Kore demanded the world but was made the goddess of flowers & beauty. When her parents (Zeus & Demeter) and the Olympian gods begin planning her wedding, she takes the only way out of this - a one-way trip to Hell.
Under the protection of xenia, Kore finds a place for herself in Hades' palace. But how long until her actions threaten the fragile peace between the Big Three?
Read if you like: mythological retellings, women-centric stories, themes of marriage, identity &
I read the first few pages and thought I had found one of the best books of 2023. The exposition, Kore's mindset, and the elements of Greek mythology were all so exciting to read!
…And then she heads to Hell.
She becomes exactly what she hates about the Olympians - selfish, arrogant, taking whatever they want without a thought for the consequences, intervening in others' lives. I couldn't stand the hypocrisy and began disliking the protagonist.
From demanding hospitality to undermining Hades' authority, Kore's rage and desperation transform her into a completely different persona.
It was disheartening to realise that Girl, Goddess, Queen was not going to be the 5-star read I had thought it would be.
Copyright © 2023 Meera Nair
Once I had accepted that I most probably wouldn't grow to love Kore's character, I was able to appreciate other aspects of the novel. From Hades' characterisation to the fun banter between him and Kore, there's a lot that you can enjoy reading.
If you are only used to YA novels being all fluff, you'll be pleasantly surprised to know that Bea Fitzgerald has made this book meaningful in the way she not only creates a main character who is dismantling patriarchy but also nurturing characteristic traits that challenge the very idea of who Hades is or what it means to exist in a society that is all about labels.
Through Demeter, the book also addresses what it means to be a parent and how often there's a gap that both children & parents must navigate to build a better, healthier relationship.
The author's writing style is peppered with dramatics and has a quick rhythm to it. So much so that you can't set the book down, and before you know it, you've read more than halfway through.
I liked the straightforward tone of the writing. What's more, is that the descriptions are so vivid, you can't help but visualise the scenes as they unfold on the page.
Although the plot in itself isn't layered or complex, what justified the nearly 500 pages for me is the interactions between the characters (love Styx!) and the way the story flows. There wasn't a single dull moment, in my opinion.
One other thing that I would've been super happy to see is chapters from Hades' POV. His character is definitely one of the highlights of the book, and so if we could've followed the story through his perspective too, it would've been so much more enjoyable.
The theme of found family is present in the story. I'm glad that Persephone had people in her corner, after spending most of her life feeling like no one really understood her. The scenes with Styx were such fun to read!
I have to admit that the transformation from Kore to Persephone packs a punch. She is everything society is scared of - a woman who bows to no one, a fighter who does not lap up the lies force-fed to everyone.
I honestly wasn't concerned with whether or not the author would create a redeeming arc for Persephone. Partly because, once both she and Hades are grappling with their changing feelings for each other, her sharp edges are softened a tad bit.
Don't go into this book looking for tons of conflict-laden subplots or a fast-paced adventure. If you are keen to read a YA romance about two of the most speculated Greek mythology figures, I think you might like Girl, Goddess, Queen.
I can totally see the author writing more books set in this world with either Hades or Styx at the helm (and I would absolutely dive right into them!).
On the whole, despite some things that I didn't like about the book, Girl, Goddess, Queen is an enjoyable and quick read.
Note - I received a copy of this book from Penguin India in exchange for an honest review.
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