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City of Gods #1
Hellenica
The gods are back, and they are tearing this world apart
The Horsemen
Of these 16 young gods, four have strange powers that the Academy might not be able to control. Kayana Marx, Gunnar Redstone, Tommy Alderon and Saoirse Frost aren’t like normal gods, and their abilities stem from the Monotheistic times.
But if Hellenica has any hope of holding this world together, they will have to teach these four to exercise their powers to their fullest extent, even if it might bring everything to an apocalyptic end.
Zeus, Dagon, Loki, Lugh and countless other deities have come back to this earth and rule over their individual districts with no goal other than satiating their own petty desires.
The sole remaining functional province, Hellenica, decides to act. They build the Academy and are about to recruit 16 young gods with the hopes of training them to police this world.
The Horsemen
Of these 16 young gods, four have strange powers that the Academy might not be able to control. Kayana Marx, Gunnar Redstone, Tommy Alderon and Saoirse Frost aren’t like normal gods, and their abilities stem from the Monotheistic times.
But if Hellenica has any hope of holding this world together, they will have to teach these four to exercise their powers to their fullest extent, even if it might bring everything to an apocalyptic end.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2013
173 people are currently reading
2404 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Maas
31 books367 followersJon Maas was born in New Haven, Connecticut and grew up in San Antonio, Texas. After graduating from Stanford University with degrees in Biology and History, he's earned a living as a Musician, Peace Corps Volunteer, Standup Comedian, TV Producer and Web Designer.
He has published ten books, and has more on the way.
He has also directed the movie 'Spanners' starring Shawn Christian and Eric Roberts, and wrote its sequel book - 'Spanners: The Fountain of Youth.'
He writes on his bus commute to and from work, and has a soft spot in his heart for all types of Public Transportation.
He has published ten books, and has more on the way.
He has also directed the movie 'Spanners' starring Shawn Christian and Eric Roberts, and wrote its sequel book - 'Spanners: The Fountain of Youth.'
He writes on his bus commute to and from work, and has a soft spot in his heart for all types of Public Transportation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
August 8, 2015
Reading slump over! Normally I don't like YA/NA. Because I don't like to read about teenager angst. And teenagers.
And there is normally no sex and no bad-assery.
But this one. (That means still a No to the sex).
It didn't feel like YA/NA at all. Although all protagonists are 16 years old (or around that), they felt like adults. They felt like distinctive characters to me, and I enjoyed getting to know them, especially Tommy. He is just such a likeable character.
So definitely good stuff!
And there is normally no sex and no bad-assery.
But this one. (That means still a No to the sex).
It didn't feel like YA/NA at all. Although all protagonists are 16 years old (or around that), they felt like adults. They felt like distinctive characters to me, and I enjoyed getting to know them, especially Tommy. He is just such a likeable character.
So definitely good stuff!
August 9, 2017
Wow... just Wow! I loved "The Dog That Laid Eggs" it was fun and a great read. However I loved this book even more! The author has once again created an incredibly unique, detailed world out of personages and settings that are in many ways familiar yet totally new. I especially love his development of the Horsemen, these four especially not only feel real but I love the way he takes them in new directions that our own mythology or religion has never allowed. And if your looking for action then this is the book for you as well... as in many ways the Horsemen resembled the modern superheros our culture has created in the last century. This book was not only a pleasure to read it was a wnderful thrill ride as well. I can't wait to read book two "Horsemen" and will definitely be reading it in the next week!
August 12, 2017
A great read.
Fun, intelligent and addicting.
Fun, intelligent and addicting.
May 1, 2015
I received a free copy of this book through a goodreads first reads giveaway.
This is the second book by Jonathan Maas I've read and I would say it is the better of the two. The characterisation of the main characters is better explored in book. And like the Fountain of Youth some pretty interesting points about the world were raised.
Initially I was looking forward to this book because I seriously LOVE mythology. But I'm not sure if an interest or knowledge of mythology and history was of much help when reading this book. Mostly I think it made some things more confusing.
It's down to poor world building but everything about the gods and the their entire presence felt very ambiguous. Is this book supposed to read as a continuation of our current world with an unspecified revival of polytheistic religions and their cultures? Or is this a world were monotheism never took hold the way it did here? Is the presence of these gods limited to the conurbation or is this a world wide status? I couldn't tell if the gods, goddesses, and historical figures in the book were THE real deal or simply borrowed namesakes or possibly even descendants. And why were some gods present as their most known image and some were in the book as kids/teens versions of themselves?
There was a weird mashup of cultures. Gunnar is a Spartan but felt like a Roman gladiator with the pit fighting. And although Rome seems to have no establishment of it's own in the conurbation from time to time Roman gods and figures pop up in a way that makes me assume Little Sparta is a combination of ancient Greece and Rome? But then Hellenica feels like a modern translation of another part of ancient Greece and why have two Greek based regions?
Long story short, every time something was introduced I had yet another question about this world. No, a book doesn't need to give you every single detail of the world but it does need something to go off of to give you the solid general picture. Borrowing from history and mythology is an awesome idea but there needs to be a balance between borrowing and creating to solidify the world.
Christianity seems to be almost entirely absent yet somehow everyone knows about the Four Horsemen?
Sorry to nitpick like last time but on page 85 when Gunnar feels that he should be "fighting for them" and not "with them" in regards to his female teammates. If any character in this book is going to be open to or welcome the idea of fighting with women, shouldn't the Spartan make that list? Especially a guy that knows how difficult an opponent a women can make?
A mention or slight clarification on why the Amazons and Spartans are such bitter enemies would have been nice, and added a little something to the world.
And page 328, "A Spartan's women's only duty is to raise warrior's to die for their country." WRONG. I'm all for borrowing but erasing the role Spartan women played is not going to fly. Yes, giving birth to strong sons was a massive part of their lives but it was by no means the ONLY part of their life and reading that ticked me off.
I honestly rolled my eyes at the part where Amazons were supposed to keep certain Spartan men for breeding purposes. If you're going to have a group of highly skilled and formidable warriors consisting only of women having them use men as turkey basters feels gross as fuck.
Kayana agreeing to be with Tommy because she wants to experiment with feelings? No. Pls no.
I didn't buy a Banshee (by her own admission merely a caretaker of souls) threatening Death itself. Does Death even have a soul?
Dagon talking to the Horsemen felt like watching a second rate, small-time mob boss. I don't believe this guy presented a threat AT ALL.
There were too many different elements in this book. It felt like a few different potential stories combined into one for the hell of it.
Augmentation of gods (feels like that defeats the purpose of a god), genetic engineering of extinct species (I thought it was stated that Hellenica's ONLY advantage over the rest of the conurbation was it's technology but I'm not buying that by the time this is mentioned). The part where Saoirse is sent to investigate Dagon and Poseidon's conflict feels like a COMPLETELY different book; one I wouldn't mind reading.
Last thing, the Basilisks. First they are oh so fatal. Then they're not to the Horsemen, yet Gunnar is still affected by them. Then it turns out that a basilisk bite enables anything in the wild to kill you. Ehhhh, this just felt too slapdash.
There's an anti-god movement in the Yōkai district, corruption, immigration/border control issues, pollution, crime, basically a mafia problem. But none of these things are really used in the book and would have make it more interesting.
I feel that using the characters to fulfill Ragnarök instead of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse would have fit this world MUCH better.
Like the other book it's a case of not a bad idea but not good enough results.
This is the second book by Jonathan Maas I've read and I would say it is the better of the two. The characterisation of the main characters is better explored in book. And like the Fountain of Youth some pretty interesting points about the world were raised.
Initially I was looking forward to this book because I seriously LOVE mythology. But I'm not sure if an interest or knowledge of mythology and history was of much help when reading this book. Mostly I think it made some things more confusing.
It's down to poor world building but everything about the gods and the their entire presence felt very ambiguous. Is this book supposed to read as a continuation of our current world with an unspecified revival of polytheistic religions and their cultures? Or is this a world were monotheism never took hold the way it did here? Is the presence of these gods limited to the conurbation or is this a world wide status? I couldn't tell if the gods, goddesses, and historical figures in the book were THE real deal or simply borrowed namesakes or possibly even descendants. And why were some gods present as their most known image and some were in the book as kids/teens versions of themselves?
There was a weird mashup of cultures. Gunnar is a Spartan but felt like a Roman gladiator with the pit fighting. And although Rome seems to have no establishment of it's own in the conurbation from time to time Roman gods and figures pop up in a way that makes me assume Little Sparta is a combination of ancient Greece and Rome? But then Hellenica feels like a modern translation of another part of ancient Greece and why have two Greek based regions?
Long story short, every time something was introduced I had yet another question about this world. No, a book doesn't need to give you every single detail of the world but it does need something to go off of to give you the solid general picture. Borrowing from history and mythology is an awesome idea but there needs to be a balance between borrowing and creating to solidify the world.
Christianity seems to be almost entirely absent yet somehow everyone knows about the Four Horsemen?
Sorry to nitpick like last time but on page 85 when Gunnar feels that he should be "fighting for them" and not "with them" in regards to his female teammates. If any character in this book is going to be open to or welcome the idea of fighting with women, shouldn't the Spartan make that list? Especially a guy that knows how difficult an opponent a women can make?
A mention or slight clarification on why the Amazons and Spartans are such bitter enemies would have been nice, and added a little something to the world.
And page 328, "A Spartan's women's only duty is to raise warrior's to die for their country." WRONG. I'm all for borrowing but erasing the role Spartan women played is not going to fly. Yes, giving birth to strong sons was a massive part of their lives but it was by no means the ONLY part of their life and reading that ticked me off.
I honestly rolled my eyes at the part where Amazons were supposed to keep certain Spartan men for breeding purposes. If you're going to have a group of highly skilled and formidable warriors consisting only of women having them use men as turkey basters feels gross as fuck.
Kayana agreeing to be with Tommy because she wants to experiment with feelings? No. Pls no.
I didn't buy a Banshee (by her own admission merely a caretaker of souls) threatening Death itself. Does Death even have a soul?
Dagon talking to the Horsemen felt like watching a second rate, small-time mob boss. I don't believe this guy presented a threat AT ALL.
There were too many different elements in this book. It felt like a few different potential stories combined into one for the hell of it.
Augmentation of gods (feels like that defeats the purpose of a god), genetic engineering of extinct species (I thought it was stated that Hellenica's ONLY advantage over the rest of the conurbation was it's technology but I'm not buying that by the time this is mentioned). The part where Saoirse is sent to investigate Dagon and Poseidon's conflict feels like a COMPLETELY different book; one I wouldn't mind reading.
Last thing, the Basilisks. First they are oh so fatal. Then they're not to the Horsemen, yet Gunnar is still affected by them. Then it turns out that a basilisk bite enables anything in the wild to kill you. Ehhhh, this just felt too slapdash.
There's an anti-god movement in the Yōkai district, corruption, immigration/border control issues, pollution, crime, basically a mafia problem. But none of these things are really used in the book and would have make it more interesting.
I feel that using the characters to fulfill Ragnarök instead of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse would have fit this world MUCH better.
Like the other book it's a case of not a bad idea but not good enough results.
November 25, 2016
I finally finished! It took me long, but it was totally worth it.
Being honest, I wasn't expecting the kind of content... Not because I thought the book wasn't going to be good, but because I didn't think it was going to be this good.
At first glance, when you read the back cover, you think you'll get a classic adventure of a group of young people from a special school. In some way, you get that, but the story it's not that simple. It has good, mature characters, great prose (having a degree in Literature, I always look for a good prose), a lot but well-placed information about strategy, mythology... I like when the author respects, even if slightly, the mythology of old religions, and I perceived that here in good measure.
And the ending!... Jon Mass, if you ever read this review, I have to tell you: I'm from Mexico, and I'm totally looking forward to see what you're going to do!
I hope to read the following books soon!
And Jon
Being honest, I wasn't expecting the kind of content... Not because I thought the book wasn't going to be good, but because I didn't think it was going to be this good.
At first glance, when you read the back cover, you think you'll get a classic adventure of a group of young people from a special school. In some way, you get that, but the story it's not that simple. It has good, mature characters, great prose (having a degree in Literature, I always look for a good prose), a lot but well-placed information about strategy, mythology... I like when the author respects, even if slightly, the mythology of old religions, and I perceived that here in good measure.
And the ending!... Jon Mass, if you ever read this review, I have to tell you: I'm from Mexico, and I'm totally looking forward to see what you're going to do!
I hope to read the following books soon!
And Jon
February 27, 2018
Well that was certainly different! All the mythical major and minor gods of all religions mixed together in a world of its own, and a band of youngsters (gods? demigods?)destined to save this world from corruption, evil and whatnot, as apparently they are the Horseriders of the Apocalypse.
A very interesting angle to look at all the old myths and religions in a different setting, a good and fluent narration style and a very good plot - as long as you forget whatever you learnt about Poseidon, Herakles, Osiris, Apocalypse etc etc - a really good story, and as it seems to be the first in a series, I am looking forward to reading the next ones to see how this is developping.
Definitely a recommendation from me.
A very interesting angle to look at all the old myths and religions in a different setting, a good and fluent narration style and a very good plot - as long as you forget whatever you learnt about Poseidon, Herakles, Osiris, Apocalypse etc etc - a really good story, and as it seems to be the first in a series, I am looking forward to reading the next ones to see how this is developping.
Definitely a recommendation from me.
May 17, 2016
City of gods
This author has given pause to things we have always thought to be a certain way. I guess that was the intention , to wake us up and realize there are different scenarios to all fiction and non fiction stories. I loved the book and would recommend it to adventure readers everywhere. Take a chance and enjoy the ride this author takes you on.
This author has given pause to things we have always thought to be a certain way. I guess that was the intention , to wake us up and realize there are different scenarios to all fiction and non fiction stories. I loved the book and would recommend it to adventure readers everywhere. Take a chance and enjoy the ride this author takes you on.
January 24, 2014
This book had such promise... and just didn't deliver.
December 17, 2013
Originally published at Risingshadow.
City of gods - Hellenica was a pleasant surprise for me. It surprised me with its originality, fast-paced story, and entertainment values. This kind of surprises are nice, because it's fun to read new and interesting books that differ from other books.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
This book is a story about four extraordinary persons: Kayana Marx, Gunnar Redstone, Tommy Alderon and Saoirse Frost. The world in which they live is divided into several areas that are ruled by different deities who satisfy their own needs and desires. There's an Academy in Hellenica, which is designed for the purpose of training young gods. Kayana, Gunnar, Tommy and Saoirse are taken to the Academy to be trained and they have to leave their old lives behind them. This is the beginning of an interesting and exciting story...
City of gods - Hellenica is a bit different kind of a fantasy book, because the author combines fantasy and science fiction elements. There are references to computers, science and other similar things throughout the book. This is intriguing, because normally fantasy authors tend to avoid writing about science or only briefly refer to it.
City of gods - Hellenica is one of those rare books that transcend the boundaries of adult fiction and young adult fiction - its characters will appeal to young adults and the story will fascinate adult readers. I think that several young adult readers will be thrilled to read this book and it will strike a chord among them. It's possible that readers who have become fascinated by ancient gods, myths and mythology by reading Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & the Olympians series and other similar series/books will enjoy reading this book very much, because it's something different.
The cast of characters is versatile. I enjoyed reading about Kayana, Gunnar, Tommy and Saoirse, because the author wrote well about them and their backgrounds. At beginning of the story Kayana is in the hospital, because her touch kills people; Gunnar is a pit-fighter; Saoirse is taught to become one of the Hetaerae (a form of prostitute), and Tommy is a cripple who's on Lepros and sees how the sick are being taken care of. All of them were taken to Hellenica to be trained properly. They all differed from each other and had different powers.
I enjoyed reading about the training of Kayana, Gunnar, Tommy and Saoirse, because the author wrote intriguingly about their training and how they learnt things. They were taught to fight and control their powers at the Academy. They also had to learn to work together and trust each other.
It was especially interesting for me to read about Saoirse and her gift of talking to the animals, because I've always been fascinated by these kinds of gifts in fantasy and science fiction books. Another reason why I enjoyed reading about Saoirse is that she was considered to be the White Knight (the other Horsemen have clear abilities, but the White Knight's abilities and powers are more mysterious). This made her an especially interesting characters.
Jonathan Maas has imagined a fascinating world in this book, because he writes about a world which has been divided into different fiefdoms that are being ruled by ancient gods. The world is under constant warfare, because there are frictions between the different areas. This is an interesting premise for the story, because there aren't many fantasy authors who have created this kind of worlds.
The Academy is an important part of the world. Reading about it, its hallways and its secrets was interesting. In my opinion the author's vision of the Academy is intriguing, because its purpose is to train the new gods. He writes surprisingly vividly about this place. It was fun to read how the Horsemen explored the place during their training.
When I read this book, I thought to myself that the author must be interested in mythology and ancient deities, because he writes fluently about them. He seems to know quite a lot about the different deities, and he has an interesting way of writing about them. He writes about them in a modern and fresh way and avoids typical clichés. I have to mention that it was also fun to read about the Krakens, Banshees, Mermaids etc, because the author wrote surprisingly well about them.
I have to congratulate the author for writing an original fantasy book that contains sci-fi elements. Because I liked this book, I hope that the author will someday write more about the characters that appeared in the story. I got the impression that there's a lot more to reveal about the world and the fates of the characters, so hopefully there will someday be a sequel.
What I liked most about this book was that the author had written an original story and wrote about the Horsemen in an interesting way. I also liked the fast-paced story, because the author managed to keep things interesting for the reader by moving the plot fast forward. Although I liked the story, I have to mention that I would've liked to read more about the characters' lives before the Academy, because their backgrounds were interesting.
I think it's good to mention that there's a map at the beginning of the book. It's nice that the map is included in the book, because it helps the reader to see where the different areas are located and where the Academy is.
City of gods - Hellenica is good entertainment and I can recommend it to readers who enjoy reading fast-paced and entertaining books. This book can be recommended to both adults and young adults, because both readerships will enjoy reading it.
Good and interesting entertainment!
City of gods - Hellenica was a pleasant surprise for me. It surprised me with its originality, fast-paced story, and entertainment values. This kind of surprises are nice, because it's fun to read new and interesting books that differ from other books.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
This book is a story about four extraordinary persons: Kayana Marx, Gunnar Redstone, Tommy Alderon and Saoirse Frost. The world in which they live is divided into several areas that are ruled by different deities who satisfy their own needs and desires. There's an Academy in Hellenica, which is designed for the purpose of training young gods. Kayana, Gunnar, Tommy and Saoirse are taken to the Academy to be trained and they have to leave their old lives behind them. This is the beginning of an interesting and exciting story...
City of gods - Hellenica is a bit different kind of a fantasy book, because the author combines fantasy and science fiction elements. There are references to computers, science and other similar things throughout the book. This is intriguing, because normally fantasy authors tend to avoid writing about science or only briefly refer to it.
City of gods - Hellenica is one of those rare books that transcend the boundaries of adult fiction and young adult fiction - its characters will appeal to young adults and the story will fascinate adult readers. I think that several young adult readers will be thrilled to read this book and it will strike a chord among them. It's possible that readers who have become fascinated by ancient gods, myths and mythology by reading Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & the Olympians series and other similar series/books will enjoy reading this book very much, because it's something different.
The cast of characters is versatile. I enjoyed reading about Kayana, Gunnar, Tommy and Saoirse, because the author wrote well about them and their backgrounds. At beginning of the story Kayana is in the hospital, because her touch kills people; Gunnar is a pit-fighter; Saoirse is taught to become one of the Hetaerae (a form of prostitute), and Tommy is a cripple who's on Lepros and sees how the sick are being taken care of. All of them were taken to Hellenica to be trained properly. They all differed from each other and had different powers.
I enjoyed reading about the training of Kayana, Gunnar, Tommy and Saoirse, because the author wrote intriguingly about their training and how they learnt things. They were taught to fight and control their powers at the Academy. They also had to learn to work together and trust each other.
It was especially interesting for me to read about Saoirse and her gift of talking to the animals, because I've always been fascinated by these kinds of gifts in fantasy and science fiction books. Another reason why I enjoyed reading about Saoirse is that she was considered to be the White Knight (the other Horsemen have clear abilities, but the White Knight's abilities and powers are more mysterious). This made her an especially interesting characters.
Jonathan Maas has imagined a fascinating world in this book, because he writes about a world which has been divided into different fiefdoms that are being ruled by ancient gods. The world is under constant warfare, because there are frictions between the different areas. This is an interesting premise for the story, because there aren't many fantasy authors who have created this kind of worlds.
The Academy is an important part of the world. Reading about it, its hallways and its secrets was interesting. In my opinion the author's vision of the Academy is intriguing, because its purpose is to train the new gods. He writes surprisingly vividly about this place. It was fun to read how the Horsemen explored the place during their training.
When I read this book, I thought to myself that the author must be interested in mythology and ancient deities, because he writes fluently about them. He seems to know quite a lot about the different deities, and he has an interesting way of writing about them. He writes about them in a modern and fresh way and avoids typical clichés. I have to mention that it was also fun to read about the Krakens, Banshees, Mermaids etc, because the author wrote surprisingly well about them.
I have to congratulate the author for writing an original fantasy book that contains sci-fi elements. Because I liked this book, I hope that the author will someday write more about the characters that appeared in the story. I got the impression that there's a lot more to reveal about the world and the fates of the characters, so hopefully there will someday be a sequel.
What I liked most about this book was that the author had written an original story and wrote about the Horsemen in an interesting way. I also liked the fast-paced story, because the author managed to keep things interesting for the reader by moving the plot fast forward. Although I liked the story, I have to mention that I would've liked to read more about the characters' lives before the Academy, because their backgrounds were interesting.
I think it's good to mention that there's a map at the beginning of the book. It's nice that the map is included in the book, because it helps the reader to see where the different areas are located and where the Academy is.
City of gods - Hellenica is good entertainment and I can recommend it to readers who enjoy reading fast-paced and entertaining books. This book can be recommended to both adults and young adults, because both readerships will enjoy reading it.
Good and interesting entertainment!
December 19, 2014
This book mixes every god, mythology, and pantheon you can think of, from Zeus and Posideon to japanese youkai and kraken. All these gods and their followers exist in a collection of city-states that all exist crammed together, fighting for power and wealth. With such a chaotic area, Hellenic has decided to create a small, well trained police force made of minor gods and powerful mostly-mortals. The four main characters are four teens - and the Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Throughout the book are small philosophy debates and lessons as the four students go through their lessons, some contradictory, but spoken from different viewpoints. Other parts explain the politics or lifestyles of this world. I really enjoyed seeing all the different pantheons interact. Seeing gods suing each other in court was quite funny. I think guessing out which god or being would appear next was one of the best parts; some of them I had never heard of before and had to go look up. There was a lot to enjoy, but for all the world-building, the plot lacked a little. Sometimes, the solutions to problems seem to come out of thin air, but my biggest complaint of this story is there was no sense of danger. Everything is slightly removed from the characters, and no matter how dangerous things are, we always know that they will get out of it somehow. Still enjoyable if you want smoothing light and stress-free to read.
Book is good length and material, and the author seems to be preparing for a sequel. Cover art is a little confusing, as there is no burning planet or space travel in this book (as the cover seems to suggest), and I'm not 100% sure who it is depicting, but oh well.
Received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Throughout the book are small philosophy debates and lessons as the four students go through their lessons, some contradictory, but spoken from different viewpoints. Other parts explain the politics or lifestyles of this world. I really enjoyed seeing all the different pantheons interact. Seeing gods suing each other in court was quite funny. I think guessing out which god or being would appear next was one of the best parts; some of them I had never heard of before and had to go look up. There was a lot to enjoy, but for all the world-building, the plot lacked a little. Sometimes, the solutions to problems seem to come out of thin air, but my biggest complaint of this story is there was no sense of danger. Everything is slightly removed from the characters, and no matter how dangerous things are, we always know that they will get out of it somehow. Still enjoyable if you want smoothing light and stress-free to read.
Book is good length and material, and the author seems to be preparing for a sequel. Cover art is a little confusing, as there is no burning planet or space travel in this book (as the cover seems to suggest), and I'm not 100% sure who it is depicting, but oh well.
Received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
March 27, 2015
A little mythadventure... 3.5 stars
This is more fantasy than science fiction, and I believe it's geared towards young adults.
This is about gods, demigods, demons, mermaids, and the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Sort of.
The gods are back and having a grand old time squabbling, fighting, and wreaking havoc. To keep things from getting too out of hand an academy is created to train younger, more malleable demigods to act as a police force. This includes the newly created four horsemen. Two males, two females. So not exactly the four horsemen of biblical fame.
Lots of adventure, a little romance, and interesting characters.
The reason it didn't get four stars? Probably just me, but the gods are from all these different cultures, all coexisting. I guess I'm just too linear, and the author is not about linearity at all. It's a good read, and very impressive for a first book. I finished the author's second book a couple of days ago, and just purchased his latest. So yes, definitely worth reading.
Results: action, adventure, and interesting concepts. For teens and young adults, and any fan of fantasy.
This is more fantasy than science fiction, and I believe it's geared towards young adults.
This is about gods, demigods, demons, mermaids, and the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Sort of.
The gods are back and having a grand old time squabbling, fighting, and wreaking havoc. To keep things from getting too out of hand an academy is created to train younger, more malleable demigods to act as a police force. This includes the newly created four horsemen. Two males, two females. So not exactly the four horsemen of biblical fame.
Lots of adventure, a little romance, and interesting characters.
The reason it didn't get four stars? Probably just me, but the gods are from all these different cultures, all coexisting. I guess I'm just too linear, and the author is not about linearity at all. It's a good read, and very impressive for a first book. I finished the author's second book a couple of days ago, and just purchased his latest. So yes, definitely worth reading.
Results: action, adventure, and interesting concepts. For teens and young adults, and any fan of fantasy.
December 22, 2014
Great book! It's a bit of a cross between X-Men & Harry Potter - but with mythological characters. The book was well paced, with enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. I found the first few pages a bit off putting as I didn't have a context for understanding what the character was talking about. But I stuck with it and by the end of the first chapter I was sucked in and read the book in one sitting! Well written with some great insights into human character and motivation. Although the book is marketed as young adult, the vocabulary may be a bit challenging for younger readers. I look forward to reading more from this author!
August 9, 2018
I liked it!
This novel is worth your time. The characters are individual. I admire the skill that it takes to prevent one personality from infecting the others.(that is not a deal breaker but this author has clearly spent time with these people outside of the story).
Also this is a complete story! Too many times I have been led on a path that just leads to the next installment. Personally I hate that and feel that it is cheap and cheating. Being free to continue in the universe that the author has created is a gift for the reader. I admire that.
I recommend that you take advantage of that gift as well.
This novel is worth your time. The characters are individual. I admire the skill that it takes to prevent one personality from infecting the others.(that is not a deal breaker but this author has clearly spent time with these people outside of the story).
Also this is a complete story! Too many times I have been led on a path that just leads to the next installment. Personally I hate that and feel that it is cheap and cheating. Being free to continue in the universe that the author has created is a gift for the reader. I admire that.
I recommend that you take advantage of that gift as well.
Read
January 12, 2015This was a pretty good read
I liked how it incorporated different gods from different myths. The reason I gave it a four was because of how fast the problem at the academy was resolved. The end was kind of left open so I'm guessing there will be another book? Overall it was a good book and I enjoyed reading it. I would recommend this book if you like the different myths of different cultures.
I liked how it incorporated different gods from different myths. The reason I gave it a four was because of how fast the problem at the academy was resolved. The end was kind of left open so I'm guessing there will be another book? Overall it was a good book and I enjoyed reading it. I would recommend this book if you like the different myths of different cultures.
January 13, 2016
Great read! I had received this book as a gift from the author and began reading it shortly after it showed up in my mailbox. loads of page turning fun and suspense for those fans of adventure series like Percy Jackson or David Gatward's The Dead, The Dark and The Damned trilogy. Tons of potential for an on going series, hint hint Jon. This book got me to go back and refresh my memory on some of the mythological beings in this novel. Make sure to check out Jonathan Mass' other novels as well
January 28, 2016
This was much, much better than I expected.
In a world where every god and deity had returned, a school is formed to police them. It's like Harry Potter for mythology fans. I loved every second!
Looking forward to reading more.
In a world where every god and deity had returned, a school is formed to police them. It's like Harry Potter for mythology fans. I loved every second!
Looking forward to reading more.
November 6, 2013
Nice blend of ancient mythology, urban fantasy, and future tech. Really hope there is a sequel in the works.
Read
November 18, 2014Review to come
December 20, 2014
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It was an easy read but I can't really say I liked or disliked this book. It wasn't terrible but it didn't grab me either.
It was an easy read but I can't really say I liked or disliked this book. It wasn't terrible but it didn't grab me either.
June 5, 2015
Won this book through a goodreads giveaway.
This was a well written book that fit perfectly into it's niche of superhero/gods type stories. Look forward to reading the next book in this series.
This was a well written book that fit perfectly into it's niche of superhero/gods type stories. Look forward to reading the next book in this series.
March 17, 2015
I did not understand what was the point of this story. It was strange to imagine ancient gods using technology but the characters liked a lot, especially the horsemen.
March 11, 2015
Interesting merging of polytheism with monotheistic lore.
January 8, 2016
So much myth
I liked this although there was a lot of myth to sort through. These characters are interesting with so much potential. I hope this series is continued.
I liked this although there was a lot of myth to sort through. These characters are interesting with so much potential. I hope this series is continued.
Read
December 9, 2015The mix of sci-fi and myth just didn't work for me here, but definitely putting that down just to personal taste.
December 9, 2016
Beautiful!!!
My goodness!!! This is such a good book. It gives The Horsemen a brand new meaning. Favorite characters: The Horsemen, hands down!!!!!
My goodness!!! This is such a good book. It gives The Horsemen a brand new meaning. Favorite characters: The Horsemen, hands down!!!!!
October 10, 2017
In a world where gods and mortals squabble over a constantly changing set of countries, Hellenica has dared to try something different. They have chosen 16 different beings with their various powers to train as peacemakers. People who might be able to change the status quo. Of those, the wildcards are the four Horsemen, whose powers no one fully understands and whose destiny points towards great things . . .
I'll be honest---I really enjoyed this as a story about kids with powers, but I think the kids with powers shouldn't have been associated with the Horsemen. For one, the White Knight doesn't appear to be Conquest, but reminds me more of the rider from Revelation 19:11-16, which has imagery depicting someone with powerful speech. Also Pestilence is used here, which has a very interesting set of powers but doesn't technically seem to jibe with the descriptions of Revelation 6:1-8, which reads more like Conquest, War, Famine, and Death. The only reason this MATTERS to me is because we are talking about various gods and legends, and by and large everyone else fits pretty well into their source material (I was highly amused to see Dagon show up. Talk about obscure deities).
That's also what trips me up on some of the other details. We have Horsemen, who are part of Christian doctrine, but they have no horses. They don't even seem aware of the existence of God, with the possible exception of Tommy, but there's no indication Tommy actually BELIEVES in the faith of his hospital. Saoirse even worships a completely different goddess. They not only don't have horses, there seems to be no need or desire for them. So again, this really works well as kids with powers, but I have a ton of trouble buying these are actually the Horsemen. I don't really care that two of them got gender-flipped to female to provide a balanced team. The other things bugged me more.
Once I decided to pretend these weren't actually the Horsemen but rather just a bunch of kids with interesting powers, I could enjoy the rest of the story a lot more. There's a good mix of personalities as well as powers. Tommy's kind and caring nature is at odds with the fact that he's basically a walking vector for every disease known to man (and probably will accidentally invent new ones if that's what it takes to infect someone). Kayana is highly intelligent but absolutely clueless about the workings of normal humanity and tends to view things in a very black-and-white manner. Saoirse has very ill-defined powers, but being raised as a high-class prostitute has left her attentive to the subtleties of humanity, and she prefers to avoid conflict and seek to talk her way out of problems. Gunnar feels like he got the short end of the stick. He's Spartan, raised in a culture of war, and a pit fighter---but apart from a few glossed over fights at the start most of his matches do little to highlight any unusual skill or any kind of power. I was particularly miffed at the bout with the Amazon near the end. They don't have any divine power, and he should, so why couldn't it have turned out a bit differently?
Gunnar's the one I hope develops the most, as nothing he's really done so far has hinted at him being anything different than a Spartan, except the mystery of what he did with his rite for adulthood that has cast him out of Spartan society.
Overall I did enjoy this. It was fun to see so many different cultures and gods represented, even though the story mostly picks a few varied examples rather than try to handle absolutely everything. The friendship between the four main characters is growing, and if this book is any indication the story will continue to unfold in unexpected ways. I rate this book Recommended.
(And if you want a less ambiguous take on the Horsemen, I highly recommend Riders, by Veronica Rossi.)
See my reviews and more at https://offtheshelfreviews.wordpress....
I'll be honest---I really enjoyed this as a story about kids with powers, but I think the kids with powers shouldn't have been associated with the Horsemen. For one, the White Knight doesn't appear to be Conquest, but reminds me more of the rider from Revelation 19:11-16, which has imagery depicting someone with powerful speech. Also Pestilence is used here, which has a very interesting set of powers but doesn't technically seem to jibe with the descriptions of Revelation 6:1-8, which reads more like Conquest, War, Famine, and Death. The only reason this MATTERS to me is because we are talking about various gods and legends, and by and large everyone else fits pretty well into their source material (I was highly amused to see Dagon show up. Talk about obscure deities).
That's also what trips me up on some of the other details. We have Horsemen, who are part of Christian doctrine, but they have no horses. They don't even seem aware of the existence of God, with the possible exception of Tommy, but there's no indication Tommy actually BELIEVES in the faith of his hospital. Saoirse even worships a completely different goddess. They not only don't have horses, there seems to be no need or desire for them. So again, this really works well as kids with powers, but I have a ton of trouble buying these are actually the Horsemen. I don't really care that two of them got gender-flipped to female to provide a balanced team. The other things bugged me more.
Once I decided to pretend these weren't actually the Horsemen but rather just a bunch of kids with interesting powers, I could enjoy the rest of the story a lot more. There's a good mix of personalities as well as powers. Tommy's kind and caring nature is at odds with the fact that he's basically a walking vector for every disease known to man (and probably will accidentally invent new ones if that's what it takes to infect someone). Kayana is highly intelligent but absolutely clueless about the workings of normal humanity and tends to view things in a very black-and-white manner. Saoirse has very ill-defined powers, but being raised as a high-class prostitute has left her attentive to the subtleties of humanity, and she prefers to avoid conflict and seek to talk her way out of problems. Gunnar feels like he got the short end of the stick. He's Spartan, raised in a culture of war, and a pit fighter---but apart from a few glossed over fights at the start most of his matches do little to highlight any unusual skill or any kind of power. I was particularly miffed at the bout with the Amazon near the end. They don't have any divine power, and he should, so why couldn't it have turned out a bit differently?
Gunnar's the one I hope develops the most, as nothing he's really done so far has hinted at him being anything different than a Spartan, except the mystery of what he did with his rite for adulthood that has cast him out of Spartan society.
Overall I did enjoy this. It was fun to see so many different cultures and gods represented, even though the story mostly picks a few varied examples rather than try to handle absolutely everything. The friendship between the four main characters is growing, and if this book is any indication the story will continue to unfold in unexpected ways. I rate this book Recommended.
(And if you want a less ambiguous take on the Horsemen, I highly recommend Riders, by Veronica Rossi.)
See my reviews and more at https://offtheshelfreviews.wordpress....
November 7, 2017
I won a print copy of City Of Gods Hellenica by Jon Maas (Jonathan Maas on Goodreads) in a Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway.
This book is outstanding! Probably don't need to say anything beyond that: but what fun would that be?
City Of Gods Hellenica is the story of ancient gods behaving poorly; petty and selfish. An academy is created to bring stability to the world. In true YA fashion, the proposed saviors are kids. The godlings (my word not Mr. Maas's) don't seem to get along much better than their adult counterparts. The four main characters are about as diverse as can be. As City Of Gods Hellenica is the beginning of a series we do see these disparate characters starting to meld into a somewhat cohesive unit.
We have plenty of action, violence, political intrigue, young love (or at least infatuation), horror, honor and youthful idealism. Author Jon Maas does a good job of painting a mental picture of the sometimes disturbing atmosphere of the academy. Particularly the more disgusting parts of the local environment.
The development of the characters is progressing nicely, complete with flaws and prejudices. There is suspense and intrigue. The true motivations of several peripheral characters has yet to be revealed. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series; good YA fantasy that does not talk down to its younger audience. I actually hesitate to use the term "YA" in reference to City Of Gods Hellenica. It is simply just very good fantasy that appeals to pretty much any age group of fantasy readers (like me).
I'm finding it very difficult to identify any negatives for City Of Gods Hellenica, so, I guess I'll stop trying now. Jon Mass has given us a fantastic fantasy read in City Of Gods Hellenica (fantastic fantasy, see what i'm doing there? Okay, sorry). Fantasy readers should find this book very enjoyable. So as I always say, Enjoy!
Oh, before I go, one tongue-in-cheek complaint: How on earth do you pronounce "Saoirse"? I think I hurt my mouth trying.
Mike
This book is outstanding! Probably don't need to say anything beyond that: but what fun would that be?
City Of Gods Hellenica is the story of ancient gods behaving poorly; petty and selfish. An academy is created to bring stability to the world. In true YA fashion, the proposed saviors are kids. The godlings (my word not Mr. Maas's) don't seem to get along much better than their adult counterparts. The four main characters are about as diverse as can be. As City Of Gods Hellenica is the beginning of a series we do see these disparate characters starting to meld into a somewhat cohesive unit.
We have plenty of action, violence, political intrigue, young love (or at least infatuation), horror, honor and youthful idealism. Author Jon Maas does a good job of painting a mental picture of the sometimes disturbing atmosphere of the academy. Particularly the more disgusting parts of the local environment.
The development of the characters is progressing nicely, complete with flaws and prejudices. There is suspense and intrigue. The true motivations of several peripheral characters has yet to be revealed. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series; good YA fantasy that does not talk down to its younger audience. I actually hesitate to use the term "YA" in reference to City Of Gods Hellenica. It is simply just very good fantasy that appeals to pretty much any age group of fantasy readers (like me).
I'm finding it very difficult to identify any negatives for City Of Gods Hellenica, so, I guess I'll stop trying now. Jon Mass has given us a fantastic fantasy read in City Of Gods Hellenica (fantastic fantasy, see what i'm doing there? Okay, sorry). Fantasy readers should find this book very enjoyable. So as I always say, Enjoy!
Oh, before I go, one tongue-in-cheek complaint: How on earth do you pronounce "Saoirse"? I think I hurt my mouth trying.
Mike
April 2, 2019
First, I wish to thank Jonathan Maas for gifting me a copy of this excellent book. The book was not given in exchange for a review; I am writing a review from my heart because I want to.
This is a fantasy story that we all can relate to. There is a part of the world ruled by Gods and deities from ages ago who come back. They all rule their areas in a way to better themselves. Power and riches are the goals, using the humans for their gains. Sounds kinda like our world, only our rulers only think of themselves as Gods.
There is one district that is unlike the rest, and it is named Hellenica. The rulers there want to establish an academy to teach young Gods how to use their powers effectively so as to go out into the world in order to make positive changes to help humanity. They divide these young Gods into groups of four. The book concerns itself primarily with one group of four, the Horsemen, and their daring exploits.
Now, I have never been one for reading fantasies. But, author Jonathan Maas has changed my mind on this with this and a couple of other books. While reading this, it seemed REAL. I enjoyed every aspect of it, from the story line and adventures to the well developed and believability of these unbelievable characters. The author has a great imagination and is very skilled at sharing his imagination. Thank you, Jonathan!
This is a fantasy story that we all can relate to. There is a part of the world ruled by Gods and deities from ages ago who come back. They all rule their areas in a way to better themselves. Power and riches are the goals, using the humans for their gains. Sounds kinda like our world, only our rulers only think of themselves as Gods.
There is one district that is unlike the rest, and it is named Hellenica. The rulers there want to establish an academy to teach young Gods how to use their powers effectively so as to go out into the world in order to make positive changes to help humanity. They divide these young Gods into groups of four. The book concerns itself primarily with one group of four, the Horsemen, and their daring exploits.
Now, I have never been one for reading fantasies. But, author Jonathan Maas has changed my mind on this with this and a couple of other books. While reading this, it seemed REAL. I enjoyed every aspect of it, from the story line and adventures to the well developed and believability of these unbelievable characters. The author has a great imagination and is very skilled at sharing his imagination. Thank you, Jonathan!
June 5, 2017
This was the first book I've read by this author, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I am pleased to say that I found myself very happy that I did read it. The authors' writing style was refreshingly different and his character developement was phenominal.
The four main protagonists were brought together to form The Four Hourseman of the Apocalypse, whose task was to lead the new world safely into a world wiped clean of corruption and gods, both large and small. Each individual has a particular power that compliments the others in the group, forming a distinctly formidable foursome.
They encounter many vile and dangerous demons and creatures during their training at the Academy in the nation of Hellenica, including some of the gods training them who are possessed by demons of the main villain, Dagon, who wants to reshape the new world to his liking. And his methods are through fear and money.
Overall, this was a smooth, entrancing and imaginative read. My compliments to an author with true vision of what a great book should entail.
The four main protagonists were brought together to form The Four Hourseman of the Apocalypse, whose task was to lead the new world safely into a world wiped clean of corruption and gods, both large and small. Each individual has a particular power that compliments the others in the group, forming a distinctly formidable foursome.
They encounter many vile and dangerous demons and creatures during their training at the Academy in the nation of Hellenica, including some of the gods training them who are possessed by demons of the main villain, Dagon, who wants to reshape the new world to his liking. And his methods are through fear and money.
Overall, this was a smooth, entrancing and imaginative read. My compliments to an author with true vision of what a great book should entail.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2022
Jonathan Maas is a new to me author and I am definitely impressed by his writing style. He has created incredible characters, not just the 4 main characters, all of them! He has done his research on mythology very thoroughly on the details that I had to look up certain things to verify what I had learned when I studied it. The storyline is captivating from beginning to end and by mixing mythology from different beliefs is incredible! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves mythology/fantasy books.
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