A TOUCH OF DARKNESS (Hades & Persephone #1)
Author: Scarlett St. Clair
Pub. Date: May 23, 2019
Publisher: Scarlett St. Clair
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 438
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.
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My thoughts...
Before we jump into the book take a look at that beautiful cover! I love the colors, flowers, touch of gold vines! I love this cover! If the cover is pretty, you better believe I'm giving the book a chance.
Now let's talk about the book! This is my first time reading a retelling of Persephone and Hades. I love Hades, we never get to his story without him being a terrible god w/ human emotions. I always hear about how bad Hades was to Persephone from other but never from her point of view. Hades is thee, God of the Dead, who just so happens to run a gambling empire in the mortal world. Persephone is the Goddess of Spring, should be able to create life but she has never been able to create life. Just take it. ***cue intro music***
Persephone gets an internship in New Athens, and masquerades as a mortal. She is trying to live her life the way, she wants, and not her overbearing mother. Demeter, who happens to be "hell on wheels" but not the fun version....Just the typical overprotective, controlling, "This is what is best, for you" trope. Demeter, has nymph's spying on Persephone, waiting for her to make a mistake. Persephone has a girls night, and meets Hades..like a chance meeting, strikes a bargain with him. Now she has to "find out, who she is", Loved it! Whew! Persephone, definitely needed this just as a much as Hades. Persephone is not a push over, she stands up for herself, and fights back! Which we never get to see or her from her pov.
Persephone, and Hades work, they fit so well together that they clash the first time they meet. Which legit, makes sense..I mean he is thee God of Death, so yeah.. But Persephone gets past all the preconceived notions about Hades as does he. They both show a vulnerable side, and being misunderstood. She is learning to trust herself, and finding out what freedom actually is. Which she deserves because "hell on wheels", is trying to keep her locked up, and safe but is doing more harm than good. Romance books are not my jam but inst-a-love, is different. Sometimes it just makes sense, Hades, and Persephone work! Not only is she on a trip to self discovery, Hades also has a chance to show he is not the God people think he is. Persephone allows him to show a different side of him, that we don't get to see. Their romance heats up, and it gets steamy in some parts, like dangerously HOT! If you want to read about Hades being the alpha we ll know he is, read this book! My rating 5/5
**Be sure to follow the rest of the blog tour!! Also keep a look out for Hades & Persephone Book # 2, more information below!!
**I received an ARC of this book from Scarlett St.Clair & Rockstar Book Tours . All opinions are my own**
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Excerpt:
Hades dealt each of them five cards. Persephone looked at her hand and tried to remember what Hades
had said about the different ranks. She laid her cards down, face up and the man did the same.
“You have a pair of queens,” he said. “And I have a full house.”
“So...you won,” she said.
“Yes,” he replied, and then claimed his prize immediately. “Who are you rebelling against?”
She smiled wryly. “My mother.”
He raised a brow. “Why?”
“You’ll have to win another hand if I’m going to answer.”
So, he dealt another and won again. This time, he didn’t ask the question, just looked at her expectantly.
She sighed. “Because...she made me mad.”
He stared at her, waiting, and she smiled. “You never said the answer had to be detailed.”
His grin matched hers. “Noted for the future, I assure you.”
“The future?”
“Well, I hope this isn’t the last time we’ll play poker.”
Butterflies erupted in her stomach. She should tell him this was the first and final time she would come
to Nevernight.
He dealt again and won. Persephone was getting tired of losing and answering this man’s questions.
Why was he so interested in her anyway? Where was that woman he’d been with earlier?
“Why are you angry with your mother?”
She considered this question for a moment, and then said, “Because...she wants me to be something I
cannot.” Persephone dropped her gaze to the cards, and then said, “I don’t understand why people do
this.”
He tilted his head, as if questioning. “You are not enjoying our game?”
“I am,” she said. “But...I don’t understand why people play Hades. Why do they want to sell their soul to
him?”
“They don’t agree to a game because they want to sell their soul,” he said. “They do it because they
think they can win.”
“Do they? Win?”
“Sometimes.”
“Does that anger him, you think?” The question was meant to remain a thought in her head, and yet the
words slipped out between her lips.
He smirked, and she could feel it deep in her gut.
“Darling, I win either way.”
Her eyes went wide, and her heart stuttered. She stood quickly and his name slipped out of her mouth
like a curse.
“Hades.”
A TOUCH OF RUIN (Hades & Persephone #2)
Author: Scarlett St. Clair
Pub. Date: Available in early 2020
Publisher: Scarlett St. Clair
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Find it: Goodreads
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. Faced
with a side of Hades she never knew and crushing loss, Persephone wonders if she can truly become
Hades’ queen.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
10/28/2019
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Excerpt
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10/28/2019
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Excerpt
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10/29/2019
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Excerpt
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10/29/2019
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Excerpt
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10/30/2019
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Excerpt
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10/30/2019
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Review
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10/31/2019
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Excerpt
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10/31/2019
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Review
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11/1/2019
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Review
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11/1/2019
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Review
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Week Two:
11/4/2019
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Excerpt
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11/4/2019
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Review
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11/5/2019
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Review
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11/5/2019
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Review
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11/6/2019
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Review
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11/6/2019
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Review
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11/7/2019
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Review
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11/7/2019
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Review
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11/8/2019
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Review
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11/8/2019
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Review
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About Scarlett:
Scarlett St. Clair lives in Oklahoma with her husband. She has a Master’s degree in Library Science and Information Studies and spends a lot of time researching reincarnation, unsolved murders and Greek mythology–all of which made it into her debut novel, When Stars Come Out.
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Giveaway Details:
1 winner will win a $10 Amazon GC, International. Giveaway ends November 12th , midnight EST.
