People make gods, and, for better or worse, gods make people. We show each other for what we truly are. Yearning beings, desperate for love, power, safety. [p. 237]
As a child, Kissen survived the massacre of her family during a conflict between gods. Mostly survived it, anyway: she lost her leg below the knee, and was badly burnt. As an adult, she's a veiga -- a professional godkiller, taking contracts to rid the world of various gods. Not, usually, the small gods of rural communities, but rather the ones who've been worshipped enough that they are growing too powerful. For gods (of whom there are a plethora, even after many were killed in a great war) are forbidden in Middren, by order of King Arren.
In a tavern, celebrating her latest successful godkilling, Kissen encounters a young girl named Inara who has a unique problem. She's somehow bonded to a little god, Skediceth, who's the size of a rabbit and has some power over white lies. Inara would like to be free of Skedi, even though they're fond of one another. Kissen is revolted... but after tragedy strikes, she and Inara (and Skedi) travel together to ruined Blenraden, city of a thousand shrines, where they hope to sever the bond between Inara and Skedi. Travelling with them is a baker called Elo, who was once a knight named Elogasat and a close friend of King Arren, who's sought his help.
The brutality and grime of the setting reminded me somewhat of George R R Martin's Game of Thrones, though I found the characters more likeable. The narrative alternates between Kissen, Inara, Elo and Skedi: each has a distinctive voice, and is keeping secrets from the others. There are some disturbing scenes (not just those involving physical violence) and some intriguing -- and unexpected -- character development. Plenty of diversity, too, with disabilities, varying skin colour and a range of sexual preferences. I didn't get much sense of the world through which the four protagonists move: it was an unexceptional fantasy-medieval setting. And the prose did not excite me. The pacing was good, though, and the characters' voices strong and consistent.
This is the first in a trilogy, and is on the shortlist for the Astounding Award for Best New Writer, 2024: I read it as part of the Hugo Voters' Pack.
Fulfils the ‘A Book About Women Committing Acts of Violence’ rubric of the Something Bookish Reading Challenge.
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