Fate Has Plans, Whether the Gods Like It or Not

Greek mythology retellings are usually an easy way to catch my attention, especially when Hades and Persephone are involved. And yet, somehow, The Maiden & The Unseen, the first book in Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune’s Love & Fate series, managed to sit on my ARC TBR pile for more than two years. 🙈

Yes, I know. Shame on me.

Through NetGalley I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

God of the Dead. King of the Underworld. The Unseen. The Renowned ... The Glorified Babysitter.

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 tug them tighter and tighter, no matter what the gods themselves have to say about it.

Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com

Opinion

Now that I have finally read it, though, I am genuinely wondering why I kept putting it off for so long. While the book was not quite able to convince me enough for a full four stars, there was a lot here that I enjoyed, particularly the authors’ modern interpretation of the gods, the alternating perspectives, and the chemistry between Hades and Persephone.

Two Perspectives That Work Incredibly Well

One of my favorite choices was the alternating POV between Persephone and Hades. With a story so heavily focused on their relationship and the forces working around them, being able to see inside both of their heads added a lot to the experience.

Persephone’s insecurities, particularly those rooted in her past and the way she has been raised, made her surprisingly easy to understand. She might be a goddess, but that does not magically grant her endless confidence. Her struggles with her self-esteem felt believable, especially considering how sheltered and controlled her life has been under Demeter.

Hades, meanwhile, surprised me even more.

We are talking about the God of the Dead, King of the Underworld, one of the most powerful gods in existence, and yet his chapters show a much more vulnerable side of him. Instead of diminishing his character, that vulnerability made him considerably more interesting. He can rule the Underworld, manage the other gods and their shenanigans in the mortal world, and build himself an enormous fortune, but apparently dealing with his own emotions is where things become complicated.

Gods. They’re just like us. Except with immortal family drama and considerably better real estate.

When Fate Becomes the Third Wheel

The sexual tension between Hades and Persephone during the first third of the book was brilliantly handled. Their attraction felt natural rather than forced, and I especially appreciated that the authors did not drag out the inevitable until the final handful of chapters.

This is an erotic romance, and the book knows exactly what it wants to be. The erotic elements occasionally became a little too much for my personal taste (but not in an uncomfortable way), but they never really felt out of place because they fit the genre perfectly. It is spicy, there is plenty of smut, and the relationship between Hades and Persephone is very much at the center of the story.

What I would not call this book, however, is Dark Romance. There are emotional struggles, complicated relationships, controlling behavior from outside their relationship, and plenty of mythology-inspired conflict, but none of that automatically makes something Dark Romance. The Maiden & The Unseen is firmly an erotic romance with a Greek mythology setting and supernatural elements.

And then, of course, there is Fate.

From the mythology alone, we already know that Hades and Persephone belong together, but here it is not simply about falling in love. Their lives are literally being pulled together by Fate, whether either of them appreciates the interference or not.

Unfortunately, We Start Going in Circles

My biggest issue with the book, and ultimately the reason I deducted 1.25 stars, appears around the beginning of the final third.

The internal doubts simply become too repetitive.

At some point, I felt as though Hades and Persephone were circling the same emotional problem again and again without actually moving forward. I can understand insecurity. I can understand mistrust. Furthermore, I can especially understand Persephone struggling to accept that someone as powerful as Hades might genuinely want her. But after a while, I wanted the story to finally push them beyond those same doubts.

Persephone’s reaction to Hades keeping things from her was particularly frustrating because she clearly realizes that something is preventing him from telling her the truth. It is not simply that he doesn’t want to explain what is happening. Fate has effectively silenced him.

And there is one person Persephone could have approached: Melinoë, or Mellie, as she is known here.
Mellie explicitly mentions a curse relatively early in the story. Considering everything happening later, I kept wondering why Persephone never thinks to seek her out and start asking questions. Hades cannot explain the situation, but that does not necessarily mean Persephone has no other avenues available to her.

This is where some of the conflict began to feel less organic to me and more like it needed to continue because the story was not ready to resolve it yet.

From One Golden Cage to Another?

At the same time, Hades’ final decision makes sense to me precisely because he is trapped by what he is allowed to reveal.

His decision to save Persephone from Demeter is certainly questionable, particularly because Persephone has spent so much of her life struggling against her mother’s control. Removing that control only to take the decision out of her hands himself creates an uncomfortable parallel.
She may have escaped one golden cage only to find herself inside another, this time within the palace of the Underworld.
And that leaves the story in a rather interesting place for the sequel.

A Promising Beginning Despite Its Repetition

Overall, The Maiden & The Unseen was a much more enjoyable read than its ridiculously long stay on my ARC TBR pile would suggest. Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune created a modern mythology retelling that allows its gods to feel powerful and ancient while simultaneously throwing them into very contemporary situations.

The alternating POV was one of the book’s greatest strengths, the chemistry between Hades and Persephone worked extremely well, and I loved seeing vulnerability from both characters rather than having Hades reduced to nothing more than the stereotypical intimidating ruler of the Underworld.

Unfortunately, the repetitive doubts and internal conflicts during the latter part of the book prevented me from rating it higher. There comes a point when emotional turmoil needs to turn into character development, and I am hoping that this is precisely what we will see in the next installment.

Because Fate has already tied these two together.

Conclusion

Now I want to see what happens when Hades and Persephone finally stop fighting the same battles inside their own heads and start dealing with everything and everyone waiting outside them.
3.75 stars with hope for development in the next book.

About Jeanette Rose

Jeanette Rose first of her name, became interested in writing when she majored in Classical Civilisation with a minor in Latin from Tulane University. From here she went on to get another two degrees (show off or what?).

She then wrote her debut novel, Queen of Vampire Hearts and completely fell in love with storytelling. Through her writing journey, she adopted a number of fledgling authors and wrapped them in her daddy like wings. From this, Rose & Star was born.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon

About Alexis Rune

Alexis Rune has been a lover of fantastical tales and morally grey characters since she picked up her first book in the genre years ago. Yet, she never thought to be an author of one. Until a chance meeting in a bookclub spawned an explosion of words and worlds, and a friendship stretching across the globe. Through writing, Alexis has found her voice, one that only keeps getting louder and stronger.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon

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