Nobody's Goddess

May 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up-When the first goddess cast her spell a 1,000 years ago, she decreed that all men must wear masks until each finds his one true love-his goddess. Noll lives in a small village where men are at the mercy of their women. Meanwhile, she and Jurij play as childhood friends until Jurij recognizes his goddess in Noll's sister, Elfriede. Noll is devastated. With no other eligible candidates in her village, the teen sets out on a pilgramage to find answers. On this quest, Noll encounters a magic sword, which allows her to travel between the past and present to find the answers she desperately needs about the first goddess; the spell, which man was meant for her; and how to save Jurij. McNulty has created a setting which seems both familiar and foreign. There are many terrestrial qualities to this 16th-century village, such as mountains, meadows, forests, and lakes. But there are also hints of magic throughout. Slightly underdeveloped world-building makes it difficult to keep track of all the rules. As the plot develops, the heroine encounters the lord of the castle. The story line then follows the pattern of many "Beauty and the Beast" adaptations. The lord takes Noll to his castle where she is imprisoned, and they only have each other for company. The character development flounders a bit as McNulty sets the scene. Despite its slow beginning and choppy pace, the story is fun and engaging, featuring a female protagonist who will resonate with young teens. VERDICT Recommended as an additional purchase.-Jeni Tahaney, Duncanville High School Library, TX

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 16, 2017
McNulty’s opening entry in the Never Veil series is a complex exploration of gender roles, romance, and stereotypes in a village where women are revered. Readers first meet Noll as a 12-year-old tomboy, angry that her male childhood friends are finding their “goddesses,” their true loves. Each goddess is destined to be loved by only one man, and males must remain masked from birth until his goddess “Returns” his love after she turns 17. To be seen without his mask by a woman who isn’t a blood relation means instant death. Noll chafes against these rules and despairs when her lifelong friend Jurij, whom she loves, finds his goddess in Noll’s sister. Just before Noll’s 17th birthday, the lord of the village finds his goddess in her, a situation neither party appreciates. The next months are a whirlwind of time-bending adventures that immerse readers in a maelstrom of plot twists and allusions to “Beauty and the Beast” and other fairy tale love stories, while Noll’s understanding of gender-based social and cultural dynamics develops. Books two and three are also available. Ages 14–up.