Waiting on Wednesday: Antigoddess

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publish Date: Sept. 10, 2013
Genre: Fantasy, Mythology

Goodreads Summary: Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.
These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

Why am I waiting on Antigoddess? I love Greek mythology and Kendare Blake has proven that she can write. Her debut novel, Anna Dressed in Blood, scared the mess out of me but it was still well written. I’m really excited about Antigoddess but September seems so far away… What books are you waiting on?

Book Review: Starling

Title: Starling by Lesley Livingston
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 352 pages
Release Date: Aug. 28, 2012
Genre: Mythology, Fantasy

Goodreads Summary: Mason Starling is a champion fencer on the Gosforth Academy team, but she's never had to fight for her life. Not until the night a ferocious, otherworldly storm rips through Manhattan, trapping Mason and her teammates inside the school.

Mason is besieged by nightmarish creatures more terrifying than the thunder and lightning as the raging tempest also brings a dangerous stranger into her life: a young man who remembers nothing but his name--the Fennrys Wolf. His arrival tears Mason's world apart, even as she feels an undeniable connection to him. Together, they seek to unravel the secrets of Fenn's identity as strange and supernatural forces gather around them.

When they discover Mason's family--with its dark allegiance to ancient Norse gods--is at the heart of the mystery, Fennrys and Mason are suddenly faced with a terrifying future.

Set against the gritty, shadowed back-drop of New York City, this first novel in award-winning author Lesley Livingston's epic Starling Saga is an intoxicating blend of sweeping romance and pulse-pounding action.

I really liked Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange series and the Fennrys Wolf was one of my favorite characters in the books. I was not a fan of Fenn’s fate at the end of the series so I was really excited when I found out that Livingston’s new series was going to be about him and Norse mythology. I love myth in any form and since there are not enough YA books around with Norse myth, I really wanted this one to be good and it is!

I’m a very character driven reader and Starling is a very plot driven book. Regardless, I still enjoyed it. Mason is a great character: a girl who knows how to fight but is not overly or unrealistically kick-buttish. She is a great love interest for Fenn who is even more likable in this book than he was in Wondrous Strange.

As much as I liked the characters, the plot is really the highlight of this book. Livingston takes not so well known (for me anyway) Norse mythology and combines it with myth from other cultures, including Egyptian, and creates a really cool story.

I love the start of this series and am looking forward to the next book which will hopefully be coming out next year.If you love mythology like I do, this is definitely a book you should pick up.

Content: Kissing, some profanity.

My Rating: Really Good!

Waiting on Wednesday: Ink

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Ink by Amanda Sun
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publish Date: June 5, 2013
Genre: Mythology, Fantasy

Goodreads Summary: I looked down at the paper, still touching the tip of my shoe. I reached for it, flipping the page over to look.

Scrawls of ink outlined a drawing of girl lying on a bench.

A sick feeling started to twist in my stomach, like motion sickness.

And then the girl in the drawing turned her head, and her inky eyes glared straight into mine.

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.

Why am I waiting on Ink? You guys know that I love mythology and there isn’t nearly enough Japanese mythology in YA books these days. This book sounds awesome and I am VERY excited about it. What books are you waiting on?

Waiting on Wednesday: Solstice

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Solstice by P.J. Hoover
Publisher: Tor Teen/MacMillan
Publish Date: June 21, 2013
Genre: Mythology, Dystopia

Goodreads Summary: Piper's world is dying. Each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles that threaten to destroy the earth. Amid this global heating crisis, Piper lives under the oppressive rule of her mother, who suffocates her even more than the weather does. Everything changes on her eighteenth birthday, when her mother is called away on a mysterious errand and Piper seizes her first opportunity for freedom.

Piper discovers a universe she never knew existed—a sphere of gods and monsters—and realizes that her world is not the only one in crisis. While gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper’s life spirals out of control as she struggles to find the answer to the secret that has been kept from her since birth.

An imaginative melding of mythology and dystopia, Solstice is the first YA novel by talented newcomer P. J. Hoover.

Why am I waiting on Solstice? It combines two of my favorite genres: Greek mythology and dystopia, plus I love the cover! I believe this book was self published last year and is now being traditionally published by Tor Teen. Current reviews for it are very good and I can’t wait to read it. What books are you waiting on?

Book Review: Dark Frost

Title: Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep
Release Date: May 29, 2012
Publisher: Kensington
Pages: 336 pages
Genre: Mythology
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Goodreads Summary: I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again.

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me?

It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life.

Dark Frost is a satisfying sequel to Kiss of Frost and an awesome third book in this series. Jennifer Estep does a great job of expanding the mythology and advancing Gwen and Logan’s relationship so this book is a total win for me.

I love Greek mythology and Estep gives the reader even more of it in Dark Frost. Like the title suggests, this book is darker than the first two in the series but considering the obstacles that Gwen is up against, it’s only natural for the story to go in this direction. As far as plot goes, Dark Frost may have my favorite in the series so far and that is saying a lot because I really enjoyed the plots in the first two books.

Gwen remains a very likable and strong main character. She has matured a lot since the first book in the series and its fun to see her powers growing into so much more than simple touch magic. The other character that’s grown a lot is Logan. I’m so happy he is no longer the man whore from book one but the strong, swoony male lead that’s a perfect complement to Gwen.

Dark Frost has tons of action, sweet romance and lots of cool Greek myth. If you have not started this series yet, you should. It’s one of those rare YA series that ALL the books have been really good! I can’t wait to read the fourth book in the series, Crimson Frost, in December.

Content: Kissing, profanity and violence.

My Rating: Really Good!

Waiting on Wednesday: Furious

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Furious by Jill Wolfson

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co. BYR
Publish Date: April 2013
Genre: Mythology

Edelweiss Summary: Three high school girls become the avenging Furies of Greek legend.

We were only three angry girls, to begin with. Alix, the hot-tempered surfer chick; Stephanie, the tree-hugging activist; and me, Meg, the quiet foster kid, the one who never quite fit in. We hardly knew each other, but each of us nurtured a burning anger: at the jerks in our class, at our disappointing parents, at the whole flawed, unjust world.

We were only three angry girls, simmering uselessly in our ocean-side California town, until one day a mysterious, beautiful classmate named Ambrosia taught us what else we could be: Powerful. Deadly. Furious.

Why am I waiting on Furious? I can’t resist books with Greek mythology and have not read a book where the furies were the main characters. I’m also surprised that the girls on the cover look like real high school girls instead of overly madeup, highly airbrushed super models. What books are you waiting on?

Book Review: Dreamless

Title: Dreamless by Josephine Angelini
Release Date: May 29, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 487 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Mythology
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers to Starcrossed, the first book in the series.

Goodreads Summary: Can true love be forgotten? As the only scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on.
Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out--a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies' cry for blood is growing louder.

As the ancient Greek world collides with the mortal one, Helen's sheltered life on Nantucket descends into chaos. But the hardest task of all will be forgetting Lucas Delos.

I’m a huge fan of Greek mythology and when I read Starcrossed last year, I devoured the book. It was so good (you can read my review here) and so I was afraid that the sequel, Dreamless, may fall victim the sophomore slump that many YA books tend to suffer from. Guys, I loved Dreamless just as much if not more than Starcrossed! It’s just that good!

Dreamless picks up shortly after where Starcrossed left off with Helen descending into the underworld in an attempt to stop the furies so that Hector can be safely reunited with the rest of the Delos family. Unlike in Starcrossed, Helen’s support system is practically non-existent in Dreamless. Hector had to leave the family, Lucas is avoiding Helen because of the attraction they feel to each other and Helen’s mortal friends, Claire and Matt are so busy comforting and trying to impress their crushes Jason and Ariadne that Helen is left out in the cold. Going to hell every night takes a horrible toll on Helen physically and emotionally, especially since she has no one to lean. That’s when Orion comes into the picture.

Normally, I’m a character over plot driven reader but Dreamless is all about the plot. Don’t get me wrong, the characters are very well developed but Angelini’s incorporation of various stories and themes from Greek mythology (such as The Iliad and The Aeneid) into the plot are awesome! Angelini’s description of the underworld is fantastic. If this book does nothing else, I hope it draws people back to originals so they can discover them (or rediscover them, as the case may be) for themselves. She also includes characters from mythology like the swoon worthy Morpheus, Ares, Hades and Persephone. I especially love how Persephone is described and I really want to thank Angelini for that!

The characters go through a lot of growth and change in Dreamless, some of it great, some less so. I wanted Helen to be emotionally stronger, especially when it comes to Lucas and I really wanted the other Scions, especially Jason, to get out of their funks and be more supportive of Helen, especially since her quest benefits them all. Hector, on the other hand, is even more awesome in this book! I just love him and love that his character is growing into the leader that we know he will be. Orion, a new character, is so swoony and fantastic. Easily, Hector and Orion are my favorite characters in Dreamless.

Greek mythology is like candy to me and while reading Dreamless, I felt like a kid in a candy store. There is tons of action, plot twists and a heck of a cliffhanger ending that has me clamoring for the next book in the series, Goddess, which comes out next year. I love this book and recommend the series to both teens and adults. 

Content: Kissing, profanity and violence.

My Rating: The Best!

Waiting on Wednesday: Revel

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Revel by Maurissa Guibord
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: Feb. 12, 2013
Genre: Fantasy, Mythology

Goodreads Summary: There's an island off the coast of Maine that's not on any modern map. Shrouded in mist and protected by a deadly reef, Trespass Island is home to a community of people who guard the island and its secrets from outsiders. Seventeen-year-old Delia grew up in Kansas, but has come here in search of her family and answers to her questions: Why didn't her mother ever talk about Trespass Island? Why did she fear the open water? But Delia's not welcome and soon finds herself enmeshed in a frightening and supernatural world where ancient Greek symbols adorn the buildings and secret ceremonies take place on the beach at night. Sean Gunn, a handsome young lobsterman, befriends Delia and seems willing to risk his life to protect her. But it's Jax, the coldly elusive young man she meets at the water's edge, who finally makes Delia understand the real dangers of life on the island. Delia is going to have to fight to survive. Because there are monsters here. And no one ever leaves Trespass alive.

Why am I waiting on Revel? I’m always excited about books with Greek mythology so even the hint of mythology in this description is enough to hook me! What books are you waiting on?

Book Review: Fated

Title: Fated by Alyson Noel

Release Date: May 22, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pages: 352 pages
Genre: Mythology, Fantasy
Source: Won from Goodreads First Reads Program

Goodreads Summary: Lately strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, and glowing people appear out of nowhere. Worried that Daire is having a nervous breakdown, her mother packs her off to stay in the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico with a grandmother she’s never met.

There she crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes who she’s encountered before...but only in her dreams. And she’ll get to know her grandmother—a woman who recognizes Daire’s bizarre episodes for what they are. A call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, one who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead. Her grandmother immediately begins teaching her to harness her powers—but it’s an art that must be mastered quickly. Because Dace’s brother is an evil shape-shifter who’s out to steal her powers. Now Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and find out if Dace is one guy she’s meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she’s destined to destroy.

While I have not read Alyson Noel’s Immortals series (I have seen lots of mixed reviews about it), I was very excited to read Fated. The summary is awesome and the cover is gorgeous. Fated is a cool mix of South American and Native American mythology with interesting characters and a little romance mixed it.

While Daire has always experienced interesting phenomena like stopping time for a few minutes, it’s on her sixteenth birthday that she has an episode in Morocco where she sees things and lashes out violently at the people around her. After several more episodes, her mother has to either have her committed to a mental hospital or send Daire to live in New Mexico with a grandmother she has never met but who promises to treat Daire with natural remedies. Daire grandmother tells her she is not crazy but descended from a long line of Soul Seekers, and while Daire responds to this new information with a healthy dose of skepticism, she begins to have otherworldly experiences that make her realize her grandmother was telling the truth all along.

I love the Southwestern setting, it’s perfect for the mythology in the book. There are some very cool aspects to this story such as the way Daire descends into the Lowerworld and the spirit animals. I also really liked the portions of the book where Daire shifts her consciousness into various animals and insects, especially the cockroach. 

I like Daire. She has a cool sense of style and I love how tough she is and the way she stands up to the mean girls at school. I also like the secondary characters such as Daire’s grandmother and her friend, Chay. Daire’s mother is flighty, childlike and completely unaware of what’s going on with her daughter and even though I’m not a fan of absentee parents in YA books, the circumstances here are well done as Daire’s grandmother is very active in her life. Of course, there is a bad guy: the gorgeous Cade who just happens to have an identical twin, Dace. Cade and Dace and complete opposites: evil twin and good twin and not surprisingly, Daire falls for good twin Dace.

I don’t really like the relationship between Daire and Dace. It’s not exactly insta-love because Daire had been dreaming about Dace before they ever met but their relationship is not exactly well developed either. Additionally, Dace comes across as being so good, he just seems naïve to me. Just like his brother and Daire, Dace also has powers and I feel he should have a clue about what his evil twin was up to.

Despite my issue with the romance, I enjoyed the mythology in Fated and look forward to the next book in the series.

Content: Kissing, violence and underage drinking.

My Rating: Just fine

Book Review: Goddess Interrupted

Title: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Release Date: March 27, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 304 pages
Genre: Mythology
Source: Publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads Summary: 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.

I love mythology and really enjoyed the modern twist Aimee Carter put on her debut novel, The Goddess Test. I have been looking forward to Goddess Interrupted to see where Carter would take the story and what twists she would put on this second book in the series. While I have some issues with this second book, it is still really entertaining and a treat for mythology lovers.

At the end of The Goddess Test, Kate leaves her new husband, Henry, to spend her six months above on a vacation as per their agreement. While Kate is disappointed that Henry never visited her while she was above, she is very excited to get back to him and start their life together. Unfortunately, scheming gods and goddesses have other plans for Kate and Henry.

Goddess Interrupted is set almost entirely in the underworld and I loved the setting. Kate moves into the dark but beautiful palace but soon after, she goes on a quest with James and Ava that takes them through the underworld, which is great because Aimee Carter’s setting is both dreamy and hellish.

Goddess Interrupted is very similar to other middle books in a YA series in that the couple who fought so hard to be together in the first book now face numerous relationship problems in the second book, problems that could be quickly resolved if they just sat down and had a mature conversation with each other. I know, I know. If they did that, then most of the conflict and tension would be gone from the plot.

Instead of being the warm, loving husband Kate yearns for, Henry is cold and distant. I hate that Kate spends a good portion of the novel wondering if Henry will return her affections and being jealous of his ex-wife (and her half sister), Persephone. I was frustrated by Kate and Henry’s lack of communication and felt that all the progress that they made in the first book went out the window as soon as the second one began. It was like they were starting their relationship all over again. Additionally, Kate is made to sit out most of the fighting and so the reader is left out of a lot of the action as well.

While I’m being critical of this book, there is plenty to love. The family dysfunction that Greek myths are known for is very present in Goddess Interrupted and the addition of Cronus as another antagonist in the story was great. Additionally, the book is very fast paced and I had a hard time putting it down. Despite its issues, Goddess Interrupted is totally worth reading but I have to warn you that it ends with a heck of a cliffhanger. I am dying to read the next book in the series to see what happens.

Content: Kissing, sexual situations, profanity and violence.

My Rating: Just Fine

Book Review and Blog Tour: Pure

I am thrilled to be a stop on the blog tour for Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout hosted by Valerie at Stuck in Books!

Title: Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Pages: 329 pages
Genre: Mythology, YA Urban Fantasy
Buy: Amazon, B&N, Book Depository

Goodreads Summary: There is need. And then there is Fate... Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her.

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

Jennifer L. Armentrout has made a name for herself in the YA urban fantasy market and with good reason. Her books have this exciting, unputdownable quality to them that I love. Pure is no different. Plus, I’m a mythology junkie and with furies, oracles, Greek gods and demi-gods, I devoured this book and can’t wait for the next in the series.

Pure picks up shortly after Half-blood (read my review of Half-Blood here) with Alex attending school at the Covenant and playing catch up with her training. In addition to Alex being trained by her off-limits crush, Aiden, she now has to spar with Seth, the Apollyon and the one she is ‘fated’ to be with. The world of these demi-gods is more fully explored in Pure and we get to see the politics of their society. We also see the segregation between the Pures and the Half-bloods and it eye-opening. I really hoping that at some point in the series, there will be a slave revolt and the Half-bloods, especially the ones in servitude, will rebel and lay the smack-down on the Pures. The Pures so have it coming to them.

Ever at risk of being thrown into servitude herself, Alex continues to be hot-headed, impulsive and snarky although we do see her maturing quite a bit throughout the book, especially when she considers the consequences of some of her actions. Alex has a huge destiny to fulfill, one that she does not fully understand. She also has a lot of enemies and people working for her to fail. I’m looking forward to seeing the character grow throughout the series and really take control of her destiny especially when so many are trying to dictate it for her.

There is a love triangle in the book with Alex caught between Aiden and Seth. Seth is like the male version of Alex but he is even more hot-headed and impulsive than she is. Aiden is the opposite of Seth: he is calm, sensible, rational, even tempered and it’s obvious that he cares deeply about Alex. I know a lot of you may disagree but since I usually go for the good boy over the bad boy, I’m Team Aiden all the way!

Pure has exciting fight scenes, hot romance, a main character that you love and root for and enough Greek mythology to make me happy. I cannot wait for the third book in the series, Deity, which is scheduled for Nov. 2012.

Content: Kissing, sexual situations, profanity, underage drinking and violence.

My Rating: Really Good!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Want to win a copy of this exciting book? To gain an entry in either/both of the tour giveaways for Pure, leave a comment here and then go to StuckInBooks and/or A Cupcake and a Latte with this link to complete your entry.

Waiting on Wednesday: Valkyrie Rising and Starling

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choices are:

Title: Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: Oct. 9, 2012
Genre: Mythology

Goodreads Summary: Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly there’s a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.

Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.

Title: Starling by Lesley Livingston

Publisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: Aug. 15, 2012
Genre: Fantasy, Mythology

Goodreads Summary: "Love is just the beginning... of the end." Mason Starling is a champion fencer for Gosforth Academy, but she’s never had to fight for her life. Until now. When a ferocious storm rips through Manhattan and unleashes terrifying creatures onto Gosforth’s campus, Mason barely escapes alive.

Without help from the mysterious stranger who appeared in the midst of the storm, she might not have made it at all. But now, in the aftermath, Mason’s life begins to spin dramatically, mystically out of control, and the only one who seems able to help her is the stranger who can remember nothing but his name: Fennrys Wolf.

As Mason and Fenn uncover more about Fenn’s past and the strange events that surround them, they realize that Mason’s family — and its dark allegiance to the ancient Norse gods — is at the center of everything. A predetermined fate seems to be closing in on Mason, but is it possible to change one’s destiny?

Readers who fell in love with Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange trilogy and those who love Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series will be captivated by the sweeping romance and pulse-pounding action of Starling.

Why am I waiting on Valkyrie Rising and Starling? There are not nearly enough YA books with Norse mythology and along with the fantastic cover, Valkyrie Rising looks like a winner. When I read the description of Starling and saw that Lesley Livingston is bringing Fennrys back, I did a little sqee! He was one of my favorite characters from the Wondrous Strange books and I’m thrilled he will be featured in another series. Plus, Starling includes some Norse mythology as well and I love myth. What books are you waiting on?

Book Review: Everneath

Title: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Release Date: Jan. 24, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 370 pages
Genre: Paranormal, Mythology
Source: Publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads Summary: Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

When I saw the summary for Everneath a few months ago, I thought it was another retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth (it’s not) and that it involved a love triangle (it doesn’t). Instead, Everneath mixes Egyption mythology with a fresh take on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, a unique combination that I have not seen in YA paranormal books.

When we meet Nikki Beckett, she has just returned from Everneath, a realm for immortal beings called Everlings, but everyone assumes that she was a drug addict and runaway since she disappeared for six months without a trace. The story is told in flashbacks, so in addition to reading about what’s going on in the present, we also find out the circumstances that led to her being in Everneath in the first place. While the story unfolds slowly, it kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to find out exactly how Nikki ended up in her situation.

Nikki is an interesting character. Prior to going to Everneath, she was very insecure in her relationship with her boyfriend, the popular and handsome starting quarterback, Jack. While it saddened me to read about this girl who thought she was not good enough for a boy, her feelings of insecurity are very important to the book’s plot. I didn’t love Nikki but I didn’t hate her either. She made some poor decisions that led to horrible consequences and now she has a hard time living with these consequences.

As for the boys, I loved Jack! He is a great example of love, forgiveness and sacrifice. Jack may just find himself on my list of favorite book boys for 2012. I’m probably supposed to hate Cole, he is sort of the villain in the story, but I’m more intrigued by him than anything else. Cole is an Everling, an immortal being who lives off the life energy of humans. Even though Cole is pretty much a parasite, I don’t hold him responsible for Nikki’s situation. She gets all the blame for that. I’m really hoping to learn more about Cole and the political situation in Everneath in the sequel. There are mentions of an evil, life sucking, homicidal queen of Everneath and who can resist learning more about her!

With its unique mythology and an ending that left me dying for more, I cannot wait to read the second book in this series. Everneath is a wonderful debut novel by Brodi Ashton and I am looking forward to more from her. I highly recommend this book, especially to readers who love all things mythology (like myself).

Content: Kissing, some profanity and underage drinking

My Rating: Really Good!

Book Review: Kiss of Frost

Title: Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Release Date: Nov. 29, 2011
Publisher: Kensington
Pages: 354 pages
Genre: Paranormal, Mythology
Source: Publisher

Goodreads Summary: I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Acad­emy, and I have no idea how I’m going to sur­vive the rest of the semes­ter. One day, I’m get­ting schooled in sword­play by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gor­geous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invis­i­ble archer in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties decides to use me for tar­get prac­tice. And now, I find out that some­one at the acad­emy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword...

Jennifer Estep delivers a fun, action-packed sequel to Touch of Frost with Kiss of Frost. This second book picks up shortly after the first with Gwen learning how to fight from her crush (and hot Spartan), Logan Quinn.

As with the first book, Estep effortlessly weaves mystery and mythology together creating a story that’s hard to put down. After the events at the end of book one, Gwen knows she may be the target from those wanting to get revenge and it’s not too long before she is attacked. She has to find out who wants to kill her and she has to do it fast.

Gwen Frost is an extremely likable character. On the surface, she seems like the most ordinary girl in a school in a school full of rich, spoiled superheroes but her psychometry (ability to know an object’s history by touching it) gives her character a lot more depth. In Kiss of Frost, we get to see more of Gwen’s ability at work, which is nice. We also find out more information about the Chaos War and Gwen’s role as Nike’s champion.

The secondary characters are well written, especially Vic, Gwen’s bloodthirsty, talking sword. I love him! While I was happy with Gwen and Logan’s relationship at the end of the book, I want more! Jennifer Estep writes the opposite of insta-love: characters that are perfect for each other, have awesome, tension filled interactions but take forever to get together! It’s been fun seeing these two deny their feelings and I am very excited to see where the story takes them in Dark Frost, which will be published in June.

While the mystery in Kiss of Frost was a bit more predictable than in Touch of Frost, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. This series has romance, action and excitement. Can’t wait to see what Estep has in store for us next.

Content: Profanity, kissing, underage drinking and violence.

My Rating: Really Good!

Book Review: Aphrodite the Beauty

Title: Aphrodite the Beauty by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Release Date: August 3, 2010
Publisher: Aladdin
Pages: 224 pages
Genre: Middle Grade, Mythology
Source: Library

Goodreads Summary: Well-researched and true to the original myths, each volume in the Goddess Girls series addresses contemporary issues like friendships and relationships from a classically accurate—and entertaining—persepective.

In Aphrodite the Beauty, Aphrodite, goddessgirl of love, must deal with jealousy after giving Athena a makeover. It doesn’t seem fair that the godboys pay more attention to her friend when Aphrodite is supposed to be destined for love! She also copes with a crush from an unlikely source—the nerdy Hephaestus (god of the smith)—and learns that love comes in many forms.

I’m a fan of this Goddess Girls series and although I liked Aphrodite the Beauty a lot, I didn’t love it as much I did the first two books in the series. I feel like pre-teen girls are bombarded with love relationship issues and expectations at such a young age that I appreciate books that don’t focus on them but I know I’m not being realistic. Crushes happen and Aphrodite the Beauty actually deals with it in a very sweet and responsible way. Additionally, this book is about Aphrodite, after all, so of course it deals with crushes, angst and love.

Aphrodite is bored with all the attention she gets from the boys so to entertain herself, she gives her friend, Athena, a makeover. No one is prepared for the amount of attention Athena gets, especially from Ares, Aphrodite’s crush. 

As in mythology, Athena is a bit shallow. She becomes jealous of the Athena and is not always very nice to the one boy who actually likes her for who she is inside and not just how she looks. Aphrodite the Beauty is about jealously, friendship and most importantly, appreciating inner beauty. As with the other books in the series, the mythological aspects of the book are fun and well written.

So far, this series is an all around hit. I highly recommend it for pre-teen girls.

Content: Clean read. 

My Rating: Really Good!

Book Review: Persephone the Phony

Title: Persephone the Phony by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Release Date: April 6, 2010
Publisher: Aladdin
Pages: 160 pages
Genre: Middle Grade, Mythology
Source: Library

Goodreads Summary: As Persephone's mother encourages her to do, she often "goes along to get along" instead of doing what she really wants. But when she meets Mount Olympus Academy bad-boy Hades, she finally feels she has found someone with whom she can be herself. He's the first person who actually listens to her, and she finds herself liking him, despite the fact that the other goddessgirls think he's bad news. But if he makes her feel so special -- and so comfortable -- can he really be all that bad? 

Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams put a modern spin on classic myths with the Goddess Girls series. Follow the ins and outs of divine social life at Mount Olympus Academy, where the most privileged godboys and goddessgirls in the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills.

Persephone the Phony is the second book in the Goddess Girls series. While I’ve been reading the books in order, they can stand alone as well. As with the first book in the series, Persphone the Phony deals with real issues that today’s girls face while using a fun, mythological setting that gives pre-teens a loose introduction to Greek myth.

As the title suggests, Persephone is the subject of this book. Persephone is a people pleaser who goes along with others people’s opinions and plans, even when she feels different. With girls facing so much peer pressure, I liked the positive message that you should be true to yourself and not a ‘phony’ as Persephony was at the start of the book.

The book also deals with wrongfully judging people (in this case, Hades) and family relationships. There is a bit of romance in the book but it’s very sweet and innocent.

Persephone the Phony is another book in the Goddess Girls series that I would recommend to young girls. It’s adorable and a quick read. I am looking forward to the other books in the series.

Content: Clean read.

My Rating: Really Good!

Waiting on Wednesday: Dreamless

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

Publisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: May 29, 2012
Genre: Mythology

Goodreads Summary: As the only Scion that can enter Hades at will, Helen descends to the Underworld in search of a way to overcome the Furies and end the cycle of revenge that has cursed the Scions. But she’s running out of time. Each descent weakens her both in mind and spirit. A mysterious stranger might be her only salvation, but the price may be her love for Lucas Delos.

As an unforgettable love triangle emerges, Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding. The eagerly awaited sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed, Dreamless delivers with a huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied—and longing for more.

2011 was a good year for YA books based on Greek mythology and I am in the mood for more. I am really excited for this sequel as I loved the first book in this series, Starcrossed. If you guys know of other books based on Greek myth that are coming out next year, let me know. What books are you waiting on?

Book Review: Athena the Brain

Title: Athena the Brain by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Release Date: April 6, 2010
Publisher: Aladdin
Pages: 160 pages
Genre: Middle Grade, Mythology
Source: Library

Goodreads Summary: In Athena the Brain, Athena always knew she was smart and special, but she didn’t realize that she was a goddess! When she’s whisked away to Mount Olympus Academy, she worries about fitting in and dealing with her dad (Zeus). Luckily, she meets the Goddess Girls and finds the best friends she’s ever had.

Athena, a super smart 12-year-old girl has been who has been living with her foster family since she was a baby, finds out that her father is Zeus and he has invited to attend school on Mount Olympus with other gods and goddesses. 

Athena has to deal with issues that a lot of girls face everyday like starting a new school, making new friends, balancing the pressures of school work with other activities, being embarrassed by your parents and bullying. There is also the local heartthrob (Poseidon) that many of the girls have a crush on but Athena is smart enough to see how self-centered he is and not worth her time (yay Athena!).

Athena the Brain is also great book to give pre-teen girls a loose introduction to Greek mythology. I really liked how the authors worked actual mythological events into the modern storyline and made it work very well.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to pre-teen girls who like sweet stories with a bit of magic. It's cute, has really positive characters and positive messages. I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series!

Content: Clean read.

My Rating: Really Good!

Waiting on Wednesday: Pure & Deity

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choices are:

Titles: Pure & Deity by Jennifer Armentrout

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Publish Date (Pure): April 3, 2012
Publish Date (Deity): Nov. 6, 2012
Genre: Mythology

Pure Summary: There is need. And then there is Fate...

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her.

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

Pure is the second book in the Covenant series and Deity is the third. Why am I waiting on these books? Because Half-Blood, the first book in the series, was made of awesome! I loved Half-Blood so much! You can read my review here. What books are you waiting on?

Book Review: Half-Blood

Title: Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: Oct. 18, 2011
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Pages: 281 pages
Genre: Mythology
Source: Publisher

Goodreads Summary: The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1: Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

I’m a huge fan of mythology and after reading Daimon and Obsidian, I am huge fan of Jennifer Armentrout as well. Half-Blood was even better than I expected. This book is awesome, fast paced, action packed and highly entertaining!

Half-Blood gives us a new spin of Greek mythology where demigods or Hematoi (and their children with each other) are considered pure but their children with mortals are considered half-bloods. The Hemotoi live by a brutal caste system where half-bloods are either forced into drug induced servitude or trained to protect the pures.

Our main character, Alex, is snarky, has an attitude problem and has a huge issue with authority. I can’t say that I blame her, being subject to the complete control that the pures have over the half-bloods would give anyone a bad attitude. Even with all her issues, I really like Alex. She’s had to deal with some horrific situations and is just trying to find some purpose in it. She is also flawed and makes some less than ideal decisions. I admire the way she takes responsibilities for her actions and faces the consequences head on. The secondary characters are well written and I especially like Aiden (of course) and Seth. While there is no love triangle in Half-Blood, I’m very curious to know what will happen with these three in the sequel.

One of the many things I love about Armentrout’s writing is how she creates relationships. Alex’s relationship with her mom is so precious and heartbreaking. Her relationship with Aiden is all slow burn and so well developed. I’ve mentioned my dislike of insta-relationships in books before so the romance in Half-Blood was a huge relief for me. Theirs is also the forbidden romance which just ratchets up the tension in an awesome way.

While I would have liked to know more about the gods, I have a feeling Armentrout will go more in depth with the mythological aspects in upcoming books. With lots of action and romantic tension, Half-Blood keeps you turning the pages. The sequel, Pure, is now one of my most anticipated sequels of 2012. I cannot wait to find out how this story continues!

While Half-Blood can be read on its own, I suggest you read the prequel novella, Daimon, first as it will gives more insight to Alex’s state of mind when she arrives at the Covenant. You can read my mini-review of Daimon here and download it from Spencer Hill Press for free.

Content: Sexual situations, kissing, mild profanity, violence and underage drinking. More appropriate for older/more mature teens.

My Rating: The Best!