Rate: 2.5/5
Medium: Audiobook
Overview (No Spoilers):
The Hollow Covenant is a delightfully ambitious start to Stewart’s second series with a wide array of characters, and an intricate magical system. This novel literary world also has a rich history full of legends. Needless to say, this story as a whole is a lot to keep track of.
The Gods Below follows two orphan sisters who become tragically separated and are left to somehow find a way to survive. The oldest, Hakara, is less than likable as she is selfish, angry, petty, and rash. This brutal world has refined Hakara into a series of sharp edges whose only goal is to somehow find her way to her little sister against seemingly impossible odds. Thankfully for her, the impossible seems to have higher than average odds when it comes to Hakara’s head on approach to every barrier. Rasha on the other hand finds survival on a path that is just as cruel, only in very different and violent ways. While her sister has been alone, Rasha finds a new sense of belonging, though how much of herself will be longest along the way of proving herself. With two such divergent paths how will they ever be able to find their way back to each other.
Sheuan and her desperate fight to restore her family to good standings also plays a major role in The Gods Below. She risks much for duty and it takes her to areas that would seem impossible. I found her shackling by duty curious and predictable as she would betray almost anyone to fulfill her obligations. I so enjoyed watching watching Sheuan grow throughout this first book.
We join Mullayne on his dangerous journey into the depths of the earth, racing against time to try to find the realm of the gods. Mullayne has such a fascinating path. Literally. His journey was a fresh change compared to the drama of the other characters. His story seems so isolated and adventurous, not to mention claustrophobic and dangerous. His story must have major implications for the future, if he can survive.
There’s also a flashback from the perspective of the god Niaonen and his family from just before the Shattering and after. While in Sheuan, Rasha, and Mullayne’s stories I didn’t want to leave them, fascinated by where Stewart was taking this world. We spent the most time with Hakara, though I struggled to make a connection with her. These characters are all loosely threaded together and in such different parts of this world that it is initially hard to keep track of who was who, especially as Stewart was establishing the foundation. Some of the coincidences filled gaps and sped up the story, though took away from the other all flow. I’ll highlight the most anticlimactic in the section below.
The many characters highlight too the detailed and complex post apocalyptic world that Stewart creates that extends far below the surface to the distant past. Not only is there this looming dread of the restoration where majority of the people are sacrificed and everyone else is left altered beyond recognition, but if you travel below the earth surface the air is incredibly toxic to humans. The lure of magical gems keeps desperate miners holding their breath and diving into the depths. Then there are the gods and their powers, along with the lore of the past Shattering. This book has so much going on that I feel like I’m missing key pieces that link everything together.
Overall, The Gods Below is an ambitious start to Stewarts new novel that keeps the reader constantly on their toes, working to figure out the nuances of the world and its many characters.
Additional Insight (Spoilers Abound):
- What other gods are out there hiding?
- What will Mullayne find? What does it mean that Tolemne’s story is not exactly what the stories say? What are the stories hiding?
- How will Sheuan find being Queen? What revenge will the Sovereign have in store?
- How did Niaonen’s story end? How does Thassir fit in? They have to be connected.
- Will Rasha get her memories back fully that Kluehnn altered?
- What is happening to Sheuan? Why is she growing feathers? Is it from the pit?
- So Kluehnn is not actually restoring the land? It’s the gems? What is actually happening?
- How would Hakara be the obvious new leader of the Unanointed?
- Ok. The romance between Rasha and Sheuan felt so rushed and abrupt. Don’t get me wrong. I was so rooting for them. I hope they reunite. It was all just so quick. Also, Sheuan being sent to save Hakara and realizing who her sister was is just too much of a coincidence. Ugh. Too much.
- What will Mullayne think of Sheuan stealing his invention?
The Critiquing Chemist 