Review: Just wow.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 21, 2014
Brian Braden became a new “favorite” author after reading a short story of his (which was part of an anthology), but I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about his books, because this genre isn’t my usual fare. So I dug into Black Sea Gods a little doubtful that I'd be able to finish it. I'm so glad I took the chance, because this is one of the best stories I've read in a very long time.Braden pays close attention to the details, which (of course) enhances his masterful storytelling. As a writer, I found myself in awe of the beautiful language used in the narrative, and the exquisite detail Braden puts into his setting and characters. As a reader, the world created in Black Sea Gods is breathtaking, and more than one line grabs you in that awesome, quotable way. (one of my favorites:  "The unknown is a pit. If we see the bottom, we fill it with our hopes. If we see blackness, we feed it our fears.”)And as I reached the end, the only thought in my mind was "Wow."