Equinox by Melissa Silvey 3/5 stars

Hey, guys! I just finished Equinox by Melissa Silvey, and I enjoyed it!

*Note: The author was kind enough to send me a copy of Equinox in exchange for an honest review.*

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows the moon during an equinox. It's simple but does relate to the book, which is nice. It is a bit lackluster though, not very eye-catching. A B- cover

Official Description:
After losing her grandmother Holly is left alone to face the most powerful and evil druidess in their line; her mother Rose. She must find a way to destroy her mother's powers and find another druidess to perform the ritual before the Equinox. Holly knows she can't do it alone. But can she trust the handsome stranger who was sent to find her for reasons he can't admit. Will it all work out, or will Holly's powers fade away as her mother's grow stronger?

My Review:
Equinox is a character driven story. The focus is on Holly and Rhys (the "handsome stranger") and the plotline about Holly's mother is more of a subplot. This results in a lot of character development, especially for Holly, and an in depth look into Holly and Rhys's relationship. It also causes a feeling of a lack of urgency involving the magical storyline. The characters would go shopping for elaborate clothes while they had an urgent deadline.

This would have been perfectly fine, but I had trouble completely supporting Holly and Rhys's relationship. While it was definitely cute and fluffy most of the time, I felt like Rhys might have been acting a little abusive at certain moments. Also, one of the main plot points is that Holly can continue to be a powerful druidess or she can date Rhys, who she's only known for a short time, yet she seems to choose the boy. I was a bit disappointed because of how strong Holly's character could have been. That being said, most of the relationship was sweet, but I had trouble getting incredibly into it.

I loved Melissa Silvey's theme of a rivalry/ conflict between druidesses and alchemists. It made each of the plot developments more intense and added another layer onto the storyline.

Fflur, Holly's great-grandmother, also had a rich backstory which added some context and content to the story. I loved to see her story and how it compared to Holly's.

However, I think that Equinox ended in a bit of a rush. It spent a lot of time on plot points which became irrelevant, but ended the great battle that it had been leading up to all book in a rush. It left me a bit dissatisfied.

Overall, I enjoyed Equinox, but it was not without its issues. None of the issues were very pressing, however, and it is easy to read and enjoy Equinox. 

Phrase:
Dragon pendant

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret

Hamlet by William Shakespeare 5/5 stars

Hey, guys! In my english class for the past week or so, we have been reading Hamlet. This will just be a very quick review, but I wanted to mention it to you all.

Official Description:

Hamlet is the story of the Prince of Denmark who learns of the death of his father at the hands of his uncle, Claudius. Claudius murders Hamlet's father, his own brother, to take the throne of Denmark and to marry Hamlet's widowed mother. Hamlet is sunk into a state of great despair as a result of discovering the murder of his father and the infidelity of his mother. Hamlet is torn between his great sadness and his desire for the revenge of his father's murder.

My Review:

I loved Hamlet. It was definitely very interesting. I think it is my favorite Shakespeare book to date. (If you've read Shakespeare in the past, Hamlet is more on the Macbeth side than the Twelfth Night side.)

Hamlet has a very compelling plot full of betrayal, love, and hate. It also includes most of the quotes that are iconically Shakespeare. (For example, "to be or not to be")

It is a bit ridiculous at moments and incredibly serious at others, but it was fun to read. Despite being a tragedy, its mood was not too heavy. In fact, it had a few of my new favorite insults/ comebacks in it, which is always enjoyable.

I'm not going to lie and say that it is easy to understand, but it is worthwhile if you want to give it a try! I would recommend that you read or at least watch a production of Hamlet.

Phrase:
"Oh! I am slain" - Hamlet

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
Twelfth Night

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret

The Dark Talent (Alcatraz #5) by Brandon Sanderson 4/5 stars

Hey, guys! The last Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians book has finally come out. (If you haven't read the series, click here.) I read the previous four book in sixth grade. That was six years ago! On top of the insanely long wait time, the four book ended on a cliff hanger. I have been wondering about how this children's series would end for years and, in the meantime, built my expectations too high. The series is still wonderful, quirky, and fun, but it did not meet my unrealistically high expectations.

The Cover:

The Cover:
I hate the new covers. Sometime in the period between book four and book five, the series changed publishers. The new publishers decided to give them all new covers, all of which are like this one. It is just terribly designed. Half of the images in the cover do not even relate to this book, and it looks incredibly corny. I was trying to read it on a plane and kept it flat the entire time, as it embarrassed me. F cover

Official Description:

Alcatraz Smedry has successfully defeated the army of Evil Librarians and saved the kingdom of Mokia. Too bad he managed to break the Smedry Talents in the process. Even worse, his father is trying to enact a scheme that could ruin the world, and his friend, Bastille, is in a coma. To revive her, Alcatraz must infiltrate the Highbrary–known as The Library of Congress to Hushlanders–the seat of Evil Librarian power. Without his Talent to draw upon, can Alcatraz figure out a way to save Bastille and defeat the Evil Librarians once and for all?

My Review:

This latest Alcatraz book had everything that I've learned to love about this series. It's bizarre sense of humor and flawed/relatable characters. 

The plot was fast-paced and the book only 300 pages, so it is a quick read. As the characters plan their overthrown of the Library headquarters, the action gets more intense. One of the things about this series is that while the majority of the scenes are of the action and adventure variety, there is an element of silliness. The Dark Talent doesn't take itself seriously, which is what makes this series so enjoyable.

The characters remained great. One of my favorite characters wasn't really in this book (Spoiler: Bastille was in a coma for 95% of The Dark Talent), but the other characters were enjoyable. I always love Alcatraz's self-deprecating remarks throughout the story, and this book was no different.

My only problem with this series was the ending. Everything happened at once, and it felt incredibly rushed. Also, the conclusion to the continued cliff hanger (the altar of encyclopedias) was a bit disappointing. It is slightly redeemed by a fold-out note at the very end of the book, which I won't spoil, but that note is the true ending. 

The Dark Talent was a mixed bag. I think I would have enjoyed it much more if I had read it a few years ago, but it was still fun to read. The ending was a bit disappointing, but the note makes it much better. I'd recommend reading The Dark Talent if you enjoyed the other Alcatraz books, and I'd recommend the entire series if you have not.

Phrase:
An altar of encyclopedias

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
A World Without Heroes
Five Kingdoms series

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison 4/5 stars

Hey, guys! This will be a pretty short review, but in my English class, we just finished Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. It was good and makes you think, but it was probably a hundred pages too long. The same point was repeated a few times too many, in my opinion, but it was still a great and notable book in American history.

The Cover(s):

The Cover(s):
There are many, many covers for Invisible Man (not to be confused with H.G. Wells's The Invisible Man). These are the two that I think are most prevalent. Neither is very interesting, but Invisible Man is not the type of book that fits a "busy" cover. A- cover

Official Description:
First published in 1952 and immediately hailed as a masterpiece, Invisible Man is one of those rare novels that have changed the shape of American literature. For not only does Ralph Ellison's nightmare journey across the racial divide tell unparalleled truths about the nature of bigotry and its effects on the minds of both victims and perpetrators, it gives us an entirely new model of what a novel can be.
As he journeys from the Deep South to the streets and basements of Harlem, from a horrifying "battle royal" where black men are reduced to fighting animals, to a Communist rally where they are elevated to the status of trophies, Ralph Ellison's nameless protagonist ushers readers into a parallel universe that throws our own into harsh and even hilarious relief. Suspenseful and sardonic, narrated in a voice that takes in the symphonic range of the American language, black and white, Invisible Man is one of the most audacious and dazzling novels of our century.

My Review:
Invisible Man was a very thought-provoking novel. It is about identity and racism and how the two relate. It offers a sense of the ideologies circling in the 1950s and even, in a lesser sense, today. Whether you are thinking of the '50s or 2016, Invisible Man will make you ponder the current situation regarding race, identity, and culture. In that regard, it is definitely worth reading.

However, while Invisible Man makes many good points, there are only a few core points. Ralph Ellison conveys his same point many times within three or four similar situations. While I appreciate the validity of his thoughts, it became repetitive after the second repetition. I feel as though a hundred pages could have been shaved off without any change in the story or its purpose. 

Then, there is the narrator. He is a very compelling character, but he does not have a name. This is very frustrating as you read the book. Even when the main character changes his name, his new name nor his old name are announced. I found this to be irritating as I read, but I am sure that the nameless narrator has significance. I know that my English class found multiple possible reasons, and I can respect its symbolism but would have preferred from him to have a name.

Invisible Man was pretty easy to read though. The material is heavy, but the language, while not modern, was similar enough to not create problems.

I would recommend Invisible Man if you want to read about race and theories on identity. An important note is that it is intended for mature audiences. (There is a mildly detailed scene describing incenst, among other things.) So, be cautious if you do not think you can handle that.

Phrase: Optic White

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret

Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer 4.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! After reading, Cinder and Scarlet, I had to read the next book in the series. Cress was very similar to Scarlet. If you liked Scarlet, chances are that you'll like Cress, too, so this review will be fairly brief.

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows Cress (AKA Rapunzel) with her long hair as she is trapped in her satellite. The cover fits this book, but I strongly dislike it. This is the kind of book that you hold flat while reading so no one sees the cover. C- cover.

Official Description:
Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they're plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and prevent her army from invading Earth.
Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl trapped on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she's being forced to work for Queen Levana, and she's just received orders to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.
When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is splintered. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a higher price than she'd ever expected. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai, especially the cyborg mechanic. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

My Review:
Cress picks up right where Scarlet leaves off. However, in this book, there is the added perspective of Cress. In the beginning, I hated this addition. It felt like there were too many characters that each required a unique point of view. However, as the book went on, I started to like her character. Overall, I still think that Marissa Meyer would have been better off sticking to one main character (Cinder), but it ends up working alright, anyway.

As far as characters go, the relationships between characters became much more complex. These relationships were by far the most compelling piece of Cress's story. Even the new relationships, such as Cress's interactions with Thorn, were interesting and fun to read.

The plot was fast-paced and definitely kept me interested. While predictable, it was light, fun, and full of action.

Overall, I would recommend reading Cress if you enjoyed Scarlet. They were very similar in most regards. Cress has a bit more action and some new characters, but it simply continues the story. Cress wasn't perfect. The idea of the story itself feels a little pushed, but it is still enjoyable and well-written.

Phrase:
On the earth dramas...

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
The Young Elites / The Rose Society
The Selection

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret

We are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson 5/5 stars

Hey, guys! I just finished We are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson. Wow, it was amazing. I think it might have been my favorite book of 2016 (so far). While it is not for everyone, it was incredible.

I read The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley as a pre release last year and really enjoyed it, so I knew that Shaun Hutchinson had talent. I had no idea how much, however, until I read We are the Ants.

The Cover:

The Cover:
I love it. It shows the sky with the stars moving quickly across the sky in the middle of nowhere. The emotional impression the cover conveys, for me anyway, really summarizes the mood of We are the Ants. I also just think that it looks beautiful and subtly eye-catching. A+ cover

Official Description:
There are a few things Henry Denton knows, and a few things he doesn’t.
Henry knows that his mom is struggling to keep the family together, and coping by chain-smoking cigarettes. He knows that his older brother is a college dropout with a pregnant girlfriend. He knows that he is slowly losing his grandmother to Alzheimer’s. And he knows that his boyfriend committed suicide last year.
What Henry doesn’t know is why the aliens chose to abduct him when he was thirteen, and he doesn’t know why they continue to steal him from his bed and take him aboard their ship. He doesn’t know why the world is going to end or why the aliens have offered him the opportunity to avert the impending disaster by pressing a big red button. 
But they have. And they’ve only given him 144 days to make up his mind.
The question is whether Henry thinks the world is worth saving. That is, until he meets Diego Vega, an artist with a secret past who forces Henry to question his beliefs, his place in the universe, and whether any of it really matters. But before Henry can save the world, he’s got to figure out how to save himself, and the aliens haven’t given him a button for that.

Point of View:
First person from Henry's perspective

My Review:
There are books that I believe everyone should read, books like We are the Ants, where you are missing out on a fundamental part of your life if you don't read. This book is a little weird, but, man, does it work. Do yourself a favor and read it. 

The premise is very interesting. Henry Denton can press a button to save the world, but he can't make up his mind about whether the world is worth saving. Events in his life will make him hopeful and consider saving the world, yet other events will rip apart his hope and make the world seem as if it needs to be put out of its misery. His thoughts are fascinating, you will bond with Henry, and you will be sucked into his world.

The writing is beautiful. It seamlessly morphs between serious and heavy topics such as the eventual end of... everything and then change focus to something light and humorous in the next sentence. We are the Ants seems dark, and it is, but it is also funny. It has ironic humor that provides a welcome respite from the heavy topics and keeps the book quick to read and mildly up-lifting.

For example, every few chapters, there will be a page or two describing a potential apocalypse scenario that could happen if Henry doesn't push the button.

Also, quick warning, this book does contain a gay relationship. (It isn't the focus of the book, but it is a factor.) There is also some "mature themes." There is nothing too serious, but I would recommend We are the Ants for high schoolers and up.

I strongly recommend this novel. It is amazing in basically every way. The writing style alone was worth reading for. (If still in doubt, I recommend reading the first pages as the style remains fairly consistent.)

Phrase:
All Star Plumbers

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda
Winger
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany 4/5 stars

Hey, guys! After refusing to acknowledge Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as I considered it to be a money-grab on the part of JK Rowling and thought it may ruin my memories of the series, a friend changed my mind. She convinced me to give it a shot. I waited on my local libraries waiting list from spot 167 to 1, and I finally read it.

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows Albus Severus Potter sitting alone in what I believe is a fragile snitch. The more I look at the cover, the more I like it. It conveys the tone of the play, the fragility and constant inner turmoil. An A cover.

Official Description:
Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.
While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

My Review:
I would have hated Harry Potter and the Cursed Child if I had read it immediately after reading Deathly Hallows. It focuses on Harry's inability to be a good father. However, about seven years after my first Harry Potter reading, I kind of enjoyed it. I'm not under the impression that it is a continuation of the "canon" Harry Potter story, but it is an interesting exercise in What If? Considering that JK Rowling had a larger role as an advisor than writer in the creation of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, I do not consider it a "Harry Potter book". Yet, I did enjoy the story.

It follows Albus and Scorpius (Draco's son) as they become friends and try to alter history and understand their fathers. The Cursed Child offers a separate perspective on the Hogwarts experience and even on Harry and Draco themselves.  

The characters were lovable, if misguided, and the story itself was actually action-packed and attention grabbing. Once I started, I couldn't set The Cursed Child down, and I imagine that it could have been even better when seen on a stage. 

I would recommend reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child if you have distanced yourself far enough from the original Harry Potter story. It is a play, so if will only take a few hours to read through. The word that comes to mind when thinking about this play is "interesting". I cannot give a blanket recommendation for reading this play, since I know that the reactions will be dramatically different. The Cursed Child did not ruin the Harry Potter series, but it does change it.

Phrase:
The Spare

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret

Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer 4.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! I just finished listening to the audiobook for the sequel to Cinder (click here for review). I really enjoyed Scarlet but it wasn't quite as good as Cinder was.

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows Scarlet (a Little Red Riding Hood character) with her hair floating behind her. Mist covers the background. I like this cover. It is pleasing to look at and just simply well-designed and still links well to the book. A+ cover

Official Description:
Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive. 
Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

My Review:
In Scarlet, the point of view changes from mainly Cinder's perspective to a split narrative between Cinder and Scarlet. Also, some characters in the first novel, such as Kai and the Doctor, had very small roles and even seemed forgotten about.

That being said, Scarlet was action-packed. Both Scarlet and Cinder's storylines were interesting and had great characters. The new characters all have realistic backstories that wonderfully shape their characters. In fact, many of these new characters became my favorites, despite not being present in the first book.

Overall, I would recommend Scarlet if you have read and enjoyed Cinder, and if you haven't read Cinder yet, I would recommend it, too! The Lunar Chronicles is a fresh and wonderfully feministic version of the Cinderella story. 


Phrase:
Lupine Wannabes

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
The Young Elites / The Rose Society
The Selection
Red Rider's Hood by Neal Shusterman

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer 4.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! After seeing all the hype from Cinder over the years, I decided to give it a go. I was skeptical about whether I would like it because it seemed a bit typical and boring. Cinder is another remake on the classic Cinderella story, and I was right, it was a bit typical, but it was not boring.

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows cinder's leg. She's wearing a fake foot that is sized too small on the end of her metal leg. It's pretty self-explanatory but is a nice mix between beauty and metal/utility. It definitely fits this book and is simple and elegant. A+ cover

Official Description:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Point of View:
3rd person mostly from Cinder's perspective, some from Kai's perspective

My Review:
Cinder was a retelling of the classic Cinderella story but with a twist. Cinder is a cyborg and the country has a devastating plague and threats of war with power-hungry aliens to deal with. Yeah... A bit strange, which was why I was skeptical to read Cinder but somehow it works.

The story kept my attention as Cinder tries to cure the plague, fights her evil stepmother, and keeps running into Kai, a supposedly dreamy prince. For a Cinderella story, Cinder is surprisingly intense. She can hold her own and is not referred to as girly or beautiful but as a mechanic. 

The characters were great! Cinder was a tough female protagonist who tries to forge her own destiny. Kai seemed nice and complex, though we don't see much of him in the first book. The only non-interesting characters were the evil stepmother and the evil stepsister. They both felt artificial and only had exceedingly thin reasons for the majority of their actions.

The story had plenty of plot-twists. Some of them, you could see a mile coming, but others took me by surprise, which was nice.

The main problem in Cinder is the treatment of the cyborgs. A major plot point is how Cinder is constantly discriminated against because of her cyborg nature. It is so polarizing that cyborgs are drafted to be experimented on. Yet, it doesn't make sense within the book why they are discriminated against. In fact, they seem to be in advantage. Cinder can tell when people are lying and has access to the internet ("the net") in her brain. That seems like an advantage, not a disadvantage, yet she resents being a cyborg. Everyone around her is disgusted by cyborgs, which are basically amputees. I can't imagine that with the technology in this book, people aren't lining up to be cyborgs, much less discriminate against them. It didn't feel organic.

That being said, I really enjoyed Cinder. There were parts that were a bit off, but the majority of the story was engaging. The characters were likable and felt organic. While there are fight scenes, it is more a romance than anything else. I'd recommend Cinder if you like Cinderella stories or a female heroine who can hold her own.

Audiobook Review (read by Rebecca Soler):
Rebecca Soler did a great job reading Cinder. The voices were great and there was a good amount of inflection, too. Her reading voice is also pleasant. I would recommend the audiobook version.

Phrase:
A Lunar's Glamour

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
The Young Elites / The Rose Society
The Selection

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret

The Hidden Oracle (Trials of Apollo #1) by Rick Riordan 5/5 stars

Hey, guys! I finally caved and read The Hidden Oracle. It was great. I was expecting to be disappointed like I was in the new Magnus Chase series (which I finished and though, "Well, I've aged out"). I was happily surprised. It looks like Trials of Apollo will be back on the level of Rick Riordan's earlier books. It feels most like the classic Percy Jackson and the Olympians than anything else he's written recently.

The Cover:

The Cover:
I love this cover. It shows Apollo, separated from his godly side (symbolized by the statue of the sun god that stood in front of the Colosseum) in a NYC alleyway, with trash cans in the foreground. I love it! It symbolizes the story well, has a nice design, and actually ties into the story. A+ cover

Official Description:
How do you punish an immortal?
By making him human.
After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. Weak and disorientated, he lands in New York City as a regular teenage boy. Now, without his godly powers, the four-thousand-year-old deity must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus's favour.
But Apollo has many enemies - gods, monsters and mortals who would love to see the former Olympian permanently destroyed. Apollo needs help, and he can think of only one place to go . . . an enclave of modern demigods known as Camp Half-Blood.

Point of View:
First person from Apollo's perspective

My Review:
The Hidden Oracle is the first book in Rick Riordan's new series that I can tell will be amazing. The chapter title are all bad haikus from the god of poetry, there are fun cameos by previous characters, and new monsters. 

The characters are all great. Riordan did not follow his usual crutch of using his previously well-liked characters for every scenario (though they did occasionally feature). He made new characters, a lot with a different set of powers than we are used to. Apollo was especially great. He is funny, self-absorbed, and still mildly heroic, definitely a fun character to read about. The supporting cast was also well-developed and entertaining to read about.

The story was exciting, despite few grand quests. In fact, the characters didn't even leave the border of Camp Half Blood for the majority of the book, but it still kept my attention.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Hidden Oracle. I think that Rick Riordan has finally gotten his stride back. I look forward to reading the sequel (and the rest of the series)! I would recommend reading The Hidden Oracle. It could be a standalone, but it does contain spoilers for the Percy Jackson series and the Heroes of Olympus series. 

Phrase:
Combat ukelele

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
A World Without Heroes
The Sword of Summer
Five Kingdoms series

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookshelfSecret

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret