Mythology Archives - BiblioHacker

The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan

Posted on June 16, 2018 by Michelle Huss

(5 / 5)

The Trials of Apollo #3
Damn Riordan, I was not expecting that! The Burning Maze is a game changer, and one that I definitely did not see coming. Now that I think back on it, Riordan’s always seems to throw a curveball in book 3 (at least in his 5 book series). I can’t really say much else about this without spoilers (for this book and his other series), so we’ll leave it at that.

As always, you can’t help but love Apollo’s wit and self-deprecating attitude. He’s not a hero, but is constantly thrown into these heroic situations. His character and relationship with mortality has grown in leaps and bounds through this series, and his development is just so heartwarming to see. The events of The Burning Maze are likely to change Apollo forever, and I just can’t wait to see where this series ultimately takes him.

As always, I loved getting cameos from some of our favorite characters from past series: Grover, Piper, Jason, and even Coach Hedge make a comeback in this one. It’s always great to catch up with our old friends and see what they are up to.

I’m not sure how I’m going to make it till next Fall for the sequel!

The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan

Posted on December 1, 2017December 23, 2017 by Michelle Huss

(5 / 5)

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #3
Great conclusion to the series! I think what I love most about Magnus Chase, is he is not your typical hero. He’s not very good at fighting (his animate sword Jack takes care of most of the fighting for him), he’s not a brilliant strategist or master planner, and his “demigod” powers include healing and “The Peace of Frey” which blasts the weapons from everyone’s hands (his allies included). But above all Magnus is caring, loyal, and determined – and he surrounds himself with a group of powerful and resourceful allies.

Many of our side character’s get the highlight in The Ship of the Dead. Mallory and T.J. in particular get a great spotlight. And Alex Fierro has become one of my favorite character’s ever! As a gender fluid character, she/he is probably the most unique character I’ve seen in popular literature and really put a “face” to an identity I was basically unfamiliar with. Thank you Riordan for challenging our beliefs and presenting such diverse characters to our children. I really believe that it’s books like this that will help to breed more understanding and inclusive generations.

Religion is also handled so well in this series. The dichotomy between Muslim Samirah and Atheist Magnus is handled with tack and understanding, and projects such a wonderful message of inclusion that it warms my soul. Not to mention mixing this with a world where the Norse gods are real and coexist with these other faiths.

Overall, a great ending to the series. Though we are finished with Magnus and friends for now, I have no doubt that they will pop up at some future point in Riordan’s writing (Percy Jackson does make an appearance in this book after all). As always, looking forward to more from my favorite Middle Grade author.

The Mythology of Supernatural by Nathan Robert Brown

Posted on June 20, 2017August 3, 2017 by Michelle Huss

(3 / 5)

So this is definitely not my usual fare, but I’ve been a loyal fan of Supernatural for years and as I recently found myself binge watching season 12, it seemed like a good time to pick it up. Overall, this book is full of interesting tidbits about the mythology of the show, mostly focusing on the Judeo-Christian elements: demons, angels, heaven, and hell. There is a bit of other mythology mixed in, especially as we see familiar faces and ideas from Judeo-Christian tradition showing up in other religions.

While I enjoyed the history and mythology presented in this book, it was a bit dry to read straight through. And while I found the Judeo-Christian mythology interesting, I wish there had been a bit more discussion of the monsters of supernatural, especially some of the more unique ones that are not a part of everyday pop culture. There was some of this (especially in the chapter titled “The Winchester Arsenal”), but not as much as I would have liked. It is also worth noting that this book mostly deals with the events of the first 5 seasons (with a small look at some of the early episodes of season 6). With Supernatural starting its 13th season this fall, I definitely felt there is still a lot more to explore.

The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan

Posted on May 29, 2017September 3, 2017 by Michelle Huss

(4 / 5)

The Trials of Apollo #2
Rick Riordan does not disappoint with The Dark Prophecy. While I don’t think I loved this novel quite as much as The Hidden Oracle, it is still full of great snippets of Apollo’s past, more background on Meg, and fabulous cameos by Leo, Calypso, and Thalia. Filled with plenty of humor and action, I particularly enjoyed how Riordan was able to incorporate characters from his previous series, while still leaving Apollo and Meg in the spotlight.

Apollo’s attitude is much changed in this novel from the first, and I’m beginning to wonder what this will mean for our god at the end of this series (he is becoming more “human” with each passing book). That being said, I don’t feel like our god-turned-human had quite the same character revelations here as he did in The Hidden Oracle, and I have to say I missed that a bit. Apollo’s transformation in the first novel was just so wonderful to read, I had hoped to see more of that. But, with three more books left in the series, I guess he still has a lot of time to grow. As always, I’m looking forward to the next installment!

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Posted on April 18, 2017June 18, 2017 by Michelle Huss

(5 / 5)

Star-Touched #2

“But why settle for a story, when I could start a legend?”

Wow, what a beautiful novel! From the magnificent imagery, to the delectable bites of Hindu folklore, to the thrilling adventure of self-discovery and change, this book had me hooked from the beginning. And I was skeptical, putting its predecessor, The Star-Touched Queen, firmly on my “it’s alright” list. But A Crown of Wishes contained everything that I felt was missing from the former: a coherent plot, a sense of urgency and drive to move the story forward, and most importantly characters with depth and heart who change and grow as a result of the story. Vikram’s and Gauri’s journey was wondrous to behold, and I’m so glad that I gave this book a chance.