Book Review
Title: Geneva Sommers and the Secret Legend
Author: C. J. Benjamin
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Rating: ****
Review: After the dramatic ending of Quest for Truth I couldn’t wait to jump into Secret Legend. The opening 50 pages to Secret Legend were amazing. Tippy has learned of her true identity as Geneva Sommers and she has gained a sibling in Jemma but the whole revelation of being the Eva, the chosen is too overwhelming for Geneva which leads to her getting into some harmful situation both physically and emotionally.
With her friends by her side, she manages to start her journey of acceptance, but she is also faced with a love triangle between herself, Nova and Remi, but she has always seen Remi as a friend and nothing more, but it still puts more pressure on her. We the readers also see that this group aren’t the only ones who know the Eva has been found and there are others looking for the Eva to use her powers as their own. It was nice for Geneva to meet her mother briefly and be shown what kind of world is possible if she uses her gifts for good, but I have a feeling their struggles have only just begun.
After her accident, Geneva wakes up in the Beto encampment where they have been living for the past week while she was recovering. In addition to Eja she meets the young and excitable Jovi and her pet wex Quin who Niv dislikes. For the first time in her life Geneva feels loved and part of a community she always dreamed off, but things aren’t all good. It seems that while Remi is in love with Geneva, Jemma also likes Nova causing jealousy to spread among the group although for now, it is hidden I have a feeling it will cause problems later on especially since Jemma and Geneva have such a complicated relationship right now. We also learn of the Ravinori which are a group that held fast to Ravin’s beliefs and are seeking the Eva to return their master to his former glory and spread darkness over Lux. It seems like a game of cat and mouse as Geneva has the Book of Secrets but the Ravinori have the Book of the Gods and the power to locate the Eva every time she uses the Book of Secrets.
Geneva learns from Chief Jaka that the Book of Secrets will only teach and guide her, but she needs to trust her instincts and they will guide her well. Geneva is sure that she needs to return to the Troian Center, but the issue here is that the Ravinori’s Book of the Gods can tell them what the Eva is going to do before she does it whether this will lead them right or wrong is yet to be seen because Geneva is very unpredictable, but they are being tracked and I have a feeling that the two groups will interact at some point. It is also interesting to see the Beto support the Eva, yet her friends question her decisions and she can’t give a reason for needing to go back she just knows she has to.
As the group learns more about their history and the path, they must take together we see the bonds they have to strengthen especially between Jemma and Geneva. However, Vida, a Beto healer, tells Geneva that she may have to choose between her people and her heart as she can’t protect both, but every time she sees Jemma with Nova, she is unbelievably jealous even though she knows his feelings for her are real. It all boils down to the lesson that there is no love without sacrifice and that can be seen echoed throughout this novel and the previous one. As they get ready for the Eva ceremony, Geneva’s powers are growing and the Ravinori knows it too, but she is caught up in all the drama right now. However, Geneva is torn between her duty and her heart.
As Geneva gets to grips with her role as the Eva, she learns that Jemma is there to ground her powers which is why she doesn’t have any major powers of her own, Jaka also tells her that when they use their powers the Ravinori can track them so only to use them when it is absolutely necessary. The relationship between the group is also strained because of the relationships developing. Jemma wants Nova but was willing to give him up to her sister but after she finds out that Geneva kissed Remi, she isn’t willing to do that, and I think she may even be working to damage the relationship between Nova and Geneva which could have disastrous consequences.
As the relationship between the group begins to fracture, Geneva is hit with the news that she is the Bridge of the Gods meaning that she connects the living to the dead which is how she is able to see and interact with her mother; Nesia. However, as Geneva pulls away from Nova, Jemma is getting closer to him driving a wedge between the sisters, which is easy given their history but given the fact that Jemma is supposed to be a vessel for Geneva’s powers it means that Geneva is containing more power than she should, and it overwhelms her at times. When her power does overwhelm her though it seems to block the Ravinori from tracking her which is a bonus.
Geneva learns from the Beto of the legend that surrounds her powers and that she is the catalyst that will either shape a new history or cause history to repeat itself and because of this Nova draws away from her which causes her powers to go haywire forcing her to share them with Jemma despite the fact that she doesn’t trust her sister. However, it is from the Ravinori that we learn that Geneva has already found one of the four elemental Pillars which are earth, wind, water, and fire. As she has found the fire pillar and Nova’s power is fire based, I believe it is him and that the other pillars are also people meaning their plot to draw out the pillars powers and use Geneva to bind them makes more sense. Despite this, they also know that she has a sister and Jemma being the person she is might easily lead them into danger if she is getting something from it.
As they prepare for their journey back to the Center, the Ravinori have sent their hunters in to locate the Eva and the Pillars and Jemma, Jovi, Sparrow, and Geneva come very close to being caught but it is only with the help of an unlikely friend that they make it back to camp and to safety. This is also a beautiful scene because we see Nova admit he loves Geneva and he is willing to go to hell and back to keep her safe, but it seems like time is running out before the Ravinori finally locate them and it is now about whether they can find the Pillars other than Nova and get them to safety before they do. As the group plan to head back to the Troian Center at dawn the next day Vida’s warnings are weighing on Geneva more than ever right now, but we also see the Ravinori as planning to exploit her fears in order to make Geneva easier to bend to their will and make her walk straight into her hands. I also get the feeling that Geneva isn’t going to make it through this mission without losing someone and I have the feeling that it will be Jovi, Sparrow or Remi because they are the weakest out of the group.
Despite their extensive planning and training, the Ravinori have found a way to track the Eva so their diversions don’t work which leads to a death that Geneva blames herself for. After this, she knows they have to strike out on their own but without the protection and wisdom of the Beto people it will leave them vulnerable and they will most likely fall into the Ravinori’s hand which doesn’t bode well for them. As we cross into the final section of the novel, they are getting closer to their destination, but Nova seems to think that the Ravinori will be waiting for them and that all should be prepared for that situation.
The ending of Geneva Sommers and the Secret Legend was interesting and really played on some plot points that have been touched upon throughout the novel, so I intrigued by where the ending was left, and I have to continue with the series to get some answers to the mass of questions I have right now. I would highly recommend this series if you are into fantasy and magical realism.
Buy it here:
Paperback/Hardcover: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
I received this review copy from Booksprout.
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