I read NEON GODS | BOOKTOK'S FAVE

FREE TOYS OR GIFT CARDS FOR TOYS! Everyone who signs up to my giveaway with Bellesa wins something! www.bboutique....
Check out tiktoker Rae for spicy recs: www.tiktok.com...
Join my channel membership to get access to perks:
/ @readswithrachel
Patreon: / readswithrachel
Commissions: ko-fi.com/read...
Merch: www.bonfire.co...
Wishlist: www.amazon.com...
CONTACT ME:
Business inquiries please email me here: [e-mail]
All other emails go to: [e-mail]
Support Roma children and youth in Ukraine:
chuffed.org/pr...
Support Palestinian children: www.pcrf.net/
SUPPORT INDIA DURING THEIR COVID CRISIS:
donation links
-www.careindia....
-www.projecthop...
SUPPORT COLOMBIA:
resources and info
-mailchi.mp/cb9...
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
Resources:
-Massive list of places and people to donate to: nymag.com/stra...
-Find a protest or fundraiser near you: / events
Find literature to read
Watch Vee Kativhu's video on recommending books to learn about racism: • 10 books you MUST read...
-Support some Black youtubers by watching Myonna Reads' playlist of Black booktubers: • Black Booktubers
Support my channel
-Patreon: / readswithrachel
-Tip me on Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/read...
-Commission me for a video book review: ko-fi.com/read...
-Use my link to try BOOK OF THE MONTH: www.mybotm.com...
-Use my link to get $10 off your first Instacart order: inst.cr/t/VTNr...
Follow me on socials
TIKTOK: / rachelwithreads
INSTAGRAM: / readswithrachel
BLUESKY: bsky.app/profi...

[@ReadswithRachel]

FREE TOYS OR GIFT CARDS FOR TOYS! Everyone who signs up to my giveaway with Bellesa wins something! www.bboutique.co/vibe/readswithrachel-yt

[@emmy8495]

That “you’re welcome” is legit… suction mode is a total game changer.

[@quitabanana3684]

It’s not working for me :(

[@xRaiofSunshine]

👀💦

[@alisontheanimal4009]

For me it’s not just the word p*ssy, it’s the context. I find a lot of authors will have an old fashioned fantasy setting and then using only use words like that during sex scenes. It’s like following a medieval knight and then in one scene he starts calling people dude, it doesn’t fit. I feel like we’re all really lacking in the language around sex that isn’t from modern porn.

[@kenzashenna]

Have you read fourth wing? I believe they wrote modern language in the fantasy setting on purpose but I cracked up every time someone swore saying "fuck" during like a battle in a dragon

[@alisontheanimal4009]

@@kenzashenna Weirdly enough fuck is kinda a ancient word. You can find it going back to Shakespeares times and I have to be honest I am not a history person apart from knowing that it seems to be in common use then as its not explained in the plays its used in. I have know idea how much further back it goes. It’s funny. I think because we think of it as ‘ bad’ we think of it as new but it really isn’t. Even weirder Shakespeare has joke in Henry V about a pun with not only fuck but also should I just say ‘See you next Tuesday’ (I didn’t think I’d be aloud to put that word in the comments), but that is a word I definitely put in the modern category I would never think that it would be used by a man like Shakespeare.

[@perryrhinitis]

@@kenzashenna Fuck is actually a pretty old word. It's just that traditionally fantasy is pretty tame in the curse words area.

[@talynhastime9343]

The word “cunt” was the old word for the vagina and was used neutrally a long time ago, but American culture has labeled it a very taboo word. So unless people want to get comfortable seeing that printed in “olden days” settings for their books…

[@Frogface91]

​@@alisontheanimal4009The "C" word is also ancient, I think it's used a fair bit in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales?

[@jaday7282]

Is it bad that Keanu Reeves looking Hades def works for me but like....Disney Hades kinda does too...😂

[@ReadswithRachel]

Tbh same and idk what that says about us

[@danl5086]

Nah. Disney Hades can get it.

[@sao-me1lt]

As soon as she mentioned Hades’ beard, I couldnt help but imagine Keanu Reeves too haha

[@SPDYellow]

From the sounds of things, this version of Hades actually comes closer to matching the depiction of the original myths better than most adaptations. For some reason, every media adaptation of Greek Myths casts Hades as a villain, when in the myths, he’s not really all that evil, just gloomy and not a lot of fun to be around. In other words, Hades is the original emo.

[@bluester7177]

His often cast as the villain because of thw association of the underworld with hell and therefore him with satan, it's pretty annoying because greek myth doesn't really work within the confines of Christianity thinking.

[@randomthoughts0829]

​@@bluester7177or maybe because he kidnaps and rapes his niece??? Idk man the other gods deserve to be vilified too

[@Queer_Dragon]

Hades is pretty much the only god that does his job

[@noname-kx4cu]

​@@Queer_Dragon That's completely not true??? Apolo raises the sun, Demeter is the one who makes the plants grow in the spring, Hephaestus is constantly making tools, like one of most well known myth has athena doing her war thing, Zeus's has his myths of him doing his justice thing, like punishing people who where really bad hosts (killing their guests/eating human meat).

[@brianc4632]

I did not expect the audiobook to be that awful! Rachel, the face I made with that “do your worst” narration. I wished I could curl up so tight I turn into a black hole, because what the heck was that???? I’m glad you provided examples, but I also wish I didn’t hear that. 😂

[@ReadswithRachel]

It lives rent free in my brain and I want it evicted

[@FourPawsandaBook]

One thing Katee does so well is enthusiastic consent! It's really refreshing! Also I don't think she's ever written a straight character. haha

[@zombieedrea]

As someone who's been reading books like these for over a decade, I'm *very* happy that it seems like more erotica writers nowadays are making it a point to mention or show enthusiastic consent in their books. I think that's super important because too many books have these quite frankly rape-y sounding scenes thinking it sounds hot, when really it just sounds like someone's two seconds away from getting SA'd. Even if Katee's prose itself isn't that great, I def appreciate it.

[@astridtot]

definitely! enthusiastic consent has been... absent in a couple of booktok faves (ahem.. coho), so it was great to see it here as well as a partner that is constantly checking up on the mc

[@FourPawsandaBook]

@@astridtot Oh we could have a WHOLE conversation on why CoHo being a fave on booktok is such a problem!

[@deandracarter8468]

@@zombieedrea a thought I had while reading your comment: if some authors are trying to go with a more kinkier vibe, great! By all means! But they need to know that kinkier (thinking something like consensual non-consent here) starts with heavy, enthusiastic consent and maintains enthusiastic consent throughout.

[@randomthoughts0829]

So....the bare minimum for a positive romance book??? Come on, people

[@boopboop1869]

RAINBOW EYESHADOW LESGO

[@KatieColson]

Yes! Loved this look so much

[@yudeok413]

Ooh I thought it was dawn and sunset theme

[@danl5086]

Hell yeah!

[@sparki9085]

How long would that take to apply?

[@KatieColson]

I physically read Neon Gods and the amount of gratitude I have for past me choosing not to listen to the audiobook. Every time you played a clip, the cringe I crunged

[@boxersandbooks]

We are literally 12 years old giggling at "morecock"

[@trulytart3534]

Katee Roberts is quickly becoming a favorite for me. Her inclusion of consent is a breath of fresh air. The Gargoyle's Captive is my favorite so far.

[@davidcross9396]

Firstly, love the rainbow eyeshadow. Secondly, why does his voice for her sound like Dobby and her voice for him sound like Snape? 😂

[@Milovatsi]

Stop, nooooo 😂😂😂😂

[@finchbird2419]

"Dobby asks master to wear a sock"

[@Kaffee_auf_ex]

Omg can't unhear it now

[@Wanderness]

The eyeshadow is GORGEOUS 🌈

[@ReadswithRachel]

Thank you!

[@MusclesandBooks]

And that lipstick shade is incredible!

[@mushroomdance8810]

The audiobook voices are rotted, mama. I imagined Hades to have growly New Yorker vibe

[@kylinajordan]

"Yeah, I'll eat gyros. Yeah, I'll eat - No, wait" had me dying 😂 That was hilarious!

[@seductiveraven4895]

I've never seen a sponsor for a sex toy. But this was the first youtube sponsor I've actually fully watched. It was oldy satisfying to watch.

[@ReadswithRachel]

I’m so glad! I honestly mean it when I say I highly recommend their stuff and I’m glad to be working to destigmatize sex and sex work!

[@seductiveraven4895]

@@ReadswithRachel ty!

[@Darbster]

I can also vouch for bellesa! They're fantastic!

[@charlotteyoung340]

I can tell you right now; Black women writers write the BEST spice. Best kind of spicy books I’ve read: Seven Days in June by Tia Williams, You Made A Fool Of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi, Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola. Best outright spicy books: Rafe by Rebekah Wetherspoon and it’s sequel Xeni (it has peg ing), or the Ravenswood series by Talia Hibbert.

[@Jennabella112]

Rebekah Weatherspoon and Talia Hibbert write the BEST spice!! I remember tearing through the Ravenswood series, it was so good.

[@charliethesquishywitch340]

I screenshoted that and I'm gonna start hunting for these books !

[@abigailb8206]

And Kennedy Ryan!

[@charlotteyoung340]

@@abigailb8206I haven’t read any of hers yet (the list is long to get Before I Let Go from my library!) but I really want to!

[@kellieh4807]

RAFE!!! I forgot about that book but it was soooo good! I need to reread it now!

[@spookyfirst9514]

My husband walked through while I was watching this and now he's been talking in an outrageous British accent and asking me if I would mind, terribly, if he polished my silver. LOL

[@angeledog]

The inserts of Hades works so well and made me giggle each time. Thank you ♥️

[@citlalialvarado666]

My favorite thing about Katee Robert's books is how sex positive they are. The dynamic, agency, exploration, freedom, themes; both for beginners and non beginners feels like a safe place. I haven't read this one, but I enjoyed many others. Like you said, it's erotica and it definitely does the deal. Most of them make a fairly decent character and relationship development considering how short they are and their lack of plot.

[@thisisabookchannel]

i need audiobook producers to figure out how to let the men do male voices and women do female voices, especially in romance. her doing Hades’s growl made my p word seal shut.

[@DanceByYourself83]

SOOOOO much this. There’s a narrator for a bunch of thrillers who makes all male voices sound slightly like Butthead from Beavis and Butthead. It’s maddening 😂

[@cordeliawhite4288]

Yes! I don't have the time, energy or spoons to read physical books right now. So everything is audiobook for me at the moment. It sucks because I just can not stand some of these narrators but feel like I might like the book otherwise.

[@EileenGallia]

Graphic Audio does this well. I need them to produce more books

[@colleen6644]

"p word seal shut" 😂 I could not get into this book's sex scenes. It was fine to listen to (I did the audiobook... to my horror), but I never felt like it was arousing from an outsider perspective. The dialogue was... something!

[@armengav]

“sometimes we want to be defiled” i feel so seen

[@solfell_]

i nearly died choking on my water when you cut to hades saying "NUT--" (also your makeup looks amazing)

[@sunnysunsins]

For Hades being meaner comment. Well, in the original mythology he's kinda just a dude, even in the most crude versions. Out of the OG brothers he's the nicest guy, depending on the versions of the myth he never cheated on Perse, which says a lot already (glares at Zeus' "imma fuck everything that breathes" cheating ass). He got a villain reputation just bc he's looking over the "death place", but he's really not one. Like he's very reasonable and forgiving, take Orpheus' myth for example. Anyway, i'm a Hades defender through and through, my man got done dirty, Zeus has always been the real villain

[@noname-kx4cu]

Well their start is very not good, he kidnaps and r-words persephone. The story is even called the grape of persephone. He sees persephone goes to her father to ask if he can have her(happens alot back in the days.) and he is like yah you can. Instead of asking what persephone wants, he opens a crack in the earth to swallow her. Then is like your my wife now and He doesn't let her go home even though she wants to go back to her mom and then when Zeus was like I know I said you could marry her but you gotta give her back to her mom. She is literally protesting. He was like okay and then tricks persephone to eating the seeds to force/bind her to come back to her for a few months of the year.

[@noname-kx4cu]

Zeus is a cheater in the myths I will not deny that but to call actual religions justice god an villain isn't right. When not focusing on the cheating (some of those myths from are from people that wanted to slander the name of the religion) that Zeus is very often the guy that steps in and goes you guys chill out, here is a compromise. Or punishes corrupt powerful people. Like that wealthy guy that kept on killing his guests in their sleep. when he turns a king and his sons to werewolf because they fuckin killed and cooked one of the other sons and served it to Zeus. Yah Hades was villainized because of Christianity hell is a bad thing so hades must be like Satan!!! He doesn't even kill the people. it's like you don't say your management's name or they might show up. XD thats poor thanatos's job. (He once got locked in a chest for a few days. Which was a problem cuz no one could die for as long as he was trapped.) but he isn't the soft bot that people like to make him out to be.

[@Prowitchhazel]

@@noname-kx4cu in that time and place, Hades wouldn’t have needed Persephone’s permission to marry her; he just needed Zeus’ (as her father), which he got. Also, it’s very important to note that the meaning of the word rape has changed meaning/severity over the centuries since the myth has first written down. For example, marriage and kidnapping were basically synonymous in Ancient Greece, hence why the Trojans had to acknowledge Helen as Paris’ wife when he kidnapped her from her original husband (despite them both previously being married to other people). Otherwise they would have just returned her to the Greeks. Long story short, Hades is the most moral of his god brothers by the standards of the time.

[@hannahzimmerman2449]

“I didn’t take a lot of notes, I have a lot of feelings though” 😂 me too

[@WormysWorld]

Those voices definitely had the opposite of the intended effect on me. 😅

[@WormysWorld]

And one of my random KU recent reads had a small *vibrator* scene, from the pov of a male in a females body and discuss consent through a body swap... yes, there's swapped 🎉😂 It was called The Toss Up, can't remember the author, sry.

[@ReadswithRachel]

I’m gonna go look that up! Thank you!!

[@CaptainTrasha]

The woman VA makes Hades sound like an old man on his death bed 💀

[@Djinn_Entonic]

I'm 100% for Nice guy Hades in the myths he is helpfull,caring,good husband (outside of kidnaping),etc

[@amaranta8650]

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon is pretty sex positive and has a whole scene based around sex toys. The main couple even goes to a sex shop together to get them :) Also, looove the makeup look today!

[@sandrao-xr3lv]

Zeus: "You ran thru"

[@ReadswithRachel]

Omg not this

[@Atherness]

Omg I could never listen to Spice Novels on audiobook!! I'm not surper into Spice Novels themselves, but an author I like, A H Lee, had a series so I read them and they were very good. For anyone interested, the first book is Incubus Caged. Fantasy with s3x and death magic and bisexual/pan characters ❤❤

[@BookishBrittany]

I really hope you check out the other Dark Olympus books because they are all interconnected and the stuff that happens in the last book impacts the second book. Wicked Beauty is probably my favourite so far by I'm excited for the Poly Knot in Cruel Seduction. Also Katee Robert has set the standard for me with consent in smut, because all of her books have it.

[@NapaCat]

My favorite is Radiant Sin, but Wicked Beauty's close!

[@Vampireprice]

I can't do the word "p*ssy" either. I also can't stand the word "panties." The most unsexy word ever. Immediately takes me out of it.

[@isynielsen2716]

You are so much stronger than me because if I listened to that audiobook I would've dnf'd the first time I heard Hades' voice

[@katsuki_fan2465]

Well I am now certain that spicy book audiobooks are not for me because I couldn’t handle it 😂. Also I know you like plot and so far this series is the one that has the most plot by this author that I’ve read so far. All the other ones I’ve read has interesting plots but they fall behind the spicy scenes. Also Katee Robert, uses that word you don’t like in every single book. So if you read any more of her books just know it’s there…a lot…

[@takkariarmstrong8736]

I’m so used to these books that it’s not weird to me the voice changing between them. And I dig hearing that hades is a soft boy cause often he is the broody mean boy bordering noncon stalker vibes.

[@memorian8472]

as someone that LOVES the movie Hercules... this video having a bunch of scenes from it inserted throughout is just PERFECT lol

[@doodlertoodlert8728]

Not a booktok book but Hunger Pangs: True Love Bites Flirting With Fangs Edition. Author wrote a sexy Funtime version and a fluffy no sex version of the book and intends to do so with the whole trilogy. This is her debut novel. There is polyamory in it, but the first sex scene is just between the two male leads. Their lovely lady pops up now and then but she doesn’t meet them till the last half of the book. It’s fantasy, got Jane Austen vibes, and has a plot and some fun world building

[@Animmeme]

My favorite Spicy book series that I found on Booktok has to be the Mead Mishaps series by Kimberly Lemming. They just keep getting better, That time I got drunk and saved a demon was so much fun. Each book has made be laugh out loud.

[@Trainingonthedaily]

Same

[@hollydusomelau1642]

Yes. here to support Kimberly Lemming!! so hilarious!

[@jojol.2630]

Gyros is usually pronounced “yee-ros” or “yee-ro”

[@-alovelygaycat-]

I’ve been pronouncing it like ‘hero.’ My life is a lie.

[@kenzashenna]

​@@-alovelygaycat-that sounds about right! Just don't say gy-rohse

[@-alovelygaycat-]

@@kenzashenna Is ji-row correct in any way? That’s how my mom pronounces it (and it’s how I refer to specifically the meat).

[@dee_is_tired]

i love hearing about mainstream "super spicy" books because half the time they're a very mild M rating on AO3 (nothing against reading that i just find it very funny how flustered people get over sex scenes i find very mild)

[@andiman44]

Yeah, it’s hard to take spicy recs serious when you’re used to AO3. Rachel mentioned sex toys being lacking in sexy books while my AO3 history has plenty of the toys 😂

[@FallnAngel616]

I absolutely loved this review your personality is so fun and approachable. The Life of Anna stays as my #1 spicy recommendation but it is on the darker side

[@ReadswithRachel]

Thank you so much! I’ll put it on the list

[@mirahemmingway3000]

@@ReadswithRachelI loved this book…that said I do almost regret reading it. It’s the darkest book I’ve ever read content wise. The child abuse is why I almost regret reading it…all the terrible things possible happen to Anna. Just a warning that there is fetal abuse/death, etc. I know you’ve said before that you don’t read books with miscarriages. So I just wanted to warn you. :)

[@cakt1991]

I’ve loved Neon Gods and the whole Dark Olympus series thus far, but I’m definitely more of a character driven reader, and the plot that was there and vague “world building” worked for me. I don’t read much in the erotic side of things, so I can’t give recs, but I’m also curious to try more of Katee Robert’s work!

[@citlalialvarado666]

I recommend her series Wicked Villains, I haven't read Dark Olympus so I have no comparison point, but I really enjoyed it.

[@cakt1991]

@@citlalialvarado666 I want to read that so badly, but I’m too cheap to buy all of those at the current price point, and the library doesn’t have them (probably because they’re indie). I heard Hades from DO and Hades from WV are father and son (can’t remember which is which), and she even wrote a short where they interact!

[@MidoriGaleart]

This rant felt so strange, it sounded to me like Virgin Crisis, a 2000 erotica manga, where the main girl summons the devil himself by accident trying to cast a spell to atract her mortal crush. Of course she fells for the devil and he has the same attitude as Hades, he takes her to hell, trains her to do what he loves in bed (but still being kinda gentle) and when they fight, threats her to do it with her in the Sabbath in front of every demon and witch. Maybe the author knows it and took some inspo. Mayu Shinjo is a master of the smut and erotica for women from the early 2000

[@madametaylor625]

Holyyyy crap your eyeshadow look is absolutely amazing in this! That blend is flawless!!

[@violettbellerose1173]

That title already says so much to me

[@expertbooksmuggler]

I’m dying at this fucking narration omg it’s so funny

[@ReadswithRachel]

The way she says peeeeerSEPHOKNEEEEEE

[@ainokenttala]

that audio truly was an EXPERIENCE xd

[@ReadswithRachel]

UNDERSTATEMENT

[@madelinegarrett5725]

The thing about how they do each others voices!!! I ranted at my husband about it for so long!

[@itzXeen]

Oh KZbin not paying for this one xD

[@ReadswithRachel]

They demonetized we with the utmost swiftness lmao

[@cooltiger07]

Did anyone else see the cover and immediately think of Lore Olympus? Also, that make up is *chef's kiss*

[@theLiminalCryptid]

The Kraken’s Mate by Jennifer Cody. I was crying laughing so hard I kept choking and legit almost threw up while voice recording most of it for my gf. It uses some of the worst hilarious language choices I’ve experienced so far, among other things. I don’t want to spoil it in case you read it, but wow. I would love your reaction to that. I’d commission it if I had the funds, but I’ll recommend it and hope lol.

[@jo_aspen]

The use of Hades clips from Hercules fucking sent me EVERY SINGLE TIME

[@kayscontentcritiques8384]

I read these over a year ago and I hated it so much I bought the whole series😂. It's so clear Katee had a word count minimum because she says the same sentence eleven times within 3 pages. All the books have a "plot" that is resolved in the last three pages. I thought they'd get better but naw

[@TheMisstressSilence]

The amount of usage you got from using clips from Hercules is hilarious. They are perfect.

[@oscara8454]

Girl, this is giving me Lore Olympus but less vapid vibes lol.

[@EternalGuardian07]

Can I just mention that the husband interlude [29:52] is really sweet? I love the look on your face. Just genuine love.

[@LorewithouttheE]

it's a small thing, and i'm not trying to be mean i promise, but "gyros" is pronounced like "yee-rohs"! that aside, i'd seen this book recced/read before from other folks but actually never heard what the plot was, wow hahah also, all the disney hades clips were PERFECTION 🤣

[@KH-bq2hl]

I laughed so hard at the narrators 🤣 I know its not meant to be funny but it was.

[@Retrosteampunk]

When I hear pomegranate all I can think of is that one funny video NO POMEGRANTES

[@SheBendsNotBreaks]

Love your review but is it weird i couldn't stop looking at your rainbow eyeshadow! It's lovely.

[@PhookaAnimation]

the windows error noise at the start of the video finished me ahaha

[@vikillustrations]

watching this while my kitten Hades climbing all over me to sit on my shoulder is a very weird experience...

[@BrunetteBibliophile]

I really like Katee Robert books, but I CANNOT read them on audio because of the voices 😂😅 And all the cuts to Disney Hades has me dying 😂😂

[@CursedCatTruffa]

Tiktok and spicy together in a phrase should be considered a red flag; but at least it wasn't that bad... unless you know greek mythology, it was bad, like someone checked wikipedia but fast checking not actual reading. Idk because Im neutral to spice but if you put plot you should do plot idk that's me anyways. But the guys being called Morcock was HILARIOUS! Iconic! Btw your eyeshadow is amazing! I always enjoy your make-up; the rainbow is cool. Also we love sex positivity discussion and stuff, we need to talk about it and normalize toys and stuff

[@arcanerosies]

i will give this series this, making demeter a girlboss who was preying on zeus’s downfall is so funny and i wish more pers/hades retellings would do that instead of making her a very flat helicopter parent

[@winkblue6851]

Someone send Rachel a soul to keep 😩

[@amylemcoauthor]

Why when the lady narrator does her own character's voice, is it also higher and fakey, just like when Morecock did it lol...did they coordinate? I got questions

[@ObsidianNebula00]

Once again on "erotica that I think did x thing better" I am recommending Abigail Barnette. There are a lot of sex toys used in The Boss/ the Sophie Scaife series. They were actually helpful for me getting an idea of what toys I might be interested in trying.

[@colleen6644]

The male narrator pronounces gyro like gyroscope.. Its said so many times in a 5 minute period I almost lost my mind. I played it for my partner and we had a good chuckle.

[@ReadswithRachel]

Hahahhaha

[@Jennabella112]

1. The makeup is *chef's kiss* 2. I second the recommendation i saw for Talia Hibbert and Rebekah Weatherspoon - great spice, and they have a plot (mostly). Talia Hibbert also has great representation for neurodivergent and autistic people, it's a breath of fresh air. 3. The Carlos insert had me rolling, i love that you kept that in

[@projectjupiter5523]

persephone is zeus' daughter in greek mythology, please tell me this was changed in the book 😅 that aside, it is so refreshing to see so many traits of a good relationship here - discussions and respect of consent, emotional maturity, and acknowledging poor decisions and reflecting on what to do instead

[@MsJaytee1975]

I’m glad I’m not the only one who remembered Zeus and Persephone being father and daughter. I think that’s where even Zeus would draw the line.

[@cakt1991]

If I recall, it’s changed. The god roles are also not static, at least for the core Thirteen, and are more like titles that can be inherited or won based on specific rules. Without getting too deep into spoilers, the identity of Zeus changes by the end of this book and I believe his son inherits, and that person will be a future lead as the new Zeus. Another book in the series also has a competition for the role of one of the Thirteen that the two of the love interests (that book involves a throuple) are involved in, even though technically their roles and backstories are already defined by completely different characters in mythology.

[@bluester7177]

​@@MsJaytee1975I don't think he would.

[@NapaCat]

She's not closely related, if at all. Her mother got the title of Demeter, but she/Persephone/her sisters came from elsewhere

[@CatsandDragons7]

Disney Hercules Hades is the best Hades, I think everyone here can agree. 😂 Anyway, I will never read this series because my mom absolutely loves it, so thank you for covering it!

[@allexxiw]

JUST clicked the vid but i have to say your eyeshadow is GORGEOUS!!

[@ReadswithRachel]

Thank you so much!

[@cypherfairy]

i just pressed play on the video and your makeup is so so so pretty you've outdone yourself 💜💙💚💛🧡❤

[@sleepysadpoet]

OH I AM READY FOR THIS Katee Robert's one of my favorite authors. Ive never listened to the audio books but im told the audio versions of her books aren't great

[@anonymoushumanbeing6826]

a fantastic book with a great plot (spicy too) is the 'Death meets the devil' series by L.J Hayward

[@eliselapuce]

That's such a great partnership 🎉

[@creepycutemama]

That audio made my skin crawl 🥴

[@ReadswithRachel]

I immediately died and I recorded this from the grave

[@zpurplex]

Your makeup is amazing ✨

[@ReadswithRachel]

Thank you so much 😀

[@Financiallyfreeauthor]

I have a new book coming out in august that is a little steamy (a few explicit scenes that are very plot and character connected) and disability rep (hero has spina bifida). Maybe it could be your first five star? 😁 I’d be happy to send an ARC, let me know

[@Financiallyfreeauthor]

Oh darn I definitely used the word pussy. So much for five stars 😢

[@queenmarshmallow8013]

I wanted to see what was commented, and now I am laughing

[@debraberetta7596]

"Pussy" gives me the ick too. I challenge you to re-read it but replace every instance of "pussy" with the good old British word "Minge" for some heavy duty laughs instead. I have no idea what could replace the original word effectively?

[@ReadswithRachel]

Oh god I can’t tell if minge is better or eorse

[@debraberetta7596]

@@ReadswithRachel I mean, we also have "clunge" . The UK has an inexhaustible list of revolting words for genitalia.

[@sonder122]

Try ‘fanny’ it has a completely different meaning in the USA to Britain.

[@bunnybean77]

Excellent review and A+ husband interlude 😂

[@angelaholmes8888]

Glad I read the book instead of the audiobook 🤔😊📖🔊

[@ReadswithRachel]

What’s it like to make good decisions

[@angelaholmes8888]

@@ReadswithRachel I feel very happy

[@youngneanderthal]

sorry to say this review immediately influenced me to download it 🙊

[@ReadswithRachel]

I’m glad! Means I did my job if I do a review and people make choices based on their personal preference

[@DaniTheReader]

I promise I’m listening but I am obsessed with your makeup look today 🖤🖤🖤 I wish I had this level of skill!

[@colleen6644]

I don't wear makeup, but I want that eyeshadow on my face, stat!

[@katietrongogo]

Thanks for making me laugh so hard I had to try to explain to my boyfriend this whole thing. Fml lol

[@xiexielian]

Again, Persephone and hades re-telling 😅 i can't I swear I can't.😩

[@sonder122]

Spicy book. Ok “Wriggle and Sparkle” by Megan Derr. Gay romance between a kraken shifter and a unicorn shifter (hence the title) who work for something like the FBI and investigate supernatural crimes. So it’s a comedy and detective fiction with one protagonist who is literally gender fluid (kraken’s can change their physical sex at will) and their cupcake addicted partner who isn’t adverse to a bit of bondage during sex. Sounds like a mess but Derr is a seriously good writer who pays attention to the plot as well as the naughty bits.

[@kytten]

Hold on no, Pomegranate has been mine for almost 20 years, back off Katee! 🤣

[@43v3rh1d3n]

She read thorns and roses and was on Lore Olympus tiktok and said bet. That's what this is giving and I love it

[@Milovatsi]

The audio!😂 I listened on Spotify and then read the book 😊

[@moustik31]

Im so glad, you mentioned the narrators bec. they took me off the story so fast! 😂 Edit: now, that you have started, you need to give the public what they want and that is a review of the Blue Alien Ice Planet Barbarians and their official dildos merch! (cw: for sa at the beginning of book #1 if I remember correctly. I heard the tone of the series starts dark and ends up embracing the goofiness).

[@overlander2613]

Neon gods was the first erotica book i've read, and I was pleasantly surprised! If you're looking for a spicy book that's fantasy and has a plot, I'd recommend Bonded by Thorns by Elizabeth Helen. Has great poly rep and a plot that was actually interesting!

[@JessicaJackson-uy8nq]

I'm laughing, I'm cringing, I'm agreeing and I'm buying sex toys--awesome video!

[@ReadswithRachel]

Thank you so much! I appreciate you

[@ann-gt4hh]

18:50 On that note, I don't understand the idea that "i'm good enough to not need to use toys" bc toys also require a level of skill and knowledge to use? At minimum, you need to know your partner's preference for toy use. A person who says they don't need toys is no whereas impressive as someone who often uses toys on their partner imo. And really, toys help make things better for all parties. I'm glad you brought this up bc it made me think through what I've written, and so far I haven't showcased toys! I'll need to change that lol.

[@LibriLabra]

The audiobook felt like they were both overacting which made it awkward/uncomfortable....cheezy? lol

[@clementinejuicebox]

I've read 2 books from Katee. Neon Gods and Electric Idol. They were fine. I skimmed and skipped around in the Apollo book as well as Helen's book. I keep going to give them another chance but it always bothers me up until Apollo we didn't have a single person of color as one of the main romance options. All the bipoc characters were in the background. Idk she always makes it a point to say everyone is always white. Idk maybe I'm nitpicking. Just something that stood out to me.

[@meganlilyflower]

I’d love to see what you think of the third book in this series that is about Helen of Troy !!

[@ashannaredwolf8485]

New goal: write a spicy book that Rachel gives five stars. 🤔

[@chelseareneeG]

I love Katee Robert!! She’s an amazing writer and definitely what I go to when I want my smut. That audiobook was definitely too much tho