SPFBO Status: Cut
Rate: 7/10
Medium: ebook
Overview (No Spoilers):
As Keres nears the completion of his military training, he is longing to break free from the all encompassing shadow cast by his father, the legendary Strategos Dexios, who has led seemingly countless successful military campaigns. The young son’s eagerness at action and battle are in stark contrast to his father’s bitterness toward military life and the death that it entails. Dexios yearns to retire to his farm, though events contrive to rob him of his much-earned relaxation.
Panacea is an interesting mix of the enthusiasm and optimism of youth pitted against the jagged and weary battle worn veteran. Robins brings vivid characters to life with intriguing backstories who keep you invested in their futures. There is an interesting mix of mythological creatures and a twist on Greek mythology that piques the curiosity, especially as evidence of the gods meddling takes shape. My favorite part of Panacea is the complexity of the characters and their layered interactions. Robins builds strong connections through the characters, all the while establishing a foundation upon which they are able to evolve, from the cold captain of the guard to his bully of a son and the surly Galleas to the lost Elena.
Robins orchestrates a brutal battle scene that tears at the heartstrings as the legendary warriors of Thena, both young and old respond to an unprecedented threat. This battle shapes the rest of the book, both with the questionable decision making from grieving characters to the desperate plight of a city fighting for its survival. I thoroughly enjoyed Panacea, though I found the tunnel vision plot arc for one of the lost and broken main characters tiresome by the end, despite the outcome yielding some of the most surprising revelations. My favorite perspective was that of Elena and how she evolves throughout this read, growing into a character that is easy to root for especially as she faces her inner demons while working to unravel the mysteries in the face of a looming disaster.
The ending plot twists make Panacea feel more like a prequel to a much larger game where all the cards have yet to be revealed. Overall, Panacea has only scrapped the surface of potential with detailed worldbuilding that has thus far been confined to Thena and a cast that has already tugged at the heartstrings of the readers.
Additional Insight and Questions (Spoilers Abound):
- What is really driving K’vath and the tauros? What would have happened had Dexios messaged with the tauros instead of just attacking?
- What happened to Oneiros? What was the symbol on Dexios’ shield?
- How could the oracle become compromised?
- What happened to Nambe and his family?
- What will happen to Dexios after being captured?
- What will Keres’ role be now that he is ‘brought back to life’ by Zeus?
- How will the gods battle now that Zeus is back in power?
- How did Makar’s father stay hidden as a mortal for so long? How will Makar adjust to being a god?
- By taking Galleas’ head didn’t K’vath break his treaty with Dexios?
Vocabulary Builder:
Chiton
Amphora
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