Review: The Dark Wife by Sarah Diemer

I picked this one up a few weeks ago, as it seemed like an interesting twist on the myth of Hades and Persephone and I was not disappointed. This one is well-written and thoroughly researched and falls firmly into the school of thought that Persephone and Hades were lovers and that Persephone went to the underground willingly. The pomegranate becomes quite a potent symbol within the narrative indeed. But this tale also comes with a surprising twist. What if Hades were actually a woman?

The Dark Wife works on two levels, one as a unique retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth and another as a coming of age tale of a young woman who is discovering her sexuality. Demeter is presented as a woman who suffers greatly, while Zeus is presented as a complete cad. The descriptions of the underworld are quite detailed and interesting. 

This one is for fans of Hades and Persephone, particularly those who enjoy new and unique twists on the myth. I will be interested in reading more of Diemer's work in the future.

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