“You’ve ruined me, Persephone. Forgive the fuck out of me if I want to return the favor.”
Me: “There’s no such thing as a perfect Hades and Persephone retelling.”
Katee Robert: “Hold my beer.”
I’m struggling to articulate just how enamoured I was by this book. Never have I wanted so badly to reread a book while still reading it. Imagine your perfect romance—the flaws you want the characters to have, the moments you want them to share, the ups and downs of their courtship you want to be part of, the steamy scenes you want to have a front-row seat (wink wink) to, and the ending that will make your heart shatter and grow back together stronger than ever.
Got it? Now imagine you find that book—the one you dreamed about—delivered right into your hands. And boom, you have my review for Neon Gods by Katee Robert. Not convinced that you need this book in your life yet? Alright, let me elaborate.
Neon Gods, the first installment in Robert’s new series Dark Olympus, follows Persephone Dimitriou, a society darling who wants nothing to do with her mother’s ambitions. Planning to leave the ultra-modern city of Olympus behind her as soon as her inheritance kicks in, her plans get thwarted when Zeus—yes, the Zeus— announces his and Persephone’s engagement, orchestrated by her mother.
Not one to play her mother’s games any longer and far too afraid of what Zeus will do to her if he gets that ring on her finger, Persephone flees her impromptu engagement party and decides to run away. When Zeus’ people come after her, Persephone has two choices: turn back and let others decide her life for her, or make a devil’s bargain with the man, the myth, the legend himself: Hades.
What starts out as a mutually beneficial deal—Hades will grant Persephone safe haven and she in turn will do everything in her power to make Zeus jealous about her new alliance…and romance with Hades, his bitter rival—turns into the love story of a lifetime as the protective walls these two have built around them crumble and the world’s grandest power couple is born.
Persephone and Hades have met their match in each other. They share a lot of similar traits—they’re both cunning when they have to be, sarcastic and quick-witted, and smart beyond measure. To learn about them on their own and what makes them tick is already enough to draw you in from page one.
But together? They’re indestructible.
Robert knows how to craft banter that will keep your eyes glued to the page but dare I say, in Neon Gods the dialogue was almost next level? Hades and Persephone work so great because they bounce off each other and though they are both extremely guarded people, it was a pleasure to watch them lower the walls they’ve built to keep others at bay for no one but each other. If there’s one trope I’m a sucker for, it’s the “I hate everyone in the world but you” trope and damn it, if these two don’t bring it.
And that’s nothing to say of the incredible development of the romance in Neon Gods. Robert somehow strikes the perfect balance between steamy scenes, kinky goodness, and genuine love and affection in Persephone and Hades’ relationship. And the chemistry between these two is ridiculous. Ridiculous, I tell you. I get shivers just thinking of their interactions. SHIVERS.
The thing that took me by surprise the most in this book were the incredibly sweet moments between Hades and Persephone. It’s a known fact that Robert can bring the steam (you have not lived until you’ve read the A Touch of Taboo series) and there’s plenty of steamy and kinky scenes in Neon Gods. However, there are also the most heartwarming displays of affection which are all the more endearing because they come from Hades, who’s got this rep as total grump and yes, he totally has his grumpy moments, but I just could not handle this man’s kindness—the heartfelt moments he shares with Persephone and the secret things he does to help his people ruined me.
Beyond the impeccable romance, there’s also a greater plot at large and without taking too much away from the story, I’ll just say that the politics and scheming of these Gods does not stop just because this is set in contemporary times. If anything, the advances of technology and the likes only add to their powers. Zeus is terrifying enough in the ancient mythology, but in here, he’s downright omnipotent, it seems. Not to mention that the rivalry between Hades and him left me breathless at times. There’s also an amazing cast of secondary characters that any mythology fan will love (Hermes is a personal favourite) and they added so much to this well fleshed-out story. I loved the glimpses we’ve gotten at the other people who are vying for a seat at the table (or, like Demeter, will do anything to keep theirs and advance their ambitions) and I cannot wait to see where this series will take us next.
If you need me, I’ll be in my room, silently begging Katee Robert to give me the rest of the Dark Olympus series before I spontaneously combust.
Steamy, sexy and surprisingly sweet, Neon Gods is the scandalous and flawless Hades and Persephone retelling of your dreams and it’s a mesmerising first installment in what promises to be an unputdownable series!
Neon Gods is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of June 1st 2021.
Will you be picking up Neon Gods? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
He was supposed to be a myth. But from the moment I crossed the River Styx and fell under his dark spell…he was, quite simply, mine.
Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that’s ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city’s dark facade.
With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil’s bargain with a man she once believed a myth…a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed.
Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he’s spent years craving, it’s all the excuse he needs to help her—for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he’ll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her close…
A modern retelling of Hades and Persephone that’s as sinful as it is sweet.
