🌑 Book Review: Persephone by Lev Grossman (Kindle Edition, Into Shadow Collection)
A moody, emotionally charged coming-of-age fantasy that explores grief, rage, and the awakening of hidden power—Lev Grossman’s short story offers a glimpse into a young woman’s transformation in the face of despair.
🧠 Overview
Published in November 2022 as part of Amazon Original Stories’ Into Shadow Collection, Persephone is a 31-page short story by Lev Grossman, bestselling author of The Magicians trilogy. The story follows Persephone, a teenage girl numbed by the disappearance of her father and the daily torment of high school life. She’s withdrawn, emotionally walled off, and quietly enduring—until one day, something inside her snaps.
That moment unleashes a mysterious power she didn’t know she possessed, setting her on a path that could change everything.
✨ Key Themes & Highlights
- 💔 Grief and repression: Persephone’s emotional numbness is central to the story’s tone, reflecting the weight of unresolved trauma
- 🔥 Awakening power: Her sudden eruption of supernatural ability is both cathartic and terrifying
- 🧠 Teen alienation: Grossman captures the isolating experience of adolescence with raw honesty
- 🌌 Fantasy meets realism: The story blends subtle magical elements with grounded emotional stakes
“Ever since her dad disappeared five years ago, Persephone has quietly walled off the feelings she’d rather not feel… But one day, the crush of taunts and disappointments is finally too much—and a power breaks loose inside her that she never knew was there.” — Goodreads summary
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 2.99/5 from over 6,600 ratings
- 📖 Readers are divided—some praise the emotional depth and character focus, while others feel the story reads like a prologue to a larger work
- 🧾 Common feedback includes a desire for more worldbuilding and resolution, with many noting it feels unfinished
- 💬 “I liked the characters and the premise, but it felt like the beginning of a novel rather than a complete short story.” — StoryGraph reviewer
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Short format: At 31 pages, it’s a quick read—best approached as a character vignette rather than a full narrative arc
- 📚 Part of a collection: One of seven stories in the Into Shadow Collection, each exploring dark, fantastical themes
- 🧾 Ambiguous ending: The story leaves many questions unanswered, which may frustrate readers seeking closure
🏁 Final Verdict
Persephone is a moody and introspective short story that offers a glimpse into a young woman’s emotional and supernatural awakening. While it may feel more like a teaser than a complete tale, Lev Grossman’s evocative prose and psychological depth make it a compelling read for fans of dark fantasy and character-driven storytelling.
