I need a minute to figure out how this was both better and worse than the first book ...

Guess I'll start with the better.

This remains a quick and smooth read. It's far from the best thing I've ever read but as a detox read, it is truly peak entertainment. It's relatively easy to follow and very easy to get invested in.

There was much more of a rounded plot this time. Hades is still thinking way too much about sex, but he's at least got some purpose outside of his dick. The mystery and political machinations that were teased in the first book are dug into a lot more here. Hades is trying to figure out who is pulling the strings of who, and what it will mean for gods in the end. We get to see more of the world, and we meet some more gods and mythical creatures. Unfortunately they are just tastes, and I really wanted so much more of characters like Dionysus and Ariadne. And as before, Hecate and Hermes shine!

Now for the worse.

Everything really comes down to how awful Persephone is as a character. Girl, you are 23 and left the house for the first time like two years ago—get over yourself. She causes so many problems by being downright annoying and naive. And I realize that this book, being from Hades POV, is forced to fit within the confines of her story, but I get absolutely nothing from Persephone to make any of her actions work. Every event that happens, like her friend being in a car accident or a kidnapping, comes out of the blue and feels so shoe-horned in, making her look like an absolute dumbass.

I also struggle with their relationship. As much as they like to regularly state otherwise, Hades and Persephone really have nothing going on other than sex (which continues to be written as the same three poor quality scenes repeated over and over). Neither knows the other and they fight about stupid things because neither can communicate or make an effort to be a partner outside of the bedroom. And Hades, my dude. You proposed marriage four times and three of them were mid f*ck. I'd turn you down too.

I really shouldn't, but I am eagerly awaiting the third book. I'm invested now, and I will see this through to the end.

Always a delight in approaching a story you know and love from a different point of view! Hades and Persephone struggle to maintain and grow their relationship despite trouble seeming to close in from all sides. Another excellent installment in this stellar series!

Okay seriously how many miscommunication troupes can you fit into one book? I wanted to strangle both Hades and Persephone more than half the time. They characters just seem to get more and more boring as this series goes on. Although I appreciate the other perspective and to see what Hades was up to, it felt like I was reading about teenagers, not adults or immortals. It just wasn't for me and felt rushed.

Amazing, Suspenseful and irresistible! Not only did we get Hades point of view but we got a whole new story! It’s crazy how all these events were happening behind the scenes! Hades love for Persephone is bewitching! Can’t wait for the book!

I am a big big fan of duel POV, so the fact that Scarlett is doing these books is scratching a part of my reading brain that most others don’t reach. I also love that you get to see what was going on with Hades this whole time because I feel like I was dying to know what he was doing during Persephone’s books. This has been my favorite book of hers so far and I actually started crying when I got the ARC because I was in the middle of a really bad stomach flu and I needed something happy. This book delivered! If you have read the Touch of Darkness books, you need to read GOF AND GOR. It just adds so much and I love them.

At this point I think it is safe to say that Scarlett St. Clair has become a new favorite author of mine. I can not get enough of her Hades and Persephone saga. I enjoyed seeing Persephone's side of events in the main series but I am absolutely in love with seeing Hades's perspective. He was so dark, brooding, controlling, and at times mysterious when we saw things through Persephone's eyes. Now, that we (the reader) have been treated to Hades side of the story we get to see a whole new side of the God of Death.

A Game of Fate left me wanting a little bit more. There was alot of overlap between the two series. While I did appreciate that (it has been awhile since I read the original books) I couldn't help but wish there was more of what Hades was up to whenever Persephone wasn't around. A Game of Retribution definitely remedied that. We got to see that there was so much more going on behind the scenes for Hades and crew. His relationship with Persephone was being challenged and he would do almost anything to protect it.

I knew this book might break me because I wasn't ready to experience a certain character's death again but seeing it through Hades's eyes I have a whole new appreciation for how things went down. Let's just say, I don't envy the God of Death one bit. His job isn't easy. Of course I loved seeing more of Hermes as well. I love Hermes's relationship with Persephone but the relationship between him and Hades is absolutely precious.

I read A Game of Fate and a Game of Retribution back to back and now I am left waiting. I need more Hades and Persephone (as well as the rest of the Gods) ASAP.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the digital copy.

5🌟

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I forgot how much I loved this story and it was great to relive it from Hades’ perspective.

We get to see everything Hades does in order to protect Persephone and ensure that she’s safe, all while trying to maintain his realm and order in the world. Starting with Hera and her stupid labors. She asks Hades to help her overthrow Zeus and when he refuses she threatens to curse his and Persephone’s marriage if he doesn’t do what she asks him to do. She made him kill another divine being, fight a hydra, and some other creature and Heracles. She ended up using the hydra venom to kill other divine beings… I don’t like Hera.

I love the parts where Hades goes to Hecate for relationship advice. Their relationship is just so pure and honest, I love it.

I also liked how much more plot we had in this book and it just showcases Hades’ love for Persephone and the lengths he’s willing to go to in order to protect her.

I can’t wait for the rest of the books!

We’re back in New Athens with Hades. With this companion to A Touch of Ruin we see just how far Hades will go to be with Persephone. Who will bend and who will break? Let’s find out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blook Books for an eARC so I can have this review for you on release day.

Read if you like: Spice, Greek mythology retellings, urban fantasy, Hades & Persephone, alternate POVs.

Hades and Persephone are now a public couple and their problems are far from over. As if Hades lack of openness isn’t enough of an issue (I mean he’s ageless and independent, it’s tough transition into partnership) Hera is now using his love for the goddess to force him into a series of tasks. Why? Because he won’t help her overthrow Zeus. Ugh, family drama.

So, this book was fun. It’s been just over a year since I was last in New Athens with our godly crew and while I enjoy alternate POVs, Greek Mythology, and even the copious spice I just wanted more story. I love getting to see what Hades is up to on the flip side. As much as I love Sephy she’s not privy to all the underpinnings of Olympus and is generally out of the loop of the greater plot. It was also a bit weird going ‘back in time’ since this is before A Touch of Malice and I found myself thinking that more than just the flipped bits felt familiar and since I read the whole series in a week a year ago… my details are fuzzy. And the end… just whew, rushed right on by.

My favorite parts were all the new plot, especially with Hermes, and generally Hecate telling Hades how stupid he is. It’s infuriating how slow Hades is at figuring out how to loop Persephone in. Dude, she gets mad every time you don’t tell her something. AND she never reacts as poorly to your seedy bits as you think… get over yourself, bro!

Overall, read it for Hades behind the scenes and seeing just how much he loves his fated mate. I’ll be over here waiting for A Touch of Chaos.

This is the second installment in St. Clair's Hades saga. This is the story in the Touch of Ruin series but from Hades perspective. This was an interesting perspective and it's been a minute since I read the companion book for this from Persephone's perspective. It was interesting to me to see how a lot of the conflict changed for me. As you read the same story from multiple perspectives changes the way I think about the conflict and I feel myself moving from purely on Persephone's side to now understanding where the communication breakdown happens between these two characters.
I love these stories and I find the world building here interesting, but sometimes I get tripped up in what exactly the rules are. They seem to change so quickly and there are no rules for gods. Overall, I found this book to be a fun time reading and visiting my friends.

I really adore getting Hades' point of view in this series! AGOR mirrors the events of A Touch of Ruin, book 2 in the Hades x Persephone series which is from Persephone's perspective and one of my favorites, but we get to learn all about what the mysterious and broody Hades was up to when he wasn't with Persephone which was quite a lot! I really enjoyed it. It felt just right being back in this world and learning more about the God of the Dead. There's so much more to him than meets the eye and I love Scarlett's writing. Get ready for all the heartfelt moments and heat, too!

READ THIS IF YOU LIKE:
- Greek mythology
- romantasy series
- dual POVs
- steamy, enemies to lovers

Devo ammettere che per leggere questo libro ho fatto un po’ fatica, soprattutto all’inizio, sia per l’inglese ma anche perché diciamo che è lo spin off, se così si può dire, della saga principale che è narrata dal pov di persefone. Questo libro non mi è dispiaciuto ma come ho detto prima ho fatta fatica perché non mi teneva incollata alle pagine

Daddy Death...oh how I have missed you! If you have read A Touch of Ruin you know how emotional that book was, tell me why this one nearly devastated me more! Hades POV is always so action packed! Our poor God of the Dead was just wanting time with Persephone and EVERYTHING was getting in the way of that! Did I sometimes want to shake them and make them sit in a room until they communicated? YES! As we know Sephy is a young goddess who was sheltered and kept away from everything, so dealing with things like this is all new to her! Hades is an old god not used to discussing anything he does with anyone so the learning curve for them is steep!! All that being said to say this...I LOVED this book, I read it in a few hours because I could not put it down! I needed to know all this behind the scenes action that was going on, I needed more of Hermes and Hecate! Also we got more of some other gods and goddesses and that was very interesting....and a little scary! I can't wait to see where Scarlett takes this series with the next few books, as always she is a writing goddess and I would read her grocery list lol go buy this book! It's so worth it!!

A Game of Retribution by Scarlett St. Clair
“I’m off to make plans.” “How much planning can possibly go into castration?” “It’s an art.”
~~
Thank you Scarlett St. Clair, Sourcebooks, and Netgalley for the eARC. Scarlett is first off an autobuy for me and I love her writing. Secondly the Hades POV is my favorite because they bring me so much amusement. The banter between Hades, Hecate, and Hermes; it could almost be its own comedy show.
The spice is always 10/10 for me, and I just love seeing what Scarlett has planned on the other side of the scenes from the other side of the books. Huge shoutout to my smutsista, Eli, for getting me addicted to Scarlett’s books for life.

A Game of Retribution is the second book of the Hades Saga. While Persephone is struggling with her own events, Hades is approached by Hera, Goddess of Women, with a plan to overthrow Zeus. Hades decline to help Hera, but she threatens his relationship with Persephone and Hades has no choice but to perform a series of labors for Hera.

I found this book didn't just feel like a flipped, retelling of the story that Persephone told in A Touch of Ruin. Hades had a very strong storyline, that accounted for his periods of absence in A Touch of Ruin. Hades story showed the lengths he would go to for Persephone, but at the same time it also showed his weakness in communicating with her in their relationship. The overlapping with events from A Touch of Ruin was nicely balanced, in my opinion.

While I have read all of the books from the perspective of Persephone, I really felt like viewing the altercations between Hades & Persephone from this perspective showed how turbulent things were between the couple. Both Hades & Persephone have their faults in the relationship but at the same time they have a fabulous support network to help point them out.

This book has all the spice you come to expect from a Scarlett St. Clair book but it also leaves you with a pretty big cliffhanger. Overall, this was a very enjoyable story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Scarlett has done it again. She's reminded me why her Hades and Persephone are my all time favorites, and I missed them so much. I loved Hades POV because it gives us a better understanding of Persephones story and how they are intertwined, and just more to their story in general. This book has spice(lots), betrayal, friendship, loss and of course love. I was hooked from page one. I cannot wait to see how she ties everything together in this series, and I'll be counting down the days until the next book is released.

"He had never doubted himself, but he doubted everything when it came to Persephone… even their fate."

A Game of Retribution, the second book of the Hades Saga, follows the story of Hades, God of the Dead, and Persephone, Goddess of Spring, the woman he loved, as they defied the odds to find a future together, one that had been predetermined by the Fates yet remained uncertain.

Hera, Goddess of Women, wanted Hades to help overthrow Zeus. When he refused, she punished him by requiring him to successfully complete a series of seemingly impossible labors intended to sabotage his relationship with Persephone.

While Hades and Persephone shared a deep love for one another, secrets and lies gave rise to miscommunication and trust issues, instilling fear and doubt in their future.

"I don’t know how to lose someone, Hades."

I loved so much about this story! Throughout the sadnesss and the anger, there was also so much love between Hades and Persephone as they worked through their respective obstacles to reach their true destiny. Intensely steamy, the fire between them reflected their all consuming love so it never seemed like too much with the sex scenes.

Stunningly descriptive, I felt fully immersed in the setting and the characters, appreciating the contrast between the darkness surrounding Hades and the lightness in the purity and innocence inherent in Persephone. Hades and Persephone balanced one another perfectly, bringing forth the strengths behind their weaknesses.

I loved Persephone's independent spirit as she built her magic and tried to find her place as Queen of the Underworld. By offering a voice to those in need at the same time she was experiencing her own tragic loss, she also embodied empowerment and justice.

It was beautiful to see Persephone expose the hidden vulnerability in Hades while his love for her made him fiercely protective. Never breaking his rules, Hades learned to open himself up while he faced his doubts and fears.

Perhaps most significantly throughout the evolving character development, this story highlighted the importance of unconditional love and trust at the core of any relationship.

"I love you. Even if the Fates unraveled our destiny, I would find a way back to you."

The author clearly has a passion for this story and for staying true to the details of its origins in Greek mythology while writing it with a modern update. After reading this, I am planning to go back and read A Game of Fate to learn more before the next book in the series releases.

** Special thanks to Sourcebooks/Bloom Books and NetGalley for granting my wish, giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quotes subject to change at time of publication. Available May 31, 2022. **

Thank you to NetGallery, Sourcebooks, and Scarlett St. Clair for this ARC copy, in exchange for my honest review/opinion.

After reading A Touch of Darkness, and a Game of Fate (both 5 star reads for me), I had really high hopes for this one. I honestly was pretty disappointed with the way this series has taken a turn.

Trigger Warnings: suicide, self harm, abduction, graphic gore, cheating, sexual assault, and trafficking.

This second installment in the Hades saga gave a bit more insight once again into the Touch series that answered some questions as a reader I didn't realize I had.

Now... I know Greek Gods in generally are shady, AND that in some of the Hades and Persephone story lines there are instances of S.A. After the beautiful writing, build up, and the direction the story line appeared to be going in the first books from both perspectives... I hadn't expected the turn it took. I appreciate the warning at the beginning of the book, along with the resources to direct the reader to get help for both matters that were presented.

Persephone had such a strong and beautiful character build. This time around I wanted to shake her and ask her what the heck she was doing with herself. Poor choices, miscommunication, and dangerous wagers were not something this reader enjoyed getting through, It gave a general sense of "ick" that I don't enjoy getting... especially when other books in the series were such a great read.

I hate that this was corrupted by cheating scandals. I LOVED the build up between Hades and Persephone... so this was super disappointing. Some of the content is super triggering. Definitely head the warning before going into this.

Love greek mythology?
Love action?
Love power?
Love passion?
.
A Game of Retribution is the second book of Hades Saga.
Hades been cornered by Heras to help her overthrow Zeus.
Loved to see Hades POV, his strenght, anger, angst, love, passion and power.
Scarlett St Clair has the talent to make you fell in love with the characters, with the world building wich is exquisite and unique, making the story so alluring and enjoyable.
Read if you like
☆revenge
☆intrigues
☆greek mythology
☆modern retellings
☆Hades and Persephone story
☆action
☆sizzling romance
.
A special thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange of my honest review 💟

i really enjoy the world scarlett has created. i have read all of the books in persephone's perspective and it's interesting to read everything from hades' pov instead.

i think getting this deeper insight into hades works really well in understanding their relationship, and i really enjoyed this.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

A Game of Retribution was much better than A Game of Fate, I'm saying it now.

The thing that bugged me with the first Hades book, is that it felt like the exact same book as A Touch of Darkness just from a different PoV...which is exactly what it was.

This was fixed in the second novel, and we got to see a lot more of Hades on his own (or behind the scenes if you will). That was honestly a blast, and makes this book better than A Touch of Ruin too.

Likewise, in Persephone's PoV she was a lot more annoying than seeing her in Hades's PoV now. I almost didn't feel like she regressed in her confidence/powers, but it was still evident, just to a lesser degree.

This book also jumps around a lot less than the first, so there is some continuity (but if you're new to the series I'd still say read Persephone's PoV before this since it could potentially get confusing).

I got the impression that the steam was more prominent here, and it didn't bother me, there was an added scene that was really cool.

While I'm at added scenes, I love that we saw what Zofie did. I figured she'd tell Persephone at some later date when she was ready, but it's also nice that we finally know.

And the thing I was hoping for, but didn't get is Minthe. No reaction to her plant-ification whatsoever. Perhaps it'll be in another book? I badly want to see it.

My hopes for book three of this series are that there will be minimal overlapping scenes. I only want to read about Hades's shenanigans, please and thank you.

And yeah, that cliffhanger ending was cruel, as expected.

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*