I have loved almost every Katee Roberts book I have ever read and this is no exception. This honestly might be my favorite one of hers! Steamy and complex with engaging characters- I devoured this book so quickly. I love how unapologetically queer her characters and worldbuilding always are. Every one of the tropes was executed flawlessly, just perfection! One of the best romance authors out there!

Also I am always game for a Hades and Persephone retelling as it has been one of my favorite tropes since I was a kid. Roberts provided a brand new grown up version which was honestly ten times better than it had any right to be. These characters had off the charts chemistry, and a story which gripped me immediately.

A huge thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

“𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁.” “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁?” “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗻𝗮𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗹, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗼𝗲𝘆-𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿.”

When I saw that Katee Robert was doing a Hades x Persephone retelling, I just had to have it! And wow, this book did not disappoint 😌

This book is set in modern Olympus where Persephone is arranged to marry Zeus. When she finds out this was agreed upon by her mother, Demeter, and him, she escapes and ends up seeking help from the first person she sees. She then finds out that the man who saved her from her doom is the very man everyone thought to be a myth, Hades.

I really enjoyed Robert’s take on this retelling, the concept of Gods and the world of Olympus. This world is comprised of mortals and Olympus is divided between the upper city and lower city. The Thirteen are seens as the leaders with Zeus having the highest position for the former and the latter is said to be ruled by Hades but he’s deemed as a myth in the upper city as no one has seen his existence yet. As for the concept of Gods, the name and position is inherited through blood or competing for power.

As for the position of Hera, Persephone is set to fill it up as part of her future marriage with Zeus. Given the rumors of Zeus having murdered the previous three Heras and her lack of participation in the agreement on this, this becomes an issue for her.

Persephone is such a strong, very vocal and curious main lead in this book and I absolutely loved her! One of the most interesting parts of her character is how she has siblings and she’s the middle child among Demeter’s daughters. It was refreshing to see this explored in this book and to get to know her three sisters, Psyche, Eurydice and Callisto.

Hades and Persephone’s romance in this book has to be my favorite in all the retellings I’ve read so far!! Their chemistry and the pacing of their relationship just felt so pure and natural that I felt every moment they had going from fake dating almost to their love confessions. I saw every emotion and internal conflict they had 🥺 I loved their dates especially the ones in the winter market and them getting dogs! Their romance had my heart all throughout!

I enjoyed having dual POVs because I got to understand them both more by being in their head. Persephone’s curiosity and assertiveness was a dangerous mix but also, such a delight to read about. I loved how she explored her freedom sexually and physically! Her love for her sisters was so strong as well and I’m just glad she had that support system.

Hades’s character had that typical broody turned softie arc but there’s also so much more to him especially with his friendships, his love and care for his city and his people and the trauma and scars he carries. I loved how aware he was of his feelings and how unashamed he was. It definitely saved me from unnecessary angst and drama.

I also appreciated the bisexual rep for both of the main leads!!

Trust Katee Robert to write THE best smut because I am very much satisfied with the amount of delicious smut in this book 🥵 Every scene was fueled with some much passion, fire and that sexual curiosity that had them pushing each other to try new things CONSENSUALLY which I loved! Their relationship bordered dom-sub but I kinda liked that it didn’t go all the way so it just felt more casual 🙈 The exhibitionism scenes were very exhilarating and I enjoyed every moment 😌

Besides Persephone’s sisters, I also enjoyed having Hermes, Dionysus and all of Hades’s friends as they made us see more of his human side despite what those outside of the lower city might think of him.

Overall, probably my fave steamy Hades x Persephone retelling so far! Robert’s take on this Greek myth is so interesting that I’m more than willing to read any other retellings she has in store for this series! I’m excited for the next installments as they’re all bound to be as steamy and as captivating! Given that the next book is a fake marriage, enemies to lovers romance between Eros and Psyche and the third is between Achilles, Patroclus and Helen, I’m already dying to read them and the first book isn’t even officially out yet 😭 In the meantime, I’ll be devouring the rest of Katee Robert’s backlist 🤪

Neon Gods is the first book in the sexy and exciting Dark Olympus Series. Neon Gods is a refreshing and sexy modern take on Persephone & Hades. Their story will grab you from the first page and leave you devouring each and every naughty word….

When we first meet up with Persephone, she’s just biding her time until her 25th birthday. In just a few short months she’ll be free from the world of the 13 and will finally be able to make a life of her own. At least that was the plan until her mother ambushed her. Now, Persephone finds herself engaged to a man that everyone fears. She’ll do anything to escape that fate, even if it means she’s got to make a deal with the devil himself….

Neon Gods was a quick, yet exciting read. I was captivated by Persephone from the very first page. Persephone felt very real and I loved how relatable the author made her. And Hades…Hades was a very naughty man 😉 He was fierce, determined, and not afraid to take Zeus on. He was in way over his head with Persephone, but once he got his hands on her, there was no going back.

Overall, I thought this book was a fun and thrilling read. I devoured it easily in just a few short hours. I found this modern re-telling to be refreshing and sexy. The story felt familiar, yet brand new at the same time. I loved getting swept up in Persephone and Hades and can not wait to see who’s story the author is going to tell next!

When I heard there was a filthy modern retelling of the story of Hades and Persephone coming out soon, I SPRINTED my way to requesting it on NetGalley. Huge ups to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Oh my GODS, you guys. If you can't take the heat, stay out of the throne room, I'm telling you... this book is a fucking masterpiece. It's SO hot and steamy but it is absolutely not for the faint of heart. Once you open it you will not be able to put it down, and I don't reccommend reading in public. It's fantastic and if you're into sexy romance and/or Greek mythology, please run to grab this book! I need to talk to you about it, yesterday

I enjoyed this book so stinkin' much! It just had everything I love! Right away, I was sucked into it and couldn't put it down! This was such a wonderful Hades/ Persephone retelling! They make a sex bargain which was HOT AND STEAMY!!

One of my weaknesses is when an alpha guy is majorly protective and I was dying over how protective Hades was! He just swept me off my feet! I was a goner from the moment he rescued her. I will say he wasn't quite as dark as I imagined Hades to be which I would have enjoyed him to be a little bit darker at times. But he may have goeey center but he still likes to get freaky! 😂🔥 I loved how sassy Persephone was too!

I just really enjoyed this story! If you're looking for a sweet but sexy story with a broody, protective guy with some vouyer vibes, look no further! Also, I really loved how we had dual POVs too! This was just so good!!!!! I hope this author writes more like it!

4/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a suspenseful, dramatic, and sexy Hades and Persephone retelling. If you loved Scarlett St. Clair's "A Touch of Darkness" series, or the Court of Nightmares scene in Sarah J Maas' "A Court of Mist and Fury"- this should definitely be on your TBR.

Persephone is a poised "society princess" who has believed Hades to be a long dead "boogeyman" myth used to scare children. Hades is the classic misunderstood bad boy with a good soul. Are the tropes predictable? Absolutely. Did I hang on every word? You bet.

If you're looking for the magic aspect of a Greek Gods retelling, you won't find it here. The characters are "gods" in name only. However, I loved seeing these classic characters in political roles. It was a great way to bring ancient myths into the modern world, without dwelling on a magic system or any other world building necessary in a fantasy book.

I tore through this steamy romance in one day, and I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in this series!

TWs: This book is solidly 18+ for explicit sexual content. There is BDSM, public sex, and a power dynamic that may be unsettling to some readers. However, I will say that everything is 100% consensual.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

TW/CW: explicit sexual scenes (consensual), voyeurism, mentions of weight loss and concerns around food consumption, violence.

Rep: LGBTQ+ (MCs and side characters), racial diversity, plus-sized character (presented in a sexually positive manner).

Enter into the world of <i>Neon Gods</i> where we become reacquainted with some of our favorite Greek gods with a modern, mortal twist. I have read my fair share of Hades x Persephone romances, as I cannot get enough of their story, but Katee Robert presented a unique deviation that I have not come across before. The gods are now mortal rulers so there are no enhanced abilities, well no more than the typical power corruption that follows being uber-rich and self-serving. I did not realize how modern and mundane this story was going to be, so it pleasantly took me by surprise and created a sense of ‘normalcy’. This helped to create a sense of originality to this timeless tale as Roberts made some creative choices that disrupted our preconceived flow of who, what, when, where and why.

I did have a few gripes concerning some of the editing choices and a few character inconsistencies, but as this was an e-galley, I feel it would be unfair to let those choices affect my rating. I’ll be sure to update on these concerns, once I read a finished copy to see if they were fixed in the final edits. I won’t do a synopsis run-down, but as per usual Zeus is a disgusting, leering jerk and our independent Persephone wants nothing more than get out of the grips of Olympus and her mother, Demeter. The sister dynamics between Callisto, Eurydice, Psyche and Persephone was something I had not come across before and I thought it really helped to support character motivations and familial bonds within the story. Also, Persephone was not whiny or annoying in this story. I see so many authors portray her in a very unlikeable manner, but here Persephone’s flaws supported her character arc and enabled you to root for her.

The world is not very complex, and easy to follow, but there is definitely an emphasis on the lower-city, which is where we spend a majority of our time. In this rendition, both Persephone and Hades are LGBTQ+. I want to say that they are bisexual, but that was not confirmed and they could very well be pansexual for all I know. They had great tension and chemistry which lead to really great sex scenes within the book. The emotional growth and connection felt between the two love interests felt developed and well explored.

The book had a clear, and logical conflict however, there was a lot of telling and not showing and the climax felt a bit rushed. I think it would have been helpful if certain events had happened over a slightly longer period of time to build the suspense and up the stakes.

Overall, it was a really enjoyable read for fans of Robert’s and Hades and Persephone. Our gender-bent Hermes was one of my favorite side-characters in this one and I hope we get to learn more about her and her story in the upcoming sequel. This is not my favorite thing I’ve read from Robert’s but the characters were great and I cared about what they were going through. I’d like to see more from the members of the thirteen we did not get to interact with in this novel and hopefully get some answers to some of the hints and questions probed in Neon Gods.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ★★★★★ stars


I don't believe in fate, but this moment feels like we've both spent years barreling down our respective paths to this point. I can't turn away now. I don't want to.

"Yes. I say yes."


✍️ One Sentence Synopsis: A modern, saccharine-sweet, and downright filthy Hades/Persephone retelling.

💭 Overall Thoughts: Katee Roberts, I'm bowing down to you for this one. Neon Gods was every bit dirty as I had hoped, and wrapped in a romance that made my heart melt. This book has be screaming into the universe "I WANT WHAT THEY HAVE!" You won't regret picking this book up!


“Zeus is notorious for not wanting what he considers tarnished goods.” I take a deep breath. “So... tarnish me.”


What I Liked:
👍 Clear Consent: Hades gets the Consent King™ title here. While Katee creates steamy and dark scenarios to her books, she constantly makes it known that all characters are participating more than willingly. The dual POV not only adds to her character's personalites, but it also gives us a peek inside both love interests minds to see that they're both consenting and also judging in their own minds if the other is consenting as well. There's something about the way Katee writes this that's so downright sexy!
👍 Characters/Romance: Hades outwardly is Olympus' villain, but is actually a huge softie on the inside (but a dom in the bedroom). Persephone appears to be a mindless socialite to the public, but in reality is a fierce and witty woman (as well as a brat). Their personalities mesh so damn well, given that they fill the hole in each other's hearts when it comes to finding someone who cares for them. They made my cold heart feel something!
👍 The smut (of course): In terms of smut content, the first thing to note is that Hades is an exhibitionist. And so is Persephone, for that matter. We get several scenes involving public acts, as well as our fair share of private ones. Hades is a dirty-talker which, if anyone knows my taste in romance books, you know that this is an important box of mine to check off! There was a good amount of tension leading up to their sexual encounters (~40%) and I felt the number of scenes was perfect-- especially that epilogue!
👍 The writing: I adore Katee's writing typically, and this book was no different. I've found that her style is succinct, with well-timed detailed descriptions and beautiful one-off lines. Her writing is purposeful, and I devour every word!

What I Didn’t Like:
👎 Nada.


"It's my body."

"Wrong. For the duration of this scene, it's my body."


💞 Read this if you liked: A Touch of Darknessby Scarlett St. Clair and Only For Your Touchby Niama Simone.

⚠️ Content Warnings: stalking, bodily injury


If their sins happen in the dark, do they even count?

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

All I want is to go back in time to read it again for the first time.

There isn't a way for me to explain how beautifully written and thoughtout this book is. The plot is magnificent, the world-building, the character developing , the pace, the relationships.

If you happen to get your hands on a copy of Neon Gods, don't hesitate to read it immediately. Do not wait to read it. It's too good to be left on shelves and it's too good to be left unattended for months. Grab a copy immediately and sit down to read it. You won't ever regret it.

I have never read such a great retelling of Hades and Persephone's story. The fact that they sacrifice so much for each other and put their lives at risk to save who they love. The responsibility, the communication, the trust, the love, and care. The touching kindness, the funny comments, the beautiful moments.

Brooding. Kind. Charming.
Sweet. Cunning. Strong.

Thank you to Netgalley and Casablanca for providing an arc copy of Neon Gods for an honest review. You changed my year yesterday. Yeah. I read the book in 6 hours.

I enjoyed this story and the characters, but I didn't really love anything in particular. If you're intrigued by dark romance but don't want to actually see on the page the morally dubious actions that drive the plot, you'd probably really like it.

I loved this book so much!
Katee Robert knows how to keep things interesting even after so many books.

The relationship between Persephone and Hades was so well done, they complemented each other perfectly. They also gave each other what the other needed without the other knowing that before.

I loved that this book had more world- and character building without taking away from the spice. The way Greek Mythology was incorporated was amazing, alle the characters felt true to the stories we all know about them.

Thanks, Netgalley, for an advanced copy!

Wow, this was great, a fun read that was as fluffy as it was sexy.

First off, Katee writes as if she understands far better the dynamics and requisite consent and agreement in BDSM scenarios, and it showed well. Getting explicit consent, working out one's kink resumé, and taking care of your partner does not in any way limit the sexy aspect of this romance. It made it even better for me as a reader.

Hades' masquerade as the big bad was hilarious when paired with this caring, attentive man readers are shown. His ever-present concern for Persephone's neglect of her own self and body was adorable throughout, and never lessens the appeal of his character. Persephone is a woman with agency who knows her own mind and stands up to Zeus.

Then there were the little things in throwaway lines that just rounded out the edges of this good book. Both characters reference STI testing and protection in an organic way. There were natural hints that both leads are bi, and a little social commentary highlighting the sexual double standards in the mythology. Even cerberus makes an appearance of sorts.

I was just enamored with this.

I absolutely LOVED this book. It was incredibly sexy, yes, but the characters were layered and their relationship so well written. Instant love is not my favourite trope, but the way Robert wrote Hades and Persephone made their connection not only believable, but achingly beautiful at the same time.

Hades was a delicious character: dark and mysterious, strong and powerful, dominant and confident. But it was in the moments that he submitted to Persephone, a fierce and bold woman, that he really wormed his way into my heart.

So definitely, come for the steam, but stay for the well developed characters and fun mafia-like storyline interwoven with Greek mythology.

Neon Gods was my first novel by Katee Robert and it will not be my last.

I throughly enjoyed her take on Hades and Persephone for it was sinfully sexy and oh so much fun. I am a fan of Greek mythology and liked how this world seemed to come together so well. Although it started off slower than I preferred it soon picked up and I was pleased by how Hades and Persephone seemed to have this cohesiveness that was admirable.

I also enjoyed how the world expanded giving rise to future stories. Well done. I will definitely come back for more in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and sourcebooks Casablanca for my advanced reader copy.

I was so excited to get approval for Neon Gods by Katee Robert, I've read basically all her novellas which are so amazing to get anyone out of a reading slump but I was missing out on a full length experience of her writing. This book takes us to a modern world retelling of Hades and Persephone, it has epic tropes and the love languages are 🤧

What you can expect:
☀️Grumpy hero/sunshine heroine
🌉 Forced proximity when Persephone crosses the river to the lower-city to escape Zeus and they decide to pretend to be a couple
❤ Words of affirmation: Persephone sees through Hades and realizes who he really is as a person.
🥿 Acts of Service: Hades takes care of Persephone from the moment she is under his protection, even though he's an overbearing alpha at times he just wants her to be safe, healthy and cared for
📣 Amazing example of how Hades always looked for Persephone's consent
🥵 Make no mistake, this book's steam level is through the roof which I was hoping for being it a Katee Robert but intermingled with those love languages tender moments it completely made me so invested in their love story🥺

Absolutely recommend this book🥰 to anyone that loves mythology retellings, someone that's looking into an easy start to mythology...and anyone that's into a steamy read with incredible chemistry and romance tropes🥰

#amreadingromance #romancebookstagram #romancelandia #booksofinstagram #contemporaryromance #kateerobert #netgalleyuk #netgalley

Neon Gods was a sinfully sexy and exhilarating novel. A fun and fresh take on Hades and Persephone, I loved the way Greek mythology was seamlessly incorporated into the world of Neon Gods, and though magic wasn’t really in play, it was still super entertaining and paid fun homage to the myth. Though the first few chapters weren’t as engaging to me, I wasn’t really sucked in as the novel went on. There was a great balance between the relationship developing between Hades and Persephone, the broader plot, and the steamier side to the novel. All in all, it was a super fun ride and I’m eager to read more books set in this world.

Book Review for Neon Gods
Full review for this title will be posted at: @cattleboobooks on Instagram!

Neon Gods is a deliciously spicy book. I wasn’t expecting it to be as spicy as it was since I’ve never read a Katee Robert novel, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Neon Gods follows Persephone as she’s forced into an engagement with the ambitious and dangerous Zeus. She flees into the undercity where she meets Hades, a myth become real. Her whole life is turned upside down as secrets become realities and sexy deals are made.

If you were disappointed by A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair because of its lack of chemistry and character development then Neon Gods is for you. As mentioned previously, Neon Gods is a spicy novel. The sensual scenes are hot with just a touch of forbidden-ness to make readers reach for a cold glass of water. Persephone and Hades have instant chemistry. They appeal to one another in a way that compliments each other.

Robert’s Persephone is a ray of light in an otherwise dark world where everything goes in the name of ambition. However, she’s not as innocent as she seems. Persephone embraces who she is and all that entails. Experiencing her sexual empowerment is easily one of the best parts of this novel.

Overall, Neon Gods is a deliciously spicy book worth picking up. Robert strikes a perfect balance between plot and smut that will keep readers turning the pages and reaching for a cold glass of water. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us in the sequel, Electric Idol, which follows Persephone’s sister, Psyche.

I absolutely love any Hades and Persephone retelling and this one really does hit the spot. Not to mention the SPICE. Omg this has got to be one of the spiciest books I have read since den of vipers.

Also Hades acting like a mother hen is the fluffiest thing ever I love it.