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Gods of the Caravan Road #4
Gods of Nabban
The fugitive slave Ghu has ended the assassin Ahjvar's century-long possession by a murderous and hungry ghost, but at great cost. Heir of the dying gods of Nabban, he is drawn back to the empire he fled as a boy, journeying east on the caravan road with Ahjvar at his side.
Haunted by memory of those he has slain, Ahjvar is ill in mind and body, a danger to those about him and to the man who loves him most of all. Tortured by violent nightmares, he believes himself mad. Only his determination not to leave Ghu to face his fate alone keeps Ahjvar from asking to be freed at last from his unnatural life.
Innocent and madman, god and assassin--two men to seize an empire from the tyrannical descendents of the devil Yeh-Lin. But in war-torn Nabban, enemies of gods and humans stir in the shadows. Yeh-Lin herself meddles with the heir of her enemies and his soul-shattered companion, as the fate of the empire rests on their shoulders.
Haunted by memory of those he has slain, Ahjvar is ill in mind and body, a danger to those about him and to the man who loves him most of all. Tortured by violent nightmares, he believes himself mad. Only his determination not to leave Ghu to face his fate alone keeps Ahjvar from asking to be freed at last from his unnatural life.
Innocent and madman, god and assassin--two men to seize an empire from the tyrannical descendents of the devil Yeh-Lin. But in war-torn Nabban, enemies of gods and humans stir in the shadows. Yeh-Lin herself meddles with the heir of her enemies and his soul-shattered companion, as the fate of the empire rests on their shoulders.
568 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
5 people are currently reading
556 people want to read
About the author
K.V. Johansen
28 books139 followersMostly, I write secondary world fantasy about people on the edges, with shapeshifters, demons, gods, and occasionally dragons. These days, I largely write for adults, though I've written many children's and YA fantasy novels and some children's science fiction, as well as picture books, plus I've been known to perpetrate literary criticism. I also write as Kris Jamison -- a contemporary lit book, Love/Rock/Compost.
My main scholarly interests are ancient and medieval history and languages, and the history of children's fantasy literature. What else can I say? My life is unexciting. I'm acquiring more guitars as I get older; music is very important to me even though I'm no good at it. I'm also, occasionally, an artist.
Here on Goodreads, I'm only rating/reviewing books I've really liked a lot. Sometimes I rate with stars, sometimes I don't, but a book is only on my Goodreads shelves if I liked it. For serious critical analysis from me, you'll have to turn to Quests and Kingdoms or Beyond Window-Dressing.
My main scholarly interests are ancient and medieval history and languages, and the history of children's fantasy literature. What else can I say? My life is unexciting. I'm acquiring more guitars as I get older; music is very important to me even though I'm no good at it. I'm also, occasionally, an artist.
Here on Goodreads, I'm only rating/reviewing books I've really liked a lot. Sometimes I rate with stars, sometimes I don't, but a book is only on my Goodreads shelves if I liked it. For serious critical analysis from me, you'll have to turn to Quests and Kingdoms or Beyond Window-Dressing.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 24, 2016
A lyrical and beguiling fantasy of gods and tortured souls, of grand magics and human frailty. A wonderful series that stands well above your average epic.
This is a great book, building on the previous volumes to great effect and showing a deeper understanding and deft hand all the while. Denser prose, but not self-indulgent and tightly focused on Ghu and Ahjvar, Johansen's prose skills are just improving on an already impressive set and the result is often simply beautiful. There's a curious drift to the series itself, switching main characters, major figures drifting in and our, but it's done with real elegance and just like the setting, it's a little out of the ordinary in the best possible sense. A sense of a timeless story less bound to modern conventions than most, and all the better for it.
This is a great book, building on the previous volumes to great effect and showing a deeper understanding and deft hand all the while. Denser prose, but not self-indulgent and tightly focused on Ghu and Ahjvar, Johansen's prose skills are just improving on an already impressive set and the result is often simply beautiful. There's a curious drift to the series itself, switching main characters, major figures drifting in and our, but it's done with real elegance and just like the setting, it's a little out of the ordinary in the best possible sense. A sense of a timeless story less bound to modern conventions than most, and all the better for it.
September 20, 2016
The last book ended with Ghu and Ahjvan leaving for Nabban, and in this book they are on their way. We only meet 2 old characters, Ivah and Yeh-Lin (who used to rule Nabban and who sort of killed all their gods, but not really they all formed Mother and Father to fight her.) This all has a point since Mother and Father are dying and Nabban needs gods.
But first we have Ghu, a former slave, now a god to be? All very strange.
Then there is Ahjvan who gets more effed up with each book. At least he does not have another soul riding his body anymore. But he still can't die and is well effed up.
In Nabban we have a few players, I will not say more. Spoilers you know. But all is not well in Nabban, there is bloodshed and darkness. And everyone wants something. War is coming, well war is already here. Not everyone is fine to be ruled by the Emperor.
There will be fighting, and throne to pull down, and a new god to be made.
It's an interesting series, but I do warn you, if you do not have previous books fresh in your mind, it might be hard. I had to go read my old reviews to remember it all again.
But first we have Ghu, a former slave, now a god to be? All very strange.
Then there is Ahjvan who gets more effed up with each book. At least he does not have another soul riding his body anymore. But he still can't die and is well effed up.
In Nabban we have a few players, I will not say more. Spoilers you know. But all is not well in Nabban, there is bloodshed and darkness. And everyone wants something. War is coming, well war is already here. Not everyone is fine to be ruled by the Emperor.
There will be fighting, and throne to pull down, and a new god to be made.
It's an interesting series, but I do warn you, if you do not have previous books fresh in your mind, it might be hard. I had to go read my old reviews to remember it all again.
Read
January 28, 2017The idea of a god and an assassin traveling together is what enticed me to request Gods of Nabban by K.V. Johansen from publisher, Pyr. The unlikely pairing alone promises a good read. But there’s more. These two have a long and torturous history. One is a fugitive slave and the other was formerly possessed by a ghost. One is described as innocent, the other a madman. The best is yet to come, however. These two share a bond closer than friendship. The sort of love that can only arise from holding one another’s fate, and the belief any separation will mean the end of them both. Oh, and they have a devil on their team, one whose descendants currently hold power in the land and somewhat mad with it.
The story is a journey in many respects. Ghu begins as heir to the gods, Ahjvar as the mad assassin. They traverse the land toward Ghu’s destiny and end up in war-torn Nabban where they will strive to free the empire from the tyranny of the Yeh-Lin’s descendants. As with any worthy quest, their small party will expand along the way, attracting the eye of prophets, unlikely allies and enemies.
All the while Ghu is coming into his power. The changes are subtle. At first I believed his godhood, or heirship, to be something of an honorary title. That maybe the gods of this land were self-made through deeds and magic. It becomes quite clear Ghu is something of a foretold entity, however, and that he is greatly feared by the empress and her agents.
Alongside, Ahjvar wrestles not only with sanity, but with what Ghu means to him. We are told he has known Ghu since he was a boy and that he has felt responsible for this boy for what feels like a life time. That he has a difficult time recognising Ghu as a man. But he is that, a man, and Ahjvar’s steadfast companion. Someone he owes if not his life, his soul. Someone who has his heart. At times he wishes Ghu would let him go, so he can die. He also fears this very thing and so gives himself completely to the heir of the gods.
Yeh-Lin looks on the pair of them as both tragic and perhaps the only chance the empire has against her descendants. She also has her own journey. She is a devil, after all, and the children of her children are breaking the world.
It’s difficult to review a sequel without having read the other books in the series. Blinded by the gorgeous cover and awesome premise, I missed the fact Gods of Nabban picks up the story begun in The Leopard (Marakand, Volume One) and continued in The Lady (Marakand, Volume Two). There is no handy ‘Volume Three’ stamped anywhere on the cover. It’s clear from the back cover copy that we’re in the middle of a greater story, but some of the best novels start there. Despite often wishing I had started at the beginning, I don’t regret coming to this story at this juncture, however.
Firstly, it’s clear we’re still somewhere in the middle. There is more tale to tell, upon which I cannot elaborate without spoiling this book. Secondly, this is such a richly detailed world that beginning in the middle is a pleasure - though also a minor regret. Because of author Johansen’s writing style, I can imagine coming to this story armed with all the joy and pain of the previous novels. The unfolding lore of the land, the escalating conflicts and the exchange of power between Ghu and Ahjvar.
Gods of Nabban is a complete adventure, however, and I enjoyed the story greatly. In particular, I loved the blurred lines between god and human, devil and human, god and devil. Magic is an absolute given in this world and not always a source of great power. Magic is also an extreme frustration. The world is extremely vast and described in vivid detail. There is taste, texture and scent. Every scene is a sensory experience.
I also enjoyed the love story buried not so deeply beneath the adventure. Or the realisation of love, the acknowledging of it. Because these two obviously have a long history together, and one is patently more invested in that aspect of their relationship than the other, it’s both a gentle and powerful undercurrent.
Over all, I recommend this book to fantasy enthusiasts and fans of the series and the author. It’s a vast world with a deep story. For those new to K.V. Johansen and her world, I would recommend starting at the beginning.
Reviewed for SFCrowsnest.
The story is a journey in many respects. Ghu begins as heir to the gods, Ahjvar as the mad assassin. They traverse the land toward Ghu’s destiny and end up in war-torn Nabban where they will strive to free the empire from the tyranny of the Yeh-Lin’s descendants. As with any worthy quest, their small party will expand along the way, attracting the eye of prophets, unlikely allies and enemies.
All the while Ghu is coming into his power. The changes are subtle. At first I believed his godhood, or heirship, to be something of an honorary title. That maybe the gods of this land were self-made through deeds and magic. It becomes quite clear Ghu is something of a foretold entity, however, and that he is greatly feared by the empress and her agents.
Alongside, Ahjvar wrestles not only with sanity, but with what Ghu means to him. We are told he has known Ghu since he was a boy and that he has felt responsible for this boy for what feels like a life time. That he has a difficult time recognising Ghu as a man. But he is that, a man, and Ahjvar’s steadfast companion. Someone he owes if not his life, his soul. Someone who has his heart. At times he wishes Ghu would let him go, so he can die. He also fears this very thing and so gives himself completely to the heir of the gods.
Yeh-Lin looks on the pair of them as both tragic and perhaps the only chance the empire has against her descendants. She also has her own journey. She is a devil, after all, and the children of her children are breaking the world.
It’s difficult to review a sequel without having read the other books in the series. Blinded by the gorgeous cover and awesome premise, I missed the fact Gods of Nabban picks up the story begun in The Leopard (Marakand, Volume One) and continued in The Lady (Marakand, Volume Two). There is no handy ‘Volume Three’ stamped anywhere on the cover. It’s clear from the back cover copy that we’re in the middle of a greater story, but some of the best novels start there. Despite often wishing I had started at the beginning, I don’t regret coming to this story at this juncture, however.
Firstly, it’s clear we’re still somewhere in the middle. There is more tale to tell, upon which I cannot elaborate without spoiling this book. Secondly, this is such a richly detailed world that beginning in the middle is a pleasure - though also a minor regret. Because of author Johansen’s writing style, I can imagine coming to this story armed with all the joy and pain of the previous novels. The unfolding lore of the land, the escalating conflicts and the exchange of power between Ghu and Ahjvar.
Gods of Nabban is a complete adventure, however, and I enjoyed the story greatly. In particular, I loved the blurred lines between god and human, devil and human, god and devil. Magic is an absolute given in this world and not always a source of great power. Magic is also an extreme frustration. The world is extremely vast and described in vivid detail. There is taste, texture and scent. Every scene is a sensory experience.
I also enjoyed the love story buried not so deeply beneath the adventure. Or the realisation of love, the acknowledging of it. Because these two obviously have a long history together, and one is patently more invested in that aspect of their relationship than the other, it’s both a gentle and powerful undercurrent.
Over all, I recommend this book to fantasy enthusiasts and fans of the series and the author. It’s a vast world with a deep story. For those new to K.V. Johansen and her world, I would recommend starting at the beginning.
Reviewed for SFCrowsnest.
March 18, 2017
I wish I could include half stars on Goodreads--this is a 3.5.
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/20...
Gods of Nabban is set in K.V. Johansen’s world of Marakand. It’s a lush fantasy world where even gods may rise and fall like empires. This is the story of Ghu, a runaway slave who is slowly transforming into the god of Nabban, and Ahjavar, a man he rescued from possession by a devil. Ahjavar has severe PTSD from his former possession, and struggles not to be a danger to himself and others. But his care for Ghu keeps him going. Ghu and Ahjavar travel across the world on an epic quest to save the world from a demented Empress. And they are accompanied on their journey by Yeh-Lin, a devil who proves that anyone can find redemption.
I started reading Gods of Nabban back in August. When I first started the book, I didn’t realize that it was part of a series. Although the story itself can be a standalone, I found myself constantly trying to piece together the characters’ backstories. I felt lost and alone in a vividly described and eminently complex fantasy world filled with flawed but sympathetic characters who were interacting with each other in an epic clash of gods and devils.
I was impressed with the writing. I was impressed by the worldbuilding. I was impressed with the characters. But I never quite felt comfortable in their world, and I always felt like I had to read and reread passages to figure out what was going on. I felt as if I was always seeing glimpses of what was going on instead of being able to connect the dots and see the big picture. There were so many individual elements of the story that I loved, but Gods of Nabban didn’t work for me. And because I’m stubborn as all get-out, I kept reading all 572 pages until I finished it. In retrospect, I probably should have put the book down after a couple chapters, gone out and read BlackDog, The Leopard, and The Lady, which were set at different times in the same world with many of the same characters. This is especially true because I could recognize how much I would have loved Gods of Nabban if I’d read the others first. Context is important.
Now that I’m done with that rant, here are some of the things I loved about the book:
-The lore about demons, devils, and gods was neat because each was bound by different rules and expectations. Magic follows rules and patterns, which makes it feel like a natural part of the world.
-Ghu and Ahjvar realizing that they had feelings for each other. They make such a cute couple.
-Gods of Nabban grapples with mental illness, specifically PTSD, and the way it impacts not only individuals but also relationships.
-Strong female characters who are taken seriously by their society. So many fantasy novels flat-out assume that women are powerless. Here, not so much.
-The world is fleshed-out and filled with complexity. It feels like an actual place with different peoples and cultures and customs all interacting.
Verdict: Read the previous books in the series first. Then read this one.
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/20...
Gods of Nabban is set in K.V. Johansen’s world of Marakand. It’s a lush fantasy world where even gods may rise and fall like empires. This is the story of Ghu, a runaway slave who is slowly transforming into the god of Nabban, and Ahjavar, a man he rescued from possession by a devil. Ahjavar has severe PTSD from his former possession, and struggles not to be a danger to himself and others. But his care for Ghu keeps him going. Ghu and Ahjavar travel across the world on an epic quest to save the world from a demented Empress. And they are accompanied on their journey by Yeh-Lin, a devil who proves that anyone can find redemption.
I started reading Gods of Nabban back in August. When I first started the book, I didn’t realize that it was part of a series. Although the story itself can be a standalone, I found myself constantly trying to piece together the characters’ backstories. I felt lost and alone in a vividly described and eminently complex fantasy world filled with flawed but sympathetic characters who were interacting with each other in an epic clash of gods and devils.
I was impressed with the writing. I was impressed by the worldbuilding. I was impressed with the characters. But I never quite felt comfortable in their world, and I always felt like I had to read and reread passages to figure out what was going on. I felt as if I was always seeing glimpses of what was going on instead of being able to connect the dots and see the big picture. There were so many individual elements of the story that I loved, but Gods of Nabban didn’t work for me. And because I’m stubborn as all get-out, I kept reading all 572 pages until I finished it. In retrospect, I probably should have put the book down after a couple chapters, gone out and read BlackDog, The Leopard, and The Lady, which were set at different times in the same world with many of the same characters. This is especially true because I could recognize how much I would have loved Gods of Nabban if I’d read the others first. Context is important.
Now that I’m done with that rant, here are some of the things I loved about the book:
-The lore about demons, devils, and gods was neat because each was bound by different rules and expectations. Magic follows rules and patterns, which makes it feel like a natural part of the world.
-Ghu and Ahjvar realizing that they had feelings for each other. They make such a cute couple.
-Gods of Nabban grapples with mental illness, specifically PTSD, and the way it impacts not only individuals but also relationships.
-Strong female characters who are taken seriously by their society. So many fantasy novels flat-out assume that women are powerless. Here, not so much.
-The world is fleshed-out and filled with complexity. It feels like an actual place with different peoples and cultures and customs all interacting.
Verdict: Read the previous books in the series first. Then read this one.
October 5, 2020
I adore this series! Properly mythic fantasy, gorgeously written with magnificently-realised characters exploring friendship, PTSD, and bonds that go deeper than love, with a full supporting cast of devils, nascent gods and dogs who are more than they appear. I will remember these people long after the book has been closed.
February 15, 2017
My words can't really do it justice, suffice to say this is a gorgeous, intricately-woven tale, the creation myth of a reborn nation, a love story, a war story, a self-contained epic that is a strand of a larger tapestry I hope has more to come, the satisfying end of many journeys - but not all.
September 6, 2016
How do you love a god? What do you do if the person you love is set to become one? What does it mean to control one's demons, both literally and figuratively?
These are questions at the heart of this tale following on from the end of Johansen's previous novel, Marakand (in, first, The Leopard, then, The Lady). Avid readers of this author will recognize a few of the key characters from previous works taking up the saga of the seven devils. The characters who carry forth the story are the most interesting ones who emerge from the convulsions that wreaked havoc on Praitan and Marakand, Ahjvar, in particular, grabs our attention as he must face a past littered with corpses, including that of the woman he once loved. Helping him is his beloved companion, Ghu, who has heard the call of the dying Gods of Nabban and who must come to terms with his own fate and what accepting it will bring in its train. There are intriguing new characters who also feature in this saga, perhaps the most interesting of which is Rat, a brash young woman determined to free her folk from the yoke of the Empire that has swallowed up lands around it over the long march of time. If you're looking for a book reflecting the diversity of humanity, this one certainly fits the bill.
Readers will also recognize the caravan route, though this time we see it after it crosses Over-Malagru and heads into the east, all the way to Nabban, the empire at the end of the road. Johansen's writing allows us to feel the biting cold of the journey, see the stark terrain, wander the ruins of cities long-since laid low, feel the scree slip out from under foot. When we set eyes on the pine forests of western Nabban, we feel we have truly arrived in a new, exotic land.
Johansen again takes us to new places, not only literally, but figuratively. In past works, she has broken ground rarely explored in fantasy, such as getting inside the mind of the antagonist to hear his fears or live her insanity. In Gods of Nabban, she again takes us to new ground ... what is the nature of Godhead? What does it mean for a mortal to take it on? What of those who love the person so anointed? Does ascending to Godhead invariably change the nature of the people close to the former mortal?
And yet, as interesting as the questions above are, it is an age-old question that is central to this work: does love really conquer all? The relationship between Ghu and Ahj is complicated by curses, destiny, and the baggage of their pasts. When the time comes to face the threatening power rising in Nabban, will their love weigh them down or give them the strength they need to carry on?
These are questions at the heart of this tale following on from the end of Johansen's previous novel, Marakand (in, first, The Leopard, then, The Lady). Avid readers of this author will recognize a few of the key characters from previous works taking up the saga of the seven devils. The characters who carry forth the story are the most interesting ones who emerge from the convulsions that wreaked havoc on Praitan and Marakand, Ahjvar, in particular, grabs our attention as he must face a past littered with corpses, including that of the woman he once loved. Helping him is his beloved companion, Ghu, who has heard the call of the dying Gods of Nabban and who must come to terms with his own fate and what accepting it will bring in its train. There are intriguing new characters who also feature in this saga, perhaps the most interesting of which is Rat, a brash young woman determined to free her folk from the yoke of the Empire that has swallowed up lands around it over the long march of time. If you're looking for a book reflecting the diversity of humanity, this one certainly fits the bill.
Readers will also recognize the caravan route, though this time we see it after it crosses Over-Malagru and heads into the east, all the way to Nabban, the empire at the end of the road. Johansen's writing allows us to feel the biting cold of the journey, see the stark terrain, wander the ruins of cities long-since laid low, feel the scree slip out from under foot. When we set eyes on the pine forests of western Nabban, we feel we have truly arrived in a new, exotic land.
Johansen again takes us to new places, not only literally, but figuratively. In past works, she has broken ground rarely explored in fantasy, such as getting inside the mind of the antagonist to hear his fears or live her insanity. In Gods of Nabban, she again takes us to new ground ... what is the nature of Godhead? What does it mean for a mortal to take it on? What of those who love the person so anointed? Does ascending to Godhead invariably change the nature of the people close to the former mortal?
And yet, as interesting as the questions above are, it is an age-old question that is central to this work: does love really conquer all? The relationship between Ghu and Ahj is complicated by curses, destiny, and the baggage of their pasts. When the time comes to face the threatening power rising in Nabban, will their love weigh them down or give them the strength they need to carry on?
June 12, 2018
The author's ability to write utterly compelling character-driven narratives continues mostly unabated in this book. There are some minor flaws that to my mind make some parts of it less gripping than The Lady was, but even so the book remains an excellent read.
More than anything else, Gods of Nabban is the story of Ghu and Ahjvar. We've seen glimpses, in the past instalments, of their attachment to each other, of Ahj's troubled badasssery and Ghu's understated competence. But it is here we really see just how damaged Ahjvar is, how traumatized not just by the fire that should have originally killed him, but by all the death he has dealt since. He is, in many ways, a very interesting deconstruction of the typical remorseless fantasy assassin. The storyline between him and Ghu was probably my favourite, and also probably the most well-developed
One of my disappointments with the book is that while Ahjvar's trauma is fully explored, it feels like this is done at the expense of Ghu. While Ahj takes baby-steps towards moving on from his nightmares, Ghu basically always remains the same fey lad he was at the beginning of The Leopard, only now he is a fey god. Part of this makes sense as he more than anything is described a the water to Ahjvar's fire, but it still feels somewhat stunted.
Beyond this gripe, I was also a little disappointed with the villain. The Leopard and The Lady built up Sien-Shava to be someone truly frightful, but Gods of Nabban managed to portray him as more inept than even his crazed sister. Sien-Mor/Tu'Sha was memorable, while the Empress felt like an after-thought for the sake of having an external villain of some kind to fight against. It also probably doesnt help that while in The Leopard and the Lady, the aforementioned devil is always ominously hovering on the background, so to speak. That she is crazy only adds to the atmosphere of fear she evokes, but Boru-nai despite all her massacres really fails to deliver even half of that.
The closing of the book in general felt somewhat rushed.
All in all, however, the book was an incredible read. I enjoyed every moment of it, and if the ending and other bits and pieces were not all I would have liked, I still enjoyed it tremendously and would recommend the series to any fantasy fan.
More than anything else, Gods of Nabban is the story of Ghu and Ahjvar. We've seen glimpses, in the past instalments, of their attachment to each other, of Ahj's troubled badasssery and Ghu's understated competence. But it is here we really see just how damaged Ahjvar is, how traumatized not just by the fire that should have originally killed him, but by all the death he has dealt since. He is, in many ways, a very interesting deconstruction of the typical remorseless fantasy assassin. The storyline between him and Ghu was probably my favourite, and also probably the most well-developed
One of my disappointments with the book is that while Ahjvar's trauma is fully explored, it feels like this is done at the expense of Ghu. While Ahj takes baby-steps towards moving on from his nightmares, Ghu basically always remains the same fey lad he was at the beginning of The Leopard, only now he is a fey god. Part of this makes sense as he more than anything is described a the water to Ahjvar's fire, but it still feels somewhat stunted.
Beyond this gripe, I was also a little disappointed with the villain. The Leopard and The Lady built up Sien-Shava to be someone truly frightful, but Gods of Nabban managed to portray him as more inept than even his crazed sister. Sien-Mor/Tu'Sha was memorable, while the Empress felt like an after-thought for the sake of having an external villain of some kind to fight against. It also probably doesnt help that while in The Leopard and the Lady, the aforementioned devil is always ominously hovering on the background, so to speak. That she is crazy only adds to the atmosphere of fear she evokes, but Boru-nai despite all her massacres really fails to deliver even half of that.
The closing of the book in general felt somewhat rushed.
All in all, however, the book was an incredible read. I enjoyed every moment of it, and if the ending and other bits and pieces were not all I would have liked, I still enjoyed it tremendously and would recommend the series to any fantasy fan.
March 5, 2020
Maybe 3 1/2 stars - 3 star reviews are the hardest, I think.
I loved the first book in this series, Blackdog, and my library doesn't have the next two. Plus, the series order isn't clear as the next two have a different series name, and from the blurb and reviews it seemed that this book, Gods Of Nabban, is standalone (although of course in the same universe). Well, I think it would help to read the intervening books - The Leopard and The Lady. This book continues the story of characters from those books, although I think some time later. It took several chapters to get into the flow, as there are multiple threads and I didn't know who all the myriad characters were or how they connect. Further, Johansens style is lyrical to say the least, verging on impenetrable. Several times I read a chapter and had no idea what it had been about! But things settled down eventually, and at least some of the threads started making more sense. Because of all these threads this isn't as immersive as Blackdog was, you keep being jerked off one narrative thread and dumped into another.
For about the middle 3rd or so I was sucked in, her writing is great, quite formal with a strong mystical element to her world. Quite a contrast (in a good way) with the very modern, conversational style of many urban fantasy writers. However, there's just too much detail, this book is too long. By the last quarter I was looking forward to the end. I like my stories tighter than this, I don't feel the need to know every little detail.
I may still read the other books, it would be nice to fill in the leads' backstories.
I loved the first book in this series, Blackdog, and my library doesn't have the next two. Plus, the series order isn't clear as the next two have a different series name, and from the blurb and reviews it seemed that this book, Gods Of Nabban, is standalone (although of course in the same universe). Well, I think it would help to read the intervening books - The Leopard and The Lady. This book continues the story of characters from those books, although I think some time later. It took several chapters to get into the flow, as there are multiple threads and I didn't know who all the myriad characters were or how they connect. Further, Johansens style is lyrical to say the least, verging on impenetrable. Several times I read a chapter and had no idea what it had been about! But things settled down eventually, and at least some of the threads started making more sense. Because of all these threads this isn't as immersive as Blackdog was, you keep being jerked off one narrative thread and dumped into another.
For about the middle 3rd or so I was sucked in, her writing is great, quite formal with a strong mystical element to her world. Quite a contrast (in a good way) with the very modern, conversational style of many urban fantasy writers. However, there's just too much detail, this book is too long. By the last quarter I was looking forward to the end. I like my stories tighter than this, I don't feel the need to know every little detail.
I may still read the other books, it would be nice to fill in the leads' backstories.
September 16, 2021
I've loved this series, but this book took some time warming up. Large sections were quite boring. Has some wonderful and beautiful moments, though. Particularly when Ahj finally faces the nightmares. A stirring and beautiful chapter. I think ultimately that, to me, Ghu and Ahj are two of the least compelling characters we've met in the series, so trying to do a book with them at the center didn't appeal to me as much. Especially when some of the new characters were so interesting and completely under utilized (more Rat, please!), and some other well-known but "late" arrivals would have made things much better showing up earlier.
July 6, 2017
A great conclusion to the series; after a weaker second book, the character surrounding the Leopard and the other minor characters are concluded in a very compelling way. I really enjoyed the foreshadowing in the previous books, and the way that none of the characters have forgotten events that occurred to them which are used as a meaningful basis for feelings and action.
January 13, 2017
This book reminded me in some ways of Steven Erikson's books--a richly textured world, complicated characters, and a challenging sense of language. Though it wasn't an easy read, I found myself drawn into the story and finished it much more quickly than most epic fantasies I start reading.
August 19, 2021
Beautifully written with excellent, complex and narratively interesting characters as well as a romance that’s actually good (homosexual, for those who are either interested or averse to such things). Author can sometimes take too long to make her point/wax on too long with her description and intermediary scenes. Some great visuals and epic scenes.
November 18, 2023
I bought cause the cover was beautiful… the writing was fine… but there is literally a glossary of all these intricately named Gods… pages… it was way too difficult to read and constantly refer back to some other god of a river or tree or cup haha. It was exhausting
August 13, 2025
Definitely my least fave in the series.
Big battle was fun though.
Big battle was fun though.
Read
February 24, 2017Didn't finish. Couldn't really get into with its host of characters and their complex backstories. Maybe try it again one day?
I just realized this is the 3rd in series - hence the issue I imagine. I'll try the first book if I come across it.
I just realized this is the 3rd in series - hence the issue I imagine. I'll try the first book if I come across it.
April 16, 2020
A very satisfying end to the end of Ahjvar and Ghu's story arcs. I saw this book first and am glad I checked this series out.
Ahjvar and Ghu's developing relationship and changing dynamic over the course of the books was EXCELLENT, and I loved how things were handled here.
Now that I've read from the beginning, I also love Ivah's story arc a lot. These books are definite favorites that I appreciate much more on a re-read.
Ahjvar and Ghu's developing relationship and changing dynamic over the course of the books was EXCELLENT, and I loved how things were handled here.
Now that I've read from the beginning, I also love Ivah's story arc a lot. These books are definite favorites that I appreciate much more on a re-read.
October 9, 2016
Very difficult to read. It seemed to be following at least 3 different stories and there was only one that I could really follow.
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