my honest, voluntary review.*
September 7, 2022
No one is what they seem to be and the lovely slow burning love affair is not real, or is it? But anyway it’s doomed, isn’t it?
Questions questions and few answers make this a blissfully frustrating read because I so want my happy ever after.
As with all Katherine’s books, if they’re going to be happy they have to earn it.
Giving this Greek legend a Fae twist is an act of genius and it works brilliantly.
I love that the big bad Lord of the Underworld has a Dog called Fluffy….. 🤣
Poor gorgeous delicious Hades, ( I want one) has been lonely forever, can Sephy save him? So he can save her.
I really hope she can…………. In book 2…..
I loved it.
Questions questions and few answers make this a blissfully frustrating read because I so want my happy ever after.
As with all Katherine’s books, if they’re going to be happy they have to earn it.
Giving this Greek legend a Fae twist is an act of genius and it works brilliantly.
I love that the big bad Lord of the Underworld has a Dog called Fluffy….. 🤣
Poor gorgeous delicious Hades, ( I want one) has been lonely forever, can Sephy save him? So he can save her.
I really hope she can…………. In book 2…..
I loved it.
May 24, 2023
Hadn’t realised before started reading that I’m at least 10 years too old for this.
April 30, 2022
So I read a lot of hades and persephone retellings. This one, however, has stolen my heart in a way that a book has not done in a VERY VERY long time. This slow burn, best friends to enemies to lovers to enemies to best friends to lovers (etc etc, you get the picture) twisted romance had me by the throat and I'm not sure I am going to recover.
Between the familiarity of fae and the familiarity of the pantheon members and the unique spin put on both of them, reading this book was like coming home to my extremely dysfunctional family whom I love more than anything. Persephone was a strong, take no sh*t, but also "love and protect me", badass Heroine and this may be at least top 3 in my Persephone personifications EVER
I will for sure be starting the next one tomorrow, as it it currently 4am and I need at least a couple hours sleep before going to work. If the rest of her work is this strong, I have found a new auto buy author ❤️🖤❤️🖤
Between the familiarity of fae and the familiarity of the pantheon members and the unique spin put on both of them, reading this book was like coming home to my extremely dysfunctional family whom I love more than anything. Persephone was a strong, take no sh*t, but also "love and protect me", badass Heroine and this may be at least top 3 in my Persephone personifications EVER
I will for sure be starting the next one tomorrow, as it it currently 4am and I need at least a couple hours sleep before going to work. If the rest of her work is this strong, I have found a new auto buy author ❤️🖤❤️🖤
November 26, 2022
Obsessed is an understatement
February 21, 2022
Not super happy with this. This was like a romance novel for pre teens in that more than half the book is just the main characters telling each other they love each other and talking about all the ways they've been hurt. It was a bit cheesy even for me and the dialogue between the characters felt really unnatural and at times not different from each other. It felt slightly obvious that she was going to end up being fae. Also through out the book they keep comparing Hades to Lucifer and she takes over as "Queen of Hell." They keep comparing the guy who is Hades as well to Christianity's Lucifer. WHICH ARE NOT THE SAME! The author keeps making these comparisons but in Greek mythology Hades is lord of the underworld that includes the Elysian fields where the good people go. The underworld is just where everyone goes after death. It is not hell. I understand taking artistic license but these things only frustrated me throughout.
June 15, 2021
Of course this is a Hades and Persephone retelling (of which there are fifty million out there) but Macdonald brings her own twist to it by blending Greek mythology with the fairies of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. It's a fascinating mash-up that really drew me in.
The major events of the plot are awesome. There's plenty of surprises and twists. However, much of this book moved at a snail's pace for me. Unlike previous works of Macdonald's that devoured in a day and had trouble setting down, I frequently found myself struggling to focus on Thief of Spring. The romance is definitely slow-burn and I can appreciate that. It just seems like the rest of the plot was also slow burn.
As always, Macdonald's writing is beautiful and lyrical. I'm not a huge fan of the pop culture references. Those have a way of aging a book that could otherwise be somewhat timeless. I don't know, that's a thing that's just not for me.
I have to give it a 4 but not the same ringing endorsement that I would give A Song of Sea and Shore or Of Snow and Scarlet. It's good. It's enjoyable. If you really, really love slow slow burn and books that are very focused on the actual romance and soft moments then you are going to love Thief of Spring.
I did receive this as a free ARC. My opinions are my own.
For a more in-depth review and some gushing about the cover you can check out my full blog post here. http://blog.sara-cleveland.com/thief-...
The major events of the plot are awesome. There's plenty of surprises and twists. However, much of this book moved at a snail's pace for me. Unlike previous works of Macdonald's that devoured in a day and had trouble setting down, I frequently found myself struggling to focus on Thief of Spring. The romance is definitely slow-burn and I can appreciate that. It just seems like the rest of the plot was also slow burn.
As always, Macdonald's writing is beautiful and lyrical. I'm not a huge fan of the pop culture references. Those have a way of aging a book that could otherwise be somewhat timeless. I don't know, that's a thing that's just not for me.
I have to give it a 4 but not the same ringing endorsement that I would give A Song of Sea and Shore or Of Snow and Scarlet. It's good. It's enjoyable. If you really, really love slow slow burn and books that are very focused on the actual romance and soft moments then you are going to love Thief of Spring.
I did receive this as a free ARC. My opinions are my own.
For a more in-depth review and some gushing about the cover you can check out my full blog post here. http://blog.sara-cleveland.com/thief-...
June 21, 2021
Utterly Brilliant! This is easily one of the best reads of 2021. The re-telling of Persephone and Hades had me captivated from the first chapter. The characters are engaging, the story flows with such beauty, even in the face of brutality and death. Did I guess a major plot twist? Yes, but still, there were plenty of surprises once this major event is revealed. I kept glancing at my Kindle to see that I was 98% read and thinking, NO, I do NOT want this to end. Thank goodness there is a book 2. I have read other books by Katherine Macdonald and they are all stellar; however, this particular story tugged at my heart. When you hear the name Hades, you think hellfire and brimstone, cruelty and viciousness. And yes, there is some of that, what you do not expect is vulnerability and caring. The two facets of Hades personality are weaved together so skillfully that you do not realize you are rooting for this gorgeous man to be a hero, until you cannot help yourself. And Persephone grows by leaps and bounds and stretches her capabilities far beyond what she ever imagined she could do. There are so many characters from Greek Mythology that I have read about and loved in the past, and to read about them here, in such a fresh, imaginative way was like coming home to old friends. I do not like to wish time away, but please let July 21st come soon, so that I can delve back into this viscerally appealing, emotionally engaging saga.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book with every promise to rate it honestly. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book with every promise to rate it honestly. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
June 4, 2021
So I received the ARC of this book today and I also finished it today. I leave a review voluntarily.
So Katherine has outdone herself yet again. The Greek mythology blend with Faeries is such a wonderful combo and it bleeds such life into this story. I adore the world it’s set in and I can’t wait to explore more of it! It makes sense both in and outside of the novel!
The characters are brilliant, as always and Hades may have taken top rank on my list of favorite characters by Katherine, with Persephone just tailing him. God, I love this character! He’s got wit but also a deep sadness to him and I just want to hug him.
Persephone is full of sass and yet maintains a vulnerability that is a hard balance to garner yet Katherine manages it beautifully! I felt for her but also believed her very realistic reactions to this crazy mess she finds herself in.
So...when does Book 2 come out again?
So Katherine has outdone herself yet again. The Greek mythology blend with Faeries is such a wonderful combo and it bleeds such life into this story. I adore the world it’s set in and I can’t wait to explore more of it! It makes sense both in and outside of the novel!
The characters are brilliant, as always and Hades may have taken top rank on my list of favorite characters by Katherine, with Persephone just tailing him. God, I love this character! He’s got wit but also a deep sadness to him and I just want to hug him.
Persephone is full of sass and yet maintains a vulnerability that is a hard balance to garner yet Katherine manages it beautifully! I felt for her but also believed her very realistic reactions to this crazy mess she finds herself in.
So...when does Book 2 come out again?
June 5, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Hades is literally the sweetest wounded boi; he reminded me a little bit of Cardan in The Cruel Prince and that is high praise from me. :) This is a Fae YA twist on the Hades and Persephone myth, so you can expect a lot of deliciously charming banter between the two leads! There's some Faerie politics too, which ramps up over the course of the book until--but I can't say anything else without spoilers! Just read the book. It's so fun. You'll see some other familiar characters from Greek mythology, each with their own unique twist as well! For me, the world can never have too many Hades and Persephone retellings, and this one will be taking a place of honor on my shelf!
August 6, 2021
I absolutely love Hades and Persephone retellings, so I have read a lot of them. This one was really good and unique because instead of having the actual gods with a similar setting to the original story, they made something completely different. In this retelling, the idea is that they were actually far and that the names we all know are just titles that are passed down. The universe the author created was deadly and beautiful. Plus, the author took a beauty and the beast route when writing this, which is definitely a bonus since that is my other favorite retelling. I also really liked these versions of Hades and Persephone and they are absolutely adorable together.
September 15, 2021
Initial Thoughts
I have been on such a Hades and Persephone kick these days and when I saw the covers for this series, I knew I had to read it.
Some Things I Liked
Fae. I LOVED that this series put a new spin on Greek mythology and I loved that it was Fae. I’m a sucker for bargains, magic, and word play and that was so much of what made this twist so amazing.
Cinnamon roll Hades. He’s my absolute favorite. I adored him.
Character driven. Normally, I’m not a fan of this. I like action. But, the mystery here was so good. The build up in Thief of Spring was exactly the right contrast to the action in Queen of Night. I loved that this book focused on the characters.
Series Value
As hinted at above, I already read Queen of Night (review coming soon) and loved it. I am absolutely hooked on this series. I have also made mention of this to the author but I would LOVE some spin offs about the other characters.
Final Thoughts
This is by far my favorite YA H&P retelling. I love the writing, characters, and story here. I can’t wait to keep reading Kate Macdonald’s books.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have been on such a Hades and Persephone kick these days and when I saw the covers for this series, I knew I had to read it.
Some Things I Liked
Fae. I LOVED that this series put a new spin on Greek mythology and I loved that it was Fae. I’m a sucker for bargains, magic, and word play and that was so much of what made this twist so amazing.
Cinnamon roll Hades. He’s my absolute favorite. I adored him.
Character driven. Normally, I’m not a fan of this. I like action. But, the mystery here was so good. The build up in Thief of Spring was exactly the right contrast to the action in Queen of Night. I loved that this book focused on the characters.
Series Value
As hinted at above, I already read Queen of Night (review coming soon) and loved it. I am absolutely hooked on this series. I have also made mention of this to the author but I would LOVE some spin offs about the other characters.
Final Thoughts
This is by far my favorite YA H&P retelling. I love the writing, characters, and story here. I can’t wait to keep reading Kate Macdonald’s books.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 23, 2022
Top five favorite!!
This book is full of everything from fantasy creatures mythology and most of all slow forbidden exhilarating romance. The writing is beautiful the side characters are incredibly entertaining and relatable. There's incredible character progression you can pretty much visualize the book like a movie and see how they both slowly learn to trust and love each other more and more.
This book is full of everything from fantasy creatures mythology and most of all slow forbidden exhilarating romance. The writing is beautiful the side characters are incredibly entertaining and relatable. There's incredible character progression you can pretty much visualize the book like a movie and see how they both slowly learn to trust and love each other more and more.
October 18, 2021
This was a fantastic read! Indie books are a new favorite genre. This was a unique, clean YA retelling of Hades and Persephone, and I loved it! There were some cliches of course, but the story was told well and I loved the characters more than I thought I would. I think the author had a strong voice as well. And that cliffhanger!
July 11, 2023
amazing
A sweet, loving and cute as hell romance between the ruling Hades (fae lord) and a mortal called persephone. Hades forces her to drink wine from his lips with a kiss. Forcing her to spend eight months in the underworld. But what if he did it out of love not hate? What if he was saving her life?
A sweet, loving and cute as hell romance between the ruling Hades (fae lord) and a mortal called persephone. Hades forces her to drink wine from his lips with a kiss. Forcing her to spend eight months in the underworld. But what if he did it out of love not hate? What if he was saving her life?
February 23, 2022
Outstanding…
As soon as you start reading part one get part two! It took only a few hours in two sittings to finish this. Even KNOWING it was the epilogue I was still expecting there to be more to keep reading…
As soon as you start reading part one get part two! It took only a few hours in two sittings to finish this. Even KNOWING it was the epilogue I was still expecting there to be more to keep reading…
September 10, 2021
Well…
That was unexpected.
I don’t really know what else to say… I just want to hurry and dive into book two right now, so that’s what I’m gonna do.
That was unexpected.
I don’t really know what else to say… I just want to hurry and dive into book two right now, so that’s what I’m gonna do.
Read
February 20, 2023Czy kiedykolwiek będzie mi dane przeczytać dobry retelling mitu o Persefonie i Hadesie, oto jest pytanie. (Tego tutaj raczej nie polecam)
March 14, 2022
Ooh, TWO books finished today? I'm on fire! :P
In a disappointing twist that shocks no one, I chose this book because I'm trash for mythology.
This was my first book by Katherine Macdonald so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I liked her voice right away. It was a really easy for me to fall into and made me fly through it! Turns out, I do actually quite like romance books. They just need to be done like this one.
It also reminded me of A Court of Mist and Fury quite a lot, and I didn't hate it. Didn't turn smutty though, so that's a let-down :P (kidding) (sort of)
In a disappointing twist that shocks no one, I chose this book because I'm trash for mythology.
This was my first book by Katherine Macdonald so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I liked her voice right away. It was a really easy for me to fall into and made me fly through it! Turns out, I do actually quite like romance books. They just need to be done like this one.
It also reminded me of A Court of Mist and Fury quite a lot, and I didn't hate it. Didn't turn smutty though, so that's a let-down :P (kidding) (sort of)
October 8, 2023
Best. Reeteling. Ever. I'm beyond words, HADES HAS MY HEARY BODY AND SOUL PLS 😭😭this book was like a gut punch and at the same time like the most warm hug ever🥺
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