Neon Gods by Katee Robert is the brilliant and sexy retelling of Hades and Persephone that everyone needs in their life. When Persephone is forced into a possible engagement to Zeus—she crosses the boundary into the lower city and falls right into the arms of Hades. As the two navigate how to handle the consequences of her escape, they fall into a relationship that grows stronger and deeper each day. The strength and sassiness of Persephone is perfectly balanced by the firm yet sensitive nature of Hades. Katee Robert does an exceptional job of weaving the story together into a novel that enchanting, erotic, and engaging. This novel is a must-read and needs to be on everyone’s TBR this year (TL;DR: buy it immediately).

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I love Greek mythology, but this was way more explicit than I am comfortable with. I know there are readers for this and I am not judging. But I won't be posting a review since I didn't finish it.

<b> I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

***3.5 stars out of 5***</b>

Persephone Dimitriou has always had a mask on in Olympus— the smiley, perfect middle daughter of Demeter. She always did what she was told and smiled for the cameras. In reality, she hated being in Olympus and was waiting until she turned 25—when her inheritance kicked in—so that she could get out. A few months before her 25th birthday, and she's taken by surprise when Zeus announces she is his next wife. His three prior wives all died under mysterious circumstances. That night, she flees to Lower Olympus, a place she has been told is off limits.

Persephone soon meets Hades, someone she thought to be a legend, and strikes a deal with him. Persephone just needs to make it three months, then she can flee Olympus as she planned. What lengths will she go to in order to evade Zeus' wrath?


I was very excited for a Greek mythology romance, especially after reading all of the books in the Percy Jackson universe. Not much was mentioned about Hades and Persephone, so I was intrigued by the premise of this book. I know the general mythology between them, and this put a spin on that story. When I first requested this book, I had not paid attention to the fact that this was an Adult book (this is why you read the full synopsis!!), so I was very surprised when it got Adult very quickly. The premise of this book was great and the overall plot intrigued me. There were parts that made me cringe though, which is a why this was not a higher rating for me. Also, it felt like there was a good chunk where nothing really happened. It was cute, but definitely just felt very slow to me.
The last 20% of this book definitely saved the book for me. The pacing was perfect and the events leading up to the peak of the story were entertaining.

***I received an uncorrected proof of this ebook from netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

I love Greek myth retellings, and Hades & Persephone will forever be one of my favorite couples. I have read countless takes on their story, and this one might be my new favorite. I was completely hooked from page 1. Katee Robert flawlessly remixed their classic love story into something very original, very modern, and very spicy. 🔥🔥 Their chemistry was off the charts from the moment they met.

Roberts managed to write an urban contemporary erotica without using smut to drive her plot. She introduced an entire host of interesting and well developed side characters, AND a complex political system that combines modernity with traditional Greek mythology. (Also, I would die for Hermes and Dionysus.) The character-development of Hades and Persephone as individuals over the course of the book was spectacular, as was the organic development of their relationship- both physical and emotional. I truly believed in both of them and in the strength of their love. I cannot wait to return to the world of Dark Olympus!

This book was nothing like I expected, but absolutely everything I needed!

If you liked The Bargainer Trilogy, or A Touch of Darkness you will absolutely love this book!

I adore Greek myth retellings and Hades & Persephone’s story will always be one of my favorites. Katee Robert flawlessly told their story in an very modern, very spicy, extremely addictive new way.

When Persephone is unknowingly promised to Zeus, the ruthless power hungry king of the gods, she has no choice but to flee. Upon running from Zeus and the rest of the Olympians she falls right into the arms of Hades, someone the rest of the world thought was just a myth.

The chemistry between Hades and Persephone from the moment they come in contact is undeniable. These characters will have you enthralled instantly. Hades introduces Persephone into his world and she takes to it immediately and you will too. Their romance is one for the ages.

The growth between these two characters is so wonderful and they bring out the best in each other. I loved the character development and I’m excited to look more into the city of Olympus!

This is the first book in the Dark Olympus series and you will not be able to put this down. I finished this in one sitting and you’ll want to too! This seems to be a series of interconnected standalones and I cannot wait to get my hands on the second one!

If I had a nickel for every time Katee Robert has written an incredibly sexy Hades romance, I'd have two nickels—which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.

Truly, Neon Gods is so, so good. The emotional growth, the tenderness of this relationship, the careful ways the put boundaries and safeguards in place to create a better power balance between Hades and Persephone. The drama, the danger, the sexiness, the family problems. The dogs! I'll be reading this one again and again.

I received a digital advance copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An absolutely delicious imagining of the Hades and Persephone myth. Immersive world building, fully realized characters, trademark Katee Robert heat. Hades is one of my most favorite heroes I've read in a while, Persephone is strong and independent without veering into "nOt LiKe OtHeR gIrLs" territory, and they adopt three puppies. Literally what more do you need? Just the second book in the series immediately, really.

This dark, sexy retelling of Persephone's journey into the Underworld was a lot of fun with a little bit of kink. Katee Robert reimagines Olympus as a modern city ruled over by the Thirteen: powerful gods who have inherited (Zeus, Poseidon, Hades) or are elected to (Demeter, Hermes, etc.) to their positions. Persephone, one of the four daughters of Demeter, puts on a sunny socialite persona but all she wants is to escape Olympus forever. Before she can do so, her mother goes behind her back to engage her to Zeus, the most powerful god and one who is rumored to have killed his three previous wives and violated many other woman. To escape from his clutches, Persephone flees to the Underworld--the other half of Olympus. There she finds that the line of Hades, long rumored to have been wiped out, is alive and well in the form of a dangerous, intriguing man. Will Hades protect Persephone from Zeus and the might of the Thirteen?

I was already a fan of Katee Robert’s Wicked Villains series, so I had a feeling I was going to like this one too, a sexy contemporary retelling of Greek myth, and honestly, I think this might be one of her best yet. She’s always got a knack for great worldbuilding and infusing her romances with just enough detail that winks at anyone who knows mythology or classic fairy tales. Besides, any book that thoroughly drags Zeus is a book I can get behind. Don’t even get me started on how good the Hades/Persephone dynamic was; I’m weak for Hades as a secret softie for only one person (and when she talked him into the puppies!!!). (And am I imagining there was a subtle WV Easter egg with Tink and Hook in one scene, or nah?) A fabulous beginning to a series I can’t wait for more from.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Neon Gods is a steamy twist on Hades and Persephone and I am here for it! Side note: I had to take a communication course in college. As part of that, we had to "tell a story". We couldn't use notes or anything-we just had to tell a story from memory and bring a prop. I told the story of Persephone and brought a pomegranate as my prop. This was in 2004 and I still remember it clear as day!

Persephone is about to be forced to marry Zeus-several decades older than her and a really jerk. All she ever wanted to do was get away from The Thirteen and live her own life. As a heroine, I really loved her! She is smart and savvy yet still venerable at times which made her more likable to me.

Hades has always been portrayed as sort of a villain, but he is just the sweetest! Seriously, I never really understood the idea of a cinnamon roll hero until Hades. I just want to squeeze him!

I really loved Neon Gods and am so glad I read it. Mythology, romance, sex-it all just worked! I haven't read Katee Robert in awhile, but you can bet I will continue with this series.

Y’all I am obsessed with Katee Robert’s stories she tells. She has a way of sucking you in and not letting go. When I heard she was writing a Hades/Persephone retelling, I jumped on the chance to read it! That is one of my favorite story retellings that authors do. And let me tell y’all, Katee did it flawlessly.

I really liked how she handled the passing of the torch from “God” to “God”. It was a new way of doing it and I throughly enjoyed it.

I’m very interested to see if she plans to go further into this world and how it works as I feel like it just scratched the surface of the potential this storyline arc has.

If you like a twist of Greek mythology along with LOTS and LOTS of spicy spice, I highly recommend this book.

Neon Gods, is one for the ages.

So... Hades is kind of soft? in the most adorable way. I mean, he's still Hades, but he's kind of this adorable grump that just wants to protect his people and ignores the fact that two people basically follow him around because they're his friends and he just thinks they like to hang out in his house. He's adorable and endearing in a way I never knew Hades could be.

I love him and Persephone together so much because they really do balance each other well, both in terms of power and in their personal relationship. I loved watching them doing the most mundane things like walking around the market and hanging out with their puppies. I just adore them.

This is still a Katee Robert book, I don't know why I expected the heat level on this one to be lower, but it's not. Not one bit. This book was definitely sexy. I can't wait to see where this series goes next.

Neon Gods is a contemporary romance retelling of Hades and Persephone. Olympus is a modern city that is ruled by the Thirteen and Zeus is the most powerful member of the Thirteen. When Demeter forces Persephone's betrothal to Zeus, Persephone escapes from the upper city of Olympus and crosses the River Styx to the lower city, where Hades rules.

I finished this book with a thousand questions about the world building and character motivations.

<b><u>World Building</b></u>
It sounds as if some members of the Thirteen are elected, whereas others are born into their role. The political structure of Olympus makes zero sense. It seems that Olympus is a city located in the United States of America. The reason I make this assumption is because Persephone mentioned she had plans to escape from Olympus to California. At the same time, Olympus seems to exist as a city outside of America. The world building is so vague. Where exactly does the City of Olympus fit in modern day America? What does the political structure look like? How does this city operate democratically when leaders are born into their roles? Is there a criminal justice system in place? Does the rule of law apply? It is hinted that Ares operates the military and police side of things, but once again, it is an assumption I am making.

<b><u>Characters</b></u>
Neon Gods is marketed as a sunshine and grump romance, but I honestly did not see it that way. We are told that Hades is a grump, but he does not come across as a grump at all. Broody? Yes. Grumpy? No. Hades is a misunderstood hero who has built a fearsome reputation for himself. We are told Hades is intimidating and that he has a presence, but I didn't feel any of that. There is no danger and intrigue, which, in my opinion, kind of defeats the purpose of Hades. We are also told that Persephone has a sunshine disposition, which is a fake mask she wears in society. But we only get to see Persephone out in society for like 2 chapters, so we rarely see her as this "sunshiny" person. In my opinion, this version of Hades and Persephone just didn't fit their original mythological roles. Take out the one-dimensional mythology and you are left with a light mafiaeseque romance.

The characters, especially the villains, have little to no depth. Why does Zeus hate Hades's parents so much? We never actually get an answer from Zeus, beyond his statement that Hades's father deserved to suffer. I was expecting a solid backstory to provide an explanation/motivation for Zeus's hatred toward Hades's parents. We are also told that Zeus is the most powerful member of the Thirteen. What exactly distinguishes him from the other members of the Thirteen? How did Zeus get powerful enough to get away with murder? How did Zeus get powerful enough to banish Hades from the rest of Olympus? Is there no rule of law in a city that is presumably located in America?

Honestly, this book feels like a first draft. The world building is weak and has zero depth. The characters also leave a lot to be desired. The romance developed too quickly and the chemistry was lackluster. Neon Gods was very disappointing. I'm hoping the next book is better.

Steamy, sexy, dark, the ultimate fight between Zeus and Hades takes a modern day approach, in the cosmopolitan city of Olympus. Persephone, essentially “sold” to Zeus by her mother, runs to escape marriage to the diabolical Zeus and runs straight into the arms of his enemy, Hades. It’s delightful and hot (SO SO HOT) and I really enjoyed this read - escapism at its finest, though I will say the world building was a little bit weak.

It's almost TOO easy to get me to read a Hades & Persephone reboot, and this book was no exception. In a clever but straightforward reimagining of Olympus, we find ourselves in a contemporary-feeling world with an upper and lower city separated by the River Styx. The city is ruled by the Thirteen, with twelve leaders on the upper banks and the lower left to Hades, who most believe to be dead. When Persephone's mother arranges her marriage to the lecherous Zeus, she runs away to the lower city and finds herself in Hades' arms, quite literally.

The homage to the myth was fun to see play out. People and place names reference the original canon, and situations are reinvented with a modern take. However, this isn't really a paranormal or fantasy romance. The only such element is a magical barrier on the River Styx, but the rest of the story plays out with a dark, urban feel focusing on politics and power plays.

What I liked: Persephone's relationships with her sisters were fiercely loving and set a promising tone for the series. Hades definitely has that brooding underworld overlord vibe down. I appreciated the high stakes of the story as Hades and Persephone plot against Zeus. Also, it was cool that both leads seem to be bi or pan, so that representation was awesome. Also, I think side character Dionysus is meant to be ace.

What wasn't for me: this is definitely a 0-100 romance. It gets erotic and kinky (mainly exhibitionism) quick. I'm someone who loves a slow burn that's more emotion heavy in the beginning, but that's personal preference and not an indictment of this style. If a whirlwind pace works for you, then I think you will love this mythological twist.

I picked this book for two reasons - it's Hades and Persephone retelling and a close friend highly recommended the author's Disney Villains series which I haven't read yet. While I enjoyed some elements of the story, in the end it was not what I expected and I was not wow-ed by it.

It's a modern day retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth told in first person present tense dual POV which didn't quite work for me. It made the MCs sound juvenile, spoilt and immature.

I found the first quarter really slow, too descriptive, while at the same time giving us very little insight into Persephone and her world. The world building was very superficial (we get more details .about Hades' world later on but Olympus remained sketchy and insubstantial to me till the end).

I did like the romantic and sexual relationship between Hades and Persephone. The way it progressed, the way their kink was presented - it all worked for me (from my outsider's perspective). I very much enjoyed the sense of play and joy involved in the kink representation and also appreciate being nervous and hesitant about trying new things. Here the consent played a central role, it was not just empty words, there is an actual moment of one MC changing their mind about something sexual they wanted and this was totally OK and respected by the other MC. It was these little moments of insecurity and uncertainty in Hades and Persephone that I liked the best. It made them feel real and relatable to me.

The last quarter of the story was very much action packed, lots of lies and deceptions happening, seeing more of the other characters, making them more than cardboards on the page. I liked the final resolution thought it felt a bit rushed. A pet peeve of mine is badly drawn villains and this was the case here which I found rather disappointing.

I am curious about the next book in the series about Eros and Psyche and still might read it despite really not liking the writing here.

CW: violence, attempted assault, murder, arson

Persephone Dimitriou has been biding her time playing the agreeable middle daughter of the power hungry goddess Demeter. If she can just make it to her 25th birthday she can access her trust-fund and will have the resources to leave the city of Olympus behind her and lead a normal life in the real world. What she doesn't count on is her mother bargaining her away in marriage to Zeus. After their engagement is announced, Persephone panics knowing that the dangerous and power hungry god will never let her go and may even make sure she ends up dead if she displeases him. Persephone chooses to flee instead and crosses the River Styx into the forbidden undercity where she encounter Hades. Hades, the god who hasn't been forgotten but seems to exist only as myth. This man is no myth and the sparks that fly between the two of them feel more real than anything else Persephone has encountered in her life. The two agree to strike a temporary bargain that will allow them both some small measure of revenge against Zeus. However, what started as a mutual pleasure and revenge quickly turns into something more as both Hades and Persephone find themselves revealing more to one another than intended. As Zeus contemplates war, both Hades and Persephone struggle to find a way to prevent innocent people being hurt, but can they do so with out sacrificing themselves or one another?
A delicious retelling of Greek mythology surrounding Hades and Persephone. Things start of with a bang in the first chapter and never really slow down. The dialogue can be a little cringy at times, but the storyline is fun and the sex scenes are super spicy. I liked the new take on how Greek gods come and go and the inner workings of the power struggle. Hermes and Dionysus are delightful characters and I wouldn't have minded seeing a little more of both of them. Much less fantastical than I thought it would be as a Greek retelling. Really felt more contemporary with a few fantasy elements. Overall a fun and satisfying read for romance readers who enjoy a little forced proximity and revenge plans.

I heard so much about this book from some avid romance readers and I was immediately hooked by the fact that it's a Hades/Persephone retelling but also all the rave reviews I've been reading for months. Needlesstosay, this book did not disappoint.

This book starts with Persephone in Upper Olympus being unexpectedly forced into an engagement with Zeus, a man rumored to have killed his previous 3 wives. She makes a run for it only to find herself on the other side of the River Styx falling into Hades' arms, a man she believed to be a myth. Out of options, she strikes a deal with the devil, Zeus won't want her if Hades has already had her.

But this is more than just a bargain. And more than just a fake relationship. And all too quickly the lines begin to blur between real and fake as they both find themselves letting their guards down.

Persephone is a badass who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it and Hades attempts to be a brooding grump, but is in fact a cinnamon roll simping after his dark goddess and I am beyond here for it.

Something unexpected, but appreciated was the humor and the banter because this isn't a lighthearted story, but the way that Hades and Persephone tease each other not to mention Hermes overall comedic relief was so refreshing and enjoyable.

I still have some questions about the world outside of Olympus because there were some passing comments that led me to believe that the world outside of this somewhat magical city (there's not actually magic exactly but mysterious borders???) is more like the world we live in? Or at least Persephone alludes to the fact that Olympus is a very unique situation.

But yeah I loved this book and can't wait to read the next installments in the series and I'm definitely sold on taking a look at Katee Robert's backlist now!

This romance might not be for everyone, but I think those who enjoy it will absolutely love it. I would recommend anyone obsessed with greek myth and retellings but with plenty of smut, romance, and humor.

CW // violence, attempted murder, parental death (pre-book), public sex, dom/sub dynamics

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Katee Robert for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

YALL. This was one of my first mythology based books and I LOVED it. This is a Hades and Persephone retelling that is set in a modern day dystopian theme. I was rather surprised by that and it took me a minute to realize we were not telling this in terms of these people being actual Gods. The premise is that Persephone is ambushed at a party and told that she has to marry Zeus who is horrible and has a rumored history of killing the last 3 Hera's he's taken on. So she runs and ends up running right over the River Styx straight into Hades who was supposed to be a myth. They hatch a plan together to help her get free from Zeus.

I want 20,000 more of these types of books. When I say Robert knows how to right romance and spice, she knows how to write A+ romance and spice WITH a plot! This story is rich in character development, heavy romance moments that will make you smile, and steamy scenes that will have a cinnamon roll blushing. I absolutely loved the way Persephone was portrayed and that she was always given equal control over her situations. The consent conversations in this book were *chef's kiss*. She was in charge of her future and at no point in the story does that falter. Hades is the adorable grump that hates everyone but her. In actuality, Hades is just a really good man and genuinely cares about his people but doesn't have a lot of self worth. I'm not sure if the author meant to give OCD rep in this book or if this habit was just a trauma response for him, but Hades *MINOR SPOILER* has a ritual that includes checking every lock in his house followed by other strict tasks that he HAS to do before he can sleep. He isn't judged for these things and as someone who lives/lived with a mom and wife with OCD, this was refreshing to see because a lot of the times OCD gets repped as being "too clean". *END MINOR SPOILER".

Robert gave us a great and interesting plot line as well as characters to follow while we fell in love with Hades and Persephone. Hermes and Dionysus were HILARIOUS. I would absolutely love to read a book about our gender bent Hermes because it was impossible not to love her. The bond between Persephone and her sisters was immediately felt. I could feel that love and protection just jump off the page. I loved the ending and how it left the future for more books wide open. Robert took care in giving us body representation in all characters and scenes which made me so happy. ALSO, I love how the discussions around Hades and Persephone being queer were handled. So light, yet it is made known. *MINOR SPOILER* The BDSM representation in this was great. Communication, consent, safety measures and comfortability were discussed frequently and made it feel like such a safe space. *END MINOR SPOILER*

Overall, I can't wait to read more from Olympus and Katee Roberts, in general.

4.25 Stars

Being a socialite and the daughter of one of the Thirteen who ruled Olympus, Persephone Dimitriou learned to perfect her facade years ago. But deep down inside she couldn’t wait to leave the toxicity of her life. When her plan suddenly hit a snag, a desperate situation forced her into the hands of Hades that could be her refuge or lead to her demise.

As a lover of Greek mythology, I was curious about the author’s take of this story. It wasn’t exactly what I expected but I loved how the story unfolded. I enjoyed the overall storyline, but I felt the sexual depravity was a bit low on the scale especially considering a character’s proclivity.

This Hades is among my most favorite of the characters I’ve read. While he still had a dark persona, he was incredibly gentle and protective. Persephone wasn’t exactly the ray of sunshine she portrayed herself to be, but one ready to be defiled.

<I> Neon Gods </I> is a story of mutual needs and desires. It would appeal to readers who enjoy erotic reimagining of Hades and Persephone myth.