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tanya_tate's review
3.0
3.5 stars.. It was good enough to keep me interested to finished listening to it. Got the audio book for free by signing up for the author page.
fmcfranny's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book! I sat down to read it because I have been on a major fairy tale/mythology kick lately and hadn't read any versions of Persephone and Hades and someone recommended this one. So I got it and started it and before I knew it I had missed dinner and it was almost time to zonk and the book was done! Persephone is pure and innocent and life. Sadly she is thrust into a world where she is weak and powerless because of her kindness. Hades is not the monster the myths make him out to be but has hardened his heart to do what he must to make things as normal and run smoothly for the souls in the afterlife as possible. He is equal measures hard and soft but has had very little reason to show the soft side of himself in recent millennia. Add in the god of winter, dead gods not really being dead, Demeter at her kindest and most fiercely spiteful and you have an amazing book everyone is sure to love!
bookishlittlebird's review against another edition
5.0
First off, I love modern retells of the Persephone/Hades story and this was phenomenal! I was up late last night till about 2am. I had to stop myself or I wouldn't get any sleep and the next day was Christmas.
Any lover of greek mythology should read this book. Excited to read the sequels.
Any lover of greek mythology should read this book. Excited to read the sequels.
postitsandpens's review against another edition
5.0
Retellings of the Hades and Persephone myth are quite prevalent in today's YA market. You have Everneath, Abandon, and The Goddess Test, just to name a few. Because of this, it's quite difficult to come up with new and fresh ways to tell the story of these two immortal beings. But that's exactly what Kaitlin Bevis has done in Persephone. While the general gist of the story stays the same, I found myself enchanted by the changes she made in the circumstances surrounding Persephone's abduction to the Underworld and - in particular - the way she wrote and developed the character of Hades.
Set in the modern world where most of the gods and goddesses have died off generations before our main character is born, Persephone follows our main character of the same name, who believes she's simply your typical human girl. She's completely unaware that she's a goddess, that her mother is Demeter, and that she's about to become the focus of the desires of Boreas, god of Winter. Persephone is a very head-strong and stubborn girl, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her come to terms with the knowledge that she's a goddess, and everything she thought she'd known to that point was a lie. There were other creative flourishes inserted into the story as well - gods can't lie, Hades' personal advisor is the Cassandra, and Hades actually chose his lot as ruler of the Underworld, just to name a few - that kept me eagerly turning the pages of this book. You also have the ever-present threat of Boreas, which kept the plot moving forward at a very quick pace.
Persephone's personal journey was also very interesting to watch. I love how she slowly became more accustomed to life with Hades, and I really loved watching their relationship grow. Hades isn't what I was expecting - so often he's depicted as dark, moody and brooding - and admittedly that threw me off just a bit, because, well, he IS the god of the Underworld. But this Hades grew on me, and he has enough of a vindictive and dark streak in him that the Hades from the original myth hadn't disappeared completely. I look forward to seeing more of the two of them together, and can only hope that the twist at the end of this book doesn't cause too much strife.
If you're looking for a fresh and unique take on a very popular myth and story plot, then I'd definitely recommend Persephone. There are enough of the original tales present in this book to keep the diehard fans of Greek myths satisfied, while also keeping you from thinking you've read this story several times before. The way the book ends will have you clamoring for the second installment - a cliffhanger that's not, for lack of a better term - and I certainly can't wait to see what comes next!
A copy of this book was provided by the author via YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
***
To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!
Set in the modern world where most of the gods and goddesses have died off generations before our main character is born, Persephone follows our main character of the same name, who believes she's simply your typical human girl. She's completely unaware that she's a goddess, that her mother is Demeter, and that she's about to become the focus of the desires of Boreas, god of Winter. Persephone is a very head-strong and stubborn girl, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her come to terms with the knowledge that she's a goddess, and everything she thought she'd known to that point was a lie. There were other creative flourishes inserted into the story as well - gods can't lie, Hades' personal advisor is the Cassandra, and Hades actually chose his lot as ruler of the Underworld, just to name a few - that kept me eagerly turning the pages of this book. You also have the ever-present threat of Boreas, which kept the plot moving forward at a very quick pace.
Persephone's personal journey was also very interesting to watch. I love how she slowly became more accustomed to life with Hades, and I really loved watching their relationship grow. Hades isn't what I was expecting - so often he's depicted as dark, moody and brooding - and admittedly that threw me off just a bit, because, well, he IS the god of the Underworld. But this Hades grew on me, and he has enough of a vindictive and dark streak in him that the Hades from the original myth hadn't disappeared completely. I look forward to seeing more of the two of them together, and can only hope that the twist at the end of this book doesn't cause too much strife.
If you're looking for a fresh and unique take on a very popular myth and story plot, then I'd definitely recommend Persephone. There are enough of the original tales present in this book to keep the diehard fans of Greek myths satisfied, while also keeping you from thinking you've read this story several times before. The way the book ends will have you clamoring for the second installment - a cliffhanger that's not, for lack of a better term - and I certainly can't wait to see what comes next!
A copy of this book was provided by the author via YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
***
To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!
sk24's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5 stars
Persephone is the first retelling novel I have read about Greek Mythology (I do plan to read more). I took a Greek Myth course in university and found it extremely interesting. So, when I got asked if I wanted to read this novel, I jumped at the chance. I thought that it was very well done. It's a modern retelling of the myth of Persephone and Hades. Bevis did a good job in retelling this story, while adding modern elements and new twists on the old myth.
Persephone is a sixteen-year-old girl, who was raised as a normal human being, never having any clue as to who (or what) she really is. She notices differences in herself compared to the other kids at her school, but never thinks much of it -- other than her fear that she is going crazy. Then, a certain encounter changes everything and forces her mother to tell Persephone who she really is. She spends the rest of the novel discovering her new-found self, in foreign surroundings, and has to overcome a huge challenge. I thought Persephone was a very likeable character. She is represented very realistically, for a non-realistic story. It is easy to relate to her through everything she goes through in the novel.
Hades wasn't as developed as I would have liked. I have rather mixed feelings about his character and I feel that I don't really know who he truly is. I also wasn't really feeling a connection between Hades and Persephone, even though there was supposed to be one.
The writing was good. Not completely captivating until about 70% through the novel. I was actually a bit bored with the first 70% of the book. But, then, I really enjoyed the ending.
I would recommend Persephone to fans of Greek Mythology. It did the original myths justice. Just get through the first bit and the ending is worth it. I do plan on reading the second of the series, Daughter of the Earth and Sky, because I am curious as to what will happen.
Read more of my reviews here: SIK Book Reviews
Persephone is the first retelling novel I have read about Greek Mythology (I do plan to read more). I took a Greek Myth course in university and found it extremely interesting. So, when I got asked if I wanted to read this novel, I jumped at the chance. I thought that it was very well done. It's a modern retelling of the myth of Persephone and Hades. Bevis did a good job in retelling this story, while adding modern elements and new twists on the old myth.
Persephone is a sixteen-year-old girl, who was raised as a normal human being, never having any clue as to who (or what) she really is. She notices differences in herself compared to the other kids at her school, but never thinks much of it -- other than her fear that she is going crazy. Then, a certain encounter changes everything and forces her mother to tell Persephone who she really is. She spends the rest of the novel discovering her new-found self, in foreign surroundings, and has to overcome a huge challenge. I thought Persephone was a very likeable character. She is represented very realistically, for a non-realistic story. It is easy to relate to her through everything she goes through in the novel.
Hades wasn't as developed as I would have liked. I have rather mixed feelings about his character and I feel that I don't really know who he truly is. I also wasn't really feeling a connection between Hades and Persephone, even though there was supposed to be one.
The writing was good. Not completely captivating until about 70% through the novel. I was actually a bit bored with the first 70% of the book. But, then, I really enjoyed the ending.
I would recommend Persephone to fans of Greek Mythology. It did the original myths justice. Just get through the first bit and the ending is worth it. I do plan on reading the second of the series, Daughter of the Earth and Sky, because I am curious as to what will happen.
Read more of my reviews here: SIK Book Reviews
al13ex's review against another edition
2.0
It was way too girly for my taste and it lacked complexity... Cute story, but highly optimistic. I guess I'm about 10 years late reading this kind of book. I might give it a shot, though, with the entire series, but only because I wonder what will happen to Hades and Persephone and it's also an easy read.
shannon_cocktailsandbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Being on a mythology kick this week, I decided to try another story dealing with Hades. I have to say, this retelling of Persephone and Hades story had me hooked from the very beginning.
Persephone was a sixteen year old girl, none the wiser to anything pertaining to Greek mythology (other than school) when her whole world turned upside down. Suddenly she discovers her mother is Demeter, she's a daughter of Zeus and Hades, Lord of the Underworld, has married her to protect her from the Winter God hell bent on capturing her and killing her.
Persephone had a lot thrown at her at once, but I loved how she didn't wallow in all that happened to her. She was determine to learn all she could about her new home, her newfound status as a Goddess and her new husband. She was a young girl who was very likable and someone you wanted to succeed in everything she did, as well as bring a little humility back to her new friends.
I enjoyed the author's telling of this story. She gave Hades a heart and made it very hard not to like him (even as he fights his feelings for the significantly younger, Persephone). I'm so glad I found this book and I look forward to the continuation of Persephone and Hades' story.
Persephone was a sixteen year old girl, none the wiser to anything pertaining to Greek mythology (other than school) when her whole world turned upside down. Suddenly she discovers her mother is Demeter, she's a daughter of Zeus and Hades, Lord of the Underworld, has married her to protect her from the Winter God hell bent on capturing her and killing her.
Persephone had a lot thrown at her at once, but I loved how she didn't wallow in all that happened to her. She was determine to learn all she could about her new home, her newfound status as a Goddess and her new husband. She was a young girl who was very likable and someone you wanted to succeed in everything she did, as well as bring a little humility back to her new friends.
I enjoyed the author's telling of this story. She gave Hades a heart and made it very hard not to like him (even as he fights his feelings for the significantly younger, Persephone). I'm so glad I found this book and I look forward to the continuation of Persephone and Hades' story.