Neon Gods: 1 (Dark Olympus, 1)

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But from the moment I crossed the River Styx and fell under his dark spell…he was, quite simply, mine. The thing that took me by surprise the most in this book were the incredibly sweet moments between Hades and Persephone. It’s a known fact that Robert can bring the steam (you have not lived until you’ve read the A Touch of Taboo series) and there’s plenty of steamy and kinky scenes in Neon Gods. However, there are also the most heartwarming displays of affection which are all the more endearing because they come from Hades, who’s got this rep as total grump and yes, he totally has his grumpy moments, but I just could not handle this man’s kindness—the heartfelt moments he shares with Persephone and the secret things he does to help his people ruined me.

Apollo may be the city’s official spymaster, but it’s his ability to inspire others that keeps him at the top. I love the city. I love it all. I love its alleyways and its theatres, blaring white light into their moaning and shrieking faces. I love the pristine slums, scrubbed to the bone, like any self-respecting city should have. I love its ancient monuments, destroyed and cast again in metal, to be destroyed again and recontextualised in the future. I love it all. I love a retelling of Hades and Persephone. I’ve read quite a few, and I wasn’t quite ready to return to YA Fantasy or NA Fantasy books quite yet. So, I decided to read Neon Gods by Katee Robert. This book tells the tale of Hades and Persephone with a modern lens where they are not gods or goddesses, but rather the name is a title. This book is the first book in the Dark Olympus universe. Each book focuses on different characters in the world with the next book focusing on Psyche and Eros.

I get shivers just thinking of their interactions. SHIVERS."—Mimi Koehler for The Nerd Dailey for Neon Gods

Moving lets you push two of your pieces up to three spaces each. This is how you get into position for battles and claim territory for the scoring phases, and there’s really not much more to say about it. Beyond the impeccable romance, there’s also a greater plot at large and without taking too much away from the story, I’ll just say that the politics and scheming of these Gods does not stop just because this is set in contemporary times. If anything, the advances of technology and the likes only add to their powers. Zeus is terrifying enough in the ancient mythology, but in here, he’s downright omnipotent, it seems. Not to mention that the rivalry between Hades and him left me breathless at times. There’s also an amazing cast of secondary characters that any mythology fan will love (Hermes is a personal favourite) and they added so much to this well fleshed-out story. I loved the glimpses we’ve gotten at the other people who are vying for a seat at the table (or, like Demeter, will do anything to keep theirs and advance their ambitions) and I cannot wait to see where this series will take us next.I get shivers just thinking of their interactions. SHIVERS."-Mimi Koehler for The Nerd Daily for Neon Gods

Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he's spent years craving, it's all the excuse he needs to help her-for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he'll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her close...

One of my favourite conversations in Neon Gods– is when Hades and Persephone are talking about consent and safewords. Not only does it make me happy that this conversation takes place, but it adds to the sexiness of the book. Zeus may have decided Helen is his to give away, but she has her own plans. She enters into the competition effectively vying for her own hand in marriage.