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The Gamble of the Godless
"Avin del Bors has a problem. His brother Drew has run off to fight in a war against the wolves, even though the wolves weren’t responsible for the vicious attack against the humans on the Free Plains. Avin’s companions—the warrior Ax, one-armed sorcerer Jocen, plucky owl Ulkia, drug-addled cheetah Summon the Wind and raccoon stand-up comic Onesso—all have their own reasons for accompanying him through the animal territories across the Bladebone Mountains. Their travels will take them from the highly regimented wolf cities, to the richesse and luxury of the Equine Commonwealth, all the way to the vertiginous tunnels of the serpents’ underground Net and across the waters of the Autonomous Dolphin Collective—to whatever unknown awaits them.
What neither Avin nor his companions yet understand is that the real force behind the Free Plains attack is neither canine nor feline, nor yet crocodile, insect, raptor, bear or shark. Far to the east, in the scorched wasteland known as The Barrens, lives the ragged clan that calls itself The Godless. There, Avin will confront his brother, his companions and himself, and discover two truths: one that changes everything he understands about himself, and another that threatens the balance of the entire world.
What neither Avin nor his companions yet understand is that the real force behind the Free Plains attack is neither canine nor feline, nor yet crocodile, insect, raptor, bear or shark. Far to the east, in the scorched wasteland known as The Barrens, lives the ragged clan that calls itself The Godless. There, Avin will confront his brother, his companions and himself, and discover two truths: one that changes everything he understands about himself, and another that threatens the balance of the entire world.
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First published July 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 24, 2011
Gamble of the Godless is a fun and inventive fantasy story that avoids a lot of the genre cliche. This is a fun a world where animals talk and your head can explode if someone looks at you funny. It makes good use of animals - their social structures and speech patterns vary widely enough to make them unique. They do not fall into the usual traps of talking animals; these are not cutesy, and they are not just humans in animal clothing. Some speak in metaphor, and others use awesome dialogue tags like snarlbarked.
This follows the adventure of Avin, farmboy-come-hero. The characters who surround him are charming. There's a horse with a past, an explosives-wielding raccoon, a tiny owl, and a mysteriously eloquent soldier. But the female characters were the strongest. I took an immediate liking to the feisty, one-armed sorceress, and Summon-the-Wind, a drug-addicted cheetah, was definitely my favorite.
While this book is not as dark as my usual fantasy picks, it was enjoyable and a nice variation from the norm. I recommend this book to anyone searching for an elf-free fantasy tale--and especially to those of you who are cheetah aficionados. It’s a stellar example of an Indie publication: well-written and professionally edited.
This follows the adventure of Avin, farmboy-come-hero. The characters who surround him are charming. There's a horse with a past, an explosives-wielding raccoon, a tiny owl, and a mysteriously eloquent soldier. But the female characters were the strongest. I took an immediate liking to the feisty, one-armed sorceress, and Summon-the-Wind, a drug-addicted cheetah, was definitely my favorite.
While this book is not as dark as my usual fantasy picks, it was enjoyable and a nice variation from the norm. I recommend this book to anyone searching for an elf-free fantasy tale--and especially to those of you who are cheetah aficionados. It’s a stellar example of an Indie publication: well-written and professionally edited.
April 1, 2017
from author
Read 8/7/11 - 8/14/11
4 Stars: Strongly Recommended
Pgs: 347
For those of you who have read his previous novels, when you think of David Maine, you think literary biblical fiction, because in your mind, the two have always gone hand in hand.
And ok, if you're a fan like me, you could argue that his 2008 release Monster, 1959 was a departure from his bible-related past, although I would argue back that it still held it's own in the literary arena.
Well, folks, David has turned the tables on us, yet again! Not only has he temporarily left the realm of St. Martin's Press - publisher of his 4 previous novels - he also leaves behind traditional paper novels for eBooks (GASP!) and plunges head first into an entirely new genre - one that is filled with characters and situations typical of science fiction and fantasy books.
Now, while I tend to get extremely upset when my favorite bands change their musical style (I'm looking at you R.E.M. and U2 - who kicked ass in the 80's and early 90's, then sold out and left me angry and confused from the mid 90's straight through to present day) I tend to be more forgiving with my favorite authors.
A departure from what was once an author's niche may run the risk of alienating readers, yet if done well, can demonstrate their flexibility and increase their readership. I am convinced that The Gamble of the Godless will prove to be the latter.
If I'm being honest, and my near and dear TNBBCer's know I am nothing if not honest, lovers of the science fiction and fantasy novels are among the most passionate, if not sometimes incredibly odd, readers. I'm thinking Star Trek, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings kind of readers... "Thou shalt not take JRR Tolkien's name in vain" kind of passionate!
While I am not sure David's Godless will spawn fan-fiction hard-core groupies, I do know that it is an excellent gateway novel for those who are considering testing the Sci-Fi / Fantasy waters. And from the reviews that are quickly pouring in, it's quite the hit with genre fans as well. Like any sci-fi novel, Godless requires some suspension of belief to fully enjoy the adventures that our protagonist Avin and his friends find themselves in the thick of, it's a fun read that you will find yourself easily slipping into.
Avin, a simple naive farm boy who does as he is told, heads out into Animal Territories when he discovers that his older brother ran off to join the Humans against their war with the Wolves. As he and his new friends Ax the Warrior and Jocen the One-Armed Sorcerer head out in search of Drew, they acquire a rag tag team of animals who accompany them on their journey - an owl who cannot lie, a drug addicted Cheetah, a sling-shot toting Raccoon, among others. Of course, the deeper they tread through the animal cities, the more they discover that this war may be much bigger and more sinister than they had originally suspected.
At it's core, it's a story of friendship and loyalty, and of not judging a book by its cover. It puts family and trust at the forefront, though it does come with its wicked little web of secrets as well. And for David, it's a return to a genre he has loved since he was a little boy.
Read 8/7/11 - 8/14/11
4 Stars: Strongly Recommended
Pgs: 347
For those of you who have read his previous novels, when you think of David Maine, you think literary biblical fiction, because in your mind, the two have always gone hand in hand.
And ok, if you're a fan like me, you could argue that his 2008 release Monster, 1959 was a departure from his bible-related past, although I would argue back that it still held it's own in the literary arena.
Well, folks, David has turned the tables on us, yet again! Not only has he temporarily left the realm of St. Martin's Press - publisher of his 4 previous novels - he also leaves behind traditional paper novels for eBooks (GASP!) and plunges head first into an entirely new genre - one that is filled with characters and situations typical of science fiction and fantasy books.
Now, while I tend to get extremely upset when my favorite bands change their musical style (I'm looking at you R.E.M. and U2 - who kicked ass in the 80's and early 90's, then sold out and left me angry and confused from the mid 90's straight through to present day) I tend to be more forgiving with my favorite authors.
A departure from what was once an author's niche may run the risk of alienating readers, yet if done well, can demonstrate their flexibility and increase their readership. I am convinced that The Gamble of the Godless will prove to be the latter.
If I'm being honest, and my near and dear TNBBCer's know I am nothing if not honest, lovers of the science fiction and fantasy novels are among the most passionate, if not sometimes incredibly odd, readers. I'm thinking Star Trek, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings kind of readers... "Thou shalt not take JRR Tolkien's name in vain" kind of passionate!
While I am not sure David's Godless will spawn fan-fiction hard-core groupies, I do know that it is an excellent gateway novel for those who are considering testing the Sci-Fi / Fantasy waters. And from the reviews that are quickly pouring in, it's quite the hit with genre fans as well. Like any sci-fi novel, Godless requires some suspension of belief to fully enjoy the adventures that our protagonist Avin and his friends find themselves in the thick of, it's a fun read that you will find yourself easily slipping into.
Avin, a simple naive farm boy who does as he is told, heads out into Animal Territories when he discovers that his older brother ran off to join the Humans against their war with the Wolves. As he and his new friends Ax the Warrior and Jocen the One-Armed Sorcerer head out in search of Drew, they acquire a rag tag team of animals who accompany them on their journey - an owl who cannot lie, a drug addicted Cheetah, a sling-shot toting Raccoon, among others. Of course, the deeper they tread through the animal cities, the more they discover that this war may be much bigger and more sinister than they had originally suspected.
At it's core, it's a story of friendship and loyalty, and of not judging a book by its cover. It puts family and trust at the forefront, though it does come with its wicked little web of secrets as well. And for David, it's a return to a genre he has loved since he was a little boy.
February 17, 2012
First thing to know, this is a great book. Maybe not 5 stars, classic-like-LotR-classic, but Goodreads doesn't let you give half stars, so 5 stars it is.
I've read a lot of fantasy, and I'm always looking for something that can inject fresh life into old forms, and this book does that. So that's a big part of my enthusiasm here. You might not share my enthusiasm if a.) you're perfectly happy reading the retreads that get published year after year, and/or b.) you're not really interested in a quirky spin on things.
The story here follows a farm kid named Avin as he goes off in search of his brother Drew, who has run off into (probably) trouble. Drew is older but he's actually not as savvy as Avin, who figures out the way of the world as he goes. Avin picks up a number of companions: a warrior, a sorcerer (with one arm!) a grumpy horse, a telepathic owl, and a cheetah who's a drug-addicted wreck (think feline meth-head and you're on the right track). Also a raccoon who is there pretty much for comic relief but who also has a slingshot that fires hand grenades.
See what I mean by "fresh life" and "quirky spin on things?" This isn't your typical medieval, western Europe, knights and kings and maidens stuff. (Though I love that stuff too, I really do.) These offbeat characters are all products of their equally unique social backgrounds. We get some scenes in the various animal territories--canines and felines, snakes and bears--so there's a real sense of this huge world out there to be explaored. The writer wisely doesn't try to do it all in one book, you get the feeling that there are plenty of oither stories to be told in this world, which makes this a terrific setup for a whole series (I hope!).
Also, different animal species have different language quirks. Everybody speaks the same language called "Common" but not everyone speaks it the same way. This is pretty clever and adds to the sense of foreignness.
The other thing I have to mention is the magic system. It is, as far as magic can be, perfectly logical. By that I mean, the limitations are laid out, and then adhered to. Using magic takes energy, just like physical effort does, and people get tired and have to stop, and some people are stronger than others, and different animals have different tendencies... there's no hidden magical cure-all "Then he waved his wand and destroyed everything" moment. It's really satisfting for for someone like me, who loves magical elements in fantasy but who gets frustrated sometimes at how magic is used as an easy out.
Last word: read it if you like fantasy, esp if you feel the genre is in danger of getting stale.
I've read a lot of fantasy, and I'm always looking for something that can inject fresh life into old forms, and this book does that. So that's a big part of my enthusiasm here. You might not share my enthusiasm if a.) you're perfectly happy reading the retreads that get published year after year, and/or b.) you're not really interested in a quirky spin on things.
The story here follows a farm kid named Avin as he goes off in search of his brother Drew, who has run off into (probably) trouble. Drew is older but he's actually not as savvy as Avin, who figures out the way of the world as he goes. Avin picks up a number of companions: a warrior, a sorcerer (with one arm!) a grumpy horse, a telepathic owl, and a cheetah who's a drug-addicted wreck (think feline meth-head and you're on the right track). Also a raccoon who is there pretty much for comic relief but who also has a slingshot that fires hand grenades.
See what I mean by "fresh life" and "quirky spin on things?" This isn't your typical medieval, western Europe, knights and kings and maidens stuff. (Though I love that stuff too, I really do.) These offbeat characters are all products of their equally unique social backgrounds. We get some scenes in the various animal territories--canines and felines, snakes and bears--so there's a real sense of this huge world out there to be explaored. The writer wisely doesn't try to do it all in one book, you get the feeling that there are plenty of oither stories to be told in this world, which makes this a terrific setup for a whole series (I hope!).
Also, different animal species have different language quirks. Everybody speaks the same language called "Common" but not everyone speaks it the same way. This is pretty clever and adds to the sense of foreignness.
The other thing I have to mention is the magic system. It is, as far as magic can be, perfectly logical. By that I mean, the limitations are laid out, and then adhered to. Using magic takes energy, just like physical effort does, and people get tired and have to stop, and some people are stronger than others, and different animals have different tendencies... there's no hidden magical cure-all "Then he waved his wand and destroyed everything" moment. It's really satisfting for for someone like me, who loves magical elements in fantasy but who gets frustrated sometimes at how magic is used as an easy out.
Last word: read it if you like fantasy, esp if you feel the genre is in danger of getting stale.
August 10, 2011
The Gamble of the Godless by David Maine follows the young man Avin as he travels a rather unique world. The races are not defined by skin color or the commonly seen human, dwarf, elf, etc, they are divided by animal species. Each species' language defined by their specific way of viewing life.
When an army is massacred not far from Avin's family farm he meets the lone survivor Ax. Even though Ax would have been his enemy if his army had not been wiped out Avin takes pity on him and gives him food and shelter. Learning that the Canine Kingdom is suspected of the attack Avin and Ax go to find out more from a nearby village. Finding out that the warring kingdoms of the humans are allying to get revenge against the canines they return to the farm with the intent of joining the army. Along the way the realize that not all is as it seems though Avin's brother has run off to join in the killing of the canines. Avin goes to bring his brother home while Ax is motivated by avenging all of his comrades.
In their travels through all the kingdoms they meet many interesting creatures including a human sorceress trained by snakes, a horse spy, a comedian raccoon, a snake sorcerer, an owl, a drug addicted cheetah, and many more animals from the various species.
I had a lot of fun reading this book with it's unique rules for interaction between the races. The cultural differences are much more pronounced than is normally found in fantasy novels which led to some interesting difficulties for the group as they traveled through the various regions. I did find the canines method of speaking to be kind of annoying at times, but the group was not really around them for any great amount of time so that is a minor thing. Avin was a well written young man out seeing the world for the first time. He often had no idea what was going on or how to act/react in the situations they found themselves in, but proved to be a quick learner. Avin also seemed to have a very good heart which inspired loyalty from the various species in the group.
Overall this was a fun read and I am very much looking forward to the next chapter in the story.
Review copy provided by the author.
When an army is massacred not far from Avin's family farm he meets the lone survivor Ax. Even though Ax would have been his enemy if his army had not been wiped out Avin takes pity on him and gives him food and shelter. Learning that the Canine Kingdom is suspected of the attack Avin and Ax go to find out more from a nearby village. Finding out that the warring kingdoms of the humans are allying to get revenge against the canines they return to the farm with the intent of joining the army. Along the way the realize that not all is as it seems though Avin's brother has run off to join in the killing of the canines. Avin goes to bring his brother home while Ax is motivated by avenging all of his comrades.
In their travels through all the kingdoms they meet many interesting creatures including a human sorceress trained by snakes, a horse spy, a comedian raccoon, a snake sorcerer, an owl, a drug addicted cheetah, and many more animals from the various species.
I had a lot of fun reading this book with it's unique rules for interaction between the races. The cultural differences are much more pronounced than is normally found in fantasy novels which led to some interesting difficulties for the group as they traveled through the various regions. I did find the canines method of speaking to be kind of annoying at times, but the group was not really around them for any great amount of time so that is a minor thing. Avin was a well written young man out seeing the world for the first time. He often had no idea what was going on or how to act/react in the situations they found themselves in, but proved to be a quick learner. Avin also seemed to have a very good heart which inspired loyalty from the various species in the group.
Overall this was a fun read and I am very much looking forward to the next chapter in the story.
Review copy provided by the author.
April 5, 2012
OMG Great book!! Wasn't sure I liked it at first because it was all about war and armies and blah blah. I thought there were supposed to be animals, what is this Game of Thrones??? lol. Anyway the animals shows up pretty soon, along with sorcerers and all kinds of world-building and it turned out to be a terrific book to get lost in. The world is way too big for just a single book so I'm glad there are more on the way! My favorite characters were Summon the Wind (a badass cheetah lol) and Jocen, a human sorcerer who's a good strong female character. But all the characters are good and they all have different ways of talking, not confusing, just different enough. Really good book all around.
October 25, 2025
First book I've read by this author and really enjoyed it.
January 19, 2012
WHAT I THOUGHT
Impressive is what I thought.
Picture this – human beings have destroyed the earth, they stuffed up and put a huge dent in creation. The gods (yes, plural, I will get to that in a minute) have decided all creatures should live separately and not seek dominance over one another, all are equal. Separate territories are created for each set of animals and each territory comes with its own language, or way of speaking, and its own way of living. Each territory also has its own god: there is a god of humans, a god of woodland animals, a god of swift-running predators, a god of hoofed animals, et cetera, et cetera, you get the point. As well-intentioned as the gods are you just know this set-up sounds too good to be true, too good to last. It seems early on that the humans are in a war against the wolves.
It seems that the plan is not going the way the gods thought it would. It seems we have an adventure on our hands!
The beginning had me, I was in and I wanted more. This idea of separate territories, different gods and a supposed order of the world was definitely intriguing.
After the introduction it was time to meet the characters. I loved how Maine did this, slowly but surely. Rather than introduce all of the main characters in one chapter they were spread over several chapters. I loved learning about each character’s society. It really is like another world and Dave Maine has created this amazing world by providing the reader with all of the important details in such a way it seemed to me that every sentence was especially crafted. In my opinion it definitely feels as though a lot of work has gone into this epic fantasy known as The Gamble of the Godless and although Maine is not usually known for fantasy work such as this, it certainly seems as though he is no stranger to the genre. He knows what he’s doing!
The characters maketh the story! I’m sure everyone who reads this book will have a favourite by the end of it. I loved them all, even if they were ‘baddies’, and I loved the way they lived and how they talked, how law and order was practiced and how they viewed the world. Whether your favourite be a human, a sorcerer, an owl, a cheetah, a raccoon, a horse, a snake or one of the other countless animals in this story there is no doubt your favourite is so because of the way Maine has managed to give him/her/it a ‘realness’ and has been able to describe the character without the feeling of one dimensionality. Don’t call me crazy - perhaps I shouldn’t say it, but I will – they felt like real people/animals, like they could seriously be living in the hills near my house. Just goes to show what a way with words Mr Maine has. Oh, and by the way, I will disclose that Ulkia the owl was my favourite – I’d love for her to land on my fence one day!
So many characters are joined together, so many happenings take place, so many reasons to keep this series going and so many reasons to read the next book! If you haven’t read this one already you should. Explore this fantasy world, let Maine’s writing explain to you the details and let it excite you! Explore, explain, excite!
Many thanks to Dave Maine for providing me with a copy of The Gamble of the Godless – thanks, Dave!
Impressive is what I thought.
Picture this – human beings have destroyed the earth, they stuffed up and put a huge dent in creation. The gods (yes, plural, I will get to that in a minute) have decided all creatures should live separately and not seek dominance over one another, all are equal. Separate territories are created for each set of animals and each territory comes with its own language, or way of speaking, and its own way of living. Each territory also has its own god: there is a god of humans, a god of woodland animals, a god of swift-running predators, a god of hoofed animals, et cetera, et cetera, you get the point. As well-intentioned as the gods are you just know this set-up sounds too good to be true, too good to last. It seems early on that the humans are in a war against the wolves.
It seems that the plan is not going the way the gods thought it would. It seems we have an adventure on our hands!
The beginning had me, I was in and I wanted more. This idea of separate territories, different gods and a supposed order of the world was definitely intriguing.
After the introduction it was time to meet the characters. I loved how Maine did this, slowly but surely. Rather than introduce all of the main characters in one chapter they were spread over several chapters. I loved learning about each character’s society. It really is like another world and Dave Maine has created this amazing world by providing the reader with all of the important details in such a way it seemed to me that every sentence was especially crafted. In my opinion it definitely feels as though a lot of work has gone into this epic fantasy known as The Gamble of the Godless and although Maine is not usually known for fantasy work such as this, it certainly seems as though he is no stranger to the genre. He knows what he’s doing!
The characters maketh the story! I’m sure everyone who reads this book will have a favourite by the end of it. I loved them all, even if they were ‘baddies’, and I loved the way they lived and how they talked, how law and order was practiced and how they viewed the world. Whether your favourite be a human, a sorcerer, an owl, a cheetah, a raccoon, a horse, a snake or one of the other countless animals in this story there is no doubt your favourite is so because of the way Maine has managed to give him/her/it a ‘realness’ and has been able to describe the character without the feeling of one dimensionality. Don’t call me crazy - perhaps I shouldn’t say it, but I will – they felt like real people/animals, like they could seriously be living in the hills near my house. Just goes to show what a way with words Mr Maine has. Oh, and by the way, I will disclose that Ulkia the owl was my favourite – I’d love for her to land on my fence one day!
So many characters are joined together, so many happenings take place, so many reasons to keep this series going and so many reasons to read the next book! If you haven’t read this one already you should. Explore this fantasy world, let Maine’s writing explain to you the details and let it excite you! Explore, explain, excite!
Many thanks to Dave Maine for providing me with a copy of The Gamble of the Godless – thanks, Dave!
August 16, 2011
I read David Maine's The Preservationist a few years ago and liked it a lot, so when I heard he had another book out, I was intrigued. When I heard it was a fantasy novel, I was even more intrigued.
All I can say is—the author didn't let me down. The Gamble of the Godless is a very original fantasy, one that immerses you in a detailed world without sacrificing pace or story. Most fantasy emphasizes either one or the other, either going off on long tangents to describe the world and its backstory, or else pushing ahead with plot and leaving you scratching your head about "What the heck is eldritch fire, anyway?" This book manages to strike a balance, largely because the main character Avin is a provincial kid who doesn't know any more than we do. So as he learns about the world, so do we. It's a clever way to do it, especially because it lets the author teach us exactly as much as we need to understand the world as we go along.
As for the world: it's divided into territories, but instead of elves and orcs and dragons and whatnot, the socieities are made of wolves and snakes, owls and dolphins, felines (cheetahs and tigers mainly) and bears etc. The author has a pretty good time giving them each their own personalities, their national characteristic so to speak, and also language quirks. The wolves speak in metaphors, the apes only talk in the present tense etc. This might sound confusing but its actually makes complete sense when you read it, and it adds to the feeling of being in a foreign place. There's also a magical system at work which is logical and laid out clearly, and follows its own rules.
The story itself is a standard quest as the boy goes to find his brother and accumulates a band of companions who battle a big evil at the end. It's nothing new but it grows more complex as the story progesses, and resolves in the end in a satisfying way. One of the other reviewers compared the author to Tolkein, which is a bit much, but I’ll agree that this is a lively fun read. If it's the first of a series, then maybe one day it will be seen as this author's version of The Hobbit. 4 and half stars rounded up to 5.
All I can say is—the author didn't let me down. The Gamble of the Godless is a very original fantasy, one that immerses you in a detailed world without sacrificing pace or story. Most fantasy emphasizes either one or the other, either going off on long tangents to describe the world and its backstory, or else pushing ahead with plot and leaving you scratching your head about "What the heck is eldritch fire, anyway?" This book manages to strike a balance, largely because the main character Avin is a provincial kid who doesn't know any more than we do. So as he learns about the world, so do we. It's a clever way to do it, especially because it lets the author teach us exactly as much as we need to understand the world as we go along.
As for the world: it's divided into territories, but instead of elves and orcs and dragons and whatnot, the socieities are made of wolves and snakes, owls and dolphins, felines (cheetahs and tigers mainly) and bears etc. The author has a pretty good time giving them each their own personalities, their national characteristic so to speak, and also language quirks. The wolves speak in metaphors, the apes only talk in the present tense etc. This might sound confusing but its actually makes complete sense when you read it, and it adds to the feeling of being in a foreign place. There's also a magical system at work which is logical and laid out clearly, and follows its own rules.
The story itself is a standard quest as the boy goes to find his brother and accumulates a band of companions who battle a big evil at the end. It's nothing new but it grows more complex as the story progesses, and resolves in the end in a satisfying way. One of the other reviewers compared the author to Tolkein, which is a bit much, but I’ll agree that this is a lively fun read. If it's the first of a series, then maybe one day it will be seen as this author's version of The Hobbit. 4 and half stars rounded up to 5.
September 30, 2011
Avin saw nothing wrong with helping a soldier get back on his feet. He also saw nothing wrong with walking into town with him to hear the news. You see, Avin has dreams and his seem to come true or have already happened. His dream of a fierce battle had borne fruit in the battle that Ax (the soldier) had been in. Most had been slaughtered.
Through various means, Ax and Avin, along with Jocelyn the hired sorcerer, acquire traveling companions of the creature kind: Benn the horse and Ulkia the owl. They are captured by the wolves and tried for killing a Mantid (possibly a praying mantis-type critter) and an Alpha wolf in battle. Ulkia gets them off just in time and they agree to take another captive of the Wolf Tribe to the border with them. Which is how a cheetah named Summon the Wind becomes part of the group.
The land is in an uproar. Each beast has it’s own land, each human is prey and somehow the humans need badly to win this confrontation. Will Avin and Ax find Avin’s brother in one piece or will the fact that Drew joined up with the Godless ruin Avin’s hopes forever?
This book was quite interesting. I didn’t really like it at first but, as I read on, it caught me. Who doesn’t want their brother to be a good guy? Summon the Wind was a riot! Wait until you read about the cheetahs (basically dopers in disguise) and the Equine Empire. You will love it. Dave Maine has a winner in this tale and hopefully the beginning of many more.
Through various means, Ax and Avin, along with Jocelyn the hired sorcerer, acquire traveling companions of the creature kind: Benn the horse and Ulkia the owl. They are captured by the wolves and tried for killing a Mantid (possibly a praying mantis-type critter) and an Alpha wolf in battle. Ulkia gets them off just in time and they agree to take another captive of the Wolf Tribe to the border with them. Which is how a cheetah named Summon the Wind becomes part of the group.
The land is in an uproar. Each beast has it’s own land, each human is prey and somehow the humans need badly to win this confrontation. Will Avin and Ax find Avin’s brother in one piece or will the fact that Drew joined up with the Godless ruin Avin’s hopes forever?
This book was quite interesting. I didn’t really like it at first but, as I read on, it caught me. Who doesn’t want their brother to be a good guy? Summon the Wind was a riot! Wait until you read about the cheetahs (basically dopers in disguise) and the Equine Empire. You will love it. Dave Maine has a winner in this tale and hopefully the beginning of many more.
August 11, 2011
This book follows the adventures of Avin and the creatures he meets along the way. A journey and an adventure is hardly a way to describe this book. I feel the word Epic is the only word to do it justice. The characters that David Maine utilizes are absolutely wonderful. I felt an attachment to the characters that I have not felt for quite some time. I was reminded of how I felt while reading Tolkien for the first time. The creatures that David Maine creates and the way he explains how they act, speak, and react is absolutely wonderful.
The different ways of communicating are interesting, especially in the canine realm. I loved this because the way they spoke is unique, something that isnt found anywhere. If dogs could talk, that is how I would love them to talk. The journey leads through happiness, sadness, joy, and confusion (not necessarily in that order). The emotional roller coaster was great and the language of the books is easy to read and understand.
This Epic adventure is a wonder to read. I enjoyed every minute and I cannot wait until the next one surfaces. David Maine enthralled me all through the journey. His characters are brilliant and exciting. I absolutely loved Summon the Wind and Ax. Thank you David and please write more!
The different ways of communicating are interesting, especially in the canine realm. I loved this because the way they spoke is unique, something that isnt found anywhere. If dogs could talk, that is how I would love them to talk. The journey leads through happiness, sadness, joy, and confusion (not necessarily in that order). The emotional roller coaster was great and the language of the books is easy to read and understand.
This Epic adventure is a wonder to read. I enjoyed every minute and I cannot wait until the next one surfaces. David Maine enthralled me all through the journey. His characters are brilliant and exciting. I absolutely loved Summon the Wind and Ax. Thank you David and please write more!
Want to read
June 10, 2012Could someone please buy me a Kindle or Nook or whatever so I can finally read this book? Please? Anyone?
August 3, 2016
Apologies for the lazy review, but it's simple: it's by David Maine, so (a) it's like nothing else; and (b) it's really good.
March 19, 2012
I will start this all off by declaring that I was given an advanced copy by the author. Half way through, I bought a copy. 4.5 out of 5 stars for some reason it’s not an option.
If you want a synopsis there are a few here already, I’m not going to bother with one.
David Maine first caught my attention sometime around 2006 with his novel ‘The Preservationist’. Truthfully, it was the handsome hardcover that attracted me, then I realized I was a take on the Noah’s Ark story and I was sold. I was a well written book, and I enjoyed it. David has done two more Biblically inspired tales since then. After those he took a complete left turn and wrote a pulp, sci/fi, monster mashup called ‘Monster 1959’. It was enjoyable, but a bit unexpected, and in my opinion a step down from his previous stuff.
Now David (or Dave to you fantasy fans) has turned around again and pulled a fantasy novel out of his writers trunk. Apparently this is some old stuff that he rewrote, that is now exclusively available for E-book.
E-book!?
Before you roll your eyes and stop reading this, let it be known, this may be his best book yet.
I used to be a huge fantasy fan. Tolkien, Goodkind, Eddings etc. Slowly my appetite for it died. Perhaps I was choosing bad books, of perhaps fantasy went through a lull in quality, but I just wasn’t doing it for me anymore. There was too much derivative garbage out there. I slowly moved toward literary fiction, and became shy of fantasy.
Then I heard David Maine was writing a fantasy novel. I always give authors that have previously entertained me a chance, regardless of genre (except “romance” please David never!) so long story short, I got an ARC of ‘Gamble of the Godless’.
From the first chapter I was hooked. The writing is fast and easy. The dialogue is reasonably realistic, and best part, no elves, orcs, giants or dragons to be found! Don’t get me wrong, I love myth and folktales, and all the fantastical creatures out there, but the fantasy genre needs a little fresh blood, and here it is.
The book is full of action and adventure. Talking animals and their cultures are abundant. Magic is used in a way that makes sense, with rules and a certain amount of logic. One thing that I found the most interesting is how much humour is present. I found myself laughing often, but it’s not funny in a Terry Pratchett way… in other words it’s not a farce, or goofy.
The story is simple. It’s a fish out of water story, which lends itself well to us, the readers, as we are also fish out of water in this world. The hero is on a quest, so there is a lot of adventurous stuff going on. It is also a bit of a buddy story, and I liked that. It gave the story a touch of humanity that is often missing in fantasy.
I do have one small complaint. I wanted more depth. I found the world David Maine created to be very interesting, and I wanted a little more detail. Not so much as to slow the story down , but a little more. So as far as complaints go, that’s not too bad. I wanted more.
If you want a synopsis there are a few here already, I’m not going to bother with one.
David Maine first caught my attention sometime around 2006 with his novel ‘The Preservationist’. Truthfully, it was the handsome hardcover that attracted me, then I realized I was a take on the Noah’s Ark story and I was sold. I was a well written book, and I enjoyed it. David has done two more Biblically inspired tales since then. After those he took a complete left turn and wrote a pulp, sci/fi, monster mashup called ‘Monster 1959’. It was enjoyable, but a bit unexpected, and in my opinion a step down from his previous stuff.
Now David (or Dave to you fantasy fans) has turned around again and pulled a fantasy novel out of his writers trunk. Apparently this is some old stuff that he rewrote, that is now exclusively available for E-book.
E-book!?
Before you roll your eyes and stop reading this, let it be known, this may be his best book yet.
I used to be a huge fantasy fan. Tolkien, Goodkind, Eddings etc. Slowly my appetite for it died. Perhaps I was choosing bad books, of perhaps fantasy went through a lull in quality, but I just wasn’t doing it for me anymore. There was too much derivative garbage out there. I slowly moved toward literary fiction, and became shy of fantasy.
Then I heard David Maine was writing a fantasy novel. I always give authors that have previously entertained me a chance, regardless of genre (except “romance” please David never!) so long story short, I got an ARC of ‘Gamble of the Godless’.
From the first chapter I was hooked. The writing is fast and easy. The dialogue is reasonably realistic, and best part, no elves, orcs, giants or dragons to be found! Don’t get me wrong, I love myth and folktales, and all the fantastical creatures out there, but the fantasy genre needs a little fresh blood, and here it is.
The book is full of action and adventure. Talking animals and their cultures are abundant. Magic is used in a way that makes sense, with rules and a certain amount of logic. One thing that I found the most interesting is how much humour is present. I found myself laughing often, but it’s not funny in a Terry Pratchett way… in other words it’s not a farce, or goofy.
The story is simple. It’s a fish out of water story, which lends itself well to us, the readers, as we are also fish out of water in this world. The hero is on a quest, so there is a lot of adventurous stuff going on. It is also a bit of a buddy story, and I liked that. It gave the story a touch of humanity that is often missing in fantasy.
I do have one small complaint. I wanted more depth. I found the world David Maine created to be very interesting, and I wanted a little more detail. Not so much as to slow the story down , but a little more. So as far as complaints go, that’s not too bad. I wanted more.
September 15, 2011
I loved this book! The Gamble of the Godless begins when a lone survivor of the Emperor’s army makes a midnight visit to our hero Avin’s farm. He tells the frightening tale of an unprecedented ambush by an army of wolves who have crossed the mountains. Sixteen hundred soldiers, brutally massacred. When the news reaches the human cities men are called to muster for a counter attack on the great wolf cities Alpha & Gamma. Avin’s older brother rushes ahead of the army looking for payback… but we soon learn that the wolves were not responsible. Someone is working hard start a war between this world’s two greatest military forces – wolves and men. Avin and his new friends find themselves on a quest to figure out who is behind the plot, locate Avin’s brother before he gets himself killed and stop a war that will leave all the human kingdoms & animal territories vulnerable.
This is a fantasy novel, and we all know fantasy plots follow a formula. Harry Potter or George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire – strip them down and the difference between the two series is negligable. Bad guys intent on world domination; shadowy armies forming in the North/East/West/South; a courageous band of heroes rushing to save the day. Authors like Tolkien and Martin go for a more epic scope (usually accomplished by adding more characters) but the fundamentals of the storyline always remain the same. That’s how it should be.
Because fantasy novels are character driven.
David Maine has created a wonderful cast of characters and a elaborately detailed world. Avin the farm boy, Ax the soldier and Jocen the one armed sorcerer might not be all that unusual. But add a brave little owl, a cheetah in search of her next chuya grass fix, a horse and a raccoon working for Equine Intelligence – and things quickly get interesting. Their journey will take them from the great wolf cities of Alpha and Gamma, into the underground serpent city known as the Net, across Cheetah Run ruled by the Feline Sisterhood and eventually to the Barrens… where the mysterious Godless and their army waits.
Each species of animal has its own dialect – wolves speak in metaphors, apes can only use the present tense, cats refer to themselves in the third person. Their cities are distinctive and a large portion of The Gamble of the Godless is spent on world-building. All these establishing scenes can become tedious in the hands of a less skilled writer, but Maine does such a good job I found myself glued to the page. I read this book, cover to cover, in two 3-hour sittings. If Book 2 were available, I’d have downloaded it immediately and kept on reading.
This is a fantasy novel, and we all know fantasy plots follow a formula. Harry Potter or George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire – strip them down and the difference between the two series is negligable. Bad guys intent on world domination; shadowy armies forming in the North/East/West/South; a courageous band of heroes rushing to save the day. Authors like Tolkien and Martin go for a more epic scope (usually accomplished by adding more characters) but the fundamentals of the storyline always remain the same. That’s how it should be.
Because fantasy novels are character driven.
David Maine has created a wonderful cast of characters and a elaborately detailed world. Avin the farm boy, Ax the soldier and Jocen the one armed sorcerer might not be all that unusual. But add a brave little owl, a cheetah in search of her next chuya grass fix, a horse and a raccoon working for Equine Intelligence – and things quickly get interesting. Their journey will take them from the great wolf cities of Alpha and Gamma, into the underground serpent city known as the Net, across Cheetah Run ruled by the Feline Sisterhood and eventually to the Barrens… where the mysterious Godless and their army waits.
Each species of animal has its own dialect – wolves speak in metaphors, apes can only use the present tense, cats refer to themselves in the third person. Their cities are distinctive and a large portion of The Gamble of the Godless is spent on world-building. All these establishing scenes can become tedious in the hands of a less skilled writer, but Maine does such a good job I found myself glued to the page. I read this book, cover to cover, in two 3-hour sittings. If Book 2 were available, I’d have downloaded it immediately and kept on reading.
February 15, 2012
Avin saw nothing wrong with helping a soldier get back on his feet. He also saw nothing wrong with walking into town with him to hear the news. You see, Avin has dreams and his seem to come true or have already happened. His dream of a fierce battle had borne fruit in the battle that Ax (the soldier) had been in. Most had been slaughtered.
Through various means, Ax and Avin, along with Jocelyn the hired sorcerer, acquire traveling companions of the creature kind: Benn the horse and Ulkia the owl. They are captured by the wolves and tried for killing a Mantid (possibly a praying mantis-type critter) and an Alpha wolf in battle. Ulkia gets them off just in time and they agree to take another captive of the Wolf Tribe to the border with them. Which is how a cheetah named Summon the Wind becomes part of the group.
The land is in an uproar. Each beast has it’s own land, each human is prey and somehow the humans need badly to win this confrontation. Will Avin and Ax find Avin’s brother in one piece or will the fact that Drew joined up with the Godless ruin Avin’s hopes forever?
This book was quite interesting. I didn’t really like it at first but, as I read on, it caught me. Who doesn’t want their brother to be a good guy? Summon the Wind was a riot! Wait until you read about the cheetahs (basically dopers in disguise) and the Equine Empire. You will love it. Dave Maine has a winner in this tale and hopefully the beginning of many more.
Through various means, Ax and Avin, along with Jocelyn the hired sorcerer, acquire traveling companions of the creature kind: Benn the horse and Ulkia the owl. They are captured by the wolves and tried for killing a Mantid (possibly a praying mantis-type critter) and an Alpha wolf in battle. Ulkia gets them off just in time and they agree to take another captive of the Wolf Tribe to the border with them. Which is how a cheetah named Summon the Wind becomes part of the group.
The land is in an uproar. Each beast has it’s own land, each human is prey and somehow the humans need badly to win this confrontation. Will Avin and Ax find Avin’s brother in one piece or will the fact that Drew joined up with the Godless ruin Avin’s hopes forever?
This book was quite interesting. I didn’t really like it at first but, as I read on, it caught me. Who doesn’t want their brother to be a good guy? Summon the Wind was a riot! Wait until you read about the cheetahs (basically dopers in disguise) and the Equine Empire. You will love it. Dave Maine has a winner in this tale and hopefully the beginning of many more.
November 10, 2011
This was a great story. It's like a cross between Sword of Shannara & David Eddings' Belgariad/Mallorean series. I loved the characters and their interactions w/ each other. It has been awhile since I've read a good fantasy book. It was very hard to put it down-especially towards the end. I am very much looking forward to reading the next one!
April 11, 2012
Good book. Not quite 5 stars but I liked it a lot. Funny in some places but pretty dark in others. People are saying it's not grim like GoT, but I don't know, it gets pretty intense at the end!
it's the first of a series so I'll check out the others when they come out. I like that this story is complete by itself though, no cliffhamger endings!
it's the first of a series so I'll check out the others when they come out. I like that this story is complete by itself though, no cliffhamger endings!
November 3, 2014
Yup, it's tacky to rate my own book but oh well. I just wanted to let people know that the price for Gamble has dropped to 99 cents for now, as I prepare to launch Book II in the series.
Oh and it's a great book BTW! Sorcerers, animal territories, drug addicts, decent farm kids, shifty raccoons, blunt-talking warriors with secrets in their past... You name it, it's in here (somewhere).
Oh and it's a great book BTW! Sorcerers, animal territories, drug addicts, decent farm kids, shifty raccoons, blunt-talking warriors with secrets in their past... You name it, it's in here (somewhere).
August 27, 2011
Really fun book. Not "dark" like GoT, and not long like LOTR. I liked Summon the Wind (the cheetah) and Onesso (the raccoon). Enough action and seriousness for adults, but a good YA book too. No romance or sex, just a missing brother and a quest through an elaborate world. I hope there's a sequel.
September 16, 2011
Good solid fantasy from start to finish. The quest idea is pretty familiar, but the different sociaties of animals--canines and felines and snakes, not elves and dwarves--are what make it sizzle. Now, on to The Hunger Games!
January 8, 2012
I wasn't sure at first but by about 1/3 of the way in I was really enjoying it. There's a lot of world-building and description, but for me what make it worthwhile are the animal kindgoms, which are unique for each one. The second 1/2 really picks up momentum and it ends with a bang!
August 23, 2011
I review this book on TheOpenEnd http://theopenend.com/2011/08/23/book...
March 18, 2012
David needs to stick with the genre he does best....the retelling of legends.
January 26, 2012
Nice to read a book where all the human characters weren't white lol!
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