Set in an imagined past, this dark fantasy-adventure is for fans of Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass. Features  Jemma, a fiery-headed heroine held captive in Agromond Castle, yet destined to save mist-shrouded Anglavia.

Fiery-headed Jemma Agromond is not who she thinks she is, and when the secrets and lies behind her life at mist-shrouded Agromond Castle begin to unravel, she finds herself in a chilling race for her life. Ghosts and misfits, a stone and crystals, a mysterious book, an ancient prophecy—all these reveal the truth about Jemma's past and a destiny far greater and more dangerous than she could have imagined in her wildest fantasies. With her telepathic golden rats, Noodle and Pie, and her trusted friend, Digby, Jemma navigates increasingly dark forces, as helpers both seen and unseen, gather. But in the end, it is her own powers that she must bring to light, for only she has the key to defeating the evil ones and fulfilling the prophecy that will bring back the sun and restore peace in Anglavia.

Wonderful new story by a debut author to watch closely.  A middle grade good vs evil.  Not your average good vs evil...the mist is used to control.   

Jemma is 13 year old girl.  She isn't perfect, a fact which will make her endearing to kids.   Being a child, she (as well as us, the readers) is not always certain who is good and who is evil.

The characters in this book are fantastic.   You'll fall in love with her two rats!

The #1 New York Times bestselling Percy Jackson series-including The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, and The Battle of the Labyrinth-features a twelve-year-old dyslexic boy who discovers he is the son of a Greek god, the target of mythical Greek monsters and the center of a prophecy that could change the balance of power in the world forever. In Demigods and Monsters, YA authors take on Greek gods, monsters and prophecy, to add insight and even more fun to Riordan's page-turner series. Its fresh, funny essays include: 

• The pros and cons of having a god as a parent • Why Dionysus might actually be the best director Camp Half-Blood could have • What it takes to be one of Artemis's Hunters • How to tell a monster when you see one • Why even if we aren't facing manticores and minotaurs, reading myths can still help us deal with the scary things in our own lives • Why so many monsters go into retail-and why they're never selling anything a demigod really wants 

The book also includes an introduction by Percy Jackson series author Rick Riordan, that gives further insight into the series and its creation, and a glossary of ancient Greek myth, with plenty of information on the places, monsters, gods and heroes that appear in the series.

my thoughts

Love this book.  Anything by Mr. Riordan is spectacular.  I think this is a wonderful addition to the Percy books.  Does a great job explaining the significance of all the monsters.

I thought it a fantastic idea to have other authors add their two cents.

Mom received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.  ( She says I have to put that in my post)

Neither of us was compensated in any way, nor required to write a positive review.

On a personal note,  I can't wait for Son of Sobek or House of Hades!!!