- Hardcover: 436 pages
- Publisher: Del Rey (July 23 1996)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0345403932
- ISBN-13: 978-0345403933
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.7 x 3.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 726 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #737,147 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
It's that story again: unsophisticated adolescent boy, spunky, curious princess, large landscape for them to tour, troublesome deities, a magic sword. J. Gregory Keyes's knowledge of epics, myths, and human cultures is a solid foundation for his series, making it far better than the average product: a story that might have happened sometime between the Ice Ages when numinous deities still dwelled in every tree, rock, and pool. The detailed social structures and customs feel more authentic, though they're also familiar--the urban monotheists, the shamanistic horseback nomads, and so on. The writing is workmanlike, but the anthropological soundness and echoes of ancient stories give life and dimension to the old archetypes.
From Publishers Weekly
Many elements in Keyes's first novel are traditional to fantasy?gods, politics, a princess and a barbarian warrior?but they're mixed in unexpected ways. Facts about the imagined world are presented only as needed; the plotting flows logically, supporting well-drawn characters. In this world, the River, a jealous and powerful god, runs in the blood of the nobility of the city of Nhol, including in that of a bright and independent princess, Hezhi. Ten years old, Hezhi wishes to understand the world she was born into and why her cousin and best friend, Den, was taken away to the River by the priests. Meanwhile, Perkar, a young warrior, has fallen in love with a Stream Goddess who fears being eaten by the River. Wishing to save his beloved, Perkar vows to kill the River. In interweaving story lines, both protagonists make mistakes but unravel mysteries and, aided by many strong secondary characters, come of age. Tackling important themes of values and identity, both personal and social, this is a satisfyingly robust, impressive debut that offers some genuine surprises. 75,000 first printing; author tour.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
"I'm off to the store to buy Blackgod!",
By
This review is from: Waterborn (Mass Market Paperback)
At heart, an unforgettable fantasy replete with all the requisite elements - a pretty damsel in distress, heroes and their sagas, gods, battles, good and evil, with lots of credible dialogue to bring it home! Did I mention a couple of plot twists that would make the most jaded thriller or mystery reader's eyes light up?At a deeper level, Keyes also addresses issues such as the relationship of man to his gods in a belief system similar to the Greek and Roman pantheon of mortal gods and half-gods with emotions and motivations that are all too human. He also seems openly critical of a priesthood that has misinterpreted its role in society and as a result has misappropriated and abused the power that history accorded it. Religious and racial intolerance also make cameo appearances. But, all the while, Keyes never forgets that he is telling a story - and, it's one you won't be forgetting for a long time to come!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved the first 2 of the series,
By Spidey "SLAND" (ON Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Waterborn (Paperback)
Thought this and the Blackgod were great, 3rd book didn't live up to the first 2.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantasy, but not a carbon copy fantasy,
By Daffydd (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Waterborn (Mass Market Paperback)
It is said that we keep telling the same original four stories over and over again, retelling them within the current culture and historic background. If you are tired of fantasy's that try too hard to cling too closely to Tolkien, filled with the very same Elves, dwarves and rings, then this will be a welcome shift. I really appreciated wondering 'where is this place' despite all the fantasy's I have read, for this was foreign ground, and as I read I felt like a tourist marvelling at the different buildings, different peoples and different cultures. Oh there are familuar pieces. But they have been put together very originally. This is something kinda new.A boy having reached manhood in love or maybe in lust with an actual goddess, a young princess and who doesn't know about her birthrite, a river who is also a god, who is growing in power by consuming, who flows somehow in the girl, and who becomes aware of the young man who has sworn to kill him.
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