A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair is a retelling of the story of Hades and Persephone. As someone who is fascinated by mythology stories, this was the main reason for me picking out this book. This fantasy romance retelling also kept popping up all over book-related pages I follow on Instagram; it made me curious. The setting of the story is modern, although it is different than the world we know.
A Touch of Darkness focuses on the characters of Persephone and Hades in New Athens. Persephone is the Goddess of Spring, but her powers of creation are non-existent. She is a journalism student and wants to experience a normal college life with her studies and friends. This is a world where the Gods exist among humans and are known to the public. Persephone on a night out unknowingly makes a bet with Hades. Now, she is bound to him. She has six months to create life in the Underworld, or she has to surrender her freedom to Hades.
Persephone and Hades are clearly attracted to each other from the get-go. Persephone is cautious, and understandably so, after what she knows about his reputation. Slowly, she uncovers that there is more to him than meets the eye. When they are together, she forgets all about how she needs to keep a distance from him, and it is depicted so naturally. The sexual tension keeps heightening, and there is an intensity to these characters when they are together. They have amazing chemistry, and their romance is steamy and thrilling. Both of them seem to change through the course of the story. I went into it expecting romance, and it surpassed my expectations. Hades is such an alluring personality. He is intense, broody, and mysterious. It’s a different spin than what we know about the character in Greek Mythology and the same for Persephone.
The story is fast-paced, but still, it makes you care about the characters. Persephone hasn’t grown up in the glamour world of Gods but in a secluded house with just her mother. Her mother is overbearing and overprotective; they have a difficult relationship. When Persephone runs into Hades for the first time, there is a clear attraction there. Their romance develops naturally, even if it happens much quicker. She is headstrong and sometimes makes rash decisions, but other than she is an engaging character. The story is told completely from her perspective, and it is through her eyes that we explore this world.
A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair is a fantasy romance that keeps you hooked. Retellings can go either way, I feel. They can be really good, or they are not interesting at all. This one was engaging from the first page. It gives you familiar aspects yet changes a lot of things. I didn’t know this was a series of books, but I liked the ending, for me, it seems complete. Maybe I’ll read the other books eventually. A Touch of Darkness has romance and characters that keep you interested. I liked the world that was created in it. I enjoyed reading this story, and I might go back to it.
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