Customer Reviews

Goddess by Mistake

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Shannon Parker, a high school English teacher, experiences what can mildly be called a 'jolt' when she is thrown into a different world. Her mirror image in this new world, Rhiannon, the High Priestess of the goddess Epona, had observed Shannon in her world and sought to take her place. Both got more than they bargained for.

While in this new world, Shannon finds out that Lady Rhiannon was spoiled, self indulgent, rude and willful: not a well liked woman at all. And she finds herself wedding a centaur, who obviously dislikes Rhiannon. But by being herself, Shannon wins over all those around her.

Sometime between falling in love, blessing the masses, and nursing victims sick with the plague, Shannon sees in her dreams a horrifying band of creatures murdering whole castles full of people, and mating with the women. Soon, Shannon's task becomes clear: she must stop these living, breathing atrocities.

Though the book has a minimum of actual mythology, the characters and storyline should keep any fantasy fan hooked. The way Cast wrote the centaurs was intriguing, and the characters are true to life and wonderful. While the ending sort of tapers off, as if the author became tired of plotting out every little thing, overall, the book was wonderful and monstrously entertaining.

I didn't realize I was buying a Harlequin Romance type book.
As a fantasy and myth aficionado, I will pretty much read
anything in the genre but this book is not of the genre.
The write-up makes it sound so much better than it is
(and in the right hands, could have been.)
Can't even recommend it for a beach-read.
Boring, trite, poorly written. A total yawn.
I didn't bother passing the books on to friends,
I would have been too embarrassed to let anyone
know I had read such tripe.
This one went straight into the trashcan.
I am going to try to remember Cast's name, though, just
so I never buy anything written by him/her again.

I love fantasy, I love mythology, I love romances, but I do require a little more than ignorant playacting and juvenile writing. I put this book down while the heroine was driving away from the auction....after finding an ancient Celtic urn with her image on it. An ancient Celtic urn? with an identifiable human portrait? Where did the writer do her research? No research? Not surprising. If she wants to base her world on an existing culture she needs to trouble herself to learn a little about that culture and its history. If she doesn't want to bother with doing research, she should restrict herself to creating her own worlds. To expect the reader to 'willingly suspend disbelief' requires that the author at least give a believeable veneer to her work.

I don't expect this review to help someone who doesn't care whether the basis for fantasy is believeable...but some of us do care. For those who do, give this book a pass, and look carefully at anything else written by this author.

I don't think I can ever say enough about this book-it was so fantastic!

Just starting her summer vacation as a schoolteacher, Shannon Parker goes to an antique show and buys a vase that transports her to another place and time. Shannon quickly finds out that she has traded places with the High Priestess Epona who could be her twin in body but not personality. While the people around her adore Epona, they also fear her for her vicious temper. Only half recovered from what ever happened to her to transport her to this new place, Shannon finds herself suddenly getting married to a horse (actually a centaur) and it is all she can do to pretend to fill the missing Priestess' shoes! It isn't until her usually pleasant dreams become nightmares that she finds out they are actually visions, that Shannon finds maybe she really has the strength of a goddess. With each new vision Shannon and her husband the centaur, ClanFintan find themselves closer and closer to a battle with a formidable enemy. With the love of her husband, and his people standing with hers they unite the land in a war that will either be their salvation or total annihilation!

Ms Cast has written a very powerful novel. We have reincarnation, centaurs, Muses, magic and a really creepy enemy called the Fomorians. Where much of the book could be dark, our heroine refuses to let it. She has such an upbeat personality that makes it hard not to laugh as Shannon constantly has conversations with herself. She sets out to befriend Epona's "slaves" and later the female centaurs (loved them!) because every woman needs good friends; which is something the real Epona would never have done. And the people love her for it! GODDESS BY MISTAKE is written in first person and for most of the book, I didn't even notice. As for our hero, wow! ClanFintan is a centaur that has the ability to transform into a human man. Prior to their marriage, the real Epona had returned all his gifts and he had found her unwilling to go through with the promised marriage. However, to the woman he married he was still a gentleman (gentlecentaur?), and showed every courtesy, so much patience and understanding - this to Shannon who was a completely different woman than he totally expected; remember he thought he was marrying Epona. While Shannon needed his understanding in order to adjust to her new situation, Shannon falls in love with him. The scenes between them are so touching. Rather than the impression of a couple newlywed, it seems that Shannon and ClanFintan have an known each other for a long span of time rather than a couple that just met. The war for their survival was so well written; I had scenes that were reminiscent of battles from LOTRs running through my head. While the battle is a poignant moment in the story, the book itself is so much more; it's ...you will just need to read the book. GODDESS BY MISTAKE was a wonderful story that should appeal to readers of romance, fantasy or mythology. I can't recommend it enough!

While I wouldn't be holding my breath for this book to be declared a literary masterpiece, it is an enjoyable departure from the norm in the fantasy genre. P.C. Cast does a good job at combining an individual used to modern day living and the typical fantasy setting. If you're looking for a light read that would be a break from epic fantasy novels or a book to introduce some one to fantasies, check this one out.

Cute book, great new idea and well written, but more of a romance novel than the straight fantasy novel I had expected. (I'm not a fan of romance novels).

What a hoot! Talk about your anti-PC, wow was this thing funny!

The story is about Shannon Parker, a middle-aged English teacher who likes her summers off, her cloths expensive and her men tall and , ah, horse-like. Well work a little magic, an alter ego who wants a change of scenery and poof she gets just what she wants. She is now a goddess incarnate. All the fancy clothes she wants, works when she wants and what do you know her new husband is...well lets just say he's very horse-like.

An absolutely hilarious look at the inside of the female mind. From her "Just you try to dominate me! Please!" too drooling over her new jewelry collection you wonder if any stereotype was left unturned. But ladies no need to be offended, at least alone, every negative male stereotype is used and abused here also!

Funny, funny book! I heartily RECOMMEND it!

I actually read this after I had read goddess of the sea....now that is one great book, but I digress. I bought this book because I'm an absolute nut when it comes to mythology, and romance so putting the two together is an obvious choice for me.

I'm a writer myself, so I really had an eye out for errors in the book, and I must say she did a great job.

While I'm not overly found of writing in the first POV, once I got past the inital awkardness I found I really enjoyed the reading. Shannon is such a raunchy character I couldn't help but crack up, she has one high libido...but don't we all. ClanFinatan is the centaur, and one of the yummiest hero's I've read in a while. Their romance was superb...the only thing I wish is that Cast would have shown more of his own thoughts, which is why I'm not a big fan of 1st pov...but anyhow...the drama moved along nicely. I liked the whole mirror into a differnt dimension aspect. All in all she writes really well and it's refreshing to read. I plan on buying all of her books, as I can't see me not liking what she puts out.

Some parts of this book were well written and very funny. The author makes a great many references to tv programs and other books that won't be as funny a few years down the road. I was also put off by the Republican rhetoric--enough so that I may not buy future books by this author. It's too bad--she shows some talent, and should improve with future efforts, but I don't need a political agenda in my fantasy books.

I LOVED this book! I read it in one setting - could not put it down. The heroine is not only full-grown; she is full figured as well, which is a refreshing change. Ms. Cast makes you wish AND feel that you were there.