How to Read the Hades & Persephone Series
Scarlett St. Clair’s bestselling New Greece saga is a modern, high-steam reimagining of the classic Greek myth. The series is uniquely structured as two parallel lines of novels: the Hades x Persephone Saga, which is told from Persephone’s perspective, and the Hades Saga, which retells the same timeline of events from Hades’ point of view. Because the two narratives intertwine and share timeline events, choosing how to read them can significantly shape your experience.
The Recommended Tandem Reading Path
The absolute best way to experience the saga—and the method officially recommended and shared by Scarlett St. Clair—is the Tandem Reading Order. This path alternates between the two viewpoints book-by-book. It keeps the chronological events aligned, reveals the motivations behind Hades' actions right after you see how they affect Persephone, and prevents you from feeling like you are reading the same story twice in a row later on.
- A Touch of Darkness (Persephone's POV #1)
- A Game of Fate (Hades' POV #1)
- A Touch of Ruin (Persephone's POV #2)
- A Game of Retribution (Hades' POV #2)
- A Touch of Malice (Persephone's POV #3)
- A Game of Gods (Hades' POV #3)
- A Touch of Chaos (Dual POV Finale)
- A Christmas of Chaos (Hecate's POV Novella / Holiday Companion)
The Two Sides of New Greece: Persephone vs. Hades
Understanding the difference between the two series is essential before you dive in. While they cover the same overarching narrative timeline, they are not simple copy-paste carbon copies of each other.
The Hades x Persephone Saga (Persephone’s POV)
This is the core series. It begins with A Touch of Darkness and focuses heavily on Persephone's growth, her struggles with her overprotective mother Demeter, her journalism career in New Athens, and her journey from a sheltered goddess hiding her divinity to the powerful Queen of the Underworld. If you only want to read one linear storyline without experiencing the overlapping events, this is the main plotline to follow.
The Hades Saga (Hades’ POV)
Told entirely from the Lord of the Underworld’s perspective, these books (the "Game" titles) show a much darker, more politically complex side of New Greece. Readers get to see Hades' inner thoughts, his struggles with ancient bargains, his interactions with other Olympian gods like Hermes and Hecate, and the trials he faces behind the scenes. Reading these books explains his seemingly mysterious or distant behavior in Persephone's books.
Alternative Reading Paths
If the tandem reading order feels too slow or repetitive, readers typically choose one of two other paths:
The Perspective-First Route (Persephone First)
This is the best route if you want to avoid immediate repetition and prefer to stay fully immersed in one character's head. You read the core story from start to finish, then go back to see what Hades was doing during those same events.
- Read the main Persephone books first: A Touch of Darkness, A Touch of Ruin, A Touch of Malice, and A Touch of Chaos.
- Read the Hades companion novels to fill in the gaps: A Game of Fate, A Game of Retribution, and A Game of Gods.
- Finish with A Christmas of Chaos.
Strict Publication Order
This path follows the books exactly as they were released by the author. Because the publishing timeline matches the chronology of the story closely, this order is very similar to the tandem order.
- A Touch of Darkness (2019)
- A Touch of Ruin (2020)
- A Game of Fate (2020)
- A Touch of Malice (2021)
- A Game of Retribution (2022)
- A Game of Gods (2023)
- A Touch of Chaos (2024)
- A Christmas of Chaos (2025)
Detailed Book-by-Book Breakdown
A Touch of Darkness (2019)
The story begins here. Persephone, the Goddess of Spring, moves to New Athens disguised as a mortal journalism student. When she meets Hades, the brooding Underworld god, at his exclusive nightclub Nevernight, she loses a wager. She is forced to strike a contract: create life in the Underworld within six months or remain there forever. This book sets up their intense chemistry and the rules of the modern mythological setting.
A Game of Fate (2020)
This book retells the events of the first novel from Hades' perspective. We see how Hades deals with his ancient duty, his immediate fascination with Persephone, and the deals he must broker with other gods to protect her, giving readers an entirely new appreciation for his actions in the first book.
A Touch of Ruin (2020)
With their relationship out in the open, Persephone faces intense media scrutiny and divine politics. After a tragedy strikes, Persephone makes a risky choice that threatens her relationship with Hades and exposes her secrets to the world. This installment focuses heavily on emotional angst and the consequences of divine power.
A Game of Retribution (2022)
The companion to A Touch of Ruin. Hades is forced to navigate the fallout of Persephone’s choices while managing his own dark past. We see how Hades deals with Apollo's threats and how his love for Persephone pushes him to his limits.
A Touch of Malice (2021)
Persephone and Hades are engaged, but their happiness is short-lived. Demeter unleashes a snowstorm over New Greece, and the Triad threatens to overthrow the gods. Persephone must embrace her darkness and prepare for a war that could destroy them all.
A Game of Gods (2023)
Told from Hades' POV, this book aligns with the events of A Touch of Malice. Hades works tirelessly behind the scenes to secure alliances, protect his kingdom, and support Persephone as she steps into her power, leading directly into the final battle.
A Touch of Chaos (2024)
The epic finale of the main storyline. Unlike the previous books, this final installment uses dual points of view, alternating chapters between Hades and Persephone. The world is at war, the gods are divided, and the couple must stand together to secure their happily ever after.
A Christmas of Chaos (2025)
A holiday spin-off novella told from the perspective of Hecate, the Goddess of Witchcraft. When a mistake by Hermes allows mischievous mythological creatures called kallikantzaroi to invade the Underworld during the winter solstice, Hecate must save the holiday celebration and protect the realm from complete disaster.
Practical Reader Advice
Can the books be read as standalones?
No. The Hades & Persephone series is highly serialized. The plot, character relationships, and divine conflicts build directly from one book to the next. Starting anywhere other than A Touch of Darkness will leave you confused.
Is there a lot of repetition?
Because the Hades Saga retells the same events as the Hades x Persephone Saga, there is inevitable overlap in dialogue and key scenes. However, Scarlett St. Clair includes entirely different subplots, side characters, and world-building details in Hades' books that Persephone never witnesses, making them feel like distinct companion novels rather than simple carbon copies.
What is the spiciness rating of this series?
This series is categorized as a high-steam romantasy. It features explicit romantic scenes, strong language, and mature themes, making it suitable for readers aged 18 and older.