The Shadow Prince

In this first book in Despain’s Into the Dark trilogy, Haden is an Underlord, a disgraced son of the King of Hades, desperate to redeem himself. His mission is to travel through Persephone’s Gate and entice a girl to come to Hades willingly as a “Boon,” breeding stock for the all-male Underrealm. Daphne Raines, gifted with a beautiful voice and the ability to hear the song inside all living things, and her mother live in small-town Utah until Daphne’s rock-star father comes to claim her. Daphne is no ordinary Boon, and the fate of two worlds rests with her. Despain (the Dark Divine series) builds on the original Persephone myth, laying the Greek references on thick, from a private community called Olympus Hills to a rock opera based on Orpheus and Eurydice. Repeated praise of Daphne’s musical talent gets tiresome, but her hostile reaction to Haden’s assumption that she’s his property is delightful. Despain alternates between Haden and Daphne’s viewpoints with a skill that helps buoy a middle section bogged down with exposition and Underlord angst. Ages 12–up. Agent: Ted Malawer, Upstart Crow Literary. (Mar.)