Title: Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X #1)
Author: Richelle Mead
Release date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 464
Source: Netgalley/Publisher
Reading level: Adult
In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.
When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.
Richelle Mead quickly became a favorite author of mine with the Vampire Academy series. Following up with the Bloodlines series that is almost just as awesome, I decided I’d read pretty much anything she writes. When I saw Gameboard of the Gods on Netgalley I just couldn’t resist. Even though this is very much an adult novel, I thought I’d review it for you guys.
Gameboard of the Gods is both like Richelle Mead’s YA stuff and also very different. Just like with her YA stuff, readers will be hooked with this story and the characters. Also like her YA stuff, things don’t come easy for the two main characters but readers will root for them to end up together. I know I did. However, almost everything else about Gameboard of the Gods is very much adult. The story takes a bit of time to build and while I was hooked once I got into the story, it did take me a while to get to that point. I would say I was about 100 pages in before I really felt invested in the story and the characters. I know a lot of people give up before reaching that point but I would really recommend continuing with this one even though it’s a little slow.
The story is an awesome blend of dystopian and mythology. At first I didn’t see the mythology aspect but it does come out later in the book and it will play a very big role in the rest of the series if the ending of this book is any indication. This dystopian world isn’t nearly as bleak as most YA dystopians but there is definitely some turmoil and things aren’t nearly as perfect as they seem at the beginning. Readers don’t get a whole lot of background into the government and society and I was a little let down by that but seeing as this is only the first book, I’m hoping those things might be expanded upon in the future.
The characters were not nearly as awesome as Rose and Dmitri or Sydney and Adrian but they grew on me. Justin, in particular. Justin is smart, that’s for sure, but he’s also very funny and sensitive. It’s hard not to like him once you read about everything he has had to go through and everything he continues to go through. Mae was a lot harder for me to like. She seemed almost emotionless for a lot of the book. I loved that she was a strong woman but I wanted more to her than just that. She needs some serious development in the next book, that’s for sure. Also, Mae’s fellow praetorians and friends were almost nonexistent throughout the book. They seemed important to the story in the beginning but then they disappeared for most of the rest of the book. I did not like that and hope to see more of them in the future books.
Overall, Gameboard of the Gods was a little lacking in some instances but I enjoyed it and I think fans of Richelle Mead’s books will too. Check it out if you’re looking for something a little more mature than YA.
What others have to say about Gameboard of the Gods:
The Bookaholic’s review: “I have to say I feel a bit sad that I couldn’t enjoy this as much as I’d hoped I could since Mead is one of my fave authors.”
Ageless Pages Reviews’ review: “My first — and far from last — Richelle Mead novel, Gameboard of the Gods could not have been a better or more fun introduction to this popular author.”
Somewhere Between The Pages’ review: “After struggling with this book for almost an entire week, however, I can safely say that this book was nothing like I expected.”
Series:
Gameboard of the Gods (#1)
Other reviews for this author:
Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1) by Richelle Mead
The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Richelle Mead
The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3) by Richelle Mead
Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Mead
Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) by Richelle Mead
Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Mead
Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead
Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) by Richelle Mead
Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6) by Richelle Mead
I’m glad you enjoyed this. Reviews have been mixed. I’m about 20% in and liking it so far although it’s strange to read her Adult fiction!
I have been hearing a lot about this book! I so want to read it. Like Danielle I have been seeing some mixed reviews. Sounds like it’s one of those books where it just connects with some readers and some it doesn’t! I hope I love it!!!
Thanks for the post!!
hi nice to come across ur blog…appreciate your insights and would like you to drop by my blog abou the latest book ive published. Thanks! have a nice day.
I don’t usually read adult books, but I just may have to give this one a shot. Thanks for the review!
Really looking forward to reading this! It sounds like something I would love
I’ll give this one a go, sounds interesting! I like mythology so hopefully it’ll be a great series for me x
Great blog! I stumbled upon the tips for new book bloggers. Thanks for that! Putting your button on my page. 🙂
Lis Ann @ The Indigo Quill
http://theindigoquill.blogspot.com
This book was my introduction to Mead but I will definitely want to check out more of her writing! I really wish there had been more to the worldbuilding as I was quite confused but I will look forward to future books clearing that up.
I admittedly have yet to read anything by Richelle Mead…and I was hoping to do so with this one because the premise JUST SOUNDS SO GOOD! But I think I might have to reconsider that. Thank you for the review.
Lilian @ A Novel Toybox
I love Richelle’s YA books but this fell way short for me. I actually couldn’t finish it. 🙁
Been seeing a lot of mixed feelings about this one but I really have a thing for mythology. I’ll have to try it out. Great review!
So far I’ve seen a whole lot of back and forth on this one, but I’m really glad to see that you enjoyed it.
I’m a huge fan of all her YA books, but I don’t think this one would appeal to me.
I love all the drama and teenage stuff in her other series – it’s a world I enjoy. This one seems too adult to me, not emotional enough, and although the world seems unique, I don’t think I’d stop thinking her other series are much much better 🙂
Lovely review 🙂