“Breathtaking, intense, and scorching hot, KING OF SHADOWS is the modern myth I’ve been waiting for.” -New York Times Bestselling Author Skye WarrenA mysterious billionaire…Hades owns a diamond mine, but he wants something money can’t buy—Persephone. The innocent young woman challenges his claim on her.He’ll stop at nothing to have her.The contract is binding.The daughter of his enemy…… contract is binding.
The daughter of his enemy…
Persephone wants freedom more than anything. Instead she falls into the hands of a ruthless businessman. He demands complete possession of her. Body. Mind. Soul.
He wants her submission. She demands his secrets.
Their sensual battle may break them both.
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This was the first book from Amelia Wilde and I absolutely LOVED it!!! I love Greek Mythology, I actually did a project on Hades and Persephone in the seventh grade, so this modern day retelling was right up my alley! This book was sexy, steamy, emotional, captivating and addictive and I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend it! And Hades… GAH he’s my favourite book boyfriend! It’s one of my favourite books now!! It was soo good and I will most definitely be reading the rest of Amelia’s books.
P.S. I doubt you’ll see this, but thank you Serena for the recommendation!!!
Persephone and Hades twisted even more
King of Shadows by Amelia Wilde is based on the Greek Myth of Persephone and Hades. If you are know and like the myth then you will know what happens in this story. But this one is much darker, more violent and has non-con in it.
I first became aware of Amelia Wilde through her short stories written as part of the Flirt Club series. This is a very different book from those and the other earlier books I have read and own.
In this book Persephone wants to escape her mother but when she does she ends up in the same situation as before but just in a different location and with a different person, Luther Hades, as her captor. They are opposites in every way. Where she is sweet and naive he is hard and calculating. But he wants her once he sees her and is determined to keep her any way he has to.
I am on the fence about this book. There were some things that I liked and quite enjoyed about it and there were things that I really hated and found distasteful in the extreme. This is also the first book in a trilogy so it does end in a cliffhanger.
Love the way the myth was reworked. Hated the cliffhanger.
This is an interesting story. I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed every second of it. I can’t wait to read the next book.
Persephone has been on her mother’s farm all her life except for three years. She wants to go to the city but her mother won’t hear of it. She has filled Persephone’s head about the horrible things that happen in the city. Persephone takes a chance to get on the train late one night not realizing that her life is going to change and go down a different path. Luther Hades makes a bargain with her. He knows that he is not going to be nice as it’s not in his nature. There is something about her that is bringing something out in her. Will he figure out what he really wants from her before it’s too late?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Title: King of Shadows (king of Shadows #1)
Author: Amelia Wilde
My Rating: * *3/4
Type: Series — Ends with cliffhanger
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Narration: Dual POV
Primary Characters: Persephone & Hades
Source: ARC – Courtesy or Author/publisher
Review
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for honest review.
This is the first book I’m reading and reviewing of author Amelia Wilde. I was interested after reading the blurb and realized after I read few chapters in this book that it’s a recreation of old mythological Greek story of Persephone and Hades.
In this modernized tale Demeter has hid her daughter Persephone from the world. Demeter has repeatedly told her daughter – “Devil Hades lives in the mountain”. Persephone, not being exactly aware of the dangers of world decides to run away from the clutchs of her mother and she is almost successful with the help of Decker. One-minute things will be fine and in next moment things go south bad and fast. She meets the Devil Hades and he takes her with him to his dark kingdom.
She is scared, angry, lonely and just heartbroken when Hades takes her to his kingdom in mountains. But she is also oddly attracted, fascinated and aroused by him. Hades is cold hearted, cruel, ruthless and arrogant. Arrival of Persephone has bought the dominant side of Hades too active. Now the push and pull between them have started.
Reason for Low Rating : It felt like their connection was more physical. I personally felt apart from looks none of the skills and characters were highlighted well. Total erotica theme, there was nothing new or added concept in the book. I felt like every minute of their feelings was dissected more than required.
Book moved in slow pace for me. Demeter’s reaction was exactly as expected, hope to see more of her reasons for the way she bought up her daughter so navie in the next books. I can’t comment much about Zeus at this point.
If you are interested in the modernized, erotica, dark version of Persephone and Hades story, then this is for you.
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This is the first book in a contemporary trilogy.
It’s a dark read but not as dark as some of the other
books around at the moment.
Fantastic plot that is well thought out and delivered.
Characters have strong chemistry between them.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book via Booksprout.
Amelia Wilde did a great job on King of Shadows, the plot and characters were strong, it was filled with many feelings. The story was written well. Hades and Persephone were strong characters, their journey was an emotional rollercoaster, they had many ups and downs. They were drawn to each other.
Persephone was a fighter though, she held her own.
I enjoyed this story. Thank you, Amelia Wilde. Great work 🙂
3.5 Stars*** I’ve read dark romance before, some much darker than this, and enjoyed them. But I had trouble connecting with this one. Hades is not a likeable character, but that’s to be expected. By the end of the book, I was starting to understand him and see a touch of humanity. Persephone’s character is confusing at the beginning. With her sheltered upbringing, she should be naïve and innocent, and, yet, she has an immediate recognition of and reaction to what Hades wants from her. Even though it’s explained where she got such knowledge, it doesn’t seem plausible. However, putting that aside, as I read and got to know her it was clear to see how her feelings were developing.
Although the story is very well written, the storyline’s time frame is not clear. It starts out feeling like it’s old world, but then a reference to a cell phone dispels that, making me wonder not only when but where we are. Maybe not old world but other worldly would be a more appropriate description. This is never made clear, at least not in this book. Knowing this is supposed to be based on a mythological story, it’s as if it has a foot in both worlds. Also, from the beginning I felt as if there was a backstory missing.* Again, this may be something that is explained in the 2nd book.
Fair warning to those who don’t know, this ends with a cliffhanger and is the beginning of a trilogy. I was aware before I started reading, so it didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of this story, nor is it a factor in my rating. At about 50%, I didn’t think I would be interested in the next book, but by the end I find myself wanting to know how Hades and Persephone’s love story turns out, because it is becoming one.
*P.S. I just discovered there is a prologue to this trilogy, “Prince of Chaos,” which I will read. I expect it will provide at least some of the backstory, if not all.
A great retelling of the Hades and Persephone tale! Part one of the series and i was hoked all the way. There is so much suspense, lust and emotion filled scenes that send your mind spinning into this otherworldly universe of darkness and light. well written with greatly detailed scenes and dynamic characters that draw you in to the story. i cant wait for part 2!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A wonderful story that will keep you up at all hours of the night. I loved the characters. The story was very well written,
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Amelia delivers a beautiful and completely erotic read that I was obsessed with. I can’t wait for the next story in this series.
This is a myth retelling of Hades and Persephone. I KNOW GUYS. They are my favorite too. This one though was like nothing I have ever read before. Amelia took the myth we all think we know and twisted it into this beautiful and sexy read that leaves you obsessed with both of the characters.
There was just something about he characters that completely grabs your attention and leaves you obsessed with a character you were sure you were going to dislike. Hades was. Hades, but liek no way you think you know him.
Go in with no expectations other than to get lost in this world and you will be on the edge of your seat to with this erotic retelling that takes you on a journey as you watch one characters come form the shadows and another grow into a woman from he sheltered childlike character she starts out as.
Modern take on Hades and Persephone with all the heat…and dark…
I have always been fascinated by the Hades & Persephone mythology. (So much so, that my bestie and I named a kitten we rescued Persephone due to a shared custody situation.)
Persephone has been sheltered by her mother her entire life. She has reached the point where she wants to escape. To experience things. Her fascination with the New York Public Library…I love it.
She has been taught that Hades is dangerous. That he will be her end.
So when she finds herself throwing herself at his mercy to save the boy she was meeting, she has no idea what she’s in for.
Hades (Luther) rules his world with an strict hand. Everyone has given themselves over to him in exchange for something. Little does he expect Demeter’s daughter to end up in that position.
He is fascinated by the innocent Persephone. He finds himself thinking of her more than he ever has for anyone.
They are both drawn to each other. He senses her darkness. She finds herself wanting him to do those dark things to her.
Definitely a fantastic modern take on the myth…and a much more adult take on it as well.
Dark, dark, dark. Love the dark.
This is only the beginning. Ends on a cliffie.
Can’t wait for the rest.
And I so hope Amelia explores the others, Zeus, Demeter…fingers crossed.
All hail Luther Hades!
Ruthless,
Cunning,
Ruler with an iron fist!
Luther Hades is everything but so much more! Be afraid, be very afraid because this man sent shivers down my spine!
King of the Underworld as well as King if the Shadows the very thing that bedtime stories are made of. Like the ones that grandmothers used to warn their granddaughters of the big bad wolf.
It was engraved into Persephone to stay away from a man, a man she had yet to meet, a man she’d wish she’d never met, but that man was something to her became something, something she had yet to understand all she knew was that she feared him just as much as she longed for him and that was the scariest part of all.
Okay, so not your usual kind of story from this author…but….man, did she knock it out of the park!! So dark, so delicious, so, so, so good!!! Hades and Persephone are fantastic!! Yes, it ended on a little cliff, but now I definitely can’t wait for the next installment! Definitely recommend this book!!
This story is written especially for those who love mythology. Like many modern fairy tales, this one brings the story of Persephone and Hades. That’s right, that ancient legend about the god of the underworld, brother of Zeus, who falls in love with a beauty without equal, and takes her to live with him, away from the world, after trapping her in a ruse.
Persephone was raised on a farm, far from everything, by her mother, Demeter.
She had only been to school for a short time, always hearing from her mother that she couldn’t go far, because Luther Hades, the richest man in the region, wanted her dead. But Persephone was never explained why a man who had never met her wanted to kill her.
Tired of being a prisoner, Persephone plans with a boy she met through the property’s fence to escape at night. They were going to take the train and go to NY, where she wanted to see the Library.
But at the train station, both are surprised by Hades, the station’s owner. And to prevent Hades from killing the boy, Persephone agrees to go with him to his property.
And once, it would be impossible for her to escape.
Hades had a plan of revenge against Demeter, but his plan fell apart when he became hostage to his prisoner’s delicacy, becoming himself captive to a much larger prison: love.
First part of the story, with ups and downs and breathtaking moments.
3,5 stars
Breathtaking, intense, and scorching hot, King of Shadows is the modern myth I’ve been waiting for.
I have been sitting here for a few days now trying to review this book and actually do it justice. My mind is blown. I have been speechless.
Amelia Wilde is still a fairly new author to me. I recently read a collaboration she did with Skye Warren and it’s got me intrigued to read her solo work and I was not disappointed.
King of Shadows was phenomenal in sense of the word. Honestly, though, I wouldn’t call this a romance. It had elements of a romance story, like lust and desire but there was so much more than that in this story.
This is a retelling and a new kind of to version of Persephone and Hades and I have to say it’s probably my favorite to date. I have read a handful of myth/retellings and this one just works so well for me and I couldn’t help but get lost in this plot. The way the author wrote these characters out was perfect.
Persephone is naive and sheltered, she only knows what her mother, Demeter wants her to know and wants her to believe. She’s been told if she ever sees Hades run and hide, and that Hades is one that is not to be trusted.
Hades makes deals with people, these people owe him one way or another and he collects. Persephone makes a deal and it sparks a plan in Hade’s mind and he runs with it, but what he didn’t realize would happen when it came to this naive young woman… What started out as a deal has turned into so much more.
These two couldn’t help but need each other away. Persephone has always been told to run from this man, but she finds herself running to him, rather than away. She needs him and he needs her. But will these two be able to have what they want and need or will it fall to pieces and will they be torn away from each other?
What transpires throughout the book and the way this retelling was told was captivating, dark, intense, intriguing and had my mind on overdrive. I was addicted from page one and completely lost myself into the plot. Ms. Wilde did an incredible job retelling this from the big and well-known events to the smaller details that she added in. It truly was a one of a kind read and I can’t wait to check out the rest of her solo work!
6/5 Stars!
This was a deliciously dark story! I’m definitely interested in reading more. It’s a different take on Hades and Persephone’s story but I still thought it was good. I enjoyed Hades and Persephone’s confusion with wanting each other and accepting it. This book was hot and I can’t wait to see what Hades’ has in store for the fools who decided that stealing from him is smart.
I love retellings but I’ve never read a Hades and Persephone one before. Oh my it was fantastic. I loved the characters and how dark and gritty the story is. The story really pulls you in, I sat down to read a couple chapters and next thing I knew I was 50% in.
Hades is just fantastic. So dark and I loved getting in his head.
Highly recommended!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for the Stephanie’s Book Reports.
Luther Hades has always been my family’s sworn enemy. He’s the opposite of everything we stand for-ruthless to the core. I want my freedom, but Hades wants me. And I’ve walked straight into his trap. There has to be a way out of his fortress of a mansion. I’ll get away–I have to. Even if it costs me everything. And it will cost me everything: my body, my soul, …and my heart.
If your looking for a book boyfriend that your never going to forget then you must read this book because Luther Hades will become that for you. Now how many times is anyone going to say that about the king of the underworld. That is just what Luther Hades is dark, dominating and put the A in Alpha male. There is one thing in this world that he wants and he will not apologize for it and that id Persephone. She is the light to his darkness and he is going to talk that light and bend it to his will. As for Persephone she is very sheltered and innocent and never in a million years has a chance against the king of the underworld. This story is so good and a great retelling of the original mythological tale. You don’t want to miss this one. I was hook and couldn’t put it down.