Demeter refuses to allow spring to appear until she has been reunited with her daughter Persephone, who has been abducted to the Underworld by Pluto.

This #1 New York Times bestseller is a "bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story" that brilliantly reimagines the life of Circe, formidable sorceress of The Odyssey (Alexandra Alter, TheNew York Times). In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child -- not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power -- the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus. But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love. With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and page-turning suspense, Circe is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man's world. #1 New York Times Bestseller -- named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, the Washington Post, People, Time, Amazon, Entertainment Weekly, Bustle, Newsweek, the A.V. Club, Christian Science Monitor, Refinery 29, Buzzfeed, Paste, Audible, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Thrillist, NYPL, Self, Real Simple, Goodreads, Boston Globe, Electric Literature, BookPage, the Guardian, Book Riot, Seattle Times, and Business Insider.

"The Pomegranate Seeds" is a short story written by the American author Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is one of Hawthorne's works of short fiction, known for its moral and allegorical themes. The story is based on a classic myth from Greek mythology, the myth of Persephone, which explains the changing of the seasons. In Hawthorne's version, he explores the idea of temptation and the consequences of yielding to it. The story centers around the character of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, and her daughter Proserpina, who is lured by a demon to eat pomegranate seeds from the underworld. As a result, Proserpina must spend part of each year in the underworld, leading to the changing of the seasons. Hawthorne's adaptation of the myth is notable for its moral and allegorical elements, exploring themes of temptation, loss, and the cycles of nature. It reflects his interest in retelling and reinterpreting classic myths and legends within his own literary context.

Their love inspired a legend, but first, it will ignite a war in this gender-swapped Hades and Persephone reimagining. History tells of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, the three ruling brothers of Mount Olympus, but history is mistaken. In the beginning, Hades was not a god but merely an immortal woman loved and then betrayed by Zeus. Her fall from grace exiles her to the Underworld, a realm absent a god since the dawn of creation and rampant with chaos and decay. But Hades is destined for a dark and terrible greatness, and the Underworld welcomes her with open arms. Hell has finally found its god. Zeus' betrayal will not go unpunished. Hades' disgrace will have its vengeance, but destiny intervenes, and Hades is faced with choosing between revenge and the unexpected love of a handsome but mortal farmer. Pomegranate is the first book in this Greek Mythology reimagining and is perfect for fans of Madeline Miller, Sarah J. Maas, and The Witcher. *2nd Edition/2020--The story remains the same, but significant changes to the writing and editing have been made.

From the bestselling author/illustrator team of Geraldine McCaughrean and Tony Ross, this book explains how Pluto''s love for Persephone caused the seasons to change, and how Atlanta''s hand in marriage is won. '

The classical Greek myth of Demeter and her daughter Persephone as told in Homer's Hymn to Demeter has been used most often to explain the cycle of the seasons. However, a closer examination will reveal insights on living and dying, loss and reconciliation, and suffering and healing. This work demostrates the continued importance and relevance of the myth of Demeter and Persephone to today's society. The first three chapters provide a summary of the Homeric story and examine the myth from the perspectives of the mother and daughter. The following chapters discuss the symbolism of critical objects, the role of female mentoring, the role of Hades and the meaning of the underworld, the subject of rape, and the masculinist perspective presented by Zeus and Helios, and derive lessons useful for healing and knowledge. The Hymn to Demeter as translated by Helene Foley is included as an appendix in order to provide a basis for the discussion in the text. Notes and a bibliography also follow the text.

In this modern version of the Greek myth, Persephone asks Hades for a ride to escape her overprotective mother, sneaks into the Underworld, and refuses to leave.