**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**YA ReviewMy Thoughts

The Blood of the Hydra is the second book in the young adult fantasy series by Michelle Madow, called Elementals. I love a mythology book and this series is extra interesting because it combines elemental magic, typically reserved for witches, along with mythology gods and demigods. I enjoyed the first book, but the second installment is so much better than the first book in my opinion. I loved The Blood of the Hydra. I liked all of the characters more, yes even Blake, and the quest in this installment was so great.

One of my issues, though minor, with book one was that I was not into Blake and his romance with Nicole. At all. And I am still not 100% sure that I am on board with them, it didn't bug me nearly as much as it did in the first book. Maybe because it wasn't as much of a focus. Instead we got to go on a super awesome quest, that fans of Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey will love. And we not only get to see the whole gang, but we are also introduced to a few new characters. Chris, Kate and Danielle are my favorite characters in the book. (Yes, I said Danielle.) I think they are the most well rounded, interesting and relate able. I like Nicole enough, and oddly enough my favorite thing about her is the thing that she hates the most. I am super intrigued by her special power.

Let's talk about this quest. Nicole and the gang head off to Greece and this is where I really started bouncing up and down in my seat with excitement. I love a quest! And to get to see some of my favorite classic myth stories get revisited was a real treat. I think Michelle Madow did an excellent job with the Land of the Lotus Eaters. And I mean, really excellent. It was by far, my favorite part of the story. I cannot wait to see what is in store for our characters next. I hope to see more classic quests incorporated into the book and I hope to see some romance in store for Kate...ahem coughchriscough.

Bottom line: If you are a fan of YA mythology, this is a series you do not want to miss. Even if you were meh about the first book, I really urge you to pick up the second book because it is really, really great. Better than the first book. Fans of Percy Jackson will really dig this series. I can see the parallels more in this book than the first because this one was so focused on the greek gods and myths and the first book incorporated more of the elemental powers while laying the groundwork for the story and world. I am so happy that I loved The Blood of the Hydra as much as I did because I went from enjoying the series to need-to-get-my-hands-on-the-next-book-right-now.

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs