Kalani Mayfield never thought she would be fighting for her life in the world of Greek gods and goddesses. She was living a typical college student life, juggling her jobs, classes, and caring for her little brother until she was abducted by mistake. The only way she can save her life and go home is to win a deadly Tournament. Unfortunately, her opponents are Coppers – the gods and goddesses’ grandchildren. These Coppers have incredible magical powers and have trained for years to become the strongest and win their place on Mount Olympus.
Nothing could have prepared Kalani for the magical – and lethal – competition she has to fight in, nor for the people she will meet. To survive without any powers of her own, Kalani will have to push herself past her limits and learn to trust others along the way.
All the Gold Between Us is the first book in the Claiming Olympus series. This book contains fake dating, forced proximity, found family, magic, and epic fights - perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson.
Jade Le Bris is a fantasy author writing novels inspired by Greek mythology. All the Gold Between Us is her debut novel. During the day, she is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Microbiology PhD dual degree student at Michigan State University. Growing up in France, Jade spent twelve years writing stories before finally publishing her first book. In her free time, she enjoys reading fantasy and romance novels and watching crime shows with a pink drink in hand.
Bien que j'étais très peu convaincu au début (a deux doigts de dnf) a ma grande surprise, j'ai beaucoup apprécié cette romantasy. Si l'écriture reste maladroite et trop lourde en description, les personnages sont terriblement attachants. La romance, bien que vraiment classique, apporte beaucoup d'émotions et de tensions dans l'histoire. L'autrice joue très bien de ses inspirations même si les épreuves en deviennent prévisibles. La fin reste fidèle. C'était super.
Here is a story full of survival, friendship, death, and a start to a possible romance?? One thing to remember for our competitors, just because something can bud between character (friendship or something more) doesn't mean they'll survive the next Trail or live through the night for that matter. Jade takes us straight to Olympus and drops Kalani (us) into a competition for our lives against the grandchildren of the Greek gods and goddesses.
This book is entirely in first POV through Kalani's eyes. The only mortal to be sucked into the 146th Tournament on Olympus by complete accident. The beginning of the book was a bit harder to work through than the later half. There was a lot of character set up for Kalani before the competition situation happened and then us playing catch up with Kalani once there. And it wasn't until the whole group of friends started working together did it start picking up speed. Once the Trails started I hardly put it down. This is a read that is certainly a build up read rather than just hooking you right away.
Even though this book says it is a romance, I wouldn't bank my reading urge on that so much. Yes there are romantic relationships around Kalani, but this book has the MC in a fake date situation. The romantic tension is there between them for sure. Get ready for a lot of tension building! I was certainly saying "Come ON already! Just one kiss!" but it was still an enjoyable part to read.
I would say that this book is a Hunger Games and Percy Jackson hybrid. From Hunger Games you get the whole competition and the winners get to live while the losers are exterminated or killed during the Trails. There are even moments where holograms are showing above the competitors while in the arena just like the dome they have above their heads in the games. The Percy Jackson side not only comes from these people being descendants of the gods, but all of the competitors and kept together to train together, to eat together ... you get the picture. Instead of an outside Camp Half-blood full of teenagers with adults and simply train to keep busy (I know this isn't entirely true but going for simple explanations), they are kept inside, have zero supervision, train to kill/survive, and are all like 17-25 years old.
I had a really good time reading this one once the story started to pick up. I flew through the last third of the novel pretty easy. This one would have to be a New adult for some of the aggression and just the pure fight till the death mentality that happens a lot in this book. But if you are looking for the next Hunger Games style book this is going to be your jam!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for a voluntary honest review.
Nous suivons l'histoire de Kalani Mayfield, une Californienne pure souche, qui suite à l'erreur d'un Chasseur, se retrouve confrontée à un dilemme : mourir maintenant ou périr lors du fameux Tournoi. Ce dernier est une version revisitée des Hunger Games, mais dans un contexte olympien : les petits-enfants des Dieux s'affrontent pour accéder au Mont Olympe. Entre amour, amitié, révélations et combats, que choisira Kalani ?
Ce livre est un véritable coup de cœur ! L'intrigue sort un peu des sentiers battus, même si elle s'inscrit dans le schéma classique d'une romantasy. Ce que j'ai particulièrement apprécié, c'est le fait d'être immédiatement plongé dans l'action. Dès le deuxième chapitre, nous sommes emportés dans le vif du sujet !
Les personnages, quant à eux, sont facilement appréciables. Kalani, notre protagoniste, semble forte, combative et altruiste, malgré les circonstances assez rocambolesques. Cependant, elle se permet d'éprouver des émotions fortes, ce qui la rend plus humaine à mes yeux.
(Je voudrais vous parler des autres, mais je ne veux pas vous spoiler...) La relation entre Kalani et les autres évolue constamment en fonction de ce que notre héroïne apprend sur elle-même.
L'univers créé est assez satisfaisant. Étant donné que l'histoire s'inspire de la mythologie grecque, avec le Mont Olympe et les dieux, je n'ai rien de particulier à dire. Cependant, Jade Le Bris a su se démarquer des autres livres en ajoutant sa touche personnelle !
Cependant, cette lecture comporte quelques petits bémols. Premièrement, la traduction française comporte quelques erreurs. Il m'est arrivé de relire plusieurs fois un passage car je ne comprenais pas ce qui se passait. Je ne peux pas commenter la version originale car je l'ai lue en français.
Ensuite, l'histoire traîne parfois en longueur. Ce n'est pas dramatique, loin de là ! Mais cela explique pourquoi le livre se trouve dans ma liste d'or plutôt que dans ma liste d'argent.
En conclusion, si vous aimez la mythologie grecque et les Hunger Games, ce livre est fait pour vous
J'ai beaucoup aimé l'univers créé par l'auteure. Elle a su apporter sa touche personnelle à la mythologie, et cela rend très bien ! J'ai apprécié l'idée des "Hunger Games" pour avoir sa place à l'Olympe, cela remet en perspective l'arrogance et le mépris des divinités grecques, qu'on tend parfois à oublier. Les personnages sont bien construits, pas trop de redondances dans les propos, un cadre qui tient la route, des explications claires qui permettent de bien situer l'univers. Agréablement surprise par ces faits : les fois où j'ai pu lire des livres auto-édités, ils étaient mauvais, pas de contexte, des personnages creux, des histoires qui ne tiennent pas la route. Ce n'est pas le cas de ce livre, il est bien écrit, cela montre que l'auteure a vraiment travaillé sur son oeuvre, s'est remise en question. En tout cas c'est mon point de vue ! Bravo à elle, j'ai hâte de lire la suite :))
Le petit point négatif est la traduction française : il y a des erreurs dans l'emploi des temps du récit, qui rend parfois la lecture lourde, le sens des phrases peut être bizarre. Il y a également des petites coquilles, notamment des déterminants qui sont présents 2 fois, ou des mots dont les lettres ne sont pas les bonnes. Des phrases qui semblent traduites mot pour mot, sans chercher la reformulation française qui fait sens. C'est une traductrice qui débute dans le milieu, je comprends tout à fait qu'il puisse y avoir des erreurs, et c'est normal. Elle va s'améliorer avec le temps, on commence tous quelque part ! Ceci est une critique qui doit être vue comme constructive, et non comme un propos méchant.
En tout cas, c'est vraiment une chouette histoire, j'ai hâte de lire la suite (et aussi de voir des fanart) !
First thing - I loved it. A great premise, not something I have ever really read about before. I really liked the attention to details, the different Gods seemed to have their own personality and their own voices and that was awesome. It was nice to have a basic insight into each of them. I liked how Kalani's progress in learning how to fight was explored, she worked hard and deserved her win. I liked the way the groups separated into bullies and others. There were some good parallels about racism in 'real life'. There were quite a few moments that will stick with me and I really enjoyed. Hecate being the good guy in some small way was delightful, she is often vilified. The things that I didn't like (and obviously these are completely personal and subjective so it is likely that no one else will feel this way, just me), were: the beginning of Archer and Kalani's relationship. It felt gaslighting and almost abusive. I know there are reasons why he was preventing himself from feeling his true feelings, but I struggle with books portraying that as how love should be, you know? It is my biggest problem with Twilight, great story but the relationships are not positive and set a bad example for young women on how they should expect to be treated by boys. However, as the author said,. this is more directed at New Adults rather than Young Adults, so perhaps by the time this is read people will have a better of idea of how they should be treated. As a heroine Kalani is completely overpowered by her friends and that already puts her in a weaker position, and again, is this the role model I would want my young niece to read about? But, I know that as the series goes, her powers will develop and who knows, she might outshine the others in time, or least stand with them as an equal. As this is part of a series it is fine that she is starting as a 'just human' and developing further.
Overall, this is a great start to a series and I look forward to the next instalment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book is a real success ; I loved the story in itself, everything occurs at the right place and the right time, and she maintains a subtle suspens at the end of each chapter that makes you want to go further and discover what is next. It is very dynamic, there is no downtime. Moreover, the evolution of the characters is very interesting and emotional ; they really exist in a world that takes shape pages after pages thanks to the great sense of detail of the author. This story also offers different reading levels such that it suits various personal intepretations. Finally, the fine sense of humor that permeates the book from the beginning to the end is just the cherry on the top !
In short, this book has it all, and that is why I strongly recommend it to anyone, including people who are not familiar with fantasy.
I love reading, but I had been off the book-reading bandwagon for a while now due to graduate school. This book has changed that! The author weaves a beautiful tale of perseverance, mystery, suspense, and romance. The story is very well written so I found myself engaged with the storyline every inch of the way. Most importantly I was able to fully connect with the characters. Honestly after some shocking twists I had to put the book down so that I could deal with my own emotions that were evoked. Which has never happened for me with first-person storylines, so that's saying something. Now I just need a sequel published to have some cliffhangers resolved :)
If you're debating about reading this book, do yourself a favor and start! It's action packed from the beginning so you won't have to worry about reading through a few chapters before things pick up.
I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only. I really enjoyed this book and was very quickly drawn into the story. The characters have such different personalities that it's great to see the interactions between them. The setting is so believeable and the story fits well there. I like the sort of hunger games for the God's story as it brings together exciting elements from other stories. My only criticism is that there are some grammatical and spelling errors that are slightly distracting, but there aren't too many.
Love this book! The perfect blend of fantasy, action, and suspense. Each part of the book is written with such immense detail that you feel immersed in the book. All of the characters are very well thought out and intertwine well. I am not very well versed with Greek mythology, but all details relating to Greek mythology were explained throughout. My favorite part was experiencing the romance unfold throughout the end. Easy and enjoyable read!! Excited for the rest of the series.
I couldn’t put this book down! I loved this twist on Greek myth and we have a character who is nearly totally (we think) unrelated to the gods and goddesses who now has to fight for survival. She finds love in an unlikely character and then finds out that she may actually have a heritage! I cannot wait for the second book, I must see how it continues for Kalani!!
Thank you to the author and Voracious Readers Only for allowing me to be an ARC reader!
As someone who likes romance mixed with fantasy, drama, and thrill, I so enjoyed reading this book. Jade does such a great job of explaining the characters and setting the scene, I felt immersed in Kalani's world. It's so easy to get sucked into this story! Highly recommend to anyone who wants an engaging and entertaining read. Given the current state of the U.S., this is perfect for taking a break from all the news and headlines and diving into a whole other world!
I absolutely enjoyed this book. I’ll say that this isn’t usually the type of book I go for, but in hearing more about it I was interested. I felt that the book was off to a slower start, but once things got going, I could not put it down! One of the best things (for me) about the way this book is written, is that it’s in first person POV, which shares the story from an interesting perspective.
This is hands down one of the best books I have read! The character development, relationship building and suspense make this a novel enjoyable for all types of readers, no matter what they usually enjoy. Each chapter is short which makes it a quick read, with action in each chapter. I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the second one to come out next year!
Excellent book!! I loved how the history reveals all the details between humans and the gods. There's an influence on hunger games mixed with some twilight (the books, not the movies), I'd say. I could not stop reading this book. Super cute romance scenes, along with the surprise element at the ending (That I was not expecting, at all)
I absolutely loved this book! Once I started reading it I was so invested with Kalani's journey and could not put it down! The plot was full of twists and turns set in a fantasy world that is so well written it makes you feel like you're in Olympus with the rest of the characters. If you like fantasy books with interesting heroines (and a touch of romance) you should definitely read this book!
TL;DR: excellent character development, enticing plot, relatable narrative had me on the edge of my seat with every page! This book will be re-read many, many times with great joy. Can’t wait for the sequel!
I loved this book from page one! The first-person narrative reads like Kalani’s stream of consciousness/inner monologue, which made her a very realistic, relatable main character.
The character development for all the Coppers is *so good* — each is unique, well-rounded, relatable and yet believable as godly descendants. The development of Kalani’s trust in, and friendships with, the Coppers translates naturally to the reader; I felt what she felt and thought exactly what she thought as the plot unfolded!
The plot is well-constructed without extra details or “fluff” bogging down the progression of the story. Even during the slower scenes in the book, the events that take place all push the plot forward in a way that feels very organic. I always wanted to know what happened next! All the sub-plots involving side characters came full circle, so all the pieces of the story fall into place so nicely throughout the book.
The fantasy universe that serves as the context for the Tournament was believable and well-developed. I couldn’t help imagining how beautiful Mount Olympus must be, how cute the dorm rooms are, and how intense it would feel to be standing in the Pit.
I loved everything about this book because it was so well written from start to finish. It had me in my feelings one moment and right on the edge of my seat the next. This is one of few books that I will recommend highly to everyone! I can’t wait to find out what’s in store for Kalani and her friends in the sequel.
The plot of All the Gold Between Us grabs your attention. I quickly became invested in the fate of Kalani. I really enjoyed how the plot progressed and I did not see the twists and turns coming! I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoyed similar books like the lightning thief!
Overall the Story was Good! it‘s everything what the Book promised! Something between Hunger Games and Percy j. It was exciting, a Bit romantic and the characters were fun to read!
Sadly i didn‘t like the Ending! It was so depressing…
This book was an outstanding debut novel that provides a fresh take on Mount Olympus! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Kalani and her adventures/fights alongside her newfound friends. Highly recommend for people who enjoyed the hunger games and Percy Jackson!!
All the Gold Between Us was the best fantasy book I have read in years. The character development and story line kept me engaged and on my toes. I couldn’t put this book down and cannot wait to start the second book!
I absolutely loved this book ! With a mastery of the book's high and low points, I embarked on a read that I didn't want to stop under any circumstances.
This book gives me hunger games meets Greek mythology vibes. I love the storyline and all of the characters and I’m always a sucker for characters that share my name (Sadie).
This was a very fun and exciting book that combines greek mythology, survival/adventure, and a relatable protagonist. I loved the characters and the plot! It was an easy read! Would recommend!
Excellent read. The beginning takes a little time to get going, but once it does, it’s truly captivating. I highly recommend it — even if you’re not usually into this genre, it’s definitely worth a try.
I got an ARC of this book against an honest review. If you were a huge fan dystopian books such as the Hunger Games/ Divergent/ Percy Jackson, and are nostalgic of those books, this one is definitely for you! It all starts off with a main character that you get easily attached to and seems to live a pretty normal life. A small mistake and we are drawn, through Kalani’s eyes into a world that belongs more to ancient Greece than modern California. But this world is far from being all parties and good deities. Kalani, is thrown in a Trial in which she needs to fight to stay alive. Without powers, she can only rely on her inner strengths. Between friendship, love, and constant danger, Kalani has to fight for her life. Once you start the book, the only thing you want to do is keep on reading. I truly enjoyed reading this book. It is easy to read, has the right amount of action, suspense and love. The story flows so well that it is hard to stop reading, and I reached the end of the book faster than what I would have liked. I highly recommend!
This was a quick and enjoyable read. As stated in the blurb, it’s something between Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games. It’s not as heavy on mythology as Percy Jackson, nor as brutal as The Hunger Games, but the story does what it promises. To me, it felt more like Percy Jackson, and it was nice to read something similar, though with older characters.
Despite the main characters being in their early twenties, the writing style and the storyline are simple and appropriate for younger readers as well. There’s no spice, and the romance is really sweet. However, I’d recommend checking content warnings before reading this novel.
The story is written in the first person, following Kelani’s POV. This didn’t completely work for me in the first half of the novel, as her thoughts were often reiterated and sometimes childish. However, I’m glad I pushed myself through because, after getting used to it, I grew fond of her. She is just an average 20-year-old girl trying to survive, who has always had an average life and enjoys the same things we do. Indeed, throughout the novel, Kelani often refers to our pop culture, such as books, movies, and celebrities.
The story takes its time to develop, but after the first half of the book, it becomes more engaging, with more action and deeper relationships between characters. The side characters aren’t as strongly developed as Kelani, but they work well within the story.
I may be a little old for this book, but I’m sure if I were younger, I would have loved it. For a debut, the author did a pretty good job.
Lastly, I just want to say that the cover is gorgeous!
Content warnings include attempted sexual assault, graphic death, and hate speech.
I received an advanced reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
J’ai adoré l’intrigue, tout se passe au bon moment au bon endroit. L’auteur maintient un certain suspens à chaque fin de chapitre qui vous donne envie de tourner les pages ! Le récit est très dynamique, pas de temps mort. L’évolution des personnages est particulièrement touchante, et ils prennent vie dans un décore superbement détaillé. C’est aussi un livre qui est traversé par un sens de l’humour du début à la fin, qui ne le rend que plus savoureux !
Bref, c’est un livre qui a tout d’un succès, je le recommande à tous, y compris ceux qui n’ont pas l’habitude de lire de la fantaisie !
Ce n'est pas le genre de livres que j'ai l'habitude de lire, et pourtant! J'ai a-do-ré. Du début à la fin. C'était rempli de suspens, de rebondissements. Je crois que j'ai parfois arrêté de respirer pensant ma lecture. Bref, foncez, vous ne le regretterez pas!