The Immortal Crown by Richelle Mead
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I don't know why more people aren't reading the Age of X series. It's a bit more in depth than her VA series, but still a great read. This review is super long, but there is a lot of info that we'll need to remember when the third book comes out in a year or so.
After their one night of passion Justin realizes that Mae is the girl the God Odin said was destined for him. When Justin accepted the Gods help years before, he was told that when he took the woman with stars and flowers in her hair, he would then pledge himself to Odin. Justin was able to get away on a technicality because he didn't know who she was when he slept with her. He does know that doing it again will seal his fate. Mae doesn't understand his sudden change in attitude, but is clearly hurt by the excuses she is given.
Lucian wants the two of them to go with him on a goodwill trip into Arcadia. He thinks establishing a positive relationship with the neighboring country will guarantee his win in the election. Justin doesn't want to go, but he finally agrees after Mae pleads with him to accept. He doesn't know what her motives are, but knows she has one. Her illegitimate niece is there, and she finally has a solid lead on where at.
Their entire party is surprised at the way things are done in Arcadia, even though they were forewarned. They have the capabilities for everything RUNA has, but they don't take advantage of those where their women are concerned. The women are second class citizens, serving the men in the household, and doing all of the chores.
***Spoilers***
Mae does find her niece with the help of the Goddess Freya, who is an ally of Justin's God Odin. Justin learns while in Arcadia that their Grand Disciple (sort of like a pope) to their God Nehitimar has plans to get approval to send in missionaries to the RUNA. Once they're there they will destroy their power, and during the few days it's down preach to the masses to win people to their side. Justin also learns that some of the Arcadians aren't pleased with their God, and a he finds a few willing to help set up the terrorist in exchange for refugee status in RUNA. One of Carl's wives (Carl is the home that is hosting their party) is beaten severely while they're there. Mae uses this to her advantage by having her pretend to be Mae, so that Mae can slip away and rescue the girls in the Salon, including her niece. Women are more or less property, and the salons will raise them until they can be bought at age 13. The one her niece is at is made up mostly of stolen girls from the RUNA. She does get them all out, but they must make the journey on foot after they run out of gas. She makes a stop along the way to break into the Grand Disciples home and steals his staff, that turns to something else when she touches it. While the girls are all trekking through the woods of Arcadia, Justin is living in fear that they will be caught with Carl's wife, whom they now all think ran away. Since they are returning home with the same number of women as they left with, they are able to make it back across the border. Lucian does have to sweet talk one of the guards, since the Arcadian wife doesn't have a chip. Meanwhile Tessa is back in RUNA, and has hooked up with a journalist as an intern. What she doesn't know though, is the journalist, Daphne is using Tessa for her connection to Lucian. During their investigation, Daphne is hoping to find something that will incriminate Lucian as some kind of religious zealot. Tessa does get that proof, but once she realizes it will also incriminate Justin she destroys the recording before giving the recorder back, and tells Daphne she is done working with her. Justin and Mae are so relieved to see each other, but Justin tells her even though she is the only woman for him he can't be with her. She ends up crying at home that night when Justin shows up, admits he was wrong, and they do the deed. While in bed a few things start clicking that seem off to Mae. As soon as she realizes the guy in her bed is only pretending to be Justin, and not the real thing he takes off. She calls the real Justin and he insists she go to the hospital for a rape kit. They don't have a match in their system, even though every citizen in their country should be listed. At the end of the book we learn that the guy pretending to be Justin, also pretended to be Rufus Tessa's bodyguard, because he is really Mae's ex Porfirio Aldaya who is supposed to be dead. Porfirio is an elect like Mae, and Justin but he's working for Tezcatlipoca. Lucian is also an elect, but I don't think we were ever told the name of his God. Mae ends up leaving Justin to take a mission on the border, hoping to keep him from making the decision to sign on with Odin for her. What she doesn't realize is he is already bound to him. Odin never specified that he must claim her physically. When he said she was the only woman for him, he staked a claim therefore binding himself to Odin. She swears she is done with all of the Gods, and all of their business, because Freya didn't help her at all when the man pretending to be Justin tricked her. While she is gone, another God named Loki asks her to serve him only until they find out who tricked her, at that point she would be free to choose him on her own, or not. He said he would have protected her unlike Freya, and wouldn't have made her choose between her lover and God as Odin did with Justin. It seems she might accept, but doesn't say for sure when the book ends.
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