BOOK REVIEWS : THE IMMORTALS

The Immortals is a fantasy fiction debut novel by an amazing writer - Jordanna Max Brodsky.  It's the first book in the series called Olympus Bound. A fresh tale about our beloved gods and goddesses from the Greek Mythology.

Obviously, Brodsky has a wide rage of knowledge regarding the subject. It seems that her understanding about myths and legends is beyond what is written in history books and scrolls. Aside from the fact that she has a degree in History and Literature from Harvard according to her goodreads profile. This is probably the reason why she's able to write this book effortlessly and perceived these immortal characters as if they're living among us today. I mean, who knows right?

Honestly, I randomly picked this book because of it's title. As a fantasy fiction enthusiast, anything that has something to do with Immortals, white people withe fangs or wings are interesting for me. I was a skeptic at first because I am the type of reader who don't normally check reviews before burying myself into the pages. I just dive head first! HA!  I always feel that my perception about a certain book is my own. It might be a best seller but if everything about the book is so distant and unrelatable for me then that book is a major let down. I am a sucker for good cover and I want the characters to seduce me for me to keep flipping the pages. I don't normally give up on books but there are few that I just can't finish and I just have to stop and put it aside.

The Immortal is surprisingly amazing! I enjoyed every second of this book and I loved all the references Brodsky used to explain plainly what is happening inside in every plot.

Divinity is living among us - that's the idea of the book it presents. These Deities, they existed for millennia and ruled the pagan world but because the pagan worship was destroyed thousands of years ago when the civilization started to change and when the new religion came forth.

Yes! It seems like Yahweh killed Zeus. shocker!




So what happens to the gods without their devoted worshipers? Their graces diminished until their divine light fades away. This is what happened to the Greek Gods and Goddesses of Mount Olympus. Now, after the Diaspora happened, they are scattered everywhere in the world. Some of them still dwells in the old world waiting for some faithful follower to revive the worship but others just moved on and live like mortals do. Surprisingly, a lot of them ended up living in the concrete jungle of New York as if they're drawn to the skyscrapers and its secret undergrounds.

The book follows the mighty Goddess of the Hunt, protector of the innocent, the relentless one, moonbeam, mistress of the moon, sworn to celibacy and lady of the hound, one of the delian twins - the Goddess Artemis or as preferred to be called Selene deSilva.

She had lived for so many lifetime but most of it blurred in her memory as the fading of her godliness diminished through the years. But Selene is true to her calling as the protector of the innocents and of course she is the ultimate feminist because she only protect women as her charge.

But ancient rituals is revived in her name and once again she taste the incalculable amount of power as a goddess and became Artemis once again. But there's always a consequence, because embracing Artemis will only meant one thing - She will loose Selene in the process, her version of humanity.

A choice has to be made.

The great thing about this book is that Brodsky did her best to humanize the gods and they are thrown into mortal living were they have to make choices for their own and suffer for the consequences after. It made them relatable for me and I ended up rooting for the main characters to actually make the right decision. Brodsky did a great job putting the pieces together and making the greek mythology fresh again but still all elements that we love about the myths are still there. The mystery, the fun, the magic, the fucked up deities and many more... It's amazing and I am hooked.

I'm definitely going to read book 2 and will blog about it very SOON.

Xoxo

   
 

BOOK READS: The Son Of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus #2)

I just finished reading the book "The Son of Neptune". It is the second book of the Heroes of Olympus Series by the amazing Rick Riordan. To say that this book delivers in my opinion is an understatement. Just like The Lost Hero, which is the first book in the series and the Percy Jackson Series, this book gives the reader the adventure of a lifetime.


Totally hands down to the author, with his great talent recreating the world of Mythology about gods and goddesses and monsters, heroes and villains alike.

Mixing Greek and Roman mythology is really not just awesome but brilliant idea. With the same rhythm the way the other books were written, readers will be catapulted into the world of Percy Jackson and his new found friends ready to save the world from the wrath of an evil goddess.

I don't want to give out anything from the book for the sake of those who haven't read it yet. All I can say is that, it's hard to despise this book not because I am a Percy Jackson fan but for the mere reason that I am a sucker for fantasy fiction adventure.

This book will never disappoint you in that area... From top 'til the last page, you'll be compelled to keep the pages turning until you finished reading it.

Please do read...

Xoxo

EVERYBODY STARTS SOMEWHERE - FOR ME, IT ALL STARTED WITH ANNE RICE

I was young when I first realized my love for reading, but it wasn’t until 6th grade that I discovered the joy of novels. I remember dragging my mother to National Bookstore to buy me a copy of Sweet Valley High.

Yes, I’m not embarrassed by it! It was the first book series I ever owned, though sadly, my time with it was short-lived. Once the characters went off to college, I found myself no longer interested in their stories.

In high school, I left my province to study in the Metro and stayed with my uncle in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. My new school was located in a subdivision, and while it was a good school—one where I made some of my best friends—it had a library that didn’t quite meet my expectations. Sure, it had encyclopedias, but most of the books on the shelves were for children, and I longed for novels—stories that could take me away from reality, even if just for a while.

When I moved to college, I enrolled at a large university in Mindanao, flying back to my province and settling in a city near my hometown. Every weekend, I took a three-hour bus ride home to Valencia, Bukidnon. The winding highways, the ranches, and the pineapple plantations reminded me of how it felt to immerse myself in a good novel—like being lost in a dream.

College was a time of rebellion, the most crucial years of my life, full of arguments about everything. I remember sitting on one of the benches outside the chapel with friends, debating the existence of God, life, sexuality—nothing was off-limits.

I lived in a boarding house along Capistrano Street, and one of my roommates, after our late-night conversations, introduced me to Anne Rice. She said that Rice’s books covered many of the topics I was passionate about. She was older, so I imagined she’d read more widely than I had. The next day, she left a book on my table with a note on a yellow post-it:

“Prepare to Dream! Enjoy!”

I chuckled at the irony of the note and eagerly picked up the book—The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice. For the first time in years, I felt a tingle of excitement holding this book. I knew I was about to embark on a great adventure, so I grabbed my coin purse, tucked the book under my arm, and headed out to the nearest coffee shop.

The afternoon was quiet, as it often is in towns outside the Metro. Even though Cagayan de Oro had long been a city, it still carried the charm of provincial life. The people’s gentleness, the air that hummed with freshness from the mountains of Bukidnon or the ocean on the other side—it all felt timeless.

I hopped into a tricycle, which took me to the coffee shop. I ordered tea and found a corner table near the window with a comfortable couch. I sank into the couch and let myself settle in while my eyes scanned the room. It was still the pre-social media days, so most of the people were unfamiliar faces.

“I’m really in for a treat,” I thought to myself.

The first few pages of The Queen of the Damned immediately hooked me. Anne Rice’s writing was exactly what I had been searching for. Her words belonged to the era of the story, creating a world that felt as real as the one I was escaping from. It was the kind of writing that made me forget everything else and even the present moment. For the first time in a long while, reading felt like dreaming.

Time flies when you’re lost in a good book, especially one about immortal characters. It was dark by the time I decided to head home. I hadn’t finished the book in one sitting, but I considered that a good thing—it meant I could live in that world a little longer. For weeks, I was obsessed with Anne Rice. I read everything I could about her and visited the local library, dreaming that one day I would own all of her books. I wanted a shelf filled with her works.

Ten years later, I have that shelf, in a small room I rented in the Metro. I follow Anne Rice on Facebook, and every time I see her work, I still feel the same excitement I did when I first read her books. Her magic never fades for me, and I will always be a devoted fan.

Looking back at my Goodreads list, it’s hard to believe how many books I’ve read since then. Now, I’m working on writing my own novel.

I have to say, Anne Rice is the reason I wanted to become a writer. While I may never be able to write as well as she did, she is my inspiration. Before I write, I always revisit a few chapters of her work to fuel my imagination and open my creative mind. I’ve finished my novel, and now I’m on the journey of finding an agent to represent my manuscript. Rejections have come, as they always do, and even though I try to remind myself that every successful author was once rejected, it still stings.

But giving up is not an option. I can’t help but wonder—what would Marius, the ancient vampire, say if I gave up on this dream? I don’t want to disappoint those timeless figures.

Xoxo