DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

All I want is to go back in time to read it again for the first time.

There isn't a way for me to explain how beautifully written and thoughtout this book is. The plot is magnificent, the world-building, the character developing , the pace, the relationships.

If you happen to get your hands on a copy of Neon Gods, don't hesitate to read it immediately. Do not wait to read it. It's too good to be left on shelves and it's too good to be left unattended for months. Grab a copy immediately and sit down to read it. You won't ever regret it.

I have never read such a great retelling of Hades and Persephone's story. The fact that they sacrifice so much for each other and put their lives at risk to save who they love. The responsibility, the communication, the trust, the love, and care. The touching kindness, the funny comments, the beautiful moments.

Brooding. Kind. Charming.
Sweet. Cunning. Strong.

Thank you to Netgalley and Casablanca for providing an arc copy of Neon Gods for an honest review. You changed my year yesterday. Yeah. I read the book in 6 hours.

I enjoyed this story and the characters, but I didn't really love anything in particular. If you're intrigued by dark romance but don't want to actually see on the page the morally dubious actions that drive the plot, you'd probably really like it.

I absolutely LOVED this book. It was incredibly sexy, yes, but the characters were layered and their relationship so well written. Instant love is not my favourite trope, but the way Robert wrote Hades and Persephone made their connection not only believable, but achingly beautiful at the same time.

Hades was a delicious character: dark and mysterious, strong and powerful, dominant and confident. But it was in the moments that he submitted to Persephone, a fierce and bold woman, that he really wormed his way into my heart.

So definitely, come for the steam, but stay for the well developed characters and fun mafia-like storyline interwoven with Greek mythology.

Neon Gods was my first novel by Katee Robert and it will not be my last.

I throughly enjoyed her take on Hades and Persephone for it was sinfully sexy and oh so much fun. I am a fan of Greek mythology and liked how this world seemed to come together so well. Although it started off slower than I preferred it soon picked up and I was pleased by how Hades and Persephone seemed to have this cohesiveness that was admirable.

I also enjoyed how the world expanded giving rise to future stories. Well done. I will definitely come back for more in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and sourcebooks Casablanca for my advanced reader copy.

I was so excited to get approval for Neon Gods by Katee Robert, I've read basically all her novellas which are so amazing to get anyone out of a reading slump but I was missing out on a full length experience of her writing. This book takes us to a modern world retelling of Hades and Persephone, it has epic tropes and the love languages are 🤧

What you can expect:
☀️Grumpy hero/sunshine heroine
🌉 Forced proximity when Persephone crosses the river to the lower-city to escape Zeus and they decide to pretend to be a couple
❤ Words of affirmation: Persephone sees through Hades and realizes who he really is as a person.
🥿 Acts of Service: Hades takes care of Persephone from the moment she is under his protection, even though he's an overbearing alpha at times he just wants her to be safe, healthy and cared for
📣 Amazing example of how Hades always looked for Persephone's consent
🥵 Make no mistake, this book's steam level is through the roof which I was hoping for being it a Katee Robert but intermingled with those love languages tender moments it completely made me so invested in their love story🥺

Absolutely recommend this book🥰 to anyone that loves mythology retellings, someone that's looking into an easy start to mythology...and anyone that's into a steamy read with incredible chemistry and romance tropes🥰

#amreadingromance #romancebookstagram #romancelandia #booksofinstagram #contemporaryromance #kateerobert #netgalleyuk #netgalley

Neon Gods was a sinfully sexy and exhilarating novel. A fun and fresh take on Hades and Persephone, I loved the way Greek mythology was seamlessly incorporated into the world of Neon Gods, and though magic wasn’t really in play, it was still super entertaining and paid fun homage to the myth. Though the first few chapters weren’t as engaging to me, I wasn’t really sucked in as the novel went on. There was a great balance between the relationship developing between Hades and Persephone, the broader plot, and the steamier side to the novel. All in all, it was a super fun ride and I’m eager to read more books set in this world.

Book Review for Neon Gods
Full review for this title will be posted at: @cattleboobooks on Instagram!

Neon Gods is a deliciously spicy book. I wasn’t expecting it to be as spicy as it was since I’ve never read a Katee Robert novel, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Neon Gods follows Persephone as she’s forced into an engagement with the ambitious and dangerous Zeus. She flees into the undercity where she meets Hades, a myth become real. Her whole life is turned upside down as secrets become realities and sexy deals are made.

If you were disappointed by A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair because of its lack of chemistry and character development then Neon Gods is for you. As mentioned previously, Neon Gods is a spicy novel. The sensual scenes are hot with just a touch of forbidden-ness to make readers reach for a cold glass of water. Persephone and Hades have instant chemistry. They appeal to one another in a way that compliments each other.

Robert’s Persephone is a ray of light in an otherwise dark world where everything goes in the name of ambition. However, she’s not as innocent as she seems. Persephone embraces who she is and all that entails. Experiencing her sexual empowerment is easily one of the best parts of this novel.

Overall, Neon Gods is a deliciously spicy book worth picking up. Robert strikes a perfect balance between plot and smut that will keep readers turning the pages and reaching for a cold glass of water. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us in the sequel, Electric Idol, which follows Persephone’s sister, Psyche.

I absolutely love any Hades and Persephone retelling and this one really does hit the spot. Not to mention the SPICE. Omg this has got to be one of the spiciest books I have read since den of vipers.

Also Hades acting like a mother hen is the fluffiest thing ever I love it.

I gobbled up an ARC of Neon Gods by Katee Robert and it was SO GOOD. The chemistry between Persephone and Hades was off the charts. Incredible world building without info dumps. Steamy, full of feels, and incredible character development. Loved it. A+

For readers who love Rachel Smythe’s Lore Olympus or want to see more of Hades and Persephone, Katee Roberts’ Neon Gods is a perfect fit. In this modernized retelling of the classic myth, Persephone finds herself on the run from the machinations of Zeus and Demeter, her mother, who conspire together to ruin Perephone’s plans for her future. After being blindsided at a party, Persephone flees into the cold winter night without hope or a plan. She finds herself pursued and her only refuge is across the River Styxx, in the lower city and in the arms of a man who shouldn’t exist. Hades has become a myth in the upper world, which is how he likes it. He lies in wait for the perfect opportunity to exact revenge on Zeus, an opportunity that lands in his lap with the arrival of Persephone.

Roberts’ novel is a quick, satisfying read that will leave readers anxiously awaiting the second book in the series. Hades and Persephone have amazing chemistry, both in the bedroom (and playroom) and outside of it. Hades is the perfect domineering cinnamon roll love interest. He genuinely cares about the people who rely on him for safety and is willing to risk his life for them all, Persephone included. Persephone is able to blossom with him and really show the feisty personality that she has had to suppress in order to survive in the upper world. Their relationship is really the star of the book. Hermes, Charon, and other supporting characters add color and help to flesh out our character’s backgrounds, especially Hades. Readers will definitely hope to see more of them in future stories.

This tale is not without its weaknesses, however. The world building is a little confusing. It seems as if this world exists in our modern world with some mild magical elements, but how the two places relate is unclear. We don’t see enough of either Hades or Persephone before their relationship begins to really appreciate how their relationship changes both of them. Also, the conclusion wraps up a little too neatly for the stakes that are at play. Nevertheless, these are not big enough drawbacks to detract from the overall story. Roberts focuses her attention on the relationship between the protagonists, which is what romance readers are going to focus on. Additionally, with more books coming in the series, Roberts will have an opportunity to flesh out some more of the characters.

There are some darker themes of which readers should be aware. There are subtle lines of abuse and self harm hinted at in the novel as well as frank discussion of murde, arson, and past trauma. Additionally, Persephone and Hades’ relationship does have BDSM themes. This rides the line of a romantic thriller, but definitely more romance than thriller.

Overall, this is a good addition to the “To Read” list for romance readers who are interested in tender relationships with very hot bedroom scenes.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for allowing me access to this ARC

I first requested Neon Gods after seeing it mentioned on social media and hearing good things about both it and the author, Katee Roberts. I have always loved the story of Hades and Persephone and am always up to read a new spin on it. I must say.... It did NOT disappoint.

Hades and Persephone had palpable chemistry in this and it is HOT.

After finding out that her mother plans for her to marry Zeus at an unexpected engagement party , Persephone runs away right into Hades' (believed to be dead) arms. She wanted away from the corrupt politics of the upper city of Olympus and from her obligations. Hades is a complete seductive, cinnamon roll of a character- I love it.

She makes a deal with Hades to prevent her from being forced to marry Zeus. For 3 months she will belong to Hades ruining her for Zeus and then she will leave. But will things really go as planned ? I absolutely can not wait for the next book in this series.

This is a retelling of Hades and Persephone's love story with erotica thrown it. Those who are familiar with the classical tale with enjoy how upending of certain plot points and characters. It is steamy, fast-paced and interesting read.

I loved this book. I have had a strong connection to the Hades and Persephone story for a very long time, and specifically to Persephone herself. She spoke to me in her conflict of loving Hades and loving her home, the desire to somehow be in both places at once. But I always had a problem with how she got to the Underworld - the kidnapping. Katee Robert addressed that issue in such an incredible way, as she did with everything else about the story. She created such a lush. beautiful, modern world. The politics and social constructs that play into the plot are fascinating. The peppered nods to the original story were wonderful. But the thing I think I appreciated the most was the respectful and accurate representation of the voyeurism and kink communities and the discussion of the politicization of sex and women's worth.

Rated: X
Sub-genre: Erotic / Retelling
Trope: Damsel in distress
Pro: Good character development, great sex scenes, fun retelling, could not put it down, well wriiten
Con: N/A
Verdict: LOVED IT!!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, for providing me with this electronic advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start off by saying that this is a Katee Robert stan account. I don’t think I’ve talked about her or her books much on this blog, but just know, I absolutely love her books. This is also a Hades and Persephone and all things greek mythology related stan account. When you put all of those things together, is it really any surprise that I absolutely loved this book?

Neon Gods is set in a modern day Olympus, where the big Thirteen aren’t actually gods, but might as well be with the amount of power that they hold in the city. Persephone and her sisters never wanted their mother to become Demeter or to be thrust into the power game that is the upper city, but their mother’s ambitions won’t be denied. Persephone tests that theory, however, when her mother thrusts her into an engagement with Zeus against her will. The last thing she wants is to end up like Zeus’s last three Heras, all of whom supposedly ended up dead. She refuses to be a pawn in her mother’s twisted game and instead flees in order to escape this fate. She unintentionally allows herself to be herded towards the River Styx where she is rescued by Hades himself, the very man she and the rest of Olympus thought didn’t exist.

Hades has hated Zeus ever since he was forced into this position after the “king” himself killed his parents. He’s perfectly fine being the big bad so called myth, but when Persephone crosses to his side of the river a gift of sorts has fallen into his lap. What better way to twist the knife in his enemy’s back than to start a sordid affair with his fiancée. To be honest, Persephone has to convince Hades to even enter into this affair, but once he does….Olympus has no clue what they’re in for.

Okay okay so now that we’ve recapped, let me go over all the reasons why this book was amazing. I’m going to try to do this in a way that’s as spoiler free as possible. Hades has always been portrayed as this dark boogeyman in the shadows, the worst of the worst. That’s always been wild to me because anyone who knows anything about the Greek myths knows that in all honesty, Hades is probably the least big baddie of the thirteen, especially when you look at Zeus’s escapades. Persephone has also always been shown as this innocent piece of sunshine who was snatched away by the Underworld’s big baddie and forced to live with him for 6 months out of the year as his unwilling wife. Yeah….I don’t buy it.

Katee does this amazing thing where she takes that exact myth and all of its elements and turns it on its head. Demeter is indeed the overbearing monster, Zeus is the scary asshole, the rest of the Thirteen in the upper city are self-absorbed and only concerned about power, Persephone is a woman tired of wearing a mask and pretending to be something she’s not, hiding the darkness inside of her and Hades…..Hades is the knight in shining darkness with a hard shell and a soft gooey interior. Persephone sees beyond the scary image that he’s crafted for himself and Hades can see that Persephone is so concerned with taking care of everyone else that she never takes the time to think about what she wants or needs. What starts as a plot to make sure Persephone can be free turns into a romance that neither of them were looking for, but both of them crave desperately.

When I tell you the tension, the love, the passion jumps off the page, I’m not kidding. The way that Hades takes care of Persephone had me reading with heart eyes. He’s so sweet and tender with her, even when he’s trying to be forceful. Honestly, he was the star of this book in every way. He’s so careful with her. Even though this entire plan was her idea and she tells him up front she’s fine with whatever kinks he may have, he takes extensive care to be in tune with her needs, explore consent and her comfort level and just ease her into his world as much as he can. You can literally see his heart opening up for her on the page. And the chemistry. THE CHEMISTRY!!! The sex scenes between the two had me blushing. They were both steamy and tender and I just….WHEW. The first throne scene ya’ll….I don’t think ya’ll are prepared for that because I sure as hell wasn’t.

I could probably talk about this book at length, but the main thing you need to know is that you need to read this immediately. The drama, the sex, the passion, the love….it’s all definitely something to write home about.

Ahhh!! I thought I previously read my favorite Katee Robert book in The Fearless King but honestly she just knocked my socks off with Neon Gods. This Hades and Persephone retelling was absolutely AMAZINGGGG and my NEW favorite book by this author. I could not stop reading!! The delicious Olympus lore, the sensual and fiery chemistry and the unique spin on this Hades and Persephone retelling had me gasping for more! 

I am obsessed with the all Hades and Persephone retellings. There is something about the good girl and the bad boy that has me hooked every time. But I am so deep and irrevocably impressed with Robert's spin on this story because she made it her own. Hades was magnificent!! He was everything we could have wanted and more. Yes he was dark and growly and alpha but Robert also highlighted his amazing heart and conscience. I FLOVED being in his head and am now low key OBSESSED with him, Persephone and their love! Perspehone likewise was strong, determined and the perfect match for Hades. I loved them together so much!

Overall,  Neon Gods was one of the best stories I've ever read. I am now SO obsessed with this series and need to read every character's story. I am so looking forward to Electric Idol next year!! 5 stars! ~Ratula ❤

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review!

What a great read! Equal parts sweetness and steam, plus it was fun to see different Greek characters come into play. Fast, fun, and highly enjoyable!

I requested this book on a whim and I cannot express how happy I am that I did so.
The storytelling is fantastic, the book is sexy as HELL and the characters are superb. The fact that it's based on the Olympan gods, makes it feel very delicious for a reason I cannot really put my finger on. But it certainly adds to the sexyness of it all.

I have to really single out these characters because Hades is just such a sweetheart. For a character who is supposed the Boogeyman, this was so unexpected and great. Persephone is sassy, quick witted and a right powerhouse. Since this book plays with kink, I thought the dynamic between them, Hades being such a sweetheart and Persephone being such a badass, was perfect. Absolutely perfect.

I absolutely cannot wait for part two in this series and know already that this book will stick with me for a long time.