A review by mackle13
The Hidden Goddess by M.K. Hobson
4.0
This book was very frustrating. Or, rather, the people within the book were often frustrating and I was annoyed with them.
So, anyway, picking up pretty much directly where the first book lets off, we find Emily trying to make nice with Stanton's family and learn to pass in society. And, ya know, this part was kind of fun and I was enjoying it - not to mention expecting it, since it's mentioned on the book cover - but it doesn't really last that long until the adventure kicks and the story shifts gears entirely. I was disappointed that there wasn't more silliness with society and fabulous faux-pas, because I enjoy comedies of manners.
But, ah well.
But the really frustrating part is that Stanton wasn't really in the book very much, and I felt like a lot of it was manufactured to heighten the drama - and it does get a bit melodramatic, let me tell you - but it had all that irritated aspect of "things would be so much more easily resolved if people would just talk to each other instead of keeping secrets" thing which is just ever so annoying.
I also got irritated that a lot of the machinations to keep them apart were along the lines of treating Emily as either a) a delicate flower who needed to be protected or b) a distraction to Stanton, who needed to be strong. 'Cause, see, if Emily was distraught then Stanton would be distraught and, considering how credomancy works (which plays a big role in this book), we just can't have that.
But no one ever stops to think that a) Emily has proven herself rather capable, thankyouverymuch and b) the person you love can often be a source of strength in time of hardship!
My lord, but it was vexing.
That said, I couldn't stop reading. It was quite the little page-turner - one I thought about while I was at work, itching to get my fingers back on its pages.
Sometimes, when I'm reading a book I'm not hating but not particularly enjoying, I procrastinate. I find other things to do during my reading time... like browsing the internet, or petting the cats, or picking my nails...
But this was one where I wanted to skip things like lunch with my normal work crew so that I could read instead. And what a delight it is to have a book you long to get back to!
So, anyway, there's much melodrama and far too many attempts on people's live and people acting like children... but there's also intensity and action and excitement and tension.
I did miss Miss Pendennis, who was one of my favorite characters from the first book. She's off on some book tour, and Emily is left with Miss Jeniczek (must check on spelling) who is, herself, a credomancer and teacher at the school, and who acts as Emily's escort and guide in society. (She is one of two people we meet in this book that I found myself wondering where they were in the first book.)
I did come to like her, though, and she was much more relevant to the plot than Miss Pendennis really had been in the first, and it was nice to see another strong female character in the series, even if she did have the dreaded trope. Though
And I liked the ending. The climax was a bit rushed, but the denouement moments were nice. But, then, I am a sucker for HEA.
So, anyway, picking up pretty much directly where the first book lets off, we find Emily trying to make nice with Stanton's family and learn to pass in society. And, ya know, this part was kind of fun and I was enjoying it - not to mention expecting it, since it's mentioned on the book cover - but it doesn't really last that long until the adventure kicks and the story shifts gears entirely. I was disappointed that there wasn't more silliness with society and fabulous faux-pas, because I enjoy comedies of manners.
But, ah well.
But the really frustrating part is that Stanton wasn't really in the book very much, and I felt like a lot of it was manufactured to heighten the drama - and it does get a bit melodramatic, let me tell you - but it had all that irritated aspect of "things would be so much more easily resolved if people would just talk to each other instead of keeping secrets" thing which is just ever so annoying.
I also got irritated that a lot of the machinations to keep them apart were along the lines of treating Emily as either a) a delicate flower who needed to be protected or b) a distraction to Stanton, who needed to be strong. 'Cause, see, if Emily was distraught then Stanton would be distraught and, considering how credomancy works (which plays a big role in this book), we just can't have that.
But no one ever stops to think that a) Emily has proven herself rather capable, thankyouverymuch and b) the person you love can often be a source of strength in time of hardship!
My lord, but it was vexing.
That said, I couldn't stop reading. It was quite the little page-turner - one I thought about while I was at work, itching to get my fingers back on its pages.
Sometimes, when I'm reading a book I'm not hating but not particularly enjoying, I procrastinate. I find other things to do during my reading time... like browsing the internet, or petting the cats, or picking my nails...
But this was one where I wanted to skip things like lunch with my normal work crew so that I could read instead. And what a delight it is to have a book you long to get back to!
So, anyway, there's much melodrama and far too many attempts on people's live and people acting like children... but there's also intensity and action and excitement and tension.
I did miss Miss Pendennis, who was one of my favorite characters from the first book. She's off on some book tour, and Emily is left with Miss Jeniczek (must check on spelling) who is, herself, a credomancer and teacher at the school, and who acts as Emily's escort and guide in society. (She is one of two people we meet in this book that I found myself wondering where they were in the first book.)
I did come to like her, though, and she was much more relevant to the plot than Miss Pendennis really had been in the first, and it was nice to see another strong female character in the series, even if she did have the dreaded
Spoiler
rape as backstorySpoiler
I liked how it was handled here more than elsewhere - she, mostly, learned to overcome it but it also gave her motivations for some things that happened in the book. It was relevant, at least, to the plotline, which it often isn't.And I liked the ending. The climax was a bit rushed, but the denouement moments were nice. But, then, I am a sucker for HEA.