In this lush reimagining of Greek mythology, the daughter of Hades and Persephone defies the gods of the underworld to forge her own life amid war, curses, and unexpected romance.

For Asphodel, the free-spirited daughter of Hades and Persephone, being cursed to never fall in love with a god is a blessing.

Determined not to be trapped in a union like her mother, Del spends her life blissfully on the Isle of Flowers, far from her family in the underworld. But when Del’s parents ordain her marriage to Thanatos, the god of death, the freedom she’s long since guarded is at risk of being stolen for eternity. So Del takes fate into her own hands: She kidnaps her groom-to-be and traps him on her Isle.

But defying the gods comes with a price. Without Thanatos to send mortals off to peaceful rest in the underworld, death will devolve into brutality and violence. The realms will be consumed by chaos. With time running out and her freedom on the line, Del must restore the balance she upended—even as she finds herself irrevocably drawn to the ever-charming and bashful Thanatos, who offers another way of saving the worlds by breaking her curse. Only then can Del choose to marry him.

© 2026 by Callie Rowland, all rights reserved.

Callie Rowland lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where she spends most of her time reading and writing. When she’s feeling brave, she even hangs out with other people. She is the proud mother of a spider plant named Lucifer, a pothos named Lilith, and a cat named Lewis (who she is convinced is the guardian of realms). You can find her across social media @calliemrowland or on her website, www.callierowland.com.