Review: Awaken by Meg Cabot

Awaken
Abandon Trilogy #3

Author: Meg Cabot

Publication Date: July 2, 2013

Publisher: Point

Genre: Mythology

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Synopsis:

Death has her in his clutches. She doesn’t want him to let go.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera knew by accepting the love of John Hayden, she’d be forced to live forever in the one place she’s always dreaded most: the Underworld. The sacrifice seemed worth it, though, because it meant she could be with the boy she loves.

But now her happiness — and safety — are threatened, all because the Furies have discovered that John has broken one of their strictest rules: He revived a human soul.

If the balance between life and death isn’t fixed, both the Underworld and Pierce’s home back on earth will be wiped away. But there’s only one way to restore order. Someone has to die

My Thoughts: I have been following this series and eagerly anticipating this final novel for awhile. If you follow my reviews you will know that I am ga-ga for mythology and I love Persephone and Hades based books.  Most of my favourites right now are at least somewhat based on the star-crossed couple from Hell (or Hades, rather).

This novel is the last of the Abandon Trilogy from Meg Cabot.  In it, Pierce Oliviera finally accepts her role in John's life and in the underworld.  However, the Furies have something else entirely in mind.  The Fates have mysteriously disappeared and the Furies are running wild causing havoc in both the Underworld and on the surfaces on Isla Huesos. Together, John and Pierce have to figure out how they are going to save both of their worlds.

In truth, I liked the previous two books in this series a lot more in comparison to this one.  At times, this one seemed to come to a dead creep and then pick up and go a mile a minute.  The pacing was strange at times and infuriating at others.  There were a lot of moments were I just kind of stared at the novel incredulously and wondered: "Did that just happen?", and not in a good way.  There were a couple of aspects thrown in (like Thanatos) that I just thought was a little bit of an overkill and pointless to the plot other than maybe to save a character I had no interest in in the first place and to use up a chapter or two.

Other than that, I did enjoy it though.  I felt like it tied up the loose ends of the series well and I still read it in one sitting. It makes me sad that the story of John and Pierce has come to an end and that I won't have anymore books about them in the future, but it seemed like that was a good place to end the series.  If you haven't yet checked out the Abandon Trilogy, I certainly suggest that you do.  It is definitely worth your time.

Review: Abandon by Meg Cabot

Abandon

Author: Meg Cabot

Publication Date: April 26, 2011

Publisher: Point

Genre: Fantasy/Mythology

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Synopsis:

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

My Thoughts: This book wasn’t exactly what I had expected when I first opened it, but that wasn’t a bad thing in this case. I was expecting another re-telling of the classic Hades and Persephone relationship or some other form of it (which it kind of was) but it wasn’t exactly how I had imagined it going.

Pierce Oliviera died when she was fifteen. Then, she did what all people do when they die – wait in line. Until she sees a man that she recognises from childhood on a horse and he appears to be in charge. She catches his attention and her afterlife was never the same. Until she woke up – alive in her mother’s arms.

This romance kind of confused me a bit. I mean, I am used to the quick-love thing that seems to be present in most YA novels, but this one was a bit much for me. These two met for about 10-20 minutes about4 times in a year and a half span. Each resulted in arguments, near-death for other people and once with hot tea in the face. Then suddenly, professions of love.

But, I have to admit, I was a guilty pleasure of mine to enjoy it.

Pierce is kind and caring in a pretty legit way. She actually sincerely cares about everything. She risks her life to save animals and easily forgives people (maybe with the exception of John).

John’s mood swings are fast and pretty intense. One minute he is insanely angry and the next completely calm. The relationship between the two certainly has an interesting dynamic.

The book ended kind of abruptly (although, despite being a pet-peeve of mine I didn’t seem to mind in this case). The relationship came on fast and strong. The book doesn’t exactly begin at the start of the story either. Regardless of all that, I still enjoyed the book a lot – which says a lot about the characters and the writers. I would definitely recommend this to people who love the Underworld as much as I do!