**Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca publishing for providing this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change.**

“Love was never part of the plan.”

In a grab for power Persephone’s mother forces her into an engagement with Zeus, a powerful man suspected of killing his previous wives. Desperate to escape this absurd marriage she did not agree to, Persephone seeks refuge in the lower city where she strikes a bargain with Hades, the king of the lower city, a myth.

“Hades is a puzzle I could spend a lifetime exploring and never quite have the whole picture.”

This book is set in modern day Olympus, where the Greek gods are political titles rather than being individual deities. Zeus has made it his mission to exterminate the Hades line. He has painted Hades as Olympus’s boogie man, turning him into a myth. Big bad Hades is the name parents whisper to their children in order to make them behave. But when in reality Hades is a benevolent king, who would do anything for the people he loves and his city.

“I crave anything and everything you do to me.”

Hades and Persephone are a powerful couple! They are a great team. They stand by each other, fight for one another. From the beginning there is not only a great sense of trust but fierce protectiveness. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them fall in love. He made her his queen, his equal in every way.

“You’ve ruined me Persephone.”

Both Hades and Persephone are complex characters, perceived by society as a man to fear and a woman with a sunny personality and very little substance. It is interesting to see how they become their true selves with each other.

“I would move heaven and earth and the underworld itself to keep you with me.”

Neon gods is positively sinful. This book is pure temptation. Hades draws back the curtains and allows you to enter his world, where you can act out all of your most wicked fantasies. Everyone has a dark side and Neon gods invites you explore yours, which is why I’m rating it 4.5/5

I’ve always been a fan of fantasy romances, and so Neon Gods easily caught my eye as a mix of fantasy, Greek mythology, and erotica. While it took me a little while to orient myself in the author's world, overall this book proved to be a promising start to this new series by Katee Robert.

In the modern city of Olympus, the Upper City and Lower City are separated by the river Styx, and ruled by the Thirteen. The Thirteen are titles representing major Greek gods and goddesses (Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, etc.) and can be either inherited or elected titles. Demeter, for example, is an elected title whose role involves overseeing the agricultural resources of the city. Persephone is one of the daughters of the current Demeter, and she longs for the day that she will come into her inheritance and be able to leave Olympus for the wider world. Persephone has no interest in the politics and mind games of the Thirteen, but is abruptly dragged into them by her mother when Demeter announces Persephone's surprise engagement to Zeus.

In possession of a heritage title and the de-facto leader of the Thirteen, Zeus is about sixty and rumored to have murdered his past few wives. While Persephone is fairly certain her mother has some scheme in place to keep her from being married to a monster, she isn't sure how long it will take to play out. More than that, Persephone is already uncomfortable with the lecherous looks Zeus sends her way, and has no interest in sticking around for more of them. When she steps outside for air minutes after the engagement is announced at a party, panic takes hold and Persephone runs away, ultimately finding herself crossing into the Lower City and a world she never imagined.

No one familiar with the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone will be surprised by the next turn of the story. While in the Upper City, Hades is rumored to be dead, in truth he quietly rules the Lower City, waiting for the right moment to take revenge on Zeus - who killed his parents when Hades was a child. While the Thirteen and other members of their inner circle know of his existence, it's not until Persephone crosses the river and stumbles straight into his arms that she herself realizes Hades is more than a myth.

While Hades offers Persephone shelter out of general concern and with no further expectations, the daughter of Demeter has spent enough time around the politics of the Thirteen not to take kindness for granted. Deciding that her safest option is to remain in the Lower City for the next few months until she can leave Olympus altogether, Persephone offers Hades a bargain. In return for providing her with a safe harbor, she will be with him publicly (in all senses) to help him get back at Zeus. They both know nothing will rile Zeus more than his supposedly innocent fiancée engaged in a public affair with Hades.

The more time I spend thinking about this book, the more impressed I am with the way the author handles this piece of the plot. While central to the story, bargaining sexual favors can be a very uncomfortable topic if one party feels as though they’ve been forced into it. Luckily, after she first introduces the idea, Hades makes it clear that Persephone's welcome in his home is not contingent on anything, and she in turn makes it clear that she genuinely desires Hades. What starts as a bargain becomes a mutual decision to enjoy a fling during Persephone's last months in the city, with the added benefit of pissing off Zeus.

If you're a fan of Robert’s, it should come as no surprise to hear that the sex is off the charts hot. Public sex is something Hades enjoys - he even has a dedicated room of his house to host orgies - and it's central to the couple's plan to embarrass Zeus and enjoy themselves. However, Persephone has never actually acted on her exhibitionist fantasies, so Hades takes his time easing her into the experience.

This care for Persephone's needs, and the development of their relationship separately in private, is a perfect balance to the constant focus on public perception. In some ways, the awareness of what is done publicly versus privately makes Hades' growing love for Persephone (and vice versa) even more obvious. When he shows her his favorite hidden parts of the Lower City, it's not about anyone but them.

My only complaint about this book, and it's a very small one, is that I was a little confused by the worldbuilding at the beginning. Despite the emphasis on Greek mythology and the mystical barrier between the two parts of the city, most people have phones and don't appear to have god-like powers. But while my questions about the design of the world might linger, I have no unanswered questions about Hades and Persephone. Their story here is a sexy, modern version of the Greek legend, and definitely deserves a read.

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I'm trash for anything Hades and Persephone so even though this author is often hit or miss for me, I knew I had to read this book.

Roberts places Olympus in the modern-day but not in the real world. It seemed as if it exists in another dimension? This part was very hazy for me as the world-building wasn't great. I'm giving her a pass here since it's a series and I assume there will be more explanation forthcoming.

Persephone's mother Demeter has promised her daughter's hand in marriage to Zeus who is, as in the myths, a raging asshole. Persephone objects to this and ends up running away to the forbidden Lower City. No one from Olympus can cross into the lower city except a bunch of people do and there was a lot of hand waviness about this. I didn't understand why some could come and go as they pleased.

Persephone ends up with Hades who has a bone to pick with Zeus and decides taking his fiancee and debauching her is the perfect way to avenge his dead parents. Persephone agrees to be debauched since she has time to kill. She can't escape to the human world until she is of age to get her hands on an inheritance. So they both embark on a consensual voyeur kink, I guess. He likes to have sex in public in front of an audience and she thinks it's hot.

This was a hard book for me to rate. I didn't hate it but there was nothing about it that stood out for me. My main problem as a hero-centric reader was that Hades was bland. The reader is told how everyone fears Hades. He has this terrible reputation and he's this big bad. But I was never shown any of it. Is he so terrible because of his kink? That's the only time that Hades seemed in any way "bad" and I don't think I like his kink used as a personality flaw. In private, he was this big, grumpy super concerned mother hen. Obsessed with home decor and hardwood floors. He was cute in his grumpy concern for Persephone but that's hardly the stuff my dreams of the big bad Lord of the Underworld are made of. Persephone was Persephone in name only. Aside from a sunny personality and passing admiration of a greenhouse, she had nothing to do with nature or spring.

The sex scenes were hot but became repetitive after a while. Also, that kink? They only do it in the club twice and it's in a dark corner where hardly anyone can see. The big stage scene only comes in the epilogue and by then I was too bored to care.

The romantic tension was weak as the internal conflict was based off whether Persephone would stay or go when the time came. The pacing was also off. I felt as if everything happened in the first ten percent and then the last ten percent of the book. The middle was a slog for me.

In the end, I think this was another case of my reader mood affecting how much I enjoyed this book. I have been looking for a villainous Hades. A morally grey Hades. I'm craving a morality chain trope and this wasn't it. I wonder though why Hades is always irritable and cranky cinnamon roll in romance. In myth, he saw a beautiful girl and kidnapped her FFS. Give me the morally grey emotionally constipated Hades. And the Persephone who is the Maiden of Spring and makes him choke on it. I dream of this book. Won't anyone write it? Please? 🥺

⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥🔥/5
🍆🍆/5

Thank you NetGalley and SourceBooks for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

I love this world, these characters! In a very creative way this became a modern, sexy, dark, fairytale we never knew we needed. Hades and Persephone, completely in a knew light and once you start you wont want it to stop! What do we read next, i want this world to continue! Smoldering hot, yet utterly romantic, cheeky and so lovable, this story will pull you in, and keep your head in this hot craze that is too delicious to ignore.

Wow! What a great retelling of Hades and Persephone. Although, this one is sizzling steamy.
I love Hades' broody character. Persephone is strong and knows what she wants. I loved it all and can't wait for more!!!
I have never read anything by Katee Robert before but now I will seek out her books.

As a fan of Robert's Wicked Villains series, I was super excited for Neon Gods, the first in her new Dark Olympus series. A modern Hades and Persephone story? SIGN ME UP.

And Katee did NOT disappoint. Although more of a slow build than the Wicked Villains, she still brought the STEAM. Maybe don't read it in the same room as your dad who's visiting from out of state like I did; it was an exercise in keeping my face completely and utterly neutral.

Hades is a giant, grumpy cinnamon roll, and Persephone is...well, she's bold and manages to top from the bottom (IYKYK). She will do anything to protect the ones she loves. Their love story was so sweet and tender and hot as, well, hades. Public sex is not my kink, but man, Robert makes it so, so hot. And yet Neon Gods definitely focuses equally on story-telling and steam, instead of jumping headfirst into the sexiness a la Wicked Villains (not that there's anything wrong with that. I dig them just as much). The change in pacing clearly sets it apart as a new series.

And the bi rep! Both main characters are bisexual.

Bottom line: if you love mythology, cinnamon roll heroes, and a metric ton of steam, Neon Gods will be right up your alley.

As much as I looovvveeee the tale of Hades and Persephone, it is always so difficult to find a retelling that sits well with me. My biggest problem with any of the many I’ve read is that Persephone always starts out as a meek, submissive girl that allows her mother to step all over her. But then, two pages later, once she meets Hades, she’s fiery and strong and full of banter that makes no sense to her starting vibe. The development is rarely there, and all of a sudden Persephone—known for being sheltered and prim—is a sex fiend. No visible growth, just BAM!

With Neon Gods, the whole first chapter is a frustrating view of how Persephone allows herself to be walked all over. Is scared of her mother and of Zeus and allows them to rope her into doing things she doesn’t want to do. The next chapter she is making an arrangement with Hades to purposefully anger Zeus by sleeping with Hades, to have sex in public so that the message gets back to Zeus. She wants to make Zeus angry all of a sudden, all earlier development and worries gone. The change in her is so utterly out of the blue, it read like a completely new character.

I’ve only read a few Hades/Persephone retellings that get the development part down as a realistic gradual thing, not a page jump. Unfortunately, Neon Gods didn’t meet the mark for me. The writing is solid, the characters and lore appealing and diverse, but this one isn’t for me personally.

4.5 / 5 stars

I just can't get enough Hades and Persephone books! I had been wanting to pick up a Katee Robert book for so long and this felt like the perfect place to start. I'm not hugely into dark romance but this felt like it was just dark enough for me.

Persephone escapes being sent to marry Zeus and runs away into Hades territory, which no one has gone into before. This is an urban fantasy, but we don't get to see much of the actual city and I hope we get to in future books in the series, though I could read another book just about this romance. It had such great banter and and softness. I loved seeing how obsessed Hades was with Persephone. I would recommend anyone look up potential triggers before reading this book, since some steamy aspects might not be for everyone. I truly can't wait to see what Gods the next book is about because I loved the writing style so much that I'll for sure be picking it up and all the side characters were so great.

5 out of 5 Dark Olympus Stars.
Writing reviews is kinda hard for me because I can never get my thoughts in order, but here’s my attempted review for this amazing book.
I’ve been a Katee Robert fan for some time, now. And what I love most about her writing is how quickly she wraps you up in the story, and did she wrap me up in this one.
I’m not that much into retellings, but once I heard it was a Hades/Persephone retelling, I immediately decided I wanted to read it, and do whatever to read it early.
I feel this new world KT has created is interesting and I can’t wait to see more of it in the future installments of this series.
I absolutely loved Hades’ character, his brooding but caring personality. And Persephone was just lovely.
I can’t wait to read more about these characters in the future books.

This one was such a sultry and seductive read! I found myself enthralled when I read and completely sucked into the story. If you are a fan of Hades & Persephone retellings, this needs to be on your TBR!

With it taking place in a contemporary time period, it’s more about the status of the position vs. the superpowers that each Greek god and goddess hold in the myths. Which ultimately means that no god is immortal and your position as a specific god is inherited.

Hades and Persephone were 🔥. The chemistry was off the charts! It’s easy to see and understand Hades for who he really is - a caring and protective soul - and I absolutely adored him! I loved how the two of them became so protective of one another that they would do anything to fight for each other.

Neon Gods releases June 1st. I definitely recommend adding it to your TBR! Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for my review copy! All opinions are my own.

Katee Roberts can do no wrong and that's especially true with Neon Gods. This is now my new favorite Hades and Persephone retelling! I devoured this in one sitting and loved everything about it - the world, the relationship, the puppies, all of it. I can't wait to get back into this world with Persephone's sisters' stories!

Neon Gods


Neon Gods by Katee Robert
Release date: June 1, 2021
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh my. Neon Gods is amazing. If you are an adult romance fantasy fan who loves retellings, particularly Hades and Persephone, you don’t want to miss this.

As the blurb states, “A modern retelling of Hades and Persephone that’s as sinful as it is sweet.” Katee Robert took the classic Hades and Persephone story and truly made it her own. Persephone is cunning, strong-willed, and is what Hades need to break down his walls. Hades was perfect. He was broody but once those walls came down, we were able to see his vulnerable and amazingly big heart. I truly was not expecting this from Hades’ character but the relationship development was everything that I need!

It was very steamy but the romance was perfect. The writing was wonderful and the character development made the book. This is the first Katee Roberts book I’ve read and was not disappointed and can not wait to see the story continue. Neon Gods is a steamy, addictive, captivating page turner that you won’t want to put down.
**This a very steamy book. Fans of A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair will enjoy this.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved almost every Katee Roberts book I have ever read and this is no exception. This honestly might be my favorite one of hers! Steamy and complex with engaging characters- I devoured this book so quickly. I love how unapologetically queer her characters and worldbuilding always are. Every one of the tropes was executed flawlessly, just perfection! One of the best romance authors out there!

Also I am always game for a Hades and Persephone retelling as it has been one of my favorite tropes since I was a kid. Roberts provided a brand new grown up version which was honestly ten times better than it had any right to be. These characters had off the charts chemistry, and a story which gripped me immediately.

A huge thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

“𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁.” “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁?” “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗻𝗮𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗹, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗼𝗲𝘆-𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿.”

When I saw that Katee Robert was doing a Hades x Persephone retelling, I just had to have it! And wow, this book did not disappoint 😌

This book is set in modern Olympus where Persephone is arranged to marry Zeus. When she finds out this was agreed upon by her mother, Demeter, and him, she escapes and ends up seeking help from the first person she sees. She then finds out that the man who saved her from her doom is the very man everyone thought to be a myth, Hades.

I really enjoyed Robert’s take on this retelling, the concept of Gods and the world of Olympus. This world is comprised of mortals and Olympus is divided between the upper city and lower city. The Thirteen are seens as the leaders with Zeus having the highest position for the former and the latter is said to be ruled by Hades but he’s deemed as a myth in the upper city as no one has seen his existence yet. As for the concept of Gods, the name and position is inherited through blood or competing for power.

As for the position of Hera, Persephone is set to fill it up as part of her future marriage with Zeus. Given the rumors of Zeus having murdered the previous three Heras and her lack of participation in the agreement on this, this becomes an issue for her.

Persephone is such a strong, very vocal and curious main lead in this book and I absolutely loved her! One of the most interesting parts of her character is how she has siblings and she’s the middle child among Demeter’s daughters. It was refreshing to see this explored in this book and to get to know her three sisters, Psyche, Eurydice and Callisto.

Hades and Persephone’s romance in this book has to be my favorite in all the retellings I’ve read so far!! Their chemistry and the pacing of their relationship just felt so pure and natural that I felt every moment they had going from fake dating almost to their love confessions. I saw every emotion and internal conflict they had 🥺 I loved their dates especially the ones in the winter market and them getting dogs! Their romance had my heart all throughout!

I enjoyed having dual POVs because I got to understand them both more by being in their head. Persephone’s curiosity and assertiveness was a dangerous mix but also, such a delight to read about. I loved how she explored her freedom sexually and physically! Her love for her sisters was so strong as well and I’m just glad she had that support system.

Hades’s character had that typical broody turned softie arc but there’s also so much more to him especially with his friendships, his love and care for his city and his people and the trauma and scars he carries. I loved how aware he was of his feelings and how unashamed he was. It definitely saved me from unnecessary angst and drama.

I also appreciated the bisexual rep for both of the main leads!!

Trust Katee Robert to write THE best smut because I am very much satisfied with the amount of delicious smut in this book 🥵 Every scene was fueled with some much passion, fire and that sexual curiosity that had them pushing each other to try new things CONSENSUALLY which I loved! Their relationship bordered dom-sub but I kinda liked that it didn’t go all the way so it just felt more casual 🙈 The exhibitionism scenes were very exhilarating and I enjoyed every moment 😌

Besides Persephone’s sisters, I also enjoyed having Hermes, Dionysus and all of Hades’s friends as they made us see more of his human side despite what those outside of the lower city might think of him.

Overall, probably my fave steamy Hades x Persephone retelling so far! Robert’s take on this Greek myth is so interesting that I’m more than willing to read any other retellings she has in store for this series! I’m excited for the next installments as they’re all bound to be as steamy and as captivating! Given that the next book is a fake marriage, enemies to lovers romance between Eros and Psyche and the third is between Achilles, Patroclus and Helen, I’m already dying to read them and the first book isn’t even officially out yet 😭 In the meantime, I’ll be devouring the rest of Katee Robert’s backlist 🤪

Neon Gods is the first book in the sexy and exciting Dark Olympus Series. Neon Gods is a refreshing and sexy modern take on Persephone & Hades. Their story will grab you from the first page and leave you devouring each and every naughty word….

When we first meet up with Persephone, she’s just biding her time until her 25th birthday. In just a few short months she’ll be free from the world of the 13 and will finally be able to make a life of her own. At least that was the plan until her mother ambushed her. Now, Persephone finds herself engaged to a man that everyone fears. She’ll do anything to escape that fate, even if it means she’s got to make a deal with the devil himself….

Neon Gods was a quick, yet exciting read. I was captivated by Persephone from the very first page. Persephone felt very real and I loved how relatable the author made her. And Hades…Hades was a very naughty man 😉 He was fierce, determined, and not afraid to take Zeus on. He was in way over his head with Persephone, but once he got his hands on her, there was no going back.

Overall, I thought this book was a fun and thrilling read. I devoured it easily in just a few short hours. I found this modern re-telling to be refreshing and sexy. The story felt familiar, yet brand new at the same time. I loved getting swept up in Persephone and Hades and can not wait to see who’s story the author is going to tell next!

When I heard there was a filthy modern retelling of the story of Hades and Persephone coming out soon, I SPRINTED my way to requesting it on NetGalley. Huge ups to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Oh my GODS, you guys. If you can't take the heat, stay out of the throne room, I'm telling you... this book is a fucking masterpiece. It's SO hot and steamy but it is absolutely not for the faint of heart. Once you open it you will not be able to put it down, and I don't reccommend reading in public. It's fantastic and if you're into sexy romance and/or Greek mythology, please run to grab this book! I need to talk to you about it, yesterday

I enjoyed this book so stinkin' much! It just had everything I love! Right away, I was sucked into it and couldn't put it down! This was such a wonderful Hades/ Persephone retelling! They make a sex bargain which was HOT AND STEAMY!!

One of my weaknesses is when an alpha guy is majorly protective and I was dying over how protective Hades was! He just swept me off my feet! I was a goner from the moment he rescued her. I will say he wasn't quite as dark as I imagined Hades to be which I would have enjoyed him to be a little bit darker at times. But he may have goeey center but he still likes to get freaky! 😂🔥 I loved how sassy Persephone was too!

I just really enjoyed this story! If you're looking for a sweet but sexy story with a broody, protective guy with some vouyer vibes, look no further! Also, I really loved how we had dual POVs too! This was just so good!!!!! I hope this author writes more like it!

4/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a suspenseful, dramatic, and sexy Hades and Persephone retelling. If you loved Scarlett St. Clair's "A Touch of Darkness" series, or the Court of Nightmares scene in Sarah J Maas' "A Court of Mist and Fury"- this should definitely be on your TBR.

Persephone is a poised "society princess" who has believed Hades to be a long dead "boogeyman" myth used to scare children. Hades is the classic misunderstood bad boy with a good soul. Are the tropes predictable? Absolutely. Did I hang on every word? You bet.

If you're looking for the magic aspect of a Greek Gods retelling, you won't find it here. The characters are "gods" in name only. However, I loved seeing these classic characters in political roles. It was a great way to bring ancient myths into the modern world, without dwelling on a magic system or any other world building necessary in a fantasy book.

I tore through this steamy romance in one day, and I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in this series!

TWs: This book is solidly 18+ for explicit sexual content. There is BDSM, public sex, and a power dynamic that may be unsettling to some readers. However, I will say that everything is 100% consensual.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

TW/CW: explicit sexual scenes (consensual), voyeurism, mentions of weight loss and concerns around food consumption, violence.

Rep: LGBTQ+ (MCs and side characters), racial diversity, plus-sized character (presented in a sexually positive manner).

Enter into the world of <i>Neon Gods</i> where we become reacquainted with some of our favorite Greek gods with a modern, mortal twist. I have read my fair share of Hades x Persephone romances, as I cannot get enough of their story, but Katee Robert presented a unique deviation that I have not come across before. The gods are now mortal rulers so there are no enhanced abilities, well no more than the typical power corruption that follows being uber-rich and self-serving. I did not realize how modern and mundane this story was going to be, so it pleasantly took me by surprise and created a sense of ‘normalcy’. This helped to create a sense of originality to this timeless tale as Roberts made some creative choices that disrupted our preconceived flow of who, what, when, where and why.

I did have a few gripes concerning some of the editing choices and a few character inconsistencies, but as this was an e-galley, I feel it would be unfair to let those choices affect my rating. I’ll be sure to update on these concerns, once I read a finished copy to see if they were fixed in the final edits. I won’t do a synopsis run-down, but as per usual Zeus is a disgusting, leering jerk and our independent Persephone wants nothing more than get out of the grips of Olympus and her mother, Demeter. The sister dynamics between Callisto, Eurydice, Psyche and Persephone was something I had not come across before and I thought it really helped to support character motivations and familial bonds within the story. Also, Persephone was not whiny or annoying in this story. I see so many authors portray her in a very unlikeable manner, but here Persephone’s flaws supported her character arc and enabled you to root for her.

The world is not very complex, and easy to follow, but there is definitely an emphasis on the lower-city, which is where we spend a majority of our time. In this rendition, both Persephone and Hades are LGBTQ+. I want to say that they are bisexual, but that was not confirmed and they could very well be pansexual for all I know. They had great tension and chemistry which lead to really great sex scenes within the book. The emotional growth and connection felt between the two love interests felt developed and well explored.

The book had a clear, and logical conflict however, there was a lot of telling and not showing and the climax felt a bit rushed. I think it would have been helpful if certain events had happened over a slightly longer period of time to build the suspense and up the stakes.

Overall, it was a really enjoyable read for fans of Robert’s and Hades and Persephone. Our gender-bent Hermes was one of my favorite side-characters in this one and I hope we get to learn more about her and her story in the upcoming sequel. This is not my favorite thing I’ve read from Robert’s but the characters were great and I cared about what they were going through. I’d like to see more from the members of the thirteen we did not get to interact with in this novel and hopefully get some answers to some of the hints and questions probed in Neon Gods.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ★★★★★ stars


I don't believe in fate, but this moment feels like we've both spent years barreling down our respective paths to this point. I can't turn away now. I don't want to.

"Yes. I say yes."


✍️ One Sentence Synopsis: A modern, saccharine-sweet, and downright filthy Hades/Persephone retelling.

💭 Overall Thoughts: Katee Roberts, I'm bowing down to you for this one. Neon Gods was every bit dirty as I had hoped, and wrapped in a romance that made my heart melt. This book has be screaming into the universe "I WANT WHAT THEY HAVE!" You won't regret picking this book up!


“Zeus is notorious for not wanting what he considers tarnished goods.” I take a deep breath. “So... tarnish me.”


What I Liked:
👍 Clear Consent: Hades gets the Consent King™ title here. While Katee creates steamy and dark scenarios to her books, she constantly makes it known that all characters are participating more than willingly. The dual POV not only adds to her character's personalites, but it also gives us a peek inside both love interests minds to see that they're both consenting and also judging in their own minds if the other is consenting as well. There's something about the way Katee writes this that's so downright sexy!
👍 Characters/Romance: Hades outwardly is Olympus' villain, but is actually a huge softie on the inside (but a dom in the bedroom). Persephone appears to be a mindless socialite to the public, but in reality is a fierce and witty woman (as well as a brat). Their personalities mesh so damn well, given that they fill the hole in each other's hearts when it comes to finding someone who cares for them. They made my cold heart feel something!
👍 The smut (of course): In terms of smut content, the first thing to note is that Hades is an exhibitionist. And so is Persephone, for that matter. We get several scenes involving public acts, as well as our fair share of private ones. Hades is a dirty-talker which, if anyone knows my taste in romance books, you know that this is an important box of mine to check off! There was a good amount of tension leading up to their sexual encounters (~40%) and I felt the number of scenes was perfect-- especially that epilogue!
👍 The writing: I adore Katee's writing typically, and this book was no different. I've found that her style is succinct, with well-timed detailed descriptions and beautiful one-off lines. Her writing is purposeful, and I devour every word!

What I Didn’t Like:
👎 Nada.


"It's my body."

"Wrong. For the duration of this scene, it's my body."


💞 Read this if you liked: A Touch of Darknessby Scarlett St. Clair and Only For Your Touchby Niama Simone.

⚠️ Content Warnings: stalking, bodily injury


If their sins happen in the dark, do they even count?