- Wednesday, November 23, 2022
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Persephone Girl
Her story is not just crimson pomegranates,
all of the splendour of spring bends to her will.
But this floral maiden also sends shudders of fear
with one delicate footstep through all of hell.
all of the splendour of spring bends to her will.
But this floral maiden also sends shudders of fear
with one delicate footstep through all of hell.
She reigns over the birth of flowers and gentle beings,
raises baby birds in her lap, and with fawns she plays.
She reigns over demons and demise alike
and before her fury, even Death himself pales.
Nikita Gill
The Greek myth of Hades and Persephone is strangely one that I'm repeatedly drawn to, given that their story begins with a kidnapping. However, something about the power in Persephone becoming Goddess of the Spring and Goddess of Death is oddly inspiring. And the gentleness and the compassion shown by the King of the Underworld only to her is horribly romantic in a fantasy setting.
Over this past year, I found myself picking up different versions of this same story, all inspired by the myth of Hades and Persephone. While each of these three tales varies pretty drastically in their execution and take on some very generous creative liberties, they each hold some... addictive qualities.
My book of choice is always a high fantasy with lots of romance. However, these three books introduced me to a type of story I didn't know interested me: one full of socialites, spice, killers, and modern settings. If you're like me and prefer reading of times without phones or even running water and prefer the charming love interest to wield a sword rather than a gun, bear with me for these because they do not disappoint.
by Scarlett St. Clair | published May 23, 2019
The series that started it all for me. In craving more of the sweet and spicy love of this Hades and Persephone, I picked up the following two books on this list.
While Hades is a nightclub owner and Persephone is a student studying journalism, this retelling most closely follows their myth, which I greatly appreciate. Hades actually is the ruler of the Underworld in this trilogy and, after making a bargain with Persephone, forms a contract to make her keep coming back. One that could keep her there forever—but would that be so horrible?
At one point in this scandalous slow-burn, Hades shows up at Persephone's apartment in pajamas to, for a very out of character moment, bake cookies together. Need I say more?
Neon Gods
by Katee Robert | published June 1, 2021
An unusual twist on the setting of Olympus is a high society ruled by the Olympians. Each god's title is inherited after the death or retirement of the previous title owner. That means this story brims with socialite and political drama.
Now, there's a reason this book has swept the internet for its spice. And I fell victim to the hype. Here, Hades is known for his very intense and very public displays of affection. And in running from her surprising engagement to Zeus, Persephone finds herself running to the forbidden undercity and into the arms of the God of Death. I had never read a book quite like this, and it's definitely not a story for everyone. But it was certainly entertaining.
Promises and Pomegranates
by Sav R. Miller | published August 10, 2021
A mafia-romance theme on top of the Hades and Persephone trope was, to be honest, a bit off-putting at first. When reading a book based on a Greek myth, you might expect it to have heavy Grecian inspiration. Rather, this loose retelling was a kind of half-baked version with the only element tying it to the myth being the initial events of the plot.
With the weird plot twist lacking substance and the character development lacking in general, what interested me most in this story was the intimacy between Elena and Kal and, of course, the spice. If you're looking for an easy read with, let's face it, a heavy dose of smut, this is a fun one.
Before January of this year, it had been nearly eight months since I read a book, and several more since I had read one not assigned to me by a professor. By the end of June I passed my reading goal for the year, already reading more books in a year than I ever have.
Because of these three series that jolted me from my reading slumber, I started devouring a book every week. If you're motivated by a great fantasy and an even greater romance, maybe these stories will have a similar impact on you.
The Cruel Prince
by Holly Black | published January 2, 2018
I had been unaware of just how passionately my heart desires to ride a large toad to a king's revel. It's simultaneously something I never imagined and something I've always wanted. In fact, that was the entire experience of reading The Cruel Prince.
Had this series been written by anyone else, it may have passed as a cheesy, if not tacky, but fun tale of human girls lost in a faerie realm. But Holly Black created a whimsical world with teeth. Faerieland is as treacherous as it is dreamy, with deadly fearies, mean stepmothers, and truly cruel princes.
This is the reading experience I will search to feel again, forever.
The Bridge Kingdom
by Danielle L. Jensen | published June 9, 2020
War and scheming and deception. Assassin sisters. Steamy forbidden love. Betrayal. Oh, so much betrayal.
This duology, and prequel, was the love child of every single one of my favorite tropes. Sisters stolen and trained with the sole purpose to brutally seek the end of an empire. An enemies to lovers couple too ravaged by lust and mistrust to truly love each other. A war brewing on the horizon, just beyond the bridge linking this complex kingdom to its enemies seeking its destruction.
I can't recommend this series enough if you enjoy an artful mix of action, violence, and romance to make you blush when reading it in public.
From Blood and Ash
by Jennifer L. Armentrout | published March 30, 2020
Speaking of books to not read in public.
Not sure how I'm existing without a daily dose of Casteel, but here we are. While the first book is heavy with miscommunication tropes that I'm not overly fond of in any story, the sheer romance of it all rights any wrongs in my eyes.
This series is a very original take on vampires and mates, mostly because the world building is so incredibly unique. In a land where the chosen Maiden, Poppy, must live in extreme, torturous, virtuous solitude, there was bound to be a handsome guard sworn to protect her—and steal her from the life she so despises.
I am coming out of my greatest reading slump of all time like a vibrant butterfly. I went from not reading for months and months to reading 5+ books a month — something I had never done before. Now, I realize I had missed a lot.
There are so many great books that came out during my reading slumber. It's a wonderful time for fantasy romance lovers, as I've quickly discovered.
King of Battle and Blood
by Scarlett St. Clair | published November 30, 2021
Long haunted by Twilight vampires, anything containing such lore has not attracted me. I love the Cullens with all of my heart and with heaps of nostalgia, but even when those books released, and the market was saturated with fangs and gloomy hunks, I hadn't been tempted. That was until From Blood and Ash graciously entered my life. The element of vampires did catch me by surprise but, though I felt momentarily cheated into caving to the bloodsucker industry, I realized I should maybe give these books a try. How could Hawke not sway me?
To end a years-long war and protect her kingdom, Isolde will marry Adrian Aleksandr, the vampire king. And kill him. But Adrian discovers her plot, and Isolde is forced to navigate the dangers of the vampiric court and the frightening revelation that Adrian might intrigue her more than she'd like.
A Deal with the Elf King
by Elise Kova | published November 6, 2020
I love a quick, stand-alone, fantasy romance that oozes with cheese. It's truly a delicacy.
For centuries, young women were taken from Luella's village by the elves who hunted humans with magic. Luella was lucky to escape as a girl, for not many lived once they were chosen. But when the Elf King unexpectedly returns for her, years later, she is forced to become queen of a magic-filled land and a chillingly handsome king.
The Iron King
by Julie Kagawa | published May 5, 2020
There's nothing like teenage fae drama. It's angsty and flirty and dangerous and dreamy. I discovered this book during my craving for something to take me back to Holly Black's Faerieland, and it seems like a decent dupe.
On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, Meghan's little brother goes missing, and she's forced to learn the hidden truth. She is the daughter of a faery king and the pawn in a deadly war. While faced with a terrible evil even a faery would fear, she'll learn how far she will go for love. Including a prince who offers only coldness.
The Kiss of Deception
by Mary E. Pearson | published June 2, 2015
Fleeing a wedding, stealing ancient documents, escaping bounty hunters — yes, please.
Princess Lia refuses to marry for an alliance, with a man she's never met. On the morning of her wedding, she flees to a faraway village. She finds an average life and blends within the village, until two handsome strangers arrive. One, the abandoned prince, the other an assassin plotting her death. Though secrets, big secrets, unravel, Lia finds herself slipping and falling into love.
Have you read any of these dreamy books? Or are you adding them right to your TBR?
Taylor x
About me
Hello readers, my name is Taylor and I'm a twenty-something who's rarely caught without a book in her hand. You can usually expect me to read fantasy with a heavy dollop of romance.
