2014 YA Mythology Challenge Recap

Challenge:  YA Mythology Challenge
Host:  For Those About to Read...
2014 Level:  12 - FAILED!
Thoughts:  I love YA books based on mythology, but the number is always so high for this challenge.  I may or may not try again next year.
1. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolpho Anaya
2. Children of the Knight by Michael J. Bowler
3. Promise Bound by Anne Greenwood Brown
4. The Crone's Jewels by E. J. Dabel
5. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
6. Running Through a Dark Place by Michael J. Bowler
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Running Through a Dark Place

Running Through a Dark Place

by Michael J. Bowler

published by author

May 2014

ISBN 9780990306306

Why Read?: Review

Challenges: E-Book, YA Mythology, 100 Books in a Year

Michael J. Bowler picks up the second book in his Knight Cycle, Running Through a Dark Place, right where the first book, Children of the Knight, leaves off.  (I do not want to give any major spoilers for the first book, so I am not going to go into too much detail about the plot, as it would give too much away.)  After the success of his first campaign, Arthur wants to fight for more rights for the youth of Los Angeles who are treated as adults only in criminal matters.  Once again, he and his Knights have a tough battle ahead of them, and there is a lot of growth along the way.  Oh, and Merlin has finally appeared!

Taking a historical figure made mythological and imagining what his crusade would be in today's age is really ingenious, and is a testament to Michael J. Bowler's skill, but hat I like best about his writing is that he does not pull any punches.  He lays the tough issues out there as they are and shows his characters' struggles in tackling these issues.  While many of his characters are what would be considered at-risk youth, Running Through a Dark Place, and the rest of Michael J. Bowler's Knight Cycle, will appeal to all youth and those adults who work with youth.  

Rating 4/5

Grave Mercy

Title: Grave Mercy
Author: Robin LaFevers

Publisher: Recorded Books
ISBN: 9781464023835

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Audio Book, Historical Fiction, British Books, Free Reads, Author Alphabet, YA Mythology, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts:  With a kick-ass heroine and plenty of court intrigue, Grave Mercy is a very fun read.  LaFevers has a very unique concept for this trilogy and I love how she really brought out the medieval feel with the gods of old Brittany.

Rating: 4 stars

Children of the Knight

Children of the Knight

by Michael J. Bowler

published by Harmony Ink

June 2013

ISBN 978-1-62380-656-9

Why Read?: Review

Challenges: YA Mythology, 100 Books in a Year

In Children of the Knight, Michael J. Bowler explores what it would be like if King Arthur came back to today's Los Angeles, and who he might choose as his round table if he did.  This is a highly imaginative yet realistic novel that will appeal to teens and adults alike.

A mysterious tagger has been painting a weird symbol all over LA.  Police are baffled.  So is Lance, a homeless skater kid, when he first meets the strange man who rides and horse and lives in the sewer.  Soon, though, Lance comes to believe this man - the first to ever really care about him - is the King Arthur, returned as prophesied.  The adults are not so sure, but the downtrodden kids who look to Arthur to lead them, know it is real.  He has come to help the children reclaim their rightful place in society, but how has he returned and why now?

The publisher of this novel is Harmony Ink, and that is really what Children of the Knight is all about.  Whether Arthur really is the King Arthur of legend, he teaches the kids how to work together, no matter what their background, gender, race, or sexual orientation.  Bowler does an amazing job getting this message across with some very in-depth and complex main and supporting characters.  There are quite a few characters, though, and some of the bit players do get lost in the shuffle.  However, that is to be accept in a book where the main character is building an army. 

Children of the Knight is a wonderful contemporary read with fantastic elements thrown in.  Michael J. Bowler has a message and gets it across, while still keeping the novel an engaging read for a variety of ages.

Rating 4/5

2014 YA Mythology Challenge

Challenge:  YA Mythology Challenge
Host:  For Those About to Read...
2013 Level:  10 books - FAILED!
2014 Level:  12

1. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolpho Anaya
2. Children of the Knight by Michael J. Bowler
3. Promise Bound by Anne Greenwood Brown
4. The Crone's Jewels by E. J. Dabel
5. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
6. Running Through a Dark Place by Michael J. Bowler
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Bless Me, Ultima

Title: Bless Me, Ultima
Author: Rudolpho Anaya

Publisher: Recorded Books
ISBN: 9781449887568

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Audio Book, Free Reads, Author Alphabet, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I had never heard of this until YASync had it featured as a free download last summer.  It is an interesting and engaging tale of a young Hispanic boy struggling with religion and superstition as death seems to surround him.  I did have trouble with the lines that were in Spanish as I was listening to it and not reading it, and there was not translation.

Rating: 3 stars

2013 YA Mythology Challenge Recap

Challenge:  YA Mythology Challenge
Host:  For Those About to Read...
2013 Level:  10 books - FAILED!
Thought:  Love this concept, but 10 is hard.
1. The Game of the Gods by E. J. Dabel
2. Deep Betrayal by Anne Greenwood Brown
3. Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
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Of Poseidon

Title: Of Poseidon
Author:  Anna Banks

Publisher: AudioGo
ISBN: 9781620640081

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Audio Book, YA Mythology, YA/MG Fantasy, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I did enjoy Of Poseidon, but there were a few things that would often throw me out of the story.  At first, it was simply because - since I was listening to it and not reading it - I didn't realize it was alternating between 1st and 3rd person, not just between Emma and Galen.  Second, there were a few spots that just reminded me too much of other mermaid YA novels.  However, the last part, right up until the powerful ending, really gripped me.

Rating: 3 stars

2013 YA Mythology Challenge

Challenge:  YA Mythology Challenge
Host:  For Those About to Read...
2012 Level:  10 books - FAILED
2013 Level:  10 books 

1. The Game of the Gods by E. J. Dabel
2. Deep Betrayal by Anne Greenwood Brown
3. Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
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YA Mythology Challenge Recap

Challenge:  YA Mythology Challenge
Host:  For Those About to Read...
2012 Level:  10 books - FAILED
Thoughts:  This was fun, and I may complete one more book before the end of the year, but I doubt I will make it.  I will try again, though.
Books:1. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
2. Pantheons by E. J. Dabel
3. Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown
4. Initate by Tara Maya
5. Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman
6. Sufis at Culver by Richard Gwyn Davies
7. A Lloyd Alexander Collection by Lloyd Alexander
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A Lloyd Alexander Collection

Title: A Lloyd Alexander Collection
Author: Lloyd Alexander

Publisher: Dutton
ISBN: 0-525-46777-7
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: YA Mythology, Multi-Cultural

Thoughts: This collection contains three works: The Arkadians, The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen, and The Iron Ring.  All of them have the feel of almost a folktale, making them very suitable for MG readers, even.  The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen was probably my favorite of the three, but they are all worth a look.

Rating: 3 stars

Initiate

Title: Initiate

Author: Tara Maya
Publisher: n/a
ISBN: n/a
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges:  Why Buy the Cow? (Kindle), YA Mythology, Telling Tales, Self-Published, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This is a very unique story with a lot of threads that lead up to one heck of a cliffhanger.  At first, it took a while to get into because it is told from so many points of view, but once everyone is introduced and the exposition is over, the story really picks up.

Rating: 4 stars

YA Mythology Challenge

Challenge:  YA Mythology Challenge
Host:  For Those About to Read...
2011 Level: n/a
2012 Level:  10 books

1. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
2. Pantheons by E. J. Dabel
3. Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown
4. Initate by Tara Maya
5. Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman
6. Sufis at Culver by Richard Gwyn Davies
7. A Lloyd Alexander Collection by Lloyd Alexander
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