Rose Wilson

Eliza Raine

I've been kidnapped by Zeus. Plucked from the streets of Manhattan and frightened half to death by a freaking Olympian god. And now I'm trapped in the Underworld, being forced to compete in a series of deadly trials for the position of Queen of the Underworld. Which would mean marrying Hades, the utterly terrifying Lord of the Dead. Who the hell wants a husband at all, let alone one made of smoke and riddled with death? I have to get back home, to New York and my brother. But I can't leave without completing the trials and they've been designed for a godly Queen, not Persephone - barista and botanical garden enthusiast. I'm surrounded by lethal, all-powerful maniacs. Sexy-as-hell maniacs, sure, but as dangerous as they come. And I'm going to have to prove to all of them that there's a goddess of hell inside me. It's the only way I'll survive the Hades Trials. But then what? And why, why, why am I so desperate to see under Hades smoky exterior and find out what he's hiding from me? If I win the trials, I have to marry the devil himself. But losing might mean losing my life. The Power of Hades is book 1 in the Hades Trials, which is intended for adults and is packed with magic, mythology and slow-burn soulmate romance! *Contains swearing and mature themes.*

The Power of Hades

Cindy McKee

Hades

Well, this was surprising. Glad I gave it a chance. I will definitely read book two , probably this week. 😉

I'm trapped in actual hell. And just about everything here is trying to kill me. Even the god who claims he once loved me has come pretty close to ending my life. But things are about to change. I'm fed up of being Persephone - human underdog in the Hades Trials. I've managed to awaken a little bit of goddess inside me, and now I have power, I'm not afraid to use it. Although I don't actually have a clue how to. Nor do I know what I did to get cast out of Olympus twenty-six years ago, or why strangers are seeking to punish me for it. All I know for sure is that I survived the first round of the Hades Trials, and now I need to survive another. One step at a time I will get back to New York. Olympus is filled with monsters, and ruled by monsters, and I do not fit in. The trouble is, the more I discover about the mysterious King of the Underworld, the less sure I am that he fits in either. If I can survive, I'm a step closer to getting home. But if I spend much more time with Hades, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to leave.

The Passion of Hades

Excellent 

A terrific follow up to book one in the series, with a huge cliffhanger to sort out in the third book. Can’t wait!

The Greek God of the Underworld has turned my life completely upside-down and made me question everything I thought I knew about my life. And now I don't even know who I am anymore. An internal war rages inside me, as I try to balance my need for more magic with the knowledge of what power does to people in Olympus. What it may have done to me in the past. The one thing I do know though, is that my feelings for Hades are real. The Lord of the Dead is so much more than I ever realized, and something inside me knows that I need him as much as he needs me. But between the Hades Trials, the other Olympians, and whoever it is that's trying to kill me, I may not survive long enough to find a way for us to be together. Hades says a light so bright can't live in the dark. But I'm not sure a life without him is worth living. The Promise of Hades is the third and final book in the Hades Trials, which is intended for adults and is packed with magic, mythology and slow-burn soulmate romance! *Contains swearing and mature themes.*

The Promise of Hades

Finale

This was an excellent wrap up for the Hades Trials. We finally got answers to Persy’s past, who was behind the threats, and how Hades and Persephone were going to make it work without losing their souls. It was gratifying.

** spoiler alert **
           I am a huge sucker for Hades and Persephone retellings, this one did not disappoint. The author does a great job at integrating modern day aspects into the world of mythology. I loved the fact that there was a land named Virgo, being a Virgo that was a highlight (I know, super nerdy lol). 

The main character was definitely one if my favorites, she was determined to prove herself and learn about the things she once lost ( I don’t want to give anything away, but omg the twist) The dynamic between Persephone and Hades was perfect, I loved the way their pull is inevitable although it could be lethal once together. 

The side characters aren’t shy or compliments in my opinion! Between Hecate and Skop it was such a great development in relationships. Skop was hilarious, annoying in the beginning but ended up being one of my favs! I loved how Persephone’s friendship grew with Skop. 

The flow of the different stages in the trials were intense, I loved how the author incorporated different gods to determine each stage. Ugh! And the ending, yes a total cliffhanger! I will definitely be continuing the series! 

This is perfect for lovers of Hades and Persephone with a Badass heroine and amazing side characters. Absolutely loved it! Huge thanks to the author for sending me a copy of this book! I look forward to reading more!

Loved this sequel! The flow of the stories keeps you completely hooked! Persephone and Hades are luring and sexy. I love the development of Persephone’s power adonde her wit. The trials were definitely more intense than the first book. 

Here we learn more about how and why Persephone and Hades relationship has gone this path. Side characters are so relevant in this series and I love it! Hecate is such a badass, I enjoyed learning about her origins as well! I am diving into the 3rd book immediately!! That ending was eeeeeek!

I am such a huge fan of this series! Hades and persephone are my fav couple to read about. Love the unraveling of the story. Persephone is so fearless and resilient. I cant wait to read more by Eliza Raine!

Shelby Goodwin

Thanks so very much to the author for gifting me a copy of the Hades Trials collected trilogy in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed below belong entirely to me.

Calling all fellow Hades and Persephone fanatics--you’ve GOT to get your hands on this series!! It was so much fast-paced fun from start to finish. I’ve read many Greek Mythology retellings and this one proved to be super unique with the inclusion of the tricksy games the pantheon presented to poor, adorable, unsuspecting Persy.

I adored the down-to-earth depiction of this heroine in particular because she was entirely relatable and her inner turmoil was all completely relatable. I, too, would be super annoyed by and would question every underhanded request from these morally gray gods and goddesses. Each mythological figure mentioned was presented with rich characterization in a totally original, modern way that made me appreciate the author’s clever reimagining of these well known names!

I felt that this particular depiction of Hades was super steamy (literally) and mysterious in such a compelling way that has me ready to read the next two books ASAP!! The ending made my jaw drop--I totally did not see this dark moment coming. I already know this is going to be a totally bingeworth trilogy, and it’s so cool that the entire collection is available on KU all in one download!

Tatiana Alvarez 

Actual rating: 3.5!

This was a fun, fast paced read! If you are a lover of Persephone and Hades retellings, then this is a book you are definitely not going to want to miss!

Persephone has been kidnapped by Zeus and forced to compete in the Hades Trial, a set of intense and deadly endeavors that determined who will marry Hades. 

Except Persephone WAS married to Hades. At least that’s what everyone is telling her. She just can’t remember anything. She thought she was human, but she can’t deny that being near Hades feels like home. Now, in order to stay alive, she must compete for a husband she never knew she had. 

I really enjoyed the concept of trials and I especially enjoyed the masquerade trial. I think that was my favorite part of the book and there was so much that happened. Definitely couldn’t put it down during those scenes and it ended on such a bang!

My only “negative” is that I felt as if the start of this book was very abrupt. I would have liked just a little more character and world building. Luckily, we do get more of that towards the end. 

Can’t wait to check out the next one soon!

Chiara Vitale Zelaia

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Hello weakness, my old friend! Greek Mythology is a fascinating topic to me, but I’m no expert on it. I know the basics taught in school in Italy and that’s about it. However, something about the myth of Hades and Persephone hooks me every time. Maybe it’s the contrast of light and darkness, the idea of a woman who can be at once tied to Spring—the symbol of life and rebirth—and the Underworld, or maybe the thought of a dangerous, powerful man who can love a woman so fiercely, despite the odds stacked against them. Let’s be honest, that last one gets me every single time. Long story short, I was eager to dive into THE POWER OF HADES, first book in the Hades Trials trilogy (the individual covers are gorgeous, but I really recommend checking out the bind-up of the trilogy because that cover is everything and more). In many ways, the story delivered what I was expecting, but I am left feeling like I would have wanted a little bit more.

The story follows Persy, a young woman who works at a Manhattan bar. During one of her shifts, a gorgeous man walks in and asks her out. Persy refuses, but once her shift is over, sexy stranger follows her out, and impossible to explain events unfold. Persy tries to escape, but can’t. The man chasing her, in fact, is Zeus, and he’s chosen her to compete in the Hades Trials. The winner of the competition gets to marry Hades, the god of the Underwold, and though Persy wants nothing to do with this, competing and winning are the only way she’s getting out of this mess alive. Matters are further complicated, however, when Persy is told she is the goddess Persephone, though she has no recollection of this, nor does anyone explain to her why she was made to forget her life as a goddess. Even more complicated are her feelings for the elusive and mysterious Hades, to whom she feels drawn and inexplicably connected to. What happens next? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out!

The plot is very fast-paced, which isn’t a bad thing, as I love fast-moving plots, but I think the story would have benefitted on a character level if some parts had been a bit slower. We’re immediately thrust into the action, but it leaves us knowing very little of Persy and her life before she is thrust into the trials. I also would have liked to see more interactions between Hades and Persy. I know we’ll be getting a lot more of them in the next books and this first installment is setting up an epic romance, but I don’t feel like I’ve read enough to be fully invested in the ship yet. 

However, the same cannot be said for my love for Hades. He falls right into the dark and mysterious type I get weak in the knees for, and his shadowy aesthetic gives me life…no pun intended. I really can’t wait to find out more about him and to know more of his relationship with Zeus, who was another character I was oddly intrigued by. We see him assume various faces, which is very accurate to his depictions in mythology, and his flirtatious and mercurial personality and wicked scheming made it hard for me to dislike him…even if he’s not always the kindest man in the Pantheon.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I’m very curious to see where the story is headed. Recommended to all fans of Greek mythology and Hades and Persephone!

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy to review. All opinions are my own.

Kathleen Boyle

This series is addicting. It's not the best written story out there but there is no denying that it achieves what it is going for: a fast-paced romance with a brutal plot.

This was a fun and entertaining read! It's not high literature but escapism in its pure form with what appears to be a slow burn romance.

Maria Elena Vitale Zelaia

Like probably everyone (or most) in the book community who loves to read romance, I love the myth of Hades and Persephone and the different ways it can be retold and depicted. Add that to the gorgeous three covers of the singular book and the stunning bind up cover for the entire trilogy (which is the version I’m reading from Kindle Unlimited), and I was very intrigued.

The synopsis promised an exciting story, and indeed it was. Persy is working at the local bar when this extremely gorgeous man tries to ask her out. She refuses, only to find him after her shift is over and…things aren’t normal. Lightning strikes, and the man is clearly not human. Persy runs, but still she’s unable to escape. Turns out, the gorgeous man is none other than Zeus, and he chose her to compete in the Hades Trials, a competition held to choose Hades’s next bride. Not only that, but Persy is told that she’s the goddess Persephone, though no one is willing to tell her why she was made to forget her life and was sent away to live her life as a human. Persy thinks she’s dreaming and it’s not real, but she soon realizes it’s all true. Also, whenever she sees Hades’ mysterious and shadowy figure, she can’t shake the feeling that she knows him, and that she belongs with him.

The plot is fast paced from the start, which made from some great action scenes and made it so that even the down moments were exciting. However, I feel like we don’t know Persephone well, because we barely get to spend any time with Persy in the human world before Zeus whisks her away to face the trials. We know she loves plants, and we’re told she’s a fan of Greek mythology, but we don’t see any friend or family or see if she has any hobby outside of gardening. So I think this is the sort of story where you really need to read the entire series to grasp the full picture and to truly get to understand the characters’ every facet, because you find out things about them alongside the action rather than being eased into their lives first and then following them in their journey. 

As far as the romance goes, this first book teases exciting thing to come in the following two books. Hades and Persephone don’t have many scenes together, but I could feel the tension in the ones that were there. I’m also looking forward to understand what it was that Persephone did that got her banished—if it was even her fault. Seeing how most of these gods are petty, jealous, and entitled, I wouldn’t be surprised if things are even more complicated than one could imagine. 

I recommend this book to fans of fast-paced books and of Greek mythology, although I would warn them to buckle up and be patient because I have a feeling that the best is yet to come!

Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of the complete trilogy The Hades Trials: The Complete Collection. (By the way, the cover is gorgeous and I'll be featuring it on my Instagram page soon!) Opinions are my own.

The Power of Hades

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