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Pegasus #1
The Flame of Olympus
A young girl, a winged horse, and a war of epic proportions make for an adventurous start to an exciting new trilogy.
When Pegasus crashes onto a Manhattan roof during a terrible storm, Emily’s life changes forever. Suddenly allied with a winged horse she’d always thought was mythical, Emily is thrust into the center of a fierce battle between the Roman gods and a terrifying race of multiarmed stone warriors called the Nirads. Emily must team up with a thief named Paelen, the goddess Diana, and a boy named Joel in order to return Pegasus to Olympus and rescue the gods from a certain death.
Along the way, Emily and her companions will fight monsters, run from a government agency that is prepared to dissect Pegasus, and even fly above the Manhattan skyline—all as part of a quest to save Olympus before time runs out.
When Pegasus crashes onto a Manhattan roof during a terrible storm, Emily’s life changes forever. Suddenly allied with a winged horse she’d always thought was mythical, Emily is thrust into the center of a fierce battle between the Roman gods and a terrifying race of multiarmed stone warriors called the Nirads. Emily must team up with a thief named Paelen, the goddess Diana, and a boy named Joel in order to return Pegasus to Olympus and rescue the gods from a certain death.
Along the way, Emily and her companions will fight monsters, run from a government agency that is prepared to dissect Pegasus, and even fly above the Manhattan skyline—all as part of a quest to save Olympus before time runs out.
385 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
590 people are currently reading
10436 people want to read
About the author
Kate O'Hearn
43 books932 followersKate O'Hearn was born in Toronto Canada, but raised in the heart of New York City and has lived in many places throughout her life. These days, she calls the south coast of England home. She has 3 brothers, no sisters and is passionate about animals and their causes and has many animal friends. (Pets)
Over the course of her life she has had several careers before finding her real love, writing children's books. Being the only girl in family of boys, she grew up a true tom-boy and always loved books with high adventure. But one of the problems she discovered was a lack of female leads in these adventure books.
When she started to write, Kate decided to address this imbalance and now writes high fantasy adventures with strong, compassionate and adventure loving girl heroes. There are plenty of boys in the story to keep it interesting and challenging, but she believes that a girl hero can be as brave, strong and adventurous as a boy.
She insists that adventures are for everyone!
So come and enjoy a few adventures with her...
Over the course of her life she has had several careers before finding her real love, writing children's books. Being the only girl in family of boys, she grew up a true tom-boy and always loved books with high adventure. But one of the problems she discovered was a lack of female leads in these adventure books.
When she started to write, Kate decided to address this imbalance and now writes high fantasy adventures with strong, compassionate and adventure loving girl heroes. There are plenty of boys in the story to keep it interesting and challenging, but she believes that a girl hero can be as brave, strong and adventurous as a boy.
She insists that adventures are for everyone!
So come and enjoy a few adventures with her...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,060 reviews
April 3, 2013
Okay...this is a children's book. It is for people 8 and up. It is not complex. It is not deep. It is not adult fiction. It isn't even YA fiction. It is not as complicated nor as deep as Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. It is perfect for the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th grade set.
With that being said, I am an adult and I read it after my 9 year old daughter. I wanted to see what was in it. I don't read many of her books but this one held my attention and I wanted to know what happened. I will read the next three books (not yet released in US...I am awaiting a set from UK Ebay) and my daughter can't wait to get them.
I can see where as an adult I could find fault with some of the characters, some of the bad guys and some of the conclusions. (Neil Gaiman Neverwhere is a little more MY style and so is The Veil of Gold by Kim Wilkins.) Remember it is children's literature and is listed as 8 and up.
If you have a young daughter/child who isn't ready for Percy (like Harry Potter, Percy increases in difficulty and situation) she will love this book. Boys will enjoy it too if they are not hung up on the female lead. She has a male side-kick and another main character, Paelen, is male.
It is a great introduction into the Roman Gods. The lead of Pegasus is wonderful. I will be interested to see how if there is any difference in the US published version from the UK version. (I do have to admit...the publisher needs a better proof-reader!)
With that being said, I am an adult and I read it after my 9 year old daughter. I wanted to see what was in it. I don't read many of her books but this one held my attention and I wanted to know what happened. I will read the next three books (not yet released in US...I am awaiting a set from UK Ebay) and my daughter can't wait to get them.
I can see where as an adult I could find fault with some of the characters, some of the bad guys and some of the conclusions. (Neil Gaiman Neverwhere is a little more MY style and so is The Veil of Gold by Kim Wilkins.) Remember it is children's literature and is listed as 8 and up.
If you have a young daughter/child who isn't ready for Percy (like Harry Potter, Percy increases in difficulty and situation) she will love this book. Boys will enjoy it too if they are not hung up on the female lead. She has a male side-kick and another main character, Paelen, is male.
It is a great introduction into the Roman Gods. The lead of Pegasus is wonderful. I will be interested to see how if there is any difference in the US published version from the UK version. (I do have to admit...the publisher needs a better proof-reader!)
August 29, 2012
I was really excited about this book. Like, really excited. But as I am beginning to realize, Pegasus (or unicorns, as the case may be) does not guarantee a good book. (As a side note, I once was really excited for a book about killer unicorns that turned out to be really lame.)
This book totally killed its potential, let’s see, right about the time I read the sentence starting with a dependent clause. Eye twitch. No, actually, I kinda lost interest with the prologue. Like Ranger’s Apprentice, this one tried to start out all badass and stuff, like, “Oh no, there’s war in Olympus and the gods simply can’t win on their own!” Which sometimes happens, even to gods...except this time, the focus was on some nobody who wanted to steal Pegasus in the midst of the fighting. These things also happen, but, uh, there’s already a perfectly good thief/trickster god in the Roman pantheon, name of Mercury, and, oh shit, it seems that the author has conveniently killed him off so people like me can’t put up their hands and say, “But, but...” Already annoyed by that.
Then, and I quote, “Somehow” the gods are capable not only of being wounded, but dying as well, while their enemies are conveniently untouchable—except for this one time when Diana uses her dead brother’s spear to wound one of them, but that was just a fluke, ya’ll. I HATE “somehow” explanations. The gods can die. Fine, that’s shaking things up a little. But don’t put me off with “somehows,” because that’s just the author’s excuse for not figuring her shit out ahead of time. “Somehow the gods are dying. Not sure how yet, but I’ll figure it out eventually. Don’t worry your pretty little head, Reader.”
In fact, there are so many “somehows” in this book that by the time I was 100 pages in, I was no longer entirely sure that the author knew what her characters were doing AT ALL. “Somehow” the main character knows what Pegasus is thinking. Well, great. How? Mind meld? The eyes are the windows of the soul? Pegasus can project his thoughts? No, it’s “somehow” again.
So I said “somehow” I’ll just have to live on without knowing how this book ends.
This book totally killed its potential, let’s see, right about the time I read the sentence starting with a dependent clause. Eye twitch. No, actually, I kinda lost interest with the prologue. Like Ranger’s Apprentice, this one tried to start out all badass and stuff, like, “Oh no, there’s war in Olympus and the gods simply can’t win on their own!” Which sometimes happens, even to gods...except this time, the focus was on some nobody who wanted to steal Pegasus in the midst of the fighting. These things also happen, but, uh, there’s already a perfectly good thief/trickster god in the Roman pantheon, name of Mercury, and, oh shit, it seems that the author has conveniently killed him off so people like me can’t put up their hands and say, “But, but...” Already annoyed by that.
Then, and I quote, “Somehow” the gods are capable not only of being wounded, but dying as well, while their enemies are conveniently untouchable—except for this one time when Diana uses her dead brother’s spear to wound one of them, but that was just a fluke, ya’ll. I HATE “somehow” explanations. The gods can die. Fine, that’s shaking things up a little. But don’t put me off with “somehows,” because that’s just the author’s excuse for not figuring her shit out ahead of time. “Somehow the gods are dying. Not sure how yet, but I’ll figure it out eventually. Don’t worry your pretty little head, Reader.”
In fact, there are so many “somehows” in this book that by the time I was 100 pages in, I was no longer entirely sure that the author knew what her characters were doing AT ALL. “Somehow” the main character knows what Pegasus is thinking. Well, great. How? Mind meld? The eyes are the windows of the soul? Pegasus can project his thoughts? No, it’s “somehow” again.
So I said “somehow” I’ll just have to live on without knowing how this book ends.
August 8, 2012
Searching my way through the Barnes and noble book shelves, I didn't expect to find Pegasus: The flame of Olympus. I was intrigued by the beautiful cover art and what I read from the inside flap. Another thing that caught my attention was the praise from bestseller Rick Rick Riordian. Now I never been fond of authors giving praises to another author, but for some reason I trusted Rick Riordian's praise because I am such a huge fan of his books series and I love Greek and Roman mythology.
Now straight to the book review! I can't express how much I enjoyed this book. Pegasus: the flame of Olympus focuses on two main characters, Emily and Paelen. I loved Emily from start to finish. Emily was a go getter type of girl. She spoke her mind and even through a broken leg Emily wanted to fight! Emily did what she had to do to save Pegasus and keep the Nirads from destroying the world. Now, Paelen I didn't care for at the beginning. Paelen was selfish and only thought of his own needs. But as I kept reading, Paelen started to grow on me. Paelen realized his faults and what wrong he did. He also made me laugh a few times as he was being interrogated by Agent J. I also loved Emily's friend Joel but I won't go too much into him.
I will not discuss the plot because I want people to read this book! All I will say is not once was I disappointed and when the book ended, my heart fell out of my chest. I didn't want this great adventure that I got locked into to end. I will gladly say there will be two more books coming out and I can't wait!
Now straight to the book review! I can't express how much I enjoyed this book. Pegasus: the flame of Olympus focuses on two main characters, Emily and Paelen. I loved Emily from start to finish. Emily was a go getter type of girl. She spoke her mind and even through a broken leg Emily wanted to fight! Emily did what she had to do to save Pegasus and keep the Nirads from destroying the world. Now, Paelen I didn't care for at the beginning. Paelen was selfish and only thought of his own needs. But as I kept reading, Paelen started to grow on me. Paelen realized his faults and what wrong he did. He also made me laugh a few times as he was being interrogated by Agent J. I also loved Emily's friend Joel but I won't go too much into him.
I will not discuss the plot because I want people to read this book! All I will say is not once was I disappointed and when the book ended, my heart fell out of my chest. I didn't want this great adventure that I got locked into to end. I will gladly say there will be two more books coming out and I can't wait!
April 11, 2020
I've wanted to read a story with Pegasus present for ages now and my hubby bought me this one for Christmas - it was on my wishlist. It didn't take me long to pick it up and I had it finished within 1,5 days. This was such a fun and fast paced read and I'm glad I can share this book and review with you guys!
We follow two main characters; Emily (a human girl) and Paelen (an Olympian thief). Both were truly fun to read about seeing they were completely different characters. I love how strong minded Emily is, and how she went above and beyond to keep Pegasus safe and how she tries to keep the Nyriads from destroying the world.
Paelen was quite interesting because at first he isn't your typical good guy, he's quiet selfish really. which isn't a particular attractive trait haha, but still I liked him. He was quite the character and quite funny from time to time. And through Paelen we learn so much more about Olympus along the way, which was something I was really curious about beforehand so I gobbled everything up so fast and truly couldn't get enough of it.
Pegasus was the main reason why I wanted to read this book in the first place because helloooo: who doesn't think Pegasus is awesome?! Well, I do anyway haha. And I was not disappointed by his presence. I think the author did a great job at portraying this majestic creature the way she did. On his own, he was a truly interesting 'character' and then there's also the forming bond/friendship with Emily that's developing throughout the book, which was nicely written down.
I Truly cannot wait to see what more adventures these two are going to experience - thankfully book 2 and 3 are on its way as we speak, so I'm able to continue their story very soon!
So yeah, conclusion... It's been a while since I've last read a Middle Grade book and I was thoroughly surprised by how entertaining The Flame of Olympus turned out to be. Sure, in all honesty (I'm always honest btw, but you know... it's just a phrase haha): you just can't expect the story to have as much depth compared to most YA and adult fantasy book you know? Keep in mind it's written as a middle grade book and when I look at it that way (the only way you should really look at it, because it IS a middle grade book) I'm definitely of an opinion that it has quite some depth present, which I wasn't expecting to be honest. It's just a really great first book in this new to me series and I'm so excited to find out what more adventures there'll come for Pegasus and his friends and how the entirety of the series will grow as well, with each new installment that follows after this one.
I'd definitely (and highly) recommend this one to anyone who likes a fantasy/Roman mythology inspired story that'll sweep you off your feet (almost quite literally even, thanks to Pegasus ;)). An enchanting, thrilling and entertaining, action packed read is guaranteed when you pick up this book, whether you're 9 years old or 90 years old!
"A winning mix of modern adventure and classic fantasy."
- Rick Riordan
Thanks for reading!
A young girl, a winged horse, and a war of epic proportions make for an adventurous start to an exciting new trilogy.
When Pegasus crashes onto a Manhattan roof during a terrible storm, Emily’s life changes forever. Suddenly allied with a winged horse she’d always thought was mythical, Emily is thrust into the center of a fierce battle between the Roman gods and a terrifying race of multiarmed stone warriors called the Nirads. Emily must team up with a thief named Paelen, the goddess Diana, and a boy named Joel in order to return Pegasus to Olympus and rescue the gods from a certain death.
Along the way, Emily and her companions will fight monsters, run from a government agency that is prepared to dissect Pegasus, and even fly above the Manhattan skyline—all as part of a quest to save Olympus before time runs out.
We follow two main characters; Emily (a human girl) and Paelen (an Olympian thief). Both were truly fun to read about seeing they were completely different characters. I love how strong minded Emily is, and how she went above and beyond to keep Pegasus safe and how she tries to keep the Nyriads from destroying the world.
"It's really you isn't it?" Emily whispered softly as she stroked the soft muzzle. "You're Pegasus, aren't you?" The stallion...nudged her hand, inviting another stroke. In that one rain-drenched instant, Emily felt her world changing. Forever.
Paelen was quite interesting because at first he isn't your typical good guy, he's quiet selfish really. which isn't a particular attractive trait haha, but still I liked him. He was quite the character and quite funny from time to time. And through Paelen we learn so much more about Olympus along the way, which was something I was really curious about beforehand so I gobbled everything up so fast and truly couldn't get enough of it.
"He flies because he has wings.
I would have thought even you could figure that out for yourself."
- Paelen
Pegasus was the main reason why I wanted to read this book in the first place because helloooo: who doesn't think Pegasus is awesome?! Well, I do anyway haha. And I was not disappointed by his presence. I think the author did a great job at portraying this majestic creature the way she did. On his own, he was a truly interesting 'character' and then there's also the forming bond/friendship with Emily that's developing throughout the book, which was nicely written down.
I Truly cannot wait to see what more adventures these two are going to experience - thankfully book 2 and 3 are on its way as we speak, so I'm able to continue their story very soon!
So yeah, conclusion... It's been a while since I've last read a Middle Grade book and I was thoroughly surprised by how entertaining The Flame of Olympus turned out to be. Sure, in all honesty (I'm always honest btw, but you know... it's just a phrase haha): you just can't expect the story to have as much depth compared to most YA and adult fantasy book you know? Keep in mind it's written as a middle grade book and when I look at it that way (the only way you should really look at it, because it IS a middle grade book) I'm definitely of an opinion that it has quite some depth present, which I wasn't expecting to be honest. It's just a really great first book in this new to me series and I'm so excited to find out what more adventures there'll come for Pegasus and his friends and how the entirety of the series will grow as well, with each new installment that follows after this one.
I'd definitely (and highly) recommend this one to anyone who likes a fantasy/Roman mythology inspired story that'll sweep you off your feet (almost quite literally even, thanks to Pegasus ;)). An enchanting, thrilling and entertaining, action packed read is guaranteed when you pick up this book, whether you're 9 years old or 90 years old!
"A winning mix of modern adventure and classic fantasy."
- Rick Riordan
Thanks for reading!
February 10, 2017
Better review to come, this book deserves it.
Also, are you a Pegasus fan? This is the group for you!
The Pegasus Series Fanclub.
Anyone who loves Pegasus may join. :)
Also, please sign this petition so the Pegasus Series can be made into a movie!!
Also, are you a Pegasus fan? This is the group for you!
The Pegasus Series Fanclub.
Anyone who loves Pegasus may join. :)
Also, please sign this petition so the Pegasus Series can be made into a movie!!
August 9, 2017
So, um, every child should read this.....every teen should read this.....every PERSON SHOULD READ THIS.
At the time, I was an innocent child who hadn't been introduced to smexy-hot romance books.
What did my small mind latch on to because I didn't know that romance existed??
Mythology.
So if you're a geek like me who loves all that gods and Hades and Persephone story shit, this is the one for you!
Here comes this small girl, Emily. I know, not much more of a fetus compared to me, but you gotta realize that this girl is AWESOME!!
And then.....the horse of every child's dreams.......presenting......THE UNICORN WITHOUT A HORN!!!!!
*cough* Um....yeah, it's just Pegasus...
ta-da :)
And this amazing duo create a wonderful story that my mind has already forgotten since I'm an old fart compared to this girl, but those are the details!!
This book was amazing and will leave you crazy for the second so definitely try it out!!
At the time, I was an innocent child who hadn't been introduced to smexy-hot romance books.
What did my small mind latch on to because I didn't know that romance existed??
Mythology.
So if you're a geek like me who loves all that gods and Hades and Persephone story shit, this is the one for you!
Here comes this small girl, Emily. I know, not much more of a fetus compared to me, but you gotta realize that this girl is AWESOME!!
And then.....the horse of every child's dreams.......presenting......THE UNICORN WITHOUT A HORN!!!!!
*cough* Um....yeah, it's just Pegasus...
ta-da :)
And this amazing duo create a wonderful story that my mind has already forgotten since I'm an old fart compared to this girl, but those are the details!!
This book was amazing and will leave you crazy for the second so definitely try it out!!
June 12, 2012
Percy Jackson fans will be happy to learn that there's a new set of Olympians in town. Originally published in the UK, Kate O'Hearn's Pegasus trilogy is coming to the US. Released just last month was the first book, THE FLAME OF OLYMPUS.
Written in the third point of view, the narration flips back and forth between Paelen, a thief god, and Emily, a young New Yorker. Paelen attempted to steal Pegasus' bridle during a battle between the Olympians and Nirads and ended up zapped to present time. Emily found Pegasus injured on her roof and a group of men in black found Paelen with the bridle. But both Pegasus and the bridle are needed to save Olympus.
No adventure is complete if the ragtag band of heroes isn't likeable. Emily and her classmate Joel are resourceful children willing to work hard to protect their friends. Joel may need to learn to control his temper, but Emily is already skilled at doing the right thing even when its hard. Paelen could take a few lessons from her. He begins the story a coward, but begins to change as he figures out what truly gets you respect. On the thief scale of one to Eugenides, he's certainly no Eugenides, but he grows on you. All considered, it's easy to root for their victory over the Nirads and cruel secret agent goons.
THE FLAME OF OLYMPUS might be inappropriate for some younger readers due to the number of deaths, at least one of which is fairly gruesome, and brief scenes of torture. It's nothing I didn't read at that age, but I try to note these things for those with sensitive children.
Young mythology fans will enjoy THE FLAME OF OLYMPUS and eagerly wait for the rest of the series to be released stateside. And it does not fall into my series pet peeve. THE FLAME OF OLYMPUS tells a complete story, although there are threads left dangling to be addressed in the next book.
Written in the third point of view, the narration flips back and forth between Paelen, a thief god, and Emily, a young New Yorker. Paelen attempted to steal Pegasus' bridle during a battle between the Olympians and Nirads and ended up zapped to present time. Emily found Pegasus injured on her roof and a group of men in black found Paelen with the bridle. But both Pegasus and the bridle are needed to save Olympus.
No adventure is complete if the ragtag band of heroes isn't likeable. Emily and her classmate Joel are resourceful children willing to work hard to protect their friends. Joel may need to learn to control his temper, but Emily is already skilled at doing the right thing even when its hard. Paelen could take a few lessons from her. He begins the story a coward, but begins to change as he figures out what truly gets you respect. On the thief scale of one to Eugenides, he's certainly no Eugenides, but he grows on you. All considered, it's easy to root for their victory over the Nirads and cruel secret agent goons.
THE FLAME OF OLYMPUS might be inappropriate for some younger readers due to the number of deaths, at least one of which is fairly gruesome, and brief scenes of torture. It's nothing I didn't read at that age, but I try to note these things for those with sensitive children.
Young mythology fans will enjoy THE FLAME OF OLYMPUS and eagerly wait for the rest of the series to be released stateside. And it does not fall into my series pet peeve. THE FLAME OF OLYMPUS tells a complete story, although there are threads left dangling to be addressed in the next book.
August 31, 2014
EDIT: Review here!
I came into this book expecting it to be either mediocre or bad. It's somewhere in between the two.
This is yet another mediocre Percy Jackson cash-in series involving Roman mythology. Sorry to rain on your parade, Kate O'Hearn, but Uncle Rick beat you to it with The Heroes of Olympus series. Oh wait! This book doesn't even deserve to be compared to the epicness that is Heroes of Olympus.
Let's start with characters.
Emily - Emily is our protagonist. Her main personality trait is sadness about her mother's death, but that goes away after the action starts. And I'm not really sure if that's even a trait. I guess she's...determined? The point is, she's pretty bland.
Pegasus - Best character in the book. Pegasus has attitude, a sweet tooth and shows strength in battle. He's head-and-shoulders above the other Olympians when it comes to sheer coolness.
Joel - Why Joel even exists in this book is beyond me. I guess he's a bit more interesting than Emily, he's a bitter foster kid who is conveniently obsessed with Roman mythology. Still, Emily's reasons behind asking him to help her out are pretty lame and he doesn't add much to the story.
Paelen - Paelen is an Olympian thief who is one of the worst and most nonsensical characters I've ever read. He shows sympathy for others, yet does terrible things anyways and half the cast likes him for some reason and his chapters are boring as Hades.
Emily's Dad - At least he helps a little. That's about it.
Diana - She has a personality...but it's annoying and overly spiteful and rude.
Agent J - He was mean for a little bit, then he wasn't for no reason and what. This villain confuses me.
Bad Stuff:
-Not explaining anything
-The CRU (unrealistic government alien research team that has no rhyme or reason to it)
-bland characters, as said before
-utterly worthless gods
-Paelen not being dead. Oops spoiler alert! Oh wait, you shouldn't be reading this book so you shouldn't care.
-Agent J not believing in Olympians. And then believing in Olympians.
-WHY ARE THEY KEEPING STUFF SECRET FROM THE CRU IF THEY BELIEVE IN OLYMPIANS THEY COULD HELP WUT?!
-meh writing style
-Lame villain race. Oh, did I mention the baddies are the members of this species of destructible giants called the Nirads. They are lame.
-lots more
Good Stuff: (why it gets 2.5 stars)
-Pretty decent action sequences
-Pegasus
-The one book where the parents don't react badly to the magic stuff their kids keep secret. FINALLY THIS NEVER HAPPENS.
-Some of the bad stuff is "so-bad-it's-good"
-If you shut off your brain entirely, it's pretty good!
I actually enjoyed this more than I should have, which if why this book is getting 2.5 stars. The action and pacing is good and there's a few scattered good bits. Nice quick read if you're bored and want to turn off your brain. Other than that it's not worth your time. Read Percy Jackson instead. 2.5 STARS
I came into this book expecting it to be either mediocre or bad. It's somewhere in between the two.
This is yet another mediocre Percy Jackson cash-in series involving Roman mythology. Sorry to rain on your parade, Kate O'Hearn, but Uncle Rick beat you to it with The Heroes of Olympus series. Oh wait! This book doesn't even deserve to be compared to the epicness that is Heroes of Olympus.
Let's start with characters.
Emily - Emily is our protagonist. Her main personality trait is sadness about her mother's death, but that goes away after the action starts. And I'm not really sure if that's even a trait. I guess she's...determined? The point is, she's pretty bland.
Pegasus - Best character in the book. Pegasus has attitude, a sweet tooth and shows strength in battle. He's head-and-shoulders above the other Olympians when it comes to sheer coolness.
Joel - Why Joel even exists in this book is beyond me. I guess he's a bit more interesting than Emily, he's a bitter foster kid who is conveniently obsessed with Roman mythology. Still, Emily's reasons behind asking him to help her out are pretty lame and he doesn't add much to the story.
Paelen - Paelen is an Olympian thief who is one of the worst and most nonsensical characters I've ever read. He shows sympathy for others, yet does terrible things anyways and half the cast likes him for some reason and his chapters are boring as Hades.
Emily's Dad - At least he helps a little. That's about it.
Diana - She has a personality...but it's annoying and overly spiteful and rude.
Agent J - He was mean for a little bit, then he wasn't for no reason and what. This villain confuses me.
Bad Stuff:
-Not explaining anything
-The CRU (unrealistic government alien research team that has no rhyme or reason to it)
-bland characters, as said before
-utterly worthless gods
-Paelen not being dead. Oops spoiler alert! Oh wait, you shouldn't be reading this book so you shouldn't care.
-Agent J not believing in Olympians. And then believing in Olympians.
-WHY ARE THEY KEEPING STUFF SECRET FROM THE CRU IF THEY BELIEVE IN OLYMPIANS THEY COULD HELP WUT?!
-meh writing style
-Lame villain race. Oh, did I mention the baddies are the members of this species of destructible giants called the Nirads. They are lame.
-lots more
Good Stuff: (why it gets 2.5 stars)
-Pretty decent action sequences
-Pegasus
-The one book where the parents don't react badly to the magic stuff their kids keep secret. FINALLY THIS NEVER HAPPENS.
-Some of the bad stuff is "so-bad-it's-good"
-If you shut off your brain entirely, it's pretty good!
I actually enjoyed this more than I should have, which if why this book is getting 2.5 stars. The action and pacing is good and there's a few scattered good bits. Nice quick read if you're bored and want to turn off your brain. Other than that it's not worth your time. Read Percy Jackson instead. 2.5 STARS
February 14, 2016
I read this book a while ago and it was pretty good.
February 7, 2017
4 Stars
I liked this book but did not really did fall in love with it if that makes sense. I have read many fantasy and fiction books, but this one was really different. I liked the characters and the writing and story line. It was not what I excepted. I just don't understand why Emily could get away with having a flying horse at her dad's apartment so long. I would think that she would get caught sooner or later and how the horse stays with her at the apartment. I would think that people would see Pegasus on the roof. I am really curious on what will happen in the rest of the series.
I liked this book but did not really did fall in love with it if that makes sense. I have read many fantasy and fiction books, but this one was really different. I liked the characters and the writing and story line. It was not what I excepted. I just don't understand why Emily could get away with having a flying horse at her dad's apartment so long. I would think that she would get caught sooner or later and how the horse stays with her at the apartment. I would think that people would see Pegasus on the roof. I am really curious on what will happen in the rest of the series.
July 8, 2015
Love it! I love Pegasus! And I love Emily's sweet,determined character.The author makes each character Unique and helpful to the book. LOVE IT! Please read!!!
June 24, 2023
Intense, magical and wonderful. Even reluctant fantasy readers will enjoy this one. New York City is in trouble. Not only has an injured Pegasus appeared, there are Nirads (multiarmed stone warriors) attacking. Can Emily her classmate Joel, a walking Roman mythology wiki, heal Pegasus? With a little help from Olympians, Paelen and Diana who have also arrived in the Big Apple, the two will quickly find themselves on a quest to save both Olympus and the planet Earth.
Book 1 in the Pegasus series.
Book 1 in the Pegasus series.
August 7, 2024
It was a quick read , but it had a lot of heart !! Will continue reading through the series ❤️
May 20, 2012
Pegasus: The Flame of Olympus was such an enjoyable book. It honestly felt more like a middle grade than a young adult, even though every label I could find listed it as young adult. I love Greek/Roman mythology so even from the Prologue I was hooked. Kate did a very good job at taking mythology and putting a very interesting twist on it.
I'm sure most of you know at least some Greek/Roman mythology. This book includes a lot of characters from mythology such as Jupiter, Pegasus, Neptune, Hercules and more. Granted a lot of them are only mentioned once or twice throughout the book it was still really cool to have them all in it. Kate did a fantastic job making the battle between the Olympians and the Nirads feel really epic. And seeing how Emily and Joel get caught up in the story is also pretty exciting. The battle is pretty much the meat of this story, between the battle and trying to protect the flame of Olympus to keep both worlds safe.
Emily and Joel get caught up in all of this after a major storm hits New York. The storm is pretty much what sets the story in motion with the introduction of Pegasus and Paelen. Even though Pegasus is a horse, he is still such a great part of the story. Kate was able to create an awesome background for Pegasus and it really felt like he was more than just a horse. Paelen is a really great character to, being a thief he is somewhat hard to like but he does have some good qualities. All in all it's just a really great group of characters, Kate really did a good job writing them to where they all flow together nicely.
I'm really excited to see where this series goes, and what becomes of all of the characters after what happened at the end. I was really impressed by the ending though, I will admit I was expecting it to be a happy and perfect ending at first just because of how the book felt but it ended up being a really great ending which has somewhat of a mix of good and bad. I didn't really feel like it ended on some huge cliffhanger either which was nice, it just got me excited to read the next book to find out what happens next.
If you like Greek/Roman mythology or are just looking for a exciting and fast paced book to read this summer I would highly suggest picking this one up. It's fairly light, I found it to be a really fast read once I was actually able to sit down for an extended period of time to read it. So I feel like it's once of those books that can easily be read in a day, and have it be a really fun experience.
I'm sure most of you know at least some Greek/Roman mythology. This book includes a lot of characters from mythology such as Jupiter, Pegasus, Neptune, Hercules and more. Granted a lot of them are only mentioned once or twice throughout the book it was still really cool to have them all in it. Kate did a fantastic job making the battle between the Olympians and the Nirads feel really epic. And seeing how Emily and Joel get caught up in the story is also pretty exciting. The battle is pretty much the meat of this story, between the battle and trying to protect the flame of Olympus to keep both worlds safe.
Emily and Joel get caught up in all of this after a major storm hits New York. The storm is pretty much what sets the story in motion with the introduction of Pegasus and Paelen. Even though Pegasus is a horse, he is still such a great part of the story. Kate was able to create an awesome background for Pegasus and it really felt like he was more than just a horse. Paelen is a really great character to, being a thief he is somewhat hard to like but he does have some good qualities. All in all it's just a really great group of characters, Kate really did a good job writing them to where they all flow together nicely.
I'm really excited to see where this series goes, and what becomes of all of the characters after what happened at the end. I was really impressed by the ending though, I will admit I was expecting it to be a happy and perfect ending at first just because of how the book felt but it ended up being a really great ending which has somewhat of a mix of good and bad. I didn't really feel like it ended on some huge cliffhanger either which was nice, it just got me excited to read the next book to find out what happens next.
If you like Greek/Roman mythology or are just looking for a exciting and fast paced book to read this summer I would highly suggest picking this one up. It's fairly light, I found it to be a really fast read once I was actually able to sit down for an extended period of time to read it. So I feel like it's once of those books that can easily be read in a day, and have it be a really fun experience.
March 3, 2014
Synopsis: "A young girl, a winged horse, and a war of epic proportions make for an adventurous start to an exciting new trilogy.
When Pegasus crashes onto a Manhattan roof during a terrible storm, Emily's life changes forever. Suddenly allied with a winged horse she'd always thought was mythical, Emily is thrust into the center of a fierce battle between the Roman gods and a terrifying race of multiarmed stone warriors called the Nirads. Emily must team up with a thief named Paelen, the goddess Diana, and a boy named Joel in order to return Pegasus to Olympus and rescue the gods from a certain death.
Along the way, Emily and her companions will fight monsters, run from a government agency that is prepared to dissect Pegasus, and even fly above the Manhattan skyline-all as part of a quest to save Olympus before time runs out."
My Review: While I was having trouble settling into a book, I picked this one up off my TBR shelf and it hit the spot. I could not stop reading it! I loved the fantasy, myths, and adventure all wrapped into modern day New York City. The characters developed beautifully and I ended up falling in love with them. I really enjoyed how Pegasus became such a big character himself. The story line felt so new and refreshing. It would be fun for young adult guys and girls to read, there is plenty of adventure and fantasy for all. I loved this so much that the morning after finishing it I went out and purchased the next book in the trilogy (and happened to see the third just came out but couldn't get it this time).
When Pegasus crashes onto a Manhattan roof during a terrible storm, Emily's life changes forever. Suddenly allied with a winged horse she'd always thought was mythical, Emily is thrust into the center of a fierce battle between the Roman gods and a terrifying race of multiarmed stone warriors called the Nirads. Emily must team up with a thief named Paelen, the goddess Diana, and a boy named Joel in order to return Pegasus to Olympus and rescue the gods from a certain death.
Along the way, Emily and her companions will fight monsters, run from a government agency that is prepared to dissect Pegasus, and even fly above the Manhattan skyline-all as part of a quest to save Olympus before time runs out."
My Review: While I was having trouble settling into a book, I picked this one up off my TBR shelf and it hit the spot. I could not stop reading it! I loved the fantasy, myths, and adventure all wrapped into modern day New York City. The characters developed beautifully and I ended up falling in love with them. I really enjoyed how Pegasus became such a big character himself. The story line felt so new and refreshing. It would be fun for young adult guys and girls to read, there is plenty of adventure and fantasy for all. I loved this so much that the morning after finishing it I went out and purchased the next book in the trilogy (and happened to see the third just came out but couldn't get it this time).
Read
August 31, 2021this was my jam in 6th grade 😭😭
February 2, 2018
The Flame Of Olympus
The book is called Pegasus, Flame of Olympus, by Kate O’hearn. It’s a crossover story between Emily Jacobs and a god named Paelen.
It starts with Emily sitting by the window watching the biggest thunderstorm that had ever happened in New york city. Emily’s dad Steve Jacobs is a cop and is working. While Olympus is having a battle between the Nirads and the roman gods. The flame of Olympus has been dimming, and the gods are weakened by the that, without the flame the gods do not have enough power to defeat the Nirads. While the battle rages on Paelen, a thief, wants to take Pegasus for himself and escape the battle. During the battle Jupiter sends Pegasus to find the girl who holds the flame of Olympus inside her. But when Pegasus arrives at Earth Paelen follows him using Mercury's winged sandals. Lighting strikes them both, and Pegasus lands on Emily’s roof. While Paelen disappears. Emily might need help from Joel to figure this out.
This book was definitely worth my time to read, it felt like I was there feeling what they were feeling. I didn’t find any part of the book slow. There was a lot of action in it and some sad moments. This book had all kind of emotion in it. Fear, curiosity, happiness, sadness and anger. I didn’t really like the part where they get captured, or when Emily got hurt. But it was kinda worth it to make the book exciting. I liked the way that the author made the gods roman, I found that interesting I’m more used to them being greek. It was a new experience for me. I liked it a lot. I remember being scared of a big thunderstorm like Emily. But no Pegasus crashed on my roof. Emily has a very determined personality, she would do anything for her friends. Paelen’s personality at first was the opposite of Emily's. Throughout the book Paelen became friends with Emily and Joel, he learned what it’s like to be, and to have a friend who treats him more than a thief. This book made me feel all kinds of emotion, scared, happy, sad and a little bit of anger. But I loved it anyway.
I think the theme of this book is that we should trust our friends and don’t judge someone who we never met. Like when Emily had to trust Joel to keep Pegasus a secret, and when they both thought that Paelen was just a thief and cared about no one but himself. But he proved them wrong by helping them escape the police. Think book is definitely one that I would read again. I really liked all of it even the parts I didn’t like, I loved them.
The book is called Pegasus, Flame of Olympus, by Kate O’hearn. It’s a crossover story between Emily Jacobs and a god named Paelen.
It starts with Emily sitting by the window watching the biggest thunderstorm that had ever happened in New york city. Emily’s dad Steve Jacobs is a cop and is working. While Olympus is having a battle between the Nirads and the roman gods. The flame of Olympus has been dimming, and the gods are weakened by the that, without the flame the gods do not have enough power to defeat the Nirads. While the battle rages on Paelen, a thief, wants to take Pegasus for himself and escape the battle. During the battle Jupiter sends Pegasus to find the girl who holds the flame of Olympus inside her. But when Pegasus arrives at Earth Paelen follows him using Mercury's winged sandals. Lighting strikes them both, and Pegasus lands on Emily’s roof. While Paelen disappears. Emily might need help from Joel to figure this out.
This book was definitely worth my time to read, it felt like I was there feeling what they were feeling. I didn’t find any part of the book slow. There was a lot of action in it and some sad moments. This book had all kind of emotion in it. Fear, curiosity, happiness, sadness and anger. I didn’t really like the part where they get captured, or when Emily got hurt. But it was kinda worth it to make the book exciting. I liked the way that the author made the gods roman, I found that interesting I’m more used to them being greek. It was a new experience for me. I liked it a lot. I remember being scared of a big thunderstorm like Emily. But no Pegasus crashed on my roof. Emily has a very determined personality, she would do anything for her friends. Paelen’s personality at first was the opposite of Emily's. Throughout the book Paelen became friends with Emily and Joel, he learned what it’s like to be, and to have a friend who treats him more than a thief. This book made me feel all kinds of emotion, scared, happy, sad and a little bit of anger. But I loved it anyway.
I think the theme of this book is that we should trust our friends and don’t judge someone who we never met. Like when Emily had to trust Joel to keep Pegasus a secret, and when they both thought that Paelen was just a thief and cared about no one but himself. But he proved them wrong by helping them escape the police. Think book is definitely one that I would read again. I really liked all of it even the parts I didn’t like, I loved them.
March 4, 2018
hey hey hey, I’m going on a spam of books I read in elementary-middle school so here it is :)
this sure as heck wasn’t as good as the Percy Jackson series, but it was pretty good! I mean back then I didn’t worry about unrealistic characters bc who cared. if anything, the main character was lacking but the plot line and premise was really good. also Pegasus. also horses & a touch on horse abuse 😪
if you’re looking for ages 10+ and Roman mythology, this is the one for you
not gonna lie I could read this again, no hesitation. it has a really good feel to it & keeps u entertained for a looong time! 😊
this sure as heck wasn’t as good as the Percy Jackson series, but it was pretty good! I mean back then I didn’t worry about unrealistic characters bc who cared. if anything, the main character was lacking but the plot line and premise was really good. also Pegasus. also horses & a touch on horse abuse 😪
if you’re looking for ages 10+ and Roman mythology, this is the one for you
not gonna lie I could read this again, no hesitation. it has a really good feel to it & keeps u entertained for a looong time! 😊
March 10, 2019
It was not quite meh, but I didn't quite love it either.
October 21, 2023
It's been many years since I have read this, but I know I loved it when I was younger, so I hope it deserves the four stars I am giving it.
June 22, 2025
OMG I READ THIS BOOK IS SIXTH GRADE AND ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT 10/10 READ KINDA REMINDED ME OF PERCY JACKSON IN A WAY
January 24, 2022
#agentJ
November 23, 2015
**This might spoil the beginning so be aware of this**
This book is so awesome.This book is about a girl named Emily who lives a normal life until a Pegasus crashes on the roof of her building since she lives on the top floor. This all started when the Paelen decide to take the magic bridle of the Pegasus while the Gods were fighting the terrible monsters called the Nirads. The Nirads are also trying to extinguish the flame of Olympus which is the source of power the Gods and if there is no Gods to control the world and this will destroy the world. After Paelen takes the bridle he crash lands and he blacks out he is now in a hospital. Anyways back to Emily she finds out what is happening and she knows there is one person that she knows what crashed on her roof Joel a mean boy in her class he tells her all about it . Then Joel tells them that the Pegasus is looking for the flame of Olympus. Which we don't know who he or she is . But to find out who it is, if the Pegasus makes the Mission read the book.
I know you will probably like it.
This book is so awesome.This book is about a girl named Emily who lives a normal life until a Pegasus crashes on the roof of her building since she lives on the top floor. This all started when the Paelen decide to take the magic bridle of the Pegasus while the Gods were fighting the terrible monsters called the Nirads. The Nirads are also trying to extinguish the flame of Olympus which is the source of power the Gods and if there is no Gods to control the world and this will destroy the world. After Paelen takes the bridle he crash lands and he blacks out he is now in a hospital. Anyways back to Emily she finds out what is happening and she knows there is one person that she knows what crashed on her roof Joel a mean boy in her class he tells her all about it . Then Joel tells them that the Pegasus is looking for the flame of Olympus. Which we don't know who he or she is . But to find out who it is, if the Pegasus makes the Mission read the book.
I know you will probably like it.
November 27, 2021
I liked it..
We see Emily and Palean with Pegasus and their friends as they go on a quest to save Olympus. Considering it was a middle grade read, this book was awesome.
First and foremost. how majestic and wonderful was Pegasus? A winged white horse who understands what we speak and takes offense when called a horse (Honestly though, why call the great Pegasus a horse?) , stubborn - What's not to like?
Emily was pretty cool too. I loveedd her determination and her love towards Pegs. She was 12 years old when she put saving Pegasus and Olympus above saving herself. The kind of maturity that takes. I liked her relationship with Pegasus too.
Palean - at first glance, the villain, but he grows on you. He did wrong and acknowledged it. He made amends to his behaviour. By the end of the book, we distinctly see that he has changed from what he was before.
We see Emily and Palean with Pegasus and their friends as they go on a quest to save Olympus. Considering it was a middle grade read, this book was awesome.
First and foremost. how majestic and wonderful was Pegasus? A winged white horse who understands what we speak and takes offense when called a horse (Honestly though, why call the great Pegasus a horse?) , stubborn - What's not to like?
Emily was pretty cool too. I loveedd her determination and her love towards Pegs. She was 12 years old when she put saving Pegasus and Olympus above saving herself. The kind of maturity that takes. I liked her relationship with Pegasus too.
Palean - at first glance, the villain, but he grows on you. He did wrong and acknowledged it. He made amends to his behaviour. By the end of the book, we distinctly see that he has changed from what he was before.
January 6, 2024
Yes, I know. This book series is middle grade and more for thirteen-year-olds. Did that stop me from re-reading it? NO.
I remember reading this series as a kid and I ate it up. I binged it and I loved it. I was with a friend and saw these on her shelves and I was instantly brought back to the time that I read these books. I then proceeded to find the books on ThriftBooks so that I could add them to my library in hopes that, one day, my kids can read them and love them as much as I do.
I decided to re-read it for pure nostalgia. It was successful.
I don't even care that I, as an adult, read this middle grade book and still greatly enjoyed it. I love the writing and I like how it talks about Roman Mythology. It's a cute little introduction into it.
I wish I could have a pegasus in real life.... that would be pretty cool :)
I remember reading this series as a kid and I ate it up. I binged it and I loved it. I was with a friend and saw these on her shelves and I was instantly brought back to the time that I read these books. I then proceeded to find the books on ThriftBooks so that I could add them to my library in hopes that, one day, my kids can read them and love them as much as I do.
I decided to re-read it for pure nostalgia. It was successful.
I don't even care that I, as an adult, read this middle grade book and still greatly enjoyed it. I love the writing and I like how it talks about Roman Mythology. It's a cute little introduction into it.
I wish I could have a pegasus in real life.... that would be pretty cool :)
March 12, 2020
I love this series so much its what got me into mythology really so it holds a special place in my heart its so good I really enjoy the characters and the story and pealen and pegs and everyone. its just a really enjoyable series I love the myths and story also everything really good start. SO READ
August 22, 2013
I couldn't get into this one. I gave it a good go and it wasn't thrilling enough for me to keep going. There's nothing wrong with the writing, I just wasn't invested in the characters and didn't feel the need to go on to find out what happens next.
May 14, 2014
Really good :) I like that Emily didn't die, and that she has like, a pet Pegasus! YAY
My favorite character is probably Pegasus. :)
My favorite character is probably Pegasus. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2019
It's been a while since I read this book and it was really nice to revisit it! It's definitely written from younger readers but it was still a very enjoyable read :)
September 14, 2012
Read more of my reviews on my blog
The Story
"It's really you isn't it?" Emily whispered softly as she stroked the soft muzzle. "You're Pegasus, aren't you?"
The stallion...nudged her hand, inviting another stroke. In that one rain-drenched instant, Emily felt her world changing. Forever. (p. 33)
One stormy night Pegasus crashes onto the roof of Emily's apartment in New York City. She soon learns that there is a war going on in Olympus and that the gods are being overthrown by the vicious, monstrous Nirads. These creatures have followed Pegasus to earth, along with a thief named Paelen who is after the stallion's golden bridle.
Emily must work together with a boy named Joel and the goddess Diana to return Pegasus to Olympus and defeat the Nirads before it is too late and both of their worlds are destroyed.
Our Heroine: Emily
"No!" Emily cried. "This is impossible!"
More lightning lit the rooftop, confirming what Emily was trying so hard to deny.
A white horse with golden hooves and vast white wings was lying on its side in the middle of her mother's rose garden. (p. 29)
Emily was a sweet, caring girl and the relationship between her and Pegasus was really cute. My favorite part was when she brought him carrots and apples and a tub of ice cream for herself, and Pegasus ended up eating the ice cream. It was also sweet how protective Pegasus was of Emily.
However, while Emily did have likeable and sympathetic qualities (she is mourning the death of her mother), her character wasn't very developed. I also didn't feel like her character had changed at the end of the story as a result of her adventure.
Our Villain: The Nirads
"Emily could see that the Nirad's eyes were jet-black with no whites or color at all. Its teeth were large, sharp points, and it was drooling as it made ferocious, guttural sounds...it flexed its four arms, which ended in filthy hands and fingers with long, sharp claws." (p. 132)
The Nirads are the main villains of the story. They are four-armed monster warriors that appear to be indestructible and in the beginning of the story they have taken over Olympus.
They weren't really the best villains honestly. It's never explained where they came from, or what exactly they were after. With no motive, it felt like they were there just for the sake of the story having a villain.
Another villain of the story is a secret government agency called CRU, which researches strange phenomenon such as aliens and UFO's. They end up capturing one of the Olympians who accidentally came to earth with Pegasus early on, which leads to a series of interrogation scenes.
Basically the same questions and answers are repeated over and over and over to the point where it gets really annoying to read. The agents believe in aliens but refuse to accept that the Olympians could be real despite all the obvious evidence that continues to pile up (a winged horse, winged sandals, the toga).
I mean come on how thick could you be??
Main Characters
Paelen
"But Paelen had no intention of fighting. He wasn't a warrior. He was a thief with plans of his own, which didn't include getting killed in a battle they couldn't possibly win." (p. 2)
Paelen was probably one of the most interesting characters. He's a cowardly, selfish thief who accidentally follows Pegasus to earth. He wants to steal Pegasus's bridle for himself so he can control the stallion and leave Olympus because he feels like he doesn't belong.
He also has a talent for being able to escape any prison, because he can stretch his bones. I felt like Paelen was one of the character's who had more depth and who developed the most throughout the story.
Joel
"Finally someone came to mind. Someone from her school who would be strong enough to pull out the spear. Someone who was always sketching pictures of winged horses in his textbooks. The trouble was, he was the meanest boy in Emily's class. He was probably the meanest boy in the whole school." (p. 55)
Joel is an angry, troubled foster kid who Emily knows from school. I found it a bit unbelievable that she would go to him for help with Pegasus since she didn't know him at all he wasn't a very friendly person.
Joel had a bit more depth than most of the characters, and he also developed some throughout the story. He and Emily become friends, and the friendship between them was sweet.
To Read Or Not To Read?
The initial idea of this book is very intriguing, but in all honesty the writing needed a lot of work. The dialogue especially was very weak and awkward (and often cheesy), and a lot of times characters would state things to each other that they already knew solely for the reader's benefit. There was also lots of repetition of the same information.
I still enjoyed the story itself despite this, though it would have been much better had the writing been polished up. It was a fun, heartwarming, light read and I think that younger kids would really enjoy it.
I think though, with a younger audience in mind that this book should have been shorter because 400 pages can be daunting for younger readers, even if it is larger text that reads quickly.
All in all, a cute story!
Writing: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Plot: 3/5
Creativity/Originality: 4/5
Kept me interested: 4/5
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