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Areios Brothers #1
Storm of the Gods
Thirty years ago, the gods of Greek legend returned to the world. Their return restored their powers, which had been spent in a cataclysmic battle with the Titans. With the ancient deities imprisoned in Tartarus, the Olympians now reside in Néo Vasíleio, formerly known as California.
Twenty-four-year-old Derek Aerios is a war scion, a descendent of Ares, the God of War. He and his brother, eighteen-year-old Liam, capture mythological creatures and rogue scions as part of Ares's elite military force. As he struggles to cope with his violent powers and the scars of a traumatic childhood, Derek tries to keep the two vows he has made: protect his brother, and never kill a human again.
But when Ares forces him to hunt and kill four rogue scions under Athena's control—by threatening Liam's life—Derek chooses to go after the scions in order to save his brother and keep his promise to himself.
Yet the closer Derek gets to the scions, the more he realizes that his orders are part of a deeper conspiracy that put him at odds with his mission and his conscience. Athena may not be the enemy, a traitor could be in their midst, and the Titans could be closer to freedom than ever before.
Twenty-four-year-old Derek Aerios is a war scion, a descendent of Ares, the God of War. He and his brother, eighteen-year-old Liam, capture mythological creatures and rogue scions as part of Ares's elite military force. As he struggles to cope with his violent powers and the scars of a traumatic childhood, Derek tries to keep the two vows he has made: protect his brother, and never kill a human again.
But when Ares forces him to hunt and kill four rogue scions under Athena's control—by threatening Liam's life—Derek chooses to go after the scions in order to save his brother and keep his promise to himself.
Yet the closer Derek gets to the scions, the more he realizes that his orders are part of a deeper conspiracy that put him at odds with his mission and his conscience. Athena may not be the enemy, a traitor could be in their midst, and the Titans could be closer to freedom than ever before.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2018
About the author
Amy Braun
37 books346 followersAmy is a Canadian urban fantasy and horror author. Her work revolves around monsters, magic, mythology, and mayhem. She started writing in her early teens, and never stopped. She loves building unique worlds filled with fun characters and intense action.
When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, watching movies, taking photos, gaming, struggling with chocoholism and ice cream addiction, and diving headfirst into danger in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. Amy can be found online on Facebook (www.facebook.com/amybraunauthor/) Twitter (@amybraunauthor) and Instagram (@amybraunauthor)
When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, watching movies, taking photos, gaming, struggling with chocoholism and ice cream addiction, and diving headfirst into danger in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. Amy can be found online on Facebook (www.facebook.com/amybraunauthor/) Twitter (@amybraunauthor) and Instagram (@amybraunauthor)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 6, 2019
Full Review on my blog!
I love greek mythology, so I just had to read this.
It was an interesting Urban Fantasy and I really freaking enjoyed it! The book was packed full of action.
Storm of the Gods is the first in a series featuring two brothers who happen to be descendants of Ares living in a re imagined California where the Greeks gods and goddesses now rule.
There was so much depth and intrigue with the characters that I had a hard time putting it down. The plot is fast paced and flows smoothly from one thrilling event to the next with lots adrenaline pumping suspense that builds throughout the story. There is never a dull moment to be found as the story takes readers on a complicated adventure full of exciting battles, betrayals, emotional turmoil and an extreme sense of expectation as each of the twists and turns of the story depends on life altering decisions and the whims of the gods. I highly recommend it!
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Storm of the Gods | Review
Hunt of the Gods | Review
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
I love greek mythology, so I just had to read this.
It was an interesting Urban Fantasy and I really freaking enjoyed it! The book was packed full of action.
Storm of the Gods is the first in a series featuring two brothers who happen to be descendants of Ares living in a re imagined California where the Greeks gods and goddesses now rule.
There was so much depth and intrigue with the characters that I had a hard time putting it down. The plot is fast paced and flows smoothly from one thrilling event to the next with lots adrenaline pumping suspense that builds throughout the story. There is never a dull moment to be found as the story takes readers on a complicated adventure full of exciting battles, betrayals, emotional turmoil and an extreme sense of expectation as each of the twists and turns of the story depends on life altering decisions and the whims of the gods. I highly recommend it!
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Storm of the Gods | Review
Hunt of the Gods | Review
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August 26, 2018
Reviewed on behalf of 3 Degrees of Fiction Book Blog
WOW what a rush!!! I anticipated a great story but Amy Braun quite literally blew me away. Storm of the Gods is a brilliant start to the new Areios Brothers series, where the Olympians are in power once again and in control of the land of California, now known as Néo Vasíleio. I'm a huge fan of the Greek Myths so any book with this theme I will gladly read and this one in particular was quite unique and I craved every word from start to finish.
What I love most about Storm of the Gods, besides the Greeks, is that the main character is a guy. Of course I'm all for the tough girl but the switch was very enjoyable to read. Derek Areios is one fierce warrior, honed from birth to become the powerhouse he is today. But beneath all the bruises and scars is the biggest, most golden heart, used to protect his younger brother, Liam, at any cost. The dynamic duo work off one another to bring down any threat to their world until one mission in particular goes horribly wrong.
I was on pins and needles the entire story. The adventures Derek and Liam partaked in were so detailed and vivid, I only wish I could have their powers to help in the fights, which became more deadly every time. The nonstop action combined with the other great characters, who each had their own special skills, created one amazing journey that I'm extremely happy is continuing on. I can only imagine where Amy Braun will take this storyline but from what I just read I know without doubt more excitement and danger is on the horizon.
WOW what a rush!!! I anticipated a great story but Amy Braun quite literally blew me away. Storm of the Gods is a brilliant start to the new Areios Brothers series, where the Olympians are in power once again and in control of the land of California, now known as Néo Vasíleio. I'm a huge fan of the Greek Myths so any book with this theme I will gladly read and this one in particular was quite unique and I craved every word from start to finish.
What I love most about Storm of the Gods, besides the Greeks, is that the main character is a guy. Of course I'm all for the tough girl but the switch was very enjoyable to read. Derek Areios is one fierce warrior, honed from birth to become the powerhouse he is today. But beneath all the bruises and scars is the biggest, most golden heart, used to protect his younger brother, Liam, at any cost. The dynamic duo work off one another to bring down any threat to their world until one mission in particular goes horribly wrong.
I was on pins and needles the entire story. The adventures Derek and Liam partaked in were so detailed and vivid, I only wish I could have their powers to help in the fights, which became more deadly every time. The nonstop action combined with the other great characters, who each had their own special skills, created one amazing journey that I'm extremely happy is continuing on. I can only imagine where Amy Braun will take this storyline but from what I just read I know without doubt more excitement and danger is on the horizon.
September 14, 2018
The Greek Gods returned 30 years ago after centuries of dormancy after they were drained in the big battle against the Titans. They have set up their new land in California.
Derek is a scion of Ares, carrying the legacy of his powerful war god sire, along with his brother follow their role to capture and defeat dangerous monsters. And capture over rogue scions
Including the heir to the mysteriously missing Athena and four other powerful Scions. But as he gets closer he realises things are far from simple and world changing devastation could follow him making the wrong choice. But does he dare oppose Ares? Can he even oppose him? Who can fight the god of war?
Greek mythology! I am sold. Sold sold sold. Throw me some good ol’ ancient god mythology and I’m always one board. Doubly so when you get all the research in place and go all out for the research pulling in figures like Cassandra and random Greek monsters (so many Greek monsters) and generally working on their characters while adding a heavy dash of original concepts as well? Sold sold sold
So we have a world where after several centuries of dormancy after fighting the Titans, the Olympians have woken up and are back. And Not Amused that humanity has sort of forgotten them or, at very least, has stopped worshipping them. Since the Greek Gods are not exactly known for their humility, gentle persuasion or generally not being capricious, short tempered and seethingly insecure jealous sex maniacs, this did not go down well.
The Greek gods chose their territory - California - and divided it between themselves as new regions for the new Greek nation state. It is inferred that the US objected to this. It’s also heavily inferred that Zeus was having None of that and there’s something of a detent between “Neo Vasileio” and America
This is one element about the world building I like - we have that excellent balance between giving us lots of information so we know what is happening in this world, who is who, what the stakes are, what powers are being thrown around, etc etc but not so much that we’re inundated with unnecessary facts. Even though I kinda really really want those facts. I want to know what the reaction was with the greater world. I want to know exactly what Zeus did. I want Zeus and Hades and Apollo to be more than extremely briefly appearing characters. I want to meet all the Greek gods who have territory that we haven’t met yet - Artemis, Aphrodite, Hermes, Poseidon, Demeter, Haphaestus, Hestia, Hera, Perseophone. I want to learn all of this
The Greek gods have their descendents who all have powers based on their ancestral deity (lots of magic, a chosen element and general skill set) with the most powerful of those descendents being the heirs to their Olympian legacy. This comes with lots of shiny magic, lots of shiny powers and lots of really epic, shiny fight scenes
And our hero, Derek; powerful descendent of Aries line. Except he doesn’t like killing people, at all. And he fights tooth and nail against the berserker, magical charged rage that drives him to violence. His greatest skill is fighting and he really doesn’t want to and his overwhelming goal is to keep his brother safe - his brother who is regarded in contempt
Ok, Derek is eleven levels of badass, but his defining features are not his combat abilities which he almost regards as shameful, but his deep love for his brother, Liam, his care for those around him and his desire to protect them - and not in a patronising away. As he gets closer to Selena he becomes protective and caring without smothering - he knows she and Liam can look after themselves, doesn’t try to keep them away from the action but does try to help and shield them when he can. It’s a nice balance between protective without being patronising.
The plot has lots of conflict both physical and directional as they struggle to recover ancient Olympian artefacts that can be used for various nefarious means. Resurrecting the Titans, giving the Olympians ultimate power, again, killing the Olympians… there’s lots of terrible things that can be done with them. And the big question is whose agenda do they trust? Which god? Any god for that matter? Who is actually right? Whose agenda can they trust? And I like that Derek doesn’t just run with “the god I like” or “the god who isn’t Ares because I hate him and he’s an arsehole” but thinks it through as best he can even when faced with so little choice because they’re just so powerful.
Through that we have some good characters and interactions with his brother Liam - who constantly drives him to be better than he is and resist his worst impulses and powers. We have Selena with her great faith in Athena, her goddess, her growing links to Derek and yes there’s a hint of romance there but it’s not nearly there yet so instead we just have powerful mutual respect instead. She struggles with her real identity and fear for Athena as her prime motivations
I can’t emphasise how much I like how despite all these story changes the plot still remembers its mythology. Like Athena is being cast as the good, decent Olympian but Derek is quick to remember that Athena turned a woman into a giant spider because she was good at weaving and, like all the Olympians, she can be prone to epic pettiness when pressed.
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Derek is a scion of Ares, carrying the legacy of his powerful war god sire, along with his brother follow their role to capture and defeat dangerous monsters. And capture over rogue scions
Including the heir to the mysteriously missing Athena and four other powerful Scions. But as he gets closer he realises things are far from simple and world changing devastation could follow him making the wrong choice. But does he dare oppose Ares? Can he even oppose him? Who can fight the god of war?
Greek mythology! I am sold. Sold sold sold. Throw me some good ol’ ancient god mythology and I’m always one board. Doubly so when you get all the research in place and go all out for the research pulling in figures like Cassandra and random Greek monsters (so many Greek monsters) and generally working on their characters while adding a heavy dash of original concepts as well? Sold sold sold
So we have a world where after several centuries of dormancy after fighting the Titans, the Olympians have woken up and are back. And Not Amused that humanity has sort of forgotten them or, at very least, has stopped worshipping them. Since the Greek Gods are not exactly known for their humility, gentle persuasion or generally not being capricious, short tempered and seethingly insecure jealous sex maniacs, this did not go down well.
The Greek gods chose their territory - California - and divided it between themselves as new regions for the new Greek nation state. It is inferred that the US objected to this. It’s also heavily inferred that Zeus was having None of that and there’s something of a detent between “Neo Vasileio” and America
This is one element about the world building I like - we have that excellent balance between giving us lots of information so we know what is happening in this world, who is who, what the stakes are, what powers are being thrown around, etc etc but not so much that we’re inundated with unnecessary facts. Even though I kinda really really want those facts. I want to know what the reaction was with the greater world. I want to know exactly what Zeus did. I want Zeus and Hades and Apollo to be more than extremely briefly appearing characters. I want to meet all the Greek gods who have territory that we haven’t met yet - Artemis, Aphrodite, Hermes, Poseidon, Demeter, Haphaestus, Hestia, Hera, Perseophone. I want to learn all of this
The Greek gods have their descendents who all have powers based on their ancestral deity (lots of magic, a chosen element and general skill set) with the most powerful of those descendents being the heirs to their Olympian legacy. This comes with lots of shiny magic, lots of shiny powers and lots of really epic, shiny fight scenes
And our hero, Derek; powerful descendent of Aries line. Except he doesn’t like killing people, at all. And he fights tooth and nail against the berserker, magical charged rage that drives him to violence. His greatest skill is fighting and he really doesn’t want to and his overwhelming goal is to keep his brother safe - his brother who is regarded in contempt
Ok, Derek is eleven levels of badass, but his defining features are not his combat abilities which he almost regards as shameful, but his deep love for his brother, Liam, his care for those around him and his desire to protect them - and not in a patronising away. As he gets closer to Selena he becomes protective and caring without smothering - he knows she and Liam can look after themselves, doesn’t try to keep them away from the action but does try to help and shield them when he can. It’s a nice balance between protective without being patronising.
The plot has lots of conflict both physical and directional as they struggle to recover ancient Olympian artefacts that can be used for various nefarious means. Resurrecting the Titans, giving the Olympians ultimate power, again, killing the Olympians… there’s lots of terrible things that can be done with them. And the big question is whose agenda do they trust? Which god? Any god for that matter? Who is actually right? Whose agenda can they trust? And I like that Derek doesn’t just run with “the god I like” or “the god who isn’t Ares because I hate him and he’s an arsehole” but thinks it through as best he can even when faced with so little choice because they’re just so powerful.
Through that we have some good characters and interactions with his brother Liam - who constantly drives him to be better than he is and resist his worst impulses and powers. We have Selena with her great faith in Athena, her goddess, her growing links to Derek and yes there’s a hint of romance there but it’s not nearly there yet so instead we just have powerful mutual respect instead. She struggles with her real identity and fear for Athena as her prime motivations
I can’t emphasise how much I like how despite all these story changes the plot still remembers its mythology. Like Athena is being cast as the good, decent Olympian but Derek is quick to remember that Athena turned a woman into a giant spider because she was good at weaving and, like all the Olympians, she can be prone to epic pettiness when pressed.
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August 3, 2018
In this fantasy novel the Greek gods re-emerged from their sleep thirty years ago and took over the state of California. The area has been divided into fourteen parts, each ruled by a different god. Our two young male leads, brothers, have lived their entire lives under the rule of the gods, specifically as scions of Ares the Olympian god of war. Derek and Liam have inherited magical powers from their Ares lineage so are employed as Warriors for him. Derek has the magical element of fire and a berserker rage which often takes over his physical abilities to make him more powerful when he is in battle. In this first book in the series Ares commands Derek to find magical items that will give the god who holds them a huge power advantage. In order to force Derek to do this Ares blackmails him with threats of what awful things will happen to Liam if Derek isn't successful.
The premise sounded good but the execution fell short for me. To be considered such a powerful scion as to have people blanching at the mention of his name, Derek didn't live up to his reputation. If he's such a tough dude, why does it take him pages and pages and pages to get the better of anybody or anything he fights? Did you get that? Pages and pages and pages. His element is fire and yet when he uses it in a fight the opponent gets a long time to fight before the fire is effective. Every time Derek was in a skirmish I ended up just wanting it to be over......finally over. Also Derek's thoughts are filled from first page to last with worry about his brother. Gosh, that got to be super distracting after a while and actually made me resent Liam's very existence.
Not a success with me. The only new element I saw was having California ruled by Olympic gods but that wasn't used enough to make it matter very much. What about the remainder of the United States? I will not be continuing on with this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amy Braun for a digital galley of this novel.
The premise sounded good but the execution fell short for me. To be considered such a powerful scion as to have people blanching at the mention of his name, Derek didn't live up to his reputation. If he's such a tough dude, why does it take him pages and pages and pages to get the better of anybody or anything he fights? Did you get that? Pages and pages and pages. His element is fire and yet when he uses it in a fight the opponent gets a long time to fight before the fire is effective. Every time Derek was in a skirmish I ended up just wanting it to be over......finally over. Also Derek's thoughts are filled from first page to last with worry about his brother. Gosh, that got to be super distracting after a while and actually made me resent Liam's very existence.
Not a success with me. The only new element I saw was having California ruled by Olympic gods but that wasn't used enough to make it matter very much. What about the remainder of the United States? I will not be continuing on with this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amy Braun for a digital galley of this novel.
September 10, 2018
I've been a huge fan of Braun's work for a while now, so when I heard she had a new novel coming out I was extremely excited! Plus, I'm a huge fan of novels about Greek Gods and heroes, so this sounded like a win/win. I started the novel early one morning and it was all I could think about throughout the day. It was fast paced, action packed and full of engaging characters. I was immediately invested in the Aerios duo and I couldn't put this novel down!
Braun does such a fantastic job with the world building in Storm of the Gods and I could picture each scene perfectly. I loved what each of the characters brought to the novel and I thought it was an all around great read. I would highly recommend this novel if you're a fan of Percy Jackson or other novels about Greek legends. Thank you Amy for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review! I can't wait to read book two!
Braun does such a fantastic job with the world building in Storm of the Gods and I could picture each scene perfectly. I loved what each of the characters brought to the novel and I thought it was an all around great read. I would highly recommend this novel if you're a fan of Percy Jackson or other novels about Greek legends. Thank you Amy for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review! I can't wait to read book two!
August 31, 2018
Reviewed on behalf of http://bookaddict.live,
This is an action packed start to a new urban fantasy Series. I will say quickly this an adult series, as some of the situations and violence is quite extreme, but totally in proportion when dealing The Olympians, especially Ares who happen to be Derek and Liam’s boss. As they have his diluted bloodline It entitles him to treat them worse them slaves.
I loved the brothers Derek and Liam and how they stick together. Derek is very protective of those he cares about. This is a fascinating read Amy Braun gives you a handy prefix to go through their elements. So if your mythology is a big rusty this is a good reminder. As we meet Scions from different gods it’s a helpful reminder.
As this is book one there is the world building, but don’t worry it still has plenty of action. I enjoyed reading this a lot and devoured in one go. Now I’m waiting for book two.
This is an action packed start to a new urban fantasy Series. I will say quickly this an adult series, as some of the situations and violence is quite extreme, but totally in proportion when dealing The Olympians, especially Ares who happen to be Derek and Liam’s boss. As they have his diluted bloodline It entitles him to treat them worse them slaves.
I loved the brothers Derek and Liam and how they stick together. Derek is very protective of those he cares about. This is a fascinating read Amy Braun gives you a handy prefix to go through their elements. So if your mythology is a big rusty this is a good reminder. As we meet Scions from different gods it’s a helpful reminder.
As this is book one there is the world building, but don’t worry it still has plenty of action. I enjoyed reading this a lot and devoured in one go. Now I’m waiting for book two.
March 13, 2019
I was interested in reading Storm of the Gods for two reasons. First, the world building sounded amazing, and I love fantasy novels that bring gods into the mix. Second, I’d read Amy Braun’s excerpts on the Weekend Writing Warriors blog hop, and always enjoyed the exciting and energetic pace of her action scenes. (Okay, I guess that’s three reasons: world building, gods, action!)The book did not disappoint in any of those areas. This urban fantasy is set in a contemporary California that has been taken over and divided up among the Greek gods, who are recently reawakened and looking to kick some ass and get their power back. Oh, they’re still godlike and powerful, but not as much as before, because humans stopped worshipping them. I like my fictional gods with frailties and flaws, and all of the Olympians in Storm, while fearsome and magical, have weak spots, which makes them so much more interesting than all-knowing, all-seeing deities lounging on top of a mountain somewhere. Some of them are indeed super villains, or seem to be, but are layered with so much pathos and personality that they seem quite fresh, despite the fact that we’ve read about them since 7thgrade mythology class.This new world under the rule of gods is intricately thought out and vividly described, but don’t worry, most of the words you’ll be reading are snappy dialogue and quickly paced action sequences, not florid descriptions of a world gone divine. Actually the world (or California at least) seems to be in pretty sorry shape, with monsters charging about and angry gods destroying things. I’d like to read more about how the rest of the world is reacting to this divine take-over, but maybe they’re just shrugging and ignoring like they do now because—hey—it’s California.That said, all the magical whiz bang and neato-god stuff wouldn’t be enough to sell me on any book. I am first and foremost a connoisseur of Character, and need well-developed protagonists, allies, friends and enemies to keep me wrapped up in a story. Storm also delivers on this front. In the first pages we meet the Areios brothers; older brother Derek, and younger brother Liam. They are scions, meaning they’re descendants of a god-human hook up. In this case the god is Ares, god of war, and the brothers are his top soldiers, fighting monsters mostly, but also other scions who piss Ares off. Yes, they are kick ass fighters, but they are also compassionate, intelligent, and not too happy about basically being slaves to Ares’ violent whims.The relationship between Derek and Liam is what really makes this story gripping. From the first pages, you want to hug them and feed them hot chocolate and cookies, they’re so lovable. They have witty, sibling appropriate banter (fans of Supernatural should be very happy) but they care about each other deeply. They have a dark and twisted past involving a rather demented father, but their love for each other keeps them on the right side of that whole good vs. evil conundrum. And they can bring others into their fold, if those others earn their trust. There is a possible love interest blooming, but don’t worry, she’s kickass too and doesn’t slow the action with any lovely dovey nonsense.My only persnick with Storm is that there might possibly be too much action. The fight scenes are impressive; Derek gets his ass royally kicked soooo many times, but his magical abilities, and those of his brother, help him heal. Just in time to get monster-stomped once again. Although exciting for the most part, it does get to be a bit much for a reader like me who is not so action-oriented. I’m sure many will revel in those long, drawn-out battles. Me, I’d rather listen to Liam and Derek tee-off on each other. I’m very much looking forward to the sequel, maybe with more page time for Liam (hint hint).I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy, and who is not adverse to generous helpings of whiz-bang, action, re-imagined mythology, and humorous banter.
March 13, 2019
5 Cranky Stars
I’m giving this story 5 stars because it was well written. My only problem was correlating the Greek Olympians with modern days. I kept getting distracted and losing my concentration. One must picture Ares, Zeus, Athena, etc. in business suits driving cars and carrying cell phones. A bit of a stretch for me.
Anyway, the story revolves around two brothers who are descended from Ares. As such they are soldiers in his army. It seems that the Greek Gods were asleep for hundreds of years after defeating the Titans. When they awoke, they were shocked at how the humans had progressed. The humans thought of them as myths and legends. War ensued and the Gods were forced to withdraw to California where they divided the state into individual kingdoms. Travel between the kingdoms was highly regulated and each God had their own set of rules.
Derek and Liam worked for Aries. Derek had to kill his father to save Liam’s life. In fact, he had raised Liam and protected him since he was a young baby. Derek’s magic was extremely strong and getting stronger all the time. When the brothers discover a rogue group trying to find the weapons and tools needed to free the Titans, Ares enlists them in the fight to stop this group.
Unfortunately, things aren’t always what they seem. There are two rogue groups. One group is led by Gage and his search is for himself. The other group is working for Athena. Lots of thrills and mystery surround their adventures. Magic and curses abound. Interesting take on Greek Mythology.
I’m giving this story 5 stars because it was well written. My only problem was correlating the Greek Olympians with modern days. I kept getting distracted and losing my concentration. One must picture Ares, Zeus, Athena, etc. in business suits driving cars and carrying cell phones. A bit of a stretch for me.
Anyway, the story revolves around two brothers who are descended from Ares. As such they are soldiers in his army. It seems that the Greek Gods were asleep for hundreds of years after defeating the Titans. When they awoke, they were shocked at how the humans had progressed. The humans thought of them as myths and legends. War ensued and the Gods were forced to withdraw to California where they divided the state into individual kingdoms. Travel between the kingdoms was highly regulated and each God had their own set of rules.
Derek and Liam worked for Aries. Derek had to kill his father to save Liam’s life. In fact, he had raised Liam and protected him since he was a young baby. Derek’s magic was extremely strong and getting stronger all the time. When the brothers discover a rogue group trying to find the weapons and tools needed to free the Titans, Ares enlists them in the fight to stop this group.
Unfortunately, things aren’t always what they seem. There are two rogue groups. One group is led by Gage and his search is for himself. The other group is working for Athena. Lots of thrills and mystery surround their adventures. Magic and curses abound. Interesting take on Greek Mythology.
March 24, 2019
This new urban fantasy series is off to a great start with a host of strong, complex characters that easily fascinate readers from the very beginning. The brothers, Derek and Liam are intriguing, full of life and courageous males that blow readers away with their determination and ingenuity throughout the story. Derek is the older brother and the story seems focusing on him so far, but it obvious that Liam plays a strong part in every decision that Derek makes, so they make a great team and readers can practically feel the loyalty that flows between them. They certainly need that loyalty and their bond as they are up against the Greek Gods in a fantastic setting where the Gods have re-emerged from obscurity and determined to take back their Godships by force. The author brings the setting to life with descriptive words that create a modern setting with a little of a futuristic feel and readers can easily imagine the Gods and how they would rule their world which makes it very easy for the readers to become completely absorbed in the intense and exhilarating story. The plot is fast paced and flows smoothly from one thrilling event to the next with lots adrenaline pumping suspense that builds throughout the story. There is never a dull moment to be found as the story takes readers on a complicated adventure full of exciting battles, betrayals, emotional turmoil and an extreme sense of expectation as each of the twists and turns of the story depends on life altering decisions and the whims of the gods.
August 21, 2018
I haven’t read anything by this author before, so I’m new to her writing. First off, let me say that she is an excellent writer. I found most of the characters fun and interesting, and the plot was unique and full of action. California ruled by Greek gods? Yes, please! I do admit to some confusion at the beginning of the book because there were all kinds of different types of gods/elements/scions/etc., but once I got used to all the information or at least knew enough to ignore the ones I didn’t really need to know, I settled in and enjoyed the book. And the second half of the book just flew by because I was enjoying myself so much, and there was a lot of action to keep me engaged. The thing that sold the book for me was that I want to read the next one to see what’s going to happen next. If you like Greek mythology, you will love this book. If you don’t, I think you will still like it. Give it a try! Highly recommend! I was provided a complimentary copy of the e-book which I reviewed voluntarily.
August 20, 2018
2.5 stars
I wanted to like this story a lot more than I did. What's worse is that it has so many things that were pretty awesome, but they still just weren't enough. I loved the idea of the Gods coming back after so long a sleep and how they have descendents who are stronger and possess magic. The gods we meet are pretty cool with believably great personalities. Even Ares with his violent ways and torturous methods. Despite all the fighting and the action, somehow I still managed to be bored. And I think it's because there was just so much fighting. Which would probably have been okay, but each time was practically the same and seemed to last forever.
Derek was the greatest disappointment. Considering his age and responsibilities, I was floored when he was constantly acting like a teenager. Admittedly that was usually when he was around a girl he liked. Not sure that makes it any better though. What was the biggest let down however, was that for some reason everybody fears him and just the sound of his name makes people afraid, yet he was always getting his ass kicked in every fight he ended up in. And it wasn't until he used his inner berserker that he would come out on top.
Liam is Derek's younger brother. For the most part I liked Liam because he added some laughs that I desperately needed. But just like his brother, he acts way below his age too often.
Derek and Liam suffered greatly at the hands of their father when they were children. Until it was found out something he was up to and Derek was forced to do something that still traumatizes him to this day. Since then the two of them work as part of Ares's elite forces tasked with different missions. After completing one such mission, they're attacked by rouge heirs of the other Gods and end up getting thrown into things way over their heads.
Tasked by Ares to go after these rogues and capture/stop them, the brothers instead end up questioning all they've been told. Now they have to decide who to believe, whose side they want to be on, and how much they are willing to risk. They'll have to deal with more traitors, creatures only ever thought were stories, and unbreakable bonds to the Gods.
Things got more interesting towards the end when more Gods appear but the truth becomes even harder to find. We learn why Derek is able to get away with more than others would (which was definitely cool but also very predictable), and he also gets a pretty awesome new weapon.
I really did like the whole backstory here, but I just don't know how much I'd want to read the next book. The characters just weren't mature enough for their ages and all the fighting did get tedious.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
I wanted to like this story a lot more than I did. What's worse is that it has so many things that were pretty awesome, but they still just weren't enough. I loved the idea of the Gods coming back after so long a sleep and how they have descendents who are stronger and possess magic. The gods we meet are pretty cool with believably great personalities. Even Ares with his violent ways and torturous methods. Despite all the fighting and the action, somehow I still managed to be bored. And I think it's because there was just so much fighting. Which would probably have been okay, but each time was practically the same and seemed to last forever.
Derek was the greatest disappointment. Considering his age and responsibilities, I was floored when he was constantly acting like a teenager. Admittedly that was usually when he was around a girl he liked. Not sure that makes it any better though. What was the biggest let down however, was that for some reason everybody fears him and just the sound of his name makes people afraid, yet he was always getting his ass kicked in every fight he ended up in. And it wasn't until he used his inner berserker that he would come out on top.
Liam is Derek's younger brother. For the most part I liked Liam because he added some laughs that I desperately needed. But just like his brother, he acts way below his age too often.
Derek and Liam suffered greatly at the hands of their father when they were children. Until it was found out something he was up to and Derek was forced to do something that still traumatizes him to this day. Since then the two of them work as part of Ares's elite forces tasked with different missions. After completing one such mission, they're attacked by rouge heirs of the other Gods and end up getting thrown into things way over their heads.
Tasked by Ares to go after these rogues and capture/stop them, the brothers instead end up questioning all they've been told. Now they have to decide who to believe, whose side they want to be on, and how much they are willing to risk. They'll have to deal with more traitors, creatures only ever thought were stories, and unbreakable bonds to the Gods.
Things got more interesting towards the end when more Gods appear but the truth becomes even harder to find. We learn why Derek is able to get away with more than others would (which was definitely cool but also very predictable), and he also gets a pretty awesome new weapon.
I really did like the whole backstory here, but I just don't know how much I'd want to read the next book. The characters just weren't mature enough for their ages and all the fighting did get tedious.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
August 27, 2018
Its been a while since I've been pulled into a story like this. There was so much depth and intrigue with the characters that I had a hard time putting it down. It was an interesting story line with the Greek gods taking over California. The one thing that I would say was a little distracting was the use of telling instead of showing. The story was good enough though, to look past this. Still, four stars for Amy Braun.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
September 10, 2018
Welcome to modern day California! Only, this isn’t the California you know. Thirty years ago the Greek Gods reawakened from their two thousand year hibernation after battling the Titans… and they didn’t like that the humans had all but forgotten them, turning them into stories for children. So they each seized control a region of California, their own districts to govern as they saw fit.
Derek Aerios and his blood-bonded brother Liam are scions of Ares, the God of War. They have never known a world where the gods didn’t exist. Their magic, the ability to generate and control fire, is a small fraction of that of their patron god, but it has made them formidable War Scions. Their job is to do Ares bidding and, although they don’t like the violent, immoral god, they serve him well…until they’re attacked by the scions of four other gods while on a routine mission; scions who are looking for something called The Heart of the Devourer. Suddenly Derek and Liam’s lives are turned inside out as they’re pulled into a struggle for the fate of all humanity. They must stop the rebirth of the Titans, even if it means challenging the gods themselves.
Storm of the Gods is an entertaining story of what it might be like to have gods living among us. Not the friendly gods of our childhood stories, mind you, but the actual Greek Gods with all their immoral power games and lack of concern for human existence. The story has magical humans, violent action, romance, overpowered Gods, and a mystery that could spell the end of humanity.
Seeing such a world fleshed out was incredibly entertaining, as we are treated to the districts of Athena, Apollo, and Aphrodite. Strangely, we saw little of Ares district, except from the inside of what seemed like the central headquarters of a police state that would make the Nazi Gestapo blush. The gods themselves, the few we meet, act in very believable manners as overpowered avatars of the natural aspect or trait(s) they represent. And, of course, they have little patience for the interests of humans.
The human scions, heirs and embodiments of the gods they serve, are also interesting. Although several weren’t fleshed out well, the ones we met the most were well-developed characters. Most notable among these were the main characters Derek and Liam Aerios and Selena, scion of Athena, who comes with her own mystery of who she is and what happened to her memory (I suspect you should be able to guess the truth by the end, although you’ll have to wait for future books to find out for sure). I would have liked to have seen Cory, scion of Hermes (possesser of superspeed!) developed a bit more, as well as Gage, the scion of Hades. It might have been nice to have seen some of the story from his viewpoint, to add more sympathy to a tragic character and develop the mystery a bit more.
As for the story itself, the mystery of the hidden items and who was planning to do what with them was the most interesting part for me, but it often took a distant back seat to the action and romance…
My feeling was that the romance was underdeveloped for this story, although it was ongoing. In my opinion, this comes from the current trend of not wanting the female lead to seem weak if she falls too easily for the male protagonist. Unfortunately, the effect is an unsatisfying story arc that feels almost unnecessary and burdensome, as it doesn’t lead anywhere. What I’d like to see the author do in future books to overcome this would be to give strong story arcs and viewpoint scenes to both the male and female leads and then interweave them into the overall plot (instead of the single viewpoint we have in Storm of the Gods). This would allow readers to observe both characters as strong heroes in their own rights, and allow for a much more fulfilling romantic plotline with romance among true equals.
My other issue with Storm of the Gods was the combat sequences. While I didn’t find anything inherently wrong in the details, they often seemed to go on forever. It got to the point where I was skimming the sequence just to get to the end of it so I could continue on with the plot. This book has to have some of the longest combat sequences I’ve ever read, with the final climax being worthy of a martial arts anime series.
Overall, Storm of the Gods by A.R.Braun is an entertaining story in a well-developed world. I do, however, believe that it with a small change in approach, the author could make this series truly amazing.
Derek Aerios and his blood-bonded brother Liam are scions of Ares, the God of War. They have never known a world where the gods didn’t exist. Their magic, the ability to generate and control fire, is a small fraction of that of their patron god, but it has made them formidable War Scions. Their job is to do Ares bidding and, although they don’t like the violent, immoral god, they serve him well…until they’re attacked by the scions of four other gods while on a routine mission; scions who are looking for something called The Heart of the Devourer. Suddenly Derek and Liam’s lives are turned inside out as they’re pulled into a struggle for the fate of all humanity. They must stop the rebirth of the Titans, even if it means challenging the gods themselves.
Storm of the Gods is an entertaining story of what it might be like to have gods living among us. Not the friendly gods of our childhood stories, mind you, but the actual Greek Gods with all their immoral power games and lack of concern for human existence. The story has magical humans, violent action, romance, overpowered Gods, and a mystery that could spell the end of humanity.
Seeing such a world fleshed out was incredibly entertaining, as we are treated to the districts of Athena, Apollo, and Aphrodite. Strangely, we saw little of Ares district, except from the inside of what seemed like the central headquarters of a police state that would make the Nazi Gestapo blush. The gods themselves, the few we meet, act in very believable manners as overpowered avatars of the natural aspect or trait(s) they represent. And, of course, they have little patience for the interests of humans.
The human scions, heirs and embodiments of the gods they serve, are also interesting. Although several weren’t fleshed out well, the ones we met the most were well-developed characters. Most notable among these were the main characters Derek and Liam Aerios and Selena, scion of Athena, who comes with her own mystery of who she is and what happened to her memory (I suspect you should be able to guess the truth by the end, although you’ll have to wait for future books to find out for sure). I would have liked to have seen Cory, scion of Hermes (possesser of superspeed!) developed a bit more, as well as Gage, the scion of Hades. It might have been nice to have seen some of the story from his viewpoint, to add more sympathy to a tragic character and develop the mystery a bit more.
As for the story itself, the mystery of the hidden items and who was planning to do what with them was the most interesting part for me, but it often took a distant back seat to the action and romance…
My feeling was that the romance was underdeveloped for this story, although it was ongoing. In my opinion, this comes from the current trend of not wanting the female lead to seem weak if she falls too easily for the male protagonist. Unfortunately, the effect is an unsatisfying story arc that feels almost unnecessary and burdensome, as it doesn’t lead anywhere. What I’d like to see the author do in future books to overcome this would be to give strong story arcs and viewpoint scenes to both the male and female leads and then interweave them into the overall plot (instead of the single viewpoint we have in Storm of the Gods). This would allow readers to observe both characters as strong heroes in their own rights, and allow for a much more fulfilling romantic plotline with romance among true equals.
My other issue with Storm of the Gods was the combat sequences. While I didn’t find anything inherently wrong in the details, they often seemed to go on forever. It got to the point where I was skimming the sequence just to get to the end of it so I could continue on with the plot. This book has to have some of the longest combat sequences I’ve ever read, with the final climax being worthy of a martial arts anime series.
Overall, Storm of the Gods by A.R.Braun is an entertaining story in a well-developed world. I do, however, believe that it with a small change in approach, the author could make this series truly amazing.
September 1, 2018
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
30 years ago, the Greek gods re-emerged into the modern world from their enforced sleep. Since then, scions, direct descendants of those gods, have been doing their bidding and keeping the human population safe from the mythical beats of old. Derek and his 18 year old brother Liam, are war scions, doing the bidding of Ares, the god of war. Ares orders Derek to find and kill four rogue scions, by threatening Liam and Derek will do anything to keep his brother safe. But not all is as it seems, and Derek, Liam and the four scions find themselves in a battle to keep the mighty Titans at sleep.
**insert sigh**
For the most part,I did enjoy this. It took a while for me to get into it. There are several HUGE info dumps near the beginning and I didn't like that., It came at you all in one go, and I did not process all of that information, there was so much. It meant I got lost a little in places later on.
But it's all the history of the gods that dumps on you. You don't get all of Derek and Liam's history in that dump. That comes out in dribs and drabs, slow enough for you to process their history, before the next bit is thrown at you. And I think there may be more to come, I really do.
It is HEAVY on the fighting. Derek, Liam and the scions do a lot of fighting and it is described in all its detail. A bit too much for me.
Only Derek has his say, in the first person. I think if Liam, and maybe one of the scions, Selena, had their say too, even in the first, I might have enjoyed this one a little more.
I DID like the story itself, info dump and fighting aside, I did not see a lot coming at me, kept me on my toes.
There is something brewing between Derek and Selena, and I hope that plays out how I see playing out! But Derek has more secrets to reveal, some I don't think he even knows about yet. And he still has to get out of the war pact made with Ares, but to do that, Derek has to do what Ares asked him to. Derek does not want to do that now.
Will I read the next book?? Yes, I'd like to, if only to see how this all goes down.
So, because of the massive info dump, and because only Derek has a say....
3 solid good stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
30 years ago, the Greek gods re-emerged into the modern world from their enforced sleep. Since then, scions, direct descendants of those gods, have been doing their bidding and keeping the human population safe from the mythical beats of old. Derek and his 18 year old brother Liam, are war scions, doing the bidding of Ares, the god of war. Ares orders Derek to find and kill four rogue scions, by threatening Liam and Derek will do anything to keep his brother safe. But not all is as it seems, and Derek, Liam and the four scions find themselves in a battle to keep the mighty Titans at sleep.
**insert sigh**
For the most part,I did enjoy this. It took a while for me to get into it. There are several HUGE info dumps near the beginning and I didn't like that., It came at you all in one go, and I did not process all of that information, there was so much. It meant I got lost a little in places later on.
But it's all the history of the gods that dumps on you. You don't get all of Derek and Liam's history in that dump. That comes out in dribs and drabs, slow enough for you to process their history, before the next bit is thrown at you. And I think there may be more to come, I really do.
It is HEAVY on the fighting. Derek, Liam and the scions do a lot of fighting and it is described in all its detail. A bit too much for me.
Only Derek has his say, in the first person. I think if Liam, and maybe one of the scions, Selena, had their say too, even in the first, I might have enjoyed this one a little more.
I DID like the story itself, info dump and fighting aside, I did not see a lot coming at me, kept me on my toes.
There is something brewing between Derek and Selena, and I hope that plays out how I see playing out! But Derek has more secrets to reveal, some I don't think he even knows about yet. And he still has to get out of the war pact made with Ares, but to do that, Derek has to do what Ares asked him to. Derek does not want to do that now.
Will I read the next book?? Yes, I'd like to, if only to see how this all goes down.
So, because of the massive info dump, and because only Derek has a say....
3 solid good stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
April 4, 2019
Storm of the Gods by Amy Braun is first in the Areios Brothers urban fantasy series. Set in a world where the Greek gods have returned, and taken over the state of California as their new base, we jump right into the action as Derek and Liam are attacked while transporting a captured dracaena back to their headquarters. The brothers are war scions, beholden to Ares, the war God. They end up stumbling upon a plot to find the Shares of Cronus, and the Trinity weapons. Ares charges them with capturing the rogue scions, interrogating them, and… disposing of them. Oh yes, and to find the missing Athena, and the items.
It took me a bit to get into this story, but once I did, wow! I really great to love Derek and Liam. Their love for one another keeps them both sane. Derek has the magic of the Berserker Rage, which turns him into a near invincible warrior immune to pain. It also means he'll attack any in his sight. They can both be serious fighters, then abruptly turn into a pair of overgrown kids. Derek likes to thwack his brother on the back of the head, Gibbs-style. I like the other characters well enough, but my favourite is Corey. He's a wayfarer Scion, a descendant of Hermes, and he's so painfully shy. I want to cuddle him and protect him. He's brave underneath though. He helped Derek and the others, even though it took him far outside his comfort zone. And Mason flirting with him was adorable. Overall, a great read. I'm ready for the next installment!
***Many thanks to the author/publisher for providing an ecopy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed via Silver Dagger Tours
It took me a bit to get into this story, but once I did, wow! I really great to love Derek and Liam. Their love for one another keeps them both sane. Derek has the magic of the Berserker Rage, which turns him into a near invincible warrior immune to pain. It also means he'll attack any in his sight. They can both be serious fighters, then abruptly turn into a pair of overgrown kids. Derek likes to thwack his brother on the back of the head, Gibbs-style. I like the other characters well enough, but my favourite is Corey. He's a wayfarer Scion, a descendant of Hermes, and he's so painfully shy. I want to cuddle him and protect him. He's brave underneath though. He helped Derek and the others, even though it took him far outside his comfort zone. And Mason flirting with him was adorable. Overall, a great read. I'm ready for the next installment!
***Many thanks to the author/publisher for providing an ecopy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed via Silver Dagger Tours
August 16, 2018
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Storm of the Gods is the first in a series featuring two brothers who happen to be descendants of Ares living in a re imagined California where the Greeks gods and goddesses now rule. The brothers are ordered (and manipulated) by Ares to take out a gang of rogues loyal to Athena, a goddess who has disappeared and her fellow gods and goddesses are a bit upset with. Little do they know that get tangled in these rogues will lead them down a path to save the world from the seemingly impending escape of the Titans. Interesting world building themed around the gods and goddesses and the infamous stories from mythology. Would have been interesting to hear more about what is going on in the rest of the world considering the way California turned out. You expect epic battle scenes with descendants of Ares, but I just felt they were a bit drawn out in comparison to the non battle scenes, which felt a bit rushed and could have used a bit more attention and development. This made the pace of the book really choppy. I didn't really feel like there was much in the way of character development with the leading male, Derek. He had a rough childhood, is a descendant of Ares, willing to do anything to protect his brother, and has a bit of an anger control issue. Not much else is learned about him. Overall, interesting take on a Greek mythology based California, but could have used better character development and better balance.
Storm of the Gods is the first in a series featuring two brothers who happen to be descendants of Ares living in a re imagined California where the Greeks gods and goddesses now rule. The brothers are ordered (and manipulated) by Ares to take out a gang of rogues loyal to Athena, a goddess who has disappeared and her fellow gods and goddesses are a bit upset with. Little do they know that get tangled in these rogues will lead them down a path to save the world from the seemingly impending escape of the Titans. Interesting world building themed around the gods and goddesses and the infamous stories from mythology. Would have been interesting to hear more about what is going on in the rest of the world considering the way California turned out. You expect epic battle scenes with descendants of Ares, but I just felt they were a bit drawn out in comparison to the non battle scenes, which felt a bit rushed and could have used a bit more attention and development. This made the pace of the book really choppy. I didn't really feel like there was much in the way of character development with the leading male, Derek. He had a rough childhood, is a descendant of Ares, willing to do anything to protect his brother, and has a bit of an anger control issue. Not much else is learned about him. Overall, interesting take on a Greek mythology based California, but could have used better character development and better balance.
August 27, 2018
So this is a first for me from this author. And I have to say that I don't read much Young Adult or Fantasy of any kind often. But I had been slagging in the reading department lately and thought maybe I had just been reading too many of the same type of books recently so I wanted to go for a change of pace. And thought that maybe reading something different would help out. I also thought that this book sounded interesting.
I have to say that the beginning of this book was a bit confusing and of course there were some words I had to get used to for this type of book. But once I understood the words and there meanings I could understand the book better.
I loved how Mrs. Braun incorporated Greek Gods into the real world or the real world into the Olympian world, depending on how you looked at the situation.
I loved Derek. He's a young human man that has been thrust into a world and become a warrior because of where he happened to live. He has an unbreakable bond with his younger brother. I really loved his relationship with his brother.
I have to say that this book was enjoyable. But at times I did find that it seemed to drag a bit a parts, like the author was trying to find a way to make the book exciting. But other than that it was enjoyable. I'm mean what could be better than Greek Gods being alive and roaming on the earth with humans? This book bring intense action, also.
I'm giving this book 4 Stars out of 5!!!!
***I received an ARC of this book through Xpresso Book Tours for my honest opinion***
I have to say that the beginning of this book was a bit confusing and of course there were some words I had to get used to for this type of book. But once I understood the words and there meanings I could understand the book better.
I loved how Mrs. Braun incorporated Greek Gods into the real world or the real world into the Olympian world, depending on how you looked at the situation.
I loved Derek. He's a young human man that has been thrust into a world and become a warrior because of where he happened to live. He has an unbreakable bond with his younger brother. I really loved his relationship with his brother.
I have to say that this book was enjoyable. But at times I did find that it seemed to drag a bit a parts, like the author was trying to find a way to make the book exciting. But other than that it was enjoyable. I'm mean what could be better than Greek Gods being alive and roaming on the earth with humans? This book bring intense action, also.
I'm giving this book 4 Stars out of 5!!!!
***I received an ARC of this book through Xpresso Book Tours for my honest opinion***
March 7, 2019
If you grew up reading Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, watched your kids/grandkids enjoy reading modern stories based on Greek mythology, or (as I did) read it yourself, Amy Braun's new series is a great transition to an adult view of those gods.
Derek Aerios could've gone to Camp Half-Blood with Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. Now, he's an adult. Percy's adventures are child's play compared to the crises he and his brother Liam are forced into.
This story is fast-paced, fight scenes so well done the reader feels right there. Characters are well-drawn, although since this is the first book in a series, I'm sure the reader will learn more about Derek and Liam. With one confrontation after another--battles with scions, monsters, and gods--the reader keeps turning the page to see what's next.
Between battles and confrontations with Ares, we get glimpses into Derek's psyche. His vulnerability is his brother. He will do anything to protect Liam. Despite being a war scion (disciple of Ares), Derek will fight but refuses to kill. Ms. Braun forces him into situations where his ethics vie with his sibling obligation. She makes the reader feel his torment, his anguish.
Get set for a fascinating read, one that captures your imagination and doesn't let go.
Derek Aerios could've gone to Camp Half-Blood with Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. Now, he's an adult. Percy's adventures are child's play compared to the crises he and his brother Liam are forced into.
This story is fast-paced, fight scenes so well done the reader feels right there. Characters are well-drawn, although since this is the first book in a series, I'm sure the reader will learn more about Derek and Liam. With one confrontation after another--battles with scions, monsters, and gods--the reader keeps turning the page to see what's next.
Between battles and confrontations with Ares, we get glimpses into Derek's psyche. His vulnerability is his brother. He will do anything to protect Liam. Despite being a war scion (disciple of Ares), Derek will fight but refuses to kill. Ms. Braun forces him into situations where his ethics vie with his sibling obligation. She makes the reader feel his torment, his anguish.
Get set for a fascinating read, one that captures your imagination and doesn't let go.
January 27, 2019
Greek Gods in the Modern Day
I liked the book. It was pretty interesting to see how the gods would react to the modern world. There are a couple of weird things, like why these servants of gods have morals that are at odds with those they worship.
The main character, Derek Areios, is a bit of a Mary Sue. It's not necessarily bad but he's "special". Another thing I didn't like how much of a wuss the one gay guy was. I mean, seriously, is that sort of trope still in the minds of people? It's obviously how Amy Braun sees gay men. There were also a few major grammatical errors, including a sentence or two that I could not parse.
There are some mysteries in the books, mainly regarding the motivation of some characters. I'm pretty sure I've figured out the "secret identity" of someone in the book, a person who isn't even aware of it.
Despite being called "An Areios Brothers Novel", that's a misnomer. This book is about Derek. The rest are supporting characters, including his brother Liam, to greater it lesser degrees.
Would I read the next book? I think I might. There's enough of a hook here to interest me in how it turns out which is not always the case.
I liked the book. It was pretty interesting to see how the gods would react to the modern world. There are a couple of weird things, like why these servants of gods have morals that are at odds with those they worship.
The main character, Derek Areios, is a bit of a Mary Sue. It's not necessarily bad but he's "special". Another thing I didn't like how much of a wuss the one gay guy was. I mean, seriously, is that sort of trope still in the minds of people? It's obviously how Amy Braun sees gay men. There were also a few major grammatical errors, including a sentence or two that I could not parse.
There are some mysteries in the books, mainly regarding the motivation of some characters. I'm pretty sure I've figured out the "secret identity" of someone in the book, a person who isn't even aware of it.
Despite being called "An Areios Brothers Novel", that's a misnomer. This book is about Derek. The rest are supporting characters, including his brother Liam, to greater it lesser degrees.
Would I read the next book? I think I might. There's enough of a hook here to interest me in how it turns out which is not always the case.
July 26, 2019
Librarian: There's a lot of urban fantasy on the market. A lot. And most of it follows the same basic patterns. This one does, and doesn't. It has some of the basic elements, (hero who believes himself to be evil, vaguely sinister "good" organization), but in more ways it doesn't fit the stereotypes. in my opinion that makes it just novel enough to warrant a spot on library shelves. I also think that there are plenty of readers who will enjoy this one (and its sequel, expect my review tonight) if only they learn about it.
I particularly feel like this series will appeal to 20 somethings who grew up on Percy Jackson and want something slightly more, shall we say, grown up.
Reader:
Percy Jackson meets the Winchesters.
Honestly that's the best way to describe this book. It's a weird descriptor, but it fits. Derek and Liam honestly feel like Dean and Sam, if Dean and Sam lived in a world where the Greek Gods had declared themselves the rulers of California, that is. Just trust me on this one. If you're a fan of Supernatural, you'll probably be a fan of these books too.
I particularly feel like this series will appeal to 20 somethings who grew up on Percy Jackson and want something slightly more, shall we say, grown up.
Reader:
Percy Jackson meets the Winchesters.
Honestly that's the best way to describe this book. It's a weird descriptor, but it fits. Derek and Liam honestly feel like Dean and Sam, if Dean and Sam lived in a world where the Greek Gods had declared themselves the rulers of California, that is. Just trust me on this one. If you're a fan of Supernatural, you'll probably be a fan of these books too.
August 29, 2018
This was an interesting Urban Fantasy and I really freaking enjoyed it!
The book was packed full of action.
The twists and turns kept me on my toes and the book rarely went in the direction I expected (I only guessed correctly once!).
It was written from the pov of a male protagonist which is something that I don't very read much in my UF and thought was pretty cool.
Derek, and his brother Liam, are War Scions, descended from Ares.
Despite their war-mongering progenitor and fiery tempers, both Derek and Liam are good guys, trying to balance doing the right thing with trying to survive.
With their power and bloodline, it would have been so easy for the pair of them to justify being monsters but they were balanced and moral, never shying away from violence but striving to never go too far.
I adored Derek and how much he cared for his brother. Liam is most definitely Derek's weakness. He'd do anything to protect Liam including sacrificing his morals, his freedom, and his life.
To some, this may get annoying but, for me, Liam is the reason that Derek hasn't went off the deep-end and turned into the sociopath Ares wishes him to be.
It's obvious that although they're both Scions of Ares, Derek and Liam are cut from a different cloth.
Derek's power is greater and his instincts harder to control.
My only grumble about this book was how much Derek got his ass kicked considering that he is a freaky powerful war scion. He should have been able to annihilate most who faced him down but he was always so distracted - usually by what was happening to/with his brother - that he seemed to constantly be getting spanked!
His reluctance to kill - while admirable - was also a teenie bit annoying. I respected that both Liam and Derek are not murderers but they are war scions and when at war / in battle, there will be casualties. Half the problems in this book would have been solved if they'd just manned up and killed the fucknuts who repeatedly tried to kill them.
I'm really excited to see how this series develops!
The book was packed full of action.
The twists and turns kept me on my toes and the book rarely went in the direction I expected (I only guessed correctly once!).
It was written from the pov of a male protagonist which is something that I don't very read much in my UF and thought was pretty cool.
Derek, and his brother Liam, are War Scions, descended from Ares.
Despite their war-mongering progenitor and fiery tempers, both Derek and Liam are good guys, trying to balance doing the right thing with trying to survive.
With their power and bloodline, it would have been so easy for the pair of them to justify being monsters but they were balanced and moral, never shying away from violence but striving to never go too far.
I adored Derek and how much he cared for his brother. Liam is most definitely Derek's weakness. He'd do anything to protect Liam including sacrificing his morals, his freedom, and his life.
To some, this may get annoying but, for me, Liam is the reason that Derek hasn't went off the deep-end and turned into the sociopath Ares wishes him to be.
It's obvious that although they're both Scions of Ares, Derek and Liam are cut from a different cloth.
Derek's power is greater and his instincts harder to control.
My only grumble about this book was how much Derek got his ass kicked considering that he is a freaky powerful war scion. He should have been able to annihilate most who faced him down but he was always so distracted - usually by what was happening to/with his brother - that he seemed to constantly be getting spanked!
His reluctance to kill - while admirable - was also a teenie bit annoying. I respected that both Liam and Derek are not murderers but they are war scions and when at war / in battle, there will be casualties. Half the problems in this book would have been solved if they'd just manned up and killed the fucknuts who repeatedly tried to kill them.
I'm really excited to see how this series develops!
June 8, 2019
Derek Aerios a descendant of Ares the God of War is a war scion. Ares gives Derek orders to hunt four scions that are under Athena's command he refuses until he threatens his little brother Liam’s life. Derek made himself two promises: one of those promises is to protect his little brother and the other one is to never kill a human again. With Ares’s threat against his brother Derek has no choice but to hunt down the scion and do as he ask.
Storm of the Gods is packed with action with never a dull moment. The Areios brothers are always getting into a fight with someone. There are monsters and scion everywhere especially if you are hunting them who are very willing to help out in the fighting department. The brothers can get into some pretty awesome and gruesome fights that will have the adrenaline pumping.
There were a few times where I was getting real worried about Derek and Liam not knowing if they were going to come out on top or if they were going to be the one that got the old blade plunged into their hearts. The Gods always seem to be fighting or looking for a fight but they are scions of Ares the God of War. There was one battle after another with scions, monsters, giant spiders and even Hades made an appearance. Great fight scenes I can’t wait for more of these brothers and so can’t wait to dive into the next book Hunt of the Gods. Bring on the Gods and Goddess.
I recommend Storm of the Gods to all fans of fantasy, mythology, Greek mythology, magic, gods, and goddess with a whole of action with plenty of fighting.
Storm of the Gods is packed with action with never a dull moment. The Areios brothers are always getting into a fight with someone. There are monsters and scion everywhere especially if you are hunting them who are very willing to help out in the fighting department. The brothers can get into some pretty awesome and gruesome fights that will have the adrenaline pumping.
There were a few times where I was getting real worried about Derek and Liam not knowing if they were going to come out on top or if they were going to be the one that got the old blade plunged into their hearts. The Gods always seem to be fighting or looking for a fight but they are scions of Ares the God of War. There was one battle after another with scions, monsters, giant spiders and even Hades made an appearance. Great fight scenes I can’t wait for more of these brothers and so can’t wait to dive into the next book Hunt of the Gods. Bring on the Gods and Goddess.
I recommend Storm of the Gods to all fans of fantasy, mythology, Greek mythology, magic, gods, and goddess with a whole of action with plenty of fighting.
August 27, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed the Greek mythology and dystopian mashup, and I don't even think I can say I'm a fan of dystopian fiction. Braun has this way of creating the most awful futures imaginable but always provides her readers with the spark of hope they need to believe that something can be done about all the gloom and doom. For example, Derek knows full well that he can't go up against the actual Greek gods because he's a mortal and they aren't. However, as the story progresses, you see that there might be some slim chances the he can do something about the smothering affect they've had on the world.
Braun also puts in a lot of fantastic details from Greek mythology into her work. While she doesn't claim to be an expert, you can tell that she made each god and goddess as close to their original personalities as possible, making her story feel like the closest depiction possible of what would happen if the Greek gods did come back to "rightfully" rule over humans. Like y'all, she's too good at this.
Finally, her fight scenes are legendary. We could all learn a thing or two from Braun about how to depict a fight scene that really packs a punch—or a kick to the ribs, a good stabbing...
Braun's work has always struck me as heavy, and this book is no exception. If you're looking for a good read for you or someone you know, then you should definitely pick up this book today. Because it's available today! However, know that the language and violence might be too much for younger readers. If that doesn't bother you, then read away! This book will rock your world, especially if you're obsessed with Greek mythology. I've been saying this book is basically "Percy Jackson but way darker," but I would argue that the mythology and how it's used in the books are much more accurate and mature. The only way to confirm that is to read the book yourself!
Braun also puts in a lot of fantastic details from Greek mythology into her work. While she doesn't claim to be an expert, you can tell that she made each god and goddess as close to their original personalities as possible, making her story feel like the closest depiction possible of what would happen if the Greek gods did come back to "rightfully" rule over humans. Like y'all, she's too good at this.
Finally, her fight scenes are legendary. We could all learn a thing or two from Braun about how to depict a fight scene that really packs a punch—or a kick to the ribs, a good stabbing...
Braun's work has always struck me as heavy, and this book is no exception. If you're looking for a good read for you or someone you know, then you should definitely pick up this book today. Because it's available today! However, know that the language and violence might be too much for younger readers. If that doesn't bother you, then read away! This book will rock your world, especially if you're obsessed with Greek mythology. I've been saying this book is basically "Percy Jackson but way darker," but I would argue that the mythology and how it's used in the books are much more accurate and mature. The only way to confirm that is to read the book yourself!
August 18, 2018
I will start off by saying that I am not the reader for this book. There are readers out there who would happily give this book 5 stars. If you are a reader who likes breezy reads that don't take a lot of investment, this is the book for you.
What this book has going for it:
•An interesting premise
•Well written action sequences
•Minority inclusion in minor characters
What this book has going against it:
•Underdefined lead characters
•Cliches
•An almost romantic relationship between the brothers
•Every single thing seems to be possible - if you read the book, you'll get what I'm saying.
What this book has going for it:
•An interesting premise
•Well written action sequences
•Minority inclusion in minor characters
What this book has going against it:
•Underdefined lead characters
•Cliches
•An almost romantic relationship between the brothers
•Every single thing seems to be possible - if you read the book, you'll get what I'm saying.
June 26, 2021
3.5 stars - decent. I liked the world shaped by the Olympian gods return to earth. This was heavy on the battles but the main character is likable enough for a defendant of Aries. Interesting to see where the background arc goes.
September 19, 2018
Very well written storyline that pulled me right in from the very beginning and the characters are so well developed that I was totally enthralled until the very end!
L
L
March 8, 2019
Great book I like how he made a vow and sort of had to ...re think it
Currently reading
September 24, 2018**I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Before Thoughts:
I haven't read books pertaining to Greek Mythology in a while so I thought I should request the book from Netgalley.
I don't know if I'll enjoy the 2 brothers in the story but I want to try and read at least five chapters to see how I feel about the book.
Because even though Greek Mythology related stories are interesting, they also tend to be hit or miss for me. And if they happen to be a miss I will either put the book on-hold, DNF, or I will literally take my sweet time trying to get back into it.
So fingers-crossed that this book will be a hit with me more than a miss.
Review:
Read On:_/_/18
To Be Published on:08/28/18
Plot:
Characters:
Derek:
Liam:
Final Thoughts:
Recommends to:
Hope you enjoyed my review!! Thanks for reading!!
And go catch that good book!! ^_^
My Blog Site
Before Thoughts:
I haven't read books pertaining to Greek Mythology in a while so I thought I should request the book from Netgalley.
I don't know if I'll enjoy the 2 brothers in the story but I want to try and read at least five chapters to see how I feel about the book.
Because even though Greek Mythology related stories are interesting, they also tend to be hit or miss for me. And if they happen to be a miss I will either put the book on-hold, DNF, or I will literally take my sweet time trying to get back into it.
So fingers-crossed that this book will be a hit with me more than a miss.
Review:
Read On:_/_/18
To Be Published on:08/28/18
Plot:
Characters:
Derek:
Liam:
Final Thoughts:
Recommends to:
Hope you enjoyed my review!! Thanks for reading!!
And go catch that good book!! ^_^
My Blog Site
August 1, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book! Welcome to the world after the old Greek Gods have returned. They rule over different districts and there own descendents live there. Meet Derek and his brother Leam - Ares's descendents. They are Warriors and work under the direct command of Ares himself. They must obey him or they will be punished. But will they? How about a prophesy for the end of the world and a mad person trying to resurrect Cronos? I really enjoyed the story. It is fast paced and a lot of turn rounds. I'm looking forward for the next book
Merged review:
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book!
Welcome to the world after the old Greek Gods have returned. They rule over different districts and there own descendents live there.
Meet Derek and his brother Leam - Ares's descendents. They are Warriors and work under the direct command of Ares himself. They must obey him or they will be punished. But will they? How about a prophesy for the end of the world and a mad person trying to resurrect Cronos?
I really enjoyed the story. It is fast paced and a lot of turn rounds. I'm looking forward for the next book
Merged review:
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book!
Welcome to the world after the old Greek Gods have returned. They rule over different districts and there own descendents live there.
Meet Derek and his brother Leam - Ares's descendents. They are Warriors and work under the direct command of Ares himself. They must obey him or they will be punished. But will they? How about a prophesy for the end of the world and a mad person trying to resurrect Cronos?
I really enjoyed the story. It is fast paced and a lot of turn rounds. I'm looking forward for the next book
June 4, 2019
I received a copy of this book in exchange of a honest review.
I loved the world building and the fact that finally someone used greek mythology for a book other than YA fantasy. Really the world building was my favorite thing. It interesting, exciting and pretty damn unique if sou ask me,
Still I had a harder time getting into the story, for one because the formatting of the book as a bit to crowded for my taste. Then tehre is the fact that reading form the male POV is not my favorite thing and I needed to getr used to it in the beginnig.
The plot is pretty intriguing and engaging, detailed and vivid. I enjoyed itquite a bit but for some reason the my initial struggle affected my whole reading experince.
I loved the world building and the fact that finally someone used greek mythology for a book other than YA fantasy. Really the world building was my favorite thing. It interesting, exciting and pretty damn unique if sou ask me,
Still I had a harder time getting into the story, for one because the formatting of the book as a bit to crowded for my taste. Then tehre is the fact that reading form the male POV is not my favorite thing and I needed to getr used to it in the beginnig.
The plot is pretty intriguing and engaging, detailed and vivid. I enjoyed itquite a bit but for some reason the my initial struggle affected my whole reading experince.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews