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Partholon #5
Brighid's Quest
In this follow-up to Elphame's Choice, Brighid flees her centaur clan's rigid traditions and prejudice to find peace and acceptance among the humans of Clan MacCallan. When her family summons her home, Brighid must make a fateful decision.
507 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2005
About the author
P.C. Cast
169 books27.7k followersPC was born in the Midwest, 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. After her tour in the USAF, she taught high school for 15 years before retiring to write full time. PC is a #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today Best-Selling author and a member of the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame. Her novels have been awarded the prestigious: Oklahoma Book Award, YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Prism, Holt Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Booksellers’ Best, and the Laurel Wreath. PC is an experienced teacher and talented speaker. Ms. Cast lives in Oregon near her fabulous daughter, her adorable pack of dogs, her crazy Maine Coon, and a bunch of horses. House of Night Other World, book 4, FOUND, releases July 7th, 2020. More info to come soon about the HoN TV series!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
April 1, 2010
I was predetermined to not actually like this book. However, as you all know I am a fan of P.C. Cast and thought it was only fair to give this beautifully written story a try. The last month I would walk past this book in bookstores and would pick it up and read the back and put it back down. Finally I gave in and read it, and thankfully I did because I pleasantly surprised how this book overtook me. I’ve been noticing that Cast tends to write books based on Goddess and empowering women, which I can of dig especially since all of her characters seem to make me laugh when I least expect it.
Brighid is an amazingly loveable character who can’t help but root for. The whole time I was reading the book I felt apart of Brighid (which in my experience means the book is smirk worthy of at least 4 stars) and I wanted her help people and be snarky all at the same time in her own time. I guess there are really no magical words to describe the feelings this book left me with. I want to know more about Brighid and her hunky side man, Cu, and I just want to immerse myself in another story involving the two of them. It’s almost like being drawn to a light that only you can see, you can’t describe it even though you try. I’m actually quite nervous to read anymore of P.C. Cast’s other series novels for fear I will never be able to do my homework again. I think this author has a way of drawing in a crowd and though her books might only touch a few, the power cord to those few is very strong.
I want to gush about the story of the “quest” Brighid takes but I can’t formulate the words of the magical journey this heroine takes you on. I cried like 4 times while reading it, which is also another key factor for me to know a book is good. I gave Brighid’s Quest 5 stars because this book really just over takes you and plummets you into an entirely different world filled with hope, imagination, love, and power. P.C. Cast’s world building in this book is amazing, when I finished reading I was like, “What? I’m back to reality, where I have to go to class and study?"
Brighid is an amazingly loveable character who can’t help but root for. The whole time I was reading the book I felt apart of Brighid (which in my experience means the book is smirk worthy of at least 4 stars) and I wanted her help people and be snarky all at the same time in her own time. I guess there are really no magical words to describe the feelings this book left me with. I want to know more about Brighid and her hunky side man, Cu, and I just want to immerse myself in another story involving the two of them. It’s almost like being drawn to a light that only you can see, you can’t describe it even though you try. I’m actually quite nervous to read anymore of P.C. Cast’s other series novels for fear I will never be able to do my homework again. I think this author has a way of drawing in a crowd and though her books might only touch a few, the power cord to those few is very strong.
I want to gush about the story of the “quest” Brighid takes but I can’t formulate the words of the magical journey this heroine takes you on. I cried like 4 times while reading it, which is also another key factor for me to know a book is good. I gave Brighid’s Quest 5 stars because this book really just over takes you and plummets you into an entirely different world filled with hope, imagination, love, and power. P.C. Cast’s world building in this book is amazing, when I finished reading I was like, “What? I’m back to reality, where I have to go to class and study?"
August 17, 2014
I loved Brighid's Quest but I didnt think it was as good as the other Partholon books. I don't know it just felt like there was something missing and I didnt feel the same attachment to the charactors as I did when reading Elphame's choice. Also once again as I mentioned when reviewing Elphame's Choice I can't help but notice that it seems too adult for the age group its in. As a teenage book its allowing teenagers from 11 years up to read it, and I personally don't feel comfortable on the thought of 11 or 13 year olds reading some of the scenes in the book. Id say 15+.(Depending on maturity) Another thing is that I felt that P.C Cast sort of rushed the ending. I mean you had all these problems building up through out the story that were all solved in the last two pages, which I personally was disappointed in and it also left a lot of unanswered questions so fingers crossed another book comes out. But yeah the ending seemed sort of...sudden if you know what I mean. But other than all of that I did enjoy reading it and I recommend it to all. A very good read, not the best but good.
February 2, 2011
Again I have to share my praise for P.C. Cast. This book was fabulous! It had a different focus than some of her books, it went from pain, death and suffering to love, life and happiness. It shows you the experience and trials a person who has lost a loved one may go through (I was crying for a large portion of the book). It is deffinately a difficult thing to be able to express through a book but the story is written so that you can begin to at least understand it. The transition from dealing with the death then recovering is done well, you see it's not something that you can just forget, but you can heal from it. Then to make you love the book even though it is sad, it brings back love, life and happiness, it a is difficult thing to accomplish but she does it. When that love is realized the trials to come are easier because the characters now have each other. And of course throughout the book, she gives you the sense that there will be redemption, you are not lost to the pain. You close the book with a sense of newness and redemption. Though I am hoping from the epilogue, there will be another book to the Parthalon series.
February 2, 2012
There’s something immensely satisfying about a light fantasy read—a read that entertains and delights in a simple and straightforward manner.
Too much of the fantasy that I’ve read of late has strayed toward the dark side. Some of them seem to be competing for awards of “goriest death” or “most revolting torture” or “bleakest outlook on life.” After too many course of that type of fantasy, Brighid’s Quest by P.C. Cast comes as a welcome and enjoyable relief.
Brighid’s Quest is a book that doesn’t make your head or heart hurt. It’s very much a feel-good novel where good is good, evil is evil, and love champions over all its adversity. It is a highly refreshing novel where characters are continually surprised by goodness rather than the more traditional fantasy fare of the protagonists getting tricked by hidden evil.
This book is the second in a series. The characters were first introduced in Elphame’s Choice. However, as someone who didn’t read that first novel, I had no difficulty jumping into the second book and immediately being able to understand who people were and what motivated them.
It is the story of a centaur named Brighid and her quest to save a warrior of her clan, Cuchalainn (Cu for short), from the overwhelming grief that has enveloped him since the death of his betrothed. The two of them are also helping a group of children descended from muses and demons to return to their homeland—a homeland which had once warred with their demonic ancestors and looked upon them with the greatest of suspicions.
Brighid’s quest is hampered by the fact that much of it takes place in the spirit world and she had rejected her shamanic calling in favor of being a Huntress, the calling of her heart. In order to be successful, Brighid must challenge her prejudices and make a choice between selfishness and happiness.
Early on in the novel, I couldn’t help but feel a certain amount of trepidation about the direction that the novel was taking. This was a book, after all, being put out by Luna, the fantasy imprint of Harlequin. There was bound to be a love interest (though C.E. Murphy’s series has so far avoided it) and I confess to being slightly queasy about the prospect of reading a human-centaur sex scene. It danced a little too close to bestiality for my comfort. I should not have worried, though. P.C. Cast handles even the sex scenes with a great deal of delicacy and class.
The paths of Brighid’s Quest are filled with highly likeable characters. Even the villains are offered opportunities for redemption—a choice that some of them are willing to make. Cast has drawn me into her world and I’ll gladly make return visits to this charming series.
Too much of the fantasy that I’ve read of late has strayed toward the dark side. Some of them seem to be competing for awards of “goriest death” or “most revolting torture” or “bleakest outlook on life.” After too many course of that type of fantasy, Brighid’s Quest by P.C. Cast comes as a welcome and enjoyable relief.
Brighid’s Quest is a book that doesn’t make your head or heart hurt. It’s very much a feel-good novel where good is good, evil is evil, and love champions over all its adversity. It is a highly refreshing novel where characters are continually surprised by goodness rather than the more traditional fantasy fare of the protagonists getting tricked by hidden evil.
This book is the second in a series. The characters were first introduced in Elphame’s Choice. However, as someone who didn’t read that first novel, I had no difficulty jumping into the second book and immediately being able to understand who people were and what motivated them.
It is the story of a centaur named Brighid and her quest to save a warrior of her clan, Cuchalainn (Cu for short), from the overwhelming grief that has enveloped him since the death of his betrothed. The two of them are also helping a group of children descended from muses and demons to return to their homeland—a homeland which had once warred with their demonic ancestors and looked upon them with the greatest of suspicions.
Brighid’s quest is hampered by the fact that much of it takes place in the spirit world and she had rejected her shamanic calling in favor of being a Huntress, the calling of her heart. In order to be successful, Brighid must challenge her prejudices and make a choice between selfishness and happiness.
Early on in the novel, I couldn’t help but feel a certain amount of trepidation about the direction that the novel was taking. This was a book, after all, being put out by Luna, the fantasy imprint of Harlequin. There was bound to be a love interest (though C.E. Murphy’s series has so far avoided it) and I confess to being slightly queasy about the prospect of reading a human-centaur sex scene. It danced a little too close to bestiality for my comfort. I should not have worried, though. P.C. Cast handles even the sex scenes with a great deal of delicacy and class.
The paths of Brighid’s Quest are filled with highly likeable characters. Even the villains are offered opportunities for redemption—a choice that some of them are willing to make. Cast has drawn me into her world and I’ll gladly make return visits to this charming series.
March 27, 2023
Me ha gustado mucho el quinto libro de esta saga, pero resulta que no he encontrado ninguno más editado en español, y eso me fastidia porque se que en inglés continúa la serie con más libros pero aquí no se llegan a edtiar. Bueno pues eso, que me ha sabido a poco y me gustaría poder continuar leyendo las aventuras de Brighid.
Resulta que ahora me he dado cuenta que delante de estos libros hay otros tres que no sabía que eran de la misma saga o sea que ahora sé el final pero no el principio, vaya lío me he montado yo misma jajajaja!!!. Bien, ya os iré contando...
Resulta que ahora me he dado cuenta que delante de estos libros hay otros tres que no sabía que eran de la misma saga o sea que ahora sé el final pero no el principio, vaya lío me he montado yo misma jajajaja!!!. Bien, ya os iré contando...
August 13, 2010
This is a coming of age book and has a lot of things woven together. After seeing Elphame's concern for her brother who has gone to bring back the New Formaorians to Clan McCallan; Brighid decides to put her clan's chief's heart at peace and takes up the journey to find Cu and aid him in bringing the New Formorians back! But what Brighid does not expect is her struggle with her own powers, finding love and finding her destiny...this journey will change what Brighid Dianna stood for and will stand for, for time to come.
The land is still shrouded in darkness, but the sky had begun to blush in anticipation of the sun...
- Brighid's Quest
Brighid's Quest is the 3rd book in the Young Adult Parthalon Books by P.C. Cast! I had no clue when I selected this book from NetGalley that it was part of a series. I felt sorry I had not read the 1st 2 books because I have come to LOVE Cast's writing. It is so beautiful and vivid! When this book started, I really was a bit confused as I had no clue what was happening. But 10 pages into it and I was reading non-stop. This book is addictive in a way, I cannot explain. I loved Brighid, Cu and Elphame! I love the world that Cast has so beautifully crafted.
I LOVE her lyrical writing... I know I am saying it again... but I think I cannot express my love for this book enough.
Dwelling on tragedy makes grief become like a dipping icicle that begins as a small, harmless silver of coldness. But slowly, as winter of mourning progresses, layer after dripping layer hardens into an unbreakable dagger of pain.
- pg. 67
The connection between dawn and sunset was like a coin with 2 faces. Alike, yet seperate. Similar, yet not the same. There was a simplicity and rightness to thinking of the two as reflections of one another... beginning and ending... and then beginning again...just another part of the great circle of life.
- pg. 271
Some things in life can't be placed tidly on sides of good or evil. We are often in the midst of a balancing act, where the scales are hopefully tipped toward the good and away from the evil. But sometimes evil wears the face of friends and family. And good looks like the outlander."
- pg. 288
You know that prejudice is not logical, which is why it is so hard to overcome."
Just like a coming-of-age novel, this one is predictable. I mean you know what is going to happen, but how and what all really happens - you have to read the book to really find out! On a side-note, I do not like the cover at all :(
I am waiting to get a chance to read all the books in this series. And I recommend this book HIGHLY!
I hope you guys give this series and this author's other books a try!
Check out the author site - P.C. Cast site
Thanks to Harlequin Teen and to NetGalley for my copy of this eBook!
The land is still shrouded in darkness, but the sky had begun to blush in anticipation of the sun...
- Brighid's Quest
Brighid's Quest is the 3rd book in the Young Adult Parthalon Books by P.C. Cast! I had no clue when I selected this book from NetGalley that it was part of a series. I felt sorry I had not read the 1st 2 books because I have come to LOVE Cast's writing. It is so beautiful and vivid! When this book started, I really was a bit confused as I had no clue what was happening. But 10 pages into it and I was reading non-stop. This book is addictive in a way, I cannot explain. I loved Brighid, Cu and Elphame! I love the world that Cast has so beautifully crafted.
I LOVE her lyrical writing... I know I am saying it again... but I think I cannot express my love for this book enough.
Dwelling on tragedy makes grief become like a dipping icicle that begins as a small, harmless silver of coldness. But slowly, as winter of mourning progresses, layer after dripping layer hardens into an unbreakable dagger of pain.
- pg. 67
The connection between dawn and sunset was like a coin with 2 faces. Alike, yet seperate. Similar, yet not the same. There was a simplicity and rightness to thinking of the two as reflections of one another... beginning and ending... and then beginning again...just another part of the great circle of life.
- pg. 271
Some things in life can't be placed tidly on sides of good or evil. We are often in the midst of a balancing act, where the scales are hopefully tipped toward the good and away from the evil. But sometimes evil wears the face of friends and family. And good looks like the outlander."
- pg. 288
You know that prejudice is not logical, which is why it is so hard to overcome."
Just like a coming-of-age novel, this one is predictable. I mean you know what is going to happen, but how and what all really happens - you have to read the book to really find out! On a side-note, I do not like the cover at all :(
I am waiting to get a chance to read all the books in this series. And I recommend this book HIGHLY!
I hope you guys give this series and this author's other books a try!
Check out the author site - P.C. Cast site
Thanks to Harlequin Teen and to NetGalley for my copy of this eBook!
February 6, 2013
You're probably asking why some as diligent at reviewing books that I have read appears to have skipped over a book in a series without giving it a review. The answer is because whilst I did give Elphame's Choice a five star rating, I didn't feel I could give it an honest review without having finished Brighid's Quest. I regard the two merely as two halves of one book, despite the switch in the protagonist.
That's not to say that Elphame's Choice ends on a cliff hanger. Rest assured that it doesn't but its ending is very much a bitter sweet happy ever after because the romantic conclusion is overshadowed by what I regarded as another needless death of a great character by P.C. Cast. As it turns out in Brighid's Quest, it wasn't needless and whist it hurt, it turns out to be fundamental to romance of the pair in the second book.
In case it's not clear, Elphame's Choice and Brighid's Quest are the fourth and fifth books, respectively in P.C. Cast's Goddess of Partholon series. Elphame is the grown up daughter of Etain, the current Chosen of Epona. The same Etain who was born in Divine by Blood, the third book. So quite a few decades have passed since then. In fact, it states that Formorian war that Shannon Parker fought in Divine by Mistake occurred around 150 years ago.
In fact, in both these books, events come full circle because the consequences of that war still have a profound impact upon Partholon of the present. This is one of my favourite things about series like this in that there is continuity. Events that happened in one book are not forgotten and are referred to from a different perspective.
On to the characters. Elphame was interesting not only because she was the half-human, half-centaur daughter of Etain (think 'satyr' without the horns) but how she just wanted to be normal instead of being treated like a goddess. What with Epona being a Goddess of horses amongst other things, you can see why Elphame would be so worshipped. Cuchulainn, her slightly younger brother who accompanies Elphame on her quest to fit in and rebuild Macallan Castle was quite the charmer. His story is in fact the one that binds the two books together even though it is the same cast through them both. Finally, there is Brighid, the centaur Huntress who arrives at Macallan Castle in Elphame's Choice and becomes the protagonist in the second book.
These, like the previous books in the series, are very much character books in a fantasy setting so the action, what there is, is brief and towards the end. Whilst Brighid's Quest resolves a story, there is certainly a strong enough opening for a continuance in the series so we shall see what happens in the future.
Good, solid fantasy reads set in a matriarchal world. Neither quite attains the same level set by Divine by Mistake but still worth reading.
That's not to say that Elphame's Choice ends on a cliff hanger. Rest assured that it doesn't but its ending is very much a bitter sweet happy ever after because the romantic conclusion is overshadowed by what I regarded as another needless death of a great character by P.C. Cast. As it turns out in Brighid's Quest, it wasn't needless and whist it hurt, it turns out to be fundamental to romance of the pair in the second book.
In case it's not clear, Elphame's Choice and Brighid's Quest are the fourth and fifth books, respectively in P.C. Cast's Goddess of Partholon series. Elphame is the grown up daughter of Etain, the current Chosen of Epona. The same Etain who was born in Divine by Blood, the third book. So quite a few decades have passed since then. In fact, it states that Formorian war that Shannon Parker fought in Divine by Mistake occurred around 150 years ago.
In fact, in both these books, events come full circle because the consequences of that war still have a profound impact upon Partholon of the present. This is one of my favourite things about series like this in that there is continuity. Events that happened in one book are not forgotten and are referred to from a different perspective.
On to the characters. Elphame was interesting not only because she was the half-human, half-centaur daughter of Etain (think 'satyr' without the horns) but how she just wanted to be normal instead of being treated like a goddess. What with Epona being a Goddess of horses amongst other things, you can see why Elphame would be so worshipped. Cuchulainn, her slightly younger brother who accompanies Elphame on her quest to fit in and rebuild Macallan Castle was quite the charmer. His story is in fact the one that binds the two books together even though it is the same cast through them both. Finally, there is Brighid, the centaur Huntress who arrives at Macallan Castle in Elphame's Choice and becomes the protagonist in the second book.
These, like the previous books in the series, are very much character books in a fantasy setting so the action, what there is, is brief and towards the end. Whilst Brighid's Quest resolves a story, there is certainly a strong enough opening for a continuance in the series so we shall see what happens in the future.
Good, solid fantasy reads set in a matriarchal world. Neither quite attains the same level set by Divine by Mistake but still worth reading.
June 7, 2013
Brighid, kentaur och bästa vän till prinsessan och och nästan gudinna-lika Elphame är en jägare.
Förutbestämd att bli shaman i hennes flock flydde hon från den rollen och rakt i famnen på Elphame, som då höll på att bygga sin borg.
Två månader tidigare så bestämde sig folket i Partholon att för första gången i århundraden ta med en formie i deras land.
Formierna kom och bodde ett tag i Elphames borg.
Tills dagen då dom dödade Elphames brors trolovade.
Cuchulainnhar nu varit borta i flera månvarv och Elphame börjar bli orolig för att hennes bror aldrig kommer kunna komma över Brenna.
Brighid ställer upp som frivillig för att korsa skogar och hitta Cuchulainn och föra honom hem.
Men vad hon inte räknade med var att Cuchulainn har med sig en grupp på 70 små formie- barn som han vill ta med sig hem.
Vad hon inte räknat med var att hennes shaman krafter nu vill hela Cuchulainns brustna själ.
Och vad hon definitivt inte räknat med är bandet som uppstår mellan de.
"Brighids väg" är en typisk vuxenbok för P.C. Cast, med starka kvinnor, gudinnor och varelser av alla slag. Men precis som alla andra böcker var det här inte helt och hållet mi typ av bok även om jag fastnade för karaktärerna.
Väldigt bra skrivet, dock många svåra ord.
Förutbestämd att bli shaman i hennes flock flydde hon från den rollen och rakt i famnen på Elphame, som då höll på att bygga sin borg.
Två månader tidigare så bestämde sig folket i Partholon att för första gången i århundraden ta med en formie i deras land.
Formierna kom och bodde ett tag i Elphames borg.
Tills dagen då dom dödade Elphames brors trolovade.
Cuchulainnhar nu varit borta i flera månvarv och Elphame börjar bli orolig för att hennes bror aldrig kommer kunna komma över Brenna.
Brighid ställer upp som frivillig för att korsa skogar och hitta Cuchulainn och föra honom hem.
Men vad hon inte räknade med var att Cuchulainn har med sig en grupp på 70 små formie- barn som han vill ta med sig hem.
Vad hon inte räknat med var att hennes shaman krafter nu vill hela Cuchulainns brustna själ.
Och vad hon definitivt inte räknat med är bandet som uppstår mellan de.
"Brighids väg" är en typisk vuxenbok för P.C. Cast, med starka kvinnor, gudinnor och varelser av alla slag. Men precis som alla andra böcker var det här inte helt och hållet mi typ av bok även om jag fastnade för karaktärerna.
Väldigt bra skrivet, dock många svåra ord.
March 20, 2010
P.C. Cast continues her tales of Parthalon in this follow up to Elphame’s Choice and I love her all the more for it. Brighid’s story is full of great supporting characters that reveal more sides to Brighid. While the love connection is fairly obvious from the beginning as it developed I found that it had more to it. Cu's grief just makes him more sexy. The banter between him and Brighid is fun to read and lends some comic relief to the story. Sometimes I found that as a reader I was lead a little to strongly so I ended up with that screaming at the heroine thing going on. “Look! It’s right behind you!” Over all I really enjoyed reading this book and I just hope that there will be another one coming to us shortly. This book is considered a Young Adult book but any fan of Cast’s Devine series would think it just the fifth book of that fantasy series. Because of the sexual content I would say it is probably a 13 and upper. The not so young YA fans will not be disapointed with Cast's yummy romance and exciting tale.
Want to read
January 5, 2013Of all Cast's books I think this has been the least powerful and most predictable... I'm betting Cast knew it too as she wrote it.
If you haven't read the rest of the series, you should, and you should read this too just to see things tied up - but don't pick it up if you have no background.
The mating in this book seems more forced, we're forced the whole way to accept the divine proposition and no matter how much I wanted to buy in, I couldn't. I kept waiting for the feeling of a fated match and all I got was tepid interest. However, the bonds with the New Formorian's is genuine and sweet - the love in the crafting of the new race is evident, and to that side of the plot it is impossible not to feel connected.
As always Casts writing is great, and keeps you intrigued, but the end is anticlimactic AND a cliffhanger, which the other Partholon books don't really do to you. I do not forsee another book to this series coming out soon as Cast is devoted to the new HON series she's writing with her daughter... this only aggravates the feeling of the book being incomplete.
If you haven't read the rest of the series, you should, and you should read this too just to see things tied up - but don't pick it up if you have no background.
The mating in this book seems more forced, we're forced the whole way to accept the divine proposition and no matter how much I wanted to buy in, I couldn't. I kept waiting for the feeling of a fated match and all I got was tepid interest. However, the bonds with the New Formorian's is genuine and sweet - the love in the crafting of the new race is evident, and to that side of the plot it is impossible not to feel connected.
As always Casts writing is great, and keeps you intrigued, but the end is anticlimactic AND a cliffhanger, which the other Partholon books don't really do to you. I do not forsee another book to this series coming out soon as Cast is devoted to the new HON series she's writing with her daughter... this only aggravates the feeling of the book being incomplete.
July 28, 2011
I am a huge fan of P.C Cast, her goddess summoning books have to be some of my absolute favorites.
As much as i enjoyed this book i felt that something was missing. The story was interesting enough and kept me reading but Cu and Brighid's relationship felt rushed and not as well developed as it should have been. There wasn't much bonding time, Cu didn't have time to woo her it just sort of happened and the mating felt seriously rushed and Brighid seemed strangely withdrawn from Cu at the beginning of their marriage.
Apart from the that i enjoyed this book a lot and as i say i am a huge fan of Cast she is absolutely one of my top five authors. Her work just seems so original and real its hard not to love.
As much as i enjoyed this book i felt that something was missing. The story was interesting enough and kept me reading but Cu and Brighid's relationship felt rushed and not as well developed as it should have been. There wasn't much bonding time, Cu didn't have time to woo her it just sort of happened and the mating felt seriously rushed and Brighid seemed strangely withdrawn from Cu at the beginning of their marriage.
Apart from the that i enjoyed this book a lot and as i say i am a huge fan of Cast she is absolutely one of my top five authors. Her work just seems so original and real its hard not to love.
Read
June 3, 2010I found this book to be slightly more acceptable for the teen demographic than its predecessor, Elphame's Choice. Some sex, but not nearly as explicit. Probably not any worse than what's on tv, though, I suppose! But as with the that book, I feel like the ending was rushed. The entire book except the last 10 pages or so lead up to the climax of the plot. It simply doesn't do the story justice. The story itself was mostly enjoyable. But when I closed the book I was not really moved to watch for the next installment that was so obviously set up in the epilogue. I'm not going to give it a star rating because I find I really don't care about it anymore after the lackluster ending.
July 18, 2011
I think that about 400 pages were filler, and the last 100 were the actual plot came in were just shit .
July 2, 2018
In this last book in the Goddess of Partholon series, centaur Huntress Brighid helps Cuchlainn transport a group of New Formorians into Partholon. New Formorians being artistic human-like creatures with wings who are shunned because of circumstances surrounding their birth, and this group of survivors is comprised of 22 adults and 70 very-energetic children. As if that weren’t hard enough, Brighid must also overcome her aversion of the spirit realm to help heal Cuchlainn.
Brighid’s Quest is mainly character-driven, mapping the journeys of Brighid and Cuchlainn. The first 250 pages are interesting but could have done with some trimming down. The second half picks up the pace and has more plot.
The beginning is a touch rocky – there’s a barrage of information on how Elphame’s Choice ended, with too many characters being introduced at once. I read Elphame’s Choice over a year ago, so the reminder was welcome, but it was a bit hard to digest everything so quickly.
I went in with high expectations because I wound up with book hangovers from all the other books in this series. But I didn’t enjoy this book as much. It was good but felt a bit lacking to be five stars.
This series is set in a matriarchy, like P.C. Cast’s other series, House of Night. It’s quite unusual for YA books, and the world is quite cleverly and refreshingly constructed to emphasise female roles over male roles. You only need to look up some negative reviews of Cast’s books to see that the readership is attuned to this sexism, which begs the question: would readers notice sexism as keenly if the society were a patriarchy?
I thought Liam, the boy who admired Brighid and wanted to be a Huntress like her, was a great addition. Aside from Brighid’s Quest , I can’t think of any books off the top of my head where a boy has a female role model in quite the same way.
Like many of P.C. Cast’s books, it is not suitable for younger readers, as hinted at by the label on the back of the book: “Not suitable for younger readers.” Those who complained about the mature content in their reviews have probably missed the label. While it may be slightly misleading to stock a book with mature content in the YA section of bookstores, Cast isn’t the only author – for example, Sarah J Maas’ A Court of Wings and Ruin is in a similar position, as is John Green’s Looking for Alaska . The maturity of YA books likely reflects changes in the readership, in terms of their sophistication, age and shifting views in society.
Read for: Hebban Challenge, Book #34 A Book with a Name in the Title
Brighid’s Quest is mainly character-driven, mapping the journeys of Brighid and Cuchlainn. The first 250 pages are interesting but could have done with some trimming down. The second half picks up the pace and has more plot.
The beginning is a touch rocky – there’s a barrage of information on how Elphame’s Choice ended, with too many characters being introduced at once. I read Elphame’s Choice over a year ago, so the reminder was welcome, but it was a bit hard to digest everything so quickly.
I went in with high expectations because I wound up with book hangovers from all the other books in this series. But I didn’t enjoy this book as much. It was good but felt a bit lacking to be five stars.
This series is set in a matriarchy, like P.C. Cast’s other series, House of Night. It’s quite unusual for YA books, and the world is quite cleverly and refreshingly constructed to emphasise female roles over male roles. You only need to look up some negative reviews of Cast’s books to see that the readership is attuned to this sexism, which begs the question: would readers notice sexism as keenly if the society were a patriarchy?
I thought Liam, the boy who admired Brighid and wanted to be a Huntress like her, was a great addition. Aside from Brighid’s Quest , I can’t think of any books off the top of my head where a boy has a female role model in quite the same way.
Like many of P.C. Cast’s books, it is not suitable for younger readers, as hinted at by the label on the back of the book: “Not suitable for younger readers.” Those who complained about the mature content in their reviews have probably missed the label. While it may be slightly misleading to stock a book with mature content in the YA section of bookstores, Cast isn’t the only author – for example, Sarah J Maas’ A Court of Wings and Ruin is in a similar position, as is John Green’s Looking for Alaska . The maturity of YA books likely reflects changes in the readership, in terms of their sophistication, age and shifting views in society.
Read for: Hebban Challenge, Book #34 A Book with a Name in the Title
August 21, 2017
I usually like P.C. Cast's books and this one didn't disappoint. I actually loved the overall series, but I do have one gripe about this book in particular - it was slow af. It took entirely too long for the action to start and because of that it felt rushed. I felt like it was uneven, it should have been more balanced maybe? Cuchulainn getting his shattered soul back was a great focus, him and Brighid falling in love was good too, and introducing the New Fomorians was great as well, but I think Brighid becoming a High Shaman and everything that happened in the centaur plains happened too quickly. She should have focused more on the discord with the other centaurs and her not wanting to be a high shaman. Also, I feel some type of way about Cuchulainn getting over Breana so quickly. I mean, three months is a short period of time to fall in love and marry another person, especially with you last wife passing such a short time ago. I gripe about it, but I still loved the book. Wish the series would continue so I could see what happens with Fallon and the other Fomorians though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2020
The last book didn't really leave any need for a sequel,so I didn't feel like this one was really necessary.
I didn't like Brighid in book 4 and I didn't like her any more as the main character. She's a huntress,so she automatically lost any respect in my animal loving heart. There's quite a lot of hunting scenes which I most certainly avoided. But she's just...boring and bland like Elphame was. I don't think she really has a personality, except being bossy. And Cucumber or whatever his name is,don't care about him either.
The story was just a whole lot of traveling, and meeting needy villagers. I actually didn't even really read it,I scanned through the 500+ pages in an hr, reading the romantic bits and that was that. I think I'm just tired of this world and it's characters and sort of rehashing everything from previous volumes in various ways. I haven't enjoyed any of this series, bizarre as I love PC Cast.
I didn't like Brighid in book 4 and I didn't like her any more as the main character. She's a huntress,so she automatically lost any respect in my animal loving heart. There's quite a lot of hunting scenes which I most certainly avoided. But she's just...boring and bland like Elphame was. I don't think she really has a personality, except being bossy. And Cucumber or whatever his name is,don't care about him either.
The story was just a whole lot of traveling, and meeting needy villagers. I actually didn't even really read it,I scanned through the 500+ pages in an hr, reading the romantic bits and that was that. I think I'm just tired of this world and it's characters and sort of rehashing everything from previous volumes in various ways. I haven't enjoyed any of this series, bizarre as I love PC Cast.
September 15, 2019
I loved this book. I think it might be my favourite out of the series. It was unexpected but I’m glad the main character was Brighid. Her love story with Cu was definitely a surprise, especially after brennas death. I almost didn’t think they’d end up together but I’m glad they did because it seemed to have worked out perfectly. And honestly, I’m just glad that no one died at the end of this book. Although I do wish that we got to see her lead the centaurs in her homeland. There’s definitely some options for the author if she choose to write more. This series is full of so many emotions and I found it very hard to put the books down at times. I’m glad I’m done them though, so I can continue on in a new direction of books for awhile. I almost can’t wait for the next P.C Cast book I pick up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2019
Look I appreciated the expansion of the Partholon universe, don't get me wrong...but this was the wrong way to do it.
Brighid's Quest undid everything that Elphames book created.
Cu and his Brenna, only now its Cu and his "BEAUTIFUL HUNTRESS" (like we're not all sick of reading those words over and over and over again). How he could so easily turn from Brenna and the character development from Elphames book into being a soulmate with Brighid is ridiculous. And a bit insulting to Brenna's character.
On top of which, the writing feels like it took a step down. There are phrases repeated too many times and they start to make your eyes bleed. "Equine form" when describing Brighid, "beautiful huntress", "mother knows everything" when talking about Etain.
This book was all just a bit much.
Brighid's Quest undid everything that Elphames book created.
Cu and his Brenna, only now its Cu and his "BEAUTIFUL HUNTRESS" (like we're not all sick of reading those words over and over and over again). How he could so easily turn from Brenna and the character development from Elphames book into being a soulmate with Brighid is ridiculous. And a bit insulting to Brenna's character.
On top of which, the writing feels like it took a step down. There are phrases repeated too many times and they start to make your eyes bleed. "Equine form" when describing Brighid, "beautiful huntress", "mother knows everything" when talking about Etain.
This book was all just a bit much.
September 8, 2020
Brighid's Quest is the best book in the series! Many of the books in this series had no plot-line and lack of progression in the story. But not with this one! From start to finish there was action, character development and the story just kept unfolding till the very last page. From Brighid fulfilling her destiny, the New Fomorians finally making it to Partholon and saving Cuchulainn. Thus far, this has been the best book I've read from P.C Cast and it makes me angry that she waited till the last book in the series to give us this quality. I'm that type of reader that feels compelled in finishing a series while many others aren't. As soon as they get to a bad book in a series they move onto the next one. I'm happy that I held on and read this book.
For full review: https://amandaweidensjo.blogspot.com/...
For full review: https://amandaweidensjo.blogspot.com/...
December 14, 2022
this book was kind of slow going and unlike P.C.Cast's other books that is either romance based and couple centric or adventure based and there is no love life in sight for the main character at all which one you will get is 50/50. however this story was very adventure centered and I love that one of my favorite celtic mythic character Cuchalainn and his adventure after the love of his life Brenna being killed in Elphame's Choice. Brighid being a huntress was a small detail especially when she is being forced to be a shaman after her mother is killed and her spirit wants revenge with everyone that was not a centaur. Honestly I couldn't get into it at first but with the right background music and getting into the characters head I enjoyed it regardless. P.C. Cast is one of my favorite authors and this one did not disappoint.
March 31, 2021
☆5 Stars☆
NOTES & THOUGHTS
• Well written and in depth.
• Fun to read.
• A storyline that kept on giving.
• As soon as you thought the storyline was breaking, it kept on bringing more!
• The storyline was raw and full of emotion.
I LOVED
• The characters and the character development.
• The storyline.
• That the book was a direct follow on from the previous book in the series.
• The story themes and the plotline development.
I DIDN'T LOVE
• That there's not currently another instalment of the series (and maybe there won't ever be). I wish there was a follow on from this book - a continuation of one of the storylines.
NOTES & THOUGHTS
• Well written and in depth.
• Fun to read.
• A storyline that kept on giving.
• As soon as you thought the storyline was breaking, it kept on bringing more!
• The storyline was raw and full of emotion.
I LOVED
• The characters and the character development.
• The storyline.
• That the book was a direct follow on from the previous book in the series.
• The story themes and the plotline development.
I DIDN'T LOVE
• That there's not currently another instalment of the series (and maybe there won't ever be). I wish there was a follow on from this book - a continuation of one of the storylines.
November 6, 2019
Ever since I've read Divine By Mistake by P.C. Cast I fell in love with Partholon and it has stayed with me and this novel is no different.
Brighid's Quest is a follow on from Elphame's Choice and this book made me love Cu even more than I had in Elphame's Choice and then finding out about some of Brighid's past made me like and respect her even more for her choices she made for her own life and she knew she couldn't run from her destiny or fate and am glad Cu and Brighid friendship blossomed into something more
Brighid's Quest is a follow on from Elphame's Choice and this book made me love Cu even more than I had in Elphame's Choice and then finding out about some of Brighid's past made me like and respect her even more for her choices she made for her own life and she knew she couldn't run from her destiny or fate and am glad Cu and Brighid friendship blossomed into something more
July 5, 2020
Readable but...
2.5 points
Easy read, author is reasonably decent at that craft at least. Some pacing issues, pretty slow beginning and end was wrapped up with almost indecent haste. Suffers of excess wordiness in places and could have easily been about third shorter. Characters sprout verse-form prayers in what seems every ten pages or so.
But what ultimately really annoyed me was that author has created somewhat matriarchal society and yet could not write it without many references to sexual violence and one very detailed attempted rape scene. Serious trigger warning here.
2.5 points
Easy read, author is reasonably decent at that craft at least. Some pacing issues, pretty slow beginning and end was wrapped up with almost indecent haste. Suffers of excess wordiness in places and could have easily been about third shorter. Characters sprout verse-form prayers in what seems every ten pages or so.
But what ultimately really annoyed me was that author has created somewhat matriarchal society and yet could not write it without many references to sexual violence and one very detailed attempted rape scene. Serious trigger warning here.
March 3, 2021
Brighid's Quest
It was just a wonderful as all the rest. And just like all the rest I want to know more of the story after. I feel that all the books have ended early. I would definitely read more if u wrote more of each story, of how they lived afterwards and how they had changed the world around them. I than you for each of the books in the Partholon series. I love the stories u have given to us. The wonderment and joy of a world most of us can only dream of put into words!
It was just a wonderful as all the rest. And just like all the rest I want to know more of the story after. I feel that all the books have ended early. I would definitely read more if u wrote more of each story, of how they lived afterwards and how they had changed the world around them. I than you for each of the books in the Partholon series. I love the stories u have given to us. The wonderment and joy of a world most of us can only dream of put into words!
June 5, 2024
It’s a good story line, but not really my cuppa tea.
The story line was interesting, but how things developed seemed strange. I felt like the story was better in the beginning, but wasn’t sure how to wrap everything up.
I didn’t really like the ending when Brigid said all the centaurs would follow her just cause she was a women, just seemed a bit strange. That and how all of a sudden Cu loves her and then they get married… the ended just seemed rushed and thrown together. There’s more to their story that is just missing.
The story line was interesting, but how things developed seemed strange. I felt like the story was better in the beginning, but wasn’t sure how to wrap everything up.
I didn’t really like the ending when Brigid said all the centaurs would follow her just cause she was a women, just seemed a bit strange. That and how all of a sudden Cu loves her and then they get married… the ended just seemed rushed and thrown together. There’s more to their story that is just missing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2017
SPOILERS!!!
I like these books, however, only giving Cu two months from losing the "love of his life" to being in love again.... come on, did he even love Brenna.
Also why are so bits so draw out and then some of the best parts so rushed, like the ending.
Last if all, the ending of this book SCREAMS, more to come but then it never comes 😟
I like these books, however, only giving Cu two months from losing the "love of his life" to being in love again.... come on, did he even love Brenna.
Also why are so bits so draw out and then some of the best parts so rushed, like the ending.
Last if all, the ending of this book SCREAMS, more to come but then it never comes 😟
July 2, 2017
I loved this one even more than Elphame's Choice. I found that it had quite a bit more depth and I was extremely excited for the plot twist. However, it wasn't as surprising as a plot twist should be... the damn book description pretty much gave away the whole book. Still an amazing story though! It held much more mystery than its predecessor.
June 28, 2018
Really cute. I really liked this book. She wanted to write a love story, but so it didn't get boring with only the boy and the girl, she invented a whole fantastic world with centaurs, winged creatures and humans.
August 8, 2018
Meh... pretty much sums up my feelings for this book. Took me long enough to finish the damn thing. Sometimes I kinda liked it more the. Elphame’s Choice but it still felt like nothing really happened till the very end. I’m glad to be done with this series!
June 21, 2018
I really enjoyed this one. More so than the last 2 but the end does suggest a continuation which it appears has not been written
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