'A Touch of Ruin (Hades & Persephone #2)' by Scarlett St. Clair

  "You're leaving us?" Hermes asked. "What happened to sisters before misters?"
Persephone rolled her eyes. "Hermes, in case you haven't noticed, you're a mister."
"I can be a sister!" he argued, more vehemently than she expected.

'A Touch of Ruin' is book two in the 'Hades & Persephone' series by Scarlett St. Clair. I have already purchased the first, though I haven't read it yet, because I genuinely enjoyed this one and don't want to miss anything. Besides, the next book, 'A Touch of Malice,' is already in the works and I'll need to be ready.. something big is coming..

I've always loved the story of Hades and Persephone. I know by most accounts it's really the story of an abduction and trickery while keeping a captive wife, but I've a bit of a soft spot for Hades. It can't be an easy job, it's surely often thankless.. and while his brothers got glory and adoration, he got darkness and isolation. Disdain even.. though without him, mythologically speaking, the balance would have tipped to chaos.. and he's certainly not in the habit of damaging people for little to no reason, as is so common with his brother Zeus.

For me, this is a little bit of what someone might call a guilty pleasure read. There are things happening around them certainly and there is progress along a timeline which implies a story is being told, but everything that happens just seems to be about showcasing their interactions.. more than following a plot and the two of them reacting naturally. I know that probably sounds a bit confusing, but it just feels like they are the focus and any bits of story that happen to be in the novel are just secondary.

The thing is, I also didn't care. I loved seeing how they felt about each other and I want more.

Hades shook his head. "We do not make up for hurt with hurt, Persephone. That is a god's game--we are lovers."
"Then how do we make up for hurt?" she asked.
"With time," he answered. "If we can be comfortable being angry with one another for a little while."

Hades is this dark, beautiful representation of a God I've always been intrigued with. He's full of power and passion and occasionally unmitigated rage. He can be tender or he can be ice cold, but there's often a glimpse of one while you're looking at the other. He's never one-dimensional and I love that. As for steam factor, he's about a 15 on a 1 to 10 scale. He's right up my alley, even if there's an overuse of "darling" at times I think based on his character, might be filled with more colorful language.

Deep down he's fearful of Persephone seeing too much darkness in him and turning away, which results in him guarding his secrets closely. So closely that they only come out one-by-one often at the hands of another, which she doesn't take very well.

He sighed. "I wanted time to think about how to show you my sins. To explain their roots. Instead, it seems, everyone wishes to do it for me."

Though Persephone's reactions to some things are understandable, she drives me a little crazy. I understand to a degree why she's unaware of certain things, but she's bratty at times and she just doesn't listen to anyone. Her path constantly leads her into trouble because she's unwilling or unable to accept anything that doesn't go the way she wants it to and unfortunately, that makes Hades path rocky too.

Things are definitely unnecessarily more difficult for them because of her stubborn nature and complete lack of restraint. She makes me mad. That doesn't mean I don't like her. It means I get how he feels, she frustrates me.. but she means well. She's kind and loving, she's warm and caring. Ultimately, she just wants everyone to live their best life. It's impossible to hate that. But wow can she be trying on the nerves.

Zofie drew her blade. "Release  her or feel my wrath!"
Hermes laughed. "Where did you get her?"
Persephone sighed. "Zofie, put that away."
"Wherever you go, I must go too, Lady Persephone," she glared at Hermes. "To protect you."
Hermes was still laughing. "She knows I'm a god, right?"

Honorable mention has to go to Hermes though. He's a delightfully wicked God of Trickery, but a good and genuine friend. He's loyal, funny, and only slightly removed from his reality by his godhood. He's pretty good at seeing both sides of any situation and he made me laugh frequently.

This was definitely just what I needed. There's enough going on to keep me interested, there are some emotional moments, but it was a light enjoyable.. even sexy.. read. Most of the conclusion was a little fast, but again. I don't care. I had a blast.

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