3 stars – A slow start with intriguing mythology

A Goddess Unraveled follows Lexi, a recent college grad who returns home to discover her privileged life is deeply entwined with Greek gods. The mythology is creative, and I appreciated the unique take on Hades and Persephone, though Lexi isn’t Persephone herself.

While the premise had promise, the pacing dragged—nearly half the book focuses on a graduation party, and the plot doesn’t really pick up until later. The romance felt rushed, the spice was minimal, and some character motivations were unclear. Lexi also came across as immature for a New Adult heroine.

There’s solid world-building, and the book ends in a way that works as a standalone, even with loose threads. I won’t continue the series, but fans of modern mythology-inspired romantasy may still enjoy it.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title, but unfortunately it didn’t quite capture my interest. While the premise was promising, I found it difficult to stay engaged. That said, I’m sure it will find its audience with readers who connect more strongly with the writing style or pacing.

I had to dive head first into this Hades and Persephone retelling for one I love this myth. This was so good and enjoyed the modernization of the Gods in this story. This is my first time reading from this author but won’t be my last.

I don’t even know where to start. Maybe with the fantastic world-building, the sizzling relationship, or perhaps the badass female main character? Seriously, everything about this book was amazing.
A fantastic Hades and Persephone retelling.
The storytelling is rich, the characters are interesting and Rider weaving an intricate web of fate and power.
This book offers great writing, excellent world building, and a story that just captured me

This was an interesting read. I love a Greek inspired book and this one had a lot of points that were similar to books that I’ve read previously, but also completely different! Is interesting to see how the characters grow throughout!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Funny thing about eternity, though— after a while the rough edges got smoother…”

“A Goddess Unraveled,” by Morgan Rider

A book for readers who love Persephone X Hades book for sure. It definitely felt different than other Persephone X Hades books and was engaging to figure out what was going to happen because it was taking turns I didn’t expect. The ending was the thing I didn’t like the most. The vagueness was really weird, I can’t tell you with confidence what actually happened at the end or more like after the book ended, I don’t know, it was confusing. 3 out of 5 stars.

-Forbidden Romance
-Gods
-Persephone X Hades Retelling

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

I am a sucker for Hades and Persephone retellings. It’s one of my favorite myths, and I love seeing how authors play with the story. This one did not disappoint! I loved the dynamic between Hades and Persephone, they had such a great vibe together. I also thought the world was really unique. I don’t want to spoil it, but I really liked the way that the gods were incorporated into the modern world. I thought it was an interesting way to explain their presence that I haven’t seen in other Greek myth retellings. I also really like the character of Persephone, she knows who she is and what she wants, and isn’t willing to give in to what is expected of her. I liked how self-assured she was. She wasn’t the naïve girl that Persephone is often portrayed as. I absolutely DEVOURED this book, I think I finished it in two days. I will be anxiously awaiting the next book to see where the story picks up. A must read for fans of slow-burn, Greek myth retellings, and those who like a little family drama.

Lexi just graduated from University and her family decided to throw her a party. Little did Lexi know her family invited a bunch of boys to help her find a match she really didn't want. Then Luke Carrington shows up and he is the man she was very surprised by. He is the only one who lets her talk and actually listens to what she is saying. Her parents, brother, and godfather have warned her to stay away from Luke but she is putting an end to everyone making decisions for her and does what she actually wants. Lexi has very few moments of freedom in her life and wants more. She decides she is going to fight for her freedom. Then her whole world gets turned upside down during the celebration. She doesn't know who she can trust anymore and learns that it is Luke and decides to take things farther with him.

Going into this it knew it was a Hades and Persephone retelling with a twist. If you go in expecting a normal retelling you will not like it. You have to go in with an open mind. I enjoyed it knowing this. I loved the world building and the mythology involved. I really like Hades and Lexi together and how he always gave her a choice when no one else has before. I liked seeing who each character ended up being and how it was all connected to her. I can't wait to read the next book!!

Thank you so much Morgan Rider and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to be apart of the ARC Team!❤️

Rating: 3.5/5
I’m always up for a Hades and Persephone retelling, and A Goddess Unraveled caught my attention. It’s

Lexi is a demigoddess, and for a fair amount of her life, she has been living without the knowledge that she is one or that Uncle Z, her godfather, happens to be Z for Zeus.

A lot is revealed to her during her college graduation party, and there she meets all the other Gods and Goddesses, including Luke (Hades), whom Uncle Z does not want her anywhere near.

A Goddess Unraveled is filled with story-building, detailed imagery, and slow-burning tension. Rather than just sprinkled here and there, much Greek mythology lore is woven into the story. The spice level is lower than I typically read, but some steamy scenes exist. With the amount of lead-up in the story, I thought it would steer in a different direction, but it appears this is primarily a love story between Hades and Lexi.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

I’m a true sucker for Hades and Persephone which is what guided me to this title. As much as I wanted to like it, it just didn’t hit the mark for me. Our main FMC is whiny as fuck and acts like a child. The setting went from being a huge mansion to the underworld for like the last 2 chapters? Hades hints that he still has a relationship with Persephone but also wants to have a relationship with the FMC which is fine, but the dynamic needs a better explanation instead of being so cryptic. Also if this is a hades and Persephone reimagining , wouldn’t it make more sense for our FMC to be Persephone as opposed to hinting at that character here and there? Overall not my favorite title. I more than likely won’t bother with the rest of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the e-arc!!
DNF @ 53%, I just could not get into this book. I didn’t particularly enjoy that there wasn’t a change of scenery, which for me made things drag and made for the book to feel longer than needed. I also had a hard time connecting to any of the characters. I caught myself starting to skim rather than read, and it felt more appropriate to DNF.

Because I DNF’d I have not posted this review anywhere. I marked it as read on my Goodreads with a DNF update but it feels unfair to rate it on a star scale!

I'm always down for a Hades and Persephone retelling and when I saw the opportunity to grab this early, I didn't hesitate. There's a slight twist to this story, making it a little more modern-day and potentially relatable to readers.

Lexi was so interesting to me and really stood out, sheltered and protected her entire life you can feel how eager she is to explore life and push the boundaries that have been around her entire life. That eagerness takes her right into a brand new world were she had to relearn everything there is to know about herself. And just how far she's willing to take that journey. I think as the plot progresses further into the series, her character growth is going to be something incredible to witness.

I did really enjoy this book, but there's always room for improvement in any storyline. The flow of the story definitely picked up towards the end of the book and really drew me in and kept the pages turning. While there were at times a lot of people moving into and out of the story, I really appreciated all of them. Different relationships were formed, different emotions were explored, and it really set up for what's to come in the next book.

Thank you, Morgan Rider, NetGalley, & Wattpad Books, for the opportunity to read the e-ARC of A Goddess Unraveled.

Unfortunately, I DNF this book. I'm not sure if it is the writing style or the lack of plot. I enjoyed the characters, but I felt like the story was not moving along.

Alright. I have to admit that I had no idea what the plot of this book was. The way that the POVs were split up was incredibly confusing. There were urban fantasy elements but it felt like the weirdest mix of fantasy and contemporary that I’ve read recently. I feel like I sped through this just to finish it because it was that painful.

I’m a sucker for anything rooted in Greek mythology—especially if Hades is involved. (Seriously, if you slap a god of the underworld in your story, I’m already halfway to hitting the “add to cart” button.) The premise of A Goddess Unraveled is fantastic and immediately pulled me in. There’s so much potential here.

Lexi Maxwell, our sheltered heiress, discovers her life has been one long lie. Enter Luke Carrington, the mysterious stranger who’s more than he seems (hint: he’s Hades in a tailored suit). Their chemistry crackles, and the forbidden romance angle is deliciously tempting.

However, the story could definitely use a little tightening up. Some scenes felt like they meandered, and the pacing sometimes got bogged down when it should have been building momentum. A solid editing pass could have really sharpened the emotional beats and streamlined the flow. It’s one of those books where you can see the brilliance peeking through—you just wish it had gotten a little more polish to really let it shine.

One aspect that left me scratching my head was the vague handling of Hades' past with Persephone. It's clear they have history (and a present?), but the story tiptoes around it without providing clarity. Given the sizzling chemistry between Lexi and Hades, a more transparent exploration of his past relationships would have added depth and alleviated any lingering doubts about his intentions.

Still, if you’re like me and have a soft spot for myth retellings and morally complicated gods, you’ll probably find something to enjoy here.

I liked the premise of this book and typically enjoy Persephone and Hades stories, so I thought I’d enjoy this. That being said, I think this story has some pacing issues, specially the amount of time dedicated to a weekend long party. So much of the story centers on these festivities, so the rest of the story feels a bit rushed. I think there’s a lot of room to further develop this world and story. Lexi’s parents felt contrived in the service of the plot, and the characterization of side characters also felt a little off.

The main characters are compelling enough for me to finish the story though, but then there are moments where they’re frustrating. I’m not sure if I missed the connection between Lexi and Persephone altogether, but this is mostly a Lexi story with Hades as the MMC and Persephone is an afterthought at the end and presented as an absent wife/lover.
ARC Review @netgalley

As a history major, I was really excited for a story that delved into Greek mythology. I enjoyed many aspects of the story and appreciated the creativity behind it, but I struggled to connect with the female main character. I found it difficult to relate to her in several ways, though I recognize that this could be due to her age and her privileged, sheltered lifestyle.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group had for sending an ARC of this.

I actually remember when this was just on Wattpad, but it had been some years since I’ve read it so it felt like I was reading it for the first time again. I’m always down for a Greek mythology inspired Romantasy or romance, whatever it is I’m going to read it. I found myself feeling like the beginning of the book was a bit slow for me, it took a little bit to get into but once the story did pick up, I was engaged and I was looking forward to reading more. This is like Hades and Persephone inspired, but our main character isn’t Persephone. Persephone is a character outside of our main character who is Lexi. Lexi does not know who Hades is when she originally meets him. She meets him as Luke and he’s just a normal person. It’s later revealed that she is a demi goddess and Luke is actually Hades and a lot of her other family members are well known Greek mythological gods. Some drama happens with her Uncle Z a.k.a. Zeus and she runs to Hades because she feels like Hades is the only one who hasn’t completely been lying to her. Through the book, you see their relationship develop but there’s still a lingering question of what is happening with Persephone and how is that relationship going to work? I’m definitely looking forward to the next book because I have some unanswered questions that I would like to be answered.

The male gaze was too strong on this one. I am also not a fan of Greek mythology retold in contemporary settings.

Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the ARC.

Hades/Persephone retelling books are always an instant want to read for me. I was intrigued by the modern day twist but sadly it just fell flat. The writing was very juvenile for an adult book; it just overall reads like no one did more than a first quick edit. The story idea is great, if the author did a rewrite of it I would give it another try but as is I can’t really recommend.