Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The sequel tried to switch things up from the first book, aiming for deeper character development and a more involved plot, which was a good idea, given that this is a series and not a standalone. However, this new direction didn't quite deliver as expected.

The plot was kind of predictable and didn’t have enough going on to really pull me in. Similarly, the character development struggled to resonate. We were meant to empathize with the characters' struggles, yet the narrative fell short in providing the detailed context needed to forge genuine connections.

Also, the book leaned a bit too much on the whole miscommunication trope to keep the story moving, which felt a bit lazy. I missed the fun, easygoing vibe of the first book. Plus, the mix of the new serious tone and the amount of spice just didn’t work out well.

Overall, it felt like the sequel was trying to be something totally different but didn’t quite manage to pull it off. I definitely missed the charm of the first one and will read the next to finish the series, and hopefully we will see some improvements.

I'm still very on the fence with this series. While I do enjoy the modern day Greek myth aspect, I'm struggling with the characters. A lot of Persephone's behaviour is a little too frustrating for me. I find that a lot of the arguments and issues the two of them have could have been easily avoided and I wasn't loving how easily she tends to get angry/irritated. It felt more like she was 18 and not a centuries old goddess.

There is a lot of potential, I just think the writing style isn't quite for me. However, I did like the ending and I am interested in seeing where things progress from here.

After the way book one left me hanging, I couldn't wait to dive into this one... unfortunately, it also ends on a cliffhanger! It was so easy to fall back into Hades and Persephone's world(s) again. This is a bit darker than book one, but no less tense, steamy, and addicting. They've finally found each other, but it's not smooth sailing for these fated lovers. Getting to see the cracks and vulnerabilities in both Hades and Persephone made them seem more human in some ways, but that's not a bad thing. My biggest complaint (besides the cliffhanger), was Persephone's struggle with communicating with Hades. That said, it kind of fits because she's never had a truly serious relationship, and I don't think it's a skill her mother instilled in her. I do recommend this is you love myth retellings, and spicy romance.

The Mistress & The Renowned by Jeanette Rose & Alexis Rune is a fantastic book that continues the story of Hades and Persephone. In this book, Hades has finally claimed his fated queen, but at a cost that neither of them could have foreseen. He's trapped in a carnivorous tree that's sapping his power, and he sends out a call for help, hoping that Persephone would answer. But another god is the first to hear him, and he's transported into his memories.

Meanwhile, Persephone is the new queen of the underworld, a title she never expected to hold. She's plunged into her new role but feels unsupported by Hades, who is not expected to be in the underworld for another month. She's plagued by nightmares and fears that her fated mate is in trouble.

The authors have done an excellent job of continuing the story of Hades and Persephone and keeping the readers engaged. The characters are well-developed, and their struggles are relatable. The world-building is excellent, and the plot twists keep the readers on the edge of their seats.

The Mistress & The Renowned is a must-read for anyone who enjoyed the first book in the series. The book is beautifully written, and the characters are engaging and memorable. The story is well-paced, and the plot twists keep the readers engaged until the very end. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating read.

I absolutely loved this book. I am a big fan of Greek mythology so it was an instant attention grabber. I feel like the authors did good research and that I actually learned some things as well. The origins were written well and I can't wait to read more!

Thank you Alexis Rune, Jeanette Rose, and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC!

Absolutely adored:

Berry! I absolutely must have that affectionate 3-headed hellhound as a companion!
The rich infusion of Greek mythology! Kudos to the authors for their thorough research; I feel like I absorbed more about the Greek gods here than in all my years of schooling. The intricate details about their origins were captivating.
The conclusion! It left me craving for more!
Helios and Mellie's storyline. They deserve their own book, no doubt. Their eccentricity is utterly captivating.
What frustrated me:

The persistent miscommunication. About 200 pages of this book could've been spared if they simply confronted their issues and communicated openly. The constant circling around the problem was exasperating.
The immaturity displayed by the protagonists. It felt like they took a step back from their growth in the previous installment and reverted to behaving like adolescents. It's hard to reconcile this portrayal with the image of Hades as a successful businessperson.
In essence, I adored the beginning and the end, but the middle left much to be desired.

"The Mistress & The Renowned" by Jeanette Rose & Alexis Rune offers a captivating twist on the timeless tale of Hades and Persephone. Set in a lush and immersive world, the authors skillfully blend mythology with their own creative elements, breathing new life into the ancient story. The dynamic between the titular characters is richly explored, showcasing their complex emotions and struggles as they navigate the realms of love, power, and destiny. With vivid prose and compelling narrative, this retelling is sure to enchant fans of mythology and romance alike.

The second book was an improvement over the first, but it felt like things were just too easy. Every problem that popped up and got solved with barely a hitch. I enjoyed how the authors dove deeper into Greek Mythology, but the story and characters still fell a bit flat for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, Alexis Rune, and Jeanette Rose for letting me read this in return for an honest review.

After reading "The Maiden & the Unseen," I was very curious to find out what would happen in this second book, and let me assure you, "The Mistress & the Renowned" didn't fall short. On the contrary, I liked it even more than book one. I love the continuation of a dual POV, and the character development was great. I enjoyed reading about Persephone getting to know herself and her new realm without Hades, and the journey to discovering her real powers. The POV of Hades as he starts to "relive" his past was also well written. Overall, I enjoyed getting to know these characters and what caused them both to have so much trauma and insecurities. And how the story turned out in the end... well, let's say I did not see all of it coming! Love it!

Favorite quote:
'"Ask me,"she whispers, and my eyes snap open to look at her. "Ask me to be your wife, your queen, to accept my fate."'

The mistress and the renowned by Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune.
Book 2 of love and Fate series.
Hades has finally claimed his fated queen, but at a cost that neither of them could have foreseen. Taken from his secure penthouse, he’s transported into the heart of a carnivorous tree that is sapping his power. In a moment of panic, he sends a call out, hoping for relief, a distraction from the torture he’s enduring. He’d hoped Persephone would answer. But another god is the first to hear him, sending him the last place he’d ever want to be: his memories.
I really did enjoy this book.  I love this series. I loved the cover. Short chapters, and I got into it straight away.  I did like Persephone and Hades. How they were with each other. I loved the illustrations in the book. I didn't like Demetir at all. I did love Cerberus. He sounded headious, but he wasn't. I did like Melinoe. I did like the style of writing. It did feel like I was there with them watching in the shadows. I am really looking forward to the next book. 5*.

#Jeanetterose #alexisrune #themistressandtherenowned #loveandfateseries #roseandstarpublishing #romanticerotica #netgalley

I was so excited for book 2 in the Love & Fate series! I was not disappointed, but it did take a few chapeters to get into this one. Halfway through, I really started to get into the book and couldn't put it down. I loved the growth we see with Persephone and her relationship with Hades. I also adore the relationship she has with her Marshmallow too. Persephone really embraces her role as Queen of the Underworld, especially when her brother-in-laws are present! I can't wait to jump into book 3!

What a follow up to the first book. Exciting, and romantic. It starts answering questions and really sets up for the evil and madness that will be the conclusion. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!

**Thank you NetGalley**

I have probably rounded this rating up by a .5 or so.

While the writing in this book was good, I did find the actual storytelling bounced around a bit. I also found that I didn't really connect with anyone. I felt like Persephone basically created her own problems a lot of the time and the miscommunication in this is what really made me lose interest.

I just about managed to make it to the end and while I enjoyed the world building I think the disconnect I felt with the characters meant I won't carry on with the series no matter how good the cliff hanger at the end was.

I would recommend anyone who enjoys a Hades and Persephone retelling to pick this series up and give it a go though.

An ok read that was engaging throughout in terms of writing style and the characters had very distinct voices, it was nice to get a sense of what each were thinking. However, the book was heavily reliant on shock value and didn't really have much plot which is a shame as this could have been a really interesting take on the story of Hades and Persephone. That being said, I will of course be continuing with the series as it did capture my attention and is an easy read.

Okay, now we're getting somewhere.

2nd book syndrome? Nah, this series is definitely the opposite. It's not so much amazing as it is entertaining. I added another star because of how the author described the underworld and created the setting. And also for Hekate and Mellie.

Don't get me wrong. The main stars are still irritating. Persephone was girlbossing hard (yes btch slay) but also being mean to Hades. Hades, on the other hand, fleshed out some dimensions which is cool, but still predictable and whiny like in the first book.

That last chapter however... It makes me want to read the last book. I hope it doesn't make me want to hair out at least. No expectations for the next one 💁🏻‍♀️

I really enjoyed this. Greek mythology is always a favourite and this Hades x Persephone retelling was really well done. The miscommunication can get a bit frustrating at times and Persephone did have me yelling at the page 😂, but that is a trope that I find a bit annoying in any book. The pacing for me was a bit of a struggle, but really picked up towards the last third of the book. Hades vulnerability saved it for me, and now with that cliffhanger I’ll definitely be looking for the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eArc!

We continue in the Underworld, but all isn’t what it seems.
I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone, so I will leave it at this - Demeter is the worst!
I will need 5-7 business days to process my emotions because this cliffy was absolutely gutting!

for a lot of this book i was thinking 2 stars, and then the last 15-20% happened and we were back.

in the beginning i was interested and that was fine, but at some point i got pretty bored, maybe around 30%? and from then until the end (last 20%) i did feel like i was mostly reading to finish the book, not because i was enjoying it.

i think both hades and persephone had matured in this book which was good. but a lot of what i really enjoyed about book 1 was the wattpad nostalgia and this moved away from that - which again is fine - but it felt like not much was happening in the middle section. once more i think this book might have been better if it had been shorter.

plus hades was really quite unlikeable for a while there. i get that he’s dealing with trauma etc., but i still did not like the way he was talking to persephone (and mellie). i appreciated that this was addressed, and was not something persephone put up with as she knew she deserved better. but seeing hades continuously not respecting persephone’s emotions was difficult.

again, this picked up a lot in the last 20% or so when the plot really got going, and i was back to reading because i wanted to know what happened. the ending was another cliffhanger - a little predictable, but a trope i enjoy. sooo i’m excited to see what happens next in the queen & the king!

I was thrilled to begin this follow-up to The Maiden & the Unseen, a spicy Hades & Persephone retelling. This one is a little heavier and differently paced, but I enjoyed it very much and look forward to the third in the series!