Review + {GIVEAWAY}: Underworld's Daughter by Molly Ringle

This review is for the 2nd book in The Chrysomelia Stories series by Molly Ringle. While I try to avoid spoilers as much as possible there is sometimes no way around it. If you have an interest in this series, please take a look at my review for the first book in the series, Persephone's Orchard.

Underworld's Daughter 

Pages: 410
Publisher: Central Avenue Publishing
Genre: New Adult; Paranormal; Greek Mythology
#2 in Series

GOODREADS

New immortals are being created for the first time in thousands of years thanks to the tree of immortality discovered by Persephone and Hades. But Sophie Darrow is not one of them. Nikolaos, the trickster, has given the last ripe immortality fruit to two others, the reincarnations of the gods Dionysos and Hekate: Tabitha and Zoe, currently Sophie's and Adrian's best friends.

While the disappointed Sophie struggles to remember Hekate and Dionysos from ancient Greece, she must still face her daily life as a mortal university freshman. Tabitha and Zoe have their own struggles as they come to terms with being newly immortal and their own haunting dreams of past lives and loves. The evil committed by Thanatos invades all of them in heartbreaking memories, and worse still, Sophie and her friends know their enemies are determined to kill again. And even the gods can't save everyone.

Review

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I finished this book feeling nothing but soul crushing sorrow. Which is a good thing. A brilliant thing, actually, because it means that Molly Ringle accomplished her job in getting me emotionally invested in the story and the characters enough to feel their pain.

But let me not get ahead of myself.

Underworld's Daughter is the sequel to Persephone's Orchard, which if you read my review you know I loved. And I loved this one as well, but in a different way. As the author herself says in the afterword of the novel, while Persephone's Orchard (it will henceforth be referenced as P.O.) can be considered a retelling, Underworld's Daughter veers pretty directly into the Greek mythology fan fiction realm. Which I was totally okay with because I thought Molly Ringle handled it masterfully. Because she so vividly fleshed out the world of the Greek immortals in the first novel, Ringle went into this one with more freedom to expand on her world and characters in a way that allowed her to break free of the myths and instead use them for her own purposes. This may bother some die-hard Greek mythology fans, but I for one welcome ingenuity into the genre. If I wanted to read about completely accurate Greek myths I'd pick up Edith Hamilton's Mythology, not a paranormal romance novel.

The one change that did take some getting used to was the shifted focus of the narrative. Whereas P.O. focused almost solely on Sophie and Adrian and their past-selves Hades and Persephone, in Underworld's Daughter they took a backseat to Dionysus and Hekate, something that I wasn't so happy about when I realized they were going to be the predominant focus. What enchanted me most about P.O. was that I was watching two lives unfold at the same time and was totally invested in both with equal fervor and desire to see them snog each other senseless. Sophie and Adrian's story and relationship was just as capturing as Hades and Persephone's was.

However, this was not the case with Tabitha/Zoe and Dionysus/Hekate. I was thoroughly intrigued with Hekate and Dionysus and I did very much enjoy their story and the bit of debauchery our boy Dio brought to the table. But, Tabitha and Zoe's "sort of but not really romance" wasn't something I was particularly worried over. Mostly because of Tabitha being a bit of a jerk in the situation and I think Zoe deserved better than her. If Tab cleaned up her act and figured out what--and who--she wants instead of straddling the fence, I could totally get behind their relationship.

I did miss the focus on Sophie and Adrian, but I also truly commend the author for her ability to create a story that benefits from several different perspectives and expanding the world through the eyes of more people than just our protagonists. Creating such distinct voices is an amazing feat, especially when the same person is technically speaking from two different lifetimes (for example, I can always tell the difference between Hades and Adrian speaking.) While I do hope that the focus does go back to Sophie and Adrian next book, now that their Hades and Persephone story has fully been revealed, I do enjoy the looks into other character's heads. Actually, I'd love to know what's going on in Niko's mind. (Niko is the modern day incarnation of Hermes and one of my favorite characters, the sly devil.)

This is series is quickly gaining traction as one of my favorites. I'll reserve myself from proclaiming it's definitely my favorite until the series is completed and I can enjoy it as a whole, but if the next book continues to impress me like this I'm sure it will be. I did love Persephone's Orchard just slightly more, so while I gave P.O. 5 stars, I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 stars. I loved Underworld's Daughter and am so excited to continue this amazing series.

Buy The Book

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Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Barnes and Noble: Paperback | Nook
Book Depository: Paperback 

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About the Author

Molly Ringle has been writing fiction for over twenty years. With her intense devotion to silly humor, she was especially proud to win the grand prize in the 2010 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest with one (intentionally) terrible sentence. Molly grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and lives in Seattle with her husband and children. Her studies include a bachelor of arts in anthropology and a master of arts in linguistics. She was a Tri-Delta in college, in an old sorority house that was supposedly haunted, which inspired some of the central ideas for 'The Ghost Downstairs.' She also loves folklore and mythology, and is working on new novels about the Greek myths. 'Persephone's Orchard' is the first in the series. When not writing, she can often be found experimenting with fragrances, chocolate, and gardening

WEBSITE

GIVEAWAY

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Thanks to Michelle from Central Avenue Publishing, I have ebook copies of Persephone's Orchard and Underworld's Daughter to give away to a lucky winner! Oooh yeah. Free books are always fun.

Just enter below, and on Friday I'll be sending an email to a very lucky duck. Whichever file type you need will be figured out after you win and sent accordingly.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Dreaming Awake by Gwen Hayes

Dreaming Awake by Gwen Hayes 

Pages: 336
Publisher: NAL Jam
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
#2 in Series

GOODREADS

She fell for him in a nighttime world. But the time for dreaming is past—and the here-and-now can be just as fragile their love…

When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions.

Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own.

And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start…

Review of First Book & Quick Thoughts

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Read my review of Falling Under.

Thoughts of Dreaming Awake:

I liked it better than the first. It was a definite improvement plot-wise and for the characters.

Review

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If you've read my review of Falling Under, the book that precedes this one, you'll know that I was massively torn in my feelings towards it. I loved and hated it at the same time, which is the ultimate paradox, I know. But I enjoyed Dreaming Awake infinitely more so because everything that annoyed me in Falling Under was gone. Theia and Haden are firmly together, so there's no more cat and mouse games going on. The obstacle of their 'forbidden love' is out of the way, so there wasn't as much unnecessary angst to clog up the plot.

I liked Theia's character so much more in this novel. She's changed due to events in Falling Under--that I will not spoil for you--so I felt that she took a stand for herself better, and grew so much more as a character. In Falling Under, she was little mouse, inexperienced in the world because she was trapped behind an oppressive father. But now she's changed, and her eyes have been opened. There isn't any going back. She doesn't allow people to make decisions for her anymore, and she puts her foot down when they try.

Haden also blossomed substantially for me. He came off as such a jerk in Falling Under, but now that he and Theia are dating, he's a sweet and loving boyfriend. A miraculous transformation, I know. Even though he's a half incubus-type demon, he has this cute boyish awkwardness sometimes. But then there's also the smoldering bad boy, which is hot too.

We lose a beloved character! Just going to say that. It was definitely a blow.

Is this simply a book and a sequel thing? Will there be another? I'd really like to know! These characters have grown on me, as has Haden.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Who Should Read This Book?

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If you read and mildly enjoyed Falling Under, then I do recommend reading Dreaming Awake. It was worth it for me.

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Other Books by This Author

Review: Entwined by Heather Dixon

Entwined by Heather Dixon 

Pages: 472
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Genre: YA Fairy Tale Retelling

GOODREADS

Azalea and her younger sisters dance in the mysterious silver forest every night, escaping from the sadness of the palace and their father’s grief. What they don’t understand—although as time passes they begin to get an inkling of the danger they are in—is that the mysterious and dashing Keeper is tightening his snare with deadly purpose. Luckily, Azalea is brave and steadfast. Luckily, a handsome young army captain also has his eye on Azalea. . . 

Review

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Let me just start this review off by saying that the cover and description of Entwined gives you one impression, but the book is actually completely different than what you would think. When I first picked it up, I was expecting this epic high fantasy romance, and that's just not what Entwined is about. It did not fall short of my expectations, it just changed them.

As it turns out, Entwined isn't so much about the romantic love as it is about family love. Going into this, I didn't know this was a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale, so it was only after when I started reading some other reviews of it that I found out. That being said, looking back, I think Heather Dixon did an amazing job retelling the story. She took the basic structure of it and gave it a different life, adding her own story around the bones of the fairy tale.

I thought the sisters were hilarious! There were 12 of them, and with so many characters it's easy to lose track of who they are, but each of the sisters has her own distinct personality that I didn't get them confused once. One is stubborn, one is shy, one is clumsy, one is romantic, the list goes on! They all had these weird, yet lovely names, so I don't quite remember them right now, but as you're reading, you should. Azalea, the main sister, is the oldest, and she basically takes on the mother figure after their mother dies.

Even though the romance wasn't prominent, it was still there lightly drizzled throughout the story. There were actually quite a few romances, and I found myself rooting for them all. The unique personalities of each sister made this that much more fun, because they found men that complimented them. There was even a surprise romance that I did not see coming at all!

Let me just say, the highlight of this book was the villain, Keeper. More like Creeper! Man, he was sooo creepy! I got goosebumps in the scenes that he was in. He would watch the girls as they danced, and just... ugh. But, I have to applaud Heather Dixon for being able to make a character so creepy that he was able to illicit such a reaction from me.

4 out of 5 stars

Who Should Read This Book?

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Fans of the 12 dancing princesses fairy tale should absolutely pick this one up! And definitely any one who is a fan of fantasy. Not so much romance fans, but the romance is there.

You Might Also Like...

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(Covers link to Amazon)

Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

Author: Libba Bray

Pages: 592

Source: Purchased by Barnes and Noble

Series or Standalone?: 2^nd in series

Gemma Doyle is looking forward to a holiday from Spence Academy—spending time with her friends in the city, attending balls in fancy gowns with plunging necklines, and dallying with the handsome Lord Denby. Yet amid these distractions, her visions intensify—visions of three girls dressed in white, to whom something horrific has happened that only the realms can explain. The lure is strong, and soon Gemma, Felicity, and Ann are turning flowers into butterflies in the enchanted world that Gemma takes them to. To the girls' great joy, their beloved

Pippa is there as well, eager to complete their circle of friendship. But all is not well in the realms—or out. Kartik is back, desperately insisting to Gemma that she must bind the magic, lest colossal disaster befall her. Gemma is willing to comply, for this would bring her face-to-face with her late mother's greatest friend, now Gemma's foe—Circe. Until Circe is destroyed, Gemma cannot live out her destiny. But finding Circe proves a most perilous task. . . .

* * *

I actually read this series out of order, with Rebel Angels being the first one I read. I don’t exactly remember why I did it, but I’m pretty sure it was because I didn’t realize this was a sequel until after about 50 pages in and I was sitting there going “Whaat the fuuuuuhhhh?” So I bought AGTB, read it, and then reread Rebel Angels.

What I love about Libba Bray, is she writes with this certain… je ne sais quoi. She wrote through the mind of a teenage girl in the Victorian Era, who was going through many traumas, and pulled it off seamlessly. I was really into the story, and all throughout I could definitely picture Victorian England around me, along with the Gothic structure of Spence Academy. The Realms are delved into much further than in the first book, and are opened up to us through Bray’s flawless writing. Now we see the darker side of The Realms- -and Pippa.

Ah, Pippa. Let me just come out and say it: Pippa is one creepy bitch. I wasn’t getting good vibes from her the entire time she was present in any scene, and there were so many little nuances that all is not well in Pippaland. I think she’s gone off the deep end.

The plot in this book was well-thought out, and really caught me by surprise. I had no idea who Circe would be, and I still have all these questions that I’m hoping will be answered in The Sweet Far Thing. The romance between Gemma and Kartik was much more tangible here, but still teasingly uneventful. Kartik drops several hints, as does Gemma, but at the same time, she’s being courted by Simon Middleton, a wealthy and handsome Englishman, which really gets Kartik’s knickers in a bunch. I’m reeeaaally looking forward to seeing their romance progress.

Gemma and her friends pack quite an adventure, and this novel definitely did not disappoint fans of the first one. If you haven’t read A Great and Terrible Beauty yet, go buy it now!

Other books in this series:

1^st-A Great and Terrible Beauty (click for my review)

3^rd-The Sweet Far Thing

Other books by this author:

Going Bovine

Plot: 4/5

Cover: 5/5

Writing: 4.5/5

Uniqueness: 4.5/5

Characters: 3/5

Overall:

Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine

Author: Rachel Caine

Book type: Paperback

Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael's all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell…

It takes a very skilled author took keep a book series going over 8 books (soon to be 9, when Ghost Town is released on October 24, 2010) and still keep readers thoroughly satisfied and eager for more. Kiss of Death most definitely meets expectations and keeps those pages turning.

Seeing as this is the 8^th book, characterization is basically complete. None of the four main protagonists change much over the course of the story, as they had in previous books. Instead, we have side characters really blossoming and showing their true colors. Among them were Oliver, of whom we see a more compassionate and almost human side.

Almost.

But my favorite character that got more emphasis in this book was Eve’s brother, Jason. He has come to the forefront, and, just like in the previous books, I still couldn’t decide whether I liked him or not, or whether he could be trusted. But that’s half of the fun, isn’t it?

The one aspect that sets Kiss of Death apart from the other Morganville books is that this book doesn’t take place in Morganville. This is the FIRST time we have ever been taken outside the borders of Morganville, and it was refreshing. But, of course, we can’t leave the vampires behind for long…

The entire time I am reading any one of Caine’s books, I always have the feeling that within all this mayhem and chaos, Caine is setting us up, biding her time until the time comes for the final, massive HURRAH. Something big is going down in Morganville, and I for one can’t wait to find out.

My only complaint is that the ending seemed to wrap up to cleanly and quickly for what was going on. I would have liked a little more conflict.

I give this novel 4 out of 5 stars.