An action-packed adventure that brings Greek mythology to modern times in a great way.
It’s been thirty years since the Greek gods returned with their powers restored after the long battle against the mighty titans. With the ancient deities imprisoned in Tartarus, the gods now live in Néo Vasíleio, formerly known as California. Derek Aerios is a descendant of Ares, God of War and, together with his brother Liam, part of the Elite military force responsible for the capture of mythological creatures. As Derek struggles with a traumatic childhood and his violent powers, he tries to keep the two promises he made to himself: protect his brother at all costs and never kill a human again. When Ares threatens Liam’s life, Derek is forced to hunt down and kill four rogue scions controlled by Athena. But the closer he gets to his target, the more he begins to realise that his orders are part of a bigger plan that puts him at odds with his conscience and his mission. With a traitor among them and Titans coming closer and closer to freedom, Derek’s journey leads to dangerous discoveries and deadly choices.

This was my first time reading a book by Amy Braun and I regret nothing. It definitely sets the pace for the next instalments of the Areios Brothers series.

The plot is well explored and developed, involving all the right details of Greek mythology that most readers are familiar with but with a twist. The story is refreshing and goes into a completely new reality with gods, humans and monsters. The novel develops in a fast-paced, with action from start to finish. Even so, it’s easy to keep up with the characters, even though the author presents a lot of information, in the beginning, making it a bit difficult to get into the plot in the beginning. While the novel takes place in old California new Néo Vasíleio, I would have enjoyed more details on how this world is a global scale. For me, it would have added depth to this reality and to the plot.

The main characters are great, explored in depth and Braun did a great work in bringing out their human side. Derek is a fierce warrior with his heart in the right place and a deep love for his brother. For Derek, his first mission is always to protect Liam, under all circumstances, until a mission goes sideways. While he was destined to hold great power, Derek struggles to accept and control them throughout the book. Beneath all the scares of his haunted past, he manages to keep a pure heart and doesn’t allow it to change who he is. His connection with his brother Liam is deep and the love the reader can see and feel brings the meaning of the word “love” to a whole new level. Both characters are developed so deeply that it’s impossible not to root from them in their adventures and misadventures. Their powers are amazing and bring excitement to the story. I think Braun has a lot of space to develop both characters and explore their powers further in the next novels. I’m very curious to read about the next dangerous adventure of the Areios brothers.

I recommend this novel to the fans of Greek mythology looking for an action-packed novel and a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre.

Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for allowing to be part of the Book Tour of Storm of Gods.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Greek mythology and dystopian mashup, and I don't even think I can say I'm a fan of dystopian fiction. Braun has this way of creating the most awful futures imaginable but always provides her readers with the spark of hope they need to believe that something can be done about all the gloom and doom. For example, Derek knows full well that he can't go up against the actual Greek gods because he's a mortal and they aren't. However, as the story progresses, you see that there might be some slim chances the he can do something about the smothering affect they've had on the world.

Braun also puts in a lot of fantastic details from Greek mythology into her work. While she doesn't claim to be an expert, you can tell that she made each god and goddess as close to their original personalities as possible, making her story feel like the closest depiction possible of what would happen if the Greek gods did come back to "rightfully" rule over humans. Like y'all, she's too good at this.

Finally, her fight scenes are legendary. We could all learn a thing or two from Braun about how to depict a fight scene that really packs a punch—or a kick to the ribs, a good stabbing...

Braun's work has always struck me as heavy, and this book is no exception. If you're looking for a good read for you or someone you know, then you should definitely pick up this book today. Because it's available today! However, know that the language and violence might be too much for younger readers. If that doesn't bother you, then read away! This book will rock your world, especially if you're obsessed with Greek mythology. I've been saying this book is basically "Percy Jackson but way darker," but I would argue that the mythology and how it's used in the books are much more accurate and mature. The only way to confirm that is to read the book yourself!