PERSEPHONE’S CURSE, by Katrina Leno, Wednesday Books, Dec. 2, 2025, Hardcover, $21 (young adult, ages 14 and up)
Four sisters are caught up in an old family curse tied back to the Greek gods in Persephone’s Curse, by Katrina Leno.
Are the four Farthing sisters really descended from Persephone? This is what their aunt has always told them: that the women in their family can trace their lineage right back to the Goddess of the Dead. And maybe she’s right, because the Farthing girls do have a ghost in the attic of their New York City brownstone ―a kind and gentle ghost named Henry, who only they can see.
When one of the sisters falls in love with the ghost, and another banishes him to the Underworld, the sisters are faced with even bigger questions about who they are. If they really are related to Persephone, and they really are a bit magic, then perhaps it’s up to them to save Henry, to save the world, and to save each other. —Synopsis provided by Wednesday Books
Persephone’s Curse is a strong character-driven YA novel with supernatural elements weaved throughout.
Persephone’s Curse is an unexpected read. You never quite know where it’s going or where it will end, but you enjoy all the stops along the way.
At the center of the story is the myth of Persephone. The four sisters have been brought up on it. Each sister has a gift and each gift is seemingly tied to it, too.
There is a love story in Persephone’s Curse, but that’s not the focus. Rather, it’s the relationship between the Farthing sisters that is the hook, and it’s a good one. Author Katrina Leno’s exploration of this family is compelling and emotional, making this a perfect read for fans of family-driven drama and love.
Persephone’s Curse isn’t the fastest-moving novel, but it resonates nonetheless.
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