Goddess of the Rose (Goddess Summoning, Book 4) [Mass Market Paperback]

P. C. Cast (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 6, 2009

From the New York Times bestselling author of the House of Night series-a passionate paranormal delight...

Empousai family roses have bloomed for centuries, thanks to the drops of blood their women sacrifice for their gardens. But Mikki would rather forget this family quirk and lead a normal life. Until she unwittingly performs a ritual, ending up in the strangely familiar Realm of the Rose. As its goddess Hecate reveals, Mikki is a priestess-and the Realm's been waiting for her...

Long ago, an enraged Hecate cursed her guardian beast and the entire Realm with a slumber only a priestess can undo-and she's counting on Mikki. The beast at first terrifies Mikki-but soon intrigues her more than any man ever has. But the only way he and the Realm can be saved is for Mikki to sacrifice her life-giving blood-and herself...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Award-winning author P. C. Cast is a dynamic, entertaining orator and an extraordinary teacher. Currently, her realm is in Oklahoma, where she resides with her spoiled cat, Patchy Poo the Pud, and her stubborn Scottie dogs, better known as The Snotties.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade; Reprint edition (January 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425227103
• ISBN-13: 978-0425227107
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,289 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

P.C. Cast was born in Watseka, Illinois, and grew up being shuttled back-and-forth between Illinois and Oklahoma, which is where she fell in love with Quarter Horses and mythology (at about the same time). After high school she joined the United States Air Force and began public speaking and writing. Since her tour in the USAF, she has been speaking and teaching professionally.

Ms. Cast is an award winning fantasy and paranormal romance author. Her novels have been awarded the prestigious: Prism, Holt Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Booksellers' Best, and the Laurel Wreath.

Ms. Cast writes the popular Goddess Summoning Series for Berkley Publishing. The forth book in the series, GODDESS OF THE ROSE, A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast, is a Feburary 2006 release.

In December 2004, LUNA (Harlequin's single title fantasy imprint for women) released ELPHAME'S CHOICE, the first of five epic fantasy novels set in the world of Cast's popular first book, GODDESS BY MISTAKE. BRIGHID'S QUEST was her December 2005 release, with two more installments in the world of Partholon scheduled for release in 2006 - including a special LUNA edition of GODDESS BY MISTAKE, under the new title DIVINE BY MISTAKE, and it's never before published sequel, DIVINE BY CHOICE, which will be available December 2006.

P.C. Cast is an experienced teacher and talented speaker. If your organization is interested in information about her workshops or presentations, please contact her publicist, Sherry Rowland of Siren Promotions at 918-625-6526 or [e-mail].

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Fantasy Romance, February 19, 2006

By 

Elaine C McTyer "avid reader" (Dawson, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Goddess of the Rose (Goddess Summoning, Book 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

P C Cast has once again taken us on a journey of mythic proportions. Wonderful characters, wonderful worlds, warm loving feelings and a joyful story. I loved it.

Mikado Empousai is a unique individual, her blood can actually protect and raise the most beautiful roses in the world. She has only used her unusual powers to grow prize winning roses. The powers are handed down by the women in her familly. She is the last. Now she works at the rose gardens at Woodward Park in Tulsa. Whether by accident or the powers that be, Mikado completes a goddess summoning ritual and frees the imprisioned Guardian at the Park. Ultimately finding out she is a Priestess of The REalm of the Roses.

The Guardian is a beast with the heart and soul of a man imprisioned inside. He has committed a crime against Hecate his Goddess, now that he is free he grabs Mikki and returns to the Realm of the Roses. A son of one of the titans he was cursed at birth to look like a beast. Being the only one of his kind leaves him to live a lonely hollow existance. But now he is determined to redeem himself and return to his job as Guardian of the Realm of the Roses. Not for him is touch or softness only duty.

Whatever you expect from this story, you get so much more. The interaction between the Guardian and the Priestess, as well as the citizens of this wonderful land is priceless. You only find a book like this once in a long while. Do not miss it. If you like love, romance, duty and heartwarming devotion this one is for you. I am so thankful I did not miss it.

This wonderful retelling of a Beauty and the Beast tale is so different and warm and I can only say I look forward to more of the Goddess Summoning Tales by P C Cast. Don't miss this one.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely worth reading, February 10, 2006

By 

Deborah Wiley (Winter Haven, FL) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Goddess of the Rose (Goddess Summoning, Book 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

P.C. Cast creates new tales from old myths. In her latest book, she interweaves the tale of the Minotaur with Beauty and the Beast to create a fascinating story. Mikado "Mikki" Empousai hides a family secret; for generations, the women in her family have been gifted with the ability to grow beautiful roses with only a small sacrifice to feed the roses. However, this time things go a little differently as she inadvertently invokes a sacred ritual and awakens the Guardian who then transports her to the Realm of the Rose. Mikki agrees to devote herself to the goddess Hecate and begins work on restoring the roses in the Realm as she feels at home in this world. She sees the man underneath the beast in the Guardian, Asterius, as he shows her the magic of the Realm. She learns of the Dream Weavers and even more importantly of those who weave the tapestry of life that allows dreams to come true. Disaster strikes when four Dream Stealers, Hatred, Fear, Envy, and Selfishness, manage to enter the Realm of the Rose and taint the roses. As the roses begin rapidly dying, Mikado has to make the ultimate sacrifice. P.C. Cast has created an enchanting story that captivates the reader. Despite liking several other works by Cast, I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. However, the conclusion of the novel made the entire journey worthwhile as Cast cleverly tied together all aspects of the novel.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another fantastic mythic romance from an emerging master of the genre, February 26, 2006

By 

brimmels (NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goddess of the Rose (Goddess Summoning, Book 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

Another wonder installment in P.C. Cast's "Goddess Summoning" series (though don't let the "series" banner deter you -- each book stands alone. They're just linked by the mythic connection). Just when I think she might be getting a little formulaic, she proves me wrong. In "Goddess of the Rose," Cast masterfully blends Beauty & the Beast with the myth of the minotaur, the underworld goddess Hecate and her own spin on Greek mythology to create a vibrant world filled with likeable characters and a plot that does keep you guessing. OK, it's a romance so you know there will be a happy ending -- that's one of the charms -- but part of the fun in Cast's books is trying to figure out how she's going to resolve the impossible situation she set up and then enjoying her clever and logical solution. I especially like the spiritual undertones in her books, which in this case includes forgiveness and learning from mistakes, not to mention not judging by appearances.

I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend P.C. Cast's books. She has become one of my all-time favorite favorite authors. Her annual Goddess Summoning novel is an auto-buy for me along with Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series (I'm loath to compare people, but Cast is technically the better writer though both create great characters in intricate mythic settings). My only disappointment is that Cast only releases one of these novels a year but if writing faster hurt the quality -- and it probably would -- I'll stick with this pace. Why wreck a great thing?