Review | The Mark of Athena

The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus #3) by Rick Riordan
October 2012 by Disney-Hyperion Books
586 pages
Three stars



"Annabeth is terrified. Just when she's about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo's fantastical creation doesn't appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.

And that's only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close—the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?

Annabeth's biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he's now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.

Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare...." -Goodreads

If you have not read the previous books in the series, beware of spoilers!

Let me just start off by saying, I love Rick Riordan. He's absolutely one of my favorite authors and I will always read any book he comes out with. They are always so fun and full of adventure. He is a fantastic writer for readers of any age. Don't let the fact that they are middle grade stop you from reading his books.

I really don't want to say too much about the plot of this story, since it's in the middle of a series, and a companion to The Percy Jackson series. I'll let the Goodreads blurb explain it for me. It's not anything about the plot of this story that made me give it three stars.

I wasn't invested into the story until about halfway through, when they arrived to the mouth of the Mediterranean and met Hercules. As I said before, I don't think there was anything wrong with the plot of the story. It just seemed a little harder to stay focused on than others I've read. The points where it was supposed to be full of action and very intense just didn't register as such. 

One of  Rick Riordan's strongest assets in his writing is his characters. While there may have been a rift between the Romans and Greeks, they were able to work together as a team to accomplish a common goal. There was a lot of character growth and relationships being built. Some of the characters couldn't be further from the other, while some we're more alike than they realize.

I think one of the things I had a hard time with in this book was keeping characters straight. I'm used to reading either just one character or it switching between three characters like in both The Lost Hero and The Son of Neptune. Having seven characters and seven points of view to keep straight is more difficult than I thought it would be. I think that's interesting as an adult reader, I had a hard time keeping them straight. I can't imagine how difficult that would be for an average middle school reader. It made the story very hard to follow at times and hard to keep them straight since so many characters seem to mirror others.

One of the best things of this story was the ending. At that point, I was much more interested in it and I think Arachne was fun to read about. Annabeth really is a phenomenal character and I love reading about her journey. I am in no way surprised that she was able to outsmart Arachne.

I seem to have a problem with middle books by Rick Riordan because I didn't like the fourth book in the Percy Jackson series as much either. I think the ending will make for an amazing fourth book and I am so excited. Don't let my opinion of this book keep you from continuing the series if you have started it already. It really is a great series.

Review | The White Rose

The White Rose (The Lone City #2) by Amy Ewing
October 2015 by HarperTeen
320 pages
Four stars


"Violet is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.

But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm.

But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known?

The White Rose is a raw, captivating sequel to The Jewel that fans won’t be able to put down until the final shocking moments." -Goodreads

If you have not read the previous books in the series, beware of spoilers!



Ever since I finished The Jewel, I've been dying to get my hands on this book once it came out. While it's very much a middle book in a series, I loved it. It wasn't as action packed as maybe I would have liked, but there was so much good information to lead into the next book.

The White Rose picks up right where The Jewel left off. Violet is locked up in her room and Ash is trapped in the dungeon, waiting for death. Violet, Raven and Ash try to escape The Jewel with the help of Lucien and make it to The Farm, where they will supposedly be safe. Of course that is not as easy as it sounds. They run into quite a bit of trouble and meet some unlikely allies along the way. We finally get more details of what Lucien hopes to accomplish with the rebellion.

I had a little bit of a problem with Violet in the first book, but she really became such an amazing character in this story. She stands up for what and who she believes in, no matter what. She's very selfless and puts the people she cares about above herself. I always thought to myself, these surrogates have so much more power than they realize. I'm glad Violet was finally able to see that.

I said it in my last review, and I still agree. I don't really care for Ash. While I do like him more than I did while reading The Jewel, but it's not enough for me to forgive how annoying he was before. The insta-love has died down, which makes me very happy. It feels more natural and not so forced. At the end of the last book, I was actually hoping Violet and Garnet would have a little fling but now I'm team Raven and Garnet all the way. I think they compliment each other so well, even though Garnet is now married.

The world that Amy Ewing has created is pretty incredible. In the first book, we only really heard about The Jewel and The Smoke. In The White Rose, we visit other places as well, like The Bank and The Farm. I like the idea of The Jewel being the center, and the rest just rings around that on the island. Each area and the people that live in it are so unique. It was nice to be able to see that while Violet makes her journey. We really get to see the impact of The Jewel on these people.

One of the best things about the series, and specifically this book are the characters. I've already said how much more I like Violet in this book. She's not the only one. The House of The Stone was a great insight into what Raven was going through next door. We learn so much more about the horrors she faced there and watch her through her healing process. It's very special and she is easily one of my favorite characters. Along with Raven, we see a big change in Garnet. He's no longer just wasting his time with things to make his mother mad. He has a purpose and realizes that he actually likes the people he is now helping. His sarcasm and wit are greatly appreciated. I really liked the addition of Violet's brother Ocher and can't wait to see more of him in the final book. 

Beware for some mild spoilers, but one of my favorite things about this book was learning about the Padalins. I was always a little confused about the auguries and am really pleased with the explanation that we were given. This series is so unique and has so much depth. This series has so much more purpose and meaning now. It's not just a typical YA dystopian. I feel that it really holds its own and is very unique to most other dystopians I've read recently. 

The ending was a major cliffhanger but it's so good. While I kind of saw it coming, it's heartbreaking and I am so interested in how it will play out in the final book of the trilogy. I'm really enjoying this series more and more as it goes on. I highly recommend checking it out before the final book comes out in 2016.

Review | What I Thought Was True

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick
April 2014 by Dial Books for Young Readers
422 pages
Four stars


"From the acclaimed author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.

Gwen Castle has never so badly wanted to say good-bye to her island home till now: the summer her Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, takes a job there as the local yard boy. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is." -Goodreads


I've always had a soft spot for books with a beach or island setting. They have a specific feel to them that I just love and get so immersed in. This one did not disappoint. I loved Huntley's first book, My Life Next Door. I had high hopes for this one too. While I didn't love it quite as much as MLND, it was still lovely and addicting. There was so much depth and so many great and unique characters. 

Gwen Castle lives on Seashell Island, where the wealthy spend their summers, and the locals take on jobs to serve them. Gwen and her family are very much a part of the island life. Her world gets turned upside down when she runs into what she considers to be her biggest mistake, Cassidy Somers. What I Thought Was True isn't just about Gwen, it's about her family, friends, relationships, jobs, financial issues, the future. 

I loved Emory's character and the role he had in the story. He seems to be the glue that holds the Castle family together. He's not normal, but he's not quite autistic. He's just Em. That being said, I spent most of the book terrified that something was going to happen to him. I thought he was going to get sick or something, and it would be this huge tragedy for the family. Spoiler alert, he's fine, which I'm so happy about. Some of the scenes with Emory were my favorite in the whole book. You can't help but love him. 

Cassidy is so wonderful, but he's not perfect. I love when the romances in YA contemporary novels are realistic. Both characters have made mistakes and can't seem to get on the same page. Gwen and Cassidy were a hilarious couple and just proved how awkward romance is at that age. It was so refreshing to read. Another thing I noticed, and really appreciated, was how the roles seemed to be reversed. Gwen was more physically advanced but Cassidy was better with the emotional side of things. I can't really think of another YA book that I've read where it was so opposite of what you normally see.

One thing I really respected about this book is how casually they talk about sex. The main character isn't an innocent bystander who was taken advantage of. She is able to make her own decisions and her own mistakes. They also mention using birth control and condoms, which I think is really important. It's not just about the heat of the moment, you should think clearly. Huntley doesn't tip toe around the subject, it's just how these characters are. 

There are so many good themes and morals to take away from this story. It was one of the better books I've read in a while and just makes me want to read more contemporary. When it's done well, it's so good. I'm really looking forward to reading Huntley's next book.

Review | The Wizard Returns

The Wizard Returns (#0.3) by Danielle Paige
March 2015 by HarperCollins
100 pages
Five stars



"The Wizard left Oz in a hot air balloon—or did he? This digital original novella is the third installment in the prequel arc to the edgy and exciting New York Times bestseller Dorothy Must Die.

Dorothy Gale is back . . . and she's not the sweet little heroine of Oz anymore. She's power-hungry and vicious, and she leaves a trail of destruction beneath her spike-heeled, magical shoes. But she wasn't always in charge. There used to be a different ruler of Oz. Someone who also came from the Other Place, and who stole power for himself. They called him the Wizard.

The story goes that when a young Dorothy revealed the Wizard as a fraud, the man behind the curtain fled Oz in his hot air balloon. But in The Wizard Returns, he wakes in a field of poppies to find out that not only had he never left, but that he has no memory of who—or where—he is. As he undergoes a series of tests to uncover his memories, he finds that the very girl who threw him from the Emerald Palace is in control. And that Oz may be his destiny after all." -Goodreads



If you have not read the previous books in the series, beware of spoilers!

This has been my favorite novella in the series so far, which says a lot since I've loved all of them.

This novella focuses on The Wizard and Queen LuLu and the Wingless Ones. I don't want to give anything away about the plot, but you just get some more background on the monkeys, the Wizard and their relationship. Both are things that have been referenced in Dorothy Must Die. It was nice to get more information to go off. These novellas are really helping the story come together for me. 

I think the Wizard is such an interesting character, in both the original story and this series. He is so troubled and selfish. I have more of an understanding and appreciation for him now. It was very interesting to see how little loosing his memories changes him, until he is forced to acknowledge his mistakes. 

I love Queen LuLu and the Wingless Ones. They are one of the better additions to the story in my opinion. I think they are so unique. Queen LuLu is so feisty and it's really nice to see how she got where she is now. 

I've read a lot of negative reviews for The Wizard Returns and I guess I just don't understand. A lot of people said they think it had nothing to do with the storyline but I disagree. I really think the monkeys and the Wizard are important. Dorothy wasn't the only person who turned Oz into what it is today. They have each had their role in changing the way things are. 

As I said before, this is my favorite novella in the series and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book. It just keeps getting better and better.