Saturday, March 7, 2009

Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman - Review


Most of us are familiar with the Greek myth: Persephone's the innocent daughter of Demeter, the harvest goddess, who was abducted by Hades to the Underworld. Her mother grieves until Zeus agrees to bring Persephone back. But she has eaten a pomegranate in the Underworld so she stays half the time with Hades in the Underworld, half the time with Demeter. Hence summer and winter.

Great story but here Persephone wants to set the record straight. She was NOT abducted but wooed and won by the handsome and charismatic Hades, agreeing willingly to follow and marry him. She CHOSE love and independence from her mother, and has found her calling, greeting new arrivals and helping them adjust. She even starts a garden of her own. Hades is, of course, King of the Underworld, still a little power hungry, still very political, but certainly in love with Persephone and always lets her choose for herself.

This is a light, fun story of love and duty, power and obligation, pain and sacrifice - and how even gods and goddesses have obligations too.

Of course it also has a wonderful cover! (And it's due out in May.)

1 comment:

Nancy said...

Thank you for this great review. I have seen this book on other blogs, but really did not know what it was about. It sounds amazing and will have to add it to my book wants pile.