The thing about really good Dystopian fiction is that there needs to be just enough hope to keep you turning the pages, and Persephone’s Curse has hit that balance beautifully. In fact, this novel would sit well in the romance fiction genre, if it wasn’t for the imminent threat of death on every page and the horrors of ‘the labs’.

The plot seems quite simple: Elin and Jayden really shouldn’t fall in love. From the grim prologue, we learn that Elin is a survivor. She’s forced into becoming a lab rat for the government who seeks to find a cure for Persephone’s Curse that kills all pregnant women but she’s determined to make it out alive. And Jayden, well, he’s got a troubled past that may or may not have involved him being complicit in the torture of girls like Elin. So, it’s complicated… but from the get-go you want them to get it on.

This is a well-crafted novel that uses split narration to help reveal the character’s true feelings, a device that helps the reader to fully understand the awful decisions that need to be made in a world where fear and violence rule. But alongside that runs a beautiful love story that explores ideas around teen sex and consent in a way that is thought-provoking and sensitive. You really want to trust in Jayden to do the right thing and you hope that Elin will learn to trust, but their pasts and the terror of the present might just have something else planned for them.

I’m a huge fan of the dystopian genre and Persephone’s Curse hits all the right notes for me. Some themes may be triggering for some: rape and violence are present throughout and I genuinely felt terror and horror as the plot unfolded. But the power of the love story is central. There was just the right mix of ‘will they?’ ‘won’t they?’ moments to avoid being overly cliché and I found that the burgeoning sexual relationship was portrayed with huge sensitivity as well as fiery passion. There are a few questions I feel weren’t answered which will hopefully be answered in the sequel.