A review by sauvageloup
Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald

adventurous hopeful tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Writing is definitely aimed at YA, but it's a fun and gripping romp through the myths and I enjoyed it.

pros:
- persephone is fun and fiery, she shoves the story along and doesnt take no for an answer. I like how she comes into her power and acknowledges her own capacity for ruthlessness as a queen.
- the side characters of the nymphs, styx and the other gods were well portrayed and fun/ complicated depending on their role.
- Zeus and demeter felt well represented as well, and I liked how persephone responds to their actions. 
- the plot had some twists I didn't guess
like persephone being the one to cause the famine
, and I enjoyed how the myth was subverted or fitted in alongside the world/ characters Fitzgerald set up.
- I also enjoyed most of the tropes, including marriage of convenience, only one bed, soft boy and ruthless girl, arranged marriage, etc.

cons:
- we got snippets of Hades' past and trauma but I wish there had been a bit more. he mostly felt molded around persephone, which made them a good fit but didnt make him feel 100% his own person .
- sometimes persephone's internal dialogue was a bit dramatic and oblivious or so in denial it felt a bit silly. but I feel that its YA so I'm not the target audience really.