Format: E-Galley, 368 pages
Release Date: May 12, 2015
Publisher: Edmont USA
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology
Fan-favorite author Bree Despain continues her modern-day romance trilogy inspired by the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades with this second book in her Into the Dark series.
Haden Lord, the disgraced Prince of the Underrealm, has chosen love over honor and will do everything in his power to protect Daphne Raines, the human girl he was supposed to bring to the Underrealm. Haden’s choice is put to the test as the Skylords and a figure from his past arrive in Olympus Hills with a plan that could destroy all of the realms.
Embracing her destiny as the Cypher, Daphne begins to understand the immense power of her musical ability to control the elements, but she must come to terms with her feelings for Haden and what she must sacrifice in order to protect him and her friends.
Believing the Key of Hades is the only thing that can stop the Underrealm Court from releasing the monstrous Keres on the mortal world, Haden, Daphne, and their friends set out to find the Key before Persephone’s Gate opens again on the spring equinox.
The Eternity Key is the second installment in Bree Despain's Into The Dark series. The series, based on the Greek tale of Persephone and Hades, features Haden Lord, fallen Prince of the Underrealm, and Daphne Raines, the human girl who has discovered that she has powers as the Cypher, to find the lost Key of Hades, better known as The Eternity Key. The story picks up several weeks after The Shadow Prince.
Haden, and Daphne have collected a little army of their own to face the Skylords, Underlords, and any other lords that come after them. Besides Haden, and Daphne, the group includes Tobin, Lexie, Garrick, and Dax. I suppose I should mention that Brim (the cat) and Daphne's father Joe are part of this group as well. Readers should also be warned that Despain loves to use triple narratives to tell her tale.
The three main characters therefore are Daphne, Haden, and Tobin. I will say that while the opening act is rather slow, it is insightful if you have forgotten what happened in the previous installment. I'm all in when it comes to an author summarizing events before going forth in the storyline. With so much as stake, the group has returned to Olympus Hills where they continue to search for the missing key and try to find a way to retrieve the Compass that was stolen from them.
They know they are under a deadline of the spring equinox to locate it. They also know that they are being watched closely by the Skylords who can control the rain and lightning. They also know that the Underrealm wants the key to unleash the Keres.
Now to the meat of the review. Despain is a brilliant strategist and storyteller. She has a whole lot of players just waiting on the sidelines to pounce on our heroes. We get some mysterious new characters that may or not be allies, we get some old characters that are just amazing in their villainous ways, and a heart breaking and earth shattering betrayal that reminded me of when Anakin Skywalker betrayed the Jedi and Yoda.
I think one of the most interesting things about this story is the family issues that Daphne, Tobin, and a lesser extent, Haden have to deal with. Haden has pretty much burned any bridges to his former realm by choosing not to bring Daphne back to his father. Daphne's father, Joe, made a deal with the devil to become a rock star, and is still paying for his errors in judgement.
He claims he is trying to make up for his mistakes, yet, I still have no reason to trust him. Tobin's parents are just as horrible. Imagine selling your own daughter as a Boon. I respect that Tobin spends much of his time trying to find her. I truly hope he gets that happy ending.
After Egmont USA shuttered its doors, I am pensive in my hope that Despain will find a way to release the third book in this series. I haven't seen anything to indicate whether or not it will be released but we do need to find a way to wrap up this series after THAT ending that has changed everything for nearly every single character.
**I received this book for free from (Publisher) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
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