The Fiction Enthusiast: Review: Solstice by P. J. Hoover

Title: Solstice
Series: ?
Author: P.J. Hoover
Available: Now
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Dystopian/Fantasy/Mythology

Description from P.J. Hoover’s website:

Where Mythology and Dystopia meet...

Piper’s world is dying. Global warming kills every living thing on Earth, and each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles which threaten to destroy humanity. Amid this Global Heating Crisis, Piper lives with her mother who suffocates her more than the chaotic climate. When her mother is called away to meet the father Piper has been running from her entire life, Piper seizes an opportunity for freedom.

But when Piper discovers a world of mythology she never knew existed, she realizes her world is not the only one in crisis. While Gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper's life spirals into turmoil, and she struggles to find answers to secrets kept from her since birth. And though she’s drawn to her classmate Shayne, he may be more than he claims. Piper has to choose whom she can trust and how she can save the people she loves even if it means the end of everything she’s ever known.

My thoughts:

P.J. Hoover has created a frightening dystopian world, and paired it with a plot full of fascinating mythological elements. It is unlike any other dystopian or fantasy novel I have ever read. This is a book that readers will have trouble putting down. You will find yourself craving the same answers Piper is searching for and unable to stop reading until you discover them alongside her.

Not only is the world in Solstice wonderfully developed, although a little nightmare inducing, but the characters are top notch. Piper is a protagonist that I liked even though I was a little put off by the initial bitching about her mom. Blame it on the mom in me. We never want to think we’re smothering our kids ;) As the plot progresses Piper’s bitching quickly becomes justified, and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her because of the isolation her mother seemed content to keep her in. A little rebellion on Piper’s part is only expected. Plus mom was acting kinda creepy at times.

Over the course of Solstice there are also two boys competing for Piper’s affections. Reese who is much more aggressive about what he wants, and Shayne who seems content to let Piper set the pace. I’m usually all about the bad boys, but Reese scared the bejesus out of me! As I read I discovered this was for a very good reason. Love triangle? Yes. Typical YA love triangle? Not even close!

The writing in Solstice was also absolutely wonderful. The author did such an excellent job of painting a picture in this reader’s mind of the different places Piper was seeing and experiencing. It was so easy to conjure an image of Solstice’s backdrop, and most definitely heightened my reading experience.

I really loved Solstice and totally recommend it to fans of dystopian, fantasy or books with mythological elements. I look forward to seeing more from P.J. Hoover in the future! Solstice does contain scenes that might be a little mature or frightening for younger teens.

My Rating: