Recommended for readers who enjoy:
•Hades & Persephone Retelling
•Adult Romance
•Modern Setting
•Double POV
•Smut
•Forced Proximity
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Was here for the smvt

I am a huge fan of Hades and Persephone retellings but this one lost me completely.

The concept sounded extremely similar to Scarlett StClairs A touch of Darkness but I was hoping there would be differences enough to make it interesting. But I was sorely disappointed.

It was very light on plot. And even if I came for the smut, it needs something to back it up. The pacing was weird and I would say that the writing could be improved upon. Hades and Persephone were more whiny teens than anything else and this book just kept losing me.

Some bits (like the godly appearances) was just outright stolen from ATOD so honestly I would just ditch this and go reread that. Given it’s release after ATOD blew up, it was clearly an attempt to emulate that success without an ounce or originality.

<I>‘I won't share you, Persephone. When you're mine, you'll be only mine. I won't accept half of you.’ </I>

I ADORE Hades x Persephone retellings. ‘The Maiden and the Unseen’ reminded me ALOT of Scarlett St. Clair’s ‘A Touch of Darkness’, but with a bit of a softer Hades. We’ve got gods living in the modern day world, Hades, god of wealth, bankrolling all the gods and goddesses who come down from Mount an Olympus for a fun time amongst the mortals, whilst he is one of the only ones who has to work. 6 months in the mortal realm keeping his billionaire corporate business afloat, then 6 months as King of the Underworld sorting souls. It is a thankless existence, and he is over worked, with no time for fun and games.
In comes clueless goddess of Spring Persephone, who has been hidden away by her mother for nearly all of her existence. Now she’s finally free of her mothers clutches she works hard for her life in the mortal realm. She is bold, stubborn and confident, setting fire to Hades usual calm, controlled and tightly structured life. They want to stay away from each other, but fate has other plans and they can’t control the way they feel about one another.

This was such a quick and easy read, I enjoyed both Persephone and Hades characters, their stubbornness and love. For me, there could have been a little more plot and a little less sex- this book I feel was mostly explicit scenes and exploding lust 😅 I mean, it was quite well done and made sense for how the characters felt towards each other, fate and their own emotions pushing them on. It was also a brilliant change to see a confident and sexually empowered Persephone, rather than her being a naive and precious virgin. You go get what you want, P!
For me it still managed to feel a bit OTT, but I’m intrigued by the ending and hope that the second one has more plot development.

If you enjoy Hades x Persephone retellings, steamy spicy reads, office romance and fated love you’ll want to try this book!
TW for cheating, even though the character didn’t see it that way it really did come across that way 😅

***Thank you to the authors and publishers who gifted me an e-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review***

World Building: The book is set in the "mortal world" with hints of the immortal world throughout.

Characters: The two main characters told their story in dual perspective.

Plot: The story moved at a good pace.

The story was an interesting, spicy one.

Spice: 4/5
Rating: 3.75/5

This clever contemporary spin on the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades, and a cast of gods, demigods, and other celestial beings, combines a smokin' hot billionaire romance with refreshing deviations from the classical source material in terms of explicit consent. These fated mates struggle against internal and external forces conspiring against them as individuals and as a couple. One story thread that runs through more than half of the book makes Persephone seem inconsiderate and immature, which was a distraction making it challenging to root for her even when that element resolves itself. That made it a three-star instead of a four-star read for me. The Maiden and the Unseen ends on a cliffhanger that will leave readers, particularly fans of Shai August and Katee Robert, in anticipation of another entry in what seems destined to become an irresistible series.

I really enjoyed this book! I wish they would have included more from the background characters.

I finished the book with more questions than answers. I cant wait for the next book!

I have finished this some time back. Forgot to give the review. If you are looking for spicy content with mythology retelling, this would be perfect for you.

However, I find that it’s a bit repetitive.

It’s an easy read.

Overall, I felt the plot could’ve been more than the smuttier part. 😅

I got an Arc of this book from Netgalley.
It started out with promise, and I was looking forward to a good Hades/Persephone story, but it's definitely one spice book that would have benefitted from a slower burn, the characters also make some choices that make no sense.
I find it a bit had sympathizing with Persephone when we learn she's pretty much strung along this guy for a year without having any real feelings for him, and then continues to do so when things heat up with Hades, before finally getting out of that relationship.
When they finally do get together it turns really angsty, but instead of having an actual conversation they just have sex. I don't have a problem with spicy books, but there were sections were it almost felt like the authors were more interested in getting to the next sex scene than actually driving a plot forward.
I wasn't expecting it to end of a cliffhanger, as the story seemed pretty self contained at the start. I am wondering what the next book will be like though.

I liked the friends that were introduced and would have liked some more of them in the book, especially Helios and Mellie.
I did also enjoy the initial banter between Hades and Persephone, and the friendship that was developing between Persephone and Mellie.

So in short if you're favourite thing is spice it's def worth your time, if you need a more plot driven story you might wanna give this one a pass.

The story of Hades and Persephone, but retold in a contemporary office setting! Hades, slick banker and business manager, and Persephone a feisty social media manager cross paths when her cash flow is halted by Hades who finances the Gods and Goddesses as they live amongst the mortals. She needs to work and he provides a position.

This is a smart, witty and very adult version of the Greek myth! The characters are full of charisma and the setting is novel. A fun lighthearted retelling, but graphic!

This book is so full of spice that it might as well be one fire. It's a quick, face paced read but overall well done. I didn't like that Peresphone spent 80% of the book in another relationship, but I understood the reasoning. She was using it as a buffer between the ever building tension between herself and Hades.

Speaking of Hades, omg. I really loved him so much. The authors did really well about painting him brutal, yet also insecure.

I really really hope there's a follow up book about Mellie. I honestly couldn't get enough of her character. And I NEED to explore her relationship with Helios like right now!

Definitely two authors I'll keep on my watch list.

So though i enjoy retelling of H&P . . .
I'm going to be honest with you and b tell you my main reason for reading this book was the spicy-factor. I was hoping the story would portray sometime of love story between the two, with off the charts passion. It's the little things, sue me🤷‍♀️.

What I got instead is a story that left me with the feeling of more dissonance than calm that I usually get after finishing a book. Frustration at a character for spending almost 70% of the book in a relationshipSo though i enjoy retelling of H&P . . .
I'm going to be honest with you and b tell you my main reason for reading this book was the spicy-factor. I was hoping the story would portray sometime of love story between the two, with off the charts passion. It's the little things, sue me🤷‍♀️.

What I got instead is a story that left me with tall these feelings. I have more dissonance than calm than i usually get after finishing a book. I'm frustrated at a P for spending almost 70% of the book in a relationship with someone she says she doesn't care about yet remains with, but she denies the sparks that fly every time she is around H. I hate stubborn characters. I mean it. She goes from hating H on one page to professing her undying love on the next. I'm confused about a cursed that isn't really explained yet shouldn't be triggered, only to kinda be triggered; so now what🤔?!? I'm hella annoyed with all these one-dimensional characters that are supposed to be millenia old but act like they aren't. P is Little Miss Bossy-Boots while trying to act naive? H thinks he's a bad-@ss, but is a pushover 🤨. The rest of the gods are all tools. They don't have to be compassionate; but if H is literal your wallet, I can't fathom how in old their years, they would have the audacity to talk to him the way that they do and he take it. It's outrageous. Most of all, I'm bewildered by how the author's didn't think the readers wouldn't noticed inconsistencies, poor character development, and repeated dialogs.

It had potential for me, but they're was just too much overall for me to just let go and go with the story. It was too much of a turbulent ride with everything.

** Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion **

I enjoyed this. The writing was great, I can’t wait for more I would definitely read and recommend to others.

Such a spicy read!!!

This book has the spice. The premise behind the story is thrilling and beautiful. The spice is absolutely amazing scenes.. however, there are times that the book feels as if it focuses so much on the spice that it becomes a repetitive plot over and over. The retelling isn't bad.. but it isn't one of my favorites.

However, those who heavily like smut and spice will love this retelling.

I

I love a good Greek mythology retelling with Hades and Persephone being my favorites. I love how this one took it to an office romance setting and talk about spice! There’s a lot of smut in this one which was fine for me. I wish the ending was a little different, but overall, I enjoyed the story.

When the gods are allowed to mingle with the humans Hades has a system but one of the gods doesn’t want it known that she’s mangleing but when he decides to investigate it becomes way more than just Persephone not following the rules. I love books about Greek gods but was not prepared for the detailed sex in this book I wish there were more warnings about this stuff but unfortunately there was not. The story was pretty good although at first I couldn’t understand why Persephone would rather be with Jackson than Hades but knowing Hades track record I totally understood. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I started this book fully aware that this is spicy Hades and Persephone retelling, which I was in the mood for. I knew the plot would be secondary to the spice level.

I think this is one of the easiest stories to go with and I liked that the plot revolved around a "workplace romance" twist to the story, adding a curse which prompts the reader to follow along and read more to discover what this curse is about. However, as I have now finished the book, I am still unsure what this curse is about. That aspect of the book was convoluted, especially when Hades was so adamant of not triggering it but then finally giving in and triggering in in the last chapter, for a reason that I still have trouble understanding. It is obvious when finishing the book that this will be a series and there is more to come, but the absence of bread crumbs to go by does not encourage the reader to wait for the next book. At least, it does not for me.

I think this book could have been edited even more. The same scene and dialogue happen over and over between 30% mark and 60% mark of the book. It also relies a lot on texting between the characters and heavy dialogue that is so blunt that it does not help the reader understand the feelings the characters are both having. They talk about it but we do not get descriptions of how these feelings manifest in their heart / body / mind, except the lust and obsession with the other's body and smell. And even that lust is very aggressive for the reader, there are no subtlety to it, and it is described always the same way all along the book, showing lazy writing and again, a lack of editing. This is something that could have been fixed with more edits or beta-reading.

As for the characters themselves, they seem one-faceted. I did not manage to understand their nuances. They are hundreds of years old, with life experiences covering millenias, yet what I could gather could be summed up in : Perspehone is selfish and Hades is a pushover. Which is also very strange for the figure of Hades to be. From the very beginning, one of the plot point is that they can't be together because Persephone is seeing someone, though she does not care about this person. Yet, when asked, she refuses to stop seeing that man and that spans for more than 60% of the book. The reasoning behind her action is left unexplained and the way Hades and Persephone finally go from dislike but attracted to each other to absolute undying love happens on half a page, I would not even be able to tell you how it progressed because it did not. It simply happened which is disappointing considering that tension was indeed an important part of the book. Zeus even tells Hades "what do you know about her?" and instead of getting on page "get to know the other", we just go from "I desire you" to "I cannot live without you", which fell flat and again, felt lazy.
There is also a big contraction in Hades: he is saying at the very beginning that he can never have a Queen at his side, to 3 pages later, saying that Persephone is his Dark Queen. It all felt very inconsistent, overall as a character, he is not well-rounded.

Brilliant, amazing, so funny, so much heat ... I loved loved loved it.... right up until that ending!
What the actual F.CK???

Way to spoil what would have been an absolutely amazing reading-experience! *Sigh*

Majority of the book was smut, I think there could have been a better plot. It felt really rushed and the end left lord to the imagination but not in a good way. There could have been another 5-6 chapters maybe to help it feel a bit more complete

I love Hades and Persephone. I am always looking for these two because I just know it’s gunna be heated. This book gives me very modern retelling vibes and I really really enjoyed that. It has lots of spice but also, a good plot. The first chapter didn’t pull me in at first but once I was 3-4 chapters In I completed the book in one sitting.

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this ARC. I can’t wait to buy this book to add to my HadesxPersephone collection.

Thank you netgalley and Rose & Star publishing for this arc!

Do Hades and Persephone retellings ever get old?
NO
Tropes: Office Romance fated mates

I love that this was a modern retelling, reading the new rules the Gods had to follow was so interesting. I think my favorite part was the different take on hades and persephone. I LOVE sassy hades, and snarky persephone. I have been waiting for a sassy hades, and my prayers have been answered!!!! I also love how much he would do anything for persephone.

Just saying... there is spice, horns and calws. Yes i loved that hahaha.


warning: there is a cliffhanger!