Neon Gods Book Review - No Spoilers
Last Tuesday, I was driving home from the grocery store when construction detoured me through a neighborhood I'd never been to before. Sometimes life pushes you off your planned route and you end up somewhere completely unexpected. That's what happens to Persephone in Neon Gods by Katee Robert. This scorching modern retelling of Hades and Persephone shows what can happen when you're forced to take a different path.
Plot Summary
Persephone Dimitriou is a society darling in the ultra-modern city of Olympus, ruled by the Thirteen Houses. She plans to escape the city and its backstabbing politics. But her mother Demeter forces her into an engagement with Zeus, the most dangerous and powerful man in Olympus. Zeus has a dark reputation. Past wives have mysteriously disappeared. With no other options, Persephone flees across the River Styx into the forbidden undercity. There she meets Hades, a man everyone believes is just a myth. Hades rules the lower city from the shadows. When Persephone arrives, he sees an opportunity for revenge against Zeus. He makes her a deal. She stays with him for three months. They attend parties together and engage in public displays that will ruin her reputation. Zeus won't want damaged goods. In return, Hades gets to use their relationship to strike back at the man who destroyed his family. Persephone agrees because she has nowhere else to go. What starts as a business arrangement becomes something neither of them expected.
Why I Love This Book
I love how Katee Robert takes the classic Hades and Persephone myth and makes it feel contemporary and fresh. This isn't a fantasy world with actual gods. It's a modern city where names like Zeus, Hades, and Demeter are titles passed down or earned. The world-building is clever. Olympus feels like a real place with its own politics and power struggles. Hades is such a compelling character. He's been living in the shadows, written off as a myth by the upper city. But he's built something good in the lower city. He values consent above everything else. Even when Persephone proposes their arrangement, he makes sure she truly wants it. I appreciate how the book handles consent throughout their relationship. They establish boundaries and safe words. Persephone is more than just someone running away. She's smart and determined. She knows what she wants and she's not afraid to ask for it. The chemistry between them is electric. The spice scenes are very hot and well-written. But there's real emotion underneath the heat. Both characters are dealing with trauma and learning to trust again.
Who Will Like This Book
This book is perfect for readers who love Greek mythology retellings with a modern twist. If you enjoy spicy romance with explicit content, this delivers. Fans of forced proximity and fake relationship tropes will eat this up. The book works well for readers who want their romance mixed with political intrigue and revenge plots. If you appreciate books that prioritize consent and communication, even in steamy scenes, you'll love this. The writing is engaging and the pacing keeps you hooked. This is the first book in the Dark Olympus series, so if you like it, there are more stories set in this world.
Trigger Warnings: Explicit sexual content, public sex, violence, murder, abuse (off-page), death, dark themes, forced engagement, references to past disappearances/deaths of Zeus's former wives
Tagged As
Greek Mythology Retelling, Hades and Persephone, Modern Fantasy, Forced Proximity, Fake Relationship, Enemies to Lovers, Urban Fantasy Romance, Spicy Romance, Consent-Focused, Political Intrigue
