I really loved No Season but the Summer!
Persephone and Hades was always one of my favourite myths so I was really excited to read this book!
And I'm so I happy I did as I absolutely loved it!
It was really written and I really enjoyed that it was told from both Persephones and Demeters perspective!
I highly recommend this book especially if you are looking for a unique Greek mythology retelling!
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Overall opinion of the book:

This book is a dual perspective between Persephone and her mother Demeter and o really loved getting the viewpoints of both of these characters throughout, and I felt like both characters were well built.

This story also goes between the past and present and I felt like this was done really well as I found it very easy to follow and never got confused about what timeline I was I at all.

The story draws you in straight away with how it starts and the beautiful writing. If you love Madeline Miller’s writing - Circe in particular - then you’ll love this one.

Apart from reading Circe and song of Achilles I’m a complete novice to Greek gods and mythology and this story was told in a way that makes it easy to understand, with a very refreshing modern twist to it that’s pure brilliance.

This is a tale of choices we are all faced with that explores a complicated relationship dynamic between a mother who never knew love trying to give her daughter everything she never had, but in turn trying to completely control her entire life; and a daughter who feels suffocated and wants some freedom and the room to be who she wants to be - or at least figure out who that is.


Final thoughts:

It was really interesting seeing the author explore global warming and how humans are killing the planet, and how that would affect the gods that would normally be in charge of the seasons and the harvest. It seems that ruining the planet almost turns the gods into humans - taking away their natural powers now that the planet is coming to ruins.

This book did start to drag a bit however - going over the same issues again and again and the what ifs. However, I loved the female empowerment in this and exploring the sacrifices a mother will make for her child. It’s a heartbreakingly beautiful story that will really stay with you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribe for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Description:
Persephone and Demeter are living in modern-day England. Persephone gets back from her habitual six months in the underworld to find roadworks threatening her mother's house and land, and campaigners in the trees nearby.

Liked:
The exploration of motherhood was fairly nuanced. There's some nice imagery - Leyser's take on the underworld, in particular, was much more claustrophobic than others I've encountered. It was interesting to learn more about the specifics of environmental protest.

Disliked:
Thought the English slang and pop-culture references were laid on a bit thick. Was not a fan of Snow as a character and really couldn't see the appeal. I'm also just not personally bought in to the whole 'having a child really saves you' angle in general, so this book was always going to find it a little hard to win me over, I think.

Would recommend for the novelty and some of the language, but maybe give it a pass if you’re not that fond of kids.

No Season but the Summer by Matilda Leyser
Publication 13 April 2023

No Season but the Summer is quite unlike any Greek Mythology retelling / reworking I've ever read and I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful book. Matilda has crafted a really fresh and relevant take on a classic tale.

Persephone and Hades is a favourite myth of mine and lends itself wonderfully to the themes of climate change, enviromental issues, nature and personal choice. Persephone is the godess of Spring yet also destruction. Conflict features strongly - light versus dark, summer versus winter, hate versus love, No Season but the Summer is a tale of choices that we are all faced with.

Told from Demeters and Persephones perspective, both past and present - from nine thousand years ago to today. There's beautiful imagery throughout the story which centres on Persephone joining a environmental protest group after returning back above earth to find the world she's always known changing, and not in a good way. She discovers freedom for herself for the first time in nine thousand years - after all "Spring and summer are my Mothers time, autumn and winter are my husband's. What is left for me?" But if she takes for herself, what does this mean for them?

I really enjoyed reading about ancient gods and goddesses brought to life in the modern day, and the tie in with the important issues that are facing our world today, as well as some of the personal conflicts we can find ourselves battling.

Matilda writes in an engaging and sensitive manner, almost lyrical at times and the story is well plotted and paced.

Readers with an interest in Mythology, nature, enviromental concerns and family relationships will love this truly unique story, and I would throughly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Scribe for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

The story of Hades and Persephone is one of my favourite Greek myths so I was excited to see how the author would bring the deities into the 21st Century. There are many themes present but the author mainly focuses on climate change and the complexities of mother-daughter relationships. I found it a little hard to distinguish between past and present at times but I loved the authors descriptions and the contrast of Persephone’s time with Demeter and Hades. The image of Zeus at a festival (one I have been to many moons ago!) had me chuckling! This story will stay with me and I’d like to read more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley, Scribe and Matilda Leyser for this ARC.

This book was beautiful. It is centred around Persephone who spends half the year underground with her husband Hades, King of the dead and the other half on earth with her mother Demeter, goddess of the harvest. A deal was struck 9 thousand years ago and they must share her. Demeter hates this and wants her back home while her husband wants her back underground for good
When Persephone arrives back on earth in spring she finds a world she doesn’t recognise anymore with nature being destroyed and no one able to stop it
When she joins the protesters to help their cause to stop those who are trying to build a road through her mothers home and destroy nature she discovers that she can have independence and choice for the first time in her life
There are themes of climate change, hope, family, love and choice. The author writes nature and characters so beautifully while the story is compelling and interesting all the way through
I really liked this tale of Persephone and would like to read more by this author