At the end of the last installment, young seventeen year old Pierce is whisked away from her home in Isla Huesos to the Underworld by none other than the modern-day Hades himself, John Hayden. 'Underworld' focuses mainly on the growing relationship between the two characters, and around Pierce's inability to decide between home, or living with Death. With her cousin Alex in danger, Pierce is able to convince John to take her back to the Earth plane for one night only, where they attempt to track down and maybe destroy the Furies.
I was really excited to purchase this book (£7.99 from WHSmith stores or £5.99 online http://www.whsmith.co.uk/Products/Abandon-Underworld-Unabridged+Paperback+9780330453882) as I'd really enjoyed the first in the trilogy. But I felt that Underworld, with its 309 pages - much less than the first book - didn't live up to my expectations. Whilst I enjoyed the similarity between John and Pierce to Hades and Persephone, I wasn't really thrilled by anything that was supposed to be exciting. Although it was a good read and I continued to turn the pages, I think it was just my love for the first book that kept me going. I was never on the edge of my seat, and I didn't believe the explanation Meg had given for John becoming Lord of the Underword (which still hasn't been properly explained in the book), and so I couldn't get lost in it. I suppose I felt it lacked emotion and so I couldn't get attached to the characters this time around. I felt it was just a back story for whatever is going to happen in the third book of the trilogy. I wouldn't recommend this book if you haven't read the first or aren't going to read the third. 'Awaken' will be hitting book stores soon - and I do suggest you read that. I have faith in Meg to pull this one out of the bag.
Another problem I had with the book itself is that, on the back, the publishers or the printers are supposed to print "only for teen readers" or the like, if there is any sexual content within the pages. *SPOILER* Although the short sex scene towards the end of the book is hidden quite cleverly (Cabot is quite reserved in her detail of the event) I do feel that it was inappropriate not to have the words "only for teen readers" on the back. If you read the scene, you'll understand what I mean. I asked my boyfriend, who's sixteen, to read the scene and he shares my opinion. But he did giggle a lot.
Picture source: http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=LNwbzbxKF9ydhM&tbnid=HtgKWC-Bi2WxZM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.onceuponabookcase.co.uk%2F2012%2F10%2Fweekly-gossip.html&ei=K56jUbitHKLM0AWW-oDQDw&bvm=bv.47008514,d.d2k&psig=AFQjCNFZ48Y_gpBcECGB_oHsum9AUY0rEA&ust=1369763746602922. Prices and links correct as of May 2013.
