(Into the Dark #1)
by Bree Despain
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Publication Date: March 11th 2014
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: 512
ISBN: 9781606842478
Genre: Young Adult | Mythology
Source: Edelweiss
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Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.
Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.
Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds. (Goodreads)
Haden Lord has been chosen as Champion in the Underworld, and has been sent to the mortal world on a mission to find a girl, Daphne, who just may help restore the underworld back to the way it once was. With their fates intertwined, it’s up to Haden and Daphne to stop the war between the gods that is looming in the near future.
Daphne was a great heroine in this story. This girl really knows what she wants in life, and she’s going after it, no matter what. She’s been sheltered by her mother in a small town all her life. All she wants to do is go out in the world and have a normal life, to become a famous singer with the amazing voice that she has. I envy her all of her determination. I also love her fascination with music. I always find that really relatable in a main character.
Haden was a very mysterious and determined character when we first met him in the book. He was willing to do whatever he had to do to have his honor restored by his father. He was taught to always be strong, and to never show emotion, as that is a sign of humanness. He’s never had a chance to be himself before without being punished for being weak. All that changes when he meets Daphne. I enjoyed watching Haden try to act like a mortal boy, especially his using Youtube as a learning device.
I’ve read quite a few books that involved Greek mythology lately, and this book by far is the one I’ve enjoyed the most. All of the information about mythology, especially that of Orpheus and Eurydice, is so very fascinating to me. I could keep reading on and on about mythology. This subject is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
This book was a pretty big read at 512 pages, but I still flew through it pretty quickly-- as time permitted. The storyline was very interesting, and it definitely kept me intrigued. I always enjoy reading books that include references to songs. I am a huge lover of music, and I always end up setting the book aside to go track down any song that is mentioned in the pages. (Then I end up associating the song with the book whenever I hear it, but that’s a whole other story. ;p)
Overall; I really enjoyed reading this book. If you’re into Greek mythology, and want to read a book that is interesting as well as fun, then you should definitely check out this book. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book, due out in 2015!
Oh, I adore Greek mythology! And the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is one of my favorites (though it's terribly sad). I'm going to have to check this out!
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