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Pantheons #1
Pantheons
On the streets, they call fifteen year old orphan Isaiah Marshall the Indestructible Diamond. Isaiah is the leader of the Redrovers, a group of teenage misfits consisting of his friends Jeremy, Monty, and Pipsqueak, but when they trespass into Kaliber Academy to get even with the arrogant Jason Ollopa, they are in way over their heads.Principal Webb enrolls them into the High School and Isaiah soon learns about the existence of the gods of the Ancient World. Because the gods have refused to fight the last War for fear of the Mysterious Dark, the Powers-that-Be have stripped them of their spiritual bodies and given them mortal, teenage forms. Isaiah discovers he's not only a god, but that he's the child of the Greek goddess Metis, the son destined to overthrow his cruel and sadistic father Zeus, the Darkener of the Sky, and become the greatest god in all the Pantheons. Isaiah is thrown into a world where the democratic Olympians, war-mongering Norse, Gothic Celts, firstborn Egyptians, the enlightened Hindu, the animal-like Aztecs, the martial artist Asians, the intelligent Babylonians, the great spirits of the Native American Indians, and the fierce Finnish will war against one another for the greatest of all the Dominion.
572 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 2012
2 people are currently reading
565 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Dabel
5 books88 followersErnst J. Dabel is the author of “Pantheons”, and is also the President and co-owner of Dabel Brothers Productions, a publishing company specializing in comics and graphic novels. Ernst’s company has adapted novels by major authors such as Dean Koontz, Laurell K. Hamilton, Jim Butcher, George R.R. Martin, Robert Jordan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Orson Scott Card, Raymond E. Feist, R.A. Salvatore, Patricia Briggs, Robert Silverberg, Tad Williams, and others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 16, 2013
Please note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher (Sea Lion) in exchange for an honest review, which I did in December, 2011. In September and October 2013 I am editing it for an updated release of the e-book.
4.5 out of 5 stars
My Synopsis: Isaiah Marshall has lived on the streets since he was a child. He had to grow up tough and strong, and now he runs his own gang – the Redrover Gang – consisting of his friends Jeremy, Monty and Pipsqueak. One day, while walking in a part of town they didn’t normally frequent, Isaiah is almost run down by a pretty-boy driving a fancy Ferrari, who announces that they are near Kaliber Academy, which is a place for people who want to learn and grow, and not a place for vagrants like the Redrovers, so they need to just move along. Not being the type of people who take kindly to such attitude, the boys decide to crash the Academy, find the pretty boy, and teach him a lesson. What none of them expected was to be offered the chance to join the school themselves. That’s when everything changes for them, because Isaiah discovers that he is eligible to join a very exclusive club at Kaliber Academy – the Pantheon Club. It is only open to godlings – and Isaiah is the son of Zeus. Isaiah’s life is about to change, forever.
My Thoughts: I was fortunate enough to get a very early look at this manuscript and am very impressed with the ideas that went into creating this book. I think it would be appropriate from tweens on up, providing a lot of life lessons in belonging, acceptance, growing up and taking responsibility for oneself. The characters are each well developed with a solid foundation behind them – reading this first book of the series, one might not catch all the nuances just yet, as there are revelations still to be made, but just be aware that there is a reason for everything in this book. The author has stated that he wants to make people think and react, and I believe that will be something that the potential reader can count on – this book will make you crank up your brainwaves a bit. That said, it’s not at all a difficult book – it has some challenging themes, but the writing style flows nicely and it is easy to follow the plot. I believe this is a book that almost anyone could enjoy and can recommend it.
4.5 out of 5 stars
My Synopsis: Isaiah Marshall has lived on the streets since he was a child. He had to grow up tough and strong, and now he runs his own gang – the Redrover Gang – consisting of his friends Jeremy, Monty and Pipsqueak. One day, while walking in a part of town they didn’t normally frequent, Isaiah is almost run down by a pretty-boy driving a fancy Ferrari, who announces that they are near Kaliber Academy, which is a place for people who want to learn and grow, and not a place for vagrants like the Redrovers, so they need to just move along. Not being the type of people who take kindly to such attitude, the boys decide to crash the Academy, find the pretty boy, and teach him a lesson. What none of them expected was to be offered the chance to join the school themselves. That’s when everything changes for them, because Isaiah discovers that he is eligible to join a very exclusive club at Kaliber Academy – the Pantheon Club. It is only open to godlings – and Isaiah is the son of Zeus. Isaiah’s life is about to change, forever.
My Thoughts: I was fortunate enough to get a very early look at this manuscript and am very impressed with the ideas that went into creating this book. I think it would be appropriate from tweens on up, providing a lot of life lessons in belonging, acceptance, growing up and taking responsibility for oneself. The characters are each well developed with a solid foundation behind them – reading this first book of the series, one might not catch all the nuances just yet, as there are revelations still to be made, but just be aware that there is a reason for everything in this book. The author has stated that he wants to make people think and react, and I believe that will be something that the potential reader can count on – this book will make you crank up your brainwaves a bit. That said, it’s not at all a difficult book – it has some challenging themes, but the writing style flows nicely and it is easy to follow the plot. I believe this is a book that almost anyone could enjoy and can recommend it.
January 4, 2012
I always say I am totally honest in my reviews, so, I have to begin my saying that initially I didn't think that this was "my type" of book. Then I began reading it and thought "oh no its going to be all complicated about gods, and who is on whose side etc etc" but it was not overly complicated and as you came across each God you didn't really need prior knowledge as it was explained and put across which Gods and ~goddesses had which strengths and weaknesses.
The book is well written and once it hooks you, you are there with it to the end! The end has a twist I certainly didn't see coming and things are left well open with plenty of unanswered questions for a BK 2. and yes Bk 2will be on my wishlist to read!!
I loved the characters of Isaiah and his gang, the fact his was not some perfect guy. Isaiah has a speech impediment throughout the book, though at times he does overcome it, so his character is really believable. separately the members of Isaiah's gang would seem like a rag-taggle bunch of misfits who are weak and would be easily crushed by enemies too. However when Jeremy, Monty - the one always eyeing up the ladies and Pipsqueak - the walking dictionary are together with Isaiah, they are a strong formidable group. Isaiah begins the book just thinking himself an oddball really and not even speaking to his friends, who think he is a mute! He develops and finds out he is the son of Zeus, he finds out who killed his mother and immediately swear vengeance. Isaiah begins to have confidence and speaks. he has always fought for survival living on the streets, but when he starts attending the Kaliber Academy he has to fight for acceptance to the Godlings group and then fight for his life in a tournament organised on a magical island. I loved the character of Isaiah, he may live on the streets and have to regularly fight for survival but he has principles, he prides himself on fighting fairly....and one of his rules is he doesn't hit girls! Even when he is provoked he doesn't hit girls!
The book is quite thought provoking and you find yourself referring back to earlier instances and references in the book that suddenly make sense, and are relevant. You feel Isaiah's deep love and affection for his mother, and his hate and need for revenge against his father. Isaiah doesn't trust easily you have to earn his trust, just as he expects to earn yours. he doesn't take for granted or exploit his new status when it is revealed to him. he values each and every one of his friends, and when told they will be in danger goes as far as distancing himself from them even though it hurts him deeply to do so.
I finished this book in three sittings, and really enjoyed it and, yes, would recommend it too! Am putting Bk 2 on my wishlist now!!
I also love the simplicity of the cover, is the guy on it Zeus? Isaiah? or someone else? you need to read the book to decide for yourselves. As always I have tried to give no more "spoiler" or plot away than is already mentioned in the blurb, as I hate someone telling me all about the book, I like to find out about the majority of the book/plot myself when reading it. (Hope you agree)
The book is well written and once it hooks you, you are there with it to the end! The end has a twist I certainly didn't see coming and things are left well open with plenty of unanswered questions for a BK 2. and yes Bk 2will be on my wishlist to read!!
I loved the characters of Isaiah and his gang, the fact his was not some perfect guy. Isaiah has a speech impediment throughout the book, though at times he does overcome it, so his character is really believable. separately the members of Isaiah's gang would seem like a rag-taggle bunch of misfits who are weak and would be easily crushed by enemies too. However when Jeremy, Monty - the one always eyeing up the ladies and Pipsqueak - the walking dictionary are together with Isaiah, they are a strong formidable group. Isaiah begins the book just thinking himself an oddball really and not even speaking to his friends, who think he is a mute! He develops and finds out he is the son of Zeus, he finds out who killed his mother and immediately swear vengeance. Isaiah begins to have confidence and speaks. he has always fought for survival living on the streets, but when he starts attending the Kaliber Academy he has to fight for acceptance to the Godlings group and then fight for his life in a tournament organised on a magical island. I loved the character of Isaiah, he may live on the streets and have to regularly fight for survival but he has principles, he prides himself on fighting fairly....and one of his rules is he doesn't hit girls! Even when he is provoked he doesn't hit girls!
The book is quite thought provoking and you find yourself referring back to earlier instances and references in the book that suddenly make sense, and are relevant. You feel Isaiah's deep love and affection for his mother, and his hate and need for revenge against his father. Isaiah doesn't trust easily you have to earn his trust, just as he expects to earn yours. he doesn't take for granted or exploit his new status when it is revealed to him. he values each and every one of his friends, and when told they will be in danger goes as far as distancing himself from them even though it hurts him deeply to do so.
I finished this book in three sittings, and really enjoyed it and, yes, would recommend it too! Am putting Bk 2 on my wishlist now!!
I also love the simplicity of the cover, is the guy on it Zeus? Isaiah? or someone else? you need to read the book to decide for yourselves. As always I have tried to give no more "spoiler" or plot away than is already mentioned in the blurb, as I hate someone telling me all about the book, I like to find out about the majority of the book/plot myself when reading it. (Hope you agree)
Want to read
July 24, 2012I m so HAPPYYYYYY!!
I won Pantheons (Pantheons, #1) in a giveaway....!!!Lollllll!!!
I won Pantheons (Pantheons, #1) in a giveaway....!!!Lollllll!!!
February 4, 2012
This is the story of Isaiah, a homeless teen who finds himself attending an elite high school after some strange incident. There he finds out who he really is, the son of Zeus and Metis, that the ancient gods are walking amongst mortal in teenage bodies and that there is a prophecy that he will kill his father Zeus and take his throne.
What I loved:
There were a ton of battle scenes that were really great. I couldn't get enough of them. Especially at the ending, there was a tournament which kind of reminded me of The Hunger Games so I was curious to see how the author will play it out, and I was happily surprised. I loved the different point of views at the end of the book. Really loved the ending of it.
And the not so much:
There were so many characters! I think there could have been less of them. I struggled to remember everyone's name and who they are supposed to be, but really couldn't. Also there are so many things going on at the beginning of the that it's so confusing, I think some of them could be left out of the book. Another thing I didn't like was the 'romance', I don't even think I should call it that. How on earth did Isaiah fall for Sam? Didn't really made sense. I really think that there should have been less of the book before the tournament, less persons, details, even if the whole Sam-thing was left out of the book completely I don't think it would matter (unless it's really important for the next books).
What I loved:
There were a ton of battle scenes that were really great. I couldn't get enough of them. Especially at the ending, there was a tournament which kind of reminded me of The Hunger Games so I was curious to see how the author will play it out, and I was happily surprised. I loved the different point of views at the end of the book. Really loved the ending of it.
And the not so much:
There were so many characters! I think there could have been less of them. I struggled to remember everyone's name and who they are supposed to be, but really couldn't. Also there are so many things going on at the beginning of the that it's so confusing, I think some of them could be left out of the book. Another thing I didn't like was the 'romance', I don't even think I should call it that. How on earth did Isaiah fall for Sam? Didn't really made sense. I really think that there should have been less of the book before the tournament, less persons, details, even if the whole Sam-thing was left out of the book completely I don't think it would matter (unless it's really important for the next books).
February 8, 2012
“Four Stars: Fans of mythology will love the collision of all the Gods in this book.
Isaiah Marshall has not had an easy go in life. As a homeless orphan, he lives under a bridge, using newspapers at night to keep out the cold. Despite his circumstances he is content. Isaiah is the leader of a small gang, with three other members. The small quartet are inseparable. The others, follow Isaiah with loyal admiration, even though he rarely speaks, due to his inability to pronounce the letter "s". A series of events leads the group to a prestigious school. Before they know what has happened, the mysterious principal has offered all four of them places in the school. It is a golden opportunity they simply can't turn down. They hesitantly accept and head home to prepare for their first day, tomorrow in their new school. As they turn the corner, a drove of chaotic people running a screaming meets them. What on earth are they running from? Isaiah spies a beautiful girl with silver hair sprinting ahead of a giant, charging moose like creature. Without thinking, Isaiah dives between the girl and the monster. He is transported to an alternate reality, where he comes face to face with the teenage god, Odin with his two ravens perched on each shoulder. This is just the beginning of the strangeness that awaits the unsuspecting Isaiah. He learns he is a minor god, born of prestigious, Greek god parentage. Isaiah uncovers the truth of his heritage and the circumstances behind the demise of his mother. He vows to kill the one who murdered his mother, despite the fact that his father and mother's murderer, just so happens to be one of the most powerful gods of all time. Can Isaiah destroy the god who vowed to kill him?
What I Liked:
*I was fascinated by the presentation of the mythological gods from all over the world. This book showcases them all from the Greek, Norse, Mexican, Egyptian, Indian, etc. Rediscovering and learning about all the gods was the highlight of the book.
*I admired the main character, Isaiah. He survives a tough childhood on the streets by utilizing his street skills and smarts. He is courageous, loyal, protective and refuses to back down to a challenge. He proves to be an admirable young hero.
*I enjoyed the tournament of gods at the end of the book. The strongest gods from all over the world meet to do battle to determine the ultimate champion. This battle is fast and furious!
*I was drawn to the character of Odin, he was mysterious and calculating. I liked the two ravens poised on his shoulders, it reminded me of the angel and devil concept. Later at another appearance, he has two wolves with him, and one of the wolves was smoking. I wish that there was more of Odin in the story.
*I liked the two educators and role models, Prometheus and his brother, Epimetheus. I loved Mr. Dabel's interpretation of these two Greek Titans.
And The Not So Much:
*This book presents many story lines, Isaiah discovering his powers, training and fulfilling his quest, protecting his friends, the God battle, the coming fourth war and Zeus' maniacal schemes. At times the shifting story lines was abrupt and a bit confusing.
*The death match at the end is exciting and thrilling, but the author uses multiple view points, and it was a lot to keep track of. I think I would prefer a simple third person narrative vs. the varying first person narratives. I feel this book would benefit with the inclusion of a list of all the gods, their cultural origin and their characteristics.
*This is a nit picky point, but several times throughout the book, characters called each other "retard" in derogatory manner. I would prefer another name to be used, instead of one that is a reference to someone who suffers from slow mental capabilities.
*The ending, though not a cliffhanger left me with several unanswered questions.
If you are a fan of mythology then you will enjoy Pantheons. Mr. Dabel presents a complex book filled with mythological gods from all cultures. If you are a fan of Rick Riordan's books, then Pantheons is a book you want to check out. Follow the homeless, speech impaired Isaiah as he learns his true identity and sets out to destroy one of the most powerful gods of all time. Will our reluctant hero conquer and prevail?
Favorite Quotations:
"Everything you do in life do it with all of your heart."
"All I know is I should only be seen for who I am and what I do, that’s all.”
“By Cronos, he’s gone and done it,” the goddess laughed. “He never could keep his python in the grass."
"You must understand that there is a difference between revenge and justice. Figure out the difference and you both will have your peace."
An advanced copy manuscript was provided to me by Sea Lion Books, in exchange for a fair review.
Originally posted at: http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/
Isaiah Marshall has not had an easy go in life. As a homeless orphan, he lives under a bridge, using newspapers at night to keep out the cold. Despite his circumstances he is content. Isaiah is the leader of a small gang, with three other members. The small quartet are inseparable. The others, follow Isaiah with loyal admiration, even though he rarely speaks, due to his inability to pronounce the letter "s". A series of events leads the group to a prestigious school. Before they know what has happened, the mysterious principal has offered all four of them places in the school. It is a golden opportunity they simply can't turn down. They hesitantly accept and head home to prepare for their first day, tomorrow in their new school. As they turn the corner, a drove of chaotic people running a screaming meets them. What on earth are they running from? Isaiah spies a beautiful girl with silver hair sprinting ahead of a giant, charging moose like creature. Without thinking, Isaiah dives between the girl and the monster. He is transported to an alternate reality, where he comes face to face with the teenage god, Odin with his two ravens perched on each shoulder. This is just the beginning of the strangeness that awaits the unsuspecting Isaiah. He learns he is a minor god, born of prestigious, Greek god parentage. Isaiah uncovers the truth of his heritage and the circumstances behind the demise of his mother. He vows to kill the one who murdered his mother, despite the fact that his father and mother's murderer, just so happens to be one of the most powerful gods of all time. Can Isaiah destroy the god who vowed to kill him?
What I Liked:
*I was fascinated by the presentation of the mythological gods from all over the world. This book showcases them all from the Greek, Norse, Mexican, Egyptian, Indian, etc. Rediscovering and learning about all the gods was the highlight of the book.
*I admired the main character, Isaiah. He survives a tough childhood on the streets by utilizing his street skills and smarts. He is courageous, loyal, protective and refuses to back down to a challenge. He proves to be an admirable young hero.
*I enjoyed the tournament of gods at the end of the book. The strongest gods from all over the world meet to do battle to determine the ultimate champion. This battle is fast and furious!
*I was drawn to the character of Odin, he was mysterious and calculating. I liked the two ravens poised on his shoulders, it reminded me of the angel and devil concept. Later at another appearance, he has two wolves with him, and one of the wolves was smoking. I wish that there was more of Odin in the story.
*I liked the two educators and role models, Prometheus and his brother, Epimetheus. I loved Mr. Dabel's interpretation of these two Greek Titans.
And The Not So Much:
*This book presents many story lines, Isaiah discovering his powers, training and fulfilling his quest, protecting his friends, the God battle, the coming fourth war and Zeus' maniacal schemes. At times the shifting story lines was abrupt and a bit confusing.
*The death match at the end is exciting and thrilling, but the author uses multiple view points, and it was a lot to keep track of. I think I would prefer a simple third person narrative vs. the varying first person narratives. I feel this book would benefit with the inclusion of a list of all the gods, their cultural origin and their characteristics.
*This is a nit picky point, but several times throughout the book, characters called each other "retard" in derogatory manner. I would prefer another name to be used, instead of one that is a reference to someone who suffers from slow mental capabilities.
*The ending, though not a cliffhanger left me with several unanswered questions.
If you are a fan of mythology then you will enjoy Pantheons. Mr. Dabel presents a complex book filled with mythological gods from all cultures. If you are a fan of Rick Riordan's books, then Pantheons is a book you want to check out. Follow the homeless, speech impaired Isaiah as he learns his true identity and sets out to destroy one of the most powerful gods of all time. Will our reluctant hero conquer and prevail?
Favorite Quotations:
"Everything you do in life do it with all of your heart."
"All I know is I should only be seen for who I am and what I do, that’s all.”
“By Cronos, he’s gone and done it,” the goddess laughed. “He never could keep his python in the grass."
"You must understand that there is a difference between revenge and justice. Figure out the difference and you both will have your peace."
An advanced copy manuscript was provided to me by Sea Lion Books, in exchange for a fair review.
Originally posted at: http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/
June 10, 2012
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A long and shallow look at ancient gods from the perspective of teenage-dom.
Opening Sentence: “Hey Isaiah, what are we up to this morning?”
The Review:
I can safely sum up this entire book in one word: long. Yes, long. Too much time spent on day-to-day happenings without any extra character depth derived from it. And too little details for too many pages. There’s too much fighting without character growth arising from it. Pantheons, the first installment of a new series by the same name, reads like an adaptation of a comic book.
Isaiah Marshall is a boy from the streets. He is the leader of a small gang of ruffians, named the Redrovers, and a nobody. He and his friends, through unlikely events, are given an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a prestigious Academy based solely on the Principal liking them. Of course, the real reason is revealed later that Isaiah is actually the son of Zeus, chief-god of the Greek/Roman Pantheon, and the school is a housing ground for those same gods who have been cursed into mortal teenage bodies. Isaiah has been prophesied to be the one that will kill Zeus once and for all. Sounds a little familiar doesn’t it. But wait, there’s more. Isaiah gets elected as a chief-god of his very own pantheon of godlings, children born of some minor gods, that want to start an all-out pantheon brawl for god supremacy.
Let’s start with the story. It’s 572 pages long, much longer than most young adult books. Though book size is usually not an issue with me, I found this one tedious to read it in its entirety without losing focus. I mean it when I say that it reads like a novel version of a comic book; only without as many insights. I would akin it to the old Batman series starring Adam West. Lots of pow, bang, pop that lacks substance. I would like to think that it was geared for a younger teenage audience, but I doubt it due to its sheer size. Perhaps I could have enjoyed it more if it had more visual cues. Maybe even split up into two or more books for an overall story arc with more details in between. While it did pick up the pace toward the end of the book, I felt it was a little too late in the game to hook me in.
The characters were lacking a three-dimensionalness that I could endear myself to. Even though I truly enjoyed the idea of teenaged gods (since most stories have them coming off as spoiled anyway), I didn’t think that this book showed their personalities well. Again, it is as if it needed facial features to show the emotions rather than by words alone.
I love underdog stories and this one tries to deliver. I just don’t think that it is worth a fan of mythological-themed tales, and the like’s, time. If you enjoy a more simplistic storyline, this is the book for you. If you are looking for insight and intrigue, pick something else. Might make a good movie though; just saying.
Notable Scene:
I looked back just in time to see the flash of the knife as it sped towards my stomach. Principal Webb’s eyes locked with mine right before the final deadly impact. I had seen eyes like his before, but I couldn’t quite remember where exactly. The shock of the brutal attack brought me back from my thoughts and numbed me all over as I felt the knife savagely rip into my flesh.
The Pantheons Series:
1. Pantheons
FTC Advisory: Sea Lion Books graciously provided me with a copy of Pantheons. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.
Quick & Dirty: A long and shallow look at ancient gods from the perspective of teenage-dom.
Opening Sentence: “Hey Isaiah, what are we up to this morning?”
The Review:
I can safely sum up this entire book in one word: long. Yes, long. Too much time spent on day-to-day happenings without any extra character depth derived from it. And too little details for too many pages. There’s too much fighting without character growth arising from it. Pantheons, the first installment of a new series by the same name, reads like an adaptation of a comic book.
Isaiah Marshall is a boy from the streets. He is the leader of a small gang of ruffians, named the Redrovers, and a nobody. He and his friends, through unlikely events, are given an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a prestigious Academy based solely on the Principal liking them. Of course, the real reason is revealed later that Isaiah is actually the son of Zeus, chief-god of the Greek/Roman Pantheon, and the school is a housing ground for those same gods who have been cursed into mortal teenage bodies. Isaiah has been prophesied to be the one that will kill Zeus once and for all. Sounds a little familiar doesn’t it. But wait, there’s more. Isaiah gets elected as a chief-god of his very own pantheon of godlings, children born of some minor gods, that want to start an all-out pantheon brawl for god supremacy.
Let’s start with the story. It’s 572 pages long, much longer than most young adult books. Though book size is usually not an issue with me, I found this one tedious to read it in its entirety without losing focus. I mean it when I say that it reads like a novel version of a comic book; only without as many insights. I would akin it to the old Batman series starring Adam West. Lots of pow, bang, pop that lacks substance. I would like to think that it was geared for a younger teenage audience, but I doubt it due to its sheer size. Perhaps I could have enjoyed it more if it had more visual cues. Maybe even split up into two or more books for an overall story arc with more details in between. While it did pick up the pace toward the end of the book, I felt it was a little too late in the game to hook me in.
The characters were lacking a three-dimensionalness that I could endear myself to. Even though I truly enjoyed the idea of teenaged gods (since most stories have them coming off as spoiled anyway), I didn’t think that this book showed their personalities well. Again, it is as if it needed facial features to show the emotions rather than by words alone.
I love underdog stories and this one tries to deliver. I just don’t think that it is worth a fan of mythological-themed tales, and the like’s, time. If you enjoy a more simplistic storyline, this is the book for you. If you are looking for insight and intrigue, pick something else. Might make a good movie though; just saying.
Notable Scene:
I looked back just in time to see the flash of the knife as it sped towards my stomach. Principal Webb’s eyes locked with mine right before the final deadly impact. I had seen eyes like his before, but I couldn’t quite remember where exactly. The shock of the brutal attack brought me back from my thoughts and numbed me all over as I felt the knife savagely rip into my flesh.
The Pantheons Series:
1. Pantheons
FTC Advisory: Sea Lion Books graciously provided me with a copy of Pantheons. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.
September 14, 2015
Pantheons was my first Y/A Mythology based read. I loved it, from start to finish. E.J. Dabel did a phenomenal job writing this story. I had the opportunity to review it before it was released. My goal was to finish it before it was released, which didn't quite happen. LOL! I also had the opportunity to discuss the book with E.J. as I was reading it. By doing that it helped me better understand the story and the characters. E.J. became a great friend to me in doing this. This was such a neat experience. I am glad I took a chance on this story. I was hesitant in reading it, for the fact that I am not the hugest fan of Greek Mythology, but I can say I am now. At the beginning of the story I was introduced to a few characters, one being Isaiah Marshall. Isaiah's Character was shy and didn't speak, but his best friends who are also his family didn't ever question it, but accepted him anyway. I loved his friends they were so much fun to read. Sam is another Character that I grew to love, she is such a strong, sweet, devoted friend to Isaiah. Some other characters I really liked were Pepe, Epimetheus, Prometheus, and Taizo Denji. All great characters. I really liked how all of the Gods in this story were all teenagers, but still had their powers as if they were hundreds of years old. Throughout this story there was a lot of Tragedy and a lot of Wow, or OMG moments and it kept me asking; "Did that really just happen!" There was so many twists and turns that E.J. throws at the readers, it had me on the edge of my seat not knowing what to expect next. As I continued to read this story I kept thinking will anything be in Isaiah's favor?? He was thrown through so many obstacles and practically had the "kitchen sink" thrown at him I didn't think he would ever survive. However Isaiah had a great support team, which included his mentors Epimetheus and Prometheus to help him, including an unknown "inside" source, who has not been revealed yet helping him too!! I am glad through all of the trials Isaiah went through, he never lost sight of himself and was still helping those around him. I am so glad that he didn't give into his primal side completely and go around slaughtering everyone, lol! Who knows how he will be in the next book?? It made me sad at the end. The tragedies that took place with certain people or Titans who he truly cared about, was hard to read and did get me a little teary eyed. However I loved the end, it wasn't a huge cliffhanger but it gave me as the reader a sense of hope that things will maybe get better and then get worse again.. To end on a happy note I loved the following words that Isaiah's says; this is referring to the godlings that he is in charge of or looks after, "They will say I laughed in the face of all monsters, and I protected my friends and loved ones from their claws, teeth and venom. They will say I was fearless and fierce in the rescue of my friends." Such an awesome statement. I believe that in the next books Isaiah will change the world, hopefully for the better.. And Maybe even get his revenge on Zeus, for killing his mother and others he loved!!! I do hope that Zeus and Hera do get their "just desserts!!"
April 7, 2012
Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book
Let me tell you a little story about Zeus, the Greek god of the sky, and his first wife Metis, an Oceanid and Greek goddess of wisdom.
During the Titan War, Metis acted as Zeus’s counselor and advisor. And way before that, Metis was the one who advised and gave Zeus the potion that would make Kronos throw up his children (I’m not going to get into that story, though). Soon after Zeus and Metis married, she became pregnant with a daughter who would become Athena. However, there was a prophecy that Zeus heard about that said that if Metis were to give Zeus a son, that son would be very powerful and he would overthrow Zeus, just like Zeus did to his father, Kronos. Fearful and not knowing that the child Metis carried was a girl, Zeus tricked Metis into turning into a fly…then he swallowed her! And then this leads to Athena’s unusual birth, which I’m not going to get into either, though it very tempting, lol. You guys should totally check it out if you haven’t done so already, it’s very interesting!
In Pantheons, Zeus doesn’t know that Metis did actually give birth to a son, as well…a son that is prophesized to overthrow Zeus. And that son is Isaiah Marshall.
I thought the author did a fantastic job taking this myth and making it his own! Very creative! Love it!
So as the prophecy says, Isaiah is destined to overthrow his father. And what better thing to help fulfill this than his anger toward Zeus for killing his mother? Yes, Isaiah is determined to kill Zeus.
Let me tell you, Isaiah is a very strong character; he went through some serious character development. I mean, how can he not when he finds out that he is a freakin’ god, his parents are/were gods too, his dad killed his mom, and he learns about some prophecy he is supposed to fulfill! Crazy stuff.
Isaiah trains for a tournament in which one god from each of the ten Pantheons participates. If Isaiah wins this tournament, he will be that much closer to actually having a chance at beating his dear ol’ dad. Talking about the tournament, it was intense! I really liked the alternating point of views between one god and another.
Overall, I thought it was a really good read! I mean, as a mythology nerd, how can I not love a book that incorporates like 10 different Pantheons of gods?! The best part is that although there are so many different mythologies going on, it isn’t overwhelming! And the even greater part: the books main focus is Greek mythology, my favorite! :D
Oh I can’t wait for book 2! It’s going to be great!
Let me tell you a little story about Zeus, the Greek god of the sky, and his first wife Metis, an Oceanid and Greek goddess of wisdom.
During the Titan War, Metis acted as Zeus’s counselor and advisor. And way before that, Metis was the one who advised and gave Zeus the potion that would make Kronos throw up his children (I’m not going to get into that story, though). Soon after Zeus and Metis married, she became pregnant with a daughter who would become Athena. However, there was a prophecy that Zeus heard about that said that if Metis were to give Zeus a son, that son would be very powerful and he would overthrow Zeus, just like Zeus did to his father, Kronos. Fearful and not knowing that the child Metis carried was a girl, Zeus tricked Metis into turning into a fly…then he swallowed her! And then this leads to Athena’s unusual birth, which I’m not going to get into either, though it very tempting, lol. You guys should totally check it out if you haven’t done so already, it’s very interesting!
In Pantheons, Zeus doesn’t know that Metis did actually give birth to a son, as well…a son that is prophesized to overthrow Zeus. And that son is Isaiah Marshall.
I thought the author did a fantastic job taking this myth and making it his own! Very creative! Love it!
So as the prophecy says, Isaiah is destined to overthrow his father. And what better thing to help fulfill this than his anger toward Zeus for killing his mother? Yes, Isaiah is determined to kill Zeus.
Let me tell you, Isaiah is a very strong character; he went through some serious character development. I mean, how can he not when he finds out that he is a freakin’ god, his parents are/were gods too, his dad killed his mom, and he learns about some prophecy he is supposed to fulfill! Crazy stuff.
Isaiah trains for a tournament in which one god from each of the ten Pantheons participates. If Isaiah wins this tournament, he will be that much closer to actually having a chance at beating his dear ol’ dad. Talking about the tournament, it was intense! I really liked the alternating point of views between one god and another.
Overall, I thought it was a really good read! I mean, as a mythology nerd, how can I not love a book that incorporates like 10 different Pantheons of gods?! The best part is that although there are so many different mythologies going on, it isn’t overwhelming! And the even greater part: the books main focus is Greek mythology, my favorite! :D
Oh I can’t wait for book 2! It’s going to be great!
April 25, 2012
To read this book and others like it check out my site, www.ufreviews.com
Here we are with another YA novel, which is something I am super surprised to say I have started to enjoy the genre. And to be honest I was pretty excited about this book because I love the who Greek mythology thing, in fact it was the Greeks who made me minor in history. So long story short I love books with Greek themes, they are just so much fun and entertaining.
I have to say that thing I enjoyed the most about the book were the characters. They are really well thought up, really well developed by the author to the readers, and in general it is easy to really like them. As a reader I enjoyed the characters, I wanted to know what was going to happen to them next, and I wanted them to come out on top in the end. I love when I read a book and I really get into the characters.
I have to say that I also really enjoyed the way that the Greek mythology was written about. It gave you a substantial information on a level that would be on par for a young adult book as well as interesting enough for adult readers to stay interested. I think when you have a history like Greek mythology an author can easily over complicate things and do a lot of "info dumps" but I was very happy to say that this was not the case in this book; the information was revealed in an organic way to the characters and plot.
I really want to note that the writing in this book is really good. I had this idea about young adult books, that a lot of the authors seem to almost dumb down their writing, but this author didn't do that. The writing is really good and I really appreciate that. Not only is the writing good though, I think it is exceptionally good for young adult readers, because the author explores a lot of really great themes for young people. There is a lot in this book having to do with coming of age, and being able to understand the responsibilities that entails.
Between the Greek mythology and the quality writing, I have to say I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys young adult books, but especially to young adults looking for a book to read. I think if you are an adult reader this book can be enjoyed all the same as well, so check it out.
Here we are with another YA novel, which is something I am super surprised to say I have started to enjoy the genre. And to be honest I was pretty excited about this book because I love the who Greek mythology thing, in fact it was the Greeks who made me minor in history. So long story short I love books with Greek themes, they are just so much fun and entertaining.
I have to say that thing I enjoyed the most about the book were the characters. They are really well thought up, really well developed by the author to the readers, and in general it is easy to really like them. As a reader I enjoyed the characters, I wanted to know what was going to happen to them next, and I wanted them to come out on top in the end. I love when I read a book and I really get into the characters.
I have to say that I also really enjoyed the way that the Greek mythology was written about. It gave you a substantial information on a level that would be on par for a young adult book as well as interesting enough for adult readers to stay interested. I think when you have a history like Greek mythology an author can easily over complicate things and do a lot of "info dumps" but I was very happy to say that this was not the case in this book; the information was revealed in an organic way to the characters and plot.
I really want to note that the writing in this book is really good. I had this idea about young adult books, that a lot of the authors seem to almost dumb down their writing, but this author didn't do that. The writing is really good and I really appreciate that. Not only is the writing good though, I think it is exceptionally good for young adult readers, because the author explores a lot of really great themes for young people. There is a lot in this book having to do with coming of age, and being able to understand the responsibilities that entails.
Between the Greek mythology and the quality writing, I have to say I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys young adult books, but especially to young adults looking for a book to read. I think if you are an adult reader this book can be enjoyed all the same as well, so check it out.
February 2, 2012
Pantheons
By: EJ Dabel
ISBN: 9780983613176
Published January 5, 2012 by Sea Lion Books
Available Format: ebook
My Rating: ★★★★☆
I truly loved the basis of this story—all the different gods from all the different pantheons forced to live in present times in the bodies of teenagers. Talk about some punishment! I'm a big fan of mythology, although I don't know nearly as much as I wish I did. I was able to recognize many of the characters in this novel, and I even learned a thing or two as well.
I appreciate how Isaiah was able to overcome his 'disability' and kind of begin to grow into his own toward the end of the story. I think there was a little conflict in that he was this tough kid living on the streets, thrown into this crazy new world, yet he has such a difficult time manning up to face the gods. Maybe that was just his true nature, however; many tough guys aren't really so tough deep down inside. And it is obvious that Isaiah has a tremendous amount of adversity to go through, before and during this story.
I did receive an advanced copy of this manuscript for review, so I am assuming that is why I picked up on so many errors—mechanical, grammatical and content-wise. Honestly, it was a bit distracting at times. It's always hard for me to take my editorial cap off anyway. But, I really tried to pull out the story for what it was rather than focusing on all the surface issues. At any rate, it did not fail to entertain me, and I certainly want to know how Isaiah fares as the story continues.
EJ is one of the nicest guys I have corresponded with, and he obviously has a truly creative mind. I am definitely a fan (of Sea Lion as well), and I can't wait to check out all his work in the future!
By: EJ Dabel
ISBN: 9780983613176
Published January 5, 2012 by Sea Lion Books
Available Format: ebook
My Rating: ★★★★☆
I truly loved the basis of this story—all the different gods from all the different pantheons forced to live in present times in the bodies of teenagers. Talk about some punishment! I'm a big fan of mythology, although I don't know nearly as much as I wish I did. I was able to recognize many of the characters in this novel, and I even learned a thing or two as well.
I appreciate how Isaiah was able to overcome his 'disability' and kind of begin to grow into his own toward the end of the story. I think there was a little conflict in that he was this tough kid living on the streets, thrown into this crazy new world, yet he has such a difficult time manning up to face the gods. Maybe that was just his true nature, however; many tough guys aren't really so tough deep down inside. And it is obvious that Isaiah has a tremendous amount of adversity to go through, before and during this story.
I did receive an advanced copy of this manuscript for review, so I am assuming that is why I picked up on so many errors—mechanical, grammatical and content-wise. Honestly, it was a bit distracting at times. It's always hard for me to take my editorial cap off anyway. But, I really tried to pull out the story for what it was rather than focusing on all the surface issues. At any rate, it did not fail to entertain me, and I certainly want to know how Isaiah fares as the story continues.
EJ is one of the nicest guys I have corresponded with, and he obviously has a truly creative mind. I am definitely a fan (of Sea Lion as well), and I can't wait to check out all his work in the future!
July 29, 2012
I'm kind of iffy on this book. Zeus is a jerk,and the main character is the typical head strong hero who just cant catch a break. I love the twist on story and how all different mythologies are mixed in but at the end of the book i was like, "eh". I'm not excited to read the second one and havent rushed to buy it. I would so much rather read Percy Jackson but hey every dog deserves his day. Not a bad read, quick and easy to get through, but gets really boring is some parts. At the end you end up hating Zeus and a few of the Olympians and end up choosing sides, but not the ones the author wants you to. I was personally hoping the Norse pantheon won.
May 7, 2012
Isaiah is trash
He lives on the streets and fights
But oh! He’s much more
He is a godling
In a teenage mortal form
His father is Zeus
He must learn to fight
Learn to harness his powers
Or lost Dominion
February 18, 2012
3,5/5
You might have read a few books about ancient mythology and you might have done your own picture of it in your mind. But prepare yourselves, in this book you will see the myth world like you´ve never seen before.
The main character, Isaiah, find out that he belongs to the myth world and he has destiny from which is not easy to run from. And he has to fight for his own freedom and for his friends´.
May be, you´ve heard some gossips about Ancient Greek world and their society. These stories usually describe the Gods as lovely persons with good hearts. They also usually say how generous the Gods are to people, that they are giving us advices and sometimes even the gifts. But Pantheons shows us other view of them and I dare to say it is much better.
They are described, well, like humans, with human´s attributes and human´s behaviour. There are no naturally nice and kind Gods; most of them are regular bitches, and that´s kind of the principle of the Greek mythology. Every God was egocentric and just sometimes they were good to people. And that was just because it was doing really well for their ego.
The Greek mythology is all about Gods and their family problems (and there were plenty of them!) and this book shows another story of them. And when you mix it with the myths of other countries and put them altogether, you could make really big chaos. But not here, the story of Pantheons has not fault with the resources thing. These stuffs are here so natural and normal so you could think that such thing as Gods really exists (and with that come the monsters! Don’t forget that!). You maybe are afraid of the thing with the mythology. Not many authors can actually write books with this theme and not do something awful. You may be not happy with the fact that the goods are described here as teenagers, and yeah, it is kind of weird when Hera is talking about Zeus like her boyfriend. The author try of making the book closer to the young readers with making the characters in their ages is understandable. But the main characters are in readers´ age, so I think that the gods can really stayed as adults and the book with that can be even better. But this is really one thing I could criticize about the historic point of this book.
Isaiah story is fascinating. And Isaiah as a character really interested me. In the beginning he was so close and defenced to others and the word. But how the story went, he became so good character. He even had problems with his speech, he couldn´t tell the letter s! And that was quite cool. But he grew up from this closed guy to the hero.
If you look just to the story lines you will find out that this is a story with just two or three possible lines. The main with Isaiah and his future and a pair of others lines, which just accompanied the main one. The stories with uncountable lines are usually good, but there is nothing wrong with just a pair of them. You just concentrate about this and your mind is not full of other things.
The author really can tell the story. Every page of Pantheons is good written and the reading captures you. But there is one problem: the middle of the book missed the flame that makes you read every page without breathe. It can be read really fast and you can even like it, but it´s kind of boring there. You are even so much excited about the story but there is not the power that makes you read and your mind is sometimes miles away. But the good thing is that this problem is really just in the middle of the book.
So, you have read the book almost to the end, there are just a few pages before you and you have really high expectations about the end, because you kind of don´t know what you think about it. And then the end hits you. And you know that you really like it, no matter that you were quite bored in the middle, because the end was epic. This one word describes it a lot.
Pantheons is a must read for everyone who like to read the modern mythology stories. Really, if you like this kind of historical fiction, this book is right for you.
If you are interested in a heroic story, you should definitely check it out. And it has really good potential for sequel of Isaiah story, not just because of the end of the book, but because of everything.
You might have read a few books about ancient mythology and you might have done your own picture of it in your mind. But prepare yourselves, in this book you will see the myth world like you´ve never seen before.
The main character, Isaiah, find out that he belongs to the myth world and he has destiny from which is not easy to run from. And he has to fight for his own freedom and for his friends´.
May be, you´ve heard some gossips about Ancient Greek world and their society. These stories usually describe the Gods as lovely persons with good hearts. They also usually say how generous the Gods are to people, that they are giving us advices and sometimes even the gifts. But Pantheons shows us other view of them and I dare to say it is much better.
They are described, well, like humans, with human´s attributes and human´s behaviour. There are no naturally nice and kind Gods; most of them are regular bitches, and that´s kind of the principle of the Greek mythology. Every God was egocentric and just sometimes they were good to people. And that was just because it was doing really well for their ego.
The Greek mythology is all about Gods and their family problems (and there were plenty of them!) and this book shows another story of them. And when you mix it with the myths of other countries and put them altogether, you could make really big chaos. But not here, the story of Pantheons has not fault with the resources thing. These stuffs are here so natural and normal so you could think that such thing as Gods really exists (and with that come the monsters! Don’t forget that!). You maybe are afraid of the thing with the mythology. Not many authors can actually write books with this theme and not do something awful. You may be not happy with the fact that the goods are described here as teenagers, and yeah, it is kind of weird when Hera is talking about Zeus like her boyfriend. The author try of making the book closer to the young readers with making the characters in their ages is understandable. But the main characters are in readers´ age, so I think that the gods can really stayed as adults and the book with that can be even better. But this is really one thing I could criticize about the historic point of this book.
Isaiah story is fascinating. And Isaiah as a character really interested me. In the beginning he was so close and defenced to others and the word. But how the story went, he became so good character. He even had problems with his speech, he couldn´t tell the letter s! And that was quite cool. But he grew up from this closed guy to the hero.
If you look just to the story lines you will find out that this is a story with just two or three possible lines. The main with Isaiah and his future and a pair of others lines, which just accompanied the main one. The stories with uncountable lines are usually good, but there is nothing wrong with just a pair of them. You just concentrate about this and your mind is not full of other things.
The author really can tell the story. Every page of Pantheons is good written and the reading captures you. But there is one problem: the middle of the book missed the flame that makes you read every page without breathe. It can be read really fast and you can even like it, but it´s kind of boring there. You are even so much excited about the story but there is not the power that makes you read and your mind is sometimes miles away. But the good thing is that this problem is really just in the middle of the book.
So, you have read the book almost to the end, there are just a few pages before you and you have really high expectations about the end, because you kind of don´t know what you think about it. And then the end hits you. And you know that you really like it, no matter that you were quite bored in the middle, because the end was epic. This one word describes it a lot.
Pantheons is a must read for everyone who like to read the modern mythology stories. Really, if you like this kind of historical fiction, this book is right for you.
If you are interested in a heroic story, you should definitely check it out. And it has really good potential for sequel of Isaiah story, not just because of the end of the book, but because of everything.
November 4, 2012
Isaiah Marshall lives on the streets with his gang of four, the Red rovers, rashly fighting any man who comes in their path. When this pompous boy insults the gang, they follow him to his rich school to finish him. In their search for the boy, the vice principal discovers the mischievous boys and tests Isaiah’s leadership by getting in the way of his gang. He brings the gang to the principal where punishment may be the last thing on the principal’s mind. He offers the boys a chance to attend school. This leads Isaiah, the leader of the Red rovers, to discover that he is the son of Zeus. He must train to become the best he can be to take revenge on the man who murdered his mother.
I loved this book. I was a little spectacle in the beginning because there was so much to take in, at first, but I quickly caught on and enjoyed it. After the small introduction, it became an action-filled adventure that grabbed my attention at every page.
There were so many characters that I have difficulty remembering them all. Isaiah Marshall, the protagonist, was so relatable and I loved knowing what the boy was thinking. He was very interesting and not your generic boy from the streets. Isaiah was a gentleman and really surprised me, in the end. Sam, an automaton, seemed so real that sometimes I even forgot that she was just a robot. I can’t really choose a favorite god or goddess. I liked how Demeter went about fighting and I want to know more about the shy Lugh and his tattoo.
Dabel’s voice seeped through much of the writing in the book. The dialogue gave life to the characters. I feel like I know a lot of the characters by their attitude. Isaiah couldn’t pronounce the letter s, which made some people misjudge him. While reading, I usually am influenced by some part of the book and a lot of Pantheons was Isaiah speaking like that; I had to catch myself to pronounce the letter s sometimes. This pronunciation shows that Isaiah may have trouble speaking but is relatable to any reader. Pantheons really is an adventure that no one should miss.
The ending took me by surprise. I thought the book was going to end with everyone dead, but Isaiah is very much alive. In the tournament, I was surprised how Isaiah decided to present himself; he decided to follow his rules even if he was fighting for his life. I want to know what happens next. The ending left me wanting more. But I, not only, want to know what happens to Isaiah but to Jeremy, Hera, and Sam. Dabel left a lot of things open, and I hope that means there will be a sequel.
Pantheons takes you to Isaiah’s world and captures the essence of a boy discovering who he is for the first time. Lovers of Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games series will find a new favorite with this action-packed read.
I loved this book. I was a little spectacle in the beginning because there was so much to take in, at first, but I quickly caught on and enjoyed it. After the small introduction, it became an action-filled adventure that grabbed my attention at every page.
There were so many characters that I have difficulty remembering them all. Isaiah Marshall, the protagonist, was so relatable and I loved knowing what the boy was thinking. He was very interesting and not your generic boy from the streets. Isaiah was a gentleman and really surprised me, in the end. Sam, an automaton, seemed so real that sometimes I even forgot that she was just a robot. I can’t really choose a favorite god or goddess. I liked how Demeter went about fighting and I want to know more about the shy Lugh and his tattoo.
Dabel’s voice seeped through much of the writing in the book. The dialogue gave life to the characters. I feel like I know a lot of the characters by their attitude. Isaiah couldn’t pronounce the letter s, which made some people misjudge him. While reading, I usually am influenced by some part of the book and a lot of Pantheons was Isaiah speaking like that; I had to catch myself to pronounce the letter s sometimes. This pronunciation shows that Isaiah may have trouble speaking but is relatable to any reader. Pantheons really is an adventure that no one should miss.
The ending took me by surprise. I thought the book was going to end with everyone dead, but Isaiah is very much alive. In the tournament, I was surprised how Isaiah decided to present himself; he decided to follow his rules even if he was fighting for his life. I want to know what happens next. The ending left me wanting more. But I, not only, want to know what happens to Isaiah but to Jeremy, Hera, and Sam. Dabel left a lot of things open, and I hope that means there will be a sequel.
Pantheons takes you to Isaiah’s world and captures the essence of a boy discovering who he is for the first time. Lovers of Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games series will find a new favorite with this action-packed read.
March 25, 2013
**WARNING** May contain some spoilers!
Before I start I wanted to say I LOVED this book and can’t wait to read the rest of the series. It was hard for me to write my review without giving some key information away. That is why some of my description sounds so general. I hope through my review you’ll be excited to go out and read this book.
Isaiah Marshall is a 15 year old street thug and the leader of the gang called the Redrovers. His gang thinks he’s a mute. But little do they know he can talk but chooses not to because he can’t pronounce his letter “s”. The Redrovers learned street smarts and they don’t like anyone pushing them around, they stick up for each other and support each other even if they think one of them is going too far.
The Redrovers are angry at a kid that almost hit them with his car and follows him to his school. Little did they know this would lead to them joining school and liking it. Isaiah wasn’t as easy to convince to join but soon he sees he needs to be at this school and learns a lot about his past. Including his connection with the gods of the Ancient World and how they are all teenagers right now. There is a battle and Isaiah must save his own life and tries to save those around him.
The book leaves you with Isaiah declaring his ultimate revenge to the one who has hurt his family and friends. I really can’t wait for my chance to read the next book in this series. And I really hope a movie series will come of these books.
While reading I had the feelings of books like Harry Potter, meets Twilight, meets Hunger Games, meets the gods of the Ancient World. It’s a wonderful, fresh look at the gods and the battle they must fight. The battle Isaiah fights there must be only one survivor, but he does not want to be the one to kill his competitors. I found myself rooting for Isaiah and hoping he can win the battle, not only against the other teens but also the battle that is in his heart.
This is a must read book. I guarantee you won’t be able to put this book down. And I guarantee you’ll want to get the next book in the series, “Pantheons: The Game of the Gods”. Each book is under $2 for the kindle on Amazon(as of March 21, 2013). You can’t loose with that price and this amazing story. I would love to go into more detail about this book but I don’t want to give away the really great twists and surprises. Just trust me it’s a book you’ll love to read. If you love learning about Ancient gods, a good teen adventure and the similar books mentioned above I really believe you’ll love this book.
—————————
* Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate my review. This post reflects my honest, personal opinion and experience with the product which may differ from yours. Product information courtesy of the sponsor. No monetary compensation was provided for this post.
Before I start I wanted to say I LOVED this book and can’t wait to read the rest of the series. It was hard for me to write my review without giving some key information away. That is why some of my description sounds so general. I hope through my review you’ll be excited to go out and read this book.
Isaiah Marshall is a 15 year old street thug and the leader of the gang called the Redrovers. His gang thinks he’s a mute. But little do they know he can talk but chooses not to because he can’t pronounce his letter “s”. The Redrovers learned street smarts and they don’t like anyone pushing them around, they stick up for each other and support each other even if they think one of them is going too far.
The Redrovers are angry at a kid that almost hit them with his car and follows him to his school. Little did they know this would lead to them joining school and liking it. Isaiah wasn’t as easy to convince to join but soon he sees he needs to be at this school and learns a lot about his past. Including his connection with the gods of the Ancient World and how they are all teenagers right now. There is a battle and Isaiah must save his own life and tries to save those around him.
The book leaves you with Isaiah declaring his ultimate revenge to the one who has hurt his family and friends. I really can’t wait for my chance to read the next book in this series. And I really hope a movie series will come of these books.
While reading I had the feelings of books like Harry Potter, meets Twilight, meets Hunger Games, meets the gods of the Ancient World. It’s a wonderful, fresh look at the gods and the battle they must fight. The battle Isaiah fights there must be only one survivor, but he does not want to be the one to kill his competitors. I found myself rooting for Isaiah and hoping he can win the battle, not only against the other teens but also the battle that is in his heart.
This is a must read book. I guarantee you won’t be able to put this book down. And I guarantee you’ll want to get the next book in the series, “Pantheons: The Game of the Gods”. Each book is under $2 for the kindle on Amazon(as of March 21, 2013). You can’t loose with that price and this amazing story. I would love to go into more detail about this book but I don’t want to give away the really great twists and surprises. Just trust me it’s a book you’ll love to read. If you love learning about Ancient gods, a good teen adventure and the similar books mentioned above I really believe you’ll love this book.
—————————
* Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate my review. This post reflects my honest, personal opinion and experience with the product which may differ from yours. Product information courtesy of the sponsor. No monetary compensation was provided for this post.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2012
Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 2 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Publisher
Reviewer: AimeeKay
I’m torn with this book. The idea and premise behind it I really liked. I love ancient religions and I really like to see how authors write them into present day situations. I also really liked the fact that the author of Pantheons used not just well known gods but also more obscure ones, such as gods from Native American and Chinese culture.
The story itself is really intriguing as well. All the different pantheons must fight a war every age to decide which pantheon will rule. What happens if they all agree not to fight? Also what if the war to decide the next age hinges not on the elder gods, but on a new god, born in the modern age, who up until recently didn’t even know he was a god at all?
Unfortunately there were issues with the book that caused me not to enjoy it as much as I think I should have.
One thing I had a problem with was the writers’ style. When it comes to descriptions I’m of the opinion that sometimes less is more. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good detailed description as much as the next reader. It helps to draw you in and really helps you to see the characters and their surroundings. But the fewer words to do this the better (there are some exceptions to this, but they are few and far between). I found the author kept repeating certain words in a description. Or at times he would be creating a certain mood for a scene and then throw in a word that just seemed to negate the whole effect. I found myself wanting to skim through the descriptions, but I couldn’t in case I missed an important detail to the story itself.
Another problem I had was with the characters. One character in particular was portrayed as being strong, mentally as well as physically. They were supposed to be knowledgeable, and had a back story filled with regrets about the life lessons they had learned. Then out of the blue he repeats his actions from his past all over again. When you add the characters acting out of character in certain parts, it just doesn’t make sense.
Overall, the bad finally outweighed the good for me on this one. I give the book 2 out of 5 controllers. I loved the story itself, or at least the idea of it. But I just couldn’t get into it, the main reasons being the authors writing style and the issues I had with the characterization.
Rating: 2 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Publisher
Reviewer: AimeeKay
I’m torn with this book. The idea and premise behind it I really liked. I love ancient religions and I really like to see how authors write them into present day situations. I also really liked the fact that the author of Pantheons used not just well known gods but also more obscure ones, such as gods from Native American and Chinese culture.
The story itself is really intriguing as well. All the different pantheons must fight a war every age to decide which pantheon will rule. What happens if they all agree not to fight? Also what if the war to decide the next age hinges not on the elder gods, but on a new god, born in the modern age, who up until recently didn’t even know he was a god at all?
Unfortunately there were issues with the book that caused me not to enjoy it as much as I think I should have.
One thing I had a problem with was the writers’ style. When it comes to descriptions I’m of the opinion that sometimes less is more. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good detailed description as much as the next reader. It helps to draw you in and really helps you to see the characters and their surroundings. But the fewer words to do this the better (there are some exceptions to this, but they are few and far between). I found the author kept repeating certain words in a description. Or at times he would be creating a certain mood for a scene and then throw in a word that just seemed to negate the whole effect. I found myself wanting to skim through the descriptions, but I couldn’t in case I missed an important detail to the story itself.
Another problem I had was with the characters. One character in particular was portrayed as being strong, mentally as well as physically. They were supposed to be knowledgeable, and had a back story filled with regrets about the life lessons they had learned. Then out of the blue he repeats his actions from his past all over again. When you add the characters acting out of character in certain parts, it just doesn’t make sense.
Overall, the bad finally outweighed the good for me on this one. I give the book 2 out of 5 controllers. I loved the story itself, or at least the idea of it. But I just couldn’t get into it, the main reasons being the authors writing style and the issues I had with the characterization.
May 7, 2012
Pantheons is a coming of age story about an unlikely hero with a speech impediment… it’s also about gods and goddesses of different Pantheons all over the world… oh it’s also about war, murder, action, adventure and romance with an automaton. If it seems like the author poured a whole lot of plot and details into this story it’s because he did. For those of you who aren’t that familiar with mythology from different civilizations, especially Greek, be prepared to flip back and forth trying to remember which gods go where. For those of you, like me, who adore mythology then be prepared to enjoy a great story where different Pantheons collide. Oh and did I mention they’re all teenagers?
After the Last War, one where there was much blood and slaughter, the Powers-that-Be cursed all the gods and goddesses to live in mortal teenage bodies. This sucks, but they can still use their powers, they can just die too. Kaliber Academy is where these godlings (so to speak) have come together. This is where our hero Isaiah comes in. A rich snot (turns out it’s his dad who he has vowed to kill… long story) belittled his street gang and Isaiah wants revenge. He follows the rich kid into the Academy and is met by the principal who ends up offering his little gang the option of enrollment. The story gets kicked off from there when Isaiah saves a gold and silver girl who ends up being an automaton who was created to solely love one of the smith gods. There’s a tournament, coming of age, powers, jealous godlings, pissed off goddesses, and something everyone wants… the Dominion.
Dabel has written a detailed and intricate story. His hero isn’t a typical hero and has a speech impediment; he can’t pronounce the letter ‘s’. This causes some of the other kids to call him ‘retard’, so while yes it’s realistic, if this word greatly bothers you then you might not want to pick up this book. The different Pantheons of gods and goddesses can get confusing at times, and at the end of the book during the Tournament, there are multiple POVs and it can get a bit chaotic. For a debut novel Dabel has done well, and I would definitely buy the second book in the series when it comes out. You find yourself wanting to know how much more Isaiah will grow and discover about himself.
After the Last War, one where there was much blood and slaughter, the Powers-that-Be cursed all the gods and goddesses to live in mortal teenage bodies. This sucks, but they can still use their powers, they can just die too. Kaliber Academy is where these godlings (so to speak) have come together. This is where our hero Isaiah comes in. A rich snot (turns out it’s his dad who he has vowed to kill… long story) belittled his street gang and Isaiah wants revenge. He follows the rich kid into the Academy and is met by the principal who ends up offering his little gang the option of enrollment. The story gets kicked off from there when Isaiah saves a gold and silver girl who ends up being an automaton who was created to solely love one of the smith gods. There’s a tournament, coming of age, powers, jealous godlings, pissed off goddesses, and something everyone wants… the Dominion.
Dabel has written a detailed and intricate story. His hero isn’t a typical hero and has a speech impediment; he can’t pronounce the letter ‘s’. This causes some of the other kids to call him ‘retard’, so while yes it’s realistic, if this word greatly bothers you then you might not want to pick up this book. The different Pantheons of gods and goddesses can get confusing at times, and at the end of the book during the Tournament, there are multiple POVs and it can get a bit chaotic. For a debut novel Dabel has done well, and I would definitely buy the second book in the series when it comes out. You find yourself wanting to know how much more Isaiah will grow and discover about himself.
February 3, 2012
It's not really like me to describe a book as "book for guys" because I for one love reading books that were written for boys. This one is full of fighting, magic fantastical lands and adventure. The main group of characters is Isaiah and his gang. He is homeless and has a speech impediment so doesn't speak much. They are rough kids that stand up against others and do what they need to survive. One day they are hassled by a rich kid and end up walking into the Kaliber Academy to find the kid. Miraculously they end up getting invited to attend the school and eventually Isaiah is offered a place in the Pantheon Club, in which he learns he is the son of Zeus.
As the story goes on, Isaiah overcomes his impediment and grows stronger. He eventually discovers who killed his mother and decides to avenge her. The gods and goddesses are all introduced to the reader, in a very informative but not overwhelming way. Very entertaining way to learn more about the Greek Gods.
Isaiah is a great main character to follow, he fights fair, fights for acceptance and portrays what it's like to be the better man in many instances. There is also great chemistry between him and his friends and other characters that appear in the story.
The story culminates in an amazing Tournament that takes place on a magical island. And leaves plenty of open possibilities for a continuation to the series.
ending in a tournament
As the story goes on, Isaiah overcomes his impediment and grows stronger. He eventually discovers who killed his mother and decides to avenge her. The gods and goddesses are all introduced to the reader, in a very informative but not overwhelming way. Very entertaining way to learn more about the Greek Gods.
Isaiah is a great main character to follow, he fights fair, fights for acceptance and portrays what it's like to be the better man in many instances. There is also great chemistry between him and his friends and other characters that appear in the story.
The story culminates in an amazing Tournament that takes place on a magical island. And leaves plenty of open possibilities for a continuation to the series.
ending in a tournament
April 16, 2012
I am not going to do a recap of the book because everyone else has pretty much already covered that. :)
So I will just say what I liked and what I didn't.
What I liked:
*I really liked learning a bit about all sorts of other gods. I adore Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians as well as his Heroes of Olympus series. After reading those books I became very interested in mythology so it was interesting to learn more about other gods from different cultures.
*The action/fighting scenes were exciting.
*Isaiah was an overall likeable character. I enjoyed reading his journey from living on the streets to discovering his powers.
What I didn't like:
*The book ends with lots of unanswered questions. Which I am sure will be answered in the next books but, for me anyway, a few mysteries remaining is fine, good even...however, I feel like each book in a series should feel complete in itself. I was left with way too many unanswered questions to feel satisfied. But maybe I am just an impatient person. ;)
*Isaiah's speech impediment was kind of annoying to read. But even more annoying when “s” would appear in some words in a sentence but not others because I was wondering if it was done on purpose to show that he was slowly getting over his impediment or if the editor just overlooked it.
I gave this book 2 stars. It's probably not one of those books I will read over and over again but I will read the next book to find out what happens next!
So I will just say what I liked and what I didn't.
What I liked:
*I really liked learning a bit about all sorts of other gods. I adore Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians as well as his Heroes of Olympus series. After reading those books I became very interested in mythology so it was interesting to learn more about other gods from different cultures.
*The action/fighting scenes were exciting.
*Isaiah was an overall likeable character. I enjoyed reading his journey from living on the streets to discovering his powers.
What I didn't like:
*The book ends with lots of unanswered questions. Which I am sure will be answered in the next books but, for me anyway, a few mysteries remaining is fine, good even...however, I feel like each book in a series should feel complete in itself. I was left with way too many unanswered questions to feel satisfied. But maybe I am just an impatient person. ;)
*Isaiah's speech impediment was kind of annoying to read. But even more annoying when “s” would appear in some words in a sentence but not others because I was wondering if it was done on purpose to show that he was slowly getting over his impediment or if the editor just overlooked it.
I gave this book 2 stars. It's probably not one of those books I will read over and over again but I will read the next book to find out what happens next!
December 24, 2014
*Free ebook version won of the Now Is Gone blog in exchange for an honest review*
My actual rating for Pantheons is somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. The story is richly imaginative. The characters for the most part are well developed, though at times I wanted to strangle them for some of their decisions. That probably was the author's intent.
The story itself is definitely something anyone in their teens or older can enjoy. Many life lessons exist within the pages. However, at times the story seemed a bit more geared towards a young adult audience.
My biggest disappointment in the story had to do with multiple grammatical errors. Too many times it seemed as if the author started to phrase something one way, and then in the middle decided to phrase it a different way without going back. This led to added words and phrases that made parts of the story hard to follow. Granted most of these might have been fixed, but the fact it happened multiple times takes away from the rating.
Overall I did enjoy the story and would recommend the story, especially to teenagers and young adults.
My actual rating for Pantheons is somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. The story is richly imaginative. The characters for the most part are well developed, though at times I wanted to strangle them for some of their decisions. That probably was the author's intent.
The story itself is definitely something anyone in their teens or older can enjoy. Many life lessons exist within the pages. However, at times the story seemed a bit more geared towards a young adult audience.
My biggest disappointment in the story had to do with multiple grammatical errors. Too many times it seemed as if the author started to phrase something one way, and then in the middle decided to phrase it a different way without going back. This led to added words and phrases that made parts of the story hard to follow. Granted most of these might have been fixed, but the fact it happened multiple times takes away from the rating.
Overall I did enjoy the story and would recommend the story, especially to teenagers and young adults.
April 1, 2012
Podem ler a opinião completa no Floresta de Livro.
Although the mythology was used with great care and interest, mostly everything else about this book was too convenient in terms of plot.
We have some good characters and even an interesting premisse (as well as the mythology), but from then on it's just too much.
Everything happens too fast, without any reasonable logic. Isaiah is weak, then strong, then weak again, strong, weak, weak, strong, weak, and so forth. it makes no sense and the only reason for this it's because it's conveninent for the story (sorry I keep repeating myself).
I really wanted to like this (I love mythology!), but I just couldn't like the story.
Also the prose was a bit too YA for my taste. I'm sure youngsters will love it but for a more mature/adult adience, the writing just doesn't cut it.
I'd still like to thank "Sea Lion Comics" and "E.J. Dabel" for the opportunity to read this.
June 5, 2014
Alright.
So I enjoyed this book VERY much, after reading only 10 chapters. The plot is amazing, engaging into action right away, making me predict what will happen, truly great. Easy to follow, surprising you just when you start to get bored.The characters are beautiful, capturing real life teenagers. I adore Isaiah's twist, the way he (spoiler) can't pronounce the letter s.
I can feel clear empathy, I just love these characters, especially Jeremy
The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars was because in some parts, i feel like it went to slowly, too many adjectives. Of course some may say that is a good thing, but in some cases I had to rewind and re-read some part just to understand what I was reading.
I am questioning:
Who is pretty boy, really?
Is Isaiah going to defeat Zeus?
What god is isiah?
How did he end up with Jeremy Monty and pip?
Many more questions.
Again, lovely book, perked my interest and hoping to read more. Cant wait to see what happens with Isiah!
By the way, E.J, hope this review helped. If you need more details, just ask
So I enjoyed this book VERY much, after reading only 10 chapters. The plot is amazing, engaging into action right away, making me predict what will happen, truly great. Easy to follow, surprising you just when you start to get bored.The characters are beautiful, capturing real life teenagers. I adore Isaiah's twist, the way he (spoiler) can't pronounce the letter s.
I can feel clear empathy, I just love these characters, especially Jeremy
The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars was because in some parts, i feel like it went to slowly, too many adjectives. Of course some may say that is a good thing, but in some cases I had to rewind and re-read some part just to understand what I was reading.
I am questioning:
Who is pretty boy, really?
Is Isaiah going to defeat Zeus?
What god is isiah?
How did he end up with Jeremy Monty and pip?
Many more questions.
Again, lovely book, perked my interest and hoping to read more. Cant wait to see what happens with Isiah!
By the way, E.J, hope this review helped. If you need more details, just ask
April 7, 2012
This review has been a long time coming, and I really wish I had had the time and do a complete sit though instead of bits and pieces. It's been a long hard winter for me, with bouts of pneumonia.
That said. I love the idea of the book. Greek mythology is one of my favorite genres and I currently write them into my stories.
The gods as teens is an original idea and I would mostly recommend this to young boys, although my eight year old niece is obsessed with all things Percy Jackson, so I will recommend it to her.
It was refreshing to see them have struggles and having a son myself I can appreciate what boys go through in their teen years.
The one suggestion I have is that the book cover could be so much more exciting. Maybe something animated with all the boys. Just a suggestion. Covers do sell books.
That said. I love the idea of the book. Greek mythology is one of my favorite genres and I currently write them into my stories.
The gods as teens is an original idea and I would mostly recommend this to young boys, although my eight year old niece is obsessed with all things Percy Jackson, so I will recommend it to her.
It was refreshing to see them have struggles and having a son myself I can appreciate what boys go through in their teen years.
The one suggestion I have is that the book cover could be so much more exciting. Maybe something animated with all the boys. Just a suggestion. Covers do sell books.
April 24, 2013
I love when I find a book that captures me and won't let go and that's exactly what I found in this book! From the very first page it draws you in and keeps you in amazement and surprised! It's irristible and hard to put down! I love that the author took an old classic and threw in a modern twist and we get to learn about some really cool history along the way! There are some really amazing scenes and even some that will have you heartbroken and crying but you'll always come back for more! Pantheons is about the different gods from ancient times who refused to fight in the last War were punished and stripped of their spiritual bodies and came back as mortal teens who have to go against each other in an ultimate battle! Sounds amazing right?? Believe me it is!! You'll be blown away by this amazing book! I can't wait to go and dive into book two!
April 16, 2012
Mr. Dabel's Pantheons is a wonderful story with great character development that will grab your attention and keep you enthralled till the twist at the end. The one draw back is you are going to be left with questions and waiting for the next in the series....but that is ok, that is kind of fun. Dabel's explanation of the many gods in Greek mythology is very clear and fascinating and I can't wait for Pantheons number 2. I am not a good writer I wasn't blessed with the ability to write these beautiful reviews I read on Goodreads, but I do read a ton and I know a good author and good quality book when I read it and I whole-heartily recommend this one to everyone. All ages as a great read.
November 4, 2013
While I admit, I have been getting distracted from my reading lately, mainly by increasing my book marketing efforts and writing, I just could not get into this story.
I am almost half way through this story, and nothing significant has happened. Some "chief gods" have gathered and finally decided to start a war this book is based on, and probably the series. There is an interesting array of gods. The main character has a flaw that some people might find interesting.
If you have a love of mythology, plenty of free time and patients to carry you through a slow book, then you may want to look at this one.
I'm done with this series.
I am almost half way through this story, and nothing significant has happened. Some "chief gods" have gathered and finally decided to start a war this book is based on, and probably the series. There is an interesting array of gods. The main character has a flaw that some people might find interesting.
If you have a love of mythology, plenty of free time and patients to carry you through a slow book, then you may want to look at this one.
I'm done with this series.
March 15, 2012
Because of being a huge fan of the Percy Jackson series and a recommendation from Sea Lion Books I decided to read this book. It did not disappoint! I enjoyed reading about the different gods from each pantheon instead of it being just about Greek mythology. The twist of them being trapped in teenage bodies made it more interesting. I would definitely recommend this book to friends and family...fact is, I already have!
April 2, 2012
Overall the book was good. The ending left me thinking what the heck is going on? The plot twist of Zues being the originator of the Sampo, and setting in motion all the other actions make my head ache.
I feel the story needs some work on it to clear up grammatcal errors,plus other problems with one characters.
I feel the story needs some work on it to clear up grammatcal errors,plus other problems with one characters.
January 20, 2012
This book is one of the most original adaptation of Greek Mythology!
Review to be added later:D
Review to be added later:D
January 13, 2014
I'm going to try this out. Why not?
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