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It's Nico's Time to Shine in "The Sun and the Star" - Review
Plagued by recurring nightmares where a ghostly voice is calling out for help, the son of Hades Nico di Angelo must journey back into Tartarus in order to save a friend from eternal torment. But it wouldn’t be a Camp Half-Blood quest if he went alone, so joining him is his boyfriend, Will Solace. The Sun and the Star gives Nico his chance to shine (no pun intended) after more than a decade of…
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Lore
Lore by Alexandra Bracken
Genre: YA fantasy Rating: 4.5/5 Representation: queer, Korean and Black supporting characters
CWs: heavy TV-14 level graphic fantasy violence, torture, murder, cancer and sexual assault Complete list: [here]
Summary:
Thousands of years ago, Zeus banished nine Olympians and cursed them with the Agon: every seven years, each of the banished is to become mortal for seven days. During this time, the descendants of famous Grecian heroes hunt down the gods in order to kill them and steal their powers and immortality. Lore, a descendent of Perseus, managed to escape this world at the end of the last Agon, but before she can flee New York City as the next begins, she finds herself drawn back in by an old friend she believed was dead and by Athena herself.
Review:
This book was such a whirlwind, and I loved every second of it.
As a huge Greek mythology fan, this world was just incredible to feel a part of. It really is basically like a modern-day Greek pantheon Hunger Games, and it was so cool to have sets of characters that are literal gods or descendents of famous heroes. Every couple of chapters I would just stop reading and think “wow, that’s Athena just chilling on the streets of New York City.”
That being said, I loved all of the characters, especially Athena’s. On the whole I tend to think of Athena as an overused character and I usually don’t find her particularly interesting, but she was so nuanced in this book while so true to her origins, it was incredible to read. Lore’s character was also really compelling because there aren’t a lot of physically powerful female characters that embrace and are empowered by their anger. And in addition to the two women, all of the main players had a set personality that really made them compelling, and they came together and worked as a squad so well.
I was also impressed by the way that the book kept me on my toes. It starts out at a point of anticipation, but once the ball gets rolling, it really doesn’t stop. And even though there are so many mysteries where you can tell that some critical, surprising information will be coming from, I found myself unsuspecting of the major plot twists that really left me shook. The whole story struck what I thought was a good balance of small character moments and big plot moments. We were constantly moving on multiple levels, and it really kept me eager for what would happen next.
The few criticisms I had were ironically criticisms I have towards the Greek mythos in general. There were a lot of characters right away, and it took me a while to keep them all sorted. Much like the never-ending Greek pantheon. In addition, I think the focus landed on gods that are really overutilized, which made it feel a little predictable, despite its successful, nuanced depictions.
And also, we have to talk about the feminism. It’s heavy-handed, sure. But it has to be. The Greek mythos is full of sexism, as well as many other issues. There’s no feasible world that can be created from this mythos that wouldn’t have some lingering remnants of these issues. So Bracken chooses to tackle it head on. Sometimes it’s a bit much, but it also provides for my favorite part of the entire book: the conversation between Lore and Athena where Lore confronts Athena about her role in punishing women and championing men. It’s so complicated and well done and it’s also really gratifying for a classics student who does find frustration in the way ancient women were treated (to say nothing of today’s issues).
This book definitely isn’t for everyone. There are A LOT of content warnings here. It’s definitely a dark YA. As someone quick to feel queasy, there were a few moments that made me a little nervous. It’s got war themes, so expect everything that comes with that. And it’s just a lot to remember. There’s always a lot of moving pieces.
But it’s become one of my favorite books that I’ve read in a while, and I was so happy I picked it up.
Recommend for:
Anyone who likes Greek mythology or The Hunger Games, but probably not for the faint of heart (check out all the CWs before you read!)
LGBTQIAP YA 2020 Preview: January-June
The January-June LGBTQIAP YA 2020 Preview is here! 72 titles you definitely want on your gaydar for the next six months:
There’s a New Queer Year upon us, and so much goodness within it can hardly be contained in a single post! Below are 72 (!) new US and UK YA titles releasing in the next six months, filled with representation across genres and genders, races and orientations.
If you’re looking for trends and landmarks, as I always do, you might notice the continued rise of queer (and especially Sapphic) YA…
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(via Book to Movie Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken)
The Darkest Minds is the kind of book that I knew would make an incredible movie from page one, and I am happy to report that the film version lived up to my expectations. Both the book and the movie have their share of snappy dialogue and action-packed fight scenes, although the plot twists aren’t quite as shocking in the film. The adaptation is very close to the original, and I would definitely seeing it in theatres.
ｔｈｅ ｂｅｌｌｅｓ
by
Dhonielle Clayton
❝Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orléans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orléans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful. But it’s not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favorite—the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orléans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognized as the most talented Belle in the land. But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favorite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie—that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camellia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using Belle powers in unintended ways, Camellia now faces an impossible decision. With the future of Orléans and its people at stake, Camellia must decide—save herself and her sisters and the way of the Belles—or resuscitate the princess, risk her own life, and change the ways of her world forever. ❞
Find it on Amazon | Book Depository | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble
YABook Junkies Top Pick!
It was supposed to be epic. During a late-night poker game, tennis teammates Colin, Ceo, Grahame, and Rhody make a pact to go on a camping trip in Yosemite National Park. And poker vows can’t be broken. So the first sign that they should ditch the plan is when Rhody backs out. The next is when Ceo replaces him with Ellie, a girl Grahame and Colin have never even heard of. And then there’s the forest fire at their intended campsite. But instead of bailing, they decide to take the treacherous Snow Creek Falls Trail to the top of Yosemite Valley. From there, the bad decisions really pile up. A freak storm is threatening snow, their Craigslist tent is a piece of junk, and Grahame is pretty sure there’s a bear on the prowl. On top of that, the guys have some serious baggage (and that’s not including the ridiculously heavy ax that Grahame insisted on packing) and Ellie can’t figure out what their deal is. And then one of them doesn’t make it back to the tent. Desperate to survive while piecing together what happened, the remaining hikers must decide who to trust in this riveting, witty, and truly unforgettable psychological thriller that reveals how one small mistake can have chilling consequences. Get Your Copy Here!
Click'd: Coding, apps and friendship drama!
Click'd: Coding, apps and friendship drama! @netgalley @tamaraistone @DisneyHyperion
Click’d (Code Girls #1), by Tamara Ireland Stone, (Sept. 2017, Disney-Hyperion), $16.99, ISBN: 9781484784976 Recommended for readers 8-12 Sixth grader Allie Navarro is SO excited about the friendship app she built at CodeGirls summer camp. Click’d collects data about user interests and sends users on a scavenger hunt to find other users with similar interests. It went over big at camp, and now…
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Disney Publishing Worldwide Announces First Book Acquisitions Under Rick Riordan Presents Imprint New Disney-Hyperion Imprint to Publish Mythology-based Fiction for Middle Grade Readers FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New York, NY (Tuesday, April 25, 2017) – Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) announced today the first three titles acquired under the newly cr...
Rick Riordan starts a new publishing imprint?
We’re IN!
