Hades and Persephone is probably the most famous of the Greek myths, if not the most popular. People love retelling this myth, how – despite the kidnapping part – Hades is one of the better gods. Hades and Persephone’s relationship is interpreted as romantic, which is quite surprising considering the usual state of godly kidnappings. There are a lot of different interpretations regarding Persephone’s relationship with Demeter – some interpret as loving with Demeter and Persephone genuinely distraught about being forced apart, others interpret it as overbearing and becoming the queen of the Underworld frees Persephone from her mother’s influence. The author does something interesting in that she makes the mother-daughter dynamic a complex combination of the two. Demeter resents being forced into human form and lashes out at her daughter, who she loves, but perceives to be clumsy and an embarrassment. Persephone loves her mother and is anxious to please her in any way as well as prove herself useful, but everything she does is met with criticism and complaints. I loved the complexity of mother-daughter dynamic, rather than pushing Demeter into a one-sided loving mother or a villain. Hades and Persephone’s romance felt very earned, with both of them slowly bonding over the course of the story and how Persephone is torn between her growing feelings for Hades and wanting to stay in the living world. I also enjoyed all the references to Greek Underworld mythology and the rules that govern its ruler.

I would highly recommend this book for those who enjoy Greek mythology retellings that focus on the drama and complex relationships of the gods and goddesses.

(3/5⭐️) 📚 Thank you Net Galley and Angie Paxton for the ARC of ‘Seeds’. This is a retelling of Persephone and Hades, with dual POV of Persephone and Demeter. I haven’t really read any retelling so I was intrigued to see Angie’s take on the mythological tale. I agree with other reviewers that the first 60% could have been shortened and less repetitive, and the characters lack a bit of depth. I unfortunately do not have other retellings to compare it to, but based on my experience alone I wasn’t as hooked as I had hoped to be. All in all, it’s an interesting retelling with a rather slow start. Nonetheless, I did enjoy it towards the end.

When I came across this story, I had no idea the strong feelings I would have for Hades. But in "Seeds," Angie Paxton skillfully reimagines the myth of Persephone, exploring the complex dynamics of mother-daughter relationships in the drought-filled lands of Mycenaean Greece. The protagonist, Kore—also known as Persephone—struggles immensely under the weight of her mother, Demeter's resentments, rage, and abuse, creating a debilitating sense of isolation and longing.

Paxton's portrayal of Kore's fraught relationship with her mother is both poignant and deeply heartbreaking. Her struggle under her mother's abuse and the loss of another motherly figure in the village is so heavy that she runs away in an attempt to leave her pain and emotional turmoil and hopes to find acceptance and love. Paxton's writing skillfully weaves a narrative that feels both timeless and current, echoing themes of parental pressures, expectations, and the search for identity.

The story takes an intriguing turn when Persephone encounters the Goddesses of Olympus, who expose bits of her true heritage. This moment of revelation sets in motion a gripping narrative that delves into themes of empowerment and resilience. This part of the story is particularly poignant in Persephone's character development. If you have ever experienced wanting to be a part of a group or are unsure of the group's intention, then you will understand this chapter. It was so real and relatable. I could feel her yearning for connection and the emotion behind just a simple touch from another.

Hades’ arrival introduces a darker element to the storyline as he forcibly whisks Persephone away to the Underworld to make her his Queen, leading to a powerful exploration of captivity versus freedom. However, he is portrayed as a multifaceted character, adding depth to the traditional archetype of the dark lord. I LOVED his character the most in this book!

The stakes rise dramatically when Demeter’s rage to retrieve Persephone from the Underworld threatens the Upper World with drought, famine, and death - creating tension between gods and mortals.

Paxton’s retelling breathes life into the myth with romance, spice, and a love story. The book does not shy away from its content warnings, presenting difficult themes of child abuse, animal death, starvation, and confinement.

While the narrative may tread into some heavy territory, "Seeds" is a compelling tale of love, forgiveness, and resilience. I struggled with some pacing issues in the very beginning, but once Hades entered the story, I couldn't put the book down. I feel it ultimately delivers several powerful messages:
*Regardless of your background, you have a choice in how you treat others,
*Lack of action, your choice of words, and abuse can have such a long-lasting impact in snuffing out someone's light,
*Forgiveness is not always necessary,
*Found family can be stronger than blood,
to name a few.

Overall, this debut is a mesmerizing blend of Greek mythology and emotional depth, making it a worthwhile read.

Thank you, #NetGalley, #AngiePaxton, and #RisingActionPublishingCo, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of #Seeds.

Thank you to Rising Action Publishing Co. and the author Angie Paxton for this ARC.

I've always loved Greek mythology and know the myth about Hades and Persephone, but this was my first retelling of their story.

The story alternates between Persephone and Demeter's POV which made the difficult mother daughter relationship one of the main focuses of this book. It was refreshing to read a book through two different female voices. I liked reading about the motherly rage and all her regrets towards her child, but I didn't like Demter. I think she was selfish and always tried to blame others for her failures. But as a mother myself I did feel a little bit of pity for her.

Hades was portrayed as gentle, patient and caring rather than cruel and heartless. Yes he had his flaws and could have approached Persephone differently but he was kind although he had to deal with his own traumas. My heart hurt for the misunderstood and lonely ruler of the underworld.

Persephone had a lot of growing up to do. After years of abuse from her mother she didn't know how love feels like. She also became more confident through Hades' patients with her. She was very hard on herself because her mother always made her feel like a failure.

As said above, the story portrays different kinds of love through the added POV of Demeter. Love between a mother and her child, between lovers and even for animals. The romance between Hades and Persephone wasn't dark and intense but rather a sweet slow burn.

The first half of the book was a little to slow for my liking, but the pace increased after that. I also had some difficulties to get into some of Demeter's chapters because they draged out sometimes.

I would recommend this to all fans of myth and folklore retellings and also to romantasy fans.

As a fan of mythology tellings, I had high hopes and was mostly satisfied. In order to keep my review spoiler free, I do with the retelling was more true to source materials but that could just be personal preference. Angie Paxton is clearly a talented writer and I will continue to be interested in what she does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

Young Persephone longs for a place where she has purpose beyond hiding in her mother's shadow, away from the villagers who hate her. Confused why she's never deemed <i>enough</i> in her mother's estimations, no matter how she tries to bring joy to their home or offer assistance in the fields (a request that is always denied). Called Kore or "girl' constantly by her mother and some variation of "cursed" by the villagers, Persephone is utterly miserable and alone.

<i>"Kindness followed cruelty but so would cruelty follow kindness. Always."</i>

What follows is a retelling of the <i>Hades & Persephone</i> myth through the lens of child abuse and an accepting that perhaps a new, different place may better suit her. Persephone has skills uniquely hers, were she given a proper chance to use them and the support to try.

Coupled with chapters following Persephone's quest to be taken seriously as an adult with worth of her own, are those that look at Demeter's path. A mother filled with resentment and forced upon mortality, that knows she could do a better job but doesn't. She does her best to avoid throwing the worst of her temper at her daughter, but often fails spectacularly. Cold and callous, she tries, but it isn't enough. Her rage at her circumstances and percieved slights are palpable, just as the ache the builds as she refuses to look for light.

Demeter is an overbearing and oftentimes cruel parent in this novel, a more modern interpretation of the myth that may displease some readers. Please go into this prepared, if such an interpretation is ill-suited to your own interests. However, it is not an <i>antithical</i> reading of the tale and claiming that is irksome as someone pagan. In most translations, Persephone is a bargaining chip thrown between great powers with minimal agency who must find her own niche to thrive. And thrive she does both above and below.

Relationships are hard, and this novel doesn't shy away from that fact. This book is for those with mommy issues, as well as, those who felt the expected obligation of motherhood forced upon them who wish they perhaps had refrained. Demeter may not have wished to have a daughter, but she's fully prepared to doom the world to have her returned. Persephone's wishes and compassion for mortals be damned.

This above all else is a look at cyclical abuse and the lengths one must go to break a cycle. About people choosing to love in the face of pain and trauma. About two lonely people finding hope in the darkness.

I thoroughly enjoyed this nuanced look at the ancient Greek myth of the seasons and reason behind their passing. The gods were capricous and quick to anger in the text, just as they were in the original tales and myths we know them from. Too often, in attempts to cater to modern audiences the grey morality and willingness to be cruel for the sake of power—as people who are fully content and cared for have no reason to partake in worship—is removed from the Greek Pantheon and their actions.

I really wanted to love this book, but it fell flat. I had a really hard time making it as far as I did before I eventually left it unfinished. I dont feel right giving it only one star since I didn't finish, so I will leave it two. Others may love it, but it just wasn't for me. Maybe I will try and revisit it again in the future and if so I will update my review.

I found this retelling unintentionally funny because Persephone and Demeter seem to be living out completely different stories. For Persephone, she's in a fun little 'forced marriage to real marriage slow burn YA romance' situation where she gets to frolic about with horses and have amazing sex with her very sexy, very perfect husband, which is nice for her, BUT her poor mother is Liam Neeson from 'Taken,' immolating humans and literally fighting god himself. The incongruity can be a bit jarring at times, and the exposition-dumping at the end for Hades' lore felt like it dragged on when it could have been a sequel.

I didn't find Persephone particularly compelling, probably because I'm too old now for that, but Demeter's character was more complex and layered. If you had told me she was cantonese I would have believed you because the way she parented was to constantly berate and punish her daughter for making small mistakes, set down strict rules with no explanation, and withhold praise and affection. Demeter does love her daughter more than anything else in the world, but her resentment at being forced into single motherhood and a mortal existence unfortunately poisons her mind, and there is no one to take it out on except the one person too weak to fight back and too inexperienced to leave her. Tale as old as time. Demeter does reflect on her actions resolve to make amends, but Persephone gets kidnapped before she gets the chance to be a good mother.

Even sadder still, after getting a man to latch onto, Persephone decides to hate against all reason the mother whose approval she constantly sought just a few weeks ago. Demeter is reduced to a humbled, grieving figure who toils to earn her daughter's forgiveness. For all the empathy she shows to strangers and animals, Persephone extends none whatsoever to mother who was doing her best. She strikes me as a vindictive brat.

First of thank you Angie Paxton and the rising action publishing for the chance to dive into the world of Seed.

I have a soft spot for hades and Persephone retelling and had high hopes for this one with its unique spin of the multi pigs between mother and daughter.

I think this was a good effort for Angie and props for crafting a novel with myths because it it had to create a retelling with something new. I think Angie did craft something good. And a nice quick read,
But I felt it hard to relate with Persephone on her time on the underworld especially at the start when there was the constant use of the same words making it feel repetitive.

This is still a good retelling and worth the read.

Seeds is a unique retelling of Perephone and Hades but don't expect too much from this one. It lacked depth and just felt flat in many ways.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

If I had a nickel for every time someone complimented Persephones ankles, I’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.

This was an interesting book, not as much of a retelling but more just a telling of the classic HadesxPersephonexDemeter, myth. It was fun but not exactly what I was expecting.

I went into this book thinking it would be a deeper exploration of the complex relationship between Persephone and her mother, and it was, don’t get me wrong, but I wanted MORE. Hades & Persephone retellings have been done so so so many times and I was hoping this would have more emphasis on the other side of the myth that’s not as talked about. More scenes with Demeter and Persephone together would have been nice. Also I wish Persephone had more growth on her own rather than just as a result of her relationship with Hades.

The romance was okay, but I found the pacing a bit odd and abrupt, and at times inappropriate? But I liked Hades, I thought his character had the most depth. I think by the end they were good together.

Not bad, but not what I was expecting.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Like any good book girly I’m well aware of the Hades and Persephone mythology, but to be perfectly frank I never really thought about the meter side of the equation.
For whatever reason, probably too make sure I myself don’t go insane. I always imagined that she was a loving mother who is distraught that her daughter was taken from her against her will, staying in hell against her will and needed saving.
So the way the author chose to portrayed Demeter as a narcissistic and controlling mother, definitely had me living out all kinds of childhood drama that I wasn’t even aware of.

The romance was also something much more loving than we are used to for this mythology as well.
I think a lot of people are expecting this to be a super super romance heavy, super spicy book, the way most of the retellings are. But it’s not. The romance is a small portion of the story, the story focuses on the relationship between mother and daughter and how it affects other relationships, so I think that’s where a lot of people seem to be disappointed, They’re expecting cheeks clapping. But instead, they’re getting maternal abuse.

I hope this becomes a mythology series

Thank you to Rising Action Publishing Co. and NetGalley for the advanced copy of Seeds by Angie Paxton. I really enjoy Greek Mythology and this was a bit lacking. Not a bad idea, or book, but I wasn't feeling the vibe.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co for this ARC.

Seeds is a beautiful retelling of the Persephone myth. As a Persephone devotee, I am very specific in how I like her story told and this one was absolutely amazing. I even cried at the end, which is not something I usually do. Seeds takes a deep dive into the complexities of family and the sacrifices involved in maintaining bonds. You will enjoy Seeds if you enjoy Greek mythology, powerful women, and justice.

I’m always on the fence when it comes to retellings of the Hades/Persephone myth where Demeter is depicted as a poor mother or outright cruel. That said, I did have to stop myself from reading this all in one sitting. The dynamics between Persephone and Demeter and Persephone and Hades were sort of off to me; I was much more interested in Persephone’s personal growth than her relationships. To that end, I think this book is done well. You can see Persephone come into her own, even if it does feel a tad rushed at the end. The actual history of Persephone’s cult following is interesting to me, so it was nice to see it depicted here in some capacity. You can tell care went into acknowledging source materials for the myths. I liked the suggestions of how Cthonic gods interact with the Olympians through gods like Hermes and Hekate. It might not be the most dazzling or in-your-face retelling when compared to other retellings out there and I’m okay with that. It’s a retelling and sometimes the source material is such that it doesn’t need to be sensationalized to work. It’s a solid adaptation of the myth and has easy-to-read prose.

I received an ARC through NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Seeds is retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone. It is told in dual pov alternating between chapters from Persephone's pov and Demeter's pov, with a focus on Persephone.

It was my first retelling of this myth but unfortunately it didn't blow me away. I found the writing pretty bland and it didn't really capture my attention. It was just fine. I thought Demeter was depicted as selfish with no real redeeming qualities where Persephone was just perfect. Hades was your typical dark love interest who is a bit rapey at first but then you come to understand him and really he couldn't hurt the female love interest at all he is too nice and loves animals also. I thought Hades and Persephone forgave each other real fast for what was at stake. I am also tired of the ingenue female protagonist who doesn't know the first thing about sex. And please I understand metaphors but use real terms for body parts I beg.

I don't have much to say about this novel, it's an okay spicy-ish retelling but I don't think it add much to the genre. Maybe due to the fact that it is a debut that went through much revisions.

All in all it could interest people who love Hades and Persephone, or are fond of Greek retellings but I also think you can find better work elsewhere.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Find my reviews on Goodreads, The StoryGraph, and Fable

Seeds is a retelling of Hades and Persephone story. Told from 2 POVs, Persephone and Demeter, this retelling focuses on the mother-daughter relationship between them.

Persephone was hurt by her childhood as a castaway in the village and the cruel treatment she received from her mother. The feeling of abandonment, unwanted, and stupidity weighed heavily on her, making it impossible for her to do anything. Meanwhile, Demeter, who was also an Olympian Goddess, was forced to live as a mortal on her exile. She also had her own hurt, which caused her to hurt Persephone in her anger. When Hades kidnapped Persephone to become his Queen, everything changed.

I don't exactly know the original story, just a few snippets here and there. But, I know that Hades is often depicted as a cold, heartless ruler of the Underworld. But not in this case. Hades was frightening, but only at the beginning. But as the story goes, he is actually a gentle character, even showing his fragile side at some point.

What bothered me was the incredibly slow pace. The world-building and backstory take too much time, making this book seem like it would be better as a series. But it's stand-alone and the essence of the plot is actually just that simple. Furthermore, given the slow pace, I am expecting more chemistry between Hades and Persephone. It didn't meet my expectations.

In general, it's an okay read. Considering that I haven't read the original story, but I know from what I heard that Hades and Persephone's story often has dark romance vibes, and this retelling is not dark. If you're interested in a gentler Hades and more stories about Demeter and Persephone's mother-daughter relationship, and don't mind the slow burn, this one might be for you!

This is one of the best re-tellings of this myth I have read!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book, it's one of the best!
I loved the progression of the characters, the overall twists on the well-known myth, and the impactful scenes that made it all so much more immersive.
This one definitely makes my Top 3 Hades and Persephone re-tellings.
100% recommend!

I enjoyed my time with this version of the Hades and Persephone myth. Wasn't all that interested in Demeter's chapters, but she is nonetheless a dynamic character. I thought Hades and Persephone had a nice, angsty chemistry and despite how upsetting some of Hades's actions were at first, I do like that he was honest, reflective, and apologetic about them. Didn't really care for the info-dumping by Hekate at the top of the third act—seemed random and a little clumsy. Overall, this is a decent (though not a fresh) take on my favorite Greek mythological couple.

As someone who adores Greek myth retellings, I really wanted to love Seeds. But, unfortunately, because these stories have been told time and time again, there needs to be something special about the new telling to set it apart. And while Seeds had a few unique aspects to it, I found that Angie Paxton's prose, pacing, and overall depth was lacking.

That's not to say there weren't aspects I didn't enjoy—I thought the dual narrative was interesting and added to the overall story and I did want to see how everything would play out. But, rather than racing through, I felt like I had to keep pushing myself to finish the novel. I also felt like the timing in the romance between Hades and Persephone felt a little off; it wasn't quite zero to sixty, but it did feel slightly abrupt in some aspects.

I do think Seeds will have a hard time standing out from the other retellings. In full transparency, I read a retelling of the same myth earlier this year and while that has sat with me for months on end, I already am forgetting details about this novel after only a few weeks.

True rating is a 2.5 stars.