The Immortals by Jordanna Max Brodsky

The Immortals by Jordanna Max Brodsky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was intrigued by the cover of this book initially and then read the first chapter and was hooked. The Immortals is very good urban fantasy. Very reminiscent of the classic American Gods by Neil Gaiman, though Brodsky's story is all her own.
Modern day Manhattan is home is many of the Greek gods. If that doesn't pique your interest right there this probably isn't for you.

The story concerns the Greek goddess Artemis, who is now know as Selene. She spends her time saving women from abusive husbands and boyfriends and protecting the innocent wherever she may. Through the years her powers have diminished due to the lack of belief in her and the other gods, but she is still pretty formidable in her own right.

The book concerns a group who are committing murders across Manhattan by reviving the ancient Eleusinian Mysteries. Unfortunately, these rights are making Selene stronger while they are in direct opposition to all she holds dear. She is joined by a Columbia Classics professor, Theo Schultz, whose previous lover was one of those murdered, and who is looking for justice.

This book is a gem. Selene's memories of the island of Manhattan through the years is fascinating along with all of the historical tidbits. When one has lived for 3,000 years there is a lot to remember. Theo, unaware that Selene is really a Goddess and an ardent admirer of anything and everything that has to do with the Gods has his own special part to play.

Throw in Dionysus, Apollo, Hermes and the rest and this is worth every page. The ending does not disappoint. I can see this being made into a movie or miniseries quite easily and I am curious to see where Brodsky goes from here with the story.

Consider this Percy Jackson for adults, but so much more.

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Deadeye by Mark Greaney ( The Gray Man #4)

Dead Eye by Mark Greaney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I discovered Mark Greaney years ago when I saw an intriguing paperback titled, "The Gray Man. I read the back of the book and thought that this might be something worth reading. It turned out it was and I have been a Greaney fan ever since. I knew he had talent to tell a great story, but I guess that the late Tom Clancy thought so as well when he picked Greaney to help with the continuing story of Jack Ryan and the Campus, which has gone on to do quite well, including catapulting Greaney to #1 New York Bestseller status.

All of which left little time for Court Gentry or The Gray Man and his story. I just finished the 4th entry in the Court Gentry saga and I have to admit, it was a barnburner! Writing with Clancy has only strengthened Greaney as a writer and has moved Mr. Greaney into the forefront of the new breed of thriller writers that are a cut above the rest. Along with Ben Coes, Matthew Dunn, and others the genre is in good hands.

In Deadeye, Court is still on the run from his former handlers the CIA, really still not understanding why, but only knowing that he must stay one step ahead or else he will be killed. Deciding to wrap up a loose end and take a former patron off the board, Court is marked by the new technology that has been developed to catch bad guys. Unbeknownst to Court, he is being watched and tracked by the Townsend Group, an off the books contractor to the US government tasked with bringing the Gray Man down. Enter, Russell Whitlock aka Deadeye. For Court it is like looking in the mirror, here is a man just as deadly as he is, because he was trained by the same group and the kicker. He wants to help.

Court has lived as long as he has by not trusting anyone, but the near constant hyper vigilance has taken its toll and he wants to believe that he can trust Deadeye. Unfortunately, Deadeye has other agendas. Throw into the mix a brilliant Israeli tracker and her team and you have the makings of a great story reminiscent of The English Assassin by Daniel Silva.

Give Greaney a try.. Just a caution, he is a little rough with language, but can sure tell a story and keep the pages turning.


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