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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
One of the most creative concepts I’ve read in recent years. Greek mythology historical fiction WW1 mash up? Yes, please!
Heartwrenchingly beautiful. This will sit with me for months.
I received this ARC from the publisher. No quotes are included since I read the advance copy.
I knew I would love this one going into it because of the awesome cover. I'm a sucker for historical fiction, especially the World Wars. I'm glad this one focused on WWI, along with the Harlem Hellfighters, jazz music, women's roles in society, shell shock, and race relations. The four main young adults are very distinctive, and readers will have no problem keeping their stories straight and cheering for them.
At first I wasn't too thrilled with the concept of Aphrodite and Ares being on trial for sleeping around on Hephaestus, but I grew to love how they told the stories of the four human characters. The old mythology legends and Trojan War histories kept coming back to me as I read, and it really did help improve the novel. I came to love Aphrodite (what the heck?), as well as pity Hephaestus and his love for his cheating wife. That's just weird because it's not like I usually develop feelings for Greek gods.
If you love historical fiction, read this, no matter your age. Sure, it's written for teens, but adults will pick this one up, too.
I knew I would love this one going into it because of the awesome cover. I'm a sucker for historical fiction, especially the World Wars. I'm glad this one focused on WWI, along with the Harlem Hellfighters, jazz music, women's roles in society, shell shock, and race relations. The four main young adults are very distinctive, and readers will have no problem keeping their stories straight and cheering for them.
At first I wasn't too thrilled with the concept of Aphrodite and Ares being on trial for sleeping around on Hephaestus, but I grew to love how they told the stories of the four human characters. The old mythology legends and Trojan War histories kept coming back to me as I read, and it really did help improve the novel. I came to love Aphrodite (what the heck?), as well as pity Hephaestus and his love for his cheating wife. That's just weird because it's not like I usually develop feelings for Greek gods.
If you love historical fiction, read this, no matter your age. Sure, it's written for teens, but adults will pick this one up, too.
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm a sucker for mythology so that drew me in against my better judgement. I usually hate love at first sight but with Aphrodite as a character that gets a pass.
Also since it was WWI and none of the women were spies and there was no secret book, it was not EXACTLY like every other historical romance set in wartime France. That was a plus.
The depiction of the war at the beginning seems a little too YA - like boot camp was equivalent to boarding school or somethings, complete with compassionate officers who really cared how much you were eating. It got less rose-colored later. The depiction of racism and segregation in the US army too was similarly naive. Obviously the treatment of black soldiers was terrible and enraging. But the depiction of the black soldiers as surprised by it is absurd.
Also Hazel's entire personality changes on a dime after the first couple chapters, which was jarring and not really explained.
Also since it was WWI and none of the women were spies and there was no secret book, it was not EXACTLY like every other historical romance set in wartime France. That was a plus.
The depiction of the war at the beginning seems a little too YA - like boot camp was equivalent to boarding school or somethings, complete with compassionate officers who really cared how much you were eating. It got less rose-colored later. The depiction of racism and segregation in the US army too was similarly naive. Obviously the treatment of black soldiers was terrible and enraging. But the depiction of the black soldiers as surprised by it is absurd.
Also Hazel's entire personality changes on a dime after the first couple chapters, which was jarring and not really explained.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No