Review: Underwhelming retelling of the greek gods....
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 03 23, 2014
This story was all kinds of messed up for me. It is hard for me to rate this low, because Ms. Star is a strong writer, I am just not sure I connected with this story because it was almost cruel and sexist to me. I might be digging to deep, but then again, I don't believe I am.The story as a whole started out very strong for me with powerful world building. Siobhan is a intriguing character and you get the impression she is strong and as independent as she is allowed to be given her families circumstances.This all starts to fall apart once we met Liam. We think he has some sort of being created by the gods (Greek) yet given immortality because he was so beloved. We would be wrong, he is the god Apollo. Now, this is where things get a bit shaky for me. I am all for being original with the mythology surrounding the Greeks. I mean most stories are impressive with how they mix them into modern times and make me believe these gods and goddesses are roaming around.However, I'm not sure the Greek gods would be hanging out in--Ireland.Now, lets say I suspended belief--which I did.Apollo was a horrible character. He was weak, sexist, arrogant, and cruel to Siobhan. He spins here this song and dance how they are fated to be together, have a child, and he loved her--BUT fate also says I still need to get my hump on with other chicks and have children with you. BUT I will be thinking of you the whole time and I love you mostest of all!Ummmmm what....Now, here is where it all gets even BETTER! So he tells her fate says this is going to happen, yet he says YOU have the CHOICE! You can choose with fated path you want to take.Pardon me if once the dude told me he was going to be humping around while I was still alive, I say I'll choose this fated path where I ain't thinking about you dipping in other chicks honey pots.So, where Siobhan started out a powerfully written female, she turned to dust and kind of a doormat for Apollo's sexual needs. There was not love. That dude came come around every day if he wanted to, but I would NOT believe a man loved me unless he was willing to choose HIS OWN FATED PATH and be like. I'm good with the kids were are going to have, and I'll leave the hump around to the other gods not in love.It was all very swarmy and gross to me. Apollo would degrade her and not even really apologize and use the whole "I'm a god I don't know any better" excuse to worm his way out of his arrogant mouth.I wish this story didn't spin the way it did. What could have been a really powerful love conquerors all story. It turned into a story about a self-centered a-hole and a woman that would rather be the doormat of a god, than find real love somewhere else.I did look up and this seems to be the 'past events' of a young adult book series already written. I have to say, I do like A. Star's voice. She writes clean, and is strong in where she takes her characters even if I don't agree with it. I would like to take a chance on the young adult series and hope that the love isn't as--well--non-love in those books.*I received a free copy of this book Via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review*