What do you think?
Rate this book
Atlas #1
Atlas
Kala Hicks is part of a covert elite military team that answers directly to the President of the United States. But during an emergency mission aboard Air Force One, Kala is shocked to discover that the real threat is none other than the President himself. Defying her commanding officer, Jack Norbin, Kala takes the shot, and her life changes forever.
The moment the President is killed, a supernatural force speaks to Kala, telling her that she has to commit one act of atrocity every four days… or the world will end. Thrown into a reality she never could have imagined, Kala faces off with creatures of legend; from demons determined to make her fail and plunge the Earth into chaos, to angels who don’t trust her to do the job and are willing to kill her to claim it for themselves.
Pitted against the forces of good and evil, Kala must choose whether to save the world by doing the unthinkable, or sit back and let it burn. And four days later, she’ll have to do it again.
The moment the President is killed, a supernatural force speaks to Kala, telling her that she has to commit one act of atrocity every four days… or the world will end. Thrown into a reality she never could have imagined, Kala faces off with creatures of legend; from demons determined to make her fail and plunge the Earth into chaos, to angels who don’t trust her to do the job and are willing to kill her to claim it for themselves.
Pitted against the forces of good and evil, Kala must choose whether to save the world by doing the unthinkable, or sit back and let it burn. And four days later, she’ll have to do it again.
300 pages, Paperback
First published November 12, 2013
53 people are currently reading
812 people want to read
About the author
Becca C. Smith
30 books164 followersBecca fell in love with storytelling at an early age. The first book she ever read was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and she’s been looking for the door to Narnia ever since! She’s a passionate reader, consuming any mix of paranormal, mystery, thriller, sci-fi, or fantasy. So it’s no surprise that she writes in these genres as well. When Becca is not writing, she loves to sew, from cosplay to elaborate magical creature bags, she just loves to create!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 4, 2016
Very enjoyable adventure! A bit of Greek lore, lots of supernatural and good action! Kala is such a great, strong lead character. I liked her immediately and that enjoyment lasted the entire book.
The book wastes no time getting into the characters and the story. The first chapter gets you interested in Kala immediately and chapter 2 has them rushing off to Air Force One after a highjacking! Kala soon finds the world she knows turned upside down when she is told she mist do things (often times killing people it would seem) or the world will end. Unsure what to believe Kala ignores the warning until her reality is filled with Demons, Angels, magic and more. The most important thing being who (or what) is Atlas really?
A gripping book that was hard to put down. Becca Smith draws you strongly into Kala's world and does not let go. Which is why the end was so hard on me. While I loved the story, it has the most abrupt ending. I won't say more on it for I don't want to spoil it but I kept clicking 'next' on my kindle hoping for just a bit more and was denied.
While I loved Kala, I would have liked to see a bit more insight into other characters. Especially Jack. Also, for how strong willed Kala is, her reaction to one of the supernatural just does not seem to fit and seemed very unnecessary for a stand alone novel. So unless the author writes a sequel I do feel Kala's personality drifts a little too much. Still, I loved her.
Overall, great book. Great for supernatural fans, urban fantasy, greek mythology, or even military thriller/action fans! It's a fast read and well worth ones time. I will definitely be looking into Becca C. Smith's other novels!
The book wastes no time getting into the characters and the story. The first chapter gets you interested in Kala immediately and chapter 2 has them rushing off to Air Force One after a highjacking! Kala soon finds the world she knows turned upside down when she is told she mist do things (often times killing people it would seem) or the world will end. Unsure what to believe Kala ignores the warning until her reality is filled with Demons, Angels, magic and more. The most important thing being who (or what) is Atlas really?
A gripping book that was hard to put down. Becca Smith draws you strongly into Kala's world and does not let go. Which is why the end was so hard on me. While I loved the story, it has the most abrupt ending. I won't say more on it for I don't want to spoil it but I kept clicking 'next' on my kindle hoping for just a bit more and was denied.
While I loved Kala, I would have liked to see a bit more insight into other characters. Especially Jack. Also, for how strong willed Kala is, her reaction to one of the supernatural just does not seem to fit and seemed very unnecessary for a stand alone novel. So unless the author writes a sequel I do feel Kala's personality drifts a little too much. Still, I loved her.
Overall, great book. Great for supernatural fans, urban fantasy, greek mythology, or even military thriller/action fans! It's a fast read and well worth ones time. I will definitely be looking into Becca C. Smith's other novels!
January 14, 2014
Atlas by Becca Smith – Bourne Identity meets Supernatural!
Kala Hicks shouldn’t have a care in the world. She has a very elite and important job. Pretty abnormal for us couch surfers normal people but not for Kala. She is a highly trained sniper in an hyper elite special ops unit. Things were already a bit weird with her commanding officers coming up with odd and high-tech things for everyone to use during a mission. But for Kala, the world she knew, this simplistic life after that as a foster child was steadfast and secure. But she was going to get a shock. Even though she finally found a family who treated her like theirs, she still never felt like she belonged she still had never felt as secure in who she is and where she belonged. Not until this group and on top of it all she was finally letting someone into her heart.
Labeled as Urban Fantasy, Atlas is written by Becca Smith, an established young adult author of the critically acclaimed Riser Saga. Becca takes a step out of her Riser series appropriate for 12-18 year-olds and brought her amazing voice into the world of adults. It is one heck of a kick-ass adventure. Think a female Jason Bourne meets the supernatural world! She was one hell of a sniper and because of that and her ability to just do she ended up taking a shot someone else had spent their whole life preparing for and it changed her world, in fact it changed everyone’s world.
I love a good urban fantasy, and with the introduction of Greek and Christian mythology (just the creatures) it was a fun read. Who is good, who is evil (other than the obvious HOT Demon) and who is out for themselves? Can Kala do it? Can she hold onto her new-found self and her true love and be able to do what is right for everyone… in the world? It is going to be really interesting to see what happens in the next book, considering the ending.. naa-uhh-uhhh spoilers, sweetie!
Over all, the Demons.. the hot sexy steamy misogynistic demons (can get an Asmodeus Asmodeus.. FIGARO! oops sorry), the angels, the other angels, the supernatural stuff was great. Though there was almost a “to easy” feel to it, which almost contradicted the feel of the story a wee bit, but it did not take away from the story, it just made it a faster read. I know that’s normal in some Urban Fantasy but there usually is something a bit more to it. I wanna call it Urban Fantasy-LITE which maybe why folks are thinking it is young adult. The author has a solid handle on story devices and getting things to go from one thing to the other. It as full of BAM action to the point I had a form of literary whiplash and at the beginning I was a bit; “Wait.. WHAT? Ohhhh”.
One VERY important thing I want to note, and I stress, STRONGLY NOTE:
This book’s target audience is NOT Young Adult!
I think there seems to be some confusion with the other reviewers in that matter. (I figured it out but I also ended up asking the author directly). There is nothing in it that even implies it. So if you may not get this because of those reviews *waving and yelling* HEY.. OVER HERE… it is not young adult. BUT on that note, those who are looking for something safe for an older teen to read (due to implied sex and obvious violence) this one is OK. But there is nothing in it that would fit into the age range of young adult conventions. No biggy, but I needed it stated because it is how I roll, Toots! Especially with the ending (again spoilers).
I definitely recommend the read. Especially if you like urban fantasy, enjoy playing with Greek mythology. It is not to heavy, but I warn you it is going to smack you in the face even if you think you know what is coming and have guessed it, it is going to smack you hard and all the pain will be totally worth it. Another great book to start 2014 off with!
8 out of 10
Kala Hicks shouldn’t have a care in the world. She has a very elite and important job. Pretty abnormal for us couch surfers normal people but not for Kala. She is a highly trained sniper in an hyper elite special ops unit. Things were already a bit weird with her commanding officers coming up with odd and high-tech things for everyone to use during a mission. But for Kala, the world she knew, this simplistic life after that as a foster child was steadfast and secure. But she was going to get a shock. Even though she finally found a family who treated her like theirs, she still never felt like she belonged she still had never felt as secure in who she is and where she belonged. Not until this group and on top of it all she was finally letting someone into her heart.
Labeled as Urban Fantasy, Atlas is written by Becca Smith, an established young adult author of the critically acclaimed Riser Saga. Becca takes a step out of her Riser series appropriate for 12-18 year-olds and brought her amazing voice into the world of adults. It is one heck of a kick-ass adventure. Think a female Jason Bourne meets the supernatural world! She was one hell of a sniper and because of that and her ability to just do she ended up taking a shot someone else had spent their whole life preparing for and it changed her world, in fact it changed everyone’s world.
I love a good urban fantasy, and with the introduction of Greek and Christian mythology (just the creatures) it was a fun read. Who is good, who is evil (other than the obvious HOT Demon) and who is out for themselves? Can Kala do it? Can she hold onto her new-found self and her true love and be able to do what is right for everyone… in the world? It is going to be really interesting to see what happens in the next book, considering the ending.. naa-uhh-uhhh spoilers, sweetie!
Over all, the Demons.. the hot sexy steamy misogynistic demons (can get an Asmodeus Asmodeus.. FIGARO! oops sorry), the angels, the other angels, the supernatural stuff was great. Though there was almost a “to easy” feel to it, which almost contradicted the feel of the story a wee bit, but it did not take away from the story, it just made it a faster read. I know that’s normal in some Urban Fantasy but there usually is something a bit more to it. I wanna call it Urban Fantasy-LITE which maybe why folks are thinking it is young adult. The author has a solid handle on story devices and getting things to go from one thing to the other. It as full of BAM action to the point I had a form of literary whiplash and at the beginning I was a bit; “Wait.. WHAT? Ohhhh”.
One VERY important thing I want to note, and I stress, STRONGLY NOTE:
This book’s target audience is NOT Young Adult!
I think there seems to be some confusion with the other reviewers in that matter. (I figured it out but I also ended up asking the author directly). There is nothing in it that even implies it. So if you may not get this because of those reviews *waving and yelling* HEY.. OVER HERE… it is not young adult. BUT on that note, those who are looking for something safe for an older teen to read (due to implied sex and obvious violence) this one is OK. But there is nothing in it that would fit into the age range of young adult conventions. No biggy, but I needed it stated because it is how I roll, Toots! Especially with the ending (again spoilers).
I definitely recommend the read. Especially if you like urban fantasy, enjoy playing with Greek mythology. It is not to heavy, but I warn you it is going to smack you in the face even if you think you know what is coming and have guessed it, it is going to smack you hard and all the pain will be totally worth it. Another great book to start 2014 off with!
8 out of 10
January 18, 2014
I was given this book by Paranormal Romance & Authors That Rock for an honest review.
5 Fangs... this book Had me up till 2.30am reading when I needed to be up early and walk around Australia zoo all day... And I read the rest that night even though I was physically shattered, l needed to know what would happen next!
The book is fast paced and imaginative, based around Kala who is the product of foster families and has learned to take care of herself in a hostile world. She becomes an elite Soldier in a special unit who uses high tech gadgets on black ops missions, one of those missions ends with her taking a lucky shot against her leaders orders and she finds that moment changes her life in away she would never imagined.
The reader is then thrust into a world of mythology and fantasy, Chased by angels and Hot sexy demons, Kala has to fulfil a mission that she would rather die than complete... But if she doesn't the whole world will suffer.
The authors writing style keeps the story fast paced, and has that ability to inject humour when needed. And she wrote an ending that had me... Well I'm not going to finish that as I hate reading spoilers... Just read this book as you won't regret it. The book will be enjoyed by many readers paranormal/young adult and upwards in age ( we never grow up really!)
And to finish my review...I really hope there is a second book SOON!
Well done Ms Smith, I'm off to go check out your other books!
October 28, 2014
3 - 3.5
Overall, not bad! The story concept is actually pretty cool, starting out with Greek mythology. When demons and angels were thrown into the mix, I thought it was going to tank from there by trying to do too much, but everything worked pretty well together.
I didn't rate this higher because the writing style was awkward at times and like I mentioned before, the book would have benefited from an editor or at least a spellchecker. Kala's yo-yoing personality from tough military woman to emotionally damaged girl to manipulative sexpot got old. Yes, all three of those can exist in one person, but the running internal dialogue was repetitive. Lastly, why are all the men who are intererested in Kala smokin' model-hot? I'm so tired of reading stories where the female protagonist is so wrapped up in her serious self-esteem issues and she's being fought over by a pack of Adonises. Can I roll my eyes any harder?
Despite the issues I had with the book, the story is interesting enough for me to continue on to the sequel!
Overall, not bad! The story concept is actually pretty cool, starting out with Greek mythology. When demons and angels were thrown into the mix, I thought it was going to tank from there by trying to do too much, but everything worked pretty well together.
I didn't rate this higher because the writing style was awkward at times and like I mentioned before, the book would have benefited from an editor or at least a spellchecker. Kala's yo-yoing personality from tough military woman to emotionally damaged girl to manipulative sexpot got old. Yes, all three of those can exist in one person, but the running internal dialogue was repetitive. Lastly, why are all the men who are intererested in Kala smokin' model-hot? I'm so tired of reading stories where the female protagonist is so wrapped up in her serious self-esteem issues and she's being fought over by a pack of Adonises. Can I roll my eyes any harder?
Despite the issues I had with the book, the story is interesting enough for me to continue on to the sequel!
January 7, 2014
I got this book free through Goodreads giveaways.
First of all...this book was absolutely amazing. The cover is beautiful, making me love this book instantly. Becca Smith is an incredible author, with an unique style of writing that grabs the reader's attention instantly. This book is a great combination of Greek Mythology, angels, demons, and magic.
First of all...this book was absolutely amazing. The cover is beautiful, making me love this book instantly. Becca Smith is an incredible author, with an unique style of writing that grabs the reader's attention instantly. This book is a great combination of Greek Mythology, angels, demons, and magic.
The story revolves around Kala Hicks, a brave and stubborn protagonist, being part of an elite military team. Her life instantly changes when she kills the President. She is thrown into an unimaginable supernatural reality.
Kala is an amazing character giving this book its spark. The ending of the book was Magnificent!!! I am truly overwhelmed, and have a great desire to continue reading. I really hope there is a second book, and Mrs. Becca continues to write more about Kala.
Must-Read: Absolutely, definitely, certainly,... YES!
May 20, 2014
A quick and easy read. It was action packed enough to keep me reading and the writing was pretty good too. By the end though....it felt like there was too much packed in too quickly and some of it was eye-roll worthy.
October 13, 2017
couldn't finish it the story was so lacking in depth
January 20, 2015
"Atlas" has been sitting unread on my kindle for awhile now;so, I re-read the plot synopsis and decided to go ahead and read it. I am so glad I did.
Kala was thrown in a trash bin when she was born (Who does that?). After pretty much growing up in the foster care system, she manages to finally find a good home at the age of fifteen. Her foster Dad, Owen was in the Navy and with his guidance, Kala became a Seal. Of course that leads her to the next mission which is boarding Airforce One where the President has strapped explosives to his body in the attempt to kill himself and thousands of others in D..C. So, Kala's team has the unfortunate duty to kill him. Her boss and lover, Jack is all set to do the deed; but, he freezes momentarily and Kala takes the shot. Little does she know but this one event will change her life forever.
Immediately after killing the President Kala blacks out and is sent in an alternative world where she meets the Atlas, the Titan God. He informs her she is now the new Atlas whose job it is to kill an innocent every four days in order to restore balance in the world. If she doesn't complete her task, she will plunge the world into some horrific tragedy like total annihilation.
When Kala's first assignment comes to her in a vision she can't believe what she sees. Her first victim is none other than the only man she has allowed to get close to her as well as the only man she has ever loved, Jack. No, no, no, no! This just won't do. This has to be a mistake, right? Well, quite honestly when her new identity is discovered that is the least of her worries because now Kala is on the hit list of the demons, Malak (quasi angels) and the Navy Seals. Boy, life sucks sometimes.
I really enjoyed this unique plot, wonderful world building, kickass heroine and colorful action. If I had a criticism it would be it's hard to combine a polytheistic religious belief alongside that of a monotheistic one: Greek gods with God and angels? Hmm, I am not so sure it worked. However, I was hooked on the intelligence and loyalty of Kayla. I also must say, the demon king was pretty entertaining as well.
If you are in the mood for something totally entertaining with a unique and clever ploy, consider Atlas. If definitely will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Kala was thrown in a trash bin when she was born (Who does that?). After pretty much growing up in the foster care system, she manages to finally find a good home at the age of fifteen. Her foster Dad, Owen was in the Navy and with his guidance, Kala became a Seal. Of course that leads her to the next mission which is boarding Airforce One where the President has strapped explosives to his body in the attempt to kill himself and thousands of others in D..C. So, Kala's team has the unfortunate duty to kill him. Her boss and lover, Jack is all set to do the deed; but, he freezes momentarily and Kala takes the shot. Little does she know but this one event will change her life forever.
Immediately after killing the President Kala blacks out and is sent in an alternative world where she meets the Atlas, the Titan God. He informs her she is now the new Atlas whose job it is to kill an innocent every four days in order to restore balance in the world. If she doesn't complete her task, she will plunge the world into some horrific tragedy like total annihilation.
When Kala's first assignment comes to her in a vision she can't believe what she sees. Her first victim is none other than the only man she has allowed to get close to her as well as the only man she has ever loved, Jack. No, no, no, no! This just won't do. This has to be a mistake, right? Well, quite honestly when her new identity is discovered that is the least of her worries because now Kala is on the hit list of the demons, Malak (quasi angels) and the Navy Seals. Boy, life sucks sometimes.
I really enjoyed this unique plot, wonderful world building, kickass heroine and colorful action. If I had a criticism it would be it's hard to combine a polytheistic religious belief alongside that of a monotheistic one: Greek gods with God and angels? Hmm, I am not so sure it worked. However, I was hooked on the intelligence and loyalty of Kayla. I also must say, the demon king was pretty entertaining as well.
If you are in the mood for something totally entertaining with a unique and clever ploy, consider Atlas. If definitely will keep you on the edge of your seat!
May 5, 2014
I've done a spotlight for Becca with Atlas on one of my other blogs so when I got the chance to do a review I really wanted to know what this story was about. I love Greek mythology and I absolutely loved the feeling of Atlas.
Everyone knows who the god Atlas is. He's the dude carrying the world on his shoulders. Now what Becca C. Smith did was something super amazing. She made the god Atlas tricked a human in carrying the world's burdens. And it's not as easy as everyone thinks. The world is literally coming to an end every four days and the Atlas has to prevent it from happening. If not, we all live in hell.
I'm opening with that as it's the main theme of this novel but it's so much more.
It follows Kala Hicks. An orphan girl who got adopted and her family loved her very much, but still....she didn't feel as if she belonged. Then she became really good with guns, and become part of a special unit ops. How special, well that part Kala didn't know or maybe she wasn't present when they told her.
She took a shot, one that she wasn't suppose to and killed the current Atlas. Now Kala has to take his place as Atlas. Everything gets turned upside down cause if she can't stop the end of the world all humans will pay the price and it's not easy as Angels try to help her but with a secret agenda and sexy ass demons are trying to stop her with succeeding with her mission.
It's a refreshing plot with twists and turns you didn't foresee. Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!
Can I relate to Kala, yes, she is human with human feelings and situations I would probably act the same way in if it was me that has to carry the world on my shoulders or save the world.
Am I good with guns.
Heck no! But I would give anything for some of the gadgets inside this novel.
Well done Becca C. Smith for this wonderful story. I really enjoyed it. It was fast pace and really hard to put down.
I advice that all of you go and get Atlas right now!!!!
Everyone knows who the god Atlas is. He's the dude carrying the world on his shoulders. Now what Becca C. Smith did was something super amazing. She made the god Atlas tricked a human in carrying the world's burdens. And it's not as easy as everyone thinks. The world is literally coming to an end every four days and the Atlas has to prevent it from happening. If not, we all live in hell.
I'm opening with that as it's the main theme of this novel but it's so much more.
It follows Kala Hicks. An orphan girl who got adopted and her family loved her very much, but still....she didn't feel as if she belonged. Then she became really good with guns, and become part of a special unit ops. How special, well that part Kala didn't know or maybe she wasn't present when they told her.
She took a shot, one that she wasn't suppose to and killed the current Atlas. Now Kala has to take his place as Atlas. Everything gets turned upside down cause if she can't stop the end of the world all humans will pay the price and it's not easy as Angels try to help her but with a secret agenda and sexy ass demons are trying to stop her with succeeding with her mission.
It's a refreshing plot with twists and turns you didn't foresee. Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!
Can I relate to Kala, yes, she is human with human feelings and situations I would probably act the same way in if it was me that has to carry the world on my shoulders or save the world.
Am I good with guns.
Heck no! But I would give anything for some of the gadgets inside this novel.
Well done Becca C. Smith for this wonderful story. I really enjoyed it. It was fast pace and really hard to put down.
I advice that all of you go and get Atlas right now!!!!
November 10, 2017
This review can also be found on my blog https://pagesflyingfree.wordpress.com.
2.5 stars
Book 1 of The Atlas Series, Atlas hits the ground running. In no time at all, we are introduced to Kala Hicks, an intriguing and mysterious stranger, and a President gone crazy. What starts as a seemingly routine mission for this Navy SEAL and her team ends up completely changing her life and the destinies of herself and her lover Jack. One fateful move lands her between good and evil, Greek gods and demons, all while tasked with committing an atrocious act just to save the world for another 4 days. But does Kala have the guts to commit the act chosen for her?
As a huge fan of Greek mythology, I couldn't pass this one up. Add in a strong, yet flawed female lead and I really couldn't say no. Much of this story was driven by the intense internal struggle Kala faced, of whether to commit the act (truly heartbreaking) or let the world burn. This conflict gradually intensified all the way to the end, complete with internal and external struggles and a few demon fights. I was pleased that the action seemed almost non-stop. There was always something happening. Kala never seemed to catch a break. My one complaint is the action sequences blended in too much with the narrative. I would have appreciated sentence structures and word choices that better matched the action. More active voice as opposed to the rather consistently used passive voice would have made more of an impact.
So why only 2.5 stars? I loved the premise, do really, really wanted to love this book. With a title like Atlas, I was expecting something more Greek mythology heavy. Instead, it was a strange mix of Greek mythology and Christianity. While I appreciated what Smith wad trying to do, it only felt strange and sometimes confusing, especially when angels started popping in. This strange mix never felt fully developed and explained, as though there was an underlying mythology that was poorly explored and expanded on. Characters literally popped in and out and with them came new revelations related to the mythology. I appreciated Kala's struggles against these forces, but it made her feel like she was just a reactionary character. Finally, the magic was just a little too convenient and poorly explained. There were no rules or guidelines for how it worked and who can wield it. It was just another confusing element that was conveniently useful.
Even with characters that popped in and out and seemingly vanish for most of the book, I found it surprisingly easy to keep track of them. They were unique and had different roles in the story and Kala's life. My one complaint is some of them, like Derek, just vanish completely, though maybe he'll be seen in the next book. Kala herself was interesting, but there was too much tell going on. The reader was constant told she was a certain way and why, especially when it was convenient to the story, like a situation called for a certain trait that Kala just happened to have. It almost felt as though Smith didn't trust the reader to understand Kala. Instead of creating space for her to exhibit a trait, we are instead told all about it, just to make sure we know what it is she has. For their parts, Turner and his wife just felt too convenient in terms of who they were and what they did. The fact that his wife was a witch kind of came out of left field, considering Turner's characterization early on. Asmodeus would have been so much more interesting if he had actually felt like a thousands years old demon. Instead, he lacked maturity and his juvenile crush on Kala constantly let her get the upper hand. It got old after awhile. Jack, as the one meant to be the next Atlas could have been so much more interesting. He could have been furious about Kala inadvertently taking this role. He could have tried to be more of a guide. Instead he felt one dimensional, useful only to eventually force Kala to make the hard choice and make it heartwrenching at the same time. One problem is that Jack is actually absent for much of the story. We simply have to believe they have a strong romantic relationship that drives Kala away from her duty.
I was pleased that, while the story focused on Kala running from her duty because of her romantic relationship with Jack, the romance was nicely woven in and not a strong focus. However, her relationship with Jack felt weak since he was absent so much. The reader must believe that they have a strong, loving relationship since we don't actually see too much of it beyond the beginning and end of the book. Honestly, I thought Derek would have been a better choice. He was always there for her. Sadly, after a certain point, he is never heard from again. One thing that really annoyed me was every good looking guy, angel and demon, became infatuated with her without really knowing her. It got old really fast and made the book feel more YA than it should have considering it wasn't listed under a YA tag.
Okay, to be honest, the writing doesn't really warrant a 2.5. It actually wasn't that dreadful, but my issues with the story put it there. However, there was a lot more tell than show going on and I got a little tired of constantly being told everything. Descriptions, surprisingly, we're lacking, making it difficult sometimes to visualize what has happening and where Kala was. The writing could have been more exciting with less repetition (there were instances of the same name used in successive sentences), more active voice mixed in, use of an expanded vocabulary, and more descriptive phrases. The repetition, not just of names, was evident throughout the book and made it cumbersome to read aloud, though the book did make for a relatively safe read for my toddler's bedtime (minus a few words and passages here and there). Missing or added words that did not belong and problems with word order also made it a little confusing to read, too. Missing commas and commas in the wrong places did not help. Overall, the writing was more at a YA level when I expected more of an adult read.
Bottom line: Despite relatively boring writing that neither helped not hindered, this was an okay book with an interesting premise that, unfortunately, fell a little flat. If you like Greek mythology, angels, demons, witches, magic, and are wondering if Kala will commit another atrocious act, take a chance. It wasn't for me and I won't be reading the rest of the series, but I wouldn't call it dreadful.
2.5 stars
Book 1 of The Atlas Series, Atlas hits the ground running. In no time at all, we are introduced to Kala Hicks, an intriguing and mysterious stranger, and a President gone crazy. What starts as a seemingly routine mission for this Navy SEAL and her team ends up completely changing her life and the destinies of herself and her lover Jack. One fateful move lands her between good and evil, Greek gods and demons, all while tasked with committing an atrocious act just to save the world for another 4 days. But does Kala have the guts to commit the act chosen for her?
As a huge fan of Greek mythology, I couldn't pass this one up. Add in a strong, yet flawed female lead and I really couldn't say no. Much of this story was driven by the intense internal struggle Kala faced, of whether to commit the act (truly heartbreaking) or let the world burn. This conflict gradually intensified all the way to the end, complete with internal and external struggles and a few demon fights. I was pleased that the action seemed almost non-stop. There was always something happening. Kala never seemed to catch a break. My one complaint is the action sequences blended in too much with the narrative. I would have appreciated sentence structures and word choices that better matched the action. More active voice as opposed to the rather consistently used passive voice would have made more of an impact.
So why only 2.5 stars? I loved the premise, do really, really wanted to love this book. With a title like Atlas, I was expecting something more Greek mythology heavy. Instead, it was a strange mix of Greek mythology and Christianity. While I appreciated what Smith wad trying to do, it only felt strange and sometimes confusing, especially when angels started popping in. This strange mix never felt fully developed and explained, as though there was an underlying mythology that was poorly explored and expanded on. Characters literally popped in and out and with them came new revelations related to the mythology. I appreciated Kala's struggles against these forces, but it made her feel like she was just a reactionary character. Finally, the magic was just a little too convenient and poorly explained. There were no rules or guidelines for how it worked and who can wield it. It was just another confusing element that was conveniently useful.
Even with characters that popped in and out and seemingly vanish for most of the book, I found it surprisingly easy to keep track of them. They were unique and had different roles in the story and Kala's life. My one complaint is some of them, like Derek, just vanish completely, though maybe he'll be seen in the next book. Kala herself was interesting, but there was too much tell going on. The reader was constant told she was a certain way and why, especially when it was convenient to the story, like a situation called for a certain trait that Kala just happened to have. It almost felt as though Smith didn't trust the reader to understand Kala. Instead of creating space for her to exhibit a trait, we are instead told all about it, just to make sure we know what it is she has. For their parts, Turner and his wife just felt too convenient in terms of who they were and what they did. The fact that his wife was a witch kind of came out of left field, considering Turner's characterization early on. Asmodeus would have been so much more interesting if he had actually felt like a thousands years old demon. Instead, he lacked maturity and his juvenile crush on Kala constantly let her get the upper hand. It got old after awhile. Jack, as the one meant to be the next Atlas could have been so much more interesting. He could have been furious about Kala inadvertently taking this role. He could have tried to be more of a guide. Instead he felt one dimensional, useful only to eventually force Kala to make the hard choice and make it heartwrenching at the same time. One problem is that Jack is actually absent for much of the story. We simply have to believe they have a strong romantic relationship that drives Kala away from her duty.
I was pleased that, while the story focused on Kala running from her duty because of her romantic relationship with Jack, the romance was nicely woven in and not a strong focus. However, her relationship with Jack felt weak since he was absent so much. The reader must believe that they have a strong, loving relationship since we don't actually see too much of it beyond the beginning and end of the book. Honestly, I thought Derek would have been a better choice. He was always there for her. Sadly, after a certain point, he is never heard from again. One thing that really annoyed me was every good looking guy, angel and demon, became infatuated with her without really knowing her. It got old really fast and made the book feel more YA than it should have considering it wasn't listed under a YA tag.
Okay, to be honest, the writing doesn't really warrant a 2.5. It actually wasn't that dreadful, but my issues with the story put it there. However, there was a lot more tell than show going on and I got a little tired of constantly being told everything. Descriptions, surprisingly, we're lacking, making it difficult sometimes to visualize what has happening and where Kala was. The writing could have been more exciting with less repetition (there were instances of the same name used in successive sentences), more active voice mixed in, use of an expanded vocabulary, and more descriptive phrases. The repetition, not just of names, was evident throughout the book and made it cumbersome to read aloud, though the book did make for a relatively safe read for my toddler's bedtime (minus a few words and passages here and there). Missing or added words that did not belong and problems with word order also made it a little confusing to read, too. Missing commas and commas in the wrong places did not help. Overall, the writing was more at a YA level when I expected more of an adult read.
Bottom line: Despite relatively boring writing that neither helped not hindered, this was an okay book with an interesting premise that, unfortunately, fell a little flat. If you like Greek mythology, angels, demons, witches, magic, and are wondering if Kala will commit another atrocious act, take a chance. It wasn't for me and I won't be reading the rest of the series, but I wouldn't call it dreadful.
March 27, 2014
Favorite Lines “There must be something wrong with him. No one was that perfect.”
“Asmodeus looked shocked at Kala’s behavior. She knew in that moment that no one had ever turned this guy down before. He was apparently used to women falling at his feet, drooling over his good looks. Kala never cared for conceited guys.”
“You and Jack cannot exist together. One of you has to be sacrificed or the world will collapse in on itself. When you became Atlas you sealed your fate and Jack’s. He’s the potential, you’re the Fated One.”
“Kala, it was always supposed to be you.”
Kala is a super trained bad ass solider! She doesn't allow her self to feel for anyone but Jack her commander is someone she might actually love. While on a mission something happens and Kala's world is turned completely upside down. Kala is thrust into a world of Gods, Demon, Grigori, and Malak. She's become the Atlas and has to doing a vile act every 4 days to keep the world from ending, her first "mission" is something she can't even begin to fathom. Her heart is breaking and the world could end if she doesn't do what needs to be done. I've never read a book like this before and I flew through this book. It's an action packed ride and I loved every page of it. This world is spectacular and I can't wait to read more of it!
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review (RBTL)
FIVE FATED FAIRIES
“Asmodeus looked shocked at Kala’s behavior. She knew in that moment that no one had ever turned this guy down before. He was apparently used to women falling at his feet, drooling over his good looks. Kala never cared for conceited guys.”
“You and Jack cannot exist together. One of you has to be sacrificed or the world will collapse in on itself. When you became Atlas you sealed your fate and Jack’s. He’s the potential, you’re the Fated One.”
“Kala, it was always supposed to be you.”
Kala is a super trained bad ass solider! She doesn't allow her self to feel for anyone but Jack her commander is someone she might actually love. While on a mission something happens and Kala's world is turned completely upside down. Kala is thrust into a world of Gods, Demon, Grigori, and Malak. She's become the Atlas and has to doing a vile act every 4 days to keep the world from ending, her first "mission" is something she can't even begin to fathom. Her heart is breaking and the world could end if she doesn't do what needs to be done. I've never read a book like this before and I flew through this book. It's an action packed ride and I loved every page of it. This world is spectacular and I can't wait to read more of it!
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review (RBTL)
FIVE FATED FAIRIES
January 5, 2014
I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review
This Review First Appeared On Extaordinaryreads
A kick-ass adventure amid a host of supernatural beings; both fast paced and entertaining. Kala is the product of foster families and has learned to take care of herself in a hostile world. She has become an elite soldier in the American army, but then she assassinates the president and naturally everything changes--especially when she is transported into a whirlwind world filled with mythology and fantasy.
Pursued by angels and horribly sexy demons, Kala is thrown into a heady race against time to complete unwanted missions in order to save the earth.
This book is the product of an incredibly imaginative mind, I found myself marveling time and again at the wonderfully creative characters and technological gadgets thought up by the author. This tale reminded me of the Nancy Drew mysteries I read as a teenager, but set in a science fiction world, where the protagonist is displaced among humans, Greek mythological beings and heavenly creatures. The author writes in a vivid, evocative style and the prose is full of wry satirical humour that will keep many a reader, older than the targeted YA audience, very happy indeed.
This Review First Appeared On Extaordinaryreads
A kick-ass adventure amid a host of supernatural beings; both fast paced and entertaining. Kala is the product of foster families and has learned to take care of herself in a hostile world. She has become an elite soldier in the American army, but then she assassinates the president and naturally everything changes--especially when she is transported into a whirlwind world filled with mythology and fantasy.
Pursued by angels and horribly sexy demons, Kala is thrown into a heady race against time to complete unwanted missions in order to save the earth.
This book is the product of an incredibly imaginative mind, I found myself marveling time and again at the wonderfully creative characters and technological gadgets thought up by the author. This tale reminded me of the Nancy Drew mysteries I read as a teenager, but set in a science fiction world, where the protagonist is displaced among humans, Greek mythological beings and heavenly creatures. The author writes in a vivid, evocative style and the prose is full of wry satirical humour that will keep many a reader, older than the targeted YA audience, very happy indeed.
March 3, 2014
My first thoughts on this one? I absolutely LOVED it! This novel absolutely blew my mind. It was exciting with an undercurrent of irony right from the first page. I love how Smith made Atlas her won and ran with it without butchering Greek mythology. It came together in a very modern interpretation of Atlas’ story. Smith’s well written, approachable style really allows you to immerse yourself fully in the captivating story. She is a fantastic storyteller who brings this world to life through her words.
I absolutely loved the strong female lead in this novel that was fighting her own demons. She was far from perfect but was trying the best way she knew how. It really added an extra layer of emotion to this novel. As a whole, this cast was filled with real people in some really out of this world situations interspersed with supernatural characters with some very human attributes. It was the perfect cast for this story, developed in a manner that draws you in and moves the story forward.
This is definitely one of the most intriguing novels I’ve read in a very long while. I couldn’t put it down for even a second. This was my introduction to this author’s work but I’ll definitely be following her more closely in the future.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved the strong female lead in this novel that was fighting her own demons. She was far from perfect but was trying the best way she knew how. It really added an extra layer of emotion to this novel. As a whole, this cast was filled with real people in some really out of this world situations interspersed with supernatural characters with some very human attributes. It was the perfect cast for this story, developed in a manner that draws you in and moves the story forward.
This is definitely one of the most intriguing novels I’ve read in a very long while. I couldn’t put it down for even a second. This was my introduction to this author’s work but I’ll definitely be following her more closely in the future.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2015
The whole concept for this book felt somewhat contrived- I could understand having to balance the world but every four days seems like a completely random number. Also Atrocity is quite a strong word- makes me think of the holocaust, genocide, war crimes, subjugation of entire populations and other crimes against humanity I guess this is a form of human sacrifice which is pretty bad but I still think atrocity is too strong a word.
I also found myself getting frustrated with Kala she's not particularly proactive- she spends most the book in denial just doing one thing then the next as a variety of supernatural being whisk her away and teach her or threaten her. She talks about being determined not to complete the atrocity to save the world but she doesn't do much other than deny she's going to do it for most the book. Kala basically just lets things happen for most the book and I got really frustrated with her.
Reading this felt like a bit of a chore to me and I nearly gave up a few time but I did read this to the end and the last 20% is better.
I also found myself getting frustrated with Kala she's not particularly proactive- she spends most the book in denial just doing one thing then the next as a variety of supernatural being whisk her away and teach her or threaten her. She talks about being determined not to complete the atrocity to save the world but she doesn't do much other than deny she's going to do it for most the book. Kala basically just lets things happen for most the book and I got really frustrated with her.
Reading this felt like a bit of a chore to me and I nearly gave up a few time but I did read this to the end and the last 20% is better.
December 2, 2015
Surprisingly satisfactory. I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this and after a couple minutes, I wasn't exactly impressed but couldn't put it down either. The writing is...not exactly my style and the main character, Kala, was a bit of a letdown. I simply couldn't understand her mood swings. Tough military woman one moment. Emotionally damaged orphan the next. Even manipulative sex kitten when Asmodeus was around. It got old pretty fast. The concept was good though. Greek mythology is always welcome. I had some mixed feelings about the angels and demons but it mixed well and I ended up enjoying it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2014
Not bad! A little contrived, a little too-plucky-badass-Heroine-saving-the-world, but redeemed by a plucky-badass-heroine that is actually likable and engaging (when she isn't whimpering about her plight). Good enough to make me want to read a sequel.
April 26, 2024
I downloaded Atlas, book one of the Atlas series, as a free book from Amazon. I was flipping through my catalogue of 2000+ unread books on my kindle and came across this gem I downloaded in 2014. It was most-likely skipped due to the sparse info in the blurb, which is unfortunate as the book was totally unexpected and unique.
The god, Atlas, through trickery, passed the weight of the world and keeping balance onto the shoulders of mortals. Through an accident, the mantle bypasses the next recipient onto an unprepared shoulders of a woman who was in the wrong place at the right time. Every four days, the Atlas avatar, Kala, will be forced to do the unspeakable in order to prevent the total destruction of the world. Not everyone agrees the end of the world would be a bad thing.
The world-building was well done and the concept fresh and terrifying. Don't wait 10 years like I did. This is worth a read.
The god, Atlas, through trickery, passed the weight of the world and keeping balance onto the shoulders of mortals. Through an accident, the mantle bypasses the next recipient onto an unprepared shoulders of a woman who was in the wrong place at the right time. Every four days, the Atlas avatar, Kala, will be forced to do the unspeakable in order to prevent the total destruction of the world. Not everyone agrees the end of the world would be a bad thing.
The world-building was well done and the concept fresh and terrifying. Don't wait 10 years like I did. This is worth a read.
March 3, 2020
Fun
Fast paced and fun to read. I enjoyed being swept away by angels and demons as Kala tries to find a way to save her lover. Can she change their fate? Or will she end up losing the only man she's ever loved?
Fast paced and fun to read. I enjoyed being swept away by angels and demons as Kala tries to find a way to save her lover. Can she change their fate? Or will she end up losing the only man she's ever loved?
August 12, 2024
A hugely original urban fantasy. The way every strong supernatural being lusted after Kala within seconds got a bit annoying, and the writing was slightly awkward here and there, but nothing about that could really detract from the heart-pounding story. 4.75 stars.
October 29, 2020
Very slow to get into. Best part of the book is the last few chapters. Dialogue is horrid, characters are flat, story is interesting and it's a quick read.
September 17, 2014
[Full disclosure: I received a free paperback copy in conjunction with the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.]
I’ll admit that with this one I was a little skeptical once I actually read the blurb. To be honest, it sounded a little dumb and I thought that I’d accidentally signed up to read a total lemon. Thankfully, that was far from the case. This one is a diamond in the rough, so to speak.
The real strength of Smith’s writing is the fact that she can pace things so well. I felt the tension ratchet up right from the beginning until it was at almost unbearable levels during the climax. There were twists and turns in the plot, with plenty of “didn’t see that coming moments”. I didn’t even see the end coming when Kala did something so unexpected that she shocked angels, demons and those in-betweeners that are desperate to keep up the balance of the world through an Atlas. Some are determined to stop her and others are still more determined that she should succeed, so in the end who will win? You just really don’t know.
Kala is a good character and she is quite memorable. Having grown up largely in foster care until her teen years, she understandably has some trust issues, particularly in her relationships. Her backstory is fascinating but just when you think you know everything about her, we learn something very interesting about her foster parents and who/what they really are. What I really liked was her determination in the beginning to find a way out of becoming the next Atlas. She doesn’t want to commit the atrocity that’s been assigned to her, but she doesn’t want literally billions of people to die. It’s a fascinating inner struggle, believe me.
I really appreciated Becca Smith’s world-building. She clearly knows a lot about Greek mythology (which you would expect) but she goes deeper into Christian theology in order to create some of her other creatures like the Grigori and Malaks. I would have liked a little more time devoted to the creation and working of magic, but then that would have slowed down the plot and thrown the pacing off. We still have good working knowledge of the whole different world Becca Smith created, but it’s more of a personal preference for me that I would have liked a little more.
All in all, this is actually a pretty good book and I’m glad that I went into it with an open mind, rather than judging it entirely on the blurb.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
I’ll admit that with this one I was a little skeptical once I actually read the blurb. To be honest, it sounded a little dumb and I thought that I’d accidentally signed up to read a total lemon. Thankfully, that was far from the case. This one is a diamond in the rough, so to speak.
The real strength of Smith’s writing is the fact that she can pace things so well. I felt the tension ratchet up right from the beginning until it was at almost unbearable levels during the climax. There were twists and turns in the plot, with plenty of “didn’t see that coming moments”. I didn’t even see the end coming when Kala did something so unexpected that she shocked angels, demons and those in-betweeners that are desperate to keep up the balance of the world through an Atlas. Some are determined to stop her and others are still more determined that she should succeed, so in the end who will win? You just really don’t know.
Kala is a good character and she is quite memorable. Having grown up largely in foster care until her teen years, she understandably has some trust issues, particularly in her relationships. Her backstory is fascinating but just when you think you know everything about her, we learn something very interesting about her foster parents and who/what they really are. What I really liked was her determination in the beginning to find a way out of becoming the next Atlas. She doesn’t want to commit the atrocity that’s been assigned to her, but she doesn’t want literally billions of people to die. It’s a fascinating inner struggle, believe me.
I really appreciated Becca Smith’s world-building. She clearly knows a lot about Greek mythology (which you would expect) but she goes deeper into Christian theology in order to create some of her other creatures like the Grigori and Malaks. I would have liked a little more time devoted to the creation and working of magic, but then that would have slowed down the plot and thrown the pacing off. We still have good working knowledge of the whole different world Becca Smith created, but it’s more of a personal preference for me that I would have liked a little more.
All in all, this is actually a pretty good book and I’m glad that I went into it with an open mind, rather than judging it entirely on the blurb.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
March 26, 2014
In Kala's world, nothing else matters other than doing exactly what she's told to do. A part of the Navy SEAL, she's good at what she does. She follows orders to the letter, always making sure that every job is finished completely. Yet everything changes when she takes matters into her own hands on a current job.
Forced to take a shot at the President, her life takes a very drastic turn. Kala soon discovers that the choice she made altered the path she now walks upon. She's become something else entirely, and it's begun to feel as if she has the weight of the world resting on her shoulders. To make matters worse, she's to commit heinous acts on humanity in order to atone for her sin. In her mind, there's no way she can do what's being asked of her, let alone take an innocent life if the occasion calls for it.
Her world is further thrown askew when it becomes apparent that the one man she thought she knew so well turns out to be someone she doesn't quite recognize. Jack means everything to her, however, and she'll do everything possible to hold on to the way he makes her feel. The fact that he's come to her rescue certainly seals the deal.
Determined to make sense of the situation, Kala vows to do everything possible to go against what she's meant to do. There's no way she'll fulfill the vision she's been given. Granted, refusing to follow orders is difficult for her, but there has to be another way to deflect what's coming her way. She just has to live long enough to find the answers to the questions roiling in her head. The question is, how can she do that when everyone around her is intent on killing her from the get-go?
A truly intriguing start to this series, Becca delivers a jaw-dropping tale that makes you want to read more and more once you get to the very end. Based on myths of old, the author has beautifully captured the lore to spin a modern tale surrounding the Titans and all that mythology entails. Caught between a rock and hard place, Kala will do everything possible to avoid her destiny at all cost. I truly look forward to what the next book has to bring.
Forced to take a shot at the President, her life takes a very drastic turn. Kala soon discovers that the choice she made altered the path she now walks upon. She's become something else entirely, and it's begun to feel as if she has the weight of the world resting on her shoulders. To make matters worse, she's to commit heinous acts on humanity in order to atone for her sin. In her mind, there's no way she can do what's being asked of her, let alone take an innocent life if the occasion calls for it.
Her world is further thrown askew when it becomes apparent that the one man she thought she knew so well turns out to be someone she doesn't quite recognize. Jack means everything to her, however, and she'll do everything possible to hold on to the way he makes her feel. The fact that he's come to her rescue certainly seals the deal.
Determined to make sense of the situation, Kala vows to do everything possible to go against what she's meant to do. There's no way she'll fulfill the vision she's been given. Granted, refusing to follow orders is difficult for her, but there has to be another way to deflect what's coming her way. She just has to live long enough to find the answers to the questions roiling in her head. The question is, how can she do that when everyone around her is intent on killing her from the get-go?
A truly intriguing start to this series, Becca delivers a jaw-dropping tale that makes you want to read more and more once you get to the very end. Based on myths of old, the author has beautifully captured the lore to spin a modern tale surrounding the Titans and all that mythology entails. Caught between a rock and hard place, Kala will do everything possible to avoid her destiny at all cost. I truly look forward to what the next book has to bring.
March 1, 2015
It’s no secret…I’m a total sucker for anything to do with mythology, and Atlas definitely didn’t disappoint! The author does a fantastic job of weaving multiple myths and legends together, as well as changing up some of the ‘realities’ of the myths. She even manages to tie in major historical world events to the history of the gods, angels, demons, etc. in the book! Although Kala and the other members of the military team she is on (mostly her and Jack) are at the front line of this story, there is a whole host of secondary characters that are not only crucial to the plot, but they are also three dimensional characters. Some of them I am hoping will get even more face time in future books, because I MUST know more about their roles in everything that is going on!
I did wish, however, that we could have gotten just a little bit deeper into Kala’s character. Don’t get me wrong, you will eventually see how everything that has happened to Kala across her life has sort-of led to this crazy, epic moment she is having. But even though I read about all of those events/encounters, I still felt like emotionally/relationally Kala was lacking some depth. In general however, I kind of love Kala. :) She is strong, determined, and unwilling to take anybody’s crap. She’s the kind of girl who gets into bar fights with men who try to get fresh with her. And I wish I could be that kind of person all the time. There is some romance in the story (aka Jack, with a side of Asmodeus and Talan) but anything much more than making out fades to black. And though the romance is important to the story line, it isn’t always at the forefront of what is going on. (Although Kala might disagree with me on that one.) ;) PLEASE let there be another book coming!! With so many things left not fully explained, and THAT ENDING?!?! There MUST be more! And I will be (am)patiently waiting for it!
I did wish, however, that we could have gotten just a little bit deeper into Kala’s character. Don’t get me wrong, you will eventually see how everything that has happened to Kala across her life has sort-of led to this crazy, epic moment she is having. But even though I read about all of those events/encounters, I still felt like emotionally/relationally Kala was lacking some depth. In general however, I kind of love Kala. :) She is strong, determined, and unwilling to take anybody’s crap. She’s the kind of girl who gets into bar fights with men who try to get fresh with her. And I wish I could be that kind of person all the time. There is some romance in the story (aka Jack, with a side of Asmodeus and Talan) but anything much more than making out fades to black. And though the romance is important to the story line, it isn’t always at the forefront of what is going on. (Although Kala might disagree with me on that one.) ;) PLEASE let there be another book coming!! With so many things left not fully explained, and THAT ENDING?!?! There MUST be more! And I will be (am)patiently waiting for it!
May 14, 2014
I received this book as part of a blog tour to give an honest review.
So I have to only hope that maybe there is a book two in the works?
I literally was sucked into this book from the beginning and did not want to put it down. I love Greek lore, and this one just blew me away.
The main character Kala Hicks is a no nonsense woman who is part of a special ops elite team. After a night of drinking she finds her self in bed with Jack, and thinking that she is having hallucinations. But are they truly hallucinations? Then the team gets called out to do a mission unlike no other. The equipment they have is just awesome, and makes you wonder what exactly is going on. After the mission is done that is when Kala's life is turned upside more than it was before. Demons, Malaks, Angels, are all after her. She has a mission that has to be carried out or the world ends. How sucky is that? You get more a back story with Kala than you do with Jack. And I would have liked more of Jack only because of what he knows. I really enjoyed how Kala was a smart-a$$ even when she was face to face with the "King" of demons. I would have been shaking in my boots lol. The story line is very different than from others I have read and I liked that.
The story is fast paced, and it doesn't slow down not even when the count down begins!
If you enjoy the paranormal, fantasy, Greek, a story that will keep you wanting to find out more as what is all going on? And an ending that makes you want more of the story than you have to get this book.
So I have to only hope that maybe there is a book two in the works?
I literally was sucked into this book from the beginning and did not want to put it down. I love Greek lore, and this one just blew me away.
The main character Kala Hicks is a no nonsense woman who is part of a special ops elite team. After a night of drinking she finds her self in bed with Jack, and thinking that she is having hallucinations. But are they truly hallucinations? Then the team gets called out to do a mission unlike no other. The equipment they have is just awesome, and makes you wonder what exactly is going on. After the mission is done that is when Kala's life is turned upside more than it was before. Demons, Malaks, Angels, are all after her. She has a mission that has to be carried out or the world ends. How sucky is that? You get more a back story with Kala than you do with Jack. And I would have liked more of Jack only because of what he knows. I really enjoyed how Kala was a smart-a$$ even when she was face to face with the "King" of demons. I would have been shaking in my boots lol. The story line is very different than from others I have read and I liked that.
The story is fast paced, and it doesn't slow down not even when the count down begins!
If you enjoy the paranormal, fantasy, Greek, a story that will keep you wanting to find out more as what is all going on? And an ending that makes you want more of the story than you have to get this book.
February 17, 2014
A suspenseful, captivating, romantic free goodreads story Atlas by Becca C. Smith is a highly recommended read.
Kala Hicks is part of an elite military team that is sent to stop the President of the United States from killing the lives of innocent people. Her commanding officer is none other than her secret boyfriend and soul mate, Jack Norbin. In a split second decision, the only way to stop the president is for Kala to take the death shot. As Kala goes unconscious, she is meeting with a supernatural Titan god, Atlas, who informs her that she now is his human form of the Atlas on Earth and has to commit one act of atrocity every four days or the world will end. Kala is chased by Demons trying to capture her so the world will end and angels to either help her or try to kill her so they can become the new Atlas.
Kala finds out her act of atrocity is to kill her soul mate Jack Norbin. Talon, a special elite angel, tries to equip Kala in ways of battling her enemies. Will Kala be able to continue to battle the angels and demons? Will Kala find a way of not having to kill her soul mate Jack? Will the world end in four days? Read the exhilarating, fast paced supernatural adventure highly recommended story Atlas by Becca C. Smith.
Kala Hicks is part of an elite military team that is sent to stop the President of the United States from killing the lives of innocent people. Her commanding officer is none other than her secret boyfriend and soul mate, Jack Norbin. In a split second decision, the only way to stop the president is for Kala to take the death shot. As Kala goes unconscious, she is meeting with a supernatural Titan god, Atlas, who informs her that she now is his human form of the Atlas on Earth and has to commit one act of atrocity every four days or the world will end. Kala is chased by Demons trying to capture her so the world will end and angels to either help her or try to kill her so they can become the new Atlas.
Kala finds out her act of atrocity is to kill her soul mate Jack Norbin. Talon, a special elite angel, tries to equip Kala in ways of battling her enemies. Will Kala be able to continue to battle the angels and demons? Will Kala find a way of not having to kill her soul mate Jack? Will the world end in four days? Read the exhilarating, fast paced supernatural adventure highly recommended story Atlas by Becca C. Smith.
September 3, 2016
huh. I want to say that this book could have been amazing, but there were a few things I can nitpick about. I mean, if a few things had been different, I am pretty sure the ending would have blown me away and earned mega respect from me. As it was, the author spent too much time setting up a random insta- love interest, so I did not feel a strong enough bond about a certain aspect, leaving the end a little.. I dunno. hollow for me. I shall filter through my feelings and write a better review soon. And of course this hollow cookie cutter character will probably feature greatly in book two. I did not have any great affection for this character. hmn. Also, my hands are freezing. Why is it so cold in my room? o.o
ANYWAY, I will organize my thoughts and have a review together.
Acpect and mythological/paranormal aspect? awesome
plot? pretty damn cool
characters? Um. I may have some stuff to say about that.
ANYWAY, I will organize my thoughts and have a review together.
Acpect and mythological/paranormal aspect? awesome
plot? pretty damn cool
characters? Um. I may have some stuff to say about that.
August 6, 2016
Atlas by Becca C. Smith is such an off the beaten path book! It was a cohesive blend of many elements that all fought for my attention. There is plenty of action that draws you into the story, and the fast pace keeps you involved until the very end.
I don't think the romance is over done, and I was so glad for it. Kayla is a great heroine, and I enjoyed following her story. She wasn't perfect by any means, but that's why I loved her. She was real. No special snowflakes here!
I've never had the privilege of reading any of Smith's books before. After reading Atlas, I'll be seeking them out. Her writing style makes for such an edge of the seat read. I couldn't look away from my Kindle while reading this. Urban fantasy fans will love this one!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Becca C. Smith and RBTL.
I don't think the romance is over done, and I was so glad for it. Kayla is a great heroine, and I enjoyed following her story. She wasn't perfect by any means, but that's why I loved her. She was real. No special snowflakes here!
I've never had the privilege of reading any of Smith's books before. After reading Atlas, I'll be seeking them out. Her writing style makes for such an edge of the seat read. I couldn't look away from my Kindle while reading this. Urban fantasy fans will love this one!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Becca C. Smith and RBTL.
May 10, 2014
Wow, seriously wow! I started this book early this morning and by late afternoon, I was done. Not once was I bored or flipping through trying to get to an interesting part. Instead, I was completely sucked in and fascinated by the battle between the Angels and Demons.
However, this isn't your normal Angels and Demons type of clash. No, instead they are both trying to influence the person who takes on the job of Atlas. Tasked with the burden of the world, the unfortunate human who becomes mortal has to commit an atrocious act every four days.
I can not wait for the next book to come out. Becca C. Smith has a wonderful way with words and paints a vivid world. Her heroine is not shy violet, instead she's a special ops Navy Seal. She's a little broken, but very likeable. There was some amusing parts in the book and I cheered for Kala through the whole book. Definitely a must read.
However, this isn't your normal Angels and Demons type of clash. No, instead they are both trying to influence the person who takes on the job of Atlas. Tasked with the burden of the world, the unfortunate human who becomes mortal has to commit an atrocious act every four days.
I can not wait for the next book to come out. Becca C. Smith has a wonderful way with words and paints a vivid world. Her heroine is not shy violet, instead she's a special ops Navy Seal. She's a little broken, but very likeable. There was some amusing parts in the book and I cheered for Kala through the whole book. Definitely a must read.
August 20, 2014
Love love love!!! Loved this book from the very first moment I started reading I liked Kala. I loved her tough personality and thought she was well developed character she was definitely a strong lead character! The story was intriguing the whole way and kept me interested it was definitely unique and different. I loved the conflict for kala as she had to make a deduction save the world or save the one she loves the only one she loves in a matter of fact. I definitely enjoyed reading this book. This is the fifth book I've read from this author and I definitely love author. She is excellent writer and comes up with unique interesting plots. They are everything I want to read in a novel romance, action-packed, a little bit of suspense and more. Her characters are all well developed and interesting. Will definitely look for more from this author!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews