The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White is a fun, snarky read featuring Egyptian mythology in a modern setting.
Isadora
is the mortal daughter of Egyptian gods, and she's kind of bitter about
it. After all, what's the use of one mortal lifetime in comparison with
her family's eternal years? In dealing with her moody teenage daughter
while preparing for the birth of another child, Isis sends Isadora from
Egypt to America to spend time with Sirus, Isadora's older (but also
mortal) brother. But to keep her still involved with family concerns,
Isis arranges for Isadora to volunteer at a museum that will be hosting
an exhibit of art and sculpture belonging to Isadora's family. While
working at the museum, Isadora makes friends with Tyler, a cheerful girl
who is also volunteering there. She also meets handsome, brooding Ry --
but Isadora is determined not to fall in love, so she can just be
friends with him, right? Life in California is not all parties on the
beach and romantic tension, however: unexpected dangers await Isadora,
and disturbing dreams point to trouble for her mother back in Egypt.
Isadora is irritated at her mother, true, but she doesn't want any real
harm to come to her . . . but who could harm a goddess?
This is a
light, fluffy read, but it does a lot of things well. I'm no Egyptian
mythology buff, but Isadora's brief explanations of life with her crazy
family made the complex myths interesting and comprehensible to even a
casual reader. The romance aspect of the plot was predictable but
probably still enjoyable for most readers, and the mystery not too
terribly obvious. Characters are well-written and likeable -- I was
particularly fond of Sirus and Tyler. The dialogue and Isadora's snarky
inner voice are the real stars of the book. If you like light reads with
romance and mythology, and don't mind just a little teen angst, give
this book a try.
(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)
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