Great Narrator, Great Book

Like Game of Thrones with a Middle Eastern flavor, then throw in some really cool Lovecraftian stuff. I enjoyed this book. The world building is some of the richest and most detailed I've ever read, especially the religions. There is this place called Labirynthos, which is a great concept that I won't spoil here. At times I got confused about which characters were connected to which other characters, but I think that was mostly because real life got in the way, and I had to take a few long breaks in between readings.

The narrator is definitely among the best I've ever listened to. His accent and tone remind me of Davos from GoT. He does such a great job with all the characters, and giving words the proper amount of emphasis. Some narrators can lull me sleep, but his reading compelled me to listen.

Overall, I highly recommend this audiobook experience. Fantasy in a fresh setting, with great writing and a great narrator.

3 people found this helpful

pretty good start...with some flaws

it is really nice to get a fantasy setting that isn't born out of the Eurocentric aesthetic and in many ways subverts that perspective. there's some definite influences taken here from the Crusades and Classical Mythology but from refreshingly different perspective.

the narrator doesn't have a very broad pallette though so when different characters are speaking I wasn't really clear on who was who. I found myself rewinding to listen to a lot of it over again.

the tone is pretty dark. the characters suffer a lot. there's a character introduced towards the end that is supposed to be comedic and while I wanted it to work...it really didn't.

all in all I understand that this is thus author's first novel. in that case it's an outstanding offering because the flaws concerning tone, pacing and characterization are all issues of craft. this is a great story, just a few flaws in the execution. but flaws that I think will be fixed or overcome in the 2nd book which I am about to use a credit to download.

1 person found this helpful

stick a fork in it this is well-done

a well-written story with great characters and pacing, what else can you ask for

1 person found this helpful

tough to get through

kept waiting for it to get started but it was really tough to finish never really got going for me

1 person found this helpful

Became so invested I picked a side.

First off loved the novel. As a lover of history the blend of the religious zealotry of the crusades, the use of firearms, as well as the fantasy elements were a huge win in my opinion. Became emotionally invested within a few chapters so much I was actually rooting for Kevah. Think saying it’s similar to GOT is apt since the author isn’t afraid to kill important people. Honestly couldn’t put it down. The narration is some of the best I’ve heard on audible. Costani reminded me so much of Constantinople and the religious backgrounds were very hashed out and believable. The twist were unexpected and the ending made me immediately search for book 2 which I bout immediately on Amazon.

1 person found this helpful

Deeply enjoyed this!

I avoided this one for a while, as while I was interested in the Ottoman/Orientalist style of the plot and setting, it sounded like it would be somewhat over the top with power levels or the scale of fantasy. The scale is so far considerably more reasonable than I would have guessed by the book description. I enjoyed that the main character was an embodiment of the themes of comfort, complacency, and decline that was mirrored in his society, prior to the major inciting event. That he was a veteran in decline rather than yet another plucky teen on a hero's journey was a huge plus as well.

I even learned a bit about the production of fermented mare's milk and some aesthetics of steppe culture, that I will be able to take with me in my own novel, Sword and Sand, that will have similar themes from a Persianate lens, with steppe nomads as antagonists.

The villain was particularly cringe in his sanctimony, hypocrisy, and wanton cruelty. But the author did a good job with the self-talk and framework showing his grandiosity with religion as a vehicle.

Wildly Underrated

I really hope this author keeps writing and his work gets discovered by more people.

This book has been compared to game of thrones with a cosmic horror element.
Honestly don’t know if I agree with the comparison but it is definitely significantly better than game of thrones. The religious motivations of the characters are both recognizable and compelling. The characters are simply incredible. I don’t know the last time I’ve seen their like. Both protagonists and antagonists had understandable motivations virtues and flaws. I truly felt bad for them and cheered when they were victorious. All of the character arks were fluid and smooth. But most of all, their interactions were subtle and complex. Even between two people who had never met.
And don’t even get me started on the world building. Really nice balance between hard and soft world building. I love the lovcraftian elements. I also love the way it almost feels like a historical fiction but isn’t.
But even more so, I LOVED the way the two mixed and made me uncomfortable about my own place in the universe.
Again, the best thing about this book is the subtle and complex interactions
Simply brilliant

Complex Gods

Zamil Akhtar crafted a fascinating world in the Gunmetal Gods book. Akhtar peels away the layers slowly, revealing a complex world of vengeful gods utilizing the two protagonists, Micah and Kevah, to try to get the upper hand. Lines are blurred, difficult to say which one is right. Micah’s story seems to be the just one. Then Kevah’s story comes across as the one. But the Gunmetal Gods will have the final say. Will like to re-read it, just to make sure every minute detail is captured from that world. D-Rmz 6-10-22

Great performance, better than good book

I loved this book Gun Metal Gods is a great listen however I came across one downside that could be seen as a good thing by some listeners. It has a break neck pace.

However you rarely get to slow down and really get to learn how characters are feeling. There are some major questions at the end that would change some of the characters and world forever, but most of these just get glossed over and have no real impact on the world. Events just keep happening and you never learn their consequences.

There is however never a dull moment can’t wait to start the second book of the series!! (Sorry if my English is awful)

Terribly Magical

In our world, the Crusades were an unforgivable chapter of history, and the singular desire of the faiths and gods on both sides was bloodshed alone. But what if the gods were so much more terrible? What if the gods were so present - magical and terrible - that faith was a fanciful flight? What would that make men? What then would be worth fighting for?

Please give this book a chance! Powerful, Visceral, Mysterious, and Real... Odds are that you won't be disappointed.