The Body Electric by Allie Duzett
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Title: The Body Electric
Author: Allie Duzett
Publish Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Istoria Books
Pages: 252
Buy the Book: Amazon
Rating: ★★★★
I've always had an interest in Greek mythology, although Roman is perhaps just as interesting but less focused on. So, when I received this book, I was thrilled at the prospects of the story because it centered on something that I have spent a lot of time reading about. It never ceases to amaze me that people can bring to life so many different aspects of this mythology and how each is as unique as the rest. I adore the way she brought to life the Gods in a way that can be comparable to Percy Jackson but still maintains its own spin. The story was beautifully written and captured the story of a girl caught in an immortal struggle between a demigod that shouldn't exist and a queen determined to make sure he no longer does.
Lena surprised me, to be honest. I am very used to the whole idea of someone being self-centered and selfish in the young adult genre. But instead she seems to be keenly aware of everything around her, which leads her to refusing to kiss the hottest guy in school. She knows when things don't feel quite right and sticks to her beliefs, even when she doesn't know what they are yet. In the story, she didn't anticipate meeting a boy who could capture her so completely (although the word "love" doesn't frequent this book between the two) and yet, she knows that there is something different about him -- something that could very well prevent their relationship from blossoming like it should. I think it is her lack of selfishness near the end of the novel, even if there is still a hint of it, is what really made her a likable character.
I loved the whole concept of Zach. There something about him that while he is a mythical character of sorts, he seems very real throughout the story. I definitely liked that he was down to earth and relatable to the extent that I honestly enjoyed reading about him and of course, Lena. I was a little worried at first when she was introduced as having a boyfriend but then Zach came along and let's be honest here, if I had a choice between demigod and well average boy, there really wouldn't be a choice, now would there?
One thing I always worry about in young adult novels is how the family of the characters is portrayed by the authors. I think it says a lot about the author and the book when the family is written just right. Her family is kind of great. They support Lena and don't come off like tyrants whose sole goal in the novel is to ruin the main character's life. It's like we as readers got hung up on the whole Romeo and Juliet sort of family dynamic and lost something very important along the way: not all families suck. I get it, teenagers hate the world (families included) but if the story's good enough, do you think the readers need one more reason to look at their families like they suck?
I've already mentioned how much I liked the Greek Gods during the course of the story. This includes, I suppose, the villain of the novel. The interpretation of the Gods used during the novel was relatable and clung to some of the mythology that surrounded those particular Gods. It was great seeing how the author viewed them and put them on paper.
Overall, this was an awesome story. I hope that a sequel will come along because truth be told, the ending was somewhat of a cliffhanger and left me wanting more.
Lena Clark, a small-town teenager, falls for a stranger with a mysterious past—and a frightening present. Before she knows it, she is a target, wrapped up in his quest to escape the wrath of a jealous queen from a world Lena never believed existed…
Lena Clark’s high school world comes crashing apart when she discovers that the most popular jock in school—her boyfriend!—has been cheating on her. In the aftermath of the drama, she meets Zach Zuson, a newcomer so her small Colorado town. It’s clear that he’s different: it’s in the way he talks, and the way he moves, and the way he looks at her as if he’s hiding something. And then, it’s in the way he single-handedly strangles a full-grown mountain lion to death right before her eyes. Next thing you know, an ancient monster is attacking them. Suddenly, life for Lena is a lot more complicated than she ever imagined it could be.
When Zach decides to put an end to the attempts on his life for once and for all, Lena gets dragged along, eventually ending up alone at the party of the century. Little does she know that this party is attended by bloodthirsty killers, or that a jealous queen has made Lena a target, too. Now Lena must find the strength to survive.
I've always had an interest in Greek mythology, although Roman is perhaps just as interesting but less focused on. So, when I received this book, I was thrilled at the prospects of the story because it centered on something that I have spent a lot of time reading about. It never ceases to amaze me that people can bring to life so many different aspects of this mythology and how each is as unique as the rest. I adore the way she brought to life the Gods in a way that can be comparable to Percy Jackson but still maintains its own spin. The story was beautifully written and captured the story of a girl caught in an immortal struggle between a demigod that shouldn't exist and a queen determined to make sure he no longer does.
Lena surprised me, to be honest. I am very used to the whole idea of someone being self-centered and selfish in the young adult genre. But instead she seems to be keenly aware of everything around her, which leads her to refusing to kiss the hottest guy in school. She knows when things don't feel quite right and sticks to her beliefs, even when she doesn't know what they are yet. In the story, she didn't anticipate meeting a boy who could capture her so completely (although the word "love" doesn't frequent this book between the two) and yet, she knows that there is something different about him -- something that could very well prevent their relationship from blossoming like it should. I think it is her lack of selfishness near the end of the novel, even if there is still a hint of it, is what really made her a likable character.
I loved the whole concept of Zach. There something about him that while he is a mythical character of sorts, he seems very real throughout the story. I definitely liked that he was down to earth and relatable to the extent that I honestly enjoyed reading about him and of course, Lena. I was a little worried at first when she was introduced as having a boyfriend but then Zach came along and let's be honest here, if I had a choice between demigod and well average boy, there really wouldn't be a choice, now would there?
One thing I always worry about in young adult novels is how the family of the characters is portrayed by the authors. I think it says a lot about the author and the book when the family is written just right. Her family is kind of great. They support Lena and don't come off like tyrants whose sole goal in the novel is to ruin the main character's life. It's like we as readers got hung up on the whole Romeo and Juliet sort of family dynamic and lost something very important along the way: not all families suck. I get it, teenagers hate the world (families included) but if the story's good enough, do you think the readers need one more reason to look at their families like they suck?
I've already mentioned how much I liked the Greek Gods during the course of the story. This includes, I suppose, the villain of the novel. The interpretation of the Gods used during the novel was relatable and clung to some of the mythology that surrounded those particular Gods. It was great seeing how the author viewed them and put them on paper.
Overall, this was an awesome story. I hope that a sequel will come along because truth be told, the ending was somewhat of a cliffhanger and left me wanting more.
About the author
Bailee is the type of person you would expect to find with her nose buried in a book or a notebook and a pencil in hand. She loves reading and she loves reviewing the books she reads. This is certainly becoming a passion of hers.
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