Thank you to Rose and Star Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!

This was a really fun read, I am personally a fan of old school gods in a contemporary setting. I think the authors did a great job of adapting the aspects of each gods power into a modern day personality type, and adapting the Olympus setting into a workplace romance.

Obviously, this book is 🤌 spicy 🤌 but the angst and yearning were also off the charts! I rate this a four star as the miscommunication was a bit too much which I had to power through in certain parts, but overall I'm glad I did and I'm excited to read the next instalment!

The Maiden and the Unseen is the first book in the retelling of Hades an Persephone

I'm not sure where to start. This book is full of secrets and does a good job of setting up the overall world the stories are told in. Hades is dreading the inevitable, fate. He knows he can't avoid it, but when faced with making the choice, he doesn't want to become another keeper.
And Persephone just wants her freedom. Finally out from under her mother's thumb she is finding herself more each day. Destiny binds them together and no one can truly keep them apart. The draw is magnetic. And wow they are scorching hot.

This should be an interesting journey.

This is one spicy Hades x Persephone retelling in a modern world and I really enjoyed it! I have to say that you should think about if you want to read the book for the spice (huge recommendation) or for the plot, because the latter isn't worked out super well and a bit flat and rather unsurprising. I loved the dual pov and the setting of the modern society!

"The Maiden and the Unseen" by Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune is a magical, mysterious, and romantic novel that will captivate readers from the first page. Rose and Rune's story transports readers to a world where every shadow has secrets and every moment is enchanting.

This intriguing story follows a lady whose path from innocence to empowerment is heartbreaking and thrilling. Readers follow her struggles, successes, and metamorphosis as she navigates her world's dangerous paths.

The romance in "The Maiden and the Unseen" is stunning. Rose and Rune's passionate, aching, and obvious chemistry steal the reader's heart. The characters' bond is palpable, bringing readers into a torrent of emotion that keeps them turning pages until the conclusion.

This novel's study of identity, destiny, and choice sets it different. Rose and Rune explore self-discovery and the significance of carving one's own path, even in the face of overpowering darkness, through the protagonist's journey.

The world-building of "The Maiden and the Unseen" is captivating. Rose and Rune have built a vivid world with sophisticated magic systems, stunning scenery, and compelling characters that will stay with readers long after they finish the novel.

Finally, Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune's "The Maiden and the Unseen" is a masterwork of vision and creativity. Readers of all ages will love its intriguing tale, unforgettable characters, and magnificent world-building. Rose and Rune have written a tale that readers will treasure for years.

Welcome to a world where magic and mystery intertwine in "The Maiden and the Unseen" by Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune. This enchanting tale follows the journey of a young maiden who discovers a hidden realm filled with secrets and wonders beyond her wildest dreams.

The authors have crafted a vivid and engaging story that captivates readers from the very first page. Through lyrical prose and intricate world-building, they bring to life a fantastical realm where creatures of myth and magic roam freely. The rich descriptions and vivid imagery paint a picture that is both enchanting and immersive, drawing readers into a world where anything is possible.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is the depth of the characters. The maiden undergoes a transformation throughout the story, evolving from a naive young girl into a brave and resourceful heroine. Her interactions with the unseen beings she encounters along the way are both heartwarming and thought-provoking, exploring themes of trust, friendship, and self-discovery.

"Magic is not found in the extraordinary, but in the ordinary seen with new eyes."

This quote encapsulates the essence of the story, reminding us to look beyond the surface and find beauty and wonder in the world around us.

"The Maiden and the Unseen" is a masterpiece of fantasy storytelling that will enchant readers of all ages. With its engaging characters, richly imagined world, and timeless themes, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves to lose themselves in a magical adventure. Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune have created a truly unforgettable tale that will linger in your heart long after you have finished reading.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️!!! -- 'nuff said.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ -- 2.5/5

i love Hades and Persephone retellings. there's so much to be left to the imagination when it comes to their mythologies, and even more when creating a story set in modern society like this one. it is told in a dual POV and starts interesting enough. it hooked me in pretty well from the get-go.

... and then the spice slaps you in the face. lol. i do wish there was more to the plot and more depth to these characters... maybe somehow to make them be more relatable, or at least for the reader to have something more to grasp on to. truthfully, i found both characters a bit immature and sometimes insufferable. they are supposed to be divine beings who've lived a long time, so i'd expect more of them.

i want to assume that the whole plot is the fated attraction and desire of Hades to Persephone, and vice versa of course. so it did well on that. i'd recommend this to anyone who wants a spicy, shmutty romance. but personally, it was just an okay read. holding out hope that the second book adds more to the actual storyline, because at least that was kind of interesting.

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

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. As a Hades and Persephone fan, I was hoping to read this version. Though the general concept remains the same (Gods - underworld - spring, Demeter as a hateful mother), there has to be additions. Hades being a businessman, Persephone being a young and struggling subordinate. The story started well but then started to turn into cycles. This first book in the series had repetitions like inner thoughts, “she is closing herself on me” the line is like going in Hades’ mind like ten or more times, and is baseless. But still, the story wrapped up, and I almost lost hope that the writers would get bored and give the book up. Technically the writing was simple and I always like dual POV, it brings a dynamic atmosphere if both genders are adequately expressed. It was a fast read and the general feeling that it gave me was, it was okay

Thank you Netgalley for this read. While this is an interesting re-telling of the Hades and Persephone story, it was not what I had expected and was not my cup of tea. As other reviews have stated, the spice was not written well and shoved in really early into the story.
Modern retellings of myths need to be done carefully, and in honesty this felt rushed. Persephone felt too ditsy and childish, and Hades felt almost too overbearing.
It is clear though that both authors are very creative and have an interesting story in mind. I am sure this will appeal to many audiences, sadly it did not to me.

The Maiden & The Unseen by Alexis Rune and Jeanette Rose is a Hades and Persephone retellings, spicy edition! Like very Eh-Sppppicy! If you love Hades and Persephone and are really into a sexy storyline, then this is the book for you!

This was FANTASTIC. 100% beyond amazing.
If you’re looking for a book that has a lot of spice and just enough plot, here you go. From chapter one I was hooked. I read this on under 24 hrs 🫠

If you like:
- Dual pov
- Spice, like HOLY SPICE🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🥵
- Modern world
- Funny Banter
- Greek mythology

This book needs to be on your tbr!

- Greek Mythology
- Dual POV
- Very Spicy
- Modern World
- Shadow Play
- Funny Banter
- Cliffhanger Beware
- 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

“Was I always looking for her? Not just today or since I met her, but always? Have I always been searching? Looking? Aching for something? Something always out of reach? Aching for my fated queen.”

This is a modern day Hades and Persephone retelling in an office setting. There is so much intense chemistry between the MC’s that you can feel it. I found myself unable to put the book down because I was too anxious to wait for their relationship come to fruition (aka for the smut scene 😂). It did not disappoint by the way! There is a good amount of funny banter between the MC’s and the side characters. Speaking of side characters, I am excited to see more of Mellie and Helios! This book ends on a cliffhanger but don’t let that deter you. I really enjoyed this Hades & Persephone retelling and cannot way for book 2!

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.

This was quite a nice introduction to the series i think. There wasn't a great deal that happened plot wise which was nice, too many things happening can make the story really confusing and hard to read, so only having this story focus on where Hades and Persephone's relationship was going to go was really easy to get on with. It was also nice to see that it wasn't an instant love type of deal on Persephone's side, but rather it was Hades who was being the clingy, jealous, instantly in love one, and it was interesting to see how that made him act towards her.
The most annoying thing though was how he kept accusing Persephone of pulling away from him for no reason (there was a reason and it was a damn good one) and he kept complaining that he didn't know how to make it better (big shock, he just needed to be honest and not so much of an ass). Obviously none of that really matters though because they complete their "bond" or destiny or whatever and that's where things really start to go wrong for everyone i think...

Again, because not a lot happened in this book other than them flirting and fucking, it was kind of hard to get attached to the characters, and to feel happy for them when things were good and likewise, sad when things weren't going the way that anyone wanted them to.
It should be interesting though to see all of this happen in book 2 as i hope the plot is going to be a lot heavier, focus more on the characters rather than their relationship, and actually add depth to them as gods and goddesses. It will also be super interesting to see more of Demeter and what she is going to do about the relationship between Hades and Persephone that she obviously really didn't want to happen.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e copy of this book! :)

This book wow just wow. I love retellings and this was just perfect! This retelling of Persephone and Hades is HOT. Even though everyone knows how this mythological story ends, you are hooked from the beginning, the spice, the humor, you can cut the air with all the tension between these characters. This book leaves on a cliffhanger which made me want to through the book. I can wait to read the second book.

I just wasn’t a fan. I generally love mythology retellings but the writing style just fell short and the dialog just seemed very immature. I didn’t finish but after reading for a bit I just couldn’t get into the story. I love the idea of Hades and Persephone in a new age environment though!

Thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was not flawlessly written with perfect characters, but overall really enjoyed it. I haven't read anything like this in a while and I loved that it had a series of books ready for me to move on to - which I did!

This book was really good. There were some parts that I feel were underdeveloped, but overall, the writing and the chemistry between the main characters was great!

I really enjoyed this book. I love hades and Persephone retelling. The romance was very well done and I loved the story. Would highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from Rose and Star Publishing, LLC via NetGalley.

This modern twist on the classic tale of Hades and Persephone. As a fan of mythology retellings, I was eager to dive into this book, especially given its fresh take on the gods in contemporary society. I appreciated the inclusion of lesser-known characters and the nuanced portrayal of Hades as more than just a villain, but rather a ruler with his own complexities and emotions.

However, while the premise held promise, the execution fell short in several areas. Persephone and Hades, despite their divine status, often came across as immature and petty, their bickering overshadowing the depth of their characters. One of the biggest letdowns for me was the lack of balance between plot and romance. While a good dose of steamy scenes can enhance a story, here it felt excessive, overshadowing the development of the plot. This imbalance, coupled with inconsistent writing styles ranging from mature descriptions to a more whimsical tone, left me feeling disconnected from the story at times.

Overall, despite its flaws, there were glimpses of brilliance that hinted at what could have been, making it a somewhat disappointing read. Needless to say, I will not be continuing on with the series.

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.