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The Immortals {Review and Giveaway} #OlympusBound

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I’ve been a fan of Greek mythology since I was young, and have read the entire Percy Jackson series as well as the follow-up Gods of Olympus series.  I was intrigued by a new series for adults featuring the gods of Ancient Greece living in today’s time by Jordanna Max Brodsky. Orbit Books provided me with book one, The Immortals, released February 16, to review and give away to a lucky reader, along with a $50 gift card.

TheImmortals

Artemis, twin sister of Apollo and daughter of Leto and Zeus, has been known by many epithets over the millenia, Punisher and Huntress among them. She now goes by the name Selene DiSilva, continuing her mandate to protect women from the men who abuse them, even if her powers have diminished over time, working as a private detective in Manhattan. When the body of a woman washes up on the shore of the Hudson River, Selene is determined to find her killer.

Theo Schultz is a professor in the Columbia Classics Department and grief-stricken to hear of the death of his ex, Helen.  While remembering her at the spot where her body was found, he runs into Selene, and together the two realize that Helen is the first sacrifice in an updated version of the Eleusinian Mysteries. Originally secret religious rites of ancient Greece, the Eleusinian Mysteries were initiations held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone.  But someone has revived them and is using them to bring the gods back the powers they’ve lost.

Though their goals differ — Theo seeks to find the killer of the woman he loved and Selene wants to stop the deaths of innocent women — they work together to determine who is behind the cult and where each next step will occur. Selene has the additional burden of her powers returning with each death, and must fight her desire for those powers. Theo has a vast knowledge of Ancient Greece and tags along with Selene, against her better judgment. Their attraction grows, and Selene struggles with her feelings for Theo, as she had held her vow of chastity and has no intention of breaking it.

The Immortals is part murder mystery, part fantasy, and the author’s research into Ancient Greece and the Greek gods is extensive. I have spent a lot of time in New York City and loved the stories of the city’s past, with hidden theaters, forgotten cemeteries, and Selene’s run-ins with historical figures during the decades she has lived there.  Brodsky keeps the reader guessing who is behind the cult, and the modern day versions of gods such as Apollo, Hermes, and Dionysus are right on target.

I highly enjoyed The Immortals and hope you will too. Read on for your opportunity to enter the giveaway.

About the Book

Manhattan has many secrets. Some are older than the city itself.

The city sleeps. Selene DiSilva walks her dog along the banks of the Hudson. She is alone — just the way she likes it. She doesn’t believe in friends, and she doesn’t speak to her family. Most of them are simply too dangerous.

In the predawn calm, Selene finds the body of a young woman washed ashore, gruesomely mutilated and wreathed in laurel. Her ancient rage returns. And so does the memory of a promise she made long ago — when her name was Artemis.

Find out more at the official website Olympus Bound.

About the Author

Jordanna Max Brodsky hails from Virginia, where she spent four years at a science and technology high school pretending it was a theater conservatory. She holds a degree in History and Literature from Harvard University. When she’s not wandering the forests of Maine, she lives in Manhattan with her husband. She often sees goddesses in Central Park and wishes she were one.

Visit the author at JordannaMaxBrodsky.com
Follow Jordanna on Twitter and Facebook
#OlympusBound

Win the book and a $50 Visa gift card

If you’d like to win a $50 Visa Gift Card and a copy of the book, enter using the form below…

 

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298 Comments

  4. Was always was interested in the mythical figure of the Roman General Coriolanus & his story of politics and morality re Rome after reading Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus” in college.

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  8. I like the story of Athena. They have made her known to lots of younger kids through the Percy Jackson series.

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  10. Personally, my favorite myth/god(dess) would probably be all the stories on Artemis. I love how she stands for she represents all the women and is very tough. She’s also goddess of the night and animals like her deer/stag and I love nature and animals so much. Her archery skills are so impressive and I don’t know I just love her so much! I did my Greek Gods presentation on her too! thank you so much for this opportunity btw :))

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  12. I always loved the story of Hera, the Queen of all the gods. She was very vain and didn’t like to perceive of anyone being more beautiful. If she were jealous she would change them into animals, one being a bear. Zeus, her husband, took pity on the woman and flung her into the stars (The Great Bear).

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  14. I am intrigued by Apollo who was the God of music, arts, knowledge, healing, and manly beauty. Music soothes the soul!

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  17. My other favorite greek God is Poseidon which is god of the sea and protector of all aquatic features. I sure do love all things beachy haha

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  22. My favorite is Pegasus, the flying horse, the son of Neptune, king of the ocean, and Medusa, a horrible monster with snakes for hair.

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  25. I do not have a favorite, however I have been wanting to take the class at my college about greek/roman myths!! It would be an awesome class to take. I am very much into those times and movies/books about those times.

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  33. I don’t have a particular fave, or maybe I should say my fave changes pretty much every month or year

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  37. I don’t have a favorite Greek or Roman myth, but i have always been fascinated reading about the Greek Gods and Goddesses.

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  40. I like the story of Persephone and Hades and how during the time she’s required to spend in the Underworld, that’s when winter occurs.

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  55. There’s a book called The Deep End of the Sea by Heather Lyons that’s a reimagining of the Medusa mythology that I love.

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  68. I do not have a favorite. But we enjoyed the Percy Jackson movie. I would love to get my son reading the books. Thanks!

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  74. I like Hestia. I like the Percy Jackson series and really couldn’t see another half blood series regarding Greek mythology being this interesting.

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  87. I was raised to love greek, roman as well as Norse mythology. I am Pagan, and a Devotee of Hekate.

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  104. My favorite Greek myth is Athena’s birth. She is my favorite goddess because she is the goddess of wisdom and intelligence.

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  109. I like the history–especially Roman–and the myths are strongly embedded in that history, but can’t say that I have a favorite among them.

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  121. I just learned about the Greek myth between Apollo and Hyacinth (Jax). It’s so interesting to me because my cats are Jax and Apollo!

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  122. I have to admit that I have never been into the old myths, and absolutely despised when we learned it in school. I found it terribly boring. But my son has opened my eyes, and now I enjoy learning about them. He has read all the Percy Jackson books and is fascinated with all the old gods/goddesses.

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  126. I always enjoy reading about the The Nymphs , and the Sirens but I love them all. All the stuff about Romans and Greeks and the places and magical things they do its exciting..

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  133. My favorite myth is of Hades and Persephone where she travels back and forth from the underworld.

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  135. I’ve never really had a favorite greek myth… I suppose most of the ones I read were for classes in high school.

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  146. I loved the Percy Jackson series!! Another series that has its own twist on Greek mythology is the Dark-hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. It’s more adult than Percy Jackson.

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  147. I love Hercules. I miss reading all the greek mythological stories in HS. I would love to read more.

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  156. my favorite or at least the one that comes to mind is Icarus… ignoring his father and flying to close to the sun

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  159. I don’t really have a favorite Greek or Roman myth, but I always loved hearing about Odysseus and the Cyclops.

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  167. I like the Greek myth of Helen of Troy who was also know as Helen of Sparta. She was considered the most beautiful woman in the world. Her kidnapping brought about the Trojan war.

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  176. I can’t think of a favorite Greek or Roman myth, but I always enjoy reading about them in general and if I had a kid, I’d be seriously tempted to name them with one of the fancy old Greek names that sound so cool.

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  177. My favorite Greek myth is The Odyssey which illustrates the perilous journey of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca took to return home after the Trojan War.

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  179. I can’t think of a favorite, but I do enjoy reading about the pantheon and their adventures.

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  183. I dont have a favorite.. I remember learning alot about Greek mythology in junior high.. unfortunately, that is all I remember about it,lol.

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  185. I love anything Greek, myths, foods ,culture but my favorite is the stories about the Greek Gods , Aphrodite was the goddess of love, desire , Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto and Zeus was the god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods, those just are so interesting to me

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  186. Epaphus, (king of Egypt) because my grandfather (greek) told us stories. And now i am reading Percy to my boys. 🙂

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  190. My favorite myth is probably the story of Persephone going to the underworld to live with Hades for 6 months of the year and being allowed to return to the surface for the other 6 months, thus explaining the seasons.

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  191. I like the tale of eros and how he hid from his wife who he was and she got curious and had to go on a journey to get him back

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  194. I loved reading about Greek mythology when I was in high school. They were all my favorites because the stories were so fantastic, but if I had to choose one it would be Hercules.

    Diana C

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  200. I like the Greek myth of Persephone, the goddess of fertility and spring who is kidnapped by Hades, the god of the Underworld. Hades loved Persephone, but the girl obviously wanted to go home, and her mother Demeter wasn’t too happy about Hades snatching up Persephone to be his wife. So, Demeter convinced Zeus, who’d already given Persephone as a bride to Hades(Zeus was her father), to let her come home. Unfortunately, Persephone had eaten of the fruit of the Underworld…the pomegranate. Because she had eaten the fruit of Hades, she was now bound to the Underworld forever.

    But, they were able to strike up a deal. Half of the year, winter and fall, Persephone would spend with Hades, and during spring and summer, she would go back home with her mother. That’s the explanation of why it’s cold and things die in winter and fall; Demeter is in mourning and is missing her daughter. Once she comes back, they make things pretty again.

    Reply

  212. I actually dont have a favorite. I like watching the movies that depict the greek myths but I never got into it outside of that

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  215. I love Artemis, the Hellenic goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, childbirth, virginity and protector of young girls ~ we could use someone like her in today’s world.

    Thanks for a chance at the giveaway!

    Reply

  218. I read tons but never about Greek or Roman myths 🙁
    the only one I can think of is Pandora.
    poor girl – getting all the blame for everybody’s shortcomings. 🙂

    Reply

  226. The first one that comes to mind is Poiseden, altho Ill be honest I love all the stories Im not an avid reader of mythology.

    Reply

  227. I’ve always been fascinated by mythology. I don’t have a favorite god or goddess. But I think the stories are so interesting. And I love Percy Jackson 🙂 reading it now.

    Reply

  230. I took a Roman history class in college, and there are so many cool stories! Romulus and Remus are probably my favorite!

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  232. I always liked the Clash of the Titans movies – including the remakes. They had a bit of everyone from the myths in there – Zeus, Medusa, etc. Thanks for the chance.

    Reply

  234. My favorite Greek myth is the fall of Icarus who exceeded his limits and flew too close to the sun and his wax wings melted

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  241. I always disliked history in school but LOVED learning about Greece. So many great stories. I really loved learning about the story of each of the Greek God’s and Goddesses

    Reply

  247. I don’t really have a favorite greek myth. It’s been a long time since I learned about greek mythology and honestly can’t remember much.

    Reply

  252. I don’t have a favorite greek or roman myth; however, I do LOVE the Percy Jackson movies. They have all be great! I also love anything about Zeus 🙂

    Reply

  271. I like the story of the mythology of Penelope and Odysseus. I read about them in Greek Mythology.

    Reply

  278. I’ve always had a soft spot for Mnemosyne, though she’s not featured in many myths. 🙂 Orpheus is another favorite.

    Reply

  280. The Greek myths are my favorite but I also love the Norse gods! Rick Riordan does a great job of bringing the myths to life!

    Reply

  285. I have always liked Poseidon the god of the sea, somewhat represented in the Disney film The Little Mermaid.

    Reply

  286. Prometheus, who loved his weak little humans so much that he tricked Zeus to keep them alive and subsequently spent thousands of years dying each day just to save them.

    Reply

  293. my daughter and i love the percy jackson series, we have watched all the movies made and I’ve read her a few of the books.

    Reply