Ungodly

July 15, 2015
The Goddess War trilogy concludes. It isn't tidy, but everything resolves in this final act for the Greek gods, led by Athena with help from Hermes, Calypso, Ares, and Aphrodite, who are all dying of maladies appropriate to their individual natures. Heroic mortals Cassandra, Hector, Odysseus, and Andromache have been reincarnated as modern teenagers-all of whom Achilles is bent on destroying, as are other enemies. In Mortal Gods (2014), the group broke up when they attacked Olympus. Now three small groups travel independently, still trying to find the cause of their imminent mortality. With help from Thanatos, the god of death, they finally discover who is behind it all. Like Rick Riordan before her, Blake has clearly had a good time modernizing the gods and heroes, but the difficulty in the imaginative series lies in the too-large cast. Given mostly equal weight, the characters banter and quip their ways through their adventures, each speaking in much the same modern and rather cynical voice. While readers can care about them, especially Athena and Hermes, the cast is simply too numerous and the threat, too abstract for a strong focus. Still, readers can enjoy the journey and the hip dialogue, punctuated by a few brief fights. Nevertheless, it's an above-average addition to the updated-mythology genre and a satisfying conclusion for the series' fans. (Paranormal adventure. 12-18)

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September 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-The final book in the modern, Greek myth-based "Goddess War" trilogy (Tor Teen) finds the group scattered after their failed attack on Olympus. Hermes is trying to lead and protect Andie and Henry. Athena remains on the banks of the underworld, where Odysseus hovers between life and death. Cassie and Calypso are in California, where Cassie seeks revenge for Aidan. The gods are dealing with the painful loss of their immortality, and the gaining of human emotions. The reincarnated humans from Troy are now supercharged by the myths that surrounded their previous lives, giving them powers once limited to the gods. A sense of fear and urgency rings through the dialogue as the gods race to save themselves and their friends. After quests, adventures, and schemes, they gather once more in Kincade, having formed new and surprising alliances. The deities turn out to be as dysfunctional as any human family, but they find a way to put their differences aside and work together. Athena and Cassidy change the most over the course of this volume and the series. Athena begins to accept that she can fall in love and make mistakes. Cassie struggles to let go of her desire to kill all of the gods. In the end, the characters defy the Fates and create their own destinies. More fast-paced and action-packed than the first two installments, this entry will engage teens because of the family tensions and loyalties, shifting alliances, constantly changing emotions, and the characters' desire for love and vengeance. VERDICT Purchase where the previous titles have a strong following.-Tamara Saarinen, Pierce County Library, WA

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