Review: Underworld by Meg Cabot

Underworld by Meg Cabot
Expected Publication Date: May 8th, 2012
Publisher: Point
Page Count: 320 pages
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon
* I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own *
* UNDERWORLD is the second book in the ABANDON trilogy. If you have not read ABANDON, this review may contain spoilers *

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.

It's definitely been awhile since I read Abandon, but I do remember loving the interesting take on the Persephone myth. I've always been really into mythology so I'll read basically anything that's a remake of those ideas, and I do think that Underworld has expanded on this story and is going in a great direction. However, some things didn't work well for me: the romance was off, the story didn't flow, and the characters weren't as easy to relate to as they were before. I definitely read Underworld quickly, but I would have liked a bit more depth.
Pierce and John are right where we left them, but the amount of control that John had over Pierce this time around really unnerved me. It seemed like Pierce was constantly trying to please John and she did almost everything he told her to. I was really turned off by their relationship, it just seemed like John completely dominates Pierce rather than treating her like his equal... maybe this is just the feminist in my speaking out, but I like my female protagonists to be strong, independent women! There were some other character issues I had, but I don't want to go into detail because I'm not going to spoil anything!
The story itself is developed nicely, I definitely like the different plot twists involved, and I even shed a few tears! I feel like any time a book can make me cry, I know the author has done a good job of grabbing me, emotionally. Meg Cabot definitely grabbed hold of my emotions. I'm really looking forward to seeing what's going to happen with the Furies in the future!! They are a PAIN! However, I do feel like some things were a bit jumpy and disjointed. I love a good, fast paced story line, but Underworld moved a little too fast for me. Sometimes I just felt like I couldn't keep up.
Despite it's faults, I genuinely enjoyed reading Underworld and I'm really looking forward to seeing where Cabot takes the Persephone myth next. I'm definitely hoping that Pierce develops a bit more of a backbone and stops bending to John's every wish and call, but even if she doesn't I'll still read it ;) I do wish I connected with the characters more, and I wish I didn't feel so jumbled around with the story, but overall I'm glad I read this one, and I can't wait to read the next!!