Review: deceptively wonderful
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 18, 2013
First off, I put off reading this book because at first, it just didn't appeal to me. Don't know why, I absolutely LOVE Ms. Anderson's first series "Marina's Tales" and it is one of my 'go-to' books for when I need to escape. For some reason, this one didn't strike me right away.... then I opened the book. The heroine, Cal(i) is the rough and tumble girl that any tomboy wishes she was. I was a tomboy, so I bonded to Cali really quickly. There is a little potentially confusing section when Cali is referred to as "Cal", and meets up with a boy named, go figure, "Cal". So you kind of wonder how the author is going to creatively and successfully navigate that potential disaster. She does it, and she does it well. There is no confusion, you always know which Cal the author is referring to, which is really rather impressive. To watch both the young people grow, learn, and find their own paths is a beautiful thing. Anyone who's been through challenging times knows it can be difficult to come through it intact. Ms.Anderson manages all of that and more, with total panache. I went from "Hmmmmm, I don't know." to "Okay, and the second book is called what?" in two chapters. I feel horrible, as if I had been more open minded, I would have found this enjoyable and creative series a  lot sooner, and had a mental vacation at my whim. So in case you aren't grasping it, or I am not being clear enough, "The Athena Effect" is a delightful, creative trip through a young woman's fight to find her place in a very challenging and sometimes super dangerous world. Through her creative and self-confident actions, Cali finds her way, with true friends, and true love, along the way. Far from being the rich handsome guy that so many books rely on, Cal has some definite issues to work through before Cali is letting her guard even close to down which serves to enrich the story line between them. I also love that Cali is not your run of the mill, totally gorgeous girl enthralled with fashions and makeup. She may be gorgeous in her own way, but it allows for readers to relate to a young woman who does not need layers of fake.When you throw in Cali's proclivity for books and reading, you get a character rich in morals, and smart interaction. Ms. Anderson does not dumb down this book in any way, something that should appeal to avid readers. The other beauty in this novel is the richness of the secondary characters, my personal favorite being Cal's grandparents. Cali can read auras and feelings and you find yourself tensing with the negatives, and relaxing when she finds those who are mellow and relaxed. Toss in plenty of good chuckles, numerous one liners, and you have yourself a success of a book, in any genre.