Divine by Choice by P.C. Cast

Title: Divine by Choice (Partholon #2)
Author: P.C. Cast
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy Romance
Length: 377 pages
Publisher: Luna Books
Release Date: December 1, 2006
Source: Purchased
Rating: 3
Heat Rating: 4
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

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 want to start by saying that you shouldn't let the 4 sexual rating scare you away from this one. I felt I had to rate it that way because of one crazy sex rite done by our bad girl. But it's short and easily skippable (is that a word?) if you don't want to read it. Seriously, like one paragraph.

Shannon has settled into her life in Partholon with her centaur husband and endless supply of handmaidens ready to wait on her every need. The danger seems to have passed and life is returning to "normal" once again. But she's uneasy, and with good reason. She finds herself ripped out of Partholon into her old life.

I enjoyed this story, but I had some issues with it as well. Seeing Shannon come in to her own as Epona's Choosen and learning to trust herself and the world around her was great. But I didn't like the twisted love story that wove through the middle of everything. When she meets the man that mirrors her husband things got a little tricky. I totally get her confusion and attraction to him. But I didn't like where that always led.

Finally meeting Rhiannon was very nice though. I love how damaged her character is, and the glimpse into her past only cements that she isn't a truly evil person, but more a victim herself as well. She just didn't deal with things as in a very healthy way. Finally being able to compare her beside Shannon showed sides of both that were quite eye-opening.

A great addition to the world of Partholon, but I just didn't enjoy all the aspects presented.

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Partholon

Divine Beginnings #0.5

Divine by Mistake #1

Divine Beginnings by P.C. Cast - Review

Title: Divine Beginnings (Partholon #0.5)

Author: P.C. Cast
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: 65 pages
Publisher: Luna
Release Date: October 1, 2009
Source: Self-Purchased
Rating: 3
Heat Rating: 3
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Something isn't right at Guardian Castle, and Aine can't figure out what. As Healer, she's supposed to be making things better, but there's a darkness that can't be brightened. And then Aine finds an injured Fomorian--winged, dark, blood-thirsty and inherently evil. Or is he? Because there's something about Tegan that Aine can't resist...and once they've shared blood, Aine realizes that everything she's always believed is going to be cast aside....

This was a really cute prequel to the Partholon series. We get to see a bit more about how the Fomorians began their invasion and how they initially sunk their claws into the land. It also lays the groundwork for the vase and antique show - which actually does clear up a handful of questions that I just gave up on from book one.

The romance is very quick. It's a down and dirty novella so there isn't a lot of time for courting here. But it is still a very sweet one that is quite unexpected. The devotion in the relationship is great and I really enjoyed seeing how the whole realm jumping began.

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Divine Mistake (Partholon #1)

Divine by Mistake by P.C. Cast - Review

Title: Divine by Mistake (Partholon #1)
Author: P.C. Cast
Source: Self-Purchased
Genre: Fantasy
Length: Novel
Release Date: September 1, 2006
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3
Sexual - 3

The most excitement teacher Shannon Parker expected on her summer vacation was a
little shopping. But then her latest purchase--a vase with the Celtic goddess Epona on it--somehow switches her into the world of Partholon, where she's treated like a goddess. A very temperamental goddess... It seems that Shannon has stepped into another's role as the Goddess Incarnate of Epona. And while it has some very appealing moments--what woman doesn't like a little pampering now and then?--it also comes with a ritual marriage to a centaur and the threat of war against the evil Fomorians. Oh, and everyone disliking her because they think she's her double.

Somehow Shannon needs to figure out how to get back to Oklahoma without being killed, married to a horse or losing her mind...

Shannon has found herself in a bit of a problem. Sucked through a portal and dumped into a fantasy world where she may just have to marry a horse. She's confused, everyone thinks she's a horrible person, and yes....she may have to marry a horse - well a centaur to be specific. Don't worry, there's no funny animal sex or anything.

This book had a lot of great elements. There's a ton of fantasy creatures and they way the gods and their chosen priestesses were handled was brilliant. The lore was very rich and it seems like a lot of time was put in to make it easy to follow and believable. Shannon handled the strange events perfectly. She freaked the heck out! Who wouldn't?!? The interactions between Shannon and the people of Partholon her first few days there were a great mix of confusion, acceptance, and finding new ways to do things.

Her relationship with the centaur was well written as well. He was a very strong character that really understood what chivalry was. They may be thrown together quickly, but their friendship develops slowly over time into something else. I loved all of the centaurs and they added a wonderful dimension to the story. The Fomorians were suitably scary and totally freaked me out. I definitely do not want to run into one of them anywhere. The battle was huge with lots of fun twists and turns.

There were a few things I just didn't get. Maybe they will tie in better in book two? Certain things were stated as not possible, and then someone managed to do it. Small things, but they could have been left out entirely without the story missing them. I'm hoping a reason for them pops up in book two.

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