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Children of the Gods #1
Oppression
Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than average people, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's well over eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal.For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability.Or so she thinks.Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her for a long time.Some are waiting for her to put an end to centuries of traditions that have oppressed their people under the guise of safeguarding them. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning-and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.
368 pages, Paperback
First published February 22, 2012
89 people are currently reading
7791 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Therrien
17 books495 followersJessica Therrien is the author of the young adult series Children of the Gods. Book one in the series, Oppression, became a Barnes & Noble best-seller shortly after its release. Her trilogy has been translated and sold through major publishers around the world, such as Editions AdA (Canada), EditionsMilan (France), and SharpPoint Press (China).
Aside from her Children of the Gods series, Jessica is the author of Carry Me Home, a YA contemporary fiction novel, and a kid’s picture book called, The Loneliest Whale. Her award-winning stories can also be found in a published anthology of flash fiction.
Jessica currently lives in Irvine with her husband and two young sons. She is working on an adult novel and a middle grade fantasy series.
Aside from her Children of the Gods series, Jessica is the author of Carry Me Home, a YA contemporary fiction novel, and a kid’s picture book called, The Loneliest Whale. Her award-winning stories can also be found in a published anthology of flash fiction.
Jessica currently lives in Irvine with her husband and two young sons. She is working on an adult novel and a middle grade fantasy series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 390 reviews
February 27, 2016
Thanks so much to everyone who has added OPPRESSION to their GoodReads list! I hope you like the book :)
March 3, 2012
Downloaded the $.99 ebook - though I'm a bit wary of Greek God stories (especially after The Goddess Test), I thought I'd give it a try. Overall, it held my interest, but at 47% on the Kindle, I just can't go any further.
Elyse looks 18 but is really 89 thanks to some slow aging genes. She's been sheltered her whole life and thought she (and her late parents) were the only ones like her. And though her parents had to come from somewhere, they never told her anything about it before their deaths.
We meet Elyse as she moves into a new apartment in San Francisco. I did like our introduction to the love interest, William. I thought it really captured that whole passing by the place where the cute guy works and hoping he'll be there thing that I think most girls can identify with. After that, however, everything feels rushed and honestly, not thought out that well. For instance, Elyse got a dog when she was 9 that she 'took everywhere.' But when she was nine wouldn't her body have been that of a toddler? How does that work? Does a 16 year old who looks like a three year old like boys? Go through puberty? Is their emotional maturity stunted as well because all of the 80 year old teenage characters act like teenagers.
I didn't think the world building was all that believable. The "Ministry of Magic"-esque bureaucracy, the school for octogenarian Descendants (as they call themselves) - and why do they need 80 years of school?? - the prophecy and so much more just strained credulity. Maybe if the author had spent about twice as long building the world and letting Elyse explore it I wouldn't have been squinting my eyes in confusion so much. As it was I felt rushed from one scene to another, from one explanation to another that often just confused me more.
The biggest problem for me, however, was the antagonist. The Council is the main enemy of the Descendants, though technically they're in charge of them? And William's father started a war with them a few decades back, but afterwards they just let him go off and teach in their Institute? There were no repercussions for starting a war?? And if young William figured out that Elyse was the girl in the prophecy that would eventually defeat The Council, how come no one else figured this out?
This could all be totally explained later in the book but at 47% I think I should at least understand who the bad guys are. Characters spend a lot of time not telling Elyse things that she probably should know sooner rather than later. Could they give the girl a handbook or something?
Also, instalove. Like insta, insta love of the most instamatic kind. Overall, not my cup of tea.
Elyse looks 18 but is really 89 thanks to some slow aging genes. She's been sheltered her whole life and thought she (and her late parents) were the only ones like her. And though her parents had to come from somewhere, they never told her anything about it before their deaths.
We meet Elyse as she moves into a new apartment in San Francisco. I did like our introduction to the love interest, William. I thought it really captured that whole passing by the place where the cute guy works and hoping he'll be there thing that I think most girls can identify with. After that, however, everything feels rushed and honestly, not thought out that well. For instance, Elyse got a dog when she was 9 that she 'took everywhere.' But when she was nine wouldn't her body have been that of a toddler? How does that work? Does a 16 year old who looks like a three year old like boys? Go through puberty? Is their emotional maturity stunted as well because all of the 80 year old teenage characters act like teenagers.
I didn't think the world building was all that believable. The "Ministry of Magic"-esque bureaucracy, the school for octogenarian Descendants (as they call themselves) - and why do they need 80 years of school?? - the prophecy and so much more just strained credulity. Maybe if the author had spent about twice as long building the world and letting Elyse explore it I wouldn't have been squinting my eyes in confusion so much. As it was I felt rushed from one scene to another, from one explanation to another that often just confused me more.
The biggest problem for me, however, was the antagonist. The Council is the main enemy of the Descendants, though technically they're in charge of them? And William's father started a war with them a few decades back, but afterwards they just let him go off and teach in their Institute? There were no repercussions for starting a war?? And if young William figured out that Elyse was the girl in the prophecy that would eventually defeat The Council, how come no one else figured this out?
This could all be totally explained later in the book but at 47% I think I should at least understand who the bad guys are. Characters spend a lot of time not telling Elyse things that she probably should know sooner rather than later. Could they give the girl a handbook or something?
Also, instalove. Like insta, insta love of the most instamatic kind. Overall, not my cup of tea.
April 18, 2017
Religion, and the many Gods that have been believed in, deeply mark human history. Each religion has their own set of books, their own truths, full of adventures, death, and love. The Greeks and their belief in the Gods that only had as much power as they believed the Gods had. Now, they’re myth, fiction, in the modern world. This book, Oppression, explores a reality where the Greek Gods, and those after them, had led us to believe that they are fiction. A wonderful idea to bend our reality to a possibility of Gods walking among us and that in itself is a wonderful concept.
Love will make any sane person completely insane and cause them to do things they normally wouldn’t do. Love can also be used as a tool which the Greek Gods did very well. Love can also be used as a tool in a story which could make or break it. In the case of this book, love shattered it into a million pieces. It was a case of ‘the girl looked at this boy for the first time and fell in love.’ I’m not a big fan of instantaneous love. The whole book revolves around it as well. I am glad that the author, Jessica Therrien, made it known in this book, which is the first of the Children of Gods series, rather than another book that she wasn’t manipulated to fall in love. I feel that the story would have been better if the love portion was slowly integrated into the story while not necessarily taking forever to get there but not being instantaneous. This is the part that ruined the book for me.
The backbone for this story was pretty good. The love portion took away from the rest of the story and dimmed it down a lot. The character actually has some character though. She has a lot of feelings. She has love with family and friends that she had long before a boy she felt that loved came along. She has her own likes and dislikes. I was personally very satisfied with the depth and was glad to see she wasn’t a blank character without a boyfriend. Her history was explored very well. Her ‘current’ feeling and choices were also explored. Her past and ‘current’ was blended together very well. I didn’t feel as if it was doing a hard cut to different scenes. Felt really seamless. So, if nothing else this story has a mostly solid backbone for the story all by itself.
The Gods offer a already defined structure to reinforce the backbone that was created by the author. The author did provide a slightly humanizing twist to what is more commonly known about the Gods or perhaps adding a new layer to them. I thought it was smart to use an already existing background that offers an alternative past that stretches further than the main character. I liked the structure that the author used to make the culture and the people that just happen to have a godly inheritance. The governing system is vague and so are the leaders with the only real thought behind them is that they are horrible beings which makes me wish it wasn’t there. I am a fan of rebellion though. It just felt that the leaders were shells for the ‘heroes’ to fight against. An empty oppressive government. That would certainly partially explain the title. For this portion, the extended background was fantastic in how it was blended with the original content except when it came to the government which felt very washed out and unnecessary since it was tucked into a back corner just to pop out to threaten the characters.
As I’ve mentioned before, this book is the first in the Children of Gods series. With that, I hope that the other books are, overall, better than this one. I did like the idea of myth meets reality. However, I would not recommend reading. I still have the rest of the series to read and sometimes the first book isn’t the best place to judge a continuous story. So, I’ll review the others at a later date and maybe my opinion will change.
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review via ebooksforreview.com.
Love will make any sane person completely insane and cause them to do things they normally wouldn’t do. Love can also be used as a tool which the Greek Gods did very well. Love can also be used as a tool in a story which could make or break it. In the case of this book, love shattered it into a million pieces. It was a case of ‘the girl looked at this boy for the first time and fell in love.’ I’m not a big fan of instantaneous love. The whole book revolves around it as well. I am glad that the author, Jessica Therrien, made it known in this book, which is the first of the Children of Gods series, rather than another book that she wasn’t manipulated to fall in love. I feel that the story would have been better if the love portion was slowly integrated into the story while not necessarily taking forever to get there but not being instantaneous. This is the part that ruined the book for me.
The backbone for this story was pretty good. The love portion took away from the rest of the story and dimmed it down a lot. The character actually has some character though. She has a lot of feelings. She has love with family and friends that she had long before a boy she felt that loved came along. She has her own likes and dislikes. I was personally very satisfied with the depth and was glad to see she wasn’t a blank character without a boyfriend. Her history was explored very well. Her ‘current’ feeling and choices were also explored. Her past and ‘current’ was blended together very well. I didn’t feel as if it was doing a hard cut to different scenes. Felt really seamless. So, if nothing else this story has a mostly solid backbone for the story all by itself.
The Gods offer a already defined structure to reinforce the backbone that was created by the author. The author did provide a slightly humanizing twist to what is more commonly known about the Gods or perhaps adding a new layer to them. I thought it was smart to use an already existing background that offers an alternative past that stretches further than the main character. I liked the structure that the author used to make the culture and the people that just happen to have a godly inheritance. The governing system is vague and so are the leaders with the only real thought behind them is that they are horrible beings which makes me wish it wasn’t there. I am a fan of rebellion though. It just felt that the leaders were shells for the ‘heroes’ to fight against. An empty oppressive government. That would certainly partially explain the title. For this portion, the extended background was fantastic in how it was blended with the original content except when it came to the government which felt very washed out and unnecessary since it was tucked into a back corner just to pop out to threaten the characters.
As I’ve mentioned before, this book is the first in the Children of Gods series. With that, I hope that the other books are, overall, better than this one. I did like the idea of myth meets reality. However, I would not recommend reading. I still have the rest of the series to read and sometimes the first book isn’t the best place to judge a continuous story. So, I’ll review the others at a later date and maybe my opinion will change.
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review via ebooksforreview.com.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2014
After about 60% in, I started to skim through it.
Well this book was a huge disappointment for me. I had to push myself to finish it.
The insta-love is HORRIFYINGLY bad. They say their "I love you's" a week or less after meeting each other. My god, it was one of the worst insta-love cases I've ever seen.
So overall, the supernatural aspect didn't interest me, I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and the insta-love was just ridiculous. I didn't enjoy this book and would not continue the series.
But again, don't take my word for it, because there's quite a lot of positive reviews for this book. I just personally didn't enjoy it.
Well this book was a huge disappointment for me. I had to push myself to finish it.
The insta-love is HORRIFYINGLY bad. They say their "I love you's" a week or less after meeting each other. My god, it was one of the worst insta-love cases I've ever seen.
So overall, the supernatural aspect didn't interest me, I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and the insta-love was just ridiculous. I didn't enjoy this book and would not continue the series.
But again, don't take my word for it, because there's quite a lot of positive reviews for this book. I just personally didn't enjoy it.
October 2, 2018
Vediamo cosa dire di questo primo libro di trilogia e di ció che mi ha trasmesso. Sinceramente mi aspettavo qualcosa di più avvincente considerato la curiosità che ne suscita la trama, ad ogni modo non mi ha colpito particolarmente ma verso la fine forse si, la lettura è scorrevole ma se devo dire che si sta in trepidazione per sapere cosa succede ad ogni capitolo con dispiacere devo dare responso negativo... poi questa Elyse mi è sembrata più infantile che mai, l’unica eccezione dove ho visto la maturità mista ad incoscienza è quando vuole salvare l’amica da un brutto male.
Non mi è neanche piaciuto per due fattori in questione in questo libro, probabilmente su uno potrei anche sbagliarmi ma non transigo in alcun modo sull’altro, e questi fattori in cui citano Afrodite come figlia di Zeus (da quel che mi ricordo e confermato, visto che sono andata a vedere, è nata col sangue di Urano che si riversó nel mare), ma la cosa più sconcertante e sacrilega, almeno per me che amo la mitologia greca, è che ha osato dire che Poseidone è lo pseudonimo di Ares... è una cosa che fa saltare i nervi!
Ma devo dire che c’è una nota positiva come siano in equilibrio ogni potere di ogni personaggio, ma soprattutto come i ragazzi anti-Consiglio si difendano e proteggano tra loro
Non mi è neanche piaciuto per due fattori in questione in questo libro, probabilmente su uno potrei anche sbagliarmi ma non transigo in alcun modo sull’altro, e questi fattori in cui citano Afrodite come figlia di Zeus (da quel che mi ricordo e confermato, visto che sono andata a vedere, è nata col sangue di Urano che si riversó nel mare), ma la cosa più sconcertante e sacrilega, almeno per me che amo la mitologia greca, è che ha osato dire che Poseidone è lo pseudonimo di Ares... è una cosa che fa saltare i nervi!
Ma devo dire che c’è una nota positiva come siano in equilibrio ogni potere di ogni personaggio, ma soprattutto come i ragazzi anti-Consiglio si difendano e proteggano tra loro
February 8, 2012
Oppression is one of those novels that grabbed me in the first chapter. I was instantly drawn into this magical world and quickly imagined life through the character's eyes.
The characters in Oppression are interesting and exciting. Let's start with the heroine Elyse. She inherited a condition which makes her different from nearly everyone she's ever encountered. Living secretly, moving frequentlyy, and watching the world change around her provided a strange security that she grew accustomed to over the years. Readers then meet William and all of that changes. His confident, worldly demeanour turns her world upside-down. The whole cast of characters is enchanting, even the villains. Having descended from Greek Gods, they possess special abilities that keep the story interesting, creates humor, and plenty of action.
The story gets off to an intriguing start when Elyse realizes she is not alone. Readers will quickly have to judge the characters trustworthiness and take risks with Elyse. She is faced with several tough decisions that could change her life and the lives of those around her. Therrein created a unique world of magic and mystery. I was continually impressed with the imaginative places the characters visit. The heart stopping ending will leave readers desperate for more!
Oppression is an exciting debut featuring interesting characters and a great story line fused with Greek mythology. Jessica Therrein provides stellar writing that will draw readers in and leave them wanting more. I will definitely be waiting for more in the Children of the Gods series!
The characters in Oppression are interesting and exciting. Let's start with the heroine Elyse. She inherited a condition which makes her different from nearly everyone she's ever encountered. Living secretly, moving frequentlyy, and watching the world change around her provided a strange security that she grew accustomed to over the years. Readers then meet William and all of that changes. His confident, worldly demeanour turns her world upside-down. The whole cast of characters is enchanting, even the villains. Having descended from Greek Gods, they possess special abilities that keep the story interesting, creates humor, and plenty of action.
The story gets off to an intriguing start when Elyse realizes she is not alone. Readers will quickly have to judge the characters trustworthiness and take risks with Elyse. She is faced with several tough decisions that could change her life and the lives of those around her. Therrein created a unique world of magic and mystery. I was continually impressed with the imaginative places the characters visit. The heart stopping ending will leave readers desperate for more!
Oppression is an exciting debut featuring interesting characters and a great story line fused with Greek mythology. Jessica Therrein provides stellar writing that will draw readers in and leave them wanting more. I will definitely be waiting for more in the Children of the Gods series!
October 14, 2015
Originally reviewed on Alexa Loves Books
I feel so incredibly spoiled to have received a second novel via the DAC Arc Tours that is BRILLIANT. I absolutely adored Oppression (as I made clear to many of my Twitter followers). From the moment I started it, I found I could not put it down until I found out what would happen (which resulted in me finishing it in one night!). It was just SO good - it combined a hint of mystery, a touch of mythology, some good old romance and wonderful characters into a neat little package.
Characters
Elyse was a heroine that I found quite relatable, especially in her longing to fit in and belong. As she is introduced into a community where that's actually possible, I could feel for her as she tried to adjust to the "new normal". I also felt for her as she struggled to deal with her new discoveries about herself and her abilities, especially since everyone seemed to have an opinion about who she was and what her purpose was. Though I enjoyed seeing her stand up for herself and be strong and fight, it was actually the teenager bits (hanging out with friends, falling in love, going to school) that I really liked for some reason. Headstrong, stubborn and independent - I definitely ended up really liking her.
I absolutely adored William. William was smart, headstrong and kickass, though he also fit into the mold of the boy-next-door type. I loved his genuine concern for Elyse, as well as his demonstration of his feelings for her. He was actually such a good guy, which makes a change from the whole “falling for the bad boy” plot. I’ve repeatedly said this on Twitter (and Jessica knows this as well) - I’m definitely Team William.
Apart from these two, there's a whole slew of interesting characters. Since they're all descended from the gods, there's a variety of abilities that are made known. This was fascinating to me, and also helped me remember who did what.
The Story
One thing I'm immediately drawn to in any book is the presence of mythology. Just about any work that integrates mythology will peak my interest. I enjoyed reading about the history of this particular group of people, as well as learning more about the present state of their community. Jessica Theirren does a wonderful job weaving mythology into a modern storyline, in a manner that's easy to accept.
I absolutely loved how the romance didn't feel in any way like insta-love to me, when it absolutely could have been (and you'll probably understand better why I said that if you read it). I loved how there was an evolution in their relationship, moving at a pace that made sense. There was a definite attraction, but it took time for them to build up their relationship. (Oh, and once again, TEAM WILLIAM!)
Though I did enjoy the romance, I think it's cool that the story did NOT revolve around the romance in general. The main focus was on Elyse's discovery of this world and figuring out what her role is in it. Because she's headstrong and intelligent, I like how she's weighing her choices, trying to figure out what she feels is the right move for her to make. I'm anticipating discovering more about things in the next book!
Personally, I say you should...
... definitely pick up Oppression if you're a fan of stories with a mythological twist. This one is pretty interesting, with a well-crafted story and awesome characters, and I'm definitely excited to find out what happens next!
(This was originally published on Alexa Loves Books)
I feel so incredibly spoiled to have received a second novel via the DAC Arc Tours that is BRILLIANT. I absolutely adored Oppression (as I made clear to many of my Twitter followers). From the moment I started it, I found I could not put it down until I found out what would happen (which resulted in me finishing it in one night!). It was just SO good - it combined a hint of mystery, a touch of mythology, some good old romance and wonderful characters into a neat little package.
Characters
Elyse was a heroine that I found quite relatable, especially in her longing to fit in and belong. As she is introduced into a community where that's actually possible, I could feel for her as she tried to adjust to the "new normal". I also felt for her as she struggled to deal with her new discoveries about herself and her abilities, especially since everyone seemed to have an opinion about who she was and what her purpose was. Though I enjoyed seeing her stand up for herself and be strong and fight, it was actually the teenager bits (hanging out with friends, falling in love, going to school) that I really liked for some reason. Headstrong, stubborn and independent - I definitely ended up really liking her.
I absolutely adored William. William was smart, headstrong and kickass, though he also fit into the mold of the boy-next-door type. I loved his genuine concern for Elyse, as well as his demonstration of his feelings for her. He was actually such a good guy, which makes a change from the whole “falling for the bad boy” plot. I’ve repeatedly said this on Twitter (and Jessica knows this as well) - I’m definitely Team William.
Apart from these two, there's a whole slew of interesting characters. Since they're all descended from the gods, there's a variety of abilities that are made known. This was fascinating to me, and also helped me remember who did what.
The Story
One thing I'm immediately drawn to in any book is the presence of mythology. Just about any work that integrates mythology will peak my interest. I enjoyed reading about the history of this particular group of people, as well as learning more about the present state of their community. Jessica Theirren does a wonderful job weaving mythology into a modern storyline, in a manner that's easy to accept.
I absolutely loved how the romance didn't feel in any way like insta-love to me, when it absolutely could have been (and you'll probably understand better why I said that if you read it). I loved how there was an evolution in their relationship, moving at a pace that made sense. There was a definite attraction, but it took time for them to build up their relationship. (Oh, and once again, TEAM WILLIAM!)
Though I did enjoy the romance, I think it's cool that the story did NOT revolve around the romance in general. The main focus was on Elyse's discovery of this world and figuring out what her role is in it. Because she's headstrong and intelligent, I like how she's weighing her choices, trying to figure out what she feels is the right move for her to make. I'm anticipating discovering more about things in the next book!
Personally, I say you should...
... definitely pick up Oppression if you're a fan of stories with a mythological twist. This one is pretty interesting, with a well-crafted story and awesome characters, and I'm definitely excited to find out what happens next!
(This was originally published on Alexa Loves Books)
January 3, 2014
Review also posted at Ja čitam, a ti?
This is one of those books that I've read a while ago but somehow I didn't have time to put my review together. I decided it'd be great to do that as soon as possible. So Oppression is something that stayed in my mind all this time I might add.
There are some books that you know you're going to love as soon as you open them and start reading them. This one was one of those. There was something mysterious about it that kept me turning pages and discovering more and more.
Elyse is our main character here. She is a girl that on the outside seems really normal, she tries to live normal life, but inside she is everything but that. People assume that she is eighteen years old in reality she is over eighty. That she can thank to her ancestors. She is one of the people who are descendants of Greek gods and the blood that flows through their veins give them some special abilities. Only up until recently she thought that she was alone and after the death of her parents it was hard to cope with all that on her own. But soon she meets some people, one group is there to eliminate her and the other is to help here. But sometimes it's hard to know which is which.
Everything about Greek mythology is fascinating at least. Not only Greek but any other so it was interesting to discover some new elements of it in this book. I loved how each descendant had some ability that connected them to certain god. It was great to see that spectra of powers. There is also a really sweet romance involved in this book. It might start as insta-love but later it nicely develops. Beside our main characters I truly enjoyed Sam's character. It was really fun to read some of the scenes he showed up.
All in all, a really interesting take on Greek mythology and I hope I'll get to discover more of this world.
This is one of those books that I've read a while ago but somehow I didn't have time to put my review together. I decided it'd be great to do that as soon as possible. So Oppression is something that stayed in my mind all this time I might add.
There are some books that you know you're going to love as soon as you open them and start reading them. This one was one of those. There was something mysterious about it that kept me turning pages and discovering more and more.
Elyse is our main character here. She is a girl that on the outside seems really normal, she tries to live normal life, but inside she is everything but that. People assume that she is eighteen years old in reality she is over eighty. That she can thank to her ancestors. She is one of the people who are descendants of Greek gods and the blood that flows through their veins give them some special abilities. Only up until recently she thought that she was alone and after the death of her parents it was hard to cope with all that on her own. But soon she meets some people, one group is there to eliminate her and the other is to help here. But sometimes it's hard to know which is which.
Everything about Greek mythology is fascinating at least. Not only Greek but any other so it was interesting to discover some new elements of it in this book. I loved how each descendant had some ability that connected them to certain god. It was great to see that spectra of powers. There is also a really sweet romance involved in this book. It might start as insta-love but later it nicely develops. Beside our main characters I truly enjoyed Sam's character. It was really fun to read some of the scenes he showed up.
All in all, a really interesting take on Greek mythology and I hope I'll get to discover more of this world.
October 26, 2016
I love it when a book surprises me. I admit that I looked at some of the reviews and wasn't sure how I would feel about this book. I am happy to report that it pulled me in and I really liked it.
This is a book that is based on mythology. Elyse is a descendant of the people who the Ancient Greeks considered Gods. The "Gods" weren't "Gods". They just had abilities and longevity. The people have gone underground and hide themselves and their abilities from humans.
This book begins as Elyse finds out who she is and why she is the way she is. She is in her 80's, but looks like a teen. She can heal. She has a big heart and it has been hard to see the ones she loves die while she lives.
Elyse enters a world of danger and mystery. It is hard to know who to turn to and trust. She is supposed to free her people from oppression, but is a reluctant participant.
This book has romance with some innuendo. There is violence. Innocents are killed so the people in control can prove a point. Some parts can be a little disturbing. This book is the beginning of a mythological war.
This is a book that is based on mythology. Elyse is a descendant of the people who the Ancient Greeks considered Gods. The "Gods" weren't "Gods". They just had abilities and longevity. The people have gone underground and hide themselves and their abilities from humans.
This book begins as Elyse finds out who she is and why she is the way she is. She is in her 80's, but looks like a teen. She can heal. She has a big heart and it has been hard to see the ones she loves die while she lives.
Elyse enters a world of danger and mystery. It is hard to know who to turn to and trust. She is supposed to free her people from oppression, but is a reluctant participant.
This book has romance with some innuendo. There is violence. Innocents are killed so the people in control can prove a point. Some parts can be a little disturbing. This book is the beginning of a mythological war.
December 18, 2016
Decedents of Greek gods with special powers...she is the last of her line...awesome!
Oppression (Children of the Gods #1) by Jessica Therrien is a terrific fantasy story about a girl that is not human but lives among humans and ages much slower. Her parents are killed and she is raised by someone else and continues to live in seclusion. She is not the only one of her kind but a special one of her kind. So special that some are hiding her and some are seeking her to kill her. She knows only that she is different and has to hide and lives longer than the average person. But all that changes... It is a fantastic story with great characters and plot, lots of action, romance (just a touch), and great fantasy. Twists, turns, mysteries to be uncovered, and I had to start on book 2 right after reading this! I received a review copy of this book, a review was not required, all opinions are my own.
Oppression (Children of the Gods #1) by Jessica Therrien is a terrific fantasy story about a girl that is not human but lives among humans and ages much slower. Her parents are killed and she is raised by someone else and continues to live in seclusion. She is not the only one of her kind but a special one of her kind. So special that some are hiding her and some are seeking her to kill her. She knows only that she is different and has to hide and lives longer than the average person. But all that changes... It is a fantastic story with great characters and plot, lots of action, romance (just a touch), and great fantasy. Twists, turns, mysteries to be uncovered, and I had to start on book 2 right after reading this! I received a review copy of this book, a review was not required, all opinions are my own.
March 12, 2012
Disappointing. First of all, I can't say I liked either of the protagonists. They age five times slower than the average person, so maybe their emotional maturity is a bit stunted but I would expect more cop on out of any two with roughly 160 years of life experience between them, adolescent brains or no.
On top of that, the world building wasn't the most believable and there was very little in the way of explanation or development.
And, last but not least, there was a bad case of instalove.
On top of that, the world building wasn't the most believable and there was very little in the way of explanation or development.
And, last but not least, there was a bad case of instalove.
March 1, 2012
I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this book. I read it in three days. Total page-turner. Can't wait for it to come out so I can talk to people about it!
March 10, 2012
(First posted on Rachel Morgan Writes):
Don't you love it when a book wastes no time getting to the action? By action I mean Something Important Happens. Well, you don't have to wait long for Something To Happen in OPPRESSION. Barely three pages in and the opening scene ends in a chilling moment that, I swear, I could almost hear ringing in my ears! And the Somethings just kept coming!
OPPRESSION involves a unique take on Greek mythology. Confesssion #1: I've always been fascinated by mythology. Confession #2: I love the idea of supernatural abilties! Seriously. I was a major fan of the TV show Heroes. So give me a book full of characters with superhuman talents--like OPPRESSION's descendants of the gods--and I'm happy!
As well as mythology, there's also action, intrigue, humour, aaaaand (one of my faves) romance! And what a refreshing romance it was. In a literary world full of brooding bad boys who spend at least half the novel pushing the heroine away, OPPRESSION stands out with a love story where the guy is honest from the beginning about the fact that he likes the girl. Yay William! *swoon*
I'm keen to read the next book :-)
Don't you love it when a book wastes no time getting to the action? By action I mean Something Important Happens. Well, you don't have to wait long for Something To Happen in OPPRESSION. Barely three pages in and the opening scene ends in a chilling moment that, I swear, I could almost hear ringing in my ears! And the Somethings just kept coming!
OPPRESSION involves a unique take on Greek mythology. Confesssion #1: I've always been fascinated by mythology. Confession #2: I love the idea of supernatural abilties! Seriously. I was a major fan of the TV show Heroes. So give me a book full of characters with superhuman talents--like OPPRESSION's descendants of the gods--and I'm happy!
As well as mythology, there's also action, intrigue, humour, aaaaand (one of my faves) romance! And what a refreshing romance it was. In a literary world full of brooding bad boys who spend at least half the novel pushing the heroine away, OPPRESSION stands out with a love story where the guy is honest from the beginning about the fact that he likes the girl. Yay William! *swoon*
I'm keen to read the next book :-)
October 23, 2016
Oppression is the first book in the Children of the Gods series. It was an easy read, very fast-paced but with enough background and character development to make you care. I would say it's a fun mash up of "Age of Adeline" (the characters age slowly) and Percy Jackson (lots of Greek mythology references). Elyse is a likable lead character and the backdrop of San Francisco/Northern California added to the magic. It leaves a cliffhanger so be ready for the rest of the series. I would recommend this to those who like realistic-fantasy escapism novels.
January 12, 2012
I had the privilege of reviewing this incredibly beautiful story before it hits stores in February. From page one, I could not put it down. I fell in the love with the lead characters, Elyse and William. Their old-fashioned love story had me holding my breath and rooting for them every step of the way. How long do we have to wait for the sequel???
July 28, 2013
This original Young Adult Novel is a breakthrough, mixing the real world with the paranormal. It has characters you will fall in love with and characters you will hate. It will be the next page turner sitting on your shelves waiting for part 2!
January 13, 2015
Such a great series! as any good book should, it made me cry, laugh, and at a few brief moment, feel slightly angry. jessica is an amazing author and NO ONE will regret reading these books! please let there be a third book soon!!! Huge fan!!!
August 21, 2012
Rating: 4.5
; I had minor issues with the lead, Elyse, but more of that later. Other than that, though, this book is great! :D A modern twist to Greek Mythology, and I loved it.
Oppression begins the Children of the Gods series where we meet Elyse, a special girl who's always had to live in hiding. She has secrets she's not meant to spill; for one, she ages five times slower than any average person. And, two, she has the ability to heal with her blood, though she doesn't understand why. Alone for 39 years after the death of her parents, only her best friend, Anna, knows of Elyse's strange ability and age difference, so she believes. Soon she finds herself thrust into a world she never knew existed, with others just like her, descended of the people the Greeks considered Gods. There is a prophecy, and Elyse finds herself in the middle of it all. But can she play by their rules when she's forced to choose between the life she knew and the life she's been thrust into?
I loved the idea of this book, Oppression takes you into the world of Greek Mythology without focusing solely on the Gods we've all come to know; Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, etc. Instead, you learn about other Gods I certainly knew nothing about. Like Nyx-Goddess of night and darkness; Asclepis-God of healing. Then, Hermes, Iris and Dionysus; of course there's also the familiar ones: Artemis, Ares, and Aphrodite. With a modern flare, and I found myself wondering, What if Descendants existed? That would be awesome. But the world is afraid of what they can never understand, and so in the world of Oppression, the descendants find themselves in hiding, ever so careful not to show or tell humans who and what they are. For the consequences are severe, punishable only by death.
That is where Elyse and the prophecy come into play. It was said she would lead the war in overthrowing The Council and the traditions that have oppressed her people for centuries. She is the last of her bloodline, the last of the healers. How is she to undo centuries of rules and tradition? Well the answer for that would be in the second installment of the Children of the Gods series I hope. As far as Oppression, it was more about introducing us to the world of the Descendants. Learning along the way what makes Elyse special, why she was kept in the dark about her nature for so long, and meeting others such as William, Sam, Nics, Paul, Rachel. As well the proffessors and Ryder, the villain bent on destroying Elyse no matter the cost.
I liked Elyse. She was strong and assertive. Determined and not too clingy. BUT, my only issue with her was that although she was 89 years old, eighteen in appearance, there were instances where she was naive and seemed more like a stubborn child than an 89 year old young lady. One other thing was her instant feelings for William. She barely knew him, yet there she was not just physically attracted to him, but falling head over heels for him. It's hard though to be upset about it when I myself found it hard to resist William's charm. He was protective of Elyse, but not suffocatingly so. If she disagreed on something he said, he didn't try to manipulate her to his every whim, he let her be herself and make her own judgements. But I disliked the fact that he forgave her for everything! I mean, come on, that's just not acceptable. He's gotta hold some kind of resentment. But other than that their story flowed nicely throughout the book.
Other characters I found interesting were Nics and Sam. They made the cutest "non-couple" ever. It's obvious they're in love with each other, but both are too stubborn to admit it, though everyone could feel the sexual tension between the two. Sam was funny, I liked his carefree nature, and Nics was more serious, she balanced him well. I didn't get much attached to Paul and Rachel, we don't really get much dialect from them. Though you get a general idea of who they are, just not enough depth to make them likeable enough. I'm hoping that if they'll be a part of Elyse's world, in the second book, that we get more insight on them as well :)
Jessica Therrien makes an impressive debut with Oppression and I will unfortunately have to wait who knows how long for her second book. Grrr! This book had me hooked from page one up until the very end. If you like Greek Mythology based books with a modern twist, Oppression is definitely for you :)
Oppression begins the Children of the Gods series where we meet Elyse, a special girl who's always had to live in hiding. She has secrets she's not meant to spill; for one, she ages five times slower than any average person. And, two, she has the ability to heal with her blood, though she doesn't understand why. Alone for 39 years after the death of her parents, only her best friend, Anna, knows of Elyse's strange ability and age difference, so she believes. Soon she finds herself thrust into a world she never knew existed, with others just like her, descended of the people the Greeks considered Gods. There is a prophecy, and Elyse finds herself in the middle of it all. But can she play by their rules when she's forced to choose between the life she knew and the life she's been thrust into?
I loved the idea of this book, Oppression takes you into the world of Greek Mythology without focusing solely on the Gods we've all come to know; Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, etc. Instead, you learn about other Gods I certainly knew nothing about. Like Nyx-Goddess of night and darkness; Asclepis-God of healing. Then, Hermes, Iris and Dionysus; of course there's also the familiar ones: Artemis, Ares, and Aphrodite. With a modern flare, and I found myself wondering, What if Descendants existed? That would be awesome. But the world is afraid of what they can never understand, and so in the world of Oppression, the descendants find themselves in hiding, ever so careful not to show or tell humans who and what they are. For the consequences are severe, punishable only by death.
That is where Elyse and the prophecy come into play. It was said she would lead the war in overthrowing The Council and the traditions that have oppressed her people for centuries. She is the last of her bloodline, the last of the healers. How is she to undo centuries of rules and tradition? Well the answer for that would be in the second installment of the Children of the Gods series I hope. As far as Oppression, it was more about introducing us to the world of the Descendants. Learning along the way what makes Elyse special, why she was kept in the dark about her nature for so long, and meeting others such as William, Sam, Nics, Paul, Rachel. As well the proffessors and Ryder, the villain bent on destroying Elyse no matter the cost.
I liked Elyse. She was strong and assertive. Determined and not too clingy. BUT, my only issue with her was that although she was 89 years old, eighteen in appearance, there were instances where she was naive and seemed more like a stubborn child than an 89 year old young lady. One other thing was her instant feelings for William. She barely knew him, yet there she was not just physically attracted to him, but falling head over heels for him. It's hard though to be upset about it when I myself found it hard to resist William's charm. He was protective of Elyse, but not suffocatingly so. If she disagreed on something he said, he didn't try to manipulate her to his every whim, he let her be herself and make her own judgements. But I disliked the fact that he forgave her for everything! I mean, come on, that's just not acceptable. He's gotta hold some kind of resentment. But other than that their story flowed nicely throughout the book.
Other characters I found interesting were Nics and Sam. They made the cutest "non-couple" ever. It's obvious they're in love with each other, but both are too stubborn to admit it, though everyone could feel the sexual tension between the two. Sam was funny, I liked his carefree nature, and Nics was more serious, she balanced him well. I didn't get much attached to Paul and Rachel, we don't really get much dialect from them. Though you get a general idea of who they are, just not enough depth to make them likeable enough. I'm hoping that if they'll be a part of Elyse's world, in the second book, that we get more insight on them as well :)
Jessica Therrien makes an impressive debut with Oppression and I will unfortunately have to wait who knows how long for her second book. Grrr! This book had me hooked from page one up until the very end. If you like Greek Mythology based books with a modern twist, Oppression is definitely for you :)
April 28, 2012
This book feels like X-Men meets Harry Potter meets Twilight meets Greek mythology. As I like thoe it should have been a sure winner. And it was for about the first half of the book. I liked the ideas, the world, the characters so much that I couldn't stop reading...
Elyse has been on the run for ages, she's 80 looking like 18 and believes it's due to some genetic disorder because her parents, suffering from the same disease, have always told her so and kept moving around so nobody would notice. The parents die and finally she ends up alone having only one best friend, Anna, who knows about her condition.
After moving again she meets gorgeous William (do they always have to have names like William and Edward in books like these?). He introduces her to a completely new world, telling her she doesn't have a disease but is an ancestor of the people who were called Gods in the antique in Greek. For my taste she wraps her head arount it a bit too quickly, actually a lot happens too fast in this book. Boom, there she is:completely at ease with finding out about a weird world she's never known about, accepting her fate as the chosen one to save the people of this world. And not just this, she also instantly falls in love with William, her destined soulmate, without any development of the relationship at all. He's there, tells her "I'm a descendant of something like a God, you're too, by the way" and whoops they are in eternal love.
But I didn't mind that too much, it was ok... sometimes authors do this and though I don't like it, a book can still be great. However, the author managed to make me dislike the protagonist in the later part of the book. All the Descendants are really old and only look like they are teenagers, the problem with this (and I already had this with Twilight) is to explain away why 80year olds still behave like teens! OK, with Elyse I kind of could get it in the beginning. She wasn't used to company, she had been alone for a long time, she had missed out on a lot of experinces but what about the others growing up in this society? It said they age slower but nothing about developing slower, the author should have come up with something there. Because this way it just felt wrong that someone this old, having experienced a lot, should still act like immature teenagers.
In addition I just couldn't wrap my head around Elyse's behaviour, she keeps important (and dangerous) things from William. Furthermore I didn't get her actions about Anna's disease (which, by the way, was depicted in a completely unrealistic way as I know the way someone dies of cancer that has spread into the bones... it's way worse. There's a lot more suffering in it and you certainly don't die at home on your couch without a nurse and half a hospital in your home! It's just way more cruel than the books wants to tell you...). She wants to save Anna, doesn't want her death on her conscious but she is willing to sacrifice herself and risking the wellbeing of a lot of other people including Anna who's going to be killed anyway if the Council finds her? So that's fine with her? The author tried to give us an idea of the conflict taking part in her mind but it didn't really work out. But in the end we find out: it's all part of the prophecy, oh right, thaaaaaat makes it ok... Well... not for me.
And I really don't get the reason we're told about the Quidditch Championship equivalent called Lenaia. It just doesn't add something to the story, it just gives you some sweet moments between the lovers.
So, that's for the negative things in this book. I still give it 3 stars because the world itself and the idea of the story are really good and in addition it's the author's first book and noone's perfect. For the future books I hope she manages to make things a bit more realistic and believable. The story is a very good one, it just has to be woven more carefully considering plotholes and logic.
Elyse has been on the run for ages, she's 80 looking like 18 and believes it's due to some genetic disorder because her parents, suffering from the same disease, have always told her so and kept moving around so nobody would notice. The parents die and finally she ends up alone having only one best friend, Anna, who knows about her condition.
After moving again she meets gorgeous William (do they always have to have names like William and Edward in books like these?). He introduces her to a completely new world, telling her she doesn't have a disease but is an ancestor of the people who were called Gods in the antique in Greek. For my taste she wraps her head arount it a bit too quickly, actually a lot happens too fast in this book. Boom, there she is:completely at ease with finding out about a weird world she's never known about, accepting her fate as the chosen one to save the people of this world. And not just this, she also instantly falls in love with William, her destined soulmate, without any development of the relationship at all. He's there, tells her "I'm a descendant of something like a God, you're too, by the way" and whoops they are in eternal love.
But I didn't mind that too much, it was ok... sometimes authors do this and though I don't like it, a book can still be great. However, the author managed to make me dislike the protagonist in the later part of the book. All the Descendants are really old and only look like they are teenagers, the problem with this (and I already had this with Twilight) is to explain away why 80year olds still behave like teens! OK, with Elyse I kind of could get it in the beginning. She wasn't used to company, she had been alone for a long time, she had missed out on a lot of experinces but what about the others growing up in this society? It said they age slower but nothing about developing slower, the author should have come up with something there. Because this way it just felt wrong that someone this old, having experienced a lot, should still act like immature teenagers.
In addition I just couldn't wrap my head around Elyse's behaviour, she keeps important (and dangerous) things from William. Furthermore I didn't get her actions about Anna's disease (which, by the way, was depicted in a completely unrealistic way as I know the way someone dies of cancer that has spread into the bones... it's way worse. There's a lot more suffering in it and you certainly don't die at home on your couch without a nurse and half a hospital in your home! It's just way more cruel than the books wants to tell you...). She wants to save Anna, doesn't want her death on her conscious but she is willing to sacrifice herself and risking the wellbeing of a lot of other people including Anna who's going to be killed anyway if the Council finds her? So that's fine with her? The author tried to give us an idea of the conflict taking part in her mind but it didn't really work out. But in the end we find out: it's all part of the prophecy, oh right, thaaaaaat makes it ok... Well... not for me.
And I really don't get the reason we're told about the Quidditch Championship equivalent called Lenaia. It just doesn't add something to the story, it just gives you some sweet moments between the lovers.
So, that's for the negative things in this book. I still give it 3 stars because the world itself and the idea of the story are really good and in addition it's the author's first book and noone's perfect. For the future books I hope she manages to make things a bit more realistic and believable. The story is a very good one, it just has to be woven more carefully considering plotholes and logic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2014
This is the book for people who believe in fate.
Elyse is unlike other people. Her body ages five times slower than other. She looks like a healthy eighteen years old girl now, but in reality, she is eighty-nine years old. Her parents never told her why they are different. And they will never can, after the car accident that killed them in 1973. Elyse was fifty years old at that time, but her appearance was a ten years old girl. The accident broke her nonetheless, until Betsy came and took care of her. Then Betsy was dead, and suddenly, Elyse doesn’t know what she would do with her life. People whom she loves will age and die, and that makes her scared to start relationship with anyone.
On that day, I fully understood why my parents had not wanted me to have friends—friends who I would love, who would age, and leave, and die.
Elyse decided to move in to San Francisco, where it will be easier for her to hide from curious minds. In the big city, she will be just another face, another body in the crowd. But her life changes the moment she meets William. William is gorgeous, and he seems to have answers to questions that have whirled around Elyse’s mind for a long time. William said that there are more people like her, and he is just another one. But how could it possible? Why are they different from other human? Why did Elyse’s parents hide the truth from her, and keep
themselves hidden from their own people?
Oppression is a wonderful read and I’m really glad to tell you that I’m not disappointed with the story. Elyse is surprisingly naïve for people on her actual age, but I guess it can be understood since she rarely interacted with people other than Betsy and Elyse’s best friend Anna. I’m really happy when Elyse meets her own kind and starts having more friends. She has been lonely for so many years and I can feel her excitement when finally she meets her own kind.
Elyse and William’s relationship is really cute too, the one you can’t help but say ‘awww’. William is funny and really protective of Elyse. I know that it is insta-love, but it’s so cute that I don’t really mind about that. The pace in the book is a little slow so some people might have problem with that, but with the whole events in the book, the not-so-fast pace make them seem more natural to me.
Needless to say, I can hardly wait for book two in this series! Hopefully there are more action parts in the next book. I hope to see more of Elyse in action, and please... more William! He’s just too cute!
“If you could sum up your whole life into a single flavor, what would it be? What do you think your life would taste like?”
I laughed. “I don’t know. That’s a strange question.” I thought about it though. It would have to be something bitter, but still sweet in a way, something that looked better than it tasted. “Maybe… semi-sweet chocolate?”
“Only semi-sweet?” he observed.
“I have my reasons,” I defended. “What about you? Something sugary and delicious?”
“Hmm, I have to rethink it. It’s definitely changed since I met you.”
He smiled at me, and I recoiled a little into the cushion seat of the booth, throwing my eyes immediately in a different direction—away from his.
“Peanut butter,” he decided.
“Why peanut butter?”
“I have my reasons,” he mocked.
“It’s not very sweet.”
“No, but it goes well with chocolate.”
Yes, I know that just like me, you’re swooning over him right now. Isn’t he the sweetest? Oppression is a brilliant debut and I’m dying to get my hand on the second book. I hope it can come out sooner! :P
Read other reviews in my blog! :)
Catch the Lune
Elyse is unlike other people. Her body ages five times slower than other. She looks like a healthy eighteen years old girl now, but in reality, she is eighty-nine years old. Her parents never told her why they are different. And they will never can, after the car accident that killed them in 1973. Elyse was fifty years old at that time, but her appearance was a ten years old girl. The accident broke her nonetheless, until Betsy came and took care of her. Then Betsy was dead, and suddenly, Elyse doesn’t know what she would do with her life. People whom she loves will age and die, and that makes her scared to start relationship with anyone.
On that day, I fully understood why my parents had not wanted me to have friends—friends who I would love, who would age, and leave, and die.
Elyse decided to move in to San Francisco, where it will be easier for her to hide from curious minds. In the big city, she will be just another face, another body in the crowd. But her life changes the moment she meets William. William is gorgeous, and he seems to have answers to questions that have whirled around Elyse’s mind for a long time. William said that there are more people like her, and he is just another one. But how could it possible? Why are they different from other human? Why did Elyse’s parents hide the truth from her, and keep
themselves hidden from their own people?
Oppression is a wonderful read and I’m really glad to tell you that I’m not disappointed with the story. Elyse is surprisingly naïve for people on her actual age, but I guess it can be understood since she rarely interacted with people other than Betsy and Elyse’s best friend Anna. I’m really happy when Elyse meets her own kind and starts having more friends. She has been lonely for so many years and I can feel her excitement when finally she meets her own kind.
Elyse and William’s relationship is really cute too, the one you can’t help but say ‘awww’. William is funny and really protective of Elyse. I know that it is insta-love, but it’s so cute that I don’t really mind about that. The pace in the book is a little slow so some people might have problem with that, but with the whole events in the book, the not-so-fast pace make them seem more natural to me.
Needless to say, I can hardly wait for book two in this series! Hopefully there are more action parts in the next book. I hope to see more of Elyse in action, and please... more William! He’s just too cute!
“If you could sum up your whole life into a single flavor, what would it be? What do you think your life would taste like?”
I laughed. “I don’t know. That’s a strange question.” I thought about it though. It would have to be something bitter, but still sweet in a way, something that looked better than it tasted. “Maybe… semi-sweet chocolate?”
“Only semi-sweet?” he observed.
“I have my reasons,” I defended. “What about you? Something sugary and delicious?”
“Hmm, I have to rethink it. It’s definitely changed since I met you.”
He smiled at me, and I recoiled a little into the cushion seat of the booth, throwing my eyes immediately in a different direction—away from his.
“Peanut butter,” he decided.
“Why peanut butter?”
“I have my reasons,” he mocked.
“It’s not very sweet.”
“No, but it goes well with chocolate.”
Yes, I know that just like me, you’re swooning over him right now. Isn’t he the sweetest? Oppression is a brilliant debut and I’m dying to get my hand on the second book. I hope it can come out sooner! :P
Read other reviews in my blog! :)
Catch the Lune
March 14, 2012
I just finished reading Jessica Therrien's debut novel, Oppression and - wow - loved it.
Jacket Blurb:
Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than the average person, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal. For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability. Or so she thinks. Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her for a long time. Among so many of her kind, she should not be very remarkable--except for the prophecy. Some believe she will put an end to traditions, safeguarded by violence, which have oppressed her people for centuries. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning--and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.
What I liked:
Loved William. Yummy lead.
I felt a connection with Elyse. I'm sure we've all had periods in our lives when we've felt like the loner or outsider. Well for Elyse, this is every day, all the time. It made me love her and want to give her a hug just because I felt she needed one. She was a very real and likable character.
The bond between Elyse and Anna felt real. I was rooting for them through the entire book and was happy with how it played out.
The supporting cast of characters. Some were quite amusing and all were endearing.
I liked the ending quite well. Just when I thought I had it figured out, Ms. Therrien threw a fast ball in there and changed it up. I love when an author can do that.
What I Didn't Like:
I had to think about this for a while. There was very little I didn't like about this book. I suppose if I had to nit-pick it would be that Elyse seemed to take things (I won't spoil what they are) a little too well. I think a lot of people would have been more bothered by some of what she saw and learned. But, this wasn't something that ruined, or even slightly marred, the book.
Bottom Line:
A great start to what I'm sure will be a brilliant career for Jessica Therrien. I'm looking forward to the sequels to Elyse's story, as well as other works Ms. Therrien has planned.
If you haven't already, but Oppression and sit down for an enjoyable read.
Suitable for: Teens and adults
Language: None
Sexual Content: None
Violence: Mild
Rating: 5 out of 5 Smileys
Jacket Blurb:
Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than the average person, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal. For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability. Or so she thinks. Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her for a long time. Among so many of her kind, she should not be very remarkable--except for the prophecy. Some believe she will put an end to traditions, safeguarded by violence, which have oppressed her people for centuries. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning--and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.
What I liked:
Loved William. Yummy lead.
I felt a connection with Elyse. I'm sure we've all had periods in our lives when we've felt like the loner or outsider. Well for Elyse, this is every day, all the time. It made me love her and want to give her a hug just because I felt she needed one. She was a very real and likable character.
The bond between Elyse and Anna felt real. I was rooting for them through the entire book and was happy with how it played out.
The supporting cast of characters. Some were quite amusing and all were endearing.
I liked the ending quite well. Just when I thought I had it figured out, Ms. Therrien threw a fast ball in there and changed it up. I love when an author can do that.
What I Didn't Like:
I had to think about this for a while. There was very little I didn't like about this book. I suppose if I had to nit-pick it would be that Elyse seemed to take things (I won't spoil what they are) a little too well. I think a lot of people would have been more bothered by some of what she saw and learned. But, this wasn't something that ruined, or even slightly marred, the book.
Bottom Line:
A great start to what I'm sure will be a brilliant career for Jessica Therrien. I'm looking forward to the sequels to Elyse's story, as well as other works Ms. Therrien has planned.
If you haven't already, but Oppression and sit down for an enjoyable read.
Suitable for: Teens and adults
Language: None
Sexual Content: None
Violence: Mild
Rating: 5 out of 5 Smileys
October 20, 2015
**I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS NOVEL IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. THANKS TO YABOUND BOOK TOURS AND THE AUTHOR FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.**
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
I love books with a mythical twist to them, but I especially love Greek myths. When I saw the synopsis to Oppression I was immediately hooked. I'm so glad that another Greek myth book was written, but this book was more than that. The book definitely brought out some new aspects and twists to the Greek myth. Moreover, it had a diverse cast of amazing and relatable characters.
First, Oppression was completely different from other Greek myth books I've read. It kept most aspects of the myths while twisting some in a very different and innovative way.
Next, the book has an awesome cast of characters. Elyse, the main character is one of the most kickass heroines I've seen for quite some time. She knew what she wanted and although she had to get used to a new world, she knew who she was as a person and she knew that she had to find her way in this new world. Despite being new and getting used to this new world, she kept going forward even though various people were against her.
William was the other main character and he was so sweet! He wasn't the bad guy girls usually fall for--such a cliché--but was instead more of the boy next door. Like Elyse, William knew who he was and how he wanted to change their world. William befriended, and soon fell in love with Elyse. However, unlike most novels where the heroine waits for the guy to save her, Elyse was her own person and she didn't let anything or anyone dictate what she did. William was more of a guiding figure who followed Elyse and showed her things about the world she'd been introduced to. Lastly, the romance in this book was a slow evolving romance and I absolutely love how it didn't take center stage. Instead, it evolved as Elyse found out more about the world she'd been introduced to and her role in it.
The rest of the characters in this book were as diverse and unique as Elyse and William. Each character had his or her own unique personality and power, and each character had a purpose that moved the story forward.
Overall, I really enjoyed Oppression and would recommend it to those who like Greek myths and those who like a slow, sweet romance.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
I love books with a mythical twist to them, but I especially love Greek myths. When I saw the synopsis to Oppression I was immediately hooked. I'm so glad that another Greek myth book was written, but this book was more than that. The book definitely brought out some new aspects and twists to the Greek myth. Moreover, it had a diverse cast of amazing and relatable characters.
First, Oppression was completely different from other Greek myth books I've read. It kept most aspects of the myths while twisting some in a very different and innovative way.
Next, the book has an awesome cast of characters. Elyse, the main character is one of the most kickass heroines I've seen for quite some time. She knew what she wanted and although she had to get used to a new world, she knew who she was as a person and she knew that she had to find her way in this new world. Despite being new and getting used to this new world, she kept going forward even though various people were against her.
William was the other main character and he was so sweet! He wasn't the bad guy girls usually fall for--such a cliché--but was instead more of the boy next door. Like Elyse, William knew who he was and how he wanted to change their world. William befriended, and soon fell in love with Elyse. However, unlike most novels where the heroine waits for the guy to save her, Elyse was her own person and she didn't let anything or anyone dictate what she did. William was more of a guiding figure who followed Elyse and showed her things about the world she'd been introduced to. Lastly, the romance in this book was a slow evolving romance and I absolutely love how it didn't take center stage. Instead, it evolved as Elyse found out more about the world she'd been introduced to and her role in it.
The rest of the characters in this book were as diverse and unique as Elyse and William. Each character had his or her own unique personality and power, and each character had a purpose that moved the story forward.
Overall, I really enjoyed Oppression and would recommend it to those who like Greek myths and those who like a slow, sweet romance.
March 27, 2019
Recensione completa su Peccati di Penna
Le idee alla base della trama le trovavo fantastiche e originali, quindi ho iniziato la lettura con entusiasmo e voglia di scoperta.
Lo stile dell'autrice è semplice fluido e la lettura scorre, da questo punto di vista nulla da eccepire ed è ciò che alla fine mi ha condotto nella lettura; ma se idee e stile sono stati apprezzati i contenuti hanno qualche neo.
Oppression si fonda sulla mitologia e i protagonisti discendenti dagli Dei, in base alla linea di sangue il personaggio ha una propria caratteristica. Questo tratto mi è piaciuto moltissimo ed è la nota che preferisco del libro che nel suo svolgimento segue cliché e ingenuità dei classici urban fantasy YA. ...continua
Testo fornito dall'editore.
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Le idee alla base della trama le trovavo fantastiche e originali, quindi ho iniziato la lettura con entusiasmo e voglia di scoperta.
Lo stile dell'autrice è semplice fluido e la lettura scorre, da questo punto di vista nulla da eccepire ed è ciò che alla fine mi ha condotto nella lettura; ma se idee e stile sono stati apprezzati i contenuti hanno qualche neo.
Oppression si fonda sulla mitologia e i protagonisti discendenti dagli Dei, in base alla linea di sangue il personaggio ha una propria caratteristica. Questo tratto mi è piaciuto moltissimo ed è la nota che preferisco del libro che nel suo svolgimento segue cliché e ingenuità dei classici urban fantasy YA. ...continua
Testo fornito dall'editore.
Blog | FB | Twitter | IG 1| IG 2 | Tumblr | Pinterest
March 15, 2012
Extra credit for a first book. Excellent story telling. An X-Men are the Greek pantheon tale, with Harry Potter overtones.
"Descendent" slow development extends beyond the physical. A bunch of almost-90 year olds act and think just like the 18- and 19-year-olds they appear. The "adults" allow a woman to live outside the community for forty years (with "humans"!) and expect her not to be emotionally attached, then dump her into mid-term at Hogwarts--oh, I mean the Institute--with little or no explanation. (Okay, Elyse's been practicing being a shy stay-at-home for 40 years, but hasn't she learned anything from all those books she supposedly read?)
Therrien needs to respect her readers to catch her heavy-handed literary allusions without rubbing our noses in them.
Many major actions occur off-stage. In fact, once the protagonist initiates the climax, she is unconscious through most of it. It just sort of happens and she learns who did what to whom (or not) later. Very unsatisfying.
Good attempt at ending the story without ending the series.
Evocative cover art. Betty than average.
A fun read.
"Descendent" slow development extends beyond the physical. A bunch of almost-90 year olds act and think just like the 18- and 19-year-olds they appear. The "adults" allow a woman to live outside the community for forty years (with "humans"!) and expect her not to be emotionally attached, then dump her into mid-term at Hogwarts--oh, I mean the Institute--with little or no explanation. (Okay, Elyse's been practicing being a shy stay-at-home for 40 years, but hasn't she learned anything from all those books she supposedly read?)
Therrien needs to respect her readers to catch her heavy-handed literary allusions without rubbing our noses in them.
Many major actions occur off-stage. In fact, once the protagonist initiates the climax, she is unconscious through most of it. It just sort of happens and she learns who did what to whom (or not) later. Very unsatisfying.
Good attempt at ending the story without ending the series.
Evocative cover art. Betty than average.
A fun read.
May 8, 2016
Imagine finding out you were a descendant of the Gods.... Elyse always knew she was different from everyone else; she ages five times slower than humans and her blood has the power to heal. This has been a closely guarded secret but all is about to be revealed and her life will never be the same again.
Thanks to #TBConFB for a copy in return for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book which is aimed at the YA audience. It has the right mixture of adventure, suspense and romance. I'm looking forward to reading the other two books and finding out what will become of Elyse, William and friends!
Thanks to #TBConFB for a copy in return for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book which is aimed at the YA audience. It has the right mixture of adventure, suspense and romance. I'm looking forward to reading the other two books and finding out what will become of Elyse, William and friends!
January 27, 2013
Oh wow, I'm having a hard time finding where to start gushing about this one! I adore Greek Mythology, and coupled with an awesome romance and a unique and intriguing world, well, I was up VERY late reading this one! Waiting for the next book will be torture. The book itself was a little like X-men meet the Percy Jackson series--in the best way possible. Oh, and with a very hot and swoon-worthy William. I loved that Elyse is a strong character with a mind of her own, willing to do whatever it takes to do the right thing, no matter the cost. Definitely pick this one up as soon as you can!
November 28, 2015
it was just so--blah. every YA cliche rolled into one. Elyse pissed me off; she was everything i hate in a heroine--burdened with stupid and useless moral dilemma's, overly self-righteous, ultimate Mary Sue, self-sacrificing to the point of insanity and INSTA! love. Will, on the other hand was too perfect--he had no personality. his sole purpose of existence was to make Elyse feel better and to fall in love with her.
the writing was unnerving, the pace too fast, the characters annoying, the supporting cast too cardboard-ish. it was a pain to get through. ugh.
the writing was unnerving, the pace too fast, the characters annoying, the supporting cast too cardboard-ish. it was a pain to get through. ugh.
May 5, 2016
I found this a little slow to start and to keep my interest but I am glad I preservered . An easy page turner and a good start to the series . Worth the perseverance and I'm looking forward to reading book number two . Thanks to Jessica and the book club for my arc
did-not-finish
September 10, 2018preferisco non andare in avanti con questo libro, perché non mi sta prendendo e i primi capitoli sono scene trash uno dopo l'altro, che mi ha fatto passare completamente la voglia di perdere tempo
September 28, 2018
https://lalettricesullenuvole.blogspo...
Cover spettacolare, trama che cattura, recensioni positive, questo libro aveva tutti gli ingredienti per conquistarmi. Cosa che però purtroppo non è avvenuta.
Elyse ha quasi novanta anni (ricordiamocelo anche dopo questo). Discende da una famiglia particolare, che invecchia molto più lentamente degli altri. Per questo è sempre in fuga, deve nascondersi da tutti, si sente come braccata. Ma sarà poi l'unica a essere così? L'incontro con William le apre un mondo e finalmente non è più sola, ma in mezzo ad altri come lei e scopre pure di avere un potere, un dono, ma non solo! Lei è pure una prescelta, per più di una cosa. Ma purtroppo i guai non sono finiti, anzi semmai si sono moltiplicati.
La trama è qualcosa di pazzesco, un'idea geniale che mischia la parte fantasy ai miti Greci, che riesce ad amalgamare bene il tutto. Infatti per me la storia regge, ha una costruzione che funziona. Vero è che ricorda altri libri già letti, ma questo, per me, non è stato né un problema né un difetto. Ho apprezzato la base del libro e se la vicenda fosse stata gestita diversamente per me sarebbe stata perfetta.
Però non sono riuscita ad apprezzarla, fondamentalmente perché è troppo troppo troppo superficiale. L'ho trovata una storiella da bambini, pure piccoli e pure sciocchi. Mi è sembrato proprio un potenziale sprecato.
... continua sul blog
Cover spettacolare, trama che cattura, recensioni positive, questo libro aveva tutti gli ingredienti per conquistarmi. Cosa che però purtroppo non è avvenuta.
Elyse ha quasi novanta anni (ricordiamocelo anche dopo questo). Discende da una famiglia particolare, che invecchia molto più lentamente degli altri. Per questo è sempre in fuga, deve nascondersi da tutti, si sente come braccata. Ma sarà poi l'unica a essere così? L'incontro con William le apre un mondo e finalmente non è più sola, ma in mezzo ad altri come lei e scopre pure di avere un potere, un dono, ma non solo! Lei è pure una prescelta, per più di una cosa. Ma purtroppo i guai non sono finiti, anzi semmai si sono moltiplicati.
La trama è qualcosa di pazzesco, un'idea geniale che mischia la parte fantasy ai miti Greci, che riesce ad amalgamare bene il tutto. Infatti per me la storia regge, ha una costruzione che funziona. Vero è che ricorda altri libri già letti, ma questo, per me, non è stato né un problema né un difetto. Ho apprezzato la base del libro e se la vicenda fosse stata gestita diversamente per me sarebbe stata perfetta.
Però non sono riuscita ad apprezzarla, fondamentalmente perché è troppo troppo troppo superficiale. L'ho trovata una storiella da bambini, pure piccoli e pure sciocchi. Mi è sembrato proprio un potenziale sprecato.
... continua sul blog
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