The King of Spring by Collette Carmon

THE KING OF SPRING begins with a deceased Homer pleading his case before the gods of the underworld, hoping to be granted paradise. However, he quickly realizes he's made a terrible, possibly fate-screwing mistake: the woman he assumed was Persephone is actually Hades, and her consort, Persephone, is a man named Kore.

I loved this story so much and cannot believe it's as underrated as it is, because for me, it felt like a cross between Lore Olympus and Kaos. Carmon perfectly captures the machinations and pettiness of the gods, while also giving them a fresh new spin that keeps her story from feeling derivative or trite. It's also incredibly feminist: part of the reason everyone assumes Hades is a man is because, as the book puts it, nobody would ever believe a woman has dominion over life and death. The gods are inherently sexist: it's part of the reason Zeus demands that Hades marry. How could a woman possibly manage that much power without a man to hold her in check?

Kore's story is even sadder. His mother hates men-- largely because of the internlized misogyny of the gods-- and resents her son for being born male instead of female. The Persephone myth as we know it is a lie that borders on deadnaming: she has created a false shadow daughter, an alter-self where her son, named Persephone, is the shining beacon of femininity and life-giving power that she craves, even as she abuses and neglects her real child. He relates to Hades on a deeply personal level, seeing her as a fellow ostracized soul who isn't appreciated for her power, which deepens into a true understanding when he sees the sympathy with which she runs her realm.

I think it's hard to write a simpy himbo character who doesn't feel too fake or one-dimensional but Kore was such a great love interest-- particularly because Carmon allows him to be vicious and ferocious at times (deadly vines, anyone?). I also liked how even though he submits to Hades as ruler of her own kingdom, they subvert their roles in the bedroom. It was just such a beautiful, sexy, action-packed story with such great characters, and I seriously can't wait for the sequel. Bravo.

5 out of 5 stars