A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair

Of course Hades and Persephone will not be able to live happily ever after, but this book was a pure rollercoaster of emotions. It seems like Hades and Persephone are starting to become better at communicating with each other, but maybe not. Persephone is the narrator of this book and she is dealing with the public interest in her since she is dating Hades, an ultimatum at her job, Hades’s ex popping up out of the blue, Sybil being stripped of her power by Apollo, Lexa fighting for her life, agreeing to a deal with Apollo, and finding out more about Hades and his many business interests. If all of that is not stressful enough Persephone is also trying to learn to control her powers. Persephone starts to break from what she thinks people want her to be and starts becoming who she wants to be. In an odd way Hades and Persephone have a relationship that many want, their unwavering love helps resolve many problems that could break other couples up. Hopefully the Fates will allow these two to stay together during the war that is looming up ahead. This book does not fully prepare the reader for A Game of Retribution, which is the same story told by Hades. While the reader may know the ending and certain scenes the two are experiencing very different emotions and dealing with different problems. The biggest issue that this series has is that it will eventually end.

Character List/Book Summary:

Persephone – Goddess of Spring – wants to know about Hades from before she met him and what other business activities he is involved in. Plans a celebration for the souls to be hosted at Hades’s palace. Is upset that her friend Sybil lost her ability to be an oracle and tells Hades she will not write about Apollo. After being upset about not knowing about Leuce Persephone writes a scathing report about Apollo, in hopes that it will stop her boss from demanding Persephone write about her relationship with Hades. Is upset that Hades grants Apollo a favor in return for not hurting Persephone, as she wanted to be involved in the deal. When Lexa gets hurt she asks Hades to save Lexa’s soul, Hades tries to explain he cannot do that when she is in limbo. After seeing Thanatos in the hospital Lexa agrees to a deal with Apollo (being friends with Apollo for 6 months) in order for him to heal Lexa. Persephone learns that Hades has scars from lives he has traded and what a broken soul really means. After being drugged she sees her greatest fear (Hades cheating on her) in the Forest of Despair which leads to a confrontation between Persephone and Demeter. The Furies and Hades save her from a demi-god that kidnapped her, after her magic was released by her anger and she killed the demi-god. Agrees to marry Hades and announces their engagement in her own news website which will be geared at helping those who were unfairly hurt and no one else will stand up for.

Hades – God of the Underworld – is surprised to learn that an ex-lover of his is no longer a poplar tree 2,000 years after he turned her into one for cheating on him with Apollo. After Persephone writes about Apollo, Hades brings her to the Underworld to prevent Apollo from harming her. Is not able to help Lexa as her soul is undecided while she is in limbo. Asks Persephone to marry him, several times. Explains to Persephone Apollo healing Lexa has given Lexa a fate worse than death. Is slowly realizing that Persephone is ok with learning about his business dealings. Gives Persephone an aegis without her knowing about it at first, in an effort to protect her.

Demeter – Goddess of the Harvest – Persephone’s mother who is upset her daughter is gaining power and in love with Hades. Turns Leuce back to a nymph. Claims Persephone is a disgrace and destroyer. Taunts Persephone about Hades not saving Lexa.

Thanatos – God of Dead – Persephone is friends with him, and is upset and attacks him when she sees him in the hospital for Lexa.

Hecate – Goddess of Witchcraft – helping Persephone learn to use her magic. Explains to Persephone what happened with Demeter using Leuce to drug her daughter. Agrees to help Persephone stand up to her mother. Gives advice to Persephone on how to fix things with Hades during their arguments. Helps Hades restore order in the Underworld when Persephone looses control in the Forest of Despair and starts to destroy the Underworld.

Antoni – a cyclops – driver for Hades and drives Persephone a few times and tries to convince her to accept help from Hades, because she is not normal anymore.

Lexa Sideris – Persephone’s best friend. Was offered a job at the Cypress Foundation (Hades’s non-profit organization). Enjoys joking with Hermes when he visits. Was hit by a car and is in limbo, confused when she wakes up because of her broken soul. Tells Persephone she should start her own newspaper instead of working for one.

Demetri Aetos – Persephone’s boss at the newspaper, his boss is blackmailing him.

Hermes – Messenger of the Gods – friend to Persephone and helps her and Lexa move Sybil out of Apollo’s penthouse.

Kal Stavros – CEO of Epik Communications, which owns the newspaper Persephone works at. Blackmailing Demetri and wants to get power over Hades.

Pirithous – helps Persephone sneak out of the building one day when the crowd is too big. Persephone finds out he was the one who left a rose on her desk.

Sybil – an oracle – friend to Lexa and Persephone, who moves in with them once Apollo removes her power after she refused to sleep with him. Ends up being offered Lexa’s job.

Leuce – a nymph – claims she is an ex-lover of Hades and does not know who turned her back to a nymph. Comes to Persephone to beg for help once Hades fires her after she made a scene and upset Persephone.

Aphrodite – Goddess of Love – owns Pearl where Persephone takes Leuce and Zofie to get clothes for the new world they are living in.

Apollo – God of Healing – Persephone upsets him after writing an unkind article on him, and she agrees not to write anything negative about him. Persephone goes to him for a deal if he heals Lexa. Apollo snatches Persephone out of thin air after agreeing to be his friend for 6 months. After Persephone yells at him, she learns that his true love is in the Underworld and invites him to the celebration where she lets Apollo see his true love. Apollo offers to let Persephone out of their deal, but Persephone says she will honor the 6 months but Apollo must act nicer.

Zofie – an aegis – Hades assigns her to Persephone as he is worried someone who wants to hurt him will use Persephone to do it. Explains to Persephone that she was shamed and this assignment might restore her honor (hearing this is why Persephone does not insist she leave or not protect her).