Antigoddess

Gr 9 Up—This exciting, supernatural thriller pairs ancient Greek mythology with contemporary American culture. A feather slowly tears its way through the roof of Athena's mouth. Despite the centuries of immortality she has shared with her family, the gods and goddesses of Olympus, a twilight has fallen upon them, stripping them of their power and their invulnerability. While there has always been animosity among them, the growing fear has amplified these tensions, and as the Goddess of Warfare, Athena knows what is to come. A world away, Cassandra has been experiencing premonitions throughout her entire life, but can sense that the visions are about to abruptly end when she turns 18. Athena sets off to find Cassandra, who she believes will be a weapon in the coming war, and soon realizes that she cannot escape the sins of her past and must rely on those she has hurt the most. One of the strongest features of the book is the use of alternating points of narration, with chapters switching between Athena's and Cassandra's perspective until they join together for a final confrontation with the forces that seek to harm them. This technique keeps readers focused on both of the heroines. Antigoddess is sure to be a high-interest title for fans of the supernatural.—Ryan F. Paulsen, New Rochelle High School, NY