{Book Review} Oh. My. Gods by Tera Lynn Childs

» 4 July, 2015 » 3.75 Stars » 0 comments

Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs
(Website, , , )Published by Penguin on May 1st 2008
Genres: Fiction, General, Greek & Roman, Humorous Stories, Legends, Myths, Fables, Love & Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 288
Format: Paperback

three-half-stars
When Phoebe's mom returns from Greece with a new husband and plans to move to an island in the Aegean Sea, Phoebe's well-plotted senior year becomes ancient history. Now, instead of enjoying a triumphant track season and planning for college with her best friends, Phoebe is trying to keep her head above water at the berexclusive Academy. If it isn't hard enough being the new kid in school, Phoebe's classmates are all descendents of the Greek gods! When you're running against teammates with superpowers, dealing with a stepsister from Hades, and nursing a crush on a boy who is quite literally a god, the drama takes on mythic proportions!

Oh.

My.

Gods.

  1.    1. Phoebe Castro’s mother returns from her weeklong trip to Greece with a new fiancé.
  2.   2.  Her mother makes her move to a secluded island in Greece with the wickedest of stepsisters.
  3.    3. She’s surrounded by the descendants of the gods and gets everything thrown at her but a warm welcoming.

All Phoebe wants to do is secure the scholarship to USC and move back to California to be with her friends. Being surrounded by demi gods is the least of her issues if she can’t secure her spot on the track team. She’s going to have to lace up and keep up and prove to everyone what a real goddess looks like.

I was probably one of the only freshmen in high school that enjoyed reading sections from Edith Hamilton’s Mythology. Not only was it my favorite section of English in high school, but my obsession with Greek mythology is still strong. I’ve read nearly all of Rick Riordan’s middle grade books (even the Egyptian mythology) and have had these books on my list for quite a while. The first book I fell in love with by Childs’s was Forgive My Fins. I swooned over Quince and wanted to hit Lily over the head a few times for not realizing how great a guy he was. I had really high expectations for this book when I finally got my hands on a copy and was pleasantly surprised. First off, her version of demi gods, descendants of the gods, was nothing like Rick Riordan’s, even though Phoebe’s story would entice fans of the Percy Jackson books. The main character was older and a girl, which made a huge difference in the experiences and journey she covered. Not only did Phoebe have to adjust to a new life, school, and country, but she found out she would be living among the gods’ descendants. She faced discrimination for being normal and the typical high school dramas that, unfortunately, everyone endures. In such an unlikely story, Phoebe remained relatable.

With any great adventure—even if it is as simple as finding out about one’s past—there has to be some sort of love interest to stand in the way. When Phoebe met Griffin, she didn’t know who he was but still fell head over Nikes for his smile. After reality comes rushing back to her and learned more about him, she tried to distance herself from him. Like Phoebe, I kept on wishing for more time with Griffin. Though his motives were about as clear as the Oracle (not very), it was impossible not to fall for his charm. A part of me loved Troy, her newfound friend at the Academy, and I would love to learn more about where his character ended up.

Phoebe spent her entire life around the same people. Moving across the planet took a lot of adjusting, but she and her best friends continue to stay strong in their friendship. They had an interesting relationship, each of them different enough from the other to keep things interesting. Not only did she have great friends back on the Western coast of the United States, but she made fast friends with Nicole and Troy at the Academy. The friendships she built had me wishing for something that strong.

Oh. My. Gods. was a light read that spoke to my love of mythology. I suggest lacing up your shoes and joining Phoebe on the run of her life.

Moriah (1)

About Tera Lynn Childs

Tera Lynn Childs is the RITA-award-winning and bestselling author of teen fiction about a mythological high school, mermaid princesses, monster-hunting triplet descendants of Medusa, and dark fae princes.

3.75 Stars

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