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Oppression (Children of the Gods #1)

by Jessica Therrien (Goodreads Author)

3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 · rating details · 939 ratings · 237 reviews

Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than the average person, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal.

For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After the de...more

ebook, 346 pages

Published February 28th 2012 by ZOVA Books

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Mar 02, 2012 Leslye rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Downloaded the $.99 ebook - though I'm a bit wary of Greek God stories (especially after The Goddess Test), I thought I'd give it a try. Overall, it held my interest, but at 47% on the Kindle, I just can't go any further.

Elyse looks 18 but is really 89 thanks to some slow aging genes. She's been sheltered her whole life and thought she (and her late parents) were the only ones like her. And though her parents had to come from somewhere, they never told her anything about it before their deaths....more Downloaded the $.99 ebook - though I'm a bit wary of Greek God stories (especially after The Goddess Test), I thought I'd give it a try. Overall, it held my interest, but at 47% on the Kindle, I just can't go any further.

Elyse looks 18 but is really 89 thanks to some slow aging genes. She's been sheltered her whole life and thought she (and her late parents) were the only ones like her. And though her parents had to come from somewhere, they never told her anything about it before their deaths.

We meet Elyse as she moves into a new apartment in San Francisco. I did like our introduction to the love interest, William. I thought it really captured that whole passing by the place where the cute guy works and hoping he'll be there thing that I think most girls can identify with. After that, however, everything feels rushed and honestly, not thought out that well. For instance, Elyse got a dog when she was 9 that she 'took everywhere.' But when she was nine wouldn't her body have been that of a toddler? How does that work? Does a 16 year old who looks like a three year old like boys? Go through puberty? Is their emotional maturity stunted as well because all of the 80 year old teenage characters act like teenagers.

I didn't think the world building was all that believable. The "Ministry of Magic"-esque bureaucracy, the school for octogenarian Descendants (as they call themselves) - and why do they need 80 years of school?? - the prophecy and so much more just strained credulity. Maybe if the author had spent about twice as long building the world and letting Elyse explore it I wouldn't have been squinting my eyes in confusion so much. As it was I felt rushed from one scene to another, from one explanation to another that often just confused me more.

The biggest problem for me, however, was the antagonist. The Council is the main enemy of the Descendants, though technically they're in charge of them? And William's father started a war with them a few decades back, but afterwards they just let him go off and teach in their Institute? There were no repercussions for starting a war?? And if young William figured out that Elyse was the girl in the prophecy that would eventually defeat The Council, how come no one else figured this out?

This could all be totally explained later in the book but at 47% I think I should at least understand who the bad guys are. Characters spend a lot of time not telling Elyse things that she probably should know sooner rather than later. Could they give the girl a handbook or something?

Also, instalove. Like insta, insta love of the most instamatic kind. Overall, not my cup of tea.(less)

8 likes · like · see review

Mar 01, 2012 Soumi(in love with Puck) Roy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, books-i-reviewed, arc-e-galley, mythology

Destiny is not easy to run from. No matter what path you choose it will lead you to the point you are supposed to meet.

A Short Overview

Elyse has been keeping a secret for her whole life, one she ages five times slower than an ordinary person; second she has incredible power to heal. After death of her parents she became more careful to hide her secrets until a mysterious guy William showed up on her door and told her she’s not only the one with secret, there are many other like her with differe...more Destiny is not easy to run from. No matter what path you choose it will lead you to the point you are supposed to meet.

A Short Overview

Elyse has been keeping a secret for her whole life, one she ages five times slower than an ordinary person; second she has incredible power to heal. After death of her parents she became more careful to hide her secrets until a mysterious guy William showed up on her door and told her she’s not only the one with secret, there are many other like her with different abilities of their own. They called themselves The Decedents, coming down from the bloodlines of Greek gods, and Elyse’s power is most important of them all, her blood can give life as well as take it. But that’s not make her most remarkable and wanted, Elyse was the last healer and carrier of a prophecy that can change everything, put an end to the tradition, bring a war and may cause many deaths.

Myths and mayhems, Oppression is a brilliant combination of both. A detailed storyline and nice flow in plot, you don’t need to know about the history of Greek Gods in order to read the book. Romance and secrets, this book keeps me hooked up till the very end and now I’m nearly dying to read the second installment.
Fascinating characters with incredible power you can only imagine, the author made a great attempt to create them and I’m fully impressed.

Elyse and William

One has the power of healing and another with persuasion, one is naïve another is confident, Elyse and William was truly soul mates.
I must say Elyse was a very brave character; it was not easy to grow up slowing and watching rest of the world moving fast around her. Though she learned and accepted the truth, it must have hard for to endure the pain of watching people she cared suffer, age and die. When she entered to the world of myths, magic and power, she began to understand inner struggle for freedom from those who claims themselves most superior, descendent of most powerful gods of first generation and Elyse faces the choice and sacrifice that could change her life as well as people around her, the people she loves and cares.
William remained me of the song “Safe and Sound”, cause I, myself felt very safe in his presence. I must say he was a true descendent of Aphrodite, and he was very successful to hold me under his charm and green eyes, which have always been my weakness. William was what every hero should be; I enjoyed his loving and caring nature as well as his feisty and drive to protect Elyse from anything that would threaten her.
Budding romance and intense bonding between William and Elyse pleased me. William has been in love with Elyse since the beginning; know that this girl is going to be his bride someday, where Elyse took time to know him and fall in love which was very believable and I admired their romance.

Mythology has always been one of my favorite genres but Oppression opened up a new direction about gods and goddess that how power hungry and dangerous they can be if someone tries to cross them. Only Elyse is the key to brave new world and a new sunshine.

Easy to read but very intriguing, Oppression is a different from conventional adaption of mythology.
I was flipping pages to see what was going to happen next. Right from the start, I enjoyed Oppression and can’t wait for the second installment of the series.
(less)

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Mar 25, 2012 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: amazing-covers

Jessica Therrien was so super sweet enough to send me an E-ARC of Oppression, so I got to read it before release date.

This is a good read. Therrien balanced romance, action, and mythology perfectly. Even though Oppression is 300+ pages, it goes by fast. You'll be wrapped in Elyse's twisted world, you'll fall in love with William (*swoon*), and you'll have your heart break for Anna and Chloe.

Elyse is a main character wanting, but fearing, love. When William comes along, she's about to risk everyt...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Jessica Therrien rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Thanks so much to everyone who has added OPPRESSION to their GoodReads list! I hope you like the book :)

26 likes · like · see review

Mar 09, 2012 Rane rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, keeper

The YA category has gone through the gauntlet of showcasing vampire to werewolves added to the mix now is aliens and Greek Mythology. Oppression stands above the rest in the Greek Myth take with it's rich story and writing with a new mix on the old myths.

From the start you quickly get into the head of Elyse our heroine whose just turned eighty but looks eighteen. She's lost those she's love from accident and age. In hiding and not knowing who to trust and even knowing "what or who" she truly i...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Allison rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this book. I read it in three days. Total page-turner. Can't wait for it to come out so I can talk to people about it!

5 likes · like · see review

Mar 07, 2012 Alexa Yupangco rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-all-stars, book-wishlist

Originally reviewed on Alexa Loves Books

I feel so incredibly spoiled to have received a second novel via the DAC Arc Tours that is BRILLIANT. I absolutely adored Oppression (as I made clear to many of my Twitter followers). From the moment I started it, I found I could not put it down until I found out what would happen (which resulted in me finishing it in one night!). It was just SO good - it combined a hint of mystery, a touch of mythology, some good old romance and wonderful characters into...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Ron rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, fantasy, young

Extra credit for a first book. Excellent story telling. An X-Men are the Greek pantheon tale, with Harry Potter overtones.

"Descendent" slow development extends beyond the physical. A bunch of almost-90 year olds act and think just like the 18- and 19-year-olds they appear. The "adults" allow a woman to live outside the community for forty years (with "humans"!) and expect her not to be emotionally attached, then dump her into mid-term at Hogwarts--oh, I mean the Institute--with little or no expl...more

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Mar 09, 2012 Rachel Morgan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

(First posted on Rachel Morgan Writes):

Don't you love it when a book wastes no time getting to the action? By action I mean Something Important Happens. Well, you don't have to wait long for Something To Happen in OPPRESSION. Barely three pages in and the opening scene ends in a chilling moment that, I swear, I could almost hear ringing in my ears! And the Somethings just kept coming!

OPPRESSION involves a unique take on Greek mythology. Confesssion #1: I've always been fascinated by mythology. C...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Meradeth Houston rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Oh wow, I'm having a hard time finding where to start gushing about this one! I adore Greek Mythology, and coupled with an awesome romance and a unique and intriguing world, well, I was up VERY late reading this one! Waiting for the next book will be torture. The book itself was a little like X-men meet the Percy Jackson series--in the best way possible. Oh, and with a very hot and swoon-worthy William. I loved that Elyse is a strong character with a mind of her own, willing to do whatever it ta...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: in-my-collection, review-for-author, review-zova-books

First off I want to give a very special thanks to Zova Books for sending me a copy of
Oppression, by: Jessica Therrien to read and review I was so excited when I received this book as I was dying to read it.

I love it when a book wastes no time getting to the action? And let me tell you its action packed right from the start. Not even three pages into the opening scene and BAM! A chilling moment I swear, I could have just screamed (which I’m sure I did) And those Something’s just kept on coming f...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Neyra rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-reads, best-of-all, ya-pnr

Rating: 4.5 ; I had minor issues with the lead, Elyse, but more of that later. Other than that, though, this book is great! :D A modern twist to Greek Mythology, and I loved it.

Oppression begins the Children of the Gods series where we meet Elyse, a special girl who's always had to live in hiding. She has secrets she's not meant to spill; for one, she ages five times slower than any average person. And, two, she has the ability to heal with her blood, though she doesn't understand why. Alone for...more Rating: 4.5 ; I had minor issues with the lead, Elyse, but more of that later. Other than that, though, this book is great! :D A modern twist to Greek Mythology, and I loved it.

Oppression begins the Children of the Gods series where we meet Elyse, a special girl who's always had to live in hiding. She has secrets she's not meant to spill; for one, she ages five times slower than any average person. And, two, she has the ability to heal with her blood, though she doesn't understand why. Alone for 39 years after the death of her parents, only her best friend, Anna, knows of Elyse's strange ability and age difference, so she believes. Soon she finds herself thrust into a world she never knew existed, with others just like her, descended of the people the Greeks considered Gods. There is a prophecy, and Elyse finds herself in the middle of it all. But can she play by their rules when she's forced to choose between the life she knew and the life she's been thrust into?

I loved the idea of this book, Oppression takes you into the world of Greek Mythology without focusing solely on the Gods we've all come to know; Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, etc. Instead, you learn about other Gods I certainly knew nothing about. Like Nyx-Goddess of night and darkness; Asclepis-God of healing. Then, Hermes, Iris and Dionysus; of course there's also the familiar ones: Artemis, Ares, and Aphrodite. With a modern flare, and I found myself wondering, What if Descendants existed? That would be awesome. But the world is afraid of what they can never understand, and so in the world of Oppression, the descendants find themselves in hiding, ever so careful not to show or tell humans who and what they are. For the consequences are severe, punishable only by death.

That is where Elyse and the prophecy come into play. It was said she would lead the war in overthrowing The Council and the traditions that have oppressed her people for centuries. She is the last of her bloodline, the last of the healers. How is she to undo centuries of rules and tradition? Well the answer for that would be in the second installment of the Children of the Gods series I hope. As far as Oppression, it was more about introducing us to the world of the Descendants. Learning along the way what makes Elyse special, why she was kept in the dark about her nature for so long, and meeting others such as William, Sam, Nics, Paul, Rachel. As well the proffessors and Ryder, the villain bent on destroying Elyse no matter the cost.

I liked Elyse. She was strong and assertive. Determined and not too clingy. BUT, my only issue with her was that although she was 89 years old, eighteen in appearance, there were instances where she was naive and seemed more like a stubborn child than an 89 year old young lady. One other thing was her instant feelings for William. She barely knew him, yet there she was not just physically attracted to him, but falling head over heels for him. It's hard though to be upset about it when I myself found it hard to resist William's charm. He was protective of Elyse, but not suffocatingly so. If she disagreed on something he said, he didn't try to manipulate her to his every whim, he let her be herself and make her own judgements. But I disliked the fact that he forgave her for everything! I mean, come on, that's just not acceptable. He's gotta hold some kind of resentment. But other than that their story flowed nicely throughout the book.

Other characters I found interesting were Nics and Sam. They made the cutest "non-couple" ever. It's obvious they're in love with each other, but both are too stubborn to admit it, though everyone could feel the sexual tension between the two. Sam was funny, I liked his carefree nature, and Nics was more serious, she balanced him well. I didn't get much attached to Paul and Rachel, we don't really get much dialect from them. Though you get a general idea of who they are, just not enough depth to make them likeable enough. I'm hoping that if they'll be a part of Elyse's world, in the second book, that we get more insight on them as well :)

Jessica Therrien makes an impressive debut with Oppression and I will unfortunately have to wait who knows how long for her second book. Grrr! This book had me hooked from page one up until the very end. If you like Greek Mythology based books with a modern twist, Oppression is definitely for you :)(less)

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Feb 22, 2012 Katrina (Kindred Dreamheart) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, e-reader, blog-tour

Thanks so, so much to the author for this ARC copy for an honest review!

This book was the ending to my read-a-thon President's Day holiday weekend. It gave me such a warm and fuzzy feeling on the inside and like my binky, when I was a toddler, I couldn’t let it go. Putting this book down was punishment and I couldn’t rest my weary eyes until I’ve glimpsed every last word.

There were prophesies, destinies, oracles, a chosen one, oppressed people, villains (who weren’t afraid to literally “hit” a...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Sephireth rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book feels like X-Men meets Harry Potter meets Twilight meets Greek mythology. As I like thoe it should have been a sure winner. And it was for about the first half of the book. I liked the ideas, the world, the characters so much that I couldn't stop reading...
Elyse has been on the run for ages, she's 80 looking like 18 and believes it's due to some genetic disorder because her parents, suffering from the same disease, have always told her so and kept moving around so nobody would notice....more This book feels like X-Men meets Harry Potter meets Twilight meets Greek mythology. As I like thoe it should have been a sure winner. And it was for about the first half of the book. I liked the ideas, the world, the characters so much that I couldn't stop reading...
Elyse has been on the run for ages, she's 80 looking like 18 and believes it's due to some genetic disorder because her parents, suffering from the same disease, have always told her so and kept moving around so nobody would notice. The parents die and finally she ends up alone having only one best friend, Anna, who knows about her condition.
After moving again she meets gorgeous William (do they always have to have names like William and Edward in books like these?). He introduces her to a completely new world, telling her she doesn't have a disease but is an ancestor of the people who were called Gods in the antique in Greek. For my taste she wraps her head arount it a bit too quickly, actually a lot happens too fast in this book. Boom, there she is:completely at ease with finding out about a weird world she's never known about, accepting her fate as the chosen one to save the people of this world. And not just this, she also instantly falls in love with William, her destined soulmate, without any development of the relationship at all. He's there, tells her "I'm a descendant of something like a God, you're too, by the way" and whoops they are in eternal love.
But I didn't mind that too much, it was ok... sometimes authors do this and though I don't like it, a book can still be great. However, the author managed to make me dislike the protagonist in the later part of the book. All the Descendants are really old and only look like they are teenagers, the problem with this (and I already had this with Twilight) is to explain away why 80year olds still behave like teens! OK, with Elyse I kind of could get it in the beginning. She wasn't used to company, she had been alone for a long time, she had missed out on a lot of experinces but what about the others growing up in this society? It said they age slower but nothing about developing slower, the author should have come up with something there. Because this way it just felt wrong that someone this old, having experienced a lot, should still act like immature teenagers.
In addition I just couldn't wrap my head around Elyse's behaviour, she keeps important (and dangerous) things from William. Furthermore I didn't get her actions about Anna's disease (which, by the way, was depicted in a completely unrealistic way as I know the way someone dies of cancer that has spread into the bones... it's way worse. There's a lot more suffering in it and you certainly don't die at home on your couch without a nurse and half a hospital in your home! It's just way more cruel than the books wants to tell you...). She wants to save Anna, doesn't want her death on her conscious but she is willing to sacrifice herself and risking the wellbeing of a lot of other people including Anna who's going to be killed anyway if the Council finds her? So that's fine with her? The author tried to give us an idea of the conflict taking part in her mind but it didn't really work out. But in the end we find out: it's all part of the prophecy, oh right, thaaaaaat makes it ok... Well... not for me.
And I really don't get the reason we're told about the Quidditch Championship equivalent called Lenaia. It just doesn't add something to the story, it just gives you some sweet moments between the lovers.
So, that's for the negative things in this book. I still give it 3 stars because the world itself and the idea of the story are really good and in addition it's the author's first book and noone's perfect. For the future books I hope she manages to make things a bit more realistic and believable. The story is a very good one, it just has to be woven more carefully considering plotholes and logic. (less)

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Mar 01, 2012 Ashley Mayer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Oppression was amazing! Elyse's parents die when she is young leaving her with a secret. She doesn't age like normal people. By the time she looks like a 16 year old she's really around 50 years old. By the time she looks 18 she is well into her 80's. For all her life she believes she is the only person with this "disease" but all that changes when she meets William. William knows her secret and the reason her parents hid her from the rest of their kind. The story was entertaining! There were so...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Hilda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, arc

This is the book for people who believe in fate.

Elyse is unlike other people. Her body ages five times slower than other. She looks like a healthy eighteen years old girl now, but in reality, she is eighty-nine years old. Her parents never told her why they are different. And they will never can, after the car accident that killed them in 1973. Elyse was fifty years old at that time, but her appearance was a ten years old girl. The accident broke her nonetheless, until Betsy came and took care o...more This is the book for people who believe in fate.

Elyse is unlike other people. Her body ages five times slower than other. She looks like a healthy eighteen years old girl now, but in reality, she is eighty-nine years old. Her parents never told her why they are different. And they will never can, after the car accident that killed them in 1973. Elyse was fifty years old at that time, but her appearance was a ten years old girl. The accident broke her nonetheless, until Betsy came and took care of her. Then Betsy was dead, and suddenly, Elyse doesn’t know what she would do with her life. People whom she loves will age and die, and that makes her scared to start relationship with anyone.

On that day, I fully understood why my parents had not wanted me to have friends—friends who I would love, who would age, and leave, and die.

Elyse decided to move in to San Francisco, where it will be easier for her to hide from curious minds. In the big city, she will be just another face, another body in the crowd. But her life changes the moment she meets William. William is gorgeous, and he seems to have answers to questions that have whirled around Elyse’s mind for a long time. William said that there are more people like her, and he is just another one. But how could it possible? Why are they different from other human? Why did Elyse’s parents hide the truth from her, and keep
themselves hidden from their own people?

Oppression is a wonderful read and I’m really glad to tell you that I’m not disappointed with the story. Elyse is surprisingly naïve for people on her actual age, but I guess it can be understood since she rarely interacted with people other than Betsy and Elyse’s best friend Anna. I’m really happy when Elyse meets her own kind and starts having more friends. She has been lonely for so many years and I can feel her excitement when finally she meets her own kind.

Elyse and William’s relationship is really cute too, the one you can’t help but say ‘awww’. William is funny and really protective of Elyse. I know that it is insta-love, but it’s so cute that I don’t really mind about that. The pace in the book is a little slow so some people might have problem with that, but with the whole events in the book, the not-so-fast pace make them seem more natural to me.

Needless to say, I can hardly wait for book two in this series! Hopefully there are more action parts in the next book. I hope to see more of Elyse in action, and please... more William! He’s just too cute!

“If you could sum up your whole life into a single flavor, what would it be? What do you think your life would taste like?”

I laughed. “I don’t know. That’s a strange question.” I thought about it though. It would have to be something bitter, but still sweet in a way, something that looked better than it tasted. “Maybe… semi-sweet chocolate?”

“Only semi-sweet?” he observed.

“I have my reasons,” I defended. “What about you? Something sugary and delicious?”

“Hmm, I have to rethink it. It’s definitely changed since I met you.”

He smiled at me, and I recoiled a little into the cushion seat of the booth, throwing my eyes immediately in a different direction—away from his.

“Peanut butter,” he decided.

“Why peanut butter?”

“I have my reasons,” he mocked.

“It’s not very sweet.”

“No, but it goes well with chocolate.”

Yes, I know that just like me, you’re swooning over him right now. Isn’t he the sweetest? Oppression is a brilliant debut and I’m dying to get my hand on the second book. I hope it can come out sooner! :P(less)

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Mar 23, 2012 næntsi marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: put-aside

Loved the cover from the moment I saw it. Just bought this. Definitely need to read and see if it'll amaze or disappoint. ;3

Let's see...

-First person narrative, present tense, check.
-Female main character has some sort of secret/power, check.
-Because of those powers, everyone suddenly wants the FMC, check.
-Because of said powers (or just because she's different), FMC has always been an loner/outcast of sorts, check.
-Hot (as in incredibly soul-suckingly, mesmerizingly hot) boy shows up, check.
-Sa...more

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Mar 28, 2012 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am a very social girl. That said, I do not think I could voluntarily stay away from other people, for any reason. But that is exactly what Elyse does. For OVER 50 YEARS. Yikes. Elyse grows up knowing that she isn’t exactly, well, normal. Her first clue might be that she ages FIVE times slower than an average human. But, if that doesn’t convince her, the fact that her blood has the power to heal people just might. When her parents suddenly pass away, Elyse has to learn to adapt and blend in all...more I am a very social girl. That said, I do not think I could voluntarily stay away from other people, for any reason. But that is exactly what Elyse does. For OVER 50 YEARS. Yikes. Elyse grows up knowing that she isn’t exactly, well, normal. Her first clue might be that she ages FIVE times slower than an average human. But, if that doesn’t convince her, the fact that her blood has the power to heal people just might. When her parents suddenly pass away, Elyse has to learn to adapt and blend in all on her own. As she moves on with her life, Elyse meets the mysterious William and tries desperately to stay away from him. She is pulled slowly into William’s world where she learns things, dangerous things, about herself and the world they live in. Will she fulfill the prophecy? Or will she take fate into her own hands…

Right away, I really connect with Elyse’s character! She obviously has had a sheltered life but, despite that, she is FULL of spunk. Elyse stands up for what she believes in and refuses to be intimidated into abandoning her loved ones. I respect her and understand what she thinks and feels. Her character is loveable and easy to relate too! I also feel attached to William but in a different way. He obviously cares for Elyse and would do anything to protect her, which is why I like him so much. I view Elyse as my friend, and he tries to protect and make her happy.

The mythology in Oppression is ASTOUNDING. I love how detailed it is. Every “Descendant” comes from a bloodline, and the powers are determined through the bloodlines. Therrien does a fantastic job of giving the descendants powers that are unique but that still make complete sense. I did not get to see nearly as many cool powers in action as I would have liked, but I suppose I can wait for book two for that!

I cannot help but notice how fast Elyse’s relationship with William turns serious. For someone who has spent her life hiding in shadows and keeping her distance, it takes Elyse almost no time to break free of those habits. In the very beginning of the book, she also blindly does what William asks of her, which I don’t think fits her character! That said, throughout the book I see Elyse grow more confident and become an amazing person.

The Cover:

This cover is a real eye grabber. It hooks my attention with its light against dark contrast and makes me instantly curious about its contents. I am not really sure what the circles of lighter color around the face represent, but they add depth and help frame the girl even more. I really like this cover!

I give Oppression 4.5 out of 5 stars: Very Highly Recommended!

More of my reviews here: www.epiloguereview.blogspot.com (less)

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Mar 31, 2012 Aishah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Oppression is a new, original first in the series of ‘Children of the Gods’ story. I have not read any book like it in the paranormal and fantasy books I have read so far.

Elyse has always felt that she has a unique and extraordinary ability since she was a childhood, a secret she only shared with a Anna, her best friend since childhood. This is not the only secret that. After the death of her parents, Elyse doesn’t seem to get settled much in any place that she goes. However when she arrives new...more Oppression is a new, original first in the series of ‘Children of the Gods’ story. I have not read any book like it in the paranormal and fantasy books I have read so far.

Elyse has always felt that she has a unique and extraordinary ability since she was a childhood, a secret she only shared with a Anna, her best friend since childhood. This is not the only secret that. After the death of her parents, Elyse doesn’t seem to get settled much in any place that she goes. However when she arrives new in town, everything seems to go in chaos and a whole new world of different personalities and people is revealed to her.

Elyse is a very likable character and is easy to understand. She is fun, as well as full of adventure. Elyse is brave and is always at the front when it comes to protecting her friend which is a real big struggle when unexpected circumstances come into view and she has to stretch that protectiveness further which could be fatal. One other main character, one of the first that Elyse comes to meet is William. He is a totally lively, cute, funny and enthusiastic guy who is just fun to be with and hard to dislike. He is keen to help Elyse through the problems she faces and is one she can rely on. But Elyse's problem is not just any problem it could get her killed. Will William be prepared to help her and take that risk that leads to Elyse's death?

The storyline is filled with adventures and excitement keeping the story on edge and in action at every turn of a page. It is enveloped with romance, happiness and enthusiasm adding a unique edge to the story. It is an exploration of paranormal happenings along with the true meanings of friendship and love.
It is an exciting read packed with so many different things keeping you interested. It is a serious must-read, a gripping story that will hold your interest until the last turn of the page. I will strongly recommend to those readers who enjoyed the following books : Soul Screamers Series, the Iron Fey Series, Dragon Diaries Series, Witchblood, Trylle Trilogy and Morganville Vampires series.(less)

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Jul 16, 2012 Bry rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, 2012, kindle, urban-fantasy, series

YA these days is so crazy - some are fantastic (Seraphina), some are good (Paranormalcy) and then there are...well the rest... This book wasn't quite 5 star fantastic, but it was still pretty damn good which was a really delightful surprise as you just never know what you are gonna get with YA these days.

This book is kinda reminded me of Percy Jackson in a way. The people are called Descendents and are the children of Greek Gods, only the Greek Gods weren't really Gods and just made us regular...more YA these days is so crazy - some are fantastic (Seraphina), some are good (Paranormalcy) and then there are...well the rest... This book wasn't quite 5 star fantastic, but it was still pretty damn good which was a really delightful surprise as you just never know what you are gonna get with YA these days.

This book is kinda reminded me of Percy Jackson in a way. The people are called Descendents and are the children of Greek Gods, only the Greek Gods weren't really Gods and just made us regular humans believe they were. In reality they were just something a bit different from humans with some pretty fantastic powers. Then there is Ellie, who is a Descendent, and unbeknownst to her is at the heart of a prophecy to save her new people. Although I will say that is about where the similarities end mostly.

Ellie was raised outside the world of the Descendents and had no idea there were other people like her. She thought she was completely alone and due to her super long life span (think 500 years or so) was destined to always be alone. So you can imagine how much she would latch onto the community into which she is introduced of others like her. She can now love people without them dying on her, know people for longer than 5 years at a time before she has to move again, and actually LIVE. Then suddenly she is informed she is expected to save this community from itself and its governing members through war.

She is introduced to this new community by a young man (who is actually like 80 something) named William who she falls for pretty fast (like SUPER FAST although it is a bit understandable considering she is also like 80 something and hasn't even ever kissed a boy because she couldn't allow herself to get close to anyone). Their relationship is pretty insta-love but not really...can't really explain it without giving away spoilers. There are also several great secondary characters that I REALLY enjoyed, especially Kara and Sam. And everyone had really interesting powers that could be utilized in a variety of ways for war, peace, and just plain old fun!

The politics of this new community though are pretty drastic and pretty freaking racist towards us regular humans who seem to be nothing more than cockroaches skittering around the feet of those Descendents in charge. Punishments are harsh, swift, and oftentimes not really deserved. Thus the community lives in a state of fear and uncertainty.

Therrien created a great universe and through her strong world building has a solid foundation for the remainder of the series, and I cannot wait to continue reading about Ellie and her fight to make the Descendent community a more fair and safe place to live.

So yeah...READ IT! Go on now. Get to it! (less)

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Sep 08, 2012 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nookbooks-i-own

I must say that it felt nice to read something about Greek mythology again. When I was younger I was fascinated by it, and sadly since I began reading in the YA genre a few years ago, I haven’t read as much as I would have liked to.

At first it was a little hard to grasp that Elyse, the main character, was actually a LOT older than she acted and looked. But after I started getting into it, I began to like her character more and more! Speaking of characters, how could I go without mentioning Willi...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Von rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, 2012-releases, for-review, ebooks-owned

I never thought that this book would be so fantastic. As a huge fan of Greek and Roman mythologies, I didn’t have a hard time understanding Oppression. I think this book was blessed with Aphrodite’s beauty because I was completely in awe of it.

Oppression was immediate and easy to love. It was both compelling and fascinating. It was both mythic and exciting. There are so many good points in Oppression that I really could pinpoint. I loved the idea that the gods and goddesses weren’t literally god...more I never thought that this book would be so fantastic. As a huge fan of Greek and Roman mythologies, I didn’t have a hard time understanding Oppression. I think this book was blessed with Aphrodite’s beauty because I was completely in awe of it.

Oppression was immediate and easy to love. It was both compelling and fascinating. It was both mythic and exciting. There are so many good points in Oppression that I really could pinpoint. I loved the idea that the gods and goddesses weren’t literally gods but human in nature yet inherited incredible abilities. Plus the idea of a brewing war between the Descendants and the higher Descendants definitely showed that this story has so much to tell in the following books. Therrien’s great mixture of myth and dystopian definitely won me.

Therrien created as well a fresh batch of mythic characters. I loved Elyse’s character so much. For all of her life, she felt she was different. All she’d done was run and hide because of what she thought was an abnormality in her. I really felt her pain and anxiety when she had to avoid people. I felt her fear, loneliness, and sadness. But thanks to William, everything in Elyse’s life changed. And that’s when I found out that Elyse and William’s romance really caught me. I adored William too. He wasn’t the kind of guy you have to hate first before falling on him. I could really feel his love for Elyse. He was the kind of guy where you feel secured and cared.

Another character that I fell in love with was Kara. I loved her personality as being strong-willed. Kara was really one of the intriguing characters in the story. I wanted to see more of her, more of her incredible power, and definitely more of her story.

Oppression is a very good start for a beautifully weaved series. It left me wanting more. If you want a story with a handful of Greek mythology, a dash of infectious classic romance, and a cup of brewing war then Oppression is definitely for you.

Jessica Therrien is a debut author that could blow you away. She forged an outstanding, refreshing tale that could top every favorite books in the mainstream publishing.

--
Check out Mr. Book Wonder for more reviews.(less)

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Mar 15, 2012 Liliana ♥s Mythology rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: greek-mythology, own, on-kindle, read-for-review, gods-goddesses, supernatural-abilities

Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book, plus an interview with the author!

Elyse is not a normal 18-year-old girl. In fact, she isn't even 18! She is 89 years old but looks 18. Why? Well, its simple, really: she ages slower than a normal human. Plus, she has the very cool ability of healing! At first, Elyse doesn't know why she is the way she is, her parents never explained it to her before they died. And then she meets William...the lovely, charming William *sigh*

Thanks to him, she learns that she is n...more

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Mar 28, 2012 Sharon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-february, young-adult

4.5 out of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Oppression, the first book in The Children of the Gods series from the author Jessica Therrien.

18 year old Elyse has a secret, she ages five times slower than a regular human and she is able to heal others with her powerful blood. She has lost many she has loved over time and is reluctant to form bonds, although her best friend from childhood is still with her and the only person who knows of her secret.

When Elyse meets William, she is sh...more 4.5 out of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Oppression, the first book in The Children of the Gods series from the author Jessica Therrien.

18 year old Elyse has a secret, she ages five times slower than a regular human and she is able to heal others with her powerful blood. She has lost many she has loved over time and is reluctant to form bonds, although her best friend from childhood is still with her and the only person who knows of her secret.

When Elyse meets William, she is shocked to discover he is just like her and informs her of others of their kind – both good and bad. I loved William’s ability (I won’t reveal what it was) as well as his protection and connection to Elyse.

Oppression was a gripping story which showed Elyse finding out more about her heritage, accepting who and what she was and also finding out she could possibly be the person needed to fulfill a prophecy which could see peace restored amongst the descendants of the gods. It was a fascinating and unique concept and the mythology was written extremely well.

The action starts from the very beginning and doesn’t let up which kept me eagerly turning the pages and keen to learn more about the world Ms Therrien has created. I also love a book which has a lot of dialogue, it was witty and entertaining.

Each of the characters in this book were amazing, Elyse is a likeable heroine, not kick-butt or strong but believable in her reactions, mannerisms and behaviors – she is intelligent, caring and extremely protective of those close to her. William was absolutely wonderful, the way he treated Elyse was so sweet; I adored him. There were a whole slew of secondary characters that we get a glimpse of and each played an important and enjoyable role, I was really keen to learn more about Kara; I felt really sorry for her.

Oppression is a stunning debut for Ms Therrien and promises to be an amazing series. Her writing is engaging, the plot is well paced and pleasurable, and I was immersed in the story – which is something I love.

The ending has left me intrigued; I am really keen to read the next book in the series to find out what is to happen to William and Elyse.(less)

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Aug 12, 2012 Shelly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

Here's why I love this book:

* It weaves in Greek Mythology in a way that is completely interesting.

* The writing is so beautifully done. The dialogue flowed nicely and Ms. Therrien's ability to paint a picture is phenomenal!! There is a celebration that happens that is so imaginative and well written that I wanted to jump into the book and be a part of it.

* I enjoyed the struggle of Elyse finding a group of people who are like her, but who tell her she can no longer associate with people she con...more

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Apr 29, 2012 fяσzєη rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: covergasm, owned-ebooks, mythology, boooooring, dickhead-heroes, i-am-disappoint, dont-understand-why-its-hyped, insta-love, unlikable-heroines, coverlove-booksuck, everyone-likes-it-but-me, you-arrogant-prick, where-art-thou-originality, pile-of-crap

A review of this book is also available over at my blog.

___________________________________

After about 60% in, I started to skim through it.

Well this book was a huge disappointment for me. I had to push myself to finish it.

The insta-love is HORRIFYINGLY bad. They say their "I love you's" a week or less after meeting each other. My god, it was one of the worst insta-love cases I've ever seen.

So overall, the supernatural aspect didn't interest me, I couldn't connect with any of the characters, an...more

5 likes · like · see review

Mar 11, 2012 Kaila rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books

First Off, I Love Mythology. I Love Everything That Has To Do With It. This Book Was So Amazing. I Love The Characters So Much. Who Couldn't Love The Children Of the Gods? Elyse Is So Awesome. Strong Willed Yet Calm. I Connected With Her Character So Well. Therrien's Writing Style Is Very Well Done. When It Was Sad, I Cried. And Trust Me You Will Too. I Was Hooked From The Very Beginning. Can't Wait To Read More! :)

1 like · like · see review

May 02, 2012 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I officially have a new favorite book! And I'm so glad it's Oppression <3 I love this book so much I tell all my friends its a must buy!! :D can't wait for book #2 I sure am going to buy it when it comes out![:

1 like · like · see review

Mar 02, 2012 Tiffany Beck rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was AMAZING! I couldn't put it down! I'm excited to see what's in store for this promising series!!

1 like · like · see review

May 08, 2013 The Three Bookateers rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: monica

Taken from our book blog: The Three Bookateers

“All we have is now, this moment. If you live in the future, you’ll miss things, right here, right now, and you’ll regret it later.”

Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She’s been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than the average person, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she’s closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal. For Elyse, these things don’t ma...more Taken from our book blog: The Three Bookateers

“All we have is now, this moment. If you live in the future, you’ll miss things, right here, right now, and you’ll regret it later.”

Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She’s been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than the average person, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she’s closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal. For Elyse, these things don’t make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she’s been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability. Or so she thinks. Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her for a long time. Among so many of her kind, she should not be very remarkable–except for the prophecy. Some believe she will put an end to traditions, safeguarded by violence, which have oppressed her people for centuries. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning–and she’s not entirely willing to play by their rules.

Review: So it’s fair to say that I more than I loved this book. I read it a couple of months ago and I finished it in a day. I regretted that instantly as I now have to wait god knows how long before the second book comes out. As you can tell I am a very patient person and although I was a tad late in reading this I recommend for you all to read it. But in light of me saying you have to read this please don’t steal William from me as he is mine!!

Now let’s get back to the book itself which was around 300 pages. I mean normally that’s a long ass book and at the beginning I was kind of groaning internally about how long it was but by the end I thought it was too short. I think the reason why I enjoyed this book so much was not only did it have a kick ass story line, a swoon worthy character named William, a to die for romance, some bloody good characters but it has some life lessons in it and the icing on the cake was that it had a mythological spin to it.

So lesson number one was why can’t I ever be in a relationship with a guy like William but I figure for that to happen you have to have non sucky guys living around you

Lesson number two was about friendship, love and ultimately life

Lesson three, well less be honest I’m still thinking about lesson number one.

The last and final lesson learnt was why can’t William exist in real life

In all honesty this book had some minor flaws but like my 3am sleepiness I got over it. This was a good book and I actually cannot wait for the next book to come out. Oppression builds a strong foundation for a series which has a lot of promise and quite possible a lot of swoon worthy moments. May the 28th why do this to me.(less)

1 like · like · see review

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Did anyone else LOVE this book?	2	12	Dec 30, 2012 09:23am
WORD GAME	3	4	Dec 30, 2012 09:21am
YA Buddy Readers'...: OPPRESSION by Jessica Therrien/Start date: September 2	66	17	Sep 24, 2012 01:34am
ZOVA Readers: GIVEAWAY - Oppression (Children of the Gods #1)	1	3	Apr 06, 2012 04:46pm
Love Or Leave It:...: GIVEAWAY - Oppression (Children of the Gods #1)	1	10	Apr 06, 2012 04:45pm
~!The Young Adult...: GIVEAWAY - Oppression (Children of the Gods #1)	1	5	Apr 06, 2012 04:44pm
Oppression is #16 on B&N Teen - Only $.99	2	7	Mar 01, 2012 03:01pm

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About Jessica Therrien

Jessica Therrien is the author of OPPRESSION and UPRISING , books 1 & 2 in her YA paranormal romance/adventure series, CHILDREN OF THE GODS. OPPRESSION was published by ZOVA Books in February of 2012, and UPRISING will be released in May of 2013.

Jessica is a graduate of San Diego State University. She lived in Taiwan for a year where she learned Chinese, but she lives in Chula Vista now, where...more

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here, right now, and you’ll regret it later.” — 19 people liked it

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Oppression (Children of the Gods #1)

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