'Underworld' by Meg Cabot

Reviewer: Izzy

4 stars

 

 

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, the dark reimagining of the Persephone myth begun in ABANDON continues ... into the Underworld.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.(Amazon Description)

I loved Abandon, so of course when I saw Underworld at the library, I raced a thirteen year old for it (and won). I started reading on the walk home (not safe, but I couldn't help it!!) and didn't put it down until I finished.

I love John and Pierce, especially Pierce, which is nice, because I usually don't like female leads. I like John because, for the most part, he's a bit wild and angry, but there are times when he gets a little sensitive (about Pierce, even cuter). That makes me like him.

I liked the plot, but in the book there were some things that possibly needed to be explained in just a TINY bit more detail.

For instance,  the pomegranate scene--the second one. I'm not saying I wanted a full-fledged sex-scene with an anatomy lesson thrown in; what I'm more concerned about is that I did not realize what was going on until I reread the paragraph a few times. I would have been fine with a steamy kissy scene that sort of led up to "pomegranates" in that story, but it was like smooch, question, then some clever metaphors. So, confused, I reread. Then again. And it dawned on me after I finished the book.

Anyway, it seems to me that if I'm reading a book and I am attached to the characters, I should at least be informed when they're dirty dancing.

Confusion aside, I did like the book and the writing style, and the characters.

Pierce's cousin Alex went a but crazed and it's driving ME crazy wanting to find out why he acted the way he did. Guess I'll know in the next book.

Anyway, I recommend the first one highly, the second one sort of. Maybe I was a bit confused, and you won't be.