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Themis
SARAH CASTLE is a young celebrity reporter from London who stumbles upon the mystery of twelve extraordinary teenagers. One of them is HENRY BAXTER, an eighteen year-old unknown runner who just won The London Marathon. She accepts a position as the public relations chief for their new charity—THE THEMIS FOUNDATION. Sarah experiences events that can only be described as supernatural; including a cottage that appears normal from the outside, but is infinitely large inside with doors that open all over the world. However, Sarah’s proximity to this extraordinary family might just get her killed. In THEMIS, Sarah discovers the family she desperately wants, a love she didn’t expect, and herself at the center of events that will change the destiny for all of humanity. Themis is the first part of a five book series that will take the reader on an adventure into ancient mythology, a fantastic mystery, and deep inside the most unusual family on Earth.
262 pages, Paperback
Published May 16, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 6, 2020
The story was as extraordinary as the 12 teenagers and the pace was fantastic. It did take me a while to be interetested but after that I couldn't put my tab down. The plot is uniquely utopian and the characters are unforgettable. Especially Xan and Henry.
An action filled mystery which leaves the readers confused as to who's the villain even after the ending. This really was one of a kind. I really wish I had started this book once all the books in the series had been released!
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
An action filled mystery which leaves the readers confused as to who's the villain even after the ending. This really was one of a kind. I really wish I had started this book once all the books in the series had been released!
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
February 1, 2018
WOOHOO!
Before I begin this review I'm going to let you all know that this was another Read it and Reap book!
Themis is a jam-packed kind of book. What I mean is, well.. it's jam-packed with action, adeventure, and all kinds of fantastic sci-fi and fantasy shit. It was amazing! No, it was more than amazing. I couldn't put this book down... and by book I mean my phone because I was using the kindle app instead of my actual kindle.
Sarah Castle, is one of the main characters; However, you don't really see much of her POV throughout the book. The POV's switch a lot and sometimes you don't really know or remember who is talking. Like I've said in a previous book review.. multiple POVs can sometimes be confusing. Good thing for me, I enjoy crazy.
Even though I thought this book was amazing (mostly because I just couldn't put the book down and before I knew it.. it was over) I did feel like I didn't really connect with one character. Coming to this realization kind of made me sad and I also feel like maybe I should reread the book (slower at least) and see if that approach would change the way I'm feeling? I have no idea. Whenever I get the chance I will probably try to reread this book and if my opinion changes.. well, then I will definitely change my review.
Overall, I liked the book. Well, I loved it. Yeah, I'm sort of getting the feeling I'm probably confusing a shit ton of people with this review right now. Yes, this book does have flaws. Yes, I still loved it anyways. Do I really care if I connected with one person in this book? No, not really since there was like 12 or something POVs (I have no idea.. I didn't count). If it was like 3 or 4 then yeah I would have a favorite character.
Before I begin this review I'm going to let you all know that this was another Read it and Reap book!
Themis is a jam-packed kind of book. What I mean is, well.. it's jam-packed with action, adeventure, and all kinds of fantastic sci-fi and fantasy shit. It was amazing! No, it was more than amazing. I couldn't put this book down... and by book I mean my phone because I was using the kindle app instead of my actual kindle.
Sarah Castle, is one of the main characters; However, you don't really see much of her POV throughout the book. The POV's switch a lot and sometimes you don't really know or remember who is talking. Like I've said in a previous book review.. multiple POVs can sometimes be confusing. Good thing for me, I enjoy crazy.
Even though I thought this book was amazing (mostly because I just couldn't put the book down and before I knew it.. it was over) I did feel like I didn't really connect with one character. Coming to this realization kind of made me sad and I also feel like maybe I should reread the book (slower at least) and see if that approach would change the way I'm feeling? I have no idea. Whenever I get the chance I will probably try to reread this book and if my opinion changes.. well, then I will definitely change my review.
Overall, I liked the book. Well, I loved it. Yeah, I'm sort of getting the feeling I'm probably confusing a shit ton of people with this review right now. Yes, this book does have flaws. Yes, I still loved it anyways. Do I really care if I connected with one person in this book? No, not really since there was like 12 or something POVs (I have no idea.. I didn't count). If it was like 3 or 4 then yeah I would have a favorite character.
April 19, 2018
I was given a free electronic copy of this book by the author, in accordance with the terms of For Love of a Book's Advance Reader Opportunity Program.
What I liked the most about this book was the concept. The author states this before the book begins: the approach is utopian, as opposed to the dystopian trend in fiction. I don’t think this is utopian, but just a world in which not everything is uniformly terrible, which I thank and think is more realistic. We have well intended people with dark secrets and ruthless mercenaries with a fair motivation. All this had me the whole time wondering who the real enemy was, because the protagonists were nearly just as mysterious and psychopathic as the alleged bad guy. And I liked it!
However, the uncovering of this mystery is left for the next installments in the series. I’m fine with series, but something I didn’t like was that the author, even before starting the story, tells the reader it’s going to be five books. I don’t even know if I like the first one!
I loved the approach to the mystery. Although it was more or less clear , it wasn’t so clear who they were, and the scenes with the enemy and the brief reveals from Titus’s point of view opened the gates to something far greater. The mix of this with the real world and futuristic technology gave it a unique taste, which is part of the reason this was so enjoyable.
The characters were great, but in my opinion a bit too many. I don’t mind several points of view, but I think some would have been better spent with other characters. At some point our protagonist, Sarah, leaves the scene for several chapters in favour of people we don’t know as much. The action scenes are great, I could feel the tension every second, but it is somehow undermined if the captive is a virtual stranger. As another example,
The main villain was awesome. I appreciate the author made him Spanish (no, I’m not offended; I prefer to believe this is less “the Spanish are evil” and more “the Spanish are smart badasses”) and also showed his appreciation of Spanish culture in several cases. Although, I don’t get something. The author got the accent on “Asunción” right. Why didn’t he get the ones on “Ramón Cádiz”? The rest of the villain team are just as good. I liked particularly that their strength was in weaving intrigues and manipulating people more than brute force.
The prose flew by. When I got to read I made great advances in what little time I had. The pace was nice and the point of view changes kept it interesting. I think the main time when this was not the case was in the “villain tells his life story” scene. Literally. I was reading almost angry like: “Are we really doing this!?”
Overall, I look forward to the second installment. His love and care for his work show, and I have no doubt the author will improve and deliver an adventure as exciting as this first book.
Thanks for reading!
What I liked the most about this book was the concept. The author states this before the book begins: the approach is utopian, as opposed to the dystopian trend in fiction. I don’t think this is utopian, but just a world in which not everything is uniformly terrible, which I thank and think is more realistic. We have well intended people with dark secrets and ruthless mercenaries with a fair motivation. All this had me the whole time wondering who the real enemy was, because the protagonists were nearly just as mysterious and psychopathic as the alleged bad guy. And I liked it!
However, the uncovering of this mystery is left for the next installments in the series. I’m fine with series, but something I didn’t like was that the author, even before starting the story, tells the reader it’s going to be five books. I don’t even know if I like the first one!
I loved the approach to the mystery. Although it was more or less clear , it wasn’t so clear who they were, and the scenes with the enemy and the brief reveals from Titus’s point of view opened the gates to something far greater. The mix of this with the real world and futuristic technology gave it a unique taste, which is part of the reason this was so enjoyable.
The characters were great, but in my opinion a bit too many. I don’t mind several points of view, but I think some would have been better spent with other characters. At some point our protagonist, Sarah, leaves the scene for several chapters in favour of people we don’t know as much. The action scenes are great, I could feel the tension every second, but it is somehow undermined if the captive is a virtual stranger. As another example,
The main villain was awesome. I appreciate the author made him Spanish (no, I’m not offended; I prefer to believe this is less “the Spanish are evil” and more “the Spanish are smart badasses”) and also showed his appreciation of Spanish culture in several cases. Although, I don’t get something. The author got the accent on “Asunción” right. Why didn’t he get the ones on “Ramón Cádiz”? The rest of the villain team are just as good. I liked particularly that their strength was in weaving intrigues and manipulating people more than brute force.
The prose flew by. When I got to read I made great advances in what little time I had. The pace was nice and the point of view changes kept it interesting. I think the main time when this was not the case was in the “villain tells his life story” scene. Literally. I was reading almost angry like: “Are we really doing this!?”
Overall, I look forward to the second installment. His love and care for his work show, and I have no doubt the author will improve and deliver an adventure as exciting as this first book.
Thanks for reading!
January 18, 2018
There is a lot going on in the world Paul Weil has created. Themis is an action/adventure/sci fi novel with a touch of fantasy thrown in, populated by a large cast of characters involved in a complicated and mysterious plot. The reader is brought into the story along with Sarah Castle, an outsider who finds herself working for a group of supernaturally attractive and successful young people, adopted siblings watched over by a mysterious Uncle Titus. There is a powerful and secretive villain, Cadiz, and the action takes the reader around the world and between time and space.
The combination of the large cast of characters and the detailed descriptions of the battle scenes leave the reader feeling a bit dizzy. The description of the car crash in Brazil in Chapter 28 is particularly well done; the reader is caught up in the breathless moment of the crash along with the characters. However, the challenge of this novel is getting to know the characters in detail. There is little time to secure each character in the reader’s mind, and as a result it is easy to lose track of whose action you are following.
This novel is the first of a series, and the author apparently plans some backstories as well. It would be great to read more about the characters, in smaller groups, so that the reader can get to know them as well as the author. Then we could really get into the action and enjoy the world Paul Weil has made so vivid.
The combination of the large cast of characters and the detailed descriptions of the battle scenes leave the reader feeling a bit dizzy. The description of the car crash in Brazil in Chapter 28 is particularly well done; the reader is caught up in the breathless moment of the crash along with the characters. However, the challenge of this novel is getting to know the characters in detail. There is little time to secure each character in the reader’s mind, and as a result it is easy to lose track of whose action you are following.
This novel is the first of a series, and the author apparently plans some backstories as well. It would be great to read more about the characters, in smaller groups, so that the reader can get to know them as well as the author. Then we could really get into the action and enjoy the world Paul Weil has made so vivid.
February 14, 2018
**FTC DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED AN E-ARC FROM A GOODREADS READ IT & REVIEW IT GROUP, IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. RECEIPT OF THIS BOOK IN THIS MANNER DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR THE CONTENT OF MY REVIEW.**
Sarah Castle is a young celebrity gossip reporter when she stumbles upon the mysterious group of twelve extraordinary teenagers. One of them is Henry Baxter, the unknown eighteen year old runner who just won The London Marathon. She accepts a position as the head of public relations for the new charity that they’re setting up, the Themis Foundation. Sarah begins to experience things that can only be explained as supernatural, including a cottage that appears normal from the outside but is infinitely large on the inside and has doors that open all over the world. In Themis, Sarah finds the family she desperately wants, the love she didn’t expect to find and herself in the middle of events that will change the course of destiny for all of humanity. But, her proximity to Themis also puts her life in jeopardy.
This really was an imaginative, action packed story that had some amazing characters. I honestly didn’t want to put the book down once I started reading. The characters were surprisingly likable considering how talented they were and the types of powers each of them have. As soon as I finished reading, I found myself wanting to know what happened next. In fact, I’ve already nagged the author a little bit. He definitely has a talent for writing an engaging story.
Sarah Castle is a young celebrity gossip reporter when she stumbles upon the mysterious group of twelve extraordinary teenagers. One of them is Henry Baxter, the unknown eighteen year old runner who just won The London Marathon. She accepts a position as the head of public relations for the new charity that they’re setting up, the Themis Foundation. Sarah begins to experience things that can only be explained as supernatural, including a cottage that appears normal from the outside but is infinitely large on the inside and has doors that open all over the world. In Themis, Sarah finds the family she desperately wants, the love she didn’t expect to find and herself in the middle of events that will change the course of destiny for all of humanity. But, her proximity to Themis also puts her life in jeopardy.
This really was an imaginative, action packed story that had some amazing characters. I honestly didn’t want to put the book down once I started reading. The characters were surprisingly likable considering how talented they were and the types of powers each of them have. As soon as I finished reading, I found myself wanting to know what happened next. In fact, I’ve already nagged the author a little bit. He definitely has a talent for writing an engaging story.
July 26, 2017
** Actual Rating 3.5 Stars. **
Characters
Sarah Castle is the main character...or at least I think she is supposed to be. There are so many characters, which normally I like, but I struggled with Themis because the back of the book only really talks about Sarah but she is almost non-existent in the second half of the book. Really there are twelve 'main' characters with other critical characters like Titus. The biggest problem I had was I didn't really connect with any of the characters enough to be invested...which made them all a little flat.
The switching characters messed with me a few times because of some unexpected POV shifts where I wasn't sure who was actually the main character in that chapter. Also there is this part where Sarah falls and I just went 'are you serious right now?' because it was painfully predictable and made me dislike Sarah a little...in many ways she never rebounded from that.
Plot
Absolutely loved the multi-faceted plot. I was curious where the story was going to go because of all the pieces and I could easily see some of the future threads. I could easily see this being made into a TV series and I'd totally watch it. The first book was chock full of plot threads that I found absolutely fascinating. It is a really slow read in a few parts but I actually enjoyed the depth most of the time. A downside is the action scenes left me scratching my head a few times - some of the movements happening in the matter of seconds seemed excessively fast. Also some of the scenes seemed over the top (the gore and sequences).
Overall
I enjoyed the writing but there were some noticeable editing errors - particularly in the second half of the novel. I also found myself somewhat bored during some parts because the writing was too drawn out and excessive but this was due to my inability to connect with the characters and not the writing or the plot. That being said the settings were brilliantly executed and even with the shifting places the reader gets to visit were painted in such a way that I could easily envision them. The complex plot was fascinating, but some of the action was jarring and not fleshed out.
My favorite part of the book was how the author could drop hints about what was coming and really get me interested in what was going to come next with the story. Overall the real issue of the book for me was the lack of cohesion of the individual character plots and the underdeveloped characters that all of a sudden became really important near the end, but were a footnote in the first half of the book. It really left me scratching my head.
***SPOILER***
Don't read this unless you want a spoiler, but I felt that there were some clear threads with the Terminator movie. Now that can be a good thing or a bad things but the main character being a Sarah really reminded me of Sarah Connor and not just her name. There were a lot of facts that fit into that similar plot thread that I quickly figured out where this whole thing was going to go by the end of the book, especially after she 'connected' with the reluctant leader. I say this hoping that Sarah Castle becomes as awesome as Sarah Connor did, either way it struck a cord with me.
***SPOILER OVER***
Rating
3.5 stars (rounded down)
I really want to give this 4 stars, but between the flaws and the fact that I think I would only recommend this to a select few people, I'm stuck at 3 stars. To give it that extra edge though, I'm going to add the 0.5 because I actually would consider reading the second book. In the end a highly complex but enjoyable plot with characters I struggled to connect with.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Characters
Sarah Castle is the main character...or at least I think she is supposed to be. There are so many characters, which normally I like, but I struggled with Themis because the back of the book only really talks about Sarah but she is almost non-existent in the second half of the book. Really there are twelve 'main' characters with other critical characters like Titus. The biggest problem I had was I didn't really connect with any of the characters enough to be invested...which made them all a little flat.
The switching characters messed with me a few times because of some unexpected POV shifts where I wasn't sure who was actually the main character in that chapter. Also there is this part where Sarah falls and I just went 'are you serious right now?' because it was painfully predictable and made me dislike Sarah a little...in many ways she never rebounded from that.
Plot
Absolutely loved the multi-faceted plot. I was curious where the story was going to go because of all the pieces and I could easily see some of the future threads. I could easily see this being made into a TV series and I'd totally watch it. The first book was chock full of plot threads that I found absolutely fascinating. It is a really slow read in a few parts but I actually enjoyed the depth most of the time. A downside is the action scenes left me scratching my head a few times - some of the movements happening in the matter of seconds seemed excessively fast. Also some of the scenes seemed over the top (the gore and sequences).
Overall
I enjoyed the writing but there were some noticeable editing errors - particularly in the second half of the novel. I also found myself somewhat bored during some parts because the writing was too drawn out and excessive but this was due to my inability to connect with the characters and not the writing or the plot. That being said the settings were brilliantly executed and even with the shifting places the reader gets to visit were painted in such a way that I could easily envision them. The complex plot was fascinating, but some of the action was jarring and not fleshed out.
My favorite part of the book was how the author could drop hints about what was coming and really get me interested in what was going to come next with the story. Overall the real issue of the book for me was the lack of cohesion of the individual character plots and the underdeveloped characters that all of a sudden became really important near the end, but were a footnote in the first half of the book. It really left me scratching my head.
***SPOILER***
Don't read this unless you want a spoiler, but I felt that there were some clear threads with the Terminator movie. Now that can be a good thing or a bad things but the main character being a Sarah really reminded me of Sarah Connor and not just her name. There were a lot of facts that fit into that similar plot thread that I quickly figured out where this whole thing was going to go by the end of the book, especially after she 'connected' with the reluctant leader. I say this hoping that Sarah Castle becomes as awesome as Sarah Connor did, either way it struck a cord with me.
***SPOILER OVER***
Rating
3.5 stars (rounded down)
I really want to give this 4 stars, but between the flaws and the fact that I think I would only recommend this to a select few people, I'm stuck at 3 stars. To give it that extra edge though, I'm going to add the 0.5 because I actually would consider reading the second book. In the end a highly complex but enjoyable plot with characters I struggled to connect with.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2017
What was good?
• Paul is an excellent world creator. The plot lines and suspense scenes were really well written and the intricate plot was really enjoyable. The suspense was created so well and it really is an excellent read. I wanted to pick it up and finish it and know what would happen to the characters next!
• I’m not normally a fan of fantasy books to this extent so it would have been difficult to impress me with one but I can honestly say, that this book has changed my mind. I look forward to the release of parts 2 – 5 which I will gladly read.
What wasn’t good?
• The book needs an edit. There are some grammatical errors that need attention and this is probably the main reason it didn’t get 5 stars from me.
• I picked up the book as a YA novel but I am not sure it fits into that category. Although the characters are young, the way some scenes are written and the plot lines seem too mature in some places so I would categorise it as fiction as opposed to YA fiction.
• There was a lot of detail in the story line that the story could have functioned without. There are in excess of 15 main characters in this book and at times, it felt like this was too many. There were some plot lines too, such as the characters from the past brought into the future and the setup of the house, that weren’t really integral to the story. These may be significant in later instalments of the series but it feels as though the plot could have been streamlined a bit to make way for more character analysis and even further world building.
Would you recommend this book?
I would. 100%. It is an ideal read for fantasy lovers and as I can attest, even for non-fantasy lovers. It is well written, full of drama and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
• Paul is an excellent world creator. The plot lines and suspense scenes were really well written and the intricate plot was really enjoyable. The suspense was created so well and it really is an excellent read. I wanted to pick it up and finish it and know what would happen to the characters next!
• I’m not normally a fan of fantasy books to this extent so it would have been difficult to impress me with one but I can honestly say, that this book has changed my mind. I look forward to the release of parts 2 – 5 which I will gladly read.
What wasn’t good?
• The book needs an edit. There are some grammatical errors that need attention and this is probably the main reason it didn’t get 5 stars from me.
• I picked up the book as a YA novel but I am not sure it fits into that category. Although the characters are young, the way some scenes are written and the plot lines seem too mature in some places so I would categorise it as fiction as opposed to YA fiction.
• There was a lot of detail in the story line that the story could have functioned without. There are in excess of 15 main characters in this book and at times, it felt like this was too many. There were some plot lines too, such as the characters from the past brought into the future and the setup of the house, that weren’t really integral to the story. These may be significant in later instalments of the series but it feels as though the plot could have been streamlined a bit to make way for more character analysis and even further world building.
Would you recommend this book?
I would. 100%. It is an ideal read for fantasy lovers and as I can attest, even for non-fantasy lovers. It is well written, full of drama and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
July 13, 2017
Themis is a fast-moving thriller that combines the sci-fi/fantasy world of super-heroes with criminal acts of murder, tyranny and world-domination. The super-heroes are not the ones so often portrayed in action movies but a group of siblings invested with amazing powers, such as healing and mind control. There are many scenes of good versus evil involving inevitable battles between experts in the martial arts and with machine gun bullets flying everywhere. The main problem for this reader was that the writing moved so quickly from action scene to action scene, admittedly with a few intriguing twists and turns here and there, that it felt as though I was reading a movie script. I would have liked a few sections in the book to include more exposition. The main character, Sarah, is well drawn and her inner conflicts come through quite well but I’d have like far more description about Lars, Titus and one or two others. Admittedly this would slow things down somewhat but for this reader it adds a lot more context and perspective to the plotline. It is like seeing a movie with too many special effects and very little plot. There appears to be plenty of plot in Themis but kept back for later, maybe in the sequels planned for later? I prefer novels, even in a series, that can be read as stand-alone books with a satisfying beginning, a middle and an end. Moving so quickly through the plot often left me scratching my head asking, “What happened there?” and “Who are they?” and “Where did they come from?” It is generally a very well written book but another look through the “final” draft from an editor is needed as there are a few spellings and grammatical issues that I found distracting. No doubt Themis will appeal to fans of the action packed, shoot 'em up variety of “sci-fi thriller”.
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2017
I am far too late in recommending this book, and I'm terribly sorry about it. But let me tell you a bit about my involvement with this book. A while back, Paul asked me to beta read this novel and give some feedback, and he was very easy to work with. That said, this book is quite unlike anything I've read before. The characters are all unique and interesting, and the sci-fi world building is something that drew me in immediately. Would definitely recommend this for anybody who likes large casts of characters and a thriller full of twists and turns.
February 13, 2018
Read through The Read It & Reap Program.
I really enjoyed this book. The plot was engaging and fast paced. Although it was a great read, I did find the number of characters a little overwhelming. In the beginning, I thought this could be 3 separate books in a series organized slightly different, but it came together in the end.
This is an author/series I will follow and continue reading. I could see this as a great tv show in the future.
Thanks for the read!
I really enjoyed this book. The plot was engaging and fast paced. Although it was a great read, I did find the number of characters a little overwhelming. In the beginning, I thought this could be 3 separate books in a series organized slightly different, but it came together in the end.
This is an author/series I will follow and continue reading. I could see this as a great tv show in the future.
Thanks for the read!
October 4, 2017
Themis is a really good book. Writen well and the characters are relatable in every aspect of people in the world. I couldn't put the book down. I wanted to know what happened and was sadly left with a cliff hanger. I hope there is another book in the works, for the story left me wanted to know what happens next and I have no idea if there is going to be another book or not. But other wise it is a very good book just hope for a continuation of Themis 2.
June 23, 2017
Excellent writing and dialogue and the premise is good but so far character development for all twelve teens is lacking. I have the second and third parts of this so will reserve my actual review until I read those, perhaps in the fall.
April 19, 2020
As in most new fantasy series, the first book serves as the building block of the entire series. There is so much world building, and character development that has to happen, in order for the reader to become a part of this new world. The challenge is to lay the ground work, and provide information, while still moving the plot along, and drawing the reader in. By the end of Themis, I was there, fully committed.
There are a lot of people that make up this family, and it got confusing at times. I wouldnt have minded a deeper focus on a few key characters in each book, so that by the last book you have the whole family together, and we get to see their combined skills accomplish the goal.
I am looking forward to getting to know everyone better, and watching as they grow and learn who they are, and what they are capable of.
Book two, please!
There are a lot of people that make up this family, and it got confusing at times. I wouldnt have minded a deeper focus on a few key characters in each book, so that by the last book you have the whole family together, and we get to see their combined skills accomplish the goal.
I am looking forward to getting to know everyone better, and watching as they grow and learn who they are, and what they are capable of.
Book two, please!
September 1, 2017
Really a 3.5
I had mixed feelings about this book. It has a great premise with interesting characters and plotlines. I can honestly say I've never read a book like this before. There are divine, human-like creatures living amongst mortals. These divine beings live only to help humanity achieve greatness and balance. Each of these 12 supernatural teenagers has a special power, which can be used for good or evil.
Some of my favorite characters included Fiona, who truly embraced her power, in a good way, and was completely devoted to her family and their cause. I loved her relationship with Mith. They were so different, yet so similar that it worked. I also loved David, the distant yet committed leader of the group. I liked his passion for his family, for his freedom, and for medicine.
However, I thought this book fell flat in a few places. To me, it jumped around a lot without ever truly explained anything in great detail. In some places, this was great and it added to the mystery. In other places, like
I also would have liked to see some more character development with the 12 teens. The whole divine thing was supposed to be mysterious and secretive, but the teens, as people, could have been developed a bit more. Especially the ones like Demi and Sophie, who we almost never heard about.
Overall, this was a very good read and I will definitely be checking out the rest of the series when it comes out.
I had mixed feelings about this book. It has a great premise with interesting characters and plotlines. I can honestly say I've never read a book like this before. There are divine, human-like creatures living amongst mortals. These divine beings live only to help humanity achieve greatness and balance. Each of these 12 supernatural teenagers has a special power, which can be used for good or evil.
Some of my favorite characters included Fiona, who truly embraced her power, in a good way, and was completely devoted to her family and their cause. I loved her relationship with Mith. They were so different, yet so similar that it worked. I also loved David, the distant yet committed leader of the group. I liked his passion for his family, for his freedom, and for medicine.
However, I thought this book fell flat in a few places. To me, it jumped around a lot without ever truly explained anything in great detail. In some places, this was great and it added to the mystery. In other places, like
I also would have liked to see some more character development with the 12 teens. The whole divine thing was supposed to be mysterious and secretive, but the teens, as people, could have been developed a bit more. Especially the ones like Demi and Sophie, who we almost never heard about.
Overall, this was a very good read and I will definitely be checking out the rest of the series when it comes out.
October 4, 2018
I was given a free electronic copy of this book by the author, in accordance with the terms of For Love of a Book's Advance Reader Opportunity Program.
This is the first book in a five book series. It didn’t grab me right away like I thought it would and there are a lot of characters to get to know. I hope to learn more about the characters in later books. Overall, it was a good read.
This is the first book in a five book series. It didn’t grab me right away like I thought it would and there are a lot of characters to get to know. I hope to learn more about the characters in later books. Overall, it was a good read.
May 17, 2017
Themis, with its snappy dialogue, authentic characters, and positive message, puts a refreshing spin on the superpowered-teens-must-save-the-world story. I enjoyed reading Part One and look forward to reading the rest.
January 24, 2020
I first took Themis as a romance novel mostly because of several factors including the main female lead, the appearance of an attractive male character and some of there chemistry.
The plot stars Sarah. A reporter trying to write an article about several celebrities who seem just a little too good to be true and their secret organisation. Add in an opposing organisation, an assassin, and some science fiction elements.
The book is mostly science fiction with some mystery and espionage involved. The action is quick, descriptive, and gets to the point.
What I like about the book.
For me, my main like about the book was the villain, the Dutch Man. An cold blooded assassin, who is working for a powerful Moriarty type. He is clever, ruthless, and acts like he should.
I did enjoy the action sequences and the banter between the characters. Believable is a term that I would use.
As much as I do like the book there were several problems that left me a bit cold. The major one was that the author gives the reader a huge character dump. The next part is the price of the book. I would have liked this book to be a bit cheaper but an author has to eat.
There are also parts where Sarah acts a bit more of an ditz then I would have liked. Half way through the book she stops being an investigative journalist and I start thinking of her as princess who stepped off the edge of a cliff because she wasn't paying attention.
I do like the writing style of the author, and I feel that he would be better suited at making books about anti-heroes and mercenary assassins. A strong, silent killer, who calculates the angles and never misses.
Paul Weil is a strong action and fighting scene author.
The plot stars Sarah. A reporter trying to write an article about several celebrities who seem just a little too good to be true and their secret organisation. Add in an opposing organisation, an assassin, and some science fiction elements.
The book is mostly science fiction with some mystery and espionage involved. The action is quick, descriptive, and gets to the point.
What I like about the book.
For me, my main like about the book was the villain, the Dutch Man. An cold blooded assassin, who is working for a powerful Moriarty type. He is clever, ruthless, and acts like he should.
I did enjoy the action sequences and the banter between the characters. Believable is a term that I would use.
As much as I do like the book there were several problems that left me a bit cold. The major one was that the author gives the reader a huge character dump. The next part is the price of the book. I would have liked this book to be a bit cheaper but an author has to eat.
There are also parts where Sarah acts a bit more of an ditz then I would have liked. Half way through the book she stops being an investigative journalist and I start thinking of her as princess who stepped off the edge of a cliff because she wasn't paying attention.
I do like the writing style of the author, and I feel that he would be better suited at making books about anti-heroes and mercenary assassins. A strong, silent killer, who calculates the angles and never misses.
Paul Weil is a strong action and fighting scene author.
May 27, 2017
Themis was a smart, sleek, sophisticated thriller that had me from chapter one. What pulled me in from the beginning was the premise - a sibling group of super specimens united by an extraordinary cause - it was a premise I found to be fascinating. This is the type of book that you can see playing out as a movie in your head thanks to the writer's incredible imagination and powers of description. There are no wasted words, no angst-soaked narratives and no wasted backstory just for the sake of filler. This left me free to delve into the story as it unfolded in one spectacular locate after another and in one nailbiting sequence after another. I absolutely can not wait for the sequel!
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