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Captive in the Underworld: A Dark Lesbian Romance Novel Kindle Edition

by Lianyu Tan (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 726 ratings
See all formats and editions
A dark lesbian romance retelling of the Hades/Persephone abduction story, set in mythological ancient Greece.

In the land of the dead, Queen Hades' word is law. Hades gets what she wants--always--and what she wants is a certain goddess of the springtime.

Innocent Persephone chafes beneath her mother's hawkish gaze and mercurial temper. Demeter has rebuffed all her daughter's suitors, but she is not yet satisfied; she strives to crush Persephone's spirit.

Still, when Hades pulls her into the dark realm of the underworld, Persephone longs for the world above, even if it means an eternity under her mother's thumb.

With her tears and pleas for freedom ignored by pitiless Hades, Persephone must learn to satisfy her keeper in all ways, lest she suffer the consequences.

And though she cannot deny that something blooms within her, something forbidden, Persephone despairs of ever feeling the sun upon her skin once more.

No matter the cost, Hades intends to keep her.

Forever.

* * *

Captive in the Underworld is a standalone dark lesbian romance novel, rooted in the misogyny and cruelties of the Hades/Persephone myth. Due to mature content and dark themes, this book is intended for adult readers only. Further content information is available in the front of the book and on the author's website.
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  1. Print length
    342 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    January 8, 2021
  5. File size
    4245 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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From the Publisher

left side: image of pomegranates; "The goddess Hades stole her away"; Captive in the Underworld book

Sierra Simone, USA Today bestselling author, review, dark and sexy, dark romance, Hades

Rae D. Magdon, review, author of lesbian romance books,

review, Elizabeth King, author, classic dark romance, Hades

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Everyone knows I won't shut up about this book, but I can't help it--it rung me like a BELL. ...Gorgeously written, dark and sexy, everything about this book was a deep pleasure to read. And Hades is perfection. I'd let Hades drag me to her cold castle any day."
―Sierra Simone, USA Today bestselling author

"A dark sapphic romance based on the myth of Persephone and Hades... entertaining, captivating, and exceptionally enjoyable... I read it twice in a row without stopping... if you like my work, I bet you'll like this a whole lot!"
―Rae D. Magdon, author of Lucky 7

"I adored this brutally ruthless Hades... She was everything I wanted her to be... frightening and passionate all at once... a beautiful example of classic dark romance... Gorgeous novel, highly recommend."
―Roses and Thorns Book Reviews

"[The] best Hades/Persephone story I've ever read... such a gripping read I literally devoured it whole in one sitting like I was Kronos eating his kids... the world and the characters are so lush and compelling I'm tempted not to finish this review and just start rereading the book instead."
―Katarina, Goodreads reviewer

From the Author

For seasoned dark romance readers, this book skews grey/light.

With:
  • icy/controlling but soft on the inside female Hades
  • innocent, determined Persephone
  • unmedicated narcissist Demeter.
I hope you enjoy my version of this classic myth!

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08LZN8B7J
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shattered Scepter Press (January 8, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 8, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4245 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 342 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 726 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Lianyu Tan

Lianyu Tan

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

*** For content warnings, look inside each book or visit lianyutan.com ***

Lianyu Tan is a Lambda Literary and Golden Crown Literary Award-winning author of sapphic speculative fiction. She is the author of The Wicked and the Willing, a lesbian gothic horror vampire novel set in 1920s Singapore, and Captive in the Underworld, a lesbian dark romance retelling of the Hades/Persephone myth. Her short stories have been published by Cleis Press.

Lianyu lives with her wife in Australia. Find her on social media as LianyuTan and subscribe to her newsletter for bonus content and short stories by signing up at her website, lianyutan.com.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
726 global ratings
Sapphic Hades & Persephone retelling🖤
4 Stars
Sapphic Hades & Persephone retelling🖤
*As always read your trigger warnings"Why else are you here, if not to offer yourself to me?"I am always a fan of almost anything "Hades/Death" and this Queen Hades has definitely been added to the list! I was a fan of hers almost right away.In fact- I doubt I would have held out as long as Persephone or found any reason to be upset with Hades- I would have fallen in love right away 🖤"Then it is fortunate you tripped so close to one of my gate-ways." She reached up and plucked a leaf from Persephone's windswept hair, then twined a lock around her finger and brought her face close to the girl's neck, inhaling."This was a very enjoyable read and a sexy, dark, lovestruck retelling."Her name shouldn't have sounded indecent coming from Hades' lips, but all the same, Persephone shivered."Was not ready when the end came around- I could have read more.But if you sign up on the authors website you can get an additional short story to ease that want a little bit.Looking forward to reading the authors other work - "The Wicked and the Willing
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Top reviews from the United States

Gigi
5.0 out of 5 stars Really good. Definitely dark romance worthy!
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2021
Verified Purchase
This book was actually very good, I really enjoyed how stern and assertive and dominating Hades was, which is often hard to find in f\f books. Anyone who complains about the content of the books clearly does not know what DARK ROMANCE means. I’ve read way worse and would say on the dark romance scale this is about a 5/10. It’s not too dark and I would have liked hades to be even more relentless, I would have liked Hades to trick Persephone into eating the seeds... but that’s just me. I was pleasantly surprised and I had to give it five stars. Will be reading more from this author!
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Catherine Jagos
4.0 out of 5 stars Sapphic Hades & Persephone retelling🖤
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2023
Verified Purchase
*As always read your trigger warnings

"Why else are you here, if not to offer yourself to me?"

I am always a fan of almost anything "Hades/Death" and this Queen Hades has definitely been added to the list! I was a fan of hers almost right away.
In fact- I doubt I would have held out as long as Persephone or found any reason to be upset with Hades- I would have fallen in love right away 🖤

"Then it is fortunate you tripped so close to one of my gate-ways." She reached up and plucked a leaf from Persephone's windswept hair, then twined a lock around her finger and brought her face close to the girl's neck, inhaling."

This was a very enjoyable read and a sexy, dark, lovestruck retelling.

"Her name shouldn't have sounded indecent coming from Hades' lips, but all the same, Persephone shivered."

Was not ready when the end came around- I could have read more.
But if you sign up on the authors website you can get an additional short story to ease that want a little bit.

Looking forward to reading the authors other work - "The Wicked and the Willing
Customer image
Catherine Jagos
4.0 out of 5 stars Sapphic Hades & Persephone retelling🖤
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2023
*As always read your trigger warnings

"Why else are you here, if not to offer yourself to me?"

I am always a fan of almost anything "Hades/Death" and this Queen Hades has definitely been added to the list! I was a fan of hers almost right away.
In fact- I doubt I would have held out as long as Persephone or found any reason to be upset with Hades- I would have fallen in love right away 🖤

"Then it is fortunate you tripped so close to one of my gate-ways." She reached up and plucked a leaf from Persephone's windswept hair, then twined a lock around her finger and brought her face close to the girl's neck, inhaling."

This was a very enjoyable read and a sexy, dark, lovestruck retelling.

"Her name shouldn't have sounded indecent coming from Hades' lips, but all the same, Persephone shivered."

Was not ready when the end came around- I could have read more.
But if you sign up on the authors website you can get an additional short story to ease that want a little bit.

Looking forward to reading the authors other work - "The Wicked and the Willing
Images in this review
Customer image
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Peaches Silva
5.0 out of 5 stars Trigger warnings be damned ! Great Dark Lesbian Romance🤌🏿
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2023
Verified Purchase
I have read quite the many heinous books in my time and tho extensive, the trigger warnings of this one are no where close. Dark, Gothic, Mafia... I've seen the worse of what could be seen and this was not it.

Instead this represented the Greek God's in what I view as their authentic way of life. They live by their laws not ours and punishments are given based on...

This was an additive read. I completed in 3 days while going to work, while neglecting school work. The flow of the writing is so smooth it was as if I was in a dream. Scarcely I'd be aware of my surroundings and I'd need an alarm or 2 to get myself to stop and commune with this mundane world. Once exams are over I will re-read again.

It was such a treat to experience a peice of art with such rich vocabulary. I was adding to my knew words list as I went along and understanding them I felt it added such dept to the dialogues between the God's as they are from a different time and spoke in a way not the same as today.

I loved the whole journey of the characters and their growth and experiencing the beauty of their world. I was fully invested in that world and rarely desired to return to mine.
2 people found this helpful
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catycat154
3.0 out of 5 stars Not sure what I expected
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2022
Verified Purchase
I went into this unsure especially after all the warning page. I mean it’s a book. The author can do whatever they want. So if you still read it after the trigger warnings that’s on you. However with all of that aside, it was very well written book. Truly, I enjoyed most of it. However, everything kind of died down for me after the wedding night rape scene and the consensual/nonconsensual kidnapping. I was hoping for something different than what i received. The whole time I felt sorry for Persephone but also annoyed with her. The female take on Hades was cool. I liked that. A lot. But I just wanted it to be something more than it was. I skimmed mostly through after the court scene and the ending. I read it in two days - it’s an easy read. Just don’t go into it thinking it’s a romance because in truth I didn’t think it was until the very end.
2 people found this helpful
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Tammy
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
This story is well written. You can see how the characters are being shape and the land around you. The description of the land and clothing it's important to see that difference in the underworld and the overworld. As the story possesses you can feel the love that Hades has for Persephone that she is always there for when she needs her. A beautiful story to read
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Tacie
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Dark Sapphic Hades / Persephone Retelling
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2023
Verified Purchase
*Read the trigger warnings in this book* It is dark. This was the first book I've read by this author and I read it in a DAY. I could NOT put this book down. It was dark, twisted, steeeamy Hades / Persephone retelling. Queen Hades just captivated me. Tan wrote her character flawlessly and just gripping. This story flows so smoothly it's like the silk that Hades wears. It's almost visceral - the way Tan builds the underworld and Hades' domain. There is so much depth in this author's writing. If you like dark romance, this needs to be added to your TBR immediately.
One person found this helpful
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Jordan Aulbach
4.0 out of 5 stars Medium smutty Sapphic romantic retelling of Hades and Persephone
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2024
Verified Purchase
I read this book a while ago and it had some memorable aspects and moments. **Not really a spoiler but could be** I enjoys the toxic mother daughter relationship between Demeter and Persephone, it could be a trigger for some people like it was for me. The idea of turning the original telling of Demeters reactions to her daughter being stolen into a toxic possibly narcissistic abusive reaction was creative, tbh I've had a hard time seeing the Greek Goddess of the Harvest in a different light after reading this. Another memorable moment is the gentle lovemaking Hades gives Persephone while in her thigh, looking back I feel the smutt scenes were less sloppy and more on the sentimental side.
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MissAlice 2U
5.0 out of 5 stars Be still my dark and twisted heart
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
Ah yes. The nonconsensual pairings of mythos. Zeus and his philandering. The plotting of the immortals to the detriment of the mortals- what a read.

Mind you, you cannot read this book as an empowered woman of this day and age and not cringe a wee bit.

Persephone, captive of Hades, forced to be deflowered, rights to her life signed away by a selfish father that had fathered hundreds if not thousands in a similarly nonconsenual way, and a mother who is one squirrel short of the nuthouse after her own deflowering and forced to birth Persephone.

Is it a case of Stockholm or immortal plight? Not entirely sure. You go from cringing with one eye closed reading, to enjoying their coupling by the end. Just a whole bunch of warring feelings- did I like it, did I hate it? No idea but still, it's a damn good read.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

raza
5.0 out of 5 stars stop looking at reviews & start the reading this book asap
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
I can not stress how much i enjoyed reading the story of hades and persephone. greek mythological is so interesting but to add a lesbian twist just took me over the edge. i found both of them so attractive and wished it was longer. not be dramatic but i simply won’t be able to get them out of my mind for the foreseeable future. to conclude- i want to be someone’s wife now😭
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Gigi
5.0 out of 5 stars the best HadesxPersephone Romace
Reviewed in Germany on April 23, 2023
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This novel is very well written, a real page turner.
Hades and Persephone‘s story as a dark lesbian romance is definitely a concept I love!
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Mariah
5.0 out of 5 stars True enough to the myth with awesome additions
Reviewed in Canada on February 2, 2021
Verified Purchase
Excellent book! I love Greek mythology and I love lesbian romance novels and this was perfect. It stayed true enough to the original myth while adding interesting additions that I loved. There is spousal rape in this though and moves toward dubious consent in the book but it is done as well as can be for this topic. I wouldn’t call it violent rape though since I’ve read books with that in it and it is much worse than this. Good job though I hope I get to read more from this author.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Love the theme
Reviewed in India on July 28, 2021
Verified Purchase
The book is baised on Greek mythology goods. It's different lesfic flavor I could say. The book concept was good but it can get better.
Writter never let it go over the top even its main characters are God's. The grey mc hades I liked it I miss anti heroines grey characters in lesfic books.
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Brooke G
4.0 out of 5 stars What in the Underworld did I read?
Reviewed in Australia on July 7, 2021
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I like Persephone. I HATE Demeter. I Like Hades. I don't like Hades. I really don't like Hades. I want Persephone to escape. I like Hades. Maybe Persephone should stay... Nope! Really hate Hades now! Want Persephone to escape. This is getting darker than dark. I shouldn't like this story. I like this story. Hades might not be all bad. ...nevermind. I strongly dislike Hades. I like Hades again. Run Persephone! Get out! Be free! Oh, right, the mother is worse! Where is Hades? Persephone belongs with Hades! Poor Persephone. So much trauma. I want Persephone to be free! But also with Hades. The end. Emotionally exhausted now. Thanks!
One person found this helpful
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