Pantheons (Pantheons, #1)

Mar 06, 2012 Katy rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everybody

Recommended to Katy by: Sea Lion Bookx

4.5 out of 5 stars

Isaiah Marshall has lived on the streets since he was a child. He had to grow up tough and strong, and now he runs his own gang – the Redrover Gang – consisting of his friends Jeremy, Monty and Pipsqueak. One day, while walking in a part of town they didn’t normally frequent, Isaiah is almost run down by a pretty-boy driving a fancy Ferrari, who announces that they are near Kaliber Academy, which is a place for people who want to learn and grow, and not a place for vagrants lik...more 4.5 out of 5 stars

Isaiah Marshall has lived on the streets since he was a child. He had to grow up tough and strong, and now he runs his own gang – the Redrover Gang – consisting of his friends Jeremy, Monty and Pipsqueak. One day, while walking in a part of town they didn’t normally frequent, Isaiah is almost run down by a pretty-boy driving a fancy Ferrari, who announces that they are near Kaliber Academy, which is a place for people who want to learn and grow, and not a place for vagrants like the Redrovers, so they need to just move along. Not being the type of people who take kindly to such attitude, the boys decide to crash the Academy, find the pretty boy, and teach him a lesson. What none of them expected was to be offered the chance to join the school themselves. That’s when everything changes for them, because Isaiah discovers that he is eligible to join a very exclusive club at Kaliber Academy – the Pantheon Club. It is only open to godlings – and Isaiah is the son of Zeus. Isaiah’s life is about to change, forever.

I was fortunate enough to get a very early look at this manuscript and am very impressed with the ideas that went into creating this book. I think it would be appropriate from tweens on up, providing a lot of life lessons in belonging, acceptance, growing up and taking responsibility for oneself. The characters are each well developed with a solid foundation behind them – reading this first book of the series, one might not catch all the nuances just yet, as there are revelations still to be made, but just be aware that there is a reason for everything in this book. The author has stated that he wants to make people think and react, and I believe that will be something that the potential reader can count on – this book will make you crank up your brainwaves a bit. That said, it’s not at all a difficult book – it has some challenging themes, but the writing style flows nicely and it is easy to follow the plot. I believe this is a book that almost anyone could enjoy and can recommend it.
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Mar 25, 2013 Erica rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. **WARNING** May contain some spoilers!

Before I start I wanted to say I LOVED this book and can’t wait to read the rest of the series. It was hard for me to write my review without giving some key information away. That is why some of my description sounds so general. I hope through my review you’ll be excited to go out and read this book.

Isaiah Marshall is a 15 year old street thug and the leader of the gang called the Redrovers. His gang thinks he’s a mute. But little do they know he can talk b...more **WARNING** May contain some spoilers!

Before I start I wanted to say I LOVED this book and can’t wait to read the rest of the series. It was hard for me to write my review without giving some key information away. That is why some of my description sounds so general. I hope through my review you’ll be excited to go out and read this book.

Isaiah Marshall is a 15 year old street thug and the leader of the gang called the Redrovers. His gang thinks he’s a mute. But little do they know he can talk but chooses not to because he can’t pronounce his letter “s”. The Redrovers learned street smarts and they don’t like anyone pushing them around, they stick up for each other and support each other even if they think one of them is going too far.

The Redrovers are angry at a kid that almost hit them with his car and follows him to his school. Little did they know this would lead to them joining school and liking it. Isaiah wasn’t as easy to convince to join but soon he sees he needs to be at this school and learns a lot about his past. Including his connection with the gods of the Ancient World and how they are all teenagers right now. There is a battle and Isaiah must save his own life and tries to save those around him.

The book leaves you with Isaiah declaring his ultimate revenge to the one who has hurt his family and friends. I really can’t wait for my chance to read the next book in this series. And I really hope a movie series will come of these books.

While reading I had the feelings of books like Harry Potter, meets Twilight, meets Hunger Games, meets the gods of the Ancient World. It’s a wonderful, fresh look at the gods and the battle they must fight. The battle Isaiah fights there must be only one survivor, but he does not want to be the one to kill his competitors. I found myself rooting for Isaiah and hoping he can win the battle, not only against the other teens but also the battle that is in his heart.

This is a must read book. I guarantee you won’t be able to put this book down. And I guarantee you’ll want to get the next book in the series, “Pantheons: The Game of the Gods”. Each book is under $2 for the kindle on Amazon(as of March 21, 2013). You can’t loose with that price and this amazing story. I would love to go into more detail about this book but I don’t want to give away the really great twists and surprises. Just trust me it’s a book you’ll love to read. If you love learning about Ancient gods, a good teen adventure and the similar books mentioned above I really believe you’ll love this book.

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* Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate my review. This post reflects my honest, personal opinion and experience with the product which may differ from yours. Product information courtesy of the sponsor. No monetary compensation was provided for this post.(less)

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Jun 10, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-sheila

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A long and shallow look at ancient gods from the perspective of teenage-dom.

Opening Sentence: “Hey Isaiah, what are we up to this morning?”

The Review:

I can safely sum up this entire book in one word: long. Yes, long. Too much time spent on day-to-day happenings without any extra character depth derived from it. And too little details for too many pages. There’s too much fighting without character growth arising from it. Pantheons, the first...more

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May 07, 2012 Jessie Potts rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy, young-adult-for-adults

Pantheons is a coming of age story about an unlikely hero with a speech impediment… it’s also about gods and goddesses of different Pantheons all over the world… oh it’s also about war, murder, action, adventure and romance with an automaton. If it seems like the author poured a whole lot of plot and details into this story it’s because he did. For those of you who aren’t that familiar with mythology from different civilizations, especially Greek, be prepared to flip back and forth trying to rem...more Pantheons is a coming of age story about an unlikely hero with a speech impediment… it’s also about gods and goddesses of different Pantheons all over the world… oh it’s also about war, murder, action, adventure and romance with an automaton. If it seems like the author poured a whole lot of plot and details into this story it’s because he did. For those of you who aren’t that familiar with mythology from different civilizations, especially Greek, be prepared to flip back and forth trying to remember which gods go where. For those of you, like me, who adore mythology then be prepared to enjoy a great story where different Pantheons collide. Oh and did I mention they’re all teenagers?

After the Last War, one where there was much blood and slaughter, the Powers-that-Be cursed all the gods and goddesses to live in mortal teenage bodies. This sucks, but they can still use their powers, they can just die too. Kaliber Academy is where these godlings (so to speak) have come together. This is where our hero Isaiah comes in. A rich snot (turns out it’s his dad who he has vowed to kill… long story) belittled his street gang and Isaiah wants revenge. He follows the rich kid into the Academy and is met by the principal who ends up offering his little gang the option of enrollment. The story gets kicked off from there when Isaiah saves a gold and silver girl who ends up being an automaton who was created to solely love one of the smith gods. There’s a tournament, coming of age, powers, jealous godlings, pissed off goddesses, and something everyone wants… the Dominion.

Dabel has written a detailed and intricate story. His hero isn’t a typical hero and has a speech impediment; he can’t pronounce the letter ‘s’. This causes some of the other kids to call him ‘retard’, so while yes it’s realistic, if this word greatly bothers you then you might not want to pick up this book. The different Pantheons of gods and goddesses can get confusing at times, and at the end of the book during the Tournament, there are multiple POVs and it can get a bit chaotic. For a debut novel Dabel has done well, and I would definitely buy the second book in the series when it comes out. You find yourself wanting to know how much more Isaiah will grow and discover about himself.
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Jan 04, 2012 Sandra "Jeanz" rated it 4 of 5 stars

I always say I am totally honest in my reviews, so, I have to begin my saying that initially I didn't think that this was "my type" of book. Then I began reading it and thought "oh no its going to be all complicated about gods, and who is on whose side etc etc" but it was not overly complicated and as you came across each God you didn't really need prior knowledge as it was explained and put across which Gods and ~goddesses had which strengths and weaknesses.
The book is well written and once it...more I always say I am totally honest in my reviews, so, I have to begin my saying that initially I didn't think that this was "my type" of book. Then I began reading it and thought "oh no its going to be all complicated about gods, and who is on whose side etc etc" but it was not overly complicated and as you came across each God you didn't really need prior knowledge as it was explained and put across which Gods and ~goddesses had which strengths and weaknesses.
The book is well written and once it hooks you, you are there with it to the end! The end has a twist I certainly didn't see coming and things are left well open with plenty of unanswered questions for a BK 2. and yes Bk 2will be on my wishlist to read!!
I loved the characters of Isaiah and his gang, the fact his was not some perfect guy. Isaiah has a speech impediment throughout the book, though at times he does overcome it, so his character is really believable. separately the members of Isaiah's gang would seem like a rag-taggle bunch of misfits who are weak and would be easily crushed by enemies too. However when Jeremy, Monty - the one always eyeing up the ladies and Pipsqueak - the walking dictionary are together with Isaiah, they are a strong formidable group. Isaiah begins the book just thinking himself an oddball really and not even speaking to his friends, who think he is a mute! He develops and finds out he is the son of Zeus, he finds out who killed his mother and immediately swear vengeance. Isaiah begins to have confidence and speaks. he has always fought for survival living on the streets, but when he starts attending the Kaliber Academy he has to fight for acceptance to the Godlings group and then fight for his life in a tournament organised on a magical island. I loved the character of Isaiah, he may live on the streets and have to regularly fight for survival but he has principles, he prides himself on fighting fairly....and one of his rules is he doesn't hit girls! Even when he is provoked he doesn't hit girls!
The book is quite thought provoking and you find yourself referring back to earlier instances and references in the book that suddenly make sense, and are relevant. You feel Isaiah's deep love and affection for his mother, and his hate and need for revenge against his father. Isaiah doesn't trust easily you have to earn his trust, just as he expects to earn yours. he doesn't take for granted or exploit his new status when it is revealed to him. he values each and every one of his friends, and when told they will be in danger goes as far as distancing himself from them even though it hurts him deeply to do so.
I finished this book in three sittings, and really enjoyed it and, yes, would recommend it too! Am putting Bk 2 on my wishlist now!!
I also love the simplicity of the cover, is the guy on it Zeus? Isaiah? or someone else? you need to read the book to decide for yourselves. As always I have tried to give no more "spoiler" or plot away than is already mentioned in the blurb, as I hate someone telling me all about the book, I like to find out about the majority of the book/plot myself when reading it. (Hope you agree)(less)

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Apr 25, 2012 Urban Fantasy Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

To read this book and others like it check out my site, www.ufreviews.com

Here we are with another YA novel, which is something I am super surprised to say I have started to enjoy the genre. And to be honest I was pretty excited about this book because I love the who Greek mythology thing, in fact it was the Greeks who made me minor in history. So long story short I love books with Greek themes, they are just so much fun and entertaining.

I have to say that thing I enjoyed the most about the boo...more To read this book and others like it check out my site, www.ufreviews.com

Here we are with another YA novel, which is something I am super surprised to say I have started to enjoy the genre. And to be honest I was pretty excited about this book because I love the who Greek mythology thing, in fact it was the Greeks who made me minor in history. So long story short I love books with Greek themes, they are just so much fun and entertaining.

I have to say that thing I enjoyed the most about the book were the characters. They are really well thought up, really well developed by the author to the readers, and in general it is easy to really like them. As a reader I enjoyed the characters, I wanted to know what was going to happen to them next, and I wanted them to come out on top in the end. I love when I read a book and I really get into the characters.

I have to say that I also really enjoyed the way that the Greek mythology was written about. It gave you a substantial information on a level that would be on par for a young adult book as well as interesting enough for adult readers to stay interested. I think when you have a history like Greek mythology an author can easily over complicate things and do a lot of "info dumps" but I was very happy to say that this was not the case in this book; the information was revealed in an organic way to the characters and plot.

I really want to note that the writing in this book is really good. I had this idea about young adult books, that a lot of the authors seem to almost dumb down their writing, but this author didn't do that. The writing is really good and I really appreciate that. Not only is the writing good though, I think it is exceptionally good for young adult readers, because the author explores a lot of really great themes for young people. There is a lot in this book having to do with coming of age, and being able to understand the responsibilities that entails.

Between the Greek mythology and the quality writing, I have to say I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys young adult books, but especially to young adults looking for a book to read. I think if you are an adult reader this book can be enjoyed all the same as well, so check it out. (less)

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Apr 24, 2013 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love when I find a book that captures me and won't let go and that's exactly what I found in this book! From the very first page it draws you in and keeps you in amazement and surprised! It's irristible and hard to put down! I love that the author took an old classic and threw in a modern twist and we get to learn about some really cool history along the way! There are some really amazing scenes and even some that will have you heartbroken and crying but you'll always come back for more! Panth...more

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Apr 07, 2012 Jowanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been a long time coming, and I really wish I had had the time and do a complete sit though instead of bits and pieces. It's been a long hard winter for me, with bouts of pneumonia.
That said. I love the idea of the book. Greek mythology is one of my favorite genres and I currently write them into my stories.
The gods as teens is an original idea and I would mostly recommend this to young boys, although my eight year old niece is obsessed with all things Percy Jackson, so I will r...more

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Feb 03, 2012 Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) rated it 3 of 5 stars

It's not really like me to describe a book as "book for guys" because I for one love reading books that were written for boys. This one is full of fighting, magic fantastical lands and adventure. The main group of characters is Isaiah and his gang. He is homeless and has a speech impediment so doesn't speak much. They are rough kids that stand up against others and do what they need to survive. One day they are hassled by a rich kid and end up walking into the Kaliber Academy to find the kid. Mi...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Willinda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, i-own, arc, read-in-2012, read-in-english, favorites

3,5/5

You might have read a few books about ancient mythology and you might have done your own picture of it in your mind. But prepare yourselves, in this book you will see the myth world like you´ve never seen before.
The main character, Isaiah, find out that he belongs to the myth world and he has destiny from which is not easy to run from. And he has to fight for his own freedom and for his friends´.

May be, you´ve heard some gossips about Ancient Greek world and their society. These stories u...more 3,5/5

You might have read a few books about ancient mythology and you might have done your own picture of it in your mind. But prepare yourselves, in this book you will see the myth world like you´ve never seen before.
The main character, Isaiah, find out that he belongs to the myth world and he has destiny from which is not easy to run from. And he has to fight for his own freedom and for his friends´.

May be, you´ve heard some gossips about Ancient Greek world and their society. These stories usually describe the Gods as lovely persons with good hearts. They also usually say how generous the Gods are to people, that they are giving us advices and sometimes even the gifts. But Pantheons shows us other view of them and I dare to say it is much better.
They are described, well, like humans, with human´s attributes and human´s behaviour. There are no naturally nice and kind Gods; most of them are regular bitches, and that´s kind of the principle of the Greek mythology. Every God was egocentric and just sometimes they were good to people. And that was just because it was doing really well for their ego.
The Greek mythology is all about Gods and their family problems (and there were plenty of them!) and this book shows another story of them. And when you mix it with the myths of other countries and put them altogether, you could make really big chaos. But not here, the story of Pantheons has not fault with the resources thing. These stuffs are here so natural and normal so you could think that such thing as Gods really exists (and with that come the monsters! Don’t forget that!). You maybe are afraid of the thing with the mythology. Not many authors can actually write books with this theme and not do something awful. You may be not happy with the fact that the goods are described here as teenagers, and yeah, it is kind of weird when Hera is talking about Zeus like her boyfriend. The author try of making the book closer to the young readers with making the characters in their ages is understandable. But the main characters are in readers´ age, so I think that the gods can really stayed as adults and the book with that can be even better. But this is really one thing I could criticize about the historic point of this book.

Isaiah story is fascinating. And Isaiah as a character really interested me. In the beginning he was so close and defenced to others and the word. But how the story went, he became so good character. He even had problems with his speech, he couldn´t tell the letter s! And that was quite cool. But he grew up from this closed guy to the hero.

If you look just to the story lines you will find out that this is a story with just two or three possible lines. The main with Isaiah and his future and a pair of others lines, which just accompanied the main one. The stories with uncountable lines are usually good, but there is nothing wrong with just a pair of them. You just concentrate about this and your mind is not full of other things.
The author really can tell the story. Every page of Pantheons is good written and the reading captures you. But there is one problem: the middle of the book missed the flame that makes you read every page without breathe. It can be read really fast and you can even like it, but it´s kind of boring there. You are even so much excited about the story but there is not the power that makes you read and your mind is sometimes miles away. But the good thing is that this problem is really just in the middle of the book.

So, you have read the book almost to the end, there are just a few pages before you and you have really high expectations about the end, because you kind of don´t know what you think about it. And then the end hits you. And you know that you really like it, no matter that you were quite bored in the middle, because the end was epic. This one word describes it a lot.

Pantheons is a must read for everyone who like to read the modern mythology stories. Really, if you like this kind of historical fiction, this book is right for you.
If you are interested in a heroic story, you should definitely check it out. And it has really good potential for sequel of Isaiah story, not just because of the end of the book, but because of everything.(less)

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Feb 01, 2012 Cassie McCown rated it 4 of 5 stars

Pantheons
By: EJ Dabel
ISBN: 9780983613176
Published January 5, 2012 by Sea Lion Books
Available Format: ebook

My Rating: ★★★★☆

I truly loved the basis of this story—all the different gods from all the different pantheons forced to live in present times in the bodies of teenagers. Talk about some punishment! I'm a big fan of mythology, although I don't know nearly as much as I wish I did. I was able to recognize many of the characters in this novel, and I even learned a thing or two as well.

I appreci...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Diayll rated it 2 of 5 stars

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 2 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Publisher
Reviewer: AimeeKay

I’m torn with this book. The idea and premise behind it I really liked. I love ancient religions and I really like to see how authors write them into present day situations. I also really liked the fact that the author of Pantheons used not just well known gods but also more obscure ones, such as gods from Native American and Chinese culture.

The story itself is really intriguing as...more Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 2 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Publisher
Reviewer: AimeeKay

I’m torn with this book. The idea and premise behind it I really liked. I love ancient religions and I really like to see how authors write them into present day situations. I also really liked the fact that the author of Pantheons used not just well known gods but also more obscure ones, such as gods from Native American and Chinese culture.

The story itself is really intriguing as well. All the different pantheons must fight a war every age to decide which pantheon will rule. What happens if they all agree not to fight? Also what if the war to decide the next age hinges not on the elder gods, but on a new god, born in the modern age, who up until recently didn’t even know he was a god at all?

Unfortunately there were issues with the book that caused me not to enjoy it as much as I think I should have.

One thing I had a problem with was the writers’ style. When it comes to descriptions I’m of the opinion that sometimes less is more. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good detailed description as much as the next reader. It helps to draw you in and really helps you to see the characters and their surroundings. But the fewer words to do this the better (there are some exceptions to this, but they are few and far between). I found the author kept repeating certain words in a description. Or at times he would be creating a certain mood for a scene and then throw in a word that just seemed to negate the whole effect. I found myself wanting to skim through the descriptions, but I couldn’t in case I missed an important detail to the story itself.

Another problem I had was with the characters. One character in particular was portrayed as being strong, mentally as well as physically. They were supposed to be knowledgeable, and had a back story filled with regrets about the life lessons they had learned. Then out of the blue he repeats his actions from his past all over again. When you add the characters acting out of character in certain parts, it just doesn’t make sense.

Overall, the bad finally outweighed the good for me on this one. I give the book 2 out of 5 controllers. I loved the story itself, or at least the idea of it. But I just couldn’t get into it, the main reasons being the authors writing style and the issues I had with the characterization.
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Apr 06, 2012 Liliana ♥s Mythology rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gods-goddesses, from-author-or-publisher, greek-mythology, norse-mythology, egyptian-mythology, monsters-or-other-creatures, demons-devil, on-kindle, other-mythology, read-for-review, supernatural-abilities

Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book

Let me tell you a little story about Zeus, the Greek god of the sky, and his first wife Metis, an Oceanid and Greek goddess of wisdom.

During the Titan War, Metis acted as Zeus’s counselor and advisor. And way before that, Metis was the one who advised and gave Zeus the potion that would make Kronos throw up his children (I’m not going to get into that story, though). Soon after Zeus and Metis married, she became pregnant with a daughter who would become Athena. How...more Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book

Let me tell you a little story about Zeus, the Greek god of the sky, and his first wife Metis, an Oceanid and Greek goddess of wisdom.

During the Titan War, Metis acted as Zeus’s counselor and advisor. And way before that, Metis was the one who advised and gave Zeus the potion that would make Kronos throw up his children (I’m not going to get into that story, though). Soon after Zeus and Metis married, she became pregnant with a daughter who would become Athena. However, there was a prophecy that Zeus heard about that said that if Metis were to give Zeus a son, that son would be very powerful and he would overthrow Zeus, just like Zeus did to his father, Kronos. Fearful and not knowing that the child Metis carried was a girl, Zeus tricked Metis into turning into a fly…then he swallowed her! And then this leads to Athena’s unusual birth, which I’m not going to get into either, though it very tempting, lol. You guys should totally check it out if you haven’t done so already, it’s very interesting!

In Pantheons, Zeus doesn’t know that Metis did actually give birth to a son, as well…a son that is prophesized to overthrow Zeus. And that son is Isaiah Marshall.

I thought the author did a fantastic job taking this myth and making it his own! Very creative! Love it!

So as the prophecy says, Isaiah is destined to overthrow his father. And what better thing to help fulfill this than his anger toward Zeus for killing his mother? Yes, Isaiah is determined to kill Zeus.

Let me tell you, Isaiah is a very strong character; he went through some serious character development. I mean, how can he not when he finds out that he is a freakin’ god, his parents are/were gods too, his dad killed his mom, and he learns about some prophecy he is supposed to fulfill! Crazy stuff.

Isaiah trains for a tournament in which one god from each of the ten Pantheons participates. If Isaiah wins this tournament, he will be that much closer to actually having a chance at beating his dear ol’ dad. Talking about the tournament, it was intense! I really liked the alternating point of views between one god and another.

Overall, I thought it was a really good read! I mean, as a mythology nerd, how can I not love a book that incorporates like 10 different Pantheons of gods?! The best part is that although there are so many different mythologies going on, it isn’t overwhelming! And the even greater part: the books main focus is Greek mythology, my favorite! :D

Oh I can’t wait for book 2! It’s going to be great!(less)

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Apr 16, 2012 Erica rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, ya, mythology

I am not going to do a recap of the book because everyone else has pretty much already covered that. :)
So I will just say what I liked and what I didn't.

What I liked:
*I really liked learning a bit about all sorts of other gods. I adore Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians as well as his Heroes of Olympus series. After reading those books I became very interested in mythology so it was interesting to learn more about other gods from different cultures.
*The action/fighting scenes were e...more

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Feb 28, 2012 Amy Halbern rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Pantheons was my first Y/A Mythology based read. I loved it, from start to finish. E.J. Dabel did a phenomenal job writing this story. I had the opportunity to review it before it was released. My goal was to finish it before it was released, which didn't quite happen. LOL! I also had the opportunity to discuss the book with E.J. as I was reading it. By doing that it helped me better understand the story and the characters. E.J. became a great friend to me in doing this. This was such a neat exp...more Pantheons was my first Y/A Mythology based read. I loved it, from start to finish. E.J. Dabel did a phenomenal job writing this story. I had the opportunity to review it before it was released. My goal was to finish it before it was released, which didn't quite happen. LOL! I also had the opportunity to discuss the book with E.J. as I was reading it. By doing that it helped me better understand the story and the characters. E.J. became a great friend to me in doing this. This was such a neat experience. I am glad I took a chance on this story. I was hesitant in reading it, for the fact that I am not the hugest fan of Greek Mythology, but I can say I am now. At the beginning of the story I was introduced to a few characters, one being Isaiah Marshall. Isaiah's Character was shy and didn't speak, but his best friends who are also his family didn't ever question it, but accepted him anyway. I loved his friends they were so much fun to read. Sam is another Character that I grew to love, she is such a strong, sweet, devoted friend to Isaiah. Some other characters I really liked were Pepe, Epimetheus, Prometheus, and Taizo Denji. All great characters. I really liked how all of the Gods in this story were all teenagers, but still had their powers as if they were hundreds of years old. Throughout this story there was a lot of Tragedy and a lot of Wow, or OMG moments and it kept me asking; "Did that really just happen!" There was so many twists and turns that E.J. throws at the readers, it had me on the edge of my seat not knowing what to expect next. As I continued to read this story I kept thinking will anything be in Isaiah's favor?? He was thrown through so many obstacles and practically had the "kitchen sink" thrown at him I didn't think he would ever survive. However Isaiah had a great support team, which included his mentors Epimetheus and Prometheus to help him, including an unknown "inside" source, who has not been revealed yet helping him too!! I am glad through all of the trials Isaiah went through, he never lost sight of himself and was still helping those around him. I am so glad that he didn't give into his primal side completely and go around slaughtering everyone, lol! Who knows how he will be in the next book?? It made me sad at the end. The tragedies that took place with certain people or Titans who he truly cared about, was hard to read and did get me a little teary eyed. However I loved the end, it wasn't a huge cliffhanger but it gave me as the reader a sense of hope that things will maybe get better and then get worse again.. To end on a happy note I loved the following words that Isaiah's says; this is referring to the godlings that he is in charge of or looks after, "They will say I laughed in the face of all monsters, and I protected my friends and loved ones from their claws, teeth and venom. They will say I was fearless and fierce in the rescue of my friends." Such an awesome statement. I believe that in the next books Isaiah will change the world, hopefully for the better.. And Maybe even get his revenge on Zeus, for killing his mother and others he loved!!! I do hope that Zeus and Hera do get their "just desserts!!" (less)

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Feb 08, 2012 Heidi rated it 4 of 5 stars

“Four Stars: Fans of mythology will love the collision of all the Gods in this book.

Isaiah Marshall has not had an easy go in life. As a homeless orphan, he lives under a bridge, using newspapers at night to keep out the cold. Despite his circumstances he is content. Isaiah is the leader of a small gang, with three other members. The small quartet are inseparable. The others, follow Isaiah with loyal admiration, even though he rarely speaks, due to his inability to pronounce the letter "s". A se...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Jeanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, on-my-kindle

Isaiah Marshall lives on the streets with his gang of four, the Red rovers, rashly fighting any man who comes in their path. When this pompous boy insults the gang, they follow him to his rich school to finish him. In their search for the boy, the vice principal discovers the mischievous boys and tests Isaiah’s leadership by getting in the way of his gang. He brings the gang to the principal where punishment may be the last thing on the principal’s mind. He offers the boys a chance to attend sch...more Isaiah Marshall lives on the streets with his gang of four, the Red rovers, rashly fighting any man who comes in their path. When this pompous boy insults the gang, they follow him to his rich school to finish him. In their search for the boy, the vice principal discovers the mischievous boys and tests Isaiah’s leadership by getting in the way of his gang. He brings the gang to the principal where punishment may be the last thing on the principal’s mind. He offers the boys a chance to attend school. This leads Isaiah, the leader of the Red rovers, to discover that he is the son of Zeus. He must train to become the best he can be to take revenge on the man who murdered his mother.

I loved this book. I was a little spectacle in the beginning because there was so much to take in, at first, but I quickly caught on and enjoyed it. After the small introduction, it became an action-filled adventure that grabbed my attention at every page.

There were so many characters that I have difficulty remembering them all. Isaiah Marshall, the protagonist, was so relatable and I loved knowing what the boy was thinking. He was very interesting and not your generic boy from the streets. Isaiah was a gentleman and really surprised me, in the end. Sam, an automaton, seemed so real that sometimes I even forgot that she was just a robot. I can’t really choose a favorite god or goddess. I liked how Demeter went about fighting and I want to know more about the shy Lugh and his tattoo.

Dabel’s voice seeped through much of the writing in the book. The dialogue gave life to the characters. I feel like I know a lot of the characters by their attitude. Isaiah couldn’t pronounce the letter s, which made some people misjudge him. While reading, I usually am influenced by some part of the book and a lot of Pantheons was Isaiah speaking like that; I had to catch myself to pronounce the letter s sometimes. This pronunciation shows that Isaiah may have trouble speaking but is relatable to any reader. Pantheons really is an adventure that no one should miss.

The ending took me by surprise. I thought the book was going to end with everyone dead, but Isaiah is very much alive. In the tournament, I was surprised how Isaiah decided to present himself; he decided to follow his rules even if he was fighting for his life. I want to know what happens next. The ending left me wanting more. But I, not only, want to know what happens to Isaiah but to Jeremy, Hera, and Sam. Dabel left a lot of things open, and I hope that means there will be a sequel.

Pantheons takes you to Isaiah’s world and captures the essence of a boy discovering who he is for the first time. Lovers of Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games series will find a new favorite with this action-packed read.
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Apr 01, 2012 Ana rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Ana by: Sea Lion Books

Shelves: author-canada, arc, read-in-2012, ebook, in-english, urban-fantasy

Podem ler a opinião completa no Floresta de Livro.

Although the mythology was used with great care and interest, mostly everything else about this book was too convenient in terms of plot.
We have some good characters and even an interesting premisse (as well as the mythology), but from then on it's just too much.
Everything happens too fast, without any reasonable logic. Isaiah is weak, then strong, then weak again, strong, weak, weak, strong, weak, and so forth. it makes no sense and the only re...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Veronica Morfi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

This is the story of Isaiah, a homeless teen who finds himself attending an elite high school after some strange incident. There he finds out who he really is, the son of Zeus and Metis, that the ancient gods are walking amongst mortal in teenage bodies and that there is a prophecy that he will kill his father Zeus and take his throne.

What I loved:
There were a ton of battle scenes that were really great. I couldn't get enough of them. Especially at the ending, there was a tournament which kind o...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Because of being a huge fan of the Percy Jackson series and a recommendation from Sea Lion Books I decided to read this book. It did not disappoint! I enjoyed reading about the different gods from each pantheon instead of it being just about Greek mythology. The twist of them being trapped in teenage bodies made it more interesting. I would definitely recommend this book to friends and family...fact is, I already have!

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Apr 02, 2012 Claudia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Overall the book was good. The ending left me thinking what the heck is going on? The plot twist of Zues being the originator of the Sampo, and setting in motion all the other actions make my head ache.
I feel the story needs some work on it to clear up grammatcal errors,plus other problems with one characters.

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May 07, 2012 Haiku Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

Isaiah is trash
He lives on the streets and fights
But oh! He’s much more

He is a godling
In a teenage mortal form
His father is Zeus

He must learn to fight
Learn to harness his powers
Or lost Dominion

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Apr 15, 2012 Dana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mr. Dabel's Pantheons is a wonderful story with great character development that will grab your attention and keep you enthralled till the twist at the end. The one draw back is you are going to be left with questions and waiting for the next in the series....but that is ok, that is kind of fun. Dabel's explanation of the many gods in Greek mythology is very clear and fascinating and I can't wait for Pantheons number 2. I am not a good writer I wasn't blessed with the ability to write these beau...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Stephanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm kind of iffy on this book. Zeus is a jerk,and the main character is the typical head strong hero who just cant catch a break. I love the twist on story and how all different mythologies are mixed in but at the end of the book i was like, "eh". I'm not excited to read the second one and havent rushed to buy it. I would so much rather read Percy Jackson but hey every dog deserves his day. Not a bad read, quick and easy to get through, but gets really boring is some parts. At the end you end up...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Nikoleta marked it as to-read

I m so HAPPYYYYYY!!
I won Pantheons (Pantheons, #1) in a giveaway....!!!Lollllll!!!

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Jul 03, 2012 Deoro rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, fantasy

The plot summary sounded great but I never got into the story or bought the premise.

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Jan 19, 2012 Natshane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazing-covers, heart-wrenching, first-impression-check

This book is one of the most original adaptation of Greek Mythology!

Review to be added later:D

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Jan 30, 2012 Laura Lock marked it as to-read

Can't WAIT to read this ;)

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Nov 08, 2012 Kara is currently reading it

Shelves: ebook

I'm going to try this out. Why not?

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Jun 06, 2012 Laura Ashlee marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: 2012

I couldn't get into this one and finally gave up. Sad day.

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Creative Reviews: PANTHEONS	1	14	Jan 17, 2012 05:09pm
Sea Lion Books: Pantheons Now Available on Amazon (Kindle)	1	4	Jan 09, 2012 06:15pm
We Love Fantasy a...: Pantheons	1	10	Dec 14, 2011 05:12pm

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