Setting is the term used to describe the location and time period of a literary work. A Touch of Darkness has a narrative-shaping setting, meaning that the setting becomes crucial to the story. The presence of the Greek Pantheon and references to Greek locations like Olympia and New Athens are vital in creating an understanding of the novel’s world. The setting blends classical elements with modernity to imagine a scenario in which gladiatorial fights can coexist with cell phones. The setting includes the added location of the Underworld, which in many ways aligns with classic Greek depictions of it. The Underworld serves to counteract the modern-day setting of the mortal world, highlighting yet another point of contrast between Persephone and the other divine beings, as she is more at home in the mortal realm than she is in any divine setting.

A Touch of Darkness is a form of story called a retelling, a term used to describe literature that rewrites or reexplores a long-established text. Other examples of retellings include the film Gnomeo & Juliet (a retelling of Romeo and Juliet); the parody novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith (a retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice); and Circe by Madeline Miller (a retelling of the Greek myths surrounding Circe).