A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair Summary

A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair is the second book in the Hades x Persephone Saga, following the couple as their relationship goes public. When tragedy strikes and Persephone's best friend Lexa is critically injured, Hades refuses to intervene, leading Persephone to make desperate bargains with dangerous gods like Apollo. The novel explores themes of trust, secrets, and whether Persephone can truly embrace her role as Hades' future queen while navigating divine politics and personal heartbreak.

Scarlett St. Clair is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and citizen of the Muscogee Nation who specializes in Greek mythology retellings. She holds a Master's degree in Library Science and Information Studies and a Bachelor's in English Writing. St. Clair has sold millions of copies globally and is best known for the Hades x Persephone Saga, the Adrian x Isolde series, and fairy tale retellings. Her work blends mythology, romance, and modern settings to create accessible fantasy narratives.

A Touch of Ruin is ideal for readers who enjoy spicy Greek mythology retellings, enemies-to-lovers romance, and TikTok-popular fantasy. Fans of modern mythology adaptations like Lore Olympus or Sarah J. Maas will appreciate the steamy relationship dynamics and divine politics. However, readers seeking faithful mythology retellings or conflict-free romance may find the contrived disagreements and communication issues frustrating. This book works best for those invested in Persephone and Hades' ongoing story from A Touch of Darkness.

A Touch of Ruin receives mixed reviews, with readers divided on its execution. While it delivers steamy romance and expands Hades' darker side—including revelations about his criminal empire Iniquity—many critics found the constant relationship conflicts repetitive and frustrating. Persephone's tendency to break promises and blame Hades for things beyond his control alienates some readers. If you loved A Touch of Darkness and want continuation of the couple's story, it's worth reading, but temper expectations about plot pacing.

Lexa, Persephone's best friend, is hit by a car and left in critical condition. When Persephone begs Hades to save her, he refuses, explaining that bargaining for a life requires exchanging another life—a cost too great to pay. Desperate and influenced by her mother's criticism, Persephone strikes a deal with Apollo, the God of Healing, offering to spend time with him in exchange for healing Lexa. Though Apollo heals Lexa's body, her soul remains broken, leaving her traumatized and questioning why she survived.

The central conflict stems from secrets, broken promises, and Persephone's inability to accept Hades' limitations as the God of the Dead. Persephone repeatedly lies to Hades, publishes an article about Apollo despite promising not to, and blames Hades for refusing to save Lexa—even though only the Fates control life and death. Their relationship deteriorates further when Persephone discovers Hades runs the criminal underworld club Iniquity and later witnesses what appears to be him making love to his ex-lover Leuce.

Apollo serves as a major antagonist who fires Persephone's friend Sybil and removes her oracle powers when she refuses to sleep with him. Persephone initially wants to expose Apollo publicly but promises Hades she won't, ultimately breaking that promise. When desperate to save Lexa, Persephone bargains with Apollo, agreeing to spend time with him in exchange for healing her friend. Apollo later forces Persephone to witness him torturing a satyr named Marsyas, pushing her to use her uncontrolled goddess powers in retaliation.

Leuce is Hades' former lover whom he transformed into a tree after she betrayed him. In A Touch of Ruin, Leuce asks Persephone for help reestablishing her life in the Upperworld. She tells Persephone about Iniquity, the underground bargaining club, which leads to Persephone's disastrous attempt to save Lexa. The relationship reaches a crisis point when Persephone sees Hades apparently making love to Leuce, triggering her rage and causing her to destructively unleash her goddess powers on the Underworld.

Iniquity is a secret club where people can barter for magic spells and make dangerous bargains. Persephone learns that Hades owns and operates Iniquity, revealing him as essentially a mafia boss controlling all criminals in New Athens. When Persephone visits without telling Hades, she encounters Kal Stavros, her newspaper's ruthless CEO, who offers to help save Lexa if Persephone publishes intimate details about her affair with Hades. This discovery of Hades' criminal empire both fascinates and disturbs Persephone.

Critics describe A Touch of Ruin as a dissatisfying sequel with contrived conflicts and an insufferable protagonist. Persephone spends most of the book lying, breaking promises, and irrationally blaming Hades for circumstances beyond his control—particularly regarding death, which only the Fates govern. Reviewers note that multiple relationship conflicts feel repetitive and drawn out, resolving only to resurface in slightly different forms. The lack of agency in Persephone's character and the constant miscommunication diminish the romantic tension established in A Touch of Darkness.

A Touch of Ruin shows Persephone struggling to control her divine abilities as the Goddess of Spring. Hades teaches her to create growing things using her magic in tender moments between conflicts. However, her powers remain volatile—when she threatens Apollo, she accidentally reveals her goddess status. The climax occurs when Persephone, enraged by seeing Hades with Leuce, unleashes her uncontrolled magic destructively on the Underworld. Her journey involves accepting her divine nature rather than clinging to her mortal life.

Persephone's relationship with her mother Demeter remains strained throughout A Touch of Ruin. Demeter tried to keep Persephone away from Hades and strongly disapproves of their relationship. She manipulates Persephone by questioning how she could be with a man who let her best friend die, intensifying Persephone's guilt and desperation regarding Lexa's condition. This maternal pressure contributes to Persephone's reckless decision to bargain with Apollo, demonstrating how family influence complicates divine relationships and personal choices.