Rick Riordan meets Neil Gaiman: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake
anna dressed in blood Friday, September 27, 2013
Antigoddess (Goddess War #1)Author's website | Goodreads
by Kendare Blake
Genre: Young Adult - Fantasy
Publisher: Orchard Books
Published: September 10, 2013
Source: Publisher
The acclaimed author of ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD returns with an incredible story about ancient gods, modern love and an epic fight for survivalDon’t you ever just wonder how different your opinion of a book is before you have cracked it open, to your outlook of it after you have turned the last of its pages? Thanks to Antigoddess, I’m still in wonder.
He was Apollo, the sun, and he'd burn down anything that tried to hurt her... Cassandra and Aidan are just your average high-school couple. Or so Cassandra believes. Blissfully unaware that she was once a powerful prophetess, Cassandra doesn't even know that gods exist... Until now.
Because the gods are dying - and Cassandra could hold the answer to their survival. But Aidan has a secret of his own. He is really Apollo, god of the sun, and he will do anything to protect the girl he loves from the danger that's coming for her. Even if it means war against his immortal family...
Sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; relentless action and suspense - ANTIGODDESS is the YA novel you've been waiting for.
When I first heard about Antigoddess, its blurb piqued every nerve of my mythological-loving curiosity. Mythological-based stories/retellings in YA fiction aren’t a rarity anymore, and have reached the point of being all too cliché. But there seemed to be so much more in Antigoddess. And I couldn’t have been more right. Antigoddess is one of those books that you’d think “nice” at first glance, but actually pure awesomeness once explored and devoured by the eyes.
First, let’s talk about the writing. This is my first Kendare Blake book, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last! I loved the prose! It sounded melodiously poetic and modern at the same time. The way a scene or an action a character has done was described & written was sheer flowers and butterflies.
I really prefer first-person narrations, but the dual, alternating third-person POVs also effectively worked out in this book. I was always tempted to skip chapters just to know what happens next on one POV that was cut short by a cliffhanger. I was thoroughly engaged in what was happening in the story.
The plot could only be described as brilliant. I don’t know a lot about heroes and gods’ stories, but I do know and am sure that Antigoddess was intricately sewn together to preserve the references from original myths while simultaneously creating its own twists and turns. The concept of immortal gods, beings, and heroes, and what they became of in the modern world was utter genius. Or how a scene in today’s world seemed to mirror another in the past, or how the tables have turned fully around unlike before—just…
And now.. the characters. ATHENA, ODYSSEUS – I LOVE YOU BOTH!!! Athena was such a badass and kickass character! She was so determined and strong and it’s so complicated to even describe her awesomeness. I was probably jumping on the couch while reading Antigoddess and like “F*ck off, b*tches. Athena’s coming, baby.” And Odysseus—such a complex guy. I can’t wait to read more about him and Athena!
As for Cassandra and Aidan, I felt disconnected to them somehow. Like, I was only neutral to what was happening to them as long as it moves the story forward. I was surprised by Cassandra’s change especially towards the end, but Aidan… really, not so much.
And the villains Kendare makes! Oh, I totally despise them! Ugh. They could so bring out the worst of me!
All in all, this book was 1 word, 4 letters—EPIC. There was a lack of answers as to who is doing this or why certain things are happening, but that’s totally fine for me because the story was able to absorb me until I indulgently drowned in words that I didn’t notice anymore. I don’t suggest that you read this, I order you to! I could totally see that something big is building up, and that this is just the beginning. What a way to begin another awesome series! ARISTEIA (Book 2), I need you now!!!
One more thing, though.
Rick Riordan, you better watch your back.
THE NUB AND GIST: 4.5 STARS
