Book club Review #2: Athena's Promise- Annetta Ribken

Summary: Compared to Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series, meet Pallas, the heroine of "Athena's Promise".

As the front desk manager of a hotel on the edge of Zombietown, Pallas is used to dealing with angry centaurs, surly trolls, and zombie housekeepers. The trouble really starts when one of her guests ends up dead. But that's not her only problem. 

A cop with an attitude – can he be trusted to be more than just a pain in her ass or does he have a more sinister agenda? 

A new Guest Services Manager, out for her job and ready to sacrifice anyone in his way – what does he really want?

The attractive maintenance guy, endangering the promise she made out of necessity to the Goddess Athena – does he know more than he's telling? 

A mermaid diva, whose show at the Sparkling Butterfly must go on – or else. Pallas needs to find the killer, and fast, or she'll lose her job, her home, and the ragtag family she's adopted out of her crew of "critters". In the course of the investigation Pallas uncovers connections to a nasty Oddities dealer deep in the heart of Zombietown, forcing her to expose a trauma from her past which could threaten her future.

With everyone and everything she loves in danger, the promise made to the Goddess Athena may well damn her if she breaks it, but she is bound and determined to save her friends, her home, and everything she's built. 

No matter what it takes.

Title: Athena's Promise

Author: Annetta Ribken

Pages: 269

Series: Aegian Trilogy

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Review: This is the second book that I have read with my book club. I enjoyed this pick much better than the first. I fell in love with this book from the very beginning! I loved how there was every type of critter that you could think of, and even some that you didn't think of. There were vampires, gorgons, mermaids, fairies and everything in between. I also liked how for the most part, all the creatures got along harmoniously amount humans. Plus, it was a murder mystery mixed with fantasy and paranormal. I also loved how the author dangled the secrets and mysteries right in front of the reader and slowly, painfully made you wait to find out the answers. But the pain was well worth it!

Pallas was one of the most mysterious characters that I have ever read about. We virtually know nothing about her until the very end. The reader learns about everyone else and their dog but not so much on Pallas. But what I didn't find out about her, I LOVED!! I really can't wait for the next instalment to see if/ when the promise is broken and under what conditions. I want to know if love 

does really conquer all and I can't wait to meet this villain we keep hearing about.

This book was amazing! I would recommend it to young and old readers, mythology lovers, paranormal fans and fantasy junkies. Every type of reader is just about recommendable for this book. I just can't give it enough praise. So well done. Keep your eyes peeled for Annetta Ribken.

About this author

Annetta has been writing since words were carved on stone tablets with chisels. Not only does she write her own words, Annetta is also an accomplished editor. She lives just outside of St. Louis with her evil feline overlord, a rescued shelter cat named Athena.