Artemis the Loyal is the seventh book in the Goddess Girls series, released on December 6, 2011. It is the second book starring Artemis. It introduces the Aloadae; Otus and Ephialtes, touches on the tale of Artemis and Actaeon, mentions the story of Apollo and Daphne, and explores the myth of Apollo and Python.
Official Summary[]
It's time for the annual Olympic Games, and the four goddessgirls are not happy that it’s boys only. Led by Artemis, Athena, Persphone and Aphrodite, the ladies of Mount Olympus hatch a plan to get Zeus to open up the games to everyone. Will they succeed--or end up watching from the sidelines again?
Plot[]
Artemis and her twin brother Apollo have a footrace against each other. Being taunted by the godboy Ares that Apollo can beat Artemis, because she is a girl, Artemis is angry by this. Despite her winning, Ares ignores this fact, while Apollo is embarrassed. The chapter further displays the chauvinist attitudes of the boys attending MOA, who think the idea of girls competing in the Olympic Games is a preposterous idea. A moment later, two giants appear, later revealed to be named Otus and Ephialtes, who are also competing in the games, for wrestling. There is immediate animosity between the godboys and the giants, due to the history of the Olympian gods overthrowing a group of rulers called the Titans, where most of the giants had fought on the Titan side. Artemis stands up against them, and they also display the belief that girls should not be able to participate in sports. When a fight breaks out, Artemis tries to help her brother, and the giants finally leave, making Apollo once again feel humiliated. Suddenly the mortal Actaeon is pushed into Artemis, causing her to fall into the water fountain. Actaeon offers his help while laughing, and Artemis tries to tug him in, but fails and falls in once more. Angry, she turns Acateon into a stag, which causes the giant Ephialtes to chase after him, due to his hunting nature. Despite being furious, Artemis undos her spell.
After heading back to the courtyard, she meets up with Apollo, who expresses his embarrassment, ultimately leading to a fallout and conflict between them. Going to the main hall in the school, she notices a new event called the 'Python-O-Thon' which goes up against a parnassus python who asks two riddles. Medusa comments how she wishes that she could enter, and Artemis agrees, making the decision to talk to Principal Zeus. The plan goes awry, however, when Zeus also carries the same idea that girls should not enter the games, sticking with the rule he made years ago. Artemis shares the exchange to her Goddess Girl friends, and announces her idea of starting up a girls-only games, which they are in supportive of. Later she flies down to Earth to the Forest, where students from Beast-ology train, to see her brother. Apollo informs her of participating in the Python-O-Thon, causing Artemis to protest, believing that it is a bad idea.
Artemis makes her way to her second period class, Hero-ology, and sees the godboys and the giants having a fight once more. Medusa attempts to help Poseidon by trying to turn one of the giants into stone, but fails, as most giants are immortal. Mr. Cyclops intervenes, sending Poseidon and Ares to detention. Medusa asks Artemis about the girl games, and Artemis shares the idea of a petition, where if Zeus can see the amount of support from the student body, he may allow it to go through. Artemis goes to Hero-ology and begins talking to Otus, who shares the story of him and his twin wrestling once and the differentiation between them - Otus having a white scar above is left eyebrow, and Ephialtes having a gap in the middle of his bottom row of teeth. Artemis finds that they alike, with having a twin, and that Otus is actually nice.
In Artemis' last class of the day, Revenge-ology, Hera is the substitute teacher for Ms. Nemesis, and introduces the topic of fairness. It goes to the discussion of girls being able to join the olympics, causing arguments, and making Artemis even more determined about the girl games. Later that day she and the Goddess Girls promote their petition. Eventually Acateon arrives at the table, but before telling Artemis something, he's interrupted by four godboys who ridicule the petition. Acateon, after some hesitation, signs his name, being the first boy to do so. Later Otus comes over and signs.
In Revenge-ology, Hera is the teacher again, and Artemis brings up the petition at the end of the class, explaining how Zeus won't accept the signatures, and wonders if Hera can talk to him. Later after hearing about the arrival of the Python from Pheme, goddessgirl of gossips, she sneaks into the gym to check out the monster. After accidentally letting out a sneeze, the serpent picks her up, and Artemis discovers that the monster can read her mind. After answering two questions, she reveals that her brother's biggest weakness is the inability to lie. Telling Apollo this, the godboy unexpectedly gives her a hug, and seems grateful.
At the Olympic Games after a wrestling match, Heracles wins, but Ephialtes, being a sore loser, takes the olive wreath. Artemis quickly solves this by turning herself into a stag and starts running far away. The two giants go after her, and Artemis turns into a hawk, flying up, causing the twins to knock into each other. This mishap causes the brothers to look identical again, with a scar and tooth knocked out, and they mutually decide to go back home.
When it is Apollo's turn against the python, he avoids looking in its eyes, causing the python to ask its first question. Next, Apollo uses a paradox, which confuses the python, making the serpent lose after asking another simple question. After the Olympic Games wraps up, Zeus makes two announcements, the first that he and Hera are engaged to be married. The second is a new competition for girls only, called the Heraean Games, named after Hera. Later on Hera reveals to Artemis that her brother came in Zeus' office, handing in papers of signatures from every boy of MOA in the dorm. Later she and Apollo walk to the Supernatural Market, and then both race against each other for fun.
Chapter List[]
- No Girls Allowed
- The Giants
- Brother vs. Sister
- Visiting Zeus
- Zzzzing!
- Girls Only
- Big Giant Trouble
- No Fair!
- Gathering Signatures
- Keep Away
- Wedding Talk
- Python
- Greek Philosophy
- Stag Tag
- The Contessst
Characters[]
- Artemis - the protagonist of the book, goddessgirl of hunt and the moon. She is the first to bring up the idea of an all-girl games.
- Apollo - Artemis' twin brother, who also does archery, and competes in the Python-O-Thon, winning by using a paradox.
- Ares - godboy of war who has an on/off relationship with Aphrodite
- Athena - one of the main goddess girls who is known for being wise. She is the daughter of Principal Zeus.
- Atlas - the godboy of strength who competes in the Olympic Games for wrestling.
- Aphrodite - one of the main goddess girls who is known for her beauty.
- Heracles - the mortal boy who completed twelve labours with Athena's help, and is her boyfriend. He won the wrestling match against the giant Ephialtes.
- Poseidon - the popular godboy who's flirty, and not-so bright.
- Actaeon - the mortal boy who has a crush on Artemis, and the first boy to sign his petition.
- Persephone - one of the main goddess girls who is kind, thoughtful, and quiet.
- Hades - a godboy who was once misunderstood, and is dating Persephone.
- Otus - one of the twin giants who is the friendlier one.
- Ephialtes - one of the two giants who has a high voice, is egotistical, and a sore loser.
- Medusa - a gorgon, having the ability to turn mortals into stone. She is supportive of the idea of an all-girl games.
- Ms. Hydra - the secretary at Mount Olympus Academy, who has nine heads, each with different moods.
- Zeus - the principal of Mount Olympus Academy, dating Hera, and is the father of Athena.
- Hera - a goddess who is wise and beautiful, she is engaged to Zeus, and fills in as a substitute for teacher Ms. Nemesis' absence two times.
- Eros - a godboy briefly mentioned.
- Stheno - a sister of Medusa.
- Antheia - a goddessgirl attending MOA.
- Iris - a goddessgirl attending MOA.
- Euryale - a sister of Medusa.
- Pandora - a mortal attending MOA, who is well-known for her curiosity.
- Mr. Eratosthenes - the librarian at MOA.
- Dionysus - a godboy who is cheerful and part of the band Heavens Above along with Apollo, Poseidon, Ares, and Hades.
- Mr. Cyclops - a teacher for Hero-ology at MOA.
- Kydoimos - a godboy who is a bully.
- Makhai - a godboy who is a bully.
- Aglaia - a goddessgirl attending MOA.
- Pheme - a goddessgirl who frequently spreads gossip, whether it be true or not.
- Python - a serpent that tells riddles and uses trickery.
Trivia[]
- The story begins and ends with Apollo and Artemis racing against each other.
- People who have signed the petition included Artemis, Athena, Aphrodite, Persephone, Antheia, Iris, Medusa, Stheno, Euryale, Aglaia, Pandora, Actaeon, Otus, and all the boys in MOA's dorm.
- When Artemis asked the Magic 8 Ball if there is a way her brother could beat the python, it replies "True and False", which foreshadows the paradox Apollo uses with the python to win.
- The book mentions the mortal, Hyacinth, who won the discus-throwing contest. In Greek myths, he and Apollo decided to have a friendly competition by taking turns to throw the discus. Apollo threw first, with such a strength that the discus slit the clouds in the sky. Hyacinth ran behind it to catch it and impress Apollo. But as the discus hit the ground, it bounced back, hitting Hyacinth's head and wounding him fatally. Alternatively, Zephyrus is held responsible for the death of Hyacinth. Jealous that Hyacinth preferred the radiant Apollo, Zephyrus blew Apollo's quoit boisterously off course to kill Hyacinth.
- Apollo mentioned a temple for Artemis, and there was actually a temple, called the Temple of Artemis, that was located in Ephesus.
- In Greek Myths...
- The Heraean Games were a track-and-field competition and consisted only of footraces for young, unmarried women.
- The Aloadae, Otus and Elphialtes, wanted to storm Mount Olympus and gain Artemis for Otus and Hera for Ephialtes. Another version was they managed to kidnap Ares and hold him in a bronze jar for thirteen months. Alerted by Eriboea, the young giants' stepmother, Hermes rescued Ares. He was only released when Artemis offered herself to Otus. This made Ephialtes envious and the pair fought. Artemis changed herself into a doe and jumped between them. The Aloadae, not wanting her to get away, threw their spears and simultaneously killed each other.
- Python became the chthonic enemy of the later Olympian deity Apollo, who slew it and took over Python's former home and oracle.