Born of the Gods by Craig Zeppelin

An inventive fantasy tale fronted by a hard-hitting heroine, Born of the Gods: Origins Book One (The Resin Chronicles) by Craig Zeppelin delivers an action-laden plunge into a paradise lost.

Grieving the loss of her deity, and cursed with mystical abilities after a suicidal clash of the gods, Arleia seeks a new divine master, rather than wandering as a high priestess without anything to worship. Venturing into the realms of scheming gods and facing down the monstrous mortals who serve as their playthings, Arleia is determined to unravel the mystery of her matriarch’s murder, no matter how many times she has to die along the way.

Whether she’s being chucked off a cliff by a hedonistic hothead or impaling henchmen to entertain bloodthirsty slavers, this fed-up femme fatale with a dash of immortality is not to be trifled with, resulting in an exceptionally enthralling lead character who is equal parts irreverent and powerful. Begrudgingly accompanied by a snarky jester-cat and hounded at every turn by those who would abuse, imprison, or manipulate her faith, she boldly rebukes the callous whims of the gods, unaware that she possesses a secret that could shatter the heavenly order for good.

The whip-smart writing is wry, confident, and sharp, bolstered by streams of sarcasm and slapstick fantasy, like Christopher Moore and Tom Robbins at their strangest. While some elements of the plot feel familiar – namely a story revolving around objects that can bestow the power of gods – Zeppelin’s storytelling is unpredictable, and Arleia is a fearless force on the page. Introducing fantasy readers to a sprawling new realm with endless directions for this saga to unfold, this beginning installment is a wickedly wild escape.