The relationship between two lifetimes, the entanglement of three people, the helplessness of Yin and Yang, and the creation of the universe.At the age of twenty, when I was forced to marry, my husband was not human?Calling me mother's child was only a pawn that dragged me into hell?"I've never had any heart."Anyone who hated someone could fall deeply in love with someone.I tried my best to leave that gloomy Underworld."The ends of the earth. Don't even think about escaping."

This volume presents a case for how and why people in archaic and classical Greece worshipped Underworld gods. These gods are often portrayed as malevolent and transgressive, giving an impression that ancient worshippers derived little or no benefit from developing ongoing relationships with them. In this book, the first book-length study that focuses on Underworld gods as an integral part of the religious landscape of the period, Mackin Roberts challenges this view and shows that Underworld gods are, in many cases, approached and ‘befriended’ in the same way as any other kind of god. Underworld Gods in Ancient Greek Religion provides a fascinating insight into the worship of these deities, and will be of interest to anyone working on ancient Greek religion and cult.

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall. Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests. Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

Myths of the Underworld in Contemporary Culture: The Backward Gaze examines a series of twentieth and twenty-first century fictional works that adapt Greco-Roman myths of the catabasis, the heroic journey to the underworld. Covering a range of genres - including novels, comics, and children's culture, by authors such as Elena Ferrante, Salman Rushdie, Neil Gaiman, A. S. Byatt, Toni Morrison, and Anne Patchett - it reveals how an enduring fascination with life after death, and fantasies of accessing the world of the dead while we are still alive, manifest themselves in myriad and varied re-imaginings of the ancient descent myth. The volume begins with a detailed overview of the use of the myth by ancient authors such as Homer, Aristophanes, Vergil, and Ovid, before exploring the ways in which the narrative of a return trip to Hades by Odysseus, Aeneas, Orpheus, and Persephone can be manipulated by contemporary storytellers to fit themes of social marginality and alterity, postmodern rebellion, the position of female authors in the literary canon, and the dislocation endured by refugees, exiles, and diasporic populations. It also argues that citations of classical underworld stories can disrupt and challenge the literary canon by using media - such as comic books, children's culture, or rock music - not conventionally associated with high culture.

Don’t miss this companion novella to the enthralling Goddess Test series, perfect for fans of the Covenant, Starcrossed and Mortal Instruments series, originally published in 2012 as part of The Goddess Legacy anthology! For millennia, we’ve caught only glimpses of the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Now Aimée Carter pulls back the curtain on how they became the powerful, petty, loving and dangerous immortals that Kate Winters knows. Persephone was urged to marry one man, but longed for another. Can she find her own way to happiness? This story can be read at any time, but was originally written after Goddess Interrupted and before The Goddess Inheritance. Don’t miss any of the epic and exhilarating action in the GODDESS TEST series by Aimée Carter! The following is the complete Goddess Test series of three full-length novels and six companion novellas, in ideal reading order: The Goddess Test The Goddess Hunt (Novella) Goddess Interrupted The Goddess Queen (Novella) The Lovestruck Goddess (Novella) Goddess of the Underworld (Novella) God of Thieves (Novella) God of Darkness(Novella) The Goddess Inheritance “A fresh take on the Greek myths adds sparkle to this romantic fable.” —Cassandra Clare on The Goddess Test

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 set in mythological ancient Greece. It is rooted in the misogyny and cruelties of the Hades/Persephone myth and contains sensitive material. Due to mature content and dark themes, this book is intended for adult readers only. It contains scenes depicting non-consensual sex, death, abuse, kidnapping, assault, and other intimate partner violence. It is not recommended for readers sensitive to such content. PRAISE FOR CAPTIVE IN THE UNDERWORLD “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

Abundantly illustrated, this essential volume examines depictions of the Underworld in southern Italian vase painting and explores the religious and cultural beliefs behind them. What happens to us when we die? What might the afterlife look like? For the ancient Greeks, the dead lived on, overseen by Hades in the Underworld. We read of famous sinners, such as Sisyphus, forever rolling his rock, and the fierce guard dog Kerberos, who was captured by Herakles. For mere mortals, ritual and religion offered possibilities for ensuring a happy existence in the beyond, and some of the richest evidence for beliefs about death comes from southern Italy, where the local Italic peoples engaged with Greek beliefs. Monumental funerary vases that accompanied the deceased were decorated with consolatory scenes from myth, and around forty preserve elaborate depictions of Hades’s domain. For the first time in over four decades, these compelling vase paintings are brought together in one volume, with detailed commentaries and ample illustrations. The catalogue is accompanied by a series of essays by leading experts in the field, which provides a framework for understanding these intriguing scenes and their contexts. Topics include attitudes toward the afterlife in Greek ritual and myth, inscriptions on leaves of gold that provided guidance for the deceased, funerary practices and religious beliefs in Apulia, and the importance accorded to Orpheus and Dionysos. Drawing from a variety of textual and archaeological sources, this volume is an essential source for anyone interested in religion and belief in the ancient Mediterranean.

A spunky florist and a grumpy Lord of the Dead? It's a match made in the Underworld! My new boss is rude, bossy, and grumpy AH. He’s spent the last two hundred years drowning his sorrows, brooding. People skills? He has none. It turns out I’m the only one who can see this hot guy in front of me. Just him and a ghost. The Underworld has been freezing over since Persephone left. Hades too by his frosty attitude. And he needs me to help him collect errant souls who have escaped. Save the living from the curse of madness inflicted by one touch from the dead. I don’t know how I’m supposed to help. I’m a green-haired florist trying to make ends meet delivering bouquets to funeral parlors – not save the Underworld. After a soul attacks me, Hades is looking at me differently, eyes heated, voice all growly, fingers clamped on my wrist. Suddenly, I’m not sure I can handle the fire of the Lord of the Dead. Hades' Salvation is a completed series,featuring a grumpy sunshine, billionaire fantasy romance, with a broody, cinnamon roll Greek god, and loads of flower puns. This is the second series in the Godverse universe but can be read as a standalone series.

In this book, Katherine E. Southwood offers a new approach to interpreting Judges 21. Breaking away from traditional interpretations of kingship, feminism, or comparisons with Greek or Roman mythology, she explores the concepts of marriage, ethnicity, rape, and power as means of ethnic preservation and exclusion. She also exposes the many reasons why marriage by capture occurred during the post-exilic period. Judges 21 served as a warning against compromise - submission to superficial unity between the Israelites and the Benjaminites. Any such unity would result in drastic changes in the character, culture, and values of the ethnic group 'Israel'. The chapter encouraged post-exilic audiences to socially construct those categorised as 'Benjaminites' as foreigners who do not belong within the group, thereby silencing doubts about the merits of unity.

USA Today bestselling author, Dani René, brings a brand new steamy arranged marriage, mafia romance that crosses the line between obsession and love. Obsession. It's a sickness she brought upon me. And I'm about to make her pay. I shouldn't bring her into my world. But it was my father's wish, it was the ultimate revenge on our enemies. A poised, pristine princess, too pure for this life. And me, I'm the dark prince forced to be a King too soon. She dances gracefully, capturing my attention, before fighting me like a savage tigress. She's fire, burning through my darkness, and I'm the ice that will bring her to her knees. Right where I like her. I will make her bow. I will make her submit. And when I do, she'll be my Queen.