Don’t miss this sexy retelling of Hades & Persephone!Make a deal with the devil.I once loved a hero–until he became a villain.My name is Wonder. I’m a bookish, bow-wielding goddess who spends my immortal days trying to forget that demon ever existed.I’d believed my history was buried and forgotten. I thought that I’d never see him again.I was wrong.Now, on the brink of an immortal battle … again.
I was wrong.
Now, on the brink of an immortal battle between rebel deities and celestial rulers, I have to find a way to defeat my enemies. The key lies deep inside a magic, subterranean library filled with twisting corridors, forbidden books, and secret legends.
Yet trespassing through a deadly forest and breaking into an ancient library isn’t the problem.
The problem is that I’ll have company: the devilish god from my past.
His name is Malice. And he’s got his own agenda with me.
Step into this seductive world where young gods rule, mortals are toys, and forbidden lovers collide. Tempt is the third book in the Selfish Myths urban paranormal romance series by Natalia Jaster. If you like starcrossed enemies, arrogant immortal gods, and sexual tension with heart, this slow burn mythology retelling of Hades and Persephone will make you swoon. Scroll up to get your copy now!
Mature young adult/new adult: sexual content and language. For readers 17 and older.
What readers are saying:
“The swoon was glorious!” – Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★
“Smart, sexy, and emotional…” – Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★
“It was also one of the hottest books I’ve ever read.” – Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★
“You will not be disappointed. Especially if you’re a fan of slow burns with extra steamy scenes.” – Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★
“Holy smokes Batman – this was a scorching read!” – Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★
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I love this series! And I think this may be my favorite it in so far! Malice, Malice, Malice. He was such an interesting character. He was one to say whatever was on his mind, be it good or bad! And a lot of naughty things came from that Malicious tongue! Loved him!
Wonder has always been a strong side character, and she was even more so with having her point of view this time around. We get to really crack into her backstory and find out what makes her tick.
The swoon was glorious! That is the best word to describe it because Jaster writes the best romance scenes in the world! They are just so emotionally, explicitly perfect! Really, really loved this one! Now, I can’t wait to see how Envy and Sadness’s story will play out next!
I am on the fence with this book. While I liked Tempt better than Torn I recognized a lot of the same issues that I had with the previous book in this one. It still was an enjoyable read, but it took until almost halfway through the book for me to get fully hooked.
Tempt, I was told, is supposed to be a … retelling? A play on? Something along those lines of the myth of Hades and Persephone. Now, I am by no means an expert on that specific story so maybe I missed something, but from what I do know of it I just can’t see where in Tempt that myth took place. Sure, Malice read a book about it in the beginning and there were an abduction. However, not really though, because Wonder went with him by complete free will and was never a prisoner to him. However much I looked I just could not see any connection to Hades and Persephone’s story more than the nicknames “Demon” and “Wildflower”. Going into the story thinking and being excited that that was what it was going to be about I am a bit disappointed that the plot did not reflect it.
The plot in itself wasn’t bad though, just not what I was expecting. I liked the start point of Malice and Wonder being enemies, but still this tension and attraction between them. I really enjoyed the bickering and the competitiveness and of course I really loved Malice and his charming but devious side. Most of all I liked the mystery of the past, if Malice was who he might be and how he came to be Malice. It built up to be dramatic, or rather it should have but to me it didn’t quite reach what I was hoping for. This is where the issue from previous book came in. There was a lot of recapping instead of their interactions being written out and some skipping to make the time in the book move faster. There was also those tangents and detailed thoughts as filler pieces that, for me anyways, dulled the story a bit. Thankfully, none of this was as bad or as apparent as it was in Torn. Still, it made the story feel a bit stuck until halfway through.
As soon as the mystery began to unravel and the story took time to write out the developing relationship I finally got fully hooked. There were complex romance, lust, drama, action, everything to keep me glued to the pages. Then the most heartbreaking and beautiful moments when tragedy hit. You know a story has succeeded when you cannot do anything else but bawl your eyes out while you read. And then that sweet relief of a HEA ending that made all that heartbreak worth it in the end. Relationshipwise Tempt had a stellar ending and a beautiful middle. Just a little bit more focus on the depth in the beginning with the tension and arguments and it would have had a great romance all throughout.
The romance wasn’t all the story had though and here it’s were I have the biggest issue. Behind and between the romance is the battle for humans right to free will. It’s a beautiful idea, but sadly I do not feel that it was handled as great as it could have been. Only in the first book, Touch, do we actually see it have a realistic impact on a deity and her actions having consequences on free will. This being because that plot was immersed in the human world and with human characters. Torn and Tempt only takes place around deities and outside of humans so this big battle for free will and how every deity has grown a conscience about it feels out of place. After all, how can it be so important if these characters are outside of human civilization and only interact with each other? If you are going to have it be the main obstacle in the story then it also needs to be an immersed issue in the actual plot.
The plot was much more focused on building a romance while doing research in the archives. Them trying to find a solution to the big battle was therefore of very little interest to me and seemingly not much interest to the characters either since they where more into finding out about the past and their destiny. The solution to win the battle was just something they happened to stumble upon amongst all that and the solution in the end was very vague and felt a bit childish on a fairytale level. It made this battle feel even more forced, especially with a bunch of new deities joining them when all they had in their advantage was that vague answer to winning the battle. Oh, and the more focused research about their destiny was just as vague and having finished the book I still don’t know why Malice became Malice or why he was resurrected. The only maybe-answer I got was because the stars wanted it so.
I am always behind the enemies to lovers theme. I just wanted a bit more explanations and depth to it and the romance would have been perfect. Removing the whole free will obstacle out of the story, both in Torn and Tempt would also give it another plus since the romance being the sole focus is more than enough. I also gotta point out that I appreciate that the author tries different relationships in every book, as is even written in the story; “Strangers to lovers, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, allies to lovers.” I don’t know if this was planned by her, but as a side note with no impact whatsoever of my opinions to the series, I have also noticed that she switches sexual experience in every book; both virgins, only female virgin, only male virgin and next will be zero virgins. I am excited to read about Envy and Sorrow next and I am hoping that the big battle will actually be a bit more connected to the plot this time since it is the last book.
I have to admit – I’ve been DYING for more of Wonder’s back-story since I first read Touch ages ago, and I was not disappointed. Learning how she obtained her scars, and what happened to the boy she met a lifetime ago, was worth all of the feels.
Natalia has an amazing ability to weave stories full of rich imagery with fully formed characters that fairly jump off of the page. And the steamy parts? Oh, la – they are EVERYTHING. Her fluid writing makes the scenes come alive, leaving your pulse racing.
I am not ashamed to admit this story brought me to tears several times. I fully enjoyed learning more about Wonder and Malice, and look forward to meeting them again in the next book.
I’ve loved all the Selfish Myths books so far and this book was no exception! Hades x Persephone / Malice x Wonder!!!!
Holy smokes Batman – this was a scorching read! *fans self* It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Natalia Jaster’s books but this one might just be my favourite yet (and that’s a massive compliment because I totally adore all of her other works!) I loved absolutely everything about Tempt: the characters, the setting, the story… it was sheer perfection. Hades and Persephone retellings are totally a weakness I never knew I had. Throw in an enemies to lovers trope and I am in literary heaven!
Full disclosure: I’m on Natalia’s ARC Team but this in no way has influenced my rating. I was so happy to be sent this little beauty. It went a long way to cure me of the book hangover I had been suffering from and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time!
Now, enough waffling… onto the review!
At the end of Torn (the second book in the Selfish Myths series), Wonder first set eyes on Malice, the malevolent exile god whose appearance managed to rattle the normally unflappable deity. Malice too seemed to be affected by Wonder. This interesting little altercation left me salivating for their backstory so when I found out the next book would be about them, well I was very happy, to say the least!
Wonder is part of a class of gods and goddesses that have dared to go against their makers. Love fell for a mortal boy, Anger fell hard for a failed goddess. Now it is Wonder’s turn.
A celestial battle approaches and any advantage could mean the difference between life and death. Wonder knows she will need to gather as much information as she can in order to defeat her enemies. The only problem is that she will have to put her trust (and fate) in the hands of Malice, a former god now exiled and a prisoner of the gang.
The two of them have to break into a subterranean library relying on only their wits to get them where they need to go and each other. A precarious situation, for sure. Wonder isn’t sure of Malice’s intentions and is even less sure of her own conflicting feelings for the sharp-tongued exile. For Malice is the spitting image of her lost love – a mortal whose downfall she played a huge part in and for which she still carries a load of guilt.
But Malice couldn’t possibly be her lost love, could he? It just wouldn’t be possible… still, stranger things have already happened and as she gets closer to Malice, she begins to see that what she thought wouldn’t have been possible is becoming more and more likely the more she gets to know Malice.
The two grow closer as they spend time in their favourite domain: both of them are scholars at heart, and Wonder sees new sides to Malice each day they are ensconced among the forbidden tomes. However, Wonder will find herself torn between the love she once felt for her mortal boy and the ever-increasing feelings she has for his celestial doppelganger. She will have to make a choice and in doing so may forever break her own heart…
Alright, I was intrigued for Wonder and Malice’s pairing, I will not deny it, but I wasn’t prepared for just how swept up I would become in their story. Their relationship was everything I never knew I needed. I was full-on swooning
I have always had a soft spot for Wonder. I love bookish types and her character just always appealed to me right from the very first book. I was intrigued by her backstory and the suffering she endured as punishment for her supposed transgressions.
Malice also drew me in from his first appearance in Torn. I do love a bad boy but Malice was something else entirely. He was a villain – no doubt about it – but I really wanted to know what made him the way he was and when I realized he was destined for Wonder I was very curious to see how his redemption would play out.
I was not disappointed. His growth is this book was nothing short of phenomenal. Wonder played a part in this but it wasn’t just love that was responsible for his recovery and eventual healing. Learning about his past and shaking off the demons that came with it was very satisfying and cathartic.
There was nothing I didn’t enjoy about Tempt. The story was amazing and Wonder and Malice are now my very favourite power couple of this series! It was great also catching up with Love and Andrew, Merry and Anger, and Sorrow and Envy (can’t wait for their book!) The story is falling into place nicely, the stakes are high and the characters are poised for action. They are on the precipice of war – not just to change the fates but for their very own survival. I can’t wait to see how this is resolved in Transcend (and isn’t that title fabulous?)