*Disclaimer*
Everyone is different and likes and dislikes different things. Reading is no exception. One person’s all-time favorite might seem too bland or too high stakes for another. That being said, the opinions of our judges in this contest are just that, opinions. Just because we let a book go, doesn’t mean it isn’t good. It could be your next favorite, who knows?
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can learn more about the contest here.
Today we are reviewing The Thirteenth Hour, which was BeforeWeGoBlog‘s pick for this year’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off. You can read their review here. And you can see the finalist spreadsheet here.
When the saints fail, the sinners step up.
Cruel gods rule the steam-powered city of Chime, demanding worship and tribute from their mortal subjects. Kayl lost her faith in them long ago, and now seeks to protect vulnerable and downtrodden mortals from their gods’ whims. But when Kayl discovers powers she didn’t know she had—and destroys a mortal’s soul by accident—she becomes Chime’s most wanted.
Quen’s job was to pursue sinners, until the visions started. Haunted by foreboding images of his beloved city’s destruction, Quen hunts soul-sucking creatures made of aether who prey on its citizens—and Kayl is his number one target.
To ensure Chime’s future, Kayl and Quen must discover the truth of Kayl’s divine abilities before the gods take matters into their own hands.
For a city that bows to cruel gods, it’ll take godless heathens to save it.
Our Thoughts
The Thirteenth Hour (book one of The Cruel Gods series) had some of the best worldbuilding we’ve seen in this year’s contest. The setting is the perfect backdrop for this story full of a wild mix of murder mystery, heist, revolution, a gang of misfits, cranky gods, and aether fueled technology. If we were judging the book purely on its worldbuilding it would have scored even higher! But there are downsides to having an almost perfect aspect of your book: sometimes the more average pieces stand out more than they normally would. And while our judges did enjoy the book as a whole, some parts just didn’t have the same polish as the rest.
While there are some great characters in the story, some felt a bit flat. Some judges thought the titular gods were a bit stereotypical, while others thought a few of the characters were a bit annoying. At times the story also felt rough around the edges, though again we think that might partly be due to how good the rest of the book was.
Overall, we really loved this title and if you are a lover of unique worlds or a steampunk addict, this book is a must read!
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And again, you can see the list of all the finalists and their scores here. Our judges are Julia Kitvaria Sarene, Kerry Smith, Max Freeman, and Jennie Ivins (me). If you’d like to learn more about us, including our likes and dislikes, you can read about them here.
Any queries should be directed at me, Jennie Ivins, via DM on Facebook and Twitter.
Julia Kitvaria Sarene