“No one prays to the God of the dead, my lady, and when they do, it is already too late.”
A Game of Fate by Scarlett St. Clair is A Touch of Darkness retold through the lens of Hades’ experience. I felt that the story told through Persephone’s perspective was so-so (it wasn’t bad, but it didn’t knock my socks off). The story told through the perspective of the grumpy lord of the Underworld was so much more fun! Please note - Prospective readers should be aware that the spice level for this book would make it unsuitable for readers under the age of 18. MATURE READERS ONLY!
Readers are given a peek into what Hades’ day-to-day looks like, and it is so interesting. History painted Hades as a dark and cruel god, but this book offers an almost “behind the scenes look” at his motivations and how he runs the Underworld. The bargains he makes with mortals usually come from a genuine desire to help and to spare them from a painful afterlife. While his interactions with mortals were definitely intense, his interactions with the other gods, Hecate and Hermes especially were amusing. Hecate and Hermes are the closest things Hades has to “friends”, and they love to tease and torment and troll each other. Hades is a complex character and the author’s note description made me even more curious for future books (I’m awaiting the day I can get my hands on A Game of Retribution in 2022). As Ms. St. Clair writes, this book helps you start to “understand why Hades felt so dark, why he was so quiet, and why he was so impatient and eager for control.”
Point of view retellings can be hit or miss in my experience, but Ms. St. Clair definitely scored a bullseye with this one. Readers who love grumpy heroes, forbidden love, mythology retellings full of spice, and powerful women should enjoy A Game of Fate. While you can read A Game of Fate without having read the Hades and Persephone main storyline first, you’ll get a better feel for the world and a more in-depth reading experience by reading A Touch of Darkness first.
About the Author
She has a Master's degree in Library Science and Information Studies and a Bachelors in English Writing. She is obsessed with Greek Mythology, murder mysteries, and the afterlife.
If you are obsessed with these things, then you'll like her books.
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