Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC! Gorgeous! A modern retelling of Persephone and Demeter that ropes you in from the start. I don’t usually love when books forgo quotations, but this helped the plot to feel like a wild fever dream. The prose is beautiful. This reminded me of Rouge by Mona Awad, I’m not sure why! Probably the mother/ daughter connection and the often dream-like state of Cory.

Fruit of the Dead is a literary retelling of Hades and Persephone, and if that alone perked your ears up, it should. This is one of the most surreal books I've read in a long time. The whole first section felt like a mix between a fever dream and a hazy trip. Rachel Lyon does an amazing job of putting yourself in these characters shoes. If you're looking to pick up more literary fiction this year, I think this will end up being a standout read.

TW/CW sexual assault

This might well be the best contemporary Greek Mythology retelling I've ever read. It follows a young woman named Cory who has just graduated high school and is working at a summer camp, where she is ensnared by a the rich, older pharmaceutical executive, the father of a camper who promises her a month of luxury in exchange for nannying for his children. The narrative switches between Cory's gilded life on on the pharma exec's private island, and her mother Emer's increasingly frantic efforts to locate her daughter at the expense of her agricultural company (sound familiar?).

The mythical elements of this are interwoven so subtly and beautifully as to occasionally be missed: a grizzled ferrywoman, the groundskeeper Virgil who guides Cory around the island, itself a French translation of the "Isle of the Blessed", Emer's company RHEA seeds. It is welcoming and accessible both to those who are veterans of mythological lore and those who prefer to read the story at face value, rich with references and detail that never obscure or detract from the central narrative. The non-mythic narrative too deserves applause: turning a critical lens on human cost of unchecked capitalism: death by engineered famine, death by engineered addiction. Neither Rolo nor Emer are exempt from the scathing eye of that narrative frame, exploring how easily a desire to do good is twisted by the chains of greed into justifying exploitation to serve an increasingly foggy ideal.

Important to note: if you're coming into this seeking a Hades/Persephone love story - look elsewhere. While I've read and enjoyed my share of retellings focused on the dynamics of their relationship, this is pretty explicitly a story of a toxic, coercive relationship replete with manipulation both emotional and via substances. It is a powerful and heart-breaking and deeply, darkly authentic in a way that prompted revulsion & sadness in equal measure . If there is a love story in this novel it is centered on Emer and Cory - Demeter and Persephone - and the complex interplay of anger and resentment and boundless comparison inherent to any mother/daughter relationship. No relationship in this story is comfortable or easy: every dynamic is messy and frank and uncompromising in its exploration of line between love and obsession. All of this, too, is situated in Rachel Lyon's beguiling prose, lush and luxurious and an utter treat for the senses, serving to emphasize the contrast of the dark dream of life on the island against Emer's fevered quest.

I blew through this novel in less than 24 hours, utterly consumed by the narrative. Rachel Lyon is unquestionably a future star on the literary scene, and I cannot wait for her next novel!

Such an interesting concept but the execution didn't always work for me. The beginning started off strong but the writing felt clunky at times and the pacing felt off. Thank you Scribner and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Fruit of the Dead was not like anything I have read before. At first I found the writing style difficult because there are not quotations and the switching of perspectives from chapter to chapter felt abrupt. As I got used to the writing style I found myself completely engrossed in this story and felt that this was a beautifully rendered modern retelling of a Greek mythology story. It brought to life the messages within Greek mythologies in a way that was relatable and current.

More review to come closer to pub date!

(I received this book as a free ARC from NetGalley)
What a bizarre novel. It feels more like a poem in a lot of ways. I think the pacing was a little off. Sometimes, I felt the author could have gotten to the "action" faster, and other times I felt like things happened too quickly. I don't know if the plot threat about the rice is altogether necessary, but I understand it builds tension in the mother's POV chapters.
Overall, this novel reads like a fever dream. It's so fast and is told in these long stretches of beautiful prose and metaphor that are so stunning. The author truly has a mastery of the art of language, and honestly I would read a terms and conditions form if it was written by her, in this way.
I thought the characters were really kooky, it almost felt like Lemony Snicket for adults at times. It had the feverishness of Bunny by Mona Awad but much more intense.
Also! The cover art! Is so stunning!

Fruit of the Dead is a contemporary retelling of the myth of Persephone and Demeter. I had a bit of a hard time getting into the story but that was because of the format of the writing. It’s always been harder for me to get into books that are written with little breaks or quotations and this was no exception.

However, once I got into it, Lyon was able to create a tale for us that was gripping while not turning away from the original myth. I think the book could have been a touch longer just because some of the ending seemed a little rushed but that’s easily looked over for me.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for the advanced copy!!

Describing this book as beautifully written is an understatement. Though I was familiar with the mythology of Persephone and Demeter going into this book, the writing style at times made it almost feel like was experiencing it alongside the characters. Having been a teenage girl, I particularly felt this connection in Cory’s chapters, though I’d imagine any mothers who read this will also feel that in Emer’s chapters. I was particularly impressed that, through Cory eyes, I too felt the conflicting feelings of repulsion and intrigue towards Rolo, yet through Emer I could see all his manipulations (I.e. grooming tactics) more clearly. And though I knew how the story would end per the mythos, I was once again impressed with how the author wrapped up Cory and Emer’s stories while still giving a nod to the cyclical fate Cory and Persephone share.

I look forward to recommending this book to friends and library patrons alike.

Thank you Net Galley and Scribner for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

What first captured my attention was the cover - as a lover of both art and mythology how could I not recognize The Abduction of Proserpina (Persephone, in Greek mythology)? If I were to judge the book solely based on it's cover, it would be utter perfection. A cover perfect for the story at hand.

Diving into the story - Hades x Persephone is a classic story that has been retold in many ways from many voices, but here, Rachel approaches it as Persephone x Demeter and one of the most complicated mother x daughter relationships in lore. This, I have to say, was my favorite part. As a hard to handle teen myself, reading this from both POVs (they alternate per chapter), this hit differently. The love and the frustration of the mother, Emer, was visceral, and the desire for both acceptance and burn for freedom was an ache I knew well from the daughter, Cory. The writing was next level - a kind of beauty that I know will be sticking with me for awhile. Rachel's use of imagery and her playful use of words to enhance the scenes of Cory's drug-induced hazes were nothing short of ethereal.

That being said she also does what some of my favorite and most frustrating writers do - she made me feel empathy for the monster. That's how powerfully she writes of the relationship between Cory and Rolo (Persephone and Hades counterparts). He was a horrific man with blood on his hands - and yet she makes us just as confused as Cory.

My few critiques - 1) the repetitiveness of some chapters. As someone who is pacified by beautiful writings I still enjoyed the book, but all in all I felt like I left wanting in terms of the plot - it could have made this book even better. 2) it is possible I missed them, but there should be TW with this book (sexual assault, drug/substance abuse, minor self harm).

That being said - if you're a Greek mythology girly, or even love a good and twisted story, you'll love this!

(3.5 stars) I know a bit about the original myth of Hades and Persephone, on which this book is based. I know that it is a story of a young girl – a goddess – who comes of age and falls in love with the dark god of the underworld. And I know that it is the subject of an outstanding webcomic created by New Zealand artist Rachel Smythe because I’ve read it – nearly all of its 265 (!) weekly episodes. Lore Olympus is a modern retelling of the relationship between Hades and Persephone, brought to life in glorious color and incorporating modern features like smartphones and sports cars. But this isn’t a review of Lore Olympus (read it!). It’s a review of Rachel Lyon’s Fruit of the Dead.

Unlike with many other readers, Fruit of the Dead did not completely work for me. It definitely comes as billed, a contemporary take on the myth of Hades and Persephone with Demeter, Persephone’s mother, factored in. But I wanted more of Hades (the pharmaceutical CEO, Rolo Picazo) and his island of debauchery and less of the relationship between Persephone (18-year-old Cory Ansel) and Demeter (Cory’s mother, Emer). The latter, which took over the narrative of the second half of the book, felt one-note to me. There is also drug addiction that is supposed to be a huge factor in Cory’s enchantment with Rolo and the island. It didn’t feel like much of an addiction to me, until it ramped up quickly in the end. I am being a little picky here; addiction undoubtably sneaks up on users, but in my opinion, it felt like an afterthought to the overall story.

All in all, this is a well-written novel that brings a modern twist to a well-known myth. While it didn’t completely work for me, it is a book that I will remember. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in ancient mythology. It’s good to be acquainted with the myth before diving in. A good Wikipedia summary should do. And, again, I highly recommend Lore Olympus to those liking graphic novels.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner Publicity for access to this e-ARC in exchange for my opinion.

𝐍𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐳𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐝.

This is a “contemporary reimagining of the myth of Persephone and Demeter”, but this tale takes camp counselor Cory Ansel, eighteen and desperate to avoid going home to her fierce, successful single mother in New York, and offers her up to the middle-aged CEO of a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company, Rolo Picazo. It is Cory’s last day of work at River Rock (her old summer camp), the only freedom she has from the failures she has left behind, when the father of her charge, a high-strung little boy named Spenser, offers her an escape. His hungry eyes have a hypnotic effect, she is Spenser’s favorite counselor and now, his father’s favorite too. He seems to know a lot about her, that her ‘gap year’ is really the fact she didn’t get into the prestigious colleges her mother wanted her to, nor in fact did she get into any of her safety schools. This directness about him and sudden intimacy bothers her at first, but then draws her in. He tells her she doesn’t know what she wants, she just turned 18, he analyzes her to perfection, and offers her a good chunk of money to work for him, caring for his son and little girl, Fern. Why not? The pressure her mother puts on her to succeed is impossible, in fact when she texts her mother about her ‘internship’ with Rolo, she expects it to be met with the usual barrage of questions, skepticism. It’s too late, she has thrown her lot with the family of three.

The boat they board takes them to the island Rolo’s home is on, bringing Cory closer and closer to a seductive experience, but further from her mother’s reach. The house and everything in it are beyond luxurious, but it is the ruby-colored gel caps that promise adventure. Still pending FDA approval, but superior to anything on the market in many ways, he convinces her the pill is harmless, if she uses discretion. People can become addicted to anything, even soda, can’t they? Swallowing one, she erupts with pleasure, her days are spent watching the children, the afternoons partaking of the “fruit of the dead” with Rolo, and she is soon partying in the night with the workers at the shanty or locked in passion. She is often reckless, as naïve as a newborn babe, hungering for fun, freedom, release. She is acting out, free of her mother’s constraints, but is she truly unshackled? Rolo lustfully compliments her but there are also moments when he lords his power over her, forbidding Cory things, scolding her like a child. He swears she is special, that he didn’t bring her with him to be ordinary. Elsewhere, her mother Emer is the head of an agricultural NGO running out of funding and dealing with the failure of their seeds, she should be focused on that, instead it is the lack of messages from her daughter that swallows her. She thinks of her beautiful girl Cory as careless, difficult, spoiled, ignorant, and if she is honest with herself, neglected- Emer didn’t arm her as well as she had hoped against dangerous men or the ugly, harsh world. Is she being overprotective? Gnawing on all the deadly possibilities, she can’t help but assume the worst about the man her daughter has foolishly run off to ‘intern’ for. What she digs up has her hell bent on rescuing her girl. Is she too late? Does Cory need to be saved?

I enjoyed the story; the choices Cory makes throughout speak volumes of her youth. She certainly sees what she wishes were true and doesn’t give much credence to her qualms about Rolo. The suffocating frustration and resentment that children coming into adulthood feel against their parents comes across as genuine too. It doesn’t mean she hates her mother, it’s more she hates that she needs her and that her mother finds her lacking as a person. Emer, on the other hand, loves her daughter but hates her weaknesses (reminders of a time she let loose herself). It was a creative way to confront Persephone and Demeter for a modern-day audience. I liked it, I wanted to smack sense into Cory, much as I am sure looking back at my own young self would cause such a reaction. I think the ending is solid, the interaction between Cory and Emer. I look forward to Rachel Lyon’s next novel.

Publication Date: March 5, 2024

Scribner

Cody had a not-great senior year of high school, and the aftermath of that is that she wasn't accepted to any colleges. She did manage to get a summer job as a junior camp counselor at the camp she's spent every summer at, which is good, but when camp wraps up, she's not looking forward to returning home. Then, the father of one of her charges makes her the offer of a job as babysitter to his two kids for the rest of the summer, until they are returned to their mother. The job is on his private island, where there's no cell phone service, and she has to decide immediately and sign an NDA, but she decides to take the job.

Emer isn't having a great time, either, discovering on a trip to China, that the new rice varietal that the non-profit she heads has failed, leaving the farmers they'd enticed with promises of higher yields, left destitute. Now she's fighting to keep the non-profit afloat, to find a solution, and also getting a few vague texts from her daughter about an internship for an unspecified businessman, but receiving no answer to her own calls and texts. She decides that despite the turmoil at her workplace, she has no choice but to go find her daughter.

This is loosely structured on the story of Demeter and Persephone, and it's a lot of fun to see the elements of the myth arising in different guises. There are two entertwined stories here; a single mother's search for her daughter and the story of a very young woman who isn't sure what she wants to do with the next few years, let alone her life and how she feels her way towards maturity while existing in a place designed to thwart thought and reason.

Lyon writes with nuance and understanding from both the viewpoint of a directionless young woman and her over-extended mother, creating two characters in conflict but who also deeply love each other. She also manages to make Emer's fear for her daughter as she learns where she is and who she is with compelling and urgent while also showing Cory as curious and eager to be included in with the grown-ups. Lyon is juggling two different stories here and she does so in a way that makes both fascinating and real.

This book felt like I was reading a Greek tragedy while on an acid trip. Some parts felt too long and drawn out while other parts didn’t give me what I wanted. It was beautifully written but definitely not something I would recommend if you weren’t into lit-fic.

also I felt so smart when I figured out that the Granny’s she’s taking is actually just a play on words for pomegranate seeds - it was like a wink wink

I have always loved the myth of Hades And Persephone. This was a fun take on that story. One of the most unique stories I have read in a long time. I recommend this one especially if you love fresh new takes on mythology.

I'm so sad this one was not for me! I think the concept really melded with what I tend to love in fiction book with Greek Mythology themes (nothing like drawing a moth to a flame with me and hades/persephone retellings), but the story and characters felt underdeveloped in the end for my tastes. I think this could work for a reader who enjoys a mother/daughter alternating POV story, but I could understandably see many becoming quite frustrated with Cory as a character. I didn't feel like the ending was too satisfying, either. Perhaps I'll be called to try this one again later and I hope it gels with me more then!

2.5 rounded up to 3 stars for me!

I am normally all in for a contemporary retelling of myth, but this one just did not hit for me. It wasn't bad, I just couldn't really sink into it. There were chapters that felt way longer than they needed to be and it didn't really feel unique.

I was really excited for this one because I love the story of Persephone, and so often in retellings, the focus is on Persephone and her relationship with Hades, so I was instantly intrigued when I discovered this retelling focused more on Persephone and Demeter’s mother/daughter relationship.

Cory, anxious and directionless, was a great take on Persephone, and Emer, a workaholic mother was also a great representation of Demeter. The side characters were interesting, as well, and I felt the book did an excellent job following the heart of the original myth while being different and contemporary. I also must mention Rachel Lyon’s prose was beautiful, and I fully intend to read more of her work in the future.

My only qualms with this book was the ending fell a bit flat for me, and some chapters felt exceedingly long, likely because of the lack of active dialogue and connections between characters, but I don’t think those details should keep anyone with a love for a good retelling from reading this one.

Thank you Scribner and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Fruit of the Dead in exchange for an honest review.

This retelling of Demeter and Persephone’s story was transformatively urban. On basic terms it is a retelling of a Greek Myth long told, however, when you dig deeper it is a highlight of the scary realities that face young, vulnerable women everyday.

This is a discovering and rediscovering of oneself in prose that enunciates the normative culture of young women being seduced by sad, old men. A promise of a comfortable future and someone to take care of them an enticing pill to swallow. What I could appreciate was the understanding of the situation through Corey’s eyes, and instead of simply succumbing to a future she had moments of recognition in which she saw herself for who she truly was. Having her mother’s perspective and her own self-discovery as well helped to bluster a story already steeped in languid prose and complicatedly compelling plot lines.

If you’re looking for a more urbanized retelling in a literary fiction context this is the book for you. My only no about this book was the way in which the dialogue was set up. Sometimes I found it hard to read and understand who was saying what and at what times. I can appreciate the different writing technique used to portray the dialogue, but it just wasn’t for me.

oh…so… this is the book.

not like just any regular book, not like any other retelling. this is the? book?

don’t get me wrong the first two chapters i was like toeing the line of DNF-ing. the chapters are incredibly long, the beginning writing kind of dense with the givings of all the characters and place set up.

but then chapter 3, i almost didn’t put this book down. a modern retelling of persephone and demeter and hades and everything i’ve ever wanted in a book. i admit some of the monologue was long winded, some of the story was far fetched but still, once it had my attention it fully had my attention.

i can’t wait to read more from this author!

An interesting read with beautiful prose. I appreciated the mother-daughter themes a lot, and felt sick whenever Rolo joined the picture. I ended up liking Emer’s storyline more than Cory’s, and was really rooting for her to succeed as the story unfolded. Definitely curious to read more by Lyon now!