3.5 / 5 stars --- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

this is the second book after "The Maiden & The Unseen". while i rated the first book 2.5 stars, this was an improvement. i definitely liked this better. there was more to the plot, more emotional depth and background to the characters. still lots of spice, but not as suffocating as the first book. the world building in this one was nicely done.

the continuation of the story from the first one was also well done. i know one of the tropes that usually has mixed responses is MISCOMMUNICATION. it is frustrating and annoying at times. again like with the first book, there's still that smidge of immaturity.

one of the things that i found beautiful and devastating is the anguish of PTSD. it's raw and heartwrenching and relatable for those who get it. it might even be a little triggering for those who understand, so don't skip past or overlook those TWs!

the way this one ended, i'd love to read how these authors continue on to the next.

thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book. i received this as an ARC and leave this review voluntarily.

This picks up right where book one ended. While I enjoyed it more than the first the plot was still all over the place in parts. The spice was very toned down compared to the first book. The dealing with PTSD was very well done. Overall a fast enjoyable read.

Book 2 of this trilogy and I'm just as hooked as I was at the end of the first book. Plotwise these books generally follow quite a typical structure for the dark fantasy genre. What really stood out for me was the exploration and development of Persephone as a character. Her need to be able to make her own decision, as well as the way she criticises male characters, made her a fully developed character. I especially loved when she called out Zeus and Poseidon for cheating on their wives. As always Mellie was a highlight. I just love her so much.

Thank you for the Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start of with that I really like a good Hades x Persephone retelling. This was like a medium one. I kept getting Deja vu’s to the ones Scarlet st Claire wrote. But to be fair with these kind of retellings you don’t have a lot of room to really make it stand out or I haven’t encountered it at least.

This book starts off right where the other one ended. The writing reads a little chaotic and fast paced. There are some plot holes but to be fair I don’t think most of the people are really reading this for the plot but for the spice and the vibes.

The tropes are fated mates but with a lot of miscommunications,

“Hades likes to read” I like to think he is on booktok like all of us.

I still find it very funny that in these kinda books the logical way to deal with trauma is just jumping on each other. The spice was kinda vanilla 3/5 🌶️.

This is a good follow up, after book one my expectations were off the chart. The plot gets thicker in this book, and although there is still some spice scenes it’s not the amount as book one had.

I will also say, PLEASE read the trigger warnings. The PTSD in this was rough and so fucking raw. it was written extremely well, one of the best I’ve read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. After the first book, I had a level of expectations for Mistress and the Renowned. Though Hades and Persephone have been united and their feelings out in the open, the second book starts with Hades being imprisoned in his own memories and Persephone unaware of his whereabouts. The presence-spiritual location could be better expressed. I thought there has to be rules of how they vanish, how they materialize etc. It was confusing and detaching. Same things happened again and again and just to prolong the story. The writing is simple and that is okay but this simplicity was sometimes tiring.. For the sake of wondering how the story would end, I finished..
Thank you for the opportunity to read..

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

"The Mistress and the Renowned" is a captivating romance novel that takes readers on a journey through the intricacies of love, passion, and power. Written by the talented duo of Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune, this book weaves a tale of forbidden love between a mysterious mistress and a renowned artist in the bustling city of Paris.

The authors skillfully create a rich and immersive world filled with complex characters and vivid descriptions that transport the reader to another time and place. The chemistry between the two main characters is palpable, and their forbidden romance is both heart-wrenching and exhilarating to follow.

One of the standout aspects of the book is the attention to detail in the historical setting, which adds depth and authenticity to the story. The authors' prose is elegant and evocative, drawing readers in from the very first page and keeping them captivated until the satisfying conclusion.

While the pacing of the story is well-executed, there are moments where the plot feels predictable and familiar. However, the strength of the characters and the emotional depth of their journey more than make up for any minor shortcomings.

Overall, "The Mistress and the Renowned" is a beautifully crafted romance novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and passionate love stories. Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune have created a memorable tale that will linger in the hearts of readers long after the final page is turned.

Best quote from the book:

"Love knows no boundaries, not of time, nor of place. It is a force that transcends all obstacles, binding hearts together in a bond that is unbreakable."

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune
When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

Oooo this one was so good. Better than the first one. Less spice though unfortunately. Well worth the read. Can’t wait to read the next one

This was such a fun time! We pick up right where book one left and are straight into the Underworld. The Hades and Persephone retelling is done well, there’s also some other Gods that we get to see alongside them adding to the richness of the story.
I love the fact there’s an animal companion!!
At times the romance was slightly repetitive when they constantly say they love each other, I wanted more depth. Some good spice though.
Looking forward to the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

solid 3 stars

🥀 what I enjoyed
- Berry... just all of him really
- I need more Mellie and Helios
- the personal growth and journey through PTSD was moving

🥀 what didn't do it for me
- Persephone... you are the problem babe. She constantly created unnecessary conflict between her and Hades. Just. Pushing him away for no apparent reason, saying she was fine when she clearly wasn’t, and overall just not communicating. I wouldn’t even call this a miscommunication trope, really it was her being annoying.
- The plot just dragged for me. The pacing was all over the place, and I couldn't tell you when or how long some events took place because it just all ran together.

One of the better Hades & Persephone retellings I’ve read. However, if you are looking for something that stays true to the original story, it may not be for you. It’s also quite spice-heavy.

It’s refreshing that Persephone isn’t quite as docile in this as she is in other retellings. We love a strong FMC!

I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first book. The first book had too much spice for my taste. But this one was a lot more balanced. The story was very well developed from the first book.

3.75 ⭐️

The Mistress & The Renowned is the second book in the Love and Fate trilogy following a modern day Hades and Persephone. I enjoyed book two a bit more than book one. The spice felt more balanced in this one. The Maiden & The Unseen had smut scenes nearly every chapter once you hit the halfway mark. The Mistress & The Renowned, however, used smut much more sparingly. Don’t get me wrong, there was still a fair amount, but it was much more balanced with plot in this book. There was also just more plot in general in this book compared to book one. I said before that if you removed the smut from The Maiden & The Unseen, the plot would not be able to stand on its own. That is not the case for The Mistress & The Renowned. This book’s plot would absolutely be able to stand on its own if you removed the smut.

I enjoyed Hades character a lot in this book. He opened up a lot more and was honestly pretty mature and wanting to communicate to work through his and Persephone’s issues. Persephone was wildly irritating throughout a lot of this book though. She was the cause of a good 90% of her problems, which was frustrating. She acted like a petulant child way too often for the literal Queen of the Underworld. I’m not saying Hades was innocent but she blamed him for way more stuff than she should’ve. Their miscommunication was…a lot. I hope Persephone works on herself in the next book because Hades honestly does not deserve this treatment.

It does end on a cliffhanger, which I expected given that it’s part of a series. I will be reading the next book because I need to know where their story goes and I have found that I’m enjoying the books more as the series progresses.

Thank you NetGalley and Rose and Star Publishing for the ARC of The Mistress & The Renowned!

This book did not disappoint! I'm in love with this series. These books have everything you need. perfection just perfection. Can't wait for the next book.

I like the writing style of these books and am enjoying the series. Promptly moved on to the next book in this trio!

I had mixed feelings about The Mistress & The Renowned by Jeanette Rose & Alexis Rune. First, the cover art on this book is gorgeous, in fact it was one of the reasons I choose it. I have been on a "story re-telling" kick lately and just love Hades and Persephone as the main characters. Unfortunately, this particularly missed the mark. I love a good slow burn, but the back and forth between Hades and Persephone felt childish for such a spicy story. As for the character development, even though we learned more about Hades and his feelings, Persephone's character didn't connect with me, especially in how she dealt and interacted with Hades. If you're into the whole miscommunication thing and the cycle of fights, makeup, and more fights, this book might be for you, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me.

Absolutely loved this book. Had me at the edge of my seat with all the twists and turns. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of this author's work. Definitely would recommend.

This book was a lot different from the first one but not in a bad way! There was more plot and less spice but it was still spicy for sure! It was darker and you gained a deeper understanding of Hades and Persephone's backstories and psyches! I loved that some groundwork was laid down for potential spin-off books or series with other characters and maybe even pantheons which would be soo fun!! I hope they do more after the third book!