Review: The Temple of Persephone by Isabella Kamal

Title: The Temple of Persephone
Author: Isabella Kamal
Publication: February 20, 2024 by Blackstone Publishing
Genre: Historical Romance
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Rating: 4/5★

Bridgerton meets Greek mythology in Isabella Kamal’s delightful historical romance debut, The Temple of Persephone.

Persephone Honeyfield is witty, intelligent, and very aware that the only way to escape the monotony of the life she shares with her father and sister in the English countryside—and the wagging, ever-critical tongues of the people around her—is through marriage. She also knows the likelihood of it being a love match is nearly zero.

Aidon Barrington has carried on the legacy of his family’s funeral furnishing business, losing himself in the process. A shell of his former charming self, he’s traded his reputation as a rake for that of a recluse and regularly appears in the scandal sheets as London’s mysterious Lord of the Dead.

When Persephone finds herself at Gallowsgate—the old Barrington estate—on a seemingly simple errand, an unexpected run-in with the Lord of the Dead himself leaves her on the brink of ruination. With no other way to silence the village rumor mill, or save her sister’s reputation, Persephone agrees to marry Aidon, becoming the wife of a man she hardly knows.

Persephone finds herself increasingly fascinated by her new husband, whose kind, patient nature stands in stark contrast to the ever-swirling rumors about him. But when the gossip begins to sound more like reality than fiction, she attempts to uncover the truth behind the Lord of the Dead while discovering she may have already lost her most guarded possession: her heart.

Regency romance and Greek mythology? I’m in! The Temple of Persephone reminded me how much I enjoy historical romance. It was a great story with lovely characters and some spicy scenes. I had a really hard time putting the book down because I just wanted to keep reading about Persephone and Aidon. I already can’t wait for the author’s next book!

This book is about Persephone Honeyfield who lives a quiet live in the countryside with her younger sister Venus and their father who keeps bees. She would love to get away from the tediousness and gossip but at 27 years old she’s ready to settle into spinsterhood. Until she meets Aidon Barrington, who is known as the Lord of the Dead in London, and finds herself into a compromised postion with him by accident. To save herself from the scandal and to make sure her sister isn’t ruined by association, Penelope and Aidon agree to marry each other.

I really loved both Persephone and Aidon as characters on their own but also when they were together. Aidon could maybe be a little too broody for my tastes but I understand why he came to be that way. I really liked seeing their relationship grow as they go from a marriage of convenience to falling in love slowly but surely and discovering it all together. There were also some really good spicy scenes that I loved! There were some similarities between the myth of Persephone and Hades in contrast to this book’s Persephone and Aiden, which I, of course, adored. It wasn’t a direct retelling but there were some aspects of it.

The story was maybe a bit too light on the plot. Especially with the secret Aidon was keeping. I didn’t find it too shocking, personally, when it was all finally revealed and I didn’t really get why Aidon made such a big secret about it. But in the end I read historical romances for the romance part and that definitely didn’t disappoint me. I also hope we can expect Venus’ story next. Fingers crossed!

About the author:

Isabella Kamal is an Iraqi Muslim historical romance author. Growing up in the Middle East, she had very little access to romance novels—but once she got hold of one, she never looked back. Now calling Los Angeles home, she can usually be found in independent bookstores after long days spent developing stem cell therapies.

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