The Dark Wife

May 19, 2011 Miranda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I’ll just say it right off the bat: I really loved this book. A large part of my love comes from the fact that there are very few YA books that represent me. Most YA books that have gay main characters usually deal with the coming out issue, or having the main characters dealing with their sexuality. It’s always an “issues” book. I’m not saying those books are bad--far from it, I think we need those books if they help gay teens--but we also need books where the sexuality of the main character is...more I’ll just say it right off the bat: I really loved this book. A large part of my love comes from the fact that there are very few YA books that represent me. Most YA books that have gay main characters usually deal with the coming out issue, or having the main characters dealing with their sexuality. It’s always an “issues” book. I’m not saying those books are bad--far from it, I think we need those books if they help gay teens--but we also need books where the sexuality of the main character is nothing to really be commented on, and their life doesn’t completely revolve around it. The fact that a book exists that accomplishes this and is also a retelling of one of my favorite Greek myths? Consider me estatic.

I loved how Diemer expanded on the myth of Persephone and Hades, offering a version that could have happened but got misrepresented and misunderstood throughout time. Persephone’s myth is a little tricky to properly retell: Once you get her to the Underworld, what are you supposed to have her do? The original myth pretty much glosses over all that with a simple “she got homesick so she went back home for a bit”. Persephone does get a little homesick in this book, but it doesn’t force her home. It was a realistic reaction to being underground in a relatively dark place but she didn’t let it rule her. Diemer expands on Persephone’s time in the Underworld, having her learn how things work, taking an interest in the kingdom around her. She shows why Persephone will make a wonderful Queen of the Underworld by Hades’ side. Diemer doesn’t just expand on the Persephone myth, but also other various features of Greek mythology, right down to the Elysian Fields. It’s all believable and obviously well thought out.

As for characters the one I loved the most was Persephone, which is fitting. She’s a goddess who’s been sheltered her entire life, but she’s also compassionate and loving and, though she doesn’t think so, incredibly brave. Through her courage she changes the world she knows, from the Underworld to Olympus, and it was beautiful to read about. Her journey as a despairing woman who feels she has no control over her own life to a woman who reclaims herself--her agency and power and life--was very wonderfully done, and it was empowering as hell to read. All the main cast are wonderfully written, and Hades is no exception, a kind and compassionate goddess of the Underworld who loves her subjects even though they hate and fear her in return. The chemistry between Persephone and Hades was incredible, and you can see why they’d obviously work well together and be wonderful Queens. Also of note was how Demeter was changed from a controlling, selfish mother to one who couldn’t escape Zeus’ rule, so did her best to protect her daughter from the worst of it. There were quite a few scenes between Demeter and Persephone that made me tear up.

The writing was smooth and beautiful, the description vibrant. Though I admit I can see it not working for everyone--sometimes it does swing a little too close to purple prose--I was never particularly bothered by it, and in fact I rather loved it. I could easily envision myself in the Underworld, or the Immortals Forest, thanks to the clear description and atmosphere Diemer creates. The pacing was steady throughout with hardly a slow moment and Diemer packs a lot of stuff into a 250 page book, but none of it hardly ever felt rushed, save for the ending. The ending was a bit rushed and I do rather wish the resolution could have been fleshed out more, but the rest of the book more than makes up for that, by a longshot.

The Dark Wife was a beautiful, moving tale of a goddess finding herself in an unfair and cruel world, and reclaiming herself in the face of it. It’s definitely a must read for anyone interested in well done retellings, or a reader who’s looking for representation in a genre that only represents us a certain way. It’s a new favorite book of mine and I will eagerly devour anything else Sarah Diemer writes.(less)

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Jun 11, 2012 Mia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: greek-mythology, queer

I was all over this concept, let me say straight off. Honestly it's the concept that kept this from being a two starred review. This book almost hits a lot of interesting points repeatedly, but it always tends to land shy of where it seems to be going. The notions of Greek Gods being human-like but also not kind of worked, but Zeus and Hades were so polarized in terms of evil and good respectively (and isn't that a twist compared to most modern tellings) that it was hard to really take either of...more

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Jan 05, 2012 Katya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, don-t-need-a-phd, myths-revised, lgbtq, super-awesome, the-ya-project

Cross-posted with my tumblr

You know, even with my exam lurking around the corner, there's no heartache a good novel can't fix.

Why yes, I do believe that. Why else would I always keep a copy of Lips Touch: Three Times nearby? The library is my Tiffany's, and books are the chicken soup for my dark, twisted soul and right now, Sarah Diemer's The Dark Wife grounds me when I ought to be nervously leafing through my textbook in the hopes of some knowledge seeping through into my head.

In case you have...more Cross-posted with my tumblr

You know, even with my exam lurking around the corner, there's no heartache a good novel can't fix.

Why yes, I do believe that. Why else would I always keep a copy of Lips Touch: Three Times nearby? The library is my Tiffany's, and books are the chicken soup for my dark, twisted soul and right now, Sarah Diemer's The Dark Wife grounds me when I ought to be nervously leafing through my textbook in the hopes of some knowledge seeping through into my head.

In case you haven't cottoned on, I loved this book. I loved the characters, I loved the prose, and I loved the three-headed puppy. And I'm supposed to be a cat person!

That's not to say that the book is flawless. Like a lot of my friends here on LJ, I was slightly annoyed at how black and white the characterization was. Although I loved Hades and Persephone and everyone, I felt like maybe a little more moral ambiguity would have made the story even better. After all, the Greek Gods are not quite known to hold a grudge - take Hera, for example. Spends all those years trying to wipe out Hercules, but in the end lets him have her daughter Hebe for wife when he is accepted amongst the gods of Olympus.

Nevertheless, those flaws can be overlooked, and I do think that the novel more than makes up for them when it comes to the world-building and mythology. First of all, this is a retelling of the Hades and Persephone story which stays true to the original, but adds up to it, which as I understand is quite a rarity nowadays. The elements of the story are there: the descent into the Underworld, the pomgranade, we even have a meeting in a field of flowers and scattered petals. However, those elements are changed in a way which fits the story, and I have to say, the symbolism here is superb.

But wait, you say, don't you love character-driven novels?

Yes, yes I do. And I like the characters here, even if they're "either, or". But when it comes to folk tales and myths being retold, I like to give priority to how much the retelling stays true to the original, and not just because I'm a bit of a fairy tale geek. Storytelling is, in my opinion, the world's oldest religion. Long ago, our forefathers used made up stories to explain what was inexplicable to themselves. It made perfect sense to accredit fire and thunder to a diety, even if nowadays we know how both of these occur. Later on, folk tales were used to explain things and give advise on things which were otherwise difficult to talk about: Red Riding Hood, for example, is a cautionary tale for girls to guard one's virginity and stay on the path (seriously, you know that a fairy tale is not meant for children when Disney doesn't make an animated movie about it). Hell, even Shakespere didn't go easy on the symbolism and morals: "Romeo and Juliet" is not so much a love story than a tale of teenage stupidity and lust.

What I meant by all this is that myths are important, and that they convey important ideas. The way the Underworld is described makes perfect sense to me, because in Greek mythology, while the Gods are fickle, sins do get punished: Sisyphus, for example, or the Danaides are sentensed to eternal fruitless labors. Hell, Hercules' labors were meant to atone for his sins, not to win him immortality. It's that evening of the score which reminds us that while the Greek gods were fickle, they were not unjust, and I'm really glad that this was the way Diemer described the Underworld - not as a Heaven or Hell, but an equalizer.

So, in a nutshell: This is a great book with some amazing writing, world-building, mythology and characters. Highly recommended to anyone.(less)

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May 18, 2011 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

I expected The Dark Wife to be a romantic lesbian Young Adult retelling of the Persephone and Hades myth, a sort of modernized, supernatural love story underground. That turned out to be only the surface layer of an empowering, emotional, spiritually rich journey of one young woman who, with uncommon courage and compassion, overcame the impossible in charting a destiny of her own making to become one of the most powerful and enduring Goddesses of all time.

Persephone reclaims her life from those...more

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May 20, 2011 Chichipio rated it 3 of 5 stars

I decided to try this after reading Vinaya's review. She made some good points about the works of self-published authors that, having been reading some of them myself, I was curious to verify.

Quality-wise this is a 4 star book. But it would be unfair of me to rate it like that because I've been giving 4 stars to books I've enjoyed much more. The thing is, romance is not exactly my cup of tea. I mostly just tolerate it in my stories rather than it being my reason for picking them. Anytime that th...more

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May 19, 2011 Vinaya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-liked, hmm-that-was-interesting, romance, surprised-me, ya-fantasy, indie-self-pubbed

The best word I can think of to describe Sarah Diemer's debut novel The Dark Wife, is sweet. It is a very pretty revisionist retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone, rich in atmosphere and romance.

The premise is promising. Persephone, the daughter of the ambitious Earth goddess Demeter, falls in love with a nymph named Charis. But her beloved is tragically taken away from her when she resists the lecherous advances of Zeus, who Persephone later discovers is her father. Filled with hatred...more Photobucket

The best word I can think of to describe Sarah Diemer's debut novel The Dark Wife, is sweet. It is a very pretty revisionist retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone, rich in atmosphere and romance.

The premise is promising. Persephone, the daughter of the ambitious Earth goddess Demeter, falls in love with a nymph named Charis. But her beloved is tragically taken away from her when she resists the lecherous advances of Zeus, who Persephone later discovers is her father. Filled with hatred and aware that Zeus has some very unsavoury plans for her future, Persephone is trapped by the king of Olympus' invitation to come and stay at his palace. Encouraged by her half-brother Hermes, she decides to rebel, and escapes into the Underworld to avoid Zeus' dominion.

But all is not what she expected with regard to the Lord of the Underworld. First of all, the Lord is a Lady. Yes, it turns out that Hades is a woman, and not just any woman, but one who is kind, just, sensitive and far from the terrible, cruel ruler she is portrayed as being. Trapped under the earth in a dark new world, Persephone must adjust to the rules of this place, and deal with her growing feelings for Hades, as well as the threat to her life and that of her beloved's, from the unquiet unhappy spirits of the underworld.

The Dark Wife is the first self-published book I've ever read (apart from my meagre attempt at finishing Tiger's Curse), and I must thank Sarah Diemer for dispelling my fears about the quality of self-published books. Both writing and editing are pretty much top notch - in fact, better than some of the mainstream YA books I've read. Diemer has a very pretty way of writing that exactly suits the story she is telling. Whimsical and sweet, it matches the entire tone of the book.

The romance is awesome - I'm not a big fan of issue books, whether they are 'straight' or 'LGBT'. So, much as with Gone, Gone, Gone, I appreciate the fact that the author has told a very romantic lesbian love story without descending into unnecessary angst. The period setting, and the free-and-easy ways of the Greeks help make the sexuality of the main characters as commonplace as the the default heterosexual love stories of our times. I really liked the slow, tentative yet sweet progression of Hades and Persephone's romance, and I love, love, LOVED the marriage scene.

There were two things that stopped me from giving this book five stars. The first was the black-and-white nature of the characters in this book. Persephone was sweet and loving and lost. Hades was sweet and generous and loving, practically a saint. Zeus was unmitigated evil, filled to the brim with lust and punch-drunk on power. Even Demeter, who I was hoping would turn out to be some sort of ambitious, over-protective mama, falls flat as a character, just a pawn in Zeus's evil games. There is not much depth to the characters, few shades of grey and fewer excesses of emotion. The prose is very pretty and easy to digest, but it doesn't stir you into any great height of emotion.

Which leads me to the second thing that lessened the reading experience a little for me. I've always loved Greek mythology, simply because it is so flawed and vibrant and throbbing with godly excesses. One of the reasons I hated The Goddess Test was because it was so flat and unenthusiastic. I feel like if you're going to retell a mythology that is so colorful, you need to be able to infuse life into it. The Dark Wife works very well as a love story, even as a coming-of-age story, but as a vivid portrayal of ancient Greek mythology, it falls somewhat flat. The book is focused so heavily on Persephone and Hades and their blossoming romance, that it sacrifices the atmosphere of the Age in which it took place.

However, unlike with The Goddess Test, for me, the good outweighs the bad in this case. I loved Diemer's style of writing, she has the 'pretty' prose down pat, and tells a sweet (there's that word again!) absorbing story that definitely appealed to the romantic in me. I liked how Persephone grew from a naive, scared girl into a confident, loving woman confident in her own power. I loved the gender-bending too, Hades as a woman totally played for me, as did the idea of patriarchal propaganda that portrays her as a man. My favourite part, of course, was the puppy Cerberus, ugly but cute, licking everyone enthusiastically and struggling to accommodate his three little heads! It made me want a three-headed puppy of my own!

All in all, this was a great first attempt by a very promising writer, and I'm looking forward to what Diemer comes up with next. There is a free copy of the book up for grabs on Sarah's website, and I hope more people will go check out this story, and buy it, because this is a pretty awesome book and definitely deserves more attention. I recommend it for anyone looking for an easy, well-written romantic read.(less)

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Jun 03, 2011 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who's been disappointed by recent Greek myth retellings for young adults

Shelves: glbt-spotlight, 2011-reads, retellings, surprisingly-liked, glad-i-gave-it-a-chance, fab-writing, best-characters, reviewed

(Actual Rating: 3.5 stars)

Imagine that everything you knew about Greek mythology was skewed so that Zeus could better control mortals by spreading lies and untruths. Imagine if Hades, ruler of the Underworld, was actually a goddess. Imagine if Persephone, daughter of Demeter, actually chose to escape to the Underworld instead of being kidnapped. The Dark Wife, debut novel from Sarah Diemer, is a tale that turns Greek myth inside out and makes it something darkly beautiful, a gem among the dull r...more (Actual Rating: 3.5 stars)

Imagine that everything you knew about Greek mythology was skewed so that Zeus could better control mortals by spreading lies and untruths. Imagine if Hades, ruler of the Underworld, was actually a goddess. Imagine if Persephone, daughter of Demeter, actually chose to escape to the Underworld instead of being kidnapped. The Dark Wife, debut novel from Sarah Diemer, is a tale that turns Greek myth inside out and makes it something darkly beautiful, a gem among the dull rocks of Greek myth retellings for young adults.

The Dark Wife is one of those books that you can't help but like. The prose itself is noteworthy, giving the story a poetic flair and adding a layer that sadly isn't present often enough in young adult books. Persephone as the narrator has a strong and sympathetic voice, and her slowly building relationship with Hades is a nice change of pace from the instant love trend.

However much I loved the writing and the flow of it, I have to admit that sometimes things seemed a bit too perfect. The Greek gods and goddesses were capricious beings that were as flawed as mortal beings -- but, oddly, Hades was presented as this perfect yet somber woman. A part of me kept expecting more from her character. While Persephone herself had a number of shades (most notably present when she vows that she will get revenge on Zeus for what he did to her lover, Charis), Hades seemed one-dimensional at times. She is a tragic figure, yes, but never did I see any of the other effects of sadness: bitterness, resentment, anger, helplessness, etc. To see any of those emotions in her character would have made her an even more moving figure and not just this perfect lover and goddess. I realize that she was basically the antithesis to Zeus in this story, but perfect qualities were not traits that any of the Greek gods had. Why should Hades be any different?

Gripe about Hades aside, I did appreciate that Sarah Diemer respected the roots of Greek mythology yet also managed to make them her own. Not an easy feat. Everything I read seemed a parallel myth, what really could have been the story if time and embellishments had not warped the original myth. It was intriguing and fascinating to wonder, just wonder, if the myths really were once different creations entirely.

No matter its flaws, The Dark Wife proved to be an enjoyable read that renewed my belief that Greek myth retellings can be done well without adhering strictly to the original myths. With a start like this, I think we can expect some even more wonderful creations from Sarah Diemer in the future. In the meantime, give this one a chance. It's well worth the read -- even if only to be assured that young adult Greek myth retellings are not all lost causes. Some can even be kind of wonderful.(less)

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May 12, 2013 CekMoNSter rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: english, fantasy, kickass-heroin, messed-up-plots, romance

I am so screwed..I`ll be having exams tomorrow,and instead reading educational books, I grabbed this one..

Reading this, and couldn`t help to compare this with Percy Jackson`s universe. In a way,this was another version of what could have happened to Olympus.How twisted the truth in here was from what we had perceived from most people.How Persephone came to the Underworld. Who Hades really was, Zeus real personality, and many others. I like how the author blend the myth with what she dictated hap...more

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Jan 26, 2013 Juushika rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-fantasy, genre-ya-or-childrens, status-owned, genre-romance

As Persephone comes of age, she's introduced to the gods of Olympus--and to Zeus, selfish, violent, and powerful. But when she meets Hades--to her surprise, not a god but a goddess--she discovers something new: choice, and freedom. The Dark Wife is a pointed lesbian revision of the Persephone myth, and desperately well-intended; it's also an amateur effort. As such, it's as often good as bad: Hades is compelling and inhuman but vulnerable (and like her, the Underworld is beautifully envisioned);...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Nomad rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: lbgt

This was a very good book. It's the age old Greek myth of Persephone and Hades, but retold and with a twist. This time Hades is the GODDESS of the Underworld and not the god. So this is an F/F romance book, and frankly a very good one too. It's supposedly written for the YA market, but this is very much a book that trancends genre. Any adult could read this and not get the YA feel. In fact I wasn't sure if it truly was YA until someone in the F/F Romance group mentioned that it was.

Diemer does a...more This was a very good book. It's the age old Greek myth of Persephone and Hades, but retold and with a twist. This time Hades is the GODDESS of the Underworld and not the god. So this is an F/F romance book, and frankly a very good one too. It's supposedly written for the YA market, but this is very much a book that trancends genre. Any adult could read this and not get the YA feel. In fact I wasn't sure if it truly was YA until someone in the F/F Romance group mentioned that it was.

Diemer does a fantastic job with her settings, they feel real, but retain that dreamlike state. We get to see Mt. Olympus, the Forest of the Immortals and of course the Underworld. All of them have a weight to them, but the mythic quality never suffers for it. And as with myth, the homes of the gods are not all sweetness and light, even in the most sunlit, ephmereal splendor of Mt. Olympus, one should not go where shadows dwell. But also equally important, even in the darkest place in the Underworld, sunlight can shine. Nothing is as it seems in Diemer's version of the Greek gods.

She also manages very well with her characters. Retold myths and fairytales can suffer for the fact that the characters are so well known that it can be challangeing to to make them unique enough to be the author's own, but also familiar enough to be recognizable as the archtypes these characters have become over the centuries.

Demeter is wonderful as the fiercely loving mother who is desperate to protect her daughter but doesn't know how. Zeus is the bastard he's always been, but now he's even more magnificanet at being one. The nymphs seem vapid at first but their fear feels real. Charis is the tragic lover who's fate stays with you, even after the last page is read. Hermes is just a pure delight and I would read a book all about him any day. Athena is an inconstant bitch. Pallas is the soul of friendship, a relationship that gets short shrift in romantic stories these days. Frankly, I would read a romance story between her and Hermes... it seems remotely possible if Pallas could ever get over Athena (who DOESN'T deserve Pallas's devotion).

Hades has weight, real and true weight. You can feel the responsabilites dragging her down, how she is almost plodding and lurching underneath a burden no one else could ever be able to bear. The depth of her love for Persephone leaps off the page. Persephone herself is masterfully done. A pampered princess of a goddess who learns that the best way to be protected is to learn how to fight for yourself. Both of her loves in this book were beautiful, tragic and hit nearly every emotion inbetween. I truly enjoyed every step of her journey, both heroic and romantic.

Gaea and Charon could have been difficult to the point of impossible, but Diemer manages it it very well.

Why, with all this praise have I not given the book 5 stars? Because the author seems to be in love withthe use of double wordplay. And that irritates me to no end.

Why? Because, because it annoyes me. Annoyes me to no end. It, it makes my teeth just, just set on edge.

If the above sentences irritated you, be warned, Sarah Diemer loves herself some double wordplay and uses it enough to merit me taking one star away.

Otherwise a stellar book on all other fronts.(less)

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Jul 26, 2012 Rachel Brown rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, lgbtq, fantasy

A gorgeous re-telling of the myth of Hades and Persephone as a consensual lesbian romance with a gender-switched Hades. And if that doesn’t get your attention, then I don’t know my friends list.

Persephone’s idyllic girlhood comes to a sudden, terrible end when her friend Charis, a nymph who had recently become her first lover, is raped by Zeus and transformed into a rose bush. Grieving and furious, Persephone is thinking of running away when she meets Hades, a goddess mockingly called “lord” of...more A gorgeous re-telling of the myth of Hades and Persephone as a consensual lesbian romance with a gender-switched Hades. And if that doesn’t get your attention, then I don’t know my friends list.

Persephone’s idyllic girlhood comes to a sudden, terrible end when her friend Charis, a nymph who had recently become her first lover, is raped by Zeus and transformed into a rose bush. Grieving and furious, Persephone is thinking of running away when she meets Hades, a goddess mockingly called “lord” of the underworld. The gentle, sad Hades takes Persephone in to protect her from Zeus, and gives her the run of the underworld.

The underworld is bleak and depressing, full of bitter ghosts and ruined heroes, with Hades the one bright light in the darkness. But as Persephone and Hades begin to fall in love, and Persephone starts talking to the angry ghosts, the spring and hope that Persephone carries with her transforms even the eternal barrenness of the underworld. But while the underworld blossoms, the world above falls into winter, and Demeter – and Zeus – demand that Persephone return…

I don’t usually review self-published books, because I don’t usually read them unless they were put out by authors I’m already familiar with. Shveta Thakrar alerted me to this one, and I’m very glad she did. It’s one of the most enjoyable fantasies I’ve read this year.

The Dark Wife was self-published because of its heroine’s sexual orientation, not because it wasn't good enough for mainstream publication. It's well-characterized, well-structured, and cleverly riffs on mythology. Though there are a handful of awkward sentences, in general the prose is simple, clear, and sometimes quite beautiful. A few scenes, such as the epilogue and the last scene in the Elysian Fields, are absolutely transcendent. In a less homophobic and sex-negative world, it could have come out from a fantasy or YA publisher, sold well, and maybe picked up a few awards.

Diemer cleverly re-imagines the myth, bringing her own touches to every detail, from the horrific, tragic Charon, made up of mismatched body parts he demanded in payment from souls who came without coins to pay, to an adorable puppy Cerberus. The pace is fast, the vision is clear and compelling, and the conclusion is quite moving.

My main quibble is that while it’s made clear at the outset that Persephone is telling this story many years after it happened, the points where modern attitudes and language appear aren’t marked enough to be clearly deliberate, and sometimes seem more like the author was dropping out of period by accident. I would have liked to either have those moments be more clearly anachronistic, or not had them appear at all. Also, Hades would have been more compelling if she’d had more of a dark side.

Overall, however, I thought this was great. And for those of you for whom “lesbian Persephone and Hades” isn’t a selling point, there’s a lot going on in the book other than romance. (If anything, I thought Hades and Persephone needed a couple more scenes together, even though I liked that much of Persephone’s journey involves people other than Hades and deeds other than romance.) I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys retold myths, and to fantasy fans in general.

It was written as a YA, and would be appropriate for, and very likely enjoyed by, teenagers who can deal with a brief, non-gratuitous, non-explicit, but disturbing rape scene. (It also has a medium-explicit, consensual sex scene later on. A hot one!)
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Apr 19, 2012 Rebecca Alora rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, books-read-in-2012

Well this book was nothing like what I expected and I'm very pleased at that.

I love it when books take a story and twist it until it is so completely their own that you're convinced they made up the whole thing on their own instead of basing it off something. This book does that so magnificently that I could have wept with joy!

Dark Wife is a sapphic retelling of the Grecian myth of Persephone. You would think this would be absolutely undoable, but in all honesty? Diemer will prove you wrong from...more Well this book was nothing like what I expected and I'm very pleased at that.

I love it when books take a story and twist it until it is so completely their own that you're convinced they made up the whole thing on their own instead of basing it off something. This book does that so magnificently that I could have wept with joy!

Dark Wife is a sapphic retelling of the Grecian myth of Persephone. You would think this would be absolutely undoable, but in all honesty? Diemer will prove you wrong from the first ten pages.

We follow Persephone from first love to heartbreak to moving on. It is a beautiful story, full of rich descriptions and believable storylines. It's also very thematic focusing on love, family, and justice. These three themes are addressed in multiple ways throughout the book.

I think the portrayal of a morally corrupt Zeus and a just Hades excited me the most. Though, to be fair, all the gods are always portrayed as more than a little corrupt. I mean look how many children each of them have that aren't with their supposed spouses. I honestly think the only one who doesn't have affairs is Hera and that's because she's basically the goddess of fidelity and family right?

But that's a whole other story.

Zeus is an absolute amoral horror in this story, while Hades is an excellent moral character. I still think my favorite is the tragic Pallas. So much pain, yet she holds her head high.

Persephone is called on to change the rules of the world that the gods inhabit in this book. But it's all about choice. Every choice Persephone makes defines the world she lives in, much like ours do. Only with Persephone, the ultimate choice she makes? It comes with a heavy and heartbreaking consequence that leaves you on the edge of your seat, flipping through the book to see how it ends.

I will warn you there are some major squick factors, such as rape and light incest, but that's about the extent of it. As this is a YA read it doesn't get too graphic.

All in all it's a great read.
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Feb 18, 2012 Maggie Desmond-O'Brien rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There are a lot of Persephone retellings cropping up nowadays, aren't there? First she got a cameo in the Percy Jackson series. Then The Goddess Test came along with its own version of the myth, plus a Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca sort of twist. And now I hear Meg Cabot put her spin on it in Abandon, which I have yet to read, but does in fact look pretty awesome. The story of Persephone is one of my favorite Greek myths of all time. I'm pretty psyched to see it get so much play in the YA world. A...more There are a lot of Persephone retellings cropping up nowadays, aren't there? First she got a cameo in the Percy Jackson series. Then The Goddess Test came along with its own version of the myth, plus a Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca sort of twist. And now I hear Meg Cabot put her spin on it in Abandon, which I have yet to read, but does in fact look pretty awesome. The story of Persephone is one of my favorite Greek myths of all time. I'm pretty psyched to see it get so much play in the YA world. And I'm especially psyched to see it get the sensitive, genuinely original and affecting treatment it receives in The Dark Wife.

It's incredible how well Diemer can take a fairly familiar myth and translate it to something entirely fresh and beautiful. Would I have envisioned the original, with all its undertones of rape and misogyny, as a girl power viva la revolution lesbian story? Not in a million years. Thankfully, Diemer has more imagination than I, because the world of Olympus, the Underworld, and Persephone's childhood is lush and unlike any other I've read.

I especially admire Diemer's courage in continuing in the footsteps of Malinda Lo's fantastic Ash in trailblazing lesbian YA. If you want to read some wonderfully honest thoughts on the difficulty and necessity of this, I couldn't recommend that you follow her blog Muse Rising more highly. There is a lot to be said for craft and technical mastery; in fact, we do not have a book worth reading without it. But there is also a lot to be said for sheer gutsyness and doing something new, both qualities I have found severely lacking in YA of late, and thankfully qualities Diemer has in spades.

Yes, there were some technical problems. Yes, the story moved a little faster and more confusingly than I thought it should. Yes, I wasn't as wholly absorbed as I thought I'd be. But Diemer's writing is lovely and nuanced enough that I can't wait to pick up more of her work in the future, and this novella is short enough that you really have no excuse not to give it a try. If this were the Sundance Film Festival, The Dark Wife would be my choice for the Originality of Vision prize.(less)

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Aug 20, 2011 Dawn Vanniman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I received this book from the author and was thrilled with it! As soon as I opened the package, I was excited to read the book - look at that cover - it's gorgeous! It turns out that Ms. Diemer's sister is a fab artist - love, love, love it! Then I read the acknowledgments, I always do, and they were sweet and open and made me want to be friends with the author.

This story is billed as a lesbian retelling of the myth of Persephone and Hades. Most stories with gay characters deal with the issues a...more I received this book from the author and was thrilled with it! As soon as I opened the package, I was excited to read the book - look at that cover - it's gorgeous! It turns out that Ms. Diemer's sister is a fab artist - love, love, love it! Then I read the acknowledgments, I always do, and they were sweet and open and made me want to be friends with the author.

This story is billed as a lesbian retelling of the myth of Persephone and Hades. Most stories with gay characters deal with the issues associated with 'coming out' and everyone's reactions. This story doesn't do that, it's just a fact. I love that it's treated so...not casually...but just as matter of fact, I guess. That's the way it should be.

Don't worry if you don't know the myth of Persephone and Hades, you'll read it within the story, where it's treated as a lie that Zeus told because he doesn't want anyone to know what Hades is really like. Ms. Diemer's story really expands on what Persephone did in the Underworld and how the dead exist there.

Persephone starts out as a sheltered young goddess who thinks she has to do whatever she's told and ends up as a strong woman fit to rule by Hades' side. Hades is cast as kind and loving, even though everyone hates and fears her. She keeps doing what she can to make the dead comfortable. Having been isolated for so long, it takes awhile for her to allow Persephone in to all her duties and emotions.

There's never a slow moment, the action and emotions keep going and the characters are very well-written. Mythology is always very pretty to read and I feel that Ms. Diemer kept up that tradition - it's a gorgeous, lush story. I loved the explanations of some of the creatures and features of the Underworld. My favorite was how Cerberus came to be Hades' guard dog. I don't generally get too mushy over dogs, but now I kinda want a three-headed puppy of my own!

One of my biggest complaints about YA love stories is the quickness in which the characters fall in love and have a relationship. I felt that Persephone and Hades really grew into their relationship slowly and carefully as they went, that it would be a lasting one.

I really can't say enough good things about this book, it's amazing! I've already loaned it out to a good friend and his partner and have several others friends that I've recommended it to.(less)

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May 28, 2011 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ancient Cultures used mythology to explain the mysteries of the seasons in a way that made sense and worked for them, and I would hope that most people are familiar with the myth commonly called "The Rape of Persephone" where the daughter of the Earth goddess Demeter is abducted by Hades, ruler of the dead. Demeter is so distressed that the very Earth itself dies and grows cold (Winter) until her daughter returns from the Underworld for six months from every year. You'll find somewhat similar pa...more

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Jun 17, 2013 Cait rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013

I didn't really know what to expect when I bought this on my Nook. I wasn't sure if I would like it, hate it, or not really feel anything either way. I had read one story very recently by Sarah Diemer, and I was instantly drawn into the story, so I decided I'd give another one a try. I felt this one might have the potential to drag me away to another world, just because it's about mythology.

Last year, I read all of the Percy Jackson books for the first time and ever since I was little I've been...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Agatha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This review was initially posted on my blog Stairway to Heaven.

General response:

The Dark Wife is a really interesting and heartwarming read.

I’m the first to admit that I’m not a hundred percent familiar with the mythology behind the book (the tale of Hades and Persephone –I think I’ve read about it somewhere, but the details aren’t very clear for me). But for me, this book really did a fantastic job of retelling the Greek myth (I know enough to say that, I hope) in a way that was familiar but re...more

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Nov 25, 2011 Lucy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbtq

I wasn't sure what to think about this book at first. Although the premise is awesome, the beginning was a bit slow. It starts out with a sort of removed, fast pace to it, and initially I had trouble getting drawn into it. But that all changes after Persephone gets to the Underworld. The pacing slows down, and gives you time to get attached to each of the characters in turn. By the end, I was in love.

I've always been fascinated by the Persephone myth, and also disturbed by it. This was a wonderf...more

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Jan 15, 2013 jack rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: (really) young teens, 12-14

I feel like I should explain my rating because it doesn't seem fair. (Why half-star ratings aren't allowed is beyond me)

I really liked the concept and what Diemer was trying to do with this. A lesbian re-telling of a Greek myth is something I could definitely get behind, and I was really excited when I first got my hands on this book. Also: a lot of the Persephone/Hades re-tellings portray Hades as a man who wrenches Persephone away from the arms of her mother and basically doesn't give her a ch...more

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Nov 10, 2011 Nonny rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-books, gblt, ya-fantasy, young-adult, 5-stars

(Fair warning: I suck at writing formal reviews.)

I loved this book. Some time ago, I stumbled across Sarah Diemer's website when a friend linked to a contest she had running. Her premise of a lesbian retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone fascinated me. For one, it's one of my favorite classical Greek myths. For another -- LESBIANS! Who get to have adventures! SQUEE.

This is very much a character story more than a plot story. It's about Persephone finding out who she is, and who she loves....more

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Jun 23, 2011 Oreotalpa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book should have been up my alley, but it ended up not being quite to my taste. It's beautifully written and lush, and delivers what's promised--a consensual lesbian version of the story of Persephone and Hades. But Hades was so perfect she sort of bored me, and it never quite felt Greek in any meaningful way; it felt like the framework of the story was borrowed, but it never engaged with the assumptions of Greek myth and critiqued them, it just ignored them. The characters felt more like m...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Persephone rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: always-greek-mythology

The Dark Wife is a very sweet, very heartwarming rewriting of the Hades/Persephone myth with a most original idea: Hades is a lady and she never kidnapped Persephone ; they were very much in love. The real, big bad villain of the story here is Zeus.
The story was extremely well-written ; some passages were very poetic without ever being obnoxiously purple in the slightest. It also felt well-researched, in the Ancient-Greek lifestyle department (but I am no expert). And I have to admit, it's very...more

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May 13, 2012 Aniytlia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, glbt, historical-fiction, lesbian, romance, scifi

Charactarization - 4 stars
Idea/Premise - 3 stars
Plot line - 2 stars

That pretty much sums it up for me. The main character was fun and well fleshed out and so was the the chararcter Pallas in my opinion, but everyone else was extremely static and I felt it very difficult to really resonate with anything going on with them, that coupled with several anti-climatic peaks in the plot line - that were oh so obvious and felt as if they had simply been tossed in to accentuate the piece rather than drive...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Shala Kerrigan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The story of Persephone and Hades was always one of my favorite myths. I've always imagined it was told wrong.

This is the telling I was waiting for. This one which is told so lovingly, in such beautiful language, that you fall in love a bit with the characters.

Persephone is not a victim in this book, she's a wonderfully spirited young goddess. Hades is the very essence of compassion and love. It's one of the most wonderful love stories I've ever read. As far as the romance goes, the drama and...more

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Jun 18, 2011 LVLMLeah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, lesbian, romance

First I’ll start off with a disclaimer that I know nothing of Greek mythology other than the most basic of stories. I do know some of the gods and what they represent, but that’s the extent of my knowledge. So I read this book basically at face value as a sort of epic fantasy set in the world of Greek mythology. However, I think this story might be really fun and interesting to someone who does know a lot about Greek mythology. I understand it’s a different twist on the Persephone/Hades original...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, 6-stars-out-of-5, heroines, myths-fairytales-retellings, youth-fiction, female-and-queer-issues, america

Review from my blog, http://rosesandvellum.blogspot.com.au/

The Dark Wife is a retelling of the Persephone myth. In achingly beautiful prose, Sarah Diemer tells the story of a young girl, deep in her first love, when her lover is violated and then turned into a flower by her lustful and domineering father, Zeus. King of the gods, he lords it over everyone, mocking other gods, and treating both gods and mortals as if they are his possessions.

At a party at Mount Olympus, the young, still grieving...more

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Jun 01, 2013 Joannah Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: queer

I'm giving this book a 4 out of 5 stars. As much as I wanted to throw a jab and an uppercut punch to the awkward writing style and characterization depicted by the author, I somehow wanted to give credit to the unique sapphic concept of retelling the Greek mythology on "The Rape of Persephone".

In The Dark Wife, it's quite reasonable that Hades, being godly, is portrayed as perfect, immaculate and flawlessly beautiful. Although I was a bit disappointed on the character of Persephone, as she seeme...more

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Dec 16, 2011 PrincyJessie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: finished

Plot= A tale of mythology with the main character Persephone falling in love with Hades and love and friendship.
Characters = It was excellent. As a fan of mythology I love Persephone I always knew there was a back story about her. This novel perfectly describes her in a way I loved. Persephone who was in love with Charis is a strong independent character when Charis died she was determined to get revenge on Zeus. Zeus I always thought he was fair and great but now my perspective changed complete...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Lina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: greek-myth-retelling, lgbt-lit, self-published

I was not aware that this book was self-published until I read Vinaya's review of the book. For some reason Greek mythology has been a really popular selling point in recent says, but a lot of writers get it wrong, painfully so. You know who I am talking about.

Diemer offers, in very sweet prose, the coming-of-age tale of Persephone, daughter of Demeter in this retelling of the Persephone/Hades myth. A few months before she is to be presented as a goddess on Mount Olympus, Persephone falls in lo...more I was not aware that this book was self-published until I read Vinaya's review of the book. For some reason Greek mythology has been a really popular selling point in recent says, but a lot of writers get it wrong, painfully so. You know who I am talking about.

Diemer offers, in very sweet prose, the coming-of-age tale of Persephone, daughter of Demeter in this retelling of the Persephone/Hades myth. A few months before she is to be presented as a goddess on Mount Olympus, Persephone falls in love with a nymph and plans to run away with her. In true Greek Tragedy style, Persephone's love is killed after a brutal rape at the hands of her father--Zeus. Filled with hatred for her father, disillusionment towards her mother and taunting by her half-brother, Hermes, Persephone descends into the Underworld into the welcome arms of Hades, Ladyof the Underworld.

While the prose is very quaint and the story itself is well-constructed, it lacks a layer of passion to make it really stand out. As Vinaya and Phoebe North mentioned in their own excellent reviews, the shades of white given to Persephone and Hades is blinding. While Persephone is a mostly benevolent Goddess, she did turn a nymph into a plant for making eyes at her man and Hades might not have been the great lecher his brother's were, but he was not the nicest bloke either. I wish I could have seen more fire in both of them. However, unlike by fellow reviewers, I was not terribly bothered by Zeus's portrayal in this retelling because, to be frank, he is a giant rapist, murdering, manipulating asshole. Very rarely do I get an adaptation that actually shows him to be the c u next tuesday he is, so I relished in this.

Not very much happened, but to be honest that did not weaken the book for me. After reading so many novels where the heroine engages in one tedious task after another for no other reason that to not sit around, I did not mind a simple straightforward story. In a novel like this were we already know the outcome what is more important is to tell the story well rather than adding pomp.

Overall, I found this to be a very laudable debut for Ms.Diemer, this is probably the second Greek-Mythological Adaption I've read recently that did not make me cringe in horror. While candy-sweet at times, it tells a good story. $4.99 well spent. (less)

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Apr 15, 2013 Katie Call rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sarah Diemer is my favorite lesbian writer! She writes fantasy novels that are fun with characters who are at once both adorable and sexy. Her books don't rely on gay and lesbian tropes to stand. They're just stories, like any others, that just happen to have two people in love, set in fantasy worlds. I love that!

In the Dark Wife, Sarah Diemer appeals to my love of Greek mythology. I always thought Zeus was a deuche bag and this book proves that ;)

I really like the idea of Hades being female, an...more

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