I tried to read this book a few times but I struggled every time. This one is not for me. I struggled with the characters and the plot. I just found myself being bored and not able to really get in to the story.

4.5 rounded to 5 stars. A wonderful tale of choosing how deep your fury takes root in you.

Corey HATES her former best friend, Bree. After Corey's boyfriend leaves her for her best friend she wants nothing more than to see Bree pay....or even die. You should be careful what you wish for, especially on days hollowed to the Gods. When Bree winds up dead, Corey glimpses Bre's Shade heading into the Underworld, something no mortal should ever see. Dropped into the Underworld, the Furies of legend swoop Corey away from Hades and giving her shelter while she tries to find a way home. Will Corey escape the Underworld? Or will she find her time with the Furies one she cannot and would not escape; even if she wills it?

Okay, I'm trying to sort out all I want to say so bare with me as I process my thoughts. This book has it ALL, but if you're looking for a romance novel this isn't the book for you. The original blurb kinda makes it seem like I a going to be a whirlwind romance, but I find this story is more about Corey coming to terms with her worst thoughts and still choosing herself regardless. She's likeable but is definitely going through not just a breakup with Alistaer, but also the breakdown of her and Bree's lifelong friendship. She is super grieving, which can be a bit much for some readers but I found fitting for all she was going through.

For me, the Furies are very well written and more than serve their purpose throughout the story. Corey is conflicted, held back by society's expectations of who she should be while the Furies coax out her morally grey side. Hades isn't present through good 2/3rds of the book, but when he is present he is a treat. So different from what you would think an Olympian would be, and not overly sexualized like other recent tellings. My all time favorite delight of this book was the presence of The Oracle, aka the Goddess Hecate; of whom I am a devotee. She is described perfectly and her ways are woven through her words and actions. It was a real pleasant treat for this reader.

My gripe about this is that there are still some unanswered questions, but hopefully that leaves room for a sequel? I absolutely recommend this book to those willing to not view it as a romance with Hades novel, but a girl's journey to accept and love herself, talons and all.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Melinda Salisbury created a rich and raw retelling that stands out from the others. She made us feel what it was like to have that sisterly friendship and have it torn away within an instant. We feel that raw and emotional pain develop as the main character discovers her true self. This is a slightly darker retelling that does not focus on her and Hades but on her deciding who she is and what she wants to hold onto.

I really wanted to love this, but with the slow pacing, I was really hoping for more time with Hades. I did enjoy it, just not as much as I had hoped.

Fabulous! This is well written and unique. I enjoyed the writing style and the plotting was well done. I would highly recommend this be purchased in larger libraries and maybe even smaller libraries serving teens.

This book is an interesting take on the Hades and Persephone story. Corey is a girl who has spent her entire life on an island, following the death of her previously best friend. Corey begins to notice that ancient Greek gods, namely Hades are closer than she thought. Corey begins to unravel following the death of a girl who used to be her best friend. She feels robbed of her ability to be angry at the best friend and the boy friend that betrayed her.
It took me a little to get into this book, but once I started going I was locked into the ride. I enjoyed the worldbuilding of the author, There were a lot of threads that the author tied up by the end of the book. That being said this book feels like either the start of a series or slightly unfinished. There were some threads that the writer put in the book that were never resolved. Who was Corey's mother and what did she know about the island that made her leave? What drew Hades to the party where he and Corey first met? What do the Furries know about who Corey is? Who is Corey really? These were some of the questions I was left with.... while that would be great if this is the start of a series, as a standalone this leave is feeling kind of incomplete.
I guess I left this book wanting more on more than one front.

I unfortunately had a difficult time reading this book. I’m not sure if it was due to my mindset at the time or the writing, but this was overall a struggle for me. I hope to give it a reread in the future to give it better attention.

There isn’t much to say honestly. I wasn’t in love with the characters, and was disappointed in the lack of evolution from Corey. Hades was lacking in his likability, as well as presence. It didn’t take much for Corey to go from hating him to moving in with him, and at little effort of Hades. I wasn’t bored and honestly could not finish this story.

Thank you to Random House Children's | Delacorte Press and NetGalley for an electronic advanced readers copy of this novel.

Her Dark Wings by Melinda Salisbury is a YA retelling of the Hades and Persephone story, except with 2 teenagers as the main characters. Bree and Corey were best friends until Corey's boyfriend cheated on her with Bree. Angry with what happened, Corey is thrown for a loop when Bree dies. With mixed emotions, Corey tries to grieve her friend, yet she is still furious about Bree's betrayal. Then the gods get involved.

I don't want to go more into it due to spoilers, but I thought it was an interesting retelling of the myth.

It was beautifully written, had that thriller edge to it but the characters go had more depth. Love the world but needed more detail in my opinion. Overall great book but just need a little more like.

I really adored this retelling. It was interesting and creative in a way that other Persephone stories haven't yet been told.

Her Dark Wings by Melinda Salisbury offers a fresh and captivating YA retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth. Salisbury truly excels in her vivid descriptions and the depth of her characters' personalities, adding layers of richness to the narrative.

This retelling stands out for its immersive storytelling, where every detail enhances the experience. The dynamic between the characters is compelling, drawing readers into their world and making their journey unforgettable. If you’re a fan of mythology reimagined with flair, Her Dark Wings is a must-read that will leave a lasting impression.

I’m left wanting more.. the length of the story was great, but I’m thinking the pages could have been filled with more substance. Much of the storyline felt like it was dragging and waiting to get to the next scene.

A multiple point of view could have worked very well here. Bree was likable enough, but added POVs could have helped her out a bit.

Overall, I would have liked to see more characters POVs and more world building.

I was excited about this one but it was archived before I got fully invested, so sadly it's a DNF for me.

Unfortunately this was a DNF at 18%. I just really didn’t jive with the writing style. It was difficult for me to blend the poetic writing with the angsty teenager narrative.

Have no doubts many teens will like it. Just wasn’t for me.

Holy moly this cover is gorgeous!!! I really love the Persephone and Hades myth and I really enjoyed Melinda's take on it.

Retellings, especially ones as epic as Melinda Salisbury’s latest, will always end up on my TBR. This Persephone myth retelling about childhood best friends was an easy add to our best books of December list. Read it as soon as it comes out to find out why.

I really enjoyed this Persephone x Hades retelling and thought it was done really well and different from what's currently in the book market right now. I thought Corey and Bree's relationship added this element to the story that set it apart. Corey's mental process of working through her anger, grief, vindictiveness, and the darkest parts of her human nature was interesting to work through, relatable to the readers, and made her character development by the end, just that much more satisfying.
I'm looking forward to reading more from Melinda Salisbury.

Corey was inseparable with her best friend Bree -- until Corey's boyfriend cheated on her with Bree. Corey hates both of them for what they did to her, even when Bree suddenly dies. Things get more complicated when she realizes that she's gotten the attention of Hades, lord of the death, and Bree's death might have resulted from Corey's hatred of her. Corey finds herself in the underworld getting to know both Hades and the Furies, who want Corey to embrace the rage she feels at the betrayal she experienced. The more time she spends in the underworld, the more she learns and her powers grow.

I haven't read very many Hades and Persephone stories, but I love Greek mythology, so I was excited to give this one a try. I wanted to like this book more than I did. While I thought it had some interesting ideas for retelling this story in a modern way, it was hard to connect to the characters, and I think I would have struggled to finish it if I hadn't read it on an airplane flight.

Corey is hard to like. While her rage and feelings of betrayal are understandable, it's hard to like her when she spends the whole time feeling so angry and doing things that don't make her look like a good person. Even as angry as she is, it's hard to justify her actions or even how destructive she is willing to be in her life before she goes to the underworld. Although I enjoyed a character who is dark and angry, it's also just difficult to root for her.

The furies are more interesting as characters. I don't think I've ever seen such an interesting take. Usually, the furies are just general bad guys or all the same. I liked their different personalities and how they are both incredibly protective of Corey while being vicious.

The setting was a little confusing. It's hard to tell what kind of time period it was when they were using cell phones but also still actively worshipping the Greek gods. There aren't any answers to this. Why do these people still believe in Greek gods? What does worshipping them actually look like in the day-to-day, and if she actively worships the gods, why wasn't she a LOT more freaked out when they started showing up in her life? The underworld was also difficult to picture for the most part. When the entire world is described as gray and boring, it's, well, boring to picture.

The "romance" also falls flat. It feels more like Hades is more interested in her for a science experiment than anything else. Corey doesn't even think he's particularly attractive. The romance is less about her wanting to love him and more about deciding which side of the fight she will take. Unfortunately, that makes the book's ending feel flat. It's less about her choosing him and more about her not choosing the other option.

The most vivid aspect of this book is Corey's rage and betrayal. It is dark and strong. I did like the closure of their relationship and how Corey has to come to terms with what her best friend and her boyfriend did. Corey and Bree's relationship alone is the book's best part. While a lot of other things were lackluster, and while I don't even like either of the girls, the relationship is raw and complex and real. That and the furies made me give this book three stars.

If you're looking for a great Hades and Persephone romance, this isn't it. But if you're looking for a story about the complications of friendship and betrayal with a Greek mythology backdrop, this might be more your kind of thing.

Her Dark Wings is a young adult contemporary fantasy inspired by the Hades and Persephone myth.

Corey is a teenage year old girl living on an island with her dad and step-mom. The summer she was seventeen she had her heart broken when she was betrayed by her best friend (Bree) and her boyfriend (Ali). When at a party she kisses a stranger and wishes her former friend dead she is horrified to find that her wish came true and that Bree drowned. Her confusion, grief and rage will thin the barrier between worlds and make her able to see Hades and the entrance to the underworld. As she finds herself entangled in his world she is forced to face her own darkness and where she really belongs.

Her Dark Wings is a well-paced and enjoyable read. It didn’t talk down to the young adult audience but also didn’t turn Hades into a campy god of seduction or Corey into a naive heroine in need of rescuing. I wish they had more scenes together (with less of the Furies) but I also enjoyed the appearances of Hermes who was sly and brought fresh air to all his scenes.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.

4.5 stars

“Her Dark Wings” by Melinda Salisbury is a modern day Persephone telling. This book was very fast paced and keeps you engaged until the very end! Corey is a heart broken teenager with a green thumb, living in a community with a deep worship for the Greek Gods.

Corey is such an interesting and well rounded character and I loved reading about her! This is truly a coming of age story with greek mythology sprinkled through it! Salisbury has a wonderful writing style and I loved reading about how she imaged this greek story!

If you are looking for a greek mythology inspired coming of age story this is definitely the story for you!

This review is left voluntarily, and thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC of this book.