So This is How it Ends (Avatars, Book 1)

I honestly picked this book very much at random from my partner's shelves (dice rolling was involved), so it was nice to enjoy it so much as I did. In fact, I'm now rather distraught to discover the series is out of print, and of course he doesn't have the rest of it. Curses!

The back cover blurb will get you the basic premise of the story with my spoiling it more.

I like the voice of the different characters and their very distinct personalities. I liked the interludes of revelation from other forces at work. I liked seeing how each person dealt with the end of the world as it were, and the new and fantastical creatures wandering the Earth.

Like other reviewers, I'm less fond of the final third of the story, where everything starts show more coming together (things get repetitive and perhaps a bit hokey), but at the same time, I would really like to read on if I can ever get my hands on the rest of it! show less

Five teenagers end up seventy-five years in the future, in a post-apocalyptic world. Humans are on the verge of extinction, as no babies have been born in the last seventy-five years. It turns out that the five teens are avatars, the reincarnations of gods from the Greek, Egyptian, Meso-american, Hindu, and Polynesian pantheons. The gods brought their avatars to the future so they can fight the final battle to determine which pantheon will rule the world. The winning avatar will absorb the powers of the losing avatars to become the most powerful god ever.
This is a fantastic start to an awesome series that combines fantasy, mystery, and sci-fi with mythology.

Clever and engaging. The world-building is not as convincing or compelling as it ought to be, bu the characterization is excellent. A bit too high-concept -- overly concerned with its own conceits and backstory, but by the end has built up a good head of suspenseful steam. Basic knowledge of various mythologies adds to enjoyment and lends a great deal of dramatic irony; Sutherland has done her homework and uses the pantheons and their stories well.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book - and I look forward to the rest of the trilogy. When recommending the series to my students I tell them it has a little Percy Jackson and a little I Am Legend.

Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com

Kali lives in New York, and has a tendency to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe. Tigre lives in Chile. He likes animals better then people, but rainstorms make him a little twitchy and he usually ends up running in them. Sort-of. Venus is a perfect teenage pop-star that everyone adores. Almost. Amon is an Egyptian boy who thinks he's got it all figured out. And Gus is a normal teenager who lives in LA with his older brother.

You'd never imagine that any of them would ever have anything to do with each other. Much less something in common. Or that there was any way that most of them would ever meet. Most of them would agree with you.

But when the world seems to end, they are the show more ones left standing.

I just have to say, this was a really good book. In fact, the main reason I didn't give it a Gold Award was because the ending cliffhanger was so huge and dramatic and cliffhangery that I threw the book. It's just mean to do that when I don't have access to the next book! So, I suppose I'm being selfish in withholding the Gold Award, but it's frustrating! That, however, is a horrible reason to not read this book. Just be forewarned, and maybe have the next book coming soon.

Two more things:

Aside from the fact that there is a TV show called Avatar, and a movie in production called The Avatar, neither of which have anything to do with this story, I could totally see this as a movie. *Hint, Hint*

Tui Sutherland's website is adorable and hilarious, and I definitely recommend checking it out.

And no, I don't know her, but I bet she's cool. show less

Four teenagers are going about their lives when they find themselves in a bizarre new world. They each journey to discover what has happened and survive in this new place.

This book started out very promisingly. We got each character's point of view and they were all very engaging. I was dying to know what was going on. But about half to three quaters of the way the story started to bog down a little. Then the ending felt very rushed and the mythology twist really didn't work for me. I think I'll probably pick up the next one and if it hooks me I'll continue on with the series if not it's goodbye for this one.

Everyone in the world has disappeared--except for five kids. What happened? What are the weird crystal robots and bird things that keep attacking them? And who are those voices telling them to go to the ruins of New York?

A promising first volume in a post-apocalyptic fantasy--with a fab cover by Tara McPherson. Lots of loose ends and unresolved questions.