Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman

I tried to post this the other day, but I was having some issues with it, so here we go again!

What the back of the book says:
"He smiles."Hello."

It's a deep voice. I can feel it reverberate in my chest and echo all the way down to my toes.
 
I know I should leave, but I don't want to. I want to keep my senses like this forever. I'm all eye, all ear, all skin.
 
Persephone lives in the most gorgeous place in the world. But her mother's a goddess, as overprotective as she is powerful. Paradise has become a trap. Just when Persephone feels there's no chance of escaping the life that's been planned for her, a mysterious stranger arrives. A stranger who promises something more—something dangerous and exciting—something that spurs Persephone to make a daring choice. A choice that could destroy all she's come to love, even the earth itself.
In a land where a singing river can make you forget your very name, Persephone is forced to discover who—and what—she really is. "

 What I say about it:

I'm a complete sucker for mythology, especially Greek Mythology. And as far as re-writes of these myths, the Rape of Persephone is one of the most popular. I've even read a few (shocker, right?). This one was different. Persephone actually chooses to leave her mother behind, knowing full well that she's leaving with the god of the dead and will never come back. Not that she's really bothered at first, her mother's a bit of a nightmare. She's sad that she'll never see her friends again, but who cares? She's in love with Hades! And who can't really relate with that feeling? Unless you've never been in love, I guess. But then her mom loses it and starts this horrible drought that starves the mortals and then drowns the ones that are left and while Hades is happy about the extra business, Persephone is guilt-ridden. She finally realizes that her mother loves her and she's trying to rescue her. So when Zeus calls her back to Earth, she goes willingly (again knowing she may never come back-she has a hard time chosing what she wants) but Hades gets her to eat a pomegranate before she goes, binding her to the underworld.
In the end, Demeter understands that her daughter has grown up, and they reach a happy arrangement that Persephone lives with her husband for half the year (winter) and her mother the other half (summer). But us silly mortals got the story wrong about the "Persephone chose to leave" part, which is why we still refer to it as the Rape of Persephone.

I liked it. Persephone seems a little immature at time, like a child playing at being an adult, but I guess I would be too if my mom had locked me away for most of my life from almost all the world. Especially men. But what does bother me is it never explains why Demeter kind of treated Persephone like crap when she got older. My guess is jealousy as Persephone had inherited a lot of Demeter's power. Also of note, Hades sounds freaking hot. I would probably leave with him too if it came right now to it.
All-in-all, an enjoyable book, especially if you like mythology like I do. I would recommend it.