Hades x Persephone Saga #2, A Touch of Malice By Scarlett St. Clair

A Touch of Malice by Scarlett St. Clair is a heart-pounding, spicy continuation of the Hades x Persephone saga, cranking the stakes, romance, and Greek mythology drama to new heights. Persephone, the Goddess of Spring turned badass future Queen of the Underworld, is engaged to Hades, but their wedding plans are a mess. Her mom, Demeter, unleashes a crippling snowstorm on New Greece to sabotage their union, refusing to stop until Persephone ditches Hades. Meanwhile, Zeus and the Olympians debate whether to bless their marriage or spark a war with the God of the Dead, and the rebellious Triad and demigods are stirring trouble, eyeing the gods’ power. Persephone’s juggling her new media venture, The Advocate, her PTSD from past trauma, and her growing divine powers, all while Hades keeps secrets that strain their trust. The 456-page novel is a whirlwind of steamy scenes (the spiciest yet!), character growth—Persephone’s “I am not sure who you think I am” moment is iconic—and tense godly politics, with Hermes’s chaotic charm and Apollo’s redemption stealing scenes. Fans praise the emotional depth, like Persephone’s grief over Lexa and Hades’s fierce devotion, but critics slam typos, uneven pacing, and “fanfiction-y” moments (that Never Have I Ever scene’s divisive). BookTok’s split—some call it a 4.5-star fave for its cliffhanger and Persephone’s glow-up, others say it’s juvenile or a letdown after A Touch of Ruin. It’s a chaotic, addictive ride that sets up A Touch of Chaos.