Here we go again …

Just when it seems life at Mythos Academy can’t get any more dangerous, the Reapers of Chaos manage to prove me wrong. It was just a typical night at the Library of Antiquities — until a Reaper tried to poison me. The good news is I’m still alive and kicking. The bad news is the Reaper poisoned someone else instead.

As Nike’s Champion, everyone expects me to lead the charge against the Reapers, even though I’m still hurting over what happened with Spartan warrior Logan Quinn. I’ve got to get my hands on the antidote fast — otherwise, an innocent person will die. But the only known cure is hidden in some creepy ruins — and the Reapers are sure to be waiting for me there …

Another Mythos book another shot at killing Gwen another ahahahaha good try Reapers from the Good Guys.  Look the books have a formula and they stick to that formula with all the tenacity of a Spartan.  Thing is that even though I can pretty much guess the story arc's 'pivotal' moments I enjoy the living hell out of these books.

This time around we get to see Gwen and her Scoobies go to a different Mythos Academy and figure out what they have to do to avoid the Reapers' very obvious trap.  I'm rather concerned by the body count in each new book.  The Reapers really don't seem to have a concept of life and that's worrisome.  Even Voldemort's Deatheaters seemed to have a concept of self preservation--these guys don't and it makes me wary.  What exactly is Loki promising them that makes them so willing to toss aside their life?  Ultimate power? Not so much good when the likelihood you'll die is very high.

They should consider changing their names to "Loki's Cannon Fodder" because that's what they've become.  Or "Loki's Red Shirts". Ha! I'm surprised that joke hasn't been made...

We learn more about Gwen's father (Tyr Forseti)'s family and I have to say that I'm glad Estep avoided the obvious handwave to make everything rosy.  In the end although a redeeming was at hand, possibly, it doesn't negate the fact that bad stuff happened and consequences are part of that.  It did raise a lot of questions, questions that won't likely receive answers, but Estep handled it all without devolving into way too sweet territory.

For those worried about what happened between Gwen and Logan last book (and Logan's general overall attitude throughout his novella "Spartan Frost")...well there's consequences.  Estep doesn't make light of the fact that Logan almost committed a horrible wrong against Gwen, but she does make it clear that Gwen understands it wasn't really Logan.  That doesn't do much for her nightmares, but I found I liked the Estep didn't make it a 'Love means forgetting' moment.  Gwen remembered.  Logan remembered.  They both had to deal with it in their own ways before learning to deal with it together.

The examination of Gwen's other half of the genetic code was interesting, though largely left nebulous since those who could answer a lot of the questions are dead and those who maybe could answer like cryptic riddle games instead.  Its set up so that there can be more Frost-Forseti fun in the future and I for one would LOVE to see that go down at Gwen's Mythos Academy. 

All in all if you're enjoying the series you'll enjoy this installment.  I def wouldn't start it if you haven't read the previous novels, but maybe dangle "intriguing plot developments!" in front of a wary reader to get them to bite.