Pantheons (Pantheons, #1)

by E.J. Dabel

[jeannamichel]

Isaiah Marshall lives on the streets with his gang of four, the Red rovers, rashly fighting any man who comes in their path. When this pompous boy insults the gang, they follow him to his rich school to finish him. In their search for the boy, the vice principal discovers the mischievous boys and tests Isaiah’s leadership by getting in the way of his gang. He brings the gang to the principal where punishment may be the last thing on the principal’s mind. He offers the boys a chance to attend school. This leads Isaiah, the leader of the Red rovers, to discover that he is the son of Zeus. He must train to become the best he can be to take revenge on the man who murdered his mother.

I loved this book. I was a little spectacle in the beginning because there was so much to take in, at first, but I quickly caught on and enjoyed it. After the small introduction, it became an action-filled adventure that grabbed my attention at every page.

There were so many characters that I have difficulty remembering them all. Isaiah Marshall, the protagonist, was so relatable and I loved knowing what the boy was thinking. He was very interesting and not your generic boy from the streets. Isaiah was a gentleman and really surprised me, in the end. Sam, an automaton, seemed so real that sometimes I even forgot that she was just a robot. I can’t really choose a favorite god or goddess. I liked how Demeter went about fighting and I want to know more about the shy Lugh and his tattoo.

Dabel’s voice seeped through much of the writing in the book. The dialogue gave life to the characters. I feel like I know a lot of the characters by their attitude. Isaiah couldn’t pronounce the letter s, which made some people misjudge him. While reading, I usually am influenced by some part of the book and a lot of Pantheons was Isaiah speaking like that; I had to catch myself to pronounce the letter s sometimes. This pronunciation shows that Isaiah may have trouble speaking but is relatable to any reader. Pantheons really is an adventure that no one should miss.

The ending took me by surprise. I thought the book was going to end with everyone dead, but Isaiah is very much alive. In the tournament, I was surprised how Isaiah decided to present himself; he decided to follow his rules even if he was fighting for his life. I want to know what happens next. The ending left me wanting more. But I, not only, want to know what happens to Isaiah but to Jeremy, Hera, and Sam. Dabel left a lot of things open, and I hope that means there will be a sequel.

Pantheons takes you to Isaiah’s world and captures the essence of a boy discovering who he is for the first time. Lovers of Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games series will find a new favorite with this action-packed read.