Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.
Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead.
Not this time.
But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.
Her captor, John Hayden, claims it’s for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they’ve come back as Furies, intent on vengeance…on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.
But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there…and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.
And unless Pierce is careful, this time there’ll be no escape.
4 1/2 HEARTS!
POINT BREAKDOWN
Plot: 45 points
There is A LOT going on in this book! This continuation to Abandon touches upon a lot of the things that are left unexplained in the first book, and has a lot more action in it.
You have Pierce, who is trying to figure out what she wants more: to be with her family on earth, or be with John in the Underworld. Ultimately, she's not safe anywhere, but presumably she is more safe in the Underworld with John.
Then she has a huge motivation to go back to Isla Huesos, a motivation beyond her own safety, and so John and her go (with some other people in tow). But then a lot happens, and some things she thought she knew turned out to be wrong, and some things she didn't know at all were revealed. Like why John ended up ruler of the Underworld...
All-in-all, the only thing that ended up being confusing for me is WHAT exactly it is that makes Pierce have to live in the Underworld forever. I still haven't figured out what it is... so many things were thrown out there. But we do find out why John can't just bring anybody back to live. The infamous 'consequences' are revealed...
Pierce has SO much past to deal with! Her life hasn't been easy since the second time she met John. But really even before that. Most people in her situation would be so overwhelmed that they'd probably check out of life. But since that wouldn't help her problems much anyways, she stays strong and continues to fight to be "normal" again. Her parents have problems, her grandma has problems, her uncle and cousin have problems...she's basically a core of problems surrounded by problems! Yet, she keeps fighting! I love that about Pierce. She also puts the lives of the ones she loves above her own, and is willing to risk being killed by Furies to do so.
John is just trying to keep Pierce safe in this book. Plain and simple. And he's trying to not exceed the boundaries of his job as well. I feel bad for him because I think a lot is expected of him, and he also has a difficult past to deal with. Maybe more difficult than Pierce's.
Writing/Depth: 30 points
Meg Cabot has the true essence of a great writer!!! The way she writes has "Best Seller" written all over it. The detailed descriptions of the plot and the emotions, the complex story line, the bits of humor, the mystery...all great throughout the whole book! And like I suspected, since most of the background info we needed was in the first book, there was a lot more talking going on (opposed to just story-telling) in this book. Great writing Cabot!!!
TOTAL: 95 POINTS
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