Review: Lore Olympus: Volume Nine

Title: Lore Olympus: Volume Nine

Author: Rachel Smythe

Series/Standalone: Lore Olympus (Volume #9)

Genre: Graphic Novels, Mythology, Adult, Romance

Pages: 432

Publisher: Inklore

Year Published: 2025

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"The Underworld has a queen!'

Persephone and Hades are finally reunited when the banished goddess of spring returns to the Underworld to claim her rightful place as queen. Now that Hades and Persephone have defeated and imprisoned the power-hungry Kronos once more, nothing can keep them apart, and years of being separated have only made their desire for each other grow. But the other Olympians can't help but meddle, pushing the pair to make things official with a coronation- and a wedding.

Ignoring the others who try to define their relationship. Hades and Persephone choose to take things at their own pace and focus on rebuilding the Underworld. They begin by investigating how Kronos was first able to escape, and they learn the horrifying truth that he has captured a powerful young god whose abilities help Kronos project his thoughts outside of Tartarus- thoughts he uses to plague Hera's every waking moment. Though Krono's physical form is locked away, Olympus will never be free until they can rescue the child from the furious Titan's grasp.

To save the realms, Persephone must figure out her fertility goddess powers and embrace her role as Queen of the Underworld- even as it takes her further from her mother's expectations and her former place in the Mortal Realm."

My Rating: 5/5

After just being ok with the past couple of volumes in this series, or not finding them super memorable, I felt that this one was well-paced and memorable. I really enjoyed the art style (as always), and the story felt like it truly ramped up in this volume. I can't wait to continue on and read the next in the series as it comes out in June. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Lore Olympus Volume 8

Title: Lore Olympus Volume 8

Author: Rachel Smythe

Series/Standalone: Lore Olympus (Volume 8)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Romance, Mythology

Pages: 416

Publisher: Inklore

Year Published: 2025

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"You have no authority here'

Revelations rock Olympus as Persephone's trial ends, threatening to throw the gods into a new war.

Though Persephone and Hades become closer than ever after she opens up to him about all she has endured, their peace is shattered when another truth is revealed: Apollo is Zeus's son. The announcement shocks the pantheon, and the king of the gods realizes that the would-be usurper wants Persephone's power to take the throne. 

Zeus banishes Persephone to the Mortal Realm and, out of fear, cuts it off entirely from the rest of the gods. This decree succeeds in undercutting Apollo's plan, but also inadvertently begins a decade-long divine cold war when Hades strikes back by shuttering the Underworld. With the gods scattered and weakened, Kronos uses the ensuing bedlam to finally escape his imprisonment and begins staging his own coup. 

Persephone has only one choice when she discovers all the realms on the verge of collapes: Descend into the Underworld to try to defeat the power-hungry Titan, claim her rightful place as queen, and reunite with her one true love."

My Rating: 4.5/5

I enjoyed this installment of this series. The author does a magnificent job of keeping the readers' interest, even if they take a break between volumes. The art style is gorgeous and the slight comedy helps when the story gets too heavy. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Lore Olympus Vol. 7

Title: Lore Olympus Volume Seven

Author: Rachel Smythe 

Series/Standalone: Lore Olympus (Volume 7)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Adult, Romance, Mythology

Pages: 416

Publisher: Inklore

Year Published: 2024

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love- the Greek tale of Hades and Persephone gets a romantic modern update in the gorgeously illustrated, Eisner Award-winning Lore Olympus, including a brand new bonus short story!

An ingenious take on the Greek Pantheon, Lore Olympus is a modern update on the story of Hades and Persephone. Follow the propulsive love story of two Greek gods, told with lavish artwork and contemporary sensibilities.

This full-colour edition of Smythe's original Eisner Award-winning webcomic Lor Olympus features exclusive behind the scenes content and brings Greek mythology into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel."

My Rating: 5/5

I have loved this series for a while. I first found it on webtoons and then as they've been published, kept up with them in the bindup versions of the stories. I love Rachel Smythe's work and I think that her creative lense is fantastic. Her ability to work with drama, create cliff hangers and a slow-burn romance is fantastic. I can't wait to read the next instalment!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Lore Olympus Volume 6 by Rachel Smythe

Title: Lore Olympus: Vol. 6

Author: Rachel Smythe

Series/Standalone: Lore Olympus Series (Volume 6)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Adult, Romance, Retelling

Pages: 432

Publisher: Inklore

Year Published: 2024

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"Witness what the gods do after dark in the sixth volume of a stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of the best-known stories in Greek mythology, feeling exclusive behind-the-scene content from creator Rachel Smythe.

'We have to make an example of her.'

Chaos reigns in Olympus as Zeus publicly declares Persephone a traitor and issues a warrant for her arrest. But Hades defies his brother's decree, sheltering Persephone in the Underworld- and as the pair spend more time together, they are able to speak openly about their pasts. The goddess of spring admits the truth behind the bloody secret that led to Zeus's ire, and the king of the Underworld shares the trauma he suffered at the hands of his power-hungry father, Kronos.

But as Hades and Persephone's relationship grows stronger, others begin to fall apart. The bond between Hades and Zeus is stretched to its limit, threatening to fracture the peace between their realms. Persephone and Artemis's friendship hangs by a thread as the goddess of the hunt slowly uncovers the vile truth about her twin, Apollo. A line is being drawn in the heavens, putting everyone's loyalties into question as all the gods are forced to choose sides.

And as the cracks in the foundation of the pantheon spread, something darker and more earth-shattering might soon be released..."

My Rating: 4/5

I liked this volume but it wasn't my favorite out of the series. As per usual the art is excellent, and the character growth was great but it was just missing a little something plot-wise for me. While the book was long, it also felt long which is not what I hope for from a graphic novel. I look forward to seeing how Rachel Smythe finishes the series.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Lore Olympus Volume 2

Title: Lore Olympus Vol. 2

Author: Rachel Smythe

Series/Standalone: Lore Olympus (Volume 2)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Romance, Mythology, 

Pages:368

Publisher: Inklore

Year Published: 2022

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"Persephone was ready to start a new life when she left the mortal realm for Olympus. However, she quickly discovered the dark side of her glamorous new home- from the relatively minor gossip threatening her reputation to a realm-shattering violation of her safety by the conceited Apollo- and she's struggling to find her footing in the fast moving realm of the gods. Hades is also off-balance, fighting against his burgeoning feelings for the young goddess of spring while maintaining his lonely rule of the Underworld. As the pair are drawn even closer, they must untangle the twisted webs of their past and present to build toward a new future."

My Rating: 5/5

I want to preface this by saying that I had read some of this series through webtoons before the physical copies had started to be published. And I loved them then, and I continue to love them now. Rachel Smythe's merging of mythology and current world technology leads to fun story telling and excellent art. I loved this instalment and look forward to reading more soon. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny