3.75 STAR RATINGIn book 2 of the Pandora English Novels by Tara Moss, we continue with Pandora English - the Seventh and her journey to uncover what being the Seventh means. Her ghostly, would-be love interest Lieutenant Luke continues to be at her beck and call and connections between the two continue to grow. Though being YA and of course Luke being a ghost (!), not a lot happens which is quite OK with me! But wait.....the discovery of Luke's civil war sword brings about a physical change that opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for the pair.The beautiful and blood thirsty sanguine Athanasia and her three cronies (Blonde, Brunette & Redhead!) continue to taunt Pandora. Rather miffed at Pandora for thwarting a catastrophe in The Blood Princess and by almost permanently killing Athanasia - the sanguines come close a few times to exacting their revenge on Pandora. Unfortunately for them, Pandora's "close" friend Deus happens to be a rather old and most senior Sanguine - one that has control over Athanasia and her friends. Pandora also happens to have Deus protecting her!Early on in the book, Pandora stumbles upon a rather large spider (tarantula) which seems to have some strange connection with her. This is the beginning of the Spider Goddess' entrance into the story. Unfortunately it takes majority of the book for the Spider Goddess to rear her ugly head and the confrontation feels to come to a conclusion rather fast.There is a lot of recapping in this book, reminding us of each character and the events that unfolded in Book1. The Spider Goddess, I feel, plays a smaller part in this book with the continual growth of Pandora, her unravelling mysteries of the mansion and being the Seventh playing the more important storyline. There seems to be something big brewing for future books in the series! I look forward to continuing the saga.And I just LOVE the covers in this series! Just beautiful!! I found New York City labyrinthine and intimidating when I went there for some TV interviews in 2010. My unease would have tripled had I found myself among the ghosts, ghouls and goddesses of Spektor, Manhattan’s undead district – but I’m not Pandora English.The Spider Goddess is Tara Moss’ second paranormal thriller, and it sparkles with even more imagination and wit than its predecessor, The Blood Countess. As a plucky journalist with psychic tendencies, Pandora is instantly likeable, and her escapades make the readers laugh and their skin crawl, often simultaneously. Her romance with the long-dead soldier who haunts her apartment and her crush on a thousand-year old sanguine (“vampire” is considered an offensive term) are teasing, heart-warming and heartbreaking all at once.With knowing jabs at the fashion industry and an encyclopaedic knowledge of myths and legends (Pandora scatters grains of uncooked rice to distract the obsessive-compulsive sanguines, who can’t help but count them) the book is also steeped in New York’s rich history. In one of the more unnerving scenes, Pandora looks up to see a burning ghost suspended in the air, who hurled herself from a window during the Triangle Shirtwaist fire of 1911 and has been plummeting ever since.I consider myself a firm sceptic. I don’t believe in ghosts or psychics. Just the same, I expect to feel even more unsettled the next time I end up in Manhattan.
Do You like book The Spider Goddess (2011)?
Popcorn book - sometimes you just need to read and not think too hard!
—nook7363
I'm a big fan of Tara Moss, but this book was boring and predictable.
—SkySailor
As always, a great fun read. Thanks Tara :)
—sambutler94
