Review: Underworld by Meg Cabot

Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead.

Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it’s for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they’ve come back as Furies, intent on vengeance…on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there…and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.

And unless Pierce is careful, this time there’ll be no escape.

Hmmmm. I really wanted to love this book, like I loved the first one. Although Meg Cabot is a genius, this book is the second sequel that I have been disappointed with (the other being All American Girl's sequel, Ready or Not?).

I think the overall problem with this book was the lack of a plot line. In the first book, Abandon, Meg Cabot kept me guessing and wondering who was trying to kill Pierce, if she would be trapped with John. In this book, the only problems were:

*SPOILER ALERT*

1. Pierce is forced to live with the love of her life. (She gives up trying to escape after about 3 sentences)

2. She gets a video on her phone saying her cousin is in danger. 

The first problem is barely a pr. She just decides to do nothing. The thing that bothers me about this, is that the two books happen in about a week. How can her feelings change so drastically in seven days?? It's just unrealistic.

The cousin situation...Okay, it requires a bit more attention, but it plays out like a silly 30 minute high school drama.

Yes, I still love John as the love interest. He's interesting because he seems to become a deeper mystery with every page, a welcome depth to the story. 

I still can't decide about Pierce. She could be stupid, brave, or just...an average teenage girl. The thing that kind of bothers me about her is that she cries every five seconds! I suppose I can't judge though, I would probably be the same if my life was turned around at the same pace. However, I would expect a more brave protagonist.

Overall, I'm not impressed, sadly :( I would give the first book a five star rating, but knock the sequel to a three. Hopefully the third book in the trilogy will redeem it! I'm attempting optimism!