Audio Book Review: From Gods

From Gods

By:  Mary Ting

Publish Date:  October 17, 2013

Format:  Audiobook - 8 hrs 12 mins
Narrated By:  Emma Lysy

Genre:  Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Series:  1 in Descendant Prophecies series

First Impression:  A book of Greek Gods children, but oh so much more of a twist and romance to it.

Synopsis:
Did you just see a flash of lightning across the sky on a clear sunny day? It’s not from Mother Nature. It is most likely from Mason Grand, swoon-worthy demigod, one of Zeus’s descendants.

Skylar Rome is supposed to be having the best summer ever before she heads off to college. Little did she know, her whole life was about to change while visiting her cousin. Nearly drowning at the beach due to unknown forces, one of the Grand brothers she’d just met, Mason, saves her life. Cool, collected, mysterious, and dangerously good-looking, Skylar is drawn to him from the start. Though she knows he is the type of guy good girls stayed away from, it seems he is always saving her life, and the attraction was inevitable.

Upon meeting the brothers, strange things begin to happen. When she accidentally kills one of the brothers, it throws her life into turmoil, as they search to find the answers. Implausibly, she gets caught up in a world of the decedents of ancient gods, all who have super powers. Not only is her discovery difficult to accept, evil beings are after her. Running out of time and running for her life, she must unravel a mystery. What do they want from her? Forced into a battle set into motion long before she was born, will she find the answers, or will she die trying?

First Sentence:
I remember it clearly, as if it happened yesterday...the day my dad left and never came home.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles
(Note: This 1st book of the series is FREE at Kindle and Barnes & Nobles.)

*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Skylar is staying at her Aunt's house for three weeks in the summer as she does each year. The cop that pulled her over, suspiciously off feeling event, and shows up at the Diner she's working with her cousin. Mason has a different name and seems surprised she remembers him. And he did not pull her over. But when their hands brush, or they touch, Skylar feels the shock that warms her. Then when Skylar and her cousin, Kayla, go to a beach bonfire, Skylar has a strange experience. Mason is now curious about Skylar too. He doesn't have time to fall for Skylar or a hurt heart, but when he saves her life he figures he may not have a choice. His heart is already calling to her.

Skylar notices there are other guys that stare at her, at the mall and at the beach party. This sticks out in her mind. And worries Skylar when she sees them again. Even the stares of the older brother of Mason and Nick bothers Skylar. The intensity of it is far to much for her liking.

I listened to this story. Emma, the narrator, has a young sounding voice to go with the young girls and YA feel of the story. Emma doesn't do extra voices for the characters but she reads Skylar and the characters well. She had one section where she repeated 4-6 words, which were missed in editing to remove I'm sure, but that was all.

I was drawn into the story. Mary's story has captivated my attention and I WANT to know what happens, what is the story with Skylar and all the others. Oh, there was a turn of events that I was NOT expecting, and really liked it. Something that happens between Skylar and one of Mason's brothers. Wow, this took the story in a whole new line of thinking for me and my speculations.

We get Skylar's POV. But Mason's too from time to time.

Skylar seems to be relatable. She's the realistic one to see the signs of the "bad boys" or potential unsafe events and trusts her feelings. I like this about her. But she's a great friend above all else. She watches out for her cousin and best friend, Kayla. She talks to Kayla about why they should not do something. Yet Kayla is an adventurous 18 year old. She wants to have fun. I was there once too. I understand Kayla as well. Kayla takes her cousins thoughts and concerns and keeps them in mind but still wants to do things. Skylar goes with her all the same, to help Kayla if she needs it.

Skylar is attracted to Mason, from the first moment she meets him. Mason is, from the mixed signals he sends, attracted to Skylar as well but he's fighting it. He feels he's broken and doesn't want to get close to any girl. But they both are falling. And so are we. *sigh* The flirting of Mason and Skylar... I do think Mason is one of my new favorite book boys. ;) Lots of girls are going to swoon over him.

I would suggest this book for an older teen. Skylar is 18 years old. She feels the heat of desire and faces a potential intimate moment, good and bad.

Oh heavens did I enjoy this story. The tension and attraction between the characters, the suspense to who or what she is, and the action moments. I WANT the next book!