The Wicked Within

March 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-Keaton wraps up her near-futuristic series based on Greek mythology. Readers jumping in for the first time would do well to read the first two books to gain a familiarity with the characters and the furiously paced plotline. Ari, descended from the much-feared Medusa, is tasked in this installment with finding the goddess Athena's fossilized infant. Once that task has been completed, the teen's curse will ostensibly be lifted. But Ari is not the only one seeking the child, and the suspenseful and deftly written narrative will make fans believe that gorgons, vampires, and witches do exist in this strange but still harmonious New New Orleans. Keaton's gripping text is sprinkled throughout with profanity, but that won't deter readers of this paranormal fantasy with Gothic undertones.-Amanda C. Buschmann, Atascocita Middle School, Humble, TX

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