I am Princess X--Cherie Priest

Title: I am Princess X
Author: Cherie Priest
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine, 2015
Pages: 256 p
Source: Library Ebook
Compensation: None
Read: September 2016

May and Libby are best friends who do everything together, including writing and illustrating a comic featuring a sword carrying heroine called Princess X. When Libby dies in a car crash, May is devastated and withdraws from everything. Until she starts noticing stickers around town with the Princess X image. She starts investigating and discovers an underground culture devoted to Princess X and becomes convinced her friend Libby is at the center of it all.

This was a good quick entertaining read. The story was interesting and suspenseful and kept me up reading late at night. I was looking for something to read on my iPad and the cover was intriguing enough to make me read the description. I can't truly remember if there were any formatting issues with the ebook and the illustrations, but I do remember thinking they were a nice touch.

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Seeker--Arwen Elys Dayton

Title: Seeker
Author: Arwen Elys Dayton
Publisher: Delacorte, 2015
Pages: 448 p
Source: Netgalley
Compensation: None

Quin Kincaid is about to take the final test to become a Seeker, a mysterious time traveler, and is excited and ready after years of hard training. Her secret boyfriend John is less excited since he knows what Seekers actually do and it is much less noble than Quin and her "cousin" Shinobu have grown up believing. Quin's father is their harsh teacher who has no love for anybody. When John falters during a particularly hard training session, he is kicked out by Quin's father. Unable to take the test and fulfill his family duty of becoming Seeker, he leaves Quin and Shinobu--who have taken their "test" and changed their lives forever. Before John leaves he tries to take back what Quin's father stole from his family and sets off a dangerous series of events.

There is so much in this book it's hard to summarize. The chapters are told in alternating viewpoints-- Quin and John and then later on Shinobu. There are also chapters telling the story of Maud--a girl who is much older and mystical than she appears. Quin is both strong and vulnerable, John is both honorable and devious, Shinobu is weak and trustworthy. None of them are perfect characters, they are all flawed in some way. I liked Quin and I enjoyed the story of the Seekers, but I was really drawn to Maud and her story as well. There were some parts that could have been condensed and others that kept me from putting down the story. Seeker is an interesting fantasy that has stuck with me in the weeks since I've read it. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.

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The Goddess Legacy--Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Legacy
Author: Aimee Carter
Publisher: Harlequin Teen, 2012
Pages: 373 p
Source: Amazon Kindle
Compensation: none


The Goddess Legacy was published between Goddess Interrupted and The Goddess Inheritance, but I don't think I missed out on anything by reading it last. Unlike the other novels in the trilogy, this one is a collection of novellas each from a different point of view. The stories are told in chronological order. It opens with Hera having just overthrown Cronus and arguing with Zeus over how they will split up ruling the world. Zeus naturally thinks that he's the best candidate to rule the skies but is willing to let Hera be a Queen with him. Thus begins the conflict between the misogynistic Zeus and the ambitious Hera.

We learn Aphrodite's true capacity for love and Persephone's suffering and sacrifice. We see Hermes/James as more than just the "friend" trying to woo Kate away from Henry. We learn why they changed their names. The very last story is Hades transformation to Henry, from a lonely bitter defeated man to one with hope for the future when he finally meets Kate.

Some of the stories were better than others, but as a whole I enjoyed The Goddess Legacy. It's not necessary to read it as part of the trilogy, but it added a new layer of understanding behind some of the characters' motivations. And it helped to fill the void of finishing the series. A void so deep I actually bought the ebook! This instant gratification is a dangerous thing.

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I'm an Amazon Associate now. If you click on the Amazon links & buy anything I might make a tiny bit of money.