Athine verses, the beginning, by Shannon McRoberts

Shannon McRobers’ Athine verses blends the myth and magic of different real-world realms creating a new folklore all its own, with gods and goddesses, demi-gods, magic, and curious mystical powers. The story’s told with a nicely mythological start, telling the past history of the world to come, followed by first person descriptions of battle, rites of passage, and the joys and fears of an underling coming to power and fulfilling prophecy.

A world threatened with destruction, a vision of fear tinged with hope, a quest, and a daughter of promise whose powers might bring death or life… the author blends them all, inviting different voices to speak, giving insight and revealing threat. There’s a pleasing sense of mystery and prophecy, enhanced by the words of different points of view, all leading to long passages of careful historical revelation and mythological emphasis. Some typos and odd word choices slowed my reading, but the plot is fast and the worlds are well-imagined.

The author creates a fascinating realm in Athine verses, filled with interesting twists and turns, magic that’s pleasingly not all-powerful, and visions that are satisfyingly confusing. Long histories add intrigue, betrayals bring danger, and the series promises many more revelations as its characters find their fate and choose their path.

Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy of this novel by the author