Thank you NetGalley for the eArc copy of this book for an honest review!

'God of the Dead. King of the Underworld. The Unseen. The Renowned...The Glorified Babysitter'

I love when I have access to a complete series 😅 cause it means I don't have to wait for the next book to come out.

These books were enjoyable enough. It felt familiar, as there have recently been many similar experiences. But that train of thought aside, I think it still was an enjoyable read.

If you are a fan of Greek myths and enjoy a good retelling. Than this is a decent book to delve into.



3/5

My obsession with Hades x Persephone retellings has only grown with this book! Thank you for such a beautifully outstanding book! If you love dark and angsty this book is for you!

THE CLIFFHANGER?!? UGH!! This series keeps me hooked and addicted to finding out what happens next! I did enjoy that this was a little darker than the first.

It wasn’t my most favorite but so much spice that I enjoyed reading it anyways. I love a good hades retelling.

Starts off right after the first book.
Hades and persephone must fight to prove their love from outside forces.
Not as good as first book. More smut than a plotline.

I really enjoyed reading this series!! It gave me such joy and was well written. I would definitely recommend this to friends and family. It was exciting and engaging as were the other books in the series

𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙄 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨. 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙. 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙚.

The best part of this series is Hades, hands down. I love how, despite all the trauma and drama, he never once falters in his love and dedication to Persephone and the Underworld.

I wish I felt as deeply for Persephone… my girl needs some maturing STAT. It’s like she’s always playing games, first in book one with the cheating (she felt guilty for her actions, so it’s cheating, even if they weren’t official) and now in book 2 refusing to talk it out with Hades and creating distance at a time they both are vulnerable and need reassurance. I get that she keeps having her choices taken away, but she is the only one who dictates how she reacts in those situations.

I did really love how she became a badass to fight for the Underworld when Hades couldn’t. If I read book 3, I really hope she gets a chance to shin again without being bogged down by emotional warfare.

please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: cliffhanger
POV: dual 1st person POV
spice: many open-door spicy scenes
TWs: child abuse, deprivations of gore, kidnapping, manipulation, narcissism, PTSD, self harm, torture, violence, war
Kinky Content: ass play, biting, dirty talk, double penetration, “eyes on me”, grinding, marking, mirror sex, oral, praise, prehensile magic play, shower sex, spanking, voyeurism
standalone: book 2 of Love and Fate series
final thoughts: book 2 did not disappoint! So much adventure and banter continued in this series into book 2.
This book focuses a lot more on the adventure/war/world building aspects with the romance taking a backseat… but definitely still very prevalent in the story with many spicy scenes throughout.
We get a lot more of Cerberus and Mellie in this book and I love the side characters just as much as I love the main characters.

read this book if you love
🔎 adventure
⛓️ BDSM
🫡 big MMC
💵 billionaire
🤩 curvy FMC
🖤 dark romance
🥵 dirty talk
💬 epistolary
🍆 fancy peens
💞 fated mates
🎣 fish out of water
😳 forbidden lovers
🏝️ forced proximity
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 found family
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 great side characters
🩹 hurt/comfort
😏 kinky
🪄 magic
🥰 nicknames
💤 nightmare comfort
🔀 opposites attract
😜 jealous, possessive MMC
💖 paranormal romance
🌀 plot twists
🙏 praise
📖 retelling
👤 shadow daddy
🐺 shifters
🔮 supernatural creatures- gods, goddesses, demons
🌍 world building

Another Greek mythology/folklore inspired Romantasy tale that is sure to find it's loyal fanbase out there in the world.

Thanks Rose and Star Publishing co and NetGalley for The Mistress & The Renowned by Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune

This is the second in the series, so I had to get book 1 to get into this retelling of the Hades and Persephone's story. I'll be honest and say that I struggled to enjoy this.

It was a little too wordy and I feel like the story could have been a little less wieldy in its writing.

I struggled to finish this book. I must admit that this wasn't for me

I enjoyed the continuation of Hades and Persephone’s story. There was a lot of character growth on both sides. There was less insecurity on both sides; however, they moved on to miscommunication and not listening. Neither were able to fully communicate what they went though and how they were feeling. This is something they both work on over the course of the book.

I really loved that Persephone is the one doing the saving. There was a lot of action and the greater world story plot line moves forward while still keeping the focus on Persephone and Hades.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

I like the first book, but for the second i think the The plot didn’t start developing until nearly the end of the book and the world building felt non existent.

The characters having fights about dumb things around every corner with no character development throughout the book.

"𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧. 𝙒𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨, 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙧, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡."

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

The Mistress & The Renowned is the second installment in The Love and Fate Series. The story resumes after Persephone and Hades broke the curse and they had to went through the outcome of it. Persephone had to adapt with her new responsibility of The Underworld, let alone when Hades is missing right after they connected the bond, right after they sealed the fate.

It's not a life-changing sequel but it sure is better than the first one. I feel like this one is less smutty (which is good) and more complex with emotional burden and world building. The mystery and thrill ensued from the issue that happened in The Underworld were encouraging me to keep reading. There are some unecessary scenes and there are also some that are crucial yet somehow felt rushed and poorly executed. I appreciate the cliffhanger which i think the climax of the whole series! Overall i enjoyed the experience and def would grab the last book of the series in the meantime!

After reading the first book in the series, I was very excited for this one. But, it kind of let me down.

It was still a very good retelling of Hades and Persephone but it was so far out from the first book.

The world building for the underworld was well written but was disappointed that not much was said about the real world.

This book was filled with power and love and I enjoyed it.

The Mistress & The Renowned is the enthralling second installment in the Love and Fate series by Alexis Rune and Jeanette Rose. This novel continues the tale of Hades and Persephone, blending Greek mythology with contemporary themes to create a compelling narrative that explores love, power, and redemption.

Plot : In this sequel, Hades and Persephone's relationship deepens as they confront new challenges and old enemies. Hades, the formidable God of the Underworld, must navigate the complexities of his duties while protecting Persephone from those who would seek to control her. Persephone, the resilient Goddess of Spring, continues her journey of self-discovery, striving to balance her newfound power with the demands placed upon her by both gods and mortals.

As Hades and Persephone's bond strengthens, they face opposition from powerful forces within the divine realm. Their love is tested by betrayal, political intrigue, and the lingering shadows of past traumas. Together, they must find a way to overcome these obstacles and secure their future, not only as a couple but also as rulers of their respective domains.

Characters

- Hades: A complex and multi-faceted character, Hades is depicted as both a powerful ruler and a loving partner. His internal struggles and protective nature add depth to his portrayal.
- Persephone: Persephone's growth from a sheltered maiden to a confident and powerful goddess is a central theme. Her determination and resilience make her a relatable and inspiring protagonist.
- Zeus: The king of the gods, whose machinations and schemes add layers of tension and conflict to the story.
- Demeter: Persephone's mother, whose overbearing and controlling nature continues to impact Persephone's life and choices.

Themes

- Power and Control: The novel delves into the dynamics of power and control, both in personal relationships and within the divine hierarchy.
- Love and Sacrifice: Hades and Persephone's love story is marked by sacrifice and the willingness to face immense challenges for the sake of their bond.
- Identity and Transformation: Persephone's journey is one of transformation and self-discovery, highlighting the importance of embracing one's true identity.

Writing Style
Alexis Rune and Jeanette Rose's writing is rich and evocative, bringing the world of Greek mythology to life with vivid descriptions and intricate details. The authors skillfully balance action-packed scenes with moments of introspection, creating a well-rounded narrative that keeps readers engaged. The dialogue is sharp and authentic, capturing the essence of each character's personality and motivations.

The Mistress & The Renowned is a captivating sequel that expands on the mythology and character development established in the first book. Alexis Rune and Jeanette Rose have crafted a story that is both intense and heartwarming, filled with suspense, romance, and emotional depth. Fans of the series will be delighted by this continuation of Hades and Persephone's journey, while new readers will find themselves quickly drawn into the richly imagined world of the Love and Fate series. This novel is a must-read for anyone who enjoys mythological retellings with a modern twist and a powerful love story at its core.

Thank you NetGalley and Rose and Star Publishing for the e-arc!
I'm so excited for the continuation of the series! I really enjoyed the first book, which featured all of our god characters in the modern-day world who have relatively normal lives with spice and fantasy. I the first book I would say definitely focused a bit more on setting up the romance in the world with the second book focusing a lot more on the plot and the characters' growth,
Hades and Persephone do have miscommunication and problems throughout this book connecting with each other but I enjoy the growth that does follow a lot of these instances. Despite these miscommunications you do want them to work out which is one of those important things when it comes to romance.

2.5 rounded down to 2.
This felt like a 180 from book one. Where book one was set entirely in the modern world and this book in the Underworld. No mention was really made of the world above and the plot moved forward at a snail's pace.
If you are a fan of Scarlet St. Clair, you will most likely enjoy this series.

Thank you Net Galley and publishers for letting me read this arc in return for an honest review.

What a roller coaster of a book. I loved it better than the first, but my heart just aches for everything Hades and Persephone have gone through. First, she's thrown into a realm she knows nothing of and all alone while he's fighting for his life in Tartarus. Second, once she frees him they both are battling their internal and mental wounds fighting with each other over everything that's happened. Third, her mom is so verdictive she just releases all the titans from their cells to cause havoc just cause her daughter has been "kidnapped". Her mom is really the worst, poisoning Hades and the underworld just to punish her daughter to come back home. I know this is vaguely like the myths but god I don't like Demeter. Just let them have their happy ever after. This book definitely had more plot than the first and less spice as they both work through their problems and I really liked the story. The cliff hanger should be illegal so I guess now I have to immediately jump into the final book.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one. Majority of the book was taken up by their miscommunication issues and then there were half a dozen chapters dedicated to the actual climax of the story. Yes I know they both had trauma to work through, but the miscommunication was frustrating. As a plot device it works because they in fact barely know each other, but that should have been emphasised. It should have been pressed deep that they only know the surface of each other because the focus of their relationship has been their lust. Instead he said “I won’t push” and she went “okay, that’s all I wanted to hear, let’s do what you want now”.

As a whole, the story was incredibly engaging and I went through it quickly, but there are issues (as I’ve mentioned) that I didn’t like. I’m not sure if I’ll read the third book, but I will definitely read Mellie and Helios’s story because they’re fun.