divine by choice

divine by choice
partholon series #2
p.c. cast
supernatural/fantasy/romance/horror
luna
published 2006

Shannon Parker has finally come to terms with life in the mythical world of Partholon.  She loves her centaur husband, her connection to the goddess Epona and the pampering that comes with both!  She's almost forgotten her old life on Earth - especially when she discovers she's pregnant...

Then a sudden burst of power sends her back to Oklahoma.  Without magic, Shannon can't return to Partholon - and so she needs to find help.  Trouble is, it might take the form of a man as tempting as her husband.  And along the way she'll discover that being divine by mistake is a lot easier than being divine by choice....

I have a love/hate relationship with this book series.  I hated PC Cast & Kristin Cast's House of Night series, but I thought since this was only PC Cast's series it would be better and it is, but it's still kind of annoying and hokey.  At some point the story will get interesting and I'm pleasantly surprised by it, but then just as quickly she writes something so awful that I can hardly keep reading.

I don't really like Shannon/Rhea all that much.  And I really can't get behind the idea that there's a mirror image that she should fall in love with in both worlds.  I also spent much of the time in disbelief that anyone actually likes to eat Arby's.

*****spoilers*****


We do get to learn the reasoning behind why Rhiannon is not a great person and get treated to a brutal rape scene under the guise of a religious ceremony.  What makes it even more sickening is that Rhiannon is blamed in her own rape because she didn't drink the date rape potion.  You know, being a teenager and all rebellious.  I had a hard time rooting for Shannon & co. after that.

It irritates me that she can just fall into bed with Clint just because he's her husband's mirror image.  She's already remarked on how mirror images are different personalities depending on different factors so it wasn't like she was sleeping with her husband.  But the powerful Epona said she should so.....

I don't know.  It was just a very sad and disappointing series of scenes, especially coming from a female writer.  Nothing like rape and infidelity to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.