This is the second book in the Mythos Academy series by Estep. The third book in the series, Dark Frost, is due out May of 2012 and the fourth book in the series, Crimson Frost, is due out in Jan 2013. I really enjoyed a lot of elements in this book: I loved the mythology based magic system, I love the world and the characters. This book was just such a fun read.
Gwen is recovering from all of the ordeals that happened in the first book and trying to come to term with being declared the Champion of the Goddess Nike. She is studying weapons training from the guy who broke her heart, Logan, and slogging through her job at the Library of Antiquities while trying to get through all of her other classwork. Problem is, someone is trying to kill Gwen. As Gwen's class takes off for their Winter Carnival festivities the plot deepens and Gwen's life is at even greater risk. Gwen has to figure out who is trying to kill her before they make good on their attempts.
I love a lot of things about this book. First of all I love how the whole Mythos academy and the magic is based on mythology; this makes the story a lot of fun and you keep wondering what interesting myth you will bump into next. I also love Estep's writing style; it is easy to read and just generally well done. I love her adult series as well, so this isn't a surprise.
Gwen is a wonderful female lead; she is tough but still easy to relate to...she has strengths and weaknesses and isn't a perfect heroine. The fact that she has such passive magic, psychometry, makes the story interesting because she has to use her magic in creative ways to make it useful. Watching her develop additional abilities that stem from her psychometry is a lot of fun and keeps things interesting.
Logan isn't my favorite male lead, especially in the beginning of the book, as the story continues though he kind of grew on me as a character. Gwen's circle of friends are highly amusing and add a lot of humor to the story; especially her Barbie-like hot-tempered Amazonian roomie. Many of the side characters are very well-developed and have interesting histories and stories of their own.
There are a lot of awesome action scenes. Although there is also some teen angsting going on; the story remains much more urban fantasy than paranormal romance. It was fun to have to majority of the story taking place at a ski lodge; this took the characters into a new and interesting setting and was great to read especially in the winter time frame.
I loved how the plot is branching out in this book, getting broader and exposing the characters to increasing amounts of danger and peril. We are finding that Gwen's position as the Champion of Nike is part of something much bigger, in fact something so big that it could mean the end of the world. I love how there is a main plot in this book (figuring who is out to kill Gwen) but that all of this is part of a much broader story. In fact some of the things in this book explain many things that happened in the first book; so far the series has been very well planned and thought out.
Overall I just loved this book. I loved the characters, the story, the world, the action, and the way the story is broadening out. Fans of urban fantasy should definitely give this book a read. It is kind of like Harry Potter, but based on mythology and aimed more at the teen set. I think urban fantasy fans young adult and older should give this a read. I can't wait to read Dark Frost when it releases in May of 2012.
Gwen is recovering from all of the ordeals that happened in the first book and trying to come to term with being declared the Champion of the Goddess Nike. She is studying weapons training from the guy who broke her heart, Logan, and slogging through her job at the Library of Antiquities while trying to get through all of her other classwork. Problem is, someone is trying to kill Gwen. As Gwen's class takes off for their Winter Carnival festivities the plot deepens and Gwen's life is at even greater risk. Gwen has to figure out who is trying to kill her before they make good on their attempts.
I love a lot of things about this book. First of all I love how the whole Mythos academy and the magic is based on mythology; this makes the story a lot of fun and you keep wondering what interesting myth you will bump into next. I also love Estep's writing style; it is easy to read and just generally well done. I love her adult series as well, so this isn't a surprise.
Gwen is a wonderful female lead; she is tough but still easy to relate to...she has strengths and weaknesses and isn't a perfect heroine. The fact that she has such passive magic, psychometry, makes the story interesting because she has to use her magic in creative ways to make it useful. Watching her develop additional abilities that stem from her psychometry is a lot of fun and keeps things interesting.
Logan isn't my favorite male lead, especially in the beginning of the book, as the story continues though he kind of grew on me as a character. Gwen's circle of friends are highly amusing and add a lot of humor to the story; especially her Barbie-like hot-tempered Amazonian roomie. Many of the side characters are very well-developed and have interesting histories and stories of their own.
There are a lot of awesome action scenes. Although there is also some teen angsting going on; the story remains much more urban fantasy than paranormal romance. It was fun to have to majority of the story taking place at a ski lodge; this took the characters into a new and interesting setting and was great to read especially in the winter time frame.
I loved how the plot is branching out in this book, getting broader and exposing the characters to increasing amounts of danger and peril. We are finding that Gwen's position as the Champion of Nike is part of something much bigger, in fact something so big that it could mean the end of the world. I love how there is a main plot in this book (figuring who is out to kill Gwen) but that all of this is part of a much broader story. In fact some of the things in this book explain many things that happened in the first book; so far the series has been very well planned and thought out.
Overall I just loved this book. I loved the characters, the story, the world, the action, and the way the story is broadening out. Fans of urban fantasy should definitely give this book a read. It is kind of like Harry Potter, but based on mythology and aimed more at the teen set. I think urban fantasy fans young adult and older should give this a read. I can't wait to read Dark Frost when it releases in May of 2012.
In this follow up to Esteps first book in the Mythos Academey series the reader is transported just a few short months after Gwens showdown with Jasmine. Gwen is training hard now that she has become the champion for the Goddess Nike in the war against the Reapers. Killing does not come easy for Gwen. Her gypsy powers, which are growing stronger, are triggered through touch. Now her power smight just help her in the fighting department.
Gwen is still best friends with Daphne and that bond has grown stronger in the last few months. Her crush on Logan is very apparent and his rejection has cause Gwen to hurt deeply. The Reapers have continued attacking and Gwen is number one on their hit list. Reapers are known to revenge their own.
Students being students still want to have fun. And what can be more fun than partying at a secluded skiing resort with other Academys from around the world. Daphne convinces Gwen to go even though there have been several attempts on her life which of course she does not rely this information to anyone because Gwen wants to fight it herself. This sets up for some hairy situations and will clearly test Gwens strength and Logans devotion. With the introduction of students from another Academy, Estep creates the perfect set up for us to wonder who is out to get Gwen. Is it someone close to her or someone she has just met?
Another great book by Estep and one of my favorite moments is a very intense moment between Logan and Gwen (when you read or if you have read you should know what moment I mean). I did find that the person out to get Gwen wasnt a surprise to me but overall it was an astounding read. I was not able to put the book down once I started reading it. Perfect for YA urban fantasy lovers.
Gwen is still best friends with Daphne and that bond has grown stronger in the last few months. Her crush on Logan is very apparent and his rejection has cause Gwen to hurt deeply. The Reapers have continued attacking and Gwen is number one on their hit list. Reapers are known to revenge their own.
Students being students still want to have fun. And what can be more fun than partying at a secluded skiing resort with other Academys from around the world. Daphne convinces Gwen to go even though there have been several attempts on her life which of course she does not rely this information to anyone because Gwen wants to fight it herself. This sets up for some hairy situations and will clearly test Gwens strength and Logans devotion. With the introduction of students from another Academy, Estep creates the perfect set up for us to wonder who is out to get Gwen. Is it someone close to her or someone she has just met?
Another great book by Estep and one of my favorite moments is a very intense moment between Logan and Gwen (when you read or if you have read you should know what moment I mean). I did find that the person out to get Gwen wasnt a surprise to me but overall it was an astounding read. I was not able to put the book down once I started reading it. Perfect for YA urban fantasy lovers.
