*I received an ARC from NetGalley. This does not affect my review.*

First off, I'll admit that had it not been for a NetGalley email letting readers know about The Storm Runner and Dragon Pearl that were inspired and sponsored by Rick Riordan, I probably...perhaps very likely would not have heard of these, or picked them up so quickly... I loved the Percy Jackson series growing up, and like with any of my favorite authors, if they talk about other authors and books, I have to check them out! (Which is why this isn't a 5 star review.)

That said, while I wasn't immediately pulled into this one, I loved the idea of learning about Mayan mythology as I read this, and once the gods started getting introduced I quickly found myself wanting to know more! That was a big thing, since I was afraid this wouldn't be able to stand up to other mythology stories I've read like the mentioned Percy Jackson series, and even things like Gaiman's Norse Mythology. Not to worry, since I loved it! (Although all those I and X names kind of got confusing! I still managed to figure it out though.) If I was asked about a favorite character...? I don't have one, and there was a part where pretty much each of the main characters was able to stand up and have the spotlight. I loved so many little things that I can't even begin to list, with or without spoilers I just know I would miss something. Why not read it? I'm sure you will find your own favorite things about this book!

Teacher Nathan Brookes leaves four pupils alone during a field trip in a national park. Within minutes, they have disappeared. A girl called Liv returns, but she has no memory of where she’s been. When a body is found years later, it is first believed to be one of the children, but is identified as a Bronze Age man. Yet Nathan starts to have horrific visions of the missing students. Then Liv reappears, desperate that the man be reburied. For he is the only thing keeping a terrible evil at bay...

 

I enjoyed this a lot! An awesome plot steeped in British myth and legend's it made for a really good read. In places it got a bit confusing, but I loved how it all mended together. I haven't actually read a plot quite like this Ever. It was modern and well thought out, it's not like your typical horror that's been done time and time again. This is original and new in some aspect's Highly recommended.

Disclaimer: Digital ARC via Netgalley.

                I tried. I really did. I really, really tried.

                I don’t like this book. I couldn’t finish it.

                The idea is good. Perhaps, if I didn’t know the stories already. Perhaps if I hadn’t watched the Hercules series.

                Perhaps if I was younger.

                There is great attention to detail. Great knowledge on display about ancient myth and history. Full points for that. Bertematti has done his research nicely.

                The writing is absolutely too wordy and too dull. It needs to be cut down and given some vigor. Otherwise very few people are going to make it all the way though the book.

New England's Scariest Stories and Urban...

Disclaimer: ARC read via Netgalley

                I actually was pleasantly surprised by this little book. This is a collection of urban legends or myths about New England. The most well known starts the book off. This would be the story of Champ, America’s version of Loch Ness (in fact, it seems at least every continent, if not country has one of these). The sources used in this section range the gamut from older material to more modern sources. There is even some science thrown in for good measure.

                Champ is probably the best known story outside of New England, and the other stories I was not familiar with at all. There are, however, some variations of them in other sections. New Jersey seems to have version of the Dover Demon and the Pigman. Philadelphia has a variation of the throne mentioned in the chapter about the The Little People’s Village.

                And that chapter is actually a nice and surprising one. I love reading books like these because of the folklore and history that are contained in them. Too often, however, authors take some of the stories so seriously. It has a ghost, it’s scary and it must be true. It’s nice to see that Pardis and McManus don’t check their brains out there. The research involved their journeying to the places describe and checking out sources. Sometimes, this means they debunk the story, or to be more accurate, tell the reader the true history.

                I have to say that the weakest part for me of this book was the use of Wikipedia in the source listing. I should note that it is my own personal dislike for the use of it as a source. The book does not read like a reworded Wikipedia entry, and Pardis and McManus are at least honest in including. While the book’s tone and style are not quite up to the level of L.B. Taylor Jr’s great books about Virginia, it is an enjoyable read and nicely illustrated with photographs.

Disclaimer: ARC courtesy Netgalley and Osprey publishing.  Also the book is illustrated but the ARC did not include all the illustrations.  What illustrations there were great, but since not all were present I won’t be mentioning the illustrations in the review below.

                My favorite Charlemagne stories are, without a doubt, the Italian Romances that feature the woman paladin Bradamante.  There is also an adult level of humor in these translations.            

   This volume in Osprey’s excellent series of Myths and Legends does mention the Italian Romances, yet does not include the R rated bits, making it an excellent introduction to the legends and history of Charlemagne and his knights.