REVIEW #122: Underworld (Abandon Trilogy #2) by Meg Cabot

Title: Underworld
Series: Abandon Trilogy #2
Author: Meg Cabot
Publisher: Point
Release Date: May 8th 2012
Pages: Hardcover, 318 pages
Format: Audiobook  10.5 Hours

Summary from Goodreads:
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.

So to sum up the second book: Pierce is back in the underworld with John where she must stay to avoid the Furies who want to kill her.  While she is in the Underworld she sees a glimpse of her cousin's future and he is in a coffin being burned alive.  John reluctantly agrees to go up and save her cousin even though that will put Pierce at risk.  Meanwhile Pierce and John's relationship is evolving and developing into a more serious thing.  

The relationship between Pierce and John sometimes does not seem the most genuine, especially in the first book but Cabot really focuses on developing the relationship.  It actually seems like John is genuinely interested in making Pierce happy and listening to her suggestions.   The story itself though is rather dark seeing as it takes place mainly in the Underworld so I would not say it is the lightest of fluffiest read.  

Underworld suffered a bit from middle book syndrome, I did not really notice it while I was reading it but then when I was writing this review, I noticed not a whole lot happened.  I also felt like the book took place in a week span.  Again, (like in the first book) Pierce got on my nerves a little bit.  She is just so annoying at times but I guess it his justified, she does not have a lot of life experiences so becoming queen of the underworld is not at the top of her priority list.  Overall the book is average with it's fair share of faults and enjoyable moments.  

The audio book narrator is consistent from the first book in the series which is I enjoyed.  The narrator does and excellent job, the voice of Pierce still gets a bit annoying at times but the story is well done and the narrator does an excellent job of keeping  the listener's attention.

Underworld may get slow at times but the story continues to progress and I await the conclusion to this dark but entertaining trilogy!  I recommend this series if you enjoy mythology and the Persephone myth.  It is not the most complicated plot but Underworld is definitely an enjoyable read!