Review book courtesy of Penguin Group
To recap: when I put up a “non-review,” it means I couldn’t finish a book. I’m not going to review it on Epinions or Amazon, and this isn’t going to be a full-on review, but I don’t mind telling you folks here why I decided not to finish it in case that information is useful to you. Just keep in mind that my judgment isn’t based on the entire book. In this particular case I was thrilled to see that I had a review copy of P.C. Cast’s Goddess of Legend
Review book courtesy of Penguin Group
To recap: when I put up a “non-review,” it means I couldn’t finish a book. I’m not going to review it on Epinions or Amazon, and this isn’t going to be a full-on review, but I don’t mind telling you folks here why I decided not to finish it in case that information is useful to you. Just keep in mind that my judgment isn’t based on the entire book. And in this case I also haven’t read volume one of the series; I imagine that the scattered elements of this installation in the series would probably be more interesting if I was already invested in the characters.
Pros: The book doesn’t feel at all like a repetition of the previous two.
Cons: The ending that wraps up the series felt EXTREMELY abrupt, and somewhat unsatisfying.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Review book courtesy of Penguin Group
**Spoiler Alert!! This review contains spoilers if you have not read Night Falls Darkly and So Still the Night!**
After having taken on and defeated agents of Tantalus, Selene is left with her soul polluted. An unsung heroine of London, she is put into a deep sleep and guarded by the Raven warriors in the Tower of London while her fellow Shadow Guards work frantically to find a cure for her. After the administration of a test vaccine, she wakes up on the streets of London with a knife in her hand and a dead woman at her feet. Lord Avenage is ordered to remove her from London so that her guilt or innocence may be determined. Although their time together sparks feelings that each would rather not acknowledge, they are only two of a powerful order, without resources other than each other. Selene and Avenage will need to trust each other, because they have not escaped their enemy’s notice…
Pros: Stunning, emotionally affecting, and did I mention stunning?
Cons: None
Rating: 5 out of 5
Review book courtesy of Penguin Group
Also posted on Epinions.com.
Gwenhwyfar is the daughter of a Celtic king. She lives in a small, drafty castle with her parents, her three sisters, and a few servants. Her mother is a renowned wise woman, and Gwen is expected to follow in her footsteps. Gwen, however, has other interests, and it soon becomes clear that the goddess Epona has chosen Gwen for the warrior’s path. She becomes so renowned as a scout that the Saxons come to know her as the White Spirit, and they fear her. Unfortunately, duty comes before desire, and when a new queen loyal to the old ways must be found for High King Arthur, and Arthur wishes to bargain with Gwen’s father for his famous warhorses, Gwen becomes a part of the deal, much to her dismay.
Of course, many obstacles stand in the way of duty as well. Gwen’s little sister desires her crown. Arthur’s bastard son Medraut desires both Gwen and his father’s throne. And Gwen feels like a prisoner in a golden cage.
Pros: Fantastic world-building and characters
Cons: Style somewhat stilted; some minor tone confusion; one seeming glaring plot contradiction
Rating: 3 out of 5
Review book courtesy of Penguin Group
Maddy inherited her unusual job from her mother: she’s an Agent of Death, and it’s her job to collect souls and take them to the Door, where they head off to… whatever comes next. Unfortunately that job doesn’t come with a salary and it involves entirely too much paperwork, not to mention a particularly crabby supervisor. As if that wasn’t enough, Maddy’s gargoyle guardian Beezle won’t tell her why he doesn’t like Gabriel, the man who wants to be her new tenant. Gabriel is handsome alright, but there’s definitely something strange about him. It probably doesn’t help that as soon as he shows up so do a bunch of demons, all of whom seem to want Maddy dead. But at least she has one thing (besides Beezle) on her side: she’s suddenly started manifesting all sorts of strange powers that no Agent of Death has ever displayed before. Of course, whether those powers will keep her alive or get her killed remains to be seen…
Pros: Easy to read and follow along; good examination and analysis of ancient sources.
Cons: The footnotes were slightly confusing; it took me a minute to realize that they weren’t alluded to in the text but included in the back numbered by what page they appeared on.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Cleopatra has had numerous biographers through the ages, from Romans to modern historians, and yet how much have we really examined these accounts to try and distill the true queen of Egypt from these accounts? Was she a brazen seductress, or was she a brilliant politician, scholar, and linguist? Ms. Schiff not only brings Cleopatra back to life in Cleopatra: A Life
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