… brilliant grimdark fantasy …
Exciting and well written, Godblind proves that debut novelist Anna Stephens can handle a multiple narrative epic with flare and skill. Roughly in the same field as George RR Martin‘s Game of Thrones series, there’s much intrigue, fighting and moral ambiguity with some charismatic personalities including Dom, the reluctant seer; Rillirin, the escaped slave, and Captain Crys Tailorson. Anna is a fantastic story teller and the novel packs enough twists amongst the battles and assassinations to keep the pages turning fast.
Having 10 characters’ view points was a challenge for me. I would recommend choosing a moment when you can read a substantial amount in one sitting to establish as many of the characters’ story lines as possible. In her blog, Anna reveals that her editor asked her to take four more strands out. Thank you, Natasha the Editor.
As this is grim dark, there are some gruesome scenes including one particularly nasty sacrifice to the Red Gods … so not for younger readers.
Recommended.
Anna Stephens works in corporate communications for an international law firm. She has a BA (Hons) in Literature and a Diploma in Creative Writing, both from the Open University. She has a chatty and entertaining website here where she reveals inflatable guitar playing at her wedding.
This is my thirteenth review in the British Books Challenge 2017. Come and join us at over at Chelley Toy’s site.
Cover design moment: As this is an ARC, it’s a riff on the final cover and there are no credits for the designer yet. If I do find more details, I’ll update the review. In short, I like it! It sets the tone for the book: bold, epic and intriguing. With red and black tones and messy background, it clearly positions the book as grimdark. Whilst searching for the creative, I happened on this lovely “Cover Reveal” interview over at Fantasy Faction.
Anna has been in touch. The cover design is by Dominic Forbes, the Managing Designer at Harper Collins UK. This means he commissions and art directs others as well as finding the time to design. A small selection of his own work can be found here.
Godblind by Anna Stephens will be published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of Harper Collins, on 15th June 2017 in the UK. Sequels are due for publication in 2018 and 2019.
It was lent to me by Emily who runs Emily’s Bookshop in Chipping Campden. Thanks, Em!
June 13, 2017 at 9:30 am
Thanks, Fly Girl, for the review! And thanks to Emily’s Bookshop too! The artist is a fabulous chap called Dom Forbes and he works in house at Harper Collins. Sophie Tallis is the map maker (in the final version novel).
Anna
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June 13, 2017 at 10:03 am
Hiya Anna. Thanks for Dom’s name .. I shall look him up and update the blog. Have a good launch party 😀
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June 13, 2017 at 9:31 am
Reblogged this on Anna Stephens, word seeker.
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June 20, 2017 at 11:05 am
I really want to read this now! I was lucky enough to get a review copy of Anna Smith Spark’s The Court of Broken Knives, and she and Anna Stephens are both speaking at a fantasy evening at Waterstone’s in London on 9 July, which I’ve bought a ticket for. I should definitely read Godblind in advance of that. Plus, I’m thrilled to see that women are getting in on the grimdark scene. You’ve really whetted my appetite for this one…
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June 20, 2017 at 2:35 pm
Thanks for stopping by, Idle Woman 😀 Sounds like it will be a fabulous evening … I wish I could make it but family life and being miles away means London is a faraway place at the moment. Have you read Nevernight yet – male writer but great female lead. You can search for my review on the website ….
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June 20, 2017 at 3:22 pm
No I haven’t: it looks like I have a lot of reading to do before the event! I’ll go seek out your post. Too bad you can’t make it: I’m hoping it’ll be a chance to meet readers with similar tastes 😊
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July 9, 2017 at 9:37 am
Wow what a stunning cover and it sounds wonderful! Thanks for linking this up to the British Books Challenge x
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July 10, 2017 at 8:05 am
My pleasure, Chelley! x
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