Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--Deina will do anything to earn time off her 41-year indenture and steals coin to buy off the rest from the Order of Hades. As a Severer she can ease the journey of souls into Underworld--or punish them by trapping them in the purgatory of the Threshold. When the tyrannical ruler Orpheus promises freedom to whomever retrieves his wife Eurydice's soul from the Underworld, Deina seizes the chance alongside three rival Severers. This grim reimagining of mythology by way of the "Mycenaean civilization of Bronze Age Greece" (as shared in the authors' note), is filled with animal sacrifice, betrayal, and a brutal fight to escape the Underworld--or die trying. VERDICT An action-packed if gory duology starter; a darker successor to Percy Jackson.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
In this duology opener co-authored by sisters, a brave young woman must challenge a tyrant to obtain her freedom. Deina, an indentured servant from the House of Hades, can sever the body from the soul. It's a useful skill to help the dying enter the Underworld, and performing these services subtracts years from her 40-year servitude. However, Deina dreams of buying her freedom and that of her best friend, Chryse. In this reimagined Orphic myth, Orpheus arrives in Iolkos with an offer to members of the House of Hades who passed his trials: Enter the Underworld and bring back his wife, Eurydice, in exchange for freedom and gold. Deina, who accepts the challenge, is ready to face her fate, but far from being a sweet, tortured musician, Orpheus is self-obsessed and cruel. In this brutal, patriarchal ancient Greek world, Deina survives gender-based harassment and injustices. Despite it all, she proves her resilience under pressure. In the Underworld, she encounters a mysterious man who helps her in her tasks, little suspecting that she'll discover much more about him--and herself--while she's there. Even with the familiar Greek mythological storytelling trappings, the worldbuilding is unique, featuring the epic qualities of a heroine's journey and many unpredictable reveals. Misogyny and power plays permeate the storyline, contributing to themes that are both dark and empowering. The characters reflect the diversity of the regions of Greece. Strong character development and jaw-dropping reveals make this intense, feminist fantasy a must-read. (authors' note)(Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
