Bull

From Goodreads:    SEE THE STORY OF THESEUS AND THE MINOTAUR IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT

Minos thought he could
Pull a fast one
On me,
Poseidon!
God of the Sea!
But I’m the last one
On whom you
Should try such a thing.
The nerve of that guy.
The balls. The audacity.
I AM THE OCEAN!
I got capacity!
Depths! Darkness! Delphic power!
So his sweet little plan
Went big-time sour
And his wife had a son
Born with horns and a muzzle
Who ended up
In an underground puzzle.
What is it with you mortals?
You just can’t seem to learn:
If you play with fire, babies,
You’re gonna get burned.

Much like Lin-Manuel Miranda did in Hamilton, the New York Times best-selling author David Elliott turns a classic on its head in form and approach, updating the timeless story of Theseus and the Minotaur for a new generation. A rough, rowdy, and darkly comedic young adult retelling in verse, Bull will have readers reevaluating one of mythology's most infamous monsters.

My Thoughts:

-    This was the classic tale of Theseus and the Minotaur, but it was SO hilarious! I laughed out loud several times.

-    The characters, especially Poseidon, speak a little more modernly than you would expect, which just adds to the humor.

-    Poseidon was my favorite! He is hilarious in this book!

-    I really liked how the words turned into art.

-    I didn't feel jipped from this book in verse. It has everything. 

The Immortal Throne

Goodreads Synopsis:    Daphne Raines was not expecting to wind up Queen of the Underrealm. She knew it was risky to enter the underworld to save the love of her life, Haden, who had sacrificed his own honor as an Underlord for her sake. But she could never have predicted that she’d end up betrothed to Haden’s conniving half-brother, Garrick, new King of the Underrealm—and bound to his dark world.

Even worse, Haden is banished to the mortal realm, and has just days to live as poison takes over his body and mind. Only Daphne’s kiss can save him, but how can she escape Garrick and reach Haden in time?

Surprises lurk around every corner in the final chapter of this romance story as Haden and Daphne fight to fulfill their destinies, challenging their fates and confronting the reality that they might die in the process.

My Thoughts:

-    I have nothing but praise for this series! The ending did not disappoint. It was everything I wanted and more.

-    I love how these characters have grown and developed. They each had their own moments to shine, and I've grown really attached to each one. 

-    I was able to predict some of the story twists, but not all. There were still a lot of surprises for me, and I loved it.

-    Daphne's dad and Tobin really shined. They didn't have any special powers, but they really stepped up and didn't shy away from the battle. I loved how they did everything and anything they could to help Daphne. I especially loved Daphne's dad. He really redeemed himself and turned his whole life around. 

-    I enjoyed Haden and Daphne's relationship. Their relationship didn't take over the story even though it was central. There was still plenty of other things going on, and it was the perfect amount of romance to action/scheming/awesome stuff. 

-    This is my new favorite Persephone and Hades retelling. It was a really fun trilogy. I'm glad Bree didn't give up on it. She fought through all the obstacles, and I really admire that.

Previous books in the Into the Dark series

(covers are linked)

 

The Eternity Key

From Goodreads:    Fan-favorite author Bree Despain continues her modern-day romance trilogy inspired by the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades with this second book in her Into the Dark series. 

Haden Lord, the disgraced Prince of the Underrealm, has chosen love over honor and will do everything in his power to protect Daphne Raines, the human girl he was supposed to bring to the Underrealm. Haden’s choice is put to the test as the Skylords and a figure from his past arrive in Olympus Hills with a plan that could destroy all of the realms.

Embracing her destiny as the Cypher, Daphne begins to understand the immense power of her musical ability to control the elements, but she must come to terms with her feelings for Haden and what she must sacrifice in order to protect him and her friends.

Believing the Key of Hades is the only thing that can stop the Underrealm Court from releasing the monstrous Keres on the mortal world, Haden, Daphne, and their friends set out to find the Key before Persephone’s Gate opens again on the spring equinox.

My Thoughts:

-    I love this series! This book didn't have middle book syndrome at all. It moved the story along nicely and kept me hooked the whole way through.

-    The story is very well thought out. I love the twists and surprises.

-    The characters are awesome. I loved them in the first book, and each character grows so much in this book. Great character development!

-    The ending is awful, but in a good way. It is one of those cliffhanger endings where you want to chuck the book across the room and weep, but you love the author for it because it is just great storytelling. 

-    I love the relationship between Daphne and her father. Her dad made huge mistakes, but he is really stepping up as a father, and I love seeing good father figures in books. We need more of that.

-    I also love the Daphne and Haden relationship. It is full of tension!

-    Love this series! So many emotions! More gush gush gush! 

Previous book in the Into the Dark series

(cover is linked)

The Shadow Prince

Goodreads Synopsis:    Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.

Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.

Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds. 

My Thoughts:

-    This has been sitting on my nightstand since the launch party, and I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner. I loved it!

-    This is my new favorite Hades and Persephone story. It had everything: action, romance, friendships, mystery, tension, music, great characters, and a great story.

-    The plot was really well done. It was intricate and interwoven. I was hooked from the beginning, and the ending delivered. 

-    I loved every character. They were all great, and each have their own roles to play. I suspect some characters will play bigger roles later. 

-    I have nothing bad to say about this book. Just gush gush gush!

The Blood of Olympus

Goodreads Synopsis:    Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen—all of them—and they're stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood—the blood of Olympus—in order to wake.

The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it "might" be able to stop a war between the two camps.

The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over.

My Thoughts:

-    I am very behind on reviews, and I'm in a major reading slump right now. I haven't read a book for weeks! It is awful. I hope I can remember enough of what I thought about this book to write a decent post. Luckily, I have a few notes.

-    At the time I read this, I really needed a good book with old friends, and this one fit the bill perfectly. I loved reading about Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Leo, and everyone else. It was a lot of fun.

-    While there are a lot of characters in this series/book, I didn't get the characters confused or mixed up. It is very easy to remember who is who and what god is their parent.

-    Leo really stole the show in this book. All our heroes did amazing things, but Leo really stood out to me. His role in the whole story was so great! I loved how he knew what needed to be done, and did everything possible to make sure it happened. He had some great character development throughout the whole series.

-    I have been waiting for an all out battle with the gods, demigods, and baddies since the beginning of this series, and I finally got one! It was awesome! I loved it!

-    This was an amazing ending to the series. It had everything! I was not disappointed! Riordan delivered!

-    Overall, I loved the series, and I can't wait to buy my own copies of the book. I can't wait to see what Rick Riordan has in store for his readers next!

Previous Books in The Heroes of Olympus Series:

(covers are linked to my thoughts)

  

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods

From Goodreads:    A publisher in New York asked me to write down what I know about the Greek gods, and I was like, Can we do this anonymously? Because I don't need the Olympians mad at me again. But if it helps you to know your Greek gods, and survive an encounter with them if they ever show up in your face, then I guess writing all this down will be my good deed for the week. 

So begins Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, in which the son of Poseidon adds his own magic--and sarcastic asides--to the classics. He explains how the world was created, then gives readers his personal take on a who's who of ancients, from Apollo to Zeus. Percy does not hold back. "If you like horror shows, blood baths, lying, stealing, backstabbing, and cannibalism, then read on, because it definitely was a Golden Age for all that."
Dramatic full-color illustrations throughout by Caldecott Honoree John Rocco make this volume--a must for home, library, and classroom shelves--as stunning as it is entertaining.

My Thoughts:

-    I really enjoyed this! I learned and laughed a lot.

-    I love that Rick Riordan made this companion book of the Greek myths. It is really fun to read about the Gods we've been getting to know from his other books. 

-    The God's stories are being told by Percy, and it really adds a lot of humor to the book. I love a lot of Percy's snide comments and modern references. 

-    Although I am familiar with a lot of these stories, I still learned a few things. I like how Percy made a disclaimer that there are a lot of variations on these myths, and he was telling the ones that made sense to him. 

-    I loved the beautiful/colorful illustrations throughout the book! I wish there had been more of them.

-    I like how the chapters or sections are each designated to a different God. I thought the book was very well planned and layed out. 

-    I wish I had had more time with this book. I had to rush through the last couple chapters to get it back to the library, sorry Dionysus. 

-    This is definite must have companion book for the Percy Jackson series! I can't wait to read the next book about Greek heroes. 

The House of Hades

Goodreads Synopsis:    At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

My Thoughts:

-    Not my favorite in the series, but still good.

-    I like how the story is told from the perspective of several different heroes. It is fun to get to know each of them. Even though the perspective is changing a lot, the story flows really well. 

-    All the demigods have their moments to shine, but Frank and Leo really stood out to me in this book. I'm growing to like them more and more.

-    I loved the world building of Tartarus. I've always been curious about that place, and it is as horrible as they say and worse. 

-    One of the things that bugged me was how convenient it was for someone random to show up and save our heroes at the last second. The journey is dangerous and there are perilous moments, but I would have liked to see the heroes figure out a way to save themselves more, especially Percy. 

-    I also thought that some of the god-like powers were stretched a bit. For Piper to turn on Festus with the power of love was WAY out there! The same with Hazel and the mist. I just couldn't buy it.

-    I'm excited to finish the series! I wonder what will happen to everyone.

Previous Books in The Heroes of Olympus Series:

(covers are linked to my thoughts)

  

The Mark of Athena

Goodreads Synopsis:    Annabeth is terrified. Just when she's about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on theArgo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo's fantastical creation doesn't appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.

And that's only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close—the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?

Annabeth's biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he's now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.

Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare....

My Thoughts:

-    Our heroes are reunited and assembled! Woo!

-    Great characters and great adventures!

-    I love all the characters, but Leo is one of my favorites. He is so funny! The part with Narcissus was so awesome.

-    There was a lot going on in this book. The characters had to learn to get along. There were couples and their relationships. The quests, the camps, the dreams, etc. Riordan such a great storyteller because he has all these elements, but it isn't confusing and they are all part of the story as a whole. I hope that made sense.

-    Annabeth has some major star moments in this one. She was awesome! I would not have had the courage to do what she did. 

-    I love the Roman Holiday bit!!!! It made this book 10x more awesome when Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn made an appearance! 

-    Gush gush gush! Read this! 

-    The ending has quite the cliffhanger. I'm eager to devour more of the series! 

Previous Books in The Heroes of Olympus Series:

(covers are linked to my thoughts)

 

The Son of Neptune

Goodreads Says:    
Seven half-bloods shall answer the call, 
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth 

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem — when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams. 

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery — although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely — enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart. 

Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.

My Thoughts:

-    I read this ages ago, but somehow I forgot to write a review! Oops!

-    I love how the first book was about Jason at Camp Half-Blood, and this one is all about Percy at Camp Jupiter.

-    I loved exploring the new camp. I really glad they provided a map. It was really helpful.

-    It was fun to learn the Roman names for all the gods and who their Greek counterparts were. It was also fun to see the difference between satyrs and fauns and the cyclopes. 

-    I really liked the new characters introduced. Hazel and Frank were great, but I'm really curious about Reyna. I hope there is more of her in the future.

-    Nico is back!!

-    Percy is a natural leader. He grew so much in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, so I'm glad the book focused on Percy helping Hazel and Frank find their strengths. 

-    I can't remember everything I wanted to say, but I really liked this one!

First Book in The Heroes of Olympus Series:

(cover is linked to my thoughts)

The Lost Hero

Goodreads Synopsis:    Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god.

My Thoughts:

-    Hooray for more Percy Jackson/Camp Half-Blood books!!

-    I love how adventurous Rick Riordan's books are. They are so fun! I like that our heroes go on epic quests and meet different people from mythology.

-    I love how Riordan modernizes the old myths and people/gods.

-    I liked the new characters. They were fun to get to know better. Jason is a strong character. I can tell he is going to do some awesome things in the future. I wish there was a previous series about Jason and his team. Leo was really fun and quirky. I liked his humor, and I think he had the coolest powers. I liked Piper a lot. I didn't think I would, but I did. I felt like she had the biggest character growth.

-    I loved the mesh of Roman and Greek stuff. Brilliant!

-    More! More! I want more!

Everbound

Goodreads Synopsis:    Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.

Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.

Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.

In this enthralling sequel to Everneath, Brodi Ashton tests the bonds of destiny and explores the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love.

My Thoughts:

-    Wow! Another really fun journey.

-    Brodi said she didn't have the world building bone, but I think she did a great job creating the Everneath. It was really cool to see the Everneath in this book.

-    I feel like screaming and celebrating. I'm not sure which, but I might do a bit of both.

-    I like that the story takes place in Utah. I know where all the locations are, and it gives me some pride in my state.

-    I didn't like how Nikki was using Cole the whole time, but at the end, I just didn't know what to think.

-    There are some disturbing/creepy things in this book.

-    I have some major mixed and screwed up feelings about Cole. I don't hate him, but I don't love him. There were times in this book that I really felt for him, and then I just wanted to punch in the face! GAH!

-    Nikki and her emotional roller coaster are very believable. I had so much empathy for her and what she was going through.

-    I figured a love triangle would develop in this series, but this is such a different take on a love triangles that I just don't know what to think.

-    I loved the journey through Everneath. I liked the different stages and the maze aspect. I liked how the different phases tied to a different emotion. It was pretty clever.

-    Nikki's memories of Jack were so vivid and detailed. I don't know if I could conjure such detailed stories about my husband. I feel like I need to try and remember things about our life together!

-    The ending is another killer one! I just can't even describe the horrible cliffhanger I'm left to face while I wait for the next book. I HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!!

Previous Book in the Everneath series

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

Everneath

Goodreads Synopsis:    Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she's returned--to her old life, her family, her boyfriend--before she's banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance--and the one person she loves more than anything. But there's just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's queen.

Everneath is a captivating story of love, loss, and immortality from debut author Brodi Ashton.

My Thoughts:

-    Wow! What a journey! I loved this book, and I can't wait to devour Everbound!!

-    I love that this was a take on Hades and Persephone! It was really unique and fresh!

-    I liked how mysterious everything is at the beginning. I just couldn't read fast enough, so I could get all the details and pieces.

-    I felt a lot of emotions throughout the book, but I think anxiety was my constant companion, and it just got worse the farther I got into the story. I also felt sad, anticipated, eager, frustrated, hopeful, and gushy.

-    I love how the story is mostly taking place in the present, but there are parts that jump back to Nikki's past. It was really cool how the author incorporated it all. 

-    I love that Jack called Nikki "Becks". It was heart warming. I loved Jack and Nikki's relationship period! It was so awesome.

-    I feel like I connected with Nikki on several levels. They way she reacted to stuff is a lot how I react to things. It made the book more real for me.

-    I don't know what to think of Cole. I want to hate him so much, but I can't, but I do, but I don't! It's complicated.

-    I really liked Will's character. He was kind of a bum, but he was valuable. I hope we get to see more of him in the future books.

-    The ending is killing me! I feel like screaming! I want to just dive right into the next book, but I think I need to separate myself from this series for a little bit. I can't handle the emotional intensity.