Review: Fantastic Read
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 11, 2012
Can Hades really be a hero? The answer lies within the pages of Persephone.I absolutely love Greek Mythology. When I came across Persephone, I was immediately intrigued. After reading the blurb, I had high expectations and Ms. Bevis certainly lived up to them. Ms. Bevis' interpretation of the story of Persephone and Hades is very appealing, and she also does an excellent job of working the Greek gods and goddesses into a modern setting seamlessly. I think it is very interesting that the gods and goddesses keep insisting they aren't human. However, their thoughts, actions, mistakes, and vulnerabilities make them much more "human" then they'd like to admit.Persephone is a very relatable and well rounded character. I think her initial disbelief and subsequent meltdown after finding out she's a goddess is completely normal. Even though she finds out she's up against gods much stronger than her, I really liked that she didn't just sit back and let others handle the problem. She takes a very active role in learning how to develop her powers and defend herself. Persephone really blossoms and begins to grow into her full powers throughout the book. It was a pleasure watching her change from a girl into a mature young woman. I have no doubt she'll be very powerful when she learns how to control all her abilities.Toward the end of the book, Persephone is forced to make some tough choices when her best friend is in danger. Rather than waiting for someone else to solve the problem, Persephone takes matters into her own hands. While I admire her strength and determination, I think some of the choices she makes will have negative repercussions that she'll be forced to deal with later.Hades is definitely not the typical god of the underworld. I'd say most people, like Persephone, have preconceived notions of what type of person, or rather god, Hades would be. Many of the typical assumptions do not hold true in this tale. Hades genuinely cares about the souls inhabiting the underworld and tries to make sure everyone is taken care of and in their proper place. However, Hades does have a darker side that flares to life when he's angered or those he cares about are in danger. His treatment of an intruder who dares to attack Persephone is particularly frightening.The twist at the end of Persephone is wonderful. Just when things seem to be wrapping up nicely, Ms. Bevis threw in a complication. Alarm bells should have been going off in my head concerning a particular event and trusted character, but like Persephone, I was completely floored when she realized what had happened. I'm looking forward to finding out how Persephone handles this situation and can't wait until the next story is released.I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read Persephone. I loved getting to know Persephone and Hades, and I'm craving the next installment in the series. Fans of young adult romance and Greek mythology definitely need to check out Persephone today.Originally posted at LAS YA Reviews