A Touch of Ruin

“Persephone had a lot of questions about the Underworld from antiquity. It was that version that still had its claws in Hades, that made him feel ashamed, that made him feel unworthy of people’s worship and praise.”

In St. Clair’s novel, the Underworld functions as a literal place but also an allegorical space where the characters explore different aspects of themselves. This passage alludes to the ancient Greek myths that are the novel’s source and establishes Hades’ internal struggle as he tries to redeem his reputation in the Upperworld.

“She knew her emotions were tied to her powers. Flowers sprouted when she was angry, and vines curled around Hades in moments of passion without warning.”

Persephone, the Goddess of Spring, must learn to control her emotions and, therefore, her magic. Her journey is a theme of the book and part of her character arc. The imagery of growing things, which can be both lovely and dangerous, is associated with her magic.

“She despised the fact that she knew they would listen to Hades because of his status as an ancient Olympian and not to her—someone they presumed was a mortal woman.”

One of the novel’s themes is Persephone’s quest for independence and self-reliance; she wants to make decisions on her own and face the consequences of her actions. The novel also uses relationships between Olympians and mortals as allegories for modern situations—here, they represent the reality that a woman has far less social capital and clout than a famous, rich, important man.