Abandon by Meg Cabot

Title: Abandon
Author: Meg Cabot
Series: Abandon Trilogy #1
Published: April 26, 2011 by Scholastic
Rating: 

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

*A copy of this book was provided by Scholastic for review purposes*

My Review

Abandon is the creative retelling of the mythological legend of Hades and Persephone. The story centers around Pierce, a troubled teen who is struggling with normality after coming back from the dead. Along with having died, Pierce is haunted by the man who brought her back, a man from her past who she has an uncanny connection with. When death seems to constantly follow her, Pierce must discover the truths behind the myths and how she is connected to it all. 

I LOVE retellings of greek myths, especially those dealing with Persephone. In Abandon, Cabot has expertly twisted this story into a new and very different tale. Instead of Persephone being trapped in the Underworld for 6 months, Pierce is able to escape back to the real world, where she is followed by John (her death deity) as well as some other menacing creatures, Furies, who are out for blood. Cabot is a wonderful story teller- providing the reader with the perfect amount of back story without leaving the book dry. Her incorporation of the myth into the story is also flawless, so you learn along with Pierce, the hidden truth behind her experiences.

I was ecstatic seeing that Pierce wasn't completely smitten with John right away as to be expected in these stories. She is a very complex character, dealing with a lot of emotions, and so reading her instabilities and fear concerning John was extremely realistic for the situation. As the main character, Pierce is a really enjoyable read. I liked that she wasn't a cookie cutter princess. She's described as being beautiful, but because of her past (which is lengthy with some questionable issues), Pierce is a bit of a loner. She's wary of other people because they can't understand her or what she's been through. It added a lot of depth to her character that actually made her much more likable in my opinion. 

Pierce's relationship with John is also complicated, which I enjoyed. Since Pierce didn't agree to staying in the Underworld with John, the two are very tense around each other and it translates perfectly to the reader. This bitterness lead up to a perfect climax between the two that gives their relationship an extra spark. What I loved most though was John's protectiveness over Pierce despite her rejection. Having the bad boy play the knight in shining armor will always get my heart pumping!

Overall, Abandon is an excellent retelling of the Persephone/Hades legend. The characters are twisted, but easy to love, as is their turmoil of a relationship. The ending contains a shocking plot twist that definitely stirs this story up and will make you grab the sequel as soon as possible. If you're a fan of myths and romance, you will definitely want to pick up a copy of Abandon!