Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 8

Welcome to this year’s second batch of young adult (YA) fiction! I’ve got a nice variety in this compilation. There’s a sci-fi/fantasy space opera, a fantasy/mythology origin story and a historical, murder mystery noir.

Bemused (Jan. 7, 2025) by Farrah Rochon.

<This is a standalone novel.>

They are the Muses, Goddesses of Arts and Proclaimers of Heroes. Except they aren’t. Not yet. Right now, Calliope (Calli), Clio, Melpomene (Mel), Terpsichore (Ree) and Thalia know themselves to be five mortal sisters and daughters of Mnemosyne. Their mom forbids them from performing in public without explanation. The teenagers are all gifted performers with no audience. This changes when Ree choreographs an amazing public performance that’s also disastrous. Mnemosyne declares that they must leave Krymmenos, but before they can, she is abducted. They now know she’s a goddess, but do not know that she’s the goddess of memory. Under Calli’s leadership, the sisters travel to Thebes to petition the gods, and Apollo and Hermes answer the call. Trouble is, they don’t recall their mother. Unbeknownst to all of them – the sisters and the two Greek gods – they are being thwarted by Hades and his imps, Pain and Panic. As they journey to try to save their mother, through mythical trials and tribulations and the Underworld itself, they realize their own unique gifts crafted in them by their mother and lean on the strength of their sisterhood, present even when tempers flare. These sisters five have never been zeroes, but they’re definitely on their way to being heroines. “And that’s the gospel truth!”

            A fresh-faced YA fantasy take on Greek mythology, this untold origin story of the five Muses from Disney’s Hercules is a terrific exploration of the Muses, female goddesses that are not as well-known as other Greek gods and goddesses. Told from the viewpoints of Calli, Ree, Mnemosyne and Hades, it is an adventure that’s harrowing and heartfelt, devoted and dramatic (that Hades and his temperamental, color-changing moods). Rochon is clearly skilled in creating characters with distinct personalities – I had no trouble distinguishing each of the sisters – and taking on fairy tale adaptations. Like the sisters’ quest, Rochon’s writing is thrilling. She balances well sisterhood and risky adventure like the bestselling author that she is.

The Muses (oldest to youngest):

Muse of Epic Poetry: Calliope

Muse of History: Clio

Muse of Tragedy: Melpomene

Muse of Dance: Terpsichore

Muse of Comedy: Thalia

Kill Her Twice (Apr. 23, 2024) by Stacey Lee.

<This is a standalone novel.>

The pride of Chinatown, the one who was able to leave and become a star of the silver screen, has returned ... in death. Lulu Wong is discovered by the two eldest Chow sisters in an abandoned stable where they prep their flowers before selling: May, the responsible eldest who was Lulu’s friend and classmate, and Gemma, the fiery middle sister with a knack for ideas that may or may not land her in hot water. Peony, the youngest, often feels left out when Gemma and, grudgingly, May, complete their own investigation into Lulu’s death. It’s 1932, and the LA police don’t appear committed to putting in any serious investigation. Chinatown already has a bad rap, because powerful, rich, white people want to demolish the neighborhood, citing that the Chinese are “by nature, drunken and slovenly,” and fill a neighborhood that’s full of crime and “many hideous perversions,” to make way for a railway depot (Union Station). When the LAPD arrests one of Chinatown’s own for the murder of Lulu, someone they know couldn’t hurt a fly, even May truly doubles down on investigating, going so far as to become (accidentally, on her part) a part of the film production Lulu had been cast in. Unfortunately, the actual killer remains on the loose. Will May and Gemma wind up in the killer’s crosshairs?

            Firstly, while this YA murder mystery noir is a work of fiction, Los Angeles’ Union Station truly does stand where Old Chinatown once stood. Told from the alternating viewpoints of May and Gemma, this twisty, historical novel is witty, intricate, immersive and captivating, exploring prejudice, corruption, grief and familial duty within a swiftly-moving story featuring star characters and a little Old Hollywood flair. There are no love triangles or angst-y teens to deal with in this riveting, historical page-turner. Amid the glitz and grime, there is sisterhood and unity despite discord. It’s another smartly written novel from Lee.

Moonstorm (June 4, 2024) by Yoon Ha Lee.

<This is the first novel in a trilogy.>

Hwajin. Hwa Young. Two names, same person. When Hwajin was 10 years old, Imperials of the Empire of New Joseon destroyed her home, a clanner moon in the Moonstorm called Carnelian, where starblooms flourish. She’s orphaned and is rescued by a lancer, a giant martial robot piloted by a lancer pilot. From that day forward, she yearns to be the best and the strongest in order to achieve lancer pilot status. When an attack at her boarding school finds Hwa Young (a ward of the state, she has no last name due to no family affiliation) and her classmates in need of rescue, her dream looks to become reality. Eleventh Fleet is in dire need of pilot candidates, but the tricky part is, the lancer chooses the pilot. Only one lancer in the fleet has singularity lance capabilities, giving it extraordinary combat potential, and it’s also the one that’s killed multiple pilot candidates in the past. Will Winter’s Axiom finally choose another pilot? Hwa Young has worked so hard to hide her clanner past. Uncovering a conspiracy may jeopardize that past and the Imperial empire she’s been so loyal to for the last six years.

            Trust the Empress. Unity is survival. Imperial vs. clanner words. This explosive YA trilogy starter is a sci-fi, space opera force to be reckoned with. A teen with a past pushes herself to excel in a society where conformity is valued above all else and loyalty to the Empress generates gravity (and can weaponize it). This story is high-concept and mecha with an all-Korean cast. It’s a good choice for readers who are too young to read Xiran Jay Zhao’s “Iron Widow.” Nonbinary characters use zie/zir pronouns. This adventure has a definite theme of colonialism in an unexpected setting (outer space) and revolution with intriguing characters, powerful world-building and action-packed battles. It is intricate and high-octane.

"Antigoddess" by Kendare Blake

Antigoddess (Sept. 10, 2013) by Kendare Blake.

The thing we grow up hearing about mythology – whether it’s Greek or Egyptian or Norse (and on and on) – is that gods are immortal. As in, undying and everlasting. Right? But what about a present time when the [Greek] gods are dying? Persephone’s already passed on. Understandable, as she was already half-dead as queen of the underworld. Her mother, the goddess of the harvest (or agriculture), is not yet dead, but she’s stretched thin, as she’s “used as the earth is used.” Athena, ever the goddess of wisdom and strategy (highly useful in battle situations), isn’t about to die lying down. She’s trying to stop this twilight of the gods. It’s mostly selfish, though, because who wants to fight feathers? The messenger god Hermes is with her. Known for thievery and not for courage, he’s a flight risk, though not literally a flight risk right now since he doesn’t have the strength to fly. Winged sandals aren’t going to help him now!

            Cassandra Weaver is an ordinary high school student. Well, sort of ordinary. She wins at coin tosses every time and sometimes has visions of the future. Her boyfriend, Aidan Baxter, loves this about her, and she totally loves him. And what’s not to love? Aidan is fun-loving, reassuring, gorgeous and wholly dedicated to Cassandra. But Cassandra has a past she doesn’t remember. In that past, she was a great prophetess, but back then, her ability was far more a curse than a gift. Cassandra doesn’t realize this, even though she’s been “seeing” bloody and violent things lately. Aidan is there to comfort her, and her best friend, Andie Legendre, and brother, Henry, are nearby, too. What is the meaning of her visions? Why are they happening now? What does it all mean?

            Anyone who keeps one type of image in mind regarding Greek mythology better avoid this book. Just forewarning you. While weak, the gods still have power, but the virgin goddess depicted in a toga is far from the punk Athena in this young adult novel. There are so many questions, as this is the first in a new series, but this kick-off book is very well-imagined. The humor is often wry, which only makes the book more enjoyable to read: “It was rude to stomp your aunt, no matter how dire the situation.” “Antigoddess” is a thrilling adventure of mythology, love, gore and the process of dying. It’s also about discovering one’s true self, though Cassandra’s case is far more unusual than ours would be, as hers is of a supernatural sort. It’s not a depressing book (well, maybe a little); it has suspense and prowess, good and bad. Oh, and Greek tragedy, of course! (For those concerned, there are also scattered expletives.)

            As someone who read this book and is also a fan of Rick Riordan’s mythology-based  books (e.g. Percy Jackson), I want to note how different they are. And rightly so. First off, Riordan’s novels, while enjoyed by a wide age-range, are still considered middle grade. Blake’s “Antigoddess” is young adult with a touch of horror. Riordan’s books are far more kid-friendly than Blake’s. Both authors write great books, but please don’t insult them by trying to compare them. They are different authors with different target age groups. Appreciate their interpretations. After all, even the “historical” mythologies you can research out there have differing interpretations. So why not present-day authors?

            Also by Kendare Blake: Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares

Rutabaga's Reads 2013: Part 12

If you didn’t know before, I’m sure you’ve realized by now that my favored books usually fall into the young adult (YA) category. This compilation features all YA titles. If you enjoy reading YA novels, read on. If YA is not your thing, I encourage you to read on anyway. Even if you don’t find something that appeals to you, maybe you’ll find the next big read for a YA reader that you do know!

Everneath (Jan. 24, 2012) by Brodi Ashton.

There is an underworld known as the Everneath. Those who live forever are called Everlivings. Cole Stockton is an Everliving, which means he needs to completely drain the emotions off one person every century in the Feed to give him another century of “life.” Those that Everlivings feed off of are called Forfeits. They feed for a century in Everneath years, but that’s only six months in Surface years. Nikki Beckett is a Forfeit, but Cole’s surprised when she looks like herself after the Feed. She doesn’t know how that happened; she just kept thinking of her boyfriend, Jack Caputo. Because Nikki looks the same, Cole wants her to become an Everliving like him and capture the throne. Nikki wants to remain on the Surface, but she only has six months before the Shades claim her for the Tunnels for eternity. If she can prevent her return to the Everneath, she wants to do it, because finding the words to say good-bye to her family and friends is far more daunting.

            The initial thing I learned about this book was that it’s a retelling of the Persephone myth. The initial thing I thought when I read that the immortal characters feed on the emotions of others was, “Oh, they’re like vampires, except instead of craving blood, they crave emotions.” Is that weird? Yes. But the weirdest? No. I like the inspiration of the myth that the story comes from and Ashton’s first-person narration of Nikki shows the difficulty of building back up all that she lost (in feelings and relationships). I never had to muddle through the book, but sometimes the reading felt slower to me, though it gained speed near the end of the book. I think the plot is interesting, and I do wonder about the fate of the star-crossed lovers.

Illuminate (Mar. 6, 2012) by Aimee Agresti.

She’s that girl. The one who was found abandoned in the woods when she was five. Now Haven Terra is a sixteen-year-old outcast who’s ordinary, shy and super smart. Along with her classmates Dante and Lance, they receive prestigious internships at Chicago’s ritzy Lexington Hotel under the direction of the young, glamorous and powerful Aurelia Brown and her striking second-in-command, Lucian Grove. Aurelia wields great power and influence. Anyone who is important knows her, and everyone else wants to be part of her A-list group. Haven, Dante and Lance work alongside Aurelia’s striking cohorts known as the Outfit. They get access to the hotel’s exclusive nightclub, Vault, where each night is themed according to one of the seven deadly sins. Haven can’t seem to help falling for Lucian, but her gut tells her something’s off. The Outfit members seem more like robots, and she discovers that Aurelia has a very sordid plan with Haven as her number one target. Aurelia takes directions from the Prince, while Haven begins taking direction from … a blank book. What is Haven’s true role in all of this? Gone are her days of being ordinary, but she will long for those days before the end.

            It’s a confluence of meek and strong, good and bad, timid and powerful. For the most part, I think “Illuminate,” the first in a planned trilogy, is well-written. Her main characters are easily discernible, even Dante, who’s in the wings for most of the book. This YA paranormal suspense tale has none of the broodiness of Twilight, nor the lovey-dovey aspect. I wouldn’t say the book is arresting, but it is magical in its own mysterious way. Foul language is included, but it’s minimal. Watch out for the baddies, though. They’re not grim reapers so much as they’re soul reapers.

Of Poseidon (May 22, 2012) by Anna Banks.

To call them mermaids (or mermen) and to assume they have goldfish-like fantails is to annoy them. They are Syrena, and their powerful tails look like the dorsal fins of sharks. Galen Forza is a twenty-year-old Syrena prince, a Triton Royal. He meets eighteen-year-old Emma McIntosh when she walks into him, literally. Sparks fly instantly between them. Is it something known as the pull? Or, at least for Emma’s part, is the attraction just due to Galen’s handsomeness? Galen and his sister, Rayna, obviously in human form, are on land for a reason. At least Galen is. He’s the Syrena ambassador to the mostly unaware humans while Rayna is the beautiful but rude twin sister who’s avoiding her mate, Toraf. Galen’s had it on good information that there is a girl who can talk to fish. Signs point to Emma, but she doesn’t look like a Syrena. What does that mean? And even if she is of Poseidon, fat lot of good it does Galen, for he can’t rightfully be with her. Which is horrible, because Emma’s the only person he’s ever wanted to kiss.

            This is no Disney’s The Little Mermaid, but I still really enjoyed this novel. “Of Poseidon” is full of humor, teenage sarcasm and the right amount of seriousness to prevent the book from being watered down or tepid. This spirited tale has weight and lots of unanswered questions as the first in a trilogy. Emma and Galen are likable characters despite their sometimes obstinate personalities. Even Rayna is likable, if you can get past her hotheaded exterior. The budding romance is expected and predictable, but not unlikable. The only things I didn’t care for were Emma’s chapters in the first-person and Galen’s in the third. It would’ve flowed better if both narrative viewpoints were the same. But other than that, this fish-out-of-the-sea novel is entertaining!

The Selection (Apr. 24, 2012) by Kiera Cass.

The nation is no longer the United States – it is Illéa – but there is still an America. America Singer is the middle of five children and lives in a nation with a very strict caste system. She and her family are a Five (of eight castes). The system can be very strict, and if you’re caught doing something unacceptable, you suffer for it. Out past curfew? Jail time. Convicted of treason? Death. The Ones live a posh life; they are the royalty and include King Clarkson, Queen Amberly and Prince Maxon Schreave. Prince Maxon is coming of age, and Illéa tradition says that he must find a bride. Whereas a princess would’ve been married off to solidify relations with other countries, a prince married a woman of the people to keep up morale.

            Hence, the selection. America is pressured into applying even though Aspen, a caste below her, is the love of her life. She becomes one of the Selected and is whisked off to a palace to compete (in a ladylike way, of course) for a prince she thinks is boring and for a crown she doesn’t want. But when America actually talks to Prince Maxon, she finds that he isn’t the shallow, too-formal person she thought he was. He’s, well, he’s a gentleman. If Prince Maxon finds favor with her, can she discard her love for Aspen?

            This first in a planned trilogy is affable, but it isn’t wow. The dress descriptions are detailed, but other expected points are not. For instance, what does Illéa look like? And what of the rebel attacks? There are multiple attacks, but no one knows their purpose, and even if they do, there isn’t anything formative mentioned. In short, the book is quaint and charming, but it lacks in world-building. I like America’s headstrong personality, Aspen’s dedication to his family and Prince Maxon’s thoughtfulness. “The Selection” is pegged as a YA dystopian novel, but if you want to read dystopia along the lines of “The Hunger Games” or “Divergent,” this is not the dystopia you’re looking for. Think instead of “The Bachelor,” only in book form.

Unraveling (Apr. 24, 2012) by Elizabeth Norris.

There’s a clock counting down to something that’s likely catastrophic, as if the gelatinous material that used to be flesh and bones on unidentified victims wasn’t proof enough of something unnatural. Janelle Tenner is about to start her junior year of high school and already she has died and been brought back to life. By classmate Ben Michaels. The thing is, she’s never talked to him before. She has defined him as a loner who hangs out with the stoner crowd, along with his buddies, Elijah Palma and Reid Suitor. Her FBI-agent father is on the case regarding the victims and the countdown clock, and Janelle launches her own investigation in a very junior-agent sort-of-way with her best friend, Alex Trechter. Her investigation is going to bring her back to Ben and his buddies. She does attend school some of the time in the novel, manages to help junior agent Taylor Barclay save face in front of a superior (think “ulterior motives”), dodges family friend/agent Ryan “Struz” Struzinski, deals with her mentally unstable mother, cares for her little brother Jared, and even manages a day trip to Disneyland amidst all the chaos. The chaos that is Wave Function Collapse, manipulating molecular structure and multiverse. So pretty much she has to find a way to save the world!

            If you judged this book by its title, you might guess that it’s a dystopian novel, but it’s not. It is science fiction and romance for the YA set, though it’s not heavy sci-fi. Vulgar utterances are present throughout the book, and while it’s not laden with obscenities, they are present often enough, for anyone concerned. Some elements, such as Ben’s healing ability, could’ve been more fully explained (it is part sci-fi, after all), but the story is multi-layered. I appreciated how easy it was to get to know the characters, for they are fleshed out very nicely. Although it isn’t a dystopian novel, I think fans of that genre would like this novel. And likewise if you’re a fan of light science fiction and/or potential end-of-the-world stories.