A Touch of Ruin (Hades & Persephone, #2)

by Scarlett St. Clair

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.

• ISBN13: 9798637299126
• Publish Date: 22 April 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Independently Published
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 418
• Language: English

Reviews

[mvk]

This is the worst fantasy romance book I've ever read!


Oh my gosh, I’m having so many mixed feelings.

I enjoyed the first book (like really) because I love Greek mythology and the original Hades and Persephone myth. It had a vibe with the book. A really good one.

But the second book!!!? What was even going on? It was annoying, cringy, and honestly, just terrible.

Persephone as a character? I have no words. She’s not even a Mary Sue because I can’t find anything likeable in her behaviour. She’s so unbelievably stupid throughout the entire book. Mistakes are fine - even great - for character growth. But she doesn’t learn, reflect, or apologize to the people who care about her (Hecate, Hermes, Thanatos, Hades (sometimes) etc.). She’s rude, thoughtless, and downright exhausting to read about.

And those sex scenes? Inappropriate doesn’t even begin to cover it. Her friend commits suicide, and she just moves on to sex scenes. She gets kidnapped, and within a few pages... another sex scene! Like, WTF?!

I’m so disappointed because I liked the first book and spent time for a second book in the desire to see the character development ... finally. But this book only made me question what the author was trying to do with Persephone.

[nora]

I love the part where Persephone discovers she has a crazy stalker, is knocked out and kidnapped, then almost raped, but then she kills him and is rescued by Hades - all within the span of FOUR PAGES. Truly a worthless addition to a what is already a very confused narrative.

[ambiancereads]

This books really centers around Persephone and her growth. I'll admit her actions are very annoying and she is really whiny in this book which did drive me crazy. The majority of the action doesn't happen until around half-way through the book. In the end though when you do see Persephone FINALLY get her act together it is pretty satisfying (maybe because I spent the majority of it screaming for this girl to get it together). Still a great read. I really love the world Scarlett creates for these characters and I'll admit I even started to really like Apollo in the end. Will definitely be reading the third book.

[Ashley]

Ugh this was disappointing. Honestly I'm exhausted. This book is nothing but fighting, making up, IMMEDIATELY fighting again, then making up. It's all due to lack of communication or Persephone being irrational and ridiculous. She was such a child.

Additionally, I felt like this book lacked focus. There were a ton of plot points with nothing particularly being the focus.

It did have a decent ending though… I wish more of the book could have been like that!

[Cocktails and Books]

3.5 Cocktails