Review: Beautiful prose, exciting plot
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 12, 2013
I thought at first Black Sea Gods was YA literature because it came unsolicited to my inbox and my blog features MG/YA lit. It is not. But it is an exquisitely crafted story, a unique blending of the author's own mythology and a well-known Bible story. But before you classify this as Christian lit, it is not, for the same reasons it is not children's lit. There's a smattering of profanity, brutality that can get a little gruesome, some sexuality, and a great deal of fiction added to the biblical account. But I am a conservative reader, and nothing in the book felt over-the-top.The story features the Lo, the people of the sea, and their hero, Aizarg. It reminded me greatly of the legends of Native American heroes such as Hiawatha who rise to the challenge of the quests set before them. I loved the dynamic culture Braden creates for this ancient people. And I especially enjoyed the poetry with which he writes. Consider a few of my favorite quotes (which also serve to illuminate some of the book's themes):"There is no forgiveness without sacrifice, and the price of forgiveness is always blood.""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.""The day when the gods finally weep for the woes of mortals, the world will drown in our tears."Beautiful stuff, isn't it? The whole book is a treat. I read it in just two sittings.