Hera: Queen of Gods

Hera couldn't care less what the other gods think, even when it's about her. And it often is. Frankly, Hera couldn't care less about anything, except doing her duty as queen - protecting order and defending the mortal world against any threats. But when the Fates go missing, Hera and a handful of other gods must temporarily become mortal to search the human world for the missing goddesses.

Hera finds that mortality begins to change her. It's not just the loss of her divine powers. She expected that. It's deeper somehow. It's affecting how she thinks, how she feels, what's important to her. And it gets much worse after she meets Justin, who defies every prejudice she once had
about mortals. At the worst possible time, and despite all her efforts, Hera's black-and-white world starts to unravel.

Torn between who she's becoming and who she needs to be in order to fulfill her duty, Hera must survive a horde of murderous creatures sent to exploit her new weakness. In the end, only Hera can stop a traitorous plot conceived by a secret alliance of ancient and new enemies, a plot that threatens to destroy not only the order Hera is sworn to protect, but all of existence itself.

*May Contain Spoilers*

I really wish I would have payed attention to the fact that Hera: Queen of Gods was the beginning of a series. Because I don't know how long I'll be able to wait for the next one to come out. T.D. Thomas astounded me with this novel. I couldn't put it down! Time rushed by as I flew through the (estimated) 536 pages. I've never read a book this long in so short of a time period. Needless to say, I loved it! 

Hera is Queen of Gods, so obviously she's a bit of a badass. And who can resist a main character like that? She selfless in her quest to save the worlds, willing to sacrifice many in order to save more. Hera demands respect, from other characters and readers. Readers may have a small problem connecting to her based on her single vision to save existence no matter what happens, but most readers will understand her point of view. Thus, bonding with her based on her ability to focus on what needs to be done. 

The book is told in Hera's point of view, but readers will love the supporting cast of characters! Hermes is incredibly entertaining. Artemis intrigues readers with her shape-shifting. Zeus will not only anger characters but also evoke strong emotion for what he goes through. Same goes for Athena. Readers may need tissues when it comes to Athena. 

And then there's Justin. The mortal who discovers he's a Dreamer and, therefore, can navigate and create Dreamlands. He's as selfless as Hera, though his motivation is love. He's an intense character to doesn't hesitate to help the Gods as they search for the missing Fates. Readers will connect with Justin based on his easy acceptance, his heroic personality, and his feelings for Hera. 

The plot and epilogue set up the characters for a sequel. Readers will be hoping T.D. Thomas is a very fast writer upon conclusion of this novel. Highly recommended for lovers of Young Adult! 

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

Hera, Queen of Gods (Goddess Unbound)