Kirstie / Roo

Just not feeling it, have no drive to keep reading 

The story is told from the point of view of an alien who has been sent to Earth to inhabit the recently vacated body of Professor Andrew Martin in order to prevent the humankind gaining knowledge the aliens have decided they are not equipped to have. Our alien soon discovers that Professor Martin was quite unpleasant, grows attached to Professor Martin's friends and family, and discovers a love of poetry, all of which lead him to reconsider the mission he was sent to complete.

The narrator was very endearing and likeable, and the development & progression of his relationships and interactions with others are heartwarming and touching. The list for humans that completes the book is especially so. I read this book not long after a sudden and traumatic bereavement and found it a great comfort.

All in all, this book is funny, heartwarming, poignant, endearing and just beautiful. A definite recommendation.

 “Power does not transform you, it only reveals you.”
Synopsis
Since Ancient Greece, a handful of mortal bloodlines have participated in a game called the Agon. Every seven years, the gods and goddesses of Olympus become mortal for a week and if a mortal kills them, they will gain their power and godly status. At least until the next games. Lore was raised for this life and to compete in these games, but after her family was killed by a rival bloodline she swore to have nothing more to do with it. Now the Agon is on again and Lore is being pulled back in.

“Anger was like a disease to the soul and no aspect of it was more contagious than violence.”
Tropes & Themes
- Deadly competition
- Gods & Demigods
- Greek Mythology
- Vengeance

“I was born knowing how to do three things - how to breathe, how to dream, and how to love you.”
Content Warnings
- Descriptions of murder of children
- Violence

“The exceptional among mortals will always stand alone, for no one in the world was made for their task. Take confidence in that, and let it be poison to your fear.”
My Thoughts
- I found this book gripping from the intrigue of what happened in Lore's past, where the aegis, what happened to Castor and who could be trusted, even as the not-knowing sometimes frustrated me.
- Some of the flashback scenes were hard to read, especially those concerning the deaths of Lore's family.
- Overall the book is quite fast-paced, but although the flashbacks provided the necessary back story and exposition, they interrupted and slowed the pace of the narrative in a way I sometimes found frustrating.
- I enjoyed Cassian & Lore's past and evolving relationship. I appreciated how it wasn't a primary focus of the narrative and it didn't feel misplaced or emphasised over the main plot, which was focused on the Agon and the bloodlines.
- Miles and Van's attraction to each other was very clearly spelt out so I'm not sure why the other characters in the book were so surprised!

“An oath was, after all, a curse you placed on yourself.” 

 Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

“Wicked are the ways of women—and especially a witch. Their guile knows no bounds.”

Synopsis:

“ If she was destined to burn in Hell, I would burn with her.”

My Thoughts:

• The world-building was interesting but felt incomplete. There is a heavy French influence, which makes a change from the vaguely mediaeval England default of much fantasy, but it was hard to determine the differences between the setting of the story & historical France. The religious institution, which has a heavy presence in the story, appeared to be a direct copy of the Catholic church with the addition of the Chasseurs.
• The characters would often say something in French and then translate it, which struck me as odd, because why were they translating their native language to themselves, in their thoughts, or their fellow native speakers? 
• The main crux of the book is the enemies-to-lovers element between Lou & Reid, and the danger of Lou's situation. I would have preferred more build-up of the romance & more UST. They married, spent a few nights sniping & sleeping separately, then they were in love.
• The magic system seemed interesting - the Dammes Blanches see ‘patterns' they can manipulate. This is somehow different from what the Dammes Rouges do, who use blood. I wanted to know more about this but that's all we learn.
• I wasn't clear on why there was a persecution of the witches by the Church, aside from misogyny perhaps, how long this conflict had been in place & it if was the same the world over - there isn't a sense of the world outside of Cesarine & surrounding villages/towns.
• Overall, it was pleasant enough book but I didn't feel it lived up to it's potential.

“I knew who you were. I knew what you believed... and I fell in love with you anyway.”

• 1st person POV from Apollo - he is a hilarious, pompous and narcissistic arse I found it impossible not to love.
• Introduces the character of Meg, who I really liked, especially the interactions between her and Apollo.
• More Nico DiAngelo development, hurrah!
• Lots of wit and snark throughout
• Cameos from Percy and lots of other old favourites
• Slow start but gains momentum
• Interesting watching Apollo interact with his kids while trapped in the guise of an awkward teen
• Really loved how each chapter starts with a poem composed by Apollo referencing the coming events
• All around fun read, with some good insights and character development.

“When one is a god, the world hangs on your every word. When one is sixteen... not so much.