Unique Underworld

Underworld by Meg Cabot

* ARC read via Around The World Tours
* Book will be released May 8, 2012
* Definitely recommend that you read the first book to understand this one better.

4 gnomes out of 5 gnomes

This sequel is better then the first book.  I liked it a lot more because the main character Pierce knows everything, well mostly everything, instead of taking forever to learn what's going on.

Pierce is now in the underworld which is pretty much a dreary place.  Her and John still have a rather complicated relationship going on but at least now she knows how she feels about him.  There are of course plenty of problems and some lies by omition by a certain death deity.  She doesn't want to be trapped in the underworld but starts to see what exactly goes on and how she has an effect on the place.  It looks like she may just be able to leave her life behind and then she sees a tragic future event that she feels has to be stopped.

I liked getting to see more of the underworld and of course meeting some of its denizens.  John's servants are particularly great characters because they show you a different side of that place and also of John's character. Some of John's background is finally revealed and it's quite the story. Finding out more about John makes her question him a bit more at first but towards the end they again seem to be going forward together.

Overall this is a pretty interesting twist and the whole Persephone myth especially when they are together in the underworld.  The biggest problem in this version of the underworld is the furies.  They seem to be like the ultimate evil in this world.  It kind of makes you wonder how they have all this power and John can't stop them, they're kind of like a really evil security system.

The ending of this one was great because it leaves you really wanting to know what happens next.  I don't want to spoil anything but I loved the twist involving the real meaning of the pomegranate.  There are surprises aplenty at the end and some questions of what exactly everyone's fate will be.  I know I'm looking forward to the next book.