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The Sky Throne #2

The High Court

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High atop Mount Olympus, dawn breaks on a new academic term. Normalcy has returned to campus following a harrowing expedition into The Underworld to rescue kidnapped students by Zeus and his fellow Olympians. Now, as they prepare to testify in The High Court, Hyperion will be tried for the attack on Crete and death of Anytos. Kronos will stand trial for the murder of Mount Olympus Prep’s Headmaster Ouranos.

As the trials draw near, Mount Olympus Prep students and faculty are besieged repeatedly by a race of gargantuan stone and earth giants. Under heavy assault, the Olympians are forced to flee to the volcanic island of Limnos to regroup.
Meanwhile, a toxic poison Zeus has carried with him since a prior fight with a dragoness, creeps toward his brain.

In a race against time and beasts, Zeus and his friends must find a way to survive not only the toxin ravaging Zeus’ body, but also the giants who grow stronger after every attack, and somehow make it to the The High Court alive.

290 pages, Paperback

Published August 7, 2018

1 person is currently reading
1136 people want to read

About the author

Chris Ledbetter

6 books250 followers
THE HIGH COURT (Month9Books 10/16/2018)
THE SKY THRONE (Month9Books 4/18/ 2017)
INKED (Evernight Teen 7/1/16)
DRAWN (Evernight Teen 6/5/15)

Chris Ledbetter is an award-winning author of short fiction and novels for young adults. “Jason’s Quest,” a short story retelling of the Jason and Medea Greek myth was published in the anthology, Greek Myths Revisited, and has over 28,000 views on Wattpad.

His first full-length novel, Drawn earned him two awards, Library of Clean Reads Best YA 2015 and Evernight Publishing Readers’ Choice Award Best YA 2015, as well as a USATODAY “Must Read” recommendation. His second novel, Inked, concludes that duology.
The Sky Throne is his newest young adult series. It includes, thus far, The Sky Throne and The High Court.

He's a proud member of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and a strong supporter of the Need for Diverse Books. He now writes and lives in Wilmington, NC with his family, including three cats.
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Additional Information:
Chris Ledbetter grew up in Durham, NC before moving to Charlottesville, VA in 11th grade. After high school, he attended Hampton University where he promptly "walked-on" to the best drum line in the CIAA. And, without any prior percussion experience. He carried the bass drum for four years, something his back is not very happy about now.

After a change of heart and major, he enrolled in Old Dominion University and earned his degree in Business Administration. He's worked in various managerial and marketing capacities throughout his life. While teaching high school for six years in Culpeper, VA, he taught business management, business law, marketing, and sports marketing, and also coached football.

As a self-described, young reluctant reader, he writes young adult stories specifically to reach other reluctant readers.

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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Lindsay.
607 reviews25 followers
March 14, 2019
Book Tour: The High Court by Chris LedBetter We are welcome back to MO Prep and it students right before the start of a new term. Zeus and his siblings and friend Metis are all visiting Crete. They are there to visit and get introduced to his adoptive family. I loved this book and story behind it. Things get tense when they run into his former professors. There seem to be heated conversation with Zeus and Metis. We also find out who Metis parents are? Chris Ledbetter doe a wonderful job with his characters. We seem to see the confrontation once again with Zeus and Titans students or at least some of them. What will happen at Othrys Hall? They seem to start their new term and find new member to join MO Prep. Once they do, they go about their day. Once in the afternoon they seem to get attacked by something of a Giants Creatures on their war game practice. What are they? Who sent them? If you want to know how it starts, I would suggest reading “The Sky Throne” by Chris Ledbetter. This one continues it. If you want to know how Zeus ends up with his struggles with toxin that Zeus has and is deal with during this book. Read the first book which I mentioned above. I also really think there something going on with how the professors of the lower and upper academy are treating the MO Prep students. I can not wait for the next installment of this story. I am left wondering what Kronos means and why he got sentence he got? There are surprises and secrets spilled. What happens to Hyperion? There are two trials that goes on.
Profile Image for Elaine - Splashes Into Books.
3,884 reviews136 followers
April 25, 2019
This is the second book in 'The Sky Throne' series and I highly recommend reading The Sky Throne first if you want to understand many of the events referred to in this one. Whilst reading it you'll encounter many names of gods and goddesses from Greek mythology, though in this series most are still students attending school, but not as we know it!

The story is narrated from the point of view of Zeus who is returning with his siblings and his friend Metis from the dangerous encounters and adventures related in 'The Sky Throne' to attend Mount Olympus Prep. Little did they anticipate being attacked by stone and earth giants and having to flee with their fellow Olympians to Limnos. They don't have a great welcome there and there are  discordant overtones to their treatment, especially from the Headteacher there. As Zeus fights against a toxic poison, can they treat him and prevent him going completely mad? What about the trials of Hyperion and Kronos? Will justice be seen to be done?

This starts off relatively steadily but picks up as the story progresses. There are more mythological beings with key roles to play in the ensuing adventures, some of whom are potential friends but most are out to kill them. It is a totally different take on these characters, with the on-going adventure, packed with danger and drama, to keep you wanting to know what will happen next. This is a great sequel but it definitely isn't the end of this epic story and I look forward to discovering how it continues and concludes!

This is my honest review after reading a gifted copy of this book.
Profile Image for Tonja Drecker.
Author 3 books236 followers
April 17, 2019
It's been awhile since I read the first book in this series, but I was looking forward to seeing where the tale went next.

Returning from his last adventure, Zeus returns to the school for the start of the new term. A new student brings a little change, while the school attempts to return to normalcy despite the upcoming trials. When the earth giants attack and Zeus finds himself battling a deadly poison, it's clear that this term won't be any less exciting than the last.

This story is told in first person from Zeus' perspective and leads right on where book one left off. In other words, this is not a stand alone. While the academic life attempts to hum a familiar atmosphere from book one, and Zeus again faces normal classes, the questions and open-ends from the first book keep tension close. There is a lot going on and never a boring moment as the powerful teens face usual social issues (on a different scale) and continue with the fantastical, mythical adventures. It makes for characters readers can relate to, while still being pulled into the exciting adventure of the gods.

Zeus faces an inner struggle as he deals with the poison (a theme which is a bit confusing at times) and how this effects him and his friends adds a nice depth to the read. When the trials begins, everything kicks into a slightly higher gear. While many questions are answered, others open up and promise much more excitement to come.

Fans of fantasy, mythology and the atmosphere of high school will enjoy this series.

I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed reading the adventure.
Profile Image for Remy G.
700 reviews4 followers
April 8, 2019
The second entry of author Chris Ledbetter’s Sky Throne series opens with protagonist and first-person narrator Zeus wandering the school from which he received expulsion in the first book, the Eastern Crete Lower Academy, and afterward giving his friends and revealed siblings a tour of the cave where he grew up. Then Zeus travels to the Orthys Hall academy to confront Kronos in hopes of confronting the suspected murderer, although others quickly bully him away from its campus. Sure enough, Zeus’ mother Rhea cautions her son about taking matters into his own hands.

A new girl from Kithira named Aphrodite begins attending the Mount Olympus school, with Rhea ultimately returning from an excursion to the Pantheon League Headmasters’ Summit retreat in Babylon, and Zeus receiving his schedule for his next term of school, attending classes such as Leadership, where he and fellow students must ponder strategies for War Games. Although Zeus receives accusations of cheating during an exercise in the wilderness by transforming into a bird, an attack from an animate volcano quickly gets the classmates on the same side, with Headmistress Rhea tending to her injured son.

Zeus soon experiences his Intro to Strategy class, a pre-graduation requirement, where its teacher, Pontus, allows his students to ponder strategies for fighting a theoretical battle on a bridge. Rhea further informs that pantheons are under attack from internal and external threats, with some pupils such as Hera wanting to honor Ouranos, killed in the first book, with a Symposium. Yet another class Zeus takes is Oceanography, with he and other students seeking to obtain the Sky Throne’s power by sitting in it, among them being his friend Poseidon, or Don as he’s colloquially referred.

Zeus’ friends, including Metis, ultimately notice that he has a bit of an issue with his attitude, with the reason being a neuro-poison from a barb inflicted by Campe, and the students planning to visit the Hearthstone Forge at Mosychlos for want of equipment to be ready for the threats posed to their school. When it eventually comes to dealing with the aforementioned venom, Zeus learns that to be cured of it will be a risky endeavor, with a proposed surgical procedure having the potential to render him unable to walk, with the process coming a bit at a bad time, given the attack of monsters from the sea including the animate rock volcanos.

The sequel ends with trials for Hyperion and Kronos in the eponymous High Court, with the second book in Ledbetter’s series ultimately being enjoyable, although there are occasional obscurities such as the confusion as to when exactly the venomous barb inflicts Zeus, not to mention some stylistic choices with which this reviewer disagrees such as the use of the term “great-father” when “grandfather” would have done just fine. Regardless of its various issues, those who enjoyed the first book will most likely enjoy its successor, especially those who have enjoyed fantastical stories such as those in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians franchise.
Profile Image for Leila.
581 reviews9 followers
April 3, 2019
The Sky Throne, also referred to in this review as ‘book 1’ was a great read that I couldn’t put down. I read it solely as a book to connect with my then 11 year old daughter. She was big into Greek mythology (and still is) and I felt that the book was a precursor to the Greek mythology she understood. It was like a fun prologue to what she knew.

When The High Court came out; clearly I had to continue the journey (and why wouldn’t I after loving book 1 so much!?) I had to know what happened and what was going to happen. (Exactly how I feel now that I finished book 2!)

I felt the first half the book was drawn out and didn’t grab me as quickly as book 1. It may have just been my attention span because it had suspense and action, but it felt… long winded. Not as… enthralling.

The story continues as someone or something is trying to stop Zeus and his ‘family’ from moving forward from where we left off in book 1. (I don’t want to say anything that may ruin either book for anyone who has not read it.)

Action, suspense, and mystery unfold as these ‘obstacles’ keep getting in the way. Then of course, there are the trials that leave us in a state of emotion, confusion, anger – wanting to know what is yet to come.

I enjoyed The High Court; I highly recommend both books; and I will definitely be passing the second book on to my now 13 year old who raved to her friends about book 1. I am certain she is going to enjoy it and we will both be waiting as patiently as we can (not our strong suit) for another installment so we can continue this journey with Zeus.
490 reviews10 followers
April 1, 2019
This is the exciting sequel in this new series by Chris Ledbetter. I could not put this book down as I had to know what happens next to our young heroes.

In this book, we have our young heroes and future Olympians that we all know and love, preparing to testify in The High Court against Hyperion and Kronos for the crimes that they committed in the first book. The book jumps in where the story left off, so I would strongly suggest reading the first in this series (you can find my review here).

If you thought our characters would get an easy ride – no way. They face struggle after struggle in this book. It seems that someone would do anything to stop them from reaching The High Court to stand against Hyperion and Kronos. Enemies are at every turn and it is hard to know who to trust. They face multiple challenges with strength, wisdom and resilience. When it looks as though they may fall apart, they rally around each other and protect each other.

I loved the character development in this book. We are getting to really know and understand what makes each of the Olympians tick and how they developed into the Gods we know. Zeus is becoming the leader and I love watching him grow in maturity and wisdom. He constantly puts the needs of others ahead of his own. I am excited to see where the third installment will take this young group.

This is a perfect book for young adults and adults alike as you will enjoy the suspense, challenge and humour throughout.
Profile Image for Dawn.
1,571 reviews19 followers
April 2, 2019
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. I read The Sky Throne a while back and was happy to read the next book in the series.

Hyperion and Kronos are about to go on trial for murder but classes will resume at Mount Olympus Prep first. Unfortunately, things haven’t returned to normal by any means. The school is attacked by huge earth and stone monsters and have to leave to regroup. But wherever they go, they are followed.

Finally, at the trial, they get some answers and are happy with the sentence that Hyperion receives but Kronos receives what everyone considers to be a slap on the hand. Things at the trial get out of hand and Zeus has suspicions and more questions than ever. I have a feeling he’ll be searching for answers in the next book.

The High Court is full of action and the characters are enjoyable to read about. For example, Aphrodite joins the school so of course all of the guys must work at not ogling her. The students work well as a team although they do have their moments. I definitely recommend The High Court which is a standalone even though it’s the second book in the series.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
6,604 reviews240 followers
March 19, 2019
Zeus and the rest of the Mount Olympus Prep students are back. If you have not read the first book, I would recommend it. These books are meant to be read in chronological order. As this book does not have a lead into it. It kind of just picks up from the first one.

Just when I thought this series could not get any better, Mr. Ledbetter surprised me. I really like Zeus and the other young gods. They are very relatable. As I stated before, young adult readers will enjoy these books as well as getting to know Zeus like I have.

There is tons of action. In fact, there is so much action that you might be exhausted trying to keep up. So what are you waiting for...pick up these books today.

Profile Image for CR.
4,196 reviews42 followers
March 28, 2019
My Review: This one was a lot better than book one. Everything felt right and it still had that feel like the Percy Jackson Series does. The only issue I had with this one was that the pacing was a little off but it wasn't to bad. I liked all the characters and the story itself. The setting and the wording worked well in this one unlike in book one. I hope that we get another story set in this world as I would love to see what else this author can do.

Profile Image for Laura.
Author 2 books127 followers
May 10, 2019
A few years ago I read The Sky Throne which is the first book in this series and I enjoyed it. The Sky Throne is based on Greek mythology, a modern YA rendition of a young Zeus and his adventures as he attends Mount Olympus Preparatory Academia and discovers who he is. The High Court is the second book and a continuation of that story. It's not a stand-alone novel.

So The High Court pretty much continues right from where The Sky Throne left off. I wished I had read The Sky Throne closer to this reading as there is little backstory and I struggled to remember certain details. So if you're just discovering this series, I strongly suggest you read them back to back. The writing style is the same and the characters stay true to their personalities, with Zeus as hot-tempered and likable as ever. Once again, I loved that the characters are flawed and need to continue growing as the story progresses.

The author introduces new characters to the already large cast of characters, and initially it was hard to keep them all straight but eventually as the plot unfolds, it became easier to keep track. Including a character list at the beginning of the book would have been helpful since each character also has a nickname and these are used interchangeably with their full names throughout the story.

There is the usual rivalry among the students, and the author creates great action adventure scenes that are so well described they come alive. But it's the court case, of course, that racks things up. Once again the teens worked together, each with their own distinct character traits and abilities, with some comical one-liners and joviality among the young heroes.

The High Court has a satisfying ending but leaves room for more to come. If you like YA action-packed novels and Greek mythology, this is a fun series to get into.
Profile Image for Jessica Bronder.
2,015 reviews31 followers
April 23, 2019
Mount Olympus Prep school is back in session and we find Zeus and the other students attending classes to help shape them into the gods they are to become. Zeus has to take Leadership and Intro to Strategy. We also meet new gods as Aphrodite joins the school. Along with classes and the daily struggle, the students also have to prepare to travel to the High Court where Hyperion and Kronos are to be sentenced for their crimes. But someone is trying to stop them with stone and earth monsters that follow wherever the gods go and seem to keep getting more powerful.

This book picks up right where The Sky Throne ends so I recommend reading the books in order. Things are starting to really pick up with the different classes and training. But also with the trial of Hyperion and Kronos. Zeus decides he is going to confront Kronos but things don’t go his way. I did feel for him as he is dealing with the poison and the cure coming with some pretty bad complications.

This is a great sequel to The Sky Throne that had me glued to the pages to see what was going to happen next. I will admit that first part of the book felt slower but when things started happening the book took off. Some questions got answered from the first book but then again I am left with others at the end of this book. I can’t wait to read book 3 for those answers.

This is a great young adult book that will appeal to mid-grade readers to adults. You really need to check out this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Profile Image for Laura Thomas.
1,552 reviews107 followers
May 9, 2019
I sure had fun with the first book in the series and was curious what would happen as the story continues.

This starts up right where it left off. Zeus returns to school for the next term. I thought the adventures and entanglements were fast and furious before and they were just as exciting this time around. Peer competition is strong, danger once again rears it’s ugly head, and when the trials begin the story really takes off. Anything can and does happen, and when the going gets tough, these young gods join forces and face the challenges together.

I’m all for character development and the author does a good job of giving us flawed characters that he allows to stumble and fall, pick themselves back up, and grow from experience. With them being mythical beings, that just adds to the excitement.

I got answers to some questions from the first book and new ones were added, keeping my interest piqued for where things were headed next. I’ll be waiting for the next chapter in these young god’s lives.

I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
Profile Image for Colleen.
177 reviews13 followers
April 13, 2019
The origin story of Zeus (and his siblings) continues in the second book of The Sky Throne series. I’m still loving watching as the connections grow among the Greek Gods we all know. As the new characters join it’s so fun to think of who they all end up developing into.

I actually found myself explaining the books to my husband this evening. It was fun to relate how The Sky Throne novel progressed into The High Court. He actually found himself googling Kronos and Rhea and saying “Huh…. parents of the Gods. I didn’t know that.”

I’m just really thinking that if you enjoy the stories of the Greek Gods… you would love the idea of their stories growing into those Gods. Really enjoyable. Fun story. Great writing.
86 reviews1 follower
April 12, 2019
The High Court was a well written young adult fictional novel that was a great read. I have always enjoyed fantasy books, but this one really went above and beyond the norm with how much it impressed me. Zeus was my favorite character in this book and I loved how the author did not just follow a basic character mold, but instead really fleshed him out into a complex character.
Profile Image for LAWonder10.
953 reviews739 followers
April 16, 2019
The education of the mythical Gods from 'The Shay Throne' are back!
The students and faculty of Mount Olympus Prepare anxiously awaiting the trial of Kronos to fulfil justice from his past evils.
Zeus and Metis has become "an item" since her aid in the previous book.
Now, the students are preparing "War Games" with competing schools, when the students encountered gargantuan Stone Giants while on a training trip. Zeus was poisoned priorly, by a dragoness. While shapeshifting and trying to avoid the Giant until help came, the poison now is passing through him, causing him to act in bizarre ways.
What will become of him?
Is there any hope for a continued relationship with Metis?
Will they all be able to be sure a trial is held and justice done?
​The mythical characters are interesting.
The author has been very creative in his restituion of many forgotten ones.
This is a, somewhat, unique series, full of action,to delight youth needing a change of genre.
The one priblem I had with the books is a slightly weak beginning. In both books, the action and clarity increases as te story builds.
I offer a Three and a Half Stars rating.
*This book was gifted me with no requirement of a positive review. This is my honest review.
1 review1 follower
April 27, 2020
It is an amazing story based on the Olympian gods with heartbreaking tragedy, and an unfair justis system. this is an amazing must-read book, all YA+ fantasy readers would enjoy!
Profile Image for Strix.
416 reviews1 follower
February 14, 2024
Basically the same as Book 1's review, but a modernesque courtroom scene, several places needing trimming, and more flimsy worldbuilding destroyed my suspension of disbelief too much.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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