Kazumi Reads

Plot Summary:
After learning that her grandmother was possessed by a Fury, Pierce is taken back to the Underworld with John. In order to protect her, Pierce has no choice but to leave the mortal world because the Furies have been using her to get to John. When she realized who John was, her entire world has turned upside down because not only is she hunted, she has to come to terms that she is the consort of a death deity. In other words, she will spend eternity with the man she loves while her family and loved ones live and die before her very eyes. Although she isn't happy with this idea, Pierce has finally admitted that she loves John and cannot live without him. However, when she stumbles upon her messenger bad, and cellphone, she sees a frightening image of her cousin, in a coffin, being buries alive. According to John, this could be a plot to get her to revel herself of the Furies will kill everyone she loves. Unwilling to watch her cousin die, she tells John that she will spend the rest of her life with him if she can make sure Alex is okay. What they weren't counting on is their return will not only expose Jade's, her high school counselor, murderer, but they will run into Pierce's grandmother once more. With the Furies hot on their tracks, Pierce and John set out to find Alex with a little help from the crew of The Liberty and her best, and only friend, Kayla. What was supposed to be an "epic" Coffin Night turns in a night that no one will ever forget, especially when the death deity does something impossible.


Critical Evaluation:
In this installment, Meg Cabot sheds light on the life of  John Hayden and the choices Pierce must make in order to be by his side for eternity. I won't lie when I say I couldn't wait for Underworld and I wasn't disappointed at all. The story is well written and readers won't be able to put it down. Although it is a romance story, there is quite a bit of action because the Furies are stopping at nothing to find Pierce and John. Furthermore, the ending literally leaves readers hanging because not only is there no going back, the underworld is about to get a new mortal visitors. I am really curious about Kayla because when she is around Pierce, the Persephone Diamonds gives off a bright purple glow. Pierce told john that the diamond gives off a deep black to show her they are in danger so when it gives another color something must be going on. However, when Smith tells Pierce about the Fates are spirits that are meant to bring good into our lives, I wonder if Cabot is giving readers insight into Kayla's character. For all we know, Kayla could be the fate that could bring some sort of hope or joy in this dire situation, which is desperately needed since there will be an all out war of some kind. Furthermore, with the incident involving Alex, I know his character will bring more to the next installment because now he has the proof he has been waiting for and the tenacity. Although this story focuses on the wrath of the Furies, it also exposes another sort of evil underworld that not only involves Uncle Chris, but the prominent families of Los Huesos. Bring on Awaken so Pierce and John can have the happy ending they deserve.

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

Born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, Meg also lived in Grenoble, France and Carmel, California (the setting for her bestselling Mediator series) before moving to New York City after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Indiana University.

After working for ten years as an assistant residence hall director at New York University (an experience from which she occasionally draws inspiration for her Heather Wells mystery series—two new books in the series will be out in 2012 and 2013), Meg wrote the Princess Diaries series, which was made into two hit movies by Disney, sold over 20 million copies, and has been translated into 38 languages.

Meg Cabot (her last name rhymes with habit, as in “her books can be habit forming”) currently lives in Key West with her husband and two cats.

Genre:
Teen Supernatural Romance
 
Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up
 
Books Similar to Underworld:

•  Entice by Carrie Jones
•  Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
  

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

"Cabot shows the dark side behind the bling-blingy superficial worlds.” –Teenreads.com

"[The] strong, amusing voice, the plot twists, and the possibility of romance will draw mystery and chick-lit readers alike." –ALA Booklist

“Bag the tiara and get out the gun ... Cabot delivers.” –Publishers Weekly