The emotions that Eiren displays in who she really is and that of the goddess that dwells in her is powerful. Kuhlmann does a good in describing the struggle Eiren goes through. Though her constant thoughts of Gannet was a bit annoying and whinny.

Story-telling: 5 Stars
Story: 3 stars

Jillian Kuhlmann continues to spin her seductive, mythical story about gods and men.

The novel takes almost right off where it ended in Book 1 - The Hidden Icon: Book of Icons - Volume One. Eiren -the incarnation of Theba, the goddess of destruction- continues her journey, which is getting even more perilous than she had imagined, to discover and come to terms with who and what she is; the origins/history/legend/myths of herself and her people.

I pretty much have the same issues, positive and negative, with this installment as with Book #1.

There is the lyrical, beautiful writing creating this powerful atmosphere that is very alluring. And then there is the story that stays a bit muddled and not too convincing, for me at least. I was still non-plussed by some of the explanations offered as the story drew to its conclusions.
But the author still managed to keep me in her thrall, so I decided that I should not go after logic when dealing with myths. :)

"I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding"

The most common of YA cliches. Present in almost every YA book I read. But that's where similarities end, cause this is not like every YA book you've read. It's intense, well developed, and well written. It keeps you on your toes, and it entangles you in its plot to the extent that you can't or don't want to put the book down. It's always growing, always changing, always becoming something better than it was moment ago. A masterpiece at its finest. And a story that's worth being told and read.

But you don't have to trust me on it. Pick it up and find out for yourself