Artemis Rising review

Title: Artemis Rising
Author: Cheri Lasota
Publish Date: Published July 24th 2011 by SpireHouse Publishing, LLC
Synopsis:

Torn between her father’s Catholicism and her mother’s Pagan beliefs, Eva finally chooses Paganism. She accepts the name of Arethusa but learns too late that her life will mirror the Greek nymph’s tragic fate. When they sail to the Azores Islands, her mother tells her that her destiny rests with Diogo, the shipowner’s son. But Eva sees a vision of another . . .

When the ship founders off the Azores, Tristan, a young Azorean, saves her. Destined to be with Diogo yet aching for Tristan’s forbidden love, Eva must some how choose between them, or fate will soon choose for her.

Artemis Rising is a beautiful, seamless blend of two mythologies: the Arthurian legend of Tristan and Isolde, and the ancient Greek legend of Alpheus and Arethusa. It is a story filled with young romance, tragedy, forgiveness and attempts at redemption.

When PageTurnersBlog was contacted to review Artemis Rising, I jumped at the chance. "Mythology?" I thought. "Romance? Magic? Count me in."


Artemis Rising is the story of Eva, who takes the name Arethusa at the very beginning of the book. Eva is doomed to live out the myth of Arethusa and Alpheus (who is embodied in Diogo). Diogo and Alpheus are fearful characters and though she wants to serve the goddess Artemis, who she has taken a vow to Eva longs to be with Tristao instead. But Tristao has chosen to follow the path of Tristan and Isolde, so how can they be together?

The romance between Tristao and Eva is done beautifully. First a love that's forbidden by the paths they've chosen and then later simply forbidden by circumstances. You can see in small ways throughout the book how much they love and long for each other. The conflict with Diogo is also very well done-- he's simply terrifying.

I also particularly enjoyed the atmospheric elements that the author incorporated about Portuguese culture and the setting in the Azores islands (off the coast of Portugal).

The Goodreads summary is a bit misleading. I didn't truly see the struggle for Eva to choose Catholicism or Paganism until she is being attacked. Only then does she pray to whoever may help her-- Artemis and God. She chooses the name Arethusa more than willingly and does not seem to enjoy Diogo, the one that she is destined for at all. So both of those internal conflicts felt a bit contrived.


I found the twisting and melding of the two myths to be a bit confusing at times, but it was definitely justified in the climax and the ending.


Artemis Rising was an enjoyable read with a somewhat unusual premise and I would recommend it to anyone who's looking for a YA read with some mythology that hasn't been done to death.








My Over All Rating: