Book Review: A Touch of Gold by Annie Sullivan @annsulliva

King Midas turned things into gold.  Including his daughter, Kora.  A Touch of Gold is Kora's story.

Midas screwed up, and after he gets his curse reversed, he can no longer turn things to gold.  And although Kora is no longer gold, she still isn't normal and has powers that must be kept secret from the kingdom.

Midas needs to be near the other items he turned to gold in order to live.  So when they are stolen, Kora must hunt them down and return them to save her father and the kingdom. She gets the help of one of her suitors, Aris (who hasn't fled at the sight of her golden skin), and he takes her on his ship.  Her cousin, Hettie, stows away on board which also complicates things. When the sailors find out who Kora is, her life is in danger.  Aris along with the captain, Royce, protect here. Kora can sense where the gold is--she gets visions that help them find it.

The lore is interesting although at times confusing.  There is a complexity, but things sometimes are explained a bit quickly. The bad guys aren't what they seem -- and neither are the good ones.  There are plenty of twists and turns that all surprised me. The romance is a bit overdone, but hey, it added to the enjoyment. It is for teens, after all. The ending ramps up nicely and is very exciting and satisfying.

Teens who enjoy fantasy, mythology, and retellings will certainly enjoy this one. Adults should give A Touch of Gold a chance too.

Published by Blink, August 14, 2018
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
320 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Not being a big mythology fan, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed The Song of Achilles.

The Song of Achilles is sort of a retelling of the Iliad--the Trojan War, Oedipus, and of course, the story of Achilles. The story is told from the unique perspective of Patroclus, who is Achilles lover.

Their relationship is slowly developed which makes The Song of Achilles more of a love story.  But there is plenty of battles and twelve-years of war to keep up the action.

As I said, I'm not much of a mythology scholar, so I enjoyed this story, whether it follows the classic myths or not.  Patroclus' perspective is unique. I still get the characters confused. Their names all sound the same to me. But for the most part, I kept track of what was going on.

We pretty much all know that it ends for both of these characters, but I was waiting for the arrow in the heel (I did know at least that much) but it never happened.

If you are a fan of mythology, then you should definitely put this Winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction (2012) on your list. The sequel, Circe, is releasing in April and that was my motivation for reading The Song of Achilles now. I have a copy of Circe that I'm hoping to get to soon.

Published by Ecco, 2012
Copy obtained from the library
416 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Audio Book Review: Morning Star by Pierce Brown

Morning Star is the third book in the Red Rising Trilogy and will whip your emotions around like a tornado.

This review may have spoilers from the previous books, Red Rising and Golden Son, so proceed with caution...

Darrow is a captive at the beginning of Morning Star. But we know he's been in many, many hopeless positions before, so somehow he's going to get out of this one. And he does.

If you read my reviews of Red Rising and Golden Son, then you will recognize some of the same statements in this review.  This is a war book.  There are battles and more battles.  Characters get killed. There is never a respite.  So many betrayals and surprises.

Along with the battles are epic twists and turns. There is never a dull moment.  As I have said about all three of these books, they are bit long and drawn out.  I actually finished this one by reading the ending (rather than listening) because I was getting tired of waiting. There is a lot of brutality and suffering. And, there are so many characters.  It had been so long since I read Golden Son. I had a hard time getting my bearings since Brown doesn't really give you much of a review.

I don't think these books are Young Adult, as I have been saying in my previous reviews.  The world is very complex.  There is nothing to keep teens from enjoying this series, but it's going to take more of a commitment than they are used to.

Morning Star is supposed to be the conclusion.  It even says that on the back of my copy.  But there is a new 4th book that was released January 16 called Iron Gold. Now that the war is over, Iron Gold is about the rebuilding.

The narrator, Tim Gerard Reynolds, does a great job.  He sounds a bit like like Anthony Hopkins. I'll quote from my review of Golden Son: Those who enjoy adventure, fearsome battles, and fantastical worlds and creatures will not want to miss the Red Rising Trilogy.

Published by Del Rey, 2016, audio by Recorded Books, 2016
Audiobook obtained from the library
518 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Audio Book Review: Torn from Troy: Odyssey of a Slave, by Patrick Bowman

Torn from Troy is a retelling of The Odyssey from the point-of-view of a 15-year-old Trojan slave. For a book that I didn't have much hope for, I was really entertained.

Alexi is "Torn from Troy" when they are invaded by the Greeks.  He is enslaved by none other than Odysseus himself.  Alexi despises the Greeks, and has difficulty holding his tongue, which gets him into trouble over and over.  The only thing that saves him is his knowledge of Trojan healing methods, which are more advanced than the Greeks'.

They face a harrowing, storm-ridden sea journey and have to fight off an advancing army. They are almost taken under the spell of the Lotus-eaters and almost eaten by a Cyclops. Alexi learns some secrets and is also keeping some of his own. He earns some respect from Odysseus.  And in the end, we are left hanging as to what will be Alexi's fate.

I must admit that I know only the basic facts about The Odyssey, so I'm not sure how exactly this portrays that story. But Torn from Troy was exciting and fast-paced.  Both Odysseus and Alexi are clever and get themselves (and all the Greeks) out of several life-threatening situations. Yes, some of it is a bit over the top and there is a lot of luck, but it's all great entertainment.

The audiobook, narrated by Gerard Doyle, is very good.  The voices were helpful and not over the top.  Very easy to listen to and understand.

There are two more books in the series, Cursed by the Sea God and Arrow through the Axes, and I'm looking forward to continuing. Recommend this to younger readers who enjoy mythical adventures.

Published by Ronsdale Press, 2011, audio by Post Hypnotic Press
Audiobook obtained from Sync YA Literature
200 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: Tiger's Curse, by Colleen Houck

Tiger's Curse is a page turner. I never lost interest and the pace keeps you on your toes.

Tiger's Curse is fantasy. The main character, Kelsey, befriends a tiger while working at a circus. It turns out the tiger is really an ancient prince who has been cursed to live in a tiger's body. He has determined that Kelsey is the one that can help him break the curse.

Tiger's Curse is an exciting adventure and it's sweet at the same time. The characters were endearing. Kelsey, who is so compassionate, Ren, the tiger, who is obviously mad about Kelsey, and Mr. Kadam, the perfect side kick are the main characters.

Durga is the god that can release the curse. Kelsey is supposedly Durga's favored one. Kelsey accepts all this weirdness pretty easily. They have to travel all over India and figure out a lot of cryptic messages and symbols. It all happens quickly, but that also is what keeps the plot full of action. And, while they do get into some seriously dangerous situations, they always manage to figure out how to survive fairly easily.

I'm a tentative fantasy fan. I like my fantasy to have a lot of reality mixed in. And, Tiger's Curse went too far for my taste. There is just too much magic.  I have students that love these books, and they are often checked out. I don't hesitate to recommend this series. Most of my complaints are entirely personal.

If you enjoy a fantasy about lovable wild animals, Tiger's Curse is sure to entertain. The empathetic characters and fast pace will definitely keep your interest.

Published by Splinter, 2011
Copy obtained from the library
403 pages

Rating: 3.5

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Book Review: Mortal Heart, by Robin LaFevers

Mortal Heart tells Annith's story, one of His Fair Assassins. While a bit more mythological than Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph, it delivers on all fronts -- the world, the characters, and the plot.

Annith can't understand why the abbess doesn't send her out on a mission. She's been faithful to St. Mortain, and she's proven herself the most skilled assassin at the convent. She's horrified to find out the abbess has chosen her as the next Seeress, which means she will never leave the convent again. Annith thinks there's more to the abbess' decision. That it isn't really Mortain's wish that Annith become a seer.

The abbess has left the convent to travel to the Duchess of Breton, since Breton is on the brink of war. Annith decides to sneak away from the convent and confront the abbess. Her journey is assisted by some unusual beings, and the tension only gets worse after she arrives at the castle.

Sybella and Ismae are both serving the Duchess, so the three assassins are reunited to save the kingdom. It's dangerous and adventurous. And Annith gets her own romantic story line too. Mortal Heart contains some startling revelations for Annith--more so that the other two books, but it only serves to enhance her strength.

Mortal Hearts delves into the mythology of the 9 gods that exist in this world. I think this was probably necessary to understand the motivations of the different peoples, but it wasn't my favorite part.

I felt the build up was a bit slow, but I think I felt this way because I couldn't wait to get to the adventure. I mean, that's what His Fair Assassins  is about, right? It took a while for Annith to really get into a dangerous situation. But really, this is just impatience on my part.

If you like bad ass female assassins, you will love this series. I suppose it isn't necessary to start at the beginning because each story stands on its own. But I think you will get much more out of these stories if you know the background. So start at the beginning with Grave Mercy, if you haven't already.

Can't wait to get this one in the library for my teens.

Published by HMH BFYR, November 4, 2014
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
450 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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Audio Book Review: Cruel Beauty, by Rosamund Hodge

While Cruel Beauty contains beautiful storytelling, the complexities of the mythology overwhelmed me a bit.

Nyx has always known she must marry the Dark Lord (the demon who has captured her world), leave her home and family, and fulfill her destiny to save her kingdom, Arcadia. She is determined to use the Hermetic Arts to kill the Dark Lord and release Arcadia from its spell.

What she finds in the castle with the Dark Lord is very different than what she anticipated.

The reader goes in knowing that this is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, so the general story arc is understood. There are a lot of details that add a lot of interest. But....

I had a hard time following the story at times. Part of the problem is that I was listening to the audio version. I'm sure if I were reading Cruel Beauty I would have had to re-read certain sections to make things a bit clearer. It is well written, but there's just so much to keep track of.

I don't want to go into to many details, but there are details of how Arcadia got in the condition it is. There are a lot of rituals, folklore, and customs that are explained. The "hermetic arts" are an entire story on their own. Several myths are mentioned, including Pandora.  There are shadow children and Kindly Ones. I couldn't keep track of how it all fit together, and I'm still not sure how Nyx managed to end up where she did at the end of the book.

Because of my confusion, I missed a lot of details. I think that someday I need to read Cruel Beauty again, but honestly I'm not sure that will ever happen.

Even though the narrator (Elizabeth Knowledon) did a great job reading the book, I wouldn't recommend the audio version of  Cruel Beauty. Fans of fairy tale retellings will enjoy Cruel Beauty,but I would only recommend it to more sophisticated teen readers. It's not quick or easy, although it is very lyrical.

Published by Balzer + Bray, January 28, 2014 (Audio by HarperCollins and Blackstone)
Audio Book obtained from SYNC
352 pages

Rating: 3/5

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Book Review: The Violet Hour, by Whitney A. Miller

It's hard to put The Violet Hour into a category. It's a survival story in a dystopian world, with some supernatural elements thrown in.

Most of the world follows VisionCrest. Some call it a religion, others, a cult. Harlow is the daughter of the leader of VisionCrest. Her face is know all over the world, and she's supposed to be preparing to take over after her father.

When The Violet Hour begins, Harlow and a group of students are touring Japan and China. Their journey is being closely followed -- they are an advertisement for VisionCrest. Most of their parents are high up in the organization.

Harlow has been keeping a secret all of her life. She hears a voice in her head and sees violent visions that depict Harlow killing other people. The visions are brutal and gruesome. They seem very real to Harlow, and she doesn't understand what they mean or why she has them. As the book progresses, she begins to understand who this voice is.

That is my first issues with The Violet Hour. I had difficult understanding all the mythology associated with the visions. I understood by the end, but I found it all a bit murky.

I had difficulty connecting with Harlow. I wish the book hadn't jumped right into the trip and one of Harlow's visions. I would have liked to see these kids in their normal environment and get to know Harlow and feel the pressure she felt because of her position. All of that came out later and just didn't have the impact that it should have.

Dora, the best friend, is very annoying. I got tired of her making jokes and using her cutsie sayings over and over. "swizzle stick" -- blaahhhhh.

I liked the ambiguity of the love interest, Adam. Is he good, or bad? What are his true motives? How does he really feel about Harlow? This aspect was well done. I also enjoyed the action, especially at the end. Miller ratchets up the tension quite well and provides an exciting (and twisted) conclusion.

As an adventure book, The Violet Hour works pretty well. I just didn't really connect with the characters or the deeper meaning of the story. It was an entertaining read, but it won't stick with me.

Published by Flux, March 8, 2014
ARC obtained from Library Media Connection Magazine
300 pages

Rating: 3/5

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Book Review: Antigoddess, by Kandare Blake @KendareBlake

I really enjoyed the premise of Antigoddess and the creative touches that Blake used to tell the story.

I must admit though, I really only know the very basics of mythology. For some reason, my education never included one single class or even a unit of study that had anything to do with the Greek myths. I've never been very interested in pursuing the topic on my own, so what little I know comes from fiction based on these characters. So that is the perspective from which I write this review.

We have two points of view -- Cassandra and her boyfriend Aidan are in love, and going through high school as normally as they can. Cassandra can see the future, and her close friend and brother know this. I kind of like that it isn't a big secret. It's just a normal part of her life.

Athena and her brother Hermes are gods, and they are dying. Both in very different ways, but they are trekking through the desert in search of Demeter, who they find is also dying, and also differently. It turns out all the gods are dying and Athena and Hermes are determined to find out why and see if they can stop it. Demeter tells them they must find the Oracle and "make her remember." It takes a while to figure out what this all means, but it turns out they need to find Cassandra -- she's the Oracle. She doesn't remember her past, but really she's Cassandra of Troy.

There are several other secrets that I don't want to go into, because I don't want to give too much away. There are "bad" gods too. Ones who are also trying to find Cassandra. All the major Greek gods either are mentioned or make an appearance. And witches, and Odysseus, and Hector. The list goes on.

The climactic battle scenes are exciting -- I think this would be an interesting story to see on the screen. Antigoddess has an ending, but this is only the first book in The Goddess Wars Series. I'll be interested in seeing where the story goes.

Blake is a great writer; the unusual way the gods are dying is surprising. Feathers? Really? Who thinks of that? She gives each god their original personality with a modern twist.

I guess I really don't understand why the gods aren't all working together to figure out what's going on. But then we wouldn't have this story. And, I suspect this will become more apparent in future books.

Greek mythology fans should definitely be steered to Antigoddess. Anyone who likes an interesting paranormal battle between good and evil will enjoy Antigoddess.

Published by Tor Teen, September 10, 2013
ARC obtained from Library Media Connection Magazine
336 pages

Rating: 4/5

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