November 08, 2012

Review: Persephone by Kaitlin Bevis

Persephone
Author: Kaitlin Bevis
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Publication Date: July 6, 2012
Pages: 237
Source: E-Book for Review from Author

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.

Review: I really enjoyed this book! I've always loved books based off of myths, and I've always loved the Persephone myth in particular so I'm very happy I got the chance to read and review this because it was fantastic! I really enjoyed how this was a much different take on the myth! So from those of you who remember from school when you studied Greek mythology, you'll remember that the original myth says that Persephone was kidnapped, and that Demeter was so upset by this that everything died and it got cold (etc.) hence where winter came from. Thus making Persephone Goddess of Spring because when she got released until winter from the underworld everything started blooming, growing again (etc again) because her mother was so happy that her daughter was back. 

So in this telling of it, Persephone was still kidnapped and taken to the Underworld BUT Hades took her to save her life from Boreas, who is the God of Winter and tries taking her as well. But Demeter comes and visits Persephone in the Underworld after Hades took her and both Hades and Demeter tell Persephone she's free to go back to the living world as she wants, but that it would be safer for Persephone to stay in the Underworld until Spring and she agrees to stay for her own safety. While there she learns exactly what it means to be Queen of the Underworld and she even starts to actually fall for Hades. Meanwhile, in the living world Boreas will stop at nothing to find Persephone, even if that means luring her back to the surface. 

This is probably my favorite retelling of the Persephone myth that I've read to date! I really loved seeing Persephone have a choice in whether she stayed in the Underworld instead of being forced to. I also loved knowing that she had the choice to come and go to the Underworld as she pleased. Definitely made things a lot more interesting since she was always wanting to go back to the living world just to make sure those people that she loved were safe. I also found it really interesting how Zeus was somehow involved in everything but we don't know why! What I found the most interesting though, was how when Boreas lured Persephone to the surface (by kidnapping someone close to her), she was able to be rid of him so easily. It showed he wasn't really doing everything for his own reasons but for someone else's. And how we found out at the end that those that Persephone could use her charm on without a problem were those that had sworn fealty to Zeus. And that they were working against her. I was shocked to find out who was working against her but when you find out then it suddenly makes sense how some things had happened to her.  

The ending of this book was great and I think definitely sets up a good backdrop for its sequel! 

4 1/2 Stars!

Read more »

November 05, 2012

Teaser Tuesday [#64]

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! just do the following:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

1. "I'm an idiot." Gold eyes. How had I missed that, especially after seeing Helen? I'd seen the color before. "Pirithous," I whispered."

2. "He's a demigod! That can't be coincidence, can it? Boreas attacked me the next day. That's his dad! He's a spy, and he's probably down here right now." I was feeling more panicked by the second."

pg. 90 of "Persephone" by Kaitlin Bevis

Read more »

October 31, 2011

Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test (Goddess Test #1)
Author: Aimee Carter
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: April 19, 2011
Pages: 293
Source: Paperback/Library

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 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 succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

Review: So I really wanted to like this book more than I actually did. So I'll start off with the good. It was a fast read, which in no way is a bad thing. I read this book in 3 hours. Which was a good thing because I had to return it to the library the same day. Lol. So I really enjoyed the modern day take on the myth of Persephone and Hades. I mean it doesn't follow it step by step but in general its the story of them. I was always a big big fan of Greek mythology in high school, so I was interested in how the gods and goddesses would be played out in this book.

Kate had no idea she was going to be put through seven tests to become immortal and to be Hades/Henry's wife just to save her friend. So I really enjoyed when we found out what the seven tests were. The seven deadly sins, I found that really cool though even I didn't pick up on it until it was put out in the open. I also really liked how dedicated Kate was to take care of her dying mom before she was brought to Eden. I also liked how she was slow to trust the people in her new surroundings. She was deadset determined once she found out she was going to be tested to pass every test. That was also pretty cool too because I am also someone who can be determined so it was nice to read about a girl just as determined as me.

The bad I guess. I don't know, something about this book didn't pull me in as much as I thought it would. I also didn't feel as connected to Kate as I have with other characters in books. I cant place it but I also felt like there was something either missing or something that could have made the book more interesting. I loved the story but I felt like it was to easy to guess what was going to happen next. At least in my opinion.

Overall, I did enjoy the book and I probably will pick up the next one but this book isn't being added to my absolute favorites.

Read more »