DIVINE
  • English
    • Français
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Food
  • Family
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Living
  • Reviews
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Instagram
  • Legal
Stay Connected
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
DIVINE
  • English
  • French
DIVINE
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Living
  • Family
  • Health
  • Reviews
  • Reviews

DIVINE Reads: The Athena Protocol by Shamim Sarif

  • November 25, 2019
  • 3 minute read
  • Jill Schneiderman
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

About The Book

Jessie Archer is a member of the Athena Protocol, an elite organization of female spies who enact vigilante justice around the world.

Athena operatives are never supposed to shoot to kill—so when Jessie can’t stop herself from pulling the trigger, she gets kicked out of the organization, right before a huge mission to take down a human trafficker in Belgrade.

Jessie needs to right her wrong and prove herself, so she starts her own investigation into the trafficking. But going rogue means she has no one to watch her back as she delves into the horrors she uncovers. Meanwhile, her former teammates have been ordered to bring her down. Jessie must face danger from all sides if she’s to complete her mission—and survive.

The Review

Young Adult Fiction started booming thanks to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter.  The Twilight series continued the phenomena.  The genre continued to grow with people of all ages thanks to “The Hunger Games.”  Some of the best books published for readers of all ages fall into this genre.  Simply put, you will not find swearing or graphic sex in these books.  Even without these elements, they remain 50 Shades of Gripping.  “The Athena Protocol” from novelist, screenwriter and director, Shamim Sarif is no exception.

“The Athena Protocol” has very adult themes, but not because Jessie, the main character is LGBT.  It is because the dark forces that she and the band of vigilante spies that she works with are up against human traffickers.  These are not typical moustache-twirling villains.  The plot is scary because it is conceivable in today’s world.  Sarif created twists and turns that were shocking, and this book is not for the feint of heart. There are some genuinely scary moments, particularly at the climax of the action.

All of the characters have a deeper back story making the reader want to do a deeper dive.  It is very easy to see “The Athena Protocol” turn into a book series.  Although Jessie is driving most of the action, none of the other characters are superfluous.  Each has a role within the organization and in driving the plot forward.  The story plays out like a screenplay.  We wouldn’t be surprised to see this adapted for the big screen.

The action in the book is the perfect blend of James Bond-like gadgets and Evelyn Salt-like resourcefulness.  Jessie got herself into and out of some tense situations.  The ending showed though, that “The Athena Protocol” agents were a stronger force together than each was individually.  Their weaknesses became key touch points within the book, but in a way that is not preachy.  From a Young Adult standpoint, it is important to have lead characters that are LGBT.  Sarif made this a small part of the story though.  Romance did not drive the plot – ultimately, it was all of the agents’ devotion to each other and to their cause that moved the action forward.

If you like non-stop action and unapologetically intelligent female characters, this is the book for you.  Be prepared to set aside a day to read it though.  The fast-moving plot will keep you hooked until the last page.

The author partnered with Headwaters Relief Organization to build awareness of human trafficking, donating 100% of the proceeds from all sales from her site to the organization.

 

 

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
You May Also Like
    • Reviews
    • Travel

Monos: Functional Elegance for Families Who Travel in Style

  • Caroline Elie
  • May 31, 2025
Apple Watch for Kids: 3 Apple Watches with memojis
    • Family
    • Reviews

Apple Watch for Kids: A Smart Family Ally!

  • Caroline Elie
  • May 31, 2025
Life After: A scene from the musical Life After Yonge Street
    • Reviews

DIVINE Reviews: Life After

  • Jill Schneiderman
  • May 3, 2025
Drop: Movie Poster Artwork
    • Film & TV
    • Reviews

DIVINE Movie Reviews: Drop

  • Jill Schneiderman
  • April 10, 2025
Related Topics
  • Avid Reader
  • Book Clubs
  • Book Reviews
  • Fiction
  • Good Reads
  • HarperCollins
  • Novels
  • Reviews
  • Shamim Sarif
  • The Athena Protocol
  • Young Adult Fiction
Jill Schneiderman

Jill Schneiderman is a publicist and editorial director/partner at DIVINE.ca, where she blends her extensive experience in media with her passion for storytelling. An award-winning marketing professional, Jill has dedicated her career to crafting compelling stories and campaigns in the media landscape for both blue chip clients and the stable of lifestyle experts that she now works with.

Previous Article
  • Health

Top 5 Ways to Avoid the Bloat During the Holiday Season

  • November 20, 2019
  • Bryce Wylde
View Post
Next Article
  • Food

Bread and Salt Bakehouse: Damson Plum Jam Star

  • November 25, 2019
  • divine.ca
View Post
Search
Featured Posts
  • Apple Family Sharing: Silhouettes of a family of 4 at sunset

    3 Key Benefits of Using the Apple Family Sharing Feature

    • 2 min
    View Post
  • Cataract Surgery: Human eye with clouded lens, white pupil

    Look Before You Leap into Cataract Surgery

    • 4 min
    View Post
  • Ear Pain: Finger Puppets in winter gear

    Avoiding Ear Pain in Winter

    • 3 min
    View Post
Get in on the Fun
Top Posts
  • Hearing Health: hands holding a hearing aid 1
    4 Surprising Factors Affecting Your Hearing Health
    • 2 min
  • Frank Ferragine: Frankie Flowers in a greenhouse 2
    Frank Ferragine Plants New Roots: Continues as Canada’s Leading Gardening Expert
    • 2 min
  • Getting Rid of Weeds: Rock Garden 3
    Getting Rid Of Weeds: How The Pros Do It
    • 5 min
Stay Connected
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
Featured Posts
  • Journaling: A woman's hand holding a pen writing in a journal

    Journaling: A Simple Ritual to Soothe the Mind and Nurture Inner Balance

    • 2 min
    View Post
  • Super Bowl Menu

    4 Recipes from Paula Stachyra’s Super Bowl Menu

    • 4 min
    View Post
  • Daily Wellness: Woman stretching outdoors face to camera

    How to Build a Daily Wellness Routine with Your Apple Watch

    • 2 min
    View Post
about
DIVINE Magazine

Canada's Online Women's Magazine

DIVINE Magazine is the bilingual online destination for Canadian women. Bringing you trending features that are relevant and interesting to Canadian women, DIVINE is the place to visit for useful, practical and entertaining content.
Subscribe
Partner Network
SWAGGER Magazine, North America’s
Online Men‘s Luxury Lifestyle Magazine.Ohlala.ca, Canada’s Destination for Everything You Need to Know About Dating & Sex.
about
Stay Connected

Follow along on Instagram @DIVINEdotca

Kick your feed up a notch with the hottest beauty, style trends, recipes and more! It's not too late, follow along today and you might just catch the behind-the-scenes of our next shoot or even a contest. You can thank us later. ;) #Divinistas
Follow Us
DIVINE
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Making your life a little more DIVINE.

Copyright © 2022 Divine.ca · All Rights Reserved

Input your search keywords and press Enter.