Pennsylvania, 1730
Selah Kilbrid keeps a dangerous secret: she has the power to heal.
A direct descendent of the Celtic goddess Brigid, it’s Selah’s sacred duty to help those in need. But as the last of the Goddess Born living in the New World, she learned from an early age to keep her supernatural abilities hidden. The Quaker community of Hopewell has always been welcoming, but there’s no doubt they would see her hanged if her gift was revealed.
When a prominent minister threatens to try her with witchcraft unless she becomes his wife, Selah has only one hope—that her betrothed, a distant cousin from Ireland, arrives as planned. Marrying Samuel would keep her secret safe, preserve her sacred bloodline, and protect her from being charged as a witch.
But when news of Samuel’s death reaches the Colonies, Selah is truly on her own. Terrified, she faces an impossible choice—forfeit her powers and marry the loathsome Nathan? Or find an imposter to pose as her husband and preserve her birthright?
My Thoughts: This book was not what I was expecting. I thought that this was a supernatural book about a young woman who was a demi-goddess. Instead, I read a historical fiction book that was set during the colonial time, a time when being accused of witchcraft was high. Though the mythology that I was expecting to read was not prominent, this was a most enjoyable book.
The plot was engaging from beginning to end. The idea of being blackmailed into marriage with a despicable man or being ruined and accused of being a witch immediately grabbed my attention. I wanted to know why Nathan was obsessed and very insistent on Selah marrying him. My curiosity was increased more when reading Selah's constant disdain on why she did not want to marry Nathan. It made me question the type of character Nathan was. Also, Selah's rash decision to marry a stranger after finding out her betrothed died on his voyage was definitely an attention grabber. It was even more interesting to find out that the stranger, Henry, she married was a mysterious and attractive man. Let's just say that this book had a very strong beginning and it kept getting more exciting as the pages were turned.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the historical aspect of this book. I am sucker for colonial history concerning witches. I appreciated the attention that was given on the historical accuracy. It gave insights as to how life was like for Quakers, what women endured during that time, how indentured servants were viewed, and how religious fanaticism lead to horrific results. It was wonderful to read how all of these facts were interwoven into this fictional story that was quite enjoyable.
My only complaint about Goddess Born was how the ending was rushed. Everything in the book was planned out well and the suspense was perfect. The ending quickly wrapped everything leaving me a little disappointed. Now I'm not saying that I did not like the happy ending, I just did not like how I was immediately thrust into it. However, this was a minor setback of the book because I still found myself liking it very much.
As a whole, this was a very engaging book. The historical aspect about this book and the fascinating plot had me hooked. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a historical enthusiast or a fantasy/paranormal lover. I rate it:
2013 RWA Golden Heart© Finalist
2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award semifinalist
Set in the colony of Pennsylvania in 1730, this riveting novel begins as 18-year-old Selah Kilbrid runs into Quaker minister Nathan Crowley, a man who “labor[ed] under the delusion that [Selah] would soon be his wife” despite the fact that she was betrothed to a man on his way to America from Ireland. Nathan tells Selah that if she refuses him, he will have her “charged as a witch” because of her ability to heal the sick. To avoid Nathan’s plan to marry her the following Sunday, she leaves for Philadelphia to wait for the arrival of her betrothed and marry him before returning home. In Philadelphia, she discovers that her betrothed has died at sea. She then purchases Henry, an indentured servant, and convinces him to pose as her husband and help protect her from Nathan. As the story continues, the reader learns of Selah’s family history and the powers she possesses; Selah is half human, half goddess. It's important that her secret stay safe, because if discovered, she could be killed. The characters are well developed and relatable; the reader empathizes with Selah and her plight. The fast-paced plot is exciting and keeps the reader guessing and in suspense. The end leaves room for a sequel, which, after such a tremendous beginning, would be anxiously awaited. A clear winner!
Meet the Author:
Kari Edgren did not dream of becoming a writer. Instead, she dreamed of everything else and was often made to stay inside during kindergarten recess to practice her letters. Despite doting parents and a decent school system, Ms. Edgren managed to make it through elementary school having completed only one book cover to cover – The Box Car Children, which she read approximately forty-seven times. Things improved during high school, but not until she read Gabrielle Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude in college, did she truly understand the power of a book. Ms. Edgren aspires to be a Vulcan, a world-acclaimed opera singer, and two inches taller. She resides in the Pacific NW where she spends a great deal of time torturing her husband and children with strange food and random historical facts. Ms. Edgren hasn’t stopped dreaming, but has finally mastered her letters enough to put the stories on paper.
Vonnie, I had no idea you were in this tour, too! I checked out the list of blogs on the tour page at I Am A Reader, and saw yours listed. I noticed that you had reviewed the book, so I just had to come over and read your review, which I loved!! Your attention to detail is absolutely wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI have a spotlight post, and included an excerpt from the book. I think it's totally fascinating! I, too, like historical fiction. One of the excerpts (not the one I used, though) describes how Selah enters the Otherworld at an isolated spot in the forest, after she chants some Gaelic words.
My only problem with this book is that it's a Kindle edition......I'm thinking of writing to the author to see if she has any plans to release it in print in the future.
Thanks for the awesome review!! : )
Oh hey! I didn't know you were part of it either!
DeleteThank you for your wonderful comments. This was such a great book and I would have continued talking about it but I don't like writing long reviews.
That excerpt is an interesting part of the book. It actually had me yelling at Selah for risking going to the forest when she was recently accused of being a witch. I won't say much more in fear of spoiling it, but I kept saying, "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Lol
Gosh, I hope a print version of this book does come out. I would love to have it part of my collection.
Thank you, Maria, for stopping by!