Chaos

Kardia Chronicles #1

by Christine O'Neil

My name is Maggie Raynard. After sixteen years being just plain me, suddenly, when I lose my temper, my fingers become weapons of mass destruction. Turns out I'm a semi-god, descended from Aphrodite. Sounds cool in theory, but when I accidentally put my ex-boyfriend in a coma, things go downhill pretty fast.

Now some new guy named Mac Finnegan has made it his mission in life to continually piss me off. I'm stuck learning how to use my new powers while also dealing with regular high school problems, and with this annoying - and super-hot - guy all up in my business, I'm about to flip out.

But it gets worse. I just learned there's this watchdog council of semis who keeps an eye out for any bad apples. They think I'm the baddest of the bunch and want to take me out before I do any more damage. My nemesis Mac might turn out to be my salvation, only he's got secrets of his own...and they may just kill us both.

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Magic, Paranormal Romance

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 19, 2013

About the author

Christine O'Neil was born and raised in Connecticut, where she spent most of her childhood outdoors catching salamanders, frogs and colds. When she wasn't terrorizing Mother Nature, she was curled up under the covers with her nose in a book. As an adult, she's stopped stalking amphibians, but still loves books. When she isn't reading, she likes to spend her time people-watching. In fact, she's probably watching you RIGHT NOW O_O She's also pretty obsessed with writing YA books, but if she had to pick another profession she would be a ninja...or a Professor of the Dark Arts. Christine also writes adult romance under the pen name Christine Bell.

Reviews

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a little secret about me most of you might not know, I am a sucker for a snarky, witty, fiesty, kick butt heroine (or hero, I'm not picky) and that is exactly what I got in Maggie. Through in some mythology and you have my dream book. Can I just say I love Maggie now and call it good with this review? No? Are you sure?

Okay, maybe that isn't enough to portray how great and fun this read was so I 'll be good and make this longer, after all, I am pretty sure the publisher is looking for a little more and the author probably wouldn't mind a few more details either. So here goes.

This book, KICKED butt. And then, it took names and kicked butt again.

Maggie is so sarcastic, so snarky that it actually makes her loveable. I know, weird right? She is border line witchy and I loved every minute of her witty banter, hot temper and sometimes downright pissy attitude. I couldn’t help it, the girl rocks. Her inner monologue is almost as good as her outer and to top it off she has some pretty amazing friends to back her up.

Mac is surly, ornery and downright rotten at times but his softer side shows through just enough that he too becomes pretty loveable and irresistible. The mystery behind just exactly who and what he is, didn't hurt either. And together, these two were pretty explosive.

I loved the mythology of the demis and semis and even though everything wasn't laid out and explained it some how worked. It didn't bother me because it makes me want to pick up the second book so I can find out more, learn more about Maggie's powers and the different abilities of all the semis. And even though the romance was nice, I love that it wasn't the center of the book, that there was action and a plot that wasn't all about the love (I know you are gasping right now and can't believe I, the hopeless romantic, just said that, but it's true) but more about Maggie, her powers, her heritage and the secrets behind all the people in her life that knew what she was and didn't tell her.

I am really looking forward to the second book because honestly, this was a fun read that kept me smiling and laughing and even sometimes swooning a little.

[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read more of my reviews at Nick's Book Blog.

I hadn't read an entertaining YA Paranormal book in some time now which is why the summary for CHAOS piqued my interest. CHAOS was definitely a fun read with a spunky main character, but I did wish that there was more of a plot to it.

Maggie was a fiery main character. While I wouldn't say I connected with her, I did enjoy her. She didn't mince her words and said whatever came to her mind. Her wit and snark were undoubtedly the highlight of CHAOS for me. On the exterior she might have been this rather spirited teenager, but she was also dealing with a lot more than your normal teenager. She was having troubles at home with her mother and her grandmother who was slowly losing her memories. In addition, she had only recently found out that she was a semi-god, a descendent of Aphrodite. Because she couldn't control her abilities, her ex-boyfriend had also ended up in a coma and there was also the guilt of that looming over her head. Mac, on the other hand, was a bit of a mystery for most of the book. Sure, he was as witty as Maggie, but I never felt like I got to know the kind of person he was. However, that might be because I'm kind of over the hot mysterious guy phase that took over YA paranormal books. I do admit that he was hilarious though, especially with Maggie. He teased her, annoyed her and it was actually a blast to read about. I only wished his character had been slightly more developed to appreciate him more.

The world building in CHAOS was interesting and quite intriguing. However, I did feel like it could have been more developed than it was. I wanted to know about the semi-gods and about the watch-dog organization Mac worked for. In addition, I didn't feel like there was much of a plot to the book. For the most part, the book dealt with Maggie learning to control her powers and use it in a useful way. It was, for sure, quite entertaining, but there were times I wondered where exactly the plot was heading towards. Because of that, my attention kept waning a couple of times while I was reading CHAOS. The romance was one part that well done and to my liking. There was no insta-love, but there was some instant attraction, which I was okay with. Maggie and Mac initially had a tumultuous relationship. They started off not really liking each other and this dislike slowly grew into a friendship and eventually, something more. Their banter and constant bickering was so much fun to read.

While I wouldn't say I was blown away by CHAOS, I did think it was a fun read that didn't require too much thinking on my part. I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a relaxed YA Paranormal book. I'm looking forward to seeing what the author has in store for both Maggie and Mac in the future books of the series.

[Larissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

CHAOS is a fun new twist on Greek mythology. I adored Maggie's voice. It is extremely current and very teen. Maggie had me laughing out loud numerous times. Mac is a great bad boy--the kind you hate to love.

I didn't feel the romance between Maggie and Mac as much as I would have liked, and some aspects of the world (like the difference between a demi god and a semi god) weren't explained (or explained in an awkward place--like the middle of an action scene). But overall, this was a fresh, fantastic read.

I'll definitely be reading the next one!

4.5 stars

[Tiffany Riach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not get enough of this book and its great characters. I absolutely love Maggie. I loved her style, her attitude, how she talks and of course her best friends Libby and Bink. Then there is Mac, I had a crush on Mac from the beginning, even though he is a total jerk in the beginning you can't help but like him.

Chaos is original, hilarious and an easy read that I could not get enough of. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer]

Chaos is one of those perfect twist of Greek mythology and modern day. Maggie goes from being a normal high schooler to semi-god in a life changing episode. After she put her ex-boyfriend in a coma, a not so secret watchdog council sends out someone to evaluate if she should be “dealt with”. Maggie being an untrained newbie doesn’t really understand the implications with this and is more concerned about Mac, the hot guy that is messing with her school advice column. It’s not long before things turn ugly for Maggie and seems like Mac is the only person that can help her and even that is questionable.

One of the things I really like about Maggie is that I don’t like her in the beginning of the book. That sounds crazy right, but honestly there were some things that made me mad like the way she talks to her mom about the grandma situation. I thought in my head, she is being so immature and guess what, she should be because she is a teenager. I like that I didn’t like her because it gave her room to grow and as the book progresses, I really start see the other characteristics about her that come out the more you get to know her and as she develops through the book. I thought that was fantastic. So by the end of the book I was rooting for Maggie and thinking you kick butt girl!

I’m a greek mythology buff so I love when it’s incorporated and the use of it in this story is awesome. Especially when you get towards the end but I don’t want to spoil it so I won’t talk about that. I do however love the fact that it’s using Aphrodite mostly. You wouldn’t think the goddess of love would be a complicated thing but think about the gray area. Sometimes people do great and wonderful things for love, but there are also people who do bad twisted things in the name of love. It can go either way I like how that is kind of woven into the story.

I love the chemistry between Mac and Maggie. As the book goes on it gets better and better. It’s one of those things where it can be steamy without them even doing anything. Especially the way that other characters factor in. I just loved reading it. I think they are one of my favorite couples.

There are also great supporting characters. I love when the main character has some best friends. She has one that is Libby and that is who she tells everything to. Then there is Bink who she has been close to since they were kids but there are just some things that can only be shared between the two girls. Bink has an over protective streak that is endearing, he wants to beat up any guy that messes with Maggie which is why she sometimes doesn’t tell him things. Very sweet.

Wow an explosive ending I would say when I was about 80 percent I actually took a break and told my husband that I had to get ready because I knew it would be intense. Plus I knew that I had to read it when I was going to be able to read from there to the end because there would be no stopping which is what happened. So good I can’t wait for the next book, I must know what happens!

[Jus Accardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My Gods... O'Neil's voice blew me away. Chaos is original, smart, and full of spunky moment that had me snarfing coffee. I have a new girl-crush and her name is Maggie.

[Richa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted at City of Books

When I found out that Chaos is rooted in Greek mythology, I flipped out. I love anything with Greek mythology! I really liked Christine's take on the concept. It's different and unique, and that made it all the more intriguing to me. The writing style also really appealed to me - I actually felt like Maggie was talking to me instead of narrating her story.

Maggie knows she's descended from Aphrodite, but almost nothing else about herself and her powers. She has no idea how to control them, and she's already had one pretty huge accident regarding that. When Mac, the new and infuriating guy in school, tells her he can help her, she's not sure what to think. Mac's always been a thorn in her side, and she's never known why. Now she does. Mac was sent to her by the Council, and if she can't keep her powers in check, they'll sentence her. Maggie's life is at stake, and so is Mac's, though she doesn't know it. Chaos takes us through Maggie's struggle to control her powers while simultaneously repressing her urge to suck the love out of people. Yeah, you read that right.

Maggie's character is the perfect blend of snarky and compassionate. I loved her badass-ness and her humour. Also, her concern for her grandmother really surprised me and made me feel for her more. Though I wish her grandmother had more of a role in this book, because I can imagine that she'd be very interesting to get to know. Maggie's got two best friends - Bink and Libby, who she loves more than anything. They're always there for her, and vice versa. Libby even knows her secret, which is something she's never told anyone else. But Maggie still has the urge to steal love from people. It gives her satisfaction. And so she is compelled to steal objects that have meaning to people. It can be anything - from jewelry to pictures. And she can't stop herself. Side effect of being descended from Aphrodite. But I liked how much she progressed over the course of the book. Maggie learns to deal with her power, with help from Mac, and it was cool to see her develop.

Mac, on the other hand, I couldn't seem to like. He annoyed me quite a lot in the beginning, with all the stuff he pulled on Maggie. And they got worse. Mac isn't the kind of guy you'd immediately fall for, so I didn't get Maggie's insane attraction to him and inability to get him out of her head. I mean, he's been nothing but terrible to her, except for a few moments. He's cold at best. But I did start to like him towards the end, though I'm thinking it's a little too late for that to happen. Mac does a total 180 degrees and suddenly he's all concerned and protective of Maggie. Quite a drastic change. But I'm looking forward to the sequel to see how their relationship develops now that they both have admitted to liking one another.

A side character I really loved is Bink. He's been friends with Maggie for fifteen years, so they're obviously really close. I liked that there was no hint of a love triangle there, because the best friend thing is so overdone. Kudos to Christine for not going down that lane! Bink's funny, goofy, and cares a lot about Maggie and Libby. He's like a rock hard support, and I think Maggie's really lucky to have a friend like him to depend on.

Like I said, the mythology aspect really drew me in, especially the fact that the semi gods have powers. I can't wait to meet some other semi gods and find out what their powers are! And I do hope Mac becomes more likeable in the next book. Chaos is a strong start to this series, and I did enjoy reading it. I don't know what to expect from the sequel, since there wasn't a cliffhanger (thank god!) but I'm looking forward to it.

*Thank you to Heather Riccio at Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC for review*

[Stephanie Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

'CHAOS' is the first book in a young adult fantasy series that follows main character Maggie Raynard who suddenly learns that she's a semi-god descended from Aphrodite. When she loses her temper, things go horribly wrong - especially when she accidentally puts her ex into a coma. Enter the mysterious and handsome new guy named Mac Finnegan. He's continually on Maggie's nerves and definitely knows how to push her buttons. So on top of leading a normal teenager's life with school, friends, and boys, Maggie has to learn how to control her powers while not using them on Mac. To make a bad situation worse, Maggie learns that there's a council of semi-gods watching her every move and they're prepared to take her down if she makes a wrong move. Now Mac seems to be the only one on her side, but he's definitely hiding something - something that might get them both killed.

This was a really fun and exciting first novel in a new YA fantasy series that deals with mythology. The plot wasn't completely original since mythology is a big trend in the genre lately, but the author use of semi-gods and their powers along with the council and other story elements made it stand out from the others. The characters were realistic, all with their own personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. I really liked Maggie as a main character. She was believable, witty, smart, and definitely has attitude. I liked watching her character change and grow throughout the book as she learns about her powers and who she really is and then stepping up when she has to. The relationship between Maggie and Mac was rocky at the beginning and kind of cliched, but I liked their bantering and the way they eventually warmed up to each other. I loved all the detail and description the author put into the book about the mythology, especially the gods, semi-gods, their powers, and the council and its history. I found all of that really fascinating and I think it added a great dimension to the book. I hope that the next installment will allow us to go even further into that world and learn more about it. The writing was incredibly well done with a great pace that kept me reading eagerly to see what was going to happen next. I really liked this book and I'm glad that it's just the beginning of what promises to be an awesome series, but now I have to wait for the next book to be released. Highly recommended for fans of YA fantasy and paranormal fiction.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Hazel (Stay Bookish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at Stay Bookish

Maggie's nemesis, Mac Finnegan, is extremely hot. Great physique, beautiful face, a holy-mother-of-god smile, charming gray eyes and an Irish accent to match- Mac is totally a dream boat. Add in that mysterious yet confident vibe he's got going on to those dashing good looks, he could have easily been my favorite character. But no, he isn't. I gotta say- it was Maggie's character I enjoyed most.

Maggie, the main protagonist, despite being the usual angsty teenage girl who makes really questionable decisions, was ridiculously funny.

“He was wearing his standard tan jacket that clearly wasn’t meant for this weather, his hair perfect as usual, and I had to fight the urge to lean in and smell him. Weirdo alert. Ugh. Why did I want to sniff and grope the enemy? Was I some kind of masochist?”

I found myself laughing out loud a LOT of times. Maggie had a knack for sarcasm and profanity which was just really amusing. She was also hella ballsy and opinionated and I really liked that. There were moments I felt unable to relate to her but I thought her attitude and personality was really resplendent.

The other characters paled in comparison but I was fond of reading about their interactions with Maggie. Maggie’s BFFs, Libby and Bink were interesting enough. I particularly liked how Bink called Mac ‘Fake Gyllenhaal.’ Speaking of Mac, his relationship with Maggie was pretty entertaining. Even though they hated each other with a burning passion initially, the attraction between them was magnetic! Their banter was so hilarious and delightful!

I did have a few reservations with Chaos. When I dove into this, I was really excited about the mythology aspect and although the author presented a refreshing outlook on the topic, I wished we were able to learn more about the world she has introduced to us. The plot also felt slow and stilted since it focused mostly on Maggie’s training as a Kardia Aphrodite. But since I know that this is a series, there are still a lot of opportunities for the storyline to pick up!

Chaos was a really fun read, featuring a bunch of cool characters. It’s a compelling first book despite the drawn out plot. I did think the last chapters were pretty action-packed though! No cliff-hangers (thank god) but it’ll definitely leave you wanting more! I can’t wait for the next book!

[♥ Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chaos was your garden variety YA "tween" romance read, but with added sprinkles of Greek mythology to quench your appetite for some "awesome-sauce" PNR. Well, that and the protagonist, Maggie: she was her own flavor, spice, and dish – she was the main entrée, the essential ingredient, which ultimately made this whole story so easy to read and enjoy.

Again, I repeat: I loved Maggie. I loved the way she spoke with so much spunk, attitude, and honesty. I loved that even though she was "tough" on the outside, she cared SO much. Her varying layers of vulnerability truly struck (and impressed) me. Even though there was some serious insta-lust between her and Mac, their slow burning yet passionate romance, ripened into that all-encompassing, take-your-breath-away kind of love, hitting all the sweet spots that made me swoon and sigh alternately.

The only reason why this book didn't hit that 4 star rating for me was because I think the plot could've been heavier and tighter. A lot of the scenes that led up to the climax seemed somewhat irrelevant to the big picture (larger scheme of things). Maggie grappling w/ her sense of identity, and trying to control her hazardous, new-found powers were NOT something I wanted to read in specific detail for pages and pages and chapters and chapters. I would've "gotten" the point after a chapter or two. I think with a few editing tweaks here and there, this book could've easily been 4+ stars for me.

And though I loved all the side characters, Mac, the "watch-dog" council, the little twist at the end, and even the villain(s), the true shining star of this book was Maggie. I will definitely be picking up the sequel; I can't wait to see what happens! The story really is intriguing and unique in its execution and the way in which Maggie (and even Mac) are portrayed. I loved the yin/yang back & forth between the two, and will continue to root for their HEA!

[Sofia Lazaridou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will start saying that when Maggie gets mad her powers are unleashing. Just like Jacob who becomes a wolf when he gets mad. I liked the chemistry Mac and Maggie had. The characters where all great. Her friends were supportive, understanding and the kind of friends I would like to have. There is a teacher who is all about the rules and Mac who is the perfect hero for a YA paranormal novel. Maggie is not pissing me off but she is also not my favorite person. Libby is. I ship Bink and Libby.

I really liked the book and I can't wait for the second book but I am worrying about the mythology. I hope that the author won't decide to make a drastic change and f*** the mythology up. Things so far were as good as I could expect.

There was no hint of a love triangle!! Bink must be in love with Libby and Rafe is so not the guy she is interesting in. Even if some events hadn't happened Rafe was out of the question. So if another guy doesn't show up and try to claim her heart I will be really happy, though there is a chance that there will be some other guy since Mac and Maggie can't be together. I won't get into details so I won't spoil the book.

[Fernanda ❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este libro me gusto mucho mas de lo que creí :)

Creo que es entretenido y para pasar el rato esta perfecto, me gusta que la relacion entre Mac y Maggie no fuera instantanea y que se fuera dando de a poco, tambien la cosa de semi dioses y lo que pueden hacer, los dorados y todo eso se me hizo interesante :)


Solo una cosa. Me molesta que pongan que los protagonistas no están destinados a estar juntos por "x o y" razon y ya saben, lo bueno y que me gusto de este libro es que Mac y Maggie se atreven a romper esa regla y a estar juntos, espero que siga asi y que ninguno de los 2 empieze con las tonterias de "no podemos estar juntos... es para protegerte" bla bla bla...

Y bueno... no tenia ganas de escribir una gran reseña, asi que lo mas probable es que esta apeste, pero bah!

[Lisa (A Life Bound By Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining and thrilling YA story. Once finished it felt like it's setting up for some major things to happen in the coming book(s) for Mag's and Mac. Full review to follow soon for the blog tour.

[sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 en realidad. Es un libro raro, mucho. Hay ciertas partes que sí me han gustado, pero otras... para mí ha sido lentísimo. Y el amor... bueno, hay muy poco y me esperaba más. También ha habido cosas que no me he enterado, así que espero que el segundo sea mejor.

[What Makes Patri · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club, to know more about this book, go to the post in our website:

Chaos (Kardia Chronicles #1) by Christine O'Neil

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The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club's Review:

About The Book:

Maggie Raynard is different. She's a descendant of Aphrodite, more accurate a semi-god, and she suffers the consequences of it. When she's angry, she becomes a dangerous weapon and when she put her ex-boyfriend in a coma, others started to watch her.

Mac Finnegan is a new student in Maggie's school and has the ability of pissing Maggie off to the point of losing control. And with losing control comes her deadly part. But Mac is way more than a regular high school student with an interest for Maggie. Just like Maggie he's a semi and he's in town to watch her and decide If she's a threat for the people and, most of all, for the other semis and their secret.

Struggling with a teenage life and trying to control her new powers, Maggie finds herself drawn to insufferable Mac and the more time they spent together, the more Maggie's powers start to show up and also their attraction.

But Mac has his own secrets and while Mac might be her salvation, he might also be her doom. And they can end up dead. Both of them.

Review:

Every story with a spike of mythology in it, brings my attention instantly. And when we received the opportunity to read and review this book, I didn't have to think it twice. I said yes and I am really glad I did, because thanks to Entangled Teen I have read a wonderful story full of mythology, supernatural powers, romance, forbidden love and action.
This is a great story because you feel identified with the main character, Maggie. Not because of her character or the way she acts, but Ms. O'Neil's writing. It's like she entered the mind of a teenage girl and extracted all her thoughts and experiences. The language and the writing style is what brings you closer to the story and makes you believe that is possible to be Maggie.
But not only Maggie. All the characters have their own personalities and characters and makes the story unique.
Maggie is strong, smart and tries to keep herself sane from all the craziness her life has turn into since her powers started to show up in the middle of the night. She is scared and tries to avoid any interaction with people, in general, to avoid hurting them. It's not easy and she yearns to be normal, deep down, although she's not weeping about it in every corner. She has a lot of attitude and she's not afraid to show it, unless not with cocky Mac. That's one thing I really like about her. I like girls who have a strong attitude and show it to people.
Mac, on the other hand, is the representation of control and order. He's sent by the council of semis to watch Maggie and decide If she's a danger. At first, you want to punch him in the face and laugh at the same time. He puts the main character in stressful and uncomfortable situations that make her explode and she has to control herself from killing him and leaving him drop dead. At least that's what she thinks is going to happen. But then Mac, surprises us, and he's handsome (he already was before), cute and sensible. And we know he likes Maggie. We could feel it. However, we know that there were something more restraining him.
The plot was not something new or that would blow your mind. We're talking about mythology and semi-gods, but the author creates a good story that shows us a strong, but fragile girl that didn't choose to be a descendant of Aphrodite and she has an enormous power that is her doom. That's because she may be more evil than good, to our eyes. Why? Well, putting a boy in a coma, it's not something good and Maggie is tormented by it, but it doesn't change a thing. She has to life with the consequences.
I really liked thinking of Maggie as a succubus. It reminded me a lot of the TV Show Lost Girl, without the mature parts of it. Remember that this is a young adult story. I felt bad for Maggie and wanted to punch Mac for not being more sensitive with her. It's not like she chose to be what she is or hurt people. He's kind of a jerk, at first. But we still love him.
I loved the twists and unexpected turns this story has and I was really relieved, sort of, to know all the truth at the end of the story. Well, when you start to approach the end of the story and everything goes wrong and the bad guys are winning and those things that usually happen.
This series has a lot of potential and I am definitely going to follow this books, because Maggie's story does not end up after fighting with the bad ones, it has only started. Once I started reading this book I couldn't stop and I was left heartbroken. I could not believe that their story ended like this and I hope to read that they find I solution. However, I also think that it was not only a clever and unexpected turn in the story, but a fascinating one that would keep readers yearning and waiting anxiously for the second book. I can say this for experience.
I highly recommend this book for fans of young adult stories with a mix of supernatural/paranormal stuff, mythology and fantasy. And encourage other fans of young adult, to read Maggie's story, because I know that you would enjoy it. Because the characters are funny, the story is incredible, full of mythology, magic and action and you'd get hooked with the forbidden love and hate of this story.
And because I am unofficially a fan of the Kardia Chronicles, I am giving this book a four and a half gorjuss dolls from our ranking.
Don't miss Maggie story and meet gorgeous Mac, because this story can be lovable and dangerous, as well.

Dream Cast:



India Eisley as Maggie
Austin Butler as Mac

[Anncleire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blog Tour on my blog August 30th
Review + Giveaway
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“Chaos” è capitato nelle cose da leggere per un caso fortuito, uno di quelli regalati dalla sorte, dalle mail e da una delle mille iniziative a cui mi piace partecipare. Impazzisco a stare dietro a tutto ma a certe cose sono proprio incapace di dire di no. Primo volume delle “The Kardia Chronicles” mi ha colpito fin dalla prima riga della trama e ha iscrizioni aperte ho subito aderito all’iniziativa perché è davvero speciale. E ho fatto bene visto che il libro mi è piaciuto molto.


Il mio nome è Maggie Raynard. Dopo aver passato sedici anni in assoluta tranquillità, improvvisamente, quando sto per perdere la calma, le mie dita diventano armi di distruzione di massa. Ho scoperto di essere un semi-dio, discendente da Afrodite. Sembra forte in teoria, ma quando ho mandato accidentalmente il mio ex ragazzo in coma, le cose sono precipitate in fretta.
Ora un ragazzo che si chiama Mac Finnegan ha come missione nella vita di farmi continuamente arrabbiare. E ora sono bloccata ad imparare come usare i miei nuovi problemi mentre faccio i conti con i normali problemi da liceale, e con questo ragazzo irritante ma super hot sempre con il naso negli affari miei, sto per esplodere.
Ma peggiora. Ho appena scoperto che c’è questo cane da caccia del consiglio di semi-dei che sta tenendo un occhio per qualsiasi mela cattiva. Pensano che sia la peggior del gruppo e vogliono farmi fuori prima che faccia altri danni. La mia nemesi Mac diventa la mia salvezza, ma ha un segreto…che potrebbe farci uccidere entrambi.


Era un po’ che non leggevo young adult, ma soprattutto era da un po’ di tempo che non mi capitava per le mani un paranormale puro e semplice. Ero un po’ preoccupata, perché difficilmente si riesce a fare qualcosa di speciale in un campo che è super sviluppato. Dopo aver letto la serie mitologica di Aimée Carter e quella di Josephine Angelini, credevo di averle lette tutte e invece mi sono dovuta ricredere ampiamente. Christine O'Neil ha svolto un ottimo lavoro, creando non solo una storia originale, ma anche incredibilmente divertente e appassionante, che resta nel cuore del lettore. È facile scadere nell’anonimato e nella ripetizione di cose già viste, ma in questo caso si ha a che fare con una storia molto affascinante.
La protagonista è proprio Maggie, una ragazza come ce ne sono tante che ha un dono eccezionale. È lei che racconta la storia in prima persona, è lei che ci regala la sua prospettiva, unica e affascinante è con lei che veniamo a conoscere i problemi che l’affliggono e come cerca di porvi rimedio, ma soprattutto è con lei che impariamo a conoscere Mac. Maggie sa quello che vuole, essere se stessa, vivere al meglio la propria vita e conservare il ricordo del padre e di sé stessa a qualsiasi costo. Incurante dei dettami della moda, assolutamente esilarante nella sua imbranata simpatia, Maggie è una ragazza comune, di quelle che si trovano in un normale liceo, sta vivendo il suo junior year straziandosi il cuore per quello che accaduto sei mesi prima e cercando di non perdersi nell’immensità del potere che vive in lei. Arrabbiata con la madre che le ha sempre nascosto tutto quello che c’era da sapere sulla sua vera identità e sulla sua discendenza dalla stessa Afrodite, Maggie deve fare i conti con un accumulo di situazioni che manderebbe fuori di cervello qualsiasi persona, figurarsi una liceale. Ma la ragazza non è la damisell in distress che ha bisogno del cavaliere sul cavallo bianco, no è donna abbastanza da salvarsi da sola.
E poi ecco abbiamo il figo di turno, Mac, “The Irish Dude”, uno di quelli che non passano mai inosservati, che gira sempre con uno stuolo di ragazze che gli sbavano dietro. Mac non è quello che sembra, ha un mare di segreti, conosce molto, ma dispensa informazioni con il contagocce e diventa incredibilmente frustrante. Come Maggie si ha voglia da un lato di saltargli addosso, dall’altro di sbattergli la testa contro il muro. Poi ci sono certe scene, come quella dell’armadio, che ti lasciano in uno stato di esaltazione unico, perché andiamo un hot boy del genere non si trova proprio dietro l’angolo. Ma con i suoi modi scherzosi, le sue prese in giro e i suoi modi a volte bossy altre delicati, riesce a calmare ed a infondere un senso di fiducia in Maggie che si ritrova sempre sballottata dalle sue emozioni, da questo desiderio incolmabile e travolgente, questo bisogno disperato e potente. E non voglio aggiungere di più, perché infondo Mac è un personaggio tutto da leggere e da scoprire.
I personaggi vari e incredibili sono assolutamente affascinanti a partire da Libby la vegetariana migliore amica di Maggie, Bink il suo fedele compagno da avventure fin dall’infanzia e poi la madre e la nonna che avranno un ruolo più importante di quello che sembra. Non posso non citare l’odiosa Hortensia che causerà un mare di guai.
Una delle cose che più mi ha colpito del libro è la quantità di citazioni e riferimenti ad altri libri ya famosi al giorno d’oggi: da “Harry Potter” a “Twilight” passando per “The Hunger Games” che creano continuità e avvalorano quella sensazione di avere a che fare con una ragazza qualsiasi, con una ragazza che si potrebbe incontrare a scuola.

Il particolare da non dimenticare? Un biglietto…

Non posso che suggerire la lettura di questa storia affascinante e incredibilmente divertente che strappa una risata, dopo aver portato via il fiato ai lettori ad ogni apparizione di Mac sulla scena. Tra alti e bassi la tensione aumenta e diventa quasi intollerabile, fino alla fine, quando alcuni misteri vengono svelati.
Sul sito dedicato alla serie la O’Connelly ha pubblicato proprio oggi uno straordinario except dal pov di Mac, insomma una figata pazzesca!
Io intanto aspetto il secondo volume, “Control” in uscita per Entangled Teens a dicembre 2013. Non vedo l’ora.
Buona lettura guys!


Ringrazio immensamente InkSlinger PR e Entangled Teens per avermi permesso di leggere un ARC di questo libro e di partecipare al blog tour. Grazie.

[Dany Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

😍😍😍

[Nixida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entretenido.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greek mythology seems to be the new vampire. And you know what? I’m fine with it. It’s interesting, it’s around us and it’s romantic (not necessarily “swoon” romantic.)Maggie Raynard lived a normal life with her parents and grandmother for 16 years. When she was a girl her father died. When she turned 16, her bloodline of semi-gods descendants of Aphrodite started manifesting her hidden powers. Most dangerous of them is: her hands can kill you if she’s angry, stressed or any other type of negative emotion. Literally suck the life out of you. Not good!Her mother and grandmother had their powers bound and never regretted it. Though what resulted is Maggie knowing nothing about that part of her. Her mother is now telling her only what she must know, and that she have to suppress her urges until they’re completely developed so they can then bind them, too.And then she zaps her ex-boyfriend and renders him in a coma. Very bad!When Mac Finnegan shows up one day at school, hailing from Scotland, she’s both smitten and annoyed. He seems to be doing his best to piss her off, and pissing her off will not end well for him. Or will it?“Wha-What are you doing?”“Helping you like you asked, you pain in the arse. Now close your eyes. And it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if you did the same with your mouth.”"Once we get there," he continued, "they'll put you though a series of tests. When you fail, they'll make sure this gets taken care of."A supervising council decided she’s too dangerous and her powers must be stripped, but along with them, all her memories of her father will be stripped as well. She won’t know herself anymore. But what happens when she’s deemed responsible for murder?I love Maggie. She’s fun, smart, kind of a loner and she’s really doing her best to control her life. Her character seems to be developing with her powers and so does her sense of responsibility. With each newfound aspect of herself, another layer of the story is revealed.And Mac. I laughed so hard at some of his antics. This boy is smart and knows exactly which buttons to push with Maggie. As expected, he’s there for a reason, and we can guess what that reason is, but then his purpose seems to shift and that’s when the story truly begins. He is swoony, sexy and adorable.“What’s your favorite movie?” Mac asked softly.The question was so unexpected… so um-Mac-like, I had to ask him to repeat it. I flopped onto my side to face him and stuffed my arm under my head for support.“You can’t laugh if I tell you.”He half smiled but didn’t open his eyes. “Nope. No promises there.”“Dirty Dancing.““That’s tat old movie where they’re not allowed to put babies in the corner, right?”I snorted and he full-on smiled.Adorbs, yes?The book has wonderfully fun and potentially smexy banter between Maggie and Mac, and I often found myself laughing out loud (my sister had to stop by my room to check what I was up to).I can’t forget Libby and Bink, Maggie’s best friends. Those two make the high-school atmosphere in the book. They’re fun and Libby especially, has the role of a best friend down pat. Between excitement over school dances, boy gossip and “playing” dressup – she’s helping set the teen vibe in the story.I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I think this series has great potential. A little more rigorous editing/proofreading job would eliminate some minor, yet annoying errors.The world of semi-gods O’Neil created around her version of mythology interpretation is fascinating and I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series and hope it’s not too far behind.I'd like to thank Sarah Nicolas at Entangled Press for a copy of this book.

[Chapter by Chapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chaos (Kardia Chronicles #1) by Christine O'Neil I really wanted to check out CHAOS by author Christine O’Neil after I saw the cover and read the description on Goodreads. It sounded like it would be great. Greek mythology, a super powerful teenager girl MC and dangerous secrets? Sounds like a fun read and guess what? CHAOS was great. From start to finish I loved getting to read this novel. I laughed, shouted and got intense feels.
In CHAOS main character Maggie Raynard is a descendant of the goddess Aphrodite (otherwise known as a semi-god). Maggie’s semi-god powers have made her a walking, talking weapon that can cause some serious damage and destruction. Her abilities were what caused her to put her last boyfriend in a coma. Ever since then she’s been busy working on her anonymous advice column but when she suddenly starts to receive alternative columns written by somebody calling themself He.
It doesn’t take her long to discover that Mac Finnegan is behind it. Mac is a total jerk and lately he’s made it his goal to try and make Maggie furious. But when Maggie learns why Mac has been targeting her and that he may know more about the semi-gods than she originally thought. Then she finds out that there is a semi-god counsel that has heard about Maggie and her abilities and believes that she’s a threat to everybody around her. Worst of all Mac holds Maggie’s future in his hands.
The most memorable thing about CHAOS by far is author Christine O’Neil’s voice. The way that CHAOS is written is very unique. It’s told in the first person but the writing style does make Maggie’s character very clear and realistic. Throughout the novel I felt like I wasn’t just in Maggie’s head I actually felt like I was Maggie in certain scenes just because she’s written pretty realistically for a teenage girl.  There’s a lot of small things that were used in Maggie’s inner thoughts that really made her relatable and an all-around fun character.
Who I really want to talk about is Mac Finnegan. I loved and hated him and wanted to punch him and cry over how badly I shipped (wanted him to be with) him with Maggie all at once. Mac Finnegan is this drop dead, too hot to touch Irish boy who has made it his mission to make Maggie’s life Hell. He has his reasons why (they aren’t the best reasons but because I want to make this as spoiler free as possible I won’t list what those reasons really are). Anyways, when he wants to be Mac is a total jerk who needs a good slap in the face…
And on other occasions he’s this really sweet guy who you just want to hug. And sometimes Mac also comes off as a total player that you know is there to stir up trouble. As the novel progresses Mac and Maggie do have some attraction forming between them and I really liked it. I liked the forbidden aspect of their relationship, the dangers of it and how the two of them both want to be together. Readers are going to like what Mac has to offer, he’s a cross between a bad boy and a total sweetheart.
It’s pretty great.
From start to finish I was hooked on CHAOS, it was one of those reads that get you addicted and you just have no idea why but you know that you just have to get one more chapter in. With the way that this novel ended I have a pretty good idea that the sequel will be twice as awesome and way more intense. I also hope for more Mac because I really wanted my own Mac but life is unfair liked his character.
I would recommend CHAOS to readers who are fans of Greek mythology/lore, readers who want a new book boyfriend (*cough* Mac! You need more Mac in your life! *cough*) and to readers who are fans of seriously awesome romances with large doses of badassery and a very witty main character.

[Kayleigh {K-Books} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chaos Review on K-Books

Right from the moment I first heard of Chaos I really couldn't wait to read it. I a huge fan of Entangled Teen books and have loved pretty much every single one I have read to date so that was enough for me to want to read this book. The bonus? when I read "Turns out I'm a semi-god, descended from Aphrodite." I just about squealed. I am such a huge fan of mythology and I adore mythology in novels, particularly greek mythology, so it turned Chaos into a want to read into a must-read for me.

Maggie is different. After being just normal teenage girl suddently if Maggie gets angry she turns into a weapon of mass destruction. She doesn't know how to control it so she does what she can to make sure she doesn't get angry. But then there's Mac Finnegan. The boy who Maggie wants and wants to kill all at the same time. He seems determined to push her buttons as far as he can and make her flip. But why is he so determined to piss Maggie off? Does he know more than he is letting on? And when Maggie is dragged into danger Mac may just be the only one who can save her.

I really enjoyed Chaos. It has lots of things that I love. A strong female protagonist, a dash of romance and lots of kick-ass magical elements. The further I got through Chaos the more I started to enjoy it. It's really intriguing to start with and it kept me guessing for the most part through. The only little issue that I had with it is that I felt that it took quite a long time for hte storyline to start. I was through to chapter 9 or 10 before I felt that the story was really starting. The first 10 chapters kind of felt like a build up and I kind of sat there thinking "okay I'm excited for what I feel is going to start happening but can it kinda just like start already?" Once the story did finally get going I flew through the book. It was an incredible story.

Maggie is without a doubt one of the best female protagonists. I just adore her. She's fun, she's snarky and she's totally kick-ass. She really reminded me of Jessie from Jus Accardo's Darker Days, the other Entangled Teen Ember novel and I'm starting to think is this something to look forward to in all their books? Awesome snarky fun protagonists? If so I am very excited as they are my favourite kind. As well as all those things she was totally kick-ass. Who doesn't love a snarky kick-ass heroine?

Mac... Oh Mac. Mac. Mac. I had such a difficult time liking Mac. I so wanted to love him. He's hot and Irish and I have such a weakness for Irish guys they are just so yummy and their accent? *sigh* But unfortunately for me Mac didn't have the personality to back all of that up. I understand a little why he acted the way he did but seriously? He was just the biggest Douche ever! And not in the fun, flirty I like you but I'm still being a asshole way that makes me still love the character. For me he was just being an asshole for the sake of it. And it was so hard to like him. I started to warm towards him a little in the end but I'm still not a big fan. He has major things to make up for in the second installment of the series to me.

Chaos was a really good start to what is looking to be a really great, mythological series. I enjoyed Chaos a lot, especially the second half. If you want a book that has a good balence of action, mythological magic and romance then Chaos should definitely be on you to-read list. I really enjoyed it even though I felt like it took a little long to get started. I am really looking forward to reading the second one in the series. A great start to a new mythological series.

[Chapter by Chapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wanted to check out CHAOS by author Christine O’Neil after I saw the cover and read the description on Goodreads. It sounded like it would be great. Greek mythology, a super powerful teenager girl MC and dangerous secrets? Sounds like a fun read and guess what? CHAOS was great. From start to finish I loved getting to read this novel. I laughed, shouted and got intense feels.

In CHAOS main character Maggie Raynard is a descendant of the goddess Aphrodite (otherwise known as a semi-god). Maggie’s semi-god powers have made her a walking, talking weapon that can cause some serious damage and destruction. Her abilities were what caused her to put her last boyfriend in a coma. Ever since then she’s been busy working on her anonymous advice column but when she suddenly starts to receive alternative columns written by somebody calling themself He.

It doesn’t take her long to discover that Mac Finnegan is behind it. Mac is a total jerk and lately he’s made it his goal to try and make Maggie furious. But when Maggie learns why Mac has been targeting her and that he may know more about the semi-gods than she originally thought. Then she finds out that there is a semi-god counsel that has heard about Maggie and her abilities and believes that she’s a threat to everybody around her. Worst of all Mac holds Maggie’s future in his hands.

The most memorable thing about CHAOS by far is author Christine O’Neil’s voice. The way that CHAOS is written is very unique. It’s told in the first person but the writing style does make Maggie’s character very clear and realistic. Throughout the novel I felt like I wasn’t just in Maggie’s head I actually felt like I was Maggie in certain scenes just because she’s written pretty realistically for a teenage girl. There’s a lot of small things that were used in Maggie’s inner thoughts that really made her relatable and an all-around fun character.

Who I really want to talk about is Mac Finnegan. I loved and hated him and wanted to punch him and cry over how badly I shipped (wanted him to be with) him with Maggie all at once. Mac Finnegan is this drop dead, too hot to touch Irish boy who has made it his mission to make Maggie’s life Hell. He has his reasons why (they aren’t the best reasons but because I want to make this as spoiler free as possible I won’t list what those reasons really are). Anyways, when he wants to be Mac is a total jerk who needs a good slap in the face…

And on other occasions he’s this really sweet guy who you just want to hug. And sometimes Mac also comes off as a total player that you know is there to stir up trouble. As the novel progresses Mac and Maggie do have some attraction forming between them and I really liked it. I liked the forbidden aspect of their relationship, the dangers of it and how the two of them both want to be together. Readers are going to like what Mac has to offer, he’s a cross between a bad boy and a total sweetheart.

It’s pretty great.

From start to finish I was hooked on CHAOS, it was one of those reads that get you addicted and you just have no idea why but you know that you just have to get one more chapter in. With the way that this novel ended I have a pretty good idea that the sequel will be twice as awesome and way more intense. I also hope for more Mac because I really wanted my own Mac but life is unfair liked his character.

I would recommend CHAOS to readers who are fans of Greek mythology/lore, readers who want a new book boyfriend (*cough* Mac! You need more Mac in your life! *cough*) and to readers who are fans of seriously awesome romances with large doses of badassery and a very witty main character.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what I imagined dying would feel like, but it definitely wasn't this. No life flashing before my eyes. No sweet fond memories of my childhood. Not even regrets. Just...nothing.

The book description for Chaos pretty much sums up perfectly what the book is about, so I'm not going to go into too much detail and rehash things too much, I'll just jump straight into my thoughts.

Maggie Raynard has got spunk!! Being inside her head guaranteed that there was never a dull moment throughout the story. She has this super sarcastic inner monologue going on throughout the whole book. I loved it!! But she doesn't just keep all those thoughts to herself. She lets that wit and sarcasm out for all to see. She can drop the F word with the best of them, but then she can be so loving, thoughtful and caring. She really struggles with her feelings over her increasing powers and the events that lead to her ex boyfriend Eric being in a coma. She really was a fantastically well rounded character.

Mac Finnegan was a bit of a mystery for most of the book. He was incredibly gorgeous, cocky and self assured, but because the story is told from Maggie's point of view, and Mac didn't give a whole lot away about himself, it took a little longer to get to know him. But every now and then he would give Maggie a little insight into what his life has been like and we slowly got to know him better. But it wasn't until almost the end of the book that we really get to understand more about what has made him the man that he is today.

Mac Finnegan.
Opinionated, annoying, hot - did I mention annoying? - Mac Finnegan, who had barely given me the time of day since he'd come to Crestwood High. Mac Finnegan, who thought he was soooo cool with his Irish accent and his mocking smile. Mac Finnegan, who inexplicably made me want to lick him like an ice cream cone and then immediately rinse my mouth out with acid.

While Mac infuriated Maggie, her attraction to him was pretty evident from fairly early on in the story, but I spent a good portion of the book questioning whether it was completely one sided. This is no gushing romance where the characters couldn't keep their hands off each other. Whenever things occurred between Maggie and Mac they flowed and developed naturally. I loved their banter and their teasing. I adored Mac's nickname for Maggie. I really loved that the author didn't go with instant love between the two of them.

The support characters were all pretty awesome. Maggie isn't all that popular but the two best friends that she has, do more than make up for that. Libby and Bink were caring and supportive. Always ready to jump to Maggie's defence. While not really prominent characters, her Mum and Grandma are an important part of the story and I have a feeling that they may play a much bigger part in the next book. And then there is Rafe. Oh, how I despised him. Even from when he's first introduced to us there was something a bit off about him but eventually his true colours are revealed.

I loved Christine O'Neil's writing. I loved her characters. I loved her world building. I loved the development and pacing of pretty much everything. One thing I'm looking for in the next book is a bit more insight into the world of the semi-gods and some more glimpses into Mac's character. But overall Chaos was a fantastic, well paced read.

4.5/5 Stars.

[Zareena · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main reason Chaos drew me in was the premise of mythology because I'm always up for it. Maggie recently found out she is a descendent from Aphrodite and is therefore called a semi (like semi-god). However, she doesn't have cool, kick-ass powers but instead has to contain her powers for fear of hurting those around her as they're really destructive. Then Mac shows up, determined to piss her off to the end of times. It turns out he's actually also a semi and was sent by The Council; he's been told to observe her and decide whether or not she needs to be strippped of all her powers and memories - or killed - after accidently putting her date in a coma.

At first I wasn't sure whether or not I liked the characters and it took be a few chapters for them to grow on me. Even then, in the first half there were a lot of times when I though Maggie was rash and selfish while Mac was downright mean. By the 1/3 way mark though the annoyances in their personalities had pretty much gone away. Once Mac realises that Maggie won't be intimidated into submission he agrees to help her learn to control her abilities and this is where the book really picks up. They develop a sort of friendship even though Mac, sometimes, seems to be disgusted with her and each of them can't stand the other. However, it was still a friendship of sorts.

As the book went on though I found myself feeling more and more sad. I felt so bad for Maggie. Her mom and grandma hid her heritage from her and even now won't talk about it, so she was left to deal with the pressure of controlling her gifts for fear of hurting somebody else. Then Mac shows up having already decided she's the scum of the earth and even when he starts to understand her a bit more he makes it clear that at the end of the day she's alone and she can't screw up or he'll turn her in. Which is true (about the messing up bit) but I wish Mac would have been a bit nicer to her instead of doing his best to devastate her.

Then there's the fact that Maggie is overcome with desire every time she sees Mac and him being the only guy she can touch without harming him does nothing to diminish her desire. But it isn't really a happy romance. Mac has a girlfriend and it ripped both mine and Maggie's heart out each time Mac pulled away and rubbed his girlfriend in her face.

Anyway, besides the characters, the plot was quite interesting. It isn't quite Greek mythology, more like descendants from random gods, called kardia (e.g. Maggie is kardia Aphrodite). Maggie's friends were also nice additions to the book and it was a relief to have people there supporting hr instead of threatening her with the idea of being stripped of her powers or killed. The end of the book has me wondering what will happen next and I will be reading the sequel :) .

Besides an epilogue there is a bit of an "extra" from Mac's POV and, out of the whole book, it was the part which gave me the most insight into Mac's feelings. Having read that I am so much more sympathetic to him and now my heart hurts for both of them. I really wish the author had made it easier to related to Mac earlier on, possibly by adding dual POV. Overall it was a good read and was a nice YA fantasy.

YA
3.5 stars

[Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chaos was amazing. It was spectacular. It was superb. Words cannot describe the awesome that is this book. If you look here, you can see that about a month ago, I was part of the cover reveal for this book. The language in this book is a bit over the top, and I don't recommend it to readers who are either younger or like clean books. The romance isn't as over the top, but the moments, which are few and far between, are steamy. I find that Entangled Publishing tends to have really good taste in books to publish. I've read multiple books published by them and each time they are amazing and often better than I expected, like with Chaos. Chaos was provided for me in eBook form by the publisher. I expected it to be just another book that I read, one that wouldn't stand out, but boy was I wrong. I read this book in approximately one day. So what if I was up past midnight, it was worth it.

The main character is Maggie. She is pretty awesome. I have a couple pet peeves with her, which I'll get out of the way. One, she has a fairly poor body image. Not to say she hates herself, but it's little comments that hint at her insecurity and could affect the reader, especially young women. Two, she blames herself for things that either aren't her fault or anyone else would have done in her position. Namely with a character named Eric. She blames herself for what happened to him and, while she may have been the catalyst, it was his fault and his alone. Maggie apologizes easily, but that's something that I think will change over the course of the books. Her language is crude, even compared to other books I've read, but at the same time, I know people who speak like her in real life. It may not be the norm, but after what Maggie's been through, she can say just about anything she wants. The male protagonist is Mac. Granted, he's a jerk for most of the book. I'm positively sick of his behavior by this point, but if nothing else, I think that will turn around in book two. After the end of Chaos, there's no doubt in my mind that book two will be angst filled. That disappoints me, only because I feel that angst tends to get in the way of actual plot. Hopefully, the characters will be able to get over it sooner rather than later, but only time will tell.

The book was plotted perfectly. It was plotted in such a way that I read it so fast, that I can barely remember how fast or slow it was. The plot might have been slow as can be, but it kept me interested which caused me not to notice. The story is amazingly done with just the right balance or development and action. The end was somewhat predictable, but that is to be expected after reading so many books. It's almost easy to pick up the foreshadowing in books after reading as many as I have, but this book had me reading so fast that I didn't really have time to think about it. More serious readers might have a hard time with the book and determine it 'fluffy' but you really should read it. As a teenager myself, I can connect with the main character and empathize with her. I get what her and her friends are going through. There are grammatical errors, but only a few. So get those spines cracking and dig in!

[JWinter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, strong plot that is a twist on a much loved trope. The characters were likable and the world building was good!

[Barb Lie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chaos by Christine O’Neil is the first book in her new YA Kardia Chronicles series. Our heroine in this story is Maggie Raynard, who is 16 and has recently discovered that much of her life has been built on a lie. A boy lies in a coma, because one night she became angry and lost control of herself, using powers she never knew she had. Her mother and grandmother have kept this secret for years, as she awaits her next birthday, where her powers will become full force. She must learn to control those powers, as Maggie is a semi god. Will she be able to control them? If she does not, how many more people will she hurt?

When we meet Maggie, she is writing a secret column for students…an advice column, using the surname, SHE. No one other then her friends, knows that Maggie is She. This was her way of escaping from the reality of her future. Her best friend, Libby, knows the truth, and help keep Maggie sane. Her other friend from childhood, is the school’s star quarterback, Bink. It is Libby and Bink, who are always there for Maggie, and the three of them are great friends.

One day, after one of her advices posts, she finds a note in her locker. It is from someone who is mocking her advice, and starting his own rebuttal advice, calling himself HE. Maggie knows it’s the hot looking new student, named Mac Finnegan. Eventually, Mac will reveal to Maggie who he truly is, and her life is about to change. Mac is another semi god, or perhaps someone stronger. He was sent to investigate her by the council of semi gods, as a uncontrolled semi god is a danger to everyone. Mac at first is cold, letting Maggie know she is destined for failure. In time, he sees another part of Maggie that changes his tune, but he knows the result will be the same. So he takes it upon himself to try to help train Maggie to learn to control her dangerous and powerful ability, which could cost her life. What ensues is an exciting, and at times fun story of two people not meant for each other, yet who have become strongly attracted to one another. Maggie lets it be known that she is falling hard for Mac, but he backs off, and refuses to acknowledge his attraction.

Mac knows there are others watching Maggie, and time is of essence. But her temper, which is also uncontrollable, and some of her past which changes things, causes her to make a bad mistake, pushing Mac away, and putting her own life in danger.

As I said, this book has an interesting concept, exciting story, lots of action later in the book, and a lot of humorous moments. Christine O’Neil has created a wonderful savvy heroine in Maggie, who is very opinionated, and thinks nothing of telling it like it is…at least her version. What happens to Maggie? Will Maggie and Mac become a couple despite the odds? Who is the betrayer and why? Who is the Council that will decide Maggie’s fate? You will need to read this book to find the answers. I enjoyed Chaos, and can’t for the next book.

Barb
The Reading Cafe

[Sheri (Tangled Up In Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Tangled Up In Books

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to be reading and reviewing Chaos for the Ember Blog Tour to kick off Entangled's newest branch to their teen line. I am always fascinated by mythology and reading the different ways it's woven into stories. Chaos was quite different from the things I've read in the past.

At first I was finding difficulty in liking the two main characters Maggie and Mac. Maggie was for the most part, you're average teenage girl. She had her own set of faults. Such as the fact that she was very selfish and she lashed out easily and often. and I felt like the way she treated her mom just didn't feel deserved. Sure here were things to be upset and a bit angry with, that much I did understand, but it just sort of felt like too much. Though the more that I got to know Maggie and what was going on or had gone on in her life up to the point that we meet her, the more I understood and was able to look past her temper and such and eventually came to like her quite a bit.

Mac was such a jerk. He antagonized and pushed Maggie and he really seemed to enjoy getting her angry. He was also very cocky and sure of himself. Just not really a good guy, in the beginning. Then as it was with Maggie, the story progressed, I got to know more about him, learned his secret and after that things just started to click. It still wasn't cool how he acted towards her in the beginning, but, it was easier to see where he was coming from and understand his reasons and by the end of the book he'd won me over completely.

At this point, being the first book in the series, we've just barely scratched the surface of the mythology of this world and how the magic works and so on, It was very interesting and unique and I hope and am looking forward to learning more about the other types of semi gods and how they work. Also hopefully Maggie can learn more about herself and her powers.

This book was such a fun read. There was danger and intensity. Quite a few laugh out loud moments. There was also a bit of romance as well, the sexual tension was pretty crazy and it really added something interesting to an already good book without overpowering it and taking away from the main focus of the book, Maggie and her struggles in dealing with her dangerous new powers and how to get herself in control before the council takes matters into their own hands, her sense of self and finding out who she is now that she's not an average girl and also the struggles she's going through with her family.

Overall I enjoyed this book a lot. I found it unique and engaging and the perfect start to what seems like will be a favorite new series. I'm already hooked and looking forward to the next one. If you're a fan of mythology then you should really give it a try!

[Jess at Such a Novel Idea · Rating 4 out of 5]

For this review & more, visit Such A Novel Idea.

Why You Should Buy It

A fresh twist on an ancient story, Chaos will make you laugh, tear up, and fall in love with this descendant of the goddess of love herself.

My Thoughts

*I received this e-book in exchange for an honest review via the author/publisher.*

I may sound like a broken record, but I will say it again — I.LOVE.GREEK.MYTHOLOGY. I especially love when they are folded into a contemporary story. I’m pretty big on the Persephone/Hades love quandary, so this one was a bit different for me. Maggie is a descendant of Aphrodite, a semi-god. The closest I’ve read to this is the Starcrossed series. In a lot of ways Helen and Maggie are the same — they unexpectedly find out they have these powers when they are in their teens, no one really is there to teach them about who they are, and they are both threats in some ways. However, Chaos goes in a much different direction as far as mythology is concerned. And it does draw back into that contemporary/teen setting, where we are experiencing a lot of day-to-day with Maggie, Mac, and the other characters.

Right off the bat, I could tell I was going to love this book. Maggie is HILARIOUS and had such a genuine personality. I could tell O’Neil poured her heart into the character. She made me laugh, but deeper than that, she made me care about her. She had a no-nonsense attitude that I respected and was just the right touch of goddess and human.

The writing was natural and will connect well with teens. There was a lot of reference to pop-culture, which I loved, because it really grounded the story (again) in the day-to-day. The writing also was just witty and conversational — I felt like I was looking into a friend tell me a story. The drama in the story is a great blend of greek goddess major issues and normal teenage drama. It really made the book seem more genuine. Of course the back and forth of Mac and Maggie was a bit eyerolly, because of course we could FEEL the tension between the two. That, however, is normal in teen romance. Everyone else sees what the ‘couple’ doesn’t.

I SHOULD have seen the end coming, it is one that happens a lot in these types of books. I hope, much like some other series, there will be a good resolution in future books.

To me, the cover wasn’t really getting the essence of Maggie. Maggie was sexy in a non-descript way — with her tshirts, jeans, and vans. I know they like to sex it up for covers, but I don’t think we really got “Maggie” from that. I do like how she isn’t wearing make-up.

Did I like it? YES. Will I be sticking with the series? SO MUCH YES! The series brought something fresh to the Greek myth retelling and I’m really excited to have had the opportunity to read and review the book.

Overall 4/5 stars

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: 3 ½ out of 5 stars

Chaos is the first book in the Kardia Chronicles by Christine O’Neil and was a nice start to the series.

Our protagonist is sixteen-year old Maggie Raynard who has the unusual ability to use her fingers as weapons of mass destruction when she is angry; she is a semi-god, a distant descendant from the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Maggie is clueless about her powers and how to control them but knows first-hand the damage she can cause after putting her ex-boyfriend in a coma.

Maggie was a character I liked but didn’t love, most of the time she was snarky and came across as spoilt but then she’d show a more compassionate side, especially when it came to her grandmother and friends which I really liked.

Maggie writes an advice column she signs She, when responses come from someone titled He she instantly knows its Mac Finnegan who has been a constant annoyance to her since his arrival at school.

Mac with his smexy Irish accent and arrogance baffled me; he knows what Maggie is and offers to help her control her powers; he didn’t do it easily and made her work for it but I never knew whether he could be trusted or not because of his hot and cold behaviour and also because he wasn’t overly forthcoming with information about what he was but as the book progressed I liked his personality changes and his protective side.

The romance definitely wasn’t at the forefront of the story, it was a slow build-up which I appreciated and a few hopeful moments between the MC’s but there was also a pretty big reveal at the end of the book so I’m curious to see where there relationship can possibly go. I quite liked the witty dialogue between them and their chemistry.

The secondary characters were interesting, I liked Maggie’s best friends Libby and Bink, Rafe was a nasty piece of work, Maggie’s mother could have been more helpful with giving her daughter information about what she was and I loved the way Maggie cared for Grandma.

I enjoyed Christine O’Neil’s entertaining writing and her take on the mythology which I found refreshingly unique but there was a lot of information I thought was lacking and left me wanting to know more, such as the council and the sisters who sit on it as well as the different types of semi-gods and the Gilded and Golems, the tidbits I read about this I found fascinating. The plot was also slow to progress but despite this I still found myself engrossed in the book.

Overall, Chaos is a great start to the series; a nice mix of mythology, high school and family drama and interesting characters. I am keen to see where the author will take us in the next book.

Thank-you kindly to Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read and review Chaos.