Arduinna

Queen of Shadows and Roses (Brothers of Olympus #1) by Helena M. Craggs

Genre:
Greek Mythology, Mythology, NetGalley, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance

Publication Date:
October 14, 2025

Page Numbers:
369

Read/Finished Date:
August 26th, 2025 - August 27th, 2025

Rating:
4/5

Premise:

𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝒉𝒊𝒎. 𝑺𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉?
A dark & spicy Hades & Persephone retelling. The first in an interconnected series where ruthless gods rule both ancient realms and neon-lit cities.

He would tear stars from the heavens and rip mountains from the earth to reclaim her.

She would burn the world to ash to see his kind undone.

In a modern world ruled by gods, Persephone—a fierce demon hunter forged in fire and thorns—refuses to bow.

When Hades, the fanged and arrogant King of Shadows, abducts her, she spits in the face of the prophecy that binds them as soulmates. But as her powers awaken in the Underworld, she becomes more than a captive—she becomes a prize.

At Zeus’s command, her courtship is opened to the pantheon. Sworn enemies line up to seduce her, masking treachery with divine charm. Yet it’s Hades—dark, damaged, and obsessed—who stirs something deeper.

Too bad her magic remembers what her mind does not.
And too bad Hades isn’t the only god who wants her.

Persephone refuses to be claimed. Hades refuses to let her go.
As tension builds and ancient passions reignite, one thing becomes clear:



In the realm of shadows, love is the most dangerous power of all.



Queen of Shadows and Roses is the seductive first instalment in the Brothers of Olympus series—an interconnected, spicy fantasy romance saga that reimagines Greek mythology with a dark, modern twist. Step into a world where ruthless gods rule both ancient realms and neon-lit cities, where war brews between fate and desire, and powerful, unapologetic women rise to meet it head-on. Packed with sharp banter, smouldering tension, and gods you’ll love to hate (and hate to love), this series is perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Caroline Peckham, J. Bree, and K.F. Breene.

Author’s Note Queen of Shadows and Roses is the beginning of a sizzling New Adult fantasy romance rooted in the Hades and Persephone myth. Expect slow-burn intensity, enemies-to-lovers tension, mature themes, and a growing heat level that builds with every chapter. The spark starts slow—but the fire will consume you. 🌶️🌶️🌶️ You have been warned.

Review:

Lord Grumpy and Deadly.

LMAO!

Gurrrllll, you shouldn't be talkin' because you are just as bad. You are over here believing the worst of him instead of the best. He deserves a chance to speak but you won't listen to him and this is where I kind of have a problem with her character. She continues to remind us that she is a witch and they are at war with the Gods...blah blah blah. I saw this more times than I could count and while I understood the conflict going on inside of her, I didn't need to be reminded every other page of this. It made Persephone's character intolerable during the beginning.

And let's discuss our sugar daddy, Hades. Don't get me wrong. Grumpy. Shadowy. And delicious all the same, but he should have been more open to Persephone in the beginning rather than telling her that all her questions would be answered in due time. Regardless, I loved his character.

The world-building was one of my favorites. I loved that we saw other places within the Underworld instead of just Hades' home. We don't come across many stories where we go outside of the castle and if we do, it is just a brief mention or the lack of description for the area. So, I was really happy to see this.

I am looking forward to seeing how this series plays out. I believe Poseidon is next. I cannot wait for him.

Thank you to the author. Netgalley, and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read the ARC. The opinion on the novel is that of my own and I receive no monetary gain from my review.