blossom of ash by kennedy vega
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This is a short story by Kennedy Vega (I know her as @januaryrabbit on Instagram), and it is a Hades and Persephone retelling. Her plans are to have it out by the end of the summer, however she is debating on turning it into a full-length-novel.
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Persephone is a beauty born with a curled foot, making her the family's least treasured posession and maid. When her younger sister, Anathema, is born with a blood disease destined to end her life before three years of age, Persephone's parents make a bargain with Hades, promising that if he pushes her death farther out (into old age), they'll give him Persephone when she turns 18. But, there's a catch. Persephone must choose to willingly go with Hades––if she refuses, he will bring back Anathema's blood disease and she will die.
Persephone grows up knowing nothing of the deal, only scrubbing the floors, cleaning up after Anathema, and tending to her flower stall.
A handsome stranger finds joy in her flowers, and they begin to be friends of a sort. But this one person may cause Persephone to stay on earth, rejecting Hades and bringing back her sister's disease.
~•~
Right off the bat, I'm going to say that this is one of the best retellings I've ever read, definitely the best Hades and Persephone retelling I've ever read. It flowed so perfectly, the characters were compelling, and the plot was captivating.
One aspect that I think can kill retellings at the start is the plot. If it's a retelling, the plot is pretty much already known, and that can take away the surprise (or enjoyment, or sometimes both). That doesn't happen here. The story has the fundamental aspects of the Hades and Persephone story, but it still catches you off guard. I squealed at parts, I raced through others because I was worried for the characters, and others I just sat there with a content smile. The twist Vega added to the story made it impossibly captivating and enjoyable.
The characters are compelling as well. Persephone has a bit of a Cinderella vibe with her family's hatred of her, but it's twisted and changed so that when you look at it you don't go "she was based on Cinderella," you go "this is Persephone, a girl who was born with a disability that makes people think she is cursed, a girl who loves flowers more than life, and who could relate to Cinderella because of family matters." She loves flowers, is strong (and not the hot-but-also-kills-people type of strong that seems to be going around in novels nowadays, she stands up to jerks messing with her and when the handsome stranger is like "do you want help" she's like "nah I got it"), and is genuinely a good person. She would make Megara proud.
Hades... my boi.
Hades was written SO BEAUTIFULLY. And not just literally (although he is very pretty). Instead of making him look like the vengeful god of death that media makes him out to be, Vega focused on his benevolence that is displayed in the myths. Take Disney's Hercules. There, Hades is sassy but also angry and "I will kill everyone muahaha."
Vega made Hades more like the myths. The son of Olympus who drew the short straw and got sent to look after the dead people, constantly just done by his brother's sleeping around, and really just wanting to find companionship so they can watch his family screw up together. In the story, Hades says "... upon Persephone's eighteenth birthday, she must choose whether or not to come with me and offer up her life for her sister's. [...] Persephone must make the choice of her own free will." He could be given a companion, a wife, like that. But he choses to alter the bargain so that the piece being bargained over is recognized as a human, not just a bargaining chip, and that she is given a choice in the matter.
AHHH that just makes me so happy.
The relationships between the characters are so beautifully written and the world is gorgeous. I can't wait for the full, polished, gorgeous version.
That's all I'm going to say for now. When it is published (as a short story or as a novel) I will do a full book-talk/book-review with spoilers.
Happy reading and writing!
~Olivia Ann
One aspect that I think can kill retellings at the start is the plot. If it's a retelling, the plot is pretty much already known, and that can take away the surprise (or enjoyment, or sometimes both). That doesn't happen here. The story has the fundamental aspects of the Hades and Persephone story, but it still catches you off guard. I squealed at parts, I raced through others because I was worried for the characters, and others I just sat there with a content smile. The twist Vega added to the story made it impossibly captivating and enjoyable.
The characters are compelling as well. Persephone has a bit of a Cinderella vibe with her family's hatred of her, but it's twisted and changed so that when you look at it you don't go "she was based on Cinderella," you go "this is Persephone, a girl who was born with a disability that makes people think she is cursed, a girl who loves flowers more than life, and who could relate to Cinderella because of family matters." She loves flowers, is strong (and not the hot-but-also-kills-people type of strong that seems to be going around in novels nowadays, she stands up to jerks messing with her and when the handsome stranger is like "do you want help" she's like "nah I got it"), and is genuinely a good person. She would make Megara proud.
Hades... my boi.
Hades was written SO BEAUTIFULLY. And not just literally (although he is very pretty). Instead of making him look like the vengeful god of death that media makes him out to be, Vega focused on his benevolence that is displayed in the myths. Take Disney's Hercules. There, Hades is sassy but also angry and "I will kill everyone muahaha."
Vega made Hades more like the myths. The son of Olympus who drew the short straw and got sent to look after the dead people, constantly just done by his brother's sleeping around, and really just wanting to find companionship so they can watch his family screw up together. In the story, Hades says "... upon Persephone's eighteenth birthday, she must choose whether or not to come with me and offer up her life for her sister's. [...] Persephone must make the choice of her own free will." He could be given a companion, a wife, like that. But he choses to alter the bargain so that the piece being bargained over is recognized as a human, not just a bargaining chip, and that she is given a choice in the matter.
AHHH that just makes me so happy.
The relationships between the characters are so beautifully written and the world is gorgeous. I can't wait for the full, polished, gorgeous version.
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That's all I'm going to say for now. When it is published (as a short story or as a novel) I will do a full book-talk/book-review with spoilers.
Happy reading and writing!
~Olivia Ann
Awesome blog!
ReplyDeleteWould you mind checking out my book reviews blog at https://elsbookreviews.blogspot.ca/ and possibly give it a follow? Super excited to read your posts!
- El