Mortal Gods: THE GODDESS WAR: BOOK TWO (The Goddess War, 2) Paperback – September 8, 2015

I just can't gush enough about @KendareBlake novels, and this one is no exception.MORTAL GODS, book two in THE GODDESS WARS continues the modern-day war between several of the Greek Gods.Athena, Goddess of war and her brother Hermes continues their tenuous alliance with Cassandra, the contemporary embodiment of the prophetess who predicted the fall of Troy.I could not put this one down. Like all Blake's other books, you'll hide from your family, just so you can keep reading!Highly recommend!!!

I would recommend to all my friends who like Greek mythology. It is a fun adventure and a new way to portray Athena

This book definitely didn't suffer from the "second book syndrome" that so many series seem to suffer from these days. This book was just as wonderful and edgy and dark as "Antigoddess" was. My only problem with this book is that I read it too fast and now I have to wait another year for the next one! :)

Good series

Daughter loved it! Wouldn't put it down.

Only okay, I think the audio ruined the book. Well and the super whiney main character, just like an emo teenager. Though made me wish to die to escape.

A few years ago, when Kendare Blake first published Anna Dressed in Blood and completely won us over, I never dreamed that her books could become even better. Anna was such a spectacular debut that it left very little room for improvement. And yet here we are, in the middle of a new series that is even more beautiful, more mature, written with a surer hand and far greater control over the narrative.Mortal Gods is exactly what the title suggests – it brings the story of Greek gods divided into two factions and warring among themselves, both groups desperately fighting for survival. Athena leads one side, our side, and Ares leads the other. Their conflicts are merciless and bloody and their only goal is to survive and get revenge.Just because Athena, Hermes and Odysseus are on our side does not mean that they are in the right. This entire series exists in a morally gray area. Ancient Gods, no matter how well-adapted to our times, have a whole different set of values and moral principles. Human life is not as significant for them, and scruples are often just another word in the dictionary. Even mortal characters like Cassandra and Andy are reincarnations of important mortals from ancient times, and the more they remember their old lives, the more they adapt to the gods’ way of thinking.Still, one can’t help but feel sympathy for a physically weakened Athena while she coughs out feathers from her lungs, or our poor, likeable Hermes, who eats and eats and eats, but is never full or strong like he used to be. The torture of each god is highly symbolic. For instance, according to the legend, Athena once punished her crow familiar by turning his beautiful white feathers to black and now she is tortured by feathers sprouting painfully from her body. Hermes, god of feasts and banquets (among other things) is never sated and he’s getting thinner by the day.While Cassandra grieves and despairs, Athena and Odysseus are dancing around each other, never quite reaching a common ground. The love of these two is so painfully obvious, and yet there are so many barriers between them, far too many things that stand in the way of their true feelings, Athena’s pride among them.Mortal Gods is even darker and bloodier than Antigoddess, which is no small thing, believe me. Blake is known for the vivid imagery she creates with seeming ease. Her descriptions are always detailed and precise, and the emotional reactions she provokes are off the charts. She always achieves the desired effect, be it sympathy, horror or even disgust.Brava, Ms. Blake. I can’t wait for the next book.

Such a nice book.