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Demeter & Persephone by Justine Korman Fontes, Steve Kurth (Illustrator)

Series:
Greek Myths & Legends

Genre:
Mythology, Graphic Novel, Greek Mythology, Hades and Persephone, Romance, Ancient Greek Literature, Roman Mythology, Ancient Roman Literature, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Folklore

Publication Date:
December 1st, 2006

Read Date:
May 3rd, 2023

Date Finished:
May 3rd, 2023

Rating:
3.9 out of 5

Blurb:

This graphic novel tells the story of Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest, and her daughter, Persephone. Demeter rules over a perpetual summer on earth, where crops, trees, and flowers grow in abundance. Persephone, young and beautiful, unknowingly attracts the attention of the lonely god of the Underworld, Hades. Hades kidnaps Persephone, and a frantic Demeter searches in vain for her daughter. Finally, Demeter retreats to her temple in mourning. The goddess's sorrow causes the crops to die and the ground to freeze. The first winter falls over Greece. As people begin to starve, the other Olympian gods and goddesses try to convince Demeter to accept a marriage between Persephone and Hades. But Demeter will not give up her daughter forever to the Underworld. Finally a compromise is struck: Persephone will stay with Hades for half a year (winter). When she comes back from the Underworld to spend half a year with her mother, spring returns to earth.

Review:

The myth of Hades and Persephone has always been a favorite of mine. There have been so many tales even now the whole myth is being reimagined even in romance novels. Always made the two of them fall in love, but I always wondered if he did love her in such a way. I could only fathom that his desire to have her had been that his life below had been lonely. All the other gods had their other half beside them. Hades had no one other than Cerberus and Charon, but never a queen. So, I can imagine that the moment he had seen her that he decided then and there she was the perfect goddess to take up the role of his queen. Now tales always seem to be uncertain about the number of seeds Persephone consumes. One says three and others say six. It just depends on who you hear the tale from.

This novel follows the format of the myth surrounding Hades and Persephone. He sees her, goes to Zeus for permission, and carries her away from the ground above using the tactic of a beautiful flower to draw her away. In the Underworld, she sees Hades's world through different eyes. Meanwhile, her mother is searching high and low for her missing daughter, even going as far as to cast herself as an old crone looking for help. We do get a glimpse of another myth of Demophoon (another myth for another day). To make this story short, Demeter and Persephone reunite and of course, Persephone must spend a third of the year with her husband.

I had no idea that this graphic novel ever existed until just now. I was surprised to come across and yes, I had to have it. I liked the tale but it always felt underwhelming. The art and style were nice. I think the only thing I have against this was the fact that the whole who got what between Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades drew lots. Zeus did not decide who got what. If one is going by myth, then this should have been a bit of an accurate account. I think that is the only thing I have against this novel.