Author: Jill Wolfson
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: April 16, 2013
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. BYR
Description:
Three high school girls become the avenging Furies of Greek legend.
We were only three angry girls, to begin with. Alix, the hot-tempered surfer chick; Stephanie, the tree-hugging activist; and me, Meg, the quiet foster kid, the one who never quite fit in. We hardly knew each other, but each of us nurtured a burning anger: at the jerks in our class, at our disappointing parents, at the whole flawed, unjust world.
We were only three angry girls, simmering uselessly in our ocean-side California town, until one day a mysterious, beautiful classmate named Ambrosia taught us what else we could be: Powerful. Deadly. Furious.
Furious is a young adult fantasy novel that spins a modern version of the Greek myth of the Furies - three goddesses who were born to bring justice to the world and avenge the wronged. In the book, our main characters - Alix, a surfer girl with a quick temper; Stephanie, a modern day hippie and activist; and Meg, the quiet and mistreated foster child - come together with the help of the beautiful and mysterious Ambrosia and embody the spirits of the Furies. With their powers fully awakened, the girls set out on a mission to right the wrongs that have been brought against them and to help those who can't help themselves.
This was an inventive and unique take on the Furies myth from Greek mythology. I loved that the author made the Furies embody everyday social outcasts in high school - these are girls who most readers can relate to in some way, so we immediately feel their misery along with their triumphs. The Furies myth is truly fascinating and I loved reading about the history behind it that was woven into the book. Although modern retellings of mythology aren't anything new in this genre, the author gave a captivating inside look at this myth and was able to breathe new life into a somewhat overdone theme. I loved the characters in the book and was able to identify with each of the girls on some level, which had me sympathizing with them and rooting for each of them throughout the novel. The writing was exceptional and very well paced, which kept me eagerly turning the pages to see what would happen next. This is a fantastic modern take on an ancient myth and a novel that fans of YA fiction will definitely not want to miss! Highly recommended!!
I absolutely LOVE greek myths. I even did a seminar about them this year. They are very intriguing and lovely. And the myth of the Furies is a popular one so I am intrigued to read the author's take on this myth.
ReplyDeleteGREAT review, Steph
Your reader,
Soma
http://insomnia-of-books.blogspot.com/