About This Book
Reach for this book when your middle-schooler is grappling with the weight of new responsibilities or feels like they are leading a double life. As the second installment in the Pegasus series, it follows thirteen-year-old Emily as she navigates her dual identity as a normal human girl and the legendary Flame of Olympus. While she yearns for her old life in New York, a gruesome invasion by the Nirads forces her to embrace a leadership role she never asked for. The story masterfully explores themes of loyalty, the moral complexities of war, and the resilience required to face old enemies. It is an ideal pick for readers aged 9 to 13 who enjoy fast-paced mythology but are ready for more mature discussions about accountability and the cost of protection.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
DISTRESS: The Nirads are relentless and mechanical in their violence; battles are described with visceral, frightening detail including scenes of serious injury. There are scenes of urban destruction and intense battles where characters are seriously injured. The emotional distress comes primarily from Emily's intense longing for her father, who is being held by a secretive government agency (the CRU), and her feelings of isolation despite being surrounded by gods. CONVERSATION: Parents should be prepared to discuss the ethics of a 'pre-emptive strike' and the blurred lines between heroes and villains. The CRU’s actions may spark questions about government overreach, the ethics of secret agencies, and the mistreatment of individuals perceived as threats.
Ideal Reader
A 10-year-old who loves Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series but is looking for a story with a female lead and a more intense, war-focused stakes.
Parent Prep
Preview the descriptions of the Nirad attacks in the early chapters to ensure they aren't too intense for sensitive readers. The book can generally be read cold if the child is familiar with the first book. A parent might choose this if their child is feeling the pressure of high expectations from teachers or coaches and needs to see a character navigate similar burdens.
Age Experience
Younger readers (9-10) will focus on the cool factor of Pegasus and the magic. Older readers (11-13) will pick up on Emily's internal struggle with the burden of her new powers and the political tensions between the Olympians.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many mythology retellings that stay in the ancient world, O'Hearn blends high fantasy with modern government conspiracy and sci-fi elements.
Read plot summary
Picking up after the events of The Flame of Olympus, Emily is now living in the rebuilt Olympus but misses her father and her life in New York. The peace is short-lived when the multi-armed Nirads launch a more coordinated and gruesome invasion. Emily, Joel, and Paelen must travel between worlds to gather allies, including the Roman Olympian counterparts, while Emily struggles to control the volatile power of the Flame within her. The conflict reveals that the Nirads may not be the only threat, as ancient grudges between different factions of gods come to light.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Emily feels like two different people: a regular girl and the Flame. Have you ever felt like you had to act like a different person depending on who you were with?
2
Paelen used to be a thief but is now a hero. Do you think people can truly change their nature, or are they just making different choices?
3
The CRU wants to capture the Olympians because they are afraid of their power. Is it ever okay to take away someone's freedom because you are afraid of what they might do?
4
How does the introduction of the Roman gods change the way the Olympians see themselves and their history?
5
If you were Emily, would you choose to stay in Olympus where you are a hero, or go back to New York to be with your father?
