Linnea Sinclair

As with Games of Command, I think that Goddess' new cover (the purple) has a very nifty looking space station pictured on it, but the original cover conveys more of what Gillie is like. Plus its what caught my eye and dove me into Sinclair's books. For some reason I thought it was Jem (as in Jem and the Holograms, that 80's rock cartoon) and bought it for that reason. A happy happenstance! And yes for some reason I've been convinced its 'The Accidental Goddess' not 'An Accidental Goddess'. I also think the new covers have less scifi to them and more romance (though they are now carried in the romance section, not scifi like when I got Accidental Goddess years ago).

The Accidental Goddess is fun. Pure and simple. Gillie is a sassy, clever and tough while Mack is the sort of guy girls fall over themselves for. Caring, hard working, witty, and passionate. Who doesn't want that? Their romance alternately made me laugh and sigh in exasperation as Gillie tried to work around what she couldn't tell him and he tried to work what she did tell him into a semblance of order. Simon was a welcome addition to the plight--definitely like an older brother who couldn't resist ribbing his little sister at every possible chance. I could easily see him regaling Mack with tales from Gillie's childhood that would embarrass her to no end.

For me I found it simply fascinating how the Khalaran evolved the myth of Gillie to such epic proportions. Obviously its not dissimilar to what must have happened back in the days of Ancient cultures for us. Gillie's response was perfectly understandable and what she said to Mack was true--what if in hundreds of years people are worshiping him for just doing his duty? How would he feel when faced with that?

I'd argue for a sequel/companion novel just to read about how this newest chapter in the Lady Kiasidira's legecy is effected. Gillie and Mack tried to do damage control, but there's no guarantee that it won't be taken the exact opposite way. Luckily it didn't seem as if there were any prophecies indicating that the Lady Kiasidira would return to the Khalaran people during their darkest hour. I'm not sure any amount of damage control could have helped her then!

I would have liked to see, or at least a mention of, the Raheiran's reaction to Gillie's deification and her resurrection. The end seemed to suggest they still had business with the Khalaran's even after her death, so I wonder at the fact they didn't halt the worship of her. That was their Prime Directive more or less--nurture not interfere, help don't command, wouldn't Gillie being revered as a Goddess go against those precepts?… (altro)

I stand corrected on my previous statement that I didn't need to know more about Sully's past/heritage. With the additional of his Kyi-Ragkiril mentor, Regarth, well it all got a whole lot more interesting. Reading the by-play between Sully and Regarth or the interchange between Chaz and Regarth was highly informative. Not just in how well (or little) each new the other, but also in how far they would push back.

Despite the fact I should have seen Philip as an obstacle, or at least a hindrance to Sully/Chaz's relationship (as I did in Gabriel's Ghost), I understood pretty quickly that Philip wasn't really in it to win back Chaz. He understood that even if by some chance Chaz came back to him, for whatever reason, what Chaz and Sully had could never be replaced by any feelings he had. So instead he became the protector and devil's advocate that Chaz needed occasionally. Someone who was, for the most part, looking out only for HER best interests. The family Chaz needed with everything that happened with Thad, her brother.

What fascinated me most was the not-so-slow dissolve of the original government and the move to a rebel Alliance. I may not be much of a politician myself, but boy how I enjoy them! Small acts are what topple a body of power moreso then large demonstrations. If you break a people's belief in the system, how can they complain when its replaced right under their noses under the guise of 'making things better'?… (altro)

This is tied in with Gabriel's Ghost and Shades of Dark (collectively known as the 'Dock 5' novels), so spoilers abound for many events and character relationships, but a brief recounting of the major plot points occurs to keep potentially new readers out of confusion. The book is also populated with characters that readers will know from the two previous novels (not just Sully and Chaz) so old faces are a friendly sight occasionally.

It was different to read a Linnea book where the romantic leads pretty much are on equal footing in most aspects (power, race, motivation), but I have to say I enjoyed it a great deal. It was nice to see both Rya (I love this name now) and Philip struggle with their attraction and respective feelings towards it. Rya was, with good reason it would seem, in serious hero worship of Philip for about two decades and was having trouble reconciling her Heroic Vision of the Man vs. the mundane reality. Philip meanwhile was struggling with not only his guilt over her father's death, but their age differences and I think the awkwardness of Rya's hero worship.

Some people just don't like pedestals.

Time of course is the great equalizer and by the time their romance really begins their main problem was how little time they had left to express those feelings. Imminent death from all sides does that. I will say, for a little while near the end, their relationship hit a common historical romance trope that is sometimes annoying as sin, but by the end of the book Linnea manages to finagle it into a workable solution to their romantic woes.

Rya's fascination with weaponry was amusing and entertaining (I wonder at the fact that Philip didn't think to question if her feelings were for him or his guns), especially the first few scenes that Philip and Rya re-connect (albeit unknowingly). Rya's ex-lover (can't really be considered a boyfriend) was an aggrevation, but not really anything to be concerned over.

Since the major arc of the Dock 5 books hasn't been concluded I sincerely hope for more exploration into the aftermath of the Alliance's reformation in any future books that come out!… (altro)

I'm not sure which cover I prefer. I like the blue color of the redesign, but I think that the original cover conveys more of the story. I have the original cover however so that wins extra points just because it helped me pick it up (though I thought that Ren was Gabriel since he looks more like a ghost then Gabriel does).

I'll say right away I was so happy this was a first person POV from Chaz. I normally prefer those books to third person POV because it helps me feel more 'in tune' with the character. Plus we learn things as they learn things. Which in this case is a wonderful thing because we start with Chaz already planetside and fighting to live. Her past and the events leading up to the prison planet are spread throughout the book as if Gabriel (aka: Sully)'s apparent save from death.

Both of them have heavy enemies and very little time to uncover the plot that Sully found out (the breeding of jukors, though of course this goes deeper then that). Vast Intergalactic Governments are just never the good guys. Except in Accidental Goddess and really they were kind of pandering to a force of evil unintentionally. Plus Chaz wants her good name back, her rank and to be clear of the stigma that she didn't create. They had a large order to fill.

Sully was exasperating, holding things very close to the chest and giving out extra information as it suited him (or when forced to). I'm not talking about his heritage, but facts that needed to be known about the mission they were trying to complete. I would have given Chaz my full support if she took a shot at him once or twice. He was also prone to posturing for the sake of impressing Chaz (especially when he ex-husband was involved).

The only real complaint I have is that it obviously ends in a way that opens itself up to a sequel. Unlike with Accidental Goddess or Games of Command, I think I would have been okay with Gabriel's Ghost being by itself. I had no additional questions regarding Sully or who he was and would have been okay if jukors were never revisited.… (altro)