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The Godkindred Saga #1
Flight of the Godkin Griffin
On the eve of her retirement from the army, Mistress Commander Angharad Godkin finds herself re-activated and directed to replace the governor of the newly conquered territory of Shraeven. With its multitude of diverse societies and religions, the province will not be easy to tame; but Angharad has thirty-four years of experience and is determined to succeed—even with the additional challenge of an ex-lover as her second-in-command.
However, what starts out as a seemingly predictable military challenge takes multiple unexpected turns at the hands of Shraeven's rebellious people, their unorthodox beliefs, and their capricious, demanding, and very tangible gods. Angharad quickly finds herself the central piece in a game being fought on too many levels, all of them very foreign to her nature and background.
But if she's being forced to play, she's going to play to win; and everyone may come to regret having gotten her into the game.
However, what starts out as a seemingly predictable military challenge takes multiple unexpected turns at the hands of Shraeven's rebellious people, their unorthodox beliefs, and their capricious, demanding, and very tangible gods. Angharad quickly finds herself the central piece in a game being fought on too many levels, all of them very foreign to her nature and background.
But if she's being forced to play, she's going to play to win; and everyone may come to regret having gotten her into the game.
- GenresFantasy
275 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2012
9 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
M.C.A. Hogarth
145 books387 followersDaughter of two Cuban political exiles, M.C.A. Hogarth was born a foreigner in the American melting pot and has had a fascination for the gaps in cultures and the bridges that span them ever since. She has been many things—-web database architect, product manager, technical writer and massage therapist—-but is currently a full-time parent, artist, writer and anthropologist to aliens, both human and otherwise.
Her fiction has variously been recommended for a Nebula, a finalist for the Spectrum, placed on the secondary Tiptree reading list and chosen for two best-of anthologies; her art has appeared in RPGs, magazines and on book covers.
Her fiction has variously been recommended for a Nebula, a finalist for the Spectrum, placed on the secondary Tiptree reading list and chosen for two best-of anthologies; her art has appeared in RPGs, magazines and on book covers.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 25, 2018
As I have come to expect from Maggie Hogarth, this is a story of powerful characters in an almost alien setting that, nonetheless, echoes real situations in our real world. Well worth reading, but be aware that it's a cliff hanger. Like myself, you will be bound to commit to the sequel, The Godson's Triumph. (And that promises to be yet another total turnaround of everything we think we learned in this book.)
October 14, 2016
The first half of a two-parter, this is another book with an identity crisis, and, again, in a good way. Angharad’s a multi-species hybrid, the titular griffin, the product of an attempt to crossbreed and intermix in the search of bringing about a holy creature on earth, a living god of sorts, perfect in its interbreeding. These are the Godkin. Then there are those who breed ‘true’, ever-closer to a single species, breeding away their sapience and falling into savagery. Or so Angharad’s been led to believe. Assigned to govern a recently conquered province by the Godson, her society’s ruler by right of closeness to their ideal interbred purity, the book sets off on what’s largely a military tale of her march toward what will become her capitol. But, as with many things in this book, nothing’s what it seems.
In some ways the book comes across as light-hearted — and it is. But it’s also deadly serious, where the issue of the Godkins’ proper breeding is thoroughly explored, both in terms of class obligations, denied desires, and the consequences of rape. There’s steamy romance (mostly lesbian), there’s war, there’s class prejudice, there’s a touch of genocide, there’s a cute fox-lady and there’s a bit where Angharad uses her bird-like beak as a spear.
The book’s only problem is that it’s a two-parter, and shows it with a very abrupt ending. Thankfully the sequel (The Godson’s Triumph) is easily acquired!
In some ways the book comes across as light-hearted — and it is. But it’s also deadly serious, where the issue of the Godkins’ proper breeding is thoroughly explored, both in terms of class obligations, denied desires, and the consequences of rape. There’s steamy romance (mostly lesbian), there’s war, there’s class prejudice, there’s a touch of genocide, there’s a cute fox-lady and there’s a bit where Angharad uses her bird-like beak as a spear.
The book’s only problem is that it’s a two-parter, and shows it with a very abrupt ending. Thankfully the sequel (The Godson’s Triumph) is easily acquired!
July 20, 2015
Oh, wow. Another excellent work from someone who is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, period.
I was hooked from the very first page, and my delight only grew with each chapter. The dialogue is engaging and at times outright funny. The book is well-plotted (with one caveat which I will explain in a moment). The prose is wonderfully lyrical in places - I've come to expect that from Hogarth.
Then, too, there is the thematic content. Hogarth skillfully weaves in questions of relationships and children and choice; questions about being human and being divine. I'll admit to being a little uncomfortable with the mongrels at first, and with Angharad's thirst for vengeance, but it's good to read things that push you, that make you think.
Now for the caveat: the book does not conclude. I can't even really say it ends on a cliffhanger - really, it just stops, abruptly. It feels like the end of a chapter, not the end of a book. Not even the end of a "Part I".
When you're introducing a new character and a new plotline at 90+% of the way through the novel...that's a good indication that either you're not finished, or this plotline should belong to the next book.
I think if the book had ended a little earlier, perhaps even just one chapter earlier?
Well. I'm certainly eager for the next one, now.
I was hooked from the very first page, and my delight only grew with each chapter. The dialogue is engaging and at times outright funny. The book is well-plotted (with one caveat which I will explain in a moment). The prose is wonderfully lyrical in places - I've come to expect that from Hogarth.
Then, too, there is the thematic content. Hogarth skillfully weaves in questions of relationships and children and choice; questions about being human and being divine. I'll admit to being a little uncomfortable with the mongrels at first, and with Angharad's thirst for vengeance, but it's good to read things that push you, that make you think.
Now for the caveat: the book does not conclude. I can't even really say it ends on a cliffhanger - really, it just stops, abruptly. It feels like the end of a chapter, not the end of a book. Not even the end of a "Part I".
When you're introducing a new character and a new plotline at 90+% of the way through the novel...that's a good indication that either you're not finished, or this plotline should belong to the next book.
I think if the book had ended a little earlier, perhaps even just one chapter earlier?
Well. I'm certainly eager for the next one, now.
March 26, 2015
If you are pining for a Mercedes-Lackey-style plot, with kingdoms and armies and interfering gods and politics and relationships, except you want all of that with anthropomorphic animals, this is absolutely the book for you.
August 15, 2022
This is something i read a long time ago, and not from a genre i normally review (furry pulp adventure), but i got reminded of it for two reasons:
1° The author seems unusually popular among Fundamentalist Catholics. (What.)
2° The premise is directly relevant to my recent alchemical studies.
So, this book is basically set in a McCarthian world of furries, where you have a diversity eugenicist cult that is running the world. The way evolution works according to Gene McCarthy, any two species can breed when they try hard enough, and in fact this is the main driver of the evolution of new species.
So unlike the Darwinian eugenics (culling of weak individuals) which has actually been tried in our world, these guys are trying to breed the messiah by adding more races to the gene pool.
[It might be useful to look at the book cover at this moment!]
I had unreasonably high expectations for that premise. I expected a worldbuilding-driven story exploring the surprising consequences of that premise. Unfortunately, i got a character-driver personal journal… without much character development, as the MC is already an Übregreifen.
Much of that problem stems from the fact that is was originally published on the author's LiveJournal, with audience reactions determining further development. This has led to the MC becoming a mary-sue receiving constant Deus Ex Machina help. That's the version i have read. I don't know if the book version is any better.
Still, that world has potential for much more interesting stories.
1° The author seems unusually popular among Fundamentalist Catholics. (What.)
2° The premise is directly relevant to my recent alchemical studies.
So, this book is basically set in a McCarthian world of furries, where you have a diversity eugenicist cult that is running the world. The way evolution works according to Gene McCarthy, any two species can breed when they try hard enough, and in fact this is the main driver of the evolution of new species.
So unlike the Darwinian eugenics (culling of weak individuals) which has actually been tried in our world, these guys are trying to breed the messiah by adding more races to the gene pool.
[It might be useful to look at the book cover at this moment!]
I had unreasonably high expectations for that premise. I expected a worldbuilding-driven story exploring the surprising consequences of that premise. Unfortunately, i got a character-driver personal journal… without much character development, as the MC is already an Übregreifen.
Much of that problem stems from the fact that is was originally published on the author's LiveJournal, with audience reactions determining further development. This has led to the MC becoming a mary-sue receiving constant Deus Ex Machina help. That's the version i have read. I don't know if the book version is any better.
Still, that world has potential for much more interesting stories.
November 7, 2017
What happens when an author who enthralled and seduced me with a tale of two college blokes doing nothing in particular; tries her hand at a classic high fantasy?
AWESOMENESS. That's what.
The characters in Godkin Griffin are so fleshed out and alive, the writing so evocative I can taste the air (and the Wind) of Shraeven when I'm reading it.
The other reviews whinge about how the story kind of cuts off, but in my opinion, it doesn't do that at all. It's no more "left hanging" than, say, Tad William's Shadowmarch. I haven't got the sequel (but I will quite soon), but to me the ending seemed as if, even if the two books were published as one, the ending of Godkin Griffin would be "here ends part one" of the tale.
AWESOMENESS. That's what.
The characters in Godkin Griffin are so fleshed out and alive, the writing so evocative I can taste the air (and the Wind) of Shraeven when I'm reading it.
The other reviews whinge about how the story kind of cuts off, but in my opinion, it doesn't do that at all. It's no more "left hanging" than, say, Tad William's Shadowmarch. I haven't got the sequel (but I will quite soon), but to me the ending seemed as if, even if the two books were published as one, the ending of Godkin Griffin would be "here ends part one" of the tale.
October 19, 2021
There's unique and densely packed worldbuilding here, presented by a nicely three-dimensional and sympathetic protagonist. Nor is she the only complex and intriguing character.
The book ends at a suspenseful point, and I hope the second book picks up at that same point.
The book ends at a suspenseful point, and I hope the second book picks up at that same point.
January 26, 2025
One of my favorite series by this author, the world and its characters are vibrant and I loved every second I was in it. Wonderful for fans of fantasy that focuses heavily on characters. The world is unique and fascinating as are the societies within it.
October 30, 2015
Hogarth has created a really interesting fantasy world: one whose many species of inhabitant strive to achieve godhead by cross-breeding to achieve harmonioius combinations. The more bloodlines, the greater nobility, while breeding true creates throwbacks and, eventually, mindless animal-people.
Within this fascinating setting, a fascinating character. Mistress Commander Angharad Godkin has been tasked with leading troops into one of the wilder provinces of the world. It is nominally conquered but seething with resentment, old customs, and strange gods. Angharad has to juggle the logistics of a large and disparate army, an old lover, the call of gods she doesn't even want to believe in, and the demands of a distant leader, which seem more and more unreasonable as she gets to know her new territory.
Angharad is very human (despite being a griffin). She's old. She's grumpy. She gets hurt. She has biases and frailties, not to mention occasional inappropriate thoughts about her officers. Most importantly, this strange setting makes sense when seen through her eyes. I found myself invested in her struggle, but desperate to see the wider world that is only glimpsed in passing. Maybe in book 2...
Within this fascinating setting, a fascinating character. Mistress Commander Angharad Godkin has been tasked with leading troops into one of the wilder provinces of the world. It is nominally conquered but seething with resentment, old customs, and strange gods. Angharad has to juggle the logistics of a large and disparate army, an old lover, the call of gods she doesn't even want to believe in, and the demands of a distant leader, which seem more and more unreasonable as she gets to know her new territory.
Angharad is very human (despite being a griffin). She's old. She's grumpy. She gets hurt. She has biases and frailties, not to mention occasional inappropriate thoughts about her officers. Most importantly, this strange setting makes sense when seen through her eyes. I found myself invested in her struggle, but desperate to see the wider world that is only glimpsed in passing. Maybe in book 2...
November 27, 2025
Very complicated and very interesting world and characters. I really don’t enjoy the main religion of the godkin. It’s creepy that they have children only if the breeding fits their faith. It’s smacks of master race, and that way lies madness.
A lot of very terrible things happen. Overall the story is kind of depressing, although there are moments of hope along the way to alleviate it somewhat, and it ends on something of a cliffhanger. I guess this is a situation where it’s one story told in two volumes.
Honestly I love the author’s books set in the peltedverse, but this world is disturbing to me.
A lot of very terrible things happen. Overall the story is kind of depressing, although there are moments of hope along the way to alleviate it somewhat, and it ends on something of a cliffhanger. I guess this is a situation where it’s one story told in two volumes.
Honestly I love the author’s books set in the peltedverse, but this world is disturbing to me.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews