Hades & Persephone Book 1: A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair

Hades & Persephone Book 1

This is a previously-published edition - ASIN: B07S9HLL34

Persephone is the Goddess of Spring by title only. The truth is, since she was a little girl, flowers have shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hopes to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist.

Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible.

After a chance encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead and the terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever.

The bet does more than expose Persephone’s failure as a Goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows—and it’s forbidden.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43175155-a-touch-of-darkness

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My Review: 5/5 Stars 

This has been on my radar for a while and I finally decided to check it out and now I wish I did earlier! This was surprisingly really great. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this version of Greek gods in the mortal world. But it was done in such a unique way and ended up working out really great. So the story follows Persephone, the daughter of Demeter and the Goddess of Spring. But the other gods aren't aware of her. She is living in New Athens as a mortal and finishing up her degree as a journalist. She wasn't a normal life and when it comes to the gods, her mother has told her to stay away from them and hide who she is. But after a chance encounter with Hades, she accidentally ends up bound in a contract with him. She must create life to the Underworld or stay there forever. Refusing to enter another cage after leaving her mother's, she will do whatever it takes to succeed. In the meantime, she decides to attack Hades through her investigating journalism. But things change between them the more they spend time together. Their attraction intensifies and whether she realizes it or not, she is changing the Underworld and the king himself. I really loved this story! It was such a different take on the Greek gods and their lives and roles. And I am only more curious to see it develop more with this series.