Perilous Prophecy by Leanna Renee Hieber

Strangely Beautiful, Book 3

Synopsis: The Goddess:
In the beginning, there were lovers: a winged deity of power and light, and a queen of grace and beauty. Phoenix was murdered, his beloved stolen away to the Whisper-world. But their passion inspired the Muses. Through great sacrifice, it could live again.

The Guard:
There are always six, mortal hosts for the divine. Battling spirits through the ages, they defy Darkness, Lord of the Dead. In 1867, a shadow rises. The tide turns against them, and all hope falls on a child of prophecy, an eerie, snow-white girl yet to be born. But her path must be cleared. A Great War is coming, and song, wind and stars whisper that the eighteen-year-old Beatrice Smith must give everything to prepare.

Review: I admit that this novel seemed very intriguing but as I had not read the previous volumes, I did wonder if this would pose any problems. Not necessarily knowing what we follow at the start, it is difficult to say … Yet it is true that I had the impression that I was missing something so I advise you to start with the first volume in order to understand a little more the universe.

The story is divided into two big parts. We first follow Persephone to the underworld. She tries so much to survive but it is complicated, especially when we know that she is constantly monitored. I think this is the part that I really preferred! Persephone is a very interesting character and full of complexity. We realize that all that she must have underwent for hundreds of years and yet she keeps hope that things will change. We also follow the guards, those people who are there to help humanity. It was also interesting to learn to know them all, especially since they are all different but I had a little trouble hanging on to their problems and their quest …

It was an original and intriguing story but I think something was missing. Perhaps the background of the first two volumes …