Nectar and Ambrosia (An Amaranthine Inheritance Novel) by E. M. Hamill
Gods and monsters
meeting for a drink in a Kansas City pub – how great is that as a premise?
Callie stumbles on the place, which apparently only those gifted with rare
abilities can see, and into a world of mythology come to life. Soon she’s
working as the new server, fending off lustful Pan, matching wits with Puck, managing
a lugubriously drunk Zeus, and using her Classics major knowledge to sort
everything out. There’s a love interest, the pub owner Florian, sentenced to
the confines of the place, and the slow burn attraction has the flavor of
romance without dominating the plot.
The book’s strengths
are the originality of its premise and plot twists, plus a likeable and capable
heroine. For me, these more than overcame its shortcomings and kept me reading.
I found it to be at times overwritten, burdened by repetition and belaboring things
that I had already figured out. The blend of action-driven plot with romance
sensibilities such as long, repeated descriptions of the physical reactions of Callie
and Florian to one another, without the centerpiece of their relationship, was
at times uneasy. On the whole, however, I found it a quick and enjoyable read.
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