Customer Reviews

Goddess of Light (Goddess Summoning, Book 3)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I just finished today, and while I enjoyed it, I don't think it's Casts best work. It ties into Goddess of Spring very well, which is pleasant, but it doesn't have the same feeling.

Pamela has freed herself of her clingy, control freak husband, and for the past 2 years she's been a workaholic trying to clear out her own life. She takes an interior design job for a well known Science Fiction writer, only to be brought to Vegas to reproduce a tacky version of the Forum, in Caesar's Palace. At the same time Zeus open a portal from Mount Olympus to Las Vegas, to allow his fellow immortals and nymphs a chance to see what he modern world is like. This provides ample opportunity for Artemis to try and jump start her brother Apollo, who's been in a rotten mood ever since he was spurned by Persephone, who turned out to be a mortal woman.

Things go awry when nymphs provide an invocation in the Forum of Caesar's Palace, and Pamela compltetes it unknowingly. Finding herself involved Artemis encourages her brother to woo Pamela to rid Artemis of her burden. Apollo beings his romance thinking as a god, but as the novel progresses, he becomes more human, and more substantial.

This novel differs from the previous Goddess of series, Pamela never inherits the body of a goddess, and in a twist, Artemis and Apollo find themselves bound to the moral world, living as mortals. That's a refreshing change, but as the rest of the novel follows the standard pattern of Cast's books, I found myself longing for the standard body switch.

I did enjoy the rich storyline, author E D Faust, or Eddie, added a lot to the story. As did Artemis, although she often stole the story away from Apollo. Pamela is a little more fleshed out than some of the previous heroines, she seems more like a woman who's really been hurt in the past. Las Vegas provides a lot of interesting scenery to use, and is perfect for the 10 day period that this novel covers.

However, for the things I did like, there are equal things I didn't like. Bacchus irritated me to no end. He's whiny in the beginning, his meddling causes a lot of problems, and even though the ending fits, I hate the fact the God of Wine caused the tragedy. Zeus's punishment to him was fitting, but I just hated the whole thing. Apollo to me seemed odd. In Goddess of Spring, he's a self absorbed, shallow immortal, who was interested in tryst instead of something more tangible. Letting himself be consumed by rejection over a mortal woman shouldn't have bothered him. In this novel he becomes more of a normal person, with more flaws and personality, which is great, but it's still not enough. Artemis steals the show partway through, once she becomes mortal, and Apollo's personality isn't enough to stop her from taking over. I also disliked the ending, it's a great way to end it, but I wanted the happily ever after to come without quite so much angsty tragedy.

Overall, it's not a bad book, I liked it morethan Goddess by Mistake, and close to as much as Goddess of the Sea, but it's not as good as Goddess of Spring. I did like seeing Hades and Lina from the previous book though, and I like how the books are starting to intertwine. Not a bad book, and those who like her books will like this one as well.

Workaholic interior designer Pamela is on a business trip to Las Vegas. Reeling from an abusive marriage, she's hoping her heart isn't entirely dead yet. She accidentally weaves her desire for romance into a spell binding the goddess Artemis to her aid, and Artemis sends her brother Apollo to woo Pamela.

Apollo and Pamela fall in love, of course. I didn't think their relationship was developed as well as Lina and Hades' relationship in Goddess of Spring. It seemed more like Apollo and Pamela fell into bed a couple of times and then declared themselves soul mates. Besides, I can't see Apollo as a romantic hero. There is one point where Pamela muses about how Apollo isn't going to stifle her as her husband did. Hello? Burning Coronis to a crisp for cheating on him? Chasing Daphne till she had no choice but to turn into a tree? Punishing Cassandra for not wanting to sleep with him? He comes off as rather piggish in myth, and none of that is really dealt with except for a few offhand comments about how he's not the same guy anymore because his love for Pamela has changed him. In under a week? I doubt it. It's just, BANG! he's a nice guy now, without a single iota of his former personality resurfacing. At least Hades, for all his brooding darkness, always seemed in the stories to actually love his wife. And the angsty aspect of his personality was also a plot point in the novel, and an obstacle to his relationship with Lina. Here, Apollo is perfect beyond belief. I also can't really buy Artemis as a promiscuous blonde bombshell.

And the ending seemed wrong, too. Let's just say, for fear of spoilers, that the characters seemed a lot less interesting at the end, particularly Pamela.

I really liked this but....there is just something missing in this story that was there in "Goddess of Spring." I love Apollo, he's just so sweet and yummy. Artemis is delightfully bitchy, and I can even identify with Pamela's pain. But there is just something lacking and I can't put my finger on it. It seems that Cast herself realizes this near the end of the book and takes us on a roller coaster of emotions that would have been better paced throughout the book rather than right at the end. And I wound up with a ton of questions because the ending was so rushed. I feel like I've just eaten a chocolate-covered donught that appeared to be heaven on the outside, but was lacking in taste.
I'd give this a 3 & 1/2, but there isn't an option for that.

Artemis feels bad for her brother Apollo moaning over losing a mortal to Hades, but she has no idea how to help her sibling get out of his doldrums. That is until their father Zeus opens a portal to Vegas. Though knowing Sin City is Bacchus' personal playground, Artemis convinces Apollo that a trip there would do him good.

Interior designer Pamela Gray is in town decorating the home of author Faust when she gets involved with Artemis. Apollo tries to help his sister, but finds himself attracted to Pamela. To the interior designer's shock, she reciprocates having never met anyone like this hunk built like a Greek God. However, the Gods have toyed with mortal females forever, but Apollo sees this time is different as he is in love but he has to persuade Pamela that the universe is not black and white, but many shades of colors including his favorite hue, the gray that he treasures.

P.C. Cast continues her unique brand of delightfully mixing a modern day romance with a mythological legend. The story line is fast-paced led by two wonderful lead protagonists. The support cast adds depth so that the audience will believe that this is an Olympus invasion of Las Vegas to rival only the Tarkenian years. Fans of mythological contemporary romances will appreciate this creative well written tale.

Harriet Klausner

Zeus, father of the Gods has prepared a treat for his children. He has decided to open a portal into the modern world of Las Vegas for his children to play in and enjoy on the weekends, much to the dismay of his child Bacchus who has ruled that particular realm single-handedly for the past few eons.

Artemis, Goddess of The Hunt and Moon talks her brother Apollo into a weekend of fun in Las Vegas and together the twins of night and day head out to wreak havoc on Sin City. Bacchus however, still angry at the disrespect the other Gods and Goddess are showing his realm invokes an ancient ritual that unfortunately falls on Pamela...

Pamela, a modern mortal woman who is visiting Las Vegas on a work trip suddenly finds herself bound Artemis after accidentally spilling wine, pricking her finger, and whispering her secret wish: for romance to come back into her life. Strangely drawn to her Apollo soon finds himself falling in love with Pamela and must somehow face the fact that he cannot pretend to be a mortal forever. He must tell her the truth and accept her decision; after all he could never be a soul mate with a mortal...right?

Despite the seemingly cheesy theme, "The Goddess of Light" was exceptionally good! I was more than pleasantly surprised. I've always been a P.C. Cast fan, but after reading "Goddess of the Sea," I didn't have high hopes for "Goddess of Light." Boy was I wrong!

While "Goddess of Light" had the same sort of fantastical and seemingly crazy mystical theme that "Goddess of the Sea" had, it was less...cartoonish? For lack of a better word? The characters had more depth to them than in Cast's first book in the series and I definitely related with Pamela more than the characters in "Goddess of the Sea."

I love Cast's lighthearted approach to romance novels. Yes, there are great sex scenes, but they are always brief, tasteful, and add to the plot of the story as opposed to becoming the purpose for writing the book. Cast has a wonderful sense of humor that she conveys well into her writing and into her characters.

Cast always delivers. Though her writing is predictable, it's a comfortable sort of predictable that is probably the reason I keep reaching time and time again for her books. These are the sort of things you need to keep in mind when reaching for one of her books. If you start one with unrealistic expectations of epic battles and dragons you will be sorely disappointed. On the flipside, for those of us who appreciate a well written romance and a good fantasy, Cast will never disappoint.

Four Stars.

"Interior designer Pamela Gray has nearly given up on romance. She's tired of controlling egomaniacs. She wants romance and she wants it with someone with real godlike qualities. As she whispers her wish, she unwittingly invokes the Goddess Artemis, who has some tricks up her celestial sleeve...
Twins Artemis and Apollo have been sent to the kingdom of Las Vegas to test their mettle in a world where they are no longer worshiped. The last thing Artemis expected was to be obliged to a mortal through a heartfelt wish- and she demands that her golden brother make that wish a reality. Who better than the handsome and charming God of Light to bring love to this lonely woman?
But Apollo is mnot quite prepared for this spitfire of a woman in her stiletto heels. Pamela may be a mortal, but she is a goddess in spirit- and in Sin City, where all of life is a gamble, Pamela finds the courage to let go of her fears and love again. After all, you only live once. Or do you?"-- from the back cover.

I didn't care much for Cast's chosen profession for the Heroine. It seems to lack imagination for such an otherwise imaginative book. Makes it kinda boring in that reguard. Other than that I sure am learning alot about wine.
I really did enjoy reading this one though. Hope you do too.
Other Goddess books: Goddess of the Sea, Goddess of Spring, Goddess by Mistake.

And by the way, feel free to e-mail me your own recommendations. I'm always looking for a good paranormal romance. You can also check out my listamania for more recommendations.

When I compare this book to Goddess of the Sea and Goddess of Spring (the first two books in this series) I can't help but be seriously disappointed. I thought that the characters were all interesting and the plot was definitely original, but I hated the ending. Hated it. I thought it could've been a lot better and I was really sad at the direction she took, I mean, it didn't really work out for anyone. And its especially tragic when you look at how the Goddess of Spring was resolved. Anyway, it's still a good read, and if you've enjoyed her work previously you probably will like this one too. And I know that many people were happy with the ending so this might just be me.

To all who enjoy mythology romance and fun then read the Goddess series by P.C. Cast, i'm a middled aged woman and enjoys everyone in the seriers i have read the whole house of night series and found these to be just as enjoyable. Looking forward to more from this great author , thanks for making my days and nights not so boring.

Who could guess that one of The Gods would "give it up" for a mortal? A little hard to believe, but the telling is not. The author is a master of "painting the picture". P.C. Cast is quickly becoming my favorite author. I am loving her wit peppered with sarcasm and irony.
MORE...Please.

Finally!

Someone who can write about a beautiful man - god or mortal, that is not only the opposite of the stereotypical literary male, but is actually interesting!

The scenery is beautiful. You feel like you're really there, or wish like hell you really were.

P. C. Cast, I'm going to read all your books!!