What if Hades didn’t kidnap Persephone? What if she ran away? And what if she wasn’t the meek goddess of flowers we all thought?

I have zero criticism for this book.
This is a faithful yet totally fresh retelling of the Persephone and Hades myth. Not only does it has all my favorite tropes, enemies to lovers, fake dating, and slow burn, but it doesn’t add a single of the things I find so often in romance novels and dislike.

I love what Bea did with these characters in making them less stereotypical and so much more interesting and relatable.

This is one of my absolute favourite YA romantasy books. I have read it twice now and both times it was such a bingeable 5 star read.

Girl, Goddess, Queen follows Persephone who jumped to hell when she heard her parents discussing marrying her off which she does not want and knows she cannot be followed to the Underworld. Now she needs to convince Hades to join in with her plan that is likely to shake Mount Olympus to it's core with potentially deadly consequences.

As I said I love this one so much for so many reasons. This feels like a story written for modern teenagers while also clearly still sticking true to the original myth and many other myths. I love how modern it feels and because of that it is such a fun bingeable romance story that you genuinely do not want to put down, with twists that surprise you even if you already know the myth.

The characters are really well written and with it being a story for teens many of the things that concern people about the original myths like incest are made clear to not be a worry here which I also liked. Hades is the perfect book boyfriend, he is so soft and I just want to give him the biggest hug! I also loved Styx so much and would have been happy with so much more on page time with her. Persephone was so strong and a fantastic main character to follow.

I laughed out loud at many points while reading this book, with some scenes just being amusing and other times the characters making some great jokes. I also really rooted for the romance between Hades and Persephone throughout, and it was really nice to see them open up to each other and then both offer support to the other throughout the story.

I highly highly recommend this book and cannot wait to see what Bea releases next. If you like greek mythology, YA romcoms or fantastic diverse characters I would definitely say that this book could easily be for you.

A nice reimagine of the Hades and Persephone story. I have seen Bea Fitzgerald around on social media for years, and her promoting her book, so it was nice to actually read one such book that I liked. Greek mythology and retelling of its mythos is something I enjoy very much and this book ticked off a lot of boxes for me. It was well throughout and enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this early!

Epic the Musical totally reignited my love for Greek mythology, so I was really excited to dive into this Hades and Persephone retelling. Unfortunately, the story didn’t fully land for me. Some of the character choices felt a bit unnecessary, and a few plot points didn’t quite make sense within the world that was built.

That said, I really enjoyed Hades’ personality, he was a highlight for me, and the Underworld setting was super cool. I loved seeing how traditions were flipped and how the gods responded to those changes. The ending wrapped things up nicely, too.

Overall, this was an okay read for me. 3 stars!

Girl, Goddess, Queen is pure magic. Bea Fitzgerald has taken a well-known myth and breathed new, powerful life into it, giving us a Persephone who is strong, vulnerable, and utterly unforgettable. The writing is lyrical and fierce, blending romance, empowerment, and breathtaking world-building into something truly special. Every page felt rich with emotion and meaning, and the love story was beautifully crafted — tender, aching, and full of fire. This Deluxe Edition makes the experience even more stunning. If you love myth retellings with heart, strength, and soul, this is an absolute must-read.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the advance reader copy

Why was this as long as it was?! I started skimming because it started to feel repetitive, and a frankly a little boring.

Girl, Goddess, Queen is a Hades and Persephone retelling filled with deceit, politics and plenty of wine. Everyone thinks Kore was kidnapped, but little do they know she actually escaped, and right under their noses. And what can the Goddess of Flowers even really do but grow flowers anyways.

While I enjoyed that Hades was a little cutie patootie, he was cold, then all of a sudden changed and became boring and didn’t seem genuine anymore. And like we got it, he was a little artist But it would have been nice if he had mingled more with the Underworld, or even more of the people in his court. I just felt like we really didn’t get to see who Hades was. And he smelled like coconut?

Kore/ Persephone was a little drab, and I found my self rolling my eyes a couple times. I was quickly over the poor me persona. I get that her mother was controlling and all of that but give me a break. And then showing up in the underworld and instantly changing it like that? I dunno, it would have been nice to see more of a struggle maybe with her powers or something.

Honestly my favourite character in the whole book was Styx, and I was just waiting for more scenes from her. I did enjoy the work building, and felt like the writing was quite descriptive and I was able to imagine all of it quite clearly. If there is a second book, I do not feel the need to continue the series.

I LOVE THIS BOOK I am a mythology retelling appreciator and this one hit all the marks! I especially love a Hades and Persephone retelling, and I just loved how 'in the beginning' it felt with them making the Underworld together - SO STINKING PRECIOUS - and our Hades being such a softie with all of his hidden little introverted hobbies ugh I love what Bea did with this version of Hades! And of course, the transformation from 'Kore' to 'Persephone' was amazing, 10/10, top tier, I love this little chaos bringer! Also, Styx as a side character?? Didn't know I needed that; grateful to have experienced that. I can't wait to read more from Bea!!!

As a lover of Hades x Persephone stories and twists on the original myths, I was super excited to read this book, and it didn't let me down!

I loved Persephone and her determination to become her own person and not the meek bride that Zeus and her mother want her to become. There was an aspect of feminine rage against her circumstances to Persephone that I felt was so relatable and instantly helped me relate to her. She wasn't a perfect character by any means, but that only made her better. Seeing her truly come into her own self over the span of the book was amazing to see. Hades was also an amazing character and I loved this version of him. He felt softer than he's normally perceived, someone who, like Persephone, wants to change his circumstances.

The relationship between the two of them was super sweet as it developed from (sort of) enemies to lovers. As their relationship grew closer, they were able to help each other achieve what each of them wanted. Persephone gained power that the other gods and goddesses never would have allowed her to have and Hades was able to be accepted for the god he is, not the god everyone expects him to be.

The only reason I didn't give GGQ 5 stars was because the relationship did feel a bit drawn out, as it quickly became clear that Persephone and Hades began to love each other early on but it took awhile for each of them to admit it. Sometimes that's good, as it leaves room for other forms of growth, but it didn't feel quite right in this book.

All in all though, this was an amazing Hades x Persephone retelling that felt really unique despite the many different takes on the original myth that exist, and I would absolutely recommend GGQ!

Do you ever pick up a book and just hate yourself because you immediately are just absolutely in love with it and know you could have read it sooner? That's this book! I have had this story on my radar for so long but nothing could have prepared me for just how good it was and how much I enjoyed my time reading it.

Fitzgerald does an incredible job weaving together a romance that blooms organically between Persephone and Hades whilst also being a story about the way that the patriarchy it incredibly harmful for everyone. I really loved the way that Hades was very imperfect and Persephone stood her ground and wouldn't take the bare minimum from him. It was also incredibly beautiful to see the way that Persephone blossoms throughout the book as she is given the freedom to be herself without the shackles that had been previously placed upon her leading to a powerful conclusion where she truly knows her worth and won't let anyone make her feel small ever again.

I am so excited to dive into Fitzgerald's other works now.

This was so enjoyable and a good retteling.
Loved he characters and the world.
The story was captivating.
Higly recommend.

This is such a beautiful and fresh retelling. I loved the main characters in this and the journey that they went on. This is a YA and the writing doesn't feel juvenile, its so enjoyable. I will definitly read the authors next book!

I feel like to be fair, I need to grade this on a curve. I'm pretty open about my general dislike of Persephone and Hades retellings—not because the concept is bad, but because it's so overdone.

GGQ is of course another entry in the subgenre, this one both a more modern but also somewhat classical take. The setting and world was still of the past, but the language and prose was very modern (and very British, which was funny because it had me evaluating how I sometimes overlook how modern-sounding some North American-authored works sound).

It's also a very feminist take on the story, centring heavily on Persephone and her agency, as well as the roles inhabited by other goddesses. In the same token, Hades is given more "traditionally feminine" interests, which he is concerned will make others view him as less, though it is made abundantly clear that Persephone actually loves this about him and finds it attractive. Overall, I like this message, though it felt incredibly heavy-handed at times, but to be fair, it is YA so some heavy-handedness is expected. Also because this was Bea's debut.

My one actual gripe is that the miscommunication trope is milked for a long time. This bothered me, but also, it does fit into Persephone's character for her to be this dense. That being said, Hades should be smarter than that.

If you like Persephone and Hades retellings and have no problem with modern language in your semi-historical fantasies, I say go ahead. It was fun.
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One of my favorite reads of 2023, when it came out in the UK! The slow-burn, the banter, the main character's drive, are all a match made in heaven (hell?).

This book is going to take the US by storm.

If you ever thought Persephone deserved more than being abducted by her uncle, tricked into binding herself to the desolate Underwold, and then developing Stockholm Syndrome and falling in love with her abductor, this is the book for you. This Persephone demands the world - and sets out to get more than her suffocating, manipulative mother and her asshole of a father think she deserves. This Persephone breaks her chains and finds herself and who she was always meant to be.

"I was good. I was obedient. I was fucking perfect.
So when I finally snapped, I snapped hard.
When I finally said no, I screamed it from the mountaintops.
Or from the Underwold, as the case may be."

If, however, you need your Hades to be a creepy, brooding, toxic ass - look elsewhere. This Hades was forced to fight in a war he didn't want part of and still suffers from it. This Hades hates his role as the dread ruler of the Underworld, because (like Persephone) he wants more.

This is a story of two seriously flawed individuals who have their baggage and scars coming together (although the romance is not the main focus, their development is) and finding themselves in the process. It's about dealing with trauma and toxic relationships, expectations set by parents and a patriarchal society. Don't let the pretty pink cover fool you, this book is sometimes not easy to read.

But if you want your goddesses to rebel and find someone who will be right there at their side, unconditional and ready to help them burn down the world, this is very much the book for you.