Book Review: The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

Title:  The House of Hades
Author:  Rick Riordan
Genre:  YA mythology retelling
Series:  The Heroes of Olympus #4
Publisher:  Hyperion
Pages:  597, hardcover
Acquired via:  Bought on Amazon

Rating:  

Synopsis from goodreads:  At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

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I love Rick Riordan's series, and this book was a great addition.  It was mainly focused on Percy and Annabeth's adventures, with the other characters taking smaller roles.  It had romance, drama, lots of action and suspense, and plenty of new mythological people and creatures.

I was so happy with the entire Percibeth storyline.  It was awesome for these two to finally get back together and share an adventure.  Their relationship develops and grows so much throughout the book as they suffer crazy torture in Tartarus.

The other characters have their own adventures, but some of them seemed to get very little attention in this book.  Piper and Jason both had very minimal storylines, while Leo, Hazel, Frank, and Nico had a lot of focus on them.  I especially loved the way Frank's character developed.  He really got a chance to shine.

There was one part that I wasn't too thrilled with, which is a first for me with Riordan's books.  I won't give away what exactly it was, for those of you who have yet to read the book, but there is one part of the book, a big "character revelation", that seemed forced and preachy and not really well-written.  I personally think Riordan could have written it a lot better, but that's just my opinion.  It was the only thing in the whole book that bothered me, and it didn't bother me enough to keep me from loving the book.

Fortunately, Riordan did not leave us with a literal cliffhanger like he did with the previous book (which he poked fun at in the dedication; you must read it!).  Instead, the book had a satisfying ending, while hinting at the big climactic finish to come in The Blood of Olympus.  I cannot wait to read the next book, and hope it is an epic finish worthy of this series.

Book Review: The Iron Queen by Kaitlin Bevis

Title:  The Iron Queen
Author:  Kaitlin Bevis
Genre:  YA mythology retelling
Series:  Daughters of Zeus #3
Publisher:  Musa Publishing
Format:  Ebook
Acquired via:  Purchased through iBooks

Rating:  


Synopsis from goodreads.com:  Life is hell for Persephone. Zeus will stop at nothing to gain access to the living realm and the Underworld, and as the only living god with a right to both, Persephone’s in trouble. Captured and tortured beyond the limits of her resolve, Persephone must find the power to stand against Zeus. But will she be strong enough? 

Meanwhile, Hades contemplates desperate measures to rescue his queen. Persephone never thought of herself as dangerous, but there’s a reason gods never marry for love. A being with the power to destroy all of creation shouldn’t place more value in one individual than the rest of the planet. But Hades...Hades would break the world for her.
To save the world and stop both Hades and Zeus, Persephone must make a difficult choice. One that may cost her everything.

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You know I have to really love a series to be willing to read a book using an e-reader.  The Daughters of Zeus series is only available as an e-book, so I've been reading them on my iPod touch.  And as annoying as that is, this series is so worth it.

The Iron Queen is the third book of the Daughters of Zeus, and hopefully not the last.  I stayed up late to read this, because like the previous two books, once I started, I couldn't put it down.

What I loved

• Different perspectives  -  The story was told from multiple perspectives, which I always love.  It adds more depth and fills the reader in on things happening elsewhere in the story.  The book switched between Persephone, Hades, and Aphrodite.  It was interesting to see how each character reacted to the situations around them.  It also provided more insight into their personalities as well.
• Unexpected twists  -  There were definitely things that happened that I didn't see coming.  It's always refreshing when a story can take you by surprise.  The ending was also great because it wasn't a killer cliffhanger, but it did leave some things open so there could be more books. (Please let there be more books!)
• Hades  -  Yes, I am going to gush like a silly fangirl here because I LOVE Hades.  He's currently at the top of my fictional crushes list because he's gorgeous, passionate, romantic, heroic... I could go on, but I will spare you.
• New characters  -  I loved some of the new characters that were introduced.  Several of the other major Olympians make an appearance, such as Athena and Ares.  There were plenty of demigods and minor gods who got some attention as well.  At first, I was worried that adding so many new characters would make things confusing, but it actually enhanced the story.  I'm hoping that if there are more books that some of these characters come back.
• Lots of movement and action  -  Just like the first two books of the series, this book had lots of action and a fast pace, which made for a quick but exciting read.  It kept me on the edge of my seat (bed), wanting to see what happened next.
• Character development  -  Even though the book moved quickly, there was still time for character development.  Hades and Aphrodite especially got some great depth to their characters.  I still think Aphrodite is one of the most annoying people ever, but at least now she's a much less superficial character than before.

Greek mythology retellings are my favorite, especially Hades & Persephone's story, and this is one of the best adaptations I've read yet.  I'm really hoping for another book to this series because I do not want it to be over.

Story Review: The Son of Sobek by Rick Riordan

Title:  The Son of Sobek
Author:  Rick Riordan
Genre:  YA mythology retelling/short story
Publisher:  Disney-Hyperion
Format:  E-book
Acquired via:  Purchased through iBooks


Rating:   


Synopsis from goodreads.com:  In this audio e-book short story narrated by Rick Riordan, Carter Kane is investigating rumored sightings of a monster on Long Island when he runs into something else: a mysterious boy named Percy Jackson. And their meeting isn't exactly friendly. . . . Includes a sneak peek chapter from HOUSE OF HADES, Book Four in the Heroes of Olympus series.

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I was waiting for this crossover to happen, and then it finally did, and now I am SO happy.  Even though I dislike ebooks, I caved and purchased The Son of Sobek, because the only print version is in the back of the paperback issue of The Serpent's Shadow.  Since I already own the hardcover, I wasn't buying the paperback just to get the short story.

The story was a quick, fun read for fans of the series.  Carter Kane and Percy Jackson end up meeting each other when they both set out to take care of the monster.  It was great to see the two series' lead characters interacting and fighting (with each other and with the monster).  It was told from Carter's perspective (which I'm hoping means that the next installment will be told from Percy's), and there's plenty of humor, sarcasm, and action.

I'm really looking forward to the next part to the story, although I have no idea when that will come out, as Riordan's got a lot on his plate right now (see below).  But whenever it finally is written, I will be reading it immediately.  (Sorry for the shortness of the review, but short stories = short reviews.)

Semi-related note:  Rick Riordan just posted some updates in his blog that I am so excited for.  The fourth book of the Heroes of Olympus series, The House of Hades, is coming out in October.  The final book will be released in the fall of 2014.  But what I'm most excited for?

In 2015, Riordan will be starting a new series centered around Norse mythology.  YAY!  Norse mythology rarely gets any attention, so it's always cool to find a book or series about it.  And it's going to be written by Riordan, one of my favorite authors.  With this new series, he will have covered Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythology.  He's pretty much the king of middle-grade/YA mythology retellings.

Book Review: Ink by Amanda Sun

Title:  Ink
Author:  Amanda Sun
Genre:  YA mythology/fantasy
Series:  Paper Gods #1
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Pages:  326
Acquired via:  ARC received at BEA

Rating:   


Synopsis from goodreads.com:  On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.
Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Favorite quote:  My heart was glass - easy to see through, simple to break.

I literally finished Ink thirty minutes ago, and I couldn't wait to review it.  I love myths and retellings, and I read a lot of them, but they're usually based on Greek mythology, so Ink is a great change.  It's story is based on the Japanese spirits called Kami, from the Shinto religion.  Not knowing anything about Shintoism or Japanese beliefs, I was a little concerned I'd get a lost during the book, but I never had that problem.

My thoughts:

• I loved the characters in this book.  Katie feels like an outsider after being thrust into a whole new country and culture.  The book opens with her feeling embarrassed because she forgot to change out of her school slippers.  That's definitely a culture shock.  I think Katie's a great character because she seems real, human.  She didn't jump from one culture to another without some embarrassing moments.  Her love interest, Tomo, is also pretty cool.  He's got that bad boy vibe I love without actually being a "bad boy".  He's just this broken, sensitive guy that puts up walls to protect himself and others.
• While I think the book started a little slow, it picked up the pace soon, until I was caught up and needed to finish the book.  Perhaps not a book worthy of losing sleep to finish, but it was still full of enough romance, tension, excitement, and action to keep me riveted.
• The concept for the book was interesting and original.  I've read so much Greek mythology that this was a breath of fresh air.  I liked the idea of the Kami, the paper gods, the moving ink, and the Japanese mafia all rivaling each other for power and control.
• I really enjoyed the inclusion of the drawings and the Japanese words.  The book is all about drawings and sketches that come to life, so it was a great idea that they included them.  They even have a section about the artists who did the drawings because their art is beautiful and brings more depth to the story.  I also liked that the book didn't always translate the Japanese during the story.  It makes Katie's struggle to cope with her new surrounding seem more realistic (there's a glossary in the back if you want to know what everything means).
• The setting and culture were great.  I've read so few books set in Japan or eastern Asia, so this book was refreshing and fun and eye-opening.  I'd like to read more books that take place in these countries, because their culture is so different from ours.  I could understand how Katie must have felt moving to a foreign country and needing to learn a whole new language and way of life.

Overall, Ink is a great book with just the right amount of romance and action and drama.  It's got beautiful artwork, an interesting concept, and a fun setting.  Definitely a good read.

Book Review: The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

Title:  The Goddess Inheritance
Author:  Aimee Carter
Series:  Goddess Test #3
Genre:  YA mythology retelling
Pages:  283

Rating:  A-

Synopsis from goodreads.com:  During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.

In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.

With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.  Even if it costs her eternity.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

How do you review a final book without giving anything away?!  The Goddess Inheritance, the conclusion of the Goddess Test trilogy, is an amazing end to a good series.  It's exciting, dramatic, and romantic.  And in order to keep this spoiler-free, I'm not going to discuss anything in detail or any specific parts of the book.

• The story is fast-paced and full of action.  There are battles, arguments, disasters, and escapes.  It kept me on the edge of my seat, and I didn't want to the book down once.
• Kate and Henry's romance has finally grown into something beautiful and strong.  In the earlier books, especially Goddess Interrupted, their relationship was always in this state of "How do you really feel?!"  Now, Kate and Henry have no doubts of their feelings, and because of this, their romance has evolved into a sweet and passionate marriage that can stand against the obstacles thrown at it.
• Henry's character is so much better than in the second book.  I just wanted to hit him over the head constantly during that book, but I actually loved him in this book.  He's become more open and affectionate, and his emotions and love are so intense.  I also love how much he's willing to sacrifice to keep his family together.
• Kate makes some of the same stupid mistakes over and over again.  That hasn't changed at all.  She still keeps doubting herself and whines way too much.  As usual, she pulls herself together in the end.  If Kate had just done a little less whining, I'd probably have given the book a higher rating.
• The ending is well-written and satisfying.  Nothing is rushed or seems thrown together at the last minute.  It's an exciting and dramatic finish, and Carter even surprised me with an unexpected twist at the end.

I'm so happy about how this series progressed and ended.  I was concerned by other people's reviews, but I should have known better than to listen to the haters.  The Goddess Test trilogy is a great mythology series, and this final book is probably the best book of the three.  A-

Book Review: Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden

Title:  Seeking Persephone
Author:  Sarah M. Eden
Series:  The Lancaster Family #1
Genre:  Romance/historical fiction/mythology & fairy-tale retelling (?)
Pages:  288

Rating:  B+

Synopsis from goodreads.com:  The Duke of Kielder has more influence than Parliament, higher social standing than the Royal Family. No gentleman dares face him on the dueling field, nor risks testing his infamous temper. But His Grace is in need of a wife. Combine his fearsome reputation with a terribly scarred countenance and finding a lady willing to accept his hand becomes all-but impossible. When the Duke manages to secure a bride through a bit of trickery and an obscene amount of money, he is certain his problems are behind him. Except his purchased bride proves to be nothing like he expected. What is a man like the Duke to do with a bride who is gentle, loving and absolutely impossible to live without?

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So I'm not sure if I should classify this as a mythology retelling or a fairy-tale retelling or both.  Seeking Persephone is first and foremost a historical romance, but the Hades/Persephone storyline was also there, as well as Beauty & the Beast.  But I guess you could also argue that most Hades/Persephone romances are essentially Beauty & the Beast in the Underworld.  Whatever.

What I Enjoyed

• The characters  -  This book has a great cast of characters with depth and personality.  Persephone and Adam are wonderful main characters that I was able to connect with because the author gave them good emotional depth and development.  Persephone is believable as a sweet and vulnerable young bride who decides to make the most of her marriage.  Adam is so cranky that it makes him both humorous and lovable.  His scars and past have left some deep personal wounds that he deals with by never letting people in.  The two of them are so perfectly matched for one another; I loved that the story is told from both of their points-of-view.  The secondary characters are mostly much smaller parts and only there to provide necessary insight to Adam and Persephone when needed.  Except for Adam's best friend, Harry.  Harry is a great secondary character; he's funny and kind and unafraid of Adam's temperament.  He provides the comic relief, and his banter with Adam is hilarious.
• The romance  -  The romance between Adam and Persephone is sweet and endearing and believable.  There's no love-at-first-kiss or ridiculously fast-paced relationship; instead, their love grows over time and after facing obstacles.  Because the romance is slow-building, it's filled with emotional and physical tension that's spine-tingling.  It's also full of those frustrating moments (the misinterpretations, the keeping distances, the not telling each other anything) that make you want to scream but also make the romance that much more satisfying when they finally get it together.  I definitely think this is one of the best versions of the Beauty & the Beast theme, even if it's not what the author intended.

What I Disliked

• The mediocre writing  -  This book would have definitely gotten an A if it had not been for the quality of the writing and the tendency at the end for melodrama.  Eden was able to create interesting characters and a beautiful romance, but her writing often broke the "show; don't tell" rule.  It felt like she could have used a good editor to weed out the cliches and overly dramatic moments.  But even though the writing wasn't spectacular, I still loved the book.

Seeking Persephone is a sweet historical romance with a fairy-tale feel to it.  It has humor, tension, drama, and heart.  I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good love story or regency romance or the story of Beauty & the Beast.    B+

Book Review: The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan

Title:  The Brides of Rollrock Island
Author:  Margo Lanagan
Genre:  YA fantasy/mythology retelling
Pages:  305

Rating:  C

Synopsis from goodreads.com:  On remote Rollrock Island, men make their living--and fetch their wives--from the sea.

The Witch Misskaella knows how to find the girl at the heart of a seal. She'll coax a beauty from the beast for any man, for a price. And what man wouldn't want a sea-wife, to and to hold, and to keep by his side forever?  But though he may tell himself that he is the master, one look in his new bride's eyes will transform him just as much as it changes her. Both will be ensnared--and the witch will look on, laughing.  

In this magical, seaswept novel, Margo Lanagan tells an extraordinary tale of desire, despair, and transformation. With devastatingly beautiful prose, she reveals characters capable of unspeakable cruelty, but also of unspoken love.

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I've always been fascinated with selkie mythology, so when I heard about The Brides of Rollrock Island, I was really excited to check it out.  But I thought the book was just blah over all.  There was no real plot, only a couple of the characters got any development, and the narration was choppy and disjointed.

The book is split into a group of short stories about Rollrock Island, each told by a different character.  Usually I like split narration, but in this case, having so many narrators took away from the story.  The phrase "Too many cooks spoil the broth" was true here.  It made the story seem very choppy and all over the place.  And it made the fact that there was barely a plot much more noticeable.

I think I might have liked the story a little more if some of the narration had been done by one of the seal-wives.  Considering that the book is called The Brides of Rollrock Island, you would have thought the story might have been told from their point-of-view, at least a little.  Instead, all of the narrators are the non-selkies.  So the seal-wives barely had any character development; their personalities were very flat and boring.  One of these days, I'd like to read a book about selkies that's told from their POV, about how it felt to be pulled from their skins and what it was like to be trapped on land and how they justified leaving their children behind if they found their skin again.  That would be a great book.

The Brides of Rollrock Island disappointed me because I was hoping for something different, something more than what I got.  I expected a more mysterious story, a story that focused mostly on the selkies and less about the islanders.  I guess my biggest problem with the book was that it didn't fit my expectations.  C

Book Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Title:  The Scorpio Races
Author:  Maggie Stiefvater
Genre:  YA fantasy/mythology retelling
Pages:  409

Rating:  A+

Synopsis from goodreads.com:  It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Opening line:  "It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die."

I just knew when I started reading The Scorpio Races that I shouldn't have started it so late at night.  From the opening to the closing line, I was sucked in and unwilling to stop reading despite knowing I'd hate myself for staying up so late.  And sure enough, I'm soooo tired today, but that book was worth it.

One of the coolest aspects of this story was that it could just as easily have been Celtic historical fiction, not fantasy.  It could have simply been a story about an Irish girl deciding to ride in a male-dominated sport and her struggle with both the training and the prejudice against her, and about a boy who wants to own the horse that belongs to his boss, even though he's the one who's been training and riding it for the past six years.  I actually kept thinking of two movies when I read this book - The Quiet Man (because of the racing scene and the fight scene) and The Secret of Roan Inish (because of its depiction of the Irish island dwellers and their mythology).  Everything in The Scorpio Races seems very realistic, from the American tourists to the descriptions of the fields and cliffs.  The only thing that makes this book fantasy is the fictional island of Thisby and the surrounding Scorpio Sea, and the fact that the racers ride wild, carnivorous water horses (the Capall Uisca) from the sea that would do anything to escape, including eat their riders.

The characters in the book were great too.  Kate "Puck" Connolly is the determined island girl who needs to ride to try to keep her home and family together.  Since being orphaned thanks to the water horses, she's had to become tough and self-reliant, but she's also got a vulnerable side that she only lets slip when she thinks she's alone.  I thought she was great because she wasn't a Mary-Sue; she's a fierce competitor but she also makes mistakes.  She's one of two narrators in the book; the other is Sean Kendrick.  Sean was also orphaned by the water horses, but he still appreciates and loves them, training them to run the races.  He has a very calming and commanding presence, but there's also a wildness to him, especially when he's with Corr, his water horse.  My favorite secondary characters are the American horse-buyer George Holly and Puck's younger brother Finn.  Both add some elements of humor, and they also each help Sean and Puck reach their goals.

Everything about The Scorpio Races drew me in- the beautiful writing, the characters, the setting, the horses, the story.  I felt like I was there the entire time, standing next to Puck or riding the Capall Uisca, and I only wish that Stiefvater would write another book about Thisby and the races so I could experience it all over again.  A+

Book Review: Underworld by Meg Cabot

Title:  Underworld
Author:  Meg Cabot
Series:  Abandon Trilogy #2
Genre:  YA mythology retelling
Pages:  318

Rating:  B+

Synopsis from goodreads.com:  Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn't dead. Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey. Her captor, John Hayden, claims it's for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they've come back as Furies, intent on vengeance... on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there... and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies. And unless Pierce is careful, this time there'll be no escape.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What an improvement!  Underworld is so much better than Abandon, which is what I'd been hoping.  It still wasn't the best-written book I've ever read (Show; don't tell!), but so many of the things I disliked in the first book weren't in this one.

First, we got a little more character development for the other characters, besides Pierce.  In the first book, all the development went to Pierce, and everyone else was kind of flat.  This time, John and Kayla and Alex all get some much-needed background stories and personality.  It made me much more invested in their characters and stories.

Second, John and Pierce were much better characters overall.  They weren't nearly as annoying, they worked well together, and their romance got a little more depth.  That doesn't mean that Pierce didn't still say or do stupid things, because she did.  Or that John stopped overreacting, because he did that too.  But it was on a much more normal, smaller scale.  And their relationship, while I'm still so mad that it started as an insta-love, had its ups and downs like any typical relationship.  If by typical, you include Furies trying to kill you and spending eternity in the Underworld.

Third, like Abandon, Underworld had some really good plot twists.  Once again, Cabot surprised me with the ending.  The book wasn't action-packed, but the pace was fast, and there was enough happening to keep me engaged.

There were some things that bugged me.  I really hate Richard Smith and his lectures.  His whole point of being in the story is simply to fill in the blanks on how the Underworld and death deities work in almost encyclopedia form.  At the same time, there were parts that felt like they didn't get enough information, and I was left wondering what I'd missed.  But what annoyed me most was Cabot's writing.  There were some moments of dialogue that sounded so over-the-top and melodramatic, I laughed when I read them, which I'm sure wasn't the emotion Cabot was trying for.

Still, Underworld definitely seemed like a huge step up from Abandon.  With more character development, a more realistic relationship drama, and a fast-paced plot, this second book was a great read, and now I'm really looking forward to the final book of the trilogy, Awaken.  B+

Book Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Title:  Goddess Interrupted
Author:  Aimee Carter
Series:  Goddess Test #2
Genre:  YA mythology retelling
Pages:  304

Rating:  A-

Synopsis from goodreads.com:  Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it. Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

GAH!!  That cliffhanger!!  How could you do this to me, Aimee Carter?!  Even if I'd hated the book (which I didn't), I would have to pick up the third one to see what happens next.  Thank goodness, The Goddess Inheritance comes out this month, so I don't have to wait too much longer.

So much drama!  Let it be known that all of the crazy relationship tension in this book could have been avoided if A) Henry & Kate actually talked to each other in the beginning or B) Henry actually opened up about his feelings or C) the two of them hadn't been so dense.  Obviously this crazy relationship drama had to happen, or the book would have been cut in half, but sometimes this couple frustrated me, especially Kate.  Seriously, Kate, stop comparing yourself to Persephone and stop expecting Henry to just forget her in the blink of an eye.  But Kate can't take all the blame.  Henry is equally to blame at times; he cannot expect Kate to read his mind to figure out how he's feeling, and while he obviously needs time to let go of Persephone, he also shouldn't be putting her first when Kate's in the same room.

That being said, I still really loved the book.  The plot, while not action-packed, is still fast-paced.  I never lost interest or felt like the story was dragging.  During the book, Kate travels through the Underworld with Ava and James, and it was really interesting to see how Carter handled the setting.

Calliope is back as the villain, but this time she has a much more powerful ally - the titan Cronus, who's been imprisoned in the Underworld and is thirsty for revenge.  They made great antagonists; I mean, you could feel the hate coming out of Calliope.  The other smaller characters didn't have as much time to shine in this book; the main characters were still Kate, Ava, Henry, and James.  And I have to say, the more I read about James, the more I dislike him.  They did introduce Persephone, and I was definitely not a fan of her.  She wasn't terrible, but overall, I couldn't wait for her to go back to her perfect little afterlife with Adonis.  I think my favorite new character is Ingrid, the first girl who attempted the goddess test.  She's sweet, smart, and practical; she gives Kate great advice too (if only she'd listen).

But the most awesome part of Goddess Interrupted was that cliffhanger!  I cannot believe the book ended that way, and it is driving me nuts that I have to wait to read the final book.  A-

Official Riordan Crossover

Rick Riordan has written an official crossover of the Kane Chronicles and Percy Jackson!  **happy dance**

One of my favorite things in the Kane Chronicles were the little mentions here and there that hinted at Percy and the Olympians.  Like in The Throne of Fire, Carter swears he sees a pegasus.  Or in The Red Pyramid, when Amos tells Carter & Sadie to stay out of Manhattan because it has its own gods.  I kept hoping there would be a moment where they met, or that maybe the final book of both series would combine.  So when I read on Entertainment Weekly's website that Riordan was going to do a crossover, it took all my self-control not to SQUEE (I don't think my coworkers would appreciate it).

Read the EW article here, or below:

Rick Riordan announces 'Percy Jackson', 'Kane Chronicles' Crossover
by Tara Fowler, Entertainment Weekly

Rick Riordan fans, the impossible is finally coming true. The author has written a crossover story featuring both Carter Kane and Percy Jackson!

Titled “The Son of Sobek,” the short will be published as part of the paperback edition of Riordan’s third installment of the Kane Chronicles, The Serpent’s Shadow. “There are a lot of gods and a lot of characters in my books,” Riordan told Publisher’s Weekly. “I picked two that I know very well. Percy and Carter are my touchstones.”

The author also addressed the news on his blog, explaining why now is the perfect time to give fans what they’ve been clamoring for. “My publisher Disney-Hyperion was looking for something fun to add to the paperback version of The Serpent’s Shadow … something to encourage folks who haven’t yet tried the Kane Chronicles to pick up the series. I decided what the heck. Let’s throw Carter and Percy together in a Greek-Egyptian dilemma and see what happens. The result was SO much fun to write.”

But what if you already own the hardcover edition of The Serpent’s Shadow? Don’t worry! “The Son of Sobek” will also be available to purchase separately. “Disney will be releasing it a little later in the summer as an e-single and audio, read by yours truly — the first time I’ve ever narrated the entire audio for my own story,” Riordan revealed. “The e-single will be priced accordingly, and I hope you find the adventure worth it. I certainly had a blast mixing up the Egyptian and Greek worlds.”

“The Son of Sobek” hits shelves with The Serpent’s Shadow on May 7.

Are you excited to see Percy and Carter meet?

Book Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title:  The Goddess Test
Author:  Aimee Carter
Series:  Goddess Test #1
Genre:  Young adult/Mythology retelling
Pages:  293

Rating:  A-

Synopsis from goodreads.com:  EVERY GIRL WHO HAS TAKEN THE TEST HAS DIED.  NOW IT'S KATE'S TURN. 

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.  Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.  Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she suceeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.

IF SHE FAILS...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Goddess Test is a far more satisfying Hades/Persephone retelling than Abandon.  With better characters, a more interesting plot line, and a way more believable romance, I feel much more invested in finishing this series.

Kate is totally believable as a girl struggling with the inevitable upcoming death of her mother, whom she's been caring for throughout high school.  You can feel her tension and sadness.  So when an opportunity to help her mother arises in the form of Henry (Hades), it's understandable that she'd take that chance.  Henry is an awesome new take on Hades.  Rather than the forceful and stern ruler of the Underworld, he's quiet, lonely, and a little sad, but still powerful.

There's no love-at-first-kiss in this book, thank goodness.  The relationship between Kate and Henry feels real because it develops slowly as they actually get to know one another.  I love every scene where the two of them are together.  I also love the relationship between Kate and her friend Ava.  Ava is Kate's complete opposite, yet they work well together.

The story itself was really good.  Despite the fact that it wasn't heart-stopping action and suspense from beginning to end, it never dragged or grew tedious.  It kept my interest throughout, thanks to the great character development.  I love the twist at the ending, although I saw it coming from a mile away.  Perhaps that was my only problem with the book; it was just a little too predictable at times.  A-

Book Review: Abandon by Meg Cabot

Title:  Abandon
Author:  Meg Cabot
Genre:  YA mythology retelling
Pages:  304

Rating:  B-

Synopsis from goodreads.com:  Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.  But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid. 
Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.  But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I'm seriously torn about this book.  I love the Persephone/Hades story, and usually the retellings are good too.  But this one was so up & down, I'm not sure how I feel.  I mean, I was really nervous about Abandon simply because Cabot is not my favorite author (I hate The Princess Diaries), but I decided to give it a try anyway.

Here's what I liked:

• A different take on the Hades/Persephone retelling -  Pierce dies and ends up in the Underworld, instead of being kidnapped.  When she gets there, she meets John Hayden (the Hades of this story), who offers her a place at his side.  She's only fifteen so she understandably freaks out and makes a run for it.  She's able to escape and make it back to land of the living, but now John won't leave her alone.
• The characters (sometimes) -  I like John Hayden in the very beginning and in the very end.  Pretty much only when he's actually in the Underworld.  Honestly, he really doesn't have a huge part in the book.  Maybe the next one?  And Pierce is a great character when she's acting confident and strong, when she's ready to protect her family.  Of the few secondary characters who get any development, I think I like Uncle Chris the best, even if he's barely in the book.
• The plot twists -  The book definitely had its share of unexpected plot twists, especially one big one at the end that I didn't see coming.
• The structure -  I really liked how Pierce told about all of her past experiences (dying, meeting John, waking up again) a little at a time in flashbacks, as the rest of the story happens around her.  It was interesting and different.

What I didn't like:

• The romance -  One minute Pierce hates John, calling him a jerk (which he kind of deserved) and giving him back the gift he gave her, and then as soon as they kiss, BOOM!  She's in love with him.  There was no build-up to it, no tension, no real romance.  John's apparently been in love with her the whole time (he has a crazy way of showing it), and all it takes is one make-out session for her to fall for him.  I'm really hoping that their relationship gets a little more depth in the next book.
• Lack of character development -  Pierce obviously gets all the character development, and everyone else is kind of two-dimensional.  Some of them are just painfully flat stereotypes.
• The characters (sometimes) -  Pierce is great, sometimes, but the rest of the time, she can just be so stupid.  And annoying.  And just so.... I can't even describe it; I just want to slap her.  And based on the way John acts outside of the Underworld, I'm not sure why Pierce would want to fall in love with him.
• Plot holes -  So many plot holes!  What's the deal with Alex's hatred for the popular kids?  Why does Kayla hate them too?  And then alternatively, there were other parts that were just full of too much information.  The whole segment with Richard explaining death deities felt so long and boring, and was simply there as a lesson in how the Underworld works.

So like I said, I'm torn.  I really wanted to like this book, and there were parts of it that I did enjoy.  Then there were other parts that made me want to put down the book and stop reading.  But I didn't, and I still intend on reading the next book, and the final book when it's released, because maybe Cabot will fill in the plot holes, include some character development, and flesh out the romance in the next books.  And also simply because I love mythology retellings, and now that I've started this trilogy I want to see how it turns out in the end.  B-

Book Review: Daughter of the Earth and Sky by Kaitlin Bevis

Title:  Daughter of the Earth and Sky
Author:  Kaitlin Bevis
Series:  Daughters of Zeus #2
Genre:  Mythology retelling
Format:  ebook

Rating:  A+

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):  Some vows can never be broken.  Persephone thought she could go back to her normal life after returning from the Underworld. She was wrong. The goddess Aphrodite is born among the waves with more charm than she can control. Zeus is stalking Persephone and her loved ones, and Thanatos is no longer content with Persephone’s silence. He wants her soul.

Persephone can’t tell anyone about Thanatos’ betrayal, and it drives a wedge between her and Hades. Her mother is still keeping secrets, and Melissa’s jealousy of Aphrodite threatens to tear their friendship apart. Alone, Persephone turns to a human boy for comfort. But will their relationship put him in danger? Sacrifices must be made, and Persephone must choose between her human life and her responsibilities as a goddess. If she doesn’t, she could lose them both.
But will either life be worth choosing once Zeus is through with her?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

OMG!  OMG!  OMG!  I cannot believe I have to wait til May for the next book!  Usually the second book in a series is a placeholder, a stepping stone to get from the beginning to the end.  But Daughter of the Earth & Sky is amazing, and it completely stands on its own.

Persephone faces even bigger problems in this book because while some of her issues are being caused by other people, a lot of what she's facing is internal.  She's dealing with the weight of keeping a huge secret from the man she loves, and with the distance this is putting between them.  She's also becoming more and more isolated from the people around her.  It's amazing that she doesn't crack.  And Hades is just as smoldering and intense as ever.  I really wish he'd played a bigger role because he's incredible.  I also missed Cassandra; she's so funny and spunky.  But since most of the story takes place outside of the Underworld, her role in this book is tiny.  The addition of Aphrodite was a bit annoying, but I guess that's probably what Aphrodite would be like - spoiled, entitled, slutty.

Besides the character and relationship development, the story also contains a lot more action than the previous book.  There never seemed to be a moment when anything dragged.  I started the book just after dinner and finished it within a couple of hours because I just didn't want to put it down.  I'd get distracted by someone for a minute, and then immediately turn back to the book.  I even forgot my hatred of ebooks because I was so wrapped up in the story.

And that ending!  So twisted and unexpected!  It was so intense that when I got to the end I actually yelled "No!" out loud, because I didn't want it to be over.  What an insane cliffhanger!  Even if the rest of the book had been terrible (which it definitely wasn't), I'd still want to read the next book because of that crazy cliffhanger.  I cannot wait for May so I can read The Iron Queen.  I hope it's as amazing as the first two.  A+

Book Review: Persephone by Kaitlin Bevis

Title:  Persephone
Author:  Kaitlin Bevis
Series:  Daughters of Zeus #1
Genre:  Mythology retelling
Pages:  237 (ebook)

Rating:  A

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):  There are worse things than death, worse people too...  The “talk” was bad enough, but how many teens get told that they’re a goddess? When her mom tells her, Persephone is sure her mother has lost her mind. It isn’t until Boreas, the god of winter, tries to abduct her that she realizes her mother was telling the truth. Hades rescues her, and in order to safely bring Persephone to the Underworld he marks her as his bride. But Boreas will stop at nothing to get Persephone. Despite her growing feelings for Hades, Persephone wants to return to the living realm. Persephone must find a way to defeat Boreas and reclaim her life.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I cannot say this enough, but I hate ebooks!  I know there are some pros to them, but they're just not for me.  I love the feel of actual pages, and I can't stand the glare of a screen when I'm reading.  Unfortunately, this book was only available as an ebook, so I had no choice but to give in and purchase my first ebook ever.  And as much as I loved this book, the only reason it didn't get an A+ was because of its ebook format.

Just had to rant about that for a second.  Now on to the actual book review.  I love retellings of myth and fairy tales, and the story of Hades & Persephone is one of my favorites.  Persephone by Kaitlin Bevis was an incredible retelling, with my favorite version of Hades ever.  He's charming, kind, handsome, and sometimes forceful, with just a bit of a smirking "bad boy" air.  His relationship with Persephone gave me chills.  Persephone herself was an interesting character, constantly switching between annoying teenager and powerful goddess.  But I guess I couldn't blame her for how she reacted sometimes.  I don't know how I would've handled learning I was a goddess.

The story focuses mostly on the development of the relationship between Persephone and Hades, but there's also the problem of Persephone being a target for kidnapping.  The adventures she has while learning about her powers and how to protect herself are exciting, and the final climax is captivating.  And of course, the book had to end on a cliffhanger, so I just had to buy the next book immediately afterwards, despite my distaste for its online format.  I'm so excited to see what Bevis has in store for Persephone and Hades (especially Hades) in the sequel.  A