Neon Gods: A Scorchingly Hot Modern Retelling of Hades and Persephone (Dark Olympus, 1)

I enjoyed this book overall as a read. The storyline is good, and it tells a different type of story regarding Persephone and Hades. That's all I really liked about it. There are a few grammatical errors, like missing commas and worlds in the wrong place. For example, the sentence will say her instead of him—only minor things. But if things like that bug you, then this is probably not the read for you. The next thing is the whole take of it being a retelling of Persephone and Hades. The author could have called the two characters John and Jane, and you wouldn't know it was a retelling. The only things that do tell you are the names of the characters and the map of Olympus. The author makes slight references to the story of Persephone and Hades, e.g. pomegranates, Persephone only staying for the winter, the one reference to her being the queen of the underworld and Hades being shunned. But there is no fantasy within this book. THey're not gods with godly powers; they're humans with godlike names. That's it. This not having the fantasy element took something away from this for me, and it made me question the point of having the whole Greek Gods element in the first place. The author should have just made up her own world because once you take the Greek mythology out of the book, it is just a romance book. That thought was the only thing that got me through the book. I had to think of it as not a retelling because it wasn't. It took all the danger and the premise of why Hades and Persephone were forbidden and why it was so strange for Hades to fall for someone like Persephone. It took all that out. I get the author was probably trying to make it her own, but she could have just made her own original story with her own original characters and ideas; after all, 70% of the book was that. A good retelling for Hades and Persephone is A Touch of Darkness.

𝐈’𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐧. 𝐈𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲' What a book I finished September with! . Neon Gods is hot, addictive, delicious, irresistible and sexy as hell . When Persephone finds herself at an unexpected engagement party and learns that her mother is forcing her to marry the most dangerous man in Olympus, Zeus, you just know things are about to get good. Fleeing as fast as she can with Zeus' guards hot on her tail, Persephone finds herself on the wrong side of the River Styx and falling into the arms of Hades . The Hades that Katee has created is the literal definition of a walking, talking GOD 🔥 a myth in the Upper City, shrouded in mystery and dangerous as hell, it soons becomes clear that this dominant can be compassionate, caring and has a real soft side - this Hades will steal the hearts of romance readers for sure . The deal these two make is quite simple - Persephone will belong to Hades for 3 months, which will also help him avenge the man who killed his parents. And belong to him she does - in every sense of the word and boy was it HOT HOT HOT . Let me tell you Katee could re write the entire Greek Mythology and I would read it. If this has been on your radar at all, this is your sign to read it

"Ruin me, Hades. I want you to..." * Persephone is already planning her escape from the modern city of Olympus, and the politics of its ruthless ruling Thirteen, when she is ambushed with an engagement to Zeus, the worst of them all. Out of options, Persephone flees to the forbidden lower city and makes a deal for protection with Hades, a man that the people of Olympus believed to be dead. Hades has been lying in wait for a chance at revenge against Zeus and Persephone might just be his winning ticket. But Hades soon discovers a hidden darkness in Persephone that whispers to his shadows and each night they spend tangled in eachother the harder it becomes to part ways. And soon Hades finds himself willing to go to war just to keep her safe. * "He’s built lean and strong, and there are scars across his knuckles. A full beard and shoulder- length dark hair just lean in to the imposing presence he creates..." * There was a lot of hype for this book on Bookstagram and Booktok so me and my friends decided to Buddy Read it. It's a modern urban retelling of Hades and Persephone and not fantasy based. The relationship development between Hades and Persephone was the best part about this book and, despite the reputation he has, he's a sweetheart with her. There is a lot of spice but it's very mainstream, bar a bit of voyeurism. I say this because the way it was setting it up at the start I assumed this was going to be like Fifty Shades of Grey with a playroom as well as how people on IG and TikTok were bigging it up as 'the spicest book they have ever read' so I was surprised after reading it. And with that description of Hades all I was picturing was Bucky Barnes in Endgame! The plot is barely there I mean it starts off with promise and then everything happens in like 10 pages at the end. But if you're looking for fluff and some spice then give the book a read - it's a very loose retelling and by that I mean only really the names are the same. * "Power is as much about perception as it is about the resources one has at their disposal..."

FIVE STARS. I loved it. I loved it so much. I'm absolute Hades trash and Neon Gods did not disappoint. Persephone, dutiful daughter of Demeter, has always been intrigued by the myth of Hades, the fabled final member to the mighty 13 that rule Olympus. When her mother announces she is to wed Zeus, whose ruthless reputation includes the mysterious death of his previous three wives, Persephone flees across the River Styx, where she soon learns Hades is no more myth than she is. To get back at her mom and Zeus for attempting to force her hand, Persephone partners with Hades on a plan that fans the flames of revenge and desire. *cue TikTok audio saying "it has all the ingredients you need": Dual POV Steamy Scenes A Headstrong and Self-Assured Heroine A Consent King A Playroom Complete with Safeword Strong Communication Rooftop Gardens PUPPIES As I read, I was stuck between wanting Hades and Persephone's story to wrap up with a neat bow but also being completely willing to wait years for Dark Olympus 2-3 feat. my favorite duo. Alas, the future books appear to star different characters. But fear not! I will absolutely be reading. Neon Gods is a great read for fans of A Touch of Darkness, Fifty Shades of Grey, and The Boys.

I’m not super picky when it comes to romance or fantasy novels and after a lot of hype, this book completely fell flat for me. I had to stop reading. The writing was simple, the world was barely explained/ described, it felt like a romance novel where someone just decided it should be about Gods halfway through writing it, because it could be any other trope like mafia/ Romeo & Juliet feuds/ etc. It was 2 dimensional writing, almost the opposite of Blood and Ash which is almost too descriptive. I don’t want a book with boring characters, centered around the sex scenes. It didn’t do it for me.