**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**Demigods and Monsters is the second book in the young adult, Sphinx series by Raye Wagner. This is a series that must be read in order, so if you have not read Curse of the Sphinx yet, you need to check that out first. (you can find my review for Curse of the Sphinx HERE). Just like with the first book, in Demigods and Monsters,the mythology nerd in me was totally geeking out the whole time. I really, really love how much classic mythology is woven into the story. Raye Wagner clearly knows what she is talking about.

Hope impressed me more in this book than she did in the first book. She is really coming into her own. I didn't love her in the first book. I found her to be a little wimpy, and too much of a follower. She has proven me wrong.Now that we know a little bit about Apollo's curse and who the players in the story are, Hope really can dive into the actual work of breaking the curse in this story. In fact, it was because of Hope, and a change up to the writing style (this book just felt different than the first one.) that I can easily say that I liked Demigods and Monsters a lot more than I liked Curse of the Sphinx. There is obviously still work to be done on the curse front, but book two made me really anxious to get my hands on book three.

The pacing was better, there was more action. There was a trip to the Olympian library...umm hello huge points on this one!...and we get to see even more players from the mythology world. I just knew there was so much potential after reading book one, and I am so happy to see that book two stepped up to the plate big time. Raye Wagner raised the bar with this one. I can't wait for the next book.

P.S. There will be a bigger discussion of guys in the next review because I am still sorting out all of my thoughts on that front. Just note...there are two guys in this story, although I think it is pretty clear who Hope likes. Before I get sidetracked into a long love triangle discussion, just know that I am holding off on joining a team until the next book. More on this to come. :p

Bottom line: this book is a great series for mythology lovers. The books each end on a cliffhanger, so grab both of them and buckle in for a wild ride. I think book two is much better than the first book, so if you are on the fence at the end of book one, keep reading!

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs