Goddess of the Rose

Being a woman that loved the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, not only the childrens story but the old TV show, I was one who was dissapointed when the beast turned into a prince. This is one of the BEST books I have ever read. P C Cast will have a reader for life if all the rest are like this one. Being the first book of hers that I have read I hope the rest are as good. Not only does the book have a love story it challenges you to look up greek mythology just to see where she is coming from. I was totally enchanted from the beginning to the last page. I could feel the Guardians claws on my own back and could smell the roses too. The imagination that Ms Cast has is awesome. I couldnt put it down. I definitly reccomend this to anyone that is looking for the "different" romance that stirs your heart as well as your imagination.

To start off, I immediately liked this book because Beauty and the Beast is one of my classic favorites and this book was the author's personal take on the beloved tale. I have to tell you it astounded me how different it was and yet managed to enchant me within minutes. The mysteries implore you to read on and find the answers even as you lose yourself to the great plot. Mikki is the heroine who ends up accidentally breaking the Beast's curse and freeing him from his imprisonment. In exchange for his freedom, the Beast whisks Mikki off to the Realm of the Rose where he is Guardian. A land he is both awed and feared in but non-the-less calls home. Mikki slowly starts to see the inner working of both the people and the Realm and develops feelings for both. But can a human love a beast? She will have to find out while dodging enemies, unraveling mysteries and giving in to her darkest desires. A task daunting at times but ultimately worth the price it comes with. The first thing I noticed was the author's great descriptions. The story came to life off the pages and I felt like I was able to explore along with the heroine. And then there are the great characters. The heroine is quite loveable and sees the best in everyone. Makes a person cheer for her in her quest to right the wrongs done purposely or inadvertently. The hero is the haunted beast as you may have guessed. But P.C. Cast really puts a new take on him. For me he became more real, facing the dilemmas and hardships never mentioned in any other story but all too real in life. Quite an interesting pair and really worth the read. If there was anything I didn't like about this book, it was the ending. And that's because this is one of those books that you read and hate to see end. Eventually it will, but if you are like me, you will be so wrapped up in the story that the end will happen too fast and leave you wanting. Fortunately, this author has more great stories and the journey can continue in those pages for the avid reader.

I just finished Goddess of the Rose and the first thing I was thinking: more should read this!!!! THOUGH A WORD OF CAUTION!! It made me do pretty awful things. Really: not only - did I get to work late (because I just couldn't stop reading), - went 'out' to lunch so I could read in the subway, - did I get late at a dinner engagement after work (reading on a bench in a very windy train station) and - did I leave early (didn't even have dessert), - I also ignored my boyfriend for the best part of the evening... I absolutely LOVED it! In the Goddess Summoning series I also REALLY enjoyed the Goddess of Spring, where as I 'liked' the Goddess of the Sea and the Goddess of Light, and I agreed with what a reviewer wrote about the Goddess by Mistake, that is was a bit boring, because it became clear very early in the book that the heroine and hero would (forever) love each other and that the only thing they should be worried about were the bad guys they needed to defeat (and a lot of the book is about the fight against the 'bad guys'). The Goddess of the Rose however is a story that has not only more mystery, but also a lot more love and if you let it, it can really touch you. Not a lot of romance novels can make me shed a tear (OK, OK, so it was more than 'a' tear), especially because you know that all will end well, but this one did it for me! Although quite a different story, A knight in shining armor by Jude Deveraux (really a six star rating!!) is that kind of a novel to me too, and Fires of winter by Johanna Lindsey made me cry as well. To give you an idea what the story is about: Mikado Empousai lives in the `mundane' world and comes from a special family of women who have a special `blood'bond with roses. Through her blood she gives life to the roses. Because of her gift with roses she is summoned by goddess Hecate to the Realm of the Rose, to become the High Priestess and save the realm from going under. She has the help of the four elements, four handmaidens with each special gifts, and learns what kind of powers she has, how to use them and ultimately how to save the Realm. Without the roses dreams, magick and the boundaries between the ancient and the mundane world wouldn't exist. Apart from the Realm itself, the one thing that really fascinates her is the Guardian of the Realm, Asterius. There is a lot of mystery surrounding him and the fact that the Realm has gone without a High Priestess for so long. Being part man, part beast, he is neither. She has dreamed about him many times in the past and although the beast in him frightens her at first, he also absolutely thrills her to the core...

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?

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.