She has a destiny so great that even the gods fear her.
Constant hallucinations and the frequent conversations with the voices in her head, have earned eighteen-year-old Chloe Clever the not-so-coveted title of "Whack Job" in her home town of Adel, Georgia. Fed up with prescription meds and therapists, she wishes for a life where she is destined to be more than the butt of everyone's jokes and mockery.
Be careful what you wish for has never rung more true.
After a vicious attack and learning that her favorite rockstar is an Olympian god, she is thrust into her new life as the Oracle of Delphi, the prophesier of the future. Setting out to fulfill the prophecy she has been given, Chloe learns of how great she is to become, all the while fighting mythical monsters and trying to outwit the ever-cunning Greek gods who harbor secrets of their own. While on a mission to discover the Most Beautiful, she strives to uncover the mysteries of the demigod Prince who has sworn to protect her with his life…and threatens to win her heart in the process.
I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Prophecy of the Most Beautiful by Diantha Jones is a wonderful adventure story starring Chloe Clever, who discovers pretty quickly that she is different from other teenaged girls. She hears voices and sees things, and everyone thinks she has a mental disorder. She quickly realizes that she is the Oracle, a being can see and hear the future and has important ties to the Greek myths of old. She meets Stafford Law, who is a demigod and her protector, and along with some of his brothers and friends, they try to figure out the Prophecy of the Most Beautiful before things go out of whack. For better or worse, they go out of whack, and we get to see the fallout.
There are many wonderful things about this book! The adventure and pacing are great. The information about Greek myth, Greece of old, and other background research seems spot on. The characters are fascinating and how they meld with the myths that we know is interesting to see play out. For the most part, Chloe is a wonderful protagonist, and we go along with her in the dark, finding things out as she does. The description is terrific, and I feel like I'm in every location that the characters are in. The best thing about this book is how imaginative it is-- I can feel ideas bursting from the page. This is Diantha's (and the book's) biggest strength.
I do have a couple of comments about this book. Sometimes there seems to be too much going on and too many storylines happening. We are trying to figure out this prophecy, and everyone conveniently never tells Chloe anything-- so there are a lot of questions unanswered. Second, I wanted to see more of a character arc with Chloe-- I wanted to see her grow from the uncertain high school girl to a more mature Oracle, but in fact, what we see is her getting too in love with her fame, and getting herself in trouble by acting before she thinks. That said, this is the first in a trilogy, so we have more time to see her grow. My last point kind of goes along with the first point-- there are jumps in POV, which for the most part make sense. However, there are random chapters where this happens, and we never return for 100's of pages. I almost wonder about revealing these things in Chloe's perspective instead.
Overall, a highly imaginative and beautifully described first novel in this series-- I have no doubt that Diantha Jones will just get better with every book she writes, and I am excited to continue to read her books as she develops as a writer.
I received an e-copy of Prophecy of the Most Beautiful through the author Diantha Jones for review. (I love getting review requests of awesome sound books!) I decided to read it because: 1. It's based on Greek myth. ~ I simply cannot resist that! 2. From reading the synopsis there seemed to be lots of action in it. ~ I love that. 3. There's a mysterious demigod Prince in it. ~ I was already swooning.
I wasn't instantly hooked by Prophecy of the Most Beautiful. The beginning seemed a little slow to me and it was as if something was missing. I didn't like the heroine, Chloe, right away and was a little irritated by some of her actions. Although that changed as I read more of the book and got deeper into the world of the gods and demigods. The thing that did hook me were the demigods and everything mythical involving them. I loved how the god Apollo (or L.A.) was a big part of it in the beginning. (Personally I'm really interested in greek myths and definitely Apollo.) But the one guy I loved was our hero Strafford Law. How can you not fall for him? He's a demigod Prince, he will do everything to protect the girl he loves and he's Irish! *SWOON* Some of the chapters were in his POV and I have to add that those were my favorites. I just love reading in a guy's point of view for some reason. I also really liked his brother Ace and I was very fond of Swindle and "the Dropper with his twinkling eyes.
Like I said before, I really loved all the Greek myth. It definitely fed the little history geek inside me. The story revolved around them all having to figure out this prophecy of the most beautiful and I had a fun time myself trying to work it out. I never did figure it out on my own though. There were a lot of surprises that I didn't see coming and still yet so much to find out. Even though the beginning was slow for me, when I reached the half of the book I found myself getting hooked and at times I had a hard time stopping to reading. The plot was amazingly written, so that was also part why I couldn't stop.
The only negative aspects were only in the beginning. A little slow start. Chloe didn't speak to me as well but she got really brave and kinda bad ass too more into the story. The romance was perfect in my eyes. It wasn't like bam insta-love even thoug Chloe liked him right away nor was it too slow. At first I wasn't sure if Strafford was going to be a love interest but when Chloe had to travel with him (and some others) it was clear he was in it to stay, which made me really happy. Need my irish guys! Speaking off, Strafford and Ace, since they're both Irish, spoke with some Irish slang. Loved it!
I would recommend Prohecy of the Most Beautiful to anyone who likes to read books based on (Greek) myths. If you're looking for a different book with lots of acting, surprising turns and some romance this is the book you have to read! You'll love it! Even if you also think the beginning is sort of slow, don't give up on it. Some nice surprises are coming your way. I definitely can not wait until the sequel!
It took me a little bit to get into the story…the beginning just lacked something…I just couldn’t connect with the characters or story but slowly it finally came and the rest of the book was a pleasant and fun experience. I loved the mythology involved, it had small similarities to the “Goddess Test” series when it came to the mythology part but there were definitely huge differences between the two series. This book had a lot of comedy scenes but also tons of serious scenes, it was really well balanced and written.
Plot:
The concept was original as you can get with mythology…there’s some old ideas mixed in with the authors new ideas. I really enjoyed seeing Cupid and Aphrodite…some of the most comical and interesting characters. But the main god this whole story is surrounding is Apollo, quite interesting to see this author’s take on his personality and actions. Apollo definitely was one awesome character; he seemed to have dark humor and a fiery attitude; perfect character to stir up some trouble. But another concept that was cool to see was the Demigods; they were kind of different from what I’m used to reading in other stories. They don’t slowly age or live longer but they still have strength and special qualities…and there are some other things that are added to change up the rules some and I found it clever how the author incorporated it into the world and story. And as far as the plotline there were plenty of action scenes and conflict throughout the entire story and by the end it felt tied off for this one book but it definitely left a lot to be discovered in the next book of the series. I wouldn’t consider the ending to be a cliffhanger either so there are no worries there; it just leaves you yearning to learn more about the characters and some of the unanswered questions. And as far as the pace of the book, the beginning was real slow to me but it soon picked up a ways in, it was easier to get into the book when she leaves her current life and is thrust into the new world she knows nothing about. So overall this was a good book just needs help with the beginning; something to really grab the reader’s attention.
Romance:
The romance was there and it kind of got in the way at times…I liked the romance some but I found it to be over the top at times…if it was dulled down a little more I think it would have allowed more room for character development and interaction with many more characters. But one thing I am thankful for is that there weren’t any love triangles in this book, it was pretty much straight forward from the very beginning and though the romance seemed a little difficult and forced it really wasn’t…it was more of decided from the very first sighting. Overall this wasn’t an aspect that really thrilled me and it didn’t do much for the overall view of the book.
Characters:
I had trouble connecting with Chloe in the beginning but slowly as I begun to see more inner thoughts and images I slowly started to connect with her but it definitely wasn’t an easy connection. But Chloe did have plenty of quirks and traits that allowed her to appear more realistic. As far as the other characters I really connected easier with them. I fell in love with some of the more minor characters just based on their personality and actions…some were sweet while others were sweet with humor…they were just fun to read and get to know. And all the characters seemed to placed just right, there weren’t any unnecessary characters. One character that I loved to get to know but wish was in the book a little more was Hermes…he was pretty awesome and he really made the book fun to read…he’s definitely different than how I’m used to picturing him in any previous mythology based books. And the names of the characters were so unique and at times silly; super cute. So overall though I had a hard time connecting with the main character in the beginning I did enjoy the characters and thought they contributed a lot to my overall view of the book.
Transformation of the Character:
This wasn’t such a big part of the book, it didn’t make me enjoy the book any more than if there wasn’t any. There was a few tiny transformations but they weren’t anything big or that neon-bright noticeable. I think that the characters need more time and conflicts to allow them to fully bloom and make that beautiful transformation. So overall this wasn’t an important aspect of the book.
Description:
The description was good but it wasn’t too detailed. The author just described enough so that the reader to picture a simple image for each scene. I thought that some scenes were more detailed than others and I took that to mean that those more detailed scenes were emphasized and important to the story. I did enjoy when she described the places they stayed at; quite beautiful and humorous at times. Oh and one place I absolutely loved was the Club; especially the basement (the basement definitely was kind of creepy…I wouldn’t want to visit it) but I the importance of this aspect was that there wasn’t too much of it and I didn’t feel overwhelmed. I was able to picture each scene fine and understand what was going. As far as the dialogue I didn’t find it awkward and it seemed true to each of the characters. I didn’t find too much of dialogue either. So overall the description was a good aspect to this book.
Style:
This was kind of hard for me to adjust to in the beginning, some of the simple words were split onto the next line and it took me awhile to adjust to reading in that way but after a while it got easier. Also this was in different POV’s and thought it allowed the reader to better understand all that was happening in this story and to see a more wider view. This was written in third person but it seemed just right for this story, it took a step back to allow the reader see exactly what was happening in each scene. And as far as the authors writing I didn’t have any trouble with it; just a few grammar mistakes. So overall this was good aspect of the book.
Quote of the book:
““Ready to die?” Radiance asked casually as Strafford stepped forward.
He flashed and held Aor outward. “No. Achin’ to kill…””
Goodreads Summary:
She has a destiny so great that even the gods fear her.
Constant hallucinations and the frequent conversations with the voices in her head, have earned eighteen-year-old Chloe Clever the not-so-coveted title of "Whack Job" in her home town of Adel, Georgia. With the onslaught of prescription medications and therapists threatening to push her over the edge, she wishes for a life far away from the one she has, a life where she is destined to be more than the butt of everyone's jokes and mockery.
Be careful what you wish for has never rung more true.
After living through an attack from her worst nightmare, she awakens to find herself far from home, surrounded by glorious riches and servants…and a few demigods who enjoy killing things. Upon learning that her favorite rock star is an Olympian god, she is thrust into her new life as the Oracle of Delphi, the prophesier of the future, and the great Pythia that the gods have been anxiously awaiting to arrive for centuries. Setting out to fulfill the prophecy she has been given and to keep her family safe from a demigod Princess that wants her dead, Chloe learns of how great she is to become, all the while fighting mythical monsters, evading divine assassins and trying to outwit the ever-cunning Greek gods who harbor secrets of their own. In the hopes of discovering the Most Beautiful and the truth of her destiny, she strives to uncover the mysteries of the demigod Prince who has sworn to protect her with his life…and threatens to win her heart in the process.
Last Thoughts:
I would recommend this to mythology readers and also to YA readers. I enjoyed this book and loved all the fun and comical moments it had. This was definitely a good book to just lay back and read. And aside from a few issues I had with this book I did enjoy it and look forward to reading the next book in the series. This is an author to check in to when given the chance.
Greek mythology is universally loved. Myths of the gods and goddesses are extremely similar to the current celebrity gossip that is viral. The Percy Jackson & the Olympians is a prime example of Greek mythology's popularity. After all, it's almost impossible to go wrong with Greek mythology supporting the book. Hilarity is bound to ensue as long as a god or goddess is present to destroy something.
At first as I read Prophecy of the Most Beautiful, I found the plot to drag along a bit. Events tumble one after another, but the action does take a while to pick up the pace. Once the plot thickens and the conflict is presented, Prophecy of the Most Beautiful is an adventure that I could not put down. Although the time taken to introduce the world is longer than I would like, the other half of the book completely made up for the lack of pace earlier.
Unsurprisingly, the characters in Prophecy of the Most Beautiful are all considered beautiful. I know this is somewhat unrelated, but here's a heads up to those who enjoy reading about deformed faces. Anyway, there are a few characters who are flat, causing them to be known to be entirely good or totally evil. It would have been nice to see a bit more of the antagonists and their purpose, instead of focusing solely on the prophecy, called the prophecy of the Most Beautiful, of course.
There are many different point of views in Prophecy of the Most Beautiful that help create a tale that is full of many secrets awaiting their reveal. Each of the point of views contributed information to help piece together this original take on Greek mythology. Instead of causing confusion with the many narrators, Prophecy of the Most Beautiful instead uses the alternating narrators to give the reader an amazing view of many of the characters and much of the world of the Olympians as well.
Prophecy of the Most Beautiful is a fun, romantic Greek mythology whirlwind. Despite its flaws, I loved the mystery surrounding the prophecies. The prophecies really brought the plot along when I was afraid that the most interesting scenes of the book were the vivid descriptions of Chloe's wardrobe. Ending with so many mysteries just waiting to be revealed, Prophecy of the Most Beautiful leaves the reader panting for the sequel.
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars Synopsis: Constant hallucinations and the frequent conversations with the voices in her head, have earned eighteen-year-old Chloe Clever the not-so-coveted title of "Whack Job" in her home town of Adel, Georgia. After living through an attack from her worst nightmare, she awakens to find herself far from home, surrounded by glorious riches and servants…and a few demigods who enjoy killing things. Upon learning that her favorite rockstar is an Olympian god, she is thrust into her new life as the Oracle of Delphi, the prophesier of the future, and the great Pythia that the gods have been anxiously awaiting to arrive for centuries. Setting out to fulfill the prophecy she has been given and to keep her family safe from a demigod Princess that wants her dead, Chloe learns of how great she is to become, all the while fighting mythical monsters, evading divine assassins and trying to outwit the ever-cunning Greek gods who harbor secrets of their own. In the hopes of discovering the Most Beautiful and the truth of her destiny, she strives to uncover the mysteries of the demigod Prince who has sworn to protect her with his life…and threatens to win her heart in the process.
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. I can't say that I had huge expectations for Prophesy Of The Most Beautiful because I'm not all that familiar with this genre but if I had then I think it would have been better than them. I was surprised just how much I enjoyed the story really. The detail was rich and sucked you right in and there was some familiar characters including Apollo, Cupid and Aphrodite. I mean how awesome is that? Though it seemed you had to be careful of the Gods, they were not always to be trusted.
Chloe, the main character, had a very real personality and at the beginning struck me as kind of a rebel for being kicked out of school so many times but it turns out that it wasn't the case. I've got to say she was my least favorite character as she was quite annoying at some times but I loved the guys! My favorite had to be Ace, for one his name is awesome. He was just like the little brother that you never had but always wanted. I don't think there was one demigod prince that I disliked though. One thing I did not like was the names that had personalities or jobs as surnames but that was only minor.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to the sequel to it Prophecy of the Setting Sunrise. Diantha Jones is a gifted author who has managed to craft a believable and creative world in which demigods prance around with swords and crossbows. I mean what more could you want? I would recommend this book to lovers of Greek Mythology or others like me who had yet to experience this beautiful genre.
My Favorite Quote: “His laugh was like nails to a chalkboard. "I cannot remember a time when anything was new to me. I only ever see the tattered remains of what once was.”
Anything based on Greek mythology is usually something that is going to peak my interest and this book was no exception. This is the first book in a series following a not so normal girl Chloe, she has hallucinations and speaks to voices in her head, who is caught up in the world of Greek gods and demi gods. Cue love, immortality, epic fights and a destiny beyond anything she has ever imagined.
I have to say that at first this book was a little difficult to get into. I think this was because I didn’t find Chloe very relatable. I didn’t dislike her, she just didn’t grab my attention. But as the story progressed and the other characters were introduced the book really came alive. There were so many fun, funny and interesting characters! I loved seeing familiar favorites from the Greek Pantheon and meeting new character who soon became favorites. And everyone of them had a vital role to play in the story line.
I also enjoyed the way the mythology was woven so intricately throughout this story; it was one of my favorite aspects of this book! But I know quite a lot about Greek mythology and I had to wonder if a person who was reading about the subject for the first time wouldn’t feel a bit lost?
The author also spent quite a bit of time describing the characters clothes and just how hot Chloe’s love interest was. But I do like that the author has steered clear of the YA clichés of love triangles and cliff hanger endings.
Aside from these few flaws I thought this was a very original twist on the Greek mythology theme and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Prophecy of the Most Beautiful follows Chloe Clever as she struggles with the voices in her head. High school is hell for her and one unlucky day her life changes forever after nearly dying. She's pulled into a world full of Olympian gods and demigods where she discovers she's actually a prophet, the Oracle of St. Delphi. With help from her new demigod friends and the difficult Strafford Law, Chloe sets out to fulfill a prophecy. Battling angry gods, hell hounds and other mythical beings Chloe and company will risk everything to fulfill the Prophecy of the Most Beautiful. I loved Chloe and she was such a fierce and loyal character and her demigod crush Strafford Law is tough but caring but my favorite characters were Ace and Swindle. Funny, loyal, sometimes reckless and Swindle is quite the thief. I highly recommend Prophecy of the Most Beautiful to all Greek mythology addicts. You'll find plenty of action, romance and mystery as you try to help figure out the meaning of the Prophecy of the Most Beautiful.
First of all the cover of Prophecy of the Most Beautiful is stunning. It looks like the girl is from the seventies. Loving it. Second, after reading it I wanted more. This book is a must read.
I loved all of the characters. They were all awesome. The main character Chloe is likeable. At first I thought she was a bit strange and annoying, but after reading a couple of more pages she became more fun to be around with. The ‘team’ of Gods she hangs out with, or shall I say protect her, are awesome. Especially Ace, he’s like the perfect little brother.
The mythology is so much fun. I loved the Gods and their powers. The action was there & I enjoyed every minute of it. Fingers crossed there will be more in the sequel. There is a lot of plot going on here, but I liked it.
Overall Prophecy of the Most Beautiful was a fun read and I can’t wait to read the second book in the series. I can tell you over and over again how much I adored this book, but you just have to read it for yourself. Go, get a copy!
This book was a completely unexpected fun roller coaster ride that I just devoured in a few days and enjoyed immensely. I love Greek mythology so this book really stood out for me. It is amazingly detailed and just full to the brim with original ideas and completely modernises Greek mythology and the famous Gods of myth. The level of accuracy in regards to some of the tales from mythology in this book just amazed me and really showed me how much work went into the story. It totally reflects the hard work of the author and her own interest in the subject of Greek mythology. The ancient myths are just fantastically depicted within this story and I was blown away by how the author weaved together and shaped the well known tales and put her own individual twist on them. The great mix of modern and myth just complements one another and the whole story was just one great adventure that merged together the present with history and myth whilst creating something original and enjoyable.
I must admit that I started the book with a little hesitation. I thought, here we go again with a girl in school blah blah blah and had almost decided there and then that I didn’t like the book. But oh boy, a few chapters in and I was hooked and I was telling my boyfriend all about it and how much I was enjoying it. Just like Chloe who is unknowingly swept up into a strange and exciting adventure so was I and I just went with the flow and completely enjoyed every minute of the journey. The storyline flowed brilliantly throughout the story and there was an equal balance of fun and adventure mixed in with some drama and bloody fighting scenes.
The characters were well fleshed out; full of personality and every single one brought something different to the story. We meet the main protagonist Chloe as she is returning to school from a suspension – one of many – and she is taunted by others for being a crazy freak that sees strange things and hears voices. What a way to introduce a character eh? But her craziness isn’t all it seems and we the reader are privy to her conversation with a strange boy who is invisible to all others at school. This incident in particular along with her nightmares serve as the catalyst for what is about to happen; Chloe waking up from a deadly attack and being made aware that she is the Oracle of Delphi, a powerful individual whom the Gods both admire and fear. She is thrust into her new role and must battle demonic demigods sent by Hades, deal with her new life as Pythia, struggle with her feelings for the sarcastic son of Apollo and come to terms with her destiny.
Strafford Law *swoon* is possibly the epitome of boy crushes and I can assure you all that you will instantly fall in love with him! He just has this irresistible bad boy attitude along with some very good looks. He is also a big softie and the softer side of his character slowly comes to light throughout the story. There is also a feeling of mystery that surrounds Strafford and his current circumstances making him seem even more irresistible (than he already is!). The romance in the story fits perfectly. Despite the book being one of magic, battles and gods the main part of the story is very much rooted in the lives of the characters themselves who, for the most part are all teenagers. Teenagers get crushes, fall in and out of love and admire those of the opposite sex. I found that the romance didn’t hinder the story in anyway but helped to flesh out the characters and unearth parts of their personalities that are not so obvious at first. It also gives the story a little suspense as the uncertainty of the outcome of the romance is unknown and gives those readers who love a little romance in stories something to enjoy. I personally don’t think too much of romances in stories unless they serve a purpose and I believe that this one in particular helped the characters reveal parts of their personalities that were previously unknown to us.
My favourite part of the whole story is the way the Greek gods are depicted. It is just so hilarious and such a brilliant idea. Throughout the ages the gods have reinvented themselves to help them blend into everyday life and society, producing some very funny tales. Currently, Apollo is spending his life on earth as a famous rock star who Chloe is obsessed with. I really did enjoy how the author depicted the Gods and really reflects her initiative and creativity as a writer. Cupid is portrayed as a spoilt little brat, who loves to go against his mothers wishes flirting and wooing his way into mischief. Aphrodite is portrayed as a beautiful man eater who loves nothing more than romancing handsome men for eternity. Hermes was my favourite God in this story, the immortal and magical equivalent of an everyday postman, who reminded me of a crazy old man who just loves to tinker with technology. I just loved how the Gods have “stolen” the idea of the internet from mortals and adjusted it to determine it worthy for them to use. It reminded me of how in Greek mythology the things invented by the Gods were stolen by the mortals to use, such as when Prometheus stole fire from the heavens to give to mankind. These small little details show how detailed this story is in portraying little bits of information from Greek mythology.
This book had a great YA feel as it dealt with the lives of teenagers despite their divine qualities and spectacularly magical lives. Despite immortality, magical weapons and living in the heavens Chloe and the demigods are very much normal everyday teenagers (well maybe not quite normal!). The most obvious sign of teenage anxiety is evident in how much the demigods worry about their appearance! They have the perfect hair, abs and smiles plus they are kitted up with designer gear; an amazingly hilarious and clever idea! It just completes the whole modernisation of the mythology and makes it current, reaching out to new young readers of the genre.
I really do urge you all to read this fun filled book because it completely took me by surprise and took me on one crazy journey that I honestly was not expecting. I would definitely 100% recommend it to lovers of YA who enjoy reading fun books filled with a little bit of romance, adventure, mystery and drama. It also a great way to learn about Greek mythology especially for those who want to start reading about the subject. Like I mentioned earlier, it is very accurate in its portrayal of Greek mythology but has just revolutionised the tales by portraying them in a new, modern and fun context. I love Greek mythology so I would also recommend this book to lovers of the subject who want to read something completely different and have a little fun in the process.
This book has it all! Think Greek mythology dressed up in today's clothes. You are reminded of Percy Jackson where there are Gods, Demigods, Nymphs and so forth but there in the similarities end. Chloe, the main character is a teenager that hears voices. She kept having these "hallucinations" and no one really understood them. They could only do the thing that made the most sense and that is to call her crazy. It is her coming of age story. Realizing and owning what she is and what she can do. She is the Oracle of Delphi, a very powerful incarnation at that.
Strafford Law is her guardian. He is a dishonored demigod and there is a cute romance blossoming between Chloe and Stafford. The many worlds are interesting but definitely borrowed from cities well known to most readers. I do not necessarily understand the tattoos and how much the demigods seem to like them! This book was fast paced with a lot of twists and turns. It was a fun, entertaining read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a very imaginative take on ancient Greece and their famous Gods.
One issue that I had with the book was the development of Chloe’s character. She inherently seems to get good at fighting and leaps before thinking. This seems to be a miss with an Oracle but perhaps we will understand this behavior in the other books. I will definitely watch for more books in this series and by Diantha!
Reviewer: Bec
4.0 on the Masq Scale
Both the title and content of this book clearly show that this is something meant for teenage girls, particularly teenage girls who are into converses, slightly punky fashion, and of course greek myths. As a result a lot of the time the book is light, or deals with the characters growing infatuation with each other. But just because this is a typical teen girl book does not mean that others may not enjoy reading it, I know I did.
While at times I did find myself getting tired of the accounts of just what everyone was wearing or how hot a certain someone was, for the most part I was absorbed in this book. Towards the end I struggled to put it down, wanting to know just what would happen to our protagonists. It holds a certain sway, and uses the familiar Greek myths in a manner that has you wanting to read more and to find out more about these reimagining’s of the Gods that alot of us are familiar with.
Essentially this book is like the Percy Jackson books, but appealing more to the female audience. The main character is (for the most part) a strong female lead, who is not content to hide behind her bevy of protectors. Many of the plot points and characters will be familiar to the reader, and yet chances are the reader will not have seen them in this form. I know I hadn’t before and I can honestly say that I enjoyed it, minus all the fashion and descriptions of hot looks of course.
Also reviewed by Kay Froebel for the Masquerade Crew.
(I gave it a 4.5 on my blog cause I did have a couple little issues, but I did think it was amazing so 5 stars here.)
Something you should know about me. When I was a teenager, I was obsessed with mythology. In Middle School, it was all about the Egyptians. In High School, it was the Greeks and the Norse. (I liked Norse better, but Greek was a close second.)
So, when Ms. Jones asked me to review this story and I saw that it was all about Greek mythology, I was like: yes, please!
She did not disappoint.
This book is a tour de force through pantheon of Olympus, playing with some of the “big guns” of the gods (Apollo, Aphrodite, and others) but focusing mostly on the demigods. The children of the gods. But also on the idea of the Oracle of Delphi and that was the fascinating twist for me.
Chloe was a very relatable character to me. (Although I doubt my Crazy has anything to do with Greek gods.)
Anyone who has read previous reviews of mine knows that I rarely like teen female characters, but I liked Chloe. (Gasp, a second author whose managed it!) She had a couple moments and traits that would (and have) pissed me off in other characters, but I didn’t mind so much here. The rest of her made up for it.
Strafford was a great wounded alpha. I’m just sorry we don’t get to learn more of his back story in this one. Ace and Swindle were fantastic. And I loved Mayhem, Havoc and Chaos. I wanted more of them!
There were a few things that I wasn’t as crazy about. There was a lot going on. It was like… let’s throw in ALL THE THINGS! So many places and gods and demigods and prophecies and mortal and immortals and plots… that I got a little lost here and there. But Jones manages to get it manageable with a good reading flow. (I’m all about the reading flow.)
But… with all of those gods, you couldn’t have found a place to fit in my favorite? Artemis? (Breaks the heart.)
That aside… and no, I’m not really fussing… the middle dragged a little for me (around the Billows) but managed to pick back up before long. It needed some better editing. And there was something wonky with the formatting. Don’t know if that was my ereader playing tricks or what, but got a little distracting.
I also kind of wish I had felt like Chloe was driving the story a little more, rather than being dragged along with it, but then I also understand that that was kind of the point for what was happening to and with her.
Really, though, any problems I have are minor — either minor issues themselves, or made minor because I enjoyed the rest of it so much. It was fun and epic and fascinating to see how Jones wove earth and the heavens together. I loved revisiting the obsessions of my youth. I knew the style of ending it had was coming, but that’s okay.
I will definitely be waiting for the second book, and will probably be checking out other pieces of Jones’ writing. I give this an enthusiastic 4.5.
**I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
I haven’t read a mythology-themed story about the Oracle of Delphi before now so this book is a first for me. The usual stuffs were retellings about gods and goddesses or adventures of demigods. I’m glad PROPHECY OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL offers something new. I’ve always thought the Oracle is an important and powerful character in the Geek myth but oftentimes she was downplayed as an ordinary seer, operating in the sidelines and reciting riddles and prophecies for the demigod’s quests. In this book, however, the Oracle is in the middle of the action.
I must say I really enjoyed this book. It was unique and interesting. A real page-turner. I was always curious what will happen next. The characters were amusing although I think Strafford’s too good to be true. It’s like he’s so perfect and awesome. I was not smitten by him, though. It was also a bit annoying whenever the main character, Chloe, recounts just how gorgeous he is. Meh. But basically, Chloe’s okay. I think she’s a strong character, judging on how she managed to handle the sudden change in her life. She was ripped away from her family but she did not wallow in sadness. Instead, she accepted her fate and did her best to uncover the prophecy. Ace and Swindle were really good, too. They were great guardians and friends to Chloe and helped her adapt to her new life. Ace was freaking funny while I admire Swindle’s intelligence. Colorful characters make for a colorful story.
The action was something to look forward, too. They’re exciting and well-written. I liked the build-up of suspense and the pace of the story. I think it’s also a good thing that even though Chloe is the Oracle, she’s not always right. It made her character more real. The mystery behind Strafford’s past piqued my curiosity, too. I wanted to know his secrets badly. Chloe’s little brother was also special. He wasn’t just a secondary character. The author did a good job of adding the right amount of importance and mystery to each character. No one was neglected. Ms. Jones also kept the reader’s interest by not divulging all the secrets at once. They were carefully laid out and will make you excited for the next book.
All in all, Prophecy of the Most Beautiful is a powerful first book in a series. You’ll surely want to read the next books because it’s that interesting. A unique re-telling of the story of the infamous Oracle, this book is a must-read.
Check it out on my blog and also see my interview with the god Apollo here
*4.5 STARS!*
So, I've heard a lot about this book from fellow readers who kept going on and on about it, saying how good it was and I had to read it. So now that I finally got to read it myslef I was not disappointed. A day after finishing the book I found myself stopping at Disney channel to watch the Hercules cartoon cause I was like uh it's Zeus, what can I say, the book just stayed with me even after I finished it, had to have some more greek gods. Anyways, the book starts of with a lot of questions being raised as to what is going on here, but as I got deeper into the book I found myself getting more and more hooked by this world of demigods and gods. A lot of great characters, the demigods were all really fun and then there was Strafford Law of course. Yuum. And he's a prince, so now I'll just go get myself in trouble so he can come on his white horse and save me.. okay okay that's fairy tales, but it might work. Don't judge. I mean who can resist an IRISH prince! His brother Ace I really liked, too and Swindle. And then there's Apollo, I really really really liked him! He wasn't there thát much, but that was all it took for me to love him. He's just so much fun and he's a rockstar, so yeah can't resist liking him. As I got further into the book I couldn't stop reading, the last part went really fast for me because of all the excciting things that was happening. I felt like a was going on a quest with them all, experiencing everything they were. Another detail I loved was their computer and their morphs (object that can turn into weapons), really cool. To top it all off there has to be the cliffhanger end, of course so we just sit here and yearn for the next one to figure out what will happen next. What makes it that half star less was Chloe. In the beginning she was just too much of a damsel in distress, but I could also really see her evolving through the book so that's why it wasn't so bad, I can tell that as she herself get more into this world, she'll learn more. Overall the plot was great, characters likeable - very much so! The writing was very good. Definitely a book I would recommend, especially if you love greek myth or you're just looking for a great read!
[Full disclosure: I found Prophecy of the Most Beautiful on The Masquerade Crew and was so interested in it that Mark Lee put me in contact with Diantha Jones so I could request the book. Yes, I actually requested the book myself.]
Prophecy of the Most Beautiful is what fantasy should be: fast-paced, unique, well thought-out and unpredictable. It’s a book you won’t be able to put down, not only because of the awesome characters, but because the plot takes so many twists and turns you won’t have a clue as to how things will end! I know I didn’t.
In the beginning Chloe seems like your typical YA heroine, but this is certainly not the case by the end of the book. The main difference between Chloe and other female leads is that she actually has a backbone and doesn’t faint away at the sight of blood or agonize about killing people. She does what she needs to do to survive as the first Oracle of Delphi in more than four decades and doesn’t look back. In fact, you won’t find much teenage angst in Prophecy of the Most Beautiful. Sure, Strafford is a little tortured and seems like your typical bad boy, but the hints Diantha Jones is dropping seem to say that we’re not finished with him yet, that there’s much more to be learned about the Sun Prince.
Now for the plot: holy crap. I was absolutely glued to my computer screen and didn’t stop reading for anything. Prophecy of the Most Beautiful is a whirlwind journey and, at the risk of being cliché, you will not be able to put it down. It’s 266 pages of pure excitement and the cliffhanger on the last page was downright cruel, but certainly achieved its goal: getting me to want the next book. The last series I was this excited about was Krystal Wade’s Darkness Falls trilogy, so you know I’ll be following this one closely.
The way Diantha Jones set up her world, mixing in Greek myths and a bit of her own flair, was brilliant. The ‘iceys’ (immortals celeste) created to worship the gods and preserve their immortality, the demi-gods and even the gods themselves are not cliché because she has put her own spin on them. Not all demi-gods are created equal, as we learn and the iceys may not have things all that great up in the realm of the gods. It will be interesting to see more of this hidden world in the next book, Prophecy of the Setting Sunrise. I can’t wait to read it!
Chloe Clever has had it rough: her father left her family a few years ago, she's plagued with hallucinations of the scariest kind and she's her high school's resident freak.
By the second chapter we know why: Chloe is the Oracle of Delphi, and the voices she hears and visions she sees are real. She's saved in the nick of time from certain death at the hands of an evil Ker by the children of... Apollo. Turns out the god of prophecy has some very good reasons to want to protect the Oracle, but Chloe learns very quickly that the gods don't do anything for free.
The first people to warn her about the gods? Their demigod children, who may have been blessed with some of their immortal parent's power, but are all varying degrees of dispensable. Even Strafford Law, the most powerful of Apollo's children, is ultimately just a tool of his father's. Chloe, however, quickly sees him very differently.
Chloe's task is to figure out The Prophecy of the Most Beautiful, and even The Knowledge bestowed (or forced?) upon her by Apollo isn't enough on its own. In fairness, though, having to fight off attacks and encountering people literally falling from the sky is a huge distraction. But even before she does solve it, it's clear that Olympus has bigger issues simmering, and Apollo, Strafford and Chloe are destined to play a huge part in what's going down. So, evidently, might her family, but that's a story for the next book.
As a longtime mythology fangirl, I love that Jones begins to tie up some "unfinished business" the original stories left us dangling with. Not to give anything away, but Roberto Calasso (The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony) would definitely approve of the way she's doing it. Also, Jones drops hints several times that Chloe's previous life may not have been everything she thought it was, but my jaw still dropped when we realized just how different it really was. I cannot wait to see how the twist with her family plays out. Finally, I enjoyed the character Strafford; I'm very curious now to uncover why he needs to redeem himself- and how he's going to do it.
So, this starts out with Chloe. She is called a 'freak' by everyone around her because she's just finished her fourth suspension(which is a school record), she sees things that nobody else does, she hears voice, and to top it all off, she talks to those voices.
A few pages in, Chloe sees another one of those people that nobody else sees. He's tuff-guy looking and holding a motorcycle helmet. He then threatens her and her family, to 'try' to make her cooperate with him. BUT Chloe is not going for that, so she starts to beat him up. Or tries to. She sort of wakes up, and discovers that it isn't the tuff-looking guy that she beat up, but someone else. Oops. She gets suspended again (fifth time, WOW).
As she's about to get home, a girl runs into her, and start babbling about someone following her, and about them needing to hide. Chloe runs with her. When Chloe looks back, she see someone in a suit... Who is creepy... and who keeps disappearing and ending up closer... And who kills the other girl, almost by just looking at her... Yep, if you're thinking this sounds like Slender man , then you are thinking exactly like me!
Well, anyway, this basically starts out Chloe's BIG adventure. So.... That part sort of like Slender man... it sort of freaked me out for a bit. I was all like "OH MY GOD!! It's SLENDER MAN! They need to GET OUT!" But, of course it wasn't really Slender man. But it still made me want to flip a table.
Okay, so other than that somewhat small situation, I really did like this book. Added to the fact that I absolutely love Greek Mythology (or any other mythology for that fact), I felt that Ms. Jones told this story in a very personable way, that I could relate to more than some books/stories that I read.
So.... This book ended on a somewhat cliffhanger, but I'm really glad that I happened to have this second book to read... though now I really wanna read the third one...
There are two things that I didn't like about the book. The romance was way over the top. I was pelted with both sides of the love sick coin with both Chloe and her love interest proclaiming in the narrative upon first sight how much they really wanted the other. If it was written only from Chloe's POV, then I probably wouldn't have minded as much. The mythology is borrowed directly from Greek legends, which I love, but I can't help but compare it to Percy Jackson. The Gods and demigods just weren't as creatively portrayed as they were in Percy Jackson.
I did like how the fates were introduced, although I wish that their limits and powers were more clearly defined. They surprised me later in the story when certain things happened that I didn't think were possible.
The plot had some good twists, but the action scenes were very unbelievable When Hades' offspring invaded Apollo's home, it made no sense how only a handful of people could completely decimate like they did and without injury. Both are half gods and yet it was a very one-sided fight. The prophecy itself was very well done and I like how it did tie into one of the most-well known myths and yet I didn't have a clue what it was until Chloe said it. If you're better at clues and solving mysteries, then you'd probably guess what the prophecy involves.
I think that if you love romance and you love mythology, then this would be a great book for you to read. It reminds me very much of Aimee Carter's Goddess series, only Prophecy of the Most Beautiful has less whiny characters. It's a little too lighthearted and "safe" for me to love, but a decent book overall. I'm not sure if I'll read the next book in the series. It all depends on how many mushy romantic POVs I have to suffer through. This is a book that I think that is a solid four stars in the right reader's hands...it's just not for me. (C)
I loved this book! It is simple as that. A clever, loyal heroine, Greek mythology, demigods, what's not to love? The beginning is a little slow but not to worry. The action picks up and quickly the book becomes a page turner.
No spoilers here! I'm doing a full review later in the month and I can't wait! On 7/23/13, check out my blog for this review as well as a review of the second book and novella.
Chloe is an eighteen year old girl who discovers she is an oracle wanted by the gods.
I really enjoyed this book! Chloe was an interesting main character to follow. People on her hometown assume that her she is crazy because of her visions. So she is odd and has very few friends, until she's discovered by the god, Apollo. The other characters were also interesting and very diverse. All of the guys that Chloe met were extremely attractive, which was cool. Still can't decide who my favorite is. :)
Everything was easy to picture and the pacing was very good. The Greek mythology is abundant and many of the Greek gods make appearances as well as other mythical figures.
I loved that every once and a while the story was shown from another characters point of view. We were able to receive needed updates and seeing inside Chloe's love interest was really interesting.
Though the first few pages were a little boring for me, the story really captures the reader as I'm sure the rest of the series will continue to do so. :)
~ This review was originally posted on runawaypen.com
Prophecy of the Most Beautiful by Diantha Jones is a creative and captive read. The plot runs smoothly and the characters are interesting. The setting surrounds Greek Mythology and action. There's action and adventure throughout the entire book, which pulled me right in. I'm not normally one to read books within this genre but I must say that I am glad I read this one.
I fell in love with the main characters and found myself going through a variety of emotions thorough out the book. I found myself laughing out loud and next to tears. I am definitely looking forward to the next book within this series Prophecy of the Setting Sunrise. I give this book 4 **** stars.
A fun, original YA read that can appeal to fans of urban fantasy similar to Holly Black’s Modern Faerie Tales series or readers who just love mythology. With myth, romance, action, and fashion, there’s a lot for YA readers to love. Read my complete review at things she read.
I expected more. I like this kind of plot, but the characters didn't attract me and also instant love for me was forced. Chloe has room to improve. I want to continue to see if it improves but really expects more.
I have read A TON of Greek mythology books, but never one that focused on an Oracle, which I really liked about this book!
I think the author did a fantastic job throwing cool little things here and there, such as the Royalty, and all the cool weapons and equipment (Hermes mail!). It was just very clever!
However, there were other parts that made me go, "Hmmm, I don't know about that." You see, because I LOVE my Greek mythology, I am very picky and am always looking for the myths to be accurate and it bugs me when they're not. There were some instances where I was positive the myths said something else. The Keres, for example, I'm pretty sure they were all female. Also, I am almost absolutely positive that Athena is not the goddess of victory, that's more Nike's domain. However, they were often depicted together, sometimes thought to be just one goddess with many attributes...but, more often then not, they're two different entities. And Poseidon turning into the Creatan Bull and fathering the Minotaur? Also have not heard of that one. From what I've read, Poseidon just sent the bull and made Pasiphae fall in love with it. I tried to remember that sometimes the myths have different versions of the same story, you know, like the birth of Aphrodite.
Other times I don't mind the little twists. Take that twist with the Graces/Charities...I loved that! It was crazy but oh-so awesome!
Anyway, I thought the story itself really good. There was a lot of action and awesome fights scenes. I enjoyed the cast of gods that appeared, including my two favorite Greek gods: Hecate and Apollo. Unfortunately, Hecate wasn't very nice, lol. That's okay though, Hecate is usually always thought of as a dark entity.
Two characters I absolutely loved? Ace and Swindle (And swindle's dad Hermes)! They were just so much fun and silly and just plain awesome! Strafford, I really tried to like him, but I just couldn't. First impressions are very important, and on his first few appearances this is what I though of him: "What I jerk-face! He may be gorgeous, but he's still a jerk." And throughout the book I just could not get past that. But trust me, I tried to see what Chloe saw in him...and no such luck.
Chloe I felt like I needed to know her better in order to connect with her. But even though I felt kind of detached from her, I thought that overall she was a great character and I really enjoyed her voice in the story.
Even though I was very picky about the gods and the myths, overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the mythology, all the action, the quests, and that crazy thing with Chloe brother that I am VERY curious about! There were some amazing characters and wonderful descriptions. Also, it is okay if you know nothing about Greek myths, because the author does a great job explaining everything that goes on!
So if you love Greek mythology and are looking for something different, you might want to give this book a try.
I love Greek mythology so I jumped at the chance to read this young adult book by Diantha Jones. It started off slower than I would have liked, but once it got moving, it took off. Initially, I wasn't sure what to make of Chloe Clever. Her use of the word "retard" repeatedly early on, turned me off to her immediately. For one, that word is loathsome, for another, her fear of being lumped in with kids in special education classes showed her ignorance. But her character growth was more profound as a result. She becomes someone completely different after learning her destiny. I had to let go of the girl who held such disdain for children with learning difficulties, which is easier said than done. But she is a teen, so I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.
The two aspects in this book that worked the best for me were the action and the romance. The sexual tension between Chloe and Strafford was palpable, and the action scenes were dramatic, intense, and never rushed. What didn't work as well were the long winding descriptions, and the sheer number of characters introduced, making it nearly impossible for me to keep them all straight.
Plot Overall, the plot worked well. It was an interesting take on the gods and mythology and it moved along for the most part, although there were a few places where I found it dragging. The author does a good job of doling out just the information we need when we need it, so that we understand what's happening without burning her hook. Despite a good flow, there are places where it gets very busy and it becomes difficult to follow the plot.
The main plot is really well done -- discovering what the Prophecy of the Most Beautiful means. The romantic subplot also works really well, teasing us, making us wait, and then delivering a strong, emotional reward, like a carefully wrapped gift. I also particularly enjoyed the creative license Diantha Jones took with Greek mythology to fit her story. It was fun to see the worlds blending, bending, and diverging from what's real, what's myth, and what is pure author imagination.
Characters As I said above, Chloe is initially unsympathetic. She was surly, rude, selfish, and damn hard to like. But it was more satisfying to watch her grow because of that s she began to put the needs of others above her own. Strafford Law was divinely delicious as the hot demigod love interest and his younger brother, Ace, is perfect in his role as cohort and foil. The dialogue is mostly well done, but there are far too many pages without any. I tend to like dialogue-heavy stories.
Some of the characters felt flat to me, which made it difficult for me to form an opinion about them. There are a lot of characters so it's hard to really delve into so many. Maybe it would have read better with fewer, but more fully-developed characters.
Bottom Line I enjoyed Prophecy of the Most Beautiful and recommend it to anyone who likes a well-researched modern Greek mythology story with lots of romance and action.
Disclaimer I was provided a copy of this book by YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Diantha Jones.) 18-year-old Chloe has just set a record for the student with the most suspensions from school, and now she’s extending it by attacking another student on her first day back from suspension. Everyone called Chloe a ‘Whack job’ as she seems to suffer from hallucinations and delusions and randomly attacks people because of them.
On her way home though Chloe has a run in with a strange man, and after a shocking ordeal she wakes to find herself in an opulent room, with no idea of where she is or how she got there. There’s even more for Chloe to deal with though when she’s told that she’s an Oracle, and is greeted by several demigods, and a Prince. It seems that Prince Stafford Law is one of her protectors though, so the next time she is attacked he is there to defend her. Who is after Chloe though? What does being an Oracle mean? And can they decipher the prophecy of the most beautiful before it is too late?
This was an action-packed fantasy novel, with a firm basis in ancient mythology.
Chloe was a girl who literally grabbed the bull by the horns when she needed to, and wasn’t afraid of a little danger, especially if it meant protecting her mother and brother. She actually managed to take what was happening to her in her stride, and wasn’t going to go down without a fight. I really liked Strafford too. It was obvious how much he liked Chloe and how much he wanted to protect her, which was really sweet.
I liked the little spark of romance in this story. Chloe and Strafford immediately felt something for each other when they first met, but neither acted on it, and it was nice the way they noticed little things about each other like the way they accidentally touched them, or the way they smelled. It was a little insta-lovey, but because they didn’t act on their feelings or immediately confess undying love for each other it actually worked.
The storyline was quite complex, and there were a lot of different characters! Most of these were characters from mythology, and so if you know something about ancient mythology already then you’ll probably have a better chance of keeping up, but otherwise it’s just a case of trying to keep track. The storyline was pretty action packed, and there was a lot going on. The prophecies that Chloe as the Oracle came out with were pretty complex too and I had absolutely no idea what they were about! Thankfully it all came together in the end though, and everything worked out okay. We were left with a cliff-hanger at the end though, which wasn’t all that surprising as I know that this author loves cliff-hangers! Overall; an interesting mythology-based fantasy-adventure. 6.5 out of 10.
Prophecy of the Most Beautiful is a story that follows a girl named Chloe. Chloe knows she is not like other teenage girls and her difference gets her in trouble, big time. When pretty much forced to leave school, she experiences something very tragic. That tragedy has led her into a world she never thought existed. She is now living amongst the gods, well Demigods, and Chloe finds out that she is one of them. The hallucinations that have been giving her hell all her life are scenes from the future. This newfound discovery has made her popular, so popular other gods want to kill her. She has to find out who wants kill her and how she can fulfill the destiny that has been thrown at her feet.
I love books on Greek mythology and Jones has done an incredible job mixing Greek mythology with her own ideas. I love the world she created for us. The story was well paced. It does start a bit slow at first, but it picks up when Chloe starts interacting with the other Demigods. The Demigods know Chloe is one of them and they need to uncover what. Assassins have been sent to kill Chloe and they need to find out why. There is something going on that they don't want Chloe to know about. There was so much action thrown in this book. I didn't expect that. It made the book that much more fun.
I liked Chloe in the book. I loved the way she clicked with the characters especially Ace. Ace isn't the love interest, but he was a favorite for me in the book. I loved his personality. He cracked me up and was quite the badass. Our love interest was Stafford. I really liked him. He is Ace's older brother who is an even bigger badass. It took awhile for me to get into the romance between him and Chloe. They were so busy trying to stay ahead of the enemies, we didn't get a whole lot of them together. I hope we get more in the next book. The book did a great job I loved a lot of the side characters in the book. I loved Swindle and his bird, Bill. Swindle was such a smartass, he kept a smile on my face.
Overall, this is a great read. The mythology in the book adds so many layers and is easy to follow. Greek mythology has always been a favorite subject of mine and seeing gods we know of acting like modern, everyday people was a lot of fun. I had a blast with Cupid and Aphrodite and their marriage issues. This was a very fun read, full of action and laughs. I love how it ended. I am definitely hungry for the sequel. This is a wonderful YA read worth checking out.
She has a destiny so great that even the gods fear her. Constant hallucinations and the frequent conversations with the voices in her head, have earned eighteen-year-old Chloe Clever the not-so-coveted title of "Whack Job" in her home town of Adel, Georgia. Fed up with prescription meds and therapists, she wishes for a life where she is destined to be more than the butt of everyone's jokes and mockery.
Be careful what you wish for has never rung more true. After a vicious attack and learning that her favorite rockstar is an Olympian god, she is thrust into her new life as the Oracle of Delphi, the prophesier of the future. Setting out to fulfill the prophecy she has been given, Chloe learns of how great she is to become, all the while fighting mythical monsters and trying to outwit the ever-cunning Greek gods who harbor secrets of their own. While on a mission to discover the Most Beautiful, she strives to uncover the mysteries of he demigod Prince who has sworn to protect her with his life...and threatens to win her heart in the process.
Review:
I was given an ecopy of this book in turn for an honest review. Let me start this review off by stating how much I love the new Greek Mythology trend and am so glad to see it res-surging. When I was first given this book I was a little hesitant to get started, since sometime the genre can be a little kitschy. I will say that this took me a few chapters to really get into, but once the plot picked up I was hooked.
What I liked: The demi-god characters. They were hysterical and hot. I loved the romantic lead in this, maybe because he was a rockstar, or maybe because Jones just wrote him with so much swagger. Not only was the boy amazing, but I found the plot to be very interesting. It had just enough intrigue that it kept me enraptured, but I didn't find it overloaded to the point where I was super confused or where it meant the book was dragging.
What I meh-ed on: So, I didn't outright dislike anything, but like I mentioned before I did find it hard to get into initially. The beginning of the book lags a little, and is a little confusing. Luckily, I was on a plane so I didn't have much else to do other than power through. Don't give up! It picks up and does so amazingly. Not only did I find the beginning a little slower but Chloe was hard to root for in those first few chapters. I didn't get her deal and I wasn't really invested in her as a character until the middle of the book.
Overall, after a bumpy take off I found the book to be really enjoyed able. Make sure to stick it out, you'll really find something special in it.
By now you all know how much I enjoy mythology based books. I have read and reviewed a bunch of them in the Young Adult Genre and a couple in the New Adult genre, but I don't think I have ever read one from the perspective of the oracle. There have been books that deal with prophesies but none that deal with the person making the predictions. I thought that was a really interesting take on the subject.
The Prophecy of the Most beautiful deals with the becoming of a new oracle. A very important one at that. Chloe is treated awful at her old school, so even though she had to leave her family being whisked away to this crazy new life amoung the gods and demi gods had to be an improvement for her. And it must have been nice to know that she wasn't crazy. She kept having these "hallucinations" and no one really understood them in any other way but to call her crazy. At her new home everyone praised her for how special she was. But she was no ordinary oracle. No, apparently the gods and have been waiting over 2,000 years for her to arrive.
I liked Ace and Stafford and the whole demi-god gang, but it annoyed me that no one would give Chloe answers. She was just picked up from her life and brought here and she was kept in the dark. She was mad about it, but she still went along with what they wanted. I would have fought a little harder to find out just what was going on. Especially if it was about me and my life. There are still some unanswered questions left for the next book, but we do find out a lot of things in Prophecy of the Most Beautiful, include what the "most beautiful" is.
There is the signature adventure/ quest theme of mythology, but the cool part is that the oracle is part of the quest. Everyone just wants her to stay out the way and stay safe, but Chloe gets right in the middle of the fray. She just can't sit still, she has to be involved. I liked her spunky attitude. Prophecy of the Most Beautiful had a really cute and happy ending. I liked the way it was concluded because it was not a cliff hanger, but there is still plenty of stuff looming over Chloe and the rest of the gangs head. Lot's of great things to come in the next book. I am enjoying this series.
The start of Prophecy of the Most Beautiful sounded too familiar for my taste. Chloe, a girl with ordinary looks who is unpopular, notices a handsome new guy at school. And - surprise, surprise – he is looking at her too! He offers: "Freedom from the life you are about to become entrapped in. I can save you from the clutches of your great destiny."
Yeah, right? *eye roll* Tell me you didn’t read at least five young adult novels who started the same way? I thought I already knew what will happen. Chloe and mysterious handsome new guy aka. creepy stalker will fall madly (and of course instantly) in love while they run away from mysterious bad guys.
If you have imagined the plot similar to the one I described above then you have gravely mistaken, because Prophecy of the Most Beautiful turned out to have one of the most original and complex worlds of Greek mythology in contemporary setting I have read so far. There are even special websites, like DemiBoook, a social network for demigods. Attention to detail Diantha Jones had while she transferred Greek gods to urban environment is astounding.
The only complaint I have about Prophecy of the Most Beautiful is Chloe. She was such a typical teenager. One of Chloe’s obsession is what everyone is wearing. We get detailed descriptions every time. It’s interesting at first but after some time, it’s just boring. I don’t care about brand or color of his sneakers, just get to the point!
Also, how the gods and buildings looked was described like teenage girl’s wet dream. Everything was just the way Chloe liked it. I would not be surprised if it turned out that she was dreaming the whole time (at the end of the series).
In The End… If you read young adult novels and love Greek Mythology, I recommend that you read Prophecy of the Most Beautiful. The world only is worth the effort even if you find characters too teenage-y for your taste.
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from Ya Bound Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After reading the synopsis of this book, I was eager to start reading it. I enjoy reading about the Greek Gods because the story can go in any direction. Diantha Jones took the typical mythology story and put a nice spin on it by telling it from the Oracles' point of view.
The story is very easy to read with natural dialogue and a plot line that flows well. It is enjoyable to read and isn't bogged down with symbolism. It is a very fun and quick read.
Jones takes readers through many different realms and locations. It's fun to discover different areas of her world. I love that the characters had to travel through these realms to fulfill the prophecy, and that any God could interfere and take the plot line on an unexpected journey.
The plot line has characters trying to solve a prophecy. I loved it when Jones revealed what the prophecy meant. I was kicking myself in the butt because the answer is so obvious! I'm good at guessing plot lines (Oh, my husband hates watching movies with me because of this!), but I didn't figure out the solution. Good job Diantha Jones. I will say, that some astute reader might be able to figure out what the prophecy means.
The only issue I had with the story are the names of several characters. They were very simplistic and distracted me from the story. The main character is Chloe Clever, but other characters include Haley Havoc, Twinklewink, Mystic Mayhem, Dropper, Crystal Chaos and others.
I really want to know Strafford's story. I want to know what he did to disgrace himself. Luckily Diantha Jones has given readers his back story in another book. I'm also looking forward to him restoring that honor and pride in future books. He's a character that I will need to keep my eye on.
This book is geared to young adult readers. Younger teens, older teens and even adults can enjoy this story. Readers who enjoy mythology with a hint of romance and some action will enjoy Prophecy of the Most Beautiful.