Goddess of Spring

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Delving into mythology and reworking ancient myths is fun! In
Goddess of the Sea
I retell the story of the mermaid Undine—who switches places with a female U.S. Air Force sergeant who needs to do some escaping of her own. In
Goddess of Spring
, I turn my attention to the Persephone/Hades myth, and send a modern woman to Hell! Who knew Hell and its brooding god could be hot in so many wonderful, seductive ways?

From there we take a lovely vacation in Las Vegas with the divine twins, Apollo and Artemis, in
Goddess of Light
. Finally we come to what is my favorite of all fairy tales, “Beauty and the Beast.” In
Goddess of the Rose
I created my own version of this beloved tale, building a magical realm from whence dreams originate—good and bad—and bringing to life a beast who absolutely took my breath away.

 

Praise for
Goddess of Spring

“One of the top romantic fantasy mythologists today.”

 

“As always, there's a dash of humor and lots of meltingly hot sex.”

 

“Enchanting . . . Lovely.”
—The Romance Readers Connection

 

“A veritable feast for readers who just can't get enough fantasy dished up with their romance. Mythology has never been so fun!”

 

 

“Suspense, fantasy, time travel, all topped off with a very healthy dollop of romance . . . The good news is that this is just the beginning.”

 

“Captivating—poignant, funny, erotic! Lovely characters, wonderful romance, constant action, and a truly whimsical fantasy . . . Delightful. A great read.”
—The Best Reviews

 

“A fun combination of myth, girl power, and sweet romance [with] a bit of suspense. A must-read . . . A romance that celebrates the magic of being a woman.”
—Affaire de Coeur

 

“[An] adult fairy tale . . . the audience will cherish.”

 

“Vivid and colorful . . . splendid blend of fantasy, history, intrigue, and passion . . . outstanding. Watch out for this author.”
—Rendezvous

 

“Most innovative . . . From beginning to end, the surprises in P. C. Cast's new page-turner never stopped. Its poignancy resonates with both whimsy and fantasy . . . I loved it!”
—New York Times
bestselling author Sharon Sala

 

“Sweet and funny.”
—Huntress Reviews

“A charmer . . . Cast continues her unique brand of delightfully mixing a modern-day romance with a mythological legend . . . Creative.”

 

“Pure enjoyment . . . Anything can [happen] when gods and mortals mix.”

 

“A fanciful mix of mythology and romance with a dash of humor for good measure . . . Engages and entertains . . . Lovely.”
—Romance Reviews Today

 

“P. C. Cast [is] well-known for her blending of mythological tales and romance . . . [A] beautiful adult fairy tale . . . Readers will be enchanted.”

 

“Outstanding . . . magic, myth, and romance with a decidedly modern twist. Her imagination and storytelling abilities are true gifts to the genre.”
—Romantic Times

 

“Sexy, charming, and fun,
Goddess of Love
is the fantasy romance of the year! You will fall in love with this book. (I did!)”

 

“Touching, clever, and an excellent heiress to the Goddess Summoning series. Cast's ability to subvert misogynistic mythology . . . and reaffirm what makes women wonderful is always worth celebrating . . . I bestow my snarky blessings on this book.”
—Smart Bitches Trashy Books

 

“Scorchingly sensual, utterly delicious! P. C. Cast is a true master of her craft.”
—New York Times
bestselling author Gena Showalter

 

GODDESS OF THE SEA
GODDESS OF SPRING
GODDESS OF LIGHT
GODDESS OF THE ROSE
GODDESS OF LOVE
WARRIOR RISING

 

Anthologies
MYSTERIA
(with MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant, and Gena Showalter)
MYSTERIA LANE
(with MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant, and Gena Showalter)

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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

 

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

Copyright © 2004 by P. C. Cast.

eISBN : 978-0-425-22708-4

 

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PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / August 2004
Berkley Sensation trade paperback edition / November 2008
The Library of Congress has cataloged a prior edition under LCCN: 2004718976.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am thankful for the continued magic of my editor, Christine Zika, and for the brilliance of my agent, Meredith Bernstein. What a fabulous team we make!

 

I am profoundly grateful to my friend Lola Palazzo for her expertise. Thank you for helping me to create a dream bakery and for educating me about baking in general. Lola—you would be doing Tulsa (and your friends) a great service if you opened another restaurant!

 

Thank you, Sean Georges, for your research help. Once again, we work very well together.

 

I appreciate Pamela Chew for taking the time to answer my questions about the Italian language. Any inaccuracies in translation are my own.

PROLOGUE

“EVEN amidst the lovely Dryads your daughter shines, my Lady,” Eirene said. She wasn't looking at me as she spoke. Instead she was smiling at Persephone in a proud, motherly fashion, and she did not notice that my lips tightened into a thin line at her words.

“She is Spring personified and even the beauty of the nymphs cannot begin to compete with her splendor.”

At the sound of my words, Eirene's sharp gaze immediately shifted to my face. My faithful nursemaid had known me too long not to recognize my tone.

“The child troubles you, Demeter?” she asked gently.

“How could she not!” I snapped.

Only Eirene's silence betrayed her hurt. I shifted my golden scepter from my right hand to my left, and leaned forward so that I could touch her arm in a wordless apology. As usual, she stood near my throne, always ready to serve me. But she was, of course, much more to me than a simple nursemaid or servant. She was my confidant and one of my most loyal advisors. As such she deserved to be treated with respect, and my harsh tone toward her was a sign of how distracted I had become.

Her distinctive gray eyes softened with understanding at my touch.

“Would you like wine, Great Goddess?” she asked.

“For us both.” I did not smile; it was not my way. But she understood me and my moods so completely that often only a look or a word was needed between us.

I studied my daughter as Eirene called for wine. The little Nysaian meadow had been the perfect choice in which to spend the unseasonably warm afternoon. Persephone and her wood nymph companions complemented the beauty that surrounded us. Though the day was pleasant, the trees that ringed the meadow were already beginning to shed their summer clothes. I watched Persephone twirl gracefully under one ancient oak, making a game of trying to catch the brilliantly colored falling leaves. The nymphs aided the young goddess by dancing on the limbs to assure a steady waterfall of orange and scarlet and rust.