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A Touch of Darkness
- Hades & Persephone Series, Book 1
- Narrated by: Meg Sylvan
- Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
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A Touch of Ruin
- Hades & Persephone, Book 2
- Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
- Narrated by: Meg Sylvan
- Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Persephone's relationship with Hades has gone public, and the resulting media storm disrupts her normal life and threatens to expose her as the Goddess of Spring. Hades, God of the Dead, is burdened by a hellish past that everyone's eager to expose in an effort to warn Persephone away. Things only get worse when a horrible tragedy leaves Persephone's heart in ruin and Hades refusing to help. Desperate, she takes matters into her own hands, striking bargains with severe consequences.
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Hard to get through
- By krisleyv on 2022-01-19
Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
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A Touch of Malice
- Hades & Persephone, Book 3
- Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
- Narrated by: Meg Sylvan
- Length: 14 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Persephone and Hades are engaged. In retaliation, Demeter summons a snowstorm that cripples New Greece and refuses to lift the blizzard unless her daughter calls off her engagement. When the Olympians intervene, Persephone finds her future in the hands of ancient gods, and they are divided. Do they allow Persephone to marry Hades and go to war with Demeter or prohibit their union and take up arms against the God of the Dead?
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Great story…
- By Miss Leah on 2022-10-14
Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
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A Game of Fate
- Hades Saga, Book 1
- Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
- Narrated by: Tyler Donne
- Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Hades, god of the underworld, is known for his inflexible rule, luxurious night clubs, and impossible bargains. Used to control, he is not prepared to discover the Fates have chosen his future wife and queen - Persephone, goddess of spring. Despite her attraction to the god, Persephone, an ambitious journalism student, is determined to expose Hades for his cruel and ruthless ways. Hades finds himself faced with the impossible - proving his future bride wrong.
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A great addition to the saga.
- By Amy on 2021-01-30
Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
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A Game of Retribution
- Hades Saga, Book 2
- Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
- Narrated by: Tyler Donne
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Hades, God of the Dead, does not take sides or bend the rules. He makes no exceptions to these values—not for god or mortal, even his lover, Persephone, Goddess of Spring. Usually, fear prevents retaliation. But not this time. When Hera, Goddess of Women, approaches Hades with a plan to overthrow Zeus, he declines to offer help. As punishment, Hera sentences Hades to perform a series of labors.
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Great companion to the series
- By Amazon Customer on 2022-08-02
Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
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The Crown of Gilded Bones
- Blood and Ash, Book 3
- Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Narrated by: Stina Nielsen
- Length: 25 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Poppy never dreamed she would find the love she’s found with Prince Casteel. She wants to revel in her happiness but first they must free his brother and find hers. It’s a dangerous mission and one with far-reaching consequences neither dreamed of. Because Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her. By right the crown and the kingdom are hers.
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It was too much repetition
- By NurseLisa on 2021-04-27
Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
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A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
- A Blood and Ash Novel (Blood and Ash, Book 2)
- Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Narrated by: Stina Nielsen
- Length: 24 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Everything Poppy has ever believed in is a lie, including the man she was falling in love with. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But what she does know is that nothing is as dangerous to her as him. The Dark One. The Prince of Atlantia. He wants her to fight him, and that’s one order she’s more than happy to obey. He may have taken her, but he will never have her.
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Like really bad fanfic
- By Meliah on 2020-11-13
Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
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A Touch of Ruin
- Hades & Persephone, Book 2
- Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
- Narrated by: Meg Sylvan
- Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Persephone's relationship with Hades has gone public, and the resulting media storm disrupts her normal life and threatens to expose her as the Goddess of Spring. Hades, God of the Dead, is burdened by a hellish past that everyone's eager to expose in an effort to warn Persephone away. Things only get worse when a horrible tragedy leaves Persephone's heart in ruin and Hades refusing to help. Desperate, she takes matters into her own hands, striking bargains with severe consequences.
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Hard to get through
- By krisleyv on 2022-01-19
Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
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A Touch of Malice
- Hades & Persephone, Book 3
- Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
- Narrated by: Meg Sylvan
- Length: 14 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Persephone and Hades are engaged. In retaliation, Demeter summons a snowstorm that cripples New Greece and refuses to lift the blizzard unless her daughter calls off her engagement. When the Olympians intervene, Persephone finds her future in the hands of ancient gods, and they are divided. Do they allow Persephone to marry Hades and go to war with Demeter or prohibit their union and take up arms against the God of the Dead?
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Great story…
- By Miss Leah on 2022-10-14
Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
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A Game of Fate
- Hades Saga, Book 1
- Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
- Narrated by: Tyler Donne
- Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hades, god of the underworld, is known for his inflexible rule, luxurious night clubs, and impossible bargains. Used to control, he is not prepared to discover the Fates have chosen his future wife and queen - Persephone, goddess of spring. Despite her attraction to the god, Persephone, an ambitious journalism student, is determined to expose Hades for his cruel and ruthless ways. Hades finds himself faced with the impossible - proving his future bride wrong.
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A great addition to the saga.
- By Amy on 2021-01-30
Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
-
A Game of Retribution
- Hades Saga, Book 2
- Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
- Narrated by: Tyler Donne
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hades, God of the Dead, does not take sides or bend the rules. He makes no exceptions to these values—not for god or mortal, even his lover, Persephone, Goddess of Spring. Usually, fear prevents retaliation. But not this time. When Hera, Goddess of Women, approaches Hades with a plan to overthrow Zeus, he declines to offer help. As punishment, Hera sentences Hades to perform a series of labors.
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Great companion to the series
- By Amazon Customer on 2022-08-02
Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
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The Crown of Gilded Bones
- Blood and Ash, Book 3
- Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Narrated by: Stina Nielsen
- Length: 25 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Poppy never dreamed she would find the love she’s found with Prince Casteel. She wants to revel in her happiness but first they must free his brother and find hers. It’s a dangerous mission and one with far-reaching consequences neither dreamed of. Because Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her. By right the crown and the kingdom are hers.
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It was too much repetition
- By NurseLisa on 2021-04-27
Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
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A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
- A Blood and Ash Novel (Blood and Ash, Book 2)
- Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Narrated by: Stina Nielsen
- Length: 24 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
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Performance
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Story
Everything Poppy has ever believed in is a lie, including the man she was falling in love with. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But what she does know is that nothing is as dangerous to her as him. The Dark One. The Prince of Atlantia. He wants her to fight him, and that’s one order she’s more than happy to obey. He may have taken her, but he will never have her.
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Like really bad fanfic
- By Meliah on 2020-11-13
Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
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From Blood and Ash
- Blood and Ash, Book 1
- Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Narrated by: Stina Nielsen
- Length: 19 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.
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HOLY BURNING HELL
- By kayla sue on 2020-09-21
Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
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A Shadow in the Ember
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- Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Narrated by: Stina Nielsen
- Length: 25 hrs and 7 mins
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Born shrouded in the veil of the Primals, a Maiden as the Fates promised, Seraphena Mierel’s future has never been hers. Chosen before birth to uphold the desperate deal her ancestor struck to save his people, Sera must leave behind her life and offer herself to the Primal of Death as his Consort. However, Sera’s real destiny is the most closely guarded secret in all of Lasania - she’s not the well protected Maiden but an assassin with one mission - one target. Make the Primal of Death fall in love, become his weakness, and then...end him.
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What?
- By mackenzie on 2022-02-02
Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
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A Light in the Flame
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- Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Narrated by: Stina Nielsen
- Length: 26 hrs and 27 mins
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The only one who can save Sera now is the one she spent her life planning to kill. The truth about Sera’s plan is out, shattering the fragile trust forged between her and Nyktos. Surrounded by those distrustful of her, all Sera has is her duty. She will do anything to end Kolis, the false King of Gods, and his tyrannical rule of Iliseeum, thus stopping the threat he poses to the mortal realm.
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OMG! I can't get enough of Nytoks and Sera.
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-01-28
Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
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Kingdom of the Wicked
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Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe - witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family's renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin...desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister's killer and to seek vengeance at any cost - even if it means using dark magic that's been long forbidden. Then, Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child.
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Can't wait for the next one!
- By Brigid C Lynch on 2021-01-27
Written by: Kerri Maniscalco
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Queen of Myth and Monsters
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- Narrated by: Curt Bonnem, Lilly Drake
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
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Isolde, newly coronated queen, has finally found a king worthy of her in the vampire Adrian. But their love for each other has cost Isolde her father and her homeland. With two opposing goddesses playing mortals and vampires like chess pieces against one another, Isolde is uncertain who her allies are in the vampire stronghold of Revekka. Now, as politics in the Red Palace grow more underhanded and a deadly blood mist threatens all of Cordova, Isolde must trust in the bond she's formed with Adrian, even as she learns troubling information about his complicated past.
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I am tired of this
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-01-10
Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
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A Court of Silver Flames
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- Length: 26 hrs and 5 mins
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Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance - and healing - in each other's arms.
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Narrator
- By tanya on 2021-02-19
Written by: Sarah J. Maas
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The War of Two Queens
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- Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Narrated by: Stina Nielsen, Tim Campbell
- Length: 26 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Casteel Da’Neer knows all too well that very few are as cunning or vicious as the Blood Queen, but no one, not even him, could’ve prepared for the staggering revelations. The magnitude of what the Blood Queen has done is almost unthinkable.
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Pls read this review before spending $ or credit
- By Gigi on 2022-03-22
Written by: Jennifer L. Armentrout
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Zodiac Academy
- The Awakening: An Academy Bully Romance
- Written by: Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti
- Narrated by: Bridget Bordeaux
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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I’m a Gemini. Impulsive. Curious. Headstrong. A twin. Heir to a throne I know nothing about. And it turns out, I’m Fae. But of course, there’s a catch - all I have to do to claim my birthright is prove that I’m the most powerful supernatural in the whole of Solaria. And sure, technically that’s true, as I’m the daughter of the Savage King. But the bit they didn’t put in the brochure was that every single Fae in this Kingdom would claim my throne if they could.
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Enjoyable Story - GODAWFUL Narration
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Written by: Caroline Peckham, and others
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King of Battle and Blood
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- Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
- Narrated by: Lilly Drake, Curt Bonnem
- Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Isolde de Lara considers her wedding day to be her death day. To end a years-long war, she is to marry vampire king Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev, and kill him. But her assassination attempt is thwarted, and Adrian threatens that if Isolde tries to kill him again, he will raise her as the undead. Faced with the possibility of becoming the thing she hates most, Isolde seeks other ways to defy him and survive the brutal vampire court.
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Not what I was expecting.
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Written by: Scarlett St. Clair
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A Ruin of Roses
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I could save him, but he would ruin me. The beast. The creature that stalks the forbidden wood. The dragon prince. He has suffered a fate worse than death. We all have. A curse put upon us by the mad king. We are a kingdom locked in time. Shifters unable to feel our animals. Stuck here by a deal between the late king and a demon who seeks our destruction. The only one keeping this kingdom alive is Nyfain, the golden prince to a stolen throne. The last dragon shifter.
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Could have been good
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Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him - and face the consequences.
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Loved it!
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Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar are trying to get back to normal - they may have saved Crescent City, but with so much upheaval in their lives lately, they mostly want a chance to relax. Slow down. Figure out what the future holds.
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So, did we just skip the editor on this one?
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Written by: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher's Summary
Persephone is the Goddess of Spring by title only. The truth is, since she was a little girl, flowers have shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hopes to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist.
Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible.
After a chance encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead and the terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever.
The bet does more than expose Persephone's failure as a goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows - and it's forbidden.
Contains mature themes.
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What listeners say about A Touch of Darkness
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- bagelpapi
- 2021-03-19
Not really worth the hours I spent listening
this was a very interesting retelling of Hades and Persephone! I found many parts that I was getting angry with Persephone’s choices and thought processes and talking aloud. In this book Persephone spends most of it being very naive and sheltered and I’m hoping for more growth in the next book. I adored Hades. I do recommend this for someone who isn’t looking for too heavy of a read because it was enjoyable and light, and I’m looking forward to listening to the next book!
Edit: I got six hours into the second book and I’m just going to let you know that there is no growth except a steady downward spiral of Persephone. I stopped listening because her actions and thoughts were making me so angry. I’m confused about the demographic because the content suggests “new adult” but the actions of Persephone are that of a 14 year old. Her flagrant arrogance and callous actions are truly and remarkably stupid. I’m upset because I really liked the characters of Hades and Hermes and Hecate but it was not worth listening to that many hours of Persephone complaining and whining and being a total brat. I think this book might be good for people in their late teens I suppose? But honestly, it was a hard go to get through the first book and even harder to get through the second. It wasn’t worth it in my opinion.
10 people found this helpful
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- 👁️👄👁️
- 2021-02-26
Left me quite disappointed
I had read so many good things about this book, and yet it has proven to be quite the disappointment. It feels more akin to a fanfic than a well thought out story. It felt like there was so much to be desired, from proper world building to complex character traits, to even just better descriptions of each scene. I loved the narrator at first but found her tone a bit incorrect in some places, but nonetheless she is very talented. Overall I would consider this book severely okay. Will not be reading the second one or anything else in the series.
4 people found this helpful
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- Scott
- 2021-05-31
Awakened
I have never been more sexually frustrated by a book haha. The story is compelling and addicting. I finished it in 2 days. And now I’m going to go get the rest of the series! Also the performance is *chefs kiss*
1 person found this helpful
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- J
- 2020-10-26
Fun read
This is a book you can fall asleep to because the dialogue and characters are pretty predictable but the story is still addictive enough that you keep listening until you zzz...
The protagonist is pretty unlikeable however, she second guesses the motivation of her love interest in a way that makes you want to roll your eyes sometimes.
The narrator is amazing when it comes to voicing the female characters. Her voice goes from sweet to preppy to sexy seamlessly. But I can't say the same for her narration of the male characters. It took me some time to get use to it but eventually I did.
Anyways, I don't regret my purchase of the book since I remained interested to the end.
1 person found this helpful
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- Catherine Bourdeau-Brossard
- 2022-12-16
Not worth your time
I purchased the series during a sale after having seen the good reviews. The story is similar to every YA ''young woman discovers sex and her power'' type book, but it has nothing new or fresh in my opinion. A poor equivalent to ACOTAR. The story was expectable and the writing left much to be desired.
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- Miss Leah
- 2022-09-20
Awesome
The narrator is incredible and I love the story. You won’t be able to stop! Amazing steam too.
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- Chloe
- 2022-08-27
very spicy
please do not listen to this without privacy and or headphones. very spicy 😋
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- Emily
- 2022-07-26
Intriguing Romance
I love mythology, this book brought the Hades and Persephone myth to the current decade we are in. The writer grabs you and pulls you into a world of fantasy and love as well.
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Overall
- Amazon Customer
- 2022-01-31
amazing 👏
I wasn't sure if I would like this book going in but I got completely hooked. now I'm on to the second. I have always loved Greek mythology and the way the author brings these gods to life is addictive. cannot wait to read more from her.
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- krisleyv
- 2022-01-19
Modernizing Greek myth
Modernizing the myth of Hades and Persephone. I was curious to see how the author would portray the gods and their relationships. At first I was okay with Persephone’s childish/selfish actions due to fact she is a naive goddess. Her character and actions did start to annoy me as the story progressed. The portrayal of Hades was spot on. I enjoyed his way of going about his relationship with Persephone. Story was good enough to keep me interested in what happens next.
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- S.J. Gokey-Hartsfield
- 2020-08-18
Some people really will romanticize anything, huh?
I was excited to read "A Touch of Darkness" based on the synopsis I was given. A modern retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth? Great!
Then I started the audiobook and it all went downhill from there. The only way to properly address my feelings about this book is to organize things in a list, so here we go:
1. Persephone as a heroine.
Persephone barely functions as a protagonist, let alone a heroine. Her motivations are all over the place: does she want adventure, a life outside her mother's grasp? Does she want passion and/or love (two things that are alternately conflated and differentiated, as the situation dictates)? Does she want to trust Hades and challenge her preconceived notions of him? Or does she want those notions confirmed, despite his words and actions?
She seems ready to believe the worst of Hades at all times, no matter what he does. She tells him he should send struggling mortals to rehab? He does so, and she accuses him of doing it to "make fun of" her. If she's so eager to get out from under her mother's thumb, and her mother hates and mistrusts Hades, you'd think Persephone would take any and every opportunity to see the best in him, specifically to spite her mother.
She also just plain doesn't listen when Hades speaks (when he bothers to explain himself at all, see below). He'll tell her, "I don't have full control over my contracts and have to consult with the Fates", and she'll continue to berate him for his "unfair" contracts that "ask the impossible".
Lastly, she spends a lot of time thinking Independent Woman thoughts, but all of those seem to fly out the window the second she gets in the presence of Hades and his magical dick.
2. Persephone as a goddess.
Persephone is, nominally, the goddess of spring. If she was, as the story implies, born 20-some actual years ago, how has spring happened before her birth? Since she can't make her powers manifest, how does spring happen at all? Who gave her the title of "goddess of spring", if a) none of the other gods knew about her (as is implied) and b) she shows no gift for anything springtime-related?
3. Hades as a hero.
So Hades has a reputation as a cold, heartless, ruthless tyrant who challenges mortals to games of cards in order to trick them into "impossible" contracts. (His terms include things like challenging alcoholics to give up drinking. You might recognize that as something that's certainly difficult, but not impossible.)
Anyway, Persephone buys into this reputation and often accuses him of this and worse, and Hades hardly ever stands up for himself. At worst he stays silent, and at best he'll say something along the lines of, "It's not like that," but doesn't follow up with an explanation. He allows Persephone to continue thinking ill of him, then gets irritated when she thinks ill of him. If he truly didn't care about anyone's opinion this would make sense, but he tells Persephone more than once that HER opinion matters. He just doesn't seem willing to do much to change it.
The only time he makes an effort to alter her perception of him is when he starts a rehab charity for mortals, at Persephone's suggestion, but--as mentioned--she only takes that as an offense.
4. Lack of logic.
I don't just mean that characters make illogical choices (although there's plenty of that, too). I mean that conversations/sequences of events don't seem to follow any sort of logical pattern. For instance:
"No, Lady Persephone. Trust me, when we fuck, you'll remember."
WHEN? "Your arrogance is alarming."
His eyes flashed. "Is that a challenge?"
A challenge to what? If Persephone had followed the statement about arrogance with something like, "We will NEVER have sex," his response might make sense. It would be disgusting, but it would make sense. But exchanges like this happen all the time. It's like the author wrote from sentence to sentence, picking what she wanted to say in any given moment, regardless of what had just been said/done or what was about to be said/done.
5. A tired dynamic.
Can we move past the dynamic of "virginal college-aged woman" and "brooding worldly billionaire", please? It was uncomfortable in Fifty Shades of Grey and it was uncomfortable here. Persephone is in her 20s, and we're supposed to believe that not only is she a virgin, she's never even masturbated. Is she okay?
It's also time to retire a dynamic where one party (usually the woman) says something that implies she isn't interested, and the other party (usually the man) "sees past" her protests to what she "really wants" and informs her of her own desires. It's gross and problematic. It gets a SLIGHT pass in this story, since Hades is literally a god and can literally see into people's souls, but it's still pretty skeevy.
Not to mention that if Persephone is college-aged and Hades is millennia old, the age difference is far beyond anything even Twilight could throw at us.
6. Implementation of mythology.
It was really difficult to get a handle on the way in which mythological characters were employed in this story. Which gods had been around since antiquity, like Hades, and which were new, like Persephone? Was the Adonis we meet bound to be the same mortal that Aphrodite falls for in the myth, or was he a modern man with the same name? Was Sibyl the Oracle of Delphi, or was she a modern woman who just happened to also be an oracle? Was Orpheus the guy with the lyre we know, or just a bereft widower denied the opportunity to exchange his soul for his wife’s?
It seemed that the author cherry-picked images/names/themes from mythology without taking the time to construct a cohesive universe with them.
7. Lack of proofreading.
Look, I’m not here to rag on self-publication as an industry. I think it’s a great way for new authors to get their work out to an audience, especially an audience that might be smaller than a publisher wants to bet on. My problem isn’t that St. Clair “independently published” this book.
My issue is that she clearly didn’t employ ANY sort of editor in the process. I can’t speak on the textual version, but even the audiobook was rife with awkward word choice and sentence structure, not to mention moments like this:
"Oh no," Persephone said.
Hades raised a brow. "What?"
"I know that look."
He raised a curious brow. "What look?"
Freelance editors are readily available online. Employ them.
8. The terms of bets and contracts.
Early in the story, Hades offers to teach Persephone to play poker. They wager questions: whoever wins a hand gets to ask the other a question, which must be answered. However, once they’ve finished, Hades is able to mark Persephone, indicating that she is now under contract with him. The terms of that contract are decided after the fact. This makes zero sense. If questions and answers were the wagers, how can she then owe him a contract fulfilled? How can you possibly be beholden to a contract without its terms being defined first?
9. The audiobook narrator.
This is something that Scarlett St. Clair can't be blamed for, but bears mentioning: the narrator of this audiobook has three major flaws, as far as I'm concerned. A) Her male voices all sound the same: gravelly and molasses-slow. Hades sounds like Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith. B) She over-enunciates almost everything. C) She gets into the sex scenes. Like. REALLY gets into the sex scenes.
I’m sure there’s a lot more to talk about but this review is already 1300 words and I’m so tired.
225 people found this helpful
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- Guienivere
- 2021-02-23
Tiktok told me 5/5 but no, its a 3.25/5
After rading SJM & The Bargainer series this was ok. I liked it but it seemed like something id read before unfortunately. Smutty but I pictured my boyfriend instead of Hades so, ya know. I didn't like Persephone as a journalist and some of the dialog was tough to believe but all in all 3.25/ 5
25 people found this helpful
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- madeleine blackman
- 2021-04-08
Possibly some spoilers
Technically haven’t finished this yet, but a few thoughts right out the gate. 1) the narrator really can’t do a male voice and it’s really awkward; 2) the whole second half of this story is just a series of sex scenes
20 people found this helpful
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- Michelle Kattarina Huntsman
- 2020-12-22
It was ok, to similar to L.O.S for me though .
I don’t like to compare but and I know most of this is base on the mythology of this two gods/goddess but a lot of the story had a lot of similarities to the comic book found in WEBTOON / coming to Nexflix soon (Lore Of Olympus by Rachel smythe ), it just had huge similarities. And I’m aware of the myth and authors will put there spin on the myth of there choosing on gods and goddesses but when both sound so much alike I don’t know if that’s my cup of tea . Don’t get me wrong I like touch of darkness and will continue to read on but I’m stinking with lore of Olympus this one for me . P.s not hatting on this book.
13 people found this helpful
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- Audrey Dalum
- 2021-03-30
Eh.... it may be for some people
I don't want to be mean about this book, but honestly it wasn't for me. The characters seemed underdeveloped and mostly 2 dimensional, while also being inconsistent. If sentences along the line of "wanted him to fill the emptiness inside her" and almost exclusively referring to male genitalia as "his arousal" and female genitalia as "her core" are for you then you would probably like the sex scenes in this book if that type of phrasing makes you cringe, I recommend reading a different book.
11 people found this helpful
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- Terrie Stickney
- 2021-12-14
It’s okay if you want smut
I started listening to this because I read Lore Olympus on WebToon and people on the group I’m in were suggesting this. I love Greek Mythology and specifically love Hades and Persephone. The story itself is okay but it honestly just seems like a Modernized Greek Mythology version of 50 Shade of Gray.
And don’t get me started on how the narrator sounds when she reads the sex scenes. I half expected her to have an orgasm after she read one and I’m just thinking “ma’am I’m trying to listen to the book, not you pleasure yourself.”
8 people found this helpful
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- Hannah Morgan
- 2021-12-19
Gag
I was so excited for this book. The MOMENT I Heard- the narrator’s voice I knew it was going to be a long, hard road. Narrator is just noooooot good.
Story makes no sense, full of major loopholes. Tropes are boring. Creepy right billionaire “preys” on virginal college woman. Blah. This book could have been AMAZING and it was NOT, save your credit and don’t get this one!!
6 people found this helpful
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- Sarah Donaher
- 2021-10-19
don't waste your time
this came highly recommend to me because I liked ACOTAR and I was highly disappointed
reads more like a fanfiction or an early first draft
predictable plot, flat characters, boring dialogue
if you're absolutely determined to purchase at least get the real book. the narrator is difficult to listen to. sharp whistles on every s, horrible male voices.
worst audiobook I've ever listened to for sure
6 people found this helpful
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- Fox
- 2021-09-15
wow. just wow
I've been looking for a fiction book about the gods for a long time so when I found this I jumped at it without really looking into it and I regret it. I used to like Kenons Dark Hunter series but the romanticized sex bs got in the way. This book is worse in that theres no other story but that. not fights, no powers, no godly anything really. just love struggles and over the top sex. excuse me, "overly passionate love making" THATS IT. nothing else.
5 people found this helpful
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- Lottie
- 2020-07-02
Romantic book.
This is a deliciously romantic book, it’s about Hades and Persephone, theirs a back and forth, funny parts, and beautifully illustrated underworld.
5 people found this helpful
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- Mary
- 2021-05-20
Painfully boring
Not gonna lie, I picked it up because the idea of a ✨spicy✨ book set in a modern rendition of Greek Myths / the Hades and Persephone relationship intrigued the hell out of me but the set up was both rushed and tedious, the writing isn't that compelling, the spice was minimal (and not helped by the performer's breathy moans, talk about awkward), the plot was non-existent, the characters lacked chemistry which isn't great for what is supposed to be an edgy romance novel.
I struggled to power through, wouldn't recommend it to anyone and I might try to get a refund.
1 person found this helpful
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- Client d'Amazon
- 2021-01-18
Nice book
The love story is cute but the plot & storyline are a bit childish! Overall a pleasant book to listen to, I would recommand it.