For Magnus Chase: Hotel Valhalla, Guide to the Norse Worlds
Book
So you’ve made it to Valhalla. Now what? This “who’s who” guide to the gods, goddesses,...
David McK (3791 KP) rated Heroes: Mortals and Monsters, Quests and Adventures in Books
Jun 24, 2020
I say 'more or less' as the setting of these tales are in constant flux, with characters popping up all over the place long before (or after) they otherwise should! That's not a criticism of the retelling: just a statement of fact.
This volume thus covers the likes of Bellerephon and Pegasus, Oedipus (yes, that Oedipus!), Heracles - who the Romans renamed Hercules - and his Twelve Labours, Jason and the Argonauts, Theseus and the Minotaur and many (many) others!
Worth it for the educational value alone!
Now, hurry up and release part 3 (Troy) ...
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Darkness Becomes Her (Gods & Monsters, #1) in Books
Jan 6, 2021
I didn’t read the synopsis so I wasn’t entirely sure what it was going to be about. I really need to start.
This wasn’t bad. I liked some aspects and it was different to a lot of other stories out there.
I'm not the biggest fan of mythology. I don't mind books set in that time but this wasn't quite up my street. It was dystopian-y, paranormal-y and slightly romance-y, which sounds like it would be but I found it a little strange.
I have to admit it was easy reading but it wasn't for me. I don't think I'll be continuing the series.
Odin's Ravens (second edition)
Tabletop Game
Every morning Odin sends his ravens, Huginn and Muninn, across the entire world to bring back news...
Medusa: The Girl Behind The Myth
Jessie Burton and Olivia Lomenech Gill (illustrator)
Book
A dazzling, feminist retelling of Greek myth from the internationally bestselling author of The...
Greek Mythology Feminism
Godkiller
Book
You are not welcome here, godkiller Kissen’s family were killed by zealots of a fire god. Now,...
Mythology High Fantasy
The Heroines
Book
In Athens, crowds flock to witness the most shocking trial of the ancient world. The royal family is...
Greek Mythology Trigger warning: Rape
The Whispering Muse
Book
Be careful what you wish for... it may just come true. At The Mercury Theatre in London's West...
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated The Prophecy of Shadows (Elementals, #1) in Books
Jan 23, 2020
Well, then. This is going to be one of the harder reviews to write, isn't it. (And it'll probably come out a little choppy, but um... bear with me.)
Okay, so how about I start with this: <i>The Prophecy of Shadows</i> is great, but the only thing working against the book is the instalove between Nicole and Blake. But even the instalove isn't much of a bother Nicole is attracted to Blake from the get go, but she's not as <em>obsessed</em> as Danielle, who would threaten anyone in Blake's proximity. Yet?
Anyways, the first book in the <i>Elementals</i> series brings yet a new idea to the <a title="Mythology" href="http://www.bookwyrmingthoughts.com/search/label/Mythology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mythology</a> genre, sort of following in <a title="Raye Wagner" href="http://www.bookwyrmingthoughts.com/search/label/Raye%20Wagner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Raye Wagner's</a> footsteps. When Nicole first moves to a new school, she is quickly thrown into the world of witches, people who are descended from Greek gods but not exactly demigods. Witches in Madow's newest series are those not directly descended from a Greek god (basically, a generation or two later...?) and their powers are mostly based off of color theory (definitely not getting into the specifics of that one). Nicole is weirded out and dismisses the entire idea at first, but quickly has a change of heart.
The book is also a little slow on the pacing side, especially for those who like constant action. Madow spends approximately half the book setting up the plot and introducing the world of witches, and I personally think that in itself is good enough without being overwhelming. Even though the witches in the <i>Elementals</i> series are similar to witches in general, I enjoyed learning how each color corresponds to a particular emotion or talent. Any particular legendary creature fighting comes later on in the book.
It'll be interesting to see how Madow takes the series with the sequels, and I'll be looking forward to the sequels (which, by the way, have extremely interesting and adventurous titles).
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/arc-review-the-prophecy-of-shadows-by-michelle-madow/" target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
Kyera (8 KP) rated The Ship of the Dead (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, #3) in Books
Feb 1, 2018
Our heroes continue their journey to postpone Ragnarok and defeat Loki. Magnus is joined by Samirah the Valkyrie, Hearthstone the Elf, Blitzen the Dwarf and his fellow Einherjar Alex, Mallory, TJ and Halfborn. They must battle giants, outwit guardians, and save the world from utter destruction. Just your average Tuesday.
I really enjoyed how diversity was represented in this series as we have main characters with different sexualities or orientations, religions, ethnicities, and disabilities. Since I am not most of the ones that were represented in the book, I can't speak to how accurate the portrayal was but I am glad that they were included. As a casual reader, the representation felt informative and not condescending or demeaning.
Rick continues his world building by sending our heroes off on adventures in the nine realms while simultaneously teaching us a bit about Norse mythology. His books are a very approachable way to tackle the topic and perhaps foster a sense of curiosity that will lead readers to want to discover more. There isn't much else to say without spoilers, so I would recommend this series to middle grade, young adult or teen readers who enjoy fantasy. It is a fun, easy read that I hope you won't regret picking up.



