My Ex From Hell by Tellulah Darling Review

"Sixteen-year-old Sophie Bloom wishes she’d been taught the following:
a) Bad boy’s presence (TrOuBlE) + teen girl’s brain (DraMa) = TrAuMa (Highly unstable and very volatile.)
b) The Genus Greekulum Godissimus is notable for three traits: 1) awesome abilities, 2) grudges, and 3) hook-ups, break-ups, and in-fighting that puts cable to shame.

Prior to the Halloween dance, Sophie figures her worst problems involve adolescent theatrics, bitchy teen yoga girls, and being on probation at her boarding school for mouthy behaviour. Then she meets bad boy Kai and gets the kiss that rocks her world.

Literally.

This breath stealing lip lock reawakens Sophie’s true identity: Persephone, Goddess of Spring. She’s key to saving humanity in the war between the Underworld and Olympus, target numero uno of Hades and Zeus, and totally screwed.

Plus there’s also the little issue that Sophie’s last memory as Persephone was just before someone tried to murder her.

Big picture: master her powers, get her memories back, defeat Persephone’s would be assassin, and save the world. Also, sneak into the Underworld to retrieve stolen property, battle the minions of Hades and Zeus, outwit psycho nymphs, slay a dragon, rescue a classmate, keep from getting her butt expelled from the one place designed to keep her safe …

… and stop kissing Kai, Prince of the Underworld.

My Ex From Hell is a YA romantic comedy, Greek mythology smackdown. Love meets comedy with a whole lot of sass in book one of this teen fantasy romance series. Compared to Kai and Sophie, Romeo and Juliet had it easy."

NetGalley. Thanks for the copy. (Note: This is the first part of the three posts/reviews I'm going to write. I already finished the entire trilogy.) 

My Ex From Hell is the first book of The Blooming Goddess Trilogy. YA Greek Mythology and Paranormal, My Ex From Hell definitely brings together spunk, sass, myths, and a lot of dialogue (some of it with the unintended feedback, but more on that later). There are a lot of references to Greek gods and goddesses (and other minor characters in the myths), so be prepared to frequently connect to Wikipedia. I have never heard of some of these deities before today. 

Sophie is the... reincarnation of Persephone, Goddess of Flowers and all those other wonderful things. Reincarnation is the easiest way of describing what happened to her. Anyway, Sophie is a sassy character with a lot of wit and remarks. She uses a lot of allusions I don't get (mostly because my head is always in a book and not in movies or tv shows). Tellulah Darling is banking on readers understanding pop culture, which I'm sadly ignorant of. Despite all of that, Sophie is an interesting (and entertaining) character who is certainly better than soaps. 

Kai is also sassy. I don't like putting labels on people, but bad boy is the easiest way of describing him. He is very bad and a player, with the Underworld backing him. He is very mysterious and scorching hot, with all of the right moves and definitely all of the wrong moves too. Surprisingly, Darling manages to pull it off and Kai wears his flaws and strengths well. 

The romance is the swoony part of the book, My Ex From Hell. Kai and Sophie have a lot of chemistry that makes the book vibrant and colorful the second Kai appears. But I'll tell you all, concerned parents, that there is no sex. Though with that much lust apparent in the writing, I'm greatly surprised there isn't. 

The writing style is very strange and unusual. I find it difficult for me to adjust, because there is a stunning lack of descriptions (well, less than normal) and the beginning starts roughly. There is much more snappy dialogue, however, which almost balances the descriptions out. The dialogue is sometimes dry at points and fails to hit the right marks. Also, the plot moves crazily, taking the readers to strange places from mythical places to the labyrinth. 

Overall, My Ex From Hell is a sassy, fast-paced, and fun book with Greek Mythology and an literal Ex from Hell. Those who enjoy Rick Riordan's books and are mature would definitely be interested in My Ex From Hell. Kai and Sophie have a hilarious story arc with sizzling chemistry and delightfully amusing pieces of dialogue. 

Rating: Four out of Five