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bookph1le's review
4.0
Urban fantasy isn't typically my thing, but I enjoyed this one. Looking forward to the next installment.
flamelight14666's review
5.0
I loved it! I really like the way the characters have been written and how the story has progressed so far. I'd love to read the next books in this series. Definitely give it a try if you like Mythology and Magic and a badass female protagonist.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
nemerith's review
4.0
As you may (or may not) know, I looooooove mythology! That said, I think this was actually one of the first books I've read that wasn't about the god or goddess per se, but rather one who works for them. This is the first book I've read by the author.
Worldbuilding:
Mallory, or Mal, lives in a world where, unbeknown to regular people, gods are very real and have divided the world amongst them. Secret wars are fought by their Marked and Guardians. The Marked are the ones that move around and fight the battles while the Guardians take care of the spiritual needs of their god or goddess and their temple on earth (as well as assist the Marked). There is one rule that is paramount: mortals are not to know about what is going on behind the scenes.
While we got a lot of information about how the world and the power structure (which god/goddess rules what and what are some important alliances for example), we learned about it throughout the book, so there was no information dump.
An urban fantasy set in present-day New York City, we follow Mal on her hunt to discover who's behind the murder of her fellow Marked. As she moved around a lot, looking for clues and following death traces, we had to know where we were and what we were looking at. The author did a great job describing the environments as well as all the little details that were important to Mal.
Character development:
Right of the bat, I have to say that Mal felt very real and believable. It has been 10 years since she died and 5 years since she came back in service to Hades. We got to know her history a little bit, though much of what happened during those years is still shrouded in mystery. She is very aware of her strengths and weaknesses and she knows when to call for help and who to ask, even if they are not on her team. She isn't a damsel in distress (she wouldn't be a Marked if she was) but knows how to fight and get out of tricky situations.
Then we have Bastian, who we still know so little about! We know he is mortal, but he wields an unknown power. He has a very clear set of norms and values and tries to stick to them as much as he is able, even when helping Mal.
Side characters such as Kimmy, Lissa, Ciara and Tamara, we don't really get to know. So I hope their backstories get some more love in the next book. That said, we might not know much about them, but they feel real and part of the world.
Pacing and flow:
It started pretty slow, and it took me a while to get into it, but once it got going it was smooth sailing till the end.
There was a good amount of conversation, which sometimes took the upper hand a bit, but as this was the first instalment that was to be expected.
The book:
The book itself was well written with no (noticeable) errors. There is no sex described (if that is important to you).
This instalment has 236 pages, spread over 30 chapters and is told from Mal's point of view.
Final thoughts:
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book, courtesy of BookSirens, and I can honestly say it was an entertaining and enjoyable read. It was something new and refreshing in a genre that I absolutely love (plus you know... mythology!).
For those looking for an urban fantasy/mystery where there is little to no romance (as of yet), this book is for you!
Worldbuilding:
Mallory, or Mal, lives in a world where, unbeknown to regular people, gods are very real and have divided the world amongst them. Secret wars are fought by their Marked and Guardians. The Marked are the ones that move around and fight the battles while the Guardians take care of the spiritual needs of their god or goddess and their temple on earth (as well as assist the Marked). There is one rule that is paramount: mortals are not to know about what is going on behind the scenes.
While we got a lot of information about how the world and the power structure (which god/goddess rules what and what are some important alliances for example), we learned about it throughout the book, so there was no information dump.
An urban fantasy set in present-day New York City, we follow Mal on her hunt to discover who's behind the murder of her fellow Marked. As she moved around a lot, looking for clues and following death traces, we had to know where we were and what we were looking at. The author did a great job describing the environments as well as all the little details that were important to Mal.
Character development:
Right of the bat, I have to say that Mal felt very real and believable. It has been 10 years since she died and 5 years since she came back in service to Hades. We got to know her history a little bit, though much of what happened during those years is still shrouded in mystery. She is very aware of her strengths and weaknesses and she knows when to call for help and who to ask, even if they are not on her team. She isn't a damsel in distress (she wouldn't be a Marked if she was) but knows how to fight and get out of tricky situations.
Then we have Bastian, who we still know so little about! We know he is mortal, but he wields an unknown power. He has a very clear set of norms and values and tries to stick to them as much as he is able, even when helping Mal.
Side characters such as Kimmy, Lissa, Ciara and Tamara, we don't really get to know. So I hope their backstories get some more love in the next book. That said, we might not know much about them, but they feel real and part of the world.
Pacing and flow:
It started pretty slow, and it took me a while to get into it, but once it got going it was smooth sailing till the end.
There was a good amount of conversation, which sometimes took the upper hand a bit, but as this was the first instalment that was to be expected.
The book:
The book itself was well written with no (noticeable) errors. There is no sex described (if that is important to you).
This instalment has 236 pages, spread over 30 chapters and is told from Mal's point of view.
Final thoughts:
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book, courtesy of BookSirens, and I can honestly say it was an entertaining and enjoyable read. It was something new and refreshing in a genre that I absolutely love (plus you know... mythology!).
For those looking for an urban fantasy/mystery where there is little to no romance (as of yet), this book is for you!
mutedsapphire's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
karenjean18's review
3.0
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As a lover of both mythology and urban fantasy, I was extremely excited about this book. There was a bit of a mystery that flowed through the plot as the main character Mal hinted at her past but it wasn't revealed to the reader. Overall it was a solid urban fantasy that carried many of the common themes that others do along with original twists.
What I especially enjoyed was the mix of mythology. The focus was not only on greek gods but gods and goddesses from different ancient cultures. It was interesting reading about how they affect the characters despite not being present. I also enjoyed how the book had ebbs and flows. It didn't keep my heart pounding at the turn of every page, but it still kept me engaged when laying some background. The reason that I didn't give this book a higher rating is because the timelines were confusing. Events that I thought happened days later actually happened a few hours after and vice versa. This story also didn't hold a wow factor for me, which isn't bad as it doesn't happen often.
Overall if you enjoy urban fantasy then this could be a goon next read.
As a lover of both mythology and urban fantasy, I was extremely excited about this book. There was a bit of a mystery that flowed through the plot as the main character Mal hinted at her past but it wasn't revealed to the reader. Overall it was a solid urban fantasy that carried many of the common themes that others do along with original twists.
What I especially enjoyed was the mix of mythology. The focus was not only on greek gods but gods and goddesses from different ancient cultures. It was interesting reading about how they affect the characters despite not being present. I also enjoyed how the book had ebbs and flows. It didn't keep my heart pounding at the turn of every page, but it still kept me engaged when laying some background. The reason that I didn't give this book a higher rating is because the timelines were confusing. Events that I thought happened days later actually happened a few hours after and vice versa. This story also didn't hold a wow factor for me, which isn't bad as it doesn't happen often.
Overall if you enjoy urban fantasy then this could be a goon next read.
kelsicayrene's review
3.0
I think this series has potential. I thought the premise was great and very original. I love the play on all the various mythologies and most of the characters. The plot was intriguing and the pace was perfect for me.
While it could be very info dumpy at times,which is warranted for the first in a series, I find myself pretty excited to finish the series.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
While it could be very info dumpy at times,which is warranted for the first in a series, I find myself pretty excited to finish the series.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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