Kate makes a lackadaisical effort to make new friends, but she spends as much time as possible at her mother's side. But life gets interesting when Ava, one of the popular girls at school, plays a trick on her that rebounds. This is where Kate meets the dark and mysterious Henry who brings Ava back to life.

But Henry wants something in return. He wants Kate to live with him for six months of the year and become Persephone to his Hades. Kate thinks he's crazy, but certain events change her mind, and when Henry promises that she can spend as much time with her mother until she's ready to say goodbye, she accepts.

Kate has to pass seven unknown tests to take her place as Persephone. Oh, and while she's working on the tests, someone will try to kill her which is the fate of several other girls who have applied, for lack of a better word.

Kate becomes more and more attached to Henry and doesn't want him to fade, which is what will happen if she fails her tests and doesn't take over as Persephone. I love Greek mythology, so the concept of a Persephone/Hades retelling caught my attention. And while it's a strong premise, the story didn't work as well as I'd have liked. Kate's devotion to her mother was incredible. Never a peep about missing out on teen-age life from her, and that takes a certain amount of strength in and of itself. But other than that, Kate didn't have a lot of depth and nor did her relationships with those around her. She never seemed to face many tough decisions that were in her control although she did mature in her ability to accept the inevitable cycle of life and death.

Carter did a nice job with descriptions, enabling the reader to visualize Henry's mansion and surrounding grounds. Her writing is solid.

I don't want to give too much away her, but it seemed like the mythology was a draw for the story and not necessarily a focal point. For example, I never understood why Carter picked Persephone and Hades as the myth about which to write, and while it's a fast read and enjoyable, I can't say that I cared all that much for any of the characters.

Book Summary