Mortal Gods

August 1, 2014
This second installment of the Goddess War series continues the modern-day battles originally fought centuries ago, pitting god against god even as all of the Olympians appear to be dying. Athena, at the center of the rebel faction, still fights off the owl feathers that sprout in her lungs, constantly threatening to choke her. She remains teamed up with her brother Hermes, who's wasting away from a too-high metabolism, and mortal characters from Troy now reincarnated as teenagers. Athena sees Cassandra, who can kill gods with her touch, as one of the two major weapons she has against the other divine faction, which primarily comprises Aphrodite, Ares and Hera, thought killed in the first book but found still living. Athena and Odysseus travel to find Achilles, Athena's second weapon. Athena's errands and an interesting side trip into Hades add action, but much of the book churns with constant repartee among the characters, their suspicions of one another and their constant training bouts. The prose, both narrative and dialogue, is characteristically witty, but there's an undeniable feel of second-volume sag to the story. When readers finally reach Olympia for a final battle, the suspense picks up. The underlying concept that finds dying gods at war with one another is still intriguing, but readers may become impatient for more back story. The series still intrigues, but it needs tightening. (Paranormal suspense. 14-18)

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October 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-Aphrodite has killed the boy she loves, and now all that Cassandra wants is vengeance. Except Aiden was not just some boy. He was Apollo, the immortal god of the Sun. Cassandra is not an average teen girl from Kincade, New York, but rather the prophetic Cassandra of Troy, born again. And more, she has the power to exact her revenge as a Weapon of Fate-the young woman has the ability to kill a god with the slightest touch of her hands. Less than a year ago, the protagonist was happily spending her days with Aiden, until his siblings, the Olympian gods Athena and Hermes, arrived in town, leading to the battle in which Cassandra learned of her power by turning Hera to stone. Despite her hatred for Athena, the heroine has decided that joining forces with her historical enemy is the best way to find and destroy Aphrodite. The Goddess War has begun, and together Cassandra, Athena, and their allies intend to win no matter the cost. The second book in Blake's Greek mythology series, this novel picks up soon after the end of Antigoddess (Tor, 2013) and continues to expand upon the world of the immortal Olympian gods and returned heroes of the Trojan War. Like the previous installment, the author expertly brings these ancient characters into the modern world and provides a fun story for readers who enjoy the supernatural, swordfighting, and larger-than-life heroes and heroines.-Ryan F. Paulsen, New Rochelle High School, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2014
Grades 9-12 The irony behind the title of Blake's second Goddess War book is obvious. The ancient Greek gods and goddessesAthena, Hermes, Ares, Hera, and Aphroditewho have lived myriad lives without dying are suddenly suffering horrible diseases and death. Athena sprouts feathers that will ultimately destroy her body, Hermes is slowly starving, and Hera is gradually turning to stone. Yet Athena holds out hope that Cassandra (now a New York teen) and Achilles will help her win the coming war, a victory that should stave off their ultimate destruction. Blood and gore abound in this mythological twist on magical realism. Determined to align herself with Cassandra and benefit from her visions and prophecies, Athena brings Hermes to live in Kincaid, New York, where they pose as contemporary siblings, all the while gathering both mortals and other gods and warriors to their side. As much as Cassandra and Athena need each other, neither trusts the other, thus creating a battle for survival that will require at least one more book before victory is declared.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)