🍷🍷🍷🍷 #Review of Neon Gods by Katee Robert

Title: Neon Gods
Series: Dark Olympus #1
Author: Katee Robert 
Format: Kindle, 380 pages
Published: June 1st 2021 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN 13: 1728231736

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N 

Reviewer: Crystal

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4 out of 5 Wine Glasses

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He was supposed to be a myth. But from the moment I crossed the River Styx and fell under his dark spell... he was, quite simply, mine.

Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that’s ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city’s dark facade.

With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil’s bargain with a man she once believed a myth... a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed.

Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he’s spent years craving, it’s all the excuse he needs to help her—for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he’ll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her close…

Crystal's Thoughts

Neon Gods is a modern-day retelling of the well-known Greek mythology tale of Hades and Persephone. Sexy, edgy, and wicked this new twist on Olympus captivated. 

Persephone, daughter of Demeter and socialite in the world of the powerful Thirteen, is counting down the days until she can escape Olympus and all it's corruptness. When her mother sets her up as Zeus' fiancé in a bid for power though, Persephone knows that unless she finds some way out of  the arranged marriage she will never leave Olympus and may even loose her life at the hand's of the powerful head of the Thirteen like so many before her. In a desperate attempt to flee Zeus' machinations, Persephone finds herself fleeing to the other side of the River Styx, and into Hades domain. A member of the Thirteen shrouded in mystery and is said to no longer exist... Oh how wrong they were... Because not only does Hades exist, but he has his own score to settle with Zeus and he is not above using the beautiful Persephone to do it. Can Persephone use Hades' need for revenge to escape both Zeus and Olympus, or will they both go up in flames in the best possible way? 

Katee Robert makes the ancient Greek mythos her own in her debut release of the Dark Olympus series.  Neon Gods was brimming with romance, betrayal, action, and intrigue. I simply adored Hades' character. He was so darn sweet and I empathized with his OCD around the house. lol The banter between him and Persephone was phenomenal. And the way Hades falls head over heels for Persephone, seeing the women beneath the surface and not just the image she portrays to the rest of the world? Swoon. Tension builds between Hades and Persephone with only one obvious conclusion. This is one of those sex-before-feelings romances but their chemistry is combustible. Their relationship also falls to the more erotica side of romance with exhibitionism and it is hawt. Those feelings do develop though as they get to know one another and it won't be long before you're rooting for that HEA. Persephone herself was a strong, cunning heroine who despite not having any interest in playing the games that Olympus thrived on, didn't shy away from them when it came down to it. The plot had plenty of twists and turns, a few were somewhat predictable but still entertaining. 

There was plenty of side characters and side plot lines to the tale to keep the story moving. At first, they were difficult to keep track of, but as the story progresses they each are weaved into the storyline nicely. We're introduced to Persephone's three sisters, each one different than the other in personality, and I am interested to see where the series goes with them. The world of Olympus itself is dark and perilous. However, I didn't quite understand the world that was built around these characters, how it related to the human world, and if these character's that took on the Gods moniker's were human or not. Are those outside of Olympus aware of them? I definitely would have preferred more of a backstory on Olympus and it's beginnings. 

Neon Gods was a great reintroduction to Katee Robert's writing, as it's been a while since I have picked up a book from her. I've never been disappointed by any of them.  Bottom line, if you enjoy a bit of dark romance with an erotica edge and an old story turned new again, give Neon Gods a try. 

Dark Olympus Series