Neon Gods: A Scorchingly Hot Modern Retelling of Hades and Persephone

It was okay. Too many sex scenes seemed gratuitous.

Not really a good retelling of the Persephone myth.

Basically, a court of thorns and roses, beauty and the beast, and 50 shades of grey with a modern greek mythology retelling all rolled into one. Storyline is intriguing initially, but it hits all the classic tropes of enemies to lovers and forced proximity, etc. The writing could be better, but hey, we all know why we read this book, and it wasn't for the great storytelling.

Sexy, mythology, loved it!

For a spicy book, I expected spicier. Wrapped up really fast at the end. Going to give the second book a try to see if there is more character development for anyone other than Hades..

👥 Who It’s For: Readers who want a fast-paced, high-heat romance with mythological names and modern aesthetics. Fans of books like A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair or Hooked by Emily McIntire who enjoy smut-first storytelling. Romance readers looking for low-angst, high-consent dynamics in a glossy, nightclub-lit setting. 🚫 Who It’s Not For: Greek mythology purists or anyone seeking lore-accurate, powerfully divine portrayals of Hades and Persephone. Readers who dislike modern references (like paparazzi, cell phones, or Star Wars) in a myth-based world. Viewers or readers who expect strong plotting, rich world-building, or prose that elevates the erotic content. 📚 Quick (Spoiler-Free) Plot Summary: Persephone, daughter of Demeter and member of the powerful Thirteen, is thrust into an arranged marriage with the dangerous, controlling Zeus. In a bid for escape, she flees across the River Styx into the forbidden domain of Hades—long thought to be a myth himself. What follows is a steamy, sex-forward "partnership" where Persephone and Hades agree to make their public affair a scandal, undermining her value to Zeus and shielding her from harm. But as their power play deepens, so does their emotional entanglement, threatening to upend Olympus itself. 🎬 Book vs. Film: There’s no film adaptation of Neon Gods yet, but the book reads like it was written with a screen treatment in mind—quick dialogue, nightclub visuals, and sex scenes that linger long after the plot has left the room. If adapted, it would likely resemble something between Euphoria and Fifty Shades of Olympus, though likely with even more backlash if mythological accuracy is ignored again. ❓Why I Gave It 1.5 Stars: I wanted to like this book. I really did. But for every glimmer of potential, Neon Gods stumbled under the weight of careless world-building, fanfic-level dialogue, and plot logic so shaky it collapsed under even mild scrutiny. What’s presented as a darkly seductive mythological retelling is actually a glossy, sexed-up contemporary romance with the gods stripped of their godhood—no powers, no immortality, no divine consequences. The setting? Confused. The tone? Inconsistent. The mythology? Rewritten to the point of disrespect. And worst of all—the stakes were hollow. ✅ What the Book Gets Right: Quick Pacing: The book doesn’t linger in setup. It’s accessible and digestible, particularly for readers new to dark romance or mythology-inspired stories. Hermes: One of the few bright spots in terms of personality and intrigue—though not mythologically accurate, they added needed energy. Even though the character is gender swapped. ❌ What the Book Gets Wrong: The Mythology: Hades is not the younger brother of Zeus. He is the older sibling. They are both children of Cronus and Rhea. There is no version of Greek myth where they are unrelated. The Worldbuilding: Olympus with paparazzi? Gods with mobile phones? Hades holding a gun? Condom references? It reads more like a “Gods AU” fanfic than an actual reimagining of myth. The Plan (or Lack Thereof): Persephone and Hades' scheme to publicly scandalize her to escape Zeus feels absurd. Public sex displays would not decrease her value—if anything, they put her in more danger. The Writing Style: Repetitive, simplistic, and often unintentionally cringe. The prose feels more suited to fanfic than a polished novel. Epilogue: A gratuitous sex scene with no narrative weight. Instead of emotional closure or plot development, readers are left with one last round of panting and thrusting. I could go on for ages to be honest. Especially when comparing to actual Greek Mythology. ⚡ Most Baffling Creative Choices: Naming one of Hades’ three dogs “Cerberus.” That’s the name of the three-headed dog, not one of three pets. Treating Perseus—a demi-god—as a legitimate successor to Zeus, while ignoring full-god children like Ares or Dionysus. Allowing Zeus—an immortal—to die by falling out a window. Stripping all gods of their powers and still calling this a “mythology retelling.” Characters sometimes refer to themselves as humans. Why are they even called gods? 🧠 Final Thoughts: Neon Gods wants to be dark, seductive, and empowered. What it ends up being is mythological cosplay—a modern sex fantasy draped in names it doesn’t respect and stakes it doesn’t earn. If you’re in it purely for the spice, sure—there are scenes here that deliver heat. But if you were hoping for a lush, divine, lore-aware retelling of Hades and Persephone... this is not your underworld. For me, this book is the epitome of style over substance. Glossy packaging, neon lights, and zero staying power. It’s Greek mythology in name only—Instagram-filtered, Tumblr-influenced, and disturbingly careless with its source material.