Synopsis
In this sweeping epic fantasy comes a story of magic, betrayal, love, and loyalty, where two sisters will clash on opposite sides of a war against the gods.
A divine war shattered the world leaving humanity in ruins. Desperate for hope, they struck a deal with the devious god Kluehnn: He would restore the world to its former glory, but at a price so steep it would keep the mortals indebted to him for eternity. And as each land was transformed, so too were its people changed into strange new forms – if they survived at all.
Hakara is not willing to pay such a price. Desperate to protect herself and her sister, Rasha, she flees her homeland for the safety of a neighboring kingdom. But when tragedy separates them, Hakara is forced to abandon her beloved sister to an unknown fate.
Alone and desperate for answers on the wrong side of the world, Hakara discovers she can channel the magic from the mysterious gems they are forced to mine for Kluehnn. With that discovery comes another: her sister is alive, and the rebels plotting to destroy the God Pact can help rescue her.
But only if Hakara goes to war against a god.
Review
The Gods Below is not for beginners. This is a deep, complex, devastatingly beautiful story for fantasy aficionados and lovers of the genre.
The story tracks five different characters across the pages of this multi-POV masterwork. Two of these characters are sisters torn apart by a magical barrier, and their chapters are told in first person. This gives them main-character-vibes, and as their individual struggles threaten to widen the gap between them, you can’t help feeling pulled in two different directions. There’s a tension it creates in your mind that’s kind of addictive.
The other three characters are presented in third person, but they aren’t lessened to the ranks of sub-plot fodder because of it. Each perspective feeds the world and plot in such a way that missing a single chapter would be like missing a limb. It really is a masterclass of how to write a multi-POV fantasy book.
If the heart is a fire, then some stories burn hot and fast, but it’s the slowest burn that goes the deepest. And this book is definitely a slow burn. The plot-pieces are set up so patiently, and the tension between the different characters and perspectives are so expertly interwoven, that by the time everything comes together, the twists reach so far into the feels that your heart will be consumed by the heat of the blaze.
I’m not ashamed to say that I cried multiple times, and I had to eat twice my body weight in chocolate to recover from some scenes. But it isn’t a sad story. It isn’t bleak. It isn’t melancholic. Sure, there’s darkness, but there’s also humour and fun and hope aplenty. I held my breath at the action (which is very appropriate to the story), laughed at the irreverent sarcasm, and reeled at the emotional heft, and would happily swallow another dose of the magic that Andrea Stewart has mined in this book.
If you’re in the mood for gods on the run, humans transformed into mythical godkilling creatures, novel magic systems, political manoeuvring, perilous journeys to the centre of the earth, characters that burrow into your soul, and breathtaking layers of suspenseful twists, then you won’t be disappointed. Just make sure you pack your tissues before you embark on this quest.
The Gods Below is a brooding volcano, building pressure until an inevitable eruption of feels overtakes your imagination. It’s hardcore fantasy that’s impossible to resist — stunning, powerful, and hypnotic in equal measure. This is an absolute gem, one for the ages, and I cannot wait for the second instalment of this trilogy. More, please!
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