Hello Fellow Journeyers,
Next up is another shorter story in a series by Sean Crow. With a synopsis consisting of a medieval world hit by a plague that has infected both land and people, I was immediately intrigued since so many post-apocalyptic stories usually land in science fiction and not fantasy. Also, with the quote at the top being stated as "David Gemmell meets The Walking Dead," I couldn't help but check it out. Let's begin!
What's the story about: Godless Lands is set in a cruel world besieged by a plague that has collapsed nearly all of society. This is a multiple POV story of the people who make up what's left of the population and how they survive and live with differing factions that are at odds with one another. I would say that it is reminiscent of The Walking Dead, but in a fantasy setting with less gore and zombies and more character work.
From the beginning, Crow's writing will catch you off guard by not being too invasive. It's effortless, gradual, and draws you in seamlessly to invoke an investment in what is going on and what will take place with the characters. It was impressively subtle for how short it was. There is not a lot of world-building (👌) involved, but you get a sense of what is important and necessary for the story. This tale is not action-focused, but chooses important and significant action when it needs to, which is well-earned and exciting. Crow exemplifies that, when built up, using action specifically and intentionally can allow significant emotional payoff and progressional importance that revolves around the characters and plot.
Godless Lands really astounded me if I'm going to be completely honest. It is definitively better than it deserves or advertises itself to be. Crow proves that a short 240 page book can succeed in making you invested in the dealings and characters of a story without wasting lots of pages. Even though there are several main characters and (I believe) more than 5 POVs (which is usually a red flag for me), I enjoyed each one for their personality, motivations, and actions; even the antagonists go beyond being one-dimensional archetypes of villains and bad guys. On a technical note, the balancing of transitioning between POVs is also very clear and easy to follow, which assists in the overall satisfaction with this method.
The main driving force behind this book was how well the characters were portrayed. The ensemble cast has many worthy characters and all of them seemed realistic; they behaved in relatable and painfully accurate ways that made the world breath with life. In a land that permeates with the harshest and cruelest of people, the good ones stand out significantly and this is the case throughout. If I have any criticism for this book as a whole, it would be that I found it to end quite abruptly and without the resolve that I thought it would. Even though it does resolve this entry fairly well for most of the characters, there is a sense that you are required to read the next book in order to be fully satisfied. It didn't take away the enjoyment of reading this story as a whole, but it does impact the feeling after you finish.
★★★★★ 4.5 Stars - Godless Lands reminded me of how good post-apocalyptic stories can be; with themes of devotion, virtue, and sacrifice, this story excels at portraying a narrative that is equally gripping, visceral, and warm. The stakes aren't epic in scale but deeply impactful for the characters involved. As the book reached its climax, I had no idea who would survive and it was a thrill to read. Crow also wrote an ensemble cast perfectly in a way that balanced emotional investment and individual character arcs. So many stories use multiple POVs to forgo great character moments for exciting action, but that isn't the case here. You don't spend every moment with any one character but the moments you do get feel important and impactful. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading the next one!
Let me hear from you! If you like what you read, want to hear more thoughts on this book, other reviews, or talk book recommendations and Essential Reading, leave a comment below.
Rating system:
★★★★★ 5 Stars: It was amazing; I loved it. Read this book; it is definitely Essential Reading!
★★★★★* 4.5 Stars: It was nearly perfect. I really loved almost every aspect of it, but a few things kept it from being amazing.
★★★★ 4 Stars: It was very worth reading and satisfying; highly recommend.
★★★★* 3.5 Stars: I thoroughly enjoyed this story, but it was lacking in certain crucial areas.
★★★ 3 Stars: It was good, but could've been better or improved upon significantly.
★★★* 2.5 Stars: I wanted to enjoy it. Certain aspects were good, it was worth finishing, but many issues.
★★ 2 Stars: It was okay, I didn't feel strongly about it.
★★* 1.5 Stars: I finished it, but it was a chore to get through.
★ 1 Star: I did not like it. It was not worth finishing or I did not finish it.
*I round up based on the system on Goodreads.