Christine Norris

It's hard to review a book where you wanted the heroine to choose the other man. The story is beautiful, and the steampunk theme is great, but the romance between Ellie and Mr. Hamilton isn't there. The Cinderella retelling is fun, and the magic touch is unique. Ben and Ellie are a great pair. A great book, but darn it I did NOT like the ending.

I could not put this book down. Christine Norris has a way with words and plot. Definitely recommend for fans of fairytale retellings and historical fiction with a side of magic.

Although this is a retelling of Cinderella, it was different enough to feel like a new story. Set in Philadelphia during the industrial revolution there is some interesting tie into the Exposition (based on the historic Exposition that actually happened) featuring new inventions such as the steam engine and washing show more machines.

Eleanor is a girl that is born into high society and means. Ben is the son of the former cook for Elanor's family. As children they build a bond so strong that when Ellie asks for help there is no hesitation, he immediately jumps into action. I enjoyed the twists a long the way as I tried to figure out the mystery behind Eleanor's father's illness and why no one but Ben could truly see her.

Olivia was the perfect villain in this story. Everything about her, her actions and her words made me despise her more and more as the story continued. In this story though the step sister was not some loathsome ugly person, but Rebecca is instead a kind and gentle spirit who was just to scared to go against the mother that she dearly loved. show less

If you’re looking for a quick, atmospheric read that captures the classic "fish-out-of-water" trope with a dash of supernatural mystery, Christine Norris’s The Crown of Zeus is definitely worth a look.

The story follows thirteen-year-old Megan Montgomery, who is struggling to adjust after being uprooted from her life in New York City to a lonely, sprawling manor in the English countryside. We’ve all been there—the feeling of being the "new kid" is universal, and Norris does a great show more job of grounding Megan’s initial misery. It’s easy to sympathize with her; she’s lonely, bored, and desperate to belong.

The pacing picks up significantly once Megan decides to use her new home as a hook to make friends. Inviting the three school girls over for a sleepover is such a classic YA move—you just know it’s going to end in chaos. The manor itself feels like a fifth character in the book, full of history and eerie secrets left behind by an eccentric scholar. Norris excels at building the "haunted house" vibe; you can almost feel the drafty hallways and see the shadows stretching across the library shelves.

What worked:

The Atmosphere: The manor house is the real star here. It’s gothic, mysterious, and perfectly set up for the tension that follows.
The Setup: The transition from a relatable teen drama about fitting in to a high-stakes survival story is clever. It makes the danger feel more surprising because you start reading for the social dynamics and stay for the scares.

A bit of constructive feedback:

Character Development: While Megan is well-defined, the three girls she invites over feel a little bit like archetypes at times. I would have loved to see a bit more depth to their individual backstories to make the stakes feel even higher when things start going wrong.
The "Why": The transition from "just a sleepover" to "fighting for our lives" moves very fast. While it keeps the pace snappy, a little more build up regarding what exactly is in the house—and why it suddenly becomes aggressive—would make the climax feel even more earned.

The Verdict: The Crown of Zeus is a fun, creepy read that feels like a modern-day Goosebumps or a classic campfire story for a younger teen audience. It’s perfect for a rainy weekend when you want something that will keep you guessing without being overly heavy. If you enjoy stories about old houses hiding dark truths, Megan’s adventure in England is definitely worth checking out! show less

This is the second book in Christine Norris's series of steampunk fairy tale retellings, based on Sleeping Beauty. It touches only very lightly on the original story, bringing in secret agents and time travel. I appreciated that Sophie, the Sleeping Beauty, was not just a macguffin for Henry, the hero, to rescue, but has her own plot while she's trapped in her cursed sleep.