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catsy2022's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Rating: A+
I am honestly surprised by how much I loved this book. Another favourite for 2021. I was shocked, awed, horrified, on the edge of my seat for this gripping novel, first in a completed trilogy by Mike Shel. I had initially heard of this book on Reddit. So glad I bought it.
“Oh, an adventurer,” she purred, vibrant blue eyes lighting up. “Tell me an exciting story of your exploits, Sir Auric. It would help us pass the time in this dreary limbo.”
A story rich with lore and thorough world-building, Aching God is a book about Auric Manteo, a retired adventurer, joining the Syraeic League again and teaming up with a group to return a cursed gemstone to the Djao ruins beneath St Besh in the Barrowlands. What it takes to get there is an immense amount of resources, approval from the crown and the priests in St Besh and overcoming the demons of the past that still haunt Auric.
Perhaps she would like to hear of how a rapacious corpse had opened Ursula’s belly with its filthy claws and spilled her insides out onto the ground; how steam had risen from them like freshly grilled sausages served on a platter. Would she find that an entertaining diversion from her boredom?
I really loved the characters in this book. They were so different yet worked together so well. I felt like their various backgrounds really spiced up the story. I am so intrigued by the Royal College where mages are trained, about the other characters' backstories - I really liked Sira and Del out of the team, and I loved the interactions between Belech and Auric. Sari honestly carried the story, she had to do so much in the fights leading up to the actual adventure. I felt like Auric's struggle with the past and his recurring trauma was really well-developed in the book and how his recurring nightmare is completely revealed was a really solid addition and very tense and frightening.
I keep picturing the undead crawling down the side of the pit after the alchemist is attacked by the dessicated corpse.
“Though you may have left the family, the family is always a part of you. As are those who no longer live.”
This book managed to both be fantastical and frightening. There was a lot of gore, a lot of violence and grievous injuries. It was really heartbreaking and sad. Through these hardships, I really loved reading about the human emotion. The characters cry a lot and there are never comments about how any one behaviour could be feminine or masculine - in fact when they use the term unmanned - the team actually take issue with that word. As if being brave is a masculine trait only.
Men and women both have equal and varying jobs in the novel - there's no hint in the story of gender disparity. (There's just also no openly queer characters as far as we know.)
"Whatever animated the corpses in those ruins was unspeakably evil. Not the unthinking evil of a storm or an avalanche that leaves death and destruction in its wake. Not evil that’s the product of greed or hunger that blinds one to the humanity in others. Not evil borne out of agony or loss. This was purified, perfect, absolute hate and malice that defies comprehension. An unholy, vigorous evil.”
Again I reveal myself a basic bitch for old ruins, pantheons of gods, and named weapons - I was essentially immediately drawn in by just the basic concept of the story - but then with the backstory of the queen and the mystery of the Djao civilisation after their deposition, UGH. The potential depth of the future novels after reading this book just gives me so much excitement for what could arrive, especially with the comments around the other gods.
This book really made adventures serious, dangerous and life-threatening.
It’s better to be absent of need than for what we need to be absent.
I am honestly surprised by how much I loved this book. Another favourite for 2021. I was shocked, awed, horrified, on the edge of my seat for this gripping novel, first in a completed trilogy by Mike Shel. I had initially heard of this book on Reddit. So glad I bought it.
“Oh, an adventurer,” she purred, vibrant blue eyes lighting up. “Tell me an exciting story of your exploits, Sir Auric. It would help us pass the time in this dreary limbo.”
A story rich with lore and thorough world-building, Aching God is a book about Auric Manteo, a retired adventurer, joining the Syraeic League again and teaming up with a group to return a cursed gemstone to the Djao ruins beneath St Besh in the Barrowlands. What it takes to get there is an immense amount of resources, approval from the crown and the priests in St Besh and overcoming the demons of the past that still haunt Auric.
Perhaps she would like to hear of how a rapacious corpse had opened Ursula’s belly with its filthy claws and spilled her insides out onto the ground; how steam had risen from them like freshly grilled sausages served on a platter. Would she find that an entertaining diversion from her boredom?
I really loved the characters in this book. They were so different yet worked together so well. I felt like their various backgrounds really spiced up the story. I am so intrigued by the Royal College where mages are trained, about the other characters' backstories - I really liked Sira and Del out of the team, and I loved the interactions between Belech and Auric. Sari honestly carried the story, she had to do so much in the fights leading up to the actual adventure. I felt like Auric's struggle with the past and his recurring trauma was really well-developed in the book and how his recurring nightmare is completely revealed was a really solid addition and very tense and frightening.
“Though you may have left the family, the family is always a part of you. As are those who no longer live.”
This book managed to both be fantastical and frightening. There was a lot of gore, a lot of violence and grievous injuries. It was really heartbreaking and sad. Through these hardships, I really loved reading about the human emotion. The characters cry a lot and there are never comments about how any one behaviour could be feminine or masculine - in fact when they use the term unmanned - the team actually take issue with that word. As if being brave is a masculine trait only.
Men and women both have equal and varying jobs in the novel - there's no hint in the story of gender disparity. (There's just also no openly queer characters as far as we know.)
"Whatever animated the corpses in those ruins was unspeakably evil. Not the unthinking evil of a storm or an avalanche that leaves death and destruction in its wake. Not evil that’s the product of greed or hunger that blinds one to the humanity in others. Not evil borne out of agony or loss. This was purified, perfect, absolute hate and malice that defies comprehension. An unholy, vigorous evil.”
Again I reveal myself a basic bitch for old ruins, pantheons of gods, and named weapons - I was essentially immediately drawn in by just the basic concept of the story - but then with the backstory of the queen and the mystery of the Djao civilisation after their deposition, UGH. The potential depth of the future novels after reading this book just gives me so much excitement for what could arrive, especially with the comments around the other gods.
This book really made adventures serious, dangerous and life-threatening.
It’s better to be absent of need than for what we need to be absent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Gore, Medical trauma, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Torture
Minor: Vomit
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