The Temple of Persephone, Isabella Kamal
The Temple of Persephone, Isabella Kamal
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The Temple of Persephone

Author: Isabella Kamal

Narrator: Susan Duerden

Unabridged: 10 hr 23 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/20/2024


Synopsis

Bridgerton meets Greek mythology in Isabella Kamal’s delightful historical romance debut, The Temple of Persephone.Persephone Honeyfield is witty, intelligent, and very aware that the only way to escape the monotony of the life she shares with her father and sister in the English countryside—and the wagging, ever-critical tongues of the people around her—is through marriage. She also knows the likelihood of it being a love match is nearly zero.Aidon Barrington has carried on the legacy of his family’s funeral furnishing business, losing himself in the process. A shell of his former charming self, he’s traded his reputation as a rake for that of a recluse and regularly appears in the scandal sheets as London’s mysterious Lord of the Dead.When Persephone finds herself at Gallowsgate—the old Barrington estate—on a seemingly simple errand, an unexpected run-in with the Lord of the Dead himself leaves her on the brink of ruination. With no other way to silence the village rumor mill, or save her sister’s reputation, Persephone agrees to marry Aidon, becoming the wife of a man she hardly knows.Persephone finds herself increasingly fascinated by her new husband, whose kind, patient nature stands in stark contrast to the ever-swirling rumors about him. But when the gossip begins to sound more like reality than fiction, she attempts to uncover the truth behind the Lord of the Dead while discovering she may have already lost her most guarded possession: her heart.

About Isabella Kamal

Isabella Kamal is an Iraqi Muslim historical romance author. Growing up in the Middle East, she had very little access to romance novels—but once she got hold of one, she never looked back. Now calling Los Angeles home, she can usually be found in independent bookstores after long days spent developing stem cell therapies.

About Susan Duerden

Susan Duerden is an actress and an Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator. Her reading of The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht earned her an AudioFile Best Voice Award and a Booklist Editors’ Choice Award. She has won ten AudioFile Earphones Awards. Here career spans film, television, theater, voice-overs, and animation. She has played critically acclaimed and award-winning theatrical roles on London’s West End and Off Broadway; acted in the features Lovewrecked and Flushed Away; and held a recurring role on ABC’s Lost.


Reviews

Goodreads review by PlotTrysts on February 22, 2024

A light, enjoyable Regency Romance. This feels like a debut, but like a debut by someone who loves historical romance. We've got a quickie marriage thanks to our characters getting caught in a mildly scandalous position: Persephone breaks in to Aidon's house (side eye, Persephone) - but just to chec......more

Goodreads review by Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) on May 20, 2024

Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Readability: 📖📖📖📖 Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋 Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔 Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡ Romance: 💞💞💞💞 Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋 Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (I struggle with telling on audio but felt about average? Maybe a touch longer?) Steam Scale (Nu......more

Goodreads review by Stephanie (Bookfever) on January 08, 2024

Regency romance and Greek mythology? I'm in! The Temple of Persephone reminded me how much I enjoy historical romance. It was a great story with lovely characters and some spicy scenes. I had a really hard time putting the book down because I just wanted to keep reading about Persephone and Aidon. I......more

Goodreads review by Elizabeth on March 29, 2024

This is a review for the audiobook version. So first and foremost, I want to talk about what a fantastic job Susan Duerden did narrating this book. Her voice was a perfect fit and really brought the story to life. I loved every minute of listening to her wonderful narration. The book itself was a qu......more

Goodreads review by Tiffany on February 20, 2024

The Temple of Persephone-a standalone By-Isabella Kamal-debut Publication date 2-20-24 , read 2-19-24 📃 Page count: 350 kindle 🌎Setting: Oxbury, England 1811 Quick Summary: Persephone Honeyfield knows the only way out of her monotonous life of books and gossip is marriage. Aidon Barrington took over his......more


Quotes

“Who could have guessed the Lord of the Dead could be so sexy? In her debut novel, Isabella Kamal tells us a spellbinding story of secrets, passion, and a fated, everlasting love. I couldn’t get enough of Persephone and Aidon’s story! If you like your romance with a dreamy echo of Greek mythology, then The Temple of Persephone is your next read.” Anna Bradley, award-winning author of Give the Devil His Duke and Fell in Love with an Earl

“Duerden narrates with a mature regalness that is fitting for the story…Duerden’s ‘young lady voice’ is so perfect that it sounds like a different narrator altogether.” AudioFile

“Historical-romance fans will enjoy this trip to 1800s England, where Persephone, who longs to be anything other than a damsel in distress, is a spunky heroine to match the brooding and mysterious Aidon.” Library Journal

“Kamal riffs on the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone…[and] milks the mythological parallels for all they’re worth, which should appeal to fans of retellings.” Publishers Weekly


Awards

  • Publishers Weekly Pick
  • Fresh Fiction Pick
  • Cup of Tea with That Book Please
  • Historical Novels Review Editors’ Choice