Divine By Mistake
Parthalon Bk 1
P.C. Cast
Published: September 2006
(Originally published as Goddess by Mistake, 2001)
LUNA, Mass Market Paperback, 698 p.
ISBN: 978-0-373-80247-0
The most excitement teacher Shannon Parker expected on her summer vacation was a little shopping. But then her latest purchase - a viase with the Celtic goddess Epona on it - somehow switches her into the world of Parthalon, where she's treated like a goddess. A very temperamental goddess...
It seems that Shannon has stepped into another's role as the Goddess Incarnate of Epona. And while it has some very appealing moments - what woman doesn't like a little pampering now and then? - it also comes with a ritual marriage to a centaur and the threat of war against the evil Fomorians. Oh, and everyone disliking her because they think she's her double.
Somehow Shannon needs to figure out how to get back to Oklahoma without being killed, married to a horse or loosing her mind...
All hail Epona! In the 6 years since I discovered Parthalon, this is still my favourite of all the books in the series. Originally published as Goddess by Mistake in 2001, then undergoing a name change and reissue in 2006, Divine by Mistake is one of the best books in the fantasy romance genre that I have ever read.
Though the book clocks in at nearly 700 pages, there is just something so enticing about it that you don't notice how thick the book is while you're devouring it. Shannon Parker is just your average woman, nothing magical about her, no special talents or powers. It is only her resemblence to the Goddess' Chosen on Parthalon that gets her dragged into this mess.
I found Casts portrayal of Parker to be so witty. The smart remarks that fall from her lips (or thought in her head) are some of the best quips I've heard.
That's it. He was probably the mirror image of an Oklahoma bubba. I could see it now, he would want to call me his sweet thang and slap me on the butt.
And her confusion with the similarities to her world, and her friends dopplegangers, is fun to read. Her close relationship with Alanna is sweet, and I loved the relationship between Shannon and ClanFintan as it's not often that an author crosses the species barrier quite so thoroughly. Seriously, a Centaur! That's a little weirder than a vampire or werewolf, isn't it? But Cast does it so well that you don't even question the pairing.
The use of mythology in this book is great. I'm a bit of a mythology nerd, and the way Cast uses the Celtic myths and legends to bring Parthalon to life is wonderful. Fomorian's, false gods, nasty Goddess Incarnate and a Celtic Goddess. What more could a girl ask for?
Although this book is the start of a trilogy (with 3 further titles published later), I find that this is the book I return to time and time again. A great addition to any paranormal romance readers library. I just wish we could have had more time with Shannon and ClanFintan. Just don't try and read it at work, you just don't get any done - I certainly didn't ;-D
