The Flame of Olympus (Pegasus)

Author: Kate O’Hearn

This week I’m going to review a book that I think is highly underrated, The Flame of Olympus (the first book in the Pegasus series).  This book was first published in the U.K. in 2011 but it took a couple of years for it to reach the U.S; and while it’s hard to really find any data about it from book critics, it has a small fanbase and a bestselling author, Rick Riordan, endorsed it.  After the first book was published, five more books followed in the series.  I was a little hesitate to read this book because I hadn’t been a huge fan of myth-based books in the past, but I think my thoughts have changed with this one.  I have read the first two books in this series, and I have enjoyed them both; and I plan to read the other books in the series as well.

The Flame of Olympus (loosely based on Roman mythology) is about a 14-year-old girl, Emily, who lives in New York City with her single father after the death of her mother.  When a dangerous storm hits NYC, Emily goes up on the roof (which you shouldn’t do in a storm by the way) and finds Pegasus from the Roman myths there.  Pegasus is badly injured, and a bunch of horrible, seemingly indestructible creatures called the Nirads are attacking NYC and are after Pegasus.  Emily then finds out that the flame of Olympus is dying and that only the Daughter of Vesta can save Olympus.  So, Emily must find the Daughter of Vesta to stop the Nirads and to keep both Olympus and her own world alive; Emily does this with the help of a thief, Paelen, Emily’s classmate, Joel (who has a troubled past), and the goddess Diana.  This very underrated book is surprisingly good!  I like how Emily and her new friends stick by each other even when things get tough.  At several different points in the book, they make big sacrifices that save each other’s lives; and they stick by each other through it all like true friends should.  This book will also make you laugh (and possibly shed a tear or two) and, personally, my favorite part of the book was that sweet foods were the only things that Pegasus would eat since they were similar to the ambrosia the Olympians ate (perhaps I’m part Olympian!).  However, this book can get intense and parts of it can be a bit scary.  Several of the characters almost die and are injured/tortured in horrible ways; so, I would definitely recommend it for older kids only due to these scenes.  Another one of my favorite parts of the book is how the characters make sacrifices for one another, even if it means they might lose their own lives in the process.  I will not put any major spoilers here but all I will say is that it makes for many very touching moments in this great read!

“Emily waited. For how long, she was uncertain. All she knew was that somehow, she was still herself. She could think, feel, and hold on to all the love and memories she had.” (a description of Emily as she was “dying”)