Hades and Hades

Dark Olympus #1.5

by Katee Robert

A short story about Hades and Persephone from Neon Gods, and how their story ties with the Wicked Villains series.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Mythology, Novella, Retellings, Dark Romance, Fiction

45 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of spicy romance. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over two million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

Sign up for my newsletter to get access to exclusive bonus content!

https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/form...

Reviews

[Taylor Manookian]

(times read: 2)
2024 review:
somehow i read this on the exact day i read it first 3 years ago. funny how things work like that. but i just want to complain...ABOUT THE STUPID MAGIC AIR BARRIERS. WHY IS POSEIDON THE ONLY ONE ABLE TO CROSS THEM??? i dont want to rant about the worldbuilding again because u get the point. but i still think its dumb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2021 review:
OMG. i just finished reading Neon Gods and it was GLARINGLY OBVIOUS that hades from Wicked Villains was his dad. and i was so mad i was like WHY DID NO ONE TELL THEM???? WHY DID NO ONE TELL HIM. also WV hades is 57?!?! HES OLD. isnt hercules...25???? UH?
also olympus be like "we're not the actual gods we're just humans that have their titles and the city is named cool" then have magic bridges and a magical thick air barrier that physically separates the rest of the city from the rest of the world with literal air magic. but ok!

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

From one Hades to another... Hello, Father. 🖌️

Having known both books at the time these shorts came out I was so fucking giddy reading them. This closure for both beloved Hades’ of mine was just everything!


⇢ meet Hades jr. in Neon Gods
⇢ and Hades sr. in Learn My Lesson.

[Ashley Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written for the hot daddy feels, but I'll have to reserve any other judgement until I read the wicked villains series. Just giving 4 stars because I love Katee Robert.

[Vendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still love this series, also I am exicited for next part.

[China Brinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again short story. Our beloved Hades learns his son is alive. Younger Hades learns his father is alive. It was a beautiful moment both for men. And I’m glad the author didn’t turn it into a asswhole moment. They ended on good terms with the knowledge that form that moment on they will always be in each other lives. No matter the situation.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Bon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm all for cozy Hades/Persephone domesticity. And omg the connection to Learn My Lesson, which I've just downloaded.

But this novella left me with some serious worldbuilding questions. There...IS...a magical barrier keeping Olympus apart from the rest of the world or...? Gah. I get very caught up in my questions about the setting in this series. 🙈😂

[Sophie's Reading Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww i loved this reunion so much 😍 Wish it was longer, but I'm still glad I got to read this scene.

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

Nice novella to clarify something about Hades's past. I enjoyed this being a big Hades fan myself, but at the same time I don't understand its significance in the great scheme of the series. I don't know if this discovery will have repercussions in the main novel #2... We'll see about that.

In the meantime just the mental image of a grey haired Hades was worth it 😍

++ I wasn't able to find the other 2 novellas that go between book #1 and #2 and one I think was about a pregnant Persephone 🥹, so I'm torn between keeping searching and just skipping....

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how this connected the Hades of Neon Gods with the Hades in Robert's Villains series! Would love more shorts with these 2 navigating this new norm.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m reading this a little out of order but it’s still connecting some dots

[Idaira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Son 3 capítulos, pero cuidado porque aparece información que puede ser spoiler. Estos extras unen Dioses de neón con uno de los libros de la saga de Wicked Villains (Learn my lesson). Esta saga no está en español, pero si lo vas a leer más adelante es preferible que esperes a leer estos.

Esperaba encontrarme más escenas domésticas de Hades y Perséfone, pero no, sí que aparece Perséfone pero ellos no son lo "importante" de la mini trama de estos capítulos.

[Lovinmyshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

I am putting this in place of the ARC preview I received of ‘Wicked Beauty’ by Kate Robert on NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley, Kate Robert, and the publisher for giving me a free ARC Preview of Wicked Beauty in exchange for an honest review

I loved this preview from start to finish.. and now I want the rest of this book. I have read the first two books in this series, and loved them, and this was no different. Just from the 5 chapters I did receive, I can tell this is going to be the hottest one yet! From the looks of it, this will be a MMF relationship. Additionally, with the aspect of the Ares competition, and all three of them competing against each other…. oh my lord I am so excited!

[Zen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a nice little tie in to her two big fantasy series, Wicked Villains and Dark Olympus. I did not realize that Hades and Hades were father and son. I hope we do see small things later that maybe tie the worlds together or have a cameo of Hercules or Hades later.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars - really good but I wish there had been more

[Akansha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes we have to just appreciate how authors create their own universe connecting the characters.

[Liz | lizzuplans · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was lovely!

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have read both the first book the dark Olympus series and at least the 2nd book in the wicked villain's series this short story is completely worth reading. It connects the Hades from each series and adds a lot to the plot of both series.

[Rachel Consoli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now two books deep into the DARK OLYMPUS series, I started to peruse Katee Robert’s other catalogue because I really enjoy her style. Turns out she also has a Disney Villains smut series, the WICKED VILLAINS. So what’s the natural crossover between those two franchises?? Hades! But she’s made it where the Hades from WV, more specifically the second entry LEARN MY LESSON is the father from DO’s Hades. Both have believed the other dead due to Zeus’s meddling and have just now reunited.

So I will say this is massive spoilers for both LEARN MY LESSON and NEON GODS. It’s marked as Neon Gods 1.5, but it did say it showed how both series were connected so I guess I should’ve put two dots together. Either way though it makes me super intrigued by that series. I was planning on checking it out anyway but now I most definitely am. Especially to see how WV Hades goes from
being Meg’s captor to being in a polyamorous relationship with her and Hercules lololol. That’s a lot to wrap my brain around, but I’m interested haha. TBH I’m expecting (hoping) it’ll rework the story to be less abusive and gross than its origin just as it did with Hades and Persephone. Oh and Hercules is the youngest son of the OG Zeus from NEON GODS that DO Hades ended up killing by the end haha. So that’s fun. TBH these plots are obviously not the main appeal even though I do really love this world, so you just kind of go along with it.

I will say I have question on these ‘realms’. Apparently there’s this magical barrier between Olympus and everywhere else. Poseidon is the one who has to ferry Hades across, but Hermès got by no issue, so hard to say. I don’t quite get how it works, but they’re able to still video chat and communicate so that’s cute. I wonder if that’ll show up at some point in the future.

Also it’s precious to get a little peak into domestic bliss Persephone and Hades, I simply adore them. Oh and Hermès is confirmed black which I love. I don’t remember if that was stated before, but it’s confirmed here!

TBH I wish this was longer even though I get it’s supposed to be just short n sweet bonus content. I would’ve liked to see WV Hades meet Persephone, but maybe in the future. If you like the world as I do this is a really fun nugget, reveal of the interconnected universe, and well worth subscribing to KR’s newsletter!

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Katee's patreon, you can find a three part short story from her June, July, and August subscriber stories. These tell the tale of Neon Gods Hades meeting Wicked Villains Hades. The reunion I've been dying for since I realized their connection in Neon Gods (read wicked villains first so connected the dots)!

Literally freaking the fuck out about these and hope she writes more!

[sathvika · Rating 5 out of 5]

my heart, my poor, poor heart

the connection was just beautiful. I wonder if because the barrier is coming down in Wicked Beauty, the rest of the villains will become linked with Olympus. It would be an interesting turn of the times. Seeing an emotional Hades Sr. was a different experience. We always see him in a planning, revenge, or dominant position. Never less.

Also the mentioning of their mother (sobs). Goes to show that obviously Hades Sr. has never truly gotten over the loss, she was his first love. His current relationship is beautiful, but it isn't her. The world is truly a cruelly beautiful place I guess.

We can now confirm that they both are gorgeous. Even Persephone conforms that lol. Silver fox lmao.

[Shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know this existed, and I just feel like I've overlooked it whenever I was on the series page. It's a short novella after Neon Gods and follows Hades as he learns a new truth about his dad. It was insane, and I wish we had a whole book centered around Carson City. Or maybe a book about Hercules because he and Meg appeared in this one, and it was amazing! I loved it so much. But so far, the novellas that I've read for this series don't pop up in the main series at all, and this one was really hard to find. So far, I've read three novellas for the Dark Olympus series. One of them took place before the series and followed Medusa and Calypso; the second was the one in Nightingale that took place after Electric Idol, which was so good! Definitely my favorite novella! Then this short story. I would love to see all three of them expanded, but a follow-up book on the Dimitrou sisters would add to two of them. So I just want a follow-up book OR a Hercules book. I think Hercules would be really interesting because it sounds like he went down a very non-traditional route and the newest book in the series expands on his life even more. But it sounded completely different than how it was in this novella, so I need explanations, stat!

[sahra (readwithsahra_) · Rating 4 out of 5]

i know the existence of this novella for quite a time but I didn’t want to read it bc I didn’t had an interest to know more about the last hades. i thought it would be past hades father and present hades time and I was wrong

i knew the wicked villains series was set in the same universe of Olympus and that hades book was about past hades. but i thought it was set in a timeline were no element of dark Olympus was included and I was wrong

I read it when I started the novella about persephone and hades wedding (available on KR patreon) and I saw « his father » and I was like ???did I missed something??? I DID

having read every book from the dark Olympus series available rn, reading this novella was ENLIGHTENING and I love this feeling of knowing not every one does. and when I saw that Hercules was Helen’s Hercules, when we read titbits of him in wicked beauty? SAYISFAYING AF

i really like this, it was cute and interesting to continue building the fondation of everyone’s relationship and dynamic in dark olumpus!

also, you really get the sense that Hermès is a really really important character and it Is downplayed in the series. Her story is the last book in the series and I am so intrigued to know why. it feels like she is even more important than Zeus himself

4/5

[Andrea ☾ (exclusively reads hollanov ffs & omegaverses rn) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 little reunion stars.

I love these Katee Roberts little somethings. She knows she leaves us thirsty with her books. The stories always have more to give, and her answer is always with this extra chapters. And I wish I could complaint and do something about it, but the truth is I know I’m not going to stop reading these, or her books for that matter. I only complaint because I’m greedy and I want more of the characters she creates (which I think is a good thing???).

Anyway, this is the story of Past- (Wicked Villains) Hades learning that his son, Current- (Dark Olympus) Hades is alive and y’know… being Hades in the Undercity of Olympus.

It’s cute. It’s whatever. It still doesn’t feel like enough. I kind of wanted the whole family to meet – Meg, Hercules and Persephone included. I understand why the emphasis is put on them getting to know one another, and that all of them disappearing at the same time would raise alarms and be a bit dangerous within the context and lore of this universe… but still. I really wanted it to happen.

Anyway, 3.5 stars because even if it’s not enough, I really did like it.

[Gwen Carl!! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank god my lady Katee made this book available to non-patreon people because I needed this book so badly. After I read both Learn my Lesson and neon gods I had so many questions on how hades and hades were related and this novella summed it up perfectly. I still have a few questions about the timeline of events but I can live with those. Also I can't stop thinking of the line "it's strange to think of my father in a polyamorous relationship, but not any more strange than any single element of this situation"

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooooh, ok. More gaps filled in. It seemed so casually mentioned in.. Midnight Ruin?... that Hades' father was alive, so I figured either there was a short out there that explained why it feels like we were supposed to know wtf was happening or I blanked out on a whole chapter in a book somewhere.

It's not a NEEDED story but it was a decent read. I have only ever read the D.O series, nothing else by the author and have no intentions of starting a new series, ever. But I think it was nice for her fans to see what is probably two favorites meet.

[Megan]

Hades & Hades Reunion #1.5


Physical Copy. Dark Olympus Shorts Volume 1 by Katee Robert from her Etsy shop.


Contains:

Stone Heart (Medusa & Calypso) #0.5

Hades and Hades Reunion Arc #1.5

First Holiday (Hades & Persephone) (2021 Holiday Novella)

Hades & Persephone First Holiday (Aug 2023 Patreon Short)

Eros & Psyche Dark Olympus Thanksgiving #2.5

Wicked Beauty Epilogue (Helen, Achilles & Patroclus) #3.5

[Sukriti · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Dark Olympus series by Katee Robert offers a modern twist on Greek mythology, set in a contemporary world where the gods live among humans. Through a blend of romance, power struggles, and moral dilemmas, Robert crafts a captivating narrative that explores themes of love, betrayal, and destiny. The characters are well-developed, embodying both the strengths and flaws of their mythological counterparts. The series stands out for its bold storytelling and imaginative reimagining of classic tales. Readers will appreciate the intricate plot, steamy relationships, and the seamless blend of ancient mythology with modern life. Robert's writing is engaging, making it a thrilling read for fans of romance and mythology alike.

[Mell_reads12 · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I've literally finished this book and had to sit down and stare at my wall for a couple minutes because this was such a plot twist i was not expecting.
My mouth is literally still wide open because what the hell, still trying to process whatever i've just read. Happy that Hades finally got the closure that was just necessary.
Plus the title, i cackled when i understood it at the end, so ironic and iconic!

[Kelsey Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

My head has been spinning ever since I finished Neon Gods. Actually while I was reading Neon Gods my head was spinning trying to figure out how Hades (NG) was related to Hades (LML). Were they in the same world?
But thank you Katee for coming through! They are in the same world, and connected! I loved it, though I wish it was a tad bit longer.