Review: Halloween Frost (Mythos Academy #1.5) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Halloween Frost

Series: Mythos Academy #1.5

Previous book in this series: Touch of Frost

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publication date: October 2016

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: Purchased ebook

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

It’s Halloween at Mythos Academy, and Gwen Frost and her friends are ready to have a little fun. But when a mythological monster shows up, the night turns out to be more trick than treat.

Halloween Frost takes place in between the events of Touch of Frost, book #1, and Kiss of Frost, book #2, in the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series. The short story is about 6,500 words.

My rating: ★★★★★
It’s been so long since I was last in the Mythos Academy world, and oh man did I miss it! I just love this world to pieces! And this short story takes place during Halloween! Double win!

Review: Greek Gods #squadgoals (OMG Classics) by Courtney Carbone

Title: Greek Gods #squadgoals

Series: OMG Classics

Author: Courtney Carbone

Publication date: November 2017

Published by: Random House Books for Young Readers

Source: Own hardcover

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Book Outlet | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

OMG Classics, the greatest stories ever told . . . in texts. Imagine: What if Mount Olympus got WiFi and the gods and goddesses had smartphones? The classic Greek myths get new life in irreverent and hilarious texts and posts!

Zeus, a king of the gods always in search of a new bae.
A squad of goddesses who can't resist stirring the pot.
And the selfie-obsessed heroes out for all the likes.
If you have trouble telling Perseus from Theseus (#Greek2Me) or have ever wondered about Oedipus's tragic dating profile or why Medusa's Instagram never got traction--this satirical book of Greek myths retold for the Internet age is for you!
tl;dr D'Aulaires' and Homer's Greek myths told through characters texting with emojis, posting photos, checking in at locations, and updating their relationship statuses. The perfect gift for any reader--young or old--with a sense of humor!
A glossary and cast of characters are included for those who need it. For example: tl;dr means too long; didn't read.

My rating: ★★★★★

tl;dr The greatest myths ever told... in texts. 👍

I love Greek mythology, so I was very curious about this book because it sounded like a lot of fun. And it was!

Review - Zeus: King of the Gods (Olympians #1) by George O'Connor

Title: Zeus: King of the Gods

Series: Olympians #1

Other books in this series: Hades: Lord of the Dead (#4) | Poseidon: Earth Shaker (#5)

Author: George O'Connor

Publication date: January 2010

Published by: First Second

Source: Own paperback

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Book Outlet | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

Here's Where It All Starts: the beginning of everything - the world, the gods, and even humanity. Might Kronos, the most terrifying of all the Titans, reigns as the unchallenged tyrant of the cosmos...until his son, the god Zeus, stands up and takes on his own father in a battle intense enough to shatter the universe! Who will emerge triumphant?

My rating: ★★★★☆
I LOVE Greek mythology, so the idea of Greek mythology graphic novels sounds amazing to me! It’s basically the myths in condensed form but with pictures! This series focuses on the main twelve gods AKA the Olympians. Hence the series name. Lol. I actually read a couple of the other graphic novels in this series, which is totally okay to read before this one because it doesn’t really tell a linear story, so they can be read as standalones.

Literary Nails: Spartan Heart (Mythos Academy Spinoff #1) by Jennifer Estep

Only took me about a year to get another bookish nail art design out 😅 lol.

Today I have some nail art inspired by...

Spartan Heart (Mythos Academy Spinoff #1)

by Jennifer Estep

Released: December 5th, 2017

New school year, same old problems...
At Mythos Academy, everyone knows exactly who I am: Rory Forseti, Spartan girl and the daughter of Reapers.

Even though I fought alongside my cousin Gwen Frost to save the mythological world from Loki and his evil Reapers of Chaos, I’m still the most hated girl at the academy because of all the horrible things my parents did. I had hoped that this school year would be different, but the other kids just won’t let me forget about my parents.

But something strange is going on at the Colorado academy. First, I run into a Viking guy who dislikes me more than most. Then I notice some odd artifacts in the Library of Antiquities. And worst of all, I start hearing rumors about a new group of Reapers who can summon mythological monsters.

I might be the most hated girl at Mythos Academy, but I’m also the only one who can save it...

Amazon | Nook | Kobo | iBooks | Smashwords

Review: Spartan Heart (Mythos Academy Spinoff #1) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Spartan Heart

Series: Mythos Academy Spinoff #1

Previous series: Mythos Academy

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publication date: December 2017

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: eARC for review from author

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Nook | Kobo | iBooks | Smashwords

Synopsis:

New school year, same old problems...

At Mythos Academy, everyone knows exactly who I am: Rory Forseti, Spartan girl and the daughter of Reapers.

Even though I fought alongside my cousin Gwen Frost to save the mythological world from Loki and his evil Reapers of Chaos, I’m still the most hated girl at the academy because of all the horrible things my parents did. I had hoped that this school year would be different, but the other kids just won’t let me forget about my parents.

But something strange is going on at the Colorado academy. First, I run into a Viking guy who dislikes me more than most. Then I notice some odd artifacts in the Library of Antiquities. And worst of all, I start hearing rumors about a new group of Reapers who can summon mythological monsters.

I might be the most hated girl at Mythos Academy, but I’m also the only one who can save it...

My rating: ★★★★★

Everything seemed normal, but at Mythos Academy, that was usually when things got the most dangerous.

If you’ve been here awhile, you know I’ve mentioned how Mythos Academy is one of my most favorite series ever, time and time again. So it should be no surprise that I absolutely loved Spartan Heart as well! Rory appeared in the last two books of the Mythos Academy series, so you can imagine my excitement when I found out that she was getting her own series! It was the best news ever, and now that I read the book, it did not let me down one bit!

Book Blitz -- Guest Post + Giveaway: Life is but a Nightmare (Elysium Legacies #2) by Erin Hayes

I haven't done a Blitz in a while, but I decided to break that streak with a Greek mythology read! I read the first book in this series, way back when I didn't even know there was going to be a sequel, and absolutely loved it! I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of this book! It sounds amazing!



Anyway, today we've got a guest post from the author and a giveaway!

Cover Reveal: Life is but a Nightmare (Elysium Legacies #2) by Erin Hayes

It's been a while since I hosted a cover reveal, but then I saw this book was going to have a cover reveal in one of Xpresso Book Tours emails and I was like...



Why? Because a.) It's Greek mythology and b.) It's the sequel to Death is but a Dream (which I loved!) and I had NO idea there was going to be a sequel! I am so excited!

Review: Demigods & Magicians (Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #1-3) by Rick Riordan

Title: Demigods & Magicians

Series: Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #1-3 | Percy Jackson and the Olympians | The Heroes of Olympus | The Kane Chronicles

Novellas in this book: The Son of Sobek (#1) | The Staff of Serapis (#2) | The Crown of Ptolemy (#3)

Author: Rick Riordan

Publication date: April 2016

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own hardcover

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Magic, monsters, and mayhem abound when Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase meet Carter and Sadie Kane for the first time. Weird creatures are appearing in unexpected places, and the demigods and magicians have to team up to take them down. As they battle with Celestial Bronze and glowing hieroglyphs, the four heroes find that they have a lot in common--and more power than they ever thought possible. But will their combined forces be enough to foil an ancient enemy who is mixing Greek and Egyptian incantations for an evil purpose? Rick Riordan wields his usual storytelling magic in this adrenaline-fueled adventure.

My rating: ★★★★★

First of all, yes, I do own each individual e-book plus this physical copy of the book that bundles together all three stories :)

Review: The Crown of Ptolemy (Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #3) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Crown of Ptolemy

Series: Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #3 | Percy Jackson and the Olympians | The Heroes of Olympus | The Kane Chronicles

Previous novellas in this series: The Son of Sobek (#1) | The Staff of Serapis (#2)

Author: Rick Riordan

Publication date: May 2015

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own e-book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

In their first encounter, demigod Percy Jackson and magician Carter Kane had to battle a giant crocodile on Long Island. A month later, Annabeth Chase ran into Carter's sister, Sadie, on the A train to Rockaway, where the pair fought a god named Serapis. Now trouble is brewing again, this time on Governor's Island. An ancient Egyptian magician named Setne has come back from the dead and is experimenting with Egyptian and Greek magic, trying to become a god himself. He's so powerful and tricky that all four-Percy, Annabeth, Carter, and Sadie-have to team up against him. But their usual weapons and spells aren't going to cut it this time. Will the heroes be taken down by a wannabe god who looks like Elvis, or will they rise to the challenge?

Told from Percy's point of view, this third demigod-magician crossover story has all of the spunk and action that Rick Riordan fans crave.

My rating: ★★★★★
This whole crossover was so epic that it felt like it could’ve been a whole series on it’s own, it was certainly complex enough. But at the same time, it was SO perfect just as short stories. It makes no sense, I know, but it was just great!

Review: The Blood of Olympus (The Heroes of Olympus #5) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Blood of Olympus

Series: The Heroes of Olympus #5

Previous books in this series: The Lost Hero (#1) | The Son of Neptune (#2) | The Mark of Athena (#3) | The House of Hades (#4)

Author: Rick Riordan

Publication date: October 2014

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own Hardcover

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

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 rating: ★★★★★
So, in this book, the demigods are trying to get the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-Blood before all hell breaks loose and an all out war is started... all while trying to keep Gaea from waking up fully.

Book Spotlight: Beautiful Curse by Jen McConnel

Hey guys! I have a special spotlight post for you guys today! Why special? Because this book is Greek mythology-based! :D

Review: Forgive My Fins (Fins #1) by Tera Lynn Childs

Title: Forgive My Fins

Series: Fins #1

Author: Tera Lynn Childs

Publication date: May 2010

Published by: Katherine Tegen Books

Source: Own paperback

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Book Outlet

Synopsis:

Unrequited love is hard enough when you're a normal teenage girl, but for Lily Sanderson, there's no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily has a secret, and it's not her huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Lily's mermaid identity is a secret that can't get out, since she's not just any mermaid--she's a Thalassinian princess. When she discovered three years ago that her mother was actually a human, Lily finally realized why she didn't feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she's been going to Seaview High ever since. Living on land has its problems--like her obnoxious biker-boy neighbor, Quince Fletcher--but it has that one major perk: Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren't really the casual dating type--when they bond, it's for life.When Lily's attempt to win Brody's love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

My rating: ★★★★☆
Lily, a half-human, half-mermaid princess from the underwater kingdom Thalassinia, is head over heels infatuated with her classmate Brody, which let me tell you was absolutely annoying! Yeah he's a nice guy, and gorgeous apparently, but come on Lily! Just no. Quince kept telling her and telling her that Brody was not for her and that her constant swooning over the guy was ridiculous. I cannot tell you how right Quince was about everything.

Cover Reveal: Children of the Gods by Jessica Therrien

Today I have a cover reveal for you guys! The author of the Children of the Gods series decided to redo her first two covers and release the cover of her third and final book! I read the first book in the series, Oppression, and second, Uprising, a while ago, but I remember I loved them! Hello, Greek mythology! Anyway, I personally loved the two original covers, but I think these new ones are gorgeous as well! Check them out!

Review: The Demigod Files (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Demigod Files

Companion book to: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Author: Rick Riordon

Publication date: February 2009

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own Hardcover

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

How do you handle an encounter with Medusa on the New Jersey interstate? What's the best way to take down a Minotaur? Become an expert on everything in Percy's world with this must-have guide to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Complete with interviews, puzzles, games, and original short stories by Rick Riordan.

My rating:

The Demigod Files is such a fun book! Not only does it have fun interviews with the hilarious Stoll brothers (on pulling pranks), Annabeth (on Percy Jackson, hehehe), Grover, and, of course, Percy Jackson himself, but it also has a map of Camp Half-Blood, a crossword puzzle, word search, and my favorite: short stories!

Mythology Reading Challenge: Book Recommendations

Hey guys! So 2015 is almost here, which means the start of many great Reading Challenges! As many of you know, this year I'm hosting the 2015 Mythology Reading Challenge (If you have not already and would like to join, you still can!) which I am VERY excited about! I thought I'd list a couple of book recommendations here to get you started on this challenge!

Note: For series, I only listed the first book.

2015 Mythology Reading Challenge

Hi guys! Welcome to the 2015 Mythology Reading Challenge, previously hosted by Tiffany @ About to Read. I LOVE mythology, so when Tiffany approached me and asked me if I would like to host the mythology challenge this coming year, I was beyond excited! I made a couple of changes, but basically, the challenge is to read as many full-length novels as you can that have a prominent mythology theme. I hope you'll join me in reading the exciting stories mythology has to tell!

The Rules:

• The challenge will run from January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015. You can sign up at any time.
• The book does not need to be released in 2015, but it does need to be read in 2015. Any books read before or after 2015 will not count toward this challenge. ARCs are okay.
• Crossovers from other Reading Challenges are also okay!
• You don't need to pick your books ahead of time, but you can if you want to!
• You do, however, need to pick a level (see below). Keep in mind that you can move UP in the levels, but not DOWN, 'kay? ;)
• The books read must have a prominent mythology theme. They can be Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse... you get the idea.
• The books can be YA, MG, adult... pretty much anything!
• Books can be any format (e-book, audio, print).
• You do not need to have a blog to participate. You can link up using your Goodreads account, Library Thing or any other platform.
• And the most important rule of all, HAVE FUN! :D

The Levels:

Demigod Level: 1-5 Mythology Books

God Level: 6-10 Mythology Books

Titan Level: 11-20 Mythology Books

Monster Level: 21+ Mythology Books

Sign up!

Ready to join the fun? Write up a blog post with your intention of joining the Reading Challenge and include the level you've chosen and the button below. Then come back and link up your post! Type in your blog name and link to your sign-up post in the linky below:

Need some mythology book recommendations? Click here!

The Giveaway:

That's right, there's a giveaway! I'll be giving away a mythology book of the winner's choice! :D You get an entry just for signing up and later on, when the challenge actually starts, you'll be able to earn more entries by reviewing those mythology books you've been reading AND by commenting on other participants's reviews! I'll be posting a review link-up quarterly, starting at the beginning of the year.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Grab the Button!

<center><a href="http://lili-lost-in-a-book.blogspot.com/2014/11/2015-mythology-reading-challenge.html"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6yGjst-sWqM/VEmvTiLuF4I/AAAAAAAABHE/1sLKFiEhGxY/s1600/2015-mythology-reading-challenge.jpg" height="200" width="250" /></a></center>

Add it to your sign-up post, add it to side bar of your blog! Add it to wherever you want! :D

I really hope you'll join me in on the fun, and if you have any questions or comments feel free to e-mail me or leave them down below!

Blog Tour: God's Play by H.D. Lynn

Cover Artist: Alexandria Thompson

God’s Play by H.D. Lynn

Genre: young-adult, urban-fantasy

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Release : September 18, 2014

Goodreads | Amazon

Blurb: Sixteen-year old Toby was trained by a family of hunters to kill shape-shifters — but he has a unique weapon in his arsenal. With a touch of his hand, Toby can lift the magical protection shape-shifters use to disguise themselves as human. It’s an unusual skill for a hunter, and he prefers to kill monsters the old-fashioned way: with a blade.

Because of his special skill, Toby suspects he may be a monster himself. His suspicions deepen when William, a jackal-headed shape-shifter, saves him from an ambush where Toby’s the only survivor. And Toby doubts William helped him for purely altruistic reasons. With his list of allies running thin, Toby must reconcile his hatred of shifters and the damning truth that one saved his life. It’ll take both of them to track down the monster who ordered the ambush.

And Toby needs his unlikely alley because he has a vicious enemy — the infamous Circe, who has a vendetta to settle against the hunters. Toby has to unravel the mystery of his dual nature. And he has to do it on the run — before Circe finds him and twists him to her own ends.

About The Author: H.D. Lynn is like Harry Potter in one way: she’s currently renting an apartment with a bedroom under her building’s stairs. Other than this, she explores fantasy worlds through storytelling like anyone else. She loves books with a mix of humor, adventure, and horror, and especially enjoys the urban fantasy genre. GOD’S PLAY is her first published novel.
When not writing, she enjoys hiking, climbing, and running. She’s a voracious reader, and has found listening to audiobooks while backpacking to be a perfect mix of two of her favorite things. She currently lives in Connecticut, but finds herself on the road often.

Find H.D. Lynn Online: Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Check out this book and let me know what you think!

Review: Intrigue (Night Muse #1) by Stacey Rychener

Title: Intrigue

Series: Night Muse #1

Author: Stacey Rychener

Publication date: December 2011

Published by: Stacey Rychener

Source: Amazon Freebie

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Amid the 80,000 abandoned buildings in Detroit, a battle shrouded in secrecy is brewing. The Greek Olympian, Ares, runs the city as his own personal Coliseum while Apollo and Hermes struggle to shield teens from his deadly hobbies. Ares endless supply of gladiators is all the more accessible because the abandoned buildings of Detroit have become the flame for moths of ravers, vandals, scavengers, and urban explorers. The key to the entire conflict, Calliope, is just hoping for a fresh start now that her lifelong crush has finally noticed her. Although hoping for a fresh start in Detroit, is like saying you’re going to Las Vegas in search of true love. She soon catches the notice of one of the Immortals that recognizes her for what she is: a Night Muse. A Muse is a human that carries the soul of an Olympian within her, which gives the god immense power. Until Calliope reaches adulthood and awakens as a Bright Muse, there is no way to determine who her soul mate is. The Immortals start to draw Calliope and the people she loves into a deadly chess match. With her best friend’s life at stake, Calliope must seize control of her destiny and eliminate the deadly threat herself.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆
Calli is seemingly your average, normal girl... but she's not, really. You see, Calli is short for Calliope, as in one of the nine Greek Muses! Calli is a Muse, she just doesn't know it yet. However, there was a very different take on the mythology in this book, so the Muses aren't like the traditional Muses in Ancient Greece. I love Greek mythology and I'm all for different/unique takes on it, but this one just didn't do it for me. I mean, the gods are portrayed as freakin' vampyres! (Yes, that's vampires with a 'y.') Oh, that and (without giving too much away) the whole thing about the gods and their souls being separated, and the reincarnation-type thing... it just didn't work! It didn't make any sense to me!

Review: Fate's Exchange (Twisted Fate #1) by Sasha Leigh

Title: Fate's Exchange

Series: Twisted Fate #1

Author: Sasha Leigh

Publication date: August 2014

Published by: Sasha Leigh

Source: E-book from author for review

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Death wants her. Fate has already claimed her. Angels protect her.

When Alyssa Frank dies in an attack by rival students, she discovers that not only is there life after death, but that second chances exist. Sent back to relive the week leading up to her death, Alyssa must navigate a sea of right and wrong to find a way to change her circumstances before it's too late. But Death always meets its quota, and Alyssa is number one on its list. Every choice counts.

With new love brewing and friendships on the line, what happens when chances run out?

My rating: ★★★★☆
I enjoyed this book much more than I expected! I mean, it was practically Mystery Spot (that's an episode of Supernatural, btw ;)) but in book form! Basically, this happened...

Alyssa just keeps dying and dying and living the same week over and over. The Fates (as in the Greek mythology Fates) know something about Aly's future that no one else knows about, not even Aly herself. Enter David, some sort of (gorgeous!) guardian angel sent to watch over Aly. The romance was a little slow starting and kind of cheesy once it got going. But overall, I gotta say that I really liked David! He was very sweet!

Random Reads: September 2014

Random Reads is a meme where we pick a random book from our shelf to read within the month.

Weeeee! This meme sounds like a lot of fun and is something I think I really need! My TBR mountain is out of control!! I had a lot of fun with this meme last month so I decided to join in again.