{"id":1577539,"date":"2019-11-25T11:19:18","date_gmt":"2019-11-25T16:19:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/?p=1577539"},"modified":"2020-04-09T14:35:26","modified_gmt":"2020-04-09T18:35:26","slug":"divine-reads-the-athena-protocol-by-shamim-sarif","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/divine-reads-the-athena-protocol-by-shamim-sarif\/","title":{"rendered":"DIVINE Reads: The Athena Protocol by Shamim Sarif"},"content":{"rendered":"

About The Book<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jessie Archer is a member of the Athena Protocol, an elite organization of female spies who enact vigilante justice around the world.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Athena operatives are never supposed to shoot to kill\u2014so when Jessie can\u2019t 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.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u2019s to complete her mission\u2014and survive.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Review<\/h3>\n

Young Adult Fiction started booming thanks to J.K. Rowling\u2019s Harry Potter.\u00a0 The Twilight series continued the phenomena. \u00a0The genre continued to grow with people of all ages thanks to \u201cThe Hunger Games.\u201d\u00a0 Some of the best books<\/a> published for readers of all ages fall into this genre.\u00a0 Simply put, you will not find swearing or graphic sex in these books. \u00a0Even without these elements, they remain 50 Shades of Gripping.\u00a0 \u201cThe Athena Protocol\u201d from novelist, screenwriter and director, Shamim Sarif is no exception.<\/p>\n

“The Athena Protocol” has very adult themes, but not because Jessie, the main character is LGBT.\u00a0 It is because the dark forces that she and the band of vigilante spies that she works with are up against human traffickers.\u00a0 These are not typical moustache-twirling villains.\u00a0 The plot is scary because it is conceivable in today\u2019s world.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

All of the characters have a deeper back story making the reader want to do a deeper dive.\u00a0 It is very easy to see \u201cThe Athena Protocol\u201d turn into a book series.\u00a0 Although Jessie is driving most of the action, none of the other characters are superfluous.\u00a0 Each has a role within the organization and in driving the plot forward.\u00a0 The story plays out like a screenplay.\u00a0 We wouldn\u2019t be surprised to see this adapted for the big screen.<\/p>\n

The action in the book is the perfect blend of James Bond-like gadgets and Evelyn Salt-like resourcefulness.\u00a0 Jessie got herself into and out of some tense situations.\u00a0 The ending showed though, that \u201cThe Athena Protocol\u201d agents were a stronger force together than each was individually.\u00a0 Their weaknesses became key touch points within the book, but in a way that is not preachy.\u00a0 From a Young Adult standpoint, it is important to have lead characters that are LGBT.\u00a0 Sarif made this a small part of the story though.\u00a0 Romance did not drive the plot \u2013 ultimately, it was all of the agents\u2019 devotion to each other and to their cause that moved the action forward.<\/p>\n

If you like non-stop action and unapologetically intelligent female characters, this is the book for you.\u00a0 Be prepared to set aside a day to read it though.\u00a0 The fast-moving plot will keep you hooked until the last page.<\/p>\n

The author partnered with Headwaters Relief Organization<\/a> to build awareness of human trafficking, donating 100% of the proceeds from all sales from her site<\/a> to the organization.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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…<\/div>\n
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