Book Review :: Lore Olympus Vol 4 by Rachel Smythe

Lore Olympus: Volume Four by Rachel Smythe
ISBN: 0593599055
Series: Lore Olympus #4
Also in this series: Lore Olympus: Volume One, Lore Olympus: Volume Two, Lore Olympus: Volume Three, Lore Olympus: Volume Five, Lore Olympus: Volume Six, Lore Olympus: Volume Seven, Lore Olympus: Volume Eight
on 6 June 2023
Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels
Goodreads

The rumor mill of Olympus is constantly churning, but Persephone and Hades are all anyone can talk about. With the constant gossip creating intense pressure on the pair, they decide to slow down their budding romance and focus on sorting out their own issues first.

Hades struggles to find support in his personal life, with Zeus trivializing his feelings and Minthe resorting to abusive patterns in their relationship. And while Hades tries to create healthier boundaries where he can--like finally putting a stop to his sporadic, revenge-fueled hookups with Hera--he still feels lonely and adrift.

Persephone feels equally ostracized as her classmates shun her for her connection to Hades, and she can find no refuge at home, with Apollo constantly dropping by unannounced and pushing his unwelcome advances. And on top of it all, the wrathful god of war, Ares, has returned to Olympus to dredge up his sordid history with the goddess of spring, threatening to surface Persephone's dark and mysterious past and ruin her tenuous position in the land of the gods.

Despite agreeing to take it slow, Persephone and Hades find themselves inextricably drawn toward each other once more amid the chaos. The pull of fate cannot be denied.

Last updated on 26 June 2023

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What is Lore Olympus Vol 4 by Rachel Smythe about?

Lore Olympus Vol 4 continues the story of Kore (Persephone) and Hades, god of the Underworld. As the rumours in the Underworld continue to grow, Hades and Persephone have to figure out what’s really going on between them, and how they might untangle themselves from the rumour mill.

Yet, as with most things in life (or death?), it’s easier said than done.

Hades grapples with a lack of support, with Zeus shrugging off his emotional struggles (classic Zeus), while his relationship with Minthe has turned toxic (red flag alert!). Although Hades tries his hardest to set healthier boundaries, he still feels lonely and doesn’t feel like he’s getting anywhere.

Meanwhile, Persephone’s peers shun her for her association with Hades (“you can’t sit with us”), and Apollo is still showing up uninvited. And if that weren’t enough, the fiery god of war, Ares, resurfaces in Olympus, threatening to unearth Persephone’s enigmatic and shadowed past. Basically, he’s a bit of a you-know-what.

My thoughts on Lore Olympus Vol 4

I mean, Rachel Smythe does it again! And of course, it’s a bit rough to say that because on Webtoon, where she originally posted all of these episodes, is up to episode 248 (as of June 2023), and Vol 4 which has just come out only ends at episode 102. So we have a LONG way to go.

Back to Vol 4 then!

While I started the Webtoon comic back in 2019, I never really got past maybe episode 30 (unsure, to be honest), as I didn’t love the web-based format and didn’t have anything really good to read it on comfortably. So when the physical copies of the comic started coming out I was right on in there. And wowzers they look good on the shelf now that we’re getting up there in numbers.

Let’s talk about the artwork, shall we? Rachel Smythe’s illustrations are simply splendid. They bring the Ancient Greek world to vivid life, and the characters practically leap off the page. It’s honestly a visual feast for the eyes, I’ll give her that.

And oh, the storytelling! Smythe has an uncanny knack for spinning a tale that completely sucks you in. I studied Classics in high school and University, and we spent a lot of time looking at Greek vases and learning about all the gods and goddesses of Ancient Greek mythology. It’s so much fun to go back to every time one of these graphic novels is released, and while there are creative liberties, some of the main themes are very similar to the actual stories (as far as I can remember anyway haha).

In a nutshell, Lore Olympus Vol 4 is an absolute joyride that will leave you with a grin on your face and waiting eagerly for the next volume 5 which is out later in 2023.

Have you read Lore Olympus Vol 4 yet? Was it in physical form or on Webtoon?