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The Fruit of Life and Death #1
The Tale of Kore
In the heart of academia, Corey, an ambitious master’s student, yearns for a life beyond the confines of dusty books and lectures. After making a fateful wish, Corey becomes a key player in a cosmic drama that unfolds following a re-enactment of an Ancient Greek mystery cult dedicated to Demeter and Persephone.
Whisked away to the shadowy depths of the Underworld, Corey discovers a world teetering on the brink of chaos. Dark forces stir, with ancient gods either missing or perishing. To restore balance, Corey must brave the labyrinthine passages of the Underworld, confront mythical beasts, and uncover long-buried truths to revive the goddesses of justice, memory, and spring—before true darkness takes hold.
Will be available as a KU Select book December 6th, 2024.
Whisked away to the shadowy depths of the Underworld, Corey discovers a world teetering on the brink of chaos. Dark forces stir, with ancient gods either missing or perishing. To restore balance, Corey must brave the labyrinthine passages of the Underworld, confront mythical beasts, and uncover long-buried truths to revive the goddesses of justice, memory, and spring—before true darkness takes hold.
Will be available as a KU Select book December 6th, 2024.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2024
17 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Amanda L. Rautio
7 books17 followersAmanda L. Rautio is a fantasy author from Banff, AB, with a background in Classical History and English Literature. She began crafting her imaginative worlds at the age of fourteen and continues to weave tales rich with mythology and symbolism. When she’s not writing, Amanda enjoys black [decaf] coffee, immersing herself in books, spending time with her pet snakes, and cherishing moments with her supportive fiancé, her very own pillar of Heracles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 6, 2024
What an absolute pleasure to read this early. This is a unique take on an old tale. I absolutely loved it! A dark academia Greek retelling!! Spice free but loaded with great tension! This read like Percy Jackson for adults (in the best way). This book was clearly carefully researched. I was nervous to dive back into more academic focused books (I’ve been reading a lot of unserious romantasy lately) but this was so approachable. The balance between Greek myths, character development and romantic tension was perfection! I fell in love with Hades in this and I’m not even sorry about it. I cannot wait for book two!!
November 7, 2024
This book was such an exciting read for me! This would be a first for me in the sense of academia style books but I could not pass up on something to do with Greek mythology.
First, you can definitely tell the amount of research the author put into this book while writing it. You could feel the love the author poured into the book with each page.
I throughly enjoyed Hades’ character!!!
I loved how curious and intelligent Corey’s character was. She is no damsel in distress! I love a FMC that can and will take care of herself.
If you’re looking for a fun and interesting story with Greek mythology, this is it! You will not be disappointed.
First, you can definitely tell the amount of research the author put into this book while writing it. You could feel the love the author poured into the book with each page.
I throughly enjoyed Hades’ character!!!
I loved how curious and intelligent Corey’s character was. She is no damsel in distress! I love a FMC that can and will take care of herself.
If you’re looking for a fun and interesting story with Greek mythology, this is it! You will not be disappointed.
November 21, 2024
Unique story that will have you wanting to know more throughout the book. A FMC that is a bad ass, can take care of herself, and wonderfully created!
This story brings you into a world that can get lost in! This book gives dark academia vibes and you can definitely tell that a lot of thought went into writing it!
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story brings you into a world that can get lost in! This book gives dark academia vibes and you can definitely tell that a lot of thought went into writing it!
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 2, 2024
This is not my normal type of book, but it turned out to be amazing. It was well researched, well paced, and was a story that while had no spice, was engaging and full of diverse characters.
The plot had tension, academic elements that were explained in a way that is eloquent and interesting, and nods to Greek mythology.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will be recommending it!
The plot had tension, academic elements that were explained in a way that is eloquent and interesting, and nods to Greek mythology.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will be recommending it!
November 21, 2024
4.75⭐️
This book is literary art. I think what's beautiful about this book is that for those who do not have a deeper knowledge of Gree mythology, but wish to understand it, this is a beautiful and informative introduction to it, and for those who hold Greek mythology as a passionately close special interest, will find themselves hypnotized by an incredible and fresh retelling of these long loved mythologies and their characters. Regardless of which side of the spectrum of knowledge you stand on, I believe this will be an incredibly intriguing and enjoyable read for those who enjoy acedmic novels and world mythologies.
For someone like myself who has been obsessed with Greek mythology since I was a child, I was completely enamored by this academic literary retelling. Having knowledge of the gods and goddesses gave me the ability to read this book and catch the little nuances of the characters and the connections to the tales that the author seeks to retell and explore over the course of the book.
This book does an incredible job capturing the essence of the lessons and ideas of life that Greek mythology seeks to unravel for us. As the characters within the book explore these ideas and ask the questions necessary to guide the story it leaves you to question these very ideas for yourself. This book is just as much a journey of self acceptance for ourselves as it is for the characters of this book.
I am so excited to explore these stories in even greater depth in future books of this series and am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book.
This book is literary art. I think what's beautiful about this book is that for those who do not have a deeper knowledge of Gree mythology, but wish to understand it, this is a beautiful and informative introduction to it, and for those who hold Greek mythology as a passionately close special interest, will find themselves hypnotized by an incredible and fresh retelling of these long loved mythologies and their characters. Regardless of which side of the spectrum of knowledge you stand on, I believe this will be an incredibly intriguing and enjoyable read for those who enjoy acedmic novels and world mythologies.
For someone like myself who has been obsessed with Greek mythology since I was a child, I was completely enamored by this academic literary retelling. Having knowledge of the gods and goddesses gave me the ability to read this book and catch the little nuances of the characters and the connections to the tales that the author seeks to retell and explore over the course of the book.
This book does an incredible job capturing the essence of the lessons and ideas of life that Greek mythology seeks to unravel for us. As the characters within the book explore these ideas and ask the questions necessary to guide the story it leaves you to question these very ideas for yourself. This book is just as much a journey of self acceptance for ourselves as it is for the characters of this book.
I am so excited to explore these stories in even greater depth in future books of this series and am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book.
November 18, 2024
Tale of Kore is a modern spin on the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone. It follows Corey, a college student in Athens, Georgia who takes a class on Ancient Greek mythology and agrees with her friends to reenact an Ancient Greek worship ceremony with her friends in the middle of a national forest. This occurs in the midst of meeting a mysterious (and handsome stranger of course) named Aiden and not being able to shake the feeling of being watched. There are subtle differences and deviations from the Greek myths that made this book fun and interesting to read.
At some points I felt the pacing was off and some scenes were longer than they should have been, but overall I enjoyed it. You can tell the author has a passion for Greek mythology - it was well-researched and philosophical enough that at some points I had to stop and think about what the characters themselves were contemplating. There was good tension between characters and no spice and had a YA vibe about it.
I think people who were fans of Percy Jackson as kids will enjoy Tale of Kore and this is also a great read if you have an appreciation for Greek mythology.
At some points I felt the pacing was off and some scenes were longer than they should have been, but overall I enjoyed it. You can tell the author has a passion for Greek mythology - it was well-researched and philosophical enough that at some points I had to stop and think about what the characters themselves were contemplating. There was good tension between characters and no spice and had a YA vibe about it.
I think people who were fans of Percy Jackson as kids will enjoy Tale of Kore and this is also a great read if you have an appreciation for Greek mythology.
November 25, 2024
arc review - thank you amanda for the arc!
this book is such a unique spin on the classic hades persephone tale, and i really enjoyed it! I haven't read a dark academia book before so it was definitely an adjustment for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot twists definitely shocked me, and I was super entertained and invested.
If you like greek mythology retellings and academia settings, this is the book for you! It was so fun to revisit the mythology world, which I haven't dabbled in since the days of percy jackson.
definitely would recommend this, and the cover is gorgeous - can't wait to get a physical copy to add to my collection! thanks amanda for the chance to read this - super grateful and very excited for release day :)
this book is such a unique spin on the classic hades persephone tale, and i really enjoyed it! I haven't read a dark academia book before so it was definitely an adjustment for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot twists definitely shocked me, and I was super entertained and invested.
If you like greek mythology retellings and academia settings, this is the book for you! It was so fun to revisit the mythology world, which I haven't dabbled in since the days of percy jackson.
definitely would recommend this, and the cover is gorgeous - can't wait to get a physical copy to add to my collection! thanks amanda for the chance to read this - super grateful and very excited for release day :)
November 4, 2024
What a fun and exciting read! The Tale of Kore is such a fun take on Greek mythology, specifically the story of Persephone.
From libraries and classrooms to the Underworld, this novel takes readers on such a fun journey. It is so evident how passionate Amanda L. Rautio is about this story and making it come alive for readers. Additionally, it is so clear how much research and effort were put into the writing.
I am so thankful I was able to receive a copy of this amazing book from Amanda! It’s not everyday that I get a chance to support an Albertan author, let alone one who has written an increíble fantasy novel based on Greek mythology.
I am so enthralled with these characters and can’t wait to read Amanda’s future books!
From libraries and classrooms to the Underworld, this novel takes readers on such a fun journey. It is so evident how passionate Amanda L. Rautio is about this story and making it come alive for readers. Additionally, it is so clear how much research and effort were put into the writing.
I am so thankful I was able to receive a copy of this amazing book from Amanda! It’s not everyday that I get a chance to support an Albertan author, let alone one who has written an increíble fantasy novel based on Greek mythology.
I am so enthralled with these characters and can’t wait to read Amanda’s future books!
November 7, 2024
Thank you very much for the ARC!
This book has a fantastic premise, and was one of the ARC's I was most excited to receive this year. Greek myth retellings have been big for the last couple of years for good reason, and bringing in a modern element to tell an entirely new myth is a very creative way to innovate and introduce something new in the genre.
I think this could be an incredible book, but it needs several more rounds of editing first.
There are many grammatical and line level edits that need to be made, with several instances of typos, missing commas, tense changes, and places where a sentence was clearly changed halfway through but the first half wasn't corrected to match the end throughout the book. There also seem to be many places in which there are two to three sentences which all convey the exact same thing, which need to be pared down to a single sentence.
There are also developmental edits that need to be made. Some themes and ideas are inconsistent For example: Hades doesn't know what a telephone is, but he knows enough about the Lord of the Rings to name Cirith Ungol when Corey says something reminds her of LOTR; does he know about the modern world or not? It says Gods don't need to sleep, but they're often sleeping despite that. Corey is an MA student in Classics, but from time to time needs things explained to her that one would think she would know. There is no acknowledgement of the fact that the main conflict is not solved during the climax until the last page, which results in a bit of a strange wrap up, in which it seems like everyone is treating it as though everything has been fixed despite the fact that it hasn't until one sentence at the very end. Quite a bit of the exposition throughout the book is rather info-dumpy, and needs to be pared down.
Though it's clear that the author spent a lot of time reviewing the mythological basis for the book, it seems she didn't spend as much time researching the setting. Corey is a second year MA student, yet she doesn't know which professor is the Greek expert in the classics department, not only does it seem like she would have found that out instantly upon starting classes, most graduate programs require you to state which faculty members you would like as advisors in your applications. She also talks about a class with a M/W/F schedule, though virtually all graduate classes meet once a week, rarely twice a week. The book also takes place in Athens, GA, which I think could have been researched slightly more. For example, when deciding to go camping they go to "the national forest" which is just over an hour away, despite the fact that there are several national parks (i.e. it seems like when discussing it they would specify which one) only around half an hour away from Athens. There is also a bizarre moment in which Hermes indicates that the invention and use of birth control is causing casual sex to become a societal problem, despite the fact that the ancient greeks used forms of birth control.
Lastly, the prose could use refinement. There is a fine line between the flowery prose that has come to be expected from Greek mythological fiction and stilted overly formal prose. There is something to be said for simplicity, and at times the prose gives the impression that most of the words were looked up in a thesaurus to make them sound more formal rather than sounding like natural speech. This causes some passages to come off as awkward, and is highlighted by the way it seems to swing wildly between very casual modern speaking and extremely formal.
Again, the premise is spectacular. The plot is engaging and is a really cool innovation on the current state of the genre. I really think that with more editing this could be a book that could land Amanda Rautio's name among Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint as a pillar of modern greek mythological fiction. It has a LOT of promise as a story and series concept, but it needs quite a bit more editing.
This book has a fantastic premise, and was one of the ARC's I was most excited to receive this year. Greek myth retellings have been big for the last couple of years for good reason, and bringing in a modern element to tell an entirely new myth is a very creative way to innovate and introduce something new in the genre.
I think this could be an incredible book, but it needs several more rounds of editing first.
There are many grammatical and line level edits that need to be made, with several instances of typos, missing commas, tense changes, and places where a sentence was clearly changed halfway through but the first half wasn't corrected to match the end throughout the book. There also seem to be many places in which there are two to three sentences which all convey the exact same thing, which need to be pared down to a single sentence.
There are also developmental edits that need to be made. Some themes and ideas are inconsistent For example: Hades doesn't know what a telephone is, but he knows enough about the Lord of the Rings to name Cirith Ungol when Corey says something reminds her of LOTR; does he know about the modern world or not? It says Gods don't need to sleep, but they're often sleeping despite that. Corey is an MA student in Classics, but from time to time needs things explained to her that one would think she would know. There is no acknowledgement of the fact that the main conflict is not solved during the climax until the last page, which results in a bit of a strange wrap up, in which it seems like everyone is treating it as though everything has been fixed despite the fact that it hasn't until one sentence at the very end. Quite a bit of the exposition throughout the book is rather info-dumpy, and needs to be pared down.
Though it's clear that the author spent a lot of time reviewing the mythological basis for the book, it seems she didn't spend as much time researching the setting. Corey is a second year MA student, yet she doesn't know which professor is the Greek expert in the classics department, not only does it seem like she would have found that out instantly upon starting classes, most graduate programs require you to state which faculty members you would like as advisors in your applications. She also talks about a class with a M/W/F schedule, though virtually all graduate classes meet once a week, rarely twice a week. The book also takes place in Athens, GA, which I think could have been researched slightly more. For example, when deciding to go camping they go to "the national forest" which is just over an hour away, despite the fact that there are several national parks (i.e. it seems like when discussing it they would specify which one) only around half an hour away from Athens. There is also a bizarre moment in which Hermes indicates that the invention and use of birth control is causing casual sex to become a societal problem, despite the fact that the ancient greeks used forms of birth control.
Lastly, the prose could use refinement. There is a fine line between the flowery prose that has come to be expected from Greek mythological fiction and stilted overly formal prose. There is something to be said for simplicity, and at times the prose gives the impression that most of the words were looked up in a thesaurus to make them sound more formal rather than sounding like natural speech. This causes some passages to come off as awkward, and is highlighted by the way it seems to swing wildly between very casual modern speaking and extremely formal.
Again, the premise is spectacular. The plot is engaging and is a really cool innovation on the current state of the genre. I really think that with more editing this could be a book that could land Amanda Rautio's name among Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint as a pillar of modern greek mythological fiction. It has a LOT of promise as a story and series concept, but it needs quite a bit more editing.
November 20, 2024
The Tale of Kore by Amanda L. Rautio
The concept of The Tale of Kore immediately caught my attention—a fresh spin on Greek mythology? That’s right up my alley! Unfortunately, this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
The premise of Master’s students diving deep into Greek mythology and guiding readers along their academic journey was compelling in theory. However, the execution felt disjointed. While the scenes featuring conversations between classmates were loaded with an impressive amount of knowledge and detail, these were often followed by completely unrelated moments, like the FMC vividly describing her male classmates playing chicken at the beach. The abrupt shifts between dense intellectual discussions and arbitrary, superficial scenes gave me literary whiplash.
It’s clear the author is deeply passionate about Greek mythology and brings a wealth of expertise to the table, which I truly respect. Unfortunately, the story itself felt scattered, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the narrative.
That said, I can see this book finding its niche among readers ready to embrace its unique structure and deep dive into mythology. It wasn’t the right fit for me, but I hope it resonates with others who can appreciate its ambition.
Thank you, NetGally, for allowing me the opportunity to read this title.
The concept of The Tale of Kore immediately caught my attention—a fresh spin on Greek mythology? That’s right up my alley! Unfortunately, this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
The premise of Master’s students diving deep into Greek mythology and guiding readers along their academic journey was compelling in theory. However, the execution felt disjointed. While the scenes featuring conversations between classmates were loaded with an impressive amount of knowledge and detail, these were often followed by completely unrelated moments, like the FMC vividly describing her male classmates playing chicken at the beach. The abrupt shifts between dense intellectual discussions and arbitrary, superficial scenes gave me literary whiplash.
It’s clear the author is deeply passionate about Greek mythology and brings a wealth of expertise to the table, which I truly respect. Unfortunately, the story itself felt scattered, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the narrative.
That said, I can see this book finding its niche among readers ready to embrace its unique structure and deep dive into mythology. It wasn’t the right fit for me, but I hope it resonates with others who can appreciate its ambition.
Thank you, NetGally, for allowing me the opportunity to read this title.
December 16, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC.
I was really excited for this as I am a huge mythology nerd, and this story certainly has potential.
For me, there are two main issues with this book.
1. The pacing was so slow and even though the characters were each unique, none of them elicited any form of emotional attachment for me. Which made the story drag even more - I had to drudge my way through this one.
2. If you were to go into this book with no prior knowledge of Greek myths, legends, and customs you would have no idea what was going on. The multiple names of the gods are used interchangeably, the academic terms for customs are used, and it reads more like a textbook. Again, I think this affected the pacing. I also understand the vibe here is dark academia, which was done decently well, I think crossed the very fine line into being too academic and some of the pleasure was removed because of that.
All that being said I do think the idea is great and a unique twist on a classic Greek story. Just not for me.
I was really excited for this as I am a huge mythology nerd, and this story certainly has potential.
For me, there are two main issues with this book.
1. The pacing was so slow and even though the characters were each unique, none of them elicited any form of emotional attachment for me. Which made the story drag even more - I had to drudge my way through this one.
2. If you were to go into this book with no prior knowledge of Greek myths, legends, and customs you would have no idea what was going on. The multiple names of the gods are used interchangeably, the academic terms for customs are used, and it reads more like a textbook. Again, I think this affected the pacing. I also understand the vibe here is dark academia, which was done decently well, I think crossed the very fine line into being too academic and some of the pleasure was removed because of that.
All that being said I do think the idea is great and a unique twist on a classic Greek story. Just not for me.
December 3, 2024
Such a complex read! Very detailed, lots of mythology background, but not in an overwhelming way. If you are a mythology buff I’m sure you’d love this even more.
I really liked the leads and felt the relationship dynamics and blossoming chemistry very palpable. Things developed at a realistic but not slow pace.
The imagery was gorgeous - each god or goddess was well-depicted for anyone not familiar with their lore.
The pacing was a little off at times but it was just because I was excited for the next development. Overall one of the most original books I’ve read this year!
I really liked the leads and felt the relationship dynamics and blossoming chemistry very palpable. Things developed at a realistic but not slow pace.
The imagery was gorgeous - each god or goddess was well-depicted for anyone not familiar with their lore.
The pacing was a little off at times but it was just because I was excited for the next development. Overall one of the most original books I’ve read this year!
November 2, 2024
I was excited for a book about Greek gods but ended up disappointed. I DNF’D this 60 pages in after reading five chapters. The story follows Corey, a college student studying classics and Greek mythology. While I expected a fantasy, it’s mostly focused on Corey’s classes and campus life with a bit of magic thrown in. There are lots of details about what she does in each class, which made it feel more like a story about college than one with gods and magic. If you like books with a lot of academic focus, this might work for you, but it wasn’t what I was looking for. Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this anyways.
December 6, 2024
This is such an interesting and fun read! It combines Greek mythology, academia, and a unique hades and Persephone retelling! As a lover of Greek mythology, this book was so good and had unique and new perspectives on certain Greek myths! I loved the academia aspect of the book - you can tell how much research was put into writing this. I learned so much and loved the new twist that was put on common Greek myths!
Thank you Amanda for the ARC!
Thank you Amanda for the ARC!
November 6, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the e-ARC of The Tale of Kore!
2.5/5 ⭐
I’m normally a huge fan of mythology retellings, and I was very excited to read The Tale of Kore. Most of the book earned around 2 stars for me; the writing was not up to my standards and I feel like more time could have been spent on the editing process. Despite that, Tale of Kore was obviously a well researched passion project. There were a few twists near the end that I did like that brought this up to a reluctant 3 stars for the purpose of rating on sites, but I could not necessarily recommend this book without a thorough writing and editing overhaul, and I’m not sure if I would read the implied upcoming sequel unless the writing improved. I’m still grateful for the opportunity and wish Rautio the best with this novel and future ones.
2.5/5 ⭐
I’m normally a huge fan of mythology retellings, and I was very excited to read The Tale of Kore. Most of the book earned around 2 stars for me; the writing was not up to my standards and I feel like more time could have been spent on the editing process. Despite that, Tale of Kore was obviously a well researched passion project. There were a few twists near the end that I did like that brought this up to a reluctant 3 stars for the purpose of rating on sites, but I could not necessarily recommend this book without a thorough writing and editing overhaul, and I’m not sure if I would read the implied upcoming sequel unless the writing improved. I’m still grateful for the opportunity and wish Rautio the best with this novel and future ones.
January 23, 2026
This is a difficult review to write, because I wanted to love this book. I would describe it as The Goddess Test meets If We Were Villains / The Secret History.
I'm a Classics grad, much like Corey, and I've had a longstanding fascination with the Eleusinian mysteries. (I can't tell you how excited I was to see the "Further Reading" list of academic sources at the end of the book!)
I also love the dark academia genre, and The Song of Achilles, so this book seemed like a match made in heaven. However, there were some plot and pacing issues which I'll get into, and it really would have benefited from a developmental edit and a copy edit.
I'll start with the things I enjoyed:
- The stunning cover.
- The concept of "dark academia novel meets Hades and Persephone".
- The dresses Corey wears – I adored the detail and whimsical designs, and the lavish descriptions. I just wish we got the same amount of description of the settings and characters, too.
- College kids reenacting ancient Greek rituals à la The Secret History, but in modern day.
- The information on the Eleusinian mysteries. I'm excited to think that a book like this might introduce more people to the history of the mystery cult at Eleusis, (even though there were a few inaccuracies and opinions stated as facts; since this is fiction, I'm willing to attribute this to creative liberty).
Now for the things that brought me to give this book 2 stars.
- Lack of romantic tension or chemistry between the two main love interests. Corey's attraction to Aiden isn't persuasive enough to make you crave their connection, so when they get together, it just feels inevitable and unremarkable. I feel like if there had been more interactions between them before the underworld, and more conflict or external forces keeping them apart, I might have comed to care more about whether they got together.
- Writing was clunky at times. At worst, there were mechanical errors with grammar, missing punctuation, line breaks, spaces missing between words, and tense changing mid-sentence.
- Random topic changes that felt abrupt. Sometimes it felt like conversations were just had to 'check off' a list to info dump/explain at length to readers, rather than revealing things in a satisfying way.
- Persephone/Corey's character felt... overly cliché. She likes flowers and pomegranate smoothies and asks a lot of questions, but it felt like she was more of a blank slate for readers to project onto, rather than a flawed character who struggles to overcome obstacles.
- Lack of pacing and driving force behind the narrative. It felt like I could sense where the next plot point felt unclear to the author, and some chapters felt like unnecessary filler that didn't contribute to the plot or character development, but just served to get to scenes later on.
- Kate's attitude shift in the last third of the book really threw me, because it didn't feel believable. If there had been some clues earlier in the story, or if there had been any sign of simmering resentment, then I would have felt more convinced by her sudden turn on Corey.
- This is more of my personal gripe, but I was surprised that Graduate level Classics students would only just be first discussing cults and comparative mythology. In my opinion, Corey's classes were unrealistically elementary for a college student of her level. I understand that the author was possibly trying to make the lectures easier for the average reader to grasp, but it felt like this book wanted to echo The Secret History, but fell short in it's execution.
Overall, I'm conflicted over this book. There are a ton of incredible concepts, but I feel like it didn't really delve deeply into them as much as they deserved. I would have loved to be shown why Corey falls for Aiden in a convincing way. I would have loved for Corey's fellow classics students/cult reenactors to feel like something more than just names who got listed on the page. I would have loved a ton more description of the settings and characters. I would have loved tighter plot arcs and less meandering before the conflicts were introduced.
I'm a Classics grad, much like Corey, and I've had a longstanding fascination with the Eleusinian mysteries. (I can't tell you how excited I was to see the "Further Reading" list of academic sources at the end of the book!)
I also love the dark academia genre, and The Song of Achilles, so this book seemed like a match made in heaven. However, there were some plot and pacing issues which I'll get into, and it really would have benefited from a developmental edit and a copy edit.
I'll start with the things I enjoyed:
- The stunning cover.
- The concept of "dark academia novel meets Hades and Persephone".
- The dresses Corey wears – I adored the detail and whimsical designs, and the lavish descriptions. I just wish we got the same amount of description of the settings and characters, too.
- College kids reenacting ancient Greek rituals à la The Secret History, but in modern day.
- The information on the Eleusinian mysteries. I'm excited to think that a book like this might introduce more people to the history of the mystery cult at Eleusis, (even though there were a few inaccuracies and opinions stated as facts; since this is fiction, I'm willing to attribute this to creative liberty).
Now for the things that brought me to give this book 2 stars.
- Lack of romantic tension or chemistry between the two main love interests. Corey's attraction to Aiden isn't persuasive enough to make you crave their connection, so when they get together, it just feels inevitable and unremarkable. I feel like if there had been more interactions between them before the underworld, and more conflict or external forces keeping them apart, I might have comed to care more about whether they got together.
- Writing was clunky at times. At worst, there were mechanical errors with grammar, missing punctuation, line breaks, spaces missing between words, and tense changing mid-sentence.
- Random topic changes that felt abrupt. Sometimes it felt like conversations were just had to 'check off' a list to info dump/explain at length to readers, rather than revealing things in a satisfying way.
- Persephone/Corey's character felt... overly cliché. She likes flowers and pomegranate smoothies and asks a lot of questions, but it felt like she was more of a blank slate for readers to project onto, rather than a flawed character who struggles to overcome obstacles.
- Lack of pacing and driving force behind the narrative. It felt like I could sense where the next plot point felt unclear to the author, and some chapters felt like unnecessary filler that didn't contribute to the plot or character development, but just served to get to scenes later on.
- Kate's attitude shift in the last third of the book really threw me, because it didn't feel believable. If there had been some clues earlier in the story, or if there had been any sign of simmering resentment, then I would have felt more convinced by her sudden turn on Corey.
- This is more of my personal gripe, but I was surprised that Graduate level Classics students would only just be first discussing cults and comparative mythology. In my opinion, Corey's classes were unrealistically elementary for a college student of her level. I understand that the author was possibly trying to make the lectures easier for the average reader to grasp, but it felt like this book wanted to echo The Secret History, but fell short in it's execution.
Overall, I'm conflicted over this book. There are a ton of incredible concepts, but I feel like it didn't really delve deeply into them as much as they deserved. I would have loved to be shown why Corey falls for Aiden in a convincing way. I would have loved for Corey's fellow classics students/cult reenactors to feel like something more than just names who got listed on the page. I would have loved a ton more description of the settings and characters. I would have loved tighter plot arcs and less meandering before the conflicts were introduced.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2024
Amanda L. Rautio’s The Tale of Kore is an imaginative and richly layered modern myth that reimagines ancient Greek lore with a fresh and compelling twist. Combining academic intrigue, cosmic stakes, and personal growth, the novel offers a thrilling journey through the Underworld that’s both epic in scale and deeply personal.
Corey, the protagonist, is a relatable and vividly drawn character. Her dissatisfaction with her life as a master’s student and her yearning for something greater provide an accessible entry point into the story. Corey’s transformation from an ordinary scholar to a vital player in a cosmic struggle is both exhilarating and poignant. Her growth feels earned, as she confronts not only mythical beasts and ancient mysteries but also her own fears and insecurities.
Rautio’s portrayal of the Underworld is mesmerizing. It’s a realm of shadows and secrets, full of labyrinthine passages and haunting imagery. The setting is both beautiful and terrifying, a fitting backdrop for the high stakes of Corey’s quest. The author’s ability to seamlessly blend modern sensibilities with ancient mythology is particularly impressive, making the story feel timeless yet relevant.
The novel’s plot is fast-paced and engaging, driven by Corey’s mission to restore balance to a world on the brink of collapse. The reimagining of figures like Demeter, Persephone, and the goddesses of justice, memory, and spring adds depth to the story, exploring themes of renewal, loss, and the enduring power of myth. The stakes are tangible, and the twists keep readers guessing.
One of the novel’s strengths is its thematic richness. Rautio delves into the nature of justice, the importance of memory, and the cycles of life and death, weaving these ideas seamlessly into the narrative. Corey’s quest is as much about self-discovery as it is about saving the world, making her journey resonate on multiple levels.
If there’s a minor critique, it’s that some aspects of the mythology might feel dense for readers less familiar with Greek lore. However, Rautio does an admirable job of providing context without bogging down the story.
Corey, the protagonist, is a relatable and vividly drawn character. Her dissatisfaction with her life as a master’s student and her yearning for something greater provide an accessible entry point into the story. Corey’s transformation from an ordinary scholar to a vital player in a cosmic struggle is both exhilarating and poignant. Her growth feels earned, as she confronts not only mythical beasts and ancient mysteries but also her own fears and insecurities.
Rautio’s portrayal of the Underworld is mesmerizing. It’s a realm of shadows and secrets, full of labyrinthine passages and haunting imagery. The setting is both beautiful and terrifying, a fitting backdrop for the high stakes of Corey’s quest. The author’s ability to seamlessly blend modern sensibilities with ancient mythology is particularly impressive, making the story feel timeless yet relevant.
The novel’s plot is fast-paced and engaging, driven by Corey’s mission to restore balance to a world on the brink of collapse. The reimagining of figures like Demeter, Persephone, and the goddesses of justice, memory, and spring adds depth to the story, exploring themes of renewal, loss, and the enduring power of myth. The stakes are tangible, and the twists keep readers guessing.
One of the novel’s strengths is its thematic richness. Rautio delves into the nature of justice, the importance of memory, and the cycles of life and death, weaving these ideas seamlessly into the narrative. Corey’s quest is as much about self-discovery as it is about saving the world, making her journey resonate on multiple levels.
If there’s a minor critique, it’s that some aspects of the mythology might feel dense for readers less familiar with Greek lore. However, Rautio does an admirable job of providing context without bogging down the story.
February 20, 2025
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
Vibe/Mood: .5
Characters: 1
Plot: .5
Scratched my ADHD brain: 1
Hyperfixation Potential: .5
3.5/5 🌟
The Tale of Kore was a unique read in that I went in expecting the romance angle of a HadesxPersephone retelling, but what I got was more of a philosophical, reflective character study of Corey and how her story intertwined more with and affected the world as a whole (and tbh, Hades was just a supporting character in this, and I’m not mad about it.)
I’m not normally a fan of amnesia as a device for a plot, but I think in this case, it was done well and made sense to the overall story being woven. (pun intended) I also found the way the author wove different mythos together to create a larger overarching mythos for the cultures of Earth was neat and does support a lot of Classics academia belief that these ancient cultures had certain things more in common than not and provided a really interesting set up for the overall story of the novel.
I had some issues with the writing, as there were clearly mistakes with character names (Cynthia and Claudia? Aiden and Hades?), and it kind of felt like the author couldn’t stick to one name for him even within the same scene, and it was mildly confusing. I also felt like there were parts where her prose was so well-written and lines that I loved and highlighted, but those would then be dampened by saying something like “pulling a Percy Jackson.” Like, it was trying to be academic and philosophical while also being easily digestible and contemporary. (Which, in hindsight, might make a lot of sense with the focus being on Corey and her being literally between two different worlds all her life.)
Overall, I did enjoy my time reading it. It just needed some more editing and some assistance with pacing because the overall plot of Corey’s story was either too fast or not fast enough at times, and I almost put it down about halfway through. I am glad that I didn’t because I was very happy with the ending and how her story wrapped up.
Vibe/Mood: .5
Characters: 1
Plot: .5
Scratched my ADHD brain: 1
Hyperfixation Potential: .5
3.5/5 🌟
The Tale of Kore was a unique read in that I went in expecting the romance angle of a HadesxPersephone retelling, but what I got was more of a philosophical, reflective character study of Corey and how her story intertwined more with and affected the world as a whole (and tbh, Hades was just a supporting character in this, and I’m not mad about it.)
I’m not normally a fan of amnesia as a device for a plot, but I think in this case, it was done well and made sense to the overall story being woven. (pun intended) I also found the way the author wove different mythos together to create a larger overarching mythos for the cultures of Earth was neat and does support a lot of Classics academia belief that these ancient cultures had certain things more in common than not and provided a really interesting set up for the overall story of the novel.
I had some issues with the writing, as there were clearly mistakes with character names (Cynthia and Claudia? Aiden and Hades?), and it kind of felt like the author couldn’t stick to one name for him even within the same scene, and it was mildly confusing. I also felt like there were parts where her prose was so well-written and lines that I loved and highlighted, but those would then be dampened by saying something like “pulling a Percy Jackson.” Like, it was trying to be academic and philosophical while also being easily digestible and contemporary. (Which, in hindsight, might make a lot of sense with the focus being on Corey and her being literally between two different worlds all her life.)
Overall, I did enjoy my time reading it. It just needed some more editing and some assistance with pacing because the overall plot of Corey’s story was either too fast or not fast enough at times, and I almost put it down about halfway through. I am glad that I didn’t because I was very happy with the ending and how her story wrapped up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2024
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an arc
This was a really unique greek mythology retelling. I enjoy any Hades and Persephone retelling but this one was very unexpected. It had a great blend of academia and fantasy with a mystery element that kept me hooked. It reminded me somewhat of the Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy.
I loved that this rewrote Persephone’s story in a very feminist way and deviated from the classic myth retelling that (whilst entertaining) is somewhat overdone. I liked the way that we were taken on a journey with Corey, discovering the truth alongside her. Weaving Persephone’s perspective through the story at just the right points to either entice the reader with more mystery or give further explanation when needed complemented the narrative well.
I do feel like the pacing could have been improved. 100 pages or so could have been condensed as it did feel slow at points with quite large chunks of filler and some things were overly explained. It felt fairly low stakes considering the discussions around the possibility of Cronos raising and stopping world destruction, I’m assuming this was to focus more on Corey’s journey of self-discovery. I would also have liked more time focusing on the romance between Corey and Aiden because it was so sweet, I just wanted more of it.
Overall, a really good book, I'm looking forward to reading the next one as I hope to see the other gods/goddesses stories unfold.
This was a really unique greek mythology retelling. I enjoy any Hades and Persephone retelling but this one was very unexpected. It had a great blend of academia and fantasy with a mystery element that kept me hooked. It reminded me somewhat of the Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy.
I loved that this rewrote Persephone’s story in a very feminist way and deviated from the classic myth retelling that (whilst entertaining) is somewhat overdone. I liked the way that we were taken on a journey with Corey, discovering the truth alongside her. Weaving Persephone’s perspective through the story at just the right points to either entice the reader with more mystery or give further explanation when needed complemented the narrative well.
I do feel like the pacing could have been improved. 100 pages or so could have been condensed as it did feel slow at points with quite large chunks of filler and some things were overly explained. It felt fairly low stakes considering the discussions around the possibility of Cronos raising and stopping world destruction, I’m assuming this was to focus more on Corey’s journey of self-discovery. I would also have liked more time focusing on the romance between Corey and Aiden because it was so sweet, I just wanted more of it.
Overall, a really good book, I'm looking forward to reading the next one as I hope to see the other gods/goddesses stories unfold.
November 27, 2024
Honestly, I can't find the proper words to describe how I feel after reading this book. As a former student of Greek and Roman culture, I felt like I was again in my classes. The amount of study, dedication, and research time that this book has it is in an unimaginable level.
From the first to the last word, I am unable to find a single aspect that I didn't LOVE. Starting from the main topic of being a retelling of Persephone and Hades myth, to seeing the modern and ancient world being merged, feeling the desperation of Aiden (Hades) and the full story of Corey/Persephone. Of course, the way other Gods and Goddess appear and their roles in the modern world is just another wonder.
The actual relationship between Corey and Aiden is just incredible, you can feel the tension and in more than one occasion I was holding my breath without realizing. I love how it has been always Aiden who fell first and harder, in the purest way.
Without any single doubt, I can say that this has been the best book I have read in all my life. I want to thank the author for giving me a chance to be an ARC.
From the first to the last word, I am unable to find a single aspect that I didn't LOVE. Starting from the main topic of being a retelling of Persephone and Hades myth, to seeing the modern and ancient world being merged, feeling the desperation of Aiden (Hades) and the full story of Corey/Persephone. Of course, the way other Gods and Goddess appear and their roles in the modern world is just another wonder.
The actual relationship between Corey and Aiden is just incredible, you can feel the tension and in more than one occasion I was holding my breath without realizing. I love how it has been always Aiden who fell first and harder, in the purest way.
Without any single doubt, I can say that this has been the best book I have read in all my life. I want to thank the author for giving me a chance to be an ARC.
November 30, 2024
This book really puts the history in historical fiction…
Parts of it felt more like a text book than an actual novel.
There are some really amazing plot moments and character development it just feels like it’s sandwiched between teaching us history and cutesy friendship building moments that were plot filler and didn’t really add much value to the story.
I feel like 10% of the first 30% of the book is needed to get to where the story ends. 30%-80% was more enjoyable then the last 20% was mostly unnecessary until the last chapter.
When the story was progressing it was really good! I really did enjoy it but I was skim reading to get to the meat of the story. The underwood sections were by far the best part. I wish there was more mystery around Corey discovering her heritage and less about the others who don’t come into play in this story (even if they do later that should’ve been done in their own books).
In saying that I think anyone who wants to learn about Ancient Greece and their myths and folklore as they read would really enjoy this book.
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. This is my honest opinion.
Parts of it felt more like a text book than an actual novel.
There are some really amazing plot moments and character development it just feels like it’s sandwiched between teaching us history and cutesy friendship building moments that were plot filler and didn’t really add much value to the story.
I feel like 10% of the first 30% of the book is needed to get to where the story ends. 30%-80% was more enjoyable then the last 20% was mostly unnecessary until the last chapter.
When the story was progressing it was really good! I really did enjoy it but I was skim reading to get to the meat of the story. The underwood sections were by far the best part. I wish there was more mystery around Corey discovering her heritage and less about the others who don’t come into play in this story (even if they do later that should’ve been done in their own books).
In saying that I think anyone who wants to learn about Ancient Greece and their myths and folklore as they read would really enjoy this book.
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. This is my honest opinion.
December 1, 2024
Persephone is brought to life in a whole new Greek mythology retelling.
This story is unique and unlike other retellings I have read. Persephone is my favorite of the Goddesses and I always enjoy reading about her. This book stands out amongst others I have read.
I really enjoyed the overall plot, characters, and dark academia vibes. The author clearly took her time putting in the research and retold Greek myths in a unique and electrifying way.
The main female character, Corey, is a female character you want to read about. She’s smart, dedicated, powerful, and in short fierce. Her journey throughout the book is exciting and challenging. From Georgia to the Underworld, you’re on the edge of your seat wondering where the story is going to take you next and what Corey will face next.
I give this book a hard 4 stars. I highly recommend it to those who enjoy books with dark academia vibes, mythology/mythology retellings, strong female main characters, fantasy, slow burn romance and overall exciting reads.
Thank you Amanda for the chance to read your book. I can’t wait to see where Corey goes next.
This story is unique and unlike other retellings I have read. Persephone is my favorite of the Goddesses and I always enjoy reading about her. This book stands out amongst others I have read.
I really enjoyed the overall plot, characters, and dark academia vibes. The author clearly took her time putting in the research and retold Greek myths in a unique and electrifying way.
The main female character, Corey, is a female character you want to read about. She’s smart, dedicated, powerful, and in short fierce. Her journey throughout the book is exciting and challenging. From Georgia to the Underworld, you’re on the edge of your seat wondering where the story is going to take you next and what Corey will face next.
I give this book a hard 4 stars. I highly recommend it to those who enjoy books with dark academia vibes, mythology/mythology retellings, strong female main characters, fantasy, slow burn romance and overall exciting reads.
Thank you Amanda for the chance to read your book. I can’t wait to see where Corey goes next.
October 30, 2024
Thank you Amanda L. Rautio, Netgalley and Books Go Social for this free ARC in exchange for a review.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get too far before I quit. Life is too short for mediocre books, and the clumsy info-dumps and needless, sudden violence at the beginning of this made it obvious that I wouldn't enjoy reading the whole thing. Info-dumps and intense things happening without any characterization to explain them are both common things among authors who don't seem to care much about what they're writing, because they're not putting much into it.
As I always do with novels like this, I recommend the author take a class, seminar or find free info. online about how to write compelling novels.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get too far before I quit. Life is too short for mediocre books, and the clumsy info-dumps and needless, sudden violence at the beginning of this made it obvious that I wouldn't enjoy reading the whole thing. Info-dumps and intense things happening without any characterization to explain them are both common things among authors who don't seem to care much about what they're writing, because they're not putting much into it.
As I always do with novels like this, I recommend the author take a class, seminar or find free info. online about how to write compelling novels.
November 5, 2024
Unfortunately I couldn’t continue with this book so had to give up at 20% in.
We follow Corey, a classics student in University as she researches Greek legends and gods.
The writing was a bit too simplistic and the plot didn’t seem to have any major direction to go as, in the little I read, we were only following the day to day classes and assignments that Corey attends.
There was a bud of the supernatural growing in the background but it didn’t engage me enough to continue.
I also don’t think I’m the target audience for this as I’m probably too mature a reader for it. Having said that, I think I would have loved it 15 years ago so there will be a younger generation out there for the book.
Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
We follow Corey, a classics student in University as she researches Greek legends and gods.
The writing was a bit too simplistic and the plot didn’t seem to have any major direction to go as, in the little I read, we were only following the day to day classes and assignments that Corey attends.
There was a bud of the supernatural growing in the background but it didn’t engage me enough to continue.
I also don’t think I’m the target audience for this as I’m probably too mature a reader for it. Having said that, I think I would have loved it 15 years ago so there will be a younger generation out there for the book.
Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
December 6, 2024
This book was exactly what I needed to get me out of my reading slump! I've been looking for more Hades and Persephone retellings, and this was *Chef's kiss*
Now if you're looking for a steamy, fantasy romance, about Hades and Persephone, this might not be the book for you. However, if you were a fan of Percy Jackson and really liked Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, I think you should give this a go.
This was a moody and dreamy, and borderline nerdy in the best possible way. It was so easy to really dive into the story, and even though this is not a fantasy romance, the little romantic moments between Hades and Persephone were to die for.
Now if you're looking for a steamy, fantasy romance, about Hades and Persephone, this might not be the book for you. However, if you were a fan of Percy Jackson and really liked Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, I think you should give this a go.
This was a moody and dreamy, and borderline nerdy in the best possible way. It was so easy to really dive into the story, and even though this is not a fantasy romance, the little romantic moments between Hades and Persephone were to die for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2024
I was provided a free copy of this book from NetGalley.
This was a DNF for me. I usually give a book about 10% before I decide if I’m going to continue. The writing just seemed off. The story did not catch my attention at all. It kind of just seemed like an info dump. The premise had my attention, but it just didn’t deliver. If I hear otherwise, I could always jump back in. I’ll keep an eye on the reviews, and update my review if I dive back in.
Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.
This was a DNF for me. I usually give a book about 10% before I decide if I’m going to continue. The writing just seemed off. The story did not catch my attention at all. It kind of just seemed like an info dump. The premise had my attention, but it just didn’t deliver. If I hear otherwise, I could always jump back in. I’ll keep an eye on the reviews, and update my review if I dive back in.
Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.
January 15, 2025
I was given the opportunity to read this book as an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley! I will say I don't normally enjoy retellings and I was nervous to pick this one up but I enjoyed it so much! I think even if you don't know a lot about Greek Mythology, it was easy to follow along and enjoy.
If you enjoy Greek Mythology & Retellings, then I 100% recommend this book! Thank you again NetGalley and Amanda for allowing me to reach this book! It has been out for a month & available on all platforms!
If you enjoy Greek Mythology & Retellings, then I 100% recommend this book! Thank you again NetGalley and Amanda for allowing me to reach this book! It has been out for a month & available on all platforms!
February 18, 2025
I loved this book so much. It is well written and an interesting variation on the modern mythology HadesxPersephone story.
A lot of my love for this book comes from the fact that I studied classical languages and history for many years and so all the academia scenes felt incredibly nostalgic for me.
By the time Corey is brought to the Underworld, I was fully invested in her journey and enjoyed seeing the mysteries slowly unravel.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves mythology and ancient history.
A lot of my love for this book comes from the fact that I studied classical languages and history for many years and so all the academia scenes felt incredibly nostalgic for me.
By the time Corey is brought to the Underworld, I was fully invested in her journey and enjoyed seeing the mysteries slowly unravel.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves mythology and ancient history.
March 4, 2025
I love ancient greek mythology and this book was absolutely incredily well written! (Unlike my reviews, I am not great with words haha!) I thoroughly enjoyed this take on the modern mythology of Hades and Persephone. This is an acaddemia style book, so it took me longer to read and process everything but Amanda did an amazing job of keeping me intrugued! You can tell there was a lot of research that went into this book!
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