What I’m Reading: Pagan Night

One of the best things about being a genre fiction reviewer for Booklist is that they send me books to read that I would never pick up on my own-- like a 600 page fantasy epic.

This not only forces me to read outside of my comfort zone (a topic we will revisit later this week), but it also allows happy discoveries like the Starred Review I gave Pagan Night by Tim Akers in the January 1 and 15, 2016 issue of Booklist.

In the first in a brand new trilogy, Akers has introduced readers to an epic fantasy world sure to please fans impatiently waiting for the next George R R Martin or Brian Sanderson. Set in a world similar to if The War of The Roses and The Reformation time periods were combined, the Celestial Church has wrenched control away from the old pagan Gods and is tenuously helping to keep the peace between two warring factions, the Tener and the Suhdra. The series open ominously setting the novel’s the dark and dangerous tone, as a nefarious stranger sets loose a pagan God made of smoke who possesses its victims as it begins to spread into the countryside. Meanwhile, the hero from the previous war, Malcolm Blakely, is being recruited by the Church to help keep order in the land as hostilities increase. But this is a new kind of war, one that pits Old Gods, new religion, and long held secrets, political alliances, and prejudices against one and other. It is up to a new breed of heroes, ones who can think for themselves, like Malcolm’s son Ian, and the young female huntress from House Adair, Gwen, to protect them all. But are their tactics too unorthodox to work? Full of strong world building, cinematic and frequent battle scenes, high adventure, great characters, suspense, and dramatic plot shifts, this is a solid, fast-paced entry in a popular sub-genre.

Three Words That Describe This Book: strong world building, cinematic, dramatic

Get this book for you collections and hand sell it to George R.R. Martin fans. They will thank you.

And since the two main heroes are young adults, this is a great option for teens. There is a very strong coming of age theme.