Scott Graham
Added to listOwnedwith 159 books.
It’s difficult to write a review of The Ruined Gods series with all the pitfalls it contains: it’s historical fantasy that plays havoc with the historical elements that it emulates. It contains a Greek flavor, classical Greek terminology, personification of the Titans and Gods, but it does not remain faithful to the accepted anthropology and archeology of proto-classical and classical Greek periods. That caveat being said, it was a fun series to read. Robins creates a new mythology for his universe, with new inventions, new roles for women, a new concept for a war within the pantheon and the effects on humanity. Centered on a new Greek general and his wife and son, marital tension and hero worship by a son for his often absent father is established early. Other characters are introduced, mostly other soldiers, politicians, and tradespeople (not to leave out Gods and Titans) that round out the cultural of the central town, Thena. A neighborong city-state calls for help per a treaty drawn up earlier and things do not go to plan. As in classical Greek mythology where the gods liked to influence outcomes in the wars, you can imagine how things turn out when gods with mutual animosities start to affect how battles and alliances play out. The reader traverses battlefields, barely aligned cities, the afterlife and other worlds by the time the story concludes. Reimagined minotaurs, centaurs, harpies, cerberus, and a guest role by the Colossus of Rhodes make things much more interesting. Recommended for the non-pedant where ancient Greek civilization and mythology is concerned.
It’s difficult to write a review of The Ruined Gods series with all the pitfalls it contains: it’s historical fantasy that plays havoc with the historical elements that it emulates. It contains a Greek flavor, classical Greek terminology, personification of the Titans and Gods, but it does not remain faithful to the accepted anthropology and archeology of proto-classical and classical Greek periods. That caveat being said, it was a fun series to read. Robins creates a new mythology for his universe, with new inventions, new roles for women, a new concept for a war within the pantheon and the effects on humanity. Centered on a new Greek general and his wife and son, marital tension and hero worship by a son for his often absent father is established early. Other characters are introduced, mostly other soldiers, politicians, and tradespeople (not to leave out Gods and Titans) that round out the cultural of the central town, Thena. A neighborong city-state calls for help per a treaty drawn up earlier and things do not go to plan. As in classical Greek mythology where the gods liked to influence outcomes in the wars, you can imagine how things turn out when gods with mutual animosities start to affect how battles and alliances play out. The reader traverses battlefields, barely aligned cities, the afterlife and other worlds by the time the story concludes. Reimagined minotaurs, centaurs, harpies, cerberus, and a guest role by the Colossus of Rhodes make things much more interesting. Recommended for the non-pedant where ancient Greek civilization and mythology is concerned.
Cringy dialogue and dei ex machina abound. But the story is entertaining, with a unique approach to the Greek gods and classical civilization. Souls are retrieved from the afterlife by Zeus, to aid in the resumption of his control of Mount Olympus and the worship by his less than loyal human devotees. At the same time the warring Greek city-states meet in an unlikely battle with an expected outcome. Leave all expectations of competent storytelling at the title page. Like a horror film with a lot of jump scares but no suspense, or a murder mystery with clues that don’t appear until the big resolution, this story offers action with no compelling plot; much of it seems to be made up as we go along. Betrayal lurks behind every page, and character capabilities appear out of nowhere. However, the family at the center of this tale and the surrounding characters are likeable and are up against a menacing obstacle or three. Alex Robins interlaces the threads of the story very well; now if he could just make the characters speak a non-cliched sentence or two, this reader could more easily overlook the amazing coincidences of it all. Book three awaits. Wish me luck.
Cringy dialogue and dei ex machina abound. But the story is entertaining, with a unique approach to the Greek gods and classical civilization. Souls are retrieved from the afterlife by Zeus, to aid in the resumption of his control of Mount Olympus and the worship by his less than loyal human devotees. At the same time the warring Greek city-states meet in an unlikely battle with an expected outcome. Leave all expectations of competent storytelling at the title page. Like a horror film with a lot of jump scares but no suspense, or a murder mystery with clues that don’t appear until the big resolution, this story offers action with no compelling plot; much of it seems to be made up as we go along. Betrayal lurks behind every page, and character capabilities appear out of nowhere. However, the family at the center of this tale and the surrounding characters are likeable and are up against a menacing obstacle or three. Alex Robins interlaces the threads of the story very well; now if he could just make the characters speak a non-cliched sentence or two, this reader could more easily overlook the amazing coincidences of it all. Book three awaits. Wish me luck.