Losing It

Image courtesy: Elif Ayiter/Alpha Auer: Siren Alpha

I envy Johanna Garth's blog title: Losing Sanity. It certainly sums up my life.

Yet, to be accurate, I would have to use Lost Sanity or maybe go more literary with Sanity Lost. But that sounds too close to 'sanitary' and takes me to a whole 'nother place that's quite inappropriate. (Not only have I lost my mind, but I fear it's wandering around bad neighborhoods and is up to no good.)



Okay, time to focus. Today's post is about Johanna Garth's book, Losing Beauty. It certainly sums up my face . . . (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Think about your deepest darkest secret. Have you ever told anyone? Your spouse, best friend, or a priest? Probably not. Imagine meeting someone and hearing that secret spill out from your lips. This is exactly what happens to people who meet Persephone Campbell. While that power might sound like fun for a little while, Percy hates it so much she learns to avoid others. She doesn't want to know that her friend's father touches her in that way or the sexual desires of her male friends.

The name Persephone might seem like an odd choice, but this novel is based on the greek myth of the same name. As in that myth, Garth's god of the underworld, Hades, falls in love with Persephone and plots to make her his queen. You'd think this wouldn't be so hard for the king of hell, but other men keep getting in the way.

Hades first obstacle is the affable Aaron Strait, Percy's long-time friend and first husband. This guy is so squeaky clean and pure, his worst secret is loving Percy too much. Even the use of a seductress, the inhuman siren Leucy (see top image), doesn't get Hades his prize, because of yet another man in love with Percy rescues her from despair. Daniel Hartnett, Percy's coworker, has his own supernatural ability. He knows people's true intentions no matter what they say. Again, you'd think this would be a desirable ability, but it's made Daniel's life just as lonely as Percy's.

I won't spoil any more details, but I love how the supernatural details dovetail into the modern lives of these characters. It's seamless and fun. Now for the big question, Johanna: WHERE'S MY SEQUEL? (Picture me pounding on a table with spoon and fork.) At the end of Losing Beauty is a tantalizing teaser for Losing Hope with the date March 2012. April is almost here. What happens next?


Image courtesy: h.koppdelaney's Hades and Persephone on a Sunday morning walk