Okay, let's talk Hades and Persephone books. We've all seen them. They're everywhere. Towering stacks at bookstores, dominating our TikTok feeds, whispered about in hushed tones at book club. And look, I get it. Dark romance? Forbidden love? A goddess kidnapped by a broody underworld king? It's catnip for a lot of readers (including a past version of myself).
But, and this is a big BUT, I have a confession to make. Maybe even an unpopular opinion. Deep breath... I'm kind of over them.
I know! Hear me out! It's not that I hate the idea. The original myth is fascinating. It's a story about seasons, about power, about a mother's love. About pomegranate seeds and their sticky, irrevocable deliciousness! It's got layers! The thing is, after reading approximately 7,482 retellings, they all start to blur together.
Am I the only one who feels this way? It always starts the same. Persephone is some kind of naive, flower-child-esque character. She's often described as clumsy or shy or both. Then BAM! Hades shows up. He's all dark and brooding, a real "tortured soul" type. He's impossibly rich, impossibly powerful, and impossibly obsessed with our sweet, innocent Persephone.
He whisks her away to the Underworld. Cue a lot of internal monologue about how scared and maybe-sort-of-intrigued she is. Add in some underworld politics, a dash of family drama (thanks, Hera!), and a hefty dose of steamy scenes. Rinse and repeat.
Best 12 The greek myth of Hades and Persephone is one of the well known
Look, I’m not knocking the steam. I enjoy a good romance as much as the next person. But it feels like the core of the myth – the powerful mother-daughter bond, the explanation of the seasons, the complexities of power dynamics – often gets sidelined in favor of "Who's hotter: Hades or Eros?" (Spoiler alert: it's always Hades.)
Then there's the whole "kidnapping is romantic" trope. Hades basically yoinks Persephone against her will in the original myth. While the retellings often try to soften this by making her curious or willing, it still sits a little uncomfortably. Can we maybe find a different meet-cute for the Lord of the Dead? Like, maybe they both reach for the last olive at a mythical Greek salad bar?
Bring on the Quirky Retellings!
Don't get me wrong, some Hades and Persephone books are genuinely good. The authors bring something new to the table. They explore different aspects of the characters, delve deeper into the political intrigue, or even give Persephone a personality beyond "adorable flower."
How to read the Hades x Persephone Saga in order
I'm yearning for a version where Persephone is a savvy businesswoman who renegotiates her contract with Hades every year to get better benefits for the souls in the Underworld. Or one where she and Demeter start a cooperative farm and sell organic produce at the farmer's market (powered by hellhounds, naturally).
Give me a Hades who's secretly a huge fan of reality TV! Give me a Persephone who rocks combat boots and doesn't take crap from anyone! Give me a Cerberus who's obsessed with belly rubs!
Hades With Persephone
See, I'm not completely heartless. I just want something different. Something...fresh. Something that remembers that Persephone wasn’t just a damsel in distress waiting for a dark god to rescue her from... herself, I guess?
Maybe I'm just burnt out. Maybe I've overdosed on brooding underworld kings and blushing flower goddesses. But please, authors of the world, hear my plea: Give us a Hades and Persephone story that isn't just the same myth repackaged with a new cover and a slightly different shade of purple. Let’s get weird! Let’s get creative! Let’s get… maybe a little bit silly?
Because honestly, I'm ready for a Hades and Persephone book that makes me actually laugh out loud (and maybe also cry a little, because feelings). Is that too much to ask?
