Have you ever wanted to know what god (or gods, I'm not sure) think and do while the mortals are away? Well, if you do, strap yourself in, ladies and gents, because I'm going to be talking about one of the most popular webtoons on the entire site: Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe!
Author
I don't have much info this time. All I know is that Rachel Smythe is a feisty New Zealand woman who loves a good myth. Like many creators, I resonate with her as she has done multiple works, with Lore Olympus being her current big project.
Summary
The story takes place in a world where Greek myth has taken a more modern approach, with the gods effectively being celebrities and business owners. In this cesspool of debauchery and sin, we see the latest retelling of the taking of Persephone.
Characters
Hades: After being scorned by his father Kronos and position as king of the Underworld, Hades is a man who is as dark as his reputation. Unlike his brothers, Hades is far more down-to-earth and introverted than his brothers. This trait makes him a very kind soul who thinks that he doesn't deserve love and affection. This is a bit of a problem when he is hopelessly in love with Persephone,e and he often can't process his own emotions, leading to utter hilarity.
Persephone: A young fertility goddess with a lot to prove Kore or Persephone is, unfortunately, a naive girl in a hard world. Her mother, Demeter, has kept her from the real world for almost her entire life. However, despite all this, her kind and bubbly nature have won her the admiration and love of many.
She tries very hard to take her on her own and take every blow; she takes one step at a time. Though this doesn't mean she isn't intelligent and resourceful on her own. While the Underworld does fight Persphone at every turn, she is slowly starting to fight back and make more independent choices.
Overview
Honestly, even from the premise alone, I've always found the myth to be somewhat inconsistent as a mythology buff. For example, sometimes it is shown to be a rather creepy older man letting a young lady finally act out. But, on the other hand, sometimes they are a lovey-dovey couple, and others state the event as more of kidnapping, so having it be more of a traditional romance is rather refreshing as it is a little more nuanced and complex than it should be.
This series also has one of the unique art styles I have ever gotten blessed with. Each god is portrayed in a signature color, which often perfectly contrasts or compliments the environment depending on the scene. It feels like I'm reading an old storybook, and it shows. And while I'm not accustomed to the romance genre in the least bit, I still feel as though Hades and Persephone have some pretty good chemistry.
I've said before that it's essential to take your time and get inside your characters' heads. In this story, we get to the point where we can hear almost every awkward adorkable thought they have, which means that, unfortunately, they are as dense as they are beautiful.
Lore Olympus also doesn't shy away from other myths, though. While we haven't gone through many characters, we still get to see the story of Eros and Psyche, Zeus and Semele (Dionysus mother), and many others. The characterization of the various gods is a great combination of myth accuracy, modern revitalization, and serialization.
I think Rachel understands that the reason why the Greek gods are so popular is simply that they're so fucked up we can't help but not watch their downward spirals through struggles that now seem all too familiar to real life.
Finally, Lore does an excellent job of using its setting to express various themes. Through the mystical Underworld, we see the burdens that fame, self-loathing, and arrogance can have on a person, and it is obvious to show what a toxic relationship looks like and doesn't hold back, so be wary. While this makes the story a little more dramatic and severe for younger viewers, it also shows you what love truly is for both yourself and other people.
Epilogue
Lore Olympus is easily one of the best romances I've ever read, and I want to continue reading. I also hope it gets a lot of light shown its way when its new confirmed Ya animated series and confirmed publication gets greenlit. But now, it is time to shine a light on a different story.