Review: "Seeking Persephone" Is a Superb Regency Series Based on the Sarah M. Eden Novel

Book Nerd

Aug 12

9 min read

Updated: Aug 20

Seeking Persephone is a captivating, four-part Regency era drama series based on the novel by Sarah M. Eden, and it is a slow burn romance that will seduce you into binge watching the entire story in one sitting. Multiple times. On a perpetual loop. Ridiculous!

If you yearn for clean entertainment that doesn't sacrifice intense chemistry, this series is a must-watch.

Seeking Persephone landscape movie poster

What Is Seeking Persephone About?

Persephone Lancaster loses her mother at age 12 and takes on the responsibility of raising her five siblings. Her father, a scholar in mental decline since the loss of his wife, is unable to provide adequately for his family, leading them to become increasingly impoverished.

Adam Boyce, the Duke of Kielder, finds himself in a bind. He must marry and produce an heir or risk losing his estate to a distant cousin whom he despises. The problem is that he is a terrifying figure who isn't husband material. A series of botched surgeries from early childhood have marred his visage. To protect himself, he withdraws from society. He is reclusive, fearsome, guarded, emotionally detached, grim, and ill-tempered.

Harry Windover, Adam's best friend who also lives at Falstone Castle in Northumberland, sees past Adam's defenses to the man within, and he serves as Adam's conscience throughout the story.

The duke writes Persephone's father to request her hand in marriage, though the two have never met. Persephone is filled with dread at the prospect of marrying such an enigmatic stranger, but it's her only option to spare her family from financial ruin, since the duke has offered a substantial sum in return.

Initially shocked by her new husband's abrupt, cold, and dismissive nature, Persephone struggles with loneliness and despair; however, her optimistic and gentle nature slowly chips away at Adam's stony defenses.

Persephone is determined to understand her husband and win his affection, and Adam cannot resist her sweet disposition, despite claiming "a duke never needs anyone." As the two navigate tragedy, peril, struggles, and insecurities, they slowly forge an unexpected bond that opens both of their hearts to a love they could not have imagined.

Seeking Persephone Draws from Multiple Story Elements

Seeking Persephone is the perfect juxtaposition of Jane Austen, Beauty and the Beast, and Greek mythology. Phantom of the Opera fans may also notice a few similarities.

While some critics decline to credit the movie as being Austen-adjacent, the undertones are decidedly present.

Adam strikingly resembles the hostile Beast who finds sanctuary in his castle apart from polite society until a sweet and gentle soul sees past his frightful appearance and demeanor to his good heart within. The movie even includes a scene where Persephone is surrounded by a pack of wild dogs, which echoes the Disney fairytale.

The Greek mythological tale more aptly parallels the movie. Persephone was abducted by Hades, the god of the Underworld, but her feelings for her husband evolved over time until she came to love him. Her family, however, missed her horribly. The compromise resulted from Persephone's consumption of pomegranates. Eating the food of the Underworld meant she could never escape it; however, she was allowed to return to her family for a season before spending the remaining months with her husband in the Underworld.

Similarly, Adam whisks Persephone to his gloomy castle but slowly relents and allows her more time with family and neighbors. By the end, Adam vows always to pursue Persephone, just as Hades did, and Persephone pledges that her desire to return to him will never abate.

Whether you're a fan of Austen or appreciate a story about looking past appearances, Seeking Persephone is a multi-faceted and layered story that will capture your heart. The deep complexities of this series cannot be overstated.

Review of Seeking Persephone

Some reviews (albeit a minority) of Seeking Persephone criticize the Indie movie for being low budget and not always period accurate. They claim that the duke's wealth would have caused many women to clamor to be his bride and that such drastic measures to marry would have not been necessary. Others find fault with the lapse in continuity, such as with the hairstyles. The fact that the book describes the duke's face as much more scarred than what is presented onscreen is another bone of contention.

While such criticisms might be correct in theory, they do nothing to diminish the spellbinding appeal of the movie. With clever lighting, gorgeous backdrops, and creative cinematography, the production quality elevates the series to an art form that only enhances the viewing experience. The lack of AI and CGI only adds to its richness and authenticity.

The emotional performances of Ryann Bailey (Persephone) and Jake Stormoen (Adam) create an undertow that pulls viewers in and holds them captive. Stormoen's body language and facial expressions are like witnessing a harsh winter thaw to spring, and Bailey's expressive eyes invite you to peer into her soul to read her thoughts. The emotion the actors invoke throughout the series is palpable to viewers.

The slow burn romance is the best part of all. Viewers yearn for the unlikely pair to connect, to make themselves emotionally vulnerable, to show each other affection, to touch, and to ultimately declare their love. Part of the slow burn experience results from their restraint. Unlike a cheesy romcom where falling in love happens faster than breathing, the romance is earned rather than rushed in Seeking Persephone, which makes it all the more captivating.

The more viewers watch the series (it is inexplicably addictive), the more nuances they notice. The hand acting is one significant component. Inner thoughts, insecurities, hope, love, fear, tenderness...are all better communicated with touch than words can convey in several scenes.

Eye contact, or lack thereof, is another device. From the start, Adam steals glances at Persephone but avoids eye contact and always positions himself so that the side of his face without scars is facing her. The pivot point occurs when Persephone declares her worry and concern for his welfare as he prepares to rush to Harry's rescue. After that scene, viewers will notice that Adam makes eye contact with her and stops impeding her view of his full face.

Smiles shape many scenes. Adam doesn't respect anyone who fears or pities him. Each time Persephone stands up to or amuses him, his mouth curls into the smallest of smiles, which shows his changing feelings towards his wife and gives her the encouragement to continue. When Persephone offers him one of her beaming smiles, it melts his resolve to keep his distance.

Adam's gifts track his change of heart. Whether Adam is providing physical gifts, like a riding habit and boots, or giving Persephone a wedding ball, visits to the neighbors, or time in the sanctuary of his book room, these behavioral changes mark the lowering of his defenses. Why does he continue to do these things? He doesn't want Persephone to leave him, and he is quick to provide her with the things that he hopes will make her want to stay.

Adam's softening voice reveals the tender feelings he develops for Persephone. For much of the movie, Adam's voice is loud, harsh, and commanding. This changes over time, and by the end, his voice is soft, kind, and brimming with love when he addresses her.

One of the best attributes of regency romances is the portrayal of men as strong leaders and protectors--admirable masculine qualities that certain sectors of our current culture categorize as "toxic." Networks like Hallmark Channel make a point to create heroines who are independent, consider men optional, pursue careers over family, and reject convention.

Seeking Persephone demonstrates that when men assume their God-given roles, women can still have a mind of their own, exert significant influence over them, and retain their individuality while deferring to their husband's authority. We see that as Persephone submits to her husband, he doesn't lord it over her. Just the opposite. The more she tries to please him, the greater lengths he goes to in order to meet her needs and give her all the desires of her heart. This symbiotic lifestyle brings out the best in both of them and strengthens their relationship.

Although the start of the movie is intentionally awkward and gloomy, the pace with which the two characters grow close is perfectly organic and well-timed.

Persephone's relationship with her family is precious and heartwarming, and the tenderness with which she and Adam gradually treat each other is sublime.

This type of clean entertainment proves that the best movies don't need sexually explicit scenes--the joining of hearts and souls is far more attractive and emotionally satisfying.

If you've always longed for a Mr. Darcy in your life, you will find yourself intent on an Adam Boyce instead!

How Does the Book Seeking Persephone Compare to the Series?

The movie stays true to the book, which is often not the case for screen adaptations. In fact, the exact wording is lifted directly from the novel to the script the majority of the time.

If you watch the series first and then read the book, it will play in your mind scene for scene.

The movie already touches on the reasons for Adam's prickly nature, but the book expounds on it. The trauma of navigating childhood with a scarred face, a mother who abandons her family, and a father who teaches Adam not to need anyone are the catalysts that shape him into the fearsome man he becomes. He has learned to need no one, so when he finds himself needing Persephone, he grapples with how to handle something so unfamiliar. It makes him feel exposed, insecure, and vulnerable.

The book offers more insight into the misunderstandings that occur between Adam and Persephone. She yearns to reach out to him but feels too rejected to try again. He aches for her as well but mistakes her restraint as a lack of interest.

Persephone wishes Adam would smile more in the book, but readers learn he often forces himself not to smile, even though he wants to, because he knows the scars make him look awkward and asymmetrical when he does.

Some fans voiced hope that the final scene in the series would culminate in Adam gushing with love for Persephone rather than hiding behind the mythological story of Hades to express his feelings. The book makes sense of the ending:

Any speech even slightly tinged with emotion would be difficult for Adam. Persephone understood that. And she didn't need flowery speeches. The fact that he had come for her, that he was holding her so tenderly and trying so desperately to express himself, was enough.

As they kiss, Persephone touches his face, and this time, unlike when they'd kissed in her bed chamber, he doesn't flinch and pull away. This is significant. Once again, hand acting conveys more than words can because allowing her to touch his scars demonstrates how far he has come. He has opened his heart to her and trusts that she won't leave him.

Although I generally savor a book's details over screen adaptations, it's just the opposite for Seeking Persephone. As engaging as the book is, Stormoen and Bailey bring the story to life more than the author's own words with their superior skill sets. On social media, viewers have commented that the actors are so immersed in their roles that they actually seem to become the characters rather than play the characters. It's especially astonishing to listen to Stormoen's interviews surrounding the series and be forced to acknowledge that he is NOT Adam but a completely separate person who just happens to be a wildly talented actor!

Seeking Persephone Production and Familiar Faces

Some accounts estimate the production of Seeking Persephone at just under $1 million, with nearly $250,000 of it being crowdfunded. Approximately 2,500 people contributed in order to finance the film, which allows independent filmmakers like John Lyde to produce movies without relying solely on traditional studios and investors. This method enables creators to maintain creative control while engaging their audience in the process.

The author, Sarah M. Eden, also wrote the screenplay, thereby preserving the essence of her novel in the adaptation, which should delight readers.

Will Kemp in Seeking Persephone — Will Kemp plays Persephone's academic father.

Seeking Persephone isn't just a movie for bookworms who love Regency romances. Hallmark fans who pine for the occasional dramatic feature over a steady diet of romcoms will appreciate seeing familiar Hallmark actors in the film. Will Kemp plays Persephone's absent-minded father, demonstrating his versatility as an actor. Kemp is considered one of the "Hunks of Hallmark," but he's much more accomplished, and this role, though brief, permits Hallmark fans to see him in a new light. He is also one of the executive producers.

Toby-Alexander Smith appeared in Hallmark Channel's 2024 movie An American in Austen--another Austen-adjacent movie. His character in Seeking Persephone often provides comic relief to lighten the mood. He is also the only one Adam confides in and trusts.

Even our beloved Jake Stormoen is no stranger to Hallmark! He's appeared in Christmas Wonderland and Haul Out the Holly.

Great American Family fans hungry for more entertainment without compromise will appreciate the clean and sweet romance that embraces honor, love based on inner beauty rather than appearance, propriety, and traditional values.

How Can You Watch Seeking Persephone?

Seeking Persephone is available to stream from the following platforms:

Peacock
Angel Studios
Prime Video
Roku
Tubi
Digital purchase through Fandago or Amazon Video

Seeking Persephone is a sweeping phenomenon that you will return to again and again.

More Seasons Are on the Way!

If you love Seeking Persephone, you will be happy to know that additional adaptations of the author's volumes in this series are in the works!

Courting Miss Lancaster will be next for Season 2. This installment will center on Persephone's sister, Athena. Although there is no confirmed premiere date, fan trackers are estimating the release to be around March 2027.

Season 3 will be about another sister of Persephone's, and it is titled Romancing Daphne. Although it has been confirmed as being in development, no further information is available.

Bailey and Stormoen have announced they will reprise their roles as Persephone and Adam.