In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child–not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power–the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.
Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.
But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

So I have been toying with whether to post this review on the blog, it’s kind of off genre but perhaps not, as mythology and fantasy tread a similar path and there is witchcraft!  I admit that I purchased this book solely on the cover which is amazing and the first edition print run has the most amazing embossing on the hard cover itself – like Helios himself the sun is luminescent when it shines upon it!

This was my first foray into ancient mythology and I had not read the Song of Achilles first, which I don’t think really matters but it’s likely there will be parity between the tales at some point. I did however, find that this book was really accessible for those who had a little knowledge.  Most people know Zeus and Athena and many will know the stories of Icarus and Deadalus, and Theseus and the Minotaur, and by having just that little bit of understanding made the book all the more joyful to read.

Circe is a tale told in retrospect, a tale of a goddess in exile. Throughout her hundreds of years she is tested and put through trials, often lonely, but not always – and taking the time to learn all that she can about what she truly is, not just a goddess but a witch with a great power. I found it it was a story which ebbed and flowed, much like her life on her island of Aiaia.  There was often a great deal to love, I enjoyed her interactions and reactions to what she learns and also the calmness about her time alone and the knowledge that she has committed wrongs that will endure as a result of her vanity.  I hate to use the Journey word but that it what this story comes down to – as an immortal however, she is a lot more stubborn and has many hundreds of years longer to learn from what has come before, but there is learning and catharsis.

However there was just a little bit too much time spent getting to the place she gets to.  I devoured the first 250 pages, I loved that it was a new genre to me and I was enjoying what I was reading, however, I found the last section lagged and it felt that it was a little repetitive.  She’s stuck on an island so I get that there wasn’t much else to do but sit and wait for people to come to her but I felt that the final section, which was the most poignant could have been wrapped up a little better and without the slight ick factor that I felt about a certain turn of events.

I give this 4* the first 250 pages were 5* all the way but I felt it just stumbled at the last section which was a shame.

Spoilers: This is book 3 in the series, please be mindful when continuing on…

“Welcome to Tzoladia!” The city on a hill in the center of the empire dazzles in the sunlight. The rich and powerful citizens live luxurious lives. But for those who arrive as slaves, refugees, or spies, it is a foreboding place. And it is on the verge of war.
“Beware the Gates of Hell!” the wise man warned. Gates will open. Some lead to the depths of the underworld. Some to the bottom of the sea. Some to the heights of power.
Caught up in forces beyond their control, can the three young deliverers break free to find each other? Or will they lose their way?

Captives starts rather ominously, a prologue in the point of view of Moshoi sets the tone that the three have reached a true point of no return on their journeys. We find Brina and the gliders are being sold into slavery, Tuka taking the reigns from Moshoi, with a new ally, and Amanki being thrust into a war. They are all so far removed from their starting point. However I still find the parity between their journeys fascinating and the way the stories are being woven together is fantastic.  You know that they are at times just touching distance from one another but circumstances conspire against them time and time again. The one thing that I am loving is that they are never alone – no matter what happens Adon is truly looking over them and making sure they are supported, even if the source of that support may be unlikely at first.

This book in the story really does convey dread at times and again the parity between them rings true, Amanki must be heart-stoppingly brave (this section is immense with tension!), Brina must endure becoming someone she has fought not to be and Tuka must learn to trust and think quickly.  It also becomes very clear in this book why Metlan has had a voice throughout and his story starts to throw up real questions about the prophecy they are all following with what could potentially be a great twist in the tale in future books.

Whilst reading the first part though, I couldn’t help but think about what baskrod must be thinking about it all. He spent so long carefully laying plans only for them to be foiled right at the start with the webbies disbelief and not packing up when they should have! Everything has just gone downhill from there with missing his connection with Brina, not being there for Moshoi and generally everyone getting in a pickle –  although he’ll probably just chalk it up to Adons plan

As I mentioned before the book feels like the darkest yet but it is also one which has an element of hope to it.  Despite the lack of opportunity to mourn loss and separation, the bad situations our 3 find themselves in do often present with silver linings.  Be it opportunities to learn and discover, or find new friendships which drive them forward – I feel that for the most part they are in a good place and I hope that book 4 gives their paths the opportunity to converge.  One of the most poignant quotes of the book is “nothing unites people like hatred” which really struck a chord and shows that a book based in fantasy actually has quite the finger on the pulse when it comes down to any societies view of people that have differing beliefs.

A solid 4*

Carmen Kennedy is a spoiled brat from Beverly Hills with a chip on her shoulder and a cocaine addiction to match. Using drugs to suppress reality, her life is more than she can stomach most days. All she wants is to disappear, and on one fateful night, her wish is granted.
There is a world that exists just beyond the fabric of our own. When Carmen is dragged there against her will, her hopelessness seems to disappear, replaced by a determination to survive. The Keeper of Crows is charged with guarding Carmen, but is safety a possibility in a world so desolate? Can love blossom when danger lies in wait? Together, they fight like hell, seeming to lose more ground than they gain with each battle against the dark enemy threatening to tear them apart. Can love keep her safe? Can it give her the strength she needs?
When the lines between life and death, reality and dream become blurred, who will save the souls trapped in the spaces between Heaven and Hell? Who will save Carmen’s only love, The Keeper of Crows?

I just loved Carmen and The Keeper they are such great and complex characters. Carmen is sassy, speaks her mind and is also lost to who she really is, while The Keeper is doing the job he was given without question even though others that meet him in his world tell him what he is doing isn’t worth it. Carmen’s arrival not only surprises The Keeper as she doesn’t react like others he whispers to but also now he is stuck with her and her mouth/mind questioning everything. They way the story unfold and how we see them both slowly reveal what their real personalities are is great and the mix of other worldly beings, wars, mysteries and a little bit of romance just adds to this fantastic read. I can not wait to read book 2 and see what happens next!

4*

Keeper of Crows is available through Amazon for $3.97 and can be found here