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The Goddess Twins
"Family bonds create the magic in this stirring fantasy." ― Kirkus Reviews
It’s days before your eighteenth birthday, but your mother is missing and suddenly you have supernatural powers. What are you willing to face to discover the truth of who you really are?
After years of traveling the world, black identical twins Aurora and Arden think they’ve settled into normalcy in Ohio. But days before their eighteenth birthday, the snarky twins develop powers in telekinesis and telepathy―at the same time that their famous mother, who’s on tour in London, disappears.
Searching for answers and determined to rescue her, the sisters unearth truths that threaten to extinguish their bond and demolish their strength as individuals. Can they trust their beguiling, newly discovered British cousins when they barely trust one another? Should they heed the warnings of their immortal grandmother, a Patoi-chatting goddess, who says she’s friendly with The Fates and can see inside a person’s very soul?
In order to succeed in their quest, these goddess twins must work together, master their powers, and unveil a horrifying, century-old family mystery. Otherwise, they may not live to see eighteen―or their mother again.
It’s days before your eighteenth birthday, but your mother is missing and suddenly you have supernatural powers. What are you willing to face to discover the truth of who you really are?
After years of traveling the world, black identical twins Aurora and Arden think they’ve settled into normalcy in Ohio. But days before their eighteenth birthday, the snarky twins develop powers in telekinesis and telepathy―at the same time that their famous mother, who’s on tour in London, disappears.
Searching for answers and determined to rescue her, the sisters unearth truths that threaten to extinguish their bond and demolish their strength as individuals. Can they trust their beguiling, newly discovered British cousins when they barely trust one another? Should they heed the warnings of their immortal grandmother, a Patoi-chatting goddess, who says she’s friendly with The Fates and can see inside a person’s very soul?
In order to succeed in their quest, these goddess twins must work together, master their powers, and unveil a horrifying, century-old family mystery. Otherwise, they may not live to see eighteen―or their mother again.
208 pages, Paperback
Published May 19, 2020
17 people are currently reading
511 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
October 24, 2020
This story is about twins Arden and Aurora who live in Ohio with their retired opera singer mother. One day there mother goes missing after flying to London to come out of retirement and perform a gig. This leads the girl's on a London adventure where they meet family they didn't know existed and work with them to rescue her.
This was an interesting concept and a quick read but I often found there was more telling than showing. I know in fantasy stories there will be a lot of telling us about the world because it's not yet established but there were things that could've been told and show in real time instead of recalled here.
And a little more research on Black people living in London could've been done because the cousins didn't sound like Black Brits.
I think teen girls will like the twin's distinct and youthful voices. This is probably a good book for those getting into YA fantasy for the first time.
Read full review here
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
This was an interesting concept and a quick read but I often found there was more telling than showing. I know in fantasy stories there will be a lot of telling us about the world because it's not yet established but there were things that could've been told and show in real time instead of recalled here.
And a little more research on Black people living in London could've been done because the cousins didn't sound like Black Brits.
I think teen girls will like the twin's distinct and youthful voices. This is probably a good book for those getting into YA fantasy for the first time.
Read full review here
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
June 5, 2020
Who wouldn’t love a bit of...
Black Girl-power
Modern Magic
Goddess Fantasy
I enjoyed reading this book. It was a fun quick read, quirky characters, and I loved the setting in Ohio, London and Jamaica. I was entertained reading this book, and a great escape read I enjoyed - who doesn’t love magic right? The diversity and representation in this book was fantastic. I think that this book was set up for a good start of a series - potentially crossing my fingers.
Great debut novel.
Black Girl-power
Modern Magic
Goddess Fantasy
I enjoyed reading this book. It was a fun quick read, quirky characters, and I loved the setting in Ohio, London and Jamaica. I was entertained reading this book, and a great escape read I enjoyed - who doesn’t love magic right? The diversity and representation in this book was fantastic. I think that this book was set up for a good start of a series - potentially crossing my fingers.
Great debut novel.
November 10, 2023
Great Premise, Poorly Executed Plot…
Oh my days! Enough already! No Jamaican speaks in proverbs in EVERY sentence. I get what the author is trying to do, but instead of highlighting the culture, it just came off as obnoxious and annoying and I my eyes started rolling to the back of my head everytime Gran Gran spoke.
When it wasn’t the terribly spelt Patois words, it was everything stereotypically Jamaican. I found it a bit much. We get it, she’s an old Jamaican goddess. Heavens above! Speaking of old Jamaican, author, it says you’re Jamaican, why is reggaeton playing and not reggae? I get that Jamaicans are not a monolith and listen to a variety of music, but the impression you give is that Gran, Gran listens to reggae and not reggaeton. Reggaeton is NOT Jamaican.
And yes, we can argue it was the Jamaican migrant workers who went to help build the Panama Canal that caused the adaptation of reggae into the Spanish speaking culture, and further spreading it when more Jamaican migrants went to Puerto Rico. BUT (I know, I started two sentences with conjunctions) at no point in time was it mentioned that Gran Gran went to either of these countries in her very long life.
Aurora’s ‘I’m angry at the entire world for reasons I don’t even remember we ever got,’ got pretty old, pretty bloody fast. I understand that she had some angst- or in her case, A LOT of angst, but I got tired of reading about an angry little girl. Why are you angry? Do you need to seek therapy? Anger is often an indicator of deep seated trauma issues that therapy could help resolve. Firm advocate for therapy here.
Arden, I found I didn’t really care for. She was too well rounded, I suspect. I like my characters with grit and flaws. A personality, if you will. Constantly being a perfect or a Mary Sue character kills my interest in them because those characters usually get no development. Why would they? How can you improve on perfection? I do not mean that in a good way.
The twins- ugh. I hated them both. Why they felt the need to just constant bash Aurora and make jokes at her expense. Push her buttons and defend Mary Sue- sorry, Arden, was just peculiar. You just met and you’re already being bloody childish and picking on her for no reason. It came out of nowhere and did not make me like them at all. It was nothing but utter irritation when I had to read about them.
That romance bit with Arden’s heaven knows what, was a ‘blink and you miss it’s insta love. Was it insta love? I’m not even sure if it’s fair to call it that. We get nothing from him connecting with her. He literally just sees her and is snogging her because of some vision Arden put in his head. Perhaps she saw the vision or how he dreamt of her. I don’t know and to be honest, I didn’t care enough to re-read the scene until it made sense to me. If I have to re-read a scene to make head or tails of it, it’s not written well. 😬
About that plot. I’d like to say, the moment I was told (another issue I had with this story. Everything was told to readers. Never shown) the history of the goddesses, I figured out RIGHT AWAY who the villain was going to be. I was hoping that I would be proven wrong, but alas, I was not. Can we stop this gender war in books? This ‘man bad. He jealous of woman. He think he should rule cause he alpha.’ The rhetoric wasn’t even particularly clever or done well. It was literally just, ‘Men are kings. They should rule.’
Yeahhhhh, not great. So this book really disappointed me. As an actual Jam-Brit, I was excited to read the meshing of both my cultures from a Jam-American. What I got, however, was an influx of misspelt words (it’s spelt pickney not pickennies), a snoozefest story with poorly developed characters and 2D villain. One reviewer accurately described exactly how it was. Hotep versus the modern woman. It’s just … yikes.
Sidenote, and this is the final thing. The saying is ‘cockroach nuh belong innah fowl fight.’ That, by the way, is the proper Patois spelling.
Oh my days! Enough already! No Jamaican speaks in proverbs in EVERY sentence. I get what the author is trying to do, but instead of highlighting the culture, it just came off as obnoxious and annoying and I my eyes started rolling to the back of my head everytime Gran Gran spoke.
When it wasn’t the terribly spelt Patois words, it was everything stereotypically Jamaican. I found it a bit much. We get it, she’s an old Jamaican goddess. Heavens above! Speaking of old Jamaican, author, it says you’re Jamaican, why is reggaeton playing and not reggae? I get that Jamaicans are not a monolith and listen to a variety of music, but the impression you give is that Gran, Gran listens to reggae and not reggaeton. Reggaeton is NOT Jamaican.
And yes, we can argue it was the Jamaican migrant workers who went to help build the Panama Canal that caused the adaptation of reggae into the Spanish speaking culture, and further spreading it when more Jamaican migrants went to Puerto Rico. BUT (I know, I started two sentences with conjunctions) at no point in time was it mentioned that Gran Gran went to either of these countries in her very long life.
Aurora’s ‘I’m angry at the entire world for reasons I don’t even remember we ever got,’ got pretty old, pretty bloody fast. I understand that she had some angst- or in her case, A LOT of angst, but I got tired of reading about an angry little girl. Why are you angry? Do you need to seek therapy? Anger is often an indicator of deep seated trauma issues that therapy could help resolve. Firm advocate for therapy here.
Arden, I found I didn’t really care for. She was too well rounded, I suspect. I like my characters with grit and flaws. A personality, if you will. Constantly being a perfect or a Mary Sue character kills my interest in them because those characters usually get no development. Why would they? How can you improve on perfection? I do not mean that in a good way.
The twins- ugh. I hated them both. Why they felt the need to just constant bash Aurora and make jokes at her expense. Push her buttons and defend Mary Sue- sorry, Arden, was just peculiar. You just met and you’re already being bloody childish and picking on her for no reason. It came out of nowhere and did not make me like them at all. It was nothing but utter irritation when I had to read about them.
That romance bit with Arden’s heaven knows what, was a ‘blink and you miss it’s insta love. Was it insta love? I’m not even sure if it’s fair to call it that. We get nothing from him connecting with her. He literally just sees her and is snogging her because of some vision Arden put in his head. Perhaps she saw the vision or how he dreamt of her. I don’t know and to be honest, I didn’t care enough to re-read the scene until it made sense to me. If I have to re-read a scene to make head or tails of it, it’s not written well. 😬
About that plot. I’d like to say, the moment I was told (another issue I had with this story. Everything was told to readers. Never shown) the history of the goddesses, I figured out RIGHT AWAY who the villain was going to be. I was hoping that I would be proven wrong, but alas, I was not. Can we stop this gender war in books? This ‘man bad. He jealous of woman. He think he should rule cause he alpha.’ The rhetoric wasn’t even particularly clever or done well. It was literally just, ‘Men are kings. They should rule.’
Yeahhhhh, not great. So this book really disappointed me. As an actual Jam-Brit, I was excited to read the meshing of both my cultures from a Jam-American. What I got, however, was an influx of misspelt words (it’s spelt pickney not pickennies), a snoozefest story with poorly developed characters and 2D villain. One reviewer accurately described exactly how it was. Hotep versus the modern woman. It’s just … yikes.
Sidenote, and this is the final thing. The saying is ‘cockroach nuh belong innah fowl fight.’ That, by the way, is the proper Patois spelling.
April 7, 2021
What can I say? Going into this book I thought I would get black girl magic, women uplifting women, the rise of a matriarchal society for a better world and good Jamaican representation. What this book gave me was:
Bullying
Tearing down women for both male and female perspective
The lack of regard for the feelings of a main character and her trauma
Misrepresentation of the Jamaican culture
The bunk bed scene (the fact that the author forget which twin was on which bunk)
Magic system had no rules/made no sense
Poor writing style
The cousins were horrible people, talking shit and bullying one moment and then flowery the next. Make it make sense sis. This was a choice and I was not here for it.
I was intending on letting my daughter read it as YA but i do not want her getting the wrong idea of how the Jamaican culture/dialect should be portrayed.
Bullying
Tearing down women for both male and female perspective
The lack of regard for the feelings of a main character and her trauma
Misrepresentation of the Jamaican culture
The bunk bed scene (the fact that the author forget which twin was on which bunk)
Magic system had no rules/made no sense
Poor writing style
The cousins were horrible people, talking shit and bullying one moment and then flowery the next. Make it make sense sis. This was a choice and I was not here for it.
I was intending on letting my daughter read it as YA but i do not want her getting the wrong idea of how the Jamaican culture/dialect should be portrayed.
May 11, 2020
The Goddess Twins is a great example of a book that has a super interesting premise, but fails at the execution of said premise.
The story is about two sisters Arden and Aurora who are goddesses belonging to a family full of goddesses, but they don't know that yet. Their mom gets kidnapped out of London, so these two idiots fly to the little city across the pond to go rescue her. They get accosted by their family at the airport and then proceed to learn the truth about their family and start concocting a plan to rescue their mom. There's also this grandfather character who thinks women are stupid and he's the guy who has kidnapped the mom so he can steal all their powers and be the all powerful alpha male that he knows he is.
I'll tell you what this book had going for it - the whole goddesses premise. Even the mysoginistic asshole who wants to murder them for powers is a great starting point for conflict. But you need to be subtle in how to get your message across. And there was none of that nonsense in this book, no sir. If there's a thing you needed to know, you got told it without subtlety to the point where it felt like someone was slapping you in the face.
The simple-ish story wasn't my biggest problem with this, however. However a plot is going, I truly believe that good writing and good character work can salvage the book. This one, sadly, had neither going for it.
The writing style was clunky and inconsistent. There were all these weird descriptions when the characters find out about their family history. It was like that thug notes guy telling you about Gods and Fates and what not, except it felt super forced and like a very bad attempt at, you know, having a Percy Jackson-esque voice that failed miserably. The dialogue and descriptions were also super odd. I guess the two narrators - the twins - did have distinct voices but I attribute that more to the fact they had the one-dimensional personalities of minions than anything else.
Speaking of the twins, THE CHARACTER WORK HERE WAS SO BAD I WANTED TO CRY!!! The only person I could even remotely stand was Arden. Everyone else was INSUFFERABLE! Aurora is a psychotic bitch who has so many mood swings that I had whiplash trying to keep up with her! Arden just feels sorry for herself for no reason and is supposed to be this meek, shy introverted bookworm or some shit. And those fucking cousins. I swear, if I ever see someone like Lilo irl, I will go to prison because I will murder them in under five seconds and that's a fact. The villains were also such cartoon-ish evil because they are evil villains and the good guys weren't that good tbh. Basically, this character work left much to be desired and desire, I did.
Also ALSO ALSO there was this weirdass romance subplot that happened for five pages in the beginning and end, and like, it was so forced and bad?? You think insta-love is pushing it?? This is some OTHER LEVEL, okay! This is psychic-Insta-love. Where they don't even know each others names, but the guy has been dreaming about her so he straight goes to suck face five seconds after he sees her irl. And it's just like… KMN PLS I CANT HANDLE THIS CRIGNE.
The story ends in a very predictable manner and there's no casualties and tbh, it all goes so well that the stakes just feel manufactured. Which they were, let's be honest.
All in all, did not enjoy it. Would not recommend. Can't believe I actually sat reading the whole thing instead of DNFing at 10% when I FELT like this is how it would go. I'm actually super disappointed because I really was intrigued by the premise and the cover and thought this was going to be a fun read but oofé. Here we are, I guess.
The story is about two sisters Arden and Aurora who are goddesses belonging to a family full of goddesses, but they don't know that yet. Their mom gets kidnapped out of London, so these two idiots fly to the little city across the pond to go rescue her. They get accosted by their family at the airport and then proceed to learn the truth about their family and start concocting a plan to rescue their mom. There's also this grandfather character who thinks women are stupid and he's the guy who has kidnapped the mom so he can steal all their powers and be the all powerful alpha male that he knows he is.
I'll tell you what this book had going for it - the whole goddesses premise. Even the mysoginistic asshole who wants to murder them for powers is a great starting point for conflict. But you need to be subtle in how to get your message across. And there was none of that nonsense in this book, no sir. If there's a thing you needed to know, you got told it without subtlety to the point where it felt like someone was slapping you in the face.
The simple-ish story wasn't my biggest problem with this, however. However a plot is going, I truly believe that good writing and good character work can salvage the book. This one, sadly, had neither going for it.
The writing style was clunky and inconsistent. There were all these weird descriptions when the characters find out about their family history. It was like that thug notes guy telling you about Gods and Fates and what not, except it felt super forced and like a very bad attempt at, you know, having a Percy Jackson-esque voice that failed miserably. The dialogue and descriptions were also super odd. I guess the two narrators - the twins - did have distinct voices but I attribute that more to the fact they had the one-dimensional personalities of minions than anything else.
Speaking of the twins, THE CHARACTER WORK HERE WAS SO BAD I WANTED TO CRY!!! The only person I could even remotely stand was Arden. Everyone else was INSUFFERABLE! Aurora is a psychotic bitch who has so many mood swings that I had whiplash trying to keep up with her! Arden just feels sorry for herself for no reason and is supposed to be this meek, shy introverted bookworm or some shit. And those fucking cousins. I swear, if I ever see someone like Lilo irl, I will go to prison because I will murder them in under five seconds and that's a fact. The villains were also such cartoon-ish evil because they are evil villains and the good guys weren't that good tbh. Basically, this character work left much to be desired and desire, I did.
Also ALSO ALSO there was this weirdass romance subplot that happened for five pages in the beginning and end, and like, it was so forced and bad?? You think insta-love is pushing it?? This is some OTHER LEVEL, okay! This is psychic-Insta-love. Where they don't even know each others names, but the guy has been dreaming about her so he straight goes to suck face five seconds after he sees her irl. And it's just like… KMN PLS I CANT HANDLE THIS CRIGNE.
The story ends in a very predictable manner and there's no casualties and tbh, it all goes so well that the stakes just feel manufactured. Which they were, let's be honest.
All in all, did not enjoy it. Would not recommend. Can't believe I actually sat reading the whole thing instead of DNFing at 10% when I FELT like this is how it would go. I'm actually super disappointed because I really was intrigued by the premise and the cover and thought this was going to be a fun read but oofé. Here we are, I guess.
May 24, 2020
Let me start off with the fact that the diversity and representation is absolutely amazing in this book. We need more books like this. However, I have contradictory feelings about this book... I loved the beginning! Up until the twins landed in London. The story was interesting and I loved the twin's characters and personalities!
That all changed when the first new characters were introduced, the two cousins. I absolutely despised these two. They were thrown onto the reader out of nowhere and the explanation was vague and kind of odd. I also hated how they were so mean to Aurora. Those two actually made me stop reading this book for a while, because I was so disinterested in them. That opinion kind of changed in the end, but I still feel like they are too judgmental.
I felt like the middle was so rushed. This universe is so interesting (all the different powers) but I felt like they weren't explained enough because of this rush. All the other characters were actually likeable and interesting, so I wanted to know much more about them than just a few pages. The journey was too quick for my liking and not so realistic. They just get right into it without much of an explanation.
The final battle was also a bit disappointing. I expected more and we didn't even get to experience half of it! It has a huge build-up throughout the book, but then it is over with a few punches and a couple of words.
This book was a bit disappointing as I feel like this story really has some potential. The universe is interesting and most of the characters have unique personalities and powers, which were diverse and very compelling. It just felt incomplete.
That all changed when the first new characters were introduced, the two cousins. I absolutely despised these two. They were thrown onto the reader out of nowhere and the explanation was vague and kind of odd. I also hated how they were so mean to Aurora. Those two actually made me stop reading this book for a while, because I was so disinterested in them. That opinion kind of changed in the end, but I still feel like they are too judgmental.
I felt like the middle was so rushed. This universe is so interesting (all the different powers) but I felt like they weren't explained enough because of this rush. All the other characters were actually likeable and interesting, so I wanted to know much more about them than just a few pages. The journey was too quick for my liking and not so realistic. They just get right into it without much of an explanation.
The final battle was also a bit disappointing. I expected more and we didn't even get to experience half of it! It has a huge build-up throughout the book, but then it is over with a few punches and a couple of words.
This book was a bit disappointing as I feel like this story really has some potential. The universe is interesting and most of the characters have unique personalities and powers, which were diverse and very compelling. It just felt incomplete.
April 17, 2020
I think that this story has very strong roots, a great background, and amazing potential for a possible sequel. From the moment you begin reading, it’s clear there is something bigger at play than what you may have expected. The opening scene depicts just how hard black women, human or goddess, have it in a world that shows them no love. How jealousy, greed, and misogyny all work together to attempt to bring us down to our knees, even during out most sacred moments. A plot is unfolding right before our eyes, to capture the almost eighteen year old twin goddesses Aurora and Arden and it is driven by the very things I mentioned above.
Meanwhile, while all of this is unfolding behind the scenes, Arden and Aurora should be getting ready to happily celebrate their eighteenth birthday, but instead they are dealing with the fallout of their mother, a famous opera singer, being called back to work. Her absence sets off a chain of events that leads to her twin daughters to not only uncover an evil plot, but discover what their mother has been hiding from them for all these years: their destiny and powers as twin goddesses. The wins are in a constant battle against each other and themselves, but now they have to find a way to move past the differences and insecurities if they are going to find out the truth and rescue their mother.
Overall, I think that the premise for story is great. Because it’s set during present day, there was not any extensive world building, but we do get to see a mythological story unfold during the telling of the twins’ family history. I think that may have been my favorite part of the novel. Learning how all of this came to be, about the goddesses themselves, and the love, hurt, and pain that happened helped to shape an understanding of how the kidnapping plot and the circumstances surround the family’s mystery. Everything, including the history, is told in the voice of Aurora and Arden who are two very modern teenagers and it comes across in the writing. That being said, it’s very…teenagery…idk if that’s how I want to say it, but it is very YA and I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
The girls as characters themselves were interesting, but I do wish they were a bit more complex. You get to see Aurora’s struggle with her relationship with her mother and sister and how out of place she feels, why she rages all of the time, and her insecurities, but I didn’t feel like we got that opportunity fully with Arden. Yes we see Arden coming to terms with her powers and coming into her own as a goddess, but I would have loved to see her own up to her hand in the relationship with her mother in a deeper way. I don’t feel like we explored their mother enough, and it seems to be that we just barely scratched the surface on her personality, motivations and her life. I would loooove to learn about what makes her tick and actually see why she treats being a mother the way she does. I just think understanding her more would have helped me to connect to her better.
As far as other characters that are introduced, I’ll be honest and say that I didn’t care for them too much. It felt like they were sort of too good to be true given the circumstances of the story. I won’t reveal whether or not my suspicions panned out or not though.
I enjoyed the bones of the plot and where everything was going, but I will admit that the futher into the book we got, the more rushed things seemed to get. The climax and ending came so fast and I expected a bit….more. Now I think some of that could be because of the page count of the story. The shorter a story is, the quicker you have to get things moving and trust me, we’re thrown into the deep end early. I’m hoping that if there is a follow up (which gets set up in the epilogue) we get to dig a bit deeper and explore everything more. Big plus: There’s no cliffhanger here!! There is a romance piece here, but it’s literally only at the beginning and end. I don’t think the story needed it to be honest, because the plot did well without it.
Overall, I can certainly see the potential here and honestly, who doesn’t love a bit of black girl magic?
If you’re even a little bit intrigued then make a point to check this out when it gets released on May 19th!
Meanwhile, while all of this is unfolding behind the scenes, Arden and Aurora should be getting ready to happily celebrate their eighteenth birthday, but instead they are dealing with the fallout of their mother, a famous opera singer, being called back to work. Her absence sets off a chain of events that leads to her twin daughters to not only uncover an evil plot, but discover what their mother has been hiding from them for all these years: their destiny and powers as twin goddesses. The wins are in a constant battle against each other and themselves, but now they have to find a way to move past the differences and insecurities if they are going to find out the truth and rescue their mother.
Overall, I think that the premise for story is great. Because it’s set during present day, there was not any extensive world building, but we do get to see a mythological story unfold during the telling of the twins’ family history. I think that may have been my favorite part of the novel. Learning how all of this came to be, about the goddesses themselves, and the love, hurt, and pain that happened helped to shape an understanding of how the kidnapping plot and the circumstances surround the family’s mystery. Everything, including the history, is told in the voice of Aurora and Arden who are two very modern teenagers and it comes across in the writing. That being said, it’s very…teenagery…idk if that’s how I want to say it, but it is very YA and I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
The girls as characters themselves were interesting, but I do wish they were a bit more complex. You get to see Aurora’s struggle with her relationship with her mother and sister and how out of place she feels, why she rages all of the time, and her insecurities, but I didn’t feel like we got that opportunity fully with Arden. Yes we see Arden coming to terms with her powers and coming into her own as a goddess, but I would have loved to see her own up to her hand in the relationship with her mother in a deeper way. I don’t feel like we explored their mother enough, and it seems to be that we just barely scratched the surface on her personality, motivations and her life. I would loooove to learn about what makes her tick and actually see why she treats being a mother the way she does. I just think understanding her more would have helped me to connect to her better.
As far as other characters that are introduced, I’ll be honest and say that I didn’t care for them too much. It felt like they were sort of too good to be true given the circumstances of the story. I won’t reveal whether or not my suspicions panned out or not though.
I enjoyed the bones of the plot and where everything was going, but I will admit that the futher into the book we got, the more rushed things seemed to get. The climax and ending came so fast and I expected a bit….more. Now I think some of that could be because of the page count of the story. The shorter a story is, the quicker you have to get things moving and trust me, we’re thrown into the deep end early. I’m hoping that if there is a follow up (which gets set up in the epilogue) we get to dig a bit deeper and explore everything more. Big plus: There’s no cliffhanger here!! There is a romance piece here, but it’s literally only at the beginning and end. I don’t think the story needed it to be honest, because the plot did well without it.
Overall, I can certainly see the potential here and honestly, who doesn’t love a bit of black girl magic?
If you’re even a little bit intrigued then make a point to check this out when it gets released on May 19th!
May 17, 2020
3.5 stars
The Goddess Twins is a YA novel about 17 year old twins, Arden and Aurora. The 2 girls are on the cusp of their 18th birthday and live in Ohio with their mom, who is a famous opera singer. They had traveled the world non-stop for their mother's career until a year ago, when they finally settled down so the girls could have a normal high school experience.
A few days before their 18th birthday, their mom tells them that she has to go to London to fill in for the lead in an opera. Aurora is mad with her mother because she had promised she was done with traveling the world for opera. Arden is more accepting, though still sad. This reflects the girl's personalities. Aurora is the more rebellious and sociable twin, whereas Arden is more bookish and compassionate.
At a house party thrown by Aurora, the girls discover that they each have a power. Arden can read minds and Aurora has telekinesis. Soon the girls learn their mom never arrived at the opera house in London and has gone missing. The girls hop a flight to London where they discover family they never knew and learn of their own status as goddesses.
This was a fun, quick read. The story takes us from the US to Jamaica, and London. It is told from alternating perspectives of Arden and Aurora. I more closely aligned with Arden since I am definitely more bookish than rebellious. It reads like it could be the start of a series so I will keep my eyes peeled to see if the author plans a follow-up.
In some ways it reminded me of the Percy Jackson series and the related Rick Riordan Presents books in that we have young adults who learn that they have a connection to the gods and have special powers. I recommend this to fans of those books as well as fans of Afro-futurism, and fantasy, particularly by a WOC.
I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Goddess Twins is a YA novel about 17 year old twins, Arden and Aurora. The 2 girls are on the cusp of their 18th birthday and live in Ohio with their mom, who is a famous opera singer. They had traveled the world non-stop for their mother's career until a year ago, when they finally settled down so the girls could have a normal high school experience.
A few days before their 18th birthday, their mom tells them that she has to go to London to fill in for the lead in an opera. Aurora is mad with her mother because she had promised she was done with traveling the world for opera. Arden is more accepting, though still sad. This reflects the girl's personalities. Aurora is the more rebellious and sociable twin, whereas Arden is more bookish and compassionate.
At a house party thrown by Aurora, the girls discover that they each have a power. Arden can read minds and Aurora has telekinesis. Soon the girls learn their mom never arrived at the opera house in London and has gone missing. The girls hop a flight to London where they discover family they never knew and learn of their own status as goddesses.
This was a fun, quick read. The story takes us from the US to Jamaica, and London. It is told from alternating perspectives of Arden and Aurora. I more closely aligned with Arden since I am definitely more bookish than rebellious. It reads like it could be the start of a series so I will keep my eyes peeled to see if the author plans a follow-up.
In some ways it reminded me of the Percy Jackson series and the related Rick Riordan Presents books in that we have young adults who learn that they have a connection to the gods and have special powers. I recommend this to fans of those books as well as fans of Afro-futurism, and fantasy, particularly by a WOC.
I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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July 15, 2020Family Bonds and Magic — 5 Reasons to Pick Up THE GODDESS TWINS:
https://booktrib.com/2020/06/family-b...
https://booktrib.com/2020/06/family-b...
October 19, 2020
This story had the potential to be great, but I think the author dropped the ball with the pacing, development and transitioning of the characters and their power.
I did like the use of differing perspectives, as the reader is able to experience scenarios and emotions based on either twin and is then left with the choice of whose description/take they will believe or lean more towards. Williams did a good job of capturing and relaying the minds of teenagers, using their characteristics and personality to build how they interact with each other and those closest to them.
What I wished was that more time was spent introducing the girls to their lineage and their goddess abilities, developing their control over a period of time which would have led to greater payoff with the final confrontation. The conclusion felt rushed, the overuse of proverbs and patwa felt like an overcompensation and misused (as a Jamaican, I know personally that proverbs are not thrown about in every which way-the situation or teaching moment has to call for it specifically).
In the end, I felt very let down, as this read much like a missed opportunity to establish a great story-line as they were elements that were so relevant and needed to be expounded on more.
I did like the use of differing perspectives, as the reader is able to experience scenarios and emotions based on either twin and is then left with the choice of whose description/take they will believe or lean more towards. Williams did a good job of capturing and relaying the minds of teenagers, using their characteristics and personality to build how they interact with each other and those closest to them.
What I wished was that more time was spent introducing the girls to their lineage and their goddess abilities, developing their control over a period of time which would have led to greater payoff with the final confrontation. The conclusion felt rushed, the overuse of proverbs and patwa felt like an overcompensation and misused (as a Jamaican, I know personally that proverbs are not thrown about in every which way-the situation or teaching moment has to call for it specifically).
In the end, I felt very let down, as this read much like a missed opportunity to establish a great story-line as they were elements that were so relevant and needed to be expounded on more.
February 23, 2021
I am going to rate this book based on the genre which is YA/middle grade. I feel as if it is perfect for a tween or teen! The story revolves around twin sisters who on their 18th birthday acquires magical powers and embarks on this journey to save their loved ones!
Rating:
Cover ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
YA/Middle Grade ⭐⭐⭐💫
For Me ⭐⭐
For me as an adult fantasy reader it was lacking in a lot of areas such as character development, world building, and describing important events that transpired in the book. I was left with several questions and just wanted more. What I loved about the book though was all the Black Girl Magic!
Rating:
Cover ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
YA/Middle Grade ⭐⭐⭐💫
For Me ⭐⭐
For me as an adult fantasy reader it was lacking in a lot of areas such as character development, world building, and describing important events that transpired in the book. I was left with several questions and just wanted more. What I loved about the book though was all the Black Girl Magic!
May 11, 2020
DISCLAIMER: I received a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
MY SCORES
Characters: 3/5
Plot: 2.5/5
Themes & Message: 3.5/5
Writing: 2.5/5
OVERALL SCORES: 2.8/5
Mood while reading: You can't expect me to believe these twins are 17/18 years old.
MY REVIEW
In The Goddess Twins, we meet a pair of soon-to-be 18-year-old twins who travels on a mission to save their missing mother. During that mission, they uncover many secrets of their own family and ancestry, as they are gifted with magical powers.
This story is set in October 2020, and no particular world-building was necessary since it was based in our real world. At the very start of the book, there's a revealing prologue. There we meet the antagonists and discover parts of their plan. In my opinion, this book would have been better off without this prologue, as it spoiled a lot of the upcoming events. And by having the antagonists introduced so early, we lost the mystic elements of the villains. Instead, most of us could probably figure out who and what the antagonists were planning.
Moreover, when the twins' family ancestry was revealed, it was revealed through a boring re-cap. Instead of showing the history of the family in an interesting way, one of the main characters just re-caps it for us. Of course, in that way, there won't be any confusion, but I found it to be dull and anti-climatic.
All of the events happened in the span of only one (1) day, I think. Or maybe two days. Either way, the pacing was fast fast. And the book is also quite short too. I managed to get through this book in the span of 5 hours.
I would have liked the story and plot to be a bit more expanded. From the premise, it had an interesting concept. It definitely had the potential to be something big. I think the story would have been better if the book was a bit longer so more events could happen. When I first read this book, I was assuming to be introduced to a great alternative reality with Jamaican deities and mythology. I kind of expected something similar to the Percy Jackson series. Instead, this story felt really short. There was maybe a potential to meet mythological creatures and deities. To expand the universe. However, maybe that would be saved to the next books, as a sequel was hinted at the end of the epilogue.
As the story was quite short, it did unfortunately not have the room for character development. Most of the side characters were left undeveloped and bland. The cousins, Lilo and Liberty, really annoyed me as they acted too immature to be in their twenties. I didn't connect with any of the characters, except for Aurora. From other reviews I've read about this book, most people didn't like Aurora at all. However, I found her to be the most interesting and complex character of them all. In many ways, I understood why she acted and thought as she did. Arden, however, seemed to be too trusty and naïve. She didn't have any character development and I couldn't really understand her reasons. Maybe it's just me.
The biggest issue I had with the main characters were their age. They were supposed to be 17/18 years old, but I thought they acted more like 14 or 15-year-olds. Honestly, I think this book would work really good for middle school kids and teens. I think the storyline would be much better if the twins were about to be fifteen or something. Then their behaviour would make more sense. Of course, if that happened, some parts of the plot had to change, but I believe those changes in the plot would not affect the main story and theme.
Moreover, this story didn't need any of the romantic elements. The instant love between felt really unnecessary. After all, I liked the themes of family and trust. Especially the tension between Aurora and Selene, her mother.
Overall, this book was a light read. I mean, I managed to read it in less than six hours. It wasn't bad, but not really good either. I think the story has a lot of potential, and I hope the author will let the characters discover more about their world and magic in a sequel.
Over and out. -Nora <3
MY SCORES
Characters: 3/5
Plot: 2.5/5
Themes & Message: 3.5/5
Writing: 2.5/5
OVERALL SCORES: 2.8/5
Mood while reading: You can't expect me to believe these twins are 17/18 years old.
"I can be fearless in the love I give others, and I can be fearless in the love I demand for myself, too."
MY REVIEW
In The Goddess Twins, we meet a pair of soon-to-be 18-year-old twins who travels on a mission to save their missing mother. During that mission, they uncover many secrets of their own family and ancestry, as they are gifted with magical powers.
This story is set in October 2020, and no particular world-building was necessary since it was based in our real world. At the very start of the book, there's a revealing prologue. There we meet the antagonists and discover parts of their plan. In my opinion, this book would have been better off without this prologue, as it spoiled a lot of the upcoming events. And by having the antagonists introduced so early, we lost the mystic elements of the villains. Instead, most of us could probably figure out who and what the antagonists were planning.
Moreover, when the twins' family ancestry was revealed, it was revealed through a boring re-cap. Instead of showing the history of the family in an interesting way, one of the main characters just re-caps it for us. Of course, in that way, there won't be any confusion, but I found it to be dull and anti-climatic.
All of the events happened in the span of only one (1) day, I think. Or maybe two days. Either way, the pacing was fast fast. And the book is also quite short too. I managed to get through this book in the span of 5 hours.
I would have liked the story and plot to be a bit more expanded. From the premise, it had an interesting concept. It definitely had the potential to be something big. I think the story would have been better if the book was a bit longer so more events could happen. When I first read this book, I was assuming to be introduced to a great alternative reality with Jamaican deities and mythology. I kind of expected something similar to the Percy Jackson series. Instead, this story felt really short. There was maybe a potential to meet mythological creatures and deities. To expand the universe. However, maybe that would be saved to the next books, as a sequel was hinted at the end of the epilogue.
As the story was quite short, it did unfortunately not have the room for character development. Most of the side characters were left undeveloped and bland. The cousins, Lilo and Liberty, really annoyed me as they acted too immature to be in their twenties. I didn't connect with any of the characters, except for Aurora. From other reviews I've read about this book, most people didn't like Aurora at all. However, I found her to be the most interesting and complex character of them all. In many ways, I understood why she acted and thought as she did. Arden, however, seemed to be too trusty and naïve. She didn't have any character development and I couldn't really understand her reasons. Maybe it's just me.
The biggest issue I had with the main characters were their age. They were supposed to be 17/18 years old, but I thought they acted more like 14 or 15-year-olds. Honestly, I think this book would work really good for middle school kids and teens. I think the storyline would be much better if the twins were about to be fifteen or something. Then their behaviour would make more sense. Of course, if that happened, some parts of the plot had to change, but I believe those changes in the plot would not affect the main story and theme.
Moreover, this story didn't need any of the romantic elements. The instant love between felt really unnecessary. After all, I liked the themes of family and trust. Especially the tension between Aurora and Selene, her mother.
Overall, this book was a light read. I mean, I managed to read it in less than six hours. It wasn't bad, but not really good either. I think the story has a lot of potential, and I hope the author will let the characters discover more about their world and magic in a sequel.
Over and out. -Nora <3
June 7, 2020
ARC kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I'm really sitting on the fence with this book to be honest.
On one hand I disliked the characterisation of some of the side characters and their dialogue but on the other I liked the themes, backstories and the villains. I'm really 50/50 on this one and I think I'll be rating it an overall 3 stars.
The premise of the book was simply delightful and I couldn't help but quick the request button straight after I read the synopsis. It featured two sisters who go on a quest to rescue their mother only to discover family secrets and a dangerous and sinister plot centuries in the making. Okay I must admit it does sound a bit cliché but I do get excited when superpowers are involved in the books that I am reading. I was ecstatic to see telekinesis and telepathy at the forefront of The Goddess Twins. and little glimpses into time manipulation and shapeshifting too. It made the book so much more interesting and gave it another dimension.
Apart from the superpowers, I didn't expect myself to get a book so centred on sexism and racism. It kind of built up the dynamic of the villain and his corrupt mentality in which he ends up wanting to kill the goddesses out of sheer jealousy and for their power despite them being a part of his family. I thought his characterisation was well rounded through the stories Gran Gran told Arden and Aurora. That being said though, there were a few loop holes such as him leaving during the peak of the plot and him not trying to save his evil plan he was trying to execute for centuries. I reckon that could be easily tied up with a sequel especially since the ending was pretty open for a stand-alone.
Since a sequel hasn't been confirmed, I'm going to rate this based off of this book alone and I think it's time to mention some of the things I really disliked. One being Arden's and Aurora's cousins from London. Their dialogue was very cringy and I found myself wanting to skip some of those scenes just to avoid it. Unfortunately, superpowers could not save my love for the cousins.
Speaking of family, I enjoyed the unravelling of the plot and the backstory of the male figures however, there were a lot of loopholes within it such as the brotherhood and the mysterious kidnapped girls. I wanted to know more about them and I think the author could've delved into it deeper than she did. I hope that there's a sequel... I have so many questions that need answering!
All in all, good and bad points but I definitely can see this becoming a sound series.
ACTUAL RATING: 3.3 STARS
I'm really sitting on the fence with this book to be honest.
On one hand I disliked the characterisation of some of the side characters and their dialogue but on the other I liked the themes, backstories and the villains. I'm really 50/50 on this one and I think I'll be rating it an overall 3 stars.
The premise of the book was simply delightful and I couldn't help but quick the request button straight after I read the synopsis. It featured two sisters who go on a quest to rescue their mother only to discover family secrets and a dangerous and sinister plot centuries in the making. Okay I must admit it does sound a bit cliché but I do get excited when superpowers are involved in the books that I am reading. I was ecstatic to see telekinesis and telepathy at the forefront of The Goddess Twins. and little glimpses into time manipulation and shapeshifting too. It made the book so much more interesting and gave it another dimension.
Apart from the superpowers, I didn't expect myself to get a book so centred on sexism and racism. It kind of built up the dynamic of the villain and his corrupt mentality in which he ends up wanting to kill the goddesses out of sheer jealousy and for their power despite them being a part of his family. I thought his characterisation was well rounded through the stories Gran Gran told Arden and Aurora. That being said though, there were a few loop holes such as him leaving during the peak of the plot and him not trying to save his evil plan he was trying to execute for centuries. I reckon that could be easily tied up with a sequel especially since the ending was pretty open for a stand-alone.
Since a sequel hasn't been confirmed, I'm going to rate this based off of this book alone and I think it's time to mention some of the things I really disliked. One being Arden's and Aurora's cousins from London. Their dialogue was very cringy and I found myself wanting to skip some of those scenes just to avoid it. Unfortunately, superpowers could not save my love for the cousins.
Speaking of family, I enjoyed the unravelling of the plot and the backstory of the male figures however, there were a lot of loopholes within it such as the brotherhood and the mysterious kidnapped girls. I wanted to know more about them and I think the author could've delved into it deeper than she did. I hope that there's a sequel... I have so many questions that need answering!
All in all, good and bad points but I definitely can see this becoming a sound series.
ACTUAL RATING: 3.3 STARS
February 25, 2021
Twins Arden and Aurora couldn’t be any more different. Arden, is the more reserved bookworm twin, and Aurora, is the more outgoing and test the boundaries type of twin. But the twins are not just different in their personalties. They are different in a way that as they reach their 18th birthday, they begin to uncover their telepathic and telekinetic powers each possess which they had no clue they would gain. However, others know that this time is coming and is anxious to steal what they felt they should have. As the twins discover these abilities, they also discover their mom is missing as well. They set out to find their mom, and find new relatives they never knew as well as other family secrets.
This book was a fast paced read. So fast paced that I feel there were gaps in the story. There were places that I felt I time hopped in the story. I wish there were more explanations in some parts to explain a few things a bit more. I will say that the ending left off where I feel that there has to be a book 2 coming. I would be curious to see where the story is taken if there is a book 2.
This book was a fast paced read. So fast paced that I feel there were gaps in the story. There were places that I felt I time hopped in the story. I wish there were more explanations in some parts to explain a few things a bit more. I will say that the ending left off where I feel that there has to be a book 2 coming. I would be curious to see where the story is taken if there is a book 2.
May 17, 2020
I really wanted to enjoy this so much than I did, but I have issues with this. I think the main problem was the dual POVs were not distinct enough and the twins, Aurora and Arden were not developed enough as characters that you could distinguish them from one another. I found the story itself light and easy to read, it’s very fast paced, but I thought it needed to slow down a touch , it just went too fast. It’s representation is great, I wanted so much more from this because I want to read so much more than the usual, overall I think it tried a little too hard. I think if you worked on these things it could be so much more and what it deserves to be.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
February 22, 2021
Arden and Aurora are twin sisters who have a difficult relationship with their mother and each other. When their mother, Selene, goes missing they learn about relying on each other and what family really means.
This story took turns I didn’t expect. I had to finish this book to see how things worked together and how it was going to end. I did feel that there were some characters we were introduced to and events that happened that were kind of random. However, the story is interesting.
The Goddess Twins is a debut novel of Yodassa Williams.
This story took turns I didn’t expect. I had to finish this book to see how things worked together and how it was going to end. I did feel that there were some characters we were introduced to and events that happened that were kind of random. However, the story is interesting.
The Goddess Twins is a debut novel of Yodassa Williams.
May 1, 2022
Thank you to SparkPress for giving me access to this eBook via NetGalley to review.
This is a YA modern fantasy about twin almost eighteen-year-olds. They find out they have powers, and are on a quest to find their mother who was kidnapped. Upon going to London to search for her, they meet their estranged family made up of a grandma and many cousins: all women. The twins learn about a hidden past that allows them to see themselves more clearly- for better or for worse.
I was interested in this story, seeing black girls in modern fantasy. I wanted to explore the potential I saw in how it could incorporate the strange familial dynamics into the conflict. I think that the choice of giving a spotlight to the women in the family, especially how they all have these unique powers that they can share with each other, is very refreshing.
The main problem with this book is that it is incredibly too short for all the author wanted to include. There was little time for, explanation, action, or character development. A good chunk of the story ended up being exposition dumps. Kind of a "this is how we got here" sort of thing.
The twins. Aurora and Arden. Arden is the "good one" and Aurora is the "wild one" with a temper. I honestly don't understand how some people in the reviews hated Aurora over Arden; she is the most complex of the two. Aurora is the only dynamic character in this story, as the rest are pretty static. However, everyone is just an archetype of whatever role they were given. Arden is very self-satisfied in the beginning. She judges her sister a bit harshly for reacting differently than her on the issue of their mother going to London. Throughout the entire book, Arden is just perfect. All the characters we meet crap on Aurora to the point where I think, no wonder she has an attitude problem.
This starts my issues with writing. Arden says her sister has the "emotional intelligence of a two-year-old." Pages later someone then describes HER as "one of the most emotionally intelligent people [they] know." Arden's speech is awkward. The dialogue as a whole can get this way; it is unlike how people speak in real life. This writing is inconsistent but very noticeable. It made it hard to connect with certain characters for me.
*slight spoilers*
The story. This premise was full of potential, but we are skimped of so much of the "magic" and action. Much more telling is happening than showing. It all seems to be placed in Aurora's perspectives- which leaves little room for her actual development to take place. The girls describe things that happen such as the cousins they meet helping them learn techniques to control their magic; which we never see. Also they come up with an extravagant plan to rescue the mom that includes- shape-shifting, astral-projection, diversions, and mind-control- which we also never get to see. The author cuts to the after. The actual climax we do get in the book when we meet the capturer is so... underwhelming. They are turned good in one page; and we get a wrap up of this quirky family finally settling into a new life.
Overall, this book had a good premise. From reading in the epilogue, I see the promise of a sequel. Maybe this will do the story better. A sequel could flesh out this world and our characters more; whereas as a standalone this is not a world I think I'd return to.
This is a YA modern fantasy about twin almost eighteen-year-olds. They find out they have powers, and are on a quest to find their mother who was kidnapped. Upon going to London to search for her, they meet their estranged family made up of a grandma and many cousins: all women. The twins learn about a hidden past that allows them to see themselves more clearly- for better or for worse.
I was interested in this story, seeing black girls in modern fantasy. I wanted to explore the potential I saw in how it could incorporate the strange familial dynamics into the conflict. I think that the choice of giving a spotlight to the women in the family, especially how they all have these unique powers that they can share with each other, is very refreshing.
The main problem with this book is that it is incredibly too short for all the author wanted to include. There was little time for, explanation, action, or character development. A good chunk of the story ended up being exposition dumps. Kind of a "this is how we got here" sort of thing.
The twins. Aurora and Arden. Arden is the "good one" and Aurora is the "wild one" with a temper. I honestly don't understand how some people in the reviews hated Aurora over Arden; she is the most complex of the two. Aurora is the only dynamic character in this story, as the rest are pretty static. However, everyone is just an archetype of whatever role they were given. Arden is very self-satisfied in the beginning. She judges her sister a bit harshly for reacting differently than her on the issue of their mother going to London. Throughout the entire book, Arden is just perfect. All the characters we meet crap on Aurora to the point where I think, no wonder she has an attitude problem.
This starts my issues with writing. Arden says her sister has the "emotional intelligence of a two-year-old." Pages later someone then describes HER as "one of the most emotionally intelligent people [they] know." Arden's speech is awkward. The dialogue as a whole can get this way; it is unlike how people speak in real life. This writing is inconsistent but very noticeable. It made it hard to connect with certain characters for me.
*slight spoilers*
The story. This premise was full of potential, but we are skimped of so much of the "magic" and action. Much more telling is happening than showing. It all seems to be placed in Aurora's perspectives- which leaves little room for her actual development to take place. The girls describe things that happen such as the cousins they meet helping them learn techniques to control their magic; which we never see. Also they come up with an extravagant plan to rescue the mom that includes- shape-shifting, astral-projection, diversions, and mind-control- which we also never get to see. The author cuts to the after. The actual climax we do get in the book when we meet the capturer is so... underwhelming. They are turned good in one page; and we get a wrap up of this quirky family finally settling into a new life.
Overall, this book had a good premise. From reading in the epilogue, I see the promise of a sequel. Maybe this will do the story better. A sequel could flesh out this world and our characters more; whereas as a standalone this is not a world I think I'd return to.
June 1, 2020
The Goddess Twins by Yodassa Williams
There are Goddesses living among humans. They are the women and girls blessed by the Gods. But, since we live in a patriarchy, there are men who have dedicated their lives to stealing the power of women for their own evil games.
When their mother, Selene, goes missing, her twin daughters, Aurora and Arden, take off to London to find her. There, they run into their family who they know nothing about. The twins learn about the family secrets and will have to use this new information to save their mother and themselves.
This novel is definitely a girl power book in the best way. It shows Jamaican women being kick-ass and powerful. Yodassa Williams bravely highlights the dangers of misogyny from Black men. Considering this got writers like Alice Walker in trouble with some of the Black community, I think it is brave for Black women to write about this issue. Williams does an outstanding job of talking about sexism and racism without being preachy. It is a natural part of the world that the Twins live in and they must depend on each other and the other women in their family to counter it.
Some scenes especially one with “ghost girls” and water healing reminded me of Toni Morrison’s Beloved, especially in the way Williams writes about the abuse of young girls. Also, like Morrison, Williams adds African spirituality and healing to the story.
I loved this book. It is one of the best books I have read in a long time. One reason I loved it was that it caused me to laugh out loud and turn to my partner to tell him the joke which he laughed out loud to:
“Just this morning she looked at my outfit and asked if I was on my way to desegregate a school.”
Humor is hard to achieve in fiction, so thumbs up just for that. I also love the characters. Everyone was well developed and complex. The Twins are at odds at the beginning of this book. The book switches back and forth between their points of views. Even though they type cast themselves as Good (Arden) and Bad (Aurora) Twins, I empathized with both twins because of Williams’ excellent character writing.
The plot kept me turning the pages. The pacing was great. There are some loose ends. I also wanted more of Aurora being badass in this book. The story was slightly more focused on Arden. With that said, it is obviously meant to be a series. I hope that Aurora can come into her own in the next book.
The only issue I had with the ARC was that the Kindle formatting had many errors such as incorrect spacing. But it didn’t take away of the novel and it is not the author’s fault.
Again, I loved this book and can’t wait to read the rest of the series. I giving this book at 4.5 out 5. A half of point off for Kindle formatting. But other than that, it was a perfect book for me.
I recommend this book for Black teens and adults. I recommend this for all YA, New Adult, ad Fantasy readers regardless of race. Also, people who like books that uses spiritual lore as this one uses a Yoruba stories. People who love mermaids as much as I do will enjoy this novel! I recommend this book for Black teens and adults. I recommend this for all YA, New Adult, ad Fantasy readers regardless of race. Also, people who like books that uses spiritual lore as this one uses a Yoruba stories. People who love mermaids as much as I do will enjoy this novel!
There are Goddesses living among humans. They are the women and girls blessed by the Gods. But, since we live in a patriarchy, there are men who have dedicated their lives to stealing the power of women for their own evil games.
When their mother, Selene, goes missing, her twin daughters, Aurora and Arden, take off to London to find her. There, they run into their family who they know nothing about. The twins learn about the family secrets and will have to use this new information to save their mother and themselves.
This novel is definitely a girl power book in the best way. It shows Jamaican women being kick-ass and powerful. Yodassa Williams bravely highlights the dangers of misogyny from Black men. Considering this got writers like Alice Walker in trouble with some of the Black community, I think it is brave for Black women to write about this issue. Williams does an outstanding job of talking about sexism and racism without being preachy. It is a natural part of the world that the Twins live in and they must depend on each other and the other women in their family to counter it.
Some scenes especially one with “ghost girls” and water healing reminded me of Toni Morrison’s Beloved, especially in the way Williams writes about the abuse of young girls. Also, like Morrison, Williams adds African spirituality and healing to the story.
I loved this book. It is one of the best books I have read in a long time. One reason I loved it was that it caused me to laugh out loud and turn to my partner to tell him the joke which he laughed out loud to:
“Just this morning she looked at my outfit and asked if I was on my way to desegregate a school.”
Humor is hard to achieve in fiction, so thumbs up just for that. I also love the characters. Everyone was well developed and complex. The Twins are at odds at the beginning of this book. The book switches back and forth between their points of views. Even though they type cast themselves as Good (Arden) and Bad (Aurora) Twins, I empathized with both twins because of Williams’ excellent character writing.
The plot kept me turning the pages. The pacing was great. There are some loose ends. I also wanted more of Aurora being badass in this book. The story was slightly more focused on Arden. With that said, it is obviously meant to be a series. I hope that Aurora can come into her own in the next book.
The only issue I had with the ARC was that the Kindle formatting had many errors such as incorrect spacing. But it didn’t take away of the novel and it is not the author’s fault.
Again, I loved this book and can’t wait to read the rest of the series. I giving this book at 4.5 out 5. A half of point off for Kindle formatting. But other than that, it was a perfect book for me.
I recommend this book for Black teens and adults. I recommend this for all YA, New Adult, ad Fantasy readers regardless of race. Also, people who like books that uses spiritual lore as this one uses a Yoruba stories. People who love mermaids as much as I do will enjoy this novel! I recommend this book for Black teens and adults. I recommend this for all YA, New Adult, ad Fantasy readers regardless of race. Also, people who like books that uses spiritual lore as this one uses a Yoruba stories. People who love mermaids as much as I do will enjoy this novel!
February 29, 2024
I impulse-bought this book because I liked the cover and I didn't do any of the checks I should have done. Let's just say it's been a lesson for me!
This was actually a good premise which, with some research and robust editing, could have been a great way to highlight some issues between (Black) men and women.
Unfortunately, I believe this book was published far too early. There was a typo on the back cover for a start, which can perhaps be forgivable, but in this case it was the first red flag.
Apart from the fact that the different narrative voices were both the same voice and the character motivations were ambiguous, with a nearly pointless moment of insta-love that added very little to the story, a bunch of telling, a wotless, flat antagonist (which really should have been the Fates because they were the ones who messed up and bounced), and a general lack of depth, there were major issues with setting and dialogue.
I'm a Londoner. One of Jamaican descent at that. Why am I mentioning this? Well, the MCs spend most of the story in London, UK, after flying from Ohio for the first time. There, they meet their Jamaican and Black-British family.
The patois was all incorrectly spelled and then the character who spoke it dropped it after a few pages (wagwan or whagwan would be understood, wagoan, not so much). It was a mystery why the Jamaican grandad didn't speak it (but probably a mercy). The other issue was that the London dialect/s typically used by Black British Londoners (MLE, or RP, or a mixture of both usually) were not present here. And for the record, there is not one British accent (there are over 40 dialects), and I'm pretty sure that there is no London accent that anyone would accuse of being 'melodious'.
The little information about London didn't seem to be correct either. The 'skinny houses (I'm guessing town houses) in central West London just didn't fit the description of what one would expect. Jamaicans living in central West London with black gnomes in the picket-fenced garden playing reggaeton instead of reggae... This would be uncommon, even for a goddess.
Also, we say curry chicken, not curried chicken.
There was actually no reason for the story to even be set in the UK... It could have stayed in the States without impacting the story at all (besides to make it more accurate and seem less like Black British people and Jamaicans aren't worth being correctly represented).
The ending seemed odd to me as well. It was incels vs goddess and none of the issues were resolved. Even the one that was arguably 'resolved' didn't actually face or deal with the issue at all. It was just conveniently moved out of the way.
There seemed to be room left for a second book but I feel that this one would need to be rewritten, finished, and remarketed first and despite everything I've said, I'd give it a second chance it this work were done.
This was actually a good premise which, with some research and robust editing, could have been a great way to highlight some issues between (Black) men and women.
Unfortunately, I believe this book was published far too early. There was a typo on the back cover for a start, which can perhaps be forgivable, but in this case it was the first red flag.
Apart from the fact that the different narrative voices were both the same voice and the character motivations were ambiguous, with a nearly pointless moment of insta-love that added very little to the story, a bunch of telling, a wotless, flat antagonist (which really should have been the Fates because they were the ones who messed up and bounced), and a general lack of depth, there were major issues with setting and dialogue.
I'm a Londoner. One of Jamaican descent at that. Why am I mentioning this? Well, the MCs spend most of the story in London, UK, after flying from Ohio for the first time. There, they meet their Jamaican and Black-British family.
The patois was all incorrectly spelled and then the character who spoke it dropped it after a few pages (wagwan or whagwan would be understood, wagoan, not so much). It was a mystery why the Jamaican grandad didn't speak it (but probably a mercy). The other issue was that the London dialect/s typically used by Black British Londoners (MLE, or RP, or a mixture of both usually) were not present here. And for the record, there is not one British accent (there are over 40 dialects), and I'm pretty sure that there is no London accent that anyone would accuse of being 'melodious'.
The little information about London didn't seem to be correct either. The 'skinny houses (I'm guessing town houses) in central West London just didn't fit the description of what one would expect. Jamaicans living in central West London with black gnomes in the picket-fenced garden playing reggaeton instead of reggae... This would be uncommon, even for a goddess.
Also, we say curry chicken, not curried chicken.
There was actually no reason for the story to even be set in the UK... It could have stayed in the States without impacting the story at all (besides to make it more accurate and seem less like Black British people and Jamaicans aren't worth being correctly represented).
The ending seemed odd to me as well. It was incels vs goddess and none of the issues were resolved. Even the one that was arguably 'resolved' didn't actually face or deal with the issue at all. It was just conveniently moved out of the way.
There seemed to be room left for a second book but I feel that this one would need to be rewritten, finished, and remarketed first and despite everything I've said, I'd give it a second chance it this work were done.
March 26, 2020
It’s up to you: If you are ready to claim the superpowers you know have always been within you, Arden and Aurora—The Goddess Twins—are here to light your way! Yeah, that’s right, no matter where you are in your body or your mind. The story kicks off at a very wild party in…are you ready for this? The state of Ohio, but you won’t rest there for long. After you meet the guy of your dreams and get interrupted by your dear godfather, Leo, to learn that Selene, the opera-singer mother of the twins, desperately needs some help, next thing you know, you’ll be off to…London! That’s where you hook up with an extremely talented and varied host of guides: Lilo, Liberty, Kiara, and most of all Gran Gran—the supreme mentor. You see, Selene has fallen into the clutches of Ezekiel and his wounded and misguided sons who are all caught up in a dystopian gender and race kind of thing. Arden is entirely light-filled during the quest she shares with Aurora, who needs a hand getting lifted up. Even if you don’t have a twin of your own, maybe you sometimes feel pulled in different directions. Perhaps there are moments when you feel lost and alone. Not to worry! Arden and Aurora are your girls, entirely here for you! Don’t’ be scared if you experience some flashes of The Matrix subway scene; spaces in Sense8; channel a bit of Octavia Butler as well as Zadie Smith—maybe even Riot Baby, too! Gelato even makes a cameo appearance. Back in the day, there was a meme: I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! This reader says masterful debut author, Yodassa Williams, makes us scream for a long line of sequels!
June 2, 2020
The pacing is quick and engaging, and the character voices are distinctive. By the end of the book, I felt like I knew the personalities of the two protagonists. The ending hints at a possible sequel, and I would definitely follow the future adventures of the Goddess Twins.
July 12, 2020
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
For me, this is the case of a book that was not fleshed out enough or edited hard enough and was sent to publication too soon. It has a good premise and some good content for creating a solid magic system, but there were a lot of things that fell short.
Perhaps the biggest feeling on this one was that it felt like a YA novel shoved into a middle grade form. There wasn't enough nuance or subtlety to the writing, resulting in a plot that squeezed quite a bit into too few pages and didn't give enough to get me involved in the story. The writing did way too much telling instead of showing and a little additional description could have gone a long way. Similarly, there was a lot of info dumping rather than world-building that I think hurt how well this could have been put together. As a result, the characters felt flat and the pacing inconsistent. The bones are there, but the execution needed some nurturing.
Character development was a problem because it was lacking. What was present really just made me dislike the majority of the characters. Arden was the only one who really had any characteristics making her likable, but I didn't feel like I got to know her well enough to feel invested in any way. Because I didn't really care about the characters, I had a hard time caring about the story.
When it came to the story itself, I return the idea that this felt like a middle grade read in some ways. Dialogue was immature (sometimes in keeping with the characters, but sometimes just awkward) and inconsistent. One character's accented speech seemed to come and go with no explanation. Everything in the plot was overly convenient and there were little to no consequences for bad actions or choices. Even when characters did something stupid there seemed to be a silver lining so things worked out exactly how they wanted them too.
Given the potential for the storyline and an interesting world/series, I was very disappointed in this read.
For me, this is the case of a book that was not fleshed out enough or edited hard enough and was sent to publication too soon. It has a good premise and some good content for creating a solid magic system, but there were a lot of things that fell short.
Perhaps the biggest feeling on this one was that it felt like a YA novel shoved into a middle grade form. There wasn't enough nuance or subtlety to the writing, resulting in a plot that squeezed quite a bit into too few pages and didn't give enough to get me involved in the story. The writing did way too much telling instead of showing and a little additional description could have gone a long way. Similarly, there was a lot of info dumping rather than world-building that I think hurt how well this could have been put together. As a result, the characters felt flat and the pacing inconsistent. The bones are there, but the execution needed some nurturing.
Character development was a problem because it was lacking. What was present really just made me dislike the majority of the characters. Arden was the only one who really had any characteristics making her likable, but I didn't feel like I got to know her well enough to feel invested in any way. Because I didn't really care about the characters, I had a hard time caring about the story.
When it came to the story itself, I return the idea that this felt like a middle grade read in some ways. Dialogue was immature (sometimes in keeping with the characters, but sometimes just awkward) and inconsistent. One character's accented speech seemed to come and go with no explanation. Everything in the plot was overly convenient and there were little to no consequences for bad actions or choices. Even when characters did something stupid there seemed to be a silver lining so things worked out exactly how they wanted them too.
Given the potential for the storyline and an interesting world/series, I was very disappointed in this read.
April 9, 2020
Please note: I received a digital ARC of this book (via NetGalley) from its publisher in exchange for an honest and fair review.
The Goddess Twins by Yodassa Williams is an original inventive story about twin sisters Arden and Aurora who suddenly develop supernatural powers before their 18th birthday. The sisters not only have to navigate teenage drama and family issues, but now they must learn the secrets of their family history while trying to harness their powers in order to save their mother from impending doom.
At its heart, The Goddess Twins is a coming of age story. We follow not only Aurora and Arden but a diverse group of female characters on their journey to uncover their history and heal their family bonds. I really enjoyed Arden's character, but I never warmed up to Aurora. Her lashing out antics were just too much for me to look past to get to like her. I've had sibling fights, but never have I ever had one spit on me. A lot of the events in the book happen super fast and seem to come out of nowhere. Although, I wish there was more fleshed out transitions to introduce characters or new scenarios, its not enough to take away from the overall story and action.
Yodassa Williams has created a unique and creative Goddess power structure that makes me want to learn more about this world. If you are a fan of fast moving YA fantasy, then this book is for you! Published by Spark Press, this gem set to release on May 19th, and is available for pre-order from all major booksellers. I give The Goddess Twins 3 out of 5 gems. Happy Reading!
The Goddess Twins by Yodassa Williams is an original inventive story about twin sisters Arden and Aurora who suddenly develop supernatural powers before their 18th birthday. The sisters not only have to navigate teenage drama and family issues, but now they must learn the secrets of their family history while trying to harness their powers in order to save their mother from impending doom.
At its heart, The Goddess Twins is a coming of age story. We follow not only Aurora and Arden but a diverse group of female characters on their journey to uncover their history and heal their family bonds. I really enjoyed Arden's character, but I never warmed up to Aurora. Her lashing out antics were just too much for me to look past to get to like her. I've had sibling fights, but never have I ever had one spit on me. A lot of the events in the book happen super fast and seem to come out of nowhere. Although, I wish there was more fleshed out transitions to introduce characters or new scenarios, its not enough to take away from the overall story and action.
Yodassa Williams has created a unique and creative Goddess power structure that makes me want to learn more about this world. If you are a fan of fast moving YA fantasy, then this book is for you! Published by Spark Press, this gem set to release on May 19th, and is available for pre-order from all major booksellers. I give The Goddess Twins 3 out of 5 gems. Happy Reading!
April 26, 2020
I couldn't put this book down! The Goddess Twins kept me riveted with its vivid characterizations and dramatic adventures. The relationship between two very different sisters is fraught with tension, love, and discovery, as their adventure takes them deep into their family's incredible gifts–and darkness. The theme of sexism, while over the top in this creative good vs. evil fantasy, rings true in its social, familial & (age-apropriate) erotic complexity, and creates a perfect storm for the feminine forces to unite and make right. This book will be exceptionally beloved by black girls, who will find their culture represented in a positive and powerful light, with wrap-around detail and much food for thought; but those of all races will also feel welcome and at home in its midwest grounding and global sensibilities. A brilliant debut for a promising new author, just as fresh and fun as can be!
May 4, 2020
I got an early copy of this book and it was a really fun dive into a story about sibling rivalry, growing up, and of course, having superpowers. Though I don't have siblings, the relationship between Aurora and Arden had a lot of depth and felt VERY real and grounded. To read through the story from both their points of view and experience not just the story unfolding, but their relationship with each other as siblings evolve, was a joy. Sci fi/Fantasy can often have exciting stories with incredibly bland characters, but The Goddess Twins is a dual threat. This novel contains real bonafide Black Girl Magic. How can you say no?
May 7, 2020
Thanks to Sparkpress for providing me with a digital arc of this book via Netgalley! The Goddess Twins is scheduled to go on sale on may 19th.
It is so hard to capture teenage voices especially now where trends and slag can travel continents in seconds. I simply adored the plot of the goddess twins for it's unique combination or lore, racial tensions, family dynamics, and magic system, but as an 18 year old myself, I found it incredible hard to view old protagonists Arden and Aurora as actual people.
First off, serious props to Yodassa Williams for being able to make both character's inner voices so distinctive. I could flip to a random page if I wanted and I'd instantly be able to know which twin was speaking. That being said, the twins felt like archetypes.
Arden felt like the primary protagonist, starting and ending the story. She's nerdy, naive, and loving, but often her naivety made her read closer to 12 than 18. We're given plenty of explanation as to why Aurora is so mad and untrusting, but never are we shown why Arden is so gullible and quick to trust and given their shared childhood, I don't buy it. I've read a lot of reviewers who say they didn't like the book because Aurora felt too angry and bratty, but I preferred her as a character. She felt more justified in her emotions and I really liked all the nuanced ways her personality was shown. Arden wears her hair natural and curly whereas Aurora straightens hers. Aurora's speech and voice are both filled with slang too which I thought was a really cool distinction between the two because it'd make sense for Aurora to mimic more than Arden because of her want to be accepted, but she also felt disjointed. Slang instantly gives a time frame for your story and I kept getting lost trying to figure out when this took place because while Aurora refers to "tea" in a modern way that would make me think she'd have turned 18 right now or a year or 2 ago (making her the same age and generation as me), she then instantly uses "what's your damage" which went through a brief resurgence in popularity in the early 2000s when the characters would have been toddlers but you definitely wouldn't hear a teen say now. I'm not saying you can't use old-timey sayings because I use a few, but that comes from consuming old art and having it rub off on me which makes the phrase feel like it should belong to Arden more than Aurora. I found a lot of the characterization was like that. It'd get close to something interesting and personable, but then would oversimplify until you're left with cutouts of people instead of characters.
This book also doesn't trust you to keep up. Again, loved the story, but through a prologue and multiple exposition dumps, I feel like I relived the family backstory at least 4 times. I'd suggest reading without the prologue because in my opinion, it hinders the story.
Overall, The Goddess Twins is a really good idea and genuinely interested me, it just felt a little too hollow in ways I can't quite explain. Not all books have to have ultra-realistic characters but when you're writing something that focuses so heavily on relationships, it certainly doesn't hurt if your characters make sense.
It is so hard to capture teenage voices especially now where trends and slag can travel continents in seconds. I simply adored the plot of the goddess twins for it's unique combination or lore, racial tensions, family dynamics, and magic system, but as an 18 year old myself, I found it incredible hard to view old protagonists Arden and Aurora as actual people.
First off, serious props to Yodassa Williams for being able to make both character's inner voices so distinctive. I could flip to a random page if I wanted and I'd instantly be able to know which twin was speaking. That being said, the twins felt like archetypes.
Arden felt like the primary protagonist, starting and ending the story. She's nerdy, naive, and loving, but often her naivety made her read closer to 12 than 18. We're given plenty of explanation as to why Aurora is so mad and untrusting, but never are we shown why Arden is so gullible and quick to trust and given their shared childhood, I don't buy it. I've read a lot of reviewers who say they didn't like the book because Aurora felt too angry and bratty, but I preferred her as a character. She felt more justified in her emotions and I really liked all the nuanced ways her personality was shown. Arden wears her hair natural and curly whereas Aurora straightens hers. Aurora's speech and voice are both filled with slang too which I thought was a really cool distinction between the two because it'd make sense for Aurora to mimic more than Arden because of her want to be accepted, but she also felt disjointed. Slang instantly gives a time frame for your story and I kept getting lost trying to figure out when this took place because while Aurora refers to "tea" in a modern way that would make me think she'd have turned 18 right now or a year or 2 ago (making her the same age and generation as me), she then instantly uses "what's your damage" which went through a brief resurgence in popularity in the early 2000s when the characters would have been toddlers but you definitely wouldn't hear a teen say now. I'm not saying you can't use old-timey sayings because I use a few, but that comes from consuming old art and having it rub off on me which makes the phrase feel like it should belong to Arden more than Aurora. I found a lot of the characterization was like that. It'd get close to something interesting and personable, but then would oversimplify until you're left with cutouts of people instead of characters.
This book also doesn't trust you to keep up. Again, loved the story, but through a prologue and multiple exposition dumps, I feel like I relived the family backstory at least 4 times. I'd suggest reading without the prologue because in my opinion, it hinders the story.
Overall, The Goddess Twins is a really good idea and genuinely interested me, it just felt a little too hollow in ways I can't quite explain. Not all books have to have ultra-realistic characters but when you're writing something that focuses so heavily on relationships, it certainly doesn't hurt if your characters make sense.
May 10, 2020
The Goddess Twins by Yodassa Williams - 3.5 stars / 5
As a ‘Fantasy virgin’ I was intrigued to read The Goddess Twins, to delve into a world of magic and mystery. The book was written in a way that really formulates individual images of each character within your mind’s eye. The writing resonated really well with each of the twin’s voices. William’s really allowed us to see both girls, giving voice to Arden’s loveable, down-to-earth and shy nature whilst still allowing Aurora’s fiery, trouble personality to shine through in the same paragraph (This back and forth perspective between the characte’rs different personality different holds the tension within the book for me). From the very start of the book I found myself able to resonate with each twin which ALWAYS makes me want to carry on reading a book.
The YA genre can sometimes sounds a little childish to me but throughout William’s debut novel I liked a lot of the strong underlying messaged threaded throughout. One quote that stood out to me was “I date them to find out about me.” Aurora says this at the start of the novel when she is describing her sociable personality and what she likes about dating.
I think this is a really important message that needs to be discussed more with the young people around us, to let them know that as much as relationships (whether they be platonic or romantic) are as much about the enjoyment they get (or don’t get) from them as it is about how they make the other(s) feel within said relationships.
Also, I loved the quote “My cousin deserves a king- or a queen if you like.” Stated by one of the cousins to Arden – Many written have/are writing about and with the LGBTQ community in mind and I simply like how this quote from the novel simply says “no prejudice.”
The timeline ran smoothly for me and I found interest in William’s add snippets of knowledge/information here and there, this kept me wanting to read on. Although the middle section of the novel I found became a little stale. (Why) But I carried on and found myself emotionally drawn back into the story when Arden and her cousins save the day!
I did also like how the novel is set within a fantasy world that showcases the mystery of the families magical superpowers whilst still allowing the places in which the story is set to really resonate with the ready. Because let’s face it, we can all conjure up an image of London or Cincinnati in our minds eye. This element of fantasy Vs realism really interests me.
As a ‘Fantasy virgin’ I was intrigued to read The Goddess Twins, to delve into a world of magic and mystery. The book was written in a way that really formulates individual images of each character within your mind’s eye. The writing resonated really well with each of the twin’s voices. William’s really allowed us to see both girls, giving voice to Arden’s loveable, down-to-earth and shy nature whilst still allowing Aurora’s fiery, trouble personality to shine through in the same paragraph (This back and forth perspective between the characte’rs different personality different holds the tension within the book for me). From the very start of the book I found myself able to resonate with each twin which ALWAYS makes me want to carry on reading a book.
The YA genre can sometimes sounds a little childish to me but throughout William’s debut novel I liked a lot of the strong underlying messaged threaded throughout. One quote that stood out to me was “I date them to find out about me.” Aurora says this at the start of the novel when she is describing her sociable personality and what she likes about dating.
I think this is a really important message that needs to be discussed more with the young people around us, to let them know that as much as relationships (whether they be platonic or romantic) are as much about the enjoyment they get (or don’t get) from them as it is about how they make the other(s) feel within said relationships.
Also, I loved the quote “My cousin deserves a king- or a queen if you like.” Stated by one of the cousins to Arden – Many written have/are writing about and with the LGBTQ community in mind and I simply like how this quote from the novel simply says “no prejudice.”
The timeline ran smoothly for me and I found interest in William’s add snippets of knowledge/information here and there, this kept me wanting to read on. Although the middle section of the novel I found became a little stale. (Why) But I carried on and found myself emotionally drawn back into the story when Arden and her cousins save the day!
I did also like how the novel is set within a fantasy world that showcases the mystery of the families magical superpowers whilst still allowing the places in which the story is set to really resonate with the ready. Because let’s face it, we can all conjure up an image of London or Cincinnati in our minds eye. This element of fantasy Vs realism really interests me.
May 15, 2020
The Goddess Twins, Yodassa Williams' debut novel, tells the story of a deity family that struggles for power.
The novel starts with two twin daughters, Aurora and Arden on the eve of their eighteenth birthday. Their mother, a famous musician, leaves for London when an opera member and the understudy are both sick. Aurora, upset that her mother is leaving them before a prominent birthday, decides to throw a party that night. Arden, the unpopular sister is sequestered to her room on that night, and decides to work on her novel.
A boy ends up coming to her room, claiming that he had had dreams about her and simply had to meet her. This scene unfolds in her room, when Arden's godfather, Leo, rushes into her room frantic that their mother has disappeared when they touch down in London.
Chaos ensues, and the girls decide to fly to London to try and find their mother. There, they come in contact with two of their cousins, who they had no idea who existed. Even crazier, Aurora and Arden find out that they have goddess powers that their mother suppressed to try and give them a normal life. It is these powers that they need to use to combat their crazy grandfather who wants to kill the goddess women and use their powers for himself and his Brotherhood.
To be honest, I failed to make a connection with this novel. I enjoy some fantasy novels, but to me, the plot was too fast-paced, and had some loose ends that with the progression of the novel, just didn't come together for me. The ending seems like the author plans on writing a sequel, so I would certainly read the novel to see if those loose ends actually get tied up, but overall, most fantasy novels that I have read usually have more character and plot driven depth.
The novel starts with two twin daughters, Aurora and Arden on the eve of their eighteenth birthday. Their mother, a famous musician, leaves for London when an opera member and the understudy are both sick. Aurora, upset that her mother is leaving them before a prominent birthday, decides to throw a party that night. Arden, the unpopular sister is sequestered to her room on that night, and decides to work on her novel.
A boy ends up coming to her room, claiming that he had had dreams about her and simply had to meet her. This scene unfolds in her room, when Arden's godfather, Leo, rushes into her room frantic that their mother has disappeared when they touch down in London.
Chaos ensues, and the girls decide to fly to London to try and find their mother. There, they come in contact with two of their cousins, who they had no idea who existed. Even crazier, Aurora and Arden find out that they have goddess powers that their mother suppressed to try and give them a normal life. It is these powers that they need to use to combat their crazy grandfather who wants to kill the goddess women and use their powers for himself and his Brotherhood.
To be honest, I failed to make a connection with this novel. I enjoy some fantasy novels, but to me, the plot was too fast-paced, and had some loose ends that with the progression of the novel, just didn't come together for me. The ending seems like the author plans on writing a sequel, so I would certainly read the novel to see if those loose ends actually get tied up, but overall, most fantasy novels that I have read usually have more character and plot driven depth.
May 25, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book follows twins Arden and Aurora on their quest to find their mother. As the journey begins they find out quite a few things about their mother, each other, and themselves.
Will these new discoveries be too much for them to handle or will they get past it all and get their happy ending.
The premise of this book was amazing. Twins finding out they are goddesses and their mom wasn’t truthful with them, girl meets boy and have an instant connection out of the blue, sisters finding family they never knew existed but immediately want slay together. I was down for it.
However, I find myself torn between not wanting to finish it and finishing. Let me explain, the idea of this book is so good it kept me hoping that the book got better in the end. I so wanted to like and enjoy the book and I did on some parts. I like the cousins, I like the fact that power is handed down through generations and generations of goddesses from this family. I like that family has to come together and use their collective powers to succeed.
What I didn’t like about this book is that it felt rushed. The story itself didn’t have enough time to develop. It was jarring for main characters progressing so fully without any real fleshed out story. There’s fast pace but it works for a story that is allowed the space to develop. I think this fell short here in that aspect.
All in all this was a very confusing read for me because it left me wanting more but not enough to risk it.
3/5 for the fact that I feel like the second one if there ever was to be a second one could be good.
The book follows twins Arden and Aurora on their quest to find their mother. As the journey begins they find out quite a few things about their mother, each other, and themselves.
Will these new discoveries be too much for them to handle or will they get past it all and get their happy ending.
The premise of this book was amazing. Twins finding out they are goddesses and their mom wasn’t truthful with them, girl meets boy and have an instant connection out of the blue, sisters finding family they never knew existed but immediately want slay together. I was down for it.
However, I find myself torn between not wanting to finish it and finishing. Let me explain, the idea of this book is so good it kept me hoping that the book got better in the end. I so wanted to like and enjoy the book and I did on some parts. I like the cousins, I like the fact that power is handed down through generations and generations of goddesses from this family. I like that family has to come together and use their collective powers to succeed.
What I didn’t like about this book is that it felt rushed. The story itself didn’t have enough time to develop. It was jarring for main characters progressing so fully without any real fleshed out story. There’s fast pace but it works for a story that is allowed the space to develop. I think this fell short here in that aspect.
All in all this was a very confusing read for me because it left me wanting more but not enough to risk it.
3/5 for the fact that I feel like the second one if there ever was to be a second one could be good.
May 12, 2020
What I liked
1. Intense focus on family
- the story follows two sisters with magical powers but the real conflict rests with how family ties have been challenged over time by both magical and mundane problems.
2. The characters have real flaws that lead to real consequences.
- Their mother is flighty and has a tendency to try to hide her problems from her daughters
- one of the twins has anger and abandonment issues while the other is loving to a fault unwilling to push her sister to do what is best for everyone.
- the family at large is manipulative and tends to let their power go to their head.
3. Even with real flaws the hero’s are very easy to relate to and hope they’ll win.
4. The motivations of the main villain for this book make sense and while they were triggered by magical things said motivations are rooted in real world issues.
5. Wrap up and falling action is done well while leaving room and a decent teaser for a potential sequel down the road.
What I didn’t Like
1. We don’t get to see much of the main character’s sisterly bond as they are at odds and stepping all over each others emotions from pretty much page one.
2. First person perspective when we have alternating points of view. ( this is massively a personal thing and many may enjoy getting to experience the distinct voices of the two sisters)
3. Some elements of the ending felt like a very easy answer for a very messy question.
Who Would I Recommend This Book For?
This book is a good fit for those looking for a family focused coming of age story with a magical twist.
1. Intense focus on family
- the story follows two sisters with magical powers but the real conflict rests with how family ties have been challenged over time by both magical and mundane problems.
2. The characters have real flaws that lead to real consequences.
- Their mother is flighty and has a tendency to try to hide her problems from her daughters
- one of the twins has anger and abandonment issues while the other is loving to a fault unwilling to push her sister to do what is best for everyone.
- the family at large is manipulative and tends to let their power go to their head.
3. Even with real flaws the hero’s are very easy to relate to and hope they’ll win.
4. The motivations of the main villain for this book make sense and while they were triggered by magical things said motivations are rooted in real world issues.
5. Wrap up and falling action is done well while leaving room and a decent teaser for a potential sequel down the road.
What I didn’t Like
1. We don’t get to see much of the main character’s sisterly bond as they are at odds and stepping all over each others emotions from pretty much page one.
2. First person perspective when we have alternating points of view. ( this is massively a personal thing and many may enjoy getting to experience the distinct voices of the two sisters)
3. Some elements of the ending felt like a very easy answer for a very messy question.
Who Would I Recommend This Book For?
This book is a good fit for those looking for a family focused coming of age story with a magical twist.
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