Sea of Monsters: The Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan and Robert Venditti

 Sea of Monsters: The Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan and Robert Venditti (128 Pages)

Summary: Seventh grade has been surprisingly quiet for Percy Jackson. Not a single monster has set foot on his New York prep-school campus. But when an innocent game of dodgeball among Percy and his classmates turns into a death match against an ugly gang of cannibal giants, things get...well, ugly. And the unexpected arrival of his friend Annabeth brings more bad news: the magical borders that protect Camp Half-Blood have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and unless a cure is found, the only safe haven for demigods will be destroyed. In the follow-up to the wildly popular The Lightning Thief, The Graphic Novel, Percy and his friends must journey into the Sea of Monsters to save their camp. But first, Percy will discover a stunning new secret about his family--one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.

Opinion: The drawing style of this graphic novel is the same as the first and it still is not my favorite. I started reading the graphic novel versions of the Percy Jackson series to refresh my memory, but I feel like there is so much missing from the graphic novel. Character development feels rushed and so does the storyline. I understand the need to compress a story down when turning it into a graphic novel, but I'm not a fan of the execution. I've decided to stop reading the graphic novels. I'll just reread the books. 

The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan and Robert Venditti

The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan and Robert Venditti (128 pages)

Summary: Mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking out of the pages of twelve-year-old Percy Jackson's textbooks and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now, he and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. Series creator Rick Riordan joins forces with three of the biggest names in the comic book industry to tell the story of a boy who must unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Opinion: I read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians chapter books when I was in middle school. I remember main plot lines, but wanted to get a refresher, especially with the new Percy Jackson TV show airing last month. The graphic novel format is nice for a quick read, but I'm not the biggest fan of the drawing/graphics style. To me the characters look like they are in their 20s or 30s when they are actually barely even teenagers. It was quite distracting from the novel, so I don't know how many more of the Percy Jackson graphic novels I'm going to read. 

Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller

 Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, 408 pages ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Achilles, "the best of all the Greeks," son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods' wrath.

They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.

This book destroyed me!! It had been on my TBR forever so I finally decided to read it and fell in love. It's a great story and the prose is beautifully written. I definitely recommend this to anybody who is interested in Greek mythology and retellings!

 

The Sea Queen by Jovee Winters

The Sea Queen by Jovee Winters - 182 pages

Dark Queens #1

Calypso, Queen of the Seas, is mad. Spitting mad. Ghosts of the dead are fouling her waters. She wants this problem fixed, and she wants it fixed now. Rushing off in search of Hades, Lord of the Underworld, to demand answers, she’s soon shocked to discover him bound and standing trial before a jury of his peers—for nothing less than murder.

Calypso normally despises the beastly gods, all of them, but there’s something about seeing Hades bound as he is that gives her an evilly clever idea. Tired of being a virgin queen, she wishes to shed that boring image once and for all, and no one seems quite as fit for the task as the gorgeous and brooding Hades. Of course, there is the minor problem of murder to deal with, but Calypso is bound and determined to have her way.

And when a dark queen gets an idea, nothing and no one can stand in her way…

Lore by Alexandra Bracken

Lore by Alexandra Bracken-466 pages

 Lore is the story of Melora Perseous the last of the line of the god Perseus. The Agon happens every 7 years since the gods sparked Zeus' rage and anger. Every 7 years, the gods become mortal for 7 days and the lines of the old gods hunt down the gods to try and ascend to become gods themselves. Lore is in the middle of all this. Her entire family was murdered the day after the last Agon, 7 years ago. She is now the only Perseide left and has been trying to stay hidden. However, she is drawn back into her old life and into the Agon by Athena. Will Lore and her friends survive the Agon? I enjoyed reading this standalone teen novel by Bracken. I would give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. It's good, but I didn't enjoy it as much as some of my favorite books and authors. It is worth reading, though, especially if you're into Greek mythology and/or teen fantasy. 

The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

 The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec - 368 pages

Angrboda's story begins where most witches' tales end: with a burning. A punishment from Odin for refusing to provide him with knowledge of the future, the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless, and she flees into the farthest reaches of a remote forest. There she is found by a man who reveals himself to be Loki, and her initial distrust of him transforms into a deep and abiding love.

Their union produces three unusual children, each with a secret destiny, who Angrboda is keen to raise at the edge of the world, safely hidden from Odin's all-seeing eye. But as Angrboda slowly recovers her prophetic powers, she learns that her blissful life—and possibly all of existence—is in danger.

With help from the fierce huntress Skadi, with whom she shares a growing bond, Angrboda must choose whether she’ll accept the fate that she's foreseen for her beloved family…or rise to remake their future. From the most ancient of tales this novel forges a story of love, loss, and hope for the modern age.

I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend it for anyone who loves stories about Greek mythology. 

Soul in Darkness by Wendy Higgins

 Soul of Darkness by Wendy Higgins - 298 pages

People travel from afar to the small isle in the Aegean Sea hoping for a single glimpse of Princess Psyche. Their adoration for the mortal woman is so all-consuming that citizens begin to shower her with the very gifts and offerings they once left at the alter of Venus, goddess of love and beauty.

But gods are known for their jealousy.

Cupid, the god of love, takes pleasure in causing strife and mischief in the lives of humans. He uses love as a weapon, humoring in the weakness of people at the whims of their feelings. When his mother Venus approaches him about punishing the human girl who dares to steal her offerings and affections from the people, Cupid gladly accepts.

Psyche's punishment is to be given to a mysterious creature who only comes to her in the dark of night under the pact that she will never lay eyes on him. She is terrified of this stranger, who the oracle described as a serpent. Her mate, however, is masterful in his dealings with his bride. He takes his time, morphing her fears into different sensations completely.

Based on the Roman/Greek mythology of Cupid and Psyche from Lucius Apuleius, New York Times bestseller Wendy Higgins brings the tale to life, weaving layers that show exactly how a sacrificial lamb can be enchanted by an unseen monster. 

I have never read a book about Cupid and Psyche before. It was a great story and I am very glad that I read it.

The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan

The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan - 376 pages
The Trials of Apollo #1

Apollo has been punished by Zeus for allowing Gaea to almost awake and destroy the world.  He's been sent to earth as a teenage human boy.  He's immediately set upon by two thugs and is rescued by a nearly feral demigod god who attacks people with rotten fruit.  Now Apollo must serve this demigod all while trying to figure out what is happening to the oracles and why prophecies are no longer occurring.

This is the first book in Riordan's new Greek mythology series.  I didn't think I would like this book as Apollo as struck me as whiny and annoying, but I truly enjoyed it.  It was hard for me to put it down.  It was great to revisit some of my favorite characters from the previous Percy Jackson series.  I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Demigods and Magicians by Rick Riordan

Demigods and Magicians by Rick Riordan - 187 pages

This book contains three short stories about Percy and Annabeth meting Carter and Sadie Kane.  It was long rumored that Rick Riordan's series after completing the Percy Jackson series was going to be a mash-up of Greek and Egyptian mythology.  I would guess these were the short stories that could have been expanded into that series.  It was interesting to read the stories and the interactions between the two series' characters.  I would highly recommend it for anyone who enjoyed the Percy Jacksons series or the Kane Chronicles.

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan - 318 pages

This is a retelling of the Greek myths, mainly concerning the 12 major Olympian gods, as told by Percy Jackson.  There is a fair amount of humor and snark incorporated into the stories which made them fun to read.

Promise of Shadows by Justina Ireland

Promise of Shadows by Justina Ireland  371 pages

Zephyr Mourning has never been very good at being a Harpy. She'd rather watch reality TV than learn forty-seven ways to kill a man, and she pretty much sucks at wielding magic. Zephyr was ready for a future pretending to be a normal human instead of a half-god assassin. But all that changed when her sister was murdered - and Zephyr used a forbidden dark power to save herself from the same fate.
On the run from a punishment worse than death, an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend upends Zephyr's world - and not only because her old friend has grown surprisingly, extremely hot. It seems that Zephyr might just be the Nyx, a dark goddess that is prophesied to shift the power balance: for hundreds of years the half-gods have lived in fear, and Zephyr is supposed to change that.
But how is she supposed to save everyone else when she can barely take care of herself?

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge, 352 pages

With the release date of today, this is a must have for every teen/adult collection.  This is not your Disney fairytale with a heroine who has a heart of gold.This story is written exactly how Beauty and the Beast should have been written. All the characters were appealing. I especially loved the clever bantering between Nyx and Ignifex - had me in giggles more often than not. The world building was done well enough to invoke the images of a foreboding castle filled with, magic, mystery and darkened corners. A touch of Greek Mythology, along with other world beliefs made this story blend so smoothly into a fascinating tale. Mystery, romance, revenge, deceit, suspense and terror all rolled into one. This is a must read/buy for everyone. I hope to read more like this. Well done Rosamund Hodge ... I couldn't put the book down once I started reading.

Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon - 848 pgs.
Dark-Hunter Series Book 23

Kenyon's bestselling Dark-Hunter series has been going strong for years.  She excels at world building and tying the characters and plots from 20+ books into a coherent expanded universe.  This book covers the over 11,000 year evolution of the relationship between Acheron, the leader of the Dark-Hunters, and his twin brother Styxx.  Kenyon's wide reaching expertise in world mythology shines as she brings the different pantheons of the ancient world to vibrant life against a backdrop of war and betrayal.  I like this series for its overarching theme of perseverance, fighting against fate and not being defined by the negative things that have been done to you by others.

The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter, 395 pages

I wish the author had published this book first. It really filled in a lot of blanks that were in the series. I feel I have a better understanding of the characters and more depth to their stories. The Goddess Legacy is made up of five gods (Persephone, Hades, Zeus, Hera, Hermes) and the lives of those they touch -- both mortal and immortal. There is a little bit of angst, revenge, mystery, rivalry and romance.

The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter, 283 pages
(Final book of the Goddess Test series)

Kate and Henry are soon to have a child but no happily ever after. Calliope has kidnapped Kate and held her captive for 9 months ensuring Kate will give her the child she carries. Terrified Kate bargains with Cronus for the life of her child, but is one life worth all of humanity? In the meantime, Henry (Hades) is doing all that he can to rescue his wife and child while Walter (Zeus) preps the gods for the final battle with Cronus. There will be casualties of war, especially since Cronus and Calliope have constructed weapons that can kill a god.
I really enjoyed this last book in the series. I knew it would end on a happy note because it's the final in the series and what author is going to disappoint her fans? However, it was a roller coaster ride of emotions throughout the pages. I did think a little more could have been done in building up the storyline and filling in the blanks, but all in all it was a good read. Kate was, once again, a martyr and played that role well. James is still one of my favorite characters. I am hoping that Aimee Carter will write a series revolving around him. The book also gives hope for the story of another to continue. I look forward to seeing if we will have a spin off.

Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman

Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman, 274 pages

What if Persephone was a young woman wishing to be free of her controlling mother, Demeter. What if Hades and Persephone had met and fallen in love? What if Persephone went willingly to the Underworld to be with Hades forever? What if Demeter destroyed the Earth searching for the daughter she believes has been kidnapped? What if Persephone has to choose to leave the husband she loves or let the Earth die? All these "what ifs" are answered in this beautiful tale told in first person -- almost in a diary style. If you enjoy Greek Mythology, you will like this book.

Underworld: An Abandon Novel by Meg Cabot

Underworld: An Abandon Novel by Meg Cabot, 352 pages
(Book 2 of Abandon series)

In the sequel to Abandon, the death deity, John Hayden, takes Pierce to the Underworld when he discovers that the furies are after her. There, he thinks she'll remain safe. Unfortunately, her family is not safe and Pierce does what she can to return to the "surface" and rescue her loved ones.She also learns that maybe she should have studied her Greek Mythology a bit harder to avoid a lot of the surprises that come her way.  Once again, the book moves along slowly and a bit choppy, however, it is much better than the first and worth the read.

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Abandon by Meg Cabot, 304 Pages
Book 1 of the Abandon Series

From the author of the Princess Diaries comes a trek into the realm of Greek Mythology.  Supposedly this book is a retelling of Persephone and Hades. However, after diving into the story, we discover that is not the case at all. To not give too much away, the main character, Pierce, meets John, a death deity (not exactly Hades)- once as a 7 year old, once as a 15 year old (she meets him after her death) and again at 17 (with more than a few interactions). During their "run-ins" they quickly fall in love and he asks her to rule the Underworld with her. The story is choppy at best and will have you scratching your head a few times. It is written in first person. While I did complete the book in 2 hours, it was a slow read for a majority of the story and did not really get good until more than halfway through the book.

The Goddess Hunt by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Hunt by Aimee Carter, 71 pages
(1.5 in the Goddess Test Series)

I loved that the author wrote this novella to help her fans wait for the second book in the series. The Goddess Hunt stars the Gemini twins Pollux and Castor. Kate Winters is now the wife of Hades and must spend 6 months away from him (much as Persephone did). Encouraged by her mom to enjoy her life, Kate decides to head to Greece with a friend where she comes across the twins who are running from the gods. Will she get involved in their plot to stay free? Or will she turn them over to justice. You have to read to find out.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter, 293 pages

(First book in The Goddess Test series)

Hades is looking for a new wife who will be Queen of the Underworld. He has 100 years that his given himself to do it or he will simply fade away. Girls have been brought to "Eden" to be tested, but sadly all have died before they could complete the series of  tests. Enter- Kate Winters. Her mother is dying and she will do/give-up anything to keep her from death. A bargain is struck and she's put to the test. But, does she really understand what she's giving up? Nothing is as it seems and those she felt she could trust, just might betray her. I enjoyed the read. The book was not very well written, but it was entertaining and made me want to finish out the series.