Gods of Nabban

Starred review from July 25, 2016
With this superlative follow-up to her Marakand series, set in a intriguing fantasy world, Johansen (The Lady) continues the story of erstwhile assassin and king Ahjvar and his traveling companion, the former slave Ghu, in rich, nuanced, and often poetic prose. Dying gods are calling to Ghu from his distant native land of Nabban, so he and Ahjvar brave the deprivation and dangers of the wilds to travel east from the kingdom of Praitan. War grips Nabban as a princess declares herself empress and daughter of the old great gods, while a prince revolts in the north and a group of queens called the Wild Girls lead their own army in the southern jungles. As Ghu and Ahjvar near Nabban, they are joined by Yeh-Lin Dotemon, an ageless devil-bonded wizard and former empress of Nabban, who comes to make amends for her past by pledging her service to the duo. Dreams and portents flow through these pages and unseen powers play their own games. While Ahjvar and Ghu stand at the foreground of the canvas, Johansen fills the scene with a myriad of finely drawn characters and breathtaking landscapes. Johansen’s latest is not to be missed.

September 1, 2016
Ghu, a former slave, is called back to Nabban by the ancient, dying gods of the land. Ahjvar, still troubled by dreams but freed from the possession that caused his torments, accompanies him. The empire is in turmoila prophet sentenced to death is at the center of a series of events that will shatter the Peony Throneand with the emperor dead, a newly declared empress, who claims to be beloved of the gods, and the rebel prince Dan fight for the very soul of the empire. There are others who come to join Ghu and Ahjvarfrom the servants of the former empress and legendary demon Yeh Lin to one of the Wild Sistersas they journey to destroy the evil at the heart of the empire and make good on promises of freedom and a better world. Matters, of course, come to a head. It's not an easy story, but the way the many characters come together for an epic denouement is satisfying. This is a solid epic fantasy world, with a dense and twisting plot, well-humanized larger-than-life characters, and world-changing sociopolitical upheaval.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)