Synopsis:
The Roman Empire never fell. The Gods are real. Ships are alive.
In the Province of Britannia, ruled by descendants of King Arthur and on the brink of an industrial revolution, young Maia Abella is on the run.
Something unseen has murdered her cruel mistress and she’s being blamed. The streets and factories of Portus are no place for a friendless girl, trapped in events beyond her control.
The city authorities and the Royal Navy are both desperate to find her – one investigating a killer, the other to recruit her, while the deadly legacy of a tragic past stalks her every step.
Aided by Raven, an ancient, blind Mage with a terrible secret and Milo, Crown Agent and spy, Maia must discover and overcome the fatal consequences of her birth.
Meanwhile, the Gods are making their moves. And not all of them are friendly.
Review:
Let’s start with something important. I came into this book blind and had every intention of doing the same for the review. However, Goodreads being what it is, I had a little explore beforehand to discover there are two different book covers, and therefore two different sets of reviews. Yes. And, if you are one to explore reviews before delving into a book, please, please, please ensure you read both sets for a balanced view. That done, here goes.
I loved it.
Imagine an 18th-century Britain ruled by the Roman Empire and those descendants from the invasion. Slaves exist, free people can still be indentured, and the Gods are real. In fact, not just the Roman gods, but those of Brittania, and, I suspect, many of the other countries we are as yet to encounter. Kkoulla takes us a step even deeper down this tempting rabbit hole by ensuring mythology blends seamlessly with such a premise, and the story is immediately rife with such a rich background history that you find yourself a third of the way in and thinking ‘damn I like this’.
Did I mention mages? No. Oh yes, and priests, and … Oh my, the world-building has it all. And this is not an overwhelming stew, but a rich pot slowly drawn out for the reader. Rarely do you feel lost, and when you teeter, the author draws you back in with just the right amount of background to keep you rolling along.
So, against such a rich canvas, and the tempting premise of Maia’s destined future in the offing, why are there some mixed reviews out there? Well, the story serves a purpose. The concept of a Ship has to be painted in the reader’s mind’s eye, and the sacrifice it takes to become one. For they are the core of the series to come (hence the series title), and Maia’s journey paints a picture of such understanding. In concept, it is a tale beholden to mythological tragedy, for the Ships are women with Potentia ‒ magic derived from divine blood ‒ who have given their bodies up to become one with their assigned ship. More than mere figureheads, they are attuned to the very planks, and in their sentience, help steer and maintain its safety through war and storm alongside their captain and crew. Via circumstances I will not reveal, this is to become Maia’s fate despite her orphan past and painful present, and here we have the first instance of the meddling gods ‒ and far from the last. As she prepares, a mystery develops, one filled with the aforementioned tragedy that, with more dastardly gods involved, leads to her door. I will say no more, but tragedy it is.
Kkoulla uses prose that fades into the background, rich where it needs to be, but designed for the story to shine. So many others have said it is a fast-paced book, a quick read, etc. This, in my view, is because the author simply lets the story be the star.
Is it perfect? Is anything? There are moments, such as some secondary characters that may have benefitted from more depth or a scene requiring just that little more. However, do not let that put you off. This isn’t an epic tale, not yet. It sets the groundwork, immerses you in the world, and plays out a story that I thoroughly enjoyed. If Roman Gods and mythology entice, yet you love stories with a human touch, give this one a read. Don’t blame me if you end up finishing the entire series.
Leave a Reply