3/5 stars
Tor Teen, 2013
333 pages
YA Mythology Contemporary
Scheduled to release September 10
Source: Received an ARC from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.
Sorry for the very early review; however changes to the Amazon Vine program necessitate completing a review within 55 days of receiving the item and I was fast approaching that time.
This book has such an amazing premise-in our modern world, the great Greek Gods of olde are dying, slowly and painfully. For example, the great Athena is chocking on bird feathers (see cover) while Hermes is winnowing away to nothing. But they are not going without a fight, tracking down the great prophetess Cassandra reincarnated as an ordinary girl loved by a god and banding together to battle Hera and other ancients in a fight to the death.
So I loved the premise for this book and was super thrilled to get a copy. Additionally I really enjoyed Blake's Anna Dressed in Blood (and still mean to pick up the sequel.) But I just could not get in to this book, mostly I think because of the writing style. When the characters were talking to each other, I was fine. When action was being described, though, I lost interest and had to fight to stay on top of the plot. As I try to analyze why, I'm wondering if it's because the dialogue had a lot of humor and I tend to prefer comedy whereas the movements were more serious and high-minded.
Furthermore none of the characters really sparked for me. I guess I do like my gods to be immortal and I was as well-equipped as they were to face the fact that they were no longer. Athena and Hermes still had attitude aplenty but they weren't what I wanted. I think my favorite character was probably Cassandra for her journey to remembering her past but even she was insufficient to keep my full attention.
Overall: I really wanted this book to capture my imagination and enthusiasm but I found it lackluster and disappointing. I hope it works better for others as I know it has been highly anticipated.
Cover: Spot-on! As mentioned, Athena is coughing up feathers as they slowly suffocate her (remember her affinity for owls and probably other birds.)
I'm sorry this book wasn't the best for you. That sucks the actions did play out well. I'm still interested to read and try this though. Great review:)
ReplyDelete-Danna
I was so disappointed because I can see how highly anticipated it's been but it just wasn't for me.
DeleteToo bad! I had high hopes for this book considering her Anna series and the premise, but something about it worried me. I'm not sure what. Maybe that her writing style is funny? I think I worried her characters would be too "normal teens" when they should have been gods and goddesses. Either way, I'm sorry to hear the characters didn't work for you, but I am intrigued by the seriousness of the plot (though how does that balance with the humor of the dialogue?)
ReplyDeleteI had high hopes too but it didn't meet them. I think the seriousness of the plot did not balance well with the humor of the dialogue but I really had trouble articulating just why this book didn't excite me.
DeleteAw, I'm sorry you didn't love this book sweetie :( But glad you still enjoyed it. <3 Thank you for sharing your honest review :D I'm just dying to read Antigoddess :D Hope I'll love it more than you did :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting on my blog. <3
Love, Carina @ Carina's Books
I hope you love it more too-it was just a disappointment for me.
DeleteI'm sorry that this wasn't as good as you were hoping for. I recv'd this a few weeks ago and I am really looking forward to it. I am a little leery now, but I have to hold out some hope. Great review.
ReplyDeleteI hope it is a better read for you than it was for me-I'm sure this book has many good points, I just wasn't really able to see them.
DeleteLove the premise of this one! And the cover's so cool with its simplicity. Even though it was just good and not great for you, I'm definitely checking it out!
ReplyDeleteThe premise is so cool but it did not make me happy. I hope it's better for you!
DeleteEeep -- now I'm nervous to read this one. Is just the dialogue humorous, or the whole thing? Loved Anna Dressed in Blood and was hoping for another dark and edgy kind of book….
ReplyDeleteI found just some of the dialogue to be humorous-the overall tone is not comedic. It is definitely dark and edgy...maybe that's why I didn't like it? But I enjoyed Anna so that doesn't really make sense.
DeleteI haven't read anything by Kendare Blake yet, though I do own a copy of Anna Dressed in Blood. Your review of Antigoddess-disappointing though it was for you--actually makes me think I should start with this book rather than her debut. People gushed so much about Anna that I've been reluctant to pick it up. Maybe I should experience Kendare Blake backwards. I do tend to like YA that incorporates Greek mythology and it's already gotten bonus points for an accurate cover! I love that!
ReplyDeleteLove the accurate cover, right? It could work to reverse the order-whatever sounds most appealing to you.
DeleteI just finished this one this morning. I enjoyed it, but I hated the ending! While I liked the characters, I felt that some of the parts dragged on forever.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing :)
Cool-looking forward to your review then! I really want to know what other people thought as I'm probably in the minority with my negativity.
DeleteI know what you mean but the humor in the dialogue versus how serious the action was. It really was one extreme to the other. That didn't really come to my attention just now until you mentioned it. Wouldn't it have been nice if she could have suffused some of that comedy into the action scenes. I think it would have worked better for you if she had. But I see why she made those parts as serious as she did.
ReplyDeleteExcellent observations. Sorry you didn't love it! I loved Anna Dressed in Blood as well but what rather disappointed in the follow up Girl of Nightmares.
The lack of humor really killed me-I need comedic moments to get me through darker times and I was a bit let down here. I'm glad you enjoyed it but it just wasn't the read for me.
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