ARC Review: Underworld by Meg Cabot

Title:  Underworld (Abandon Trilogy #2)
Author:  Meg Cabot
Pages:  320
Genre:  Young Adult Fantasy, Mythology
Publisher:  Point
Obtained:  ARC provided by publisher
Summary:  Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn't dead.

Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it's for her own safety.  Because not all the departed are dear.  Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they've come back as Furies, intent on vengeance... on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there... and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.

And unless Pierce is careful, this time there'll be no escape.

The Dish:  Reading Underworld has made me want to go back in time and lower my rating of Abandon to 4 Snowflakes.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Abandon, but I didn't read it with the fervor that I read Underworld.  This is one case where I felt the sequel outdid its predecessor. 

The story picks right back up from where we last left Pierce and John after he swept her away to the Underworld for her own safety.  While Pierce is still hesitant about being in the realm of the dead for eternity, being with John makes it appear more enticing.  Speaking of John, although he is still a bit on the brooding side (though what death deity wouldn't be?), there were changes in his character that made him even more likable.  Readers get to see this more sensitive side of John through how he has made changes in running the Underworld and how he behaves with his former crew who serve and assist him.  I do wish that John had been more honest and upfront about several big factors with Pierce, but if she's willing to overlook that, I suppose I can as well.

Let me just say that I enjoyed getting to meet John's crew members, Frank, Mr. Graves, Mr. Liu, and Henry.  They're the first "denizens" of the Underworld that Pierce meets, and while she doesn't feel as though she made the best of impressions, they do warm up to her throughout the time that all are on Isla Huesos.  It's amazing at how much occurs within the single day or rather night, and Cabot seems to be a master at making a short time feel much longer.  This is due to the major plot seeming rather simple, but when factoring in the obstacles placed in Pierce and John's path, it makes the simplest task much more difficult.  The Furies involved were no less fierce in their onslaught against Pierce, and I'm eager to see what the resolution will be for these angered spirits present on Isla Huesos.

Once again, Cabot has left this reader wanting more, and 2013 cannot get here soon enough when the final installment of the trilogy, Awaken, will be available.

Book 4