Sarah Diemer

Three thousand years ago, a god told a lie. Now, only a goddess can tell the truth. Persephone has everything a daughter of Zeus could want--except for freedom. She lives on the green earth with her mother, Demeter, growing up beneath the ever-watchful eyes of the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus. But when Persephone meets the enigmatic Hades, she experiences something new: choice. Zeus calls Hades "lord" of the dead as a joke. In truth, Hades is the goddess of the underworld, and no friend of Zeus. She offers Persephone sanctuary in her land of the dead, so the young goddess may escape her Olympian destiny. But Persephone finds more than freedom in the underworld. She finds love, and herself.

The Dark Wife

arwen

Tess

Audiobook version: Though i like the narrator from other books I've listened to, this is one book where despite having a good narrator, i enjoyed reading this book more. 
I'm still giving it 5 stars because i love Sarah Diemer's writing. I love her prose and pacing, not too mention the re-telling of this Greek mythology. It was just weird having someone else put their inflections on it. 
I recommend this book however you get it.

Kwan Ann Tan

Really good, and I loved the unconventional twist in the story!

Carol Bailey

I have always been a sucker for fairytales and myths I consider myself doubly lucky that “The Dark Wife” is a retelling of the mythical story of Persephone and Hades with a romantic twist. Certainly I could say that it was a lesbian twist but I think qualifying this story as a lesbian retelling would not do the story justice especially because I think anyone who enjoys myths and fairytales would also enjoy this story.

The story is told from Persephone’s perspective. Her life has been idyllic, until Zeus rapes and kills her lover. As if that is not horrific enough she quickly finds out that Zeus has set his sights on her. As Persephone contemplates all of this she says: “In a life of no choices, this one brash act could set me on a path toward the freedom I longed for more than anything else on – or above – the earth.” For me, this line summarizes the Persephone’s story. Can she “Rebel” and set her own course in life.

This was a well written, engaging story.

alex arias

listen…….. am i rating it this high bc it was a really strong plot? no. but am i rating it this high bc the vibes are just chefs kiss and this is probably one of my favorite myth retellings ever (and on one of my favorite myths and it’s sapphic)? absolutely. delivers on its premise and subverts expectations beautifully, and diemer’s prose is lush and lovely.

Nikki K

Read for boston reads books' sapphiction book club, May 2020 
oh man i really wanted to love this but it was just an awkward length. it was too long to be a really enchanting, mythical short story but too short to fully develop the characters and make me feel about them :((

The Dark Wife

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