Before the Shattering the world was magic. Then humanity leeched the nutrients out of the world to harness the magical properties of the Numinar trees and in the wake of the smoke and death, one man bargained with a god. There were once many gods, those who emerged into the world from the depths below to thrive under the trees. That all changed in the aftermath of destruction when Tolemne braved the dangerous aether below to take an audience with the god, Kluehnn, to restore a broken world. Kluehnn agreed to restore the world to what it once was, but the price would be as steep as the act itself and would enact an indefinite debt upon countless lives. As Kluehnn restored the world piece by piece half of the citizens would be wiped out and the other half would be transformed into new forms. Years after escaping restoration, Hakara, a miner, is sent down into the depths of the earth to harvest god’s gems, tithes for the god Kluehnn. During a dangerous rappel, Hakara accidentally swallows a gem and realizes she can harness its magic and the power of the gods themselves. In the wake of this news, four individuals are set on a path to break free a world built in service to a dark god.
The Gods Below is a fierce and ambitious series starter from fantasy author Andrea Stewart with alluring depths you could wander aimlessly into if not for her skillful story weaving. Stewart is a fearless guide, switching between a young woman who will do everything to right the past, her sister who must fight to survive in a restored world, the daughter of an outcasted clan seeking to restore her family in the Sovereign’s good graces, and her cousin who braves the depths of aether below to follow in the great Tolemne’s footsteps. In a world that bears the consequences of humanity’s greed, Stewart highlights the power of the exploited to harness the abilities of gods.
There’s a lot packed into The Gods Below, four competing perspectives and intricate worldbuilding vie for attention across this first installment. Andrea Stewart is one author I trust to bring it all together. With her signature knack for delivering steadfast but flawed characters, Stewart introduces a climate ravaged by greed and the power struggle that emerged in the aftermath of a decimated world. From refugees desperately fleeing their restored homelands, to those left behind to either die or become something other, Stewart shows how these power systems do not discriminate. Firming up this view is Hakara, a young woman who fled her country with her sister Rasha before restoration could take them, and a painful separation that happened after a failed border crossing. Two sisters separated by borders who diverge further and further in their experiences, and two cousins fighting for a different world take the center stage in this inventive new trilogy. In deep caves lie many secrets, like the god’s gems that are the key to harnessing a power to destroy their godly oppressor. Hakara is the bridge into this strange new power and the hidden rebellion movement fighting back against Kluehnn and the next wave of restorations. The rebellion focus was by far my favorite portion of the story, fully realized with layered plotting and relationships. The relationship between Thassir and Hakara was an interesting mirror reflecting two individuals drawn into a conflict they didn’t intend to be a part of initially to suit their own ends. I love a good reluctant allies to lovers storyline and Thassir and Hakara were serving that so hard. Thassir’s backstory and that twist at the end is what propels this story toward what is sure to be hard hitting sequel. In a world riddled with ash and smoke, Andrea Stewart brings together characters with competing worldviews and motivations to rebel against an ancient power. The Gods Below features strange magic, cute cats, and a group of determined characters who bear the brunt of the mistakes of generations past and the ability to fight for a better world.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warnings: death, murder, violence
Literaryrobin 