After a fruitless battle leaves the goddesses ravaged and weary, Jedda and Dimity realize their unpreparedness and the need to master their divine powers. While Anzac and the Dark Goddess work tirelessly to regain their strength, Dimity is still desperate to find Elouthera, lest she be outnumbered again for her next godly encounter and likely not live to tell the tale.
But when earthly engagements entangle with Dimity’s divine plans, things get more complicated than she wants them to be—especially with the goddess’s growing attraction toward a selfless mortal.
With a score to settle, Dimity and Jedda must hone their bodies into power-wielding vessels. But even all the training in the world may not be enough to win the imminent war if they cannot navigate their mortal responsibilities.
Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 8 out of 10
Prose: 9 out of 10
Character/Execution: 8 out of 10
Overall: 8.25 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Daughter of Daybreak, a striking work of YA fantasy, hits the ground running where the first book in the series concluded. Readers will relish returning to the vibrant world of mortal goddesses, princesses, and otherworldly powers.
Prose: Arden's prose is immediately engrossing and reflects the author's clear and articulate worldbuilding.
Originality: Arden draws from fantasy conventions, but delivers a unique fantasy realm, backed by imaginative details and supported by robust scaffolding.
Character/Execution: Daughter of Daybreak offers a gorgeous Medieval Earth replete with lavish detail. Jedda and Dimity are well-articulated as goddesses on Earth, their personalities reigning through their actions and perceptions. Side characters fill out the novel, showing the author's remarkable handle on scene-building.
Date Submitted: August 28, 2024
