In which I discuss the books I read in July 2013.Let me know if you have read any of these books and what you thought of them. 

Solid books that I wish I liked more. The sisters have different personalities but something about having all three of them on my page bugs me. I feel like they don't really get to be fleshed out and they just have this attributes to make them different just because they have to be different. I'd like to see more depth. I do love the bend on mythology.

*May Contain Spoilers*

This book was great. Once again the mythology is awesome and the readers get to see some great mythological monsters.

In this book we get to hear more from Greer's POV. In the last book she came in towards the last 1/4 of the book so the readers did not really get to know her well. From the first book, she was my least favorite sister and I didn't like her that much. She was too snobby and icy for me. By the end of this book I understand her better and I like her a lot better. Turns out she does have feelings and she loves her sisters. She says little things to Grace to boost her confidence or reassure her. She feels happy when she makes her sister's happy. I found it hilarious that she is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and she was teaching Grace some moves. She takes on many monsters with Grace in the book and actually bites them without freaking out. She'a also getting more control of her visions and they are helpful to her sisters. I love her sarcasm and elegance of her POV's. She retains the qualities that make her the Greer from the first book as well, such as iciness and ability to cut down an opponent with a few pointed words. We also see a softer side of Greer when she begins to cry after she sees her boyfriend Kyle on a date with another girl (this is after she tells him off). She allows Grace to hug and comfort her. Greer is slowly beginning to accept her destiny as a guardian and becomes braver as the book goes on (She's willing to go into the abyss to find Gretchen.

Now on to Grace. She's becoming better at monster hunting. She takes on a hydra all by herself and wins. She's learning how to control her autoporting power and can almost autoport at will. I was impressed when she and Greer captured a monster so they could question it. She's proving to be a tough cookie. Her relationship with Milo is adorable. Things occur in the book that causes cancelled dates and short meetings with each other but its obvious they are still into each other. The kiss Grace gives him is adorable and I really hope he's not thrown into danger or killed in the next book. One thing I like in the book is the relationship Grace has with her parents. Its the only real family relationship in the book since Gretchen has no parents and Greer might as well not have any either. Keeping her heritage a secret is putting a strain on her and her parent's relationship and she feels guilty that she's causing them so much hurt and worry. I like seeing a parental element in the books I read because it makes it so much more realistic. Teenagers running around doing whatever they want with no parental concern is not what happens in the real world.

Gretchen is still the same tough, sarcastic, angry girl she was in the first book with a new feeling. She has a crush on Nick. I'm actually glad that the author pursued that element in Gretchen's life. She had such a sucky upbringing that she deserves happiness in her life. Her adventure in the book involves going after Nick in the abyss. There the reader meets various monsters and non-humans. Gretchen befriends the non-humans and they help her in finding Nick. Gretchen learns more about the abyss and what will happen when her sisters and her either seal or unseal the door. She realizes that not all the creatures living in the abyss are monsters and that some deserve a chance to live. Grace and Greer notice this change in Gretchen's feelings about the abyss. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book with their decision.

Thane comes back in this book. He comes back all beat up (black eye, Greer's vision shows him with 3 jagged claw marks on his chest to his hip). Of course he is very vague about where he was and what he did when questioned by Grace. He doesn't seemed so surprised when Greer comes to their house and he see both Grace and her next to each other. In another of Greer's vision she hears Thane admit (to himself I guess?) that he already knew about Greer and possibly Gretchen. At the end of the book he insists on going with Grace into the abyss. He is such a mystery in the book and all the vagueness surrounding him better be for a damn good reason. He better be a god or something because it's getting annoying to not know anything about him or where he went.

The only part of the book that was not very believable for me was when Grace's parents found out about her, her sisters, their destiny and that they now have to go int the abyss. Her parents find out because she autoports herself, Greer. Gretchen and Nick into her living room where her parents and Thane are home. That's not the part that's unbelievable tho. The part where her parents take everything in stride and allow her to go into the abyss that's not really believable. Her parents are like "oh you are related to Medusa, you have fangs and can teleport, you hunt monsters, send them to a hell like place and now you want to go there too so you can reach Mt.Olympus where the Greek gods live to rescue Medusa's immortal sisters? Ok honey. Bring a jacket, it can be cold there." I mean come on. They accepted what she was saying wayyyy to easily. I'd be like ok your crazy and apparently I'm crazy too because I saw you appear out of thin air. Ok time to make an appointment for the psychologist. I'm just saying that there could have been more convincing on Grace's part. Even if I would believe what my daughter was saying there would be no chance in hell that she'd be going there. But I guess the author needed to have her parents let her go because there's no telling how long she will be in the abyss. Grace and her parents have too much of a close relationship for her parents to not notice her gone for a week.

I can't wait until the next book in the series. I'm also wondering if any gods will make an appearance since we haven't seen any yet.

This review is also posted on Spantalian's Book Reviews

Sweet shadows is the second book in the Medusa Girls series. My first impression I liked this book better than the first (I didn’t write a review for Sweet Venom if you’re curious). If you are a regular visitor to Sony the Book Lover, then you know I’m a professed cover junkie. And nine times out ten I’ve picked up a book for that reason. Sometimes its a hit others a miss. Such is the case with Sweet Shadows nice story, well written.The Medusa myth is given a revamp–so score for creativity, the world is inhabited with many mythical creatures that are up to no go–so score again there for conflict and drama. The sisterly bond between the girls and sibling head butting was realistic and I loved three person p.o.v. New characters and a new environment to explore. The doomsday prophecy as the end game keeps the reader interested in the series if not to know if the girls live or die at the of the series. Like I said there’re elements that appeal but in my case they weren’t enough. Sweet Shadow hit a flat note for me.I’ll tell you why I expected more action considering the beginning started with a literal bang. Promising action packed intrigue. Instead what I got was anything but. I was hoping this theme would continue but instead I was disappointed by all the down time and narration. But when the action happens I am turning pages like mad. I just wanted that feeling to be continuous through out the book. That was the black eye that decided the the rating. I liked the twist on the Medusa myth I think I like this version best considering how tragic Medusa’s story was. Sweet Shadows in my opinion could have used more tweaking the girls are helpless and every time they reached out for help comically that door closed in their faces. I found myself playing who will disappear next.Still the question marks at the end had me curious. Like what’s the deal with Thane? Will he and Geer hook up? Who is the mystery woman Geer meets in the alley? So yeah writer Childs didn’t completely loose me but honestly as for Sweet shadows I gave it a 3.5 /5 and hope book 3 three hits all the right notes. Wish-list the girls become more sure of themselves and their powers. Learn how to use them properly,and for the love of all things holy give them a source the can get real answers. (Not the cryptic musing of the oracle that only works if the were knowledgeable about the Greek world) An ancient text or hell medusa’s journal, something. More action less in your head narration. Define the roles of the men in the girl’s lives at the moment I trust none of them including unassuming Milo. Address these and book 3 is gold. 3.5 / 5

This review is also posted in my blog: Pansycake Reader

Sweet Shadows takes off directly after Sweet Venom. Unlike Sweet Venom, I actually enjoyed reading this from the beginning. Everything is more intense here than the first book. I still like the monster-fighting scenes, btw. As expected, the book is written in Grace, Greer and Gretchen POVs. Their voices are clear and different – I could easily recognize them. And Nick, who I thought was very annoying and too persistent in the first book, grew on me and I started to like him. Though the fact that he plays important role in this series is predictable since the first book.

There’s more romance in this book. I’m fine with Gretchen and Nick pairing. I’m slightly okay with Grace and Milo pairing. Though I have to admit that I felt Grace is trying to be not herself, pretending to act cool and so on when she’s with Milo since the first book.

And there’s Thane. I fell in love with his character instantly when he first appears in Sweet Venom. I mean, who doesn't love mysterious boys? I really want to know more about him! He doesn't get much scenes in this book, but I’m sure he will get a lot more in the third book.

Well, I love this book very much but why I give this book 4 rating instead of 5? The reason is because I felt that something is missing in this book. But I’m not sure what. I just felt it bugging me after I finished reading this book.

Overall, Sweet Shadows is full of action, mysteries to unravel and if you like Percy Jackson series or Tera Lynn Childs’s Oh.My.Gods series, then maybe this is the right book for you!