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Eye of the Storm
The old gods aren’t gone. Whether you know it or not, they’re closer than a breath upon your cheek.
Alexander Sekhmet keeps to himself, far from the Machiavellian games played by his Family, and as a result he’s led a quiet ordered life. Until now.
When his legendary temper is exploited by an ancient enemy, tricking him into destroying his human identity, he takes drastic steps to protect his empire. He possesses the body of Camilla Sykes, a West Point lieutenant, and takes her identity, memories…and soul with him.
Ian Dorsey, Classics PhD candidate, has lost his job and his father in one fiery afternoon, and appears to be losing his mind in the bargain. Why else is he hearing voices that are telling him to kill his father’s client? Or are the voices coming from somewhere darker?
When gods and mortals meet, the Apocalypse follows.
Alexander Sekhmet keeps to himself, far from the Machiavellian games played by his Family, and as a result he’s led a quiet ordered life. Until now.
When his legendary temper is exploited by an ancient enemy, tricking him into destroying his human identity, he takes drastic steps to protect his empire. He possesses the body of Camilla Sykes, a West Point lieutenant, and takes her identity, memories…and soul with him.
Ian Dorsey, Classics PhD candidate, has lost his job and his father in one fiery afternoon, and appears to be losing his mind in the bargain. Why else is he hearing voices that are telling him to kill his father’s client? Or are the voices coming from somewhere darker?
When gods and mortals meet, the Apocalypse follows.
- GenresFantasyUrban Fantasy
154 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2013
1 person is currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Aimee Kuzenski
7 books11 followersAimee Kuzenski is a speculative fiction author and practitioner of Filipino martial arts. In the wider speculative fiction community, she is a graduate of Viable Paradise, a board member with the 4th Street Fantasy convention, you can find her short fiction online at Translunar Travelers Lounge. Her latest novel, SEEDS OF INHERITANCE, is available anywhere books are sold.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 3, 2018
I'm often surprised at the gems I find among indie authors. "Eye of the Storm" blends urban fantasy with mythology in a modern story of a woman possessed by a dangerous force. Aimee Kuzenski brings out the ingenuity of even the most broken of individuals, and the humanity in the most soulless. For a short novel, the characters are exceptionally well developed and the relationships are fully earned. The resolution dealt with the inevitable march of time and the place of immortals in the present. What was most exciting to me, though, was that with the current expansion of consciousness, the book could also serve as a metaphor for our galactic origin story.
April 24, 2014
I met Aimee Kuzenski a few weeks ago when she gave a reading of her debut novel “Eye of the Storm” at DreamHaven Books in Minneapolis. Her reading convinced me to buy a copy of the book and I’m glad I did.
As Book One in the Deus Ex Machina quartet, “Eye of the Storm” introduces us to the old gods. The really old gods. As in the OG, Original Gods. For source material, Kuzenski goes all the way back to the Four Horsemen (Conquest, War, Plague and Death, in case you needed a refresher). In her world, these OGs are the foundation for all other gods who came to the party later in history.
When Alexander Sehkmet realizes his cover as an immortal is blown, he reacts the way any incarnation of the God of War might: he beheads his accuser and torches the place. But now he’s on the run, and he needs a new meat suit to ride. While he’s at it, Alexander figures that maybe it’s time to update his look, get a 21st century outlook on life. Why not come back as a woman?
Alexander gets more than he bargained for with Camilla Sykes, an Army lieutenant with a chip on her shoulder. He soon finds himself embroiled in a battle with his new host for control of “their” body as well as a struggle for their lives against South African arms dealers and an immortal ex-lover bent on his destruction—and that’s just the first third of the book!
Rest assured, this is no Riordan knock-off. Kuzenski has a fresh look at the very old topic of mortal vs. immortal relations. She masterfully manages to keep the characters of Alexander and Camilla separate even while they inhabit the same body. She also does something that few writers have the guts to do: make your main character a bad guy. The God of War (aka Alexander) is compelling, interesting,and colorful, but he’s not a character that evokes sympathy or even empathy.
And yet, I kept reading.
The story is well-paced and crafted in such a way that I was kept “in the moment” the whole time I was reading. The characters (remember, we’re talking about some bad immortals here) were deliciously twisted with a nice helping of 21st century updates.
A sincere well done, Aimee, on a wonderful first novel. Now when can I get the next installment?
As Book One in the Deus Ex Machina quartet, “Eye of the Storm” introduces us to the old gods. The really old gods. As in the OG, Original Gods. For source material, Kuzenski goes all the way back to the Four Horsemen (Conquest, War, Plague and Death, in case you needed a refresher). In her world, these OGs are the foundation for all other gods who came to the party later in history.
When Alexander Sehkmet realizes his cover as an immortal is blown, he reacts the way any incarnation of the God of War might: he beheads his accuser and torches the place. But now he’s on the run, and he needs a new meat suit to ride. While he’s at it, Alexander figures that maybe it’s time to update his look, get a 21st century outlook on life. Why not come back as a woman?
Alexander gets more than he bargained for with Camilla Sykes, an Army lieutenant with a chip on her shoulder. He soon finds himself embroiled in a battle with his new host for control of “their” body as well as a struggle for their lives against South African arms dealers and an immortal ex-lover bent on his destruction—and that’s just the first third of the book!
Rest assured, this is no Riordan knock-off. Kuzenski has a fresh look at the very old topic of mortal vs. immortal relations. She masterfully manages to keep the characters of Alexander and Camilla separate even while they inhabit the same body. She also does something that few writers have the guts to do: make your main character a bad guy. The God of War (aka Alexander) is compelling, interesting,and colorful, but he’s not a character that evokes sympathy or even empathy.
And yet, I kept reading.
The story is well-paced and crafted in such a way that I was kept “in the moment” the whole time I was reading. The characters (remember, we’re talking about some bad immortals here) were deliciously twisted with a nice helping of 21st century updates.
A sincere well done, Aimee, on a wonderful first novel. Now when can I get the next installment?
June 16, 2014
Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy! :)
I enjoyed this quick fun read about Alexander Sekhmet, ancient deity, and his adventures in dealing with his Family, but there were some issues that hopefully get resolved in the next book.
First, the story was rushed. It was a short novel, and didn't quite have that polished, edited feel. There's not much background, and you're thrown right in, which is fine in some books, but there's a lot of things that get mixed in and never explained.
Also, the storyline with Olivia's character felt unnecessary, and didn't really provide much to the overall story's arc. Maybe it'll come up again soon?
The possession aspect felt like it was copying Stephenie Meyer's The Host on some levels, but provided an interesting way of telling the story.
There are also some flashbacks/memories/in-head-conversations that take place and there's no warning or separation from the current dialogue/action, and it can get confusing at times.
I think the most redeeming quality of the book was Camilla. She was by far the most realistic and sympathetic character, and really made the novel more enjoyable.
So, to conclude, it wasn't the BEST novel I've read, but it was definitely a great story and shows that the author, given time, has a lot of potential!
I'll probably pick up book two at some point after it's released to see what happens next.
I enjoyed this quick fun read about Alexander Sekhmet, ancient deity, and his adventures in dealing with his Family, but there were some issues that hopefully get resolved in the next book.
First, the story was rushed. It was a short novel, and didn't quite have that polished, edited feel. There's not much background, and you're thrown right in, which is fine in some books, but there's a lot of things that get mixed in and never explained.
Also, the storyline with Olivia's character felt unnecessary, and didn't really provide much to the overall story's arc. Maybe it'll come up again soon?
The possession aspect felt like it was copying Stephenie Meyer's The Host on some levels, but provided an interesting way of telling the story.
There are also some flashbacks/memories/in-head-conversations that take place and there's no warning or separation from the current dialogue/action, and it can get confusing at times.
I think the most redeeming quality of the book was Camilla. She was by far the most realistic and sympathetic character, and really made the novel more enjoyable.
So, to conclude, it wasn't the BEST novel I've read, but it was definitely a great story and shows that the author, given time, has a lot of potential!
I'll probably pick up book two at some point after it's released to see what happens next.
May 17, 2023
I did not enjoy this book at all. I would not recommend it.
July 13, 2014
Alexander, personification of War, likes to keep to himself – he certainly has no wish to be involved in Family business. Unfortunately, with a family like his, there’s no escaping it and his neat life is quickly disordered
Now facing an unknown foe – and ominous predictions from his opium addicted relative, Apollo – Alexander has to face some hard truths. He’s sloppy, he’s out of date, he’s badly in need of shaking up.
Enter Camilla, 21st century female soldier – and Alexander’s knew vessel (very much against her will), the perfect person to show him how much the world has changed and bring a new insight to face a new foe. But at what cost to her?
I read a lot on the genre and I’ve read a few books that have brought in elements of classical deities into the story – but this book managed to be completely unique and original both in terms of plot line and world building. The two main characters sharing the same body and, at the same time, being on opposing sides made for a very different set up. I wanted to support Alex, but I couldn’t support what he had done to Camilla. But I still wanted him to win. But I wanted her to be free… It added a really interesting tension to everything – like when they work together I’m gleeful because I want them to, then wary because Camilla must be planning something, then happy again because Camilla’s plan may work and she may be free… then worried because that might end up screwing them both over.
See? Complicated!
But the concept is excellent – Alex, the personification of War (as in the Horseman, as in Ares, Mars etc) has his life fall apart around him partly due to dastardly schemes but also because he’s gotten sloppy. He’s grown complacent and he’s grown obsolete, he hasn’t kept up with the latest developments in warfare, he hasn’t moved his business into the 21st century, it’s rendered him ignorant, vulnerable and in danger of actually becoming irrelevant
A quick aside on that irrelevance – the concept of War as an entity is interesting because he represents a controlling force, a force that makes War conform to some level of order. Without him war doesn’t become uncontrolled – it becomes even less governed than it is now.
But to fight that irrelevance I love that he chooses Camilla to consult with – and possess. She’s a 21st century soldier and she’s a woman – Alex, a product of a far more deeply misogynist age and decades out of date in his views and practices, has chosen someone who will inherently upset his viewpoint and challenge his assumptions. But it’s not just her gender, Camilla is creative, intelligent, an excellent soldier and problem solver – but has faced road blocks from both being a woman and facing institutional sexism and by having low tolerance for bullshit because of it. She’s an intelligent, knowledgeable capable woman who is not easily cowed or impressed.
And they make a great combination. He with his centuries of knowledge and power, her with her modern insight, creativity and unwillingness to accept “we’ve always done things this way” as a reason to do something. All underwritten with his impatience and distraction and her ignorance to the new world – and fury at being possessed against her will and seeking a way to kick him out of her head. It makes for a complex dynamic between two interesting characters
She also provides some subtlety that Alex (as War) lacks – especially useful for dealing with the Family – the pantheon of gods from a variety of sources who play deadly and conniving games.
My one complaint is it felt a little rushed because there was so much to cover in so little time. Alex had to uncover the plot against him, resolve it and re-establish himself with his new identity, getting out of his rut – and Camilla and Alex had to establish a rapport, a mutual respect and understanding in very difficult circumstances. The book wasn’t nearly long enough to cover all of that – all of these are big, meaty issues. The world building alone could have consumed a book of this length. Alex spends very little time establishing his new identity and even less using Camilla to actually acclimatising himself to a modern context which is the very reason he sought her out in the first place. The actual plot against him was resolved with minimal investigation or even much in the way of action on Alex’s or Camilla’s part. The enemy reveals themselves and they convene a big council of the other gods to address it. Alex and Camilla have little to no actual input in that council and the big dramatic fallout at the end is clearly a set up for the next book (and, again, because of the rather hurried portrayal of Alex and Camilla‘s interactions, I’m not sure the ending made a whole lot of sense to me).
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Now facing an unknown foe – and ominous predictions from his opium addicted relative, Apollo – Alexander has to face some hard truths. He’s sloppy, he’s out of date, he’s badly in need of shaking up.
Enter Camilla, 21st century female soldier – and Alexander’s knew vessel (very much against her will), the perfect person to show him how much the world has changed and bring a new insight to face a new foe. But at what cost to her?
I read a lot on the genre and I’ve read a few books that have brought in elements of classical deities into the story – but this book managed to be completely unique and original both in terms of plot line and world building. The two main characters sharing the same body and, at the same time, being on opposing sides made for a very different set up. I wanted to support Alex, but I couldn’t support what he had done to Camilla. But I still wanted him to win. But I wanted her to be free… It added a really interesting tension to everything – like when they work together I’m gleeful because I want them to, then wary because Camilla must be planning something, then happy again because Camilla’s plan may work and she may be free… then worried because that might end up screwing them both over.
See? Complicated!
But the concept is excellent – Alex, the personification of War (as in the Horseman, as in Ares, Mars etc) has his life fall apart around him partly due to dastardly schemes but also because he’s gotten sloppy. He’s grown complacent and he’s grown obsolete, he hasn’t kept up with the latest developments in warfare, he hasn’t moved his business into the 21st century, it’s rendered him ignorant, vulnerable and in danger of actually becoming irrelevant
A quick aside on that irrelevance – the concept of War as an entity is interesting because he represents a controlling force, a force that makes War conform to some level of order. Without him war doesn’t become uncontrolled – it becomes even less governed than it is now.
But to fight that irrelevance I love that he chooses Camilla to consult with – and possess. She’s a 21st century soldier and she’s a woman – Alex, a product of a far more deeply misogynist age and decades out of date in his views and practices, has chosen someone who will inherently upset his viewpoint and challenge his assumptions. But it’s not just her gender, Camilla is creative, intelligent, an excellent soldier and problem solver – but has faced road blocks from both being a woman and facing institutional sexism and by having low tolerance for bullshit because of it. She’s an intelligent, knowledgeable capable woman who is not easily cowed or impressed.
And they make a great combination. He with his centuries of knowledge and power, her with her modern insight, creativity and unwillingness to accept “we’ve always done things this way” as a reason to do something. All underwritten with his impatience and distraction and her ignorance to the new world – and fury at being possessed against her will and seeking a way to kick him out of her head. It makes for a complex dynamic between two interesting characters
She also provides some subtlety that Alex (as War) lacks – especially useful for dealing with the Family – the pantheon of gods from a variety of sources who play deadly and conniving games.
My one complaint is it felt a little rushed because there was so much to cover in so little time. Alex had to uncover the plot against him, resolve it and re-establish himself with his new identity, getting out of his rut – and Camilla and Alex had to establish a rapport, a mutual respect and understanding in very difficult circumstances. The book wasn’t nearly long enough to cover all of that – all of these are big, meaty issues. The world building alone could have consumed a book of this length. Alex spends very little time establishing his new identity and even less using Camilla to actually acclimatising himself to a modern context which is the very reason he sought her out in the first place. The actual plot against him was resolved with minimal investigation or even much in the way of action on Alex’s or Camilla’s part. The enemy reveals themselves and they convene a big council of the other gods to address it. Alex and Camilla have little to no actual input in that council and the big dramatic fallout at the end is clearly a set up for the next book (and, again, because of the rather hurried portrayal of Alex and Camilla‘s interactions, I’m not sure the ending made a whole lot of sense to me).
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October 3, 2014
(I received a free copy of this book from Broad Universe Publishing, through NetGalley, in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
I've always liked books about myths and legends and although I got a bit confused while reading this book, I still found it an entertaining, well-written read with an interesting plot and characters.
I thought it was pretty interesting how the author merged the different pantheons in this, even though I would have liked to see more of the characters and how they fit together. (Both Thor and Loki were referenced to, but I always thought that Loki was more like Hermes from the Greek pantheon... so...)
I did find myself drawn into this book pretty much from the beginning, but I wasn't too happy that the book kept switching between first and third person. I would have preferred either to stick with Alexander's first person POV, or keep it all in third person... that is, unfortunately, one of my pet peeves and I struggled to really connect with Alexander for a while, having spent a short amount of time in his head before being yanked out again.
I felt that the idea about the possession was an interesting one, but I couldn't help feeling sorry for Camilla. Alexander did lose a lot of sympathy from me after the way he was.
I did find this book easy to read and, of course, it was nice to see the characters from the legend in their modern-day forms... though I felt that Apollo was much stranger than I would have thought. It was a bit disappointing to see many of their aspects weren't explored.
The form of address was interesting - brother-cousin. It was an interesting way to see how they viewed their family.
I liked the fact that the characters had limitations to what they could do. I would have liked to see more of Alexander's evolution. The ending was interesting, but I felt there wasn't enough setup to reach that.
I would probably read the next book in this series at some point in the future. It would be nice to see more of the characters and their world.
(This review may contain spoilers).
I've always liked books about myths and legends and although I got a bit confused while reading this book, I still found it an entertaining, well-written read with an interesting plot and characters.
I thought it was pretty interesting how the author merged the different pantheons in this, even though I would have liked to see more of the characters and how they fit together. (Both Thor and Loki were referenced to, but I always thought that Loki was more like Hermes from the Greek pantheon... so...)
I did find myself drawn into this book pretty much from the beginning, but I wasn't too happy that the book kept switching between first and third person. I would have preferred either to stick with Alexander's first person POV, or keep it all in third person... that is, unfortunately, one of my pet peeves and I struggled to really connect with Alexander for a while, having spent a short amount of time in his head before being yanked out again.
I felt that the idea about the possession was an interesting one, but I couldn't help feeling sorry for Camilla. Alexander did lose a lot of sympathy from me after the way he was.
I did find this book easy to read and, of course, it was nice to see the characters from the legend in their modern-day forms... though I felt that Apollo was much stranger than I would have thought. It was a bit disappointing to see many of their aspects weren't explored.
The form of address was interesting - brother-cousin. It was an interesting way to see how they viewed their family.
I liked the fact that the characters had limitations to what they could do. I would have liked to see more of Alexander's evolution. The ending was interesting, but I felt there wasn't enough setup to reach that.
I would probably read the next book in this series at some point in the future. It would be nice to see more of the characters and their world.
June 2, 2014
This review and others are available on my blog.
Aimee Kuzenski's Eye of the Storm is the first in her Urban Fantasy series Deus Ex Familia following the adventures of Alexander Sekhmet—an Old God, War to be precise, as he attempts to discover which of his fellow gods is attempting to attack him. Along the way he posses a West Point lieutenant, Camilla Sykes, absorbing her personality, memories, and soul, using her as new pair of eyes for a very old problem.
The concept of the Old Gods of many religions walking among us has become almost a subgenre of its own and Kuzenski's contribution doesn't add anything particularly new to the idea, but clearly enjoying playing around with the Pantheons and putting a slight spin on it. The most enjoyable part of the book is the relationship between Alexander and the reluctant Camilla. While sharing the same body, they engage in a battle of wills and traded barbs that is delightful to behold.
Alexander is an old soul with a terrible temper but a deeply buried conscience and sense of duty. Camilla is a soldier with a chip on her shoulder and a will to survive. The remaining cast of gods and humans is thinly characterized. Likewise the plot is fairly straightforward and the climax is slightly rushed but Eye of the Storm is a quick, fun read. A series lives or dies by its main characters and in Alexander and Camilla, Kuzenski has created a duo I look forward to spending more time with.
Aimee Kuzenski's Eye of the Storm is the first in her Urban Fantasy series Deus Ex Familia following the adventures of Alexander Sekhmet—an Old God, War to be precise, as he attempts to discover which of his fellow gods is attempting to attack him. Along the way he posses a West Point lieutenant, Camilla Sykes, absorbing her personality, memories, and soul, using her as new pair of eyes for a very old problem.
The concept of the Old Gods of many religions walking among us has become almost a subgenre of its own and Kuzenski's contribution doesn't add anything particularly new to the idea, but clearly enjoying playing around with the Pantheons and putting a slight spin on it. The most enjoyable part of the book is the relationship between Alexander and the reluctant Camilla. While sharing the same body, they engage in a battle of wills and traded barbs that is delightful to behold.
Alexander is an old soul with a terrible temper but a deeply buried conscience and sense of duty. Camilla is a soldier with a chip on her shoulder and a will to survive. The remaining cast of gods and humans is thinly characterized. Likewise the plot is fairly straightforward and the climax is slightly rushed but Eye of the Storm is a quick, fun read. A series lives or dies by its main characters and in Alexander and Camilla, Kuzenski has created a duo I look forward to spending more time with.
May 7, 2014
4.5
This is Urban Fantasy at its best...and it really is Urban Fantasy. There is no sex and only the merest hint of a possible future (F/F) romance, so not to be confused with PNR.
Kusenski does a fabulous job of creating atmosphere and presenting the immortal gods as both all-powerful and oddly fragile. I really adored this about War. Conversely, there was nothing fragile about Camilla. But I loved her just as much. She truly was the strong female character I'm always looking for and finding myself frustrated in her absence.
There is also some marvellous dialogue. A lot of it is internal, either with oneself or with a subsumed personality, but it's largely followable. There were numerous scenes in which characters were simultaneously holding conversations and remembering past events or conversations and sometimes it was hard to tell which passages were meant to be remembrances and which were meant to be realtime. But other than this, I thought dialogue was sharp and natural sounding. It really was a pleasure to read.
My only real complaints are that the ending felt rushed. I didn't quite follow War's leap of logic that brought about the conclusion. It felt very abrupt. (Though, to be fair, War was presented as a man who regularly acts before he thinks things through.) I also thought that some of the side characters, like Ian or Olivia, who played fairly important roles, felt hollow. IMO, they weren't fleshed out enough for their significance.
All in all, I really enjoyed it and will be looking for more of Ms. Kuzenski's writing.
This is Urban Fantasy at its best...and it really is Urban Fantasy. There is no sex and only the merest hint of a possible future (F/F) romance, so not to be confused with PNR.
Kusenski does a fabulous job of creating atmosphere and presenting the immortal gods as both all-powerful and oddly fragile. I really adored this about War. Conversely, there was nothing fragile about Camilla. But I loved her just as much. She truly was the strong female character I'm always looking for and finding myself frustrated in her absence.
There is also some marvellous dialogue. A lot of it is internal, either with oneself or with a subsumed personality, but it's largely followable. There were numerous scenes in which characters were simultaneously holding conversations and remembering past events or conversations and sometimes it was hard to tell which passages were meant to be remembrances and which were meant to be realtime. But other than this, I thought dialogue was sharp and natural sounding. It really was a pleasure to read.
My only real complaints are that the ending felt rushed. I didn't quite follow War's leap of logic that brought about the conclusion. It felt very abrupt. (Though, to be fair, War was presented as a man who regularly acts before he thinks things through.) I also thought that some of the side characters, like Ian or Olivia, who played fairly important roles, felt hollow. IMO, they weren't fleshed out enough for their significance.
All in all, I really enjoyed it and will be looking for more of Ms. Kuzenski's writing.
August 9, 2016
I like the idea of a pompous, immortal *dude* like this book's Alexander Sekhmet -- incarnation of War -- being snarked at by a tough-as-nails human woman. Camilla is a cool character, even if I find her resigned acceptance of Sekhmet's actions a little hard to believe.
But although there are a few different POVs throughout the book, most of it is spent in Sekhmet's 1st person voice, and I find that voice quite dull and stilted. I managed to get about halfway through this book before giving up. By the time we're allowed a deeper (though still half-baked) look into the games of the gods, I just wasn't interested.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley.
But although there are a few different POVs throughout the book, most of it is spent in Sekhmet's 1st person voice, and I find that voice quite dull and stilted. I managed to get about halfway through this book before giving up. By the time we're allowed a deeper (though still half-baked) look into the games of the gods, I just wasn't interested.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley.
May 5, 2015
I started this book because it was billed as a GLBT book. Instead it was a mostly non-romance adventure/politics story about the God of War getting maneuvered into a bad situation and getting out of it by possessing a female soldier (who is not in a lesbian relationship with the lesbian cop character, more's the pity). There some really interesting political interplay, but it's mostly character study about War, Camilla (the soldier) and a young schizophrenic man who is possessed by Eris/Discord. The ending was fairly predictable, but the characters were engaging and I find myself looking forward to the sequel.
October 9, 2013
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started on this book, but it kept my attention the entire way through! Definitely looking forward to the next in this series. breezed through this book, hardly noticing the time passing. I really enjoyed it, but feel I would have enjoyed it even more if I was more familiar with the many mythological references.
Want to read
January 22, 2014Clean, smart writing. I am hooked after just a few pages.
October 10, 2013
I got completely lost in this book and will have a very hard time waiting for the next one!!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews