Against All Gods: The Age of Bronze: Book 1

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There’s a real feel of the classic fantasy ensemble story, but with a fresh and engaging perspective on the genre which blends mythology, historical accuracy and a modern tone of voice. So by the time one of them breaks down everything at the end, it just feels like the author was throwing the final twist to make you go "wow! Centuries ago, Enkul-Anu (who is like a Zeus crossed with En-Lil crossed with cocaine) and his brood overthrew the old pantheon and set themselves up over humanity, whom the kept in a technological and economic stasis.

While this book is sometimes zany, often irreverant, the themes Cameron explores are very dire, including canibalism, ritual human sacrifice, slavery, betrayal, unmitigated greed, torture, sexual assault and murder, to name a few, so reader be warned. The sea people analogue is intriguingly terrifying, the Thera style set-piece is cinematic, who – or what – are the gods?

The gods here hide monstrosity behind pleasing masks; the humans, though flawed, reveal an ever-brightening spark of divinity. Then there is the entire culture of Hakrans who are pacifists ship-traders with unusual marriage and family structure. It is part of the Blackwell ancient history series and so I can promise neither good prose nor graceful formatting, but the book successfully conveys much of the complexity of the bronze age without overwhelming you. Every time I think I have my "best books of the year" list sorted, here comes a book like "Against All Gods" to throw a wrench in my well-made plans. Special note: I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the loving, polygamous lifestyle of the Harkans, and about the inscrutable "Dry One" who the human crew encounters.

I get this guy’s gods accidentally killed his daughter and some nameless, possibility, evil god answers and the guy goes on a quest for enlightenment, but I don’t understand why I should care.Were I to be cynical I would suggest that, give modern publishing trends, she is the one we are meant to identify as empowered etc. Finally, Aanat, a master captain, and trader, wants to keep his ship, and his family who are its crew, safe from harm.