REVIEW: Revel by Maurissa Guibord

Title: Revel
Author: Maurissa Guibord
Publisher:  Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: February 12th 2013
Pages: Hardcover, 352 pages
Source: Won from Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads:
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.

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• I had not heard a lot about Revel before starting it so I was pleasantly surprised when I really enjoyed it.  The story was full of mythology, love and action.  
• Delia is looking for her last bit of family and ends up finding so much more.  She is a strong willed, smart protagonist that has strong family values.  I really enjoyed how she didn't back down and tried to do what was right.  She had a strong moral compass.
• The modern mythology fit perfectly into the story and was easy to imagine an island such as Trespass. The existence and secrecy of the island is protected by the mythology and demi-gods that surround it. 
• The imagery of both the demigods and the monsters painted such a real picture that the story just flew by.  It was easy to invest in the characters.  
• The romance stayed fresh and cute with no serious love triangle.  It also did not overpower the story.
• I was on my toes the whole book.  The plot was on the darker side full of drama and turmoil; it was unpredictable and took turns I was not expecting. 

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• Actually, there was not a lot I did not like. 
• It was a great book just short of a higher rating; the only thing I would have liked is a bit more history about Trespass.  It was such an interesting island and the author set up a good explanation for how the island ruled by demi-gods exists in a world like today without being uncovered.  I wanted to know more about the way the town functioned and more about the Delia's family history. 

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Revel was a great standalone book that blended modern mythology with drama beautifully.  I think it is a hidden gem and well worth the read if you love mythology!
  

ARC REVIEW #154: Antigoddess (Goddess War #1) by Kendare Blake

Title: Antigoddess

Series: Goddess War #1
Author: Kendare Blake

Publisher: Tor Teen

Release Date: September 10, 2013

Pages: 336, Hardcover
Source: ARC obtained at BEA

Summary from Goodreads:

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.

 

“Fate has its way. Fair or unfair doesn’t matter.”

Kendare Blake's work is many things, but above all else, it is original. She has a way of writing what's never been written and she certainly isn't afraid to take risks. Antigoddess is no exception.

This is not your average take on Greek Mythology. In this book, the Gods are dying, each in a way fitting to the lives they have lived. For Athena, she is slowly suffocating on the feathers of owls, her faithful servants.

“Athena smiles. Then she coughed. At first it was just a light tickle in her throat, but it got worse. She felt something moving, coming loose down in her right lung. It itched. She coughed harder, until she was bent over, hacking.
‘Athena!’ Odysseus held her by the shoulder. She took great, whooping breaths; her coughs sounded like something ripping a bed sheet.
Finally she sputtered. She’d managed to dislodge it and worked it up her throat. Her fingers fished around on her tongue, and held the feather in front of her face.
Just one, and mostly white, with a little brown speckling at the edges. Only the shallowest bit of the left side had any blood or tissue stuck to it. The rest was just wet.”

The slow death of the Gods has sparked a war, and sides are forming. Athena refuses to go quietly and without a fight. Her search for answers and allies causes her to seek the reincarnated Cassandra of Troy, a prophetess and supposed-weapon. But not only is Cassandra ignorant of her past life and potential, she is guarded by Apollo, who cares nothing for war over Cassandra's own safety. Meanwhile, there are other gods who will do whatever it takes to stop her and take the girl for themselves.

This is not a tale of love and happiness, but rather a tale of war and death. And it reads as such. There is a sinister feel to the story, as if all events are cast in shadow. It is almost depressing but purposefully so.  

“’There was a time when we mattered,’ said Athena, but Hermes shook his head.
‘No. There was a time when we lived. Rather than just existed. But that hasn’t been for centuries. I walked with mortals, played with them, ate with them. I’ve used up more of them than I can count or remember. But I stopped living. Look at us, Athena. No family, no friends-‘
‘You’re my family. You’re my friend.’
He squinted at her and smiled sarcastically. ‘You need a helping hand and I’m afraid of dying. You can’t fight alone and I don’t want to be alone. We call each other ‘sister’ and ‘brother’ but I don’t know if that means anything, Maybe it never did. Gods are cold. War, killing, and stabbing each other in the back is really what we do best.’
‘What he said was true enough. What they were probably wasn’t worth saving. But it didn’t mean she would let herself go.”

The imagery in this story was wonderful - very dark and ominous - which was fitting for the mood. Her descriptions and details really made the scenes jump from the pages of the book. 

“The old woman stood in the middle of the road as though dazed. Her arms hung slack at her sides, and she swayed on her feet, which were planted wide apart. Something was off. Something wrong. The vacant way she stared at the car made Cassandra want to crawl under the seat.
‘What’s the matter with her face?’ Henry asked. As they watched, the old woman’s cheeks began to sag. The lines became deeper, and the corners pulled down until her mouth was a leering scowl. Then it dripped off, leaving behind a wet, black spot.
‘Get it in gear, Aidan.’ Andie said shrilly as more of the old woman’s face detached and hit the pavement. All of her skin liquefied; her hair slid down her head to reveal the skull beneath: obsidian black and covered in slime and scales.”

And Blake does not forgo humor. She manages to humanize the gods and make them relatable. Since they have slowly been becoming less than what they once where, it works. They didn't go from all powerful gods to barely more than human in a day. It was a such a slow decay that they almost forget their former glory. And I just loved the dialogue with them poking fun at themselves. 

“’Everything born must die,’ she repeated. ‘But I sprang fully formed from our father’s head. So that doesn’t exactly count, now does it?’”

“’Don’t question me. I’m a god. Dammit.’”

“’Who do you think we are?’ Athena asked. She was genuinely curious. No mortal should recognize her, or Hermes either. They looked nothing like any of their paintings and statues. No vacant eyes or marble butt-cheeks.”

“’You turned me into a cherry snow cone.’ Athena gestured to her bleeding head. ‘Why should I do you any favors?’”

But, and I say this with regret, this book didn't 'wow' me. I hate to admit it but there were times when I was simply bored, just waiting for something to happen, or some of my questions to be answered. And I REALLY struggled with understanding the 'why' behind this story. Why are they dying? Why are they fighting each other? Why will killing one another prolong their life? Why are some of them not dying? Why Why Why! None of this was really explained. We were only given slightly vague and puzzles references.

“’The Twilight of the gods,’ Demeter said when the rumbling had stopped. ‘But not all of the gods. Some of us are the bitches of fate and will persevere.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean you’re not fighting our deaths. You’re fighting a war. A war against your own. And you will lose.’”

Antigoddess definitely has its appeal but ultimately something was missing for me to really love it. And the lack of information was a hurdle I just couldn't overcome.

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!

REVIEW #100: Abandon (Abandon Trilogy #1) by Meg Cabot

Title: Abandon
Series: Abandon Triology #1
Author: Meg Cabot
Publisher: Point
Release Date: April 26th 2011
Pages: Hardcover, 304 pages
Source: Cuddlebuggery's Little Bloggers/Audiobook from the Library

Summary from Goodreads:
New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld.

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.

Abandon is re-telling of the Persephone myth. Pierce has a near death experience and her mother decides to move the family for a fresh start. The family moves back to Pierce’s mother’s hometown, Isla Huesos, which happens to be where Pierce first met John years ago. John was able to bring a dead bird back to life; since Pierce was little she never forgot John and was surprised to see him when she died. Pierce is struggling to start fresh and the dangers that surround her persist hindering her ability to move on, forget John, and live a normal life. In a blink of an eye, Pierce’s life changes.

Abandon was my first Meg Cabot book and I was not disappointed. Having read Everneath a couple months ago the Persephone myth was fresh in my mind. It was nice knowing a bit more about the myth going into the story. I should probably get around to reading the actual myth :)

At first I thought the plot was a slow at points and predictable but Cabot had some twists in there that came out of nowhere. I was not expecting them and was pleasantly surprised. Certain characters I swore were going to be bad guys were not and one of the ‘bad guys’ I would have never guessed. The story is a bit less depressing and gloomy than Everneath. I felt that Pierce was not doomed or anything like that.

The relationships in the story were one of the elements I enjoyed more. I liked the relationship Pierce had with her family. Even though her parents were divorced they were still pretty sound and stable characters. John and Pierce had a bit of a hostile yet unique dynamic; I did not find it very insta-love.

Abandon was a darker story but definitely a fast and easy read. There was no real wow factor for me, I enjoyed the characters and the retelling of the myth but nothing was very memorable.