Though I claim to above and beyond adore Hades and Persephone stories.. I am ashamed to admit that before this week, I don’t think I’d ever read a book that truly depicted this celestial couple. Granted I do own a lot of books featuring these two but.. we all know how that book hoarding problem goes. 😂

This week I picked up The Maiden & The Unseen by Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune in preparation for the second book releasing this week & I am so happy that I started out my newfound re-obsession with Hades & Persephone with this series.

This book was everything I expected out of a Hades and Persephone story and even more. I adored the writing and I am SO glad that I had that second book otherwise I would have literally died after that cliffhanger!

definitely rated this book. Loved the story and setting. I am a big hades and Persephone so I might be biased. Was a fun retelling. Definitely recommend:)

Not a huge fan of modern retellings of myths but this wasn’t bad! I do wish it had more elements of their powers and etc.

"Look at these mortals. So full of life and whimsy. Valuing each moment, knowing it could be their last. I let out a soft chuckle. I suppose Homer did get that part right. I envy them."

I am a huge fan of Hades and Persephone so you can imagine how I eagerly I dove into this modern-day retelling, and I must admit, it captured my interest. Departing from mere adaptations of Greek myths, the story places the gods in contemporary society. I found the portrayal of Hades as a ruler rather than a villain refreshingly accurate, and the acknowledgment of his role as the gods' banker was a noteworthy detail often overlooked in Greek mythology retelling.

''I can't believe my luck, it's been almost three full days and I've only seen Hades twice. Of course, I've only accomplished this by arriving early and leaving late, plus making it my life's mission to only leave my office when Hades's office windows are clouded in the thick white mist. But once again, the power of throwing myself into my work has done wonders, in fact, I've barely thought of Hades all week.''

Yet, despite these promising elements, the novel had its flaws. While Hades entertained me with his amusing inner monologues, his constant lack of communication drove me insane. Trimming unnecessary scenes of longing and arguing would have significantly reduced the book's length without sacrificing substance. Persephone's constant whining, albeit understandable given her sheltered upbringing, led to trivial conflicts that felt immature and irrelevant.

" The gentle hum of the elevator creates a backing track for my inner thoughts. He’s hiding something, he’s hiding something, he’s hiding something."

Regrettably, the plot was lacking, relying primarily on a few central conflicts. Hades' inability to disclose the prophecy hindered his relationship with Persephone, while her refusal to end her current relationship and her secret defiance of Demeter's rules added further tension. Although the prophecy was eventually fulfilled, the fact that Hades remained unable to discuss it just seemed pointless

"My heart pounds in my chest and the room starts to spin. Nothing ever seems to be easy with Hades. Can I spend my life like this? Never knowing where I stand? Only ever getting half a story?"

In conclusion, I was left unsatisfied by this book, it had the potential to be something amazing and fell short sadly

There was a LOT of smut in this book, A LOT. I love a good smut books and I love when there's more smut than plot sometimes... It makes for a quick, entertaining read... HOWEVER, some of the dialogue is really cringy and some of the things that done is a bit... Much.... Like when they rub their horns together.... No. No sir, no ma'am.

I think for what it is, its great. But this is probably the worst Hades and Persephone re-imagining I have ever read.

I really enjoyed the pacing of the book and how well the dialogue played out. I’ve read many romance books that just didn’t read well because the dialogue was choppy and the scenes would change and not have anything to do with each other. This is a pleasant palette cleanser from horrible romantasy!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this, however it relied heavily on tired tropes, stereotypes and offered very little depth to any of the characters.

The concept of the workplace situation for Hades was interesting, which was a new take but other than this, the title largely fell flat.

I had high hopes as I love novels re-telling Hades and Persephone's story. However, I soon felt that the plot went nowhere, nor were the characters being developed. By the end I felt the book had moved now where, and was surprised when it ended.

This book is HOT, with a surprisingly interesting plot/subplot. This steamy retelling of Persephone and Hades will appeal to those who like spicy romance.

These are new author's for me which I enjoyed their writing skills and look forward to seeing what is next for them in the future. I found this book to be well written and hard to put down. I enjoyed the characters in this story. They pull you into their world with ease and made it easy to read. They are strong, connectable and add so much to the entertainment value of the story. I enjoyed watching their growth as well as the growth of the plot throughout the story. This is a story of wanting a life and how much you are welling to agree with to have it. I found this book to be fast paced and engaging. A story that will pull you into the world of Gods and rules that are made to be broken. You don't want to miss what happens with these characters. I really enjoyed this story and I highly recommend it.

Both Hades and Persephone are doomed to spend eternity together. They interact with regular people and carry out their duties as professionals in today's business and social environments. Each night, they spend hours fighting off the growing feelings they have for one another.

While I like mythical retellings, I don't think it's necessary to bring ancient heroes into the current day. I was curious to see what these writers would do with them and I was pleasantly pleased by what they came up with.

Both the god and goddess kept some of their legendary characteristics, but they could also be any two people in a modern love tale. There were still pages when I almost forgot they weren't human, which is a testament to how well their magical skills and duties were integrated into the plot. I thought the way the two sides interacted was extremely effectively done in this instance.

The right amount of heat! It was prominent throughout, and it meshed nicely with the tale; combined, they made for a fast-paced, engaging read that I finished in two sittings.

Although I will always favor historical accounts over their modern-day equivalents, this book has given me reason to explore the realm of mythical retellings with a more open mind.

I love Persephone and Hadies' retellings. I have read a good deal of them over the years, In all kinds of different styles. You would think that would make me picky about what ones I enjoy, but it doesn't. I just enjoy the story and all the creative ways people tell it. This book was no different. While I enjoyed being back in the world that is P&H, I also enjoyed the authors' writing style. The way they told the story captured my interest and pulled me in. Had me continuing to want more of it.

<b> <I> Thank you so much to Net Galley, the authors, and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of “The Maiden and the Unseen" by Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune in exchange for an honest review. All of the following opinions are formulated on my own. Any quotes in this review should be cross-referenced with the final copy for any possible edits.</I> </b>

<b> Overall rating: </b> 3.25 out of 5 stars - rounded down

<b> My review: </b> The Maiden and The Unseen is a retelling of the Hades and Persephone story. Zeus has decreed the gods can go live anonmously amongst mortals though Hades has chosen to not. The story takes place in the modern world though the gods retain their powers quietly. I say quietly because I often forgot they were "gods". The spice was good but there wasn't much of a plot here.

My main disappointment in this book was how closely the world resembled A Touch of Darkness if it was a standalone.

<b> If you liked the following, you will probably like this book: </b>
<i> - any Hades and Persephone Retelling
- A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Claire
- Lore by Alexandra Bracken </i>

<b> Notable Themes, Elements, and Tropes: </b>
- Standalone
- Greek Mythology

The Maiden & The Unseen by Jeanette Rose & Alexis Rune - 4/5

Erotica - Romance - Sci Fi & Fantasy
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and BookShop

The Maiden & The Unseen is an easy book to dive into and binge read and, in a day, or two. I love that this is a retelling of Hades and Persephone in the modern day with enough smut to make you blush. I am hoping for book two has more of a story line/ plot to balance out the amount of smut, giving the readers something to go along with.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am obsessed with Greek mythology retellings, and I’m a sucker for Hades and Persephone. This book book did not disappoint. Hades and his unexpected anxiety with Persephone and her sass ended up being a great mix.

I was not able to finish this. Unfortunately a few chapters in, this was fairly a standard Hades and Persephone story and didn’t really feel interesting enough to continue.

An interesting retelling of Hades and Persephone. Kept me interested enough to finish it. Unsure if I'd read it again.

An interesting retelling of the famous Greek mythology Hades and Persephone. Honestly, I know there’s so many retellings about these two already but I actually enjoy it? Is it great? No but it’s a fun read. Like others have said, I would have liked it more if these two were fleshed out more.

I pretty much binged this in a day.. It's a very easy read especially with how much of it is smut! There wasn't an awful lot of plot because of the amount of smut, which didn't bother me I like a good smutty read however what need start to grate on me was the fact that they both kept repeating things, I was fed up of them both thinking that the other wasn't as interested.

I'm definitely going to be reading Book two!

I love a good Hades and Persephone retelling! This takes place in a modern setting so it doesn't really break the mold in comparison to other H&P retellings that are popular. This was heavy on the romance and spice andthe smut didn't disappoint! I wasn't a fan of the miscommunication and some of the drama brought around by previous dalliances, but it kept the pace moving quickly.