Author: Trisha Wolfe
Genre: NA paranormal, fantasy
Published: March 20th 2014
Publisher:
Pages: 213
Source: Purchased E-Book
Available at: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Goodreads Summary:
The moon goddess has taken up residency within Prince Caben, darkening his mind and soul. Now he hunts the very women he sacrificed his life to save, his conflicting desires for love and power raging a battle within him. Kaliope possesses the key to setting Bale free, and Caben will stop at nothing to see his goddess restored. Even if that means destroying the kingdom he’s sworn to protect, and the infuriating woman who torments his thoughts.
Kaliope, now the leader to the newly formed Nactue Guard, has vowed to save Caben. But with a traitor lurking among her people, and powers she’s unable to fully control, Kaliope’s mission becomes shrouded with doubt. Her new role as watcher over Caben’s kingdom brings a burden she’s unable to bear alone, and appointing the right person in charge of the prince’s affairs has turned a kingdom against the Nactue leader. Saving her stubborn, willful prince from the darkness overtaking him will be the battle of her life, and she needs people she can trust by her side. But bad blood between members of the Nactue obscure Kaliope’s journey, while her feelings for Caben cloud her judgment.
When the time comes to do what she must to destroy the goddess of chaos, will she be able to if it means losing Caben forever?
Book two of the Goddess Wars is told in dual point of view from Kaliope and Caben. New Adult Dark Fantasy, intended for readers 17 years of age and older.
My Rating of this Book – 5 out of 5 stars
My Review:
And here I thought I’d just take my time, relax, and read Of Darkness and Crowns, the sequel to Of Silver and Beasts. Yeah, right . . . I was like on the edge of my seat—my foot tapping impatiently—only a few chapters after I got started. LOL.
I swallowed this novel, becoming obsessed, particularly for Caben and his new point of view. He brought me over to his side. The dark fantasies and his lust for control. I just couldn’t get over him and the greed that consumed his thoughts. He was the best part of the entire story, even when he was being a jerk. I sometimes couldn’t believe—or understand—how Kal could actually resist him and his new found power. I wanted her to fall under his spell, just like I had. Yet she kept strong, which for the plot, was outstanding!
Then there was Caben’s emotional and mental struggles: love or power; protect or kill; serve or rule; sacrifice or die. I LOVED them! I loved understanding him. Understanding the darkness that everyone tries to hide. It might’ve not been his true self, but it wasn’t as if the goddess Bale changed him. She just brought to light a mindset he suppressed. And it was interesting to see how his conscious battled it.
Kal, on the other hand, didn’t impress me this time. Mostly because I felt she was constantly making the wrong choices and wasting time. First off, five months!! Honestly? I don’t think I could let the Caben I knew before Bale took him suffer what he did for that long. If anything, I would have used every minute of every day to research. In five months, I would have learned everything known to mankind about Bale. What were her weaknesses? How long it would be before Caben would be lost to her darkness? Was there a cure or ritual to break her hold on him, or at least suppress her? Anything!
Also, she put her faith in the wrong people. I never felt that the Empress was wise or really someone to follow without question. I’m just not like that—ask anyone. But if I was Kal, I would have at least broken my ties with her after she declared Julian the new ruler of Caben’s kingdom in Kal’s place. The Empress seriously showed a lack in judgment on that call, and a lack of faith in her own Nactue Guard leader, which made me so made.
The one thing I did enjoy about Kal, however, was that she was more human. Yes, she obviously made mistakes, as I pointed out. Who doesn’t? She was loyal to Caben even in his darkest hour. She was optimistic that she could reach him. Maybe cure him. And she was willing to show that she was vulnerable, with or without him. She really grew up in my eyes.
Finally, I’m also very glad the novel didn’t take the turn I thought it would at the end. Based on Caben’s mother’s plan—if it took the direction I thought it was going to—I had the whole third novel written in my head, and it hasn’t very thrilling. Yet the final turn during the last battle was perfect. Now I’m excited!!! Sure, I’ll miss certain aspects, but the challenge is much greater and far more risky.
Hope to see book 3 out in the next year or so. 🙂
Kelsey Ketch 