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readswithstella's review against another edition
4.0
An urban fantasy that keeps you on your toes!
Paternus: Rise of the Gods is definitely a book that keeps you hooked and you can definitely see how much research was put into this. As a mythology fan, I enjoyed picking out the deities mentioned in the book! The action scenes were well written and the words riveting.
My only issue with the book that has stopped me from giving this full marks was because I struggled to like the young main characters, particularly Fi. She's just a culmination of all the YA heroines we've all read about before, utterly cliché. But it also might be a testament to how long ago I've outgrown the YA genre. And the cheesy love story between the young protagonists is too over and done with already. Definitely not my cup of tea.
Thankfully, the other characters weren't as insufferable and I'm curious enough to want to know what happens to them in the next book, so I'm definitely picking the next one up!
Paternus: Rise of the Gods is definitely a book that keeps you hooked and you can definitely see how much research was put into this. As a mythology fan, I enjoyed picking out the deities mentioned in the book! The action scenes were well written and the words riveting.
My only issue with the book that has stopped me from giving this full marks was because I struggled to like the young main characters, particularly Fi. She's just a culmination of all the YA heroines we've all read about before, utterly cliché. But it also might be a testament to how long ago I've outgrown the YA genre. And the cheesy love story between the young protagonists is too over and done with already. Definitely not my cup of tea.
Thankfully, the other characters weren't as insufferable and I'm curious enough to want to know what happens to them in the next book, so I'm definitely picking the next one up!
zahrae's review against another edition
4.0
3.75
I think if you are well-versed in Greek, Indian , Norse myths and Arthurian legends you will love this book and not be confused as I was during the first part of the book , I do not know a lot about Indian and Norse myths .
However , I very much enjoyed this book , and would recommend it to anyone wanting to read about all myths .
I think if you are well-versed in Greek, Indian , Norse myths and Arthurian legends you will love this book and not be confused as I was during the first part of the book , I do not know a lot about Indian and Norse myths .
However , I very much enjoyed this book , and would recommend it to anyone wanting to read about all myths .
erdicooper's review against another edition
5.0
I feel like I should write a review on this one to parse through my reaction to it. Maybe! If not though, a mini version: This book is really great in general, and if you're, like me, tired of books that seem like they started with a genre and built from there, definitely check out paternus!! Seriously cannot understate the freedom in which Ashton tells this story
omitreob's review
4.5
Loved this one. Read it on my phone so could quickly google all names from myths i was not familiar with while reading. Great book very hard to put down.
darklocus's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
optimalbook's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
While I found it to be an overall enjoyable read, the slow beginning coupled with the unique writing style and large PoV cast made it a bit of a challenge at points. I will be reading Book 2 and am looking forward to exploring the world more.
kroedel's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic premise! If you like mythology pick this book up. Cant wait to read the next two.
tometower's review against another edition
4.0
Overall I really enjoyed this book but it did take a little while to get into. The writing style is very unique and I really struggled with it for the first couple of chapters, but after that I didn’t really notice it anymore. I loved all of the myths and lore that were woven into the story, so much so that I found myself to be more invested in the perspectives of the mythological gods than the two main humans characters who I have yet to connect with, hopefully this will be remedied in book 2.
mybookislit's review against another edition
5.0
Urban fantasy meets mythology. Oh you think you’ve read that already? Naw bruh! This is on an EPIC scale. All the myths are crammed in here Greek, Norse, Asian, African, Russian, folklores and yes Ancient Near Eastern mythology and more!
Things you should know: 1. the author is telling this story the way he wants (May break your precious rules)but trust that he knows what he’s doing. (Bravely refreshing tbh)
2. the first 150ish pages are confusing and may have you lost. You don’t know the plot. You’re introduced to a lot of mythology, not an info dump though. it’s not difficult you just don’t see why. I almost DNF at least three times BUT when that page hits it’s like reading from a fire hydrant gushing with action and plot.
The reading experience is like walking into an enormous cornfield. At the start it sounds like a good idea but as you press in you get nervous and find yourself lost. Then you panic wondering if you’ll ever get out. 100 pages into the cornfield you’re so lost you just want to see signs of civilization, a house, a shack, an outhouse...any sign of life! Then you get to around page 150 and peer past the last corn stalk and you see the middle of Time Square...bam it hits you that starkly and hard!
Important: I want to add that I think it’s genius that you’re lost at first. I believe it’s critical that you are. Gods among us? You don’t believe it so you should be lost...but when that moment of faith happens it’s magical!
A true master piece! Urban fantasy & mythological warfare on such a breathtakingly grand scale! And it’s a trilogy! I hear they get better with each installment but how?!!! Do Not sleep on this one. Paternus commands & DEMANDS wider readership. Immediately purchased the other two books before I even finished. Dyrk Ashton hank you.
Things you should know: 1. the author is telling this story the way he wants (May break your precious rules)but trust that he knows what he’s doing. (Bravely refreshing tbh)
2. the first 150ish pages are confusing and may have you lost. You don’t know the plot. You’re introduced to a lot of mythology, not an info dump though. it’s not difficult you just don’t see why. I almost DNF at least three times BUT when that page hits it’s like reading from a fire hydrant gushing with action and plot.
The reading experience is like walking into an enormous cornfield. At the start it sounds like a good idea but as you press in you get nervous and find yourself lost. Then you panic wondering if you’ll ever get out. 100 pages into the cornfield you’re so lost you just want to see signs of civilization, a house, a shack, an outhouse...any sign of life! Then you get to around page 150 and peer past the last corn stalk and you see the middle of Time Square...bam it hits you that starkly and hard!
Important: I want to add that I think it’s genius that you’re lost at first. I believe it’s critical that you are. Gods among us? You don’t believe it so you should be lost...but when that moment of faith happens it’s magical!
A true master piece! Urban fantasy & mythological warfare on such a breathtakingly grand scale! And it’s a trilogy! I hear they get better with each installment but how?!!! Do Not sleep on this one. Paternus commands & DEMANDS wider readership. Immediately purchased the other two books before I even finished. Dyrk Ashton hank you.
lvh's review
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5