THE LOWDOWN:
Her fate is not set in stone.
Having temporarily defeated Athena, Ari races to break the gorgon curse that has plagued the women in her family for centuries. Her one lead sends her on a quest for the Hands of Zeus, an ancient relic last seen in the charge of New 2’s ruling elite, the Novem. But if there is one thing that Athena desires as much as revenge, it’s the Hands of Zeus—and Athena always gets what she wants.
Before either can locate the Hands, the statue goes missing, and a trail of blood follows those who once protected the relic’s secrets. Ari knows that her city, her friends, Sebastian—her life—depend upon her finding the statue before Athena. And with rumors an ancient power is on the rise, that may not be her only concern…”
FIRST IMPRESSION:
The crunch of our shoes on asphalt, leaves, and debris was loud in the quiet of Coliseum Street. Violet, Henri, and I had little less than two hours before nightfall, two hours before the February chill would invade the sun-warmed bricks and pavements, when blurry halos would appear around the few working streetlamps, when the predators, both natural and supernatural, would wake and begin to hunt. We had to hurry.
—Hardcover edition
SNAPSHOT:
In this third installment of the GODS & MONSTERS series, almost-gorgon gal Ari Selkirk returns. This time, Ari has to make a choice between resurrecting Athena’s child and making sure that the prophecy about him does not come true. One decision means that she is free of her family curse; the other means she will die. All of this, and she has to think about the rest of the city, too!
Ari’s story is interesting and different, as she Ari grows closer to her father—and realize that that brings her closer than she ever thought possible to her mother. Meanwhile, Ari also steps into a mother figure role for the younger children.
The large cast of supernatural characters might be daunting for some readers to keep straight, but they are all well-developed. Readers will find themselves hating a character on one page and empathizing with them on the very next, grabbing for their emotions. In particular, Sebastian Arnaud and Violet are standouts. Sebastian has to deal with a change in his lifestyle; the harder he pushes against it and denies it, the worse it becomes. Violet fans will also finally learn what she is.
While it is interesting to have so many supernatural creatures in one world, often a magical ability would up at the most convenient of times, making it easy for characters to escape some situations. While sometimes the more classic descriptions of such beings might have made for a less cluttered world, the additions to the characters’ abilities will certainly appeal to today’s readers.
Appropriate for ages 14+. Includes some strong language and intense situations.
Deals with death, loss, mythology, spirituality, family, and supernatural beings.
GET IT ON YOUR SHELF:
If you…
– Enjoy Greek mythology with a modern twist
– Are a fan of Percy Jackson or Jennifer Armentrout’s Half-Blood
– Need a good deity/supernatural mash-up
– Want a strong, intelligent heroine at the helm
THE ESSENTIALS:
YA Paranormal Fiction
Hardcover & Ebook, 320 pages
Published September 17th, 2013 by Simon Pulse (ISBN1442493151)
(Review copy provided by Simon Pulse.)