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Pomegranate #1
Pomegranate
All legends are born out of truth. Yet there is one that’s true story has all been but forgotten. Legend tells us that Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades were brothers who overthrew the first gods, taking the world for themselves. Drawing lots, Zeus, king of the gods, became ruler of the skies. Brave Poseidon drew the lot of the seas, but wicked Hades was tricked into drawing the lot of the Underworld where he became the most feared and hated of the gods. This is merely legend though. The truth... The truth is very different.
For in the beginning, Hades was not a god, but an immortal of Olympus. Once a mortal of earth, Hades had so pleased the gods that life among them was granted. On Mount Olympus, Hades’ eternal youth was that of pure beauty said to have rivaled the beauty of Aphrodite herself. All were captivated by the splendor that was Hades, but Zeus most of all. For Zeus loved her.
But the love of a fickle god can be cruel, and Hades’ betrayal will have its vengeance. For Hades is destined for a dark and terrible greatness.
For in the beginning, Hades was not a god, but an immortal of Olympus. Once a mortal of earth, Hades had so pleased the gods that life among them was granted. On Mount Olympus, Hades’ eternal youth was that of pure beauty said to have rivaled the beauty of Aphrodite herself. All were captivated by the splendor that was Hades, but Zeus most of all. For Zeus loved her.
But the love of a fickle god can be cruel, and Hades’ betrayal will have its vengeance. For Hades is destined for a dark and terrible greatness.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 12, 2017
About the author
Nicole Scarano
16 books123 followersNicole Scarano is an avid fiction reader and film enthusiast; her favorites being dystopian, apocalyptic, fantasy, and action sprinkled with a little romance here and there. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her rescued pitbull, China (who was part of the inspiration for Kerberos in her first novel, Pomegranate). Nicole's passion for writing consumes her free time, especially when it includes snuggling on her sofa with China. Her love of writing is so strong, she even tattooed a quote from one of her stories on her rib-cage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
July 20, 2021
2,25
Ho sentito di parlare di questo libro come un retelling del mito di Ade e Persefone genderswap, ma come tale lascia molto a desiderare, in quanto l'opera si concentra principalmente intorno alla figura di Ade e la storia che la circonda, travolgendola rispetto a quella da noi conosciuta tramite la mitologia greca.
Questo stravolgimento può e risulta anche effettivamente interessante a tratti, ma non riesce comunque a salvare quest'opera, visto che la stesura della stessa non mi ha convinto ed è inoltre anche riuscita ad annoiarmi.
Bisogna poi parlare dello sviluppo immotivato della relazione tra Ade e il suo amante, visto che sembra che il loro amore reciproco nasca quasi dal nulla.
Per quanto riguarda il rapporto tra lei (Ade) e Zeus, l'ho trovato un aggiunta comprensibile per lo sviluppo della storia, ma non mi è particolarmente piaciuto, anche a causa di come sono state scritte ed esplorate le loro dinamiche.
Ma la cosa che ho trovato più infuriante è stato il finale: non ho sopportato di leggere come .
Per quanto riesca comprendere questa decisone a livello emotivo, mi fa infuriare pensare che la protagonista .
Inoltre, vista la premessa del libro questa scelta mi ha lasciato ulteriormente l'amaro in bocca, perché mi è sembrato un tradimento da parte dell'autrice.
Penso che avrei gradito maggiormente la scena finale se l'interesse amoroso fosse stato un personaggio femminile perché non ci sarebbero state connotazioni esterne all'opera a tingere di colori cupi questa decisione. Inoltre, credo sarebbe stato interessante rendere il mito di Ade e Persefone lgbtq+.
Per quanto riguarda i retelling di Ade e Persefone che ho letto al momento, questo risulta sicuramente quello che mi ha convinto di meno, ma lo consiglierei a chi ne desideri uno in cui la componente sessuale non sia presente.
Ho sentito di parlare di questo libro come un retelling del mito di Ade e Persefone genderswap, ma come tale lascia molto a desiderare, in quanto l'opera si concentra principalmente intorno alla figura di Ade e la storia che la circonda, travolgendola rispetto a quella da noi conosciuta tramite la mitologia greca.
Questo stravolgimento può e risulta anche effettivamente interessante a tratti, ma non riesce comunque a salvare quest'opera, visto che la stesura della stessa non mi ha convinto ed è inoltre anche riuscita ad annoiarmi.
Bisogna poi parlare dello sviluppo immotivato della relazione tra Ade e il suo amante, visto che sembra che il loro amore reciproco nasca quasi dal nulla.
Per quanto riguarda il rapporto tra lei (Ade) e Zeus, l'ho trovato un aggiunta comprensibile per lo sviluppo della storia, ma non mi è particolarmente piaciuto, anche a causa di come sono state scritte ed esplorate le loro dinamiche.
Ma la cosa che ho trovato più infuriante è stato il finale: non ho sopportato di leggere come .
Per quanto riesca comprendere questa decisone a livello emotivo, mi fa infuriare pensare che la protagonista .
Inoltre, vista la premessa del libro questa scelta mi ha lasciato ulteriormente l'amaro in bocca, perché mi è sembrato un tradimento da parte dell'autrice.
Penso che avrei gradito maggiormente la scena finale se l'interesse amoroso fosse stato un personaggio femminile perché non ci sarebbero state connotazioni esterne all'opera a tingere di colori cupi questa decisione. Inoltre, credo sarebbe stato interessante rendere il mito di Ade e Persefone lgbtq+.
Per quanto riguarda i retelling di Ade e Persefone che ho letto al momento, questo risulta sicuramente quello che mi ha convinto di meno, ma lo consiglierei a chi ne desideri uno in cui la componente sessuale non sia presente.
April 30, 2021
A simple and genderbent romance imbedded in a slow and detailed character driven story - I'm in love.
Hades moves with purpose always and seeing her take the time to establish small bits and pieces over time before building up to a great stand-off was a refreshing change in pace. The language and world-building was lovely and Hades is a truly morally gray character, making decisions that even I questioned as being necessary.
This story isn't action-packed or fast-paced or explosive and because of that, I felt like I could breathe during Hades' development and progression toward gaining the respect she deserves.
I love a good golden retriever boy in love with his goth gf - yes, yes, yes.
Hades moves with purpose always and seeing her take the time to establish small bits and pieces over time before building up to a great stand-off was a refreshing change in pace. The language and world-building was lovely and Hades is a truly morally gray character, making decisions that even I questioned as being necessary.
This story isn't action-packed or fast-paced or explosive and because of that, I felt like I could breathe during Hades' development and progression toward gaining the respect she deserves.
I love a good golden retriever boy in love with his goth gf - yes, yes, yes.
May 18, 2020
"You say you love me, but with only your mouth."
As soon as I hear "gender-swapped" anything, I'm in. To be honest, I'm not too familiar with the original story of Hades, but I loved this version. Hades is an immortal who lives on Olympus with Zeus and the other gods. She and Zeus are lovers up until the point he has to marry Hera, and Hera in her usual vengeful way, wants to get rid of Hades by making her a god and exiling her to the underworld.
However, Hades fits right in there, befriending the locals and making the 3-headed Kerberos her little lapdog. She goes to Earth to make a mortal fall in love with her to make Zeus jealous, and by chance, actually falls in love with the mortal and learns what it means to be truly loved in return. However, this wounds Zeus' pride and he starts a war between gods to get Hades back. If she can't earn the prayers of the people and find her weapon, Zeus will destroy everyone she loves.
This is sort of an alternate origin story for Hades combined with romance, found family, and the usual plotting, backstabbing, and violence of Greek mythology. I love Hades because she isn't a clear cut good or bad character. She reminded me a lot of Daenarys; she can be incredibly benevolent and incredibly cruel. It all depends on what she is trying to achieve. But her love for her friends and Alkaios is pure, which is why we can forgive her for some of the wicked things she does.
This was a gripping and unique Greek myth retelling with a believable romance and a deeply flawed and interesting lead. If any of that sounds good to you, get this book immediately.
As soon as I hear "gender-swapped" anything, I'm in. To be honest, I'm not too familiar with the original story of Hades, but I loved this version. Hades is an immortal who lives on Olympus with Zeus and the other gods. She and Zeus are lovers up until the point he has to marry Hera, and Hera in her usual vengeful way, wants to get rid of Hades by making her a god and exiling her to the underworld.
However, Hades fits right in there, befriending the locals and making the 3-headed Kerberos her little lapdog. She goes to Earth to make a mortal fall in love with her to make Zeus jealous, and by chance, actually falls in love with the mortal and learns what it means to be truly loved in return. However, this wounds Zeus' pride and he starts a war between gods to get Hades back. If she can't earn the prayers of the people and find her weapon, Zeus will destroy everyone she loves.
This is sort of an alternate origin story for Hades combined with romance, found family, and the usual plotting, backstabbing, and violence of Greek mythology. I love Hades because she isn't a clear cut good or bad character. She reminded me a lot of Daenarys; she can be incredibly benevolent and incredibly cruel. It all depends on what she is trying to achieve. But her love for her friends and Alkaios is pure, which is why we can forgive her for some of the wicked things she does.
This was a gripping and unique Greek myth retelling with a believable romance and a deeply flawed and interesting lead. If any of that sounds good to you, get this book immediately.
Read
May 26, 2021DNF @60%
I tried, I really did. I hate to say this but I was bored though out the story, which is a carnal sin in my eyes. Books can have terrible plot lines,annoying characters or even be predictable as hell however if a book is boring, its getting DNFed in 3.5 seconds. I despise boring books! while the author did a good job trying to be creative with the story, it was a wasted potential. I was excited to read about a female Hades being ruthless, cunning yet sympathetic as well as relatable however what we were given was a dry, childish, nonstop crying lord of the underworld who's life revolves around which man likes her. Like, is it really hard not to make Hades headstrong, vengeful and dark?? That's literally Hades origin story! I would have loved if the author kept the best characteristic of Hades but also make her feminine and empowered. I wanted darker take on a female Hades fighting to rule the underworld against the other stiff-necked, snobby gods who site comfortably in Mount Olympus while she brings order in chaos that is the underworld. That's what I wanted, not this !!😩
I tried, I really did. I hate to say this but I was bored though out the story, which is a carnal sin in my eyes. Books can have terrible plot lines,annoying characters or even be predictable as hell however if a book is boring, its getting DNFed in 3.5 seconds. I despise boring books! while the author did a good job trying to be creative with the story, it was a wasted potential. I was excited to read about a female Hades being ruthless, cunning yet sympathetic as well as relatable however what we were given was a dry, childish, nonstop crying lord of the underworld who's life revolves around which man likes her. Like, is it really hard not to make Hades headstrong, vengeful and dark?? That's literally Hades origin story! I would have loved if the author kept the best characteristic of Hades but also make her feminine and empowered. I wanted darker take on a female Hades fighting to rule the underworld against the other stiff-necked, snobby gods who site comfortably in Mount Olympus while she brings order in chaos that is the underworld. That's what I wanted, not this !!😩
June 9, 2021
i read this book because of a tiktok, so even though i feel victimized by this experience i have no one to blame but myself.
its just really lazy world building and storytelling that becomes exhausting to read. It could have been made better if the author had just created their own universe/mythology instead of relying on tropes we already know and distorting them.
the author does a good job describing action sequences but also spends waaay too much time talking about how dark tartarus and how bright olympus is......like i got it the first time. The most annoying part of this book is def the amount of repetition of descriptions, conversations, and plot points. Like do you want me to SKIM, is that your goal?
I will say the ending intrigued but not enough to entice me to read the next book, it clearly should have been the climax of the book not the ending.
if it werent for my buddy read partner and i hating on this equally and having so much fun trashing it i def would not have finished!
its just really lazy world building and storytelling that becomes exhausting to read. It could have been made better if the author had just created their own universe/mythology instead of relying on tropes we already know and distorting them.
the author does a good job describing action sequences but also spends waaay too much time talking about how dark tartarus and how bright olympus is......like i got it the first time. The most annoying part of this book is def the amount of repetition of descriptions, conversations, and plot points. Like do you want me to SKIM, is that your goal?
I will say the ending intrigued but not enough to entice me to read the next book, it clearly should have been the climax of the book not the ending.
if it werent for my buddy read partner and i hating on this equally and having so much fun trashing it i def would not have finished!
February 6, 2022
I liked the premise of the story, which is why I picked up this book. I don't know why I finished it.
First of all, there's a lot of showing instead of telling in this writing style, as well as an unnecessary repetitiveness. Second, there were some misogynistic, male-centric undertones that felt out of place in a book that's supposedly about a powerful woman, like "her strength was far greater than a woman her size should ever possess." The third annoyance was the scattering of random mini perspective changes, and the misuse of words like "invalid" and "crazy" was the fourth grievance. My 1-star rating was confirmed by the ending,
I did like the way in which both names Hades / Persephone made it into the story, but other than that I thought it was a petty story that could have been far more empowering.
First of all, there's a lot of showing instead of telling in this writing style, as well as an unnecessary repetitiveness. Second, there were some misogynistic, male-centric undertones that felt out of place in a book that's supposedly about a powerful woman, like "her strength was far greater than a woman her size should ever possess." The third annoyance was the scattering of random mini perspective changes, and the misuse of words like "invalid" and "crazy" was the fourth grievance. My 1-star rating was confirmed by the ending,
I did like the way in which both names Hades / Persephone made it into the story, but other than that I thought it was a petty story that could have been far more empowering.
October 17, 2022
5 EPIC stars for this one folks
O-M-G, for real though. Talk about a god-send-- Pun intended. This book has all the makings of an incredible book (and movie if I’m being blatantly honest.) Pomegranate is brilliantly written. It’s a gloriously epic twist on one of the most favorite and well known myths in history... and it’s executed perfectly .
With that being said, be sure to grab your copy then sit back and let me tell you how much you are going to LOVE this book.
Ok, so we’ve all been told the legend of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, right? Now...what if we were to change things up a little bit? The story isn’t quite like what we thought it was in this new take.
Proud Zeus, king of the ancient Greek gods, is facing a big dilemma. He’s in love with a beautiful redhead (man, those redheads I tell ya--wink wink) but she’s not a god, albeit an immortal of Olympus, and she’s not the one whom he’s promised to. Zeus knows he must appease his fellow gods and do his duty to the realm and prevent another war, thus he does the one thing he can do-- He gives up his beautiful immortal woman for Hera, his queen.
Not only does he do this, he also (in typical man fashion) allows his new wife to force his hand, in seeking to banish her. So he must do something bold, something brazen, something that hasn’t ever been done before... Hera, wishes for the girl to be gone, gone from Olympus, gone from her sight- as she will not be embarrassed having her new husband parading around with his mistress. Zeus again has no choice, for Hera has threatened to kill the woman he loves-- and in the worst possible way imaginable.
So, his lover is brought before the council and bestowed a gift, a gift unlike any other. She will be an ambassador to the unchecked Underworld, a new god to join their ranks, the keeper of Hell. She is Hades , god of darkness.
Now, as we all know, Hell hath no fury like that of a woman scorned…And scorn this magnificent god does, and oh so well I might add. What follows is the incredible journey of a woman turned deity, whose rise to power was something she never asked for, and yet she yields it so eloquently. Hades is admirable, merciful, fierce, fair, and even in her tantrums, simply stunning. Hades shines brightly in her dark and dismal prison in the most amazing ways possible as Nicole introduces you to all the Greek gods, creatures, and places we all know and love in the classic mythology.
This book is powerful and exciting, tear-jerking, heart-pounding and fist-clenching. It’s a story of humility, love, power, determination and sacrifice. It captivates you from the very first page to the very last, leaving you wanting more. Like, I legit don’t know how I’m gonna wait for the sequel… This is as bad as having to wait a year and a half for the conclusion of Game of Thrones. (Insert foot-stomping, pouting face GIF) I didn’t want it to end, but I couldn’t stop reading either. This is one of those books, so be prepared to do nothing until you finish it. Good luck. I’m gonna hit the channel guide and find Clash of the Titans now and eat a pomegranate.
O-M-G, for real though. Talk about a god-send-- Pun intended. This book has all the makings of an incredible book (and movie if I’m being blatantly honest.) Pomegranate is brilliantly written. It’s a gloriously epic twist on one of the most favorite and well known myths in history... and it’s executed perfectly .
With that being said, be sure to grab your copy then sit back and let me tell you how much you are going to LOVE this book.
Ok, so we’ve all been told the legend of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, right? Now...what if we were to change things up a little bit? The story isn’t quite like what we thought it was in this new take.
Proud Zeus, king of the ancient Greek gods, is facing a big dilemma. He’s in love with a beautiful redhead (man, those redheads I tell ya--wink wink) but she’s not a god, albeit an immortal of Olympus, and she’s not the one whom he’s promised to. Zeus knows he must appease his fellow gods and do his duty to the realm and prevent another war, thus he does the one thing he can do-- He gives up his beautiful immortal woman for Hera, his queen.
Not only does he do this, he also (in typical man fashion) allows his new wife to force his hand, in seeking to banish her. So he must do something bold, something brazen, something that hasn’t ever been done before... Hera, wishes for the girl to be gone, gone from Olympus, gone from her sight- as she will not be embarrassed having her new husband parading around with his mistress. Zeus again has no choice, for Hera has threatened to kill the woman he loves-- and in the worst possible way imaginable.
So, his lover is brought before the council and bestowed a gift, a gift unlike any other. She will be an ambassador to the unchecked Underworld, a new god to join their ranks, the keeper of Hell. She is Hades , god of darkness.
Now, as we all know, Hell hath no fury like that of a woman scorned…And scorn this magnificent god does, and oh so well I might add. What follows is the incredible journey of a woman turned deity, whose rise to power was something she never asked for, and yet she yields it so eloquently. Hades is admirable, merciful, fierce, fair, and even in her tantrums, simply stunning. Hades shines brightly in her dark and dismal prison in the most amazing ways possible as Nicole introduces you to all the Greek gods, creatures, and places we all know and love in the classic mythology.
This book is powerful and exciting, tear-jerking, heart-pounding and fist-clenching. It’s a story of humility, love, power, determination and sacrifice. It captivates you from the very first page to the very last, leaving you wanting more. Like, I legit don’t know how I’m gonna wait for the sequel… This is as bad as having to wait a year and a half for the conclusion of Game of Thrones. (Insert foot-stomping, pouting face GIF) I didn’t want it to end, but I couldn’t stop reading either. This is one of those books, so be prepared to do nothing until you finish it. Good luck. I’m gonna hit the channel guide and find Clash of the Titans now and eat a pomegranate.
January 18, 2020
I've always been fascinated by the myth of Hades and Persephone. Out of the three great brothers Hades is the only one that's not an asshole. Well, okay, he's not an asshole compared to his brothers but they, Zeus especially, lowered the bar to such extend that kidnapping your future wife and holding her captive seems like a decent thing to do. Hades truly loves Persephone and you never see him (at least I can't remember any such myths) cheating on her. He respects and cherishes her and that's really sweet from a dark and malevolent god.
A tweet first brought this book to my attention and because of my fascination with Hades and Persephone's myth I had to read it. And it was amazing. At first I wondered how Scarano will handle the change of gender but it was masterfully done and very believable. A few chapters in and I couldn't put it down. I had this insatiable need to see how things will resolve, especially after Zeus started with his typical jealousy/pride induced madness. The ending was even more powerful than the start and it makes integrating the story with real world's mythos easier.
So if you love retellings and role reversal stories I say go for it. You won't be disappointed.
A tweet first brought this book to my attention and because of my fascination with Hades and Persephone's myth I had to read it. And it was amazing. At first I wondered how Scarano will handle the change of gender but it was masterfully done and very believable. A few chapters in and I couldn't put it down. I had this insatiable need to see how things will resolve, especially after Zeus started with his typical jealousy/pride induced madness. The ending was even more powerful than the start and it makes integrating the story with real world's mythos easier.
So if you love retellings and role reversal stories I say go for it. You won't be disappointed.
February 24, 2022
I'm so sad. I felt like this story had some promise because who doesn't love a hades + persephone retelling? But like Jesus.... She got everything wrong.
At this point I think this story would have worked better if she just made it totally separate from the Greek mythos entirely. Like its a perfectly fine story, an epic love story for sure. But like.... so much was wrong for anyone who knows a handful of information about Greek mythology. And I'll be totally honest with you, I don't know very much about Greek mythology. It's one thing to say it's a gender bent story, it's another to recreate half of the entire history of Greek myths, just cause. Like just write it about different gods at this point. Sure if anything pointed to the Greek gods it could always be "inspiration", but this... oof.
I gave it 2 stars because the story was fun to read when you completely ignore all of the stuff that she changed about Greek mythology, like you can Google a question and receive an answer in like 4 seconds that it seems like she made up just for the fun of it.
I truly think if this wasn't a Greek retelling it could have been a 3+ star book for me (4-5 especially if she got another editor to look it over before she published)
At this point I think this story would have worked better if she just made it totally separate from the Greek mythos entirely. Like its a perfectly fine story, an epic love story for sure. But like.... so much was wrong for anyone who knows a handful of information about Greek mythology. And I'll be totally honest with you, I don't know very much about Greek mythology. It's one thing to say it's a gender bent story, it's another to recreate half of the entire history of Greek myths, just cause. Like just write it about different gods at this point. Sure if anything pointed to the Greek gods it could always be "inspiration", but this... oof.
I gave it 2 stars because the story was fun to read when you completely ignore all of the stuff that she changed about Greek mythology, like you can Google a question and receive an answer in like 4 seconds that it seems like she made up just for the fun of it.
I truly think if this wasn't a Greek retelling it could have been a 3+ star book for me (4-5 especially if she got another editor to look it over before she published)
June 12, 2020
A great twist
I loved the blending of myth and new, fresh ideas...it worked so well. The romance was well written and Hades was an easy character to love, she's feisty, passionate but also very much a God of the Underworld.
I look forward to more from this author.
I loved the blending of myth and new, fresh ideas...it worked so well. The romance was well written and Hades was an easy character to love, she's feisty, passionate but also very much a God of the Underworld.
I look forward to more from this author.
February 20, 2022
OK, I get it. You have to place the people you love firts.
But you dont make Hades a woman so she end up given up her powers and her beeing the King ( it should be Queen) of The Underworld for a guy!!!!!!! WTF!?!?
But you dont make Hades a woman so she end up given up her powers and her beeing the King ( it should be Queen) of The Underworld for a guy!!!!!!! WTF!?!?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2021
4.5⭐️
Really enjoyed the book! So many thoughts and emotions and so glad I read it. Wondering why it took me so long to read it! Would have given it 5 stars but the ending threw me off. I get why she did it, but didn’t care for the fact that she gave up her powers to save him. Can’t wait to read the second book!!
Really enjoyed the book! So many thoughts and emotions and so glad I read it. Wondering why it took me so long to read it! Would have given it 5 stars but the ending threw me off. I get why she did it, but didn’t care for the fact that she gave up her powers to save him. Can’t wait to read the second book!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2021
The story really sucks you in, you become attached to the main character from the very beginning. I love how she protects her found family fiercely. The ending is somehow very bittersweet, and I really hope the last few moments can be redeemed in Pitchfork!
June 19, 2019
This was a fun story! The characters felt authentic and really pulled me in. Great job, Nicole, and I look forward to the sequel!
December 27, 2021
This book could have had it all but yet it does not
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2022
what a fantastic reimagining....
I have a thing for the Persephone and hades story. It's like the ultimate enemies to lovers/bully romance. So when I saw that there was a version where Persephone was Hades, and Hades was a woman, I was like sign me up!
There was so many times during this book that was on the edge of my seat and screaming. I'm writing this immediately after reading-- like I just ended, and I'm trying to form coherent thoughts after that climax! How do you top that?! So many times we are promised a strong female lead, but this one is up there with some of the best literary female leads--while still having that perfect amount of vulnerability.
The story had such perfect rises and falls in story- the development of Hades was so well executed. Taking all of these mythical characters we know so well, and twisted the mytho into something new and fresh was something that we really needed.
And can I just say that I loved that it was closed door romance scenes.
If you are looking for Spice, this isn't spice. But the love was undeniable.
I can't wait to read book 2! What a beautiful debut novel for this author.
I have a thing for the Persephone and hades story. It's like the ultimate enemies to lovers/bully romance. So when I saw that there was a version where Persephone was Hades, and Hades was a woman, I was like sign me up!
There was so many times during this book that was on the edge of my seat and screaming. I'm writing this immediately after reading-- like I just ended, and I'm trying to form coherent thoughts after that climax! How do you top that?! So many times we are promised a strong female lead, but this one is up there with some of the best literary female leads--while still having that perfect amount of vulnerability.
The story had such perfect rises and falls in story- the development of Hades was so well executed. Taking all of these mythical characters we know so well, and twisted the mytho into something new and fresh was something that we really needed.
And can I just say that I loved that it was closed door romance scenes.
If you are looking for Spice, this isn't spice. But the love was undeniable.
I can't wait to read book 2! What a beautiful debut novel for this author.
October 3, 2021
I've always enjoyed stories about Olympian gods so when I saw this gender-swapped Hades/Persephone retelling I knew I had to check it out. It was a super unique take on the mythological story and was super fun to read.
I especially loved the ending! It was the perfect way to wrap it up and I appreciated the way Hades was willing to sacrifice everything for Alkaios, especially since she became Hades due to Zeus being unwilling to sacrifice his power for her. It made the story come full circle and I loved that!
Pomegranate is the perfect story for all fans of mythology! Check it out! 4.5/5 stars!
I especially loved the ending! It was the perfect way to wrap it up and I appreciated the way Hades was willing to sacrifice everything for Alkaios, especially since she became Hades due to Zeus being unwilling to sacrifice his power for her. It made the story come full circle and I loved that!
Pomegranate is the perfect story for all fans of mythology! Check it out! 4.5/5 stars!
September 23, 2021
GREAT STORY 🤯🤯🤯
I want to know right now what is going to happen!!!!
SPOILER ALERT:
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Hades gave everything to save Alkaios 🥺😭
I want to know right now what is going to happen!!!!
SPOILER ALERT:
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Hades gave everything to save Alkaios 🥺😭
October 11, 2023
I have been debating how many starts I would give this book. After the first part, I only wanted to give it two but then it became better again. Until the end, so two stars it is for the disappointing ending.
October 7, 2021
Español 🇦🇷
Es un buen libro pero no es perfecto. Cuando leí el sinopsis "Hades es mujer, Perséfone es hombre", me dió interés, porque es mi segundo mito griego favorito (después de Orfeo y Euridicia). Sin embargo, el libro no termino siendo lo que esperaba, me sorprendí un montón. No sigue el mito paso por paso, más bien reinterpreta y mezcla los elementos de la historia original y los utiliza para crear algo completamente nuevo. Aprecio la creatividad y originalidad del libro pero, como ya dije, tiene unos cuantos problemas. Por ejemplo, los personajes no están tan desarrolladxs como podrían; Hades y Alkaios se enamoran demasiado rápido para mí gusto (tipo, yo amo las películas de Disney, pero existe una diferencia entre cuando una película infantil tiene un romance súper rápido y una novela que se supone que es para adolescentes que se enamoran demasiado rápido), tipo se dicen "te amo" después de 3 capítulos y no es como que se implicó un elipsis de tiempo. Y, como ya dije, el apuro de la historia no nos permite explorar lxs personajes en toda su gloria y tengo que asumir muchas cosas para entender que clase de persona son. Ahora bien, apesar de sus defectos, es un buen libro. A pesar de que el romance es muy apurado, me gusta la química entre esos 2 y me pareció muy tierno, ya que me encanta tanto el romance.
English 🇬🇧
It's a good book but it's not perfect. When I was told the basic sinopsis was "Hades is a woman, Perséfone is a man", I was inmediately interested because it's my second favorite Greek myth (after Orpheus and Eurydice). However, the book ended up surprising me a lot. It doesn't follow the original myth bit by bit, instead remixing the elements of the original story and making them new once again. I appreciate the originality and creativity of the book but, like I said, it has flaws. For example, the characters aren't as well developed as they could be; they fall in love too fast for my taste (like, I love Disney movies, but there's a difference between a rushed romance in a children's movie and a rushed romance in a teen rated novel), they're saying "I love you" like 4 chapters in and I didn't really believe the time skips. Furthermore, the rushed story doesn't let us explore the characters as much as they could and I have to assume a lot of stuff when it comes to the details of their personalities. It is a good book despite it's flaws. Despite the rushed romance, I did like the chemistry between the two and I did find it adorable, I love romance, it's super cute.
Es un buen libro pero no es perfecto. Cuando leí el sinopsis "Hades es mujer, Perséfone es hombre", me dió interés, porque es mi segundo mito griego favorito (después de Orfeo y Euridicia). Sin embargo, el libro no termino siendo lo que esperaba, me sorprendí un montón. No sigue el mito paso por paso, más bien reinterpreta y mezcla los elementos de la historia original y los utiliza para crear algo completamente nuevo. Aprecio la creatividad y originalidad del libro pero, como ya dije, tiene unos cuantos problemas. Por ejemplo, los personajes no están tan desarrolladxs como podrían; Hades y Alkaios se enamoran demasiado rápido para mí gusto (tipo, yo amo las películas de Disney, pero existe una diferencia entre cuando una película infantil tiene un romance súper rápido y una novela que se supone que es para adolescentes que se enamoran demasiado rápido), tipo se dicen "te amo" después de 3 capítulos y no es como que se implicó un elipsis de tiempo. Y, como ya dije, el apuro de la historia no nos permite explorar lxs personajes en toda su gloria y tengo que asumir muchas cosas para entender que clase de persona son. Ahora bien, apesar de sus defectos, es un buen libro. A pesar de que el romance es muy apurado, me gusta la química entre esos 2 y me pareció muy tierno, ya que me encanta tanto el romance.
English 🇬🇧
It's a good book but it's not perfect. When I was told the basic sinopsis was "Hades is a woman, Perséfone is a man", I was inmediately interested because it's my second favorite Greek myth (after Orpheus and Eurydice). However, the book ended up surprising me a lot. It doesn't follow the original myth bit by bit, instead remixing the elements of the original story and making them new once again. I appreciate the originality and creativity of the book but, like I said, it has flaws. For example, the characters aren't as well developed as they could be; they fall in love too fast for my taste (like, I love Disney movies, but there's a difference between a rushed romance in a children's movie and a rushed romance in a teen rated novel), they're saying "I love you" like 4 chapters in and I didn't really believe the time skips. Furthermore, the rushed story doesn't let us explore the characters as much as they could and I have to assume a lot of stuff when it comes to the details of their personalities. It is a good book despite it's flaws. Despite the rushed romance, I did like the chemistry between the two and I did find it adorable, I love romance, it's super cute.
February 3, 2020
There's a lot to love about this book. The simplicity of the cover is alluring, and the gender-bent take on mythology is refreshing. The prologue is probably one of the most interesting I have ever read, and introduced the story in a clever and unique way.
As the story went on, though, I felt it got a bit repetitive. The characters were circling each other, leaving no real sense of resolution. At times, the dialogue was wordy. That's not a bad thing--just something I don't particularly enjoy. That said, I was never confused about anything. Everything is explained well. I'm sure resolution will come as the series continues.
As a character, Hades is strong and relatable. She does all these things everyone sees as horrible, but her reasons are clear. She doesn't act because she can. She acts, because she feels she has to. That makes for an entirely different kind of hero.
As they say, Hell hath no fury...
As the story went on, though, I felt it got a bit repetitive. The characters were circling each other, leaving no real sense of resolution. At times, the dialogue was wordy. That's not a bad thing--just something I don't particularly enjoy. That said, I was never confused about anything. Everything is explained well. I'm sure resolution will come as the series continues.
As a character, Hades is strong and relatable. She does all these things everyone sees as horrible, but her reasons are clear. She doesn't act because she can. She acts, because she feels she has to. That makes for an entirely different kind of hero.
As they say, Hell hath no fury...
April 13, 2020
WHAT A THRILLING STORY!!!
I'm usually not a big fan of mythology and stories about the gods, but this one had me hooked from the get-go! For one, I never imagined that Hades was a woman. That was probably what drew me in the most. I loved this tale that shows her fall from grace into the Underworld and the betrayal that led her there. It reminded me a lot of the movie, Maleficent. We always thought that evil queen was...well...evil, but maybe she was a lover scorned - a victim of betrayal and greed. Then she becomes the villain everyone fears as a result. Characters (gods) who have always been established as "good" are exposed, their evil and manipulative sides shoved to the surface. I was riveted until the final chapter and then left breathless at the heart-wrenching end. I can't wait to start book 2!
I'm usually not a big fan of mythology and stories about the gods, but this one had me hooked from the get-go! For one, I never imagined that Hades was a woman. That was probably what drew me in the most. I loved this tale that shows her fall from grace into the Underworld and the betrayal that led her there. It reminded me a lot of the movie, Maleficent. We always thought that evil queen was...well...evil, but maybe she was a lover scorned - a victim of betrayal and greed. Then she becomes the villain everyone fears as a result. Characters (gods) who have always been established as "good" are exposed, their evil and manipulative sides shoved to the surface. I was riveted until the final chapter and then left breathless at the heart-wrenching end. I can't wait to start book 2!
April 18, 2019
Pomegranate was an absolutely fabulous book! Nicole does a beautiful job of taking characters we have all heard of and may even know some things about and makes them fresh and new. The twist of a female Hades and her journey to becoming the King of the Underworld is captivating, relatable and endearing. The love stories throughout are intriguing and will keep you reading from the very beginning. She also brings so many people/creatures from Greek mythology into this story, and the amount of research she must have done is astounding. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Greek mythology, romance, suspense, and well-written books. I can't wait for more from this author.
April 4, 2021
I have to admit that the writing style is a bit more descriptive than what I usually read, personally - BUT it's really good for immersing the reader into the moments and indulging in giving all the senses a moment to build the picture. I loved the creativity of the idea - a gender-bent Hades origin is so interesting! For me, the book really picked up in the second half and had me churning through the pages to the end - making me very glad there's a sequel!
Another thing I really liked is that the author stays true to the selfishness of the Greek gods...it makes the heroes and villains a little more interesting, and really is in keeping with the original tellings of these characters.
Another thing I really liked is that the author stays true to the selfishness of the Greek gods...it makes the heroes and villains a little more interesting, and really is in keeping with the original tellings of these characters.
January 6, 2021
Not what I expected (in the best way)
I learned this was a genderbend retelling of Hades and Persephone and was already here for it. This book did not start or play out how I expected (in the best way) but I was enraptured from page 1 to the end and frankly prefer this version of Greek mythology. Can’t wait to find out what happens next.
I learned this was a genderbend retelling of Hades and Persephone and was already here for it. This book did not start or play out how I expected (in the best way) but I was enraptured from page 1 to the end and frankly prefer this version of Greek mythology. Can’t wait to find out what happens next.
August 9, 2021
I didn't like it all that much. It was hyped on TikTok (well I saw it on Instagram) and it sounded cool but I couldn't connect with Hades and although I liked some of her actions, I was bored most of the time while reading this.
Maybe I shouldn't have expected heavy romance either?
Maybe I shouldn't have expected heavy romance either?
Shelved as 'odio-jarocho-aka-nope'
May 13, 2019Nope
May 23, 2023
The genderbend premise is what made me pick up this book. Hades being a woman sounded like a unique take compared to countless Hades and Persephone retellings. A woman with this kind of power sounded really promising.
Sadly she gives up her powers at the end to her male love interest and he becomes the real Hades. Because that’s love guys. You need to give up your power and make yourself small and elevate your man so he can become a literal god…
I cannot begin to describe how disappointing that felt.
Another thing I didn’t like was the writing style. This read very much like YA not adult. It felt like the romance was written by 12 year old me.
One of the things I love about Hades in most retellings is that he’s wise and more grounded and loyal compared to his brothers who are impulsive, and absolute scumbags.
The female Hades in this book was sadly very immature, very jealous, very childish, and obsessed with making Zeus jealous so he will take her back.
I mean girl! Where’s your dignity?!
The one and only reason I gave this 2 stars instead of 1 is Cerberus. I gotta say this has to be my favourite portrayal of the bestest doggy of the underworld.
I feel in many retellings he sort of just makes an appearance and is cute but doesn’t really bring anything to the plot. He’s usually reduced to an accessory rather than an important part of Hades’ story.
The Cerberus in this book was perfect. The friendship between Hades and Cerberus in this book was beautiful and made me cry. There are some beautiful moments of loneliness and heartbreak where Cerberus was there to bring Hades the comfort and unconditional love she needed.
But other than that this book is sadly the furthest thing from empowering.
Sadly she gives up her powers at the end to her male love interest and he becomes the real Hades. Because that’s love guys. You need to give up your power and make yourself small and elevate your man so he can become a literal god…
I cannot begin to describe how disappointing that felt.
Another thing I didn’t like was the writing style. This read very much like YA not adult. It felt like the romance was written by 12 year old me.
One of the things I love about Hades in most retellings is that he’s wise and more grounded and loyal compared to his brothers who are impulsive, and absolute scumbags.
The female Hades in this book was sadly very immature, very jealous, very childish, and obsessed with making Zeus jealous so he will take her back.
I mean girl! Where’s your dignity?!
The one and only reason I gave this 2 stars instead of 1 is Cerberus. I gotta say this has to be my favourite portrayal of the bestest doggy of the underworld.
I feel in many retellings he sort of just makes an appearance and is cute but doesn’t really bring anything to the plot. He’s usually reduced to an accessory rather than an important part of Hades’ story.
The Cerberus in this book was perfect. The friendship between Hades and Cerberus in this book was beautiful and made me cry. There are some beautiful moments of loneliness and heartbreak where Cerberus was there to bring Hades the comfort and unconditional love she needed.
But other than that this book is sadly the furthest thing from empowering.
August 12, 2021
This was a book I didn’t know I needed. A story of betrayal and vengeance. You will definitely want to read this book if you have a love for Greek mythos or are looking for a unique Hades origin story. I say unique because the author swapped the gender! Yep.. Hades is a woman and I love it!
Zeus and Hades have a love that burns bright but short lived when he has to choose between her or his power. The king of Olympus , Zeus, marries another and his wife is wretched. She doesn’t want Hades anywhere near Olympus and forces Zeus to expel her from Olympus or kill her. So begins the fall and rise of the great and terrible Hades!
There is nothing like a woman scorned especially when she finds that she is more powerful than anyone expected her to be. Ugh… if I could have hated any character it was obviously Zeus. What an arrogant A**hole! While this story has its battles, blood shed and heart break , there is also a love story woven within these pages. I was sad this was a fade to black but I’m not all that mad about it. This story felt almost nostalgic as I thought of all the creatures from the classic Disney movie Hercules but this author put so many twists on the classics. My favorite creature was Kerberos/Cerberus. I love the creatures of the underworld! I gave this 5 ⭐️ and obviously 0 spicy 🌶 but it was such a beautiful story.
Zeus and Hades have a love that burns bright but short lived when he has to choose between her or his power. The king of Olympus , Zeus, marries another and his wife is wretched. She doesn’t want Hades anywhere near Olympus and forces Zeus to expel her from Olympus or kill her. So begins the fall and rise of the great and terrible Hades!
There is nothing like a woman scorned especially when she finds that she is more powerful than anyone expected her to be. Ugh… if I could have hated any character it was obviously Zeus. What an arrogant A**hole! While this story has its battles, blood shed and heart break , there is also a love story woven within these pages. I was sad this was a fade to black but I’m not all that mad about it. This story felt almost nostalgic as I thought of all the creatures from the classic Disney movie Hercules but this author put so many twists on the classics. My favorite creature was Kerberos/Cerberus. I love the creatures of the underworld! I gave this 5 ⭐️ and obviously 0 spicy 🌶 but it was such a beautiful story.
June 15, 2021
Pomegranate is a gender-swapped retelling of the Hades & Persephone myth. While it was way outside of my normal reading genre, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. First off, let's talk about that cover which is absolutely stunning in its simplicity. I really enjoyed Hades being represented as a woman in the story - I found her raw, realistic, and relatable most of the time. The epic battle scene was well done - usually I zone out during those type of scenes but this one kept me engaged and interested. I was a bit bummed that there was no resolution but I'm sure that will come in book 2.
Hades is strong, complex, and relatable. Everyone sees her actions as horrible, but Nicole Scarano did an amazing job at explaining the reasons behind her actions.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Hades is strong, complex, and relatable. Everyone sees her actions as horrible, but Nicole Scarano did an amazing job at explaining the reasons behind her actions.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
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