#if i got any epithets wrong or jumbled up and you know more about them

[archgabrielangel]

was talking with a friend and we came to the conclusion that it would've been so cool if demigods were born from their parents' epithets. like daughter of Aphrodite? well yes, but to be more specific, daughter of Aphrodite Areia. Son of Zeus Asbamaios. Daughter of Athena Ageleia like thats so cool

[snowbooker]

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Okay, the concept for this book? SO cool. The lore and worldbuilding is compelling and like nothing I've seen before. I was so excited to read this book. That's why I rated it three stars but no higher, because in terms of the execution, I was highly underwhelmed.

The inconsistency of narration really took away from the smoothness of the book as a whole. Randomly switching POVs in the middle of the chapter, along with an odd three or four spaced gap? Stilted. I couldn't get used to it no matter how many times it happened. I don't enjoy saying this, but it looked like a mistake every time. I'd see the weirdly long gap and go, "Oh gee, whose head are we going to be in now?" because there is no pattern to it or any indication as to who was going to be narrating before just going full throttle into whatever it is that character is doing. One time I thought I was in Aurora's POV but I was in Locke's and only really noticed when there was some comment about the suppleness of Aurora's waist.

And the writing itself. There were some lovely quotes and parts that were really nice, but then I'd hit something weird and be jolted out of the book. The inconsistency of epithets for the characters (especially the storm hunter team) messed me up on multiple occasions. And Aurora's name. I say this with the understanding that her changing her name is an integral part of the story, and I thought that was really cool. If it was done consistently. Aurora is referred to as Aurora, Rora, and Roar. However, through the beginning two thirds of the book, those names are all jumbled. Even after a specific line (that ended a chapter, no less!), that Aurora needed to "be Roar" from now on, she's STILL referred to as "Rora" in the next chapter during her narration. It ruined the effect of the whole name change / character growth thing for me.

So that's the writing. Now let me get to the romance. Because oh boy.

This book was published in 2017. It concerns me that a young adult novel so recent has such a questionable romance.

Aurora is 18. Eighteen. That's a high school senior or college freshman. Locke is, what, 30? Mid-twenties at least. His age is actually weirdly avoided at one point, as though Carmack knew him being this old was kinda gross and dodged it so as to not actually get in trouble. So Locke could technically be 20. But he's written like he's at least 30. Maybe if ages weren't mentioned (or carefully not mentioned) so much, it wouldn't have been so creepy, but it's a Big Thing that Aurora is 18, because of Stormling duties and whatnot. AND on multiple occasions, Locke refers to Aurora as "little girl." Yeah, that's a jab at her naivety, whatever, but when he says it, he means it. And Aurora is constantly in the position of "No!! I'm not a little girl!! I'm an adult!!" which is scarily similar to an older man manipulating a young girl into doing things via saying she's "not old enough."

And then!!! Oh God, and then. Locke training Aurora and making her "prove” herself. Ugh. Locke is mean to Aurora. Their banter is rarely actual banter, it's legit fighting where Aurora has to justify her existence. I'm not saying Locke should be her bestest bud, but the fact that it's set up that Locke is pissy with her because he likes her is very "boys will be boys, he pulls your hair because he LIKES you" and I thought we started leaving that stuff behind in 2016. Evidently not.

Their first "kiss" was awful. I hesitate to call it a kiss because it felt more like Locke was smashing his face against Aurora's because he couldn't handle all the sexy man-pain within him. And their second kiss, the big dramatic one in the rain? I felt like I was reading a harlequin romance, which is fine, I'm not judging, except for the part where this is a young adult novel. Don't get me wrong— I'm not saying YA can't possibly talk about sex or have kissing, I'm just saying that's not what YA is about. I don't know. The romance read like an adult paperback, except before publishing they went through and put "18" in for Aurora's age and slapped a YA label on it. And I felt like the romance with Locke was actually detrimental to Aurora's growth, not beneficial or freeing or whatever. Actually, I thought she and Bait would have been cute (but Bait is sixteen, AND pretty much there so he can flirt with Aurora in order to make Locke jealous. Joy.)

I actually really, really love the storm hunter characters. All of them except Locke. If Locke was cut out and the story was about Aurora finding a new family within the storm hunters, and they all got better character development that didn't revolve around Locke's relationship with them, then I'd be super duper happy. I adore Jinx and her dynamic with Aurora ad the team, and would love to see more of her. And again, I really, truly love the concept. It's clear Carmack put a lot of effort and love into the lore of this world and its magic. I respect that. That's why I kept reading. I thought the idea was awesome, so I slogged through the problems. I might check out Rage, just for the worldbuilding, but I have to say I'm not going to buy it like I did with Roar.