Sunday, May 17, 2015

BOOK REVIEW: "Goddess" by Calista Hunter

What would you risk to discover your power?

Olivia is a sixteen-year-old Vestal Virgin, a happy devotee of her beloved goddess Vesta in her home nation of Parcae. But when her faith in Vesta is shaken, Olivia illegally experiments with her own divine power, making a discovery that could save her country from war - if she's brave enough to share it.

˃˃˃ She's devoted to her goddess - until she sees the eternal flame sputter out...

After an accidental revelation proves Vesta is fake, Olivia and her fellow Virgins are tempted by a charismatic academy boy, Cassius, to invoke the real gods. Although they risk death if they are discovered, Olivia and her friends test their skills in secret experiments. But their games take an unexpected turn when flighty blonde Lucia reveals surprisingly deadly powers.

˃˃˃ Now she's got some dangerous ideas.

Gaius, a brilliant military student, must protect the girls and plan for war against an enemy nation while ignoring his growing attachment to Olivia. As a Vestal Virgin she has taken a holy vow of chastity, and the consequences of breaking it are severe...
Lovers of mythology will enjoy this story featuring the ancient Roman pantheon. Drawing from original Latin poetry to shape her fantasy world, Callista Hunter brings the ancient gods to life in this thrilling and humorous tale.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Young adult fantasy fiction with a very realistic undertone, readers of all ages will love Goddess!
Set around a teenage Vestal Virgin who worships the goddess Vesta, until Vesta is proven to be a fake. The story goes from highly fictional to highly real very quickly. It's impossible to miss the morals and virtues they want to instill in young girls, and it is very heavy throughout the book, and it is so much so that it might turn readers off before they have the chance to get to the good parts, and that's a shame.
Because this story is so much more than morals and virtues. It is about friendship, female empowerment and the consequences of worshiping false goddesses (as in, young girls looking up to people like Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande, who promote nothing that is positive).
A big part of the story revolves around the men not wanting the women to discover their powers, and I find that very powerful, showing teenage girls that they do have power, and that they are worth more than society wants them to think. It's not about their looks, their money or their appeal to the opposite sex: it's about teaching them to discover themselves.
On the fictional side, the writing is bright and humorous, despite the serious topics the book tackles. Ms. Hunter makes ancient peoples seem modern and relevant, promoting positivity while making you laugh, sigh and start to ship certain characters together. A great story!

4/5--heartfelt and witty!


Purchase Goddess on Amazon!

No comments:

Post a Comment