Neon Gods

Author: Katee Robert
Pages: 380
Overall: 3.5/5
Setting: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
Plot and Themes: 3/5
Cheers Factor: 3.5/5
Pairing: Where Darkness Meets the Light

This cocktail is super simple and has literally two ingredients, but the flavors all work really well together. It’s essentially a gin and soda with mango. Plus it has this really vibrant color contrast that reminds me of neon signs and I felt it worked really well with this title.

Ingredients
-1.5 oz empress gin
-¾ of a can of Mango Bubbly
-ice

Instructions
-Fill a short glass with ice
-Add in bubbly leaving enough room for the gin
-Using a stirring spoon gently layer the gin on top
-Enjoy responsibly

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Take a shot: What if the greek gods lived today and Olympus was a place here on earth? What if Hades used a cellphone and had a Christian Grey style of interests? Well look no further you get all the spice with this Hades and Persephone retelling.


Setting
Truly this was the best aspect of the novel. I think the setting was very interesting, setting up Hades as simply being in the lower city as the designation of Hell instead of traditional ways of showing where he resides. I also think the setting was very easy to see and create in my head.


Characters
I did like the characters oddly more than I do usually in this genre. However, I was quite annoyed with the repetition of things the characters did. I’m not a huge fan of the damsel concept anyway and it was so present in this. Like Persephone constantly needing to be taken care of by Hades because she forgets to eat or walks too long and over tires herself? It felt a little condescending and almost manufactured. I know everyone wants to be taken care of that way, but it just felt grating a little.


Plots and Themes
There was a real plot with a beginning, middle and end. That was a great addition because again in this genre plots can sometimes fall a little flat. I wish we had more resolution with the mother storyline, but I know there’s going to be more installments. I also wish there had been a little more elaboration on a number of small moments. It would have truly made a difference and I’m curious as to what future installments will bring.


Overall
This was a pleasant and quick read that I liked. It was an easy read and was paced well enough that I felt invested in the characters. Overall, I really liked it and will be reading future installments.

Too strong - The character traits of neglectful damsel and overprotective male love interest
Raise a Glass - Exhibitionism, dark and broody love interest, his name is Hades

Warning spoilers ahead if you click read more. Proceed at your own risk.​

I rarely say this about smut books but I wish there was more smut. I had to wait until the literal end before we actually got what was teased the entire novel and that was so strange. I also cannot help but see the parallels to ACOMAF which is funny because it is loosely a hades and persephone relationship. The scene where they are in the “playroom” the first night is literally Feyre’s first night in the Court of Nightmares. It actually had my brain exploding a little with the realization that I’m silly and never connected the dots. I thought it was a fun little trip for a quick 380 pages.
    I also hated the mom lowkey. Like she does not care about her kids no matter how many times the author tried to tell me. Also the creepy elderly Zeus made me mega uncomfortable. I also wasn’t a fan of the concept that Zeus was just able to kill people and all that. Like I just don’t know how accurate it seemed to be honest. I get that Zeus is very powerful, but not in this overlordship way he’s portrayed here.