ALA Booklist

Haden, disgraced son of the king of the Underrealm, has, against objections by his father and the Underrealm Court, been selected by the Oracle as Champion. Now he must cross into the Upperrealm through Persephone's Gate and return with his Boon human female who must willingly choose to come with him. His Boon, Daphne Raines, is also the Cypher, destined to recover the lost Key of Hades. Despain's first book in the Into the Dark trilogy is a nifty interpretation of the myth of Hades and Persephone. The narration switches between the two protagonists: Haden, the mopey teenage Underlord seeking to regain his lost honor, and Daphne, a fiercely independent musical prodigy. Although the novel is a bit of a doorstop, the alternating perspectives, relatively short chapters, and quickly escalating stakes keep the pages turning. The love story between Haden and Daphne, though predictable, is satisfying, and the book ends with a cliff-hanger that expertly does its job.

Horn Book

A dual narrative, this retelling of the Persephone myth follows Haden, disgraced prince of the Underrealm, in search of a key to his troubled kingdom, and Daphne, the mortal girl he must convince to follow him there to help. With its myriad characters and unwieldy subplots, the lengthy book lacks focus. However, the world-building and myth-weaving are inventive and the protagonists, engaging.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In this first book in Despain-s Into the Dark trilogy, Haden is an Underlord, a disgraced son of the King of Hades, desperate to redeem himself. His mission is to travel through Persephone-s Gate and entice a girl to come to Hades willingly as a -Boon,- breeding stock for the all-male Underrealm. Daphne Raines, gifted with a beautiful voice and the ability to hear the song inside all living things, and her mother live in small-town Utah until Daphne-s rock-star father comes to claim her. Daphne is no ordinary Boon, and the fate of two worlds rests with her. Despain (the Dark Divine series) builds on the original Persephone myth, laying the Greek references on thick, from a private community called Olympus Hills to a rock opera based on Orpheus and Eurydice. Repeated praise of Daphne-s musical talent gets tiresome, but her hostile reaction to Haden-s assumption that she-s his property is delightful. Despain alternates between Haden and Daphne-s viewpoints with a skill that helps buoy a middle section bogged down with exposition and Underlord angst. Ages 12-up. Agent: Ted Malawer, Upstart Crow Literary. (Mar.)

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Despain adds to the growing subgenre of Greek mythinspired YA romance with this engrossing series opener. Haden is a disgraced prince of the Underworld, who is given the opportunity to win back the court's favor when the Oracle chooses him as the Champion who will travel to the human world to lure a girl who may be the key to saving their dying kingdom. Daphne, an aspiring musician, is whisked away from her small Utah town by her negligent rock star father to attend an elite music-focused high school in California. The destinies of Haden and Daphne are bound together, and while they initially clash, their relationship slowly blossoms amid car chases, near-death experiences, and concert duets. Typical tropes are present: brooding romantic lead with a damaged childhood; spunky Chosen One heroine with a ragtag group of friends, ready to step in and help her save the day; and a safe love interest alternative. The world-building falters, and the middle section slogs at times, but the intersection between the Persephone and Orpheus myths is well done, and Daphne's refusal to be a maid in distress is refreshing. The author also deftly handles family dynamics, and Haden's education on the human world will elicit chuckles. For fans of Sarah McCarry's All Our Pretty Songs (St. Martin's Griffin, 2013), Meg Cabot's Abandon (Scholastic, 2011), and Brodi Ashton's Everneath (HarperCollins, 2012). Shelley Diaz , School Library Journal