“And what will you do about it?” The Raven said quietly. “Will your god devour me where I stand, or shall we give voice to the demons within us and provide him an offering?”
The swordmaster took a step toward the patriarch who only sat taller in his chair, the sneer on his face like that of a cat backed into a corner.
“What do you say, priest? Shall we weigh our souls in the eye of the divine and see which man is found wanting?”
Wrath of a Hungry God is the sequel to Godless Lands and is written by my good friend Sean Crow (who I’ve mentioned on the blog before).
This story takes place in a medieval world limping on after a devastating plague. Decades have passed since the Blight took hold of the world, and its grip has only tightened. Crops and vegetation continue to die, even while people try to carve a life for themselves.
While the remaining Havens of Dorn and Riven prepare for war, Astok, a young swordsman of Riven, must decide where his loyalties lie. Amelia, daughter of the Scorpion of Dorn, will find herself confronted by the ghosts of her past. Meanwhile, the rugged and scarred tracker Igs will need to use all his wits to outsmart a bloodthirsty warrior and his retinue as they try to track him down.
Old heroes will stand and new Named warriors will rise. Countless will fall, yet who can remain when faced with the Wrath of a Hungry God?
A grim battle between good and evil
Crow masterfully builds up epic characters who are trying to survive, protect those they love, and find meaning in a brutal world recovering from a devastating plague. My favorite character was Astok because his is the classic story of redemption. A young man learning to question the ways of his oppressive society and turn to the light.
In a world as brutal as the Godless Lands, there are plenty of morally gray characters. Average Joe’s just trying to get by, even if that means compromising their morals. But the story really focuses on those on the far ends of the spectrum. The good and the evil.
The pacing builds up slowly to a dramatic conclusion where swords clash and blood spills. The conflict, however, is far from finished. Crow has left plenty of threads undone for a third book to resolve.
If you’re looking for a grimdark story with light on the horizon, then Wrath of a Hungry God is for you.
sounds like a great premise. however, I probably would not want to read only because I prefer to have at least a smattering of magic in the story (doesn’t have to be overdone, but I like it there…Lord of the Rings is a good example…a lot of swordplay but did have some magic involved). This book sounds like all warrior type – which is great…just not my “cup of tea”. But thanks for sharine