He smiles. "Hello."
It's a deep voice. I can feel it reverberate in my chest and echo all the way down to my toes.
I know I should leav... read full description
reviews
Dec 18, 2010
Anne
rated it: 
Persephone is trapped in the vale. OK, the vale is filled with beautiful flowers and rich greenery and her best friends, but still . . . trapped is trapped.
Especially when your mother is a Greek goddess.
But then HE arrives. At the reins of a speeding chariot. Behind a horse dark as night. He doesn’t care about her mother. He listens to Persephone. And he may be her only chance for escape.
So she takes it. Straight to Hades.
I loved the vibrance in t More...
Especially when your mother is a Greek goddess.
But then HE arrives. At the reins of a speeding chariot. Behind a horse dark as night. He doesn’t care about her mother. He listens to Persephone. And he may be her only chance for escape.
So she takes it. Straight to Hades.
I loved the vibrance in t More...
Mar 13, 2011
Jillian -always aspiring-
rated it: 
His calm voice makes me feel braver, so I ask, "Why did you come back?"
"I saw you."
The three words fill every atom of my body so there isn't room for anything else. He's here because of me.
After reading reviews trickling in for the upcoming Greek myth-inspired books The Goddess Test and Starcrossed, I couldn't help but think about books I've read pertaining to revamping Greek mythology. I couldn't think of very many (other than The Lightning Thief More...
"I saw you."
The three words fill every atom of my body so there isn't room for anything else. He's here because of me.
After reading reviews trickling in for the upcoming Greek myth-inspired books The Goddess Test and Starcrossed, I couldn't help but think about books I've read pertaining to revamping Greek mythology. I couldn't think of very many (other than The Lightning Thief More...
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Mar 26, 2009
khcpl teen
rated it:
In this stunning debut, Whiteman elaborates on the myth often called The Rape of Persephone. Whiteman’s Persephone however, is not the damsel in distress that you often find in the traditional myth. What sets Whiteman’s Persephone apart is that everything that happens to her is by her own choice.
Tired of being treated like a child and ignored by her mother the goddess Demeter, Persephone silently rebels against her mother who refuses to acknowledge that her daughter is no longer a c More...
Tired of being treated like a child and ignored by her mother the goddess Demeter, Persephone silently rebels against her mother who refuses to acknowledge that her daughter is no longer a c More...
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Mar 19, 2009
Steph Su
rated it:
Teenage goddess Persephone lives in the loveliest vale created especially for her by her mother, Demeter, to protect her from the influences of men. But Persephone is not happy in her own little heaven. Demeter is belittling and babying, never allowing Persephone to attend any functions of mortal worship, always buying her toys that Persephone had loved as a child but now find childish.
One day, a dark and alluring stranger appears in the vale with his chariot. Persephone is impercept More...
One day, a dark and alluring stranger appears in the vale with his chariot. Persephone is impercept More...
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Feb 15, 2009
Spellbound
rated it:
Wow. Just finished the ARC of this book, and I have to say that I liked it more with each page. This is a reimagining of the myth of Persephone, proposing that Persephone was not in fact kidnapped but fell in love with a handsome charming man who turned out to be Hades and willingly ran off to the underworld with him. In this version, she is also rebelling against her overprotective mother Demeter, who just won't let her grow up.
The book gets off to a bit of a wobbly start, in my op More...
The book gets off to a bit of a wobbly start, in my op More...
Feb 11, 2009
Jennifer
rated it:
Reviewed by Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen for TeensReadToo.com
Have you heard the story of Persephone, daughter of the goddess Demeter? She was kidnapped by Hades and forced to live in the underworld as his queen. But that's not the real story - and Persephone is going to set the record straight.
Demeter is strict - so much so that she keeps Persephone sheltered in a vale. Demeter doesn't seem to notice that Persephone is not a little girl anymore. And she never all More...
Have you heard the story of Persephone, daughter of the goddess Demeter? She was kidnapped by Hades and forced to live in the underworld as his queen. But that's not the real story - and Persephone is going to set the record straight.
Demeter is strict - so much so that she keeps Persephone sheltered in a vale. Demeter doesn't seem to notice that Persephone is not a little girl anymore. And she never all More...
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Jan 28, 2009
Cindy
rated it:
*4.5*stars*
i'm a huge fan of greek myth, and most of us are familiar with that of persephone, demeter's daughter who is forced to go to the underworld with hades. this story is told from persephone's view point, an immortal teenager kept in a vale without men by her overprotective mother--who can't see that her daughter has grown up.
whitman captures the voice of any typical teenager who longs for independence and growth and change in their lives. at the same time, there a More...
i'm a huge fan of greek myth, and most of us are familiar with that of persephone, demeter's daughter who is forced to go to the underworld with hades. this story is told from persephone's view point, an immortal teenager kept in a vale without men by her overprotective mother--who can't see that her daughter has grown up.
whitman captures the voice of any typical teenager who longs for independence and growth and change in their lives. at the same time, there a More...
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Feb 09, 2009
Melissa
rated it:
In this stunning debut, Whiteman elaborates on the myth often called The Rape of Persephone. Whiteman’s Persephone however, is not the damsel in distress that you often find in the traditional myth. What sets Whiteman’s Persephone apart is that everything that happens to her is by her own choice.
Tired of being treated like a child and ignored by her mother the goddess Demeter, Persephone silently rebels against her mother who refuses to acknowledge that her daughter is no longer More...
Tired of being treated like a child and ignored by her mother the goddess Demeter, Persephone silently rebels against her mother who refuses to acknowledge that her daughter is no longer More...
Dec 14, 2011
Liyana
rated it: 
Radiant Darkness is a retelling of the Greek myth of Persephone being kidnapped by Hades, Lord of the Underworld. I've always been a fan of fairy tales and myths being retold, but this one disappointed me greatly. It had a lot of chances to be explored to its full potential, yet time and time again the story just fizzled out.
The main subplot of Persephone's relationship with her mother, the goddess Demeter underlies the story. Persephone has been living under the dominating Demeter's s More...
The main subplot of Persephone's relationship with her mother, the goddess Demeter underlies the story. Persephone has been living under the dominating Demeter's s More...
Sep 01, 2011
Anoolka
rated it:
3.5 It's a good YA retelling but feels a little underdone. I'd have liked a little more depth to other characters. Persephone is pretty well described and goes through some changes but the others are barely there. I'd have liked a little more about Hades and his relationship with Persephone. Once she's in the Underworld their relationship changes very little.
Mythology wise, it's not bad, though I was surprised that the Kore/Persephone aspect wasn't mentioned (her changing her name along wi More...
Mythology wise, it's not bad, though I was surprised that the Kore/Persephone aspect wasn't mentioned (her changing her name along wi More...
Jun 20, 2011
Truly Bookish
rated it:
What if Persephone was not kidnapped and dragged to the underworld by Hades and forced to become his wife? How much different would the myth be if she went with him willingly? This is the story that Emily Whitman tells in Radiant Darkness.
Persephone is a teenage goddess who lives in a beautiful vale that is completely inaccessible to anyone. Her mother, Demeter, is the only one who comes and goes from the vale. Persephone's friends are female mythological creatures and the message is More...
Persephone is a teenage goddess who lives in a beautiful vale that is completely inaccessible to anyone. Her mother, Demeter, is the only one who comes and goes from the vale. Persephone's friends are female mythological creatures and the message is More...
May 26, 2011
Radiant Darkness is a retelling of the Greek myth about Hades and Persephone. Persephone’s mother, Demeter, is determined to make sure that Persephone stays a child forever. Every time Persephone wants to go with her mother to a festival or give away her dolls to the temple, her mother gets angry. Persephone never gets to leave her mother’s vale. The most exciting thing that she does is visit her friends at another part of the vale.
One day, Persephone smells a flower that almost More...
One day, Persephone smells a flower that almost More...
Apr 01, 2011
Rashina
rated it:
Radiant Darkness is definitely a new twist to the old story and it was surprisingly well done. The characters in Radiant Darkness were really well developed. I loved Persephone and how she was her own person and how she wasn’t the typical old fashioned teenager. Hades was actually my favorite character. I never thought I would say this but Hades was sexy. :) I really loved his character and how Emily Whitman made the god of the underworld into a normal human being who can love. He was just perfe
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Jan 26, 2011
Anne-claire
rated it:
Radiant Darkness is a retelling of Persephone fall to the Underworld.
However, she is certainly not the fragile and defenseless kidnapped baby girl her divine-achieving goddess-slash-mom thinks she is throughout the story.
Quite the contrary in fact. She loves her mother very deeply but having always been sheltered, she now yearns to flee from the luxuriant vale her mother created especially for her, and become an adult.
Only she suffers from a great lack of conf More...
However, she is certainly not the fragile and defenseless kidnapped baby girl her divine-achieving goddess-slash-mom thinks she is throughout the story.
Quite the contrary in fact. She loves her mother very deeply but having always been sheltered, she now yearns to flee from the luxuriant vale her mother created especially for her, and become an adult.
Only she suffers from a great lack of conf More...
Nov 24, 2010
Ashlyn Rae
rated it: 
First of all, do NOT read the summary of the book. You know that page where the copyright info is and who published the book and what genre the book is in? Yeah, don’t read the summary part because it will tell you the story in one sentence. I was maybe forty pages into the book when I read the summary, and I thought, “Really? Do you have to tell me the story in one sentence?” I pretty much read the story knowing what would happen in the end, but I enjoyed reading it anyway. I love Greek mythol
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Aug 16, 2009
gina
rated it: 
The story line is a "what if we got it all wrong" look at Persephone and Hades tragic tale, that turns out from this alternative view- isn't so tragic.
It has the potential to be a much better book than it is. The author's bad writing sounds like what might occur if I let my beloved (but immature and girlish) 12 year old cousin write a book, complete with poor choices of dialogue, description, and development. Perhaps the author is very young and so cannot escape sounding l More...
It has the potential to be a much better book than it is. The author's bad writing sounds like what might occur if I let my beloved (but immature and girlish) 12 year old cousin write a book, complete with poor choices of dialogue, description, and development. Perhaps the author is very young and so cannot escape sounding l More...
Jun 20, 2009
Sarah-Greenbeanteenqueen
rated it:
The story of Persephone is one of my favorite's in mythology. So when I first heard about this book I knew I had to read it. I was so excited about it, I even did a happy dance in my office when I got it! Emily Whitman's retelling does not disappoint! Radiant Darkness has it all-a strict overbearing mom, a rebellious daughter, a forbidden romance, sacrifice and heartbreak. What teen couldn't relate to something on that list?
Ms. Whitman does a great job of turning the familiar story on it More...
Ms. Whitman does a great job of turning the familiar story on it More...
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Feb 09, 2010
Xustine
rated it:
Everyone knows the myth about Persephone and Hades and Demeter, but this one has a little twist. I have read MANY books like this, multiple versions of this myth about Persephone telling the "truth" or the "real story" behind what happened, and this book is just like that one, but something makes this book special...
Persephone has a MAJOR overprotective mother, Demeter. Her mother wouldn't even let her trade in her toys because that was the sign of her becoming a More...
Persephone has a MAJOR overprotective mother, Demeter. Her mother wouldn't even let her trade in her toys because that was the sign of her becoming a More...
Jan 14, 2012
Lissa
rated it:
I am such a sucker for mythology, and the so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to review this novel with my reading group. Having already known the story of Persephone I was intrigued to see the twists Emily Whitman would add to the tale. In Radiant Darkness Whitman contradicts the myth of Persephone by allowing her to choose of her own free will her fate with Hades.
We only think you know true story. Poor, sweet and innocent Persephone snatched away from her beloved mother Demeter, b More...
We only think you know true story. Poor, sweet and innocent Persephone snatched away from her beloved mother Demeter, b More...
Dec 07, 2011
Rapunzel
rated it:
This is not the first time that I have read this book. It is the second. And the first time I read this book I will admit to believing that it had no faults. I read it and only saw it for the surface value while at the same time somehow able to add elements that the book never even touched. So I can honestly say that while I still really like this book I am not looking at it with rose colored glasses anymore.
The book is a retelling of Hades and Persephone and what could have happened i More...
The book is a retelling of Hades and Persephone and what could have happened i More...
Jan 08, 2012
Marni
rated it:
For those that love mythology, this is right up your alley. For those that could care less about mythology, but like a good story, this is also for you. First, you have to be willing to get through the authors need to jump here and there and cut out of sequences quickly. I found at least the first half of the book to be quite choppy. You get used to it while reading, but it still drove me a bit crazy.
To the story....Persephone is the only child of Demeter. Demeter is the Goddess of th More...
To the story....Persephone is the only child of Demeter. Demeter is the Goddess of th More...
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Jun 01, 2011
Emily
rated it:
Has there ever been a rumor about you going around school that you know is not true? That’s how Persephone, daughter of the Greek Goddess Demeter, feels about everything the mythology books say about her. In Radiant Darkness, she sets the record straight. Persephone grows up in her mother’s vale, a river valley that has been isolated from the rest of the world. Her friends are stream naiads and flower dryads, and there are no men in the vale. That is, until a mysterious man with dark hair a
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Mar 11, 2010
Arya
rated it:
Ms. Whitman did a good job of explaining why we mortals think that Hades kidnapped Persephone when really nothing could be further from the truth. I loved the song. Personally I have always liked Hades, so this was nothing new to me as I have fantasized about how Persephone had to fall for him. . .I mean come on the guy is rich, powerful, handsome and respectful (as far as I know Hades never cheated on Persephone, can the same be said for Poseidon or Zeus? I don't think so).
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Jul 10, 2011
Amber
rated it:
Persephone lives in a gorgeous, flowering vale with her mother Demeter and a few nymphs as friends. Unfortunately, Demeter is overprotective and never allows Persephone to leave the vale or have any male contact. She also incessantly infantilizes Persephone and she cannot imagine living like this for all of eternity. She needs a change. She needs to be allowed to blossom into adulthood. One day, Persephone smells a new flower in the vale and follows her nose up a path she has never explored. The
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Oct 20, 2009
Brooke
rated it:
A feminist retelling of the Persephone myth; what if the goddess of Spring wasn't stolen away by Hades as much as eloping with him? There's a sultry edge to the romance element that should appeal to Twilight fans. Somehow, even though many of the story's elements are well defined, I felt that it could have used more depth, particularly regarding Persephone's relationship with Hades (it seems almost entirely physical). But there are enough fun details -- subconcious messages emerging in the th
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Sep 29, 2010
Maureen
rated it:
by Emily Whitman
Opening line--"'Stay here, Persephone,' says my mother. 'I have some work to do.'"
This is one of those rare books which I didn't read any reviews of. I just saw it on the library shelf, was interested by the title, and picked it up. This is a risky move. This time, however, it paid off. I found it well-written and intriguing--the Persephone myth is one of those that lends itself to constant re-interpretation and I usually feel like those work More...
May 06, 2010
Lostinlit
rated it:
I fell completely in love with this novel. It captivated me within its first few pages and held me, spellbound, until the closing paragraph.
It was lovely to see how Whitman took the ancient myth of Persephone and Hades and turned it around to make it a story of love, strength, and independence. The author took the important details of the original story, such as the pomegranate seeds, and weaved them together beautifully to create a story that felt rich with history and legend.
More...
It was lovely to see how Whitman took the ancient myth of Persephone and Hades and turned it around to make it a story of love, strength, and independence. The author took the important details of the original story, such as the pomegranate seeds, and weaved them together beautifully to create a story that felt rich with history and legend.
More...
Sep 07, 2009
Lea (YA Book Queen)
rated it:
This novel contradicts the myth of Persephone. Here, Persephone leaves by her own free will, and Hades isn't really all that bad (ie: a hot guy).
I'm such a sucker for mythology, that I couldn't pass up this novel. I was pleased with the story, it was fresh, humorous, fun and current. I loved the author's take on the Underworld, and the people in it. This novel is just so hard for me to decide on, because I was so hyped up to read it (refer back to "I'm a sucker for mythology" More...
I'm such a sucker for mythology, that I couldn't pass up this novel. I was pleased with the story, it was fresh, humorous, fun and current. I loved the author's take on the Underworld, and the people in it. This novel is just so hard for me to decide on, because I was so hyped up to read it (refer back to "I'm a sucker for mythology" More...
Feb 01, 2011
Erica
rated it:
With all the paranormal books, all the romances with the mysterious bad boy who steals the innocent girl’s heart, I think I was expecting this to be similar. I mean, it’s Hades himself taking Persephone as his queen. How much more bad boy can you get? But I was pleasantly surprised to find that this wasn’t really about the romance between Hades and Persephone and how the story we hear in myths is wrong. Well, it is, but the romance part itself is not really the focus. Instead this is a stor
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Jul 23, 2009
Diana
rated it:
Persephone is the only daughter to the harvest goddess, Demeter. In texts and legends, she was kidnapped and forced against her will to marry the underworld god, Hades.
But that is not right! She wasn't forced into doing anything at all!
So why don't you lend an ear and let Persephone tells you what really happened?
Living in the beautiful and tranquil vale her whole life, Persephone has never seen what it is like outside the garden gates. Her mother has spoken i More...
But that is not right! She wasn't forced into doing anything at all!
So why don't you lend an ear and let Persephone tells you what really happened?
Living in the beautiful and tranquil vale her whole life, Persephone has never seen what it is like outside the garden gates. Her mother has spoken i More...
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