*3.5

This book offers a captivating blend of Bridgerton charm and Da Vinci Code intrigue, set in the Regency era. While the mystery takes precedence over romance, the slow-burn love story adds depth to the plot. Dora shines as a strong, intelligent lead character. However, the pacing falters at times, with a slow start and rushed ending, along with some unnecessary moments.

I loved this book. I though the twice on the normal old English love story was amazing. This was a fun read with an amazing cast of character and honestly I can't wait to read it again.

The first chapter had my attention immediately: I had really high hopes based on this. However, it did not reach this level again. I found the subsequent early chapters a bit safe and not very enthralling.

The character development sat times felt a bit superficial. I enjoyed the premise throughout, but i didn’t feel very invested in the characters.

It was an easy read, after some intense science fiction it provided a bit of relief, but it wasn’t gripping. After a long day it was easy to read without much cognitive effort.

Beneath the hills of the Buckinghamshire countryside, a secret society meets. A playground for the idle rich to live out their debauchery, the Hellfire Club is infamous for its elite members. But when their warden, Anthony Pennington, is murdered, it becomes clear just how unethical this club really is. With Pennington gone, it’s up to his bastard sister, Dora, and an ex-army doctor, Jacob, to solve his murder and figure out what really is going on with this club and its members. But along the way, they find themselves caught in the middle of a rival between the Hellfire Club and the Illuminati.

The Persephone Code is touted as “Bridgerton meets The DaVinci Code” and while there are aspects of both, don’t expect the same caliber. While it does take place in Victorian England and it’s a mystery novel, that’s where the similarities end. The characters are underdeveloped and lack any personality. It was incredibly difficult to get into the story and find any attachment to the characters. While the plot held some promise, there was very little depth. There was an attempt at a romance aspect but it added nothing to the overall story and seemed forced between the two characters.

Aside from the issues mentioned above, the writing was fairly enjoyable if not shallow. At times it felt as if the author wanted to use an expanded vocabulary when one wasn’t needed to get the point across. If given more time, I feel like the author could have made this into an incredible adventure. But for me, it fell flat as an enjoyable mystery novel.

This is not a book I'd usually pick up. I love bridgerton series, and I enjoyed the davinici code at the time of reading, but never did I think I'd want to read a book with the two combined. I should've. The secret society, hidden romances, murder, estranged families all made it incredibly difficult to put down. The main characters, faults, quirks and all, were likeable and easy to root for, especially Dora, a strong actress, who I feel, could have easily been pushed into a high and mighty, superior and unlikable strong female personality, but had me eager to continue the book. I stayed up super late to finish it, so you best believe I will be going back for a reread to pick up any hidden gems I missed.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me get an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!!

DNF at 61%

I really tried giving the author a chance, especially since this is their first adult book. Unfortunately, the book had too many flaws, resulting in me skimming most of the book.

The book was too extended for the concept while the sentences were confusing. The characters were pretty bland, and I found no connection to either of them. And some things were weirdly objectifying to the female character. However, the concept was intriguing, and if the author put more work into it I think it could’ve managed some of the dead weight of the characters.

To summarise, I think the author needs to get more experience in the adult fiction area and get further feedback on her drafts as this was in a rough shape.

The Persephone Code is a historical romance/whodunit about a string of murders centered around the infamous Hellfire Club. Dora Fitz-Pennington is a merchant’s bastard who has turned to acting to survive without the support of her family. Dr Jacob Sandys has secluded himself in the north and given up his career as a military doctor to overcome his opium addiction. Their lives become irrevocably intertwined as they work to solve the murder of Dora’s half brother Antony, the warden of the Hellfire Club.

When I get in a reading slump, I turn to regency romances as a palate cleanser. This book met that need. I appreciated the author’s dedication to historical accuracy. When I was curious about a place mentioned in the book, I could easily find pictures to help me visualize.

I enjoyed the book until the last third. I was disappointed by the choices the MMC made in the end. I understand they were supposed to show that he is a flawed human being, but they just felt so sudden and unnecessary. His choices undid any character development I had seen in the book. The book ends very abruptly. I went back and forth a few times trying to see if I missed a page. I am rooting for the FMC, so I plan to pick up the next installment.

Thank you one More Chapter and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and to HarperCollins for the ARC of The Persephone Code by Julia Golding in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I think I've made the same mistake twice in the past few weeks or reading books described as "Da Vinci Code" or "National Treasure" esque adventures with female leads.

When I hear "Da Vinci Code" I automatically know not to expect a super strong focus on character - Dan Brown is praised for the action, non-stop pace of his stories and has never been known for having characters any thicker than a cardboard Amazon box. Dora and Jacob suffer from a similar plight, but, unfortunately, the plot then does not make up for it. She and Jacob also fall into insta-love and are completely distracted by thinking about how much they want each other to protect themselves as appropriate. The range of the story only takes about two weeks and there are two sections where they each "break" their trust in the other and will focus on "rebuilding it" -- you haven't known each other long enough to know why either of you are making those actions let alone talk like it has been the greatest disappointment of your life.

Also, please note that there is a sequence of chapters where Dora is in danger of or prevents getting sexually assaulted by multiple different men and at no point is that reflected on or play any factor in her and Jacob wanting to have sex with each other. Every single one of those attempts seemed unnecessary to the larger plot --- rape is not a casual side event and I have a hard time trusting any author that chooses to use that as an unnecessary plot device.

For the story itself...there was both a lot and not a lot happening for large chunks of time and it felt like a lot of the cascading plot points were more stacked "got-ya" moments as opposed to things related to history or the mystery of the book. I think it seemed like Golding wasn't sure if she wanted a romance-centric story, a historic fiction novel or an adventure story, so we got a mash-up of all three that doesn't align with the thin characters well enough to meet any of the genres by half.

i was super intrigued by the description of the book specifically “bridgerton meets the da vinci code” but unfortunately i didn’t find that the book delivered what was promised

it took me a while to get into and felt the characters were somewhat underdeveloped that i never formed super great attachments to anyone or cared about the romance

there are a lot of different elements, twists and moving parts to keep people interested it just didn’t quite click for me but may work for another reader

thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Unfortunately, this book was a huge miss for me. When I read "Bridgerton meets The Da Vinci Code" I was sold. I though I was going to devour this book in a single sitting just like it happened with the aforementioned titles. While the book did have elements of Bridgerton (the time setting) and of the Da Vinci Code (the "mystery" aspect), it did feel more like a wannabe copy of both. What got to me the most was how uninteresting the mystery was: I really struggled to understand what the main puzzle piece was, as all the elements came to me in such random ways that I unconsciously brushed them aside as some minor info. It was all delivered very quickly, both the clues and the solutions, and I really didn't have time to grasp the impact they should have had on the story. At the end, when everything came together, when the villain was exposed and the conspiracy was unraveled, I literally felt nothing.
Another disappointing aspect was the romance: both characters were very underdeveloped, so it comes as no surprise, really, that the chemistry between them was nonexistent. Other than a few fancy words here and there, and a very brief and subtle flirting, I couldn't be convinced.
Last but not least...the epilogue. It aimed to do something and did absolutely nothing. I was so happy I had finally finished the book that I just couldn't care less.
Overall this book felt like reading a first draft. with no actual planning nor editing. I read the author is mostly a YA and children author and you could definitely tell. I strongly believe that in both genres she rocks it, but when it comes to adult fiction not so much.

Dora Fitz-Pennington, an actress and Dr Jacob Sandys, a cynical army doctor, try and solve the clues left by her murdered half-brother with members of both the Illuminati and notorious Hellfire club on their tail. If they are to work together, they need to build a relationship and use their different skills to evade those who are searching for the secrets held by Dora's brothers. I felt this story was well plotted, with engaging characters and a good balance of description to bring scenes to life. I was rooting for Dora and Jacob and will look out for more works by this author. Thanks to the publishers for an advance review copy.

A pacy and intriguing mystery and a romance between characters with great chemistry add up to make this a very fun read. I especially loved Dora’s character, a woman who knew her own mind and was quick to speak out against injustice. Hopefully this is the start of a long running series.

A good plot line, with twists and characters you can champion for. The novel had a good pace and strong narrative voice.

This book was so interesting. The main characters are uniquely trying to solve a murder that has taken place, and the bonds they form are incredible. The writing of this book was exquisite and I really enjoyed the action in this book. I was hanging on to every last word. Thank you HarperCollins UK for sending me an ARC of this book.

The Persephone Code was a fun read from start to finish. I enjoyed the plot and the developing relationship between the two main characters. There were a few twists along the way to hold the reader's interest and I thought the story was such that it would make a great limited TV series. All up it was a delightful and well-written book and I would definite pick up more works by this author in the future. I am giving it 4 stars.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Persephone Code sounded like a type of book that I would enjoy but I had a few issues with it. I did not like that the book had a big political focus instead of a supernatural plot, which I was thinking it would have. I also thought the story was a little slow paced which took away from the suspense, which was featured the most at the beginning of the book. I didn't feel there was any chemistry between the two main characters and the ending was a bit of a let down.

Overall I was hoping for more, but I am sure many other readers will enjoy it nonetheless.

—Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was so much fun. I loved the bridgerton vibes, add a lil action and a mystery and viola!
I love the cover so much as well as the first line in the synopsis lol.

The Persephone Code is simply delicious! Two very different individuals come together in the most unlikely of circumstances to solve a murder!

Dora is the illegitimate sibling of Anthony Pennington, the warden of the Hellfire Club who is murdered in the most heinous way. Dora sets out on a mission to find his killer, through the mire of debauchery, opium dens and the worship of the occult. These things rarely stand alone and, joined by Dr Jacob Sandy (Sandy) along the way, Dora must decode the clues and crack the conspiracy between the Hellfire Club and the ever mysterious illuminati!

This book is absolutely glorious in its execution and in the midst of a lot of Regency retellings, it stands out due to its high-octane plot, a la contemporary action mystery thrillers, but authentic to the sensibilities of a bygone era. There is a wry wit throughout which balances beautifully with the dark themes and typical genility of the time

I really enjoyed The Persephone Code and Goldings narrative kept me hooked start to finish. This was a book to be savoured and I had to limit myself so that I would not devour it it one weekend, it is that good

Defo potential for a rollicking new crime fighting duo!

Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and the author Julia Golding for this rip-roaring historical Mystery ARC. My Review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

I think the line 'Bridgerton meets The Da Vinci Code' really is an apt description for this book. It's hard to do historical fiction in a way that's both entertaining and accurate (in dialogue particularly) but I really felt The Persephone Code delivered on that front. The world was immersive and both main characters were interesting and complex.
I did struggle with the pacing. Some parts, such as the journeying, felt slow and little repetitive, and others were a great speed that was twisting and intriguing. After the halfway point, I couldn't put it down, but before that I almost quit reading. Glad I didn't!

The Persephone Code is the first historical adult novel by Julia Golding.

The book centers around Jacob and Dora, put together by an unexpected circumstance. We will follow them in their twisted journey to solve the murder of Dora's half brother.

The book is well written, the plot is twisted and leaves you waiting with bated breath to discover all the events that lead to the murder.

The characters are quite likable, Dora is strong and witty, Jacob honest but struggling with addiction.

The end hints that there is more to come, I for one hope so.

Thanks to the author and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.