Girl, Goddess, Queen written by Bea Fitzgerald, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: In this fresh retelling of the classic Hades and Persephone myth, Persephone, frustrated with her role as the goddess of flowers and an unwanted arranged marriage, takes control of her destiny. She willingly descends into the Underworld, escaping the constraints of Olympus. Using the rule of hospitality, she secures temporary safety and begins to transform the Underworld, challenging the divine order. Her relationship with Hades evolves from wary tolerance to mutual trust, with Hades depicted as a kind but wounded figure. Persephone, claiming her new identity, agrees to marry Hades to prevent being forced into another unwanted union. The novel combines modern dialogue and humor with themes of empowerment and agency, appealing to young adult readers. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Oh man!  I loved this retelling of Hades and Persephone. There are themes of autonomy, identity, and challenging societal norms. The story's humor and banter make it accessible for teens, while the character development provides opportunities for discussions on personal growth and empowerment. The novel's modern elements, like dialogue and character dynamics, can spark conversations about adapting classic tales to contemporary settings. Zeus is portrayed as a terrible father who is looking to pretty much sell his daughter. I would recommend this book to high school readers.  It has a little bit of romantic spice to it because Hades and Persephone DO have a honeymoon ;)  This is a next step up for students who love Percy Jackson.  The River Styx has a unique portryal and Persephone is trying to help the lost souls by bringing some life into the Underworld.  However, this has some unforseen consequences in the still living world. It has quite the feminist twist. This series was originally published in the UK and is having a US release.  This is the first book of a planned series.