Series You Should Check Out: The Goddess Wars by Kendare Blake

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Ungodly is the final book in the Goddess War Trilogy.  The Greek Gods may not be worshiped like they did in Ancient Greece but being Immortal, they are still around and living mostly normal lives.  That is until they mysteriously start getting sick.  Gods are not supposed to get sick but Athena is coughing up feathers, Hermes is wasting away, Aphrodite has gone mad. Artemis is perpetually being hunted, just name a few.  Athena and Hermes set out to try to figure out what is going on.   This leads them to find the mortal heroes from the Trojan wars, Achilles, Odysseus, Hector, Cassandra and Andromache.  The thing is that they are now teenage kids who have no idea who they really are/were or are just waking up to it.  Only thing they know is that they are in a world of trouble.

I like this series because it was fun to read but also an interesting take on Greek Myths.  These Gods and Goddess are not Greek Gods of Rick Riordan.  They are not all gathered in one place on Mount Olympus at the Empire State Building keeping tabs on the world below.  They are scattered about the world with litter to no contact with each other.  They have gone on living their own lives and well still holding the same grudges for thousands of years.  Also the threat of dying has really humanize them in ways they never could be before.  They learn what it feels to live with the uncertainty that they will live to see tomorrow.  As for their human heroes, the Gods, particularly Athena and Hermes, find they are more sympathetic to them.  They are not just weapons to be used when needed but actually people with actual lives.

Cassie is really Cassandra who was a oracle during the Trojan War that Apollo cursed that no one will believe her.  Now in modern day she’s just Cassie who is in love with Aiden, oblivious to what’s going on until she meets Athena and Hermes.  She finds out that not only she a character from the Ilaid but so is her brother Henry (Hector) and her best friend Andie (Andromache). Oh and Aiden is actually Apollo, who feels really bad about that whole curse thing.  Considering the past run in the Gods didn’t go so well, you can probably bet that they aren’t going to get along all that well in the present either.  I definitely love how all of them at one point or another stand up the the various Gods.  They don’t just fall in line and do whatever they are told do.  It takes some major gumption to stand up to Athena. They each are in various states of conscience of who they were and they each have to figure out who they are now.  Do they just except that it is their fate to relieve the same drama all over again or do they choose their own path?  Isn’t that what we all struggle with?

There is a lot of action throughout the series.  Gods taking on each other.  Of course, Hera is a villain, when isn’t she?  You almost have to feel sorry for Hera.  She is constantly playing the villain.  To be fair, she did do some pretty terrible things but to be also fair she also endures some pretty terrible things too.  Anyway, total side note.  There are a lot of twists and turns and not afraid of killing off characters for the sake of the story.  It’s fun read for all those who love Greek Mythology, kick ass heroes and heroines and action.

Quick Review: The Copper Gauntlet by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

cooper gauntletI often forget about how dark children’s literature can be.  Take for instance, Matilda or any Roald Dahl. Harry Potter, The Series of Unfortunate Events and Alice in Wonderland to name a few. Black’s and Clare’s Magisterium series is no exception.  It started with the ending of the first book where *Spoiler Alert* one of heroes turns out to be the bad guy and just continues from there.  Call, Aaron and Tamara are thrown into situations that are really well beyond their ages but do it anyway.  They all young and just coming into their own, discovering who they are and learning to control their powers.  They are trying to learn who they can trust because even the adults are a bit sketchy.  After the big reveal at the end of the last book I had big expectations for this one and for the most part it lived up to it.  I still felt that it started off slow, much like the first one did but once it got to the mission it was a fast read.  If only the whole book was like that.  I like the debate of nature vs. nurture that is being played out with both Callum and Aaron’s characters. I have a feeling that we are about to see a little role reversal with those too.  It’s a solid second book and I look forward to see what happens next.

Review: Not A Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis

Featured imageNot a Drop to Drink is very good, I’ll say that.  I wasn’t sure what I was expecting it to be but it’s not what I got.  It was pretty straight forward and unapologetic.  Lynn has lived with her Mother spending every day struggling to survive and protecting their pond.  Water has become scarce all over the world and clean water even rarer.  Lynn’s pond in many ways is keeping them alive and most be protected at all times.  Lynn’s mother is hard.  She has taught Lynn from a young age how to use a rifle and to shoot if anyone gets to close.  After a tragic accident that kills her mother, Lynn is on her own.  She decides to make an alliance with her neighbor, Stebbs.  Together they work to protect her pond and check out possible threats to them.  This leads them to Lucy, Eli and Neva.  They have escaped the city but are unprepared for living in the wild.  Lynn takes Lucy home as both Eli and Neva are unable to care for the five year old.  Before this the only people that Lynn knew was her mother and Stebbs.  She was taught that everyone else was their enemy out to get their pond.  Over the course she learns that not everyone is as ruthless and that helping someone is not weakness but also can be a strength.  When far more ruthless men build a camp not that far from them, Lynn will do whatever it takes to save her new “family”

I liked the minimalist of the writing style.  It really sets the whole mood of the novel. Lynn’s life is a struggle but it’s also pretty simple and straight forward.  She does what needs to be done.  The writing matches that.  It doesn’t over elaborate or go into much details. It tells you what happens and let you fill in the gap.  Lynn is a smart, strong but also vulnerable.  Living away from the world, there are many things she doesn’t know about and leads to funny but also sad realizations about the world.  She has been taught not to trust anyone but learns that sometimes to survive you have to.  She’s not a shrinking violet, waiting to be rescued but will do the rescuing.  The story is not afraid to be violent and talk about the nastier part of life or is it afraid of killing off characters.  This is a harsh world they live in and tragedies will happen but life moves on. You can either deal with it and be stronger or not.  There is a sequel but l really liked the ending.  I liked the sense of hope it brought with it.  I’m not sure there is a need for a second one but I’ll probably read it.

There are just so many good books coming out!!!

I was looking at all the new books coming out in the next couple of months and THERE ARE SO MANY BOOKS THAT I WANT TO READ!!  I’m already behind because The Copper Gauntlet by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare came out earlier this month. I have to get myself in gear.  Here are just a few titles that I can’t wait to read this fall.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, 9/29/15

Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1) by Rick Riordan, 10/6/15

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, 10/6/15

The Rose Society (Young Elites #2) by Marie Lu, 10/13/15

Dark Tide (Waterfire Saga #3) by Jennifer Donnelly, 10/13/15

The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Volume One by Daniel Kraus, 10/27/15
The Iron Warrior (Iron Fey #7) by Julie Kagawa, 10/27/15
Manners and Mutiny(Finishing School #4) by Gail Carriger, 11/3/15
Winter (Lunar Chronicles #4) by Marissa Meyer, 11/10/15
Frozen Tides (Fallen Kingdoms #4) by Morgan Rhodes,12/15/15
Endure (Defy #3) by Sara B. Larson, 12/29/15
I’m sure I’ve missed a few but one thing for sure, I’m going to be busy!  What books are your excited to read this fall?  Let me know in the comments if they are any I need to add.

Review: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Featured imageQueen of Shadows is the fourth book in Throne of Glass series.  It has taken quite a few twists and turns in the four books. What I love about this series is that it keeps on surprising me.  I think I’m a pretty savvy reader but I totally didn’t see the big reveal at the end.  If you haven’t read, Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, or Heir of FireI highly recommend that you do.  I also recommend you read them before you read this review because SPOILERS!

(Editor’s Note:  Or lack of one.  Like the other reviews of this series, I didn’t have Kate look over it because I very much like her to read them without being spoiled.  Seriously, Kate you need to get on this!  Anyway, please forgive any mistake I might have made) Continue reading