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hanreads11's review against another edition
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cheyenne_wue's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
deepower7's review against another edition
3.0
This is a generous three stars. The writing was probably a little stronger than the first book, but the plot was not. There was no reason for this book to be so long. I don't have time for a love interest that is so obviously a placeholder. No one likes expiry dating, and it just dragged this whole thing out ridiculously. Didn't include enough of the characters I love - L U C A S - and all in all just read like an entirely different story.
moomin99's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
Ik ben overduidelijk in een Griekse Mythologie stemming momenteel. Het eerste deel van deze serie beviel me al ongelooflijk goed, maar het tweede deel beviel me zo mogelijk nog beter! En dat komt niet alleen omdat het zo ontiegelijk lekker leest.
Het verhaal gaat verder waar het gestopt is en met elke bladzijde wordt het spannender en spannender. Ik ben zelf geen grote fan van het verhaallijntje waarbij Lucas en Helen denken neef en nicht te zijn (terwijl wij al lang weten dat ze dat niet zijn), maar ik begin ergens een vaag vermoeden te krijgen dat er een hele goede reden was voor Daphne om dit aan haar dochter te zeggen. Maar zoals past bij een echte Griekse tragedie: Juist als je iets probeert te voorkomen, gebeurt het uiteindelijk toch.
Wat dat betreft kent het plot een weinig verrassend verloop, maar dat maakt het verhaal niet minder boeiend en niet minder leuk. In dit boek wordt de world building van de onderwereld uitgebreid. We krijgen meer en meer te zien van de Hades, van de mogelijkheden daar en ik vind het zelf heel fijn om te zien dat de Hades in dit boek inderdaad meer is dan alleen maar de hel. Het is ook de hemel.
Daarnaast was ik positief verrast door Hades zelf. Hades wordt in veel verhalen afgeschilderd als de duivel, als de slechterik, maar er is in de Griekse mythologie eigenlijk weinig basis om hem zo af te schilderen. Angelini heeft dit duidelijk wel goed begrepen en gezien. De Hades in dit boek is geen schurk, geen boeman. Hij is verrassend menselijk en wellicht de minst bedreigende van zijn broers.
Dat was een ander leuk deel aan dit boek. Voor het eerst maken we kennis met enkele Goden, naast alle andere nieuwe halfgoden die we in dit boek leren kennen, en ik kan niet wachten om er meer te leren kennen in het volgende boek. Ik twijfel er niet aan dat dat uiteindelijk gaat gebeuren.
Ik heb er nu al zin in!
Het verhaal gaat verder waar het gestopt is en met elke bladzijde wordt het spannender en spannender. Ik ben zelf geen grote fan van het verhaallijntje waarbij Lucas en Helen denken neef en nicht te zijn (terwijl wij al lang weten dat ze dat niet zijn), maar ik begin ergens een vaag vermoeden te krijgen dat er een hele goede reden was voor Daphne om dit aan haar dochter te zeggen. Maar zoals past bij een echte Griekse tragedie: Juist als je iets probeert te voorkomen, gebeurt het uiteindelijk toch.
Wat dat betreft kent het plot een weinig verrassend verloop, maar dat maakt het verhaal niet minder boeiend en niet minder leuk. In dit boek wordt de world building van de onderwereld uitgebreid. We krijgen meer en meer te zien van de Hades, van de mogelijkheden daar en ik vind het zelf heel fijn om te zien dat de Hades in dit boek inderdaad meer is dan alleen maar de hel. Het is ook de hemel.
Daarnaast was ik positief verrast door Hades zelf. Hades wordt in veel verhalen afgeschilderd als de duivel, als de slechterik, maar er is in de Griekse mythologie eigenlijk weinig basis om hem zo af te schilderen. Angelini heeft dit duidelijk wel goed begrepen en gezien. De Hades in dit boek is geen schurk, geen boeman. Hij is verrassend menselijk en wellicht de minst bedreigende van zijn broers.
Dat was een ander leuk deel aan dit boek. Voor het eerst maken we kennis met enkele Goden, naast alle andere nieuwe halfgoden die we in dit boek leren kennen, en ik kan niet wachten om er meer te leren kennen in het volgende boek. Ik twijfel er niet aan dat dat uiteindelijk gaat gebeuren.
Ik heb er nu al zin in!
lilith19's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
nadine_booklover's review against another edition
3.0
Better than expected... :-)
Well deserved 3 stars!
Well deserved 3 stars!
curlykira's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED this book! As far as sequels go, this was not a usual disappointment that I feel with other series. The first book in a series is always exciting and new but the second can sometimes be a bit lacklustre as it continues the same, now tired themes and ideas of the first book. However, Angelini has managed to keep her protagonist interesting with a change in focus with new problems for her to face and the progression of all her characters. She skillfully adds in a new potential love interest without being too predictable with her choice in character and as it stands I have no idea which one Helen will choose (if either!). Helen's sufferings are believable and although we hear much about similar incidents, Angelini's writing keeps us interested so we never think "oh here we go again". However, hearing about them frequently really reinforces how much Helen is going through. I also love how detailed she is with all aspects of the world she has created. Her characters are so whole and realistic and the description of the Underworld can be easily pictured in one's mind. I managed to finish this book within two days because the plot was never obvious to me and the characters and storyline sucked me in completely.
The only complaint I have about this book (and it's a very minute, fussy one) is how far Josphine Angelini strays from real Greek Mythology. Okay, so nobody else really cares what the Greeks believed but for me, as a Classicist (someone who studys Ancient Greece and Rome), it is pretty damn important! I mean I can tolerate some minor alterations, even the Ancients themselves did it from time to time, but there are some instances which are definitely clear cut. For instance, Electra is NOT the daughter of Oedipus who was made mad due to the incest which brought about her birth (she was Agamemnon's daughter, who helped to kill her mother to avenge his death). As I said, it's a small thing that would not even occur to many people who liked this book and to be honest it didn't lessen my own enjoyment of this book much at all so it still gets 5 stars.
The only complaint I have about this book (and it's a very minute, fussy one) is how far Josphine Angelini strays from real Greek Mythology. Okay, so nobody else really cares what the Greeks believed but for me, as a Classicist (someone who studys Ancient Greece and Rome), it is pretty damn important! I mean I can tolerate some minor alterations, even the Ancients themselves did it from time to time, but there are some instances which are definitely clear cut. For instance, Electra is NOT the daughter of Oedipus who was made mad due to the incest which brought about her birth (she was Agamemnon's daughter, who helped to kill her mother to avenge his death). As I said, it's a small thing that would not even occur to many people who liked this book and to be honest it didn't lessen my own enjoyment of this book much at all so it still gets 5 stars.
celjla212's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so, so much better than its' predecessor. I liked that it focused a lot more on Helen and her own journey than the relationship arc.
In the first book I felt like Lucas was always coming to Helen's rescue, and I'm glad to find that she really stood up for herself in Dreamless. She was relentless in her quest in the Underworld, even when it looked like she could no longer take another sleepless night. Helen really worked hard on doing what needed to be done, and I respect her so much for that.
There are also some very interesting changes happening with the rest of the Delos family too. I'm so happy that Helen's best friends, Matt and Claire, have been brought into the fold. Even though it may mean more danger for the two mortals, they are fully committed to helping Helen...and the fact that they are falling for the Delos twins doesn't hurt. Lucas, who is struggling with the fact that he cannot be with Helen, eventually goes toward a very dark place during the span of this novel. I'm very intrigued to see what will happen to him from here on out...because once you invite darkness in, you usually cannot rid yourself of it.
As strong as Helen was, I feel like it was very important to have someone like Orion with her in the Underworld. He helped her in many ways, but serving as a distraction from her feelings about Lucas was a very important thing. I think Helen deserves some happiness, and while I feel I can see what might happen in regards to this love triangle in the next book, I kind of hope I get surprised.
As in the first book, my favorite thing about Dreamless was the fresh twist it gave to ancient Greek legends. This story is of course rooted in what happens to the gods, but it's not ALL ABOUT the gods. Helen and the rest of the Delos family are not about to go down without a fight...and a big fight is surely coming.
In the first book I felt like Lucas was always coming to Helen's rescue, and I'm glad to find that she really stood up for herself in Dreamless. She was relentless in her quest in the Underworld, even when it looked like she could no longer take another sleepless night. Helen really worked hard on doing what needed to be done, and I respect her so much for that.
There are also some very interesting changes happening with the rest of the Delos family too. I'm so happy that Helen's best friends, Matt and Claire, have been brought into the fold. Even though it may mean more danger for the two mortals, they are fully committed to helping Helen...and the fact that they are falling for the Delos twins doesn't hurt. Lucas, who is struggling with the fact that he cannot be with Helen, eventually goes toward a very dark place during the span of this novel. I'm very intrigued to see what will happen to him from here on out...because once you invite darkness in, you usually cannot rid yourself of it.
As strong as Helen was, I feel like it was very important to have someone like Orion with her in the Underworld. He helped her in many ways, but serving as a distraction from her feelings about Lucas was a very important thing. I think Helen deserves some happiness, and while I feel I can see what might happen in regards to this love triangle in the next book, I kind of hope I get surprised.
As in the first book, my favorite thing about Dreamless was the fresh twist it gave to ancient Greek legends. This story is of course rooted in what happens to the gods, but it's not ALL ABOUT the gods. Helen and the rest of the Delos family are not about to go down without a fight...and a big fight is surely coming.