Review: Abandon by Meg Cabot

Source: Received a reviewer copy from Scholastic Canada for an honest review.

Publisher: Point
Number of Pages: 320 (Hardcover)

Release Date: Already released.

(Goodreads Link.)

Blurb from Goodreads:

New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld.

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

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I love pretty much any story that is associated with mythology, and Abandon was no exception. I thought it was a fabulous story, and this was also my first time reading anything by Meg Cabot. I'll definitely be reading more from her in the future. :)

I thought that Abandon was an interesting twist on the myth of Persephone and Hades from Greek myth. For anyone who is unfamiliar, the myth goes something like this. Hades is all alone in the Underworld, so he kidnaps Persephone for his wife. Zeus actually let him take her, but her mother, Demeter, was not pleased, and she made Hades let her go. However, while Persephone was in the Underworld she ate some seeds from a Pomegranate. Zeus had said that Persephone could return home if she were as pure as she was when she went to the Underworld, but since she'd tasted the fruit of life (a.k.a the Pomegranate ---but, most likely a metaphor for something else ;P), she was not allowed to return completely, but Zeus let her come back every Spring. This was one of the myths that the Greeks sed to describe the seasons, Spring occurred because Demeter was rejoicing at having her daughter back, and Winter would occur when she was grieving the absence of her daughter. If you want to know more, you can google it, there's plenty to learn! :D So anyways, Abandon is similar in some ways to the myth of Persephone, yet also completely different. To begin with John, the aforementioned "he" in the book's blurb is not Hades, and Pierce isn't a goddess, she's just a regular girl who is wealthier than most. ;P

I loved the chemistry between the characters of Abandon, and I loved how Meg drew in details from mythology, while also giving the story her own unique spin. I especially loved what she did with the Furies. As a main character, I thought Pierce was fantastic. She was easy to relate to, and I could definitely sympathize with her out of control emotions. John was mysterious, and at times frightening. The only thing I wasn't a fan of with John was his name. I couldn't help but think that it was such an unoriginal and boring name, especially when compared to Pierce. Honestly, that was my biggest complaint though, and when a character's name is the only thing you can have to complain about, the book must be pretty good. :P

I loved the action, the intensity, the flashbacks, and pretty much everything else with Abandon. The mystery elements were amazing, and I loved how certain details unveiled throughout the story. I also loved the setup. There wasn't just one simple chapter explaining how Pierce's accident occurred, or of how she'd originally met John. It was told over a span of the book, and I liked that. It was realistic. It was as if Pierce were letting her guard down and she couldn't help but remember those things.

Overall, I thought that Abandon was a fantastic story! One that mythology fans, and also people who are unfamiliar with mythology, will enjoy. Meg Cabot has taken a classic Greek myth and twisted it into a story of her own, and the results are amazing! I definitely recommend that you read this one, or at the very least, that you look into it! ;D

Are you a fan of mythology?
If you are, what's your favourite myth?
Also, have you read Abandon yet? What did you think?

Happy Reading!!!

♪♫ Ambur