The Gods Are Real, and They Aren't Happy

Daughter of Fire

Author: Jennifer R Povey
Publisher: Aitune Press
Published: January 10, 2019

Goodreads Blurb: Laura led a sheltered, middle class existence. Oh, she knew she was adopted, but what did it matter? A lot when her birth mother is murdered and the killers come after her next...for reasons that are deep in her very blood.

My Thoughts: Laura leads a normal life, she just started college, and she wants to teach school. Her biggest worry is whether her classmates like her or not. Or it was. Everything changes one afternoon when Laura is whisked away into police custody due to the murder of her birth mother Ella Miracle (a high end hooker). Laura is more than a little confused seeing as she has never met her birth mother and has no ties to her. The police seem to think that whoever went after Ella is coming for Laura next. Laura isn't so sure, until she is shot at at the law office holding her mother's will. But it's not just that she's shot at, it's that her mind and body move into hyper-speed, moving her out of the way of fire, and even attacking back. Whatever wounds she received from the fight are healed within hours. Who is Laura Maxwell?

Honestly, that's the question for about the first half of the book. Who is her father really? Why do so many people seem to want her dead? (like soooo many people) Why does she have heightened senses? Why is she such a good shot? Is she even human? All these questions will be answered . . . sort of.

Turns out the old gods (think every pantheon - Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian) are returning to Earth. They aren't happy that during the last Olympics the Olympic Truce was violated. The worlds are merging and not everyone is happy. Along with centaurs and faeries come dragons, goblins, and man-eating ivy. Oh, and Laura? Turns out she's a demi-god, daughter of Ares. 

Laura starts a race against time as the two  worlds come closer and closer, and the sky turns to gold,  opening a window into yet another world - this one spells immediate death for humans. Can she figure out how to appease the gods and the earth itself before everyone's souls are sucked into the golden ether?

The answer is yes. But wow is it complicated and I still don't really understand what happened. The solution is that people have to take responsibilities for themselves and those around them. From what I understood, that means being vigilant for yourself, and your community, without impeding the choices of others. It also means checking government and police power - they need to enforce the laws, but the people should have a say in how it's enforced. The people agreeing to take charge of their own lives and to try and help each other is what knits the sky back together and closes (mostly) the doors to the mythical world. 

My favorite part of the book was Lady Liberty. Instead of just being a statue, she was portrayed as a goddess represented by a statue. But she was weak, because the American People had not been respecting her. They had been trying to limit other's choices, and elevate their own. This was one of the main reasons that the sky split the worst directly above Manhattan. I liked that idea that Liberty isn't just an ideal, but a sentient creature that does all she can for us, but we have to be willing to let her in. 

So, overall, it was an interesting story idea, with a very creative deep solution, but the rising action went on for-freaking-ever. I kind of felt like the story was stretched along as long as possible, and could have been told in a much more concise manner. The end was SUPER confusing. I also wasn't a fan of the F-words. I give it 2.75 trees out of 5. (Yes, I just decided I could do that).

Rating: