4/5 Stars

3.5/5 Spice

Thank you to Rose & Star Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I picked this up from netgalley on a whim because I saw that it was a spicy Hades and Persephone retelling which I always love and I am so happy I grabbed it. I have been in the mood for spicy books and this was great. The romance between Hades and Persephone was adorable and I loved the take on the common retelling. It wasn’t anything super unique but it was such a fun time that it still was enjoyable to read.

Hades is in charge of not only the underworld but dealing with any Gods or Goddesses that decide to come down from Olympus and join the Mortal Realm. He has to make sure they aren’t revealing that they are gods, provide them with money because of course they refuse to get jobs, and on top of that he has to spend 6 months out of the year in the underworld unable to physically keep an eye on the gods in the mortal realm. Persephone has always dealt with her mother being strict but when she finally convinces Demeter to allow her to live among the mortals she was happy. For the past 2 years, Persephone hasn’t had any problems, she mostly follows her mothers rules and she has had a good life until all of a sudden her money disappears. When she confronts the person in charge of her money, she realizes her money was never all her own and Hades taking a liking to Persephone, maybe a little too much on their first meeting forces her to come work for him to get it back. Can Persephone fight her attraction to Hades and keep following her mother’s rules or will she decide to break them?

In this retelling all of the Gods are still actual gods but the mortal realm is our world. Persephone has been kept a secret from everyone in Olympus except a very small handful of people that her mother lets know about her. Hades runs a fortune 500 company to provide the gods money but has to spend 6 months each year in the underworld without being able to come back to the mortal realm during that time. I felt like this book might have slightly rushed the relationship between Hades and Persephone but I think it is able to justify it in the end.

If you like Hades and Persephone retellings with more spice than plot, give this one a try. Go into this book expecting a fun time not a serious time and you will likely enjoy it. It is out now and I will be picking up the sequel whenever it comes out.

3.5⭐️

“The maiden and the unseen”, first book in a series, is a Hades and Persephone retelling set in the modern world.

The gods are bored on the mountain, they want to live with mortals. And so does Persephone: she wants to escape from her mother’s cage and live.
She’s been working as a social media manager in the mortal world for the past two years. But everything changes when the money in her bank account suddenly disappear. Fate has it that she meets Hades and starts working for him.
They try to stay away from each other (keyword: try) but, as the prophecy says, the king of the dead will meet his match in the goddess of life.

I personally enjoyed this book, it took me only two days to finish it and I can’t wait to read the next book.
The writing is easy, it flows well.
There’s plot, tension, drama, love, spice… everything.
I was surprised about how spicy this book was! I really didn’t expect that.
After the first few chapters I thought “this is giving Lore Olympus, i like it”. Well, not really. Yes, the setting is quite similar: Hades hiring Persephone, Minthe is his secretary, Zeus and Poseidon are not the best brothers. But of course everything else is different.
Persephone is a badass, Hades is a cinnamon roll who could kill you.

I’m not giving this book 4 stars only because I wish there was more plot, more action, more getting to know each other on a deeper level. But i guess, since this is the first book, we are going to get the missing pieces in the next book.

Overall Rating: ⭐️ 3.75/5 (rounded up to 4 stars)
Spice Rating: 🌶️ 4/5

Thank you NetGalley and Rose and Star Publishing for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Growing bored with their tenure on Mount Olympus, the gods have started to integrate themselves into the modern mortal world. Responsible, control-freak Hades helps to assimilate gods and goddess into society, financing their lavish lifestyles and ensuring they don’t reveal their divinity to the world while also running a Fortune 500 company and ruling the Underworld. Persephone is a social media manager that is recruited to work for Hades, under duress.

Their lives are tied together but powerful forces are trying to cut the threads of Fate.

The Maiden & the Unseen is a urban fantasy retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth with a contemporary twist. Yes, another Hades and Persephone retelling but I’m such a sucker for mythology-inspired romances – especially the very, very spicy ones (I’ll get to that later).

Pace
I read this book within a 12 hour period and half of that time was me forcing myself to get some sleep. This story sank its claws into me and wouldn’t let go. It’s an easy read, perfect for a fried mom brain or as a palette cleanser after a complex epic fantasy.

Characters
On the outside, Hades is a textbook morally-grey, possessive alpha-male but the glimpses of his internal struggle and vulnerability really transform him into a three-dimensional character (and totally swoon worthy).

I would have liked to see a bit more depth and development from Persephone. She seems to just cycle through the same thoughts throughout the story but, I’m hoping we see more growth in book two as she grapples with events of the cliffhanger ending.

There is an element of miscommunication between Hades and Persephone that I know some readers don’t really like. I can also find the ‘miscommunication trope’ annoying, especially if the entire plot could be wiped out with a single conversation, but I don’t really mind it in The Maiden & the Unseen. It’s used in a way that is entirely relatable (at least to me anyway), highlights each character’s insecurities, and the entire premise is not predicated on a simple misunderstanding between the main characters.

I love that we get dual POV throughout The Maiden & the Unseen and I’m a big fan of supporting characters Helios and Mellie.

Originality
It’s hard not to compare The Maiden & the Unseen with other contemporary/fantasy crossovers of Hades and Persephone retellings, like Neon Gods by Katee Roberts and A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair. While there are aspects in these other works that are a bit better in my opinion (i.e. Persephone’s character development), if Rose and Rune can expand the plot and maintain the tension and momentum in the next book, I have no doubt that this series will become just as popular as these canonical spicy Hades/Persephone romances.

The Tropes
- Mythology inspired
- Possessive Alpha-male
- Hidden/secret identity
- Curse
- Dark secrets
- Forbidden Love
- Fated mates
- “Mine.”
- Magic
- Boss/Employee

Is The Maiden & the Unseen spicy?
Oh, yea. She is very spicy.

Dare I say, the spiciest book I’ve read this year.

You don’t have to get far into the book to be rewarded with the glorious chemistry between Hades and Persephone. 20%. Just hit the 20% mark and hooooo boy.

Personally, I would classify this as ‘smut’ because 80% of the book is just them thinking about getting it on, talking about getting it on, or actually getting it on. But, I think that there is enough spark within the plot to still keep the story moving and I desperately want the next book after that brutal cliffhanger.

My Thoughts…
The Maiden & the Unseen is a damn good read that I would 100% recommend to all fans of spicy, urban fantasy or mythology retellings. With a bit more character development and fleshing-out, this series has the potential to rival the bestsellers within this genre. But, if you just want a fun, spicy read to get you out of a book slump and breeze through in one sitting – this here is your book!

Is it the most technically accomplished, intricately formulated plot? No.
Will I be buying an additional physical copy to lend out to my friends? Yes ma’am, absolutely I will.

I am positively aching to get my hands on book two!

I'm a big Hades and Persephone fan, so I'm always interested in trying out different retellings. I went in kind of blind to this one, which I usually like to do anyway, so I didn't realize this was an extremely spicy book! Which was a pleasant surprise.

The story revolves around Hades and Persephone living in the mortal realm during modern day. Hades controls the money and livelihoods of any gods who have decided to leave Olympus and live amongst the other humans. Hades resents having to be nothing more than a wallet and a mediator between his two brothers. When he notices a goddess is living on his dime but doesn't seem to have come to the realm legitimately, he cuts off her account.

Persephone has spent all of her life trapped in Olympus, hidden away from everyone by her mother, Demeter. Now that she is finely free to live her own life in the mortal realm, she wants nothing to screw up that arrangement. When her funds are frozen, she angrily shows up in Hades penthouse and demands to know where her hard earned money went. Despite the intrusion, the instant attraction makes Hades strike a bargain with her. She can have her money back, but she has to come work for him. Now they are forced to work in close proximity everyday and the sexual tension may be more than they can bear. But Hades has a secret he can't reveal and it leaves him wondering how long he can avoid his fate and and the fate of the Underworld. But to resist her is impossible...

The book itself was pretty good. This is definitely what I would consider a very smutty book, which multiple spicy scenes through out. In fact the last half of the book felt like it was more sex than it was plot. That was were it kind of lost me. The plot was not really that comple and honestly not anything revolutionary when it comes to the Hades/Persephone match. I know everyone is working from the same source material, but after reading so many of these retellings, it's getting harder and harder to spot major differences and it becomes a little predictable.

Like I said, it's still a good book and if you are fairly new to this couple's retelling, it won't seem overly familiar. If you love smut and spice, then you will enjoy this book even more! Of course it ended on a cliffhanger and it held me enough that I'd be interested to see where the story continues. So overall, I liked it but it wasn't a fav.

Received this from NetGalley.
Hades/Persephone modern retelling as a modern urban fantasy with the gods still having their powers.
If the gods want to come down to mingle with the mortals, they have to go through Hades as he is footing the bill. However when Persephone comes down of course Demeter wants to keep her hidden as the goddess of Spring and the god of the Underworld are fated. So when Persephone's funds have run dry she has to take a job with her new boss Hades. Their pull and attraction to each other is undeniable only one problem, Persephone is currently dating a mortal. Hades won't give Persephone what she wants until she ditches the man completely, but she isn't ready to become attached to the god just yet in large part due to her mother's rules. Oh and the curse if the two get together could also dampen things. A steamy and c*cktease of a retelling would recommend.

"Do not ever doubt how much I want you. I’d give my entire kingdom and crown to have you."

I know, you don't have to say it. I am obsessed with any sort of spin/take/retelling of Hades and Persephone and I won't stop.

Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune spun a unique modern retelling full of witty banter, hot sexting and even hotter scenes. The addition of other gods and deities that we normally do not get to see in other Hades/Persephone retellings was exciting, like a "I know that person!" moment when their name popped up on the page. Mellie was a total show stealer for me and I am dying to see more of her in the next installment(s).

For a modern retelling, I loved that we got to still see glimpses of their abilities. Not only did they play into who they are, but it added that extra thrill and excitement to their more intimate scenes where they used them. Also the glamour and revealing their true selves, and obviously the scene that followed, was just chefs kiss. I haven't read many retellings that bring up their god forms (horns, wings, etc) and that made this really stand out for me.

That sudden ending (not really a cliffhanger because you know what happened) makes me eager for the next book. I need to know how Demeter reacts to the prophecy being fulfilled, maybe some Persephone showing off with her horns and learning to love them, Hermes role in it (and I guess what happened to Jackson but I could leave it or take it with him). I am begging for more Mellie and Helios. I would give my left arm for a whole book of those two.

Fair warning this book reads more like porn vs a story with any kind of plot. Which made it hard to read and I finally DNFed it about 30% in but skimmed a lot of the ending to see what happened. I don't mind smut in books but it needs to make sense for the story.

I love Hades and Persephone-themed things, so I was all for this when I saw it. I thought having gods go to the mortal world and working there was excellent. I especially liked how they had Hades in charge of it. There was a chance meeting between Hades and Persephone and then they interacted every day at work. I liked how there was the added feature of the prophecy and not messing around with fate. The purpose of this book was to get them to become a couple, where hopefully if there is a sequel it helps build the world and set the scene more. This book is definitely for adults only.

First off I would like to say thank you to the author for providing me with this arc 🖤

Now I really enjoyed parts of this book. The smut in it was hot and amazing. However I felt like I wanted a bit more story to balance out the smut a bit.

I also couldn’t understand why Persephone would stay with her human boyfriend. She essentially had already cheated on him with Hades. Even after the failed proposal I just can’t understand why she wouldn’t break up with him.

Either way I did enjoy this book and am looking forward to the next one!

I did not think that I was going to make it past the first couple of chapters at first. That being said I am pleasantly surprised at how this picked up and did not stop. The spice is there for sure and builds and builds between the two main characters. I do wish there would have been more character build especially for all the names mentioned in this book. Some characters fall to the way side throughout the story and then new ones appear leaving you to wonder where they went and who the new ones are. All in all it was an easy and quick read.

Hades and Persephone is an interesting retelling. I love Greek/Roman mythology and this is a classic storyline. It's very spicy and sexy and may not be for everyone.. The characters are interesting enough to make the story work. It does end on a cliffhanger so we'll have to wait for the sequel.... An enjoyable read overall.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

this book had a great combination of fantasy and steam, plus a good integration of the two for some fantastical steam. The relationship was believable and provided a unique take on this classical myth and the idea of being fated. There were too many repeated phrases throughout the novel. I would like the author to have more trust in the reader to remember characteristics or relationship dynamics. There also needs to be a better reason for the female lead not wanting to break up with current partner. That tension point felt a little weak. I think with some additional editing this could be a winner. It does leave on a cliff hanger so I'm assuming it will be part of a series. Overall a page turner.

This books is a retelling of Hades x Persephone that I really enjoyed. I love mythology, so as soon as I read the synopsis I knew I had to read this book. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the authors for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thanks to Rose & Star Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wish both characters' godhood was experimented with and used better.
Most of the time they just acted like some horny emo teenagers, and almost illogically because the author tries to imply that Hades is a super strong baddie but he just fails to act like it through the entire book. He's just pinning and being emo about it. Persephone is written like an oxymoron. She is supposed to be all about her own freedom but allows the guy she's supposed to be casually hooking up with to behave possessively with her?!>?!>!>!>!>!>>

WHAT?!?!?

I can justify Hades with the whole fated plot but NOT that guy.
She should've slapped just at the boyfriend thing, to mark a difference. Allowing the guy to behave possessively with her just makes it seem like she's okay with being walked all over.

I know that when you read many retellings of the same story it sometimes becomes repetitive and I have read many Persephone x Hades retellings. I just wish she was actually given some spine in most of them.

I really enjoyed this telling of Persephone and hades. I loved that Persephone has a back bone and is not easily swayed by hades! Great book!

The Maiden and the Unseen is a modern twist on the Hades/Persephone myth, but I'm happy to report that it certainly stood out amongst the ever-growing list of modern day re-tellings.

In this re-telling, Hades funds the gods after Zeus allows them to come down from Olympus and entertain themselves with the humans. The only catch - they must follow his strict rules. When Hades discovers that one unknown god is on his bankroll yet is magically hidden from his list of check-ins, he discovers the existence of Persephone, Goddess of Spring. Persephone, under strict directions from her mother to not reveal her existence to any gods, does not even realize that she's living on Hades' dime and not her own paychecks. Hades, determined to know more about her, forces her to work for him to pay off her debts. As the two grow closer and old prophecies come to light, it's only a matter of time before either fate or the other gods intervene.

The content is certainly ~spicy~ and not for the faint of heart. It's not necessarily violent, just very... intense. And can I just say, Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune are the new queens of building up tension. I was entranced with how masterfully they were able to create chemistry between the main characters. Aside from the spice, I appreciated that the reader is gifted with a Persephone that actually has a backbone. Instead of being metaphorically dragged into the Underworld, Rose/Rune provide us with a woman who makes her own decisions, bends when she must, and ultimately makes Hades work for it. All in all, a great first novel in a series that I'm very much looking forward to devour as they release!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Rose & Star Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I wasn’t sure what to expect of this retelling, honestly. The spice is immaculate and the plot line was enjoyable. Around 70% in I found that the pace of Hades and Persephone’s relationship sped up a little too much, which is why I only gave it 4 stars. But, I loved seeing this softer, tortured version of Hades compared to all of the blatantly arrogant and boisterous versions of him I am used to reading. Persephone’s character is so much more strong-willed and determined than most retellings, too. I loved her stubbornness and “take charge” attitude, it was such a nice change.I thoroughly enjoyed this story and hope that the cliff-hanger ending means we get a sequel!

This book was perfect from start to finish. I have fallen in love with the story of Hades and Persephone. It is such a wonderful mythological story of two opposites falling in love. The God of the Dead and the God of Spring (life)!

I expected the same old story, but the authors did a wonderfully creative job of creating a new modern story line from the old.

Especially loved the 'heated' romance!

Highly recommend

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (Rose & Star Publishing), the authors (Alexis Rune and Jeanette Rose) for granting me an advance copy in return for my honest opinions.

To say I am obsessed is an understatement. I INHALED this book. I have read other Greek retellings. I love Persephone but every retelling I've read was so unconvincing. This book had my favorite modern day
Persephone/Hades. (actually, just my favorite period. What set these two apart from others I've read are that they were the most believable and relatable. Their connection felt so real/not forced. Hades is the domineering ass until it comes to Persephone. Love the touch her and you die. Persephone is a total badass even as she navigates having her world turned upside down.
I grew up on the Disney Hercules so I appreciate my Hades with a bit of sass so I was ECSTATIC when Hades said "bitch please" in the very first chapter.
The dual POV is amazing. These authors NAILED it. It was perfectly balanced and encompasses their tone perfectly.
Not only did this have great plot and story- amazing, connectable main and supporting characters, creative spins, etc but the SPICE. Good lord. The spice. Ooooooooo.
I have already started recommending this to everyone I know and love and cannot wait for the sequel!

Thank you to Netgalley and Rose and Star Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For me, this one was a DNF, unfortunately.

As my first Greek Mythology retelling, I just couldn't get into it too much. The writing style for me didn't really grip me in the way that I wanted it to and the insta love also put me off the book. Whilst I understand that this is the end goal, and that it's based on mythology, some more dramatisation to add the angst, drama and chaos into the beginning would've hooked me more on this book.