Hi all!
Today I am going to be giving you a spoiler-free review of Caleb Ortega’s new release (publication date: January 19th 2021) of The Writer and the Throne – Book #1 in The Warfare of the Gods Series. I was lucky enough to receive a Kindle copy from the author himself in exchange for an honest review. I was also given the opportunity to interview Caleb, which will be coming soon to this blog. If you are interested in ordering a copy, please click here. Without further ado, let’s get into the post!
THE PLOT
Welcome to Saggilmut, a heavenly realm that is all but serene; torn from thousands of years of feuding between the gods. Mythologies clash as Odin, the King of Asgard, will stop at nothing to achieve his fate to rule, while Zeus, Lord Shiva, Osiris and other gods great and powerful have their own contradictory agendas.
Join 19 year-old Aaron, the first proclaimed Writer, as he journeys to uncover the truth of the impending war by traveling the supernatural world, learning which gods can be trusted and which have been lying to mankind since the beginning. In the end, only one of the gods can be proclaimed as the Ruler. But first, they will have to survive the Warfare of the Gods.
THE CHARACTERS
This is a novel with many characters. Aaron appears to be our protagonist but as the book progresses, it becomes clear that the main character is the story itself. From the Asgaardians to the Immortals to the Duati, the author covers gods and goddesses from Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Nordic mythology. If you get confused, never fear. There is a glossary at the back you can refer to. I have always been very interested in mythology so I was familiar with 90% of the names. It was so exciting coming across familiar figures in ancient history. I must admit in the beginning, it was difficult to relate to Aaron because he was among such bold, distinct idols that overshadowed him. However, by the end, I was a big fan of his brash humour and banter with Dagon. I applaud Caleb Ortega for being able to create individual personalities across the factions.
THE WRITING STYLE
In my personal opinion, this story got better as it went along. At the start, I was confused and a little overwhelmed by the amount of characters and big events. However, as I went deeper into the plot, I found myself desperate to learn what happened next. At the halfway mark, an epic battle ensues and it is so descriptive, I felt like I was there. There was action, twists, turns and deaths you won’t see coming. The ending was left wide open for the series to embark in any direction possible. It was an ambitious concept with a lot to cover but I think the author did an excellent job maintaining structure and consistency. There are some wonderful messages about fate, truth and how false worship can tear worlds apart. My only negative critique was the dialogue sometimes fluctuated between casual and formal in regard to the gods/goddesses. Other than that, it was a solid beginning to what I’m sure will be an excellent series. I look forward to what is to come.
STAR RATING
I gave this 4/5 stars. It was highly enjoyable and captivating!
I hope you enjoyed this honest, spoiler-free review. Feel free to order a copy for yourself from the link above.
Thank you for reading
Peace & Love xoxo
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