Gameboard of the Gods

Richelle Mead

Penguin

Otago Daily Times, August 31st 2013

Just because you don’t believe in the Gods doesn’t mean they don’t believe in you.  This is the basic premise of Gameboard of the Gods, the first volume of Richelle Mead’s new fantasy series.  

The power of the Gods is something Justin March, one of the story’s main characters knows only too well. In the future earth of the novel, organised religion is outlawed and it is his job to investigate and close down any religious groups that show signs of gathering a significant following.  But faced with a series of ritualised murders that appear to have a supernatural component, Justin is finding it is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid open acknowledgement that the Gods exist. And then there is the promise he made to one of them in exchange for his life – an obligation he has thus far avoided on a technicality. Not only may he need divine help to solve the crimes, acting on the mutual attraction between himself and his military bodyguard, Mia, will commit him to the deity’s service.

Although more tale of star-crossed lovers (who may, literally, be made for one other) than detective novel, there is enough action and mystery to carry the plot forward quite satisfactorily, and the world Mead has created from a mixture of Greek legend and post semi-apocalyptic fiction is interesting enough that I am willing keep reading.

https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/books/keeping-religion-suppressed-tricky-future-earth