THE CHAOS OF STARS

The relationship between a teen and her parents is complicated—especially if that family is full of Egyptian gods. Despite the promising premise, this latest from White achieves only demigod status at best.

Isadora is the daughter of Isis and Osiris, who are unusual parents, and she’s not your typical teen either. Her days are an odd combination of interior design and god worship. But although her parents are immortal Egyptian gods, they will let her die instead of keeping her with them forever. This discovery launches Isadora on a petulant, stubborn journey. When Isis gets pregnant ahead of the normal schedule, Isadora won’t tell her mother about her dark prophetic dreams. Sent to San Diego to stay with her older brother, Isadora tries to get some distance from her mother while struggling with her feelings for the beautiful, much-too-perfect Ry, a boy who writes epic poetry. Meanwhile, Isadora doesn’t pay attention to the signs that someone is after her, not until it’s nearly too late and her mother is in danger. It’s never clear just who Isadora is; her voice never fully jells into her own, neither modern girl nor ancient child of the gods. Supporting characters such as Ry are flat and two-dimensional, and the danger to Isis is not compelling enough to catch readers up.

This novel won’t gain the Egyptian gods many new worshippers.