Author: Kendare Blake
Format Acquired: Hardcover
Publication Date: September 10 2013
Publishing House: Tor Teen
ISBN: 9780765334435
Source of Copy: Fully Booked
Summary:
Old gods never die...
Or so Athena thought. But then feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away at his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.
Desperately seeking the cause of their slow miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra - an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.
These days, Cassandra doesn't involve herself in the business of gods - in fact, she doesn't even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.
Because Hera, queen of the gods, has aligned herself with others of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these antigods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get because immortals don't just flicker out.
Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.
The Goddess War is about to begin.
Review:
Antigoddess is not your typical gods-and-humans story and among all the books that I've read that take from Greek mythology, this is easily my favorite.
The gods are dying slow, horrible deaths. The pantheon has divided themselves once again and are waging war on the both sides. Caught in the middle is Cassandra, reincarnation of the Greek prophetess that Apollo oh so loved. She just doesn't know it yet. So when her dreams and visions start getting bloodier and there's a strange sense of foreboding thrumming through her veins Cassandra knows that something bad is about to happen. The dying gods believe that she is the key to their survival and they will do anything, kill anyone to get to her.
I've been a fan of Kendare Blake books ever since she broke my heart and scared me to death with Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares. So there was no second-guessing about whether or not I should give Antigoddess a go.
The author does well in portraying the Greek gods and goddesses. They're selfish and destructive and stubborn to a fault. The fact that they have all these powerful abilities that they use to further their cause - which usually involves a whole lot of death and destruction - makes them near impossible to contend with.
I wasn't exactly fond of the characters except maybe Aidan and Hermes. Cassandra is, I'm not sure how to describe it, but she's distant at best. I felt like I didn't really get to connect with her and enjoy her as a character but somehow I was totally okay with that.
Athena on the other hand I did like. She's everything you'd expect from the goddess of wisdom and warfare - strong, capable and ruthless. But as the story progressed, like Hera and her cronies, Athena is afraid to die and she's not going to take her death simpering like a damsel in distress. But I got to this point in the story where, after a certain incident involving Cassandra, I got pissed at her. I mean, there she goes again doing whatever she wants, what she thinks is right and damn all the consequences. I kind of wished everyone would just leave Cassandra alone but then where's the fun in that right?
I just loved the mood of the story and paired with Blake's vivid explanations of the gods' slow deaths, well that made for a pretty creepy read. Desperate gods and a reincarnated prophetess on the brink of war? Bring it on. Although I have to say that the ending was pretty painful and if I didn't love my copy of Antigoddess so much I would have tossed it against the wall while simultaneously bawling my tiny eyes out. I am definitely looking forward to the next book.
Source of Copy: Fully Booked
Summary:
Old gods never die...
Or so Athena thought. But then feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away at his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.
Desperately seeking the cause of their slow miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra - an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.
These days, Cassandra doesn't involve herself in the business of gods - in fact, she doesn't even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.
Because Hera, queen of the gods, has aligned herself with others of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these antigods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get because immortals don't just flicker out.
Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.
The Goddess War is about to begin.
Review:
Antigoddess is not your typical gods-and-humans story and among all the books that I've read that take from Greek mythology, this is easily my favorite.
The gods are dying slow, horrible deaths. The pantheon has divided themselves once again and are waging war on the both sides. Caught in the middle is Cassandra, reincarnation of the Greek prophetess that Apollo oh so loved. She just doesn't know it yet. So when her dreams and visions start getting bloodier and there's a strange sense of foreboding thrumming through her veins Cassandra knows that something bad is about to happen. The dying gods believe that she is the key to their survival and they will do anything, kill anyone to get to her.
I've been a fan of Kendare Blake books ever since she broke my heart and scared me to death with Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares. So there was no second-guessing about whether or not I should give Antigoddess a go.
The author does well in portraying the Greek gods and goddesses. They're selfish and destructive and stubborn to a fault. The fact that they have all these powerful abilities that they use to further their cause - which usually involves a whole lot of death and destruction - makes them near impossible to contend with.
I wasn't exactly fond of the characters except maybe Aidan and Hermes. Cassandra is, I'm not sure how to describe it, but she's distant at best. I felt like I didn't really get to connect with her and enjoy her as a character but somehow I was totally okay with that.
Athena on the other hand I did like. She's everything you'd expect from the goddess of wisdom and warfare - strong, capable and ruthless. But as the story progressed, like Hera and her cronies, Athena is afraid to die and she's not going to take her death simpering like a damsel in distress. But I got to this point in the story where, after a certain incident involving Cassandra, I got pissed at her. I mean, there she goes again doing whatever she wants, what she thinks is right and damn all the consequences. I kind of wished everyone would just leave Cassandra alone but then where's the fun in that right?
I just loved the mood of the story and paired with Blake's vivid explanations of the gods' slow deaths, well that made for a pretty creepy read. Desperate gods and a reincarnated prophetess on the brink of war? Bring it on. Although I have to say that the ending was pretty painful and if I didn't love my copy of Antigoddess so much I would have tossed it against the wall while simultaneously bawling my tiny eyes out. I am definitely looking forward to the next book.
Rating:
"Novel Nails" is a feature of the blog that showcases nail art inspired by books and their covers. Nail art will be created by either Michelle or Nicole and will be featured alongside their reviews.
It's Nicole again for Novel Nails this week featuring Antigoddess. As you can see I drew feathers on my nail using a striper and I'm all matchy-matchy with the book cover.
The nail polish I used are as follows:
Base: OPI Incognito in Sausalito
Feathers: Orly White Tips
I glued the tiny rhinestones using clear polish.
Antigoddess next to OPI.
Close up of my nails.
Another close up!
I match with the book. Pretty!
So what do you guys think? Feathers - yay or nay?
I like reading fictions about Greek mythology and I can't wait to discover Kendare Blake's take on this one.
ReplyDeleteAlso, pretty nail art! I wish I have a talent to do something like that too!
Kendare Blake's take on Greek Mythology is by far my favorite. Other books just aren't on par with this in my opinion.
DeleteI loved your thoughts. I remember Ate Jesselle really loved it too! It's so fascinating how they incorporate Greek mythology and make a beautiful story about it. I hope that the characters will be able to "grow" or give them a more "oomph" (or push-factor) to make the story wholly amazing. But that aside, I do think (based on what you said) that the mood of the story (or the story itself) really would make an impact to a reader... with the creepy but beautiful factors.
ReplyDeleteBTW, those fab nails. I love the nails, Nicole. The feathers were brilliantly made <3
Thank you! I've always loved the atmosphere of Blake's books having loved her Anna Dressed in Blood duology.
DeleteMore Novel Nails features to come!
:-O GREAT NAILS! Seriouslyyyyyyy!!! But you probably already know I'm a fan of Novel Nails. <3 tee hee.
ReplyDeleteSo anyway, Antigoddess! I've been seeing great reviews of this book and it kills me not having it in my shelf yet. Soon though! You had me at, "vivid explanations of the gods' slow deaths." DEFINITELY my kind of book! Heh. Does that make me sound creepy? Plus, it's about Greek mythology - one of my favorite subjects. I haven't read anything from Kendare Blake though but I reckon this would be a great place to start.
Great, review, Nicole!
Hi Sab!! Thank youuuuu! I'm glad you like them. :>
DeleteDefinitely not creepy. I'm also a fan of all the blood and gore so I guess we have that in common. You should definitely check out Kendare Blake's other books. Anna Dressed in Blood is creeeeeeepy. And definitely worth a read.