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A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas
4.6
A Touch of Darkness: Hades & Persephone Series, Book 1
by Scarlett St. Clair
Categories
About this book
Persephone is the Goddess of Spring, but her powers are a cruel irony; instead of blooming life, she leaves only decay in her wake. Seeking anonymity, she flees to New Athens to work as a mortal journalist, desperate to escape the shadow of her mother, Demeter, and the suffocating expectations of Olympus. Her carefully curated life unravels when she crosses paths with Hades, the enigmatic God of the Dead.
Hades rules a sprawling gambling empire and possesses a reputation for making wagers that seem destined for failure. When a chance meeting binds Persephone to an impossible contract, she is forced into the heart of the Underworld. Her task is daunting: she must successfully cultivate life within a realm defined by death, or forfeit her freedom to the God of the Dead forever.
As Persephone navigates the dangerous politics of the Underworld, she discovers that Hades is far more complex than the myths suggest. Their professional entanglement quickly ignites into a forbidden attraction, testing the boundaries of their divinity. Trapped between a bargain she cannot win and a desire she cannot suppress, Persephone must confront the truth of her own power—and the risks of falling for the ruler of the damned.
Available Formats
Audiobook: $0.00 Audiobook: $0.00
What readers are saying
AngeA great start to a new series
"I'm going to be honest, I don't even pretend to have a clue about Greek mythology, so this modern retelling of this tale was so much fun to dive into. Persephone, who is the daughter of a Goddess, has been kept away from the spotlight for most of her life. When she emerges as an adult, she hides who she is from the general public by cloaking her identity. Not even her best friend and roommate knows that underneath it all she's a Goddess in her own right. When she stumbles into Hades's nightclub one night, she's quickly swept up into a whirlwind surrounding the Gods, Goddesses, and all that it encompasses. Instantly, her and Hades are drawn to one another. Suddenly these fated lovers start feeling feelings, fighting feelings, and attempt to navigate a world where love was never on the agenda but is now looking like a possibility. Hades persues Persephone like he's never persued someone before. The world notices, and a spotlight that starts to get shined on these two. Who is Persephone? Why is the God Hades being tied so public to this random girl? Persephone is a journalist, so she takes on the task of wanting to write about Hades and the perceived wrongs that he's brought upon the world. Their story is a bit messy at times, but overall is sensual, fun, and filled with a lot of lustful firsts. I love how this story was told. There's a whole mystical world and underworld that's explored and it's written in a way that's easy to navigate. This very much felt like a fun contemporary romance with a mythological flair, and I'm excited to read the rest of their romance as well as any other stories that she reimagines. ["
June 10, 2025 Verified Purchase
TrixerificGreek mythology rebooted.
"I was always a fan of Greek Mythology and Scarlet St. Clair has put a great twist to this Greek myth. Hades is madly in love with the Goddess Persephone. When the young Goddess strikes a deal with the God of the Underworld, life will never be the same. Persephone can’t deny her attraction to the dark, brooding, God, he is mystery and danger wrapped in sex and sin. The Goddess of Spring is living her life as a university student about to embark on her dream of being a journalist at the New Athens News. Her best friend and roommate Lexa is unaware that her friend is a Goddess and the Fates have woven a life that even her own mother, Demeter, Goddess of Harvest, wants to stop. The inevitable union with Hades, God of the Death. Hades can’t and won’t deny his attraction to the beautiful Goddess and deal or no deal, Hades will have what he wants, and that is Persephone. The young Goddess strikes a bargain with Hades and we all know the God will get what he feels is right. The deal is for Persephone to produce life in the Underworld and she is free, if she can’t, she stays in the Underworld with Hades. What could go wrong? She is just a Goddess that has no idea on how to ignite and use her powers. When Persephone realizes that she is falling for the God, will she trust her heart or will she always doubt the truth of her feelings and question if they are real? This is a sizzling sexy tale of lust, love, desire, deception, and danger with a dash of heartbreak. I said dash. We can’t be happy all the time. Scarlett spins a super hot story. Fantastic read and absolutely keeps you engaged through the whole book. Highly recommend! ["
March 25, 2024 Verified Purchase
Shauneil BoyerI Have Waited Lifetimes for a Book Like This..
"If you’re reading this and wondering if you should start this book, the answer is an unequivocal yes. A million times yes. This book isn't just a story; it’s an experience. Scarlett St. Clair's "A Touch of Darkness" is a rare gem that has deeply touched me, and I feel compelled to share why it should be your next read. The journey of Persephone and Hades is nothing short of transformative. Persephone's struggle with her own limitations and her path to empowerment resonated with me on a profound level. She teaches us that often, the chains that bind us are the ones we place on ourselves. Her journey from feeling trapped to finding freedom within herself is inspiring and empowering. Hades is the epitome of unconditional love. His love for Persephone is genuine and complete, a stark contrast to the conditional love so many of us experience. One particular moment that struck me deeply is when Hades repeatedly asks Persephone, "Are you well?" This simple question brought me to tears every time because it’s so much more than a casual inquiry. It’s a question that reveals genuine concern and care, something rare and precious. It made me realize how little we, as adults, truly check on one another. For everyone who isn’t well but wants to be, this book is for you. It’s for those who need to break free from the prison of their own mind and find a way to be well again-- find a way to feel worthy of love. Scarlett St. Clair's writing is impeccable. The character development, the dialogue, the side characters, the world-building—everything is masterfully done. The romance is intense and beautifully woven into the story, and the spicy scenes are perfectly balanced, adding to the richness of the narrative without overshadowing it. In short, "A Touch of Darkness" has altered my brain chemistry, even if just for a moment, and I believe it has the power to do the same for you.100/10, without hesitation. ["
July 14, 2024 Verified Purchase
Amanda LarsenInteresting story
"I felt that this was a fun and interesting take on Hades and Persephone. I liked the storyline, the character development, and I feel the voice actor did a great job with the characters. I enjoyed listening to this book on Audible while reading on my Kindle! Looking forward to the next book in the series. ["
January 19, 2026 Verified Purchase
