This series that Michelle Madow created is so fascinating and it just keeps getting better each book. And it keeps readers on their toes, always yearning for the next book every time. I'm a sucker for Greek mythology influences. This series is so fun (and scary sometimes).

The mythology is a little predictable but the chemistry between Nicole and Blake keeps it interesting.

I read an ARC of the first book in this series just before it released last year and I really enjoyed it! It was different and intrigued me, so I have no idea why I didn't continue the series by reading this book when it released lol! Now that all the books in this series have released though, I decided to do a re-read of the first book and then read the rest of the series! After reading this book, I can say that I freaking loved it! I wasn't really sure where the author was going to take this book, but she had me hooked and desperate to read on and find out what was going to happen next! I loved the amount of action and suspense in the plot and these two aspects added so much to the plot and made it even more interesting! I loved that there was a hint of romance too! There wasn't tons of romance, but there was enough! This book also only took me a few sittings to read and I just loved it! I tried to read it slower, but I just zoomed through it lol! The characters were again amazing and made this book even better! Nicole was again the main female character, and in this book she was determined to complete the mission that she had and complete it to the best of her ability! This made me have a lot of respect for her! Nicole was also very easy for me to connect with and she had come a long way from the beginning of the first book! I can see her continuing to grow and going on quite a journey to get to the end of the final book in this series! Blake was again the love interest of Nicole! Nicole and Blake made quite the couple and I hoped that they would officially become a couple, but I could also understand why they were hesitant! Blake was also a very strong character and he was always first to put himself in danger to protect the other characters! Blake was protective of Nicole too and it was easy to see that he had strong feelings for her! Kate, Chris and Danielle, were all secondary characters again too! I loved all these characters! They added so much to the plot and each character brought their own thing! I liked Danielle a lot more in this book than the first book! She was a much nicer character and a bit more open! Chris also showed his strength in this book and I loved his humour! Kate was quieter in this book compared to the first book, but she still played an important role! This book was only written from Nicole's point of view, which I was expecting as the first book was only written from Nicole's point of view too! I loved this book being written from Nicole's point of view! I felt like I could still connect with all the other characters and it would have maybe been a bit confusing it had been written from more than one point of view! I also can't wait to read the next book in this series! I already have a copy of it, so I'm definitely going to be making it my next read! I can't wait to continue Nicole's story and see where it's going to go next! I'm really happy that all the other books in this series have released too! It means that I can read the series one after another and don't have to wait for any to release! The cover for this book is stunning! It suits the first book perfectly and the covers for the full series actually make more sense after you at least read the first book lol! The model is also perfect for Blake!

I hated this book. I couldn't deal with the cheating. It's one of my deal breakers when reading books. I hate cheating period,

I raced through the first book in this series and I enjoyed it very much, so I knew that I would be picking up the second book! The Blood of the Hydra picks up where The Prophecy of Shadows leaves off. If you are familiar with Michelle Madow's writing and love her fast-paced books, then you will love this one as well!

The thing that has drawn me into this series is the unique premise. I love the way that Greek mythology in integrated into the story to make it what it is. The magic/witches angle is wholly original, and I am such a fan of it!

The pacing is quite fast. If you love short and breezy reads, then this series is one that you should pick up. Though since it is such a fast-paced read, there aren't as many details. The story, while interesting and unique, lacks depth.

The plot of the book is strong and compelling. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I love books that can take hold of me and drive. The suspense was great. I eagerly anticipated the outcome.

There is plenty of action and adventure in this book, which I love! It was balanced out quite nicely with the rest of the story.

The characters didn't really develop more in the second book. They pretty much stayed the same. I would have loved to see more into each character. We did get a little more from Nicole and Blake, but only because of the romance. I needed to know more about the characters past, inner workings, and drive. I did love the addition of new characters to the story. It was refreshing to see the change in dynamic and chemistry.

Overall, this is a quick and enjoyable read. The story is very fun, and will hold you until the last page. If you liked the first book in this series then you will like this one as well. I will definitely be continuing this series!

Authenticity is Always Worth the Risk

I’ve mentioned in my recent reviews my year long hiatus. Having said that I am so sad I wasn’t able to keep up with the release of these books. Looking back at the first installment I remembered I needed more growth from Nicole. I will say she did a bit but her character still felt insecure at times. Having said that I have seen some growth so I’m hoping for even more in the coming books! Let’s discuss the elephant in the room. THAT COVER! “Now Entering Swoon City” Yow-ZA whoever the designer is they’re magic! Kudos it is a perfect design and fit to this read.

The Story, The Blood of the Hydra picks up very shortly after The Prophecy of Shadows. The elementals are gearing up for battle and training every day. They know the portal to Kerberos where Titans and magical misfits on the wrong side of the war have been held is thinning and immortal beings are slipping out. I enjoyed this read it reminded me of the Percy Jackson books. This is definitely young adult with all of the teenage insecurities. There’s the mean girl, cool guy, smart girl, nerdy guy and the one who has bits of every category at the center woven into a wonderful tale that relates to our beloved Olympians with missions and adventures ahead. I really enjoyed the modern spin of classic stories I wonder what lies in store for this motley crew.

The Characters, I really wanted growth and an explosion of character. I think it will be a “building up” bit by bit sort of thing. I am happy to say that Nicole experienced some growth and I’m looking forward to seeing more. I was happy that although she is very into Blake she didn’t lose sight of what was most important and that is keeping the team together. The world is in grave danger so teenage love drama thankfully takes a back seat. The tension between these two is very much in the air and soon Nicole realizes she is doing everyone an injustice by hiding her feelings. The other characters are supportive and I enjoy the interaction but it’s quite clear that Nicole is our main gal.

The End, smart I liked that Nicole finally came clean and the result was genius on the author’s part and also the characters. Their pressing mission is now complete thanks to Nicole and her connection to Apollo. More needs to be revealed and I’m looking forward to seeing what the book of shadows has to say. The ending was good because there was plenty of resolution but the ending was excellent because it reveals what I hope becomes a major conflict a little later. The author did a great job of modernizing some very treasured tales. There was a great blend of humor and action that kept me turning the pages. I hope everyone is able to seal the portal without a major character dying that is always a major bummer.

My Rating
4.0 Because it was good the characters, story, concepts, problems, resolutions and I enjoyed the read… filled stars.

A second installation of the Elementals series, Elementals: Blood of the Hydra continues where the last novel ended off. The elemental team needs to save the world from it's end via ancient monsters, and to do that they need to go on a mission to make weapons that can kill an immortal monster. While on this mission Nicole is faced with her attraction to Blake and whether or not he is worth the risk of causing tension in her team.
I could describe my experience with this novel in three words: it was okay. I didn't love it, and I didn't hate it. It felt like a filler sequel novel in the series. It moved the plot along a bit, but it did not stand out on it's own as an amazing novel. There was some higher and interesting stakes in this novel as the teens went on a series of dangerous missions to get the ingredients they needed. The action scenes were pretty interesting, but overall the novel was pretty dull. They was a lot of what felt like filler details, put there to extend the novel, but on their own did not enhance the novel in any way. I give Elementals: Blood of the Hydra the rating of THREE OUT OF FIVE STARS!!!