Synopsis:
LAGOS WILL NOT BE DESTROYED
The Gods have fallen to earth, and chaos reigns. Though broken and flooded, Lagos endures.
David Mogo, demigod and Godhunter, has one task: capture twin gods and deliver them to the city’s most notorious wizard.
No problem…right?
My Review
Ohh this was an interesting read. I wasn’t quiet sure what to expect here but I was pulled in straight away.
We arrive in Lagos after ‘The Falling’ and meet David and his father figure Papa Udi. David is a Godhunter, charged with relocating godlings that have wondered too far from their designated zone. Papa Udi a wizard with a past.
The book is all told from David’s point of view, so we see everyone through his eyes. Papa Udi was a very interesting character to me, I loved seeing his character slowly revealed through the course of the story.
Lagos
I enjoyed the descriptions of Lagos, the language Suyi uses really invokes the atmosphere of the place. The comparisons between what it was like before The Falling makes you realise just how much the people have lost.
The Gods
They are some of the most interesting characters. Each with different gifts and different motivations. The story really begins when David is employed to snatch twin God’s. From this point on we come across a variety of different deities and we learn the reason for The Falling.
As you would expect when God’s are involved there are some amazing battles. Imagine the power of the wind, water, fire and a God that can give birth to creepy black godlings – you have the mix for some incredible scenes.
Final Thoughts
This book is told in three parts which allows the plot to jump a few days/weeks each time. I found it a little disjointed at first but I easily slipped back into the story. There is a mix of really good characters, however, we don’t get to see them fully develop which is a shame. Possibly because the story is told in first person.
The female characters are well written and are all portrayed as strong and equal. I would have liked to see more of them or have their characters developed further. There is also a female/female relationship hinted at which I know a lot of people will appreciate.
One thing I did really struggle with was the speech pattern when David and Papa Udi where talking. I found myself loosing the thread of the story and relying on the narrative to fill in the gaps. It’s by no means a deal breaker as their conversations are usually short and few and far between. However it did break the flow for me.
Overall I really enjoyed the story, it’s fast paced but also has moments of real tenderness. It’s unlike any fantasy book I have ever read and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys urban fantasy.
Many thanks to Tracy for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Suyi and the publishers for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Author Bio
Suyi Davies Okungbowa is a Nigerian writer of science fiction, contemporary and dark fantasy, and crime fiction. His work has appeared in Lightspeed, Fireside, Podcastle, The Dark, Mothership Zeta,
Omenana, Ozy, Brick Moon Fiction; amongst other magazines and anthologies. He is an MFA candidate in Creative Writing at the University of Arizona, and has worked in editorial at Podcastle
and Sonora Review. He lives online on Facebook, tweets at @IAmSuyiDavies, and blogs at suyidavies. com. His urban fantasy novel about gods in Lagos is forthcoming in 2019.
I would love to hear your thoughts, please leave me a comment