Reviews

It seems every work author Corey Ann Haydu creates is a win.

I am so in love with this book. The concept is amazing of these characters being descendants of the ancient gods but not quite gods yet, they have to choose their path and the author treats grief and the loss of a mother, a wife, and a friend through more than the pain of a single character. Always keeping the same quality and balance of writing the author delivers what other famous books and authors seem to do on roller coasters of plot twists. I felt an emptiness, a silence, a sense of being half awake, it is a cozy read for that but also very intimate. It's definitely a book to be experienced before discussing it with others who also have read it.

I loved the dual POV, how different Apple and Dorothy were, but both in pain, and how the author showed that grief and loss stay with us forever, not just in the first chapters. It shows us how to grieve someone in different ways also not making the experience just centered in the daughter.

It was filled with magical realism, surrealism sometimes, magic, so much mythology, ancient god's lore, allegory, and metaphors. It perfectly described emptiness and depression. As a whole, it was a tale of friendship and of not forcing others to be who they are not. A tale of growing with pain and knowing to let go.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this eARC.

pagingmrsvarnum's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring fast-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

4.5

I loved so many things about this book! First of all, the overall premise is great. Modern-day kids descended from the Greek gods and living extraordinary lives is nothing new, but this felt like a fresh take on an explored idea. Apple, Dorothy, and the rest of their community live on a hill with a silver ladder all the way up to Olympus. As near-Gods, they must make an annual climb to honor the Gods and ensure their immortality, but they live their lives on earth and learn about the human world without ever joining it themselves. Their lives seem peaceful and routine and altogether charming.

Everything changes when Penny (Dorothy’s mother) decides that she doesn’t want to make the annual pilgrimage to Olympus and instead wants to live her life as a human. Tragically, she loses her life a few months later after being struck by a speeding car. The rest of the book explores the grief of Dorothy as well as Apple and the changes that take place in their community as a result of this decision. Penny and Dorothy descend from Pandora, and much of their personalities and choices are viewed by the other near-Gods as less desirable and too curious because of their ancestor. The gods are unhappy with the way things have changed on Earth and give the near-Gods an ultimatum - join them on Olympus and live forever or stay on Earth and embrace immortality.

As Apple struggles to fulfill a promise to look after Dorothy, a true (although somewhat flawed) friendship begins to form between the two girls. These girls have very different ways of looking at the world, and Apple’s need for Dorothy to conform in her behavior and attitudes cause a lot of friction as well as some horrible choices that might strip each girl of the power to choose her own life.

The language in this book was absolutely beautiful, and I have so many highlights from my reading! I loved the story and actually related to both girls, even though they’re so different. At the crux of each character is a longing to be loved and seen for who they really are, and any reader, young or old, can connect with that. I love stories that emphasize friendship over romantic love, and the writing was absolutely delightful, even when covering difficult topics like grief and manipulation. Grades 4+