Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
New York : Tor, 2010.
Description
Discovering a magical storeroom in a house she is destined to inherit, Evie Walker finds a cache of mythological and legendary artifacts that she is charged to keep out of the hands of villains who threaten the world with apocalyptic violence.
User reviews
LibraryThing member SockMonkeyGirl
This book could have been excellent. Carrie Vaughn takes an interesting premise and the possibility of romance and entirely fails to realize the potential of either. This felt more like a novella than a full length book. This was by no means a bad book; I just expected more from it because it could
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have been more. Show Less
LibraryThing member ladycato
I picked this out of my to-read pile because I wanted a fast, fun read. It was fast and the setting was fascinating, but it didn't have the oomph I really wanted. There were a lot of really great elements that didn't feel fully developed to me. The setting was the biggest. It felt apocalyptic
The main character of Evie likewise didn't feel fully developed, nor did I feel she had chemistry with the character of Alex. The book didn't really need the romance.
What did work within the book? The fascinating background of Evie's family, the nature of her house, and the appearance of a few important mythological characters. Alex's back story was intriguing, too. I just wish that other elements had come together.
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verging on more apocalyptic, but the facts were teased. I wanted to know more! A few perspective asides to another character didn't end up going anywhere. The main character of Evie likewise didn't feel fully developed, nor did I feel she had chemistry with the character of Alex. The book didn't really need the romance.
What did work within the book? The fascinating background of Evie's family, the nature of her house, and the appearance of a few important mythological characters. Alex's back story was intriguing, too. I just wish that other elements had come together.
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LibraryThing member Mendoza
Enjoyed very much but with some reservations. I thought the book did not need the whole secondary storyline of the comic book scenario. At all. And the author threw world turmoil in (all the security check points) but did very little to flesh it out to intertwine more seamlessly with the main plot.
Having said that, I really enjoyed the 'store room' premise and sincerely hope there will be more to follow.
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I think I understood what she was looking to do with it all but she didn't do a very good job of writing it.Having said that, I really enjoyed the 'store room' premise and sincerely hope there will be more to follow.
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LibraryThing member Keng
I got this book from the Early Reviewers and I loved it.
Evie Walker lives in a world different than ours, everything is about terriorists and war. People have to live with rations and military check points. Evie rushes home to her father once he calls and tells her he has cancer. She comes to
As this story lays out you're presented with the experiences of past Walkers and the choices they made and the items they received, you're also give the story of Sinon who fought at Troy. All these stories intertwine as Hera, Greek Goddess, decides she has to have an item from the Storeroom.
The history and legends laid out in this book are fascinating, as are watching Evie accept her heritage and the responsibility of keeping the "magic" in the Storeroom from escaping and overwhelming our world.
Evie Walker lives in a world different than ours, everything is about terriorists and war. People have to live with rations and military check points. Evie rushes home to her father once he calls and tells her he has cancer. She comes to
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discover her family legacy - keepers of "The Storeroom". Her family has colleceted items of legend (glass slippers, Excalibur, etc) which stay with them until the right person who needs it comes to collect. No one but a Walker can get into the Storeroom to remove an item.As this story lays out you're presented with the experiences of past Walkers and the choices they made and the items they received, you're also give the story of Sinon who fought at Troy. All these stories intertwine as Hera, Greek Goddess, decides she has to have an item from the Storeroom.
The history and legends laid out in this book are fascinating, as are watching Evie accept her heritage and the responsibility of keeping the "magic" in the Storeroom from escaping and overwhelming our world.
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LibraryThing member Auntie-Nanuuq
It is the near future and the world is in the midst of great strife. Evie Walker, a comic book writer, is going home to Hope's Fort, CO. Her father is gravely ill, and little does she know what is in store for her. Her family home contains a "storeroom", not any storeroom, but one filled with
While her father is out a strange woman comes to the door asking for a pair of slippers, and Evie, guided by the voices, goes into the storeroom and pulls out a pair of dainty glass slippers....which are the exact pair the woman came for.... Then comes the young man, Alex, who, the voices tell Evie should not be allowed in the house. Later a woman of strong presence comes to the door and asks to be allowed in so she may take from the storeroom... The voices again warn Evie against allowing this woman in the house.
So then we go to the Trojan war, and we learn about Sinon (the Liar) who was sent ahead to Troy by Odysseus to convince Troy to accept the gift of the Trojan Horse..... From the Trojan debacle, we follow Sinon to the Temple of Apollo, where he becomes the slave of Apollo.... and we learn of the Gods & Goddesses and their destruction by their Father Zeus..... Only Hera and Sinon escape with their lives, which brings them both to Hope's Fort, CO. seeking out Evie Walker and one of the treasures she (unknowingly) guards in the storeroom.
OMG! I ?'d this book.... I have had it since before it was published, it was a gift of the author. I kept it because after hearing her booktalk it, I knew that eventually I'd read it. I learned more about the Trojan Horse than I previously knew, I learned about the Gods & Goddesses of the Greeks. The story captivated me and certainly held my interest.... It is well written but it alternates between stories with each chapter in order to give you the history of the characters. At first, I didn't understand the part about Evie being a comic book author, but it all came into a nice conclusion...
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magical items: glass slippers, winged sandals, lyres, swords, boxes, a golden fleece, and apples, including one very special golden apple. While her father is out a strange woman comes to the door asking for a pair of slippers, and Evie, guided by the voices, goes into the storeroom and pulls out a pair of dainty glass slippers....which are the exact pair the woman came for.... Then comes the young man, Alex, who, the voices tell Evie should not be allowed in the house. Later a woman of strong presence comes to the door and asks to be allowed in so she may take from the storeroom... The voices again warn Evie against allowing this woman in the house.
So then we go to the Trojan war, and we learn about Sinon (the Liar) who was sent ahead to Troy by Odysseus to convince Troy to accept the gift of the Trojan Horse..... From the Trojan debacle, we follow Sinon to the Temple of Apollo, where he becomes the slave of Apollo.... and we learn of the Gods & Goddesses and their destruction by their Father Zeus..... Only Hera and Sinon escape with their lives, which brings them both to Hope's Fort, CO. seeking out Evie Walker and one of the treasures she (unknowingly) guards in the storeroom.
OMG! I ?'d this book.... I have had it since before it was published, it was a gift of the author. I kept it because after hearing her booktalk it, I knew that eventually I'd read it. I learned more about the Trojan Horse than I previously knew, I learned about the Gods & Goddesses of the Greeks. The story captivated me and certainly held my interest.... It is well written but it alternates between stories with each chapter in order to give you the history of the characters. At first, I didn't understand the part about Evie being a comic book author, but it all came into a nice conclusion...
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LibraryThing member pacey1927
I would be remiss not to inform potential readers that Carrie Vaughn is among my very favorite authors, with her Kitty Norville series. Of course, I am more than eager to read whatever she writes because she has proved herself to be an intelligent, engaging author. When the first bits of
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information appeared about this book I was hesitant as it didn't really seem my thing. Then I read the interview she did where she mentioned the story was rooted in family and discovering this world you never knew about them. My interest was peaked then and this book went to the top of my wish list. I thought this story was just wonderful. The relationship between Evie and her dying father was heartbreaking and real. When people start showing up for their items in the cellar I was hooked. Other stories weave throughout. A bit of Greek mythology as Apollo makes a warrior his servant, the backstory of some of Evie's ancestors, and the tales come alive for Evie's American soldier comic book heroes. While I enjoyed all the threads I wondered how they would come together. But they did and it was amazing. I gave the star a five star review because the book is so well written and the story is so exciting and touching, that there really is no other option. However, this is just a bit of personal opinion, I really would have liked more detail at the end when things were really changing. I can't say more without giving something away. I don't want to do that because everyone with any interest should pick this one up. Show Less
LibraryThing member krau0098
I got a copy of this book through Librarything's early Reviewer program. I love Vaughn's Kitty Norville series and also enjoyed her young adult book "Voices of Dragons". This book was an enjoyable read, but very different from other things that she has written.
This book follows the story of Evie
This work was different that Vaugh's previous works. It is a much more complex story, with a complex world and uses a more mature writing style. It is very creative and intriguing but because of the complexity of the world the characterization is a bit weaker than in previous novels. Partly this is because the story line switches between so many viewpoints: between Evie and Sinon, and then sometimes to Hera or others.
What is amazing is how Vaughn blends Greek mythology, with Arthurian mythology along with other classic fairy tales to create a novel that is both compelling and all-encompassing. She manages to connect all of these stories, histories, and myths to one place with Evie's magic storage area.
The story is very engaging and easy to read. I enjoyed it a lot. Readers should beware though that this takes a little more effort to read than the Kitty novels because it is more complex. More time is spent on a complex story than on fleshing out individual characters. That is the only thing I found a bit disappointing; I never really felt drawn to or really cared about the characters all that much.
Overall it was a very good book. Very interesting and creative with an incredibly interesting world. I loved the blending of different stories and myths into one history. Characterization was not as strong as her previous book because more time was spent on developing a believable and complex story. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading her next book Steel.
This book follows the story of Evie
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and Sinon the Liar. Evie's story is set in an alternate future, close to modern day. She returns home to help care for her father who is dying of cancer. While there she discovers that the storage room in the basement is a magical place, it is a place that stores magical items for people until the people need them again. Evie's story alternates with Sinon's story which starts out during the Trojan War. Sinon's the guy who convinces the Trojans to bring the Trojan horse into Troy. Sinon is captured by the god Apollo and forced into slavery for him; basically sentenced to immortality. As political catastrophes envelope the globe Evie will need the help of Sinon and many famous others to try and keep the Goddess Hera from plunging the world into further chaos.This work was different that Vaugh's previous works. It is a much more complex story, with a complex world and uses a more mature writing style. It is very creative and intriguing but because of the complexity of the world the characterization is a bit weaker than in previous novels. Partly this is because the story line switches between so many viewpoints: between Evie and Sinon, and then sometimes to Hera or others.
What is amazing is how Vaughn blends Greek mythology, with Arthurian mythology along with other classic fairy tales to create a novel that is both compelling and all-encompassing. She manages to connect all of these stories, histories, and myths to one place with Evie's magic storage area.
The story is very engaging and easy to read. I enjoyed it a lot. Readers should beware though that this takes a little more effort to read than the Kitty novels because it is more complex. More time is spent on a complex story than on fleshing out individual characters. That is the only thing I found a bit disappointing; I never really felt drawn to or really cared about the characters all that much.
Overall it was a very good book. Very interesting and creative with an incredibly interesting world. I loved the blending of different stories and myths into one history. Characterization was not as strong as her previous book because more time was spent on developing a believable and complex story. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading her next book Steel.
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LibraryThing member TheBooknerd
I knew from her "Kitty Norville" series that Carrie Vaughn is a talented writer. Still, within the first few pages of "Discord's Apple" it became clear that she is, in fact, a consummate storyteller. This book is wildly imaginative, compelling, and clever; truly, it's one of the best stories I've
Vaughn revisits several beloved tales and myths, juxtaposing them a grim, conflict-torn modern reality. There are actually multiple, connected stories here, all overlapping each other in a fluid tapestry that gradually unveils the characters' pasts, their motivations and fates.
Normally, I'm slow to warm up to Vaughn's books, requiring a few chapters before I'm captivated by the story. This time, it took just a few sentences into Vaughn's recreation of the Trojan War for me to know that this book is unlike anything else I've read lately -- in a wonderful way. Excellent characters and creative plot aside, the writing is superb. Tight prose, exceptional imagery ... not one sentence is superfluous or wasted. Indeed, each scene is packed with meaning and possibilities, I could read this book a dozen times before I've absorbed it all.
In short, this is absolutely a masterpiece.
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ever read. Vaughn revisits several beloved tales and myths, juxtaposing them a grim, conflict-torn modern reality. There are actually multiple, connected stories here, all overlapping each other in a fluid tapestry that gradually unveils the characters' pasts, their motivations and fates.
Normally, I'm slow to warm up to Vaughn's books, requiring a few chapters before I'm captivated by the story. This time, it took just a few sentences into Vaughn's recreation of the Trojan War for me to know that this book is unlike anything else I've read lately -- in a wonderful way. Excellent characters and creative plot aside, the writing is superb. Tight prose, exceptional imagery ... not one sentence is superfluous or wasted. Indeed, each scene is packed with meaning and possibilities, I could read this book a dozen times before I've absorbed it all.
In short, this is absolutely a masterpiece.
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LibraryThing member dearheart
Evie’s widowed father calls to say he’s got cancer that’s at a stage too advanced for him to try getting treated, so she heads back home to stay with him until the end. She’d never been allowed in the basement of his house that used to belong to her grandparents, and discovers a family
Sinon/Alex had been with Odysseus and was instrumental in getting the Trojan Horse accepted inside the walls of Troy. He’s captured by Apollo, made a slave and cursed to never die. He approaches hoping the storeroom has something in there that can kill him and teams up with Evie in an attempt to prevent Discord’s Apple from being obtained by Hera, knowing worldwide chaos would soon follow.
This is one of the most unique stories I’ve ever read. It’s peppered with two different threads from the past, one going forward from the time of the downfall of Troy, and the other going backwards through Evie’s ancestry involving important events having to do with the storeroom. It also contains an interesting twist on the myth of the Greek gods.
The little side trips of history as well as reading the story Evie is working on for her comic book series chop up the story somewhat, but it works to pull everything together. I loved the characters, the history, the Greek gods and meeting Merlin and Arthur.
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legacy to guard a storeroom full of magical items from myth and legend.Sinon/Alex had been with Odysseus and was instrumental in getting the Trojan Horse accepted inside the walls of Troy. He’s captured by Apollo, made a slave and cursed to never die. He approaches hoping the storeroom has something in there that can kill him and teams up with Evie in an attempt to prevent Discord’s Apple from being obtained by Hera, knowing worldwide chaos would soon follow.
This is one of the most unique stories I’ve ever read. It’s peppered with two different threads from the past, one going forward from the time of the downfall of Troy, and the other going backwards through Evie’s ancestry involving important events having to do with the storeroom. It also contains an interesting twist on the myth of the Greek gods.
The little side trips of history as well as reading the story Evie is working on for her comic book series chop up the story somewhat, but it works to pull everything together. I loved the characters, the history, the Greek gods and meeting Merlin and Arthur.
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LibraryThing member VividConfusion
Carrie Vaughn's "Discord's Apple" is a creative amalgam of ancient myth and impending future dystopia, tied together with the stuff of legend. Literally. This imaginative blend of faerytales and Greek gods is set against a backdrop of a frightening future of the world on the verge of war.
Evie
While there is a bit of a jumbled disconnect early on as the book jumps from one story and time to another, Vaughn seems to tie the threads together fairly well. It also lends itself to be read in chunks as the threads flip from one storyline to another. Over all, a creative concept and decent read.
Evie
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Walker journeys home to "Hope's Fort, Colorado" to stay with her dying father. Meanwhile, chaos takes over the rest of the world. Amidst this, Evie is surprised to discover strangers knocking on her father's door asking for the props and mythical items that she had previously thought only existed in stories. Even more surprising, her father has them. Not surprising, evil forces want control of them and of Evie. The story progresses from there. While there is a bit of a jumbled disconnect early on as the book jumps from one story and time to another, Vaughn seems to tie the threads together fairly well. It also lends itself to be read in chunks as the threads flip from one storyline to another. Over all, a creative concept and decent read.
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LibraryThing member fifteenstories
It turns out I had no idea what I was getting into with this one. I thought I did, but I really - really - didn't.
Vaughn creates in Discord's Apple an intriguing look at a scarily possibly post-apocalyptic future, with terrorists and road checks a part of everyday life. Evie is just another woman
But the story is more than just that; in addition to Evie's journey to help and care for her father, readers are drawn in the world of Sinon/Alex, the man who convinced Troy to open its doors to the horse. With him comes Hera, Apollo, and the whole pantheon of Greek Gods from myth and legend. Magic is being released back into the world, no longer under the guard of the Keepers of the Storeroom. What that magic will do, how it will be used by man and Gods alike are the questions.
Vaughn writes the story flipping between quite a few different characters' viewpoints. It took me a few chapters to get the hang of it, because it wasn't always obvious who I was reading about, but by the end it I was quite happy with her choice. Leading me as a reader to see things from different people allowed Vaughn to explain and explore the post-apocalyptic world she'd created without 'telling' me about it. I still don't know why exactly the US has roadblocks and you need a permit to drive with oil - the explanation for that particular disaster isn't explained. But what Evie and her creative partner Bruce experience as inhabitants of this future world do all the work of letting me know that bad things have and still are happening.
Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. It was not at all what I was expecting but it's a very well written novel combining old magic, fable, technology - and the end of the world.
-Dana
Reading Amidst the Chaos
Vaughn creates in Discord's Apple an intriguing look at a scarily possibly post-apocalyptic future, with terrorists and road checks a part of everyday life. Evie is just another woman
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there, trying to eke out a living as a comic book writer when she gets the worst new: her father is dying and she's needed back in Colorado. Once she's there everything changes, as she learns more and more about the legacy she's heir to.But the story is more than just that; in addition to Evie's journey to help and care for her father, readers are drawn in the world of Sinon/Alex, the man who convinced Troy to open its doors to the horse. With him comes Hera, Apollo, and the whole pantheon of Greek Gods from myth and legend. Magic is being released back into the world, no longer under the guard of the Keepers of the Storeroom. What that magic will do, how it will be used by man and Gods alike are the questions.
Vaughn writes the story flipping between quite a few different characters' viewpoints. It took me a few chapters to get the hang of it, because it wasn't always obvious who I was reading about, but by the end it I was quite happy with her choice. Leading me as a reader to see things from different people allowed Vaughn to explain and explore the post-apocalyptic world she'd created without 'telling' me about it. I still don't know why exactly the US has roadblocks and you need a permit to drive with oil - the explanation for that particular disaster isn't explained. But what Evie and her creative partner Bruce experience as inhabitants of this future world do all the work of letting me know that bad things have and still are happening.
Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. It was not at all what I was expecting but it's a very well written novel combining old magic, fable, technology - and the end of the world.
-Dana
Reading Amidst the Chaos
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LibraryThing member SunnySD
From the fall of Troy to a shattered United States, one warrior seeks his own end, while an old enemy plots to destroy the world and create a new one.
For Evie Walker, Hope's Fort, Colorado may be home, but with her father dying of cancer she finds little consolation there, only trouble in the form
For immortal Trojan warrior Sinon, Evie and her basement offer hope, but will Evie ever trust a warrior dubbed Sinon the Liar? And even if she does, will the two of them and an odd assortment of allies be able to fend off enemies bent on apocalypse?
Strongly plotted and well-written, but I could have done without quite so many bits of the comic book plot.
For Evie Walker, Hope's Fort, Colorado may be home, but with her father dying of cancer she finds little consolation there, only trouble in the form
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of mysterious visitors, all of whom want something from her basement. And as her father's condition worsens, Evie's knowledge of what exactly is needed grows and her danger deepens. As political conditions worsen and the visitors grow more threatening, can she trust one of them to help her defend the trust she's been left?For immortal Trojan warrior Sinon, Evie and her basement offer hope, but will Evie ever trust a warrior dubbed Sinon the Liar? And even if she does, will the two of them and an odd assortment of allies be able to fend off enemies bent on apocalypse?
Strongly plotted and well-written, but I could have done without quite so many bits of the comic book plot.
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LibraryThing member klarsenmd
I received this as part of the early reviewers program through LT. This is an interesting melding of many characters from mythology and legend.
When Evie returns home to take care of her ailing father, she learns her destiny may be more than she bargained for. Set in an alternate reality in the
This is a quick paced, interesting tale that borrows form famous tales from years gone by. It was a unique mesh of characters and storytelling. It is difficult for me to place this in one distinct genre but it was fun and entertaining. I was happy to read this as an early review and would recommend it to lovers of fantasy.
When Evie returns home to take care of her ailing father, she learns her destiny may be more than she bargained for. Set in an alternate reality in the
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modern day US, Evie is plagued by terrorists and war. While trying to protect her family legacy she is aided by heros from history and legend. The characters are flawed but likeable none the less and no one is who they appear to be.This is a quick paced, interesting tale that borrows form famous tales from years gone by. It was a unique mesh of characters and storytelling. It is difficult for me to place this in one distinct genre but it was fun and entertaining. I was happy to read this as an early review and would recommend it to lovers of fantasy.
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LibraryThing member horomnizon
I really loved reading this and didn't want to put it down. (I'm a little sleepy now from having stayed up late to finish it last night.)
Evie Walker returns home because her father is dying. She'd never thought much about the basement of the old family farmhouse until she begins to have visions and
She gets a really bad feeling about this one chick (who turns out to be Hera - yes, THAT Hera) who shows up asking for something the voice tells Evie isn't hers. However, Hera is determined to get the item - at any cost. Don't worry, Evie does find a few heroes to help her out in this battle.
In the mean time, she is also busy writing a storyline for the female lead in her popular comic book series - it seems to mirror her own emotions and helps her get through some of the muck going on around her. And there's a lot of it as this is a world where nuclear bombs are falling and world wars are raging.
Intertwined with mythology and legend is the history of her own family and the escapades of trying to keep the storeroom safe from Hera and her gang. Chapters skip around through time and a couple main story lines, but I did not mind this at all. I found it very well done, not confusing, and easy to read.
I can see where some Christians may not like a few of the conversations about Jesus or what happened to 'the gods'...but it didn't bother me - it's just a book and a very enjoyable one at that.
Evie Walker returns home because her father is dying. She'd never thought much about the basement of the old family farmhouse until she begins to have visions and
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hears a voice about the storeroom and the wondrous items there. Turns out, she is heir to the keeper of the storeroom and people periodically turn up to ask for something kept there. (Anybody need a golden fleece?)She gets a really bad feeling about this one chick (who turns out to be Hera - yes, THAT Hera) who shows up asking for something the voice tells Evie isn't hers. However, Hera is determined to get the item - at any cost. Don't worry, Evie does find a few heroes to help her out in this battle.
In the mean time, she is also busy writing a storyline for the female lead in her popular comic book series - it seems to mirror her own emotions and helps her get through some of the muck going on around her. And there's a lot of it as this is a world where nuclear bombs are falling and world wars are raging.
Intertwined with mythology and legend is the history of her own family and the escapades of trying to keep the storeroom safe from Hera and her gang. Chapters skip around through time and a couple main story lines, but I did not mind this at all. I found it very well done, not confusing, and easy to read.
I can see where some Christians may not like a few of the conversations about Jesus or what happened to 'the gods'...but it didn't bother me - it's just a book and a very enjoyable one at that.
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LibraryThing member ShariDragon
I just finished Discord's Apple by Carrie Vaughn. I found this book highly enjoyable and am very happy I received a copy. I loved the Storeroom and guessing which myth or fairytale the different items came from. I believe this is the first time I have run across this story line. What a great idea
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to bring all of the items from myth and legend together in one place. All together a good fast read. Show Less
LibraryThing member STACYatUFI
I enjoyed this book, I thought the storyline was fantastic.
LibraryThing member MonicaLynn
If you like supsence,romance,and a little history you will love Discords Apple. you start to get a understanding what the author ws trying to do in this story. Old world meets new world. I what I really liked was there was a story in a story. If you like the The Nariera stories this book is for
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you. I hope the author is going to contune because I would like to see what other things are in the storage room ... Show Less
LibraryThing member stephxsu
When Evie Walker returns to her small-town hometown to take care of her sick father, she doesn’t realize what she’s in for, and what secrets about her family her father has been keeping from her. For underneath their house is a magic storeroom, one that many infamous characters—including one
DISCORD’S APPLE is an epic endeavor that successfully covers a wide range of story topics, from dystopian politics to Greek mythology to fairy tales.
If there’s one thing Carrie Vaughn knows how to do, it’s world-building. All of her worlds in all of her books are effortlessly written; their peculiarities and differences from our world unfold through easy dialogue and descriptions. Evie’s world is part dystopian (countries at war, daily bombings, police checkpoints on the interstate freeways), part fantasy (fictional characters showing up as “real” people). If you can handle multiple storylines and cross-genre settings, then you’ll get a kick out of DISCORD’S APPLE.
The characters in DISCORD’S APPLE feel more like stock characters than uniquely appealing people, but it didn’t bother me nearly as much as it might other readers. Evie is a little on the bland, damsel-in-distress side; Alex’s backstory is fascinating to read about, but his contemporary existence alongside Evie is a little TOO enigmatic to garner much sympathy. Nevertheless, I devoured this book because the story was just so original and epic. Can YOU imagine your pre-apocalyptic world on the brink of a magical disaster? It’s ambitious, I know, but Carrie Vaughn does it well.
The ending was satisfying for me in its bizarreness, but it may frustrate others. If you choose to read DISCORD’S APPLE, be prepared to suspend your notions of how fantasy and dystopian literature work. This book will impress fans of Carrie Vaughn’s other works, for sure, but if you’re just starting out with her writing I might recommend starting elsewhere, as DISCORD’S APPLE does require commitment and leniency in order to fully appreciate it.
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ambitious goddess—want access to. Aided by the help of an enigmatic man named Alex, Evie comes into her familial destiny and fights to prevent the total destruction of the world as she knows it.DISCORD’S APPLE is an epic endeavor that successfully covers a wide range of story topics, from dystopian politics to Greek mythology to fairy tales.
If there’s one thing Carrie Vaughn knows how to do, it’s world-building. All of her worlds in all of her books are effortlessly written; their peculiarities and differences from our world unfold through easy dialogue and descriptions. Evie’s world is part dystopian (countries at war, daily bombings, police checkpoints on the interstate freeways), part fantasy (fictional characters showing up as “real” people). If you can handle multiple storylines and cross-genre settings, then you’ll get a kick out of DISCORD’S APPLE.
The characters in DISCORD’S APPLE feel more like stock characters than uniquely appealing people, but it didn’t bother me nearly as much as it might other readers. Evie is a little on the bland, damsel-in-distress side; Alex’s backstory is fascinating to read about, but his contemporary existence alongside Evie is a little TOO enigmatic to garner much sympathy. Nevertheless, I devoured this book because the story was just so original and epic. Can YOU imagine your pre-apocalyptic world on the brink of a magical disaster? It’s ambitious, I know, but Carrie Vaughn does it well.
The ending was satisfying for me in its bizarreness, but it may frustrate others. If you choose to read DISCORD’S APPLE, be prepared to suspend your notions of how fantasy and dystopian literature work. This book will impress fans of Carrie Vaughn’s other works, for sure, but if you’re just starting out with her writing I might recommend starting elsewhere, as DISCORD’S APPLE does require commitment and leniency in order to fully appreciate it.
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LibraryThing member Shrike58
A sharp mix of thriller and high fantasy, besides being a paean to place and family, Vaughn gives us a world where magic is returning (as ours teeters on collapse) and a family charged through time with protecting the magic items of legend has to decide who should receive the proverbial Golden
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Apple of Discord. There's not much that I'd complain about with this story, except that I'm not sure the Arthurian touches were the right avenue to explore. Show Less
LibraryThing member Gelasticjew
Young woman reluctantly discovers she is inheriting her familial role as guardian of magical items, including the golden apple that started the Trojan war, which somebody is trying to get from the safe.
LibraryThing member walterqchocobo
This book has a little bit of everything in it: Greek mythology, near future national security concerns, military comic books, Merlin and the end of the world. Evie finds out the basement of her home contains a storeroom full of treasures from old myths and she stands to inherit the mission of
This was a crazy book with flashbacks to the Trojan War and then a long section where Evie is writing her military comic book (which didn't really seem to add much to the story). I wanted to like it more but the ending fell flat. There was all of this great tension and then...disappointment. It wasn't a bad book but I would have liked to hear more about the events that led to the ending.
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protecting that storeroom when her father, sick with cancer, dies. With the world crumbling around her (attacks in Russia, India and Pakistan), someone wants to get into the storeroom to get a particular object. This was a crazy book with flashbacks to the Trojan War and then a long section where Evie is writing her military comic book (which didn't really seem to add much to the story). I wanted to like it more but the ending fell flat. There was all of this great tension and then...disappointment. It wasn't a bad book but I would have liked to hear more about the events that led to the ending.
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LibraryThing member thesmellofbooks
Wow. This fantasy novel goes above and beyond. Really enjoyed it. Weel done, Carrie. Hats off.
LibraryThing member jenreidreads
I don't usually read urban fantasy. So this was a refreshing change of pace for me. Evie Walker is about to inherit a magical storeroom filled with mythological treasures from her dying father. It's the end of the world, and the goddess Hera is doing her best to create and stir up discord. This
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novel blends an apocalyptic near-future with ancient Greece quite well. The plot at the beginning and the middle chugs along nicely, but starts to unravel a bit at the end. I think this is supposed to be a stand-alone novel, but it felt rather open-ended, like there should be a sequel. But overall, it was an enjoyable read, and I'd recommend it. Show Less
LibraryThing member amanderson
S'okay. This fantasy novel has a Greek mythology, maybe it's the end of the world theme going on. Provided an afternoon's entertainment a couple months ago, but it didn't stick with me.
LibraryThing member readinggeek451
In a war-torn near future, Evie returns home to her family farm because her father is dying. There, she learns that the storeroom in the basement holds many magical marvels. Beings from myth and legend are on the hunt for some of the items, both legitimately and not. As the world deteriorates,
This is definitely fantasy, but with overtones of apocalyptic near-future SF. Evie's world is very well-drawn, and frighteningly plausible. The fantasy also is very well-done. Recommended.
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echoes from the Trojan War impinge on Evie's reality.This is definitely fantasy, but with overtones of apocalyptic near-future SF. Evie's world is very well-drawn, and frighteningly plausible. The fantasy also is very well-done. Recommended.
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Language
Original publication date
2010-07-20
Physical description
314 p.; 22 inches
ISBN
0765325543 / 9780765325549