I struggled to connect with this story. It was a Hades & Persephone retelling but the pacing was a little slow for me. I unfortunately didn't finish this book.

Nothing really happened until the last 50 pages?

Look li love a good hades and persephone retelling. I'll eat it up. But this one was a bit of a miss for me.

Persephone was whiny and annoying. I get that she's this sheltered goddess, but babe you've been living in the mortal realm for 2 years. You can't be getting mad at hades for half the stuff you did. And don't even get me started on her and Jackson's relationship.

Ok I'm going to. It was literally the most pointless relationship. It was simply there as an excuse for her not to be with hades. And a flimsy excuse at that. There was literally no value to it what so ever. They were together 6 months. Hadn't labelled it, yes this guy was proposing !? And persephone knew something was off, knew she didn't actually care for the dude yet kept stringing him along.... for why!? I couldn't tell you because her reasoning was thin.

And while we're talking about barriers to their relationship. What was up with hades assistant? She was a jelous catty thing yet it amounted to nothing? Like she suddenly vanished?

And then hades. His only redeeming quality was how obbsessed he was and that he had shadows. He was also needy, which my man. Is not a good look. I did however like his and persephone banter. That was at least a plus.

The whole curse thing annoyed the hell out of me. There was so much build up to this curse he couldnt say, that he didn't want to fulfil (but also did). And when it finally came to the moment where he said 'screw it' we were still none the wiser as to why he couldn't bloody say. It was still unfulfilled!

I mean look, my curiosity has gotten the better of me because I still want to know why to a lot of things. So yes I probably will read the next book. But I want it on the record that im doing so out of damn stubbornness because I did not read that whole damn book to not know why.

A darkly romantic fantasy with just the right mix of mystery and magic. The worldbuilding pulled me in, and the slow-burn tension between the leads kept me hooked. Started off slow but it picks up as you go. If you like fae bargains and forbidden romance, this one’s a treat!

I really enjoyed this one. It was hard to put down. It kept me wanting more. The characters are amazing! And I love the title and the story line. Such an amazing book!

Spoilers ahead!

The Maiden and the Unseen is a deliriously dark romantasy that leans into gothic atmosphere, fae lore, and morally gray characters with just the right amount of spice.

The story follows Seraphina, a maiden sent into the cursed Unseen Vale as part of a centuries-old tithe meant to appease the terrifying fae lord who rules there—Kael, the Unseen himself. What starts as a Beauty-and-the-Beast-style premise quickly evolves into something deeper and more twisted. Kael isn’t the monster he appears to be, and Sera isn’t just a passive sacrifice. Their dynamic is tense, layered, and emotionally charged, with a strong undercurrent of danger and desire.

The slow-burn romance is one of the highlights—Kael’s restrained but intense attraction to Sera is matched by her stubborn resistance and curiosity. There’s forced proximity, only-one-bed energy, and some spicy scenes that feel well-earned as trust builds between them. Their relationship also navigates power imbalance carefully, never romanticizing Kael’s role in the curse but instead using it as a point of growth and reckoning.

The plot holds a steady pace, with solid twists—like the reveal that the fae curse is tied to betrayal and heartbreak, and only Sera may hold the key to breaking it. There’s a good balance between romance, worldbuilding, and suspense, though a few side characters and bits of fae lore could’ve used more development.

Overall, it’s a compelling mix of gothic fairytale and dark fantasy romance. If you liked A Deal with the Elf King or Kingdom of the Wicked, this will hit the mark—otherworldly, seductive, and just dangerous enough to keep you hooked.

The Maiden & The Unseen is the first book in the Love and Fate series and cannot be read as a standalone.

Both authors are new to me, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was not disappointed.

I love Greek mythology retellings, and I was excited to see that this was a Hades & Persephone retelling set in modern times.

It was dark, spicy, full of twists and suspense, and a fun read.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Persephone, but I’m sure it’s part of her character arc.

The cliffhanger though? I’m ready for the next book.

I love a good hades and Persephone retelling and this was just so good! The drama, the fated mates, the romance, why didn’t I read this sooner! I love the Greek gods in a modern setting, it makes it so entertaining. The smut was delicious and the push and pull between Hades and Persephone had me hooked.

You should read this book if: you liked ACOTAR but wished it was shorter and had more frequent mature scenes.

This book is a retelling of Hades and Persephone. Their love story has been retold many times and a fair number of readers go into this novel having read a lot already of those retelling an already. Some readers may want something different, but that is no fault of the author’s.

Overall, I knew what to expect going into this book and was happy with what it delivered. I cannot personally speak to the accuracy of the referenced mythology, but the book prioritizes nailing the romance genre first before focusing on accuracy, and I think that is fair.

3.5/5 stars. Another wonderful Hades and Persephone retelling. I really enjoyed getting to know them through this lens. I'm a fan of a good miscommunication trope if done properly. I will say the miscommunication trope in this story was rather drawn out, but I'm hopeful that sequels will handle this better. I did love what a simp Hades was for his queen Persephone. Excited to see what comes next.

this book was fun and kept me reading cause i was entertained enough but unfortunately was lacking for me in many areas. the mythology was so off and now just because of the contemporary aspects of the book. hades & persephone felt too immature, things happened too quickly with magic & plot, and the writing felt like it was flip flopping in style. i loved the mentions of hades signed epic fantasies. the man has taste, but of course. i would have liked a bit more plot & spice balance but that’s just me.

thank you netgalley for the arc!

I think I am done with Hades and Perssephone's retellimgs/stories. There are just too many of them out there and most of them are not that good. It's getting repetitive. This one was no other. Too spicy and barely any plot (I like a good balance of plot and spice in books and when I miss it, this is a fail for me).

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE retellings but they need to be GOOD. I wanted to love it but oh well....

Hades and Persephone retellings are probably my favorite to be retold. This one was good. There was something about this series that fell a little flat to me.. I can’t quite put my finger on what makes this series a 4 star for me and not a 5 star. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. Overall I’m glad I read it! (This was probably my least favorite of the trio but still good!)

This was my first ever Hades x Persephone retelling, and it was a good one! Set in the modern world, we get to see that twist on the relationship between Hades and Persephone. Secrets are kept, two are fated, two are meant for the throne.

This was heavy on the spice and lighter on the plot but honestly, I don't care. It was fun and engaging. It reeled me in enough to where I'm looking forward to continuing the series vs. how I normally feel when reading a duet/trilogy that features the same main couple throughout. Persephone is highly hypocritical and Hades a touch too insecure, but I think that's what makes it more exciting, wanting to get to the next book to see how this develops over time.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC!

DNF at 23%

Honestly this is a soft DNF. I might come back to it in a couple months or even a year but at this point the story wasn’t really doing it for me. Could also be that I’ve read other Persephone x Hades books that I felt didn’t read so contrite.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to finish this book before it expired due to timing and life circumstances. I plan to pick it up on Kindle in the future and will leave a full review then. Thank you for the opportunity!

I really wanted to like this one because I love a good Hades and Persephone story but this was not a good one. It was just plain frustrating. The lack of communication on Hades part was the most frustrating bit but all the longing also did the story no favors.

This is a dark and intriguing Hades & Persephone retelling with a fresh twist. The world-building is immersive, and the chemistry between the main characters is intense. While the romance is captivating, some parts of the plot feel rushed or underdeveloped. The writing is engaging, but it occasionally leans too heavily on familiar tropes. A solid 3.5 stars entertaining, atmospheric, and a good read for mythology lovers.

I own this and intend to read it in the future I'm just clearing this off my board to reduce stress. I will update when I read/review.

such a good read 10 our 10 must read great characters and plot, really enjoyed the flow of this book. really should read this book!!!!!!