Underworld by Meg Cabot

Book:  Underworld

Author:  Meg Cabot

Date:  available now

Publisher:

Source:  purchased

My grade:  A+

Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead.

Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it’s for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they’ve come back as Furies, intent on vengeance…on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there…and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.

And unless Pierce is careful, this time there’ll be no escape.

Initial reaction

::runs to Nook store to see if book 3 is available already by some miracle.  Cries when it is not::

Cover story

I like the coloring of the cover, but the actual picture?  Not so much.  The girl looks strange, sort of like she’s wrapping her breasts with bandages so she can go undercover as a boy or something.  The title is good.

What’s the Story?

This one picks up where Abandon left off and it jumps right into the story.  And it doesn’t stop, not even at the last page!!  I really liked the first book, but this one was even better!  I couldn’t believe it when I realized that I had already read the last page.  I really did click right over to the shopping icon on my Nook to see if I might be lucky and the third book had just released.  I wasn’t lucky and now I’m DYING to get my hands on that third book.

This book gave us all the background on John and I must say, his story made me really love him.  I mean, before I thought he was hot, with his brooding, bad boy persona, but now I think I may be totally in love with him.  He’s not a bad boy at all!  His story was sort of heartbreaking.  And best of all?  You guys, he has an English accent!!  Swoon!

I like Pierce as a character.  I think she’s a good lead female character.  She’s strong, but she doesn’t come across as fake the way some fantasy lead female characters do.  I don’t expect her to show up in black leather with a whip and I think that’s a good thing.  The new characters were so much fun and I really loved all of them.

I have not read a lot of Meg Cabot before.  In fact, this is only the third book of hers that I have read, but I have loved all 3 of them.  I think that I really need to read more of her stuff. 

This book had everything I love in a good book.  It had a non-stop story that kept me up late into the night turning pages, it had really interesting characters with great back stories, and it had a sweet romance and 2 lead characters that are very engaging and believable.  Plus, it has the added bonus of Greek mythology.  If you like the current trend in mythology retellings and you like swoon worthy guys who have heartbreaking stories, you will love this book.

Soundtrack

Arms of a Woman by Amos Lee

All of My Days by Alexi Murdoch

Just Stay Here Tonight by Augustana

Be My Only by FM Radio

The Final Grade

My final grade for this book is an A+.  I mean, come on.  This is Meg Cabot, so if she writes something, she’s going to write it well, right?  I loved this book as much, if not more than the first one and I am dying to get my hands on the third book!