Publication Date: May 29, 2014Carina Press
eBook; ISBN: 9781426898365
Genre: Historical/Fantasy/Paranormal/
2013 RWA Golden Heart© Finalist
2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award semifinalist
Synopsis
The power to heal is her divine gift, the fear of discovery, her mortal curse.
Selah Kilbrid is caught between two worlds. A direct descendant of the Celtic goddess Brigid, she is bound by Tuatha Dé law to help those in need. Yet as a human, she must keep her unique abilities hidden or risk being charged for a witch. In 1730 Pennsylvania, the Quaker community of Hopewell has become a haven for religious freedom—and fanaticism—and there are those who would see her hanged if the truth were revealed.
For eighteen years, Selah safely navigates the narrow gap between duty and self-preservation, until the day a prominent minister uncovers her secret. Obsessed with her power, Nathan Crowley disregards her betrothal to a distant cousin from Ireland and demands marriage in exchange for his silence. Selah stalls for time, but when news reaches the Colonies of her cousin’s death, time has run out.
Rather than submit to Nathan, Selah coerces a stranger to pose as her husband. It’s a good plan—her only plan—even though Henry Alan harbors his own dark secrets. But when she returns to Hopewell a married woman, the real fight has just begun. As unseen forces move against her, Selah doesn’t know which poses the greater danger—a malignant shadow closing in from outside or the internal fire that threatens to consume her heart.
Book Two in the Goddess Born series will be published in November 2014 and Book Three in June 2015.
So What Did I Think About The Story?
Goddess Born is a remarkable amalgamation of historical fiction, fantasy, mystery and romance quite unlike anything I have read before. For much of the story, Selah reminded me of an Austenesque character - plucky, determined and sardonic while also being kind and joyful - and if the story stayed within these lines it would have been enjoyable enough watching Selah try to solve her problem with the odious Nathan Crowley by marrying the handsome stranger Henry Alan, only to find herself, against her wishes, falling head over heels for him. Add on to this her heritage as the descendant of the goddess Brigid and her preternatural gifts of healing and we are in a whole new ballgame! I really enjoyed seeing how the author carefully dealt with this otherworldly element with such a tender hand that it never came across as hokey or beyond belief. It seemed quite plausible that Selah and her ancestors could have this gift and just as plausible that there would be those who would suspect something evil from it and plot against her for their own selfish reasons.
The element I did not see coming at first but which was just as enjoyable was the mystery of who was working within Selah's home as well as without to help Nathan Crowley expose Selah as a witch and potentially kill her. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my initial suspicions were incorrect (at least partly) and I was shocked at the web that the more dastardly characters had woven around Selah and her home and just how far reaching their madness went. There are so many characters keeping secrets throughout the story - Selah, Nathan, Henry, others that I won't name in case I give something away - but it was this darker hidden fear and anger directed towards Selah and the vicious actions against her that really drew me into the story.
While I can't say that I am a huge fan of romance in books, I have to say that watching the back and forth between Selah and Henry as they fought their frustrations and feelings towards each other and then the inevitable love that sprouted, the I'll-give-up-everything-for-you kind of love, was very satisfying and makes me eager to see just how far they really will go for each other when the pitfalls that stand in their way aren't so easily traversed. The book ends on a delicious cliffhanger so I am very excited to see how they handle what lies ahead.
Goddess Born is a hard novel to classify but is easy to recommend because it is such a gratifying experience to read it. There really is a little something for everyone to enjoy. For someone like me who reads for pure enjoyment and escapism into history and a life unlike my own I couldn't ask for much more from this story. I am biting at the bit to read the next installment in this series!
So What Did I Think Of The Cover?
It is absolutely stunning! It perfectly captures that warmth and light that bursts from Selah when she heals others and, for me, exemplifies that unbidden goddess power that exudes from her very human body.
My Rating: 4.0/5.0
Thank you to Amy at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for providing me with a free copy of Goddess Born in exchange for an honest review! Be sure to continue below for more information about the author and book tour.
About The Author
Kari Edgren did not dream of becoming a writer. Instead, she dreamed of everything else and was
Ms. Edgren aspires to be a Vulcan, a world-acclaimed opera singer, and two inches taller. She resides in the Pacific NW where she spends a great deal of time torturing her husband and children with strange food and random historical facts. Ms. Edgren hasn’t stopped dreaming, but has finally mastered her letters enough to put the stories on paper.
For more information please visit Kari Edgren’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
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Goddess Born Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, September 22
Review at Peeking Between the Pages
Tuesday, September 23
Review at By the Book Reviews
Spotlight at Passages to the Past
Wednesday, September 24
Review at The Readers Hollow
Interview at Manga Maniac Café
Thursday, September 25
Review at Book Babe
Friday, September 26
Review at Curling Up With a Good Book
Sunday, September 28
Spotlight & Excerpt at Casual Readers
Monday, September 29
Review at Unabridged Chick
Review at The Mad Reviewer
Tuesday, September 30
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Interview & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick
Wednesday, October 1
Review & Excerpt at Book Lovers Paradise
Thursday, October 2
Review at Books, Etc.
Review at 100 Pages a Day – Stephanie’s Book Reviews
Friday, October 3
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Monday, October 6
Review at Bookish
Guest Post at Historical Fiction Connection
Tuesday, October 7
Spotlight & Giveaway at The Flashlight Reader
Wednesday, October 8
Review at A Bookish Affair
Thursday, October 9
Review at The True Book Addict
Friday, October 10
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Monday, October 13
Review at Book Nerd
Interview at The Maiden’s Court
Tuesday, October 14
Review at I’d So Rather Be Reading
Wednesday, October 15
Review at Let Them Read Books
Thursday, October 16
Review at A Book Geek
Guest Post at Historical Tapestry
Friday, October 17
Review at Historical Tapestry
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