A Touch of Darkness: Hades & Persephone Series, Book 1

4,5 starsThis trilogy has been on my TBR pile for a while and like other books from the past, I’m wondering why I waited so long to read this story. It was a very good story and I look forward to reading the next book in this trilogy.This story is a retelling of a well-known Greek myth about the Greek gods Persephone and Hades. I was very curious to see how the modern retelling would play out and I have to say that the writer Scarlett St. Clair did a great job. The writer created a wonderful world in which humans, orcs, nymphs and Gods lived together. There was also magic. The gods in this story were based on the Greek myth, they are powerful beings and you recognized them because they are beautiful, the colors of their eyes are special and they have horns on their heads (yes, you read that right, horns). But they have also special powers, they can use magic and hide their horns and change their appearance. This way they can hide their divinity and look like an ‘ordinary’ human.Persephone is doing it. Persephone is 24 years old and studies journalism at university. She lives with Lexa, a human friend. No one knows that Persephone is a goddess. Persephone spent her first 18 years on the estate of her mother Demeter, goddess of Harvest, hidden from everyone. Her mother was (and still is) very protective of Persephone, she will do anything she can to protect her daughter, even to the point of smothering her. Persephone wants to be free to live her own life without her mother’s rules or restrictions. Unfortunately, she needs her mother’s magic to live anonymously among people. Because she can’t make magic herself. Everything goes well until one night Persephone meets Hades, the god of the underworld, of the dead. He’s wealthy, mysterious (he avoids publicity) and owns many companies, including the famous nightclub ‘Nevernight’. Hades is one of the ‘older’ gods, one of the most dangerous with lots of power. One of the things he’s infamous for is his love of games. Dangerous games with humans. The evening they meet, everything changes for both Persephone and Hades and a dangerous game starts.I really liked the interaction between Persephone and Hades. Persephone had a very protective upbringing, it was lovely to see her change from a timid girl to a more confident woman. To see how she discovered her own powers. She was very curious, which was a good talent for journalists, but it also caused problems from time to time. Hades was very mysterious and at first sight ruthless and cold, but the more we learned about him, the more it became clear that he also hid a softer side from the world and that he was lonely. He listened to Persephone’s opinions on certain matters and was willing to change things. He also challenged her to do more, to live her own life. They were both good for each other.The story was told from Persephone’s POV. There were steamy sex scenes in the story, they were good but for me personally, the description was a bit short at times. Some sex scenes could have been a bit longer (that’s also the reason for my 4,5 stars). The secondary characters were very interesting. Lexa, Persephone’s best friend and roommate was kind, loyal and a great friend. Persephone’s mother was cold and very controlling. Hades’s friends were all gods, each loyal and amusing in their own way. There were also a few secondary characters with bad motives but they made the story more interesting.I look forward to reading the second book in this trilogy.(Some additional information: ‘A touch of Darkness’ is the first story of the ‘Hades & Persephone trilogy’. The story of Hades & Persephone consists of two trilogies (yes two!). In this trilogy (Hades & Persephone saga) you get the story told from Persephone’s POV and in the trilogy ‘Hades saga’ the story is told from Hades’s POV. Will reading this story I discovered that there are two ways to read this story. You can read this trilogy with Persephone’s POV first and the trilogy with Hades’s POV later or some readers read both trilogies at the same time. There is a reading list that tells you which chapter in which book to read first . I decided to keep it simple and read this book from Persephone’s POV first.)

This was such a fun read. I love the myth of Hades and Persephone, and this was such a fun take on it. Parts of Persephone's perspective were frustrating, but it also fit her character. She's someone who was sheltered all her life and only just started living on her own terms. She made mistakes and doesn't have a ton of experience. Seeing Persephone start to really become a goddess was so satisfying. And her relationship with Hades is steamy! It's paced well and easy to read. There's plenty of spice as well!! I'm looking forward to seeing where everything goes from here!

I absolutely love the author's writing style and enjoy reading her stories so much! I was once again engulfed by the story and couldn't put it down. It is an easy and well paced read without much complexity in the world building but while still having an intriguing storyline that keeps you hooked. The balance between plot and spice was perfect in the slow burn enemies to lovers, forbidden love romance.I loved the characters and especially enjoyed seeing Persephone come into her own and become the Goddess she was meant to be! I need more of them!Can't wait to dig into the next one!

At 1st I wasn't sure about the book Because Even though I have seen this multiple times in stores and online It never comment my attention But I decided to take a chance on it And I immediately Became hooked on it It is a truly beautiful story A lot of twist and turns But in the end it's all worth it It is the embodiment of romance An I too one day wish To have my story Be as good as a touch of darkness is. I highly recommend To those who likes mutt but also enjoy True romance This is a story for you

This was a hard one to rate for me. The writing is good. I loved Hades. But when I say that I couldn't stand Persephone.. I mean.. I could barely make it through the book because she annoyed me so much. I will say that I normally stick to high fantasy. So anything modern already annoys me. But man reading about a college girl with the vapid college girl brain was rough for me. Even at the end of the book I couldn't stand her. She was just so ridiculous with her internal dialog. I definitely won't be reading the follow ups. I loved so many of the characters. But I just can't with that girl's personality.

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!

El paquete llegó a tiempo hasta unos días antes de la fecha estipulado incluso bien empaquetado sin ningún dañoEl libro me encanto sinceramente el libro empieza algo lento pero con cada capitulo va incrementandobel mysterio y te vas enamorado de hades jajaja pesephone se me hizo algo irritante en partes pero tienen sus razones que son válidas pero me hubiera gustado que fuera más de mente abierta por las opiniones que tenía sobre la forma que Reyna hades pero con todo y todo fue un libro que me encantó y volvería a leer una y otra vez

This author is amazing and poetic.Loved the book.

Also wenn ihr auf Liebe und so steht ist dieses Buch für euch ;)

Wow!! What an amazing start to a series!! The world building and character growth was absolutely phenomenal. Persephone’s character growth was just mind blowing and i really enjoyed watching her grow in confidence. I absolutely adore Hades and loved watching his and Persephone’s relationship grow. There were plenty of plot twists I didn’t see coming and I’m definitely excited to read more of their story.

Lecture en VOUne belle réécriture du mythe. On ne peut pas nier que ces deux-là sont l’un pour l’autre.J’ai adoré la réalité proposée et franchement j’adorerais y faire un tour !