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The Fire Bearers #1
God of Clay
Driven to the borders of an unfamiliar forest by an ever-expanding drought, two rival brothers find their fortunes and that of their tribe entwined in a long-forgotten conflict between the old gods of the world. Clay’s fervent belief in devotion to the gods does nothing to prepare him for their true natures, while Laughing Dog’s self-assured insistence that his destiny is his own leads him on a very different journey. As battle lines are drawn, each brother must decide where his allegiance truly lies — a decision that will change each of them forever.
Meanwhile, Doto, the son of the sullen and wrathful forest god Kwaee sets out to capture a member of the brothers' tribe and bring them back to his father for interrogation, believing the humans to be in league with the insatiable fire god Ogya. In the process, he begins to doubt the stories he has always heard from his father about the original conflict, and the mysterious places in the heart of the forest that he was forbidden to ever visit.
God of Clay is the first novel in a three part series, and brings the three main characters through pain, loss, madness, hope, redemption, and love to the cusp of the conflict with Ogya.
Meanwhile, Doto, the son of the sullen and wrathful forest god Kwaee sets out to capture a member of the brothers' tribe and bring them back to his father for interrogation, believing the humans to be in league with the insatiable fire god Ogya. In the process, he begins to doubt the stories he has always heard from his father about the original conflict, and the mysterious places in the heart of the forest that he was forbidden to ever visit.
God of Clay is the first novel in a three part series, and brings the three main characters through pain, loss, madness, hope, redemption, and love to the cusp of the conflict with Ogya.
262 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 27, 2015
When I finished God of Clay, I described the experience as "satiating something I was hungry for." And usually when I read genre fiction, I have to take bits and pieces of things I want from the books I read and make compromises. "Well, this book had gay protagonists at least, even if the conflict didn't let you forget that, and the characters paid for it." Or "this book has people of color as opposed to the assumption of a main character's innate whiteness, but it is overshadowed by western mores and still exhibits egregious exoticism." Or "well, there's a woman over 40 who plays a significant role, but she's more or less window dressing."
God of Clay, on the other hand, was a buffet of the things I was hungry for: colorful sensory splendor; smart character decisions the fueled further conflict; a non-white cast of main characters; gay protagonists with sexuality not intrinsically tied to the main conflict; a world where you can still be older than 40 and be a woman and make life changing decisions for yourself and your tribe.
Clay's village is a living, breathing unit where the actions of every person matters. The gods feel like gods as opposed to humans with special powers-- they sense the world differently, are subjected to different limitations outside of their realms, and their jealousy is distilled horror. You can feel the age and the hardness in their cruelty, and Doto's personal transformation chills us to the core and reminds us how lucky we are to feel, and to understand feeling.
It's rare enough to see fantasy epics that are not set in a reductive interpretation of Medieval Europe, but the book achieves what it sets out to do and more by utilizing the underused setting of Africa and immersing us in not just the rituals or the opulence but also day-to-day chores and ablution. The personalities of these characters shine bright, like a massive bonfire. You will see how evil spawns from endless justification. You will feel the weight of difficult decisions cast. You will laugh at a child-like God.
You will also never look at your food the same way again after you cook it on the stove.
God of Clay shows how furry writing is maturing, is slowly establishing itself as a meta-theme or subgenre that started from the same humble beginnings as Sci-fi. It is the first book of Ryan Campbell's trilogy of the Fire-Bearers, and it is a must read.
God of Clay, on the other hand, was a buffet of the things I was hungry for: colorful sensory splendor; smart character decisions the fueled further conflict; a non-white cast of main characters; gay protagonists with sexuality not intrinsically tied to the main conflict; a world where you can still be older than 40 and be a woman and make life changing decisions for yourself and your tribe.
Clay's village is a living, breathing unit where the actions of every person matters. The gods feel like gods as opposed to humans with special powers-- they sense the world differently, are subjected to different limitations outside of their realms, and their jealousy is distilled horror. You can feel the age and the hardness in their cruelty, and Doto's personal transformation chills us to the core and reminds us how lucky we are to feel, and to understand feeling.
It's rare enough to see fantasy epics that are not set in a reductive interpretation of Medieval Europe, but the book achieves what it sets out to do and more by utilizing the underused setting of Africa and immersing us in not just the rituals or the opulence but also day-to-day chores and ablution. The personalities of these characters shine bright, like a massive bonfire. You will see how evil spawns from endless justification. You will feel the weight of difficult decisions cast. You will laugh at a child-like God.
You will also never look at your food the same way again after you cook it on the stove.
God of Clay shows how furry writing is maturing, is slowly establishing itself as a meta-theme or subgenre that started from the same humble beginnings as Sci-fi. It is the first book of Ryan Campbell's trilogy of the Fire-Bearers, and it is a must read.
February 13, 2026
A world where the gods are real, and for the humans living on the savannah, appeasing them could mean the difference between life and death. In spite of their prayers and dances to the gods of the rain and the savannah, their village has faced drought and been destroyed by fire. They have fled to the edge of the savannah, where the forest meets the plains, to start a new life.
But this has drawn the attention of the steward of the forest, Doto, son of the forest god, Kwaee. Doto governs the forest in his father's stead, and he notices the humans have moved close. He assumes they are here to destroy everything, as they once did in the past. His father gives him a task: bring one of the men to him alive.
Meanwhile, Clay, a human in the village devoted to the gods, suffers his brother's blasphemy. Laughing Dog does not believe the gods exist at all. If they did, why did they have to move? Why did the gods not hear their prayers? Perhaps man should start doing things himself instead of begging the gods for favor. Clay is injured on a hunt, and Laughing Dog is held responsible and banished to the desert. Doto snatches Clay from his village and takes him on the long journey to meet his father and answer for the crimes of his people.
The book has a very slow start. The first chapter is interesting, meeting a god, learning how his world works, what his part is in it and how he can manipulate it. Meeting his father had the same effect on me as it had on Doto. *I* was intimidated. Then the focus turns to the humans, and I wasn't nearly as interested in Clay and Laughing Dog as I was in Doto.
It isn't until chapter 4, when Doto takes Clay from his village, that the book picks up. We learn about the world as we journey with Doto and Clay, as they learn about one another's worlds, and things begin to make sense. There are rules the gods must obey, and the book does a good job establishing and sticking to them. Once I got past the buildup and the story began moving, it became a page-turner.
Laughing Dog becomes a much more interesting character when he's on his own, trying to prove his conviction that the gods do not exist. Watching him become a servant, believing all the while it is his will and his idea, becomes scary towards the end. It, too, has a slow start, but the wait does pay off.
A few paragraphs in chapter 4 telegraph where Clay and Doto are going to end up. There is a lot of sexual tension between these two, and the hints early on go too far beyond foreshadowing. Still, watching these two develop a relationship is enormously satisfying, never letting the reader forget they are not equals. This is a god and a man, and the god sometimes behaves like an arrogant child having a tantrum. Over the course of the book, Doto is humbled, both in large ways and in small. He changes a lot from the beginning of the book to the end, and I like what he becomes.
Clay is a passive main character through the whole book, but there is a very good reason for him to be. Towards the end, he does begin to assert himself, and I hope he continues to do so. The book ends hinting at a role reversal, and after all that, it will be a welcome change.
The world Campbell creates is well thought-out and tantalizing, and I look forward to learning more about it, and the people and gods who populate it. The buildup is slow, but the payoff is worth it.
_______
[October 2022: after reading other stories by the author (especially “Something Rare”) and learning more about him, Doto makes more sense. Campbell was apparently in an abusive relationship years back, explaining why the power imbalance between Clay and Doto feels borderline abusive. Clay is often worried he will do something to invite Doto’s wrath; Doto becomes possessive to the point of forgetting Clay is a person at all; is this affection or fear on part of Clay? It struck me then, and as I read the second book in the series, this is becoming more pronounced. The imbalance works in book 1 because Doto is humbled at the end, and he does become self-aware of his behavior and how it affects Clay. That is the only reason this relationship works, as it hints there is more development coming. It’s a fine line to walk, and book one reaches the end with every character redeemed: Doto shows signs of understanding how his power affects others, and Clay does stand up to him.]
But this has drawn the attention of the steward of the forest, Doto, son of the forest god, Kwaee. Doto governs the forest in his father's stead, and he notices the humans have moved close. He assumes they are here to destroy everything, as they once did in the past. His father gives him a task: bring one of the men to him alive.
Meanwhile, Clay, a human in the village devoted to the gods, suffers his brother's blasphemy. Laughing Dog does not believe the gods exist at all. If they did, why did they have to move? Why did the gods not hear their prayers? Perhaps man should start doing things himself instead of begging the gods for favor. Clay is injured on a hunt, and Laughing Dog is held responsible and banished to the desert. Doto snatches Clay from his village and takes him on the long journey to meet his father and answer for the crimes of his people.
The book has a very slow start. The first chapter is interesting, meeting a god, learning how his world works, what his part is in it and how he can manipulate it. Meeting his father had the same effect on me as it had on Doto. *I* was intimidated. Then the focus turns to the humans, and I wasn't nearly as interested in Clay and Laughing Dog as I was in Doto.
It isn't until chapter 4, when Doto takes Clay from his village, that the book picks up. We learn about the world as we journey with Doto and Clay, as they learn about one another's worlds, and things begin to make sense. There are rules the gods must obey, and the book does a good job establishing and sticking to them. Once I got past the buildup and the story began moving, it became a page-turner.
Laughing Dog becomes a much more interesting character when he's on his own, trying to prove his conviction that the gods do not exist. Watching him become a servant, believing all the while it is his will and his idea, becomes scary towards the end. It, too, has a slow start, but the wait does pay off.
A few paragraphs in chapter 4 telegraph where Clay and Doto are going to end up. There is a lot of sexual tension between these two, and the hints early on go too far beyond foreshadowing. Still, watching these two develop a relationship is enormously satisfying, never letting the reader forget they are not equals. This is a god and a man, and the god sometimes behaves like an arrogant child having a tantrum. Over the course of the book, Doto is humbled, both in large ways and in small. He changes a lot from the beginning of the book to the end, and I like what he becomes.
Clay is a passive main character through the whole book, but there is a very good reason for him to be. Towards the end, he does begin to assert himself, and I hope he continues to do so. The book ends hinting at a role reversal, and after all that, it will be a welcome change.
The world Campbell creates is well thought-out and tantalizing, and I look forward to learning more about it, and the people and gods who populate it. The buildup is slow, but the payoff is worth it.
_______
[October 2022: after reading other stories by the author (especially “Something Rare”) and learning more about him, Doto makes more sense. Campbell was apparently in an abusive relationship years back, explaining why the power imbalance between Clay and Doto feels borderline abusive. Clay is often worried he will do something to invite Doto’s wrath; Doto becomes possessive to the point of forgetting Clay is a person at all; is this affection or fear on part of Clay? It struck me then, and as I read the second book in the series, this is becoming more pronounced. The imbalance works in book 1 because Doto is humbled at the end, and he does become self-aware of his behavior and how it affects Clay. That is the only reason this relationship works, as it hints there is more development coming. It’s a fine line to walk, and book one reaches the end with every character redeemed: Doto shows signs of understanding how his power affects others, and Clay does stand up to him.]
June 23, 2017
This is a sensational book.
The world feels lived in and real.
The gods feel like gods - strange characters with motives and reasons well beyond any human would have. The relationship between Doto and Kwaee was incredible, and that's not even touching on that between Doto and Clay.
I really couldn't recommend this book highly enough. It's a fantasy story with a difference. No psuedo-European tropes to be found.
The world feels lived in and real.
The gods feel like gods - strange characters with motives and reasons well beyond any human would have. The relationship between Doto and Kwaee was incredible, and that's not even touching on that between Doto and Clay.
I really couldn't recommend this book highly enough. It's a fantasy story with a difference. No psuedo-European tropes to be found.
July 13, 2018
Dangit Ryan Campbell! Today was supposed to be my productive day around the house. Instead, I started reading at breakfast and didn't put it down until I finished after dinner.
February 23, 2016
Full review here:
http://clawandquill.net/2015/11/gods-...
http://clawandquill.net/2015/11/gods-...
July 20, 2014
An absolutely incredible novel! Mr Campbell has created an amazing world with fully realized characters and settings that pull you in and stick with you long after the book is over.
In a world where gods exist and are just as flawed as the humans who worship them, the story follows three distinct main characters. Doto, a young godling who is the son of the great forest god Kwaee, Clay, a human who is extremely devoted to the gods, and Laughing Dog, Clay's younger brother who does not believe in the gods and the stories told of them. During the story, we see each of them adapt, grow, and come into their own and it is incredibly satisfying to do so.
Mr.Campbell's prose is smooth and has a natural flow. His attention to detail is impeccable and because of this, it is easy to imagine what is happening as you are reading, although there are several interior illustrations representing key points in the story. His characters feel real and relatable . All have clear motivations and these motivations influence the actions that they take.
Honestly, I could spend all day singing this book's praises but there is no need. If you have even the slightest interest in the Fantasy genre or if you are just looking for a good book to read, get this book now! As can be seen on the cover, this is the first book in a series (a planned trilogy). I await the next book with fervor!
In a world where gods exist and are just as flawed as the humans who worship them, the story follows three distinct main characters. Doto, a young godling who is the son of the great forest god Kwaee, Clay, a human who is extremely devoted to the gods, and Laughing Dog, Clay's younger brother who does not believe in the gods and the stories told of them. During the story, we see each of them adapt, grow, and come into their own and it is incredibly satisfying to do so.
Mr.Campbell's prose is smooth and has a natural flow. His attention to detail is impeccable and because of this, it is easy to imagine what is happening as you are reading, although there are several interior illustrations representing key points in the story. His characters feel real and relatable . All have clear motivations and these motivations influence the actions that they take.
Honestly, I could spend all day singing this book's praises but there is no need. If you have even the slightest interest in the Fantasy genre or if you are just looking for a good book to read, get this book now! As can be seen on the cover, this is the first book in a series (a planned trilogy). I await the next book with fervor!
April 24, 2016
I absolutely loved this book. It had rich imagery, some good dialogue, and a very well paced story. The characters are very well fleshed out. Doto in particular is, in my opinion, the most fleshed out character. He grows the most in the book. I loved the setting. It's not often that a setting will bear the aura of Africa, which I think is a wonderful thing. It's nice to see something different. There are other things not commonly found in fiction that are in this book.
I loved the mythology in this book. It was rich, descriptive, and it also made me think. From religion to source stories. It's no Charles Dickens or Victor Hugo, or even Ursula K. Le Guin. But it is a worthy gem hiding amongst the many books in this word.
This book is definitely in my literary canon!
I loved the mythology in this book. It was rich, descriptive, and it also made me think. From religion to source stories. It's no Charles Dickens or Victor Hugo, or even Ursula K. Le Guin. But it is a worthy gem hiding amongst the many books in this word.
This book is definitely in my literary canon!
July 3, 2014
I was so impressed with God of Clay. You normally see this tribal-forest-spirit-type setting in short stories so I was unsure about how it would pan out in a multi-novel series, but it is masterfully done. God of Clay is well-paced and really takes you on a journey, and the way Campbell shows you the world as seen by Clay, Laughing Dog, and the young god Doto is just stunning and beautiful. I eagerly await the continuation of this story.
January 15, 2024
This is the first book of the trilogy that comprises the best furry story I've ever read. Epic world-building, intense characters, and a harrowing plot combine with beautiful prose in this saga which cuts to the heart of family, morality, and ultimately, what it means to be human. It's dramatic, stressful, thought-provoking, funny, and more than a little sexy. I cannot recommend this book enough. Be warned, though: you'll definitely need to read the sequels!
September 10, 2022
From "poisonous" spiders to characters with varying degrees of daddy issues, this wasn't as entertaining as I hoped a story of african gods would be.
December 9, 2024
What a deliciously pleasant surprise this was. Ryan Campbell can write some compelling character arcs. Can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy.
June 8, 2023
I suppose a handy useful fact to get out of the way is that "Clay" is the name of the main character. So, this isn't a god made of clay, but rather Clay's god.
Past that, this is the first part of what's turned into a fairly epic trilogy (each book has gotten noticeably longer). As with many such, it starts simply enough. Clay is the sober and responsible one of his three brothers, and this leads to trouble as he tries to reign in his brother Laughing Dog. And this sends them both on separate journeys that define the plot.
Clay's tribe has been through much recently, but that is slow to be revealed in the novel, this helps helps you realize that changes have been coming in this world for a while and it's just now that the role of the gods are becoming much more direct in these people's lives again. So, not stating that earlier is a small flaw, though it's more because it is so focused on the personal side.
Also, it's obvious that a lot of background has grown organically as the story has expanded. A lot is fairly indeterminate here. The People live on the savanna, next to a large forest. They're a fairly simple tribe, without a lot of outside contact. We do find out that there are people living well outside of this context, but we've only gotten a glimpse or two, and don't know what the world at large is like. Is this Earth plus gods, or something different? It's hard to say, though as the books go on, it's easier to say that this isn't any version of Earth, though it is certainly taking from sub-Saharan traditions (from what I can tell with my minuscule knowledge of such). The characters on the other hand are all well-realized, and bring this half-unseen world to life around them.
In all, this is a very good, unusual, fantasy. And while it is 'part one', it also comes to a very good stopping point. Do note that there is a gay relationship here, which starts getting closer to 'explicit' as the books goes on. This isn't 'erotica', but gets pretty close in the next two books, while it's much tamer here.
Past that, this is the first part of what's turned into a fairly epic trilogy (each book has gotten noticeably longer). As with many such, it starts simply enough. Clay is the sober and responsible one of his three brothers, and this leads to trouble as he tries to reign in his brother Laughing Dog. And this sends them both on separate journeys that define the plot.
Clay's tribe has been through much recently, but that is slow to be revealed in the novel, this helps helps you realize that changes have been coming in this world for a while and it's just now that the role of the gods are becoming much more direct in these people's lives again. So, not stating that earlier is a small flaw, though it's more because it is so focused on the personal side.
Also, it's obvious that a lot of background has grown organically as the story has expanded. A lot is fairly indeterminate here. The People live on the savanna, next to a large forest. They're a fairly simple tribe, without a lot of outside contact. We do find out that there are people living well outside of this context, but we've only gotten a glimpse or two, and don't know what the world at large is like. Is this Earth plus gods, or something different? It's hard to say, though as the books go on, it's easier to say that this isn't any version of Earth, though it is certainly taking from sub-Saharan traditions (from what I can tell with my minuscule knowledge of such). The characters on the other hand are all well-realized, and bring this half-unseen world to life around them.
In all, this is a very good, unusual, fantasy. And while it is 'part one', it also comes to a very good stopping point. Do note that there is a gay relationship here, which starts getting closer to 'explicit' as the books goes on. This isn't 'erotica', but gets pretty close in the next two books, while it's much tamer here.
February 15, 2019
Couldn't put the book down and finished it in a day, which is really rare for me personally, and afterwards immediately began reading the second book in the series. I look forward to see how this all ends in the third book!
December 30, 2022
I enjoyed the book wholeheartedly, and as a gay man myself it actually gave me some nice introspection on myself and my relationship with my boyfriend.
Gay relationships often have one person who is more assertive and brash, and one person who is more shy and submissive, this book, from a certain point of view, kind of serves as a sort of allegory for that. For me, it seemed to explore the dynamic rather well, including showing how two extremely different people can fall in love.
There is a gay sex scene that's rather elaborate (and allergy-inducing), but frankly in a world where Game of Thrones is one of the most popular things ever, that's a silly thing to complain about, so if you're straight don't let that alienate you.
Regardless, I can't wait to read the sequels.
Gay relationships often have one person who is more assertive and brash, and one person who is more shy and submissive, this book, from a certain point of view, kind of serves as a sort of allegory for that. For me, it seemed to explore the dynamic rather well, including showing how two extremely different people can fall in love.
There is a gay sex scene that's rather elaborate (and allergy-inducing), but frankly in a world where Game of Thrones is one of the most popular things ever, that's a silly thing to complain about, so if you're straight don't let that alienate you.
Regardless, I can't wait to read the sequels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2025
What can I say about God of Clay that hasn’t be said before?
Masterfully weaving creative mythology and world building with a fantastic cast of both supportive and main characters, a great start for what is sure to be a great series.
5/5 stars. As we say in Mexico, Ryan Campbell “te la rifaste.”
Masterfully weaving creative mythology and world building with a fantastic cast of both supportive and main characters, a great start for what is sure to be a great series.
5/5 stars. As we say in Mexico, Ryan Campbell “te la rifaste.”
September 16, 2017
Well, I definitely wasn't expecting the furry sex scene.
What a strange and uneven book. The writing is not polished- I actually thought it was a YA novel when I started it- but the characters are interesting and the struggles between the humans and the deities create some engrossing scenes.
What a strange and uneven book. The writing is not polished- I actually thought it was a YA novel when I started it- but the characters are interesting and the struggles between the humans and the deities create some engrossing scenes.
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