The Eye of Zeus (Legends of Olympus #1) by Alane Adams

The Eye of Zeus (Legends of Olympus #1) by Alane Adams
Publisher/Year: SparkPress, 2020
Format: Paperback
Pages: 301
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Meet Phoebe Katz, a twelve-year-old foster kid from New York City who’s been bounced around the system her entire life. Things happen around Phoebe, but it’s not like they’re her fault! But when a statue of Athena comes to life, Phoebe gets the stunning news: she’s the daughter of Zeus and was sent away from ancient Greece as a baby to stop a terrible prophecy that predicted she would one day destroy Olympus.

Athena warns Phoebe to stay in hiding, but when the vengeful god Ares kidnaps her beloved social worker, Phoebe has no choice–she has to travel back to Ancient Greece and rescue him. There, she and her friends Angie and Damian discover a new prophecy, one that may fix everything. The catch: Phoebe has to collect talismans from six Greek monsters, including the fan from a nine-headed hydra, a talon from the Nemean lion, and a feather from the Sphinx. No problem for a girl with the power to call up lightning bolts and change the weather–but can Phoebe collect them all and stop the prophecy before she destroys Olympus?

What I thought

Thank you to BookSparks and Alane Adams for the free finished copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

When in times of stress, sometimes you just need a good, old-fashioned adventure story, and The Eye of Zeus definitely fits the bill!

Alane Adams’ writing skill shines through this story, as she takes readers to ancient Greece alongside Phoebe and her friends, Damian and Angie. The plot moves continuously forward in a way that will draw even the most reluctant reader, and Adams uses description in a way that’s light so as not to bog down the story while still bringing the adventure vividly to life. Phoebe is a spunky and funny protagonist, and the reader will find it easy to relate to her while still being amused by the antics of Phoebe and her friends.

I haven’t read Percy Jackson, so I can’t really speak as to how these two stories compare, however I think it’s safe to say that if you have a reader itching for another book involving Greek mythology, The Eye of Zeus is a solid and accessible tale of ancient Greece. Told with tons of heart and humor, this book was a fun way to spend a weekend!

The Circus Thief by Alane Adams

The Circus Thief by Alane Adams
Publisher/Year: SparkPress, 2018
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

The circus is in town, and Georgie has his heart set on going. When Papa agrees to take him and his friend Harley, the boys marvel at the elephants and clowns. But the best act of all is the amazing Roxie, a trained horse who can do all sorts of tricks. When Georgie is invited to ride on her back, he discovers it’s her last show–Roxie is going to be sent to the work farm! When Roxie bolts with Georgie on her back, Papa must come to his rescue. The Circus Thief is a heartwarming tale of boyhood set in 1920s Pennsylvania for children ages 4-8.

What I thought

I loved the idea behind this sweet little children’s book, and I loved the vibrant illustrations even more–they were simply stunning! As a resident of Pennsylvania and as a history fan, I was definitely looking forward to reading this one. My favorite part of this book was the illustrations, hands down. The colors were brilliant, which will definitely appeal to children. They were also very atmospheric and were perfectly fitting for the time period and the circus environment. The story itself was enjoyable, despite feeling a little unfinished. The historical setting lends itself to a teaching opportunity for children, as well as the lesson Papa teaches Georgie about money and hard work. However, at least to me, the ending felt a little abrupt and didn’t seem to fit with the flow of the rest of the story. I saw somewhere, though, that this is part of a series, so maybe that explains it. Overall, this is a delightful book that I think younger children would enjoy!

**Thank you, to SparkPress for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This in no way affected my opinion or my review of this book.