In a brilliant mix of magic, history, and romance, M. K. Hobson moves her feisty young Witch, Emily Edwards, from the Old West of 1876 to turn-of-the-century New York City, whose polished surfaces conceal as much danger as anything west of the Rockies. Like it or not, Emily has fallen in love with Dreadnought Stanton, a New York Warlock as irresistible as he is insufferable. Newly engaged, she now must brave Dreadnoughts family and the magical elite of the nations wealthiest city. Not everyone is pleased with the impending nuptials, especially Emilys future mother-in-law, a sociopathic socialite. But there are greater challenges still: confining couture, sinister Russian scientists, and a deathless Aztec goddess who dreams of plunging the world into apocalypse. With all they must confront, do Emily and Dreadnought have any hope of a happily-ever-after?
©2011 M.K. Hobson (P)2011 Audible, Inc.
I'm a big fan of SF/F/Horror, and all things in between and out.
"The Goremance Continues!"
Bloodier and darker than the previous volume in the series, M.K. Hobson's The Hidden Goddess still manages to be utterly charming and romantic, despite people wading up to their knees in streams of blood or striding atop pyramids of human skulls.
Despite all the death, Hobson's vision of an alternate America in the late 1800s - where magic is as popular as religion - is buckets of fun! There are dangerous renegade Russian scientists, the earth is spewing black blood, and the Aztec Apocalypse is probably at hand - as is the wedding of Emily Edwards and Dreadnought Stanton.
Hobson has a certain knack for not only writing sharp dialogue, but also for delivering it, and Suehyla El-Attar does a good job of capturing that spirit in her performance. I often found myself hooting with laughter while listening.
If you like an equal mix of gore and romance, this one is worth listening to, and a solid sequel to The Native Star.