Review: Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Author: Emily Whitman

Persephone lives in the most gorgeous place in the world. But her mother's a goddess, as overprotective as she is powerful. Paradise has become a trap. Just when Persephone feels there's no chance of escaping the life that's been planned for her, a mysterious stranger arrives. A stranger who promises something more—something dangerous and exciting—something that spurs Persephone to make a daring choice. A choice that could destroy all she's come to love, even the earth itself.

BOOK REVIEW:

There are many ways to mess up a totally fine Greek Myth, like, I don't know, making Hades a virgin? Fortunately, this book did not suffer from that atrocity. This sad novel, however, suffered from a yawn-inducing syndrome I like to call brought-nothing-new-or-special-to-the-table-story.

Let me make it clear though, I did NOT hate this book. I just didn't like it.

But if you want me to be a straightforward brute, this is how I will describe this book:

It's an UNIMAGINATIVE and BORING STORYTELLING with a WHINY HEROINE.


And SINCE, I am trying to be nice (really, I am - haha, yeah right) I won't say that about it. It's a tough job, you know. But some sorry soul gotta do it.


In this retelling, Persephone claimed that the "The Rape of Persephone" story was wrong on so many levels. So naturally, I was inclined to form high expectations from Persephone. I thought that she would be this badass MC that kicks butts. I thought that this would be a cool underworld adventure story. I thought that I would immensely enjoy this book.

Well, I thought wrong.


The book started with Persephone whining how her mother treats her like a baby. She whined that she doesn't get out of the vale. She whined that she can't do adult things. And in between those whining sessions, she weaves.

Okaayyy...


When Hades appeared, she temporarily stopped whining and started obsessing about romance. And then BAM! They fell in love.


Another okaayyy...

So we all know that Hades took Persephone to the underworld without Demeter's permission, right? Apparently, what we DIDN'T know is that Hades likes to ride horses all day. When he isn't CONTROLLING Persephone, he gallops away with a steed.

Err... how interesting. How two-dimensional. How.... LAME.



Persephone is the tamest, most domestic and clueless goddess I have ever read. It would be an overstatement if I say that NOTHING happened in this book. But that's what I thought while reading it. She weaved, kept a garden and took royalty lessons. I don't know about you, but I think that gods and goddesses taking royalty lessons Princess' Diaries style is laughable. Umm... they're GODS and GODDESSES? They don't need those useless shit?


But who am I to whine, right? I'm just a reader.


Okay, so as I've mentioned earlier, NOTHING happened in this book. Well, something did happen back on Earth. When Persephone learned about the drought, you would think she would put two and two together. Hello? Earth to Persephone! Your mother is the goddess of harvest, why do you think this is happening? Most of the time, her naivety is bordering on stupidity it's not even funny.


And finally, the writing. Yes, I want to talk about the juvenile writing. I am not a fan of child-like writing style so I didn't like this book. I'm sorry, but I was led to believe that the author is a big fan of Disney movies and happy endings. The writing wasn't horrible but there were no consistencies. Reading this book is like riding an unmoving roller coaster. I wished I could say that this book wasn't for me, but I am a sucker for mythology, so that's not even the case.

RATING: