Review: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan

Title: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods

Series: Part of the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: January 2014

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: Who could tell the origin stories of the gods of Olympus better than a modern-day demigod? PERCY JACKSON provides an insider's view with plenty of 'tude in this illustrated collection.

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 lots of 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 rating: ★★★★★

This book was so fun! Right from the start, I loved it! Especially because Percy purposefully did NOT start the book off with Zeus 😂 His sassiness is one of my favorite things about him 😂 Anyway, this book talks about some of the major Greek gods, and because this is middle grade, the myths were consumable, even when it came to those darker myths. And the myths were also pretty concise, which I appreciated.

Review- Camp Half-Blood Confidential: Your Real Guide to the Demigod Training Camp by Rick Riordan

Title: Camp Half-Blood Confidential: Your Real Guide to the Demigod Training Camp

Series: Camp Half-Blood Chronicles | Percy Jackson and the Olympians | Heroes of Olympus

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, Greek mythology

Publication date: May 2017

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: In response to an awful camp orientation video created by the god Apollo, Percy Jackson and other residents of Camp Half-Blood answer such questions as “What is this place?” and “Do I get to keep the T-shirt?” Newbies can check out the section on the Divine Cabins, read up on Magical Landmarks, and consult the chapter of Training Arenas. But Camp Half-Blood Confidential explores much more than just the buildings and grounds. It includes info that can only be learned from those who live there.

For instance, campers do not always co-exist in peace and harmony. The camp is not run with superior efficiency. Prophecies do not flow forth with great regularity. Sprinkled throughout are stories from heroes who have called Camp Half-Blood home or just passed through on their way to places unknown. Chiron himself introduces the book with a brief history of training based on his millennia of experience. And, of course, there are divine words of wisdom from the god Apollo himself, because . . . well, because the demigod authors would prefer not to be struck down, thank you very much.

My rating: ★★★★☆

You hold in your hands the definitive guide to life here at our beloved Greek demigod training facility. It's written for demigods by demigods, which means you get the inside, behind-the-scenes scoop on just about everything.

This was a fun book! And it was funny because before this book, Apollo had done an orientation video for new campers to watch, and apparently, it was quite... something 😂

Review: Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

Title: Warbreaker

Series: Cosmere #5 (can be read as a standalone)

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Genre: Adult, high fantasy

Publication date: June 2009

Published by: Tor

Source: Freebie from author's website

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Synopsis: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, Warbreaker is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn't like his job, and the immortal who's still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago.

Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren's capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people.

By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker.

My rating: ★★★★⯪

Brandon Sanderson has done it again with the amazing world-building and cool magic system.

Review: The Demigod Diaries by Rick Riordan

Title: The Demigod Diaries

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians | The Heroes of Olympus

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle grade, Greek mythology

Publication date: August 2012

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: What dangers do runaway demigods Luke and Thalia face on their way to Camp Half-Blood? Are Percy and Annabeth up to the task of rescuing stolen goods from a fire-breathing giant who doesn't take kindly to intruders? How exactly are Leo, Piper, and Jason supposed to find a runaway table, dodge a band of party-loving Maenads (who just might be a little psychotic), and stave off a massive explosion...all in one hour or less?

With his trademark wit and creativity, Rick Riordan answers these questions and more in three never-before-seen short stories that provide vital back-story to the Heroes of Olympus and Percy Jackson books. Original art, enlightening character interviews and profiles, puzzles, and a quiz add to the fun in this action-packed collection.

My rating: ★★★★☆

This book was a collection of short stories and other fun things, and I had a blast reading it! But then you know how much I love Percy Jackson. Lol.

Review: The Hidden Oracle (The Trials of Apollo #1) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Hidden Oracle

Series: The Trials of Apollo #1

Other series in the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles: Percy Jackson and the Olympians | The Heroes of Olympus

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Middle Grade, urban fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: May 2016

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: How do you punish an immortal?

By making him human.

After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. Weak and disorientated, he lands in New York City as a regular teenage boy. Now, without his godly powers, the four-thousand-year-old deity must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus's favour.

But Apollo has many enemies—gods, monsters and mortals who would love to see the former Olympian permanently destroyed. Apollo needs help, and he can think of only one place to go... an enclave of modern demigods known as Camp Half-Blood.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I have been really looking forward to reading this series, not only because I love Percy Jackson in general, but because I love Apollo too!

Review- The Lightning Thief: Illustrated Edition (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Lightning Thief: Illustrated Edition

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1

Author: Rick Riordan

Illustrator: John Rocco

Genre: Middle Grade, urban fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: July 2005

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school . . . again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

This deluxe gift edition of the internationally best-selling first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, lavishly illustrated by series artist John Rocco, is a must-have for Riordan fans.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I have owned this copy of The Lightning Thief FOR YEARS but I had not read it. I first read The Lightning Thief I think maybe 13 years ago? So it’s been a while. So with the new TV show coming out, I thought this would be the perfect time to revisit this book and finally read the illustrated edition.

Review- Dionysos: The New God (Olympians #12) by George O'Connor

Title: Dionysos: The New God

Series: Olympians #12

Previous books in this series: Zeus: King of the Gods (#1) | Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess (#2) | Hera: The Goddess and her Glory (#3) | Hades: Lord of the Dead (#4) | Poseidon: Earth Shaker (#5) | Aphrodite: Goddess of Love (#6) | Ares: Bringer of War (#7) | Apollo: The Brilliant One (#8) | Artemis: Wild Goddess of the Hunt (#9) | Hermes: Tales of the Trickster (#10) | Hephaistos: God of Fire (#11)

Author: George O'Connor

Genre: Middle Grade, graphic novel, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: January 2022

Published by: First Second

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: In the final volume of the New York Times–bestselling Olympians graphic novel series, author/artist George O’Connor focuses on Dionysos, the god of wine and madness.

The Olympians saga draws to a close with the tale of Dionysos, the last Olympian, and maybe, just maybe, the first of a new type of God. His story is told by the first Olympian herself, Hestia, Goddess of the hearth and home. From her seat in the center of Mt. Olympus, Hestia relates the rise of Dionysos, from his birth to a mortal mother, to his discovery of wine, his battles with madness and his conquering of death itself, culminating, finally, in his ascent to Olympus and Godhood.

My rating: ★★★★☆

You thought Athena’s birth was weird? Wait till you read about Dionysos’s. Let’s just say that Athena wasn’t the only one to be birthed from a weird Zeus body part...

Review- Hephaistos: God of Fire (Olympians #11) by George O'Connor

Title: Hephaistos: God of Fire

Series: Olympians #11

Previous books in this series: Zeus: King of the Gods (#1) | Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess (#2) | Hera: The Goddess and her Glory (#3) | Hades: Lord of the Dead (#4) | Poseidon: Earth Shaker (#5) | Aphrodite: Goddess of Love (#6) | Ares: Bringer of War (#7) | Apollo: The Brilliant One (#8) | Artemis: Wild Goddess of the Hunt (#9) | Hermes: Tales of the Trickster (#10)

Author: George O'Connor

Genre: Middle Grade, graphic novel, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: January 2019

Published by: First Second

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: Thrown from Mount Olympus as a newborn and caught by Thetis and Eurynome, who raised him on the island of Lemnos, Hephaistos had an aptitude for creating beautiful objects from a very young age. Despite his rejection from Olympus, he swallowed his anger and spent his days perfecting his craft. His exquisitely forged gifts and weapons earned him back his seat in the heavens, but he was not treated as an equal. His brothers and sisters looked down at him for his lame leg, and even his own wife, Aphrodite, was disloyal, Witness Hephaistos' wrath as he creates a plan that’ll win him the respect he deserves.

My rating: ★★★★☆

If you are familiar at all with Greek mythology then you know how sad Hephaistos’s life was, especially when he was born. Like most other myths, there are a couple of different versions of his birth. Sometimes he is the son of Hera alone, and sometimes his parents are Hera and Zeus. But it doesn’t matter the version, in every one he is thrown off Mount Olympus by Hera because he was deformed. It’s horrible! Such was the case in this retelling. Here, he is the son of Zeus and Hera, but Hera, of course, did what Hera does, and hurled the poor child off the mountain.

Review: Odin (Asgardians #1) by George O'Connor

Title: Odin

Series: Asgardians #1

Author: George O'Connor

Genre: Middle Grade, graphic novel, fantasy, Norse mythology

Publication date: March 26th 2024

Published by: First Second

Source: eARC from publishers via Netgalley

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Synopsis: Following his smash-hit the Olympians series, New York Times bestseller George O'Connor embarks on a new saga about the Norse gods. This first volume tells the story of the warrior god Odin!

Welcome to the Nine Worlds, home of Gods, Valkyries, Dwarves, Jotnar, and more! Travel the burning rainbow bridge to Asgard where Odin, king of the Aesir, surveys his realm. His thirst for knowledge drives him ever onward, but nothing is learned without sacrifice...

In Asgardians, George O’Connor’s highly kinetic illustrations bring these gritty and astonishing tales of war, betrayal, and the quest for enlightenment at any cost to vivid and startling life and provide the perfect companion to his Olympians series.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I really enjoyed this author’s Olympians graphic novel series, so I was very excited when I found out he was going to be starting a Norse mythology series!

Review- Hermes: Tales of the Trickster (Olympians #10) by George O'Connor

Title: Hermes: Tales of the Trickster

Series: Olympians #10

Previous books in this series: Zeus: King of the Gods (#1) | Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess (#2) | Hera: The Goddess and her Glory (#3) | Hades: Lord of the Dead (#4) | Poseidon: Earth Shaker (#5) | Aphrodite: Goddess of Love (#6) | Ares: Bringer of War (#7) | Apollo: The Brilliant One (#8) | Artemis: Wild Goddess of the Hunt (#9)

Author: George O'Connor

Genre: Middle Grade, graphic novel, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: January 2018

Published by: First Second

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: In volume ten of Olympians, George O’Connor delves into the myth of Hermes, the trickster god. From his infancy, when he bewitches animals and bends them to his will (stealing a herd of Apollo’s prize cattle in the bargain), to his adolescence and adulthood when he becomes father to the equally mischievous Pan, Hermes’s story is wildly entertaining as he brings a little bit of chaos to everything he touches or creates. This volume is sure to be a fan favorite with its wit, charm, and storytelling.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I have loved Hermes’s quips throughout the series, so I was very excited to finally get to this volume! And it was just as fun as I was anticipating!

Review- Artemis: Wild Goddess of the Hunt (Olympians #9) by George O'Connor

Title: Artemis: Wild Goddess of the Hunt

Series: Olympians #9

Previous books in this series: Zeus: King of the Gods (#1) | Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess (#2) | Hera: The Goddess and her Glory (#3) | Hades: Lord of the Dead (#4) | Poseidon: Earth Shaker (#5) | Aphrodite: Goddess of Love (#6) | Ares: Bringer of War (#7) | Apollo: The Brilliant One (#8)

Author: George O'Connor

Genre: Middle Grade, graphic novel, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: January 2017

Published by: First Second

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: Shunned even before she was born and destined to live a life of solitude, Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, finds power through her skilled hunting ability and mighty bow. She slays those who wish to do harm to the innocent and takes care of the young and helpless. She protects women and young girls, helps in childbirth, soothes, and is unrivaled in her hunting abilities.

In the latest volume of Olympians, New York Times–bestselling author George O'Connor continues to turn his extensive knowledge of the original Greek myths into rip-roaring graphic novel storytelling.

My rating: ★★★★☆

This volume focuses on Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon, hunt, wild animals, protector of girls, and so many other things. This goddess has had a very interesting life, even her birth was interesting. She is the twin sister of Apollo and she actually helped her mother deliver Apollo minutes after she was born! It’s insane! But hey, her mother was in a tough predicament because of Hera, of course.

Review- Apollo: The Brilliant One (Olympians #8) by George O'Connor

Title: Apollo: The Brilliant One

Series: Olympians #8

Previous books in this series: Zeus: King of the Gods (#1) | Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess (#2) | Hera: The Goddess and her Glory (#3) | Hades: Lord of the Dead (#4) | Poseidon: Earth Shaker (#5) | Aphrodite: Goddess of Love (#6) | Ares: Bringer of War (#7)

Author: George O'Connor

Genre: Middle Grade, graphic novel, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: January 2016

Published by: First Second

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: From high atop Olympus, the nine Muses, or Mousai, recount the story of the powerful and quick-tempered Apollo, the Brilliant One. Born of a she-wolf and Zeus, King of Gods, Apollo is destined fro the greatest of victories and most devastating of failures as his temper, privilege, and pride take him into battle with a serpent, in pursuit of a beautiful but unattainable nymph, and into deadly competition with his beloved. Watch closely as Apollo navigates the tumultuous world in which he lives. Will he rise above the rest and fulfill his destiny as the son of Zeus, or will he falter, consumed by his flaws, and destroy all that he touches?

My rating: ★★★★☆

Despite his faults, or perhaps because of them, the most divine god is also the most human.

Apollo is one of my favorite Greek gods, so I was very excited about this volume! And I really liked it!

Review- Aphrodite: Goddess of Love (Olympians #6) by George O'Connor

Title: Aphrodite: Goddess of Love

Series: Olympians #6

Previous books in this series: Zeus: King of the Gods (#1) | Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess (#2) | Hera: The Goddess and her Glory (#3) | Hades: Lord of the Dead (#4) | Poseidon: Earth Shaker (#5)

Author: George O'Connor

Genre: Middle Grade, graphic novel, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: December 2013

Published by: First Second

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: Behold the wondrous beauty of Aphrodite, goddess of love and embodiment of the intangible Eros. A creature born of pure force and destined for power and fame, so lovely that the Earth and all its inhabitants bend to please her.

Pitted against Athena, warrior goddess, and Hera, goddess of the heavens, the lovely, cunning Aphrodite must find a way to outwit her opponents in a high-stakes beauty contest, the outcome of which will affect the destiny of mortals and gods alike. Will she do what she must to succeed? After all, all's fair in love, war, and vanity...

My rating: ★★★★☆

Did I purposely schedule this post about the goddess of love to be published on Valentine’s Day? Absolutely I did 😆

Anyway, in this next volume of the Olympians series, we focus on Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. This goddess has a couple of different birth stories—there sometimes tend to be different versions of the same myth in Greek mythology. Aphrodite, for example, is sometimes said to be the daughter of Zeus and the titan goddess Dione, and other times she is said to have been born from sea foam, hence the famous Venus painting:

Review- Ares: Bringer of War (Olympians #7) by George O'Connor

Title: Ares: Bringer of War

Series: Olympians #7

Previous books in this series: Zeus: King of the Gods (#1) | Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess (#2) | Hera: The Goddess and her Glory (#3) | Hades: Lord of the Dead (#4) | Poseidon: Earth Shaker (#5) | Aphrodite: Goddess of Love (#6)

Author: George O'Connor

Genre: Middle Grade, graphic novel, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: January 2015

Published by: First Second

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: In the chaos of the Trojan war, Ares arrives in a chariot, armor blazing like fire. Strategy has failed and gore drips from every surface, but the god of war denies his nature and sits on the sidelines as the blood of both mortals and demigods stains the ground red.

Strong, vengeful, and just plain angry, Ares enters the battle, his mind set on one thing: total obliteration. But will he be satisfied with the death and destruction he causes?

My rating: ★★★★☆

One thing I appreciated about this volume is that it starts right off with differentiating him from Athena because they are different. Athena is more the goddess of battle strategy, while Ares is the god of, well, war.

Review- Hera: The Goddess and Her Glory (Olympians #3) George O'Connor

Title: Hera: The Goddess and Her Glory

Series: Olympians #3

Previous books in this series: Zeus: King of the Gods (#1) | Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess (#2)

Author: George O'Connor

Genre: Middle Grade, graphic novel, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: July 2011

Published by: First Second

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: There's only one thing Zeus, the king of the Gods, is afraid of. It isn't the many-headed Hydra or the towering Gigantes. It isn't his powerful, jealous brother Poseidon, the god of the seas. Monsters, gods, Titans—none of them make the mighty Zeus blink an eye.

The only thing Zeus fears is his wife: Hera. Goddess of the air, the sky, and the heavens, patroness of the cunning Jason, and scourge of the mighty Heracles, Hera rivals Zeus in power—and surpasses him in wrath.

My rating: ★★★★☆

This volume of the Olympians focuses on Hera, the Greek goddess of marriage. For being the goddess of marriage, she really married the worst guy possible...

Review- Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess (Olympians #2) by George O'Connor

Title: Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess

Series: Olympians #2

Previous book in this series: Zeus: King of the Gods (#1)

Author: George O'Connor

Genre: Middle Grade, graphic novel, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: April 2010

Published by: First Second

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: Step into a world of fearsome battle, cruel treachery, and fierce loyalty. Your guides are the three Fates, eerie figures who weave the tale of life. Their subject today is Athena, warrior goddess. Five astonishing tales of brave Athena's adventures lies ahead.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I really liked this series! I love that they’re retold myths in the form of graphic novels! (Also, the kids at the school I work at LOVE this series! Lol.)

Review: Storm (Paper Gods #3) by Amanda Sun

Title: Storm

Series: Paper Gods #3

Previous books in this series: Shadow (#0.5) | Ink (#1) | Rain (#2) | Rise (#2.5)

Author: Amanda Sun

Genre: YA, paranormal romance, Japanese mythology

Publication date: June 2015

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: After almost a year in Japan, Katie Greene has finally unearthed the terrible secret behind her boyfriend Tomohiro's deadly ability to bring drawings to life—not only is he descended from Kami, the ancient Japanese gods, but he is the heir to a tragedy that occurred long ago, a tragedy that is about to repeat.

Even as the blood of a vengeful god rages inside Tomo, Katie is determined to put his dark powers to sleep. In order to do so, she and Tomo must journey to find the three Imperial Treasures of Japan. Gifts from the goddess Amaterasu herself, these treasures could unlock all of the secrets about Tomo's volatile ancestry and quell the ink's lust for destruction. But in order to complete their quest, Tomo and Katie must confront out-of-control Kami and former friend Jun, who has begun his own quest of revenge against those he believes have wronged him. To save the world, and themselves, Katie and Tomo will be up against one of the darkest Kami creations they've ever encountered—and they may not make it out alive.

My rating: ★★★★☆

With Tomohiro being unable to control his Kami powers, he and his friends are trying to find a way to put them to sleep... without getting him killed 😨

Review: Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Title: Summer of the Mariposas

Author: Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Genre: YA, magical realism, Greek mythology retelling

Publication date: October 2012

Published by: Tu Books

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: When Odilia and her four sisters find a dead body in the swimming hole, they embark on a hero’s journey to return the dead man to his family in Mexico. But returning home to Texas turns into an odyssey that would rival Homer’s original tale.

With the supernatural aid of ghostly La Llorona via a magical earring, Odilia and her little sisters travel a road of tribulation to their long-lost grandmother’s house. Along the way, they must outsmart a witch and her Evil Trinity: a wily warlock, a coven of vicious half-human barn owls, and a bloodthirsty livestock-hunting chupacabras. Can these fantastic trials prepare Odilia and her sisters for what happens when they face their final test, returning home to the real world, where goddesses and ghosts can no longer help them?

My rating: ★★★★☆

I don’t tend to read a lot of books from my own culture. I love urban fantasy, it’s my favorite genre and I have found that there are not very many Hispanic books out there... none that have caught my attention, anyway. A lot of the ones I do see tend to be contemporary, which I am just not super into. But I loved reading this and seeing my culture reflected back at me. All these little things and phrases and omg food I’m familiar with. Not to mention how relatable the main character Odilia was. The unfair burden on the eldest to care for the younger siblings is something that is common in this culture, and something I resonate with.

Review: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Title: The Song of Achilles

Author: Madeline Miller

Genre: Adult, historical fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: September 2011

Published by: Ecco

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Achilles, "the best of all the Greeks," son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods' wrath.

They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.

My rating: ★★★★★

Warning: I'm not going to be censoring any spoilers because this book is a retelling of The Iliad, which has been around for a while. Lol.

This book was incredible! This is the type of book you think about even months after you finish reading. I read this back in 2020, and it was most definitely one of my favorite books of the year!

Review: Rise (Paper Gods #2.5) by Amanda Sun

Title: Rise

Series: Paper Gods #2.5

Previous books in this series: Shadow (#0.5) | Ink (#1) | Rain (#2)

Author: Amanda Sun

Genre: YA, paranormal romance, Japanese mythology

Publication date: May 2015

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Source: Purchased ebook

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Synopsis: A long, long time ago, before the world was as we know it, Izanami and Izanagi came into being. Two of the first of the ancient gods of Japan, they crafted the world from ink and their own imaginations. Izanagi wants, more than anything, to be with Izanami—but one moment of pride could tear them apart forever.

Yuki and Tanaka have been friends for as long as they can remember, but lately deeper feelings have been bubbling beneath the surface. How do they navigate the transition from friendship to true love without destroying the powerful bond between them?

Set a millennia apart, can these two couples, living parallel love stories, find their happily-ever-afters?

My rating: ★★★★☆

This novella tells two intertwined stories, one of Yuki and Tanaka, Katie’s friends, and the other of the gods Izanagi and Izanami.