[ARC Review] The Maiden and the Unseen by Jeanette Rose & Alexis Rune
Zeus has finally decreed that the gods may leave Olympus and mingle - anonymously - with the mortals of the present. With zero warning or waiting for him to consent to this arrangement, Hades is placed in charge of not only helping the gods assimilate but also financing them. Unlike the other gods, Hades never withdrew from the mortal world. Instead he spent six months of every year among them, building a fortune befitting one of his many names. As long as the gods follow his strict rules for living among mortals, they have access to a generous monthly stipend. Break the rules, lose the privileges. No allowances. Ever.
Goddess of Spring. The Maiden. The Mistress. The Venerable One...The Social Media Manager.For the last two years, Persephone has lived among the mortals, enjoying everything the world she was so sheltered from has to offer. It took years of begging since Zeus's decree to get her mother to allow her to go, and she imparted some strict rules to follow. Rule 1: No fraternizing with other gods. As far as Demeter is aware, Persephone's closest friend is definitely not Helios, the Titan of the Sun. Rule 2: No men. The mortal she's casually dating doesn't even know the gods exist. Rule 3: Every six months, Demeter comes by for a visit. This one Persephone can't get out of, and if it keeps her mother from investigating Persephone's life, what's the harm?
Destiny. Fate. Fortune. Kismet...An absolute bitch.Fate has other ideas for Hades and Persephone, and it does not take lightly to being denied. Struggle and fight all they want. But the threads of destiny have wrapped tightly around them and tugs them tighter and tighter, no matter what the gods themselves have to say about it.
My thoughts: As someone who has read a lot of Hades and Persephone retellings, The Maiden and the Unseen is definitely one of my favorites. Rose and Rune did such a fantastic job at taking the original mythos, making it contemporary, and giving it a forbidden/boss and employee spin. And, just like every other Hades/Persephone retelling on the market right now, this one is definitely hot.
I loved the characters of Hades and Persephone in this story. They were both very stubborn when it came to their lives, and it was entertaining to watch them try and deny their fates. One aspect of this retelling that I really loved were the parts where the original Hades and Persephone story was tweaked. I liked that Hades was the one spending six months in the Underworld and six months in the mortal realm, shifting the pressure onto him to get what he needed to get done in those limited months he had in each place. Of course, Persephone was still tied to the six month mark, too, as Demeter liked to check up on her daughter every six months to make sure she wasn't breaking any of Demeter's rules. However, despite Demeter still treating her like a child, Persephone was very much grown up and independent in this retelling. Every interaction between these two was filled with tension and desire, and I couldn't help but keep reading until that desire finally exploded on the page.
Even the side characters sparkled throughout the story. Helios and Mellie take on a whole new importance for me in Greek myth after seeing some of their interactions in this book. A sun god and a goddess of nightmares should not work so well together, but I couldn't stop laughing during all of their interactions. (And a throw-away line from Melinoë about Hades being like a father to her? Priceless.)
While being one Hades and Persephone retelling out of many on the market right now, this one managed to incorporate lots from the original myth while remaining completely unique. Both of the main characters' personalities were focal points for me; they were both so dynamic, and made the story stand out in the line of other retellings. Rose and Rune definitely used their talents in unique ways; I particularly enjoyed watching Hades and Persephone tease and taunt each other with their shadows and vines.
I've read a lot of Hades and Persephone stories, and The Maiden and the Unseen was one I couldn't wait to get my hands on. It was well written, and gave us a new spin on the old myth. Readers who love plenty of heat and steam with their Hades and Persephone retellings will definitely want to check out Rose and Rune's version.
A huge thank you to the authors for providing an advanced copy of this book for review via the Rose and Star Publishing ARC team!
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Release date: 9/27/22
Format: eARC
eARC provided via: Rose and Star Publishing ARC Team
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