Nocturnal Book Reviews: Review: God's War by Kameron Hurley

Review: God's War by Kameron Hurley

Tuesday, July 17, 2012 | Posted by kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviews

God's War by Kameron Hurley (Bel Dame Apocrypha #1)

Egalley thanks to Night Shade Books

Synopsis from Goodreads
Some days, Nyx was a Bel Dame - an honored, respected, and deadly government-funded assassin - other days, she was a butcher and a hunter; a woman with nothing to lose. Now the butcher has a bounty to bring in. Nyx and her rag-tag group of mercenaries is about to take up a contract that will shake the foundations of two warring governments... Now nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel of 2011.

Amazon US/UK | Amazon kindle US/UK | The Book Depository US/UK | Fishpond

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NO RATING

I don't quite know what to think of this book. The synopsis felt like it was right up my alley, but in reality God's War left me confused and emotionally detached.

I felt like this book simply wasn't for me, it needed a different type of reader. Bastard Books, for example, called this the best read of 2011. I on the other hand disliked extremely harsh, matter-of-fact toxic environment of Nyx's world.

First time we meet Nyx, she just sold her womb to the magicians. What? That took me aback straight away. Only sometime later we would have a clearer picture of what happened. Nyx's world can buy and sell organs, replace the damaged ones with the new ones with the help of bug magic and genetic manipulation.

The longer you read the book the more bizarre it gets. In a lot of ways itscasual violence reminded me of Domino. Nyx's world is also a matriarchal Islamic world, where men are permanently fighting the Holy War in the front between two slightly different branches of the same religion, and women rule everywhere else. So most of the characters in this book are women in more or less positions of power.

The only person with whom I somewhat connected was Rhys, a magician in Nyx's group of mercenaries. Everyone else to me was a prop. So, yeah, Nyx might be a cross between Domino and Clint Eastwood, and one incredibly tough girl, but I couldn't feel even slightly sympathetic to her plea of an old mercenary who just wanted to retire, and that was the root of all my problems.

I don't want to rate this book anyhow, because it was so alien to me but might be a fabulous read for someone else.

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По этой книге скажу вскользь, что она в действительности на любителя. Мне она совершенно не пришлась по вкусу, но очень многие люди проголосовали за неё в Небуле, а это что-то значит.

Очень странный мир, пост-апокалипсис, антиутопия с биопанком? Исламистское общество, матриархат, где все мужчины ведут Священную Войну на фронте, а женщины заправляют всем остальным.

Никс - одна из наёмников, беспощадный охотник за головами. Чем-то она мне напомнила Домино и Клинта Иствуда. Я думаю, что в действительности, я не смогла понять и принять саму Никс с её сухой беспощадностью и чёрствым сердцем, её отсутствием эмоций, и вот поэтому я не восприняла саму книгу.

Единственным, кому я симпатизировала на протяжение книги был маг - Рис. Как-то он оказался более человечен.

В общем, читайте на свой страх и риск, и если напишите своё ревью на русском, скиньте ссылочку, я его сюда добавлю.

Tags: biopunk, dystopia, kameron harley, no rating, биопанк, дистопия

4 comments:

Melliane said...: I'm sorry it wasn't for you, it sometimes happens... Too bas because I really like the cover.; 17 July 2012 at 10:55
kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviews said...: I think the cover is awesome, Melliane! But, yeah, unfortunately the book wasn't for me at all.; 17 July 2012 at 10:58
Blodeuedd said...: I have been curious but now I honestly do not know. I would either really like it, or be confused as heck; 17 July 2012 at 16:00
Melissa (My World...in words and pages) said...: I know Bastard Books did enjoy this one, and I love the sounds of it as well. But I do remember Bastard mentioned to me it was a little strange too. I'm very curious about this one. Thanks for all your thoughts on it.; 19 July 2012 at 02:04