A review by jbmarie
How to Talk to a Goddess by Emily Croy Barker
Did not finish book.
2.0
Listening through Audible... I was so excited for this book! I just finished the first book (again!) when I happened to check in on the progress of this one and found it would finally be out in mere days!! Sadly, though... Disappointing thus far... I'm up to Chapter 8, and while the writing is well done (as expected), I have found a major flaw.
SPOILERS!
Nora is a petulant brat. In the few short chapters we spend catching up on her life since returning home, we find that she's talking to her ex who she let's degrade her accomplishments and degrade her personal experiences (where is the Nora who managed the ice demon?). And then thought casually debasing herself by sleeping with him was a good idea all because he got a hard on for her while he clearly thought she'd just had a traumatic experience (enough to need to fictionalize them as a coping mechanism).
Then, she finally gets back to the other world (after another traumatizing experience) and immediately sleeps with Aruendiel. Personally, I'm a huge fan of the slow burn (which is why I wanted there to be continued tension in this book). But to throw them together so quickly... It felt rushed. But whatever. They're desperate for each other and can't hold back their attraction any longer! Fine.... But what a waste.
And by far, the most disappointing part, she has a wild night of passion with the man she admired for over a year and longed for the entire month she was away... enough to risk her safety and the loss of her family for.... Only to complain that he has a limp and that his head bobbles a bit?!? What... she never noticed the limp before?? And compare him to her ex! Oh jeez.
I got as far as her whining about giving up her useless English Lit degree in exchange for *magic* and *the love of her life who challenges her in both good and bad ways to be both smart and self-possessed, not to mention would die for her (or did he rush off to kill Alyssa alone for someone else??)*.
Ugh... I will update this if I can stand her long enough to continue. Perhaps in chapter 17 she'll grow up (something I would have thought was accomplished by suffering through myriad events of book 1... Go figure) or who knows... it could be spell? But would that explain her behavior in her world?
SPOILERS!
Nora is a petulant brat. In the few short chapters we spend catching up on her life since returning home, we find that she's talking to her ex who she let's degrade her accomplishments and degrade her personal experiences (where is the Nora who managed the ice demon?). And then thought casually debasing herself by sleeping with him was a good idea all because he got a hard on for her while he clearly thought she'd just had a traumatic experience (enough to need to fictionalize them as a coping mechanism).
Then, she finally gets back to the other world (after another traumatizing experience) and immediately sleeps with Aruendiel. Personally, I'm a huge fan of the slow burn (which is why I wanted there to be continued tension in this book). But to throw them together so quickly... It felt rushed. But whatever. They're desperate for each other and can't hold back their attraction any longer! Fine.... But what a waste.
And by far, the most disappointing part, she has a wild night of passion with the man she admired for over a year and longed for the entire month she was away... enough to risk her safety and the loss of her family for.... Only to complain that he has a limp and that his head bobbles a bit?!? What... she never noticed the limp before?? And compare him to her ex! Oh jeez.
I got as far as her whining about giving up her useless English Lit degree in exchange for *magic* and *the love of her life who challenges her in both good and bad ways to be both smart and self-possessed, not to mention would die for her (or did he rush off to kill Alyssa alone for someone else??)*.
Ugh... I will update this if I can stand her long enough to continue. Perhaps in chapter 17 she'll grow up (something I would have thought was accomplished by suffering through myriad events of book 1... Go figure) or who knows... it could be spell? But would that explain her behavior in her world?