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jlennidorner's review against another edition
4.0
I recommend this book to those who enjoy pondering where the Old Gods are now, what they might be doing since the religions that worshipped them have so greatly declined in followers. A large chunk of this book uses myths from the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Norse mythologies.
I really wish there was an included link list to more information about the referenced deities and myths. I knew most, but still, I think it would be useful. Most of the stories have Gods who were formerly worshipped in parts of Europe (some from Africa or Asia) now retired in the United States. (Coyote was the only Native American omnipotent being I spotted.)
I read the whole book because I've read a few of these authors before and looked forward to seeing what they contributed. As a bonus, I found some new-to-me authors to look up and fan-stalk. The title goes very well with the book, as it does describe several of the characters. There are some references to sex, alcohol, and rock-n-roll, but it's a clean-read overall.
Each of the stories was a page-turner, though I read the book over a week's time because it was my "I have 20 minutes" book, so I mostly read one story at a time.
The current genres listed are correct for this book.
Greek & Roman Myth & Legend
Greco-Roman Myth & Legend Fantasy eBooks
Fantasy Anthologies & Short Stories
Disclaimer: I signed up to host a #bookblast and to read an ARC (April 17, 2019, was the last updated one I received). I am a speculative fiction author who is writing a series where the main characters are omnipotent beings.
Pan by Vanessa Wells - I had never heard barbed wire called bob wire before, so I learned something. The story itself I really liked. It pulled me into the book. Excellent opener. It left me wanting more of the Clair character.
A Low-Key Game Night by Elizabeth Shaffer - I like the hidden joke in the title. I found this quite amusing. Pretty sure fans of the traditional lore will enjoy this far more than fans of the MCU.
For Want of a Feather by Andrew Dunlop - A very interesting concept. It didn't end exactly as I thought it might, but I was close to guessing. Good philosophical debate opener, especially for atheists.
Out of Luck by Vanessa Finaughty - This one is full of feels by the end. Love the HEA. Very meaningful.
Rule 34 by Avery Vanderlyle - You know, this is kind of realistic fiction because it *could* be true. I mean, it'd be hard to prove one way or other, wouldn't it? Authors of romance and erotica will probably get the biggest kick out of reading this gem.
I really loved this part:
“You’re a harvest deity, Demeter. You’re only concerned with procreative sex.” Loki leered. “But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. A force like sexuality -- then you add human imagination -”
Immanent Domain by Wendy Smyer Yu - This was my favorite story. (I'm a Native American. This story used Coyote as a trickster, who is from the lore from some Native American tribes. That makes me happy.) I like that it was more Urban Fantasy, and that the immortal and mortal had real interactions, and that she was able to help him and others in the end.
I don't know the Scrub Jay mythology. (Or jackrabbit, muskrat, or tule elk.) I've heard of Coyote as a trickster in several mythologies/ religions though. I do wish I knew which tribe's lore was used in this case though.
A part I enjoyed:
She’d never heard of that one and for a moment she was embarrassed that she knew the names of all the current game shows. Yes, she had been a little depressed in the winter and had watched too much television, but her recent resolve to cultivate new interests and find greater fulfillment still held firm.
God of Morning by Elizabeth McCleary - This was a complex story. I enjoyed it. Excellent ending.
There's a part I really loved:
There was a homeless man on a bench, enjoying the first rays of the sun as they warmed his face. His joy at the morning was earthy, but heartfelt. Mere existence spawned depression in some, but here was one who savored every moment. He treated the day like a brother.
And then there's a part that I feel a lot of LGBTQIA+ people would appreciate:
“Don’t call me Dawn. I’m not a goddess, I’m a god.” He sounded sulky. This was an old argument. In truth, the gods and goddesses were neither masculine nor feminine—or maybe they were both—but were assigned characteristics by their believers based on their perceptions. But Morrow—Dawn—had never wanted to be a girl.
I really love the ending. It was full of feels. HEA!
Zeus Really Needs to Go by Shawn Klimek - Love the duel meaning of the title. The part about the "me too" movement caught my attention. The setting is intriguing.
There's a conversation that had me pondering:
“The jury of public opinion, Dad. Media.”
“A fig for the opinion of mortals.”
“Mr. Zeus!”
Mars held up a palm and blocked the chair. “Dad, our power faded when people stopped worshipping us, right? What do you think will happen if they start hating us?”
Breaking the Habit by Ronel Janse von Vuuren - Sneaky "Woody Allen" use in there. I loved the idea of them golfing. I could picture it. Well-done. Good plot-twists. I like the theme of the importance and continued value of the old. My third favorite story in the book.
The New Chief Medical Examiner by Tom Vetter - I ended up liking this far more than expected. My second favorite story in the book. I love the inclusion of Elvis. Very entertaining. The setting made me wonder several things, mostly at the end while SF is in the restroom. I'm curious as to the lore of the story, if it's more fantasy/myth where people don't know the place exists, or more like "magical realism" where it's accepted that the world population would know about the place.
Lines that made me laugh:
"When things get particularly bad, we bring in George Patton or Chuck Norris to slap him back into line.”
“Well, he’s certainly high-functioning, and his intellect is intact. Completely crackers, of course. Totally self-deluded and immersed in this (*SPOILER) identity to the point of having lost his original persona."
If any readers are highly offended though, please write and send me your valid postal address. I’ll personally apologize and send you a free gift: Medusa’s head in an unmarked box.
Playing Hooky by Juneta Key - I really liked the bartender, even if that's a minor character. I enjoyed the wider variety of deities. The use of Gameboys made me laugh.
Harbinger of Doom by Katharina Gerlach - This one made me hungry. It was inspirational and entertaining. I like how it turned out.
Whither Athena? by Marshall J. Moore - I liked the twist on the old-school detective story. I loved the scene at The Lincoln Memorial. This story made me laugh and left me pensive. Excellent emotional rollercoaster. A perfect story to end the book.
This conversation cracked me up:
“Ah.” He set the phone down on my desk, steepling his fingers. “Again, my apologies. You can call me Mr. Mercury.”
“A Queen fan, I see.”
A smile cracked his tan face, wide and genuine. His teeth were perfectly white. “Who isn’t?”
And then this hit me like a ton of emotional bricks:
“As you said, wisdom now is needed. Your leadership is corrupted by greed, the populace divided by fear and dissent. In a land of strength and prosperity wealth and power are held by the few, and the many suffer for it. Change is coming, but it rests with the people to determine if it be for good or ill.
“So I will step away, to see if this democracy can weather the storm it finds itself in. To see if the people have learned well the lessons of justice and equality, and can use them to right the course of this ship before it wrecks itself upon the reefs.”
That is the most powerful lesson in the book. It should be quoted and spread all over the Internet. Meme viral wildfire! Ask how candidates feel about it when the elections come. Really, that's an excellent quote and made me grateful to have read this book.
I really wish there was an included link list to more information about the referenced deities and myths. I knew most, but still, I think it would be useful. Most of the stories have Gods who were formerly worshipped in parts of Europe (some from Africa or Asia) now retired in the United States. (Coyote was the only Native American omnipotent being I spotted.)
I read the whole book because I've read a few of these authors before and looked forward to seeing what they contributed. As a bonus, I found some new-to-me authors to look up and fan-stalk. The title goes very well with the book, as it does describe several of the characters. There are some references to sex, alcohol, and rock-n-roll, but it's a clean-read overall.
Each of the stories was a page-turner, though I read the book over a week's time because it was my "I have 20 minutes" book, so I mostly read one story at a time.
The current genres listed are correct for this book.
Greek & Roman Myth & Legend
Greco-Roman Myth & Legend Fantasy eBooks
Fantasy Anthologies & Short Stories
Disclaimer: I signed up to host a #bookblast and to read an ARC (April 17, 2019, was the last updated one I received). I am a speculative fiction author who is writing a series where the main characters are omnipotent beings.
Pan by Vanessa Wells - I had never heard barbed wire called bob wire before, so I learned something. The story itself I really liked. It pulled me into the book. Excellent opener. It left me wanting more of the Clair character.
A Low-Key Game Night by Elizabeth Shaffer - I like the hidden joke in the title. I found this quite amusing. Pretty sure fans of the traditional lore will enjoy this far more than fans of the MCU.
For Want of a Feather by Andrew Dunlop - A very interesting concept. It didn't end exactly as I thought it might, but I was close to guessing. Good philosophical debate opener, especially for atheists.
Out of Luck by Vanessa Finaughty - This one is full of feels by the end. Love the HEA. Very meaningful.
Rule 34 by Avery Vanderlyle - You know, this is kind of realistic fiction because it *could* be true. I mean, it'd be hard to prove one way or other, wouldn't it? Authors of romance and erotica will probably get the biggest kick out of reading this gem.
I really loved this part:
“You’re a harvest deity, Demeter. You’re only concerned with procreative sex.” Loki leered. “But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. A force like sexuality -- then you add human imagination -”
Immanent Domain by Wendy Smyer Yu - This was my favorite story. (I'm a Native American. This story used Coyote as a trickster, who is from the lore from some Native American tribes. That makes me happy.) I like that it was more Urban Fantasy, and that the immortal and mortal had real interactions, and that she was able to help him and others in the end.
I don't know the Scrub Jay mythology. (Or jackrabbit, muskrat, or tule elk.) I've heard of Coyote as a trickster in several mythologies/ religions though. I do wish I knew which tribe's lore was used in this case though.
A part I enjoyed:
She’d never heard of that one and for a moment she was embarrassed that she knew the names of all the current game shows. Yes, she had been a little depressed in the winter and had watched too much television, but her recent resolve to cultivate new interests and find greater fulfillment still held firm.
God of Morning by Elizabeth McCleary - This was a complex story. I enjoyed it. Excellent ending.
There's a part I really loved:
There was a homeless man on a bench, enjoying the first rays of the sun as they warmed his face. His joy at the morning was earthy, but heartfelt. Mere existence spawned depression in some, but here was one who savored every moment. He treated the day like a brother.
And then there's a part that I feel a lot of LGBTQIA+ people would appreciate:
“Don’t call me Dawn. I’m not a goddess, I’m a god.” He sounded sulky. This was an old argument. In truth, the gods and goddesses were neither masculine nor feminine—or maybe they were both—but were assigned characteristics by their believers based on their perceptions. But Morrow—Dawn—had never wanted to be a girl.
I really love the ending. It was full of feels. HEA!
Zeus Really Needs to Go by Shawn Klimek - Love the duel meaning of the title. The part about the "me too" movement caught my attention. The setting is intriguing.
There's a conversation that had me pondering:
“The jury of public opinion, Dad. Media.”
“A fig for the opinion of mortals.”
“Mr. Zeus!”
Mars held up a palm and blocked the chair. “Dad, our power faded when people stopped worshipping us, right? What do you think will happen if they start hating us?”
Breaking the Habit by Ronel Janse von Vuuren - Sneaky "Woody Allen" use in there. I loved the idea of them golfing. I could picture it. Well-done. Good plot-twists. I like the theme of the importance and continued value of the old. My third favorite story in the book.
The New Chief Medical Examiner by Tom Vetter - I ended up liking this far more than expected. My second favorite story in the book. I love the inclusion of Elvis. Very entertaining. The setting made me wonder several things, mostly at the end while SF is in the restroom. I'm curious as to the lore of the story, if it's more fantasy/myth where people don't know the place exists, or more like "magical realism" where it's accepted that the world population would know about the place.
Lines that made me laugh:
"When things get particularly bad, we bring in George Patton or Chuck Norris to slap him back into line.”
“Well, he’s certainly high-functioning, and his intellect is intact. Completely crackers, of course. Totally self-deluded and immersed in this (*SPOILER) identity to the point of having lost his original persona."
If any readers are highly offended though, please write and send me your valid postal address. I’ll personally apologize and send you a free gift: Medusa’s head in an unmarked box.
Playing Hooky by Juneta Key - I really liked the bartender, even if that's a minor character. I enjoyed the wider variety of deities. The use of Gameboys made me laugh.
Harbinger of Doom by Katharina Gerlach - This one made me hungry. It was inspirational and entertaining. I like how it turned out.
Whither Athena? by Marshall J. Moore - I liked the twist on the old-school detective story. I loved the scene at The Lincoln Memorial. This story made me laugh and left me pensive. Excellent emotional rollercoaster. A perfect story to end the book.
This conversation cracked me up:
“Ah.” He set the phone down on my desk, steepling his fingers. “Again, my apologies. You can call me Mr. Mercury.”
“A Queen fan, I see.”
A smile cracked his tan face, wide and genuine. His teeth were perfectly white. “Who isn’t?”
And then this hit me like a ton of emotional bricks:
“As you said, wisdom now is needed. Your leadership is corrupted by greed, the populace divided by fear and dissent. In a land of strength and prosperity wealth and power are held by the few, and the many suffer for it. Change is coming, but it rests with the people to determine if it be for good or ill.
“So I will step away, to see if this democracy can weather the storm it finds itself in. To see if the people have learned well the lessons of justice and equality, and can use them to right the course of this ship before it wrecks itself upon the reefs.”
That is the most powerful lesson in the book. It should be quoted and spread all over the Internet. Meme viral wildfire! Ask how candidates feel about it when the elections come. Really, that's an excellent quote and made me grateful to have read this book.
jlennidorner's review against another edition
4.0
Yet another great book in this anthology series. I'm glad I got to read it. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys ancient mythology retold in more modern times, often with funny twists.
I really liked Wine and Mazes by Vanessa Wells. That's how my job felt when I first started, sort of (so many hallways...). Purr Like an Egyptian by Rachael Dickson had me hooked right away and concluded puuurrfectly. In Christian Goldback and his Conjectures by Andrew Paul Grell, there's a great part about using rocks to signal for help; I really enjoyed how that scene was done. Hermes Penitence by Juneta Key was a really creative mix of modern times and ancient myths. The story How You Remind Me by Ronel Janse Van Vuuren was an exciting mashup of various pantheons with a great choice for a main character.
Some of my favorite lines from the book include:
"But kids know something adults don't: jumping is fun."
"It's the level of belief that keeps them alive."
"They divorced, and now she's in Bikini Bottom with that celebrity sponge."
"He finally understood what the mortals meant when they said they missed the taste of food the most in the afterlife."
The book is easy to read, entertaining, and has several different mythologies represented. Several of the stories hold a mirror up to society because some of the stories we tell about the old myths are a reflection on how we see ourselves or our leaders. I am an online acquaintance with some authors in this book.
I really liked Wine and Mazes by Vanessa Wells. That's how my job felt when I first started, sort of (so many hallways...). Purr Like an Egyptian by Rachael Dickson had me hooked right away and concluded puuurrfectly. In Christian Goldback and his Conjectures by Andrew Paul Grell, there's a great part about using rocks to signal for help; I really enjoyed how that scene was done. Hermes Penitence by Juneta Key was a really creative mix of modern times and ancient myths. The story How You Remind Me by Ronel Janse Van Vuuren was an exciting mashup of various pantheons with a great choice for a main character.
Some of my favorite lines from the book include:
"But kids know something adults don't: jumping is fun."
"It's the level of belief that keeps them alive."
"They divorced, and now she's in Bikini Bottom with that celebrity sponge."
"He finally understood what the mortals meant when they said they missed the taste of food the most in the afterlife."
The book is easy to read, entertaining, and has several different mythologies represented. Several of the stories hold a mirror up to society because some of the stories we tell about the old myths are a reflection on how we see ourselves or our leaders. I am an online acquaintance with some authors in this book.
chrysfey's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this anthology, and I am SUPER late with reviewing it. For that, I can only apologize profusely. (Sorry!!!) I was really looking forward to reading these stories, because I love anything to do with gods and goddess. Honestly, some were hit or miss for me personally, partly due to a few having retirement home story lines, but also for what I'm going to bring up at the end of my review...
My Top 4 Favorites:
- Out of Luck
- A Low-Key Game
- The New Medical Executive
- Whither Athena?
Pan - This story seemed to follow a story and characters already established, so it was hard to connect to it. I really liked the part when the ghosts come into it and wish that could've been longer. Good writing.
A Low-Key Game Night - A game night to remember. The story, the characters, and the narrative and perspective of Jennifer made me laugh. I want to read more about Jennifer, Loki, and Narfi's family. Kept my attention. Great writing.
For Want of a Feather - Confusing beginning (and confusing writing). I liked that Anubis was a character, though.
Out of Luck - I enjoyed reading about so many gods, and I loved learning about Sygana, the goddess of good luck. The part about the farting made me laugh. Literally out loud. I'd say this is the funniest story out of the bunch.
Rule 34 - I was happy to find a story featuring Demeter. I wasn't prepared for the conversation about human sexuality, though. However, it was an interesting story, with interesting characters.
Immanent Domain - A story about a trickster called Coyote, who brings a dating game show to life for a woman who is too smart for him. Unique concept that stood out with funny moments.
God of the Morning - A story featuring the god of morning and the goddess of night and twilight. Not much stood out for me, but I loved the goddesses and family dynamic.
Zeus Really Needs To Go - Zeus as an old, grumpy god in a wheelchair is hilarious, but the stuff about the #MeToo movement made me cringe. With that said, I liked the "time's up" line at the very end. *claps*
Breaking the Habit - Odin needs a break and causes mayhem with folks at a retirement home. I could picture the things they did clearly, which made me smile.
The New Chief Medical Executive - Written as a memorandum for record, making it a neat format for storytelling. The rundown of all the gods and goddesses at the facility is quite humorous. I enjoyed it. The part about Elvis gave me a kick. The twist at the end was genius, too.
Play Hooky - Death has retired and his first assistant is stuck with all the applications for the job. I liked reading about what the job seekers did while waiting to be interviewed.
Harbinger of Doom - A surprising retirement home that shouldn't even exist. I liked the emotion that was brought into the story with the characters.
Whither Athena? - Someone is looking for a missing person...a god...Athena. She's gone and the world is falling to chaos. I was happy to read a story featuring Athena. This story is perfect for these times we are living in now.
I debated whether or not to add this. Usually I don't mention this because, as an author and editor, I know an error here and there (especially in a novel) is normal and can't be helped, but...for such short stories, they all (some more than others) had quite a bit of errors (missing words and quotation marks and punctuation marks, etc). I tried to not let it get to me, but after a while, it unfortunately did. :(
NOTE: Some or all of these errors may have been fixed, since my copy was from a year ago, but I can't be certain.
Nevertheless! The stories that I enjoyed I'd give 4 stars, and my Top 4 Favorites I'd give 5 stars.
I rated them all for myself and found the average of them combined - 3.8 stars (rounded up)
My Top 4 Favorites:
- Out of Luck
- A Low-Key Game
- The New Medical Executive
- Whither Athena?
Pan - This story seemed to follow a story and characters already established, so it was hard to connect to it. I really liked the part when the ghosts come into it and wish that could've been longer. Good writing.
A Low-Key Game Night - A game night to remember. The story, the characters, and the narrative and perspective of Jennifer made me laugh. I want to read more about Jennifer, Loki, and Narfi's family. Kept my attention. Great writing.
For Want of a Feather - Confusing beginning (and confusing writing). I liked that Anubis was a character, though.
Out of Luck - I enjoyed reading about so many gods, and I loved learning about Sygana, the goddess of good luck. The part about the farting made me laugh. Literally out loud. I'd say this is the funniest story out of the bunch.
Rule 34 - I was happy to find a story featuring Demeter. I wasn't prepared for the conversation about human sexuality, though. However, it was an interesting story, with interesting characters.
Immanent Domain - A story about a trickster called Coyote, who brings a dating game show to life for a woman who is too smart for him. Unique concept that stood out with funny moments.
God of the Morning - A story featuring the god of morning and the goddess of night and twilight. Not much stood out for me, but I loved the goddesses and family dynamic.
Zeus Really Needs To Go - Zeus as an old, grumpy god in a wheelchair is hilarious, but the stuff about the #MeToo movement made me cringe. With that said, I liked the "time's up" line at the very end. *claps*
Breaking the Habit - Odin needs a break and causes mayhem with folks at a retirement home. I could picture the things they did clearly, which made me smile.
The New Chief Medical Executive - Written as a memorandum for record, making it a neat format for storytelling. The rundown of all the gods and goddesses at the facility is quite humorous. I enjoyed it. The part about Elvis gave me a kick. The twist at the end was genius, too.
Play Hooky - Death has retired and his first assistant is stuck with all the applications for the job. I liked reading about what the job seekers did while waiting to be interviewed.
Harbinger of Doom - A surprising retirement home that shouldn't even exist. I liked the emotion that was brought into the story with the characters.
Whither Athena? - Someone is looking for a missing person...a god...Athena. She's gone and the world is falling to chaos. I was happy to read a story featuring Athena. This story is perfect for these times we are living in now.
I debated whether or not to add this. Usually I don't mention this because, as an author and editor, I know an error here and there (especially in a novel) is normal and can't be helped, but...for such short stories, they all (some more than others) had quite a bit of errors (missing words and quotation marks and punctuation marks, etc). I tried to not let it get to me, but after a while, it unfortunately did. :(
NOTE: Some or all of these errors may have been fixed, since my copy was from a year ago, but I can't be certain.
Nevertheless! The stories that I enjoyed I'd give 4 stars, and my Top 4 Favorites I'd give 5 stars.
I rated them all for myself and found the average of them combined - 3.8 stars (rounded up)
justgeekingby's review against another edition
4.0
I was provided with a free copy of the anthology to provide an honest review. Please see the full review on my blog for individual reviews for each story: https://geeking-by.net/grumpy-old-gods-review/
An enjoyable anthology is not just about the sum of its parts (the stories); it’s also about whether it successfully embodies the theme in a cohesive manner. That task falls to the editor of the anthology and is just as important as just having content to fill the anthology. A selection of stories that complement each other, that take the reader on a ride of emotions and adventures works much better than a jumble of words no one wants to read. Grumpy Old Gods: Volume 1 is mostly successful in creating a compendium of tales about gods that fit with the anthology’s synopsis. As you can probably tell from my review there is one glaringly obvious example that I feel did not fit at all, and there are a few others that I feel were great stories yet didn’t quite fit with the topic.
What I did absolutely love was the massive amount of variety when it came to pantheons and deities! I expected to find Greek and Roman gods everywhere. When I did come across the top three pantheons (Greek, Roman, Norse) there were many examples of minor deities explored. What some of the writers did let themselves down on though was their lack of research. It is particularly frustrating to come across people writing about mythological characters and then getting their Greek and Roman names mixed up. While the gods of those two pantheons may share a lot of similarities they are separate deities with entirely different personalities and traits. It’s like saying a tiger and a house cat are the same because they’re both cats.
It was these few problems, and the two stories that I felt were particularly problematic, that brings my rating for the anthology down from a 5/5 to a 4/5. For an initial outing, it’s a great start, and with better editing and story selection it can only get better. There are two other volumes of Grumpy Old Gods now available; Volume 2 which follows the same theme as this one and Volume 3 which is a special spooky themed edition.
An enjoyable anthology is not just about the sum of its parts (the stories); it’s also about whether it successfully embodies the theme in a cohesive manner. That task falls to the editor of the anthology and is just as important as just having content to fill the anthology. A selection of stories that complement each other, that take the reader on a ride of emotions and adventures works much better than a jumble of words no one wants to read. Grumpy Old Gods: Volume 1 is mostly successful in creating a compendium of tales about gods that fit with the anthology’s synopsis. As you can probably tell from my review there is one glaringly obvious example that I feel did not fit at all, and there are a few others that I feel were great stories yet didn’t quite fit with the topic.
What I did absolutely love was the massive amount of variety when it came to pantheons and deities! I expected to find Greek and Roman gods everywhere. When I did come across the top three pantheons (Greek, Roman, Norse) there were many examples of minor deities explored. What some of the writers did let themselves down on though was their lack of research. It is particularly frustrating to come across people writing about mythological characters and then getting their Greek and Roman names mixed up. While the gods of those two pantheons may share a lot of similarities they are separate deities with entirely different personalities and traits. It’s like saying a tiger and a house cat are the same because they’re both cats.
It was these few problems, and the two stories that I felt were particularly problematic, that brings my rating for the anthology down from a 5/5 to a 4/5. For an initial outing, it’s a great start, and with better editing and story selection it can only get better. There are two other volumes of Grumpy Old Gods now available; Volume 2 which follows the same theme as this one and Volume 3 which is a special spooky themed edition.
wanderingwordsmith's review against another edition
4.0
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of this book alone was able to interest me. Anything incorporating mythology will typically pique my interest, so when it was pitched to me as a short story collection with gods who are perhaps...past their prime.
I loved the hijinks that were detailed in the stories. Some stories were based on either one god within one mythology, while others had a lovely mix of different cultures and religions. So many of the stories ended up being hilarious as the gods had to cope with their retirement or advanced ages in worlds that perhaps didn't worship them anymore.
I can't think of any particular story that I didn't enjoy, but there were definitely some that were absolute gems and left me laughing and thinking about them for a while afterwards.
The premise of this book alone was able to interest me. Anything incorporating mythology will typically pique my interest, so when it was pitched to me as a short story collection with gods who are perhaps...past their prime.
I loved the hijinks that were detailed in the stories. Some stories were based on either one god within one mythology, while others had a lovely mix of different cultures and religions. So many of the stories ended up being hilarious as the gods had to cope with their retirement or advanced ages in worlds that perhaps didn't worship them anymore.
I can't think of any particular story that I didn't enjoy, but there were definitely some that were absolute gems and left me laughing and thinking about them for a while afterwards.
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