Book Info-
Title- Persephone
Series- Daughters of Zeus Book #1
By- Kaitlin Bevis
Genre-YA Paranormal
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Blurb-
There are worse things than death, worse people too.
The "talk" was bad enough, but how many teens get told
that they're a goddess? When her mom tells her, Persephone is sure her mother
has lost her mind. It isn't until Boreas, the god of winter, tries to abduct
her that she realizes her mother was telling the truth. Hades rescues her, and
in order to safely bring Persephone to the Underworld he marks her as his
bride. But Boreas will stop at nothing to get Persephone. Despite her growing
feelings for Hades, Persephone wants to return to the living realm. Persephone must
find a way to defeat Boreas and reclaim her life.
Links-
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Persephone-ebook/dp/B008HYPD58/ref=la_B00875POAG_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1371825394&sr=1-2
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/persephone-kaitlin-bevis/1111973897?ean=2940014686051
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/181487
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Persephone/book-Gcimqk_7y0-LYRkfZGKqWA/page1.html?s=85GJFYf1YUq964dgoSyu0Q&r=2
Excerpt:
The branch crashed in front of me, scraping my legs. I ran for
the parking lot as fast as I could. The frost closed in, surrounding me. I’d
never been claustrophobic, but as the frost cut off my escape path with a solid
white wall, I panicked.
Fog rolled in,
like cold death, cutting off my view of the park. It curled around me, brushing
against my face, arms, and legs. I turned back to the tree and ran faster, my
dress tangling between my legs as the fog and icy wind blew against my skin.
The parking lot is the other way! my
mind screamed. The other way was cut off by a mountain of ice. I felt as if I
was being herded. By ice?
I slipped on
the icy ground, falling face first into the frost. Ice crept up my toes and
along my legs. I thrashed and screamed. I felt the fog becoming a solid mass
above me, pinning me to the ground. The ice piled around me. Am I going to be buried alive?
I dug my nails
into the frigid snow in front of me and tried to claw my way out of the frosted
death trap. I was so panicked I didn’t feel it when my nails broke against the
impenetrable wall of ice, leaving red crescents of blood welling up on
sensitive skin. An hysterical sob worked its way out of my throat as I gouged
red lines into the ice. The ice was above my knees, snaking its way up my
thighs. I shivered.
Shivering’s good, I reminded myself. It
means your body hasn’t given up…yet. The cold was painful, like a thousand
little knives pricking my skin. A violent tremor went up my spine, sending
waves of pain through me.
“Help me!” I
screamed, knowing it was futile. I was going to die here.
Except I
couldn’t die. Could I? Mom said I was immortal, but was that all-inclusive? Did
I have a weakness? Was snow my Kryptonite? If I got hurt, would I heal or would
I be trapped in an injured body in pain forever?
I suddenly
didn’t know if immortality was a good thing or a bad thing. The cold hurt. I
was kicking, screaming, and clawing my way out of the frost, but for every inch
I gained a mountain piled around me. I thought I heard a man’s laughter on the
wind, the sound somehow colder than the ice freezing me into place.
The ground
before my outstretched hand trembled. The shaking increased. The earth lurched
beneath me. The surface cracked and the sound was so loud that for a moment all
I could hear was high-pitched ringing in my ears. The ground split into an
impossibly deep crevice. My voice went hoarse from screaming as I peered into
the endless abyss, trapped and unable to move away from the vertigo-inducing
edge.
My Review: 5 stars
What a fantastic re-telling of the classic myth of Persephone and Hades. Kaitlin brings the mythology straight into the modern age with style. The tale is well told, the characters are amazing. They're Gods and Goddesses, how could they not be? I love that Persephone takes matters into her own hands at the end. I want Persephone and Hades to have that ever after that is in mythology, but can't help but feel that it'll take some doing. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book to find out what happens next in Kaitlin's version.
Book Info-
Title- Daughter of the Earth and Sky
Series- Daughters of Zeus Book # 2
By-Kaitlin Bevis
Genre-YA Paranormal
Blurb-
Some vows can never be broken.
Persephone thought she could go back to her normal life after
returning from the Underworld. She was wrong.
The goddess Aphrodite is born among the waves with more charm than
she can control. Zeus is stalking Persephone and her loved ones, and Thanatos
is no longer content with Persephone's silence.
He wants her soul.
Persephone can't tell anyone about Thanatos' betrayal, and it
drives a wedge between her and Hades. Her mother is still keeping secrets, and
Melissa's jealousy of Aphrodite threatens to tear their friendship apart.
Alone, Persephone turns to a human boy for comfort. But will their
relationship put him in danger?
Sacrifices must be made, and Persephone must choose between her
human life and her responsibilities as a goddess. If she doesn't, she could
lose them both.
But will either life be worth choosing once Zeus is through with
her?
Links-
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daughter-of-the-earth-and-sky-kaitlin-bevis/1114018019?ean=2940016124100
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/267337
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Daughter-of-the-Earth-Sky/book-WaPLppy9pUysEAVoCa28Lg/page1.html?s=ZwemYx4mrkSYkDVgZNAJLw&r=1
Excerpt:
I'd been here before. My bare feet glided over the leaf-strewn
path, unharmed by the rocks and twigs crunching beneath me. Massive live oaks
draped with Spanish moss created a canopy above me, transforming the forest
path into a tunnel of speckled sunlight. The air was heavy with humidity. The
moist heat pressed against my skin and stole the breath from my lungs. By the
time I reached the path’s end, my Eeyore nightshirt clung to my skin.
"Dungeoness." I came to a halt when I
recognized the sprawling ruins of the ancient ivy-covered brick and stone
manor.
Athens Academy took my class on a week-long trip to
Georgia's coastal islands freshmen year. Cumberland Island was a major
highlight because of the sea turtles, wild horses, and these ruins.
"Good job, Persephone,” I muttered, kicking at a
branch. “You’ve figured out where you are, but how did you get here?" I
knelt to pick up a smooth, white stone, tucking damp tendrils of hair behind my
ears so I could see better. The rock looked and felt real. I ran my hand over
the smooth stone, turning it over and tracing the shape. The weight of it in my
hand reassured me.
I turned, hoping the path held some answers, but it was
no longer there. I stood on the grass-covered shoreline looking out to sea. In
the distance, a girl stood thigh high in the ocean, clad in a gown of
strategically placed sea foam. Although her back was to me, I could tell she
was perfect. The curly ringlets of hair cascading down her flawless cream skin
matched the intense orange of the sky as the sun sank in the sea.
I glanced down at my sun-kissed skin, self-conscious. She
was really pretty. A movement caught my attention and I glanced up as she
looked over her shoulder, aquamarine eyes meeting mine. Then she spoke. I was
shocked to hear Boreas' cold voice roll off her tongue. "Zeus lives."
I stumbled backward. Boreas, the god of winter. My mind
flashed back to that horrible day in the clearing last winter. Boreas’ cold
laughter. His fingers digging in my hair as he pulled me across the frozen
ground. Melissa’s eyes widening as she choked on her last breath. The rush of
power that gave me the strength to put Death himself, and Boreas, under my
control.
A soul for a soul. I’d bargained with Thanatos, the god
of death, and killed Boreas without a second thought, saving my best friend.
Now images shoved their way through my thoughts:
Cumberland Island, two sunsets, lightning cracking in the sky. My mind screamed
against the onslaught. I gritted my teeth and forced myself to think the word
that would make it all stop.
I bolted up in bed with a gasp. A weight in my hand made
me look down. I unclenched my fist, revealing the white stone from Dungeoness.
My Review: 5 stars
With the introduction of Aphrodite, things begin to get a little more complicated for Persephone. Not to mention the promise she made to Thanatos that's just about killing her because she can't tell Hades. Persephone really wants to, but it literally won't come out of her mouth since she's a Goddess and made a promise. Oh, and Zeus and Poseidon are back, but only Zeus has it out for Persephone and apparently Hades too. I feel badly for Persephone dealing with all these Gods that have these ulterior motives. Kaitlin has done a great job writing this story and keeping these characters believable, interesting and having an action packed storyline. Loving it!
Book Info-
Title- The Iron Queen
Series- The Daughters of Zeus Book # 3
By- Kaitlin Bevis
Genre- YA Paranormal
Blurb-
Life is hell for Persephone. Zeus will stop at nothing to gain
access to the living realm and the Underworld, and as the only living god with
a right to both, Persephone’s in trouble. Captured and tortured beyond the
limits of her resolve, Persephone must find the power to stand against Zeus.
But will she be strong enough?
Meanwhile, Hades contemplates desperate measures to rescue his
queen. Persephone never thought of herself as dangerous, but there’s a reason
gods never marry for love. A being with the power to destroy all of creation
shouldn’t place more value in one individual than the rest of the planet. But
Hades...Hades would break the world for her.
To save the world and stop both Hades and Zeus, Persephone must
make a difficult choice. One that may cost her everything.
Links-
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Queen-Daughters-Zeus-ebook/dp/B00CUFSIIY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1371826095&sr=1-1&keywords=9781619376045
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-iron-queen-kaitlin-bevis/1115360048?ean=2940016701929
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/317007
Excerpt:
Hades
Watching
my wife chase after a human boy was hell. The heavy rain drenched the thin
fabric of her clothes in seconds, plastering them to her body in a way that
would be appealing…if he wasn’t going to see her, too. I clenched my jaw. She just doesn’t want him to get hurt. It
wasn’t as though I wanted any mortals caught in the crossfire when we faced
Zeus either. Persephone was just going to charm the boy into leaving the park.
Tearing
my gaze away from her as she scurried up the hill, I searched the parking lot
for Aphrodite, or Zeus, or whoever he, she, it may be. I had the layout of
Memorial Park memorized, anyway. Who was I kidding? The entire city of Athens,
Georgia was embedded in my mind. The precaution was reasonable. Persephone spent
most of her time here, and she was a magnet for trouble.
I
followed her up the dirt-packed path in my mind’s eye. She’d be rounding the
corner now well above the park, oblivious to the way the plants she passed
leaned toward her. Persephone was beautiful. Vibrant. Light and vitality pulsed
from her that like the first warm gust of a spring breeze promised everything
would soon be new and alive again, that winter would thaw into life. Everything
was drawn to her. Unfortunately.
My
thoughts returned to the human boy she was following. I scowled. Rain fell,
pinging against the transparent shield that kept me out of sight while I sat
dry atop a metal picnic table. My fingers worried a spot of rust. I tried not
to think too hard about whatever else might have touched the shining surface.
This
realm was disgusting. Insects swarmed the park, and birds flew through the air,
dropping waste indiscriminately onto the world below. I couldn’t wait to return
to the Underworld. The surface had its charms, but I had no desire to stay for
long.
Joel!
Persephone’s
voice rang through my mind, and I tossed up a mental wall. It wasn’t just good
manners preventing me from listening in. This boy had been in her thoughts
every night. I’d seen the way he looked at her like she was something to be
consumed, the way he touched her like her body was his for the taking, the way
her heart raced when she felt his breath upon her neck. I clenched my jaw and
studied the parking lot like it might change shape any moment.
She’d
probably think less of me if I ripped him apart.
Not
that her opinion was all that stopped me. It wasn’t my habit to go around
killing mortal children, and not just because I’d have to deal with them in the
Underworld. I liked humans. Just not when they groped my wife.
My
heart thudded at an uncomfortable speed, filling my body with adrenaline. I
couldn’t seem to catch my breath. My hands gripped the edge of the picnic
table, and I leaned forward, muscles tensed. That was strange. I had no reason
to be this anxious. He was just a kid, and Persephone was Persephone; she had
no idea what effect she had. I couldn’t really fault him for being interested,
and I had encouraged her to see other people. A spectacularly stupid move on my
part. Not only was it condescending as hell to tell Persephone what she should
and shouldn’t feel toward me, but I’d managed to push her into the arms of
another man. It had taken all of two seconds for me to realize I really didn’t
want her to be with other men.
Apparently
on top of all my other charming flaws I’m over-possessive. Who knew?
I
took a deep breath to force myself to calm down, but it didn’t seem to work.
What was the matter with me? Channeling Persephone’s power away every night had
given me a very unwanted front row seat to her developing relationship with
Joel. I’d seen every kiss, everything, and not felt this before. It hadn’t been
pleasant, but—
Cold
dread filled the pit of my stomach, and I frowned. This didn’t even feel like
rage. My heart was still beating a mile a minute, like it might burst free from
my chest at the slightest provocation. I felt strange, no…terrified.
That
was it. Fear. But why was I—? It wasn’t mine.
My
thoughts flew to Persephone, crashing through the mental wall. Her abject
terror flooded my thoughts with such paralyzing force that for a second I lost
the ability to move or breathe. All that existed was her fear. The boy spoke in
a harsh voice, grip tight on her arm. I rose from the picnic table, ready to
relieve him of that limb, when his words filtered through her thoughts.
…Hades.
I
blinked. How would he know my name?
A
red sports car squealed into the parking lot, and I swore. Hate to interrupt, I directed the thought to Persephone. The boy
locked gazes with Persephone and seemed to look through her to me.
I
knew those eyes. Images and thought fragments flashed from Persephone’s mind to
catch me up, but I already knew everything I needed to.
Persephone, run! I tore through the
parking lot to reach the path.
Hades, it’s Joel! He’s Zeus! The whole
story passed through my mind accompanied by waves of fear and guilt. Persephone
gripping Joel’s arm to teleport but nothing happening, followed by her
realization that Joel wasn’t from this realm. Her shock and horror when his
glamour melted away. Why wasn’t she running?
Get out of there, now! I couldn’t keep
the panic out of my thoughts. If Zeus hurt her…
Our plan, she protested.
She
wouldn’t. Only a fool would risk going through with our plan now. We’d intended
to trap Zeus by having him stand on an entrance to the Underworld so we could
bring some of my realm up and around him. A little slice of Tartarus. It had
worked to imprison some of the Titans before, and it could work with him. But
not like this. Not with her alone and hopelessly overpowered.
But
this was Persephone. The girl who fled the safety of the Underworld to confront
Boreas with nothing but righteous indignation on her side. It was foolish of me
to expect her to do anything else.
I
swore and scrambled up the hill. Just teleport.
Leave!
I can get him to the entrance. Hades, this
is our best chance.Her determination pounded through me coupled with her
desperate need for this to be over. She wouldn’t run. If I couldn’t reach her
in time… A bright light seared my vision as I rounded the corner. She screamed,
intense pain flashing through her and reverberating to me. I stumbled, blinded
by her white-hot agony. Another flash. Pain flared through her, exploding
within my mind in a cacophony of anguish. My vision cleared for a split second,
and I saw the ground rush toward me. Then everything went black.
My Review: 5 stars
Wow! This is the final book in the trilogy and it doesn't pull any punches. Persephone has been kidnapped by Zeus, and there's some serious stuff going down. Zeus as always is such a huge jerk, so thoughtless and remorseless over his actions. All he cares for is power. This book is one thing after another, and it's all just surreal. Kaitlin has really put her on modern day spin on this ancient mythology and had done such a great job. I love it all. I really loved seeing all the God together and observing their interactions. That was pretty cool. My only complaint is that there wasn't at least an epilogue that had Persephone and Hades happier. All in all it was a great story, and I throughly enjoyed it.
About the
Author-
Kaitlin Bevis spent her childhood curled up with a book, and a
pen. If the ending didn't agree with her, she rewrote it. She's always wanted
to be a writer, and spent high school and college learning everything she could
so that one day she could achieve that goal. She graduated college with my BFA
in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, and is pursuing her
masters at the University of Georgia.
Her young adult series "Daughters of Zeus" is available wherever ebooks are sold. She also writes for truuconfessions.com and Athens Parent Magazine.
Links-
Webpage: www.kaitlinbevis.com
Goodreads Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6150699.Kaitlin_Bevis
Authorgraph: http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/KaitlinBevis
Tumbler: http://kaitlinbevis.tumblr.com
Twitter: @kaitlinbevis
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kbevis1/
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Kbevis
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