A Touch of Malice (Hades X Persephone)

Product Information

International and USA Today Best Selling author Scarlett St. Clair is a citizen of the Muscogee Nation and the author of the HADES X PERSEPHONE SAGA, the HADES SAGA, KING OF BATTLE & BLOOD, and WHEN STARS COME OUT.

My feelings on this series have been pretty mixed. I really loved the first book, highly disliked the second book, and I put off reading this one because of it.Honestly, I am not even disappointed that what was promised to be a trilogy is now getting at least one more book. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters yet. I am Persephone, future Queen of the Underworld, Lady of Your Fate. May you come to dread my presence. The fact I even have to write that to fend off criticism highlights everything that is wrong with the bookish community at the moment] Persephone and Hades are engaged. In retaliation, Demeter summons a snowstorm that cripples New Greece, and refuses to lift the blizzard unless her daughter calls off her engagement. When the Olympians intervene, Persephone finds her future in the hands of ancient gods, and they are divided. Do they allow Persephone to marry Hades and go to war with Demeter, or prohibit their union and take up arms against the God of the Dead? EVEN IF ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, AND I MEAN LITERALLY NOTHING, HAPPENED DURING THE FIRST 90% OF THIS BOOK, BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE ANYTHING DID, AT THE VERY LEAST, SHOULDN'T THE BATTLE OF THE GODS THAT TAKES PLACE DURING THE LAST 10% OF THE BOOK BE WORTH ALL OF THE SENSATIONALIZATION OF THE PREVIOUS BOOKS AS WELL AS THE DIALOGUES OF CHARACTERS IN THIS BOOK? SHOULDN'T THE PLOT HOLD AT LEAST SOME VALUE???

Here am I, with the power to craft from my enemy's darkest secrets a weapon that could wound them at their core! Now, with that set-up, and keeping in mind that this is the last 10% of the book, you would expect a battle worthy of all the build-up of the series, something with action, high-stakes, and maybe a few untimely demises here and there to keep things spicy, correct? sex, sex, and too much sex. I can’t believe I am complaining about this, but it seems there are limits to how much is too much. This book could have cut the sexy scenes down by half and it would have added way more meaning to the other half of the sexy scenes. We get it. They’re trash for each other. Now, while I did mention Hades earlier, one of the biggest reasons that I'm so incredibly disappointed with this book is how it simply doesn't let its characters live up to their potential, or even develop all that much - in particular, I'm talking about how this book portrays trauma. The chart breaks down each encounter and the potential loot drops that come from the reward chests. Most fights have a limited weapon and armor pool, but Oryx — the final boss — can drop any of the items in the raid. This includes the Touch of Malice Exotic scout rifle, which has a random chance to drop from Oryx.

i do want to say that i think persephone is more tolerable in this book. shes still a pretty big whiny cry baby, but i appreciate the effort she has put in to strengthening her magic and herself. i think it works well with how the plot is playing out.