blackarrow16's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
moviemavengal's review against another edition
4.0
Probably my favorite so far of the Cast Goddess books.
sailor_moon239's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
raven_acres's review against another edition
3.0
Borrowed from a friend, as I've been eyeing this series but not sure about it. Beauty and the Beast re-telling, and a sweet easy read. I think I'll check out the other books.
zaraelisabeth's review against another edition
5.0
'This book is for everyone who fell in love with the Beast and then was truly disappinted when he turned into a handsome prince'. the dedication at the front says it all.
this book is pure beauty. However anyone who has read a P C Cast book may find a lot of repetition; her heros are all about women empowerment, her rituals have already been described in many of her other books in a hundred different words, the same ideas seep into all of her books, but it is written as pure magic. totally un-put-down-able my heart ached all the way through. PLease... read it. I got this book on christmas day and it was finished on christmas day.
this book is pure beauty. However anyone who has read a P C Cast book may find a lot of repetition; her heros are all about women empowerment, her rituals have already been described in many of her other books in a hundred different words, the same ideas seep into all of her books, but it is written as pure magic. totally un-put-down-able my heart ached all the way through. PLease... read it. I got this book on christmas day and it was finished on christmas day.
courtneylee87's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this fourth installment in the Goddess Summoning series much better than the previous book. I thought Mikado’s character was much more rounded and had a fluid arc for development. P.C. Cast makes Mikado an older female lead at age 35, which like Lina in the second book, makes for much better reading and engagement for the reader. However, Cast needs to lay off the ridiculous nicknames. Mikki is not as bad as CC from Goddess of the Sea, but come on. Mikado is a fine name as it is.
The Guardian, Asterius, was not as well-rounded out as Mikado, though. I understand the author’s attempt to maintain his innocence because of his lack of experience, but he still came across as too trusting, as not having really learned a lesson from his punishment, even if it wasn’t truly deserved. Asterius’ tone and speech pattern was too growly for me. He’s described in great detail as half man, half beast. Readers don’t need to have the beast emphasized every time he speaks.
The setting for this story reminded me of the setting from Goddess of Spring. I prefer Cast’s mythical and fantastical settings to anything in the “real” world. When she sets a story in the “real” world, it lacks any fantasy elements that would make it fun. A god or goddess doing a little magic trick here and there just isn’t as interesting as a modern-day woman learning her way around a magical realm.
Finally, while the plot moves along at a good pace, the over repetitive references and emphasis on the roses drags down the plot. Readers didn’t need to see all those varieties of roses and go through all the pruning and digging and trimming and this red and that red. The main character is in the Realm of the Rose. Emphasis is not needed when the story takes place in a setting that is clearly defined by its name.
Overall, I gave this book a 3-star rating. It had a genuinely fun retelling of Beauty and the Beast with Greek mythology thrown in, the characters weren’t intolerable, and the supernatural romance was not just about Mikado and Asterius sleeping together. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of Cast’s Goddess Summoning series to see which myths/stories she tackles next.
The Guardian, Asterius, was not as well-rounded out as Mikado, though. I understand the author’s attempt to maintain his innocence because of his lack of experience, but he still came across as too trusting, as not having really learned a lesson from his punishment, even if it wasn’t truly deserved. Asterius’ tone and speech pattern was too growly for me. He’s described in great detail as half man, half beast. Readers don’t need to have the beast emphasized every time he speaks.
The setting for this story reminded me of the setting from Goddess of Spring. I prefer Cast’s mythical and fantastical settings to anything in the “real” world. When she sets a story in the “real” world, it lacks any fantasy elements that would make it fun. A god or goddess doing a little magic trick here and there just isn’t as interesting as a modern-day woman learning her way around a magical realm.
Finally, while the plot moves along at a good pace, the over repetitive references and emphasis on the roses drags down the plot. Readers didn’t need to see all those varieties of roses and go through all the pruning and digging and trimming and this red and that red. The main character is in the Realm of the Rose. Emphasis is not needed when the story takes place in a setting that is clearly defined by its name.
Overall, I gave this book a 3-star rating. It had a genuinely fun retelling of Beauty and the Beast with Greek mythology thrown in, the characters weren’t intolerable, and the supernatural romance was not just about Mikado and Asterius sleeping together. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of Cast’s Goddess Summoning series to see which myths/stories she tackles next.
dannibooks89's review against another edition
5.0
Eine sehr romantische und mitreißende Neuinterpretation von "Die Schöne und das Biest" inmitten der griechischen Mythologie!
gwenythlove's review against another edition
4.0
My favourite ending of this series so far. I loved The Beast (Guardian).
diandra24's review against another edition
5.0
A sexy Twist on stories you already know. I love myth and everything these books represent. Strong Women, the ability to change, courage, and true love. Beauty and the Beast without the beast turning human, but still a happy ending. Proof that sacrifice pays off.