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A review by posies23
The Shadow Thieves, Volume 1 by Anne Ursu
5.0
In some respects, this is another of those "it turns out Greek myths are real" YA novel. Which is true, but does a disservice to the novel, because while that is technically true, there's much more going on in the book beyond the obvious similarities to Percy Jackson, etc.
In a nutshell, two cousins discover that there is a supernatural cause to an illness that is causing young people to become very, very ill. As a result, they must face the Greek Underworld and try to save not only the "real" world, but also the world of Greek myth.
What really sets this book apart is the authorial tone. It's written in a humorous self-aware authorial style that makes it fun to read and quite different from most YA novels. The characters are quite well drawn, as well, which makes their journey and growth as characters all the more engaging and urgent.
I also liked the fact that the author made the self-concious choice to have two diverse characters be the protagonists, and while it is an element of the story, it's not a MAJOR element. It's nice to see the two leads -- Charlotte, a redheaded girl with an "unfortunate complexion" and Zee, her black, British, soccer-playing cousin -- fully realized as people, from different backgrounds and continents, working together to solve the conflict naturally and realistically. Well, as realistically as they can in a novel that features Harpies.
Highly recommended for all, but especially for YA readers that love mythology and adventure!
In a nutshell, two cousins discover that there is a supernatural cause to an illness that is causing young people to become very, very ill. As a result, they must face the Greek Underworld and try to save not only the "real" world, but also the world of Greek myth.
What really sets this book apart is the authorial tone. It's written in a humorous self-aware authorial style that makes it fun to read and quite different from most YA novels. The characters are quite well drawn, as well, which makes their journey and growth as characters all the more engaging and urgent.
I also liked the fact that the author made the self-concious choice to have two diverse characters be the protagonists, and while it is an element of the story, it's not a MAJOR element. It's nice to see the two leads -- Charlotte, a redheaded girl with an "unfortunate complexion" and Zee, her black, British, soccer-playing cousin -- fully realized as people, from different backgrounds and continents, working together to solve the conflict naturally and realistically. Well, as realistically as they can in a novel that features Harpies.
Highly recommended for all, but especially for YA readers that love mythology and adventure!