Abandon Book 2: Underworld [Hardcover]

Meg Cabot (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 8, 2012 | Series: Abandon (Book 2)

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, the dark reimagining of the Persephone myth begun in ABANDON continues ... into the Underworld.

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Meg Cabot:
“Cabot shows the dark side behind the bling-blingy superficial worlds.” –Teenreads.com
"[The] strong, amusing voice, the plot twists, and the possibility of romance will draw mystery and chick-lit readers alike." –ALA Booklist
“Bag the tiara and get out the gun ... Cabot delivers.” –Publishers Weekly

About the Author

MEG CABOT'S many series and books for adults, teens, and tweens have included multiple #1 New York Times bestsellers and have sold more than fifteen million copies worldwide. Her Princess Diaries series has been published in more than thirty-eight countries and was made into two hit films by Disney. Meg also wrote the New York Times bestselling Mediator, Airhead, Insatiable, and Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls series, as well as the award-winning novels All-American Girl and Avalon High. Meg lives in Key West with her husband and two cats. Visit Meg online at www.megcabot.com.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Point; First Edition edition (May 8, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545284112
• ISBN-13: 978-0545284110
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,238 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I write! Books for you, your sister, your best friend, your mother . . . . even for men with good taste!

Most of my time is spent over at my website, http://megcabot.com, so be sure to stop by!

UK, New Zealand, and Australia fans, visit http://www.megcabot.co.uk.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

(What's this?)

#69 in Books > Teens

#69 in Books > Teens

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Cabot's best June 28, 2012

By Liviania VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I adore Meg Cabot. Many of her books, both YA and adult, have a special place on my shelf. But when I finished ABANDON, I was disappointed. It's interpretation of the Persephone myth was dodgy and the plot kind of weak.

UNDERWORLD opens where ABANDON left off, with Pierce now willingly in the underworld having escaped her Fury-possessed grandmother with John. Pierce almost immediately starts waxing Persephone. Now, I'll give Cabot props for tackling a tough myth. But instead of facing the undertone of rape in the original myth she sweeps it under the rug. UNDERWORLD does get slightly more points for its handling of the original by acknowledging that Pierce doesn't know much more than the Disneyfied version despite how much she waxes on about it. Both John and Mr. Smith, the cemetery sexton on Isla Huesos, correct her impressions of the myth throughout the story.

Honestly, I only pushed through the beginning of UNDERWORLD because of how much I like Cabot. Usually I can read one of her books in about half an hour. It's impossible to know how long I took on the first eighty or so pages because I kept putting the book down from boredom. The plot finally kicks into gear when Pierce and John go back to the Isla Huesos to save her cousin Alex since she received a premonition of him trapped and terrified. At the same time, there's the dark secret of Jack's past to uncover.

While UNDERWORLD had an actual plot that kept me entertained, it felt a bit pointless in the end. (And, mild spoilers, everyone is very blase that a guy who is your average jerk transitions to straight-up murdering someone.) Jack's past: not that dark. To be very general, he tried to do a good thing and bad things happened, but nothing worse than if he hadn't acted. Alex acts completely differently than he did in ABANDON, turning into an obstinate twit just to cause conflict. Kayla, the best character in the series, shows up far too briefly.

I suppose UNDERWORLD is supposed to be carried by John and Pierce's romance. But I'm just not feeling it. Pierce reacts to everything before thinking. She's tempestuous, but seems more overwhelmed by her confusion than passion. John, meanwhile, just doesn't do it for me like most of Cabot's heroes. He's overprotective in a bad way and uncommunicative. Pierce might have less emotional whiplash if he'd just talk to her instead of making abrupt revelations that affect her entire life.

UNDERWORLD was a significant improvement over ABANDON. But this series just ain't working for me.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Once Upon a Twilight.com Reviews May 8, 2012

By Yara Santos

Format:Hardcover

I think Underworld might be a place where you might want to go live or at least visit. I blame Meg Cabot of course, she created such a place that at times sounds not a bad place to be in. Of course if you died and were a bad person, then you want to avoid it completely. The caretaker is not one you want to come across, if you weren't decent in your living days.

Pierce and John are back and Pierce is not to happy with her current situation. John has taken her back to the Underworld. If you haven't read Abandon, then I warn you about spoilers from first book. The Furies were after Pierce in Abandon, how cruel was it to posses the poor grandmother. So John's reaction is take Pierce were he can protect her at all times, POOF!! The Underworld. This is were Underworld begins. Pierce remembers last time she was there, she escaped by throwing hot tea in John's face. Well this time, John is a little prepared. Certain doors are closed and she can't get out. John even gifts her with a dove, Pierce ends up naming "Hope" in hope that she will consider staying and being happy. This is until Pierce begins snooping around and uncovers her cellphone, she see a video recording of her cousin Alex. He looks to be struggling inside a coffin. So Pierce is set on getting John to get her back, so she can save Alex and possibly her mother. She feels that the furies will hurt her family, since she has gone missing. John of course at first is completely against this notion, but Pierce has her ways of convincing John. So they embark back up to Isla Huesos and are in search of her cousin. What truths will Pierce uncover this time and what will she have to sacrifice to save those she loves? Will John admit what he has been keeping to himself to her?

Quite a few things will be discovered while Pierce is in the Underworld and back in Isla Huesos. Question is will she be mature enough to processes it all. New characters are introduced and old ones make appearances again. I think one of my new favorites was "Hope" the dove. She always seems to pop up at the right time. Underworld starts off a tad slow and builds to a fast page turner. Pierce and John's relationship lack a little for me, I think its just Pierce's attitude that is holding them back sometimes. How can you not want to live with John forever in the Underworld. I'm definitely curious for the next book since they now know something very important and something very drastic happened at the end of this book. Fun little sneak peek into Awaken at the end of Underworld. - Yara

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Just as exciting as Abandon May 9, 2012

By The Compulsive Reader VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

The beginning of Underworld finds Pierce Oliviera back in the place she thought she'd left for good two years ago. John Hayden keeps telling her that the Underworld is the only safe place for her, away from the reach of the Furies. But Pierce isn't in the Underworld for very long before she discovers that she's not the only one in danger from the Furies--there are those that would put her family in danger, specifically her cousin Alex. But there are also secrets that John is keeping that threaten Pierce's safety and happiness unless she and John learn to trust each other...before there's no going back.

The second installment in Meg Cabot's Abandon trilogy is a whirlwind of an adventure. The whole book takes place in the space of a little more than a day, so it is a fast-paced read, and Cabot does a good job at keeping the action evenly spaced out. The best part about this book is the developing relationship between Pierce and John. Now that Pierce has admitted her feelings, she and John need to find even ground and they need to learn how to communicate with each other. There are many secrets, half-revealed truths, and misunderstandings between them at the start, but they learn how to trust each other and tell the truth in the face of the weird rules governing their relationship and their many differences. In between all of the action and relationship issues, there are some new characters, many humorous moments, and nicely placed revelations that will be a surprise to both Pierce and the reader. Underworld is just as exciting as Abandon, with its lush setting, tumultuous history, and darker island traditions. The ending will leave readers hanging and guessing as to where Pierce's story will go next.