Books

A Touch of Darkness – Scarlett St. Clair

A Touch of Darkness shot to fame on TicTok but it wasn’t on my radar until one of my friends raved about the book (sorry I don’t have TikTok). Written by Scarlett St. Clair this book gives a modern twist on the story of Persephone and Hades. Honesty, it’s a more lush and spicy take on the mythology which can be a little cut and dry on how Hades came to be with Persephone.

About A Touch of Darkness

The story follows a sheltered Persephone living in New Athens where she attends college. She’s focused on becoming a journalist and not attracting the attention of her over-bearing (and terrifying) mother, Demeter. Posing as a mortal, she promises her mother that she will stay away from the gods and their busniesses. But like all college kids, fun and temptation wins and gives way to her meeting Hades, the god of the dead. Accidentally falling into a contract with the hottie Hades, Persephone is tasked with creating life in the underworld within 6 months. Easy right? I mean, she is the goddess of spring… right?

Persephone is the goddess of spring, but only by title only. Unlike her mother, Demeter, every flower that Persephone touches shrivels and dies. So how will she fulfill her contract to create life in the underworld within the 6 month time frame? And most importantly how will she stay away from the forbidden hades, whom she has a magnetic attraction to?

My Take on A Touch of Darkness

Overall I enjoyed this spicy little book. What I actually really appreciate is that Scarlett St. Clair really builds the tension in this story. And she builds it beautifully. While this is my first exposure to the “dark romance” genre, I really loved her world building and how she showed us different layers of the gods. I loved that the reader gets introduced to gods that aren’t usually spoken about. I enjoyed the fact that most of the gods and goddesses owned night clubs and restaurants and that they were still worshipped all while exiting in the modern world among mortals. However, I will note that Persephone did annoy me. Her prejudice towards Hades was infuriating, however it just adds to how sheltered persephone was and Demeter’s view of Hades.

Again, with this being my first trip down the “dark romance” road, I do think that I will read the next book in this series. I think St. Clair did a great job of modernizing mythology and adding the right amount of spice for the context of the story.

About Scarlett St. Clair

Scarlett St. Clair is a best selling author who is published in over 13 countries around the world. She is a citizen of Muscogee Nation in Oklahoma where she was born and raised. She has a Master’s degree in Library Science and Information Studies. She has written other books such has King of Battle and Blood and When Stars Come Out.

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A Touch of Darkness – https://amzn.to/48KgfZo

King of Battle and Blood – https://amzn.to/4b81kJO

When Stars Come Out – https://amzn.to/3U9y53j