"A must read for any mythology lover"
I don't think I can ever say enough about this book-it was
so fantastic! Just starting her summer vacation as a school teacher,
Shannon Parker goes to an antique show and buys a vase that
transports her to another place and time. Shannon quickly
finds out that she has traded places with the High
Priestess Epona who could be her twin in body but not
personality. While the people around her adore Epona, they
also fear her for her vicious tempers. Only half recovered
from what ever happened to her to transport her to this new
place, Shannon finds herself suddenly getting married to a
horse and it is all she can do to pretend to fill the
missing Priestess' shoes!
It isn't until her usually pleasant dreams become
nightmares that she finds out they are actually visions.
Shannon finds that maybe she really has the strength of a
goddess. With each new vision Shannon and ClanFintan find
themselves closer and closer to a battle with a formidable
enemy. With the love of her husband, and his people
standing with hers they unite the land in a war that will
either be their salvation or total annihilation! Ms Cast has written a very powerful novel. We have
reincarnation, centaurs, Muses, magic and a really creepy
enemy with the Fomorians. Where much of the book could be
dark, our heroine refuses to let it. She has such an
upbeat personality that makes it hard not to laugh as
Shannon has conversations with herself. She sets out to
befriend Epona's "slaves" and later the female centars
(loved them!) because every woman needs good friends; which
is something the real Epona would never have done. And the
people love her for it!
GODDESS BY MISTAKE is written in first person and for
most of the book, I didn't even notice. As for our hero,
wow! ClanFintan is a centaur that has the ability to
transform into a human man. Prior to their marriage, Epona
had returned all his gifts and he had found her unwilling
to go through with the promised marriage. However, to the
woman he married he was a gentleman (gentlecentar?), and
showed every courtesy, so much patience and understanding -
who was a completely different woman than he totally
expected; remember he thought he was marrying Epona.
While Shannon needed his understanding in order to
adjust to her new situation, Shannon falls in love with
him. The scenes between them are so touching and yet what
you would expect from newlyweds with a long span of
acquaintance rather than a couple that just met. The war
for their survival was so well written; I have scenes of
battles from LOTRs running through my head. While the
battle is a poignant moment in the story, it is so much
more; it's...You will just need to read the book. GODDESS
BY MISTAKE was a wonderful story that should appeal to
readers of romance, fantasy or mythology. I can't recommend
it enough!
Reviewed by Cynthia Eckert
Posted March 31, 2004
|
