Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

I read the first book The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic in 2020 after a good friend recommended it to me. I was surprised how I had never really heard of this book before as I loved it. When I heard a second book was coming out, I was exited to see what Nora was up to.

This book does have slightly more romance than the last book (I didn't really think the first had much romance, unless we are talking SLOW BURN). The reader gets to see what happens after Nora leaves the magical world and has to navigate the non-magical world again. Then Nora gets the chance to go back through the portal, but will Aruendiel be excited to have her back? Nora meets another powerful female magician in this book, and a group of people who worship a goddess of healing.

I really enjoyed this book, and the pages went by so quickly.

I think I much prefer the first book, this second instalment felt a little too disconnected as it is just pretty much a collection of ramblings. Nora's character in this instalment seemed so aimless and had no clear goal/path in mind as she just gets swept from one problem to another and I was not sure what the main objective was. I think Emily Barker needs to sit down and rethink the overarching purpose of this sequel and conduct some refinement!

It took me a while to get into it. But once I did it made me as joyful as the first.

All the magic, intrigue, and page turning plot was all there. A successful sequel.

Unfortunately I did not realise that this was the second book in the series until after I read it..There were times when I was not able to follow what was going on with the characters or the changes they were going through. Although I did like it it think that I really needed to have read the first book. I may find a copy of the first and then reread this one and see if my rating changes
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy to review

I didn’t realise that this was the second in the series, but I do plan on reading the first now. This book can be read as a standalone I wasn’t lost at all. . The writing and world building are wonderful , it’s a long book but if you love fantasy then this is definitely a book for you

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I was so excited to read the second book in this series after waiting seven years since I read the first one, however, I found this one a bit disappointing compared to A Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic. It took me ages to finish and every time I put it down, I wasn't feeling drawn to pick the story back up. The pacing felt off compared to Barker's previous work, and I didn't really enjoy the relationships and character building the way I did in the first. It was nice to revisit this world and these characters, but it just didn't work as well for me as I'd hoped. I do think some readers will certainly enjoy this sequel far more than I did, however, and should certainly give it a try if they enjoyed Nora's adventures in the first novel!

This was a really great read. It is the second book from the author in this series and I read this one first and as I loved it so much I bought the first book as well.
I loved the new twist of a magical/modern adventure tale.
The characters had a real depth to them that made you want to read on to find out what happened and some characters had their own tales to tell.
I loved the imagery of the places and the people the descriptions made them feel real and visible
In my minds eye.
I have actually purchased the hardback copy

DNF @20%. I liked the first one but I just can't get into this one, the way the two protagonists treat each other is awful. I skimmed forward in the book and it just didn't seem like I would be able to recover interest.

My thanks to Netgalley for providing an eARC, my opinions are my own.

Brilliantly Written and Charmingly Magical!

This was a beautifully-written, addictive read. One of those rare books where even the character's ruminations on the most mundane things become captivating. I quickly knew I was in masterful/mistressful hands when I got to the twist to do with with a certain street gentleman. I read this without having read the first book in the series and did just fine, but liked it so much I've bought the first book for my sister (and will borrow it after!). I hope the series expands to a trilogy or even a spin-off with Ramona! (Is that a Beverly Cleary reference? She's certainly precocious enough!) Grad students: Be warned, this book may be triggering as Nora's struggles as a PhD student are all too accurate. (Mostly joking.)

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for review purposes.

Actual rating: 1.5 stars and DNF at 48%

I was so excited to read this book after absolutely loving the first installment when I read it back in 2013 or so. I've been waiting for this sequel for so long, and I'm sad to have to call it quits about halfway through the book. I'm just exceedingly disappointed and frustrated with this installment. The writing seems more simplistic and poorly written compared to what I remember of the first book. However, this is something I could overlook if not for other issues.

Nora, the main character, seems so much more dumb than before. She makes a lot of very poor, not well thought out decisions, and she keeps flip flopping on major beliefs and choices (sometimes within a handful of pages). I was so frustrated with her and couldn't sympathize with her at all. There's also a very cringe-worthy romance here. I actually seem to remember this being fine in the first book, but I really didn't like the situation that arises in this book. After a certain event, Nora's behavior abruptly changes, and while there's some explanation for this, I honestly hated reading this section.

There's also some slut-shaming and this sort of "women don't know their own minds" attitude exhibited by some of the male characters. Perhaps there's a confrontation of this attitude later on, but I didn't care to read it. There are also several rants against organized religion and while I'm not particularly religious myself, this was uncomfortable to read and I didn't particularly enjoy it.

Unfortunately, I really did not enjoy the first half of the book and didn't want to force myself to finish it. I do somewhat regret picking this up because it makes me question my memories of the first book.

My video review can be seen on my booktube channel (around minutes 1:03-4:05 of this video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXSdnsm-48Q

I was drawn to the book instantly by the beautiful cover. This is the second in the series, which I have not read but plan to correct. This book can be a standalone read but I feel a better understanding may enrich the experience. The author does an excellent job of world building and creating a magical existence you will enjoy visiting.

In my opinion it can be difficult for a second book in a series to have the impact of the debut book. "How to Talk to a Goddess and Other Lessons in Real Magic" breaks this standard in every way! Even if it was not already part of a series I do think this book could stand on its own. The characters are well written and the plot is engaging throughout the whole book. There was never of period of time where I felt like it was a chore to keep reading to finish the book. I genuinely kept reading because I enjoyed this book so much. Many times I lost track of time and realized hours later that I should probably go to bed. The size of the book can seem intimidating but it is so worth the read!

There was a lot of alluding to what happened in book 1. I get that it's been a while since the first book came out, but it was a little overboard. The characters don't seem to have all the pizzazz they had in book one. The plot moved more slowly than the first book. I wanted to LOVE this book, but it ended but being a 3 star read for me. I would definitely read another book in this series, but I would probably not revisit this one.

This book was very interesting - it really captured my attention with how easy it was to really immerse myself in in and to apply what I read into my daily life.

I found the blurb interesting and liked the world building but the story didn't keep my attention and fell flat.
I assume it would be better to read the first book in this series.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A much looked forward to sequel, How to Talk to a Goddess and Other Lessons in Real Magic does ill justice to the warm, deep characters Emily Croy Baker created in The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic.

The second book in a series, How to Talk to a Goddess and Other Lessons in Real Magic, kicks off where the first one left off. Nora has returned from the world of fae and magic and her life with Aruendiel to her mundane one. But the amount of pain she feels to see Aruendiel again keeps her from reentering a scholar’s lifestyle. Instead, Nora must return to her life of learning magic and the possibility of a life with a man who makes her heart sing more than any other has.

She manages the spellwork to walk between one world and another by half, and it is Aruendiel, who was on a mission and dealing with his own heartbrokenness, who manages to help her out. No sooner have the two reunited than their emotions spill out of them, and they are carried away in the moment of passion. It feels overly impassioned and rushed a moment.

Barker uses the culmination of Nora and Aruendiel’s relationship to create a conflict that separates our characters. But, unfortunately, it comes off as lacking, weak even, as an excuse for these two to part from each other. Most especially since the novel starts with both of them missing one another and wanting nothing but to see each other again.

The rapid-fire, trigger-happy execution to get into the meat of the story (talking to a goddess) derails from the elegance and depth of the characters Barker so wonderfully crafted in The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic.

When the meat of the story, talking to a goddess, comes along, the overly dramatic drudgery of Nora and Aruendiel's hot and cold feelings for one another clouds the novel. They act very childishly, which is all the less believable from Aruendiel, who is meant to be many hundreds of years old and entered many relationships in that lifespan.

Overall, How to Talk to a Goddess and Other Lessons in Real Magic is disappointing, even as the magic system is still wondrous and fun.

I’ve read a number of books where protagonists have returned to their everyday, mundane existence after spending time in a dangerous, yet vibrant magical world. This one absolutely nails the mingled sense of relief at being relatively safe again – and the yearning sense of longing for the magic… the love… the excitement of what’s been lost. It’s nicely handled, as Nora could so easily have come across as a discontented whiner, but I found myself bonding with her plight and immediately rooting for her. And as once again, I’ve crashed into this series without reading the first book, this was my first introduction to the main protagonist.

Subsequent events plunge Nora into a situation where those yearnings are once more met – and again, I liked the fact that she finds the change a challenging one. Aruendiel, her powerful mentor, is generally grumpy, aloof and somewhat arrogant – basically your typical entitled sorcerer. And what takes place during their initial meeting had my jaw dropping. This clearly isn’t the romantic, enjoyable interaction Nora had been hoping for… And that is about as much as I can say about the plot without lurching into Spoiler territory.

I really enjoyed the depth of the characterisation and the fact that Barker is a fan of the ‘show, don’t tell’ school of writing, especially where the main characters are concerned. The setting, particularly at the Temple, completely convinced me and I enjoyed the exploration of the nature of faith and at what stage steady devotion becomes poisonous fanaticism. Though I don’t want you going away with the impression that there are pages of exposition describing such issues – Barker is far too smart at writing an enjoyable adventure story to commit such a crime. All in all, this is an engaging and pleasingly different fantasy story, still firmly set within many of the tropes of the epic fantasy tale. I’m guessing I would have enjoyed it even more if I’d read the first book, The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic – and Himself, being the solidly marvellous husband that he is, has now bought this one as a gift for me. I’ll be shortly tucking into it – for I’m missing Barker’s world. Highly recommended for fantasy fans. While I obtained an arc of How To Talk to a Goddess and Other Lessons in Real Magic from Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10

Stop Right where you are!! Go grab the first book—The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic. Read that.
Not because How to Talk to a Goddess does not stand up well on its own—it does. The author does a fantastic job of keeping it real in this one—I never felt lost or confused because I hadn’t read the first book in the pair. It’s just that there are references to the first book that titillate and tantalize and all the way through this one I was wishing I’d read the first one and I want to spare you that pain.

I don’t give very many 5-star reviews. I feel like a 4 is a really good book—one that I would recommend, give as a gift—one that I am happy I read. When I give a 4-star review, I am saying that I never—or at least very seldom—felt like I was wasting my time. I didn’t long to toss it in the fire or dissolve it with acid and I would probably check out anything else by that author.

A 5-star book, on the other hand, is something else.

How to Talk to a Goddess is a fantasy grounded, like the main character Nora, in the humdrum world of reality. And I can’t say a whole lot about plot until you’ve read the first one. Let’s just say the action will keep your attention and the romance is entertainingly non-standard. I’m a fantasy nut, but very few fantasies carry me into their world as well as this one did.

What Worked in this Book
Everything. Characters are clear and well-drawn. Plot is compelling. Descriptions are awesome. Writing is poetic at times, precise and practical at other times. The story twists like a giant snake and deals with universal issues like life and death and life again—and what’s real and what’s fantasy—and what is Divine and where can you locate it.

What Didn’t Work
Nothing. For me, this is as close to a perfect book as you need to get to get a 5 out of me. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I stayed up late on work nights to read it. I was sad when it was over but then I remembered I hadn’t read The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic so I bought that and was happy again. I’ll remember the characters and story because bits of them are now woven into my soul.

This book was such an interesting read. It is hard these days to create new and imaginative magic systems. I found the magical world in the North Carolina mountains to be intriguing. The characters are well-developed and are easy to empathize with.

⭐⭐

I just couldn't get into this one. I kept putting it down in favor of other books. I haven't read the first book, so maybe that was the issue, and that is on me, not the book.

**ARC Via NetGalley**