I really loved the premise and ideas behind The Maiden and the Unseen. I really liked the idea of the setting and even the take on Hades and Persephone. This Hades and Persephone retelling has the same issues as all the others - insta love. I can't do it, it's never believable. I always want to KNOW more how they came to be but it never works that way. It felt like some of their history was missing.

The retelling of Hades and Persephone in modern times sees the story being told of them joining to rule the underworld.
It’s super spiced but still a great storyline that left me wanting more.
With interesting side characters that I would love to learn more about its full of modern day insecurities when in a new relationship with both POV shown it’s not just one sided.
The perfect amount of spice with a backstory worthy of its own book.
I was definitely left wanting more and will read the next book.
Thank you to Jeanette Rose, Alexis Rune and Net Galley for letting me review an advance copy of this book

I see a Hades and Persephone retelling and I immediately click. Sadly, like most other retellings, this one starts off great and then falls flat. I think the author got caught up in the spicy scenes and everything became repetitive. If you’re looking for spice and little to no plot, then this is perfect for you.

This is a hades/Persephone retelling! While I liked it, I feel that new plot and world building is needed. It has a lot of smut and while I like that! I would love to know more about the characters! Hopefully the next book will get int more plot!

I received this book as an arc from NetGalley and was really excited to finally read it. All I knew was that it was supposed to be a retelling of Hades and Persephone. As a great enthusiast of the greek mythology, I had great expectations, but unfortunately they were not quite fulfilled.

It is a modern retelling with a very clear focus on romance and spice... a lot of spice. I liked the characters and it was entertaining to read. Unfortunately, the plot and the depth of the story were not quite what I had hoped for and in my eyes there is still a lot that could be improved. I had the feeling that the story was mainly about the spice and something was clearly missing.

It is not an earth shattering book tbh but it kept me entertained for a few hours. I would recommend this book if you like spicy romance books, if you are reading this because of the mythology of Hades and Persephone you might be disappointed.

I am all for the retelling of the story of Hades and Persephone, however, this one wasn’t for me. It had a really great beginning but then it started to feel repetitive and there did not seem to be much of an underlying story. There is definitely an audience for this story and perhaps, the story and the characters will be fleshed out better in the second book.

First time reading from these authors and boy did this book deliver... if you love a bit of spice and plot then this is the book for you! I'm definitely going to go and have a browse on amazon for more like this!

If you are looking for something hot and steamy then this is definitely the book for you. Interesting plot and plenty of erotic content. I enjoyed this read.

3/5 stars
I was very interested in how the author would tell this story. I do believe it should be more plot-driven, but the book was still enjoyable nonetheless. I look forward to reading the sequel :)

This book is all spice and everything nice. And, if you’re looking for that, then you found it!

It is definitely not a typical romance book, there’s no build-up and I struggled with the fact that I just didn’t see a lot of chemistry between the characters at the beginning. I also felt that the story was lacking some actual plot.

But, it is a fun and enjoyable read, if you’re not looking for something too complex!

Got a little bit too sexy, too fast. Till the first C*** and f**** words it was rather a pleasant read, a little bit overdone with the choice of words, wouldn't have expected that.

This was purely 🤌. I have no words. This retelling of Hades and Persephone was utterly devouring. Absolutely loved it couldn't put it down. This was 90% sex and 10% story. Everyone should read if they love smut!

431 pages, ebook
Published
September 27, 2022 by Rose and Star Publishing


Thank you to #netgalley and #roseandstarpublishing for the #arc for #themaidenandtheunseen by #jeanetterose and #alexisrune. This is a retelling of the greek mythology of Persephone and Hades. I was excited to read this arc because I like mythology and it kind of sounded like #electricidol by #kateerobert. Over all it was a good book. I like that it took place in current times. It's heavy on the smut so it delivered what I asked for.

Intense, snarky, passionate, and addictive retelling of Hades and Persephone, in modern time. The gods are entertaining, and the story is definitely refreshed and the best version yet. A definite must read.

I felt like the premise was a good start. I really liked Persephone being this sheltered person who is actually trying to be a normal mortal. I liked Hades being this cinnamon who starts out being a tough guy.
But I wasn’t a fan of the constant sex or the instant love. I would have loved more scenes where hades and Persephone get to know each other. Some of the best scenes are them making breakfast together or just witty banter. It felt very repetitive by the end.
I also wasn’t a fan of the conflict. Like I appreciate Hades said no to her because she was in a relationship. But then the guy randomly turns out to be a cheating asshole… Persephone isn’t much better to be honest. I felt like they took parts of other retellings and kind of scrambled them with sex scenes. I just felt like the characters weren’t flushed out.

Thank you net galley for sending me an arc of the maiden and the unseen in exchange for a honest review.


This was unbelievably bad in terms of writing, plot, and characters.

Lets start with the writing: the same words are repeated over and over again, and the prose is audaciously lazily written.
Also can we please talk about the dialogue? Why is the main character calling herself "P" in her inner throughts, it wasn't "quirky" it read as annoying.

The author definitely pushed her own insecurities onto the characters because WHY were Persephones curves mentioned in literally every page?

Also I get that it's a modern retelling, but godamn, did we REALLY need to make the gods speak in the most genz fashion we possibly could? I mean modern or not, gods are supposed to be these powerful beings who have been around for centuries. Making them act like caricatures for the shake of "comedic" dialogue did nothing but make them come across as badly written.


The so called smut was also hilariously bad, and the instant attraction between Hades and Persephone who instantly wanna bed each other felt super cringe to read about.


Finally I have an issue with the way female relationships are mentioned in the book. Why are we still doing the "female rivalry over a man, but the mc is obviously the one who will get him, cause the other girl is mean - for -no- reason. "

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a beautiful cover! I really enjoyed seeing Hades and Persephone in the real world and I thought it was a truly unique concept. Very steamy and spicy! Honestly, I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t put it down. I also really enjoyed the writing style overall.

I am so over the moon for this book!

Who doesn’t love a Hades and Persephone retelling? It’s one of my favourites and we were finally given a Persephone that isn’t meek and weak! The excitement I felt at reading about a woman who was still strong despite dealing with bullshit her whole life? Amazing!

The dom/sub relationship in this book is beautifully written! It shows a different dynamic in the bedroom then the one they have when they’re at work. And some bdsm? Impact play? Yes please!

This book is most definitely my new favourite Hades and Persephone retelling! I honestly didn’t realize I was at the end until I couldn’t turn any more pages!

eARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read my fair share of Persephone and Hades retellings. Where this modern retelling differs is Persephone is no maiden, she’s social media smart but money dumb. She cheats on the man she’s with, saying they aren’t a couple but also doesn’t try to understand how Hades feels being the side hoe.

Hades was easy to love. He has his low moments but you grow to like him because he’s trying, he’s in a raging battle with himself and their fate, and he’s trying to learn more about Persephone and her likes, he’s constantly worried about their relationship.

What didn’t work for me is the miscommunication, the toxicity, the plot that finally showed it’s face at 85%. Can you imagine how much of this book is smut? I got bored so often, because it’s either them imagining about doing each other or them actually doing each other. I love smut but this is straight up porn that wasn’t fun to read 50% of the time.

There were a few things that didn’t make sense, like Persephone overworking herself when the book starts and I guess she drops all her projects to work for Hades but we don’t exactly know, which once again goes to show how little she cares about anything. The side characters disappear COMPLETELY halfway through the book. Minthe? Millie? Helios? Hello? Don’t see them again at all.

Nothing of substance really seemed to happen? The crux of the conflicts were that Hades couldn't tell Persephone what the prophecy about them was, and that hindered their relationship, Persephone refusing to break up with Jackson to be with Hades, and Persephone trying to keep her disobeying of Demeter's rules a secret.

Overall, I was disappointed. I think the potential for this to be a unique and interesting Hades/Persephone retelling is there, but the execution was sloppy.

I wanted to love this book and while I do love the idea behind it, the modern phrases and slang were too much. Everyone was speaking like a young teenager (I guess?) even though they are all adults. It was just a huge turn off that made it difficult to even get through the book.

Example:

“Culmination, in this case, means, well…your…you know,” Clotho creaks. “Your sperm, baby batter, the liquid thunder of your thighs,” Atropos finishes.”


This is supposed to be the fates speaking? I don’t know, not for me I guess.

Thanks to NetGalley for an arc of this in exchange for an honest rescues.