Blog Tour: Review, Excerpts, & Giveaway ~ Daughters of Zeus Series by Kaitlin Bevis

Hey guys! Welcome to my stop on the Daughters of Zeus Series Blog Tour hosted by Girls Heart Books Tours. I have a review of the first book for you today and excerpts from the second and third books. Click here to follow along with the full blog tour schedule! :D

Title: Persephone 

Series: Daughters of Zeus #1

Author: Kaitlin Bevis 

Publication date: July 6th 2012

Genre: YA Mythology 

Source: Review copy 

Blog Tour organized by: Girls Heart Books Tours

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~ Synopsis ~

There are worse things than death, worse people too.

The "talk" was bad enough, but how many teens get told that they're a goddess? When her mom tells her, Persephone is sure her mother has lost her mind. It isn't until Boreas, the god of winter, tries to abduct her that she realizes her mother was telling the truth. Hades rescues her, and in order to safely bring Persephone to the Underworld her marks her as his bride. But Boreas will stop at nothing to get Persephone. Despite her growing feelings for Hades, Persephone wants to return to the living realm. Persephone must find a way to defeat Boreas and reclaim her life.

~ My Thoughts ~ 

My Rating: 5 / 5

Persephone was freaking awesome from start to finish! I haven't read many mythology based YA books, if any, and this was such a great one to start out with! There's humor, romance, intensity, and characters I fell in love with. 

My Favorite Quote: 

"What do you mean?" I demanded. "And I am going back. In three months, remember?" 

"I'm already counting the days," Hades replied dryly.

Persephone is a high school student and innocent when it comes to matters of the gods and goddesses because she's gone her entire sixteen years without knowing she herself is a goddess. When strange things start happening to her, she thinks she may be going crazy, but her mother lets her know she's been lying to Persephone for many years now, letting her think she's human. 

Persephone has caught the attention of Boreas, the god of winter. He attempts to kidnap her, which is when Hades steps in and rescues her. She must stay in the Underworld marked as Hades's bride in order to live there safely as well as avoid being captured by Boreas. From there, the story unfolds beautifully.      

The Greek mythology is blended into the story seamlessly, and it was a lot of fun to read. I liked the moments Persephone pointed out the differences between what humans are told with the myths and the actual reality - for instance, Hades is a lot different than he's portrayed in the myths. It's easy to picture him as deformed looking and rather unpleasant to be around, but in this story, he's handsome and caring. He likes humans, and though he's god and king of the Underworld, he sees everyone as friends rather than as employees or subjects.

I couldn't help but love Persephone and Hades. They're my two favorite characters. I don't think Persephone's mother is as bad as Persephone thinks she is, but I'd probably feel betrayed if I had been lied to about my true identity. That's pretty huge. I kept hoping Persephone and Hades would become romantically involved because though she's been marked as his bride, she's more preoccupied with getting back "topside" (back to where she was living). I love them together! *sigh*

I can never get enough Greek mythology. I'm looking forward to what's next for Persephone and recommending this series to everyone I know! 

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Title: Daughter of the Earth and Sky

Series: Daughters of Zeus #2

Author: Kaitlin Bevis

Publication date: December 21st 2012 

Genre: YA Mythology

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~ Synopsis ~

Some vows can never be broken.

Persephone thought she could go back to her normal life after returning from the Underworld. She was wrong.

The goddess Aphrodite is born among the waves with more charm than she can control. Zeus is stalking Persephone and her loved ones, and Thanatos is no longer content with Persephone's silence. 

He wants her soul. 

Persephone can't tell anyone about Thanatos' betrayal, and it drives a wedge between her and Hades. Her mother is still keeping secrets, and Melissa's jealousy of Aphrodite threatens to tear their friendship apart.

Alone, Persephone turns to a human boy for comfort. But will their relationship put him in danger? Sacrifices must be made, and Persephone must choose between her human life and her responsibilities as a goddess. If she doesn't, she could lose them both. But will either life be worth choosing once Zeus is through with her?

~ Excerpt ~

I'd been here before. My bare feet glided over the leaf-strewn path, unharmed by the rocks and twigs crunching beneath me. Massive live oaks draped with Spanish moss created a canopy above me, transforming the forest path into a tunnel of speckled sunlight. The air was heavy with humidity. The moist heat pressed against my skin and stole the breath from my lungs. By the time I reached the path's end, my Eeyore nightshirt clung to my skin.

"Dungeoness." I came to a halt when I recognized the sprawling ruins of ancient ivy-covered brick and stone manor. 

Athens Academy took my class on a week-long trip to Georgia's coastal islands freshman year. Cumberland Island was a major highlight because of the sea turtles, wild horses, and these ruins.

"Good job, Persephone," I muttered, kicking at a branch. "You've figured out where you are, but how did you get here?" I knelt to pick up a smooth, white stone, tucking damp tendrils of hair behind my ears so I could see better. The rock looked and felt real. I ran my hand over the smooth stone, turning it over and tracing the shape. The weight of it in my hand reassured me.

I turned, hoping the path held some answers, but it was no longer there. I stood on the grass-covered shoreline looking out to sea. In the distance, a girl stood thigh high in the ocean, clad in a gown of strategically placed sea foam. Although her back was to me, I could tell she was perfect. The curly ringlets of hair cascading down her flawless cream skin matched the intense orange of the sky as the sun sank in the sea. 

I glanced down at my sun-kissed skin, self-conscious. She was really pretty. A movement caught my attention and I glanced up as she looked over her shoulder, aquamarine eyes meeting mine. Then she spoke. I was shocked to hear Boreas' cold voice roll off her tongue. "Zeus lives."

I stumbled backward. Boreas, the god of winter. My mind flashed back to that horrible day in the clearing last winter. Boreas' cold laughter. His fingers digging in my hair as he pulled me across the frozen ground. Melissa's eyes widening as she choked on her last breath. The rush of power that gave me the strength to put Death himself, and Boreas, under my control. 

A soul for a soul. I'd bargained with Thanatos, the god of death, and killed Boreas without a second thought, saving my best friend. 

Now images shoved their way through my thoughts: Cumberland Island, two sunsets, lightning cracking in the sky. My mind screamed against the onslaught. I gritted my teeth and forced myself to think the word that would make it all stop. 

I bolted up in bed with a gasp. A weight in my hand made me look down. I unclenched my fist, revealing the white stone from Dungeoness.

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Title: The Iron Queen

Series: Daughters of Zeus #3

Author: Kaitlin Bevis

Publication date: May 17th 2013

Genre: YA Mythology 

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~ Synopsis ~

Life is hell for Persephone. Zeus will stop at nothing to gain access to the living realm and the Underworld, and as the only living god with a right to both, Persephone's in trouble. Captured and tortured beyond the limits of her resolve, Persephone must find the power to stand against Zeus. But will she be strong enough?

Meanwhile, Hades contemplates desperate measures to rescue his queen. Persephone never thought of herself as dangerous, but there's a reason gods never marry for love. A being with the power to destroy all of creation shouldn't place more value in one individual than the rest of the planet. But Hades...Hades would break the world for her. 

To save the world and stop both Hades and Zeus, Persephone must make a difficult choice. One that may cost her everything.    

~ Excerpt ~

Hades

Watching my wife chase after a human boy was hell. The heavy rain drenched the thin fabric of her clothes in seconds, plastering them to her body in a way that would be appealing...if he wasn't going to see her, too. I clenched my jaw. She just doesn't want him to get hurt. It wasn't as though I wanted any mortals caught in the crossfire when we faced Zeus either. Persephone was just going to charm the boy into leaving the park. 

Tearing my gaze away from her as she scurried up the hill, I searched the parking lot for Aphrodite, or Zeus, or whoever he, she, it may be. I had the layout of Memorial Park memorized, anyway. Who was I kidding? The entire city of Athens, Georgia was embedded in my mind. The precaution was reasonable. Persephone spent most of her time here, and she was a magnet for trouble. 

I followed her up the dirt-packed path in my mind's eye. She'd be rounding the corner now well above the park, oblivious to the way the plants she passed leaned toward her. Persephone was beautiful. Vibrant. Light and vitality pulsed from her that like the first warm gust of a spring breeze promised everything would soon be new and alive again, that winter would thaw into life. Everything was drawn to her. Unfortunately. 

My thoughts returned to the human boy she was following. I scowled. Rain fell, pinging against the transparent shield that kept me out of sight while I sat dry atop a metal picnic table. My fingers worried a spot of rust. I tried not to think too hard about whatever else might have touched the shining surface. 

This realm was disgusting. Insects swarmed the park, and birds flew through the air, dropping waste indiscriminately onto the world below. I couldn't wait to return to the Underworld. The surface had its charms, but I had no desire to stay for long. 

Joel!

Persephone's voice rang through my mind, and I tossed up a mental wall. It wasn't just good manners preventing me from listening in. This boy had been in her thoughts every night. I'd seen the way he looked at her like she was something to be consumed, the way he touched her like her body was his for the taking, the way her heart raced when she felt his breath upon her neck. I clenched my jaw and studied the parking lot like it might change shape any moment. 

She'd probably think less of me if I ripped him apart. 

Not that her opinion was all that stopped me. It wasn't my habit to go around killing mortal children, and not just because I'd have to deal with them in the Underworld. I liked humans. Just not when they groped my wife.

My heart thudded at an uncomfortable speed, filling my body with adrenaline. I couldn't seem to catch my breath. My hands gripped the edge of the picnic table, and I leaned forward, muscles tensed. That was strange. I had no reason to be this anxious. He was just a kid, and Persephone was Persephone; she had no idea what effect she had. I couldn't really fault him for being interested, and I had encouraged her to see other people. A spectacularly stupid move on my part. Not only was it condescending as hell to tell Persephone what she should and shouldn't feel toward me, but I'd managed to push her into the arms of another man. It had taken all of two seconds for me to realize I really didn't want her to be with other men.

Apparently on top of all my other charming flaws I'm over-possessive. Who knew? 

I took a deep breath to force myself to calm down, but it didn't seem to work. What was the matter with me? Channeling Persephone's power away every night had given me a very unwanted front row seat to her developing relationship with Joel. I'd seen every kiss, everything, and not felt this before. It hadn't been pleasant, but-

Cold dread filled the pit of my stomach, and I frowned. This didn't even feel like rage. My heart was still beating a mile a minute, like it might burst free from my chest at the slightest provocation. I felt strange, no...terrified. 

That was it. Fear. But why was I-? It wasn't mine. 

My thoughts flew to Persephone, crashing through the mental wall. Her abject terror flooded my thoughts with such paralyzing force that for a second I lost the ability to move or breathe. All that existed was her fear. The boy spoke in a harsh voice, grip tight on her arm. I rose from the picnic table, ready to relieve him of that limb, when his words filtered through her thoughts. 

...Hades.

I blinked. How would he know my name?

A red sports car squealed into the parking lot, and I swore. Hate to interrupt, I directed the thought to Persephone. The boy locked gazes with Persephone and seemed to look through her to me.

I knew those eyes. Images and thought fragments flashed from Persephone's mind to catch me up, but I already knew everything I needed to. 

Persephone, run! I tore through the parking lot to reach the path. 

Hades, it's Joel! He's Zeus! The whole story passed through my mind accompanied by waves of fear and guilt. Persephone gripping Joel's arm to teleport but nothing happening, followed by her realization that Joel wasn't from this realm. Her shock and horror when his glamour melted away. Why wasn't she running?

Get out of there, now! I couldn't keep the panic out of my thoughts. If Zeus hurt her...

Our plan, she protested. 

She wouldn't. Only a fool would risk going through with our plan now. We'd intended to trap Zeus by having him stand on an entrance to the Underworld so we could bring some of my realm up and around him. A little slice of Tartarus. It has worked to imprison some of the Titans before, and it could work with him. But not like this. Not with her alone and hopelessly overpowered. 

But this was Persephone. The girl who fled the safety of the Underworld to confront Boreas with nothing but righteous indignation on her side. It was foolish of me to expect her to do anything else.

I swore and scrambled up the hill. Just teleport. Leave! 

I can get him to the entrance. Hades, this is our best chance. Her determination pounded through me coupled with her desperate need for this to be over. She wouldn't run. If I couldn't reach her in time...A bright light seared my vision as I rounded teh corner. She screamed, intense pain flashing through her and reverberating to me. I stumbled, blinded by her white-hot agony. Another flash. Pain flared through her, exploding within my mind in a cacophony of anguish. My vision cleared for a split second, and I saw the ground rush toward me. Then everything went black.     

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~ About the Author: Kaitlin Bevis ~

Kaitlin Bevis spent her childhood curled up with a book and a pen. If the ending didn't agree with her, she rewrote it. She's always wanted to be a writer, and she spent high school and college learning everything she could so that one day she could achieve that goal. She graduated college with a BFA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, and is pursuing her masters at the University of Georgia. 

Her young adult series "Daughters of Zeus" is available wherever ebooks are sold. She also writes for truuconfessions.com and Athens Parent Magazine. 

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