Publishing: April 26, 2011
Links: IndieBound
(support an independent bookseller near YOU!)
Amazon, Barnes & Noble
(available as Kindle/Nook and audiobook editions)
Book provided by Big Honcho Media for fair review
Synopsis from Big Honcho Media
Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera knows what happens to us when we die. That’s how she met John Hayden, the mysterious stranger who’s made returning to normal life—or at least life as Pierce knew it before the accident—next to impossible. Though she thought she escaped him—starting a new school in a whole new place—it turns out she was wrong. He finds her. What does John want from her? Pierce thinks she knows…just like she knows he’s no guardian angel, and his dark world isn’t exactly heaven. But she can’t stay away from him, either, especially since he’s always there when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most. But if she let’s herself fall any further, she might find herself back in the place she fears most. And when Pierce discovers the shocking truth, that’s exactly where John sweeps her: The Underworld.
I am a huge classics nerd! I may have mentioned that before, but regardless…I love me some mythology and I’ll admit that the Greek myths were my first classical love. So when we were offered the chance to review Abandon by Meg Cabot I jumped at the chance. And this book is really good!
I love the way Meg wove together the concept of the Greek Underworld into the very modern, believable world that Pierce lives in. I was worried that the supernatural portion of this book would come off as forced or hokey but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The worlds Meg Cabot wove together in Abandon are seamlessly blended and very compelling.
Then there are the characters themselves. I adored John. I’m a sucker for tall, dark and handsome and that’s our hero to a tee and then some! *fans self* He really pulls off the brooding hero without going overboard. I just loved him. I even enjoyed the ancillary characters, particularly Pierce’s father the not-Enron-dad who communicates solely in shouts, even when caring for his daughter. He was a hoot!
I did have some issues with Pierce, which were hard for me as this book is written from her perspective. She spoke in long, back-and-forth, often run on sentences that I found detracted from her story. I believe this was the voice of the character, and not a reflection on the skill of the author, but it was distracting to me. Also, I had a hard time reconciling the cold then suddenly hot reaction Pierce had towards John. Don’t get me wrong, I TOTALLY understand why she finally came around to seeing what an attractive man he is. I just felt the transition was abrupt and left a little to be desired. Still, we’re talking about a character who died at 15 and has been through some pretty traumatic stuff in the past few years so…you’ve got to give the girl a little slack!
This is an intriguing and compelling story that ends in such a way you’ll be dying for the sequel!
I give it 3 out of 5 books!
Final Notes
A big, big thank you to Big Honcho Media and Scholastic for including us on this tour of Abandon!! They gave me so many great goodies to share! Like, Abandon’s video:
Also, some interesting news about Scholastic’s new online community:
This Is Teen is a fantastic place to connect with your favorite YA authors and their books! You should definitely check them out!
But, I know that you’re most interested in…
So…fill out the form below to be entered for your chance to win, not only a copy of Abandon, which I’m sure you’ll enjoy, but a gorgeous bracelet featuring a quote from the book!!!
Entries accepted until Midnight CST, Friday May 20th!
Winner announced Sunday, May 22nd.
And don’t forget to leave a comment telling us why you picked your choice of the most intriguing vision of afterlife!
Now go and get lost…in a book!
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anything to do with Aztec mythology blows my mind! I recentkly visited Teotihuacan (an archeological site in Mexico) and it left me stunned! It was seriously something out of this world!
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Ooh, definitely Greek afterlife. There is just so much stuff going on down there. 🙂
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I find the Greek afterlife the most interesting because it seems so complex with all of its different areas and mythological beings running around in it.
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I guess I'm just more comfortable with the Christian Heaven/Hell because that's how I was "brought up." I'm not familiar enough with any other belief to make it mine — however, I'm open to reading about other beliefs.
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I chose Christian Heaven and Hell simply because that's what I believe in.
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I really enjoyed this one too though I think a lot of people were disappointed. I had trouble with Pierce's hot and cold reactions to John too, but it made sense when we were finally told the whole story instead of just given pieces of it:) I'm really looking forward to the next book!
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I can't help it! I am just so So drawn to Greek myth. It intrigues me to no end:)
Awesome Giveaway. I uber loves the bracletets!
And it must be the day for YA giveaways….come check out the Airel GIVEAWAY over at Paranormal Wastelands! http://paranormalwastelands.blogspot.com/2011/05/…
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I picked Greek just because I've been reading a lot about it lately and it's incredibly interesting. This book has been on my list and I'm super excited to give it a read! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
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I picked Greek because that's just what I've been drawn to lately. The mythology is definitely interesting and a I have a couple more reads that are sort of based in it. This is a fantastic giveaway, as I've really been wanting to read this book and haven't managed to snag a copy of it yet. The bracelets are just gorgeous.
Suz @ A Soul Unsung
email: susanhaugland@att.net
My recent post Sarah Dessen Week- Planned Reads Giveaway Props
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Thanks for the giveaway! I am really interested in this book – I can't wait to dive in!
My recent post Ill Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
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Greek, because if it were to come down to it, that's what I'd hope it would be. I love everything to do with Greek mythology. I've learned about it since I was a child.
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I pick Greek myth, because I know it best and I love it. I also like Egyptian mythology.
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Awesome review! There have beeb so many awesome comments on this book! Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I chose Christian Heaven and Hell because that's the one I know the most about. I find it intruiging because the 'devil' was originally good and the whole becoming the opposite of God really interests me.
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I chose Greek because I've read and heard that Hades is not as horrible as the Christian Hell (Im a Christian)… and I've always been into Greek Mythology.
-Tezza V.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway!!
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I honestly don't know anything about any of them other than Greek mythology. I've always been fascinated by it.
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I've been wanting to read this book, and your review makes me want to read it that much more.
I chose Christian because it's what I am most familiar with, but my second-choice would be Greek.
Thanks for the opportunity w/the contest. Glad I bumped into your blog!
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i'm boring, I picked the Christian afterlife. Most of the choices are pretty similar anyway 🙂 My grandma, recently deceased, as well as most of my other relatives staunchly believed in this version. Hopefully, if they went to the one they believe in then I will be there with them ^^ (not the most sound logic, I know).
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The Elysian Fields have always fascinated me. It's a beautiful thought.
Thanks for the giveaway,
Jules
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