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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Paternus: Rise of the Gods is an Exciting dark urban fantasy that brings you along on a wild mythological ride.
The Paternus series is one I have been hearing a lot about for years. Literally years. Usually, what I am hearing is in the form of gushing and squeeing. "Did you read Paternus? No. OMG you really have to!" Plus, the covers are gorgeous and done by cover artist John Anthony Di Giovanni. They are the kind of covers you want to display in your library and possibly have a print framed in there. Having finished the first book, all I can say to myself, "Why the hell did I wait so long?"
"A wielder of words is a wielder of power."
The blurb sums up the overall feeling of the first book perfectly, "American Gods meets The Avengers, and Supernatural meets The Lord of the Rings, Paternus combines myths from around the world in a modern story of action and intrigue that is "urban fantasy on the surface, but so much more at its core!" It is a story about myths of legend from cultures throughout the world connected through time and all relating to one individual, The Pater.
"I seem to remember someone very close to me, and wise, or so I thought, once telling me—" "—anything is possible."
The book starts a bit slowly, it lays solid foundations for the upcoming story, so I didn't mind the slower pacing. The main protagonists of the story are two older teenagers, Fi and Zeke. Fi and Zeke are in a relationship, and there is come "will they or won't they" back and forth. Typical stuff that one deals with at that age. Fiona was orphaned at a young age by a plane crash that killed her mother, and as she never knew her father, she now lives with her proper British uncle Edgar his weirdly huge dog Mol. Edgar raised Fiona from a young child, and Fiona looks to him as her father.
Fiona works as an intern at a local are hospital. She has been paying particular attention to an older man named Peter, whom she is drawn to to help. She has a particularly positive effect on him as he is responsive to her but otherwise vegetative. While Zeke is visiting the hospital, it is "attacked by strange and frightening men." Fiona Patterson and Zeke Prisco work to save Peter from myths legend. They turn to Fiona's uncle Edgar for help, and that is where the story gets utterly wild.
"It was twenty-thousand years ago. The last Great Ice covered much of the planet, and the final battle of the Second Magnificent Holocaust raged. She'd sided with Father, of course – she was always Deva, his sister, Devi to the core. Her Truename was Artio, but at the time she was known by the humans as the Vanir giantess Jörd. When Bödvar saw her she was armored in a massive breastplate, with great golden wings on her helmet, spattered with gore – but beautiful."
First and foremost, I need to compliment Dyrk Ashton for the sheer magnitude of research he put into creating this story. Many mythological figures from all countries and timeframes play parts in Zeke and Fiona's quest. Some figures, so long-lived, their legends bisect multiple cultures, and contextually, it works perfectly in the story. Ashton lays a solid foundation for all of these characters. As a reader, I went from "Huh?" to "Oh, how cool. Who is going to play a part next?" As for what happens next, and who is a god or legend is spoiler territory. But it gets pretty exciting.
Worldbuilding-wise, there are quite a few information dumps. We have a lot to learn about these characters and their history and connections. It is all-important and valuable information. Usually, I shy away from pages of backstory, but in Paternus, it worked. We need that information as readers. Ashton had me googling with glee.
The narrative starts a little young, as Fiona and Zeke are younger characters. But don't let that fool you; this is not a YA novel. Paternus: Rise of the Gods is a very adult and often brutal story. There is violence, torture, and fighting that could rival any action movie. Climax-wise, Paternus: Rise of the Gods does not have much of a mini-arc. Instead, it is a huge vibrant story that spans three books and close to 2000 pages. But, the ending of Paternus: Rise of the Gods is satisfying and intensely fun to read and gets you ready to jump into book 2.
Paternus: Rise of the Gods is one of the most unique Urban Fantasy stories I have ever read, and I have read quite a few. The series has a solid place in my top ten favorite series of all time. Even with a slow start, this is still a solid five-star read for me. Screw American Gods, Paternus: Rise of the Gods is my mythological urban fantasy of choice.
The Paternus series is one I have been hearing a lot about for years. Literally years. Usually, what I am hearing is in the form of gushing and squeeing. "Did you read Paternus? No. OMG you really have to!" Plus, the covers are gorgeous and done by cover artist John Anthony Di Giovanni. They are the kind of covers you want to display in your library and possibly have a print framed in there. Having finished the first book, all I can say to myself, "Why the hell did I wait so long?"
"A wielder of words is a wielder of power."
The blurb sums up the overall feeling of the first book perfectly, "American Gods meets The Avengers, and Supernatural meets The Lord of the Rings, Paternus combines myths from around the world in a modern story of action and intrigue that is "urban fantasy on the surface, but so much more at its core!" It is a story about myths of legend from cultures throughout the world connected through time and all relating to one individual, The Pater.
"I seem to remember someone very close to me, and wise, or so I thought, once telling me—" "—anything is possible."
The book starts a bit slowly, it lays solid foundations for the upcoming story, so I didn't mind the slower pacing. The main protagonists of the story are two older teenagers, Fi and Zeke. Fi and Zeke are in a relationship, and there is come "will they or won't they" back and forth. Typical stuff that one deals with at that age. Fiona was orphaned at a young age by a plane crash that killed her mother, and as she never knew her father, she now lives with her proper British uncle Edgar his weirdly huge dog Mol. Edgar raised Fiona from a young child, and Fiona looks to him as her father.
Fiona works as an intern at a local are hospital. She has been paying particular attention to an older man named Peter, whom she is drawn to to help. She has a particularly positive effect on him as he is responsive to her but otherwise vegetative. While Zeke is visiting the hospital, it is "attacked by strange and frightening men." Fiona Patterson and Zeke Prisco work to save Peter from myths legend. They turn to Fiona's uncle Edgar for help, and that is where the story gets utterly wild.
"It was twenty-thousand years ago. The last Great Ice covered much of the planet, and the final battle of the Second Magnificent Holocaust raged. She'd sided with Father, of course – she was always Deva, his sister, Devi to the core. Her Truename was Artio, but at the time she was known by the humans as the Vanir giantess Jörd. When Bödvar saw her she was armored in a massive breastplate, with great golden wings on her helmet, spattered with gore – but beautiful."
First and foremost, I need to compliment Dyrk Ashton for the sheer magnitude of research he put into creating this story. Many mythological figures from all countries and timeframes play parts in Zeke and Fiona's quest. Some figures, so long-lived, their legends bisect multiple cultures, and contextually, it works perfectly in the story. Ashton lays a solid foundation for all of these characters. As a reader, I went from "Huh?" to "Oh, how cool. Who is going to play a part next?" As for what happens next, and who is a god or legend is spoiler territory. But it gets pretty exciting.
Worldbuilding-wise, there are quite a few information dumps. We have a lot to learn about these characters and their history and connections. It is all-important and valuable information. Usually, I shy away from pages of backstory, but in Paternus, it worked. We need that information as readers. Ashton had me googling with glee.
The narrative starts a little young, as Fiona and Zeke are younger characters. But don't let that fool you; this is not a YA novel. Paternus: Rise of the Gods is a very adult and often brutal story. There is violence, torture, and fighting that could rival any action movie. Climax-wise, Paternus: Rise of the Gods does not have much of a mini-arc. Instead, it is a huge vibrant story that spans three books and close to 2000 pages. But, the ending of Paternus: Rise of the Gods is satisfying and intensely fun to read and gets you ready to jump into book 2.
Paternus: Rise of the Gods is one of the most unique Urban Fantasy stories I have ever read, and I have read quite a few. The series has a solid place in my top ten favorite series of all time. Even with a slow start, this is still a solid five-star read for me. Screw American Gods, Paternus: Rise of the Gods is my mythological urban fantasy of choice.
Wow. The worldbuilding is outstanding - deftly weaving myths, historical and cultural references. It is done so well it is seems effortless though I am sure it took some obsessive dedication to researching and writing. (I particularly liked the musical references.) I loved the characters too - though a few died sooner than I would have liked!
An urban fantasy that keeps you on your toes!
Paternus: Rise of the Gods is definitely a book that keeps you hooked and you can definitely see how much research was put into this. As a mythology fan, I enjoyed picking out the deities mentioned in the book! The action scenes were well written and the words riveting.
My only issue with the book that has stopped me from giving this full marks was because I struggled to like the young main characters, particularly Fi. She's just a culmination of all the YA heroines we've all read about before, utterly cliché. But it also might be a testament to how long ago I've outgrown the YA genre. And the cheesy love story between the young protagonists is too over and done with already. Definitely not my cup of tea.
Thankfully, the other characters weren't as insufferable and I'm curious enough to want to know what happens to them in the next book, so I'm definitely picking the next one up!
Paternus: Rise of the Gods is definitely a book that keeps you hooked and you can definitely see how much research was put into this. As a mythology fan, I enjoyed picking out the deities mentioned in the book! The action scenes were well written and the words riveting.
My only issue with the book that has stopped me from giving this full marks was because I struggled to like the young main characters, particularly Fi. She's just a culmination of all the YA heroines we've all read about before, utterly cliché. But it also might be a testament to how long ago I've outgrown the YA genre. And the cheesy love story between the young protagonists is too over and done with already. Definitely not my cup of tea.
Thankfully, the other characters weren't as insufferable and I'm curious enough to want to know what happens to them in the next book, so I'm definitely picking the next one up!
3.75
I think if you are well-versed in Greek, Indian , Norse myths and Arthurian legends you will love this book and not be confused as I was during the first part of the book , I do not know a lot about Indian and Norse myths .
However , I very much enjoyed this book , and would recommend it to anyone wanting to read about all myths .
I think if you are well-versed in Greek, Indian , Norse myths and Arthurian legends you will love this book and not be confused as I was during the first part of the book , I do not know a lot about Indian and Norse myths .
However , I very much enjoyed this book , and would recommend it to anyone wanting to read about all myths .
Loved this one. Read it on my phone so could quickly google all names from myths i was not familiar with while reading. Great book very hard to put down.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While I found it to be an overall enjoyable read, the slow beginning coupled with the unique writing style and large PoV cast made it a bit of a challenge at points. I will be reading Book 2 and am looking forward to exploring the world more.
Fantastic premise! If you like mythology pick this book up. Cant wait to read the next two.
Overall I really enjoyed this book but it did take a little while to get into. The writing style is very unique and I really struggled with it for the first couple of chapters, but after that I didn’t really notice it anymore. I loved all of the myths and lore that were woven into the story, so much so that I found myself to be more invested in the perspectives of the mythological gods than the two main humans characters who I have yet to connect with, hopefully this will be remedied in book 2.
Urban fantasy meets mythology. Oh you think you’ve read that already? Naw bruh! This is on an EPIC scale. All the myths are crammed in here Greek, Norse, Asian, African, Russian, folklores and yes Ancient Near Eastern mythology and more!
Things you should know: 1. the author is telling this story the way he wants (May break your precious rules)but trust that he knows what he’s doing. (Bravely refreshing tbh)
2. the first 150ish pages are confusing and may have you lost. You don’t know the plot. You’re introduced to a lot of mythology, not an info dump though. it’s not difficult you just don’t see why. I almost DNF at least three times BUT when that page hits it’s like reading from a fire hydrant gushing with action and plot.
The reading experience is like walking into an enormous cornfield. At the start it sounds like a good idea but as you press in you get nervous and find yourself lost. Then you panic wondering if you’ll ever get out. 100 pages into the cornfield you’re so lost you just want to see signs of civilization, a house, a shack, an outhouse...any sign of life! Then you get to around page 150 and peer past the last corn stalk and you see the middle of Time Square...bam it hits you that starkly and hard!
Important: I want to add that I think it’s genius that you’re lost at first. I believe it’s critical that you are. Gods among us? You don’t believe it so you should be lost...but when that moment of faith happens it’s magical!
A true master piece! Urban fantasy & mythological warfare on such a breathtakingly grand scale! And it’s a trilogy! I hear they get better with each installment but how?!!! Do Not sleep on this one. Paternus commands & DEMANDS wider readership. Immediately purchased the other two books before I even finished. Dyrk Ashton hank you.
Things you should know: 1. the author is telling this story the way he wants (May break your precious rules)but trust that he knows what he’s doing. (Bravely refreshing tbh)
2. the first 150ish pages are confusing and may have you lost. You don’t know the plot. You’re introduced to a lot of mythology, not an info dump though. it’s not difficult you just don’t see why. I almost DNF at least three times BUT when that page hits it’s like reading from a fire hydrant gushing with action and plot.
The reading experience is like walking into an enormous cornfield. At the start it sounds like a good idea but as you press in you get nervous and find yourself lost. Then you panic wondering if you’ll ever get out. 100 pages into the cornfield you’re so lost you just want to see signs of civilization, a house, a shack, an outhouse...any sign of life! Then you get to around page 150 and peer past the last corn stalk and you see the middle of Time Square...bam it hits you that starkly and hard!
Important: I want to add that I think it’s genius that you’re lost at first. I believe it’s critical that you are. Gods among us? You don’t believe it so you should be lost...but when that moment of faith happens it’s magical!
A true master piece! Urban fantasy & mythological warfare on such a breathtakingly grand scale! And it’s a trilogy! I hear they get better with each installment but how?!!! Do Not sleep on this one. Paternus commands & DEMANDS wider readership. Immediately purchased the other two books before I even finished. Dyrk Ashton hank you.