A review by threerings
The Hidden Goddess by M.K. Hobson

3.0

I gave the first book in the series 5 stars, and I was debating whether to give this 3 or 4. 3.5. I don't remember much of the first book other than I really, really liked it, so I went back to read my review to see what was different from this second book. I adored the characters in the first one, but I really kinda didn't in this one.

This book just doesn't really hold up to the first in plot or character moments. It's a fairly unpleasant book, in that the characters are unhappy and things are bad and people are unlikable and I just didn't have the enjoyment that I should have.

The romance which was developed so well in the first book was really messed up in this one. The relationship was torn apart until I really couldn't even feel that they belonged together. And the POV is so strongly on Emily and Dreadnought Stanton was in it so little that I had no emotional connection to him.

So, I'm disappointed. But mostly in ways that are difficult for me to put my finger on. I will continue reading the series, but I won't rush about it.

Also there were not really any steampunk elements to this book. It's the 1870s and there is magic, but there wasn't any advanced technology in this one, so I can't really call it steampunk.