I hate running errands. Really, I do. I hate having to leave the comfort of my home, with my tub full of Baskin Robbins and my ridiculously large television set. Just to travel to the dreaded Post office, or crowded grocery store, or some other place that insists on taking my money against my will. So the idea of running errands for a living makes me want to lay down and sleep for a very, very long time. But that is exactly what our heroine does every day of her life. Harbinger from first time novelist Peta Crake tells the story of Ophelia Lind, an Olympic messenger, working for the gorgeous and reprehensible Hermes. Yes kids. This is yet another fantasy series that pulls from Greek mythology. Don’t groan. Just wait. Anyhoo, Ophelia’s going about her normal, busy life. When the godly Aden moves into her neighborhood, and turns her life upside down. And, of course, hijinks ensue (no, not really). What really ensues is a dark tale of pain and deception that Ophelia must endure to find a missing friend. Since this is Peta Crake’s first novel, there are a few holes in the mythology that play out here. But that is to be expected from a new novelist. Even JK Rowling screwed up with her Flint character. You shouldn’t read this book for the mythology of it anyway. You should read this book for the main character. Ophelia Lind is not quite Lisbeth Salandar, but she’s damn close. Like Lisbeth, Ophelia takes abuse heaped upon her from all sides, but manages to come out swinging. It takes a particularly strong character to take the best punches from gods and goddesses. And survive to tell the tale. I also like the fact that this was set in Australia. It’s not the usual location for these kinds of stories. So it added a refreshing element to the book. I can’t wait to see where Crake takes us in the next installment of Ophelia’s story. This is chick lit worth reading.
