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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enchanting Read, February 13, 2005
With "Elphame's Choice" P.C. Cast continues in the same vein as her breakout novel, "Goddess by Mistake." Elphame, the half-human, half-centaur daughter of Etain, beloved of Epona, is very unhappy. As a human/centaur hybrid, Elphame is human from the waist up but her two legs resemble those of a centaur, ending with hoofs. Because she was so obviously marked by the Goddess, all who see her worship her. While she is revered and worshipped, outside of her own family she is not seen for who she is on the inside. It is this longing for acceptance that prompts Elphame to take her younger brother and seek her destiny in the ruins of the MacCallan.
Castle MacCallan was destroyed in a war over 100 years ago by a race of bloodthirsty demonic creatures called Fomorians. And ever since she was a child, Elphame has been captivated by the legends of the ancient keep. So, with a small band of humans and centaurs at her disposal, she sets about recapturing the grandeur and splendor of the castle. Before leaving, her brother has a premonition that Elphame will meet her destiny, and her life mate, while at this castle. Soon, these visions come true in the form of a half-man, half-Fomorian named Lochlan. Terrible events begin to unfold: will her new clan support Elphame's decision or will their hatred of an ancient enemy be too strong to overcome?
While I enjoyed this book, I found myself becoming more interested in the secondary characters than I was in the main characters. The love story of Elphame's warrior brother Cuchulainn and a scarred healer named Brenna was just as interesting, if not more so, than the romance between Lochlan and Elphame. While the story and plot were good, the characters weren't as dynamic as Cast usually writes. Barring a few small flaws, "Elphame's Choice" was a wonderful novel, and I'm waiting for the next installment!
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Eh..., November 30, 2009
This review is from: Elphame's Choice (Partholon) (Paperback)
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To be honest, I can't quite figure out for what audience this novel is intended. On one hand, we have this cute (that's right, cute) fantasy world of half-centaur girls and cool-sounding names and a plot that certainly would attract fantasy-loving teenage girls. The book is also in a teen market. On the other, we've steamy sex scenes with reference to marriage that would best be understood by adults. And yet the story is too simple to attract adult audiences. So I'm just confused. This novel does not know where it wants to go.
And that's not just with story and sex. Cast creates a lovely-if-vague world of old-time Goddess faiths, crumbling castles, and warring clans--and then goes and peppers it all with anachronistic words and references. It makes it nearly impossible to be swept up in the story with these jarring reminders that it's "just a book" every few pages.
This is the story of Elphame, the half-centaur, half-human girl (but she's not a satyr) worshipped as a goddess. She of course just wants to be normal, and seeks this by gathering a bunch of people together and setting off to repair an old ruined castle so she can rule as Cheiftan. Great way to be just like everyone else. However, the ruins have an ugly history that may not be quite dead. But if it ever comes to intense, the obligatory Harlequin romance jumps in.
Sadly, the story is just okay, and the romance is dull, cheesy, and unrealistic (yes, I know it's a fantasy). But I've never fell for the whole love-at-first-sight concept in books. It's not fun, it's not interesting. Rather than any emotional connection, the characters just takes these moments to release their passion via cliched erotic scenes.
Sorry, fantasy and romance lovers. But this is one book I would not choose to read again.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
original ideas but could have been executed better, November 11, 2009
This review is from: Elphame's Choice (Partholon) (Paperback)
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This book is marketed as Harlequin Teen. It's too explicit for teenagers, in my opinion, and I would not recommend it for them.
It is a fantasy novel set in a not very technologically advanced culture that brings together various elements of actual history (e.g., Scottish) with mythology (e.g., Greek) in a creative manner. And it has a vampire element as well, since vampires are so of the moment these days.
Elphame is the physical incarnation of the goddess Epona. Because it is a burden being a goddess, she sets off with her handsome brother in tow to start a new community, mostly formed of other young people wanting a fresh start. As she takes on the leadership role, by divine right, she finds that she possesses leadership qualities she did not know she had. She also meets a mysterious stranger.
The pacing of the book is a little off. A great deal of time is spent describing relationships and the progress of the new community. However, there is a suspenseful element that I will not describe in great detail to avoid giving it away. The author rushes through the resolution of this suspenseful element way too quickly, and the pace of the last 1/6 of the book is inconsistent with the rest of it.
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