Evan Graham

A Genre-Defining Masterwork

Revisado: 05-15-24

The Living God is a truly epic debut; a genre-blending masterpiece unlike anything that came before, setting a new standard for how a fantasy story can be told.
Platt's universe is a truly unique fusion of conventional high fantasy, modern urban fantasy, and dystopian science fiction that manages the nigh-impossible task of being true to the spirit of each subgenre at once. the majority of this story is set in a fantastical world of magic, mages, and eldritch demons called Orukes, but the unique worldbuilding allows characters to travel to two other worlds: the Second, AKA our modern "real" world, and the Third, an industrial sci-fi dystopia. Fitting three genres in the same book is a challenging feat and could have easily fallen apart in less capable hands, but Platt's worldbuilding is impeccable and deftly utilizes the strengths of all three to great effect.
The plot is a blend of political intrigue and romantic drama that may feel familiar in broad strokes, but made much more compelling than it might have been thanks to the aforementioned solid worldbuilding. Saran and Keleir's star-crossed love is unusual in that there really is no "will they/won't they" stage to their arc. Save for an introductory scene of their beginnings, we meet them as an already well-established couple from the very beginning. Drama that might otherwise come from the depiction of a shaky courtship comes instead from Keleir's internal struggle with the demon seeking dominion over his body and mind, and Saran's complicated role in aiding him in that battle. Saran's fairly conventional role as the reluctant heir to a tyrant's throne is made more compelling by the magical time-altering powers she wields, the political interests of powerful secondary antagonists from the Second and Third, and the complicated dynamic between her and her father, whose power and ambitions have quite literally driven him mad.
That brings me to what I feel is this book's greatest strength: its characters. Saran and Keleir in particular are very well fleshed out, and we see both characters struggle with their inner demons (100% literally in Keleir's case) and the conflict around them in a complex and truthful way. Keleir struggles not just with the Oruke inside him and its constant attempts to seize control, but also the guilt for the bloodshed he caused before Saran freed him from its influence, and with uncertainties about his own true nature. Saran struggles under the weight of the expectations of those around her, as her power, both magical and political, makes her a valued pawn for many different figures in their own machinations. Saran and Keleir both life complicated and harrowing lives, tossed in the storm of entities more powerful than themselves, finding comfort and support in each other, in a romance that feels genuine, compelling, and worthy of emulating.
The narration is well done, with a few very minor sound quality issues that, while noticeable for me, were nowhere near bad enough to affect my listening experience in any measurable way. I haven't had any prior experience with an audiobook read by two narrators: one for the main story and all female characters and one for all the male characters, and I found this a bit jarring at first, but once I got used to the style it felt natural and quickly stopped being a distraction. Both narrators do a good job of distinguishing character voices and delivering compelling emotion in their performances. All in all, the audiobook did exactly what all audiobooks should: tell the story of the book in a way that accentuates its strongest points.
The Living God is, in no uncertain terms, a masterpiece. Deep, rich, and filled with drama, The Living God will make you question if you've ever read a good fantasy story before now. My only complaint is that I didn't get to spend enough time in this beautifully crafted, interconnected world. Thank God there are more books in the series!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Incomparable and Epic

Revisado: 01-23-21

An absolute masterpiece unlike anything else in fantasy.
A bold new icon in fantasy literature.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

An Absolute Masterwork

Revisado: 04-03-19

The merits of this book cannot be overstated.
The Last Faoii is a phenomenal story of tense action, deep emotion, engaging mystery, and raw inspiration. The world is intricately crafted and wholly original, unlike anything else even the most avid of fantasy readers has seen before. It captures your attention and holds you rapt from chapter to chapter. The plot is intricate and multifaceted, enough to keep delivering new surprises at every turn, but never so much that it becomes difficult to follow.
Kaiya is one of the strongest protagonists I've seen in years. We see her jump from crisis of identity to crisis of family to crisis of faith over and over throughout the story, and each time she is brought down by one of these crises, we see her find her footing once again, stronger than ever. This is always done in such a sincere and emotionally truthful way it is impossible not to feel it resonate with your own personal experiences each time, creating a pure empathetic bond between the reader and the protagonist that is almost impossible to achieve. Not only is Kaiya compelling and inspiring as a character, she's a vital addition to the literary world. This is the kind of character that shapes the lives of its readers forever.
Sara Morsey's delivery is perfectly suited to the tone of this story, and beautifully conveys the emotional depth of each scene in perfect nuanced detail. Her strong and sincere performance draws you into the world all the more, making you feel as if you are hearing this story recounted around a crackling fire at a Faoii war camp by a veteran warrior who was there in the thick of it.
I could praise this book endlessly (and it would deserve it), but nothing I can say will do justice to the pure excellence of this story. It defies comparison, it defies summation, and I defy you to read it and not fall in love with it.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas