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House of Snakes
Persephone is dying and Vic will do everything in her power to save her mother from the poison that seeps through her immortal veins. Even if it means losing the person she hopes to become.
Desperate to save his wife, Hades sends his daughter to the Above World to reap the souls of the living. What he does not count on is that she will meet a boy who could possibly be the unraveling of the Olympians.
Callum Bishop is new to Olympia—just trying to make it through senior year—when he meets the enigmatic Victoriana Haden. Soon he finds himself learning of the world embedded within his own and the secrets that it holds which could rock the mortal world to its core.
Desperate to save his wife, Hades sends his daughter to the Above World to reap the souls of the living. What he does not count on is that she will meet a boy who could possibly be the unraveling of the Olympians.
Callum Bishop is new to Olympia—just trying to make it through senior year—when he meets the enigmatic Victoriana Haden. Soon he finds himself learning of the world embedded within his own and the secrets that it holds which could rock the mortal world to its core.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 18, 2018
1 person is currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer L. Kelly
23 books29 followersHello, and welcome — I’m so glad you’re here. 😊
I write YA and women’s fiction with elements of science fiction, fantasy, and magical realism. No matter the setting — present day, a dystopian future, or even another planet — my stories share a common thread: the belief that spirit, heart, and human connection can carry us through even the hardest seasons.
When I’m not writing, I’m the creator of Salt & Flame Candles, a small-batch, hand-poured soy candle shop inspired by story, nostalgia, and faith. It grew out of my love of books and storytelling and remains a creative extension of that same love — just in scent instead of words.
I share my days with my fur child, who makes sure we walk five miles every day, rain or shine. I’m also a certified yoga teacher (CYT-200) and a voracious reader, especially of historical fiction and mystery. Some of my favorite authors include Victoria Thompson (Gaslight Mysteries), Tasha Alexander (Lady Emily), Marie Benedict, Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody), and J.K. Rowling.
In a former life, I was a middle school language arts teacher; by day, I’m a marketing wizard for a small engineering firm. Words, stories, and creativity have always been the common thread.
Thanks for stopping by — and happy reading.
I write YA and women’s fiction with elements of science fiction, fantasy, and magical realism. No matter the setting — present day, a dystopian future, or even another planet — my stories share a common thread: the belief that spirit, heart, and human connection can carry us through even the hardest seasons.
When I’m not writing, I’m the creator of Salt & Flame Candles, a small-batch, hand-poured soy candle shop inspired by story, nostalgia, and faith. It grew out of my love of books and storytelling and remains a creative extension of that same love — just in scent instead of words.
I share my days with my fur child, who makes sure we walk five miles every day, rain or shine. I’m also a certified yoga teacher (CYT-200) and a voracious reader, especially of historical fiction and mystery. Some of my favorite authors include Victoria Thompson (Gaslight Mysteries), Tasha Alexander (Lady Emily), Marie Benedict, Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody), and J.K. Rowling.
In a former life, I was a middle school language arts teacher; by day, I’m a marketing wizard for a small engineering firm. Words, stories, and creativity have always been the common thread.
Thanks for stopping by — and happy reading.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 15, 2018
Victoriana is the daughter of Hades and Persephone and she's on a mission to save her mother from an unknown disease that has consumed her and even though she's immortal, she's slowly dying. Her mission initially is to reap the souls of the living, but then she meets Callum and everything's changing.
Callum has recently moved to Olympia and there he meets Vic. He finds himself in a very peculiar situation and his whole world is going to change after important revelations.
I've finished reading House of Snakes 2 weeks ago and I needed some time to sort my thoughts on an order. I loved it so much that I wanted to put 5 stars right away, but I also wanted to be fair, so I decided to wait on it. But even 2 weeks later, I feel the same. I really enjoyed this story and I'm a sucker for greek mythology stories, so as soon as I heard about my favorite couple (Hades - Persephone) I was like...
To be honest, I'm also a sucker on antiheroes and bad boys, so as soon asI met Asher, I fell immediately in love. Just my luck that Callum is the main hero of this book, but man, I could feel their chemistry with Vic and I just felt for them. #TeamAsher
Overall, this was my first book by Jennifer and I honestly admired her writing style, her talent with words, her riddles, the description of the places, the scents, it made the scenery so vivid that I thought I was truly there. I thought the concept was really smart and unique and the mix between mythology and modern life, was very well done. I can't wait to read the next installment of this series and generally I am intrigued to read more by the author. Definitely recommend this one, especially to fans of greek mythology.
Callum has recently moved to Olympia and there he meets Vic. He finds himself in a very peculiar situation and his whole world is going to change after important revelations.
Each Taking changed her, took something of hers along with it.
I've finished reading House of Snakes 2 weeks ago and I needed some time to sort my thoughts on an order. I loved it so much that I wanted to put 5 stars right away, but I also wanted to be fair, so I decided to wait on it. But even 2 weeks later, I feel the same. I really enjoyed this story and I'm a sucker for greek mythology stories, so as soon as I heard about my favorite couple (Hades - Persephone) I was like...
Some called him Devil or Demon. Those in her english class would recognize him as Hades.
To Asher he was Boss.
To Vic he was simply Dad.
To be honest, I'm also a sucker on antiheroes and bad boys, so as soon asI met Asher, I fell immediately in love. Just my luck that Callum is the main hero of this book, but man, I could feel their chemistry with Vic and I just felt for them. #TeamAsher
Overall, this was my first book by Jennifer and I honestly admired her writing style, her talent with words, her riddles, the description of the places, the scents, it made the scenery so vivid that I thought I was truly there. I thought the concept was really smart and unique and the mix between mythology and modern life, was very well done. I can't wait to read the next installment of this series and generally I am intrigued to read more by the author. Definitely recommend this one, especially to fans of greek mythology.
September 16, 2018
Victoriana, daughter of Persephone and Hades, will do anything to save her mother. Persephone has been poisoned and will die unless Vic can reap enough souls in time. Coming from the Underground this power comes naturally. Unfortunately, the more souls she takes the more Vic loses who she wants to be.
Cal is new in town and is thrust into Vic's world from day one. Cal is fascinated, intrigued and attracted to Vic but the more time he spends with her, the more he realizes there are secrets that directly connect him to the Olympians.
House of Snakes is a modern day mixture of Greek mythology, mystery and elements of Romance. I did enjoy this book and I'm a sucker for anything Greek Mythology related. Although, I would have preferred some type of indicator of when the POV switched, for example, alternating chapters between Vic and Cal (with a main focus of Vic) would have been fun. But that is my personal preference.
I also would liked to have seen more of Asher, Vic's swoon worthy hell hound ex. Hopefully, Asher will find some more love (and maybe even a new romantic interest) for him in the sequel. I was definitely surprised by the ending and already want to read the next book in the series.
Cal is new in town and is thrust into Vic's world from day one. Cal is fascinated, intrigued and attracted to Vic but the more time he spends with her, the more he realizes there are secrets that directly connect him to the Olympians.
House of Snakes is a modern day mixture of Greek mythology, mystery and elements of Romance. I did enjoy this book and I'm a sucker for anything Greek Mythology related. Although, I would have preferred some type of indicator of when the POV switched, for example, alternating chapters between Vic and Cal (with a main focus of Vic) would have been fun. But that is my personal preference.
I also would liked to have seen more of Asher, Vic's swoon worthy hell hound ex. Hopefully, Asher will find some more love (and maybe even a new romantic interest) for him in the sequel. I was definitely surprised by the ending and already want to read the next book in the series.
August 31, 2018
*disclaimer* I got sent an ARC of House of Snakes in return for an honest review
Vic is the daughter of Hades and Persephone, raised in the underworld and sent to the Above World to save her mother from the poison seeping through her blood. Vic is tasked with taking souls from their human shells and bringing them to her father in the underworld, with keeping Persephone alive long enough for them to find a real cure, and to find out who did this to her.
Vic hates taking, hates that it takes a little piece of her away with it every time, but there is nothing she wouldn’t do to save her mother. She’s always kept herself distanced from the other students at the school in Olympia; thinking her job would be easier if she never let anyone get close… but when new boy Cal shows up at school, her interest is peaked. Vic lets herself grow closer to Cal than she ever thought she would with anyone, but things get more complicated when she realises he might just be the key to unravelling the mystery she was sent to Olympia to help resolve, and that he’s more tied up in the world she wanted to protect him from than she could have ever realised.
I was super excited to read this book because after reading the blurb I was convinced it was going to be super reminiscent of the Percy Jackson series. Whilst it’s obviously a story which brings the Greek Gods into the modern and real world, it sets an entirely different precedent from Percy Jackson. Kelly’s managed to keep the Underworld and the Above World very separate, with these very minor links keeping everything together, which worked really well in the context of the story.
The prologue had me pretty much instantly gripped, and there’s a real sense of mystery in the first couple of chapters… it gives out this sense that something’s not quite right, which made me determined to figure it out. There are a couple of fantasy tropes thrown in there with the whole ‘new boy at school’ and people not being who they originally appear to be… but they’re worked into the story really well and let’s be honest, what amazing fantasy book doesn’t have a couple of clichés thrown in there?!
About seven or eight chapters into the book, there was a very specific line… that made me somewhat concerned in that my brain immediately thought ‘I now know exactly where this plot is heading’… it was as though the entire book had fallen into place. I was dubious about how the rest was going to play out because there’s nothing I hate more than predictability in a book… BUT… this is where it surprised me. I was completely wrong. This line (I can’t remember the exact line but don’t want to give spoilers anyway) had implied something about Cal’s role in the story, and whilst it sort of came into play, his role was far bigger than my mental plan for the plot had given him credit for, and I definitely didn’t see some of the major plot points coming. Because Vic herself is struggling to put the pieces of the puzzle together throughout a lot of the book, it’s also harder for the reader to predict what’s happening, which was perfect for me. The only drawback to this point I feel was that I did have to reread a couple of lines here and there to make sure I had a full understanding of what was happening as I did get slightly lost at a couple of points.
I rated House of Snakes 3.5 stars overall. I love the dynamics between all the characters. Especially that between Vic and Asher, her swooningly handsome Hellhound of an ex-boyfriend (who became my favourite character promptly three seconds after his introduction to the story). The father-daughter relationship between Hades and Vic was also particularly interesting because of the very specific way in which Hades is portrayed in this… his paternal side becomes a lot more on show I think which was definitely unexpected.
In summary, I will admit it’s not the most gripping book I’ve ever read; I didn’t have a problem putting it down to go to sleep at night… BUT, I was also eager to pick it back up again in the morning. I went into this book expecting a marginally altered version of Percy Jackson and was pleasantly surprised by the contemporary-fantasy balance the book seemed to have.
Pre-order now to receive Character Art, Bookmark, sticker and signed bookplate at Jennifer Kelly's website.
Vic is the daughter of Hades and Persephone, raised in the underworld and sent to the Above World to save her mother from the poison seeping through her blood. Vic is tasked with taking souls from their human shells and bringing them to her father in the underworld, with keeping Persephone alive long enough for them to find a real cure, and to find out who did this to her.
Vic hates taking, hates that it takes a little piece of her away with it every time, but there is nothing she wouldn’t do to save her mother. She’s always kept herself distanced from the other students at the school in Olympia; thinking her job would be easier if she never let anyone get close… but when new boy Cal shows up at school, her interest is peaked. Vic lets herself grow closer to Cal than she ever thought she would with anyone, but things get more complicated when she realises he might just be the key to unravelling the mystery she was sent to Olympia to help resolve, and that he’s more tied up in the world she wanted to protect him from than she could have ever realised.
I was super excited to read this book because after reading the blurb I was convinced it was going to be super reminiscent of the Percy Jackson series. Whilst it’s obviously a story which brings the Greek Gods into the modern and real world, it sets an entirely different precedent from Percy Jackson. Kelly’s managed to keep the Underworld and the Above World very separate, with these very minor links keeping everything together, which worked really well in the context of the story.
The prologue had me pretty much instantly gripped, and there’s a real sense of mystery in the first couple of chapters… it gives out this sense that something’s not quite right, which made me determined to figure it out. There are a couple of fantasy tropes thrown in there with the whole ‘new boy at school’ and people not being who they originally appear to be… but they’re worked into the story really well and let’s be honest, what amazing fantasy book doesn’t have a couple of clichés thrown in there?!
About seven or eight chapters into the book, there was a very specific line… that made me somewhat concerned in that my brain immediately thought ‘I now know exactly where this plot is heading’… it was as though the entire book had fallen into place. I was dubious about how the rest was going to play out because there’s nothing I hate more than predictability in a book… BUT… this is where it surprised me. I was completely wrong. This line (I can’t remember the exact line but don’t want to give spoilers anyway) had implied something about Cal’s role in the story, and whilst it sort of came into play, his role was far bigger than my mental plan for the plot had given him credit for, and I definitely didn’t see some of the major plot points coming. Because Vic herself is struggling to put the pieces of the puzzle together throughout a lot of the book, it’s also harder for the reader to predict what’s happening, which was perfect for me. The only drawback to this point I feel was that I did have to reread a couple of lines here and there to make sure I had a full understanding of what was happening as I did get slightly lost at a couple of points.
I rated House of Snakes 3.5 stars overall. I love the dynamics between all the characters. Especially that between Vic and Asher, her swooningly handsome Hellhound of an ex-boyfriend (who became my favourite character promptly three seconds after his introduction to the story). The father-daughter relationship between Hades and Vic was also particularly interesting because of the very specific way in which Hades is portrayed in this… his paternal side becomes a lot more on show I think which was definitely unexpected.
In summary, I will admit it’s not the most gripping book I’ve ever read; I didn’t have a problem putting it down to go to sleep at night… BUT, I was also eager to pick it back up again in the morning. I went into this book expecting a marginally altered version of Percy Jackson and was pleasantly surprised by the contemporary-fantasy balance the book seemed to have.
Pre-order now to receive Character Art, Bookmark, sticker and signed bookplate at Jennifer Kelly's website.
September 9, 2018
3.5 stars!
What I loved about this book: Cal. He is my favorite character. Was it far-fetched that he would completely trust this girl he just met a few weeks ago? Maybe. Did I love him for it? Yes. This book also had me wanting a home-baked goods scented candle for Cal, and some hot apple cider to sip while reading. It's the perfect fall read with a bit of spooky vibes and lots of mystery. Plus, if you like Greek retellings that feature Hades and Persephone with a twist, then this is great since it focuses on their daughter, Victoriana Haden.
The main problem I had with the writing was its switches in perspective. Normally, if an author is using third person limited point of view, then we as readers only know what the main character is feeling and thinking, which it what was used 80% of the time. But sometimes we would get flashes of what Hades or Cal was thinking, which should have been proceeded by some sort of transition to let us know whose thoughts we were getting a peek into.
I'm looking forward to the next book which will hopefully dive deeper into some of the things that were revealed in the ending of this one, and I want to see more of Cal's development and what he can do!
What I loved about this book: Cal. He is my favorite character. Was it far-fetched that he would completely trust this girl he just met a few weeks ago? Maybe. Did I love him for it? Yes. This book also had me wanting a home-baked goods scented candle for Cal, and some hot apple cider to sip while reading. It's the perfect fall read with a bit of spooky vibes and lots of mystery. Plus, if you like Greek retellings that feature Hades and Persephone with a twist, then this is great since it focuses on their daughter, Victoriana Haden.
The main problem I had with the writing was its switches in perspective. Normally, if an author is using third person limited point of view, then we as readers only know what the main character is feeling and thinking, which it what was used 80% of the time. But sometimes we would get flashes of what Hades or Cal was thinking, which should have been proceeded by some sort of transition to let us know whose thoughts we were getting a peek into.
I'm looking forward to the next book which will hopefully dive deeper into some of the things that were revealed in the ending of this one, and I want to see more of Cal's development and what he can do!
September 16, 2018
House of Snakes is re-imagining of the classic mythological story of Hades and Persephone, focusing on their daughter Victoriana. This story weaves together classic mythological elements with all new fun and intriguing story elements as well new characters.
I loved this book, as I have all of Kelly's other books. Kelly's writing just sucks you in from the first page, and doesn't release you until the end of the last page. Vic, our main character, is so interesting, and really she acts as an antihero in a sense because she is doing her best to be the hero her mother needs, but she has to commit to acts she hates having to do. Cal is the other main character, and he is so well developed and is constantly learning as a person throughout the entirety of the story. Both characters have great character arcs.
In this book we get to experience Hades in a new light, in a sense. He is a father, but he is a relatively attentive one, whereas in other mythological based books, he is not ever there. I absolutely loved that factor. I think seeing mythological beings in a new light was so fun, and I really applaud Kelly's vision in transforming them.
The plot is solid, and we never experience the dreaded "info dump" or are fed useless details, and that is something I have to come to love about Kelly's writing. I went into the beginning thinking I knew where we were headed at the end, but I will say, I was so pleasantly surprised that I was completely wrong in thinking who the villain actually was, and I was completely wrong in how the story was going to play out. I loved every second of this book, and if you love mythological retellings, then I would highly recommend this book to you!
*I received this book for free to beta read, these are 100% my honest thoughts*
I loved this book, as I have all of Kelly's other books. Kelly's writing just sucks you in from the first page, and doesn't release you until the end of the last page. Vic, our main character, is so interesting, and really she acts as an antihero in a sense because she is doing her best to be the hero her mother needs, but she has to commit to acts she hates having to do. Cal is the other main character, and he is so well developed and is constantly learning as a person throughout the entirety of the story. Both characters have great character arcs.
In this book we get to experience Hades in a new light, in a sense. He is a father, but he is a relatively attentive one, whereas in other mythological based books, he is not ever there. I absolutely loved that factor. I think seeing mythological beings in a new light was so fun, and I really applaud Kelly's vision in transforming them.
The plot is solid, and we never experience the dreaded "info dump" or are fed useless details, and that is something I have to come to love about Kelly's writing. I went into the beginning thinking I knew where we were headed at the end, but I will say, I was so pleasantly surprised that I was completely wrong in thinking who the villain actually was, and I was completely wrong in how the story was going to play out. I loved every second of this book, and if you love mythological retellings, then I would highly recommend this book to you!
*I received this book for free to beta read, these are 100% my honest thoughts*
September 4, 2018
"Some people called it home. Vic called it home."
This book has it all- interesting, realistic characters, an intriguing plot, and Greek mythology. As a middle school teacher who has read and shared a fair amount of Rick Riordan with my students, this is sure to be a huge hit.
I may be alone when I say this next point (so take this with a grain of salt)- I don't know mythology well (even key stories). So at one point a character asks, "So the story is true? [...] The one about the pomegranate and Persephone?" And Vic, the main characters, answers, "Yeah that one the actually got right." At that point, just like when I read Rick Riordan's, I paused and spent some time reading about Persephone on Wikipedia. I merely wished that there was a little more explanation into what the myths were (rather than assuming that we would already know).
Personally, I loved the fall setting with the beginning of the school year (high school homecoming and fall festivals). As a middle grade novel, this reaches students that are going to like the loner girl (main character), the focus on action over description, the good vs. evil conflict, and the Greek Mythology. There are a lot of people that will love this book, and I look forward to promoting it (as the book comes out 9/18/18).
This advanced reader copy was provided by the author.
This book has it all- interesting, realistic characters, an intriguing plot, and Greek mythology. As a middle school teacher who has read and shared a fair amount of Rick Riordan with my students, this is sure to be a huge hit.
I may be alone when I say this next point (so take this with a grain of salt)- I don't know mythology well (even key stories). So at one point a character asks, "So the story is true? [...] The one about the pomegranate and Persephone?" And Vic, the main characters, answers, "Yeah that one the actually got right." At that point, just like when I read Rick Riordan's, I paused and spent some time reading about Persephone on Wikipedia. I merely wished that there was a little more explanation into what the myths were (rather than assuming that we would already know).
Personally, I loved the fall setting with the beginning of the school year (high school homecoming and fall festivals). As a middle grade novel, this reaches students that are going to like the loner girl (main character), the focus on action over description, the good vs. evil conflict, and the Greek Mythology. There are a lot of people that will love this book, and I look forward to promoting it (as the book comes out 9/18/18).
This advanced reader copy was provided by the author.
September 13, 2018
I could be biased. 🤷
September 18, 2018
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from @authorjenniferlkelly. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: September 18, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (greek mythology awesomeness)
Pages: 225
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Persephone is dying and Vic will do everything in her power to save her mother from the poison that seeps through her immortal veins. Even if it means losing the person she hopes to become.
Desperate to save his wife, Hades sends his daughter to the Above World to reap the souls of the living. What he does not count on is that she will meet a boy who could possibly be the unraveling of the Olympians.
Callum Bishop is new to Olympia—just trying to make it through senior year—when he meets the enigmatic Victoriana Haden. Soon he finds himself learning of the world embedded within his own and the secrets that it holds which could rock the mortal world to its core.
I thought this book was highly imaginative and creative. It had the feel of a grown-up Percy Jackson but with some twists. I feel that the plot was unique and surprising, the character development was great, and the overall pacing of the book was on point. Even when I thought the book was going to stall out and die, it surprised me and twisted in a way I wasn't expecting.
However, I feel like the POV shifts could have been better defined and I feel that the book was a tad confusing in places. I had to reread some lines in order to fully get what was going on.
Verdict: An excellent retelling that any Greek Mythology lover would greatly enjoy!
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: September 18, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (greek mythology awesomeness)
Pages: 225
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Persephone is dying and Vic will do everything in her power to save her mother from the poison that seeps through her immortal veins. Even if it means losing the person she hopes to become.
Desperate to save his wife, Hades sends his daughter to the Above World to reap the souls of the living. What he does not count on is that she will meet a boy who could possibly be the unraveling of the Olympians.
Callum Bishop is new to Olympia—just trying to make it through senior year—when he meets the enigmatic Victoriana Haden. Soon he finds himself learning of the world embedded within his own and the secrets that it holds which could rock the mortal world to its core.
I thought this book was highly imaginative and creative. It had the feel of a grown-up Percy Jackson but with some twists. I feel that the plot was unique and surprising, the character development was great, and the overall pacing of the book was on point. Even when I thought the book was going to stall out and die, it surprised me and twisted in a way I wasn't expecting.
However, I feel like the POV shifts could have been better defined and I feel that the book was a tad confusing in places. I had to reread some lines in order to fully get what was going on.
Verdict: An excellent retelling that any Greek Mythology lover would greatly enjoy!
September 19, 2018
I would probably really give this book 3.5 stars, but I rounded up for Goodreads. As a huge fan of Greek mythology, I was super excited when I found out about this book, and that it was written by an author I admire. From the very beginning, we’re set down in this world where it’s very clear things aren’t always what they seem, and “Magic” is a very real thing. Vic was an interesting character. I understood her motivation to help her mother, but she was hard for me to trust as a reader in the beginning. Her not enjoying Takings, for instance, felt forced to me. It was hard to believe when she’d constantly think about how she felt a little guilty, but would immediately then jump to how great souls sometimes smelled, etc. I also didn’t like the random POV jump in the prologue, which was a tad bit repetitive. All that aside, the characters move quickly through the story, and it was interesting to see how the pieces all came, or are starting to come, together. I do wish there was a bit more Ash though. Lol. I don’t want to give many more details away and make this a lengthy review where I accidentally spoil things, and the blurb is pretty accurate so it’s not necessary for me to anyway.
If you like Greek mythology, this is certainly packed full of that, so I’d recommend giving it a go!
If you like Greek mythology, this is certainly packed full of that, so I’d recommend giving it a go!
September 25, 2018
4.5/5 stars
"Each Taking changed her, took something of hers along with it."
Persephone, wife of Hades is immortal...and she is dying. Their daughter Victoriana is sent to the Above World to try and save her mother. How? She must reap the souls of the living. But the more souls she reaps, the more she fears she is losing who she is. Because of the Takings, Vic never gets close to anyone. That is, until Callum Bishop moves to Olympia. She finds herself drawn to him until she finds out he may be the cure to her mothers sickness.
All I have to say is WOW! Jennifer is amazing at creating a story that draws you in from the first page. My favorite thing about her writing is that the plot never goes where you expect. About halfway through I thought I had the ending figured out, but I was definitely wrong. This is a great modern take on a classic mythological story.
Only downside...I wanted more Asher! Yes, he's the Hellhound ex-boyfriend, but their chemistry added so much to the dialogue and character development. You really find out a lot about Vic because of this, which I love. Plus, who doesn't love the bad boy??
Overall, I highly recommend this book, especially for fall. It takes place in a never-ending Autumn and has a creepy vibe. I can't wait for more.
**I received this book as a gift from the author in exchange for an honest review**
"Each Taking changed her, took something of hers along with it."
Persephone, wife of Hades is immortal...and she is dying. Their daughter Victoriana is sent to the Above World to try and save her mother. How? She must reap the souls of the living. But the more souls she reaps, the more she fears she is losing who she is. Because of the Takings, Vic never gets close to anyone. That is, until Callum Bishop moves to Olympia. She finds herself drawn to him until she finds out he may be the cure to her mothers sickness.
All I have to say is WOW! Jennifer is amazing at creating a story that draws you in from the first page. My favorite thing about her writing is that the plot never goes where you expect. About halfway through I thought I had the ending figured out, but I was definitely wrong. This is a great modern take on a classic mythological story.
Only downside...I wanted more Asher! Yes, he's the Hellhound ex-boyfriend, but their chemistry added so much to the dialogue and character development. You really find out a lot about Vic because of this, which I love. Plus, who doesn't love the bad boy??
Overall, I highly recommend this book, especially for fall. It takes place in a never-ending Autumn and has a creepy vibe. I can't wait for more.
**I received this book as a gift from the author in exchange for an honest review**
September 19, 2018
I first want to say I was given a copy of this book by the author for an honest review. Thank you so much Jennifer for this read and advancing me a copy before it’s release!
Vic is the daughter of some pretty important people. Her mother is Persephone and her father is Hades. When Persephone falls ill because of an unknown reason, Vic is sent above to the human world to steal the souls of the living to keep her mother alive while they look for a cure. What she didn’t expect is Callum to walk into her life. What they didn’t know is they are more connected than they can ever imagine. Vic and Cal work together to figure out who is behind Persephone’s and to find a cure before it’s too late, because the souls just aren’t doing the job anymore.
This book kept my interest from beginning to end. Cal and Vic were very relatable characters. And I loved Hades! There is one character that towards the end actually just disappeared. I don’t think we heard what happened to him or where he was when the big scenes were going down. I actually thought he was in on it the whole time, so I am curious to hear more about him in the next book ( don’t want to say his name for spoiler reasons)
Vic is the daughter of some pretty important people. Her mother is Persephone and her father is Hades. When Persephone falls ill because of an unknown reason, Vic is sent above to the human world to steal the souls of the living to keep her mother alive while they look for a cure. What she didn’t expect is Callum to walk into her life. What they didn’t know is they are more connected than they can ever imagine. Vic and Cal work together to figure out who is behind Persephone’s and to find a cure before it’s too late, because the souls just aren’t doing the job anymore.
This book kept my interest from beginning to end. Cal and Vic were very relatable characters. And I loved Hades! There is one character that towards the end actually just disappeared. I don’t think we heard what happened to him or where he was when the big scenes were going down. I actually thought he was in on it the whole time, so I am curious to hear more about him in the next book ( don’t want to say his name for spoiler reasons)
November 5, 2018
2 1/2 stars
I'm not sure why but even half way through it still felt as off I wasn't in the story. If you get my meaning. I felt like an outsider reading and not like I was in that world. Because of that it took me about three weeks to finish this, that is way longer than normal for me especially because this book is so thin, only 293 pages!
However I did like the mythology woven throughout the story. I already knew about the fall of the Titans but the primordial god's were new to me which was awesome.
I'm not sure why but even half way through it still felt as off I wasn't in the story. If you get my meaning. I felt like an outsider reading and not like I was in that world. Because of that it took me about three weeks to finish this, that is way longer than normal for me especially because this book is so thin, only 293 pages!
However I did like the mythology woven throughout the story. I already knew about the fall of the Titans but the primordial god's were new to me which was awesome.
September 25, 2018
This book was a fun adventure read. I enjoyed reading it although I think the last chapter should have been an epilogue instead of a chapter.
It has great character building and town building. It made me want to live in a small town. Although the end felt a bit rushed and like main people were just not included, the action parts hit the mark and the Underworld description was AWESOME! Overall, quick cute read.
It has great character building and town building. It made me want to live in a small town. Although the end felt a bit rushed and like main people were just not included, the action parts hit the mark and the Underworld description was AWESOME! Overall, quick cute read.
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