A Game of Gods: Hades Saga by Scarlett St. Clair

While A Touch of Malice was told through Persephone’s point of view, this book covers the events from Hades’ perspective. The events leading to Persephone giving away Hade’s helm and Hades being captured by the Triad have a new, deeper meaning with the more information you get. Readers will be left confused about the role Poseidon and Hera in trying to overthrow Zeus and why certain characters are afraid of others. The final book in the series has some serious questions to answer and conflicts to resolve. The chemistry between Hades and Persephone spills off the page and leaves the reader breathless. Their wedding from Hades’ view was incredibly romantic as he was waiting for Persephone to come down the aisle and marry him. The love these two have is so pure and unconditional, Hecate is right if the two of them would talk instead of assume what the other is thinking and don’t feel as if they are not worthy of each other, they would get along so much easier. It is strongly recommended that A Touch of Chaos is nearby so that when you finish this book you can start on the final book in the series. 

 

Characters/Book Summary:

Hades = King of the Underworld, God of the Dead – asks the nymphs to find Demeter, knowing it might get them killed but still surprised when all of them are killed. Does not understand the game Poseidon is playing with the demi-gods and trying to overthrow Zeus. Offers Persephone a floor in Alexandra Tower after she is attacked, and tells her she has an office in every one of his buildings. Explains to Persephone that the mortals who sway to the demi-gods defy the Fates and that their fates can be worse. Is threatened by Poseidon that Persephone and he will suffer at the hands of his sons. He does not like that Aphrodite asks Persephone to find out who hurt her sister. 

Persephone = Goddess of the Spring – shows mercy on the woman who attacked her when Hades captures her, but does not show mercy to Pirthous or the people who killed so many during the games. Tries to learn to fight and heal herself with help from Hecate and Hades. When Zeus declares war against her Apollo, Hermes, Aphrodite, and Hephaestus side with her and Hades. 

Theseus = demigod son of Poseidon, working with Hera to overthrow Zeus, running the Triad. Dated Ariadne but when she would not be controlled by him he married her sister to control her. Only takes pleasure in hurting beauty and getting the light of defiance and hope out of women through brutality. Can feel divine influence. Slow to heal. Kills the ophiotaurus (half bull, half serpent prophesized that a person who slays the creature and burns it s entrails then victory is assured against the gods) in front of Dionysus and Ariadne. 

Hera = Goddess of Marriage – had Hades kill Briareus (a giant who helped Zeus escape when she tried to overthrow him previously). Toys with Hades about not granting her approval and getting Zeus to approve of his marriage to Persephone. Tells Zeus that if Hades and Persephone will have a child they will terminate it before it becomes so powerful that it can overthrow Zeus. 

Fates = Lachesis (allots time on Earth), Clotho, Atropos (choses the manner of death)

Ilias = satyr, manages many of Hades’ businesses and knows more of how many houses he owns and where. Hades directs Persephone to him when she asks about how many homes he owns.

Zofie = an aegis assigned to protect Persephone

Dionysus = God of Madness – can sometimes feel the madness Hera cursed him with. Attracted to Ariadne, wants vengeance against Hera (but Hades knows this does not make him an ally). Asked Hades to set his mother free, but Hades was not able to do so. Struck Ariadne with madness so Poseidon could not rape her. Saved her from the Cyclops, but found her befriending the ophiotaurus. Realizes that Theseus is slow to heal and that is his weakness, surprised that Ariadne will not share about her past with Theseus or fight him. 

Hermes = God of Mischief, God of Thieves, officially Dionysus’ keeper – is best friend to Hades, good friend to Persephone, and messes up keeping her safe. 

Ariadne Alexiou = a human detective, Dionysus is harboring her at his club. Theseus is her brother-in-law and using her sister against her. Goes to confront Poseidon, instead of believing what Dionysus told her and why they should wait, and was captured by Poseidon. Finds the ophiotaurus while stranded on an island with  with Dionysus and wants to go back and burry the creature she befriended. Refuses to tell Hades and Dionysus about Theseus because she knows her sister will go back to him, even if she rescues her, and Theseus will be cruel to her. 

Poseidon = God of the Sea – Theseus is his son, can feel his son’s desire to over throw Zeus. Cronos’s scythe was tossed deep into the ocean after Zeus rescued Hades and Poseidon from Cornos’s belly. Tells Dionysus Ariadne belongs to his son. Disrespectful and cruel to women. Says he had sex with Medus and left her on the beach. 

Silenus = God of Drunkenness, satyr – Dionysus sees him as a father figure. Tells Dionysus he should have sex with Ariadne. 

Phaedra – Ariadne’s sister, Theseus’s wife, Ariadne is trying to see her but says Phaedra would go back to her husband eve if they rescued her. 

Hecate = Triple Goddess, Goddess of Witchcraft – after hearing Lara’s story of how Zeus raped her she castrated Zeus while keeping the blood and his testicles in a jar (says it should stop him from doing that for a few years while they grow back). Tries to help Hades with his love for Persephone. As a triple Goddess she can see the past, present, and future. 

Apollo = God of Light – discovers the tip of Cronos’s scythe is was killed Adonis. 

Katerina = a employed by Hades, an oracle. Tells Hades the prophecy of the ophiotaurus, and about a dream she had about a battle that lasts for years and ends with the world split in two. 

Aphrodite = Goddess of Love – summons Persephone to find out what happened to her sister. Teases Hades about his love for Persephone, but also admits she is jealous they can love each other so easily. 

Hephaestus = God of Fire – Aphrodite’s husband. Hades asks him to make armor for Persephone and how to brake the net Theseus is using to catch gods. The net is not the one he made, but similar so he feels guilty about what happened to Aphrodite’s sister.

Michail = a human engaged in sex trafficking forcing men, women, and children into prostitution. Dionysius is trying to take down his ring. Recognizes Ariadne as a detective and tells Dionysius that gargo/Medusa went to the shore and never returned. 

Perseus = son of Zeus – working with Theseus finds Ariadne working to Dionysus to find Medusa.

Hypnos = God of Sleep – forced to live in the Underworld after he tried to overthrow Zeus (helped Hera try). Thanatos’s brother, separated from his wife Pasithea when he was sentenced to the Underworld. Hades let shim see his wife for helping Persephone. 

Kai = grandson of Poseidon, son of Triton – seen with Lara before she attacked Persephone

Helen = worked for Persephone, but sides with Theseus after seeing the demigods heal someone and having sex with him. Sides with him as long as she gets a ride to the top, she cares for power alone. 

Brontes, Steropes, and Arges = the 3 cyclops who made the 3 great weapons (Hades’ Helm of Darkness, Zeus’ Lightening bolt, and Poseidon’s Trident)

The Harpies = Aello, Ocypate, and Celaeno – get restless in the Underworld when there is chaos in the world, they wish to punish evil. 

 

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