Zoe Calder has always been an outsider. Stashed away in boarding schools since her parents died, Zoe buries herself in the study of ancient worlds. Her greatest thrill is spending her summers with her archeologist aunt and uncle on digs around the world. And one day, while investigating a newly unearthed temple in Crete, Zoe discovers a luminous artifact that transports her to ancient Greece.
As Zoe quickly learns, the Olympian Gods are real, living people—humans with mysterious powers… Powers that Zoe quickly realizes she has come to possess, as well. However, when the people of ancient Greece mistake Zoe for an Olympian, the Gods must restore the balance of the ancient world… No matter what.
Zoe is forced to play a confusing and dangerous game as Hera rallies the gods against her—all except for Zeus, the beautiful, winged young god who risks everything to save her.
Out of time and out of her element, teenager Zoe Calder finds herself in ancient Greece, battling against the power of the Olympians and the vengeance of a scorned goddess—all for the strange and mysterious boy she has come to love.
This book just didn't work for me. I really wanted it to work but, alas, it was not to be. I got interested in reading this book after reading the prologue. Greek mythology has always been a favorite of mine and I once wanted to memorize a see all the constellations. This interest was only fed by the recent Percy Jackson series. So with this in mind I set out to read this book. I think the biggest factor that ruined it for me was my near hatred of the main character, Zoe. Which is sad since Zoe is one of my favorite names. Well, the problem was that she was just plain annoying. Here is the thing, everyone has an inner dialogue that would drive anyone nuts. The key is we don't broadcast every thought to those around us. Otherwise no one would like us. Filtering is a good thing. So this is a crucial idea to keep in mind as an author. How much is too much and how much would be just right. This is something you see frequently in movies, especially if you watch the deleted scenes. They don't show every inane detail but give you just enough that you understand and or identify with the character. Your imagination will fill in the gaps. So the problem is that her insecurity was just shoved down my throat far too often.
I really feel Audrey was trying to be the Stephenie Meyer of Greek Mythology. She was trying to reinvent Zeus and all his cronies. I am not saying it wouldn't work but it just didn't the way the book played out. I think she had the right ideas but somehow it all got jumbled and didn't quite make it.
Spoiler Section:
A hair monster, really?
