Book Review: Persephone’s Grief by Sandra Bats

About the Book:

Title: Persephone’s Grief

Author: Sandra Bats

Series: Persephone’s Curse #2

Publication Date: May 1, 2020

Synopsis: Jayden and Elin were sure they could face anything in the world — as long as they faced it together. But when the unthinkable happens all that changes. With Elin’s life on the line, they are forced to make hard decisions.

Embarking on a desperate race against time, Jayden must cross lines he has never crossed before. Fearing the loss of his wife, his determination to keep Elin alive becomes Jayden’s driving force — no matter the cost.

Overcome with despair, Elin focuses on what she’ll leave behind. But with Jayden descending deeper into the abyss of his grief it is left to her to ensure he will find a way to cope without her. After all, the future will rely on him. 

LINKS:     Goodreads    |      Amazon   

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My Review:

Persephone’s Grief is the second book in the Persephone’s Curse series, and it is a wild ride. Now married, Jayden and Elin are faced with their most dangerous obstacle yet. Afraid of a future without Elin, Jayden determines to do whatever it takes to save his wife. Elin tries to focus on helping those she’ll leave behind. Resigned to her fate, she worries for Jayden and his future. In a dystopian world that is more dangerous every day, can this couple find a way to save Elin and better secure their future?

Jayden and Elin go so much in this novel, both together and separately, and the story is intense! Faced with a potential death, they both must face a very different future than they planned, and they handle their emotions quite differently. It’s interesting to see the ways in which they cope (or don’t cope) with the harsh realities of life. While one holds onto hope, the other prepares for their terrible eventuality. The characters are pushed to their emotional and physical limits, and they both struggle. This obviously affects their relationship, and they spend a lot of the novel trying to deal with their problems, emotions, and communication troubles.

Like Jayden and Elin, many of the secondary characters are dynamically developed. I like that we learn more about the people in the rebel group and their motivations. We also see how many of Elin and Jayden’s friends are doing. Several relationships are tested, and the story shows how different people deal with stress, fear, and frustration. New characters and old add so much to the story, though I‘m a bit suspicious about two characters and question their true intentions. It will interesting to see if my suspicions are correct in the next book.

The characters also learn more about the virus, the cure, and the politics behind everything. It’s interesting to see the corruptive nature of the government and how it interferes in all aspects of society. The book shows how involved the government is in scientific research and progression, the economy, food production and distribution, and more. Above all, it’s about control. The government has total control over its citizens and harsh laws and punishments leave little room for freedom.

The story has two extremes – the government and the rebels, both of which resort to violence and destruction to achieve their goals. However, it also examines the people who don’t really fit into either extreme. I found this aspect of the novel really interesting too. Everything isn’t always black and white, and the novel delves into all the shades of grey and the different ways that people fight for what they believe in.

The book also explores how far people are willing to go to protect themselves and the ones they love. Fueled by fear and desperation, people will go to great lengths to save others, and characters in this book do just that. They put their own lives and their moral compasses on the line for causes and people that are important to them. I like how the author explored, not only these actions and the reasons behind them, but also the ramifications of partaking in deeds one wouldn’t normally participate in.

Above all, this story is about Jayden and Elin. We see how their story has progressed, how their home is growing and changing, and how they maneuver through their first year of marriage. This couple lives in such a dangerous world, and they both suffer terribly. However, through it all, there is hope and love. Their commitment to and love for each other is what motivates them. They make mistakes, and they don’t know what their doing half of the time, but they are steadfast in their loyalty to each other and their friends. They also want to see change in their world, and both take steps toward making a better future for themselves and everyone else.

If you haven’t read Persephone’s Curse, the first book in the series, I would recommend reading that one first. Also, be sure to check the content warnings, as there are some elements of the story that could trigger some readers. I think this is a great series for readers who like intense dystopian romance with well-developed characters and a unique plot.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The love story.

• The intrigue.

• The dystopian elements.

Favorite Lines:

Why was I supposed to keep fighting if life kept beating me down anyway?

Maybe I had no control over my life. No control over what was going to happen to me, or how. But I did have control over my reaction to my fate.

Sometimes it’s the things that have others cursing you, that make you important.

If people want to judge you by your family, they better judge you by the family you chose for yourself instead of the ones you were born into.

Don’t let fear outshine the hope.

Recommendations:

This is a fascinating series for readers who enjoy dystopian romance.