Review: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Title: The Sword of Summer 

Author: Rick Riordan
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Books

Publishing Date:  October 6th, 2015

Pages:  491
Genre: YA Modern Fantasy/Mythology

Series: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1
Source: Book

Goodreads ~ Amazon 

Magnus Chase has seen his share of trouble. Ever since that terrible night two years ago when his mother told him to run, he has lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, staying one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.
One day, Magnus learns that someone else is trying to track him down—his uncle Randolph, a man his mother had always warned him about. When Magnus tries to outmaneuver his uncle, he falls right into his clutches. Randolph starts rambling about Norse history and Magnus's birthright: a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.The more Randolph talks, the more puzzle pieces fall into place. Stories about the gods of Asgard, wolves, and Doomsday bubble up from Magnus's memory. But he doesn't have time to consider it all before a fire giant attacks the city, forcing him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents. . . .
Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die.

Rick Riordan has done it again. He has created a crazy, fun, and adventurous tale involving myths. This time he tackles Norse mythology. If you are not familiar with Rick Riordan he has written many series involving myths. Greek (Percy Jackson & The Olympians and Trials of Apollo), Egypt (Kane Chronicles), and Roman (Heroes of Olympus). So he is no stranger to myths. Each story involves a lot of humor with some myth characters in modern like settings.

This novel involves the story of Magnus Chase (Annabeth's cousin) who is a homeless teen whose life comes to an end as he defeats Surt. And I do mean a literal end as he dies at the beginning of the story. That was a quick novel, right! Well lucky for us this is only the beginning of the story as Magnus is carried to Valhalla by the Valykrie Samirah al-Abbas, aka Sam. Sam is also perchance Loki's daughter. So Magnus is not sure of her true intentions in choosing him as an Einherji. To be an Einherji one must die a heroic death with a sword in hand, and the bravery must be unplanned- a heroic response to a crisis. And when reviewing Magnus tape of his death many don't think he belongs. So Sam gets kicked out of the Valkyries.

Magnus knows he must get the Sword of Summer and keep it from causing Rhagnarok. If you seen the latest Thor movie you already know what that is. If you haven't it's basically the apocalypse. Magnus with his friends Hearth and Blitz, a hearing impaired elf and a dwarf, embark on a quest to keep the world safe. Along the way they run into Thor who is funnier and crazier than the movie versions of him. And they have to stay alive. There are many funny and crazy moments with these characters. 

Here is a snippet of words spoken between Hearth, the hearing impaired elf, and Jack, the sword of Summer.

"Hearth signed, 'is it talking? I don't read sword lips.'"

'what is he saying?' Jack asked. 'I don't read elf hands."

Yeah, pretty much classic Riordan humor. Highly recommend reading this book if you like myths, humor, or just a fun adventure.

~~About the Author~~  

Rick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels for young readers, including the Percy Jackson series, the Kane Chronicles, the Magnus Chase series and the Trials of Apollo. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults.

For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. While teaching in San Antonio, Saint Mary’s Hall honored him with the school’s first Master Teacher Award.

While teaching full time, Riordan began writing mystery novels for grownups. His Tres Navarre series went on to win the top three national awards in the mystery genre – the Edgar, the Anthony and the Shamus. Riordan turned to children’s fiction when he started The Lightning Thief as a bedtime story for his oldest son.

Today, eighty-six million copies of his books are in print in the United States, and rights have been sold into more than 37 countries.

Rick Riordan now writes full-time. He lives in Boston with his wife and two sons.

Review: Olympian Challenger by Astrid Arditi

Title: Olympian Challenger 

Author:  Astrid Arditi
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC 

Publishing Date:  July 3rd, 2018

Pages: 348
Genre: YA Modern Fantasy/Mythology

Series:  Olympian Challenger #1
Source:  Audio

 

A hero’s tournament. A defiant contender. Does one girl have the courage to take on Mount Olympus?
Hope’s world doesn’t have room for heroes. She barely has time for schoolwork, swim team, and taking care of her ailing mother. But when she’s invited to a mysterious tournament, the all-powerful hosts won’t take no for an answer.
Transported to Mount Olympus, Hope comes face to face with her new trainers—the pantheon of Greek gods. While other contenders train hard to gain a fighting edge, Hope searches for a way out. Instead, she finds a gorgeous shadow god who may just convince her to stay…
As each round unfolds, the ultimate prize draws closer—the granting of her heart’s deepest desire. If she survives the final challenge, her mother’s cure would be within reach…but only if Hope can ignore the tournament’s dark purpose.

I found this book on Netgalley and thought it sounded like a good read so I grabbed it up. I haven't read a book on mythology in a very long time and I really did like the sound of this one.  It was a good story, clever, adventurous. It had a lot in it and I thought it was well written. I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped but I think it was more my mind wasn't in the right mood. I was having issues with so many books at this time. I was in a bit of a slump. So I think I would have enjoyed it more another time but even with my mind somewhere else, I still thought the book was really good and I do want to read more. 

Hope is a teenager with a lot going on in her life. Trying to get through school and taking care of her sick mother. Her days are busy and her life is full. She just wants to get through the day she is in. Everything changes when she receives a mysterious invitation. She planned on ignoring this invitation but an accident happened and she ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. She now finds herself among the gods. She is told she is a descendant and they are looking for the next hero. There is a series of tests, and lessons to learn, and new friends and enemies. The only thing Hope wants to do is get back home to her sick mother. What she gets is a new outlook on her world. 

There were many things I did like about this book. I liked the main character, I liked the plot, I really enjoyed the tests. It was written well and it was really different than anything I have read in YA in quite a while. It wasn't completely unique, there are many similar stories out there, but I haven't read one in a while and it does have it's own set of differences that set it apart from the others. 

The main character was a breath of fresh air. She did have her issues and a couple of times she was a bit irritating. She was a very loyal daughter and friends. She has a very honest and innocent and caring heart. She wanted what was best for others, never herself. Sometimes her selflessness got in the way of the bigger picture. I never thought I would say this, but it's so true. Her biggest fault was she couldn't see past the obvious. She had a one track mind and it was hard for anyone to get her to take off her blinders. Other than that I really liked her. She was just good. Sometimes I need to read a book where the main character is just good. 

There were other really fun characters too. The book was full of good and bad and in between. There were so many fighting to be that last standing hero so they can get their prize. They weren't all good either. It seemed the gods didn't know what to look for in future heroes. It was fun to see though how each one ended up on Mt. Olympus and which god brought them in. 

The story was full of relationships, family, and friendship. Relationships was definitely a focal point of the story and watching the relationships form and the characters bond, well I just love this kind of thing. 

The tests were really fun too. Sometimes I felt they did get a little confusing, but again focus issues. They were interesting though and a fun way to work through the story. They were creative and they were very relative to the story. I really enjoyed this part of the story. 

I think the main issue I had with the book was the pacing. I think this wouldn't have been such a thing if my mind wasn't having issues focusing at the time, but it was. 

Really good read with a good story and great characters. 

Astrid Arditi has studied at Hogwarts, ridden a dragon, swam with mermaids and flown to the moon. Recently, she traveled to Mount Olympus…
She leads a double life: one of words and whimsy; the other one chasing her two young kids around the playground and kissing away booboos.
She’s a spy, a princess, a unicorn, a wife, a mother and an author. Life is never dull in her messy home in Brooklyn, or in her dreams where she escapes as often as she can.
She writes from experience, of course. You may not believe it, but everything in her books has actually happened to her…even if only in her imagination.

Review: Reawakened by Colleen Houck

Title: Reawakened 

Author:  Colleen Houck
Publisher: Delacorte Press 

Publishing Date:  August 11th, 2015

Pages: 400
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Series:  Reawakened #1
Source:  Audio

 

When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.

And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe to find his brothers and complete a grand ceremony that will save mankind.

But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.

From New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck comes an epic adventure about two star-crossed teens who must battle mythical forces and ancient curses on a journey with more twists and turns than the Nile itself.

I loved the Tiger’s Curse series. I mean I loved it. I loved the characters.. well most of them. I loved the story. I loved how it all came together and I loved the telling of the mythology in the Tiger’s Curse. I was so excited to read another series by this author. I waited a bit for some unknown reason. Because books get lost in my gigantic TBR list. So I finally got around to the first book in this series and I was so disappointed. I felt it was too close to Tiger’s Curse. I didn’t really connect to any of the characters. I found the mythology lessons were boring and confusing. I just didn’t get along with this book at all.

So there is a girl who lives in New York and loves to go to the famous museum there. One day she is there and an Egyptian mummy wakes and kind of attaches his life force with hers. He needs her help to find his brothers and awaken them so they can keep the evil Set from taking over and basically casting his dark evil all over the world. They have to travel to Egypt and play around in some tombs and caverns with booby traps and poisons and almost death many times. The trip is dangerous and not easy and of course, there are mythology lessons throughout the travels.

I feel honestly bad for writing this review because I loved the other series so so much and I just didn’t like this one. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood, maybe my reading likes have changed. I really don’t know what it was or is. I do know I was bored much of this book. I think the potential was there and the story could have been more but I just couldn’t. It felt so much like a redo of the Tigers curse but with a mummy and in Egypt. I felt like I had already been there. From the mythology and the curses and the trials to get to the object that can save the world. It was just changed a bit then redone, and this time I didn’t like the main characters.

SO Lily wasn’t bad really. I just didn’t connect with her. I didn’t find her annoying. I did find her a little whiney when she couldn’t get a kiss from Amon. And there were times I found her a little dense. But really she seemed nice enough even if she was a tad bit spoiled. Amon was okay too. Just okay though. Not swoony or charming or funny or sweet. Well, he was nice just not to the point of me going “awe what a guy” There wasn’t really a romance. I mean I could tell the two cared for each other. They were falling for each other and if it would have been all I love you type of thing it would have been insta-love. Which I appreciate no insta-love, I do need a little something. Maybe a crush and some tender moments. I think there were a couple of moments that were on the verge but the interactions between these two were really all business. They were learning, and searching and telling stories of the past, then they were off a treasure hunt that always had them running for their lives and it was all action. So a lot of lessons and a lot of action. Nothing really on the character front.

I think the lack of connection to the characters is what made me really not care for this book. I just couldn’t do it. I was bored. The book seemed to take forever to get somewhere. The action scenes and the mythology was confusing to me. I felt bored or lost most of the book. For some reason, I felt the need to finish the book so I did. The ending was a cliffhanger in a sort of way and I have no desire to read the next book.

Just wasn’t the book for me.

New York Times Bestselling Author Colleen Houck is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, science fiction, and romance. Formerly a student at the University of Arizona, she worked as a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter for seventeen years before switching careers to become an author. Colleen lives in Salem, Oregon, with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers.

Review: Beyond a Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake

Title: Beyond A Darkened Shore

Author: Jessica Leake 
Publisher: HarperTeen

Publishing Date:  April 10th, 2018

Pages: 384
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy

Series:  Stand Alone
Source:  ARC

 

The ancient land of Éirinn is mired in war. Ciara, Princess of Mide, has never known a time when Éirinn’s kingdoms were not battling for power, or Northmen were not plundering their shores.

The people of Mide have thankfully always been safe because of Ciara’s unearthly ability to control her enemies’ minds and actions. But lately, a mysterious crow has been appearing to Ciara, whispering warnings of an even darker threat. Although her clansmen dismiss her visions as pagan nonsense, Ciara fears this coming evil will destroy not just Éirinn, but the entire world.

Then the crow leads Ciara to Leif, a young Northman leader. Leif should be Ciara’s enemy, but when Ciara discovers that he, too, shares her prophetic visions, she knows he’s something more. Leif is mounting an impressive army, and with Ciara’s strength in battle the two might have a chance to save their world.

With evil rising around them, they’ll do what it takes to defend the land they love…even if it means making the greatest sacrifice of all.

I don't remember when I added this book but I remember finding the ARC and thought wow great cover, read the synopsis and thought well this sounds good. I really didn't know what to expect beyond a fantasy and a war between to countries. The book was easy to fall into and I loved. Great story, loveable characters, Irish myths weaved into the story. I absolutely adored this book.

Ciara is the Princes of Mide. Her kingdom, Éirinn, has been at war with the Northman for as long as she can remember. Ciara follows her men on the battlefield because of her ability to control minds. During the last battle, she comes face to face with the Northman leader and she cannot use her ability... she cannot penetrate his mind. So instead she captures him and imprisons him. Her father wants him dead, she does not, she uses her ability to keep him alive and her father banishes her. She and the leader of the Northman, Leif, escape and head on a journey where they must work together to defeat a common enemy, the giants. 



This book was exciting from beginning to end. I love how the magic and myth was weaved into the story of the Celtic and the Norse. I love both Celtic and Norse mythology. Bringing in the magic seemed like a natural thing. I mean for the time period - way back a long time ago- the mythology, the gods, and goddesses would have been a common thing. The book didn't feel mythical though. It felt historical and so to me, it felt real and authentic. I enjoy mythology but I am no expert int he field so if it was all done correctly or not, I wouldn't know but it felt like it was. The writing was beautiful and the story never hit a slow or dull point for me. In Historical Fantasies.... that is amazing for me. The world building and the pacing were just done to perfection. 

I adored both the main characters. Ciara was freaking amazing. She was kick ass for sure. I mean she feared nothing- but loving her enemy- and she just ran head on to any battle or enemy with no fear or hesitation. She felt she knew what needed to be done and she would do it for her kingdom, for her people. She also had a very soft side that I enjoyed watching develop more and more throughout the book. She was hardened because of the world she lived in of war and death. She has seen some horrific and traumatizing things. But she would not give up on her mission. Her one soft spot that she could not bury... her soft spot for Leif. She tried over and over and over again to push him away and not fall for this enemy. Well, that didn't work out so well for her. 

Lief. Oh, I think he is a favorite of mine. He was so kind and loyal and cute. Yes like a puppy dog but charming too. He truly cared for his family, his people, and of course Ciara. What started out as intrigue and curiosity turned into admiration, respect, and love. I mean Ciara is a pretty awesome girl and she knows her stuff. She is tough but still feminine and beautiful. She is equal in everything and he can't help but fall for her. 

The romance is sweet and slow burning. There is never any big explosion or even constant sparks. There is more of this peaceful comfort in their feelings. Its adoration and its a feeling of home. It's so sweet. I was on board with it the entire book. One of those books that made me keep thinking... if you don't kiss her I will punch you. 

A few other characters I liked. The Morrigan. I really enjoyed the moments she appeared in the story. Same with King Oden. Some of the kinsmen were enjoyable. There was also Aren, Lief's little brother... He was so freaking adorable. There were many characters, but really they had little scenes in the book, even when they were important to the story. 

One thing I actually enjoyed with this book that I don't normally enjoy were the action scenes. Most of the time they confuse me or bore me. The battles scenes in this book were written really well. I not only followed them but enjoyed them. Which is a good thing because mainly this book is battle scenes or planning for the battles. 

I just really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. If you enjoy mythology, historical fantasy, and a very sweet romance with highly loveable characters. Read this book. 

Just absolutely freaking loved it! 

Once upon a time, Jessica Leake was a psychotherapist, but even though she loved her clients, she couldn't stop writing. She wrote and wrote until she got her first book published, and then she wrote some more. In between all that writing she had four beautiful and hilarious children with her husband (best friend and man she's known since high school; also hilarious), moved back to her adopted hometown of Greenville, SC, built a chicken coop, and got a bunch of chickens that poop breakfast every morning. She also has two dogs to keep the chickens in line. (The dogs made her write that last bit.)

Review: Solstice by PJ Hoover

Title: Solstice 

Author: PJ Hoover

Publisher: TorTeen /McMillian
Publishing Date:  June 18th 2013

Pages:  384
Genre:  YA Fantasy/Mythology 

Series:  Stand Alone
Source:  Hardcover

  

Piper's world is dying.

Each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles that threaten to destroy the earth. Amid this global heating crisis, Piper lives under the oppressive rule of her mother, who suffocates her even more than the weather does. Everything changes on her eighteenth birthday, when her mother is called away on a mysterious errand and Piper seizes her first opportunity for freedom.

Piper discovers a universe she never knew existed—a sphere of gods and monsters—and realizes that her world is not the only one in crisis. While gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper’s life spirals out of control as she struggles to find the answer to the secret that has been kept from her since birth.

An imaginative melding of mythology and dystopia, Solstice is the first YA novel by talented newcomer P. J. Hoover.

I  have this book sitting on my shelf for quite a while. I actually started the book off with audio but finished it with the hardcover due to technical difficulties with the audio. I enjoyed the book more as a read than a listen so I am glad I finished with the book. This was a very interesting and entertaining read. I loved the take on the Persephone/Hades myth. It was fresh and new and even though it was fantasy it had dystopian setting and that made the book even more interesting. It was good. I enjoyed it.



Piper lives in a world where its always hot, way hot. The world is dying kind of hot. She lives alone withe her mother and is in her last year of high school, turning 18, and looking forward to making it on her own, away from her overbearing, over controlling, over protective mother. Instead of planning for her future, she gets a visit from her past, a past she doesn't remember, a past that changes everything.


I really liked this story. The book had some issues for me but not enough to deter my enjoyment of the story.  What I had issues with were very small.... the pacing lacked for me. Sometimes it was very fast paced and exciting but those were very few in between. The story was slow for much of the book and it did take me a while to get through. There was much detail given with the underworld and the world that Piper lived in. Some may like this and find it to be a plus for the book, it was just a bit much for me. 

The ending lacked some for me too. I am glad Piper's story was wrapped up but I felt there was still more to tell from this world that I was brought into. The story of the dying world did not have an ending and that sort of saddened me. I would like to know if things will be fixed, if the world will be saved. 

The romance lacked just a tiny bit for me. I felt the story was more about Piper finding out the secrets of her past and of her identity. Which was good. I liked this part of the story, I felt that the romance should of felt a bit more exciting and intense than what I felt. It was sweet and I liked it, just a bit more tame than I would have imagined. It felt as if it was in the background and I felt it should have been much more of the center story. It was still very sweet and romantic though and I still liked it. I think I just needed more. 

What I did like. The characters. I liked them all. Piper was a pretty strong character, she held her own, independent, stubborn, caring, loyal. I also liked Shayne and even Reese. They were both great in their own way.When they were good they were good, when they were bad they were bad and I really didn't care if they were bad or good. I liked them. Reese had some moments that weren't very likable and he didn't feel safe, but I still liked his character and the part he played. I didn't like Shayne at first, but he grew on me and became a very sweet, caring boy that was a bit irresistible. The good was good, the crazy was crazy, and it all worked well together. 

The interaction between the character were good too. They all played very important parts and they meshed well together and were very amusing many times. Many, most of the interactions were very intense in a full spectrum of emotions. 

I also very much liked the story and the way everything came together in the end. It all made sense and I was worried at first how a dystopian turns into a fantasy and plays out an age old mythology tale. It was written well in the story aspect. It was very creative and very well crafted. 

The story kept me very interested. Even though it had it's slow parts, I never wanted to quit reading the book. I just had to read it slowly little bits at a time. I am very glad I finished Piper's story and I really hope to read more from this world. Like I said, the ending as only part of an ending, I can see so much more coming. 

It was a just at tad rough in parts, but overall I enjoyed it. 

P. J. Hoover first fell in love with Greek mythology in sixth grade thanks to the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton. After a fifteen year bout as an electrical engineer designing computer chips for a living, P. J. decided to take her own stab at mythology and started writing books for kids and teens. P. J. is a member of THE TEXAS SWEETHEARTS & SCOUNDRELS. When not writing, P. J. spends time with her husband and two kids and enjoys practicing Kung Fu, solving Rubik's cubes, and watching Star Trek.