I remember stating in my Girl of Nightmares review that I was sure Kendare Blake was capable of better and that she was going to write a book that I would love. This is that book.

I'm fairly well-acquainted with Greek mythology. So I honestly expected for something to upset me. And some things did--but not in a way that took away from the book. It killed me to discover that certain gods were dead or on their way out before Antigoddess even began. But though I'd love it if they came back to life, I'm not really complaining because this is such a fabulous book.

There are, of course, going to be people who are upset by certain plot twists and definitely certain romantic entanglements. I'm sure the fact that Athena and Odysseus have a sorta-kinda-maybe thing going on will ruffle a few feathers. (Get it? Because Athena is going through death-by-feathers... Oh, never mind.) But to me, that made total sense for a modern twist on mythology that gives us an Athena tempered by thousands of years of pain and an Odysseus who is his old self and isn't, thanks to the new memories he's made as a reborn young man. The odds are stacked against them already, and we don't even know if Penelope's been reincarnated or not. (Athena seems to think not, but there's no definitive answer to the question.)

That controversial plot point aside, I really loved the way Blake defined each of these characters, whether immortal or reincarnated. They were the people from the myths--but with even more baggage. Hermes, Athena, and Odysseus delighted me to no end. Athena's chapters are really the highlight of the book. For while Cassandra is interesting and I want to know more about her, her chapters were really defined by her relationship with Aidan; I imagine that will change in the next book. Supporting characters like Andie and Henry were also intriguing but not overly attention-grabbing. Again, I expect that to change later, as Antigoddess is really more of an introduction than anything else. But what a gory, exciting introduction it is.

Yes--on to that gore. Blake made a name for herself when it came to blood and guts with the Anna duology and it's even more gruesome here. Some descriptions nearly made me nauseous. But the writing's much tighter here, too, than it was with the Anna books. I think a third-person perspective is more Blake's forte. Each god and goddess seems very well-defined. The nuances of their torn family relationships are both frustrating and heartbreaking. And oh, do their personalities come across well. Each immortal is morally dubious. Athena once reveled in carnage and even now sees everything as a means to an end, whether or not she feels personally bad about it. Hermes is joking and charismatic, but also more than ready to do what has to be done. Odysseus is clever and charming, but unfaithful to everyone except, in his own way, to his patron goddess. (I won't go on about that relationship again, but oh, does it fascinate me.)

My only real problem with the book is that Aidan and Cassandra's relationship truly bugged me. Its problematic nature was touched upon, but Blake didn't really have the time to explain why it was so wrong, and I don't think it's going to be elaborated upon in the next installments. It was a creepy sort of "romance", and every time Aidan made a declaration of love I inwardly cringed.

But that was one flaw in an otherwise excellent page-turner. I really can't wait for the next book, and I'm so happy that this is the beginning of a trilogy instead of duology. I want as much of this world as I can get.