Sweet Shadows

Sweet Shadows was even better than Sweet Venom. There is just as much mystery and adventure as the first novel, but there is more depth to the characters and much more relationship building. While Sweet Venom was a novel about self discovery, Sweet Shadows is about love, family, and duty.

Watching Grace & Greer try to balance their destiny and maintain some semblance of a normal life made the story more realistic & heartfelt. It also highlighted how differently all three of the sisters grew up. It’s hard not to feel bad for Gretchen because she doesn’t have the same type of connections that Grace & Greer do, although she is finally learning to let her guard down.

I loved watching the sisters grow closer together. I have two sisters show more and a brother and I am very close to all three of them. I can’t imagine what it would be like to grow up apart from them. Since we are all very similar, yet different, I am sure it wouldn’t take long for us to get close if we were raised separately. What makes Grace, Greer, & Gretchen’s dynamic so fascinating is that even though they are still close, it is hard for them to understand each other at times. Even though they clearly love each other, there are times when they just don’t understand where the other person is coming from (particularly Gretchen & Greer).

While the sisterhood is really what makes me love Sweet Shadows there are mysteries of epic portions to unravel. The girls are starting to learn why Gretchen’s mentor went missing, why multiple monsters are starting to show up at the same time, and why someone wants them dead. But there are so many pieces to this puzzle that have yet to be solved.

As the Medusa Girls trilogy continues, we will certainly be treated to many more mysteries, adventures, & romance. I love watching this story unfold and am truly looking forward to reading more about the Medusa girls. show less

Gretchen, Grace, and Greer could not be more different. Gretchen has known for years that she is a descendant of the gorgon Medusa and that she must fight the monster and return them to their own realm. Grace is a environmental activist and a computer geek who doesn't know if she is strong enough to fight against monsters. Greer is a rich, spoiled girl who takes charge in every situation, but isn't sure if she's willing to give it all up to save humanity. While they are still getting to know each other (and bickering), warring factions on Olympus are trying to either kill the sisters or wait until they break the seal between worlds (as it is said they will in prophecy) and then kill them. Only one faction seems to care about their show more survival. As more and more creatures make their way into the human realm, these sisters must find out which faction to trust and where their fate will ultimately take them.

Sweet Shadows starts with a bang right where Sweet Venom leaves off. Again, it's narrated by the three sisters who have clear and distinct voices. It's easy to figure out who is narrating any given chapter. In the last book, the sisters were basically strangers. Now, their relationship is growing and they are becoming close both because of their efforts to save the world and just getting to know each other. I really like these characters and their different backgrounds. Even though much of the novel involves the supernatural, they bring real life issues and problems to the story. Greer deals with her distant parents and the constant pressure to be perfect in every aspect of her life. Gretchen still feels the effects of having abusive parents as a child and not having many people close to her all her life. All of them have different reactions to being put up for adoption. These experiences make the girls easy for readers to relate to and make the story grounded in realism.

Everything is a little more intense than in the first book. The action is exciting and more consistent. The problems facing the sisters are practically impossible to overcome. The world beyond ours is explored and reveals some shocking revelations. There are mythological creatures that are on their side and will greatly suffer if the door between worlds is closed. They challenge the girls' views and complicate matters, plus they are pretty awesome. What was previously a fairly clear decision is now murkier than ever. I'm very glad this series didn't fall into the second book pitfall that simply sets up for the final book in the trilogy.

Sweet Shadows is an impressive teen read that melds mythology and modernity beautifully. The fast pace and realistic characters make this a quick, fun read. I can't wait to see what the future holds for these heroines. I would recommend this to fans of mythology and YA fantasy. show less

Solid books that I wish I liked more. The sisters have different personalities but something about having all three of them on my page bugs me. I feel like they don't really get to be fleshed out and they just have this attributes to make them different just because they have to be different. I'd like to see more depth. I do love the bend on mythology.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Things start with a bang in Sweet Shadows and keep rolling, bringing the girls closer to answers and danger.

Opening Sentence: As I stare across Gretchen’s dining table at Grace, who is flipping through a binder about some ridiculously hideous monster straight out of mythology, I still can’t really fathom that there are two girls right here in this loft who look exactly like me.

The Review:

When I say the novel starts with a bang, I mean it literally. At the end of Sweet Venom our heroines were throwing themselves off the balcony to avoid an exploding apartment. This installment only becomes more intense. Figuring out the truth behind the prophecy, behind the sides to a coming war over show more the Abyss, as well as how to live with newfound sisters is a struggle of mythical proportions. Because war is coming. The daughters of Medusa must die in the eyes of all sides, the only question is when: after they close the crack or before, so it can remain open forever. A small group wants to keep the girls alive so they can act as guardians and regulate the monsters who come into the human world.

Everything in this book is a little more intense: the romances begin to bloom (YAY!), the plot begins to thicken, and danger comes to find them. Fighting in this book goes beyond training and eventually, their problems become impossible to overcome alone. We finally learn more about the abyss and get to explore it first hand. Everything our heroines were told, the decisions they made, are no longer quite as right as they always thought. Fighting monsters isn’t so cut and dry. History isn’t so black and white. So do the girls continue their battle to close the crack between worlds like they’ve been told, or explore the rest of the prophecy despite the coming war.

We get a lot more about Greer in this novel, who came into the story late in Sweet Venom. She’s struggling to balance her social obligations with her destiny, keep her sisters and monster-fighting side job a secret, and deal with her distant parents. The ice queen act we see from Grace and Gretchen’s perspective chapters breaks a bit as Greer realizes even she can’t juggle everything. The girls grow stronger both independently and as a family. As a reader, that was a very satisfying thing to see.

Nick has a much bigger role to play in this novel, and a lot to answer to. Though they were strangers in Sweet Venom the girls have grown to be protective sisters and friends. They’ll fight for each other and for their destiny, and the gods help anyone who gets in their way. When Sthenno is kidnapped before their very eyes, the girls know they have to save her and Ursula if they want any answers about their mother and the mysterious prophecy. As the warring Olympians take the novel to the next level, and our trip into the Abyss makes the novel deeper and more complex, the girl’s humor and unique voices help carry the story.

Again, the novel has no plot independent of the whole series, which means that it’s a very middle-book. Not in a bad way, but there’s no satisfying conclusion—just more questions and a desperate desire for Sweet Legacy. It’s a lot of action, a lot of build up, and leaves you with a lot of questions. I can’t wait to get my hands on book three!

Notable Scene:

When I was a child, I saw a centaur in my bedroom. It was the only time before my sisterly reunion that I saw a mythological monster, and I eventually came to believe that the vision was a nightmare. A hallucination. Mother started taking me to regular hypnotherapy sessions immediately. The therapist was a middle-aged woman with dark hair that was fading into gray. Then, at one session—the very last—there was a different therapist. She was younger, blonder, and far more effective. One session with her and Mother declared me cured.

I recognize the woman stepping on the sidewalk at the end of the block because she was that final therapist.

A million confused questions flood my brain.

“I—”

Before I can say that I’ve met Sthenno before, a black spot appears next to her in the middle of the air. The spot grows quickly, expanding into a giant hole about the size of a double door.

FTC Advisory: Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins provided me with a copy of Sweet Shadows. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. show less

This is the second book in the Medusa Girls trilogy. It was an excellent read and I really enjoyed it. Lots of action and some interesting mythology as well.

Gretchen, Greer, and Grace couldn’t be more different but their mission is the same. These triplets must fight to save San Francisco from the monsters who threaten to overrun it. As more and more of their mentors are captured by the enemy, they are forced to enter the Abyss to save the city and those they love.

The book switches viewpoint between Gretchen, Greer, and Grace. Child does an excellent job of giving the girls very distinct voices without making them sound stereotypical. Gretchen is the kick-butt fighter who’s been fighting monsters her whole life. Greer is the rich show more socialite with neglectful parents. Grace is the somewhat geeky sister with a relatively normal family life. Each sister had her own set of struggles she is dealing with even though the mission is the same.

In this book the sisters find out more about the upcoming war and what their part in it will be. Things end up being much more complicated then they seemed in the first book, Sweet Venom. There are a bevy of Gods involved and each has their own ideas on how to use Medusa’s descendants to their best advantage.

I really enjoyed the monster hunting and all of the wonderful action scenes throughout the story. I enjoyed getting to finally enter the Abyss with the sisters and see what kind of creatures dwelt there. I also really loved all of the mythology in this book; there is some interesting Greek mythology and it ties in wonderfully with the story.

Although each of the sisters kind of has a love interest this is more of an urban fantasy than a paranormal romance. Most of the sisters’ time is spent staying alive and unraveling the secret of the door than anything else.

This was a very easy and fun read. It is also a clean read; there are some fight scenes and some kissing but I think it would be appropriate for middle grade and older. It was awesome to get a great monster hunting type of story without all of the gore and language.

Overall a wonderful continuation of this series. The different POVs of the three sisters works really well and I enjoyed all of the monster hunting and mythology throughout. Recommended to those who love YA urban fantasy and mythology. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to see what the third book in the series, Sweet Legacy, will hold. show less

Although I wished I'd read this closer to the first title in the series, by the time I hit the second part of the book, I was immersed in the triplet's exploration of their background. Being heirs to Medusa, and a long ago curse/charm, Greer, Grace and Gretchen begin to learn how to get along to find the key that will hopefully save their world from the evils of the underworld. Childs does a nice job with the family dynamics via the adoptive families and introducing characters to help the girls' on their quest.

I am going to start by saying most of my original predictions for this book turned out to be true. At the end of Sweet Venom, I knew there was something important about Thane's disappearance. I was right, even if we don't know what his role is yet or not. I have my theory. I also guessed Nick's role head on. Aw yeah, I am awesome.

Yes, this book took a twist that I didn't expect, but it still ended up being pretty predictable. I had such high hopes, which has left me a tiny bit disappointed. Now, don't go thinking that I didn't enjoy this book. I did. It just ended up being a typical second book in a series. Nothing spectacular, but certainly needed to move the story along.

The characters stay the same for the most part. Yes, grumpy show more loner Gretchen develops a soft spot. That was nice. I liked seeing her become more approachable and human-like. Greer and Grace bond and grow also. Obviously, the three sisters are the focus of the book-- which is a good thing. The jury is still out on my overall feelings toward Nick and Thane.

Tera Lynn Childs does a great job with infusing the mythology in this series. I love how fresh and original it is. The story line of Medusa's descendants being in charge of protecting a magic portal in one-of-a-kind. TLC also subtly weaves other stories from mythology into the subplots and minor characters (we meet a unicorn and a pegasus in this book). There is also a mermaid sighting in the Abyss. Of course, it's a super creepy killer mermaid, but merfolk all the same!

If you are a fan of this series, you'll probably enjoy Sweet Shadows. It's an important piece in the trilogy and certainly needed to understand the plot developments that will occur in Sweet Legacy. Unfortunately, it just didn't knock my socks off. show less