Furious Legacy #2: Dungeon of Hades by Meadoe Hora

My name is Erin, and my brother Cass and I must venture down to Tartarus to free our mother and our aunt from their imprisonment. Our grandfather Apollo has offered to help, but he can't be trusted. I wish Cass and our father could see that, but they both seem enchanted by him. I'm sure some of my own decisions and alliances are flawed, but my anger, fueled from growing up without parents, steels my determination. No one can believe we want to go to Tartarus, but it's something we need to do.

What worked:

The book is heavily based on Greek mythology and the shaky relationships between the gods and goddesses. The underlying conflict driving the whole book is Apollo’s obsession to defeat Zeus in order to rule everyone and everything. The complication with the main characters, Erin and Cass, arises from the fact that Apollo is their grandfather. Apollo is good at manipulating others, so it’s safe to say he can’t be trusted whenever he speaks. This lack of trust spills over to other characters since readers are never sure if they’re secretly working for Apollo. In addition, there are other hidden disputes that result in surprise consequences.

The major plotline follows Erin and Cass as they venture down to Hades to free their mother. She’s been captive for years, but now two of the twins’ aunts are prisoners too. The quest leads to Tartarus, and the twins are frequently reminded that no one ever wants to go there. It’s a land of misery and doom where spirits are trapped for eternity. The twins haven’t seen their mother in years, Cass has never even met her, so the suspense surrounding their reunion creates anticipation for that moment in the story. The abilities of the twins are uncertain since there’s never been offspring with the blood of a Fury and a god. Of course, readers will eventually discover what makes the twins special.

The book has plenty of battles between the characters and mythical monsters. Hades is full of creatures and spirits that are looking for ways to release their anger and anguish. Then, there are other monsters tasked with keeping the spirits imprisoned, but they're equally likely to attack two kids trespassing where they don't belong. There are also Furies involved, and their whole purpose for existing is to punish others for their sins. 

What didn't work as well:

This book is the second in the series, and it's important for readers to understand what's happened so far. This book doesn't share many details about past events, so it's imperative that book one is read first. The events stories of the Furies, the twins’ parents, and Apollo are pretty important to know. Clues can be picked up along the way, but there will still be gaps in the backstory that readers may miss. The easiest solution? Read Curse of the Furies first!

The Final Verdict:

The early part of the book is a little slow, but the action and suspense amp up once the kids head down to Hades. The setting and characters create a mysterious atmosphere that will captivate readers. A surprise twist is presented near the book’s conclusion that will have a huge impact on the next book in the series.