This is my first time reading a Hades & Persephone retelling, and overall I enjoyed it. I'm genuinely curious to see where their story leads.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for the world building, mixing up gods, fae, different worlds is really cool. The describing off it really allowed me to be immersed perfectly without it being too much.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ love a fated mate story even with a "twist". I'm not mad about their personalities, it all makes sens in a way (he's jealous, obviously she's his mate, she's reckless well yeah that happens when you're a captive in survival mode)

⭐⭐⭐ their relationship went on a bit too quick, even for "mates" but that's just the romantic in me complaining

⭐⭐⭐ there was a lot of dissonance, she would be standing with her arms crossed and all of a sudden she's wrangling her hands under the desk, it happened quite a lot and would throw me off

If you love myth-inspired fantasy with slow-burn romance, A Goddess of Spring and Shadows will sweep you away! Lena J. Castle reimagines the Persephone myth with a fresh twist, following Althea, a reluctant goddess navigating ancient rivalries, blooming powers, and a dangerously charming figure from the Underworld.

Castle’s atmospheric writing pulls you through vibrant landscapes and shadowy realms, with a romance that builds oh-so-deliciously slowly. The side characters—sassy fae and mysterious immortals—add charm and intrigue, while the emotional beats hit hard, balancing magic with heart.

Verdict: This enchanting blend of fantasy, romance, and myth will leave you craving more—and maybe planning your own trip to the Underworld. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was an interesting retelling of Hades and Persephone.

I’m rating the story three stars because there were a couple different storylines that I feel like weren’t fleshed out all the way. The beginning of the book pulled me in immediately, but then sort of left me hanging. Who was the guy in the beginning? How is he important and what “means to an end” does he provide? Her ticket away from her mom?

I also found the storyline that Demeter (her mother) is evil, drugging her, & siphoning off her magic interesting. It pulled me in enough that I’m interested in knowing where it goes.

Hades does get on my nerves a bit. He’s the god of the underworld, but occasionally seemed kind of whiney and not at all like a BA god. He has a lot of friends too - which is interesting seeing that he’s the god of the underworld.

Overall, the writing was really well done. It just needs to be fleshed out a bit more.

Thank you Midnight Castle/NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC!

Ugh I love Hades & Persephone retellings, but this one did not do it for me at all😩 what a bummer.

- I felt nothing for any of the characters; didn’t love them, didn’t hate them, just… nothing.

- I just can’t do insta-lust anymore, guys. I’m old!!! I need more of an emotional connection between characters.

- this book starts with one of my least favorite things you can find in a romance novel, and that’s one of the main characters having sex with someone other than the other MCs. Call me old-fashioned, whatever, I just don’t enjoy it; however I can absolutely look past it depending on the rest of the book! But I genuinely just didn’t really understand the scene & what it contributed to the plot. She says she’s using Basile as a means to an end but.. what end? It did nothing. I don’t know, starting with that immediately made me wary of what was to come (lmao).

- I never want to read the word “Gods” (used as an exclamation) like ever again in a fantasy novel🫶

I wish I liked this one more but alas!

Unfortunately this was a miss for me.
I love Greek myths and the Hades/Persephone story is one of my favourites, however I found this retelling lacking.

For me I found Persephone to be a weak fmc which was so disappointing because she started off with an escape, murder and major badass potential. Sure she's sassy and initially has an attitude toward the God of the Underworld but the further we venture into the story the more and more she regresses into an impulsive damsel in distress.

I was confused by Bastiles significance. I understand he abused his position as guard by taking advantage of Persephone through a dubcon encounter to allow her to get to the library... but she doesn't go to the library, she just kills him and escapes? It feels odd to go into so much detail for a character that is completely irrelevant to the story. I was expecting him to pop up in the Underworld but nope!

I definitely preferred Hades as a character over Persephone but for a God he was a pushover. He rapidly went from 'you can't stay here' to 'you can't leave here' and 'we can't be together' to 'we can't be apart' in what seemed to be the turn of a page. The relationship development was odd.

The pacing of the story was difficult to follow and certain plot points felt disjointed at times for example-I still have no idea why they went to Faerie or what they achieved? They travelled, Persephone got sick, they went to a tavern, danced and then she was back in the library?

The story ends on what I think is supposed to be a cliffhanger but I don't think enough urgency was built for it to really feel like that at all. Why is it that Hades and Persephone seem to be the only divine that at all care that the titans will be released?

This book definitely has potential, the nexus stone is an interesting concept and I love that Persephone is born of the stone creating that connection to it. A lot of good ideas just the execution of them that didn't do it for me.

Omg this book was so good!! The ending- I need book 2 now!!

I'm not one for typically smutty books, and honestly did skip a lot of those scenes, but there was so much plot, romance and intrigue that it didn't take away from the book. I am obsessed with this and cannot wait to see what happens next! New auto-buy author for sure!

I was skeptic about this being another Hades and Persphone telling, but I was thoroughly shocked. It was a great telling of them. It gave us plot and gave us spice. It gave us this amazing romance that kept me wanting more. The sass and stubbornness from Persphone was everything for me. I was extremely sad when I got to the end. The cliffhanger that I was left has me beyond excited for book two to continue on this journey!!!!

A Goddess of Spring and Shadows by Lena J. Castle is a book that you'll not forget soon. Such a good read! I recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good.

I honestly really liked this book. Hades and Persephone retellings are my favorite. The abuse scenes are really tough to read when you see how sweet Persephone is. But I also loved how this book really gave Persephone self worth, and how Hades works with her one on boundaries and building a healthy relationship.

Bringing in fae was a great idea and will amped the series up. Not only does it bring in another fantasy land that readers typically love, but it gives way to the author to be more creative than any other retellings. Well done!

1st POV (past) / 2 POVs / chapters length: medium / TW below

🪴King and Queen of the Underworld
🪴Fated mates
🪴"Fuck it" (iykyk)
🪴She's learning how to control her powers
🪴Olympus is utterly corrupted
🪴He falls first AND harder
🪴 Age gap (she's 23)

✨This is officially my new favorite HxP re-telling! The world-building is quite complex (it expands on the canonical lore, I suggest you have some basic knowledge of Greek mythology). It focuses on the beautiful Underworld and only visits the other realms quickly; therefore, it's not overwhelming. I love that we get a look at how Hades is killing/sentencing souls as well.

✨ The characters are full-rounded and distinct. I loved Hades and that he showed strength/dominance but was very gentle with Persephone in private and public. 🥹 They had me kicking my feet from the very beginning!! Persephone is hurt and broken but resilient and determined to escape her past by facing her fears. Her character growth was beautifully done and I admired her greatly.

✨The pacing was good. I feel like there were too many things happening but it wasn't overwhelming – just action-packed. I think that the author tried to put as much as possible in one book and some of the scenes could've been put in the sequel/deleted.
– The only thing I disliked was that there were a few scenes that were just cut off and insignificant. I feel like those would be great as bonus content but they didn't fit in the story. I'd rather have one longer scene than short snippets.

Trigger Warnings: murder, near-drowning, alcohol, PTSD (flashbacks), physical domestic violence incl. drugging and imprisonment (on page, mother – huge part of the story), souls that died by suicide (they're well taken care of 🫶🏻) ►►►► If you are triggered by sexual assault/domestic violence, skip the first 3 chapters and start with chapter 4 (more in GoodReads review)

"He wasn't just pleasuring me. He was worshipping me."

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any negative feedback is not meant as an insult to the author!

I absolutely loved the premise of this and I think it could do really freaking well if it was a tad bit more detailed and fleshed out. But nonetheless, this was a great story. I’m a sucker for anything Greek mythology and Hades and Persephone are some of my most favorite Gods

before we begin i just wanna say i like hades and persephone retellings alot so i am biased because this probably wldve been 1 star if i didnt like them so much.

so, i think the premise of this was interesting. the whole mix of faerie and gods was cool and well thought out. i liked their fae friends and thanatos so thats something!

moving on, i disliked persephone a lot in this one like she was really reckless and often did things without thinking it through and it frustrated me. hades was. hm. maybe its just me but i thought he was a little bit too possessive like always trying to control what she did which i didnt rly like. their whole relationship buildup was so random and abrupt like i dont like instalove/lust so thats me but i didnt enjoy how quickly they got together. i prefer slowburn so this is rly just a me problem but getting together within arnd 100 pages was wild to me

also they were arguing and then just randomly started doing it which was, again, abrupt. also who even is basile like i gather hes her guard and stuff but at the beginning persephone says she has had to put up with him for the last 6 months to get what she wants but what does she want??? we never get that answer.

the book had poor flow but the writing is good. i do think that other people would enjoy this but me personally i wish it was better. thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Persephone wants to run away from her controlling mother. She is attracted to Hades but her mother threatens to unleash famine.

Lots of sexy scenes. Enjoy Persephone and Hades very much. A great match. Wonderful chemistry. Terrific romantic retelling.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Unfortunately, I really did not like this book. It started with Persephone essentially being sexually assaulted, and by the time I had gotten 10 chapters in it hadn't improved. I'm sorry to say that I could not finish the book. I was not a fan of the prose and the way that the main character was treated. I wanted to like it so much but I did not. I appreciated that there were trigger warnings at the start of the book, at least, although it was jarring to open on that scene. Each sentence was short and abrupt, and I found myself skipping over a lot of the information given because there was just so much of it. I don't think this books is for me, and I unfortunately could not read any further. I'm thankful to be given the opportunity to read this book as an ARC and offer my honest opinion/review.

I'm sorry. I really wanted to love this book but I struggled. The writing was OK but I just found it felt like it had bits missing. The basics were there to be great it just didn't meet the mark.

I love Greek Mythology and have read various retellings over the years. This has all the fundamentals to be great it just didn't hot the spot for me personally

thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Netgalley for an ARC Kindle version of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Hands down my favorite retelling of Hades and Persephone. I love their romance, I cried so she’s when he was able to finally touch her. The spice was amazing but the story was so much more than I expected!

I love how you didn’t make Zeus the antagonist which he always is. Making Demeter the bad guy was a touch of genius.

i'd like to preface this review with the fact i could probably read a book about hades and persephone going to walmart and id have a good time.

⭐️ 📈

i LOVED the writing. most all of it was literally so well described and i genuinely felt like i understood so well the environment.

i enter retellings knowing that the author may either follow the original myths relatively closely or they could stray far from that path. i truly enjoyed castle's spin on persephone, bc honestly, is everyone else not equally tired of zeus being EVERYONE'S DAD?

so the nexus stone is basically her father. i like the extra level of crazy/maliciousness this adds to demeter AND that persephone ends up being such an important piece in finding it.

the fae and including their realm was a cool twist, too.

🌶️ 📈



⭐️ 📉

who even was basille? demeter was drugging persephone, siphoning her magic but what even was basille getting out of this? were they together? it kind of seemed like it but then again maybe he was just a guard?

there were so many parts of persephones story i could relate to, but she was so strong to make and then execute her plan to leave basille or wherever she was only to BAM blood tie to another man. i kept hoping she'd get stronger but she just kept making dumbass decisions like the impulsive decision to do the trials. but like i said, i can relate.. persephone doesn't know who tf she is and her mom has royally screwed her up so at the same time i can't actually blame her there.

the "court" continuously pissed me off. i'm sure it was suppose to but i wanted to reach through the book and shake all of them like WHY DOES LITERALLY NO ONE ELSE OTHER THAN HADES AND PERSEPHONE CARE ABOUT THE TITANS? i mean they said they did but idk, their "meetings" were just like so short and empty and no one gave an actual shit. lol

🌶️ 📉

orgasms = energy? they were mates and i love love. i dont have any problem reading books with little emotion and lotta sex but it's hades and persephone and castle does well to explain their bond and love for each other; i would have rathered some of their incredible bond be used more instead of orgasms; especially when they're depleted.

also, why are we talking about our mom while we are fucking.

----

all of this to say that i still really enjoyed the book overall and i'll definitely be reading book two as soon as it's out!

thank you netgalley and victory publishing for the e-arc of this book!

4.25⭐️
4🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for this e-arc

A Goddess of Spring and Shadows is a Hades and Persephone retelling with a mix of various other realms including Fae. After escaping her mother, Demeter, Persephone runs away to the Underworld, finding herself face to face with Hades. She will do anything to stay away forever from her mother, despite her mother’s attempts to get her back. Hades trains Persephone to become not only stronger physically, but with her magic that has been shunned away for so long.

There’s obviously quite a few stories out there that are Hades and Persephone. I actually did really enjoy A Goddess of Spring and Shadows. It’s face-paced, which I appreciate. And you don’t have to wait for 75% of the book for the spice and romance, because sometimes you do just need a book that delivers on the spice and plot.

I love the integration of the Fae realm in this, which is unique to any other Hades/Persephone books I’ve read. Kind of adds a different angle to the world. And just the concept of various realms in general opens up future books to explore them.

This ends on a cliffhanger but sets it up nicely for the next book. It may have been a bit predictable but only because it was the natural next step on the story. I would recommend this to readers who like Greek mythology stories but want to have a good amount of spice as well. I look forward to the next book in the series.

I love a good Hades and Persephone retelling and this one was good. Though Hades perceives himself as not a good man, he cares for Persephone and helps build up her confidence and self worth.

The author puts a bit of a twist on the mythology where she includes fae and magical items. While most of it works, however some of it, such as Persephone being born of stones was a little out there.

The book starts off with a sex scene, and while there's a lot more throughout the book, I do feel like some of them were a little unnecessary and took away from the plot. The idea of making Hades stronger through orgasms was a bit eye rolling. I ended up skipping the last few scenes.

The book does end on a cliffhanger so it will be interesting to see what the author does in the next book.

Thank you Victory Editing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have posted to Goodreads but will also post to Instagram on Nov 15 with a new release blurb as well.

To preface this point, I've read dozens of Hades/Persephone retellings, so I have a grasp on the subgenre. This book's premise had me really excited, but unfortunately, it just didn't deliver. I think if the author had done another pass of editing, it would have been better because there were a lot of plot holes and pacing issues that made it hard to stay in the story.