Seeds - by Angie Paxton (Paperback)

About the Book

"... a debut fantasy novel set in Mycenaean Greece that explores the myth of Persephone through the lens of mother-daughter dynamics."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

For fans of Madeline Miller and Pat Barker, a debut fantasy novel set in Mycenaean Greece that explores the myth of Persephone through the lens of mother-daughter dynamics.

Kore has lived her entire life under her resentful mother Demeter's shadow, trying her hardest to please a woman grown bitter by betrayal. With her self-esteem in tatters and deliberately isolated by her mother, it's no surprise that Kore is flummoxed when she meets a collection of otherworldly women - the Goddesses of Olympus - who tell her that her mother is in truth a Goddess herself. Kore tells them her preferred name, Persephone, and hopes they will not only have answers for her new questions, but the friendship and love she craves. Instead, an imposing and stoic figure emerges from a nearby cave on a magical chariot and snatches Persephone away.

Upon realizing she has been taken to the Underworld by Hades, who desires she become his queen, Persephone vows to escape.

Demeter, enraged upon finding her daughter taken, goes to extreme lengths to reclaim her - putting the lives of all humanity, and even the gods, at risk.

Angie Paxton breathes new life into a myth that has been reshaped, adapted, and loved since Homer's Hymn to Demeter. Seeds is a deeply romantic story of two lonely souls finding one another, the pressure put on children to forgive their parents' abuse, and the power of resentment.

Content Warnings: References to child abuse, animal death, starvation, forcible confinement

Review Quotes

"This new novel will appeal to fans of the Hades-Persephone myth, fans of myth and folklore retellings, and certainly romantasy fans."-- "Booklist"

"Seeds is a story of mothers and daughters and lovers, but first and foremost, it is Persephone's hero's journey. It's the epic tale of a young woman overcoming all she's been told about herself and stepping into her power with both grace and fortitude. Once I descended into Angie Paxton's Underworld, I was loath to come up for air!"--Lauren J.A. Bear, author of Medusa's Sisters and Mother of Rome

"Seeds is a novel that will abduct you, like Persephone, deep into its pages, taking you on a journey through the darkness and lies in search of freedom and forgiveness. A stunning debut from a talented author to watch."--Crystal King, author of In The Garden of Monsters and Feast of Sorrow

About the Author

Angie Paxton is an American author who writes books that explore complex female family relationships in dark, atmospheric settings. She's a part of the North Idaho Writers' League. Angie is a stay-at-home mom who enjoys reading and research. She'll occasionally emerge from her books to run, hike or boat in beautiful Hayden, Idaho where she lives with her husband, four kids and three spoiled cats. Seeds is Angie's debut novel.