Early Review - Midnight Frost (Mythos Academy #5) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Midnight Frost

Author:  Jennifer Estep

Series: 5th (Touch of Frost, Kiss of Frost, Dark Frost, Crimson Frost)
Pages: 400

Published: July 30th 2013 by K-Teen 

ISBN: 9780758281494

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

 Description: Here we go again … Just when it seems life at Mythos Academy can’t get any more dangerous, the Reapers of Chaos manage to prove me wrong. It was just a typical night at the Library of Antiquities — until a Reaper tried to poison me. The good news is I’m still alive and kicking. The bad news is the Reaper poisoned someone else instead.  As Nike’s Champion, everyone expects me to lead the charge against the Reapers, even though I’m still hurting over what happened with Spartan warrior Logan Quinn. I’ve got to get my hands on the antidote fast — otherwise, an innocent person will die. But the only known cure is hidden in some creepy ruins — and the Reapers are sure to be waiting for me there … 

 I Give This ...

This was a fast paced read.  It didn't take long for Chaos to rule.    I was slightly concerned that we wouldn't get much forward progress with this book.  But, I was wrong.

Gwen is really accepting that she is Nike's Champion.  She's kind of waiver back and worth on this front, but she kicks ass this time around.  She gathers all the information when Nickamedes is poisoned and is able to identify what was possibly used.  Turns out the antidote is from a rare flower that only grows in one place.  And it has to be picked at midnight...during a full moon.

Sure they know it's a trap, but they have no choice.  They head to the ruins in Colorado.  Interestingly enough here is were she learns about her dad's family.  There's a lot of history there and I'm not sure how it's managed to not come to light until now.  It helps that Gwen goes by her Mother's name and not her father's.   It make for some interesting reading and seems to make things infinitely more complicated. 

I was surprised when the trap wasn't set right away.  Turns out the Reapers want Gwen and her friends to do their dirty work.  They want the flower for other reasons, but they can't get it on their own.  I really thought this time they might really interfere with the outcome (because beloved characters do occasionally die), but Logan appears at the right time.  I knew he would from reading the short story in between.  But, I honestly wondered when he would get there.

There's a particularly interesting section of the book for me.   Logan and Gwen must take the long way down the mountain and in a snow storm no less.  When it's discovered that Logan is seriously injured, I wondered how they were going to get off that mountain.  The gryphons come to help in the most unexpected way.   This connection leads another Goddess to offer her help to Gwen.  She offers something that might help defeat Loki in the end.

I really liked this story.  But then again, I've enjoyed this series as a whole.   I look forward to the next in the series.  I do hope it doesn't stretch out to much longer though.

Review - The Goddess Inheritance (Goddess Test #3) by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Inheritance

Author: Aimee Carter

Series: 3rd (The Goddess Test, Goddess Interuppted) 

Pages: 384

Published: February 26th 2013 by Harlequin Teen

ISBN: 9780373210671

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.  In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.  With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.  Even if it costs her eternity. 

I Give This ...

I was really looking forward to this book.  I've enjoyed the modernization of Greek mythology and the way the characters are presented.  I was hoping for a satisfying ending!

Kate has really come into her own throughout the series.  I wasn't sure I liked her in the first book, but I definitely identified with her in this one.   I understood her intense need to save her child, sometimes even at the expense of Henry.  Mother's have a different bond with their children.  We have a fierce need to protect them from harm.  She's willing to trade her own life to save his.  She'll bargain for Henry as well.  

Henry was interesting to me.  For so long he had nothing to live for.  Now he has Kate and it doesn't take him long to realize they have something bigger than the both of them to protect.  He's change of heart has made him one of my favorite characters that I've had the pleasure of reading about.  I wasn't sure he could really put himself out there.  But, he does it.

So why the 3 rating?  I felt like this book was slow getting to the point.  We follow Kate around a lot while she's trying to come up with a way to save them all.  It seems like a lot of talk and very little action.  I was also expecting a battle, but didn't get it.  I'm not a big fan of things ending in this manner.   It doesn't feel real.

The book wasn't disappointing per say.  I'm overall happy with the way things turned out.  I'll look for her next work as well!