For the first printing only! This hardcover features exclusive painted edges while the special edition supply lasts.
A New York Times bestseller!
“For fans of Percy Jackson, this fresh…thrilling” (Booklist) first book in a dark academia fantasy middle grade series from #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Crave series, Tracy Wolff, follows a girl living in a world ruled by the tenets of Greek mythology whose fate is more than it appears.
What’s your myth?
Penelope Weaver has spent her whole life preparing to attend Anaximander’s Academy, where students learn how to bring to life the stories of Greek mythology as well as discover the Greek god whose principles they most embody. Penelope knows she’s an Athena—all smart, practical, and rule-following girls who take part in stories that matter are Athenas.
But when Penelope and her twin brother Paris arrive at Anaximander’s, it appears fate has other plans. Penelope isn’t placed with Athena but with students who are anything but practical and who prefer parties to rules. And that’s just the beginning. She’s given the world’s worst muse, her assigned tasks feel impossible, and the magic of Anaximander’s is overwhelming. Not to mention, there are two very different boys making her new life even more confusing.
But as things go from bad to dangerously worse, one thing becomes clear: in a world where everything is fated to happen a certain way, some stories need to be rewritten. As the world around her shifts and cracks, Penelope is asked to forget everything she thought she knew to help create a better story…even if that changes every plan and breaks every rule.
Whimsical mythology inspired academia for all ages
"Book rating: 3. 75/5 ⭐️ Genre: middle grade fantasy series Themes: mythology, academic, friendship, belonging, confidence, rewriting 📖 Read if you like: Percy Jackson, Harry Potter Here’s the thing about attempting a buddy read with an eleven year old, your timeline becomes irrelevant! So while this published in February, it took two months for it to top the list of reading material. In fairness, school and sleep are important and the fact that I am no longer involved in either means I should not dictate any rational behaviour. So while I read this later than expected, I have to say what a delight it was to read! It infuses Greek mythology with an air of whimsy and heart. The themes of friendship, loyalty and bravery in the face of things going wrong were ones that could be felt at any age, but were perfect points of discussion for younger readers. As was the idea of history rewriting itself to fit the populace and the contents of Pandora’s box. It may have been a bit philosophical, but I was impressed by the conversations this plot point raised. The premise: Penelope has spent her whole life preparing to attend Anaximander’s Academy as an Athena girl. She is clever, practical and by the book. So when her meticulous plans get thrown up in the air and Penelope is sorted into the loud and rambunctious Aphrodite, it feels like her life is unraveling. To top it off her muse is extremely unhelpful in her required twelve labours and the magic of the school seems to affect Penelope far greater than all others. That and her twin seems to have found a mean streak. It is a wild ride, full of the most imaginative magic and landscapes. It took some time landing in this world with the entrance into the school being so chaotic, but as the friendship between Penelope, Fifi and Arjun blooms the storyline finds its roots. The action sequences were certainly a highlight, but the character arc is where this story shines. At its core it is about a rejected girl desperate for belonging and finding confidence in a world full of obstacles. There is also a little romantic interest, which in usual teenage form is mostly blushes and underhand comments. It all just made me smile. This is a rather sweet start to a series I will certainly be continuing with my young reader. It is action packed and full of wonder with a certain critique of the gods and their capricious nature that I appreciated. Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for a gifted copy to review."
