Let me start off by firstly saying that I love a Hades x Persephone retelling and secondly that this second installment is far better than the first book which I almost dnf.

I was hesitant starting this book, but was immediately drawn in by the higher quality of writing and storytelling. This kept me intrigued 40% into the book.

There was character development, a proper storyline and a few very good action scenes.

But then, the book fell into the same pitfalls I struggled with in the first book:
Persephone's character is immature and spoilt,
The miscommunication trope just carries on for pages,
Inconsistency with pace and story.

There were also inconsistencies such as Persephone wearing a Tshirt, but in the next chapter she is unbuttoning a shirt?

Overall, I would round up to 3.5 stars because the series improved so much that I will read the next and final installment.

I am really holding thumbs that this series will deliver on its potential.

As a final note, Mellie and Helios are wonderful side characters and I am here rooting for them!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for the ARC.

The Mistress & The Renowned is book 2 in the Love and Fate series by Jeanette Rose & Alexis Rune.
Ok so I devoured the first book. And was so eager to jump into book two.
It didn’t let me down.
Rose and Rune absolutely killed it with these two book.
The writing is just captivating and intriguing. They will have you flipping the pages so quick.
Such an excellent Hades & Persephone Retelling.
If you enjoy Greek mythology and a lot of spice this is the I perfect book for you!

Thank You NetGalley and Rose and Star Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I didn't think it could get better than the first book but it did. I devoured this book in a day. I was obsessed with the character in the first book and loved the side characters even more. The first book had great plot and amazing spice but the second book was DAMN even better than I could have imagined.
Now… this book ended on ANOTHER cliffhanger that has me a little anxious but overall I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I am a very big fan of Hades and Persephone's story so anytime I can read a retelling of them I take the chance. So let me just say this book was phenomenal and was extremely hard to put down. I did not want the story to end it was that good and addicting to read. So if you love any story about Hade's and Persephone than give this one a chanced.

I tried to keep it as spoiler free as possible but due to it being book 2 in a series there is some spoilers for book 1.

5/5 Stars

4/5 Spice

Thank you to Good Girls PR for providing me with an arc.

I absolutely loved book 1 in this series, The Maiden and The Unseen. I instantly applied for this book when I saw it because I have been waiting to get my hands on this book. This is one of my favorite Hades and Persephone retellings as I think it has all of the elements of Hades and Persephone but with its own spin still.

This book starts right where book 2 picks up so spoilers ahead for book 1 :

Persephone lands in the underworld alone with no idea why she is there other than she and Hades were having fun times and then he disappeared and she was dropped there. In her time trying to get settled in the Underworld she starts to feel like Hades isn’t okay as there is no way he would have sent her to the Underworld alone. Persephone has to not only be Queen to her new realm but also she has to save her love before she’s out of time.

We see a lot more Persephone’s magic in this book which I absolutely loved, especially with how her powers change due to her new role as Queen of the Underworld. I also love seeing Hades and Persephone navigate such a massive change in their relationship and see Persephone come to terms with the curse. It felt realistic and truly added more depth to their relationship and made them stronger.

I still recommend this series if you want a modern retelling of Hades and Persephone where they are still gods and have magic. It has romance, spice, and gods.

When I read the first book I said I wasnt going to read the second one cause I thought the first one was their sexual life diary, no plot. But the last chapter made me curious so I asked for this arc...
I didnt have any expectations so I was surprised that this book was a lot more dark than the first one. And the TW are a must read!
But Persephone was and is my problem. I dont like her personality and I hate miscommunication.

I really loved the first book. It was the perfect mix of teasing romance and action, but the second book in this series, I just didn't like it as much as I would have thought based on how much I liked the first one.

Big thanks to netgalley and Jeanette rose and Alexis Rune for the eARC in exchange for a review.

This was the second in a series (I didn't catch that before requesting) so there were some significant plot holes that likely would have been filled had I read the first one.

I'm 100% all in for anything hades and persephone so I still enjoyed it.
The majority if this one was then being separated due to a curse, presumably one that was enabled in the first book.

There was lots of the 'before times' from hades perspective which I enjoyed but very little hades/persephone times which was also a little disappointing.
4 stars- read the first one first.

I gasped repeatedly while reading this book. The romance plot is more standard with a slow building of trust between the two (along with some explosive magical smut), but the adventure plot? All bets are off. This was a magical read. I loved it.

I loved the first book and even though I really liked this one, I did feel like it wasn’t as good as the first. It felt like the storyline was lacking a bit and I really wanted more. Too much spice, not enough substance, but I did still enjoy it very much, and I do have to say that the characters in this story are easily my favorite part of it all.

That cliffhanger though!! 😭

Persephone awakes and is utterly alone. Trapped in the Underworld, of which she has unexpectedly become queen, she has no idea where Hades has gone. Hades has been kidnapped and is being tortured by Demeter and forced to repeat all the worst moments of his endless lifetime. Each of them is isolated and living their worst nightmares: Persephone's choices have been stolen from her and Hades is facing his past. With all the external forces threatening to rip the two of them apart only time and fate will tell if their love will survive.

This book includes:
- Modern mythology retelling
- Lack of communication trope
- Gods and goddesses at war
- Dog lovers
- Broken MMC who doesn’t know how to let himself be loved
- Supportive female friendship

I didn’t realize "The Mistress & the Renowned" was a sequel before I picked it up. So I was thrust right into the story - which I am assuming was picking up after a cliffhanger. Despite that, I found the story very easy to follow partly due to my prior knowledge of the original myth and partly due to the authors' very clear plot writing. Hade's chapters detailing The Fall were so lyrically written; I enjoyed them so much and I loved getting insight into Hade's life as a godling.

I found much of the dialogue to be repetitive, unfortunately. And the ongoing conflict between Persephone and Hades was really hard to muscle through when I felt like Persephone was being so unfair! It was fine for her to be angry, even furious with him, but her telling him that she was furious and then refusing to elaborate was so frustrating. As a reader, it was just so frustrating for the interpersonal conflict to last almost the entire book, especially since the narration pacing was slow-paced.

I recommend this book to fans of Colleen Hoover who are looking to get into fantasy or those who love Fourth Wing for the romance.

I received this eBook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Jeanette Rose, Alexis Rune, and Rose and Star Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863

As a huge fan of mythology and retellings--especially Hades and Persephone, I really loved this take on the classic. It was highly original and a great second installation to the series. I'm anticipating the next release!

I've been waiting to give my feedback on this book because I felt I needed to re-read the 1st book too.

There are a LOT of Hades and Persephone retellings out there and while I enjoyed this one, I think if you're just now getting into Hades and Persephone, there are better ones to read before this one.
However, if you have read everything that's out there and are itching for more, this book is a great option.

I LOVE Persephone but I felt this storyline didn't do her enough justice and I didn't feel connected to her throughout the book.
Now Hades......I could never not love Hades ;)

Overall, this book kept my attention and it was a good read. It just simply was not in my top favorites.

I had such high hopes for the book and sadly I was let down. With all of the Hades and Persephone retellings now a days, I wanted this book to give a little more than it did. My biggest gripe was how Persephone was portrayed. I could not connect with her at all.

Gods, titans, betrayal, manipulation, and a fun living huge three headed dog, well of course. Hades and Persephone continue their tumultuous relationship, made all the harder with her evil and manipulative mother and his evil father, talk about trouble with in-laws. No HEA here, I may have screamed at the end ...

Book Review 📚
The Mistress and The Renowned by Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune - 4.5/5 ⭐

Eurgh! Just why?! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO END! I think I could take this book and reread it, everyday for the rest of my life. I have read ALOT of Hades and Persephone retellings but this one really grabbed my attention.

There's romance, smut and fantasy. A mix of all the good things you so desperate want in a book. I've been obsessed with Hades for years and this book has only helped to grow that infatuation. IT'S SO GOOD!

I love the modern take on the retelling the most, the way the authors have taken a mythological couple and dragged them into the modern day world is truly amazing. I can't credit the authors enough for not only managing that but to have so much detail and descriptive writing throughout.

You will not want to miss this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Rose and Star for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

I really like the cover of the book and the blurb had me intrested! I'm a fan of mythology and retellings so this book is right up my alley. But I have to say that there are better ones out there.
I think this book is ok overall. The writing and storyline were enough to keep me intereseted and not dnf it but not good enough to be all over the place. I also didn't enjoy the problem solving and miscommunication in the book. It has a huge cliffhanger in the end, which I kind of like!

i love me a good Hades and Persephone retelling!!! this was a 4 star for me. OMG this book WOW. i love the spice BUT THAT CLIFFY???? ughhhh

In this whimsical retelling of Hades and Persephone, the God of the Dead finds himself ensnared in an unexpected twist. Trapped in the underworld, Hades battles roots feeding off his power while yearning for unattainable desires. Meanwhile, Persephone, the unwilling new Queen of the Dead, awaits the god responsible for her predicament, enduring a suspenseful wait.

The book is an enjoyable, light, and smutty fantasy, praising it as a hit among Hades/Persephone retellings. The characters are deemed easy to understand, and the author is commended for their storytelling.

While the narrative explores the journey of the separated couple, facing insecurities and sacrifices, it may appeal more to those seeking a lighter, steamy fantasy rather than those craving a more intricate and emotionally charged tale. Overall, it offers a playful twist on the classic Hades and Persephone myth, making it a recommendable read.

Thank you NetGalley and Thank you Rose & Star, Jeanette, and Alexis for the ARC.

The Mistress & The Renowned is the second book in the series. It starts from where the book 1 let off.

This is a modern, erotic retelling for Hades and Persephone. Persephone became the queen of the Underworld and Hades is nowhere to be found. I love Persephone's exploration of the underworld while working to save her king. I love Hades and his emotions and vulnerability despite being one of the powerful Gods.

Warning: This is a cliffhanger. 😅