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Fate of the Gods #1
Forged by Fate
After Adam fell, God made Eve to protect the world. — Adam has pursued Eve since the dawn of creation, intent on using her power to create a new world and make himself its God. Throughout history, Eve has thwarted him, determined to protect the world and all of creation. Unknown to her, the Norse god Thor has been sent by the Council of Gods to keep her from Adam's influence, and more, to protect the interests of the gods themselves. But this time, Adam is after something more than just Eve's power — he desires her too, body and soul, even if it means the destruction of the world. Eve cannot allow it, but as one generation melds into the next, she begins to wonder if Adam might be a man she could love.
Every god, from each of the world's pantheons, mythologies, and religions — they’re all real in this enthralling fantasy romance that spans centuries.
Every god, from each of the world's pantheons, mythologies, and religions — they’re all real in this enthralling fantasy romance that spans centuries.
Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2013
79 people are currently reading
2177 people want to read
About the author
Amalia Dillin
30 books287 followersAmalia Dillin began as a Biology major before taking Latin and falling in love with old heroes and older gods. After that, she couldn't stop writing about them, with the occasional break for more contemporary subjects. She lives in upstate New York with her husband, and dreams of the day when she will own goats--to pull her chariot through the sky, of course.
Amalia is the author of the Fate of the Gods trilogy, and the Orc Saga, beginning with HONOR AMONG ORCS. She also writes historical fiction under the name Amalia Carosella.
You can find links to all her work online at http://blog.amaliadillin.com/p/public...
Amalia is the author of the Fate of the Gods trilogy, and the Orc Saga, beginning with HONOR AMONG ORCS. She also writes historical fiction under the name Amalia Carosella.
You can find links to all her work online at http://blog.amaliadillin.com/p/public...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
May 24, 2023
I love Amalia Dillin.
As of this writing, her “Orc Saga” is my favorite fantasy series of all time (yes, I have read ACoTaR), and since I’ve read it, I’ve been excited to dig into her other books. (There are over 20 of them!) The tenth anniversary rerelease of “Forged by Fate” was the perfect opportunity for me to do so.
Unfortunately, I ended up disappointed.
It was just too much. There were too many characters, too many perspectives, too many timelines, too many past lives, and too many religions, all presented in swift, overwhelming succession. “Forged by Fate” felt like at LEAST five different books in one, which is especially difficult to follow when so much background knowledge about Greek and Norse mythology is assumed.
The story was also riddled with plot holes. For example, it’s never explained how the Abrahamic religions and the polytheistic religions can coexist. If Elohim (the Abrahamic God) created all life, and the other gods weren’t present during The Creation, where did they come from? From where do they draw their power?
Also, am I supposed to just go along with some guy marrying and impregnating his great-great-great-etc.-grandmother? Nah, dude.
DNF 40 pages from the end.
As of this writing, her “Orc Saga” is my favorite fantasy series of all time (yes, I have read ACoTaR), and since I’ve read it, I’ve been excited to dig into her other books. (There are over 20 of them!) The tenth anniversary rerelease of “Forged by Fate” was the perfect opportunity for me to do so.
Unfortunately, I ended up disappointed.
It was just too much. There were too many characters, too many perspectives, too many timelines, too many past lives, and too many religions, all presented in swift, overwhelming succession. “Forged by Fate” felt like at LEAST five different books in one, which is especially difficult to follow when so much background knowledge about Greek and Norse mythology is assumed.
The story was also riddled with plot holes. For example, it’s never explained how the Abrahamic religions and the polytheistic religions can coexist. If Elohim (the Abrahamic God) created all life, and the other gods weren’t present during The Creation, where did they come from? From where do they draw their power?
Also, am I supposed to just go along with some guy marrying and impregnating his great-great-great-etc.-grandmother? Nah, dude.
DNF 40 pages from the end.
March 5, 2013
In a word...no. It's going to take more than one. Heartbreaking, imaginative, thought-provoking, and AMAZING are a few of the words I plan to use.
___
Okay, time for a full review!
I loved FORGED BY FATE. Loved. It's a beautiful, sweeping alternate history that puts on display the power of every incarnation of love, and the truth of what can be accomplished when people choose peace over strife.
I of course adored the Thor bits, but the story of creation from Eve's POV was stunningly researched and told in a way that made me believe that's exactly what happened.
The ending was beautiful and perfect. People change. The world changes. Grace and love are the only things that remain timeless (along with the gods, of course). I haven't been able to put this book out of my mind since I read it in Novemeber, and can't recommend it highly enough to all of you.
___
Okay, time for a full review!
I loved FORGED BY FATE. Loved. It's a beautiful, sweeping alternate history that puts on display the power of every incarnation of love, and the truth of what can be accomplished when people choose peace over strife.
I of course adored the Thor bits, but the story of creation from Eve's POV was stunningly researched and told in a way that made me believe that's exactly what happened.
The ending was beautiful and perfect. People change. The world changes. Grace and love are the only things that remain timeless (along with the gods, of course). I haven't been able to put this book out of my mind since I read it in Novemeber, and can't recommend it highly enough to all of you.
February 1, 2013
How could you NOT want to read this book after that first tagline?
This was an excellent read. Dillin bounces back and forth through time to tell Eve's story. At one point I thought it might be easier to read chronologically but I believe Dillin's approach was best. It helped build tension while giving us the history needed to understand who Eve was and the importance of her life.
Forged reads like the Inciting Event of a larger story--which it is. It's the first in a series and this first book seriously left me wanting more. And the characters! I felt them. Walked beside them. Al of the characters grew and matured over the course of the story. Eve was the most constant. Dillin made sure I disliked Adam from the beginning and then crafted his ARC in a way that had me feeling bad for him at the end. Now I'm torn and can't decide who I want to win Eve's love--Thor or Adam?
Which brings me to all the mythological gods in Dillin's world. She blends all of them so well. They fit in seamlessly with her world view. I never questioned it and the mythology made the story so much richer.
I give Forged by Fate by Amailia Dillin a 4.5. I'm sort of upset with myself for reading the first in a series before it's released. Now I have a VERY long time to wait to see what happens next.
This was an excellent read. Dillin bounces back and forth through time to tell Eve's story. At one point I thought it might be easier to read chronologically but I believe Dillin's approach was best. It helped build tension while giving us the history needed to understand who Eve was and the importance of her life.
Forged reads like the Inciting Event of a larger story--which it is. It's the first in a series and this first book seriously left me wanting more. And the characters! I felt them. Walked beside them. Al of the characters grew and matured over the course of the story. Eve was the most constant. Dillin made sure I disliked Adam from the beginning and then crafted his ARC in a way that had me feeling bad for him at the end. Now I'm torn and can't decide who I want to win Eve's love--Thor or Adam?
Which brings me to all the mythological gods in Dillin's world. She blends all of them so well. They fit in seamlessly with her world view. I never questioned it and the mythology made the story so much richer.
I give Forged by Fate by Amailia Dillin a 4.5. I'm sort of upset with myself for reading the first in a series before it's released. Now I have a VERY long time to wait to see what happens next.
August 17, 2013
This is actually one of the more fascinating and haunting books I’ve read in quite some time. Even the way the author rolls you into the story and characters is unusual, and kind of creeps up on you such that the entire world and its inhabitants seep into your very skin. I’m actually not usually that drawn to stories wrapped around ancient mythological characters and/or biblical figures, but this one was done in such a unique and ‘real-feeling’ way that it’s nothing like books I’ve read before that tackle this basic premise.
In this, Dillin’s first novel in the Fate of the Gods series, you have Adam and Eve as odd “exceptions” in a world filled with humans, very human-seeming gods, somewhat temperamental angels and with the “One God” a shadowy figure in the background, whose motives remain murky throughout much of the book. I got the impression that the other gods, which include those from pretty much every pantheon over the history of human civilization, are essentially “squatting” in the general vicinity of Earth, hoping to maintain their home there and filled with uncertainty about their ability to do so on the One God (Elohim’s) graces. Relatively silent throughout the books, the “One God” himself, whose world it truly is, acts primarily through his instruments, the angels, who can be terrifying in their own right and whose “goodness” isn’t always without question.
Despite her ability to incarnate over and over again, while retaining all of her memories, Eve is an incredibly human and likable character, one who essentially lives normal lives and marries normal men and has their normal children. Seen as ‘The One God’s grace” by some, or his heart and compassion in the world, she is later viewed as a threat by a number of the lesser gods, for reasons to do with jealousy, fearing the unknown and the political maneuverings of several of the gods themselves. One of these, Thor, takes it upon himself to ensure her safety, however, and employs a number of other gods to assist him in this task, notably Athena, who is another subtly-drawn and very real-seeming character.
Eve’s brother, Adam, on the other hand, is an incredibly volatile (yet increasingly, oddly likable) character, who weaves a more mixed and ambiguous path through history. Eve has been warned by the angels, Michael in particular, that if she ever were to have a child with Adam, it would undo the world, and rather than let that happen, Michael would kill her and the child before it could be born. Therefore, much of Eve and her brother’s past history together has involved Adam chasing Eve and Eve fending him off or avoiding him, with the help of Thor, the angels (who made Adam forget for centuries who he was), and a family with whom Eve has ties that stretch back to the very beginning of creation, and the Garden itself. Nonetheless, it grows increasingly clear that Eve and Adam’s relationship contains contradictions and complexities that don’t make for simple conclusions, no matter how black and white it seems on the surface.
Honestly, this is a difficult book to summarize, in that so much of its appeal comes from watching these histories and characters unfold. The narrative switches back and forth between three main time periods and two primary narrators, which should probably be confusing but somehow isn’t. Together these different strands paint portraits of the main characters through time, from Eve’s first confused interactions following her “birth,” to Thor seeing her on the streets of ancient Egypt and realizing she is not ‘human’ in the strictest sense, to France, where Eve is on the verge of marrying when Adam storms back into her life, bringing chaos and confusion and not a small amount of empathy for his own plight.
The ending jarred me, if only because there is so clearly more to this story, the world and its characters. If I hadn’t known it was a series, I might have chucked the book into a wall (ha), but as it is, it only made me look forward to seeing how the rest of Dillin’s narrative unfolds.
A unique, hauntingly beautiful story, and definitely worth the read.
In this, Dillin’s first novel in the Fate of the Gods series, you have Adam and Eve as odd “exceptions” in a world filled with humans, very human-seeming gods, somewhat temperamental angels and with the “One God” a shadowy figure in the background, whose motives remain murky throughout much of the book. I got the impression that the other gods, which include those from pretty much every pantheon over the history of human civilization, are essentially “squatting” in the general vicinity of Earth, hoping to maintain their home there and filled with uncertainty about their ability to do so on the One God (Elohim’s) graces. Relatively silent throughout the books, the “One God” himself, whose world it truly is, acts primarily through his instruments, the angels, who can be terrifying in their own right and whose “goodness” isn’t always without question.
Despite her ability to incarnate over and over again, while retaining all of her memories, Eve is an incredibly human and likable character, one who essentially lives normal lives and marries normal men and has their normal children. Seen as ‘The One God’s grace” by some, or his heart and compassion in the world, she is later viewed as a threat by a number of the lesser gods, for reasons to do with jealousy, fearing the unknown and the political maneuverings of several of the gods themselves. One of these, Thor, takes it upon himself to ensure her safety, however, and employs a number of other gods to assist him in this task, notably Athena, who is another subtly-drawn and very real-seeming character.
Eve’s brother, Adam, on the other hand, is an incredibly volatile (yet increasingly, oddly likable) character, who weaves a more mixed and ambiguous path through history. Eve has been warned by the angels, Michael in particular, that if she ever were to have a child with Adam, it would undo the world, and rather than let that happen, Michael would kill her and the child before it could be born. Therefore, much of Eve and her brother’s past history together has involved Adam chasing Eve and Eve fending him off or avoiding him, with the help of Thor, the angels (who made Adam forget for centuries who he was), and a family with whom Eve has ties that stretch back to the very beginning of creation, and the Garden itself. Nonetheless, it grows increasingly clear that Eve and Adam’s relationship contains contradictions and complexities that don’t make for simple conclusions, no matter how black and white it seems on the surface.
Honestly, this is a difficult book to summarize, in that so much of its appeal comes from watching these histories and characters unfold. The narrative switches back and forth between three main time periods and two primary narrators, which should probably be confusing but somehow isn’t. Together these different strands paint portraits of the main characters through time, from Eve’s first confused interactions following her “birth,” to Thor seeing her on the streets of ancient Egypt and realizing she is not ‘human’ in the strictest sense, to France, where Eve is on the verge of marrying when Adam storms back into her life, bringing chaos and confusion and not a small amount of empathy for his own plight.
The ending jarred me, if only because there is so clearly more to this story, the world and its characters. If I hadn’t known it was a series, I might have chucked the book into a wall (ha), but as it is, it only made me look forward to seeing how the rest of Dillin’s narrative unfolds.
A unique, hauntingly beautiful story, and definitely worth the read.
March 8, 2013
First of all, let me say that this is not, not, not religious fiction. It's every creation and deity myth interwoven into a narrative that fits history beautifully.
The story is told from two different viewpoints. Eve's point-of-view follows her along three time-lines: the time of creation, the present, and then an advancing time-line where Eve is reincarnated. The other point-of-view is Thor's, an immortal--and, yeah, that Thor--who interacts with Egyptian, Persian, Greek, and other deities.
As I've said, this is not religious fiction, but aspects of the Christian creation story have been pulled to use in a plot that imagines a world where IT'S ALL TRUE...all the gods and goddesses from cultures do exist. Angels are there too. Biblical events...present and accounted for. It's all there and it's obvious that the author has a great respect for these stories and myths because she has done her homework. I'm a devout Christian and I expected to wince a time or two or need to overlook flaws, but while she's fictionalized it, there are portions pulled from the Bible that she's worked in that were so cleverly done. There were no flaws--there was fiction. Fiction and pulled portions were just so well woven that I found myself thinking, "How will she work THIS in?"
For those who enjoy paranormal aspects in a story, several characters can communicate telepathically. So mythical beings, mystical powers, and a romance...it's all pressed into history as if it belongs there--as if it explains the rise and fall of historical figures and cultures.
It should be hard for an author to admit that another author is better than them, but I not only admit she's sooooo much better than me, but, wow, this book reads like a book that was years in the making. The visualization of so many different bits of history--the characterization--it's just brilliant. This is not a genre that I'd normally read in, but this is the second of her books that I've devoured like it was a short story. The other book I've read is as yet unpublished--be jealous--be very jealous that I've read it, but also be ready to look for more books from her--possibly outside of this series.
I have one complaint...this is just book one! And while it ends without a niggling cliffhanger--it ends with you wanting to know where the characters go from here. I might have to hit up the author on Twitter--see if she can be bribed.
My favorite line in this was:
Thor left his wife behind, but the hammer--the hammer he took with him.
**Full disclosure: I totally bought this book for Thor.
**Second full disclosure: I'm buying the next one for Thor too.
The story is told from two different viewpoints. Eve's point-of-view follows her along three time-lines: the time of creation, the present, and then an advancing time-line where Eve is reincarnated. The other point-of-view is Thor's, an immortal--and, yeah, that Thor--who interacts with Egyptian, Persian, Greek, and other deities.
As I've said, this is not religious fiction, but aspects of the Christian creation story have been pulled to use in a plot that imagines a world where IT'S ALL TRUE...all the gods and goddesses from cultures do exist. Angels are there too. Biblical events...present and accounted for. It's all there and it's obvious that the author has a great respect for these stories and myths because she has done her homework. I'm a devout Christian and I expected to wince a time or two or need to overlook flaws, but while she's fictionalized it, there are portions pulled from the Bible that she's worked in that were so cleverly done. There were no flaws--there was fiction. Fiction and pulled portions were just so well woven that I found myself thinking, "How will she work THIS in?"
For those who enjoy paranormal aspects in a story, several characters can communicate telepathically. So mythical beings, mystical powers, and a romance...it's all pressed into history as if it belongs there--as if it explains the rise and fall of historical figures and cultures.
It should be hard for an author to admit that another author is better than them, but I not only admit she's sooooo much better than me, but, wow, this book reads like a book that was years in the making. The visualization of so many different bits of history--the characterization--it's just brilliant. This is not a genre that I'd normally read in, but this is the second of her books that I've devoured like it was a short story. The other book I've read is as yet unpublished--be jealous--be very jealous that I've read it, but also be ready to look for more books from her--possibly outside of this series.
I have one complaint...this is just book one! And while it ends without a niggling cliffhanger--it ends with you wanting to know where the characters go from here. I might have to hit up the author on Twitter--see if she can be bribed.
My favorite line in this was:
Thor left his wife behind, but the hammer--the hammer he took with him.
**Full disclosure: I totally bought this book for Thor.
**Second full disclosure: I'm buying the next one for Thor too.
August 24, 2013
I love mythology. I love the bible. This book did a great job bringing all that together through history. Eve and Thor are our main characters. We follow Eve throughout different times. Thor is an immortal who interacts with many other gods like Greek and Egyptian.
This is a great work of fiction that brings our favorite gods and goddesses together combined with Christianity elements. It is no way a religious book, so do not be hesitant to read this. All religions are featured and interact with each other. It is an awesome read that I could not put down.
Amalia brings all the characters together from Adam and Eve to Thor. Everything is woven like magic, flowing all the gods and goddess from every faith together . She made it believable. I am a big fan because this book was so different and unique.
I am a Thor fan and I loved him in this book! Go team Thor! He was hunky and sexy, and his interactions with all the gods was great. You root for him and Eve. But you mourn with them through their trials. You become one with the characters. Now that is good writing. I truly recommend this book and cannot wait for the next one. I truly hope I do not have wait too long because that is pure torture!
This is a great work of fiction that brings our favorite gods and goddesses together combined with Christianity elements. It is no way a religious book, so do not be hesitant to read this. All religions are featured and interact with each other. It is an awesome read that I could not put down.
Amalia brings all the characters together from Adam and Eve to Thor. Everything is woven like magic, flowing all the gods and goddess from every faith together . She made it believable. I am a big fan because this book was so different and unique.
I am a Thor fan and I loved him in this book! Go team Thor! He was hunky and sexy, and his interactions with all the gods was great. You root for him and Eve. But you mourn with them through their trials. You become one with the characters. Now that is good writing. I truly recommend this book and cannot wait for the next one. I truly hope I do not have wait too long because that is pure torture!
April 9, 2022
Describing what I feel about this book, without resorting to spoilers - because I believe that spoiling yourself for a story like this would take away a great portion of the enjoyment which is to be found in it - seems to require me to talk about what it is, rather what it's about.
I would hesitate to describe this completely wonderful book as fantasy (when the author writes so realistically), as romance (when the romance is delightfully not the focus of the novel), or as historical (when it spans the entirity of humanity from Creation to the present day). Like so many epics, it defies classification.
Don't think for a second, however, that the lack of an identifying genre means it should not be read. This book should be read. In fact, it should be devoured, page by page, over and over again, at least until the other two books in the trilogy are released.
Because it defies classification, it can appeal to many different sorts of readers. Do you like mythology? Mystery? History? War? Romance? Psychology? Fantasy? Politics? Family drama? Adventure? Thrillers?
Goats?
Then this is the book for you. :)
I would hesitate to describe this completely wonderful book as fantasy (when the author writes so realistically), as romance (when the romance is delightfully not the focus of the novel), or as historical (when it spans the entirity of humanity from Creation to the present day). Like so many epics, it defies classification.
Don't think for a second, however, that the lack of an identifying genre means it should not be read. This book should be read. In fact, it should be devoured, page by page, over and over again, at least until the other two books in the trilogy are released.
Because it defies classification, it can appeal to many different sorts of readers. Do you like mythology? Mystery? History? War? Romance? Psychology? Fantasy? Politics? Family drama? Adventure? Thrillers?
Goats?
Then this is the book for you. :)
March 19, 2013
This was an absolutely riveting tale. Though I would normally feel whiplash from chapters that jump centuries, the voices in this were so clear (Thor vs. Eve) and the story was so focused and compelling that I hardly felt a bump.
As a Bible geek, I thought I would do a lot of wincing. But this story was not only meticulously researched, but stunningly re-imagined. For my Jewish friends, this is the most fascinating contemporary midrash of the creation of man that I have ever read.
Even the non-biblical parts of this were so stunningly written. I felt like I knew a ton about mythology even though I know almost about it. And...Thor. *fans self* That's all I'll say about that.
In short, pick this up! It's cerebral and easy to read at the same time. Gorgeous work, Amalia. I look forward to more.
As a Bible geek, I thought I would do a lot of wincing. But this story was not only meticulously researched, but stunningly re-imagined. For my Jewish friends, this is the most fascinating contemporary midrash of the creation of man that I have ever read.
Even the non-biblical parts of this were so stunningly written. I felt like I knew a ton about mythology even though I know almost about it. And...Thor. *fans self* That's all I'll say about that.
In short, pick this up! It's cerebral and easy to read at the same time. Gorgeous work, Amalia. I look forward to more.
September 8, 2019
Wow
Not expecting such an interesting and well thought out read. Very impressed and excited to move on to the next!
Not expecting such an interesting and well thought out read. Very impressed and excited to move on to the next!
August 1, 2013
What an interesting twist on Christian and mythology!! I've never come across this combination before and amazed myself by worshiping the pairing of Eve and Thor. Who would have thought?
....
In all honesty, I thought "Forged By Fate" was going to be a train wreck. I kept trying to figure out what would possess an author to make such a bold move and tweak different cultural/religious figures and beliefs and subject them into a single story line?
Luckily though for Ms. Dillin, "Forged By Fate" was a delightful and clever take on various mythologies and theologies from around the world that left me in awe. I'm referring not only to Norse mythology and Biblical ones but also the inclusion of Greek, Persian, and Egyptian ones as well.
It was really neat reading a world where all the different cultures' deities interact and intertwine with one another. I'm not familiar with the story behind Thor, even though I've heard of him, but reading this I got to be very curious about him.
Thor is a very powerful and devoted character that you can't help but fall for. I loved his interactions with all of the characters, especially Eve, and was shipping Thor and Eve over the accepted conception of Adam and Eve.
Adam, well....I didn't like Adam at all. He was selfish, greedy, and cunning whereas Eve was a complete gem. I thought that Eve was too pure hearted and self-less to be stuck with a counterpart like Adam. Hence. this is why I liked her with Thor since he was the exact opposite of Adam and a total heart throb!
The downside of this story (*which made it me think that fate was sometimes a stench) is the heady price that Thor, Adam and Eve have to endure for all of eternity. It's cruel and heart breaking when you think about it but it's just the reality for this characters. I don't know what's worse between the three of their fates: bound to live many lives or never attaining what you really want and/or watching from afar. All fates to me are utterly undesirable.
.....
*Phew,* glad I got all that off my chest! I needed a breather after I finished this to collect my thoughts on it.
Now I'm off to read "Tempting Fate," the next installment in the series, thanks to the courtesy of the publisher!! I'm so excited!!
....
In all honesty, I thought "Forged By Fate" was going to be a train wreck. I kept trying to figure out what would possess an author to make such a bold move and tweak different cultural/religious figures and beliefs and subject them into a single story line?
Luckily though for Ms. Dillin, "Forged By Fate" was a delightful and clever take on various mythologies and theologies from around the world that left me in awe. I'm referring not only to Norse mythology and Biblical ones but also the inclusion of Greek, Persian, and Egyptian ones as well.
It was really neat reading a world where all the different cultures' deities interact and intertwine with one another. I'm not familiar with the story behind Thor, even though I've heard of him, but reading this I got to be very curious about him.
Thor is a very powerful and devoted character that you can't help but fall for. I loved his interactions with all of the characters, especially Eve, and was shipping Thor and Eve over the accepted conception of Adam and Eve.
Adam, well....I didn't like Adam at all. He was selfish, greedy, and cunning whereas Eve was a complete gem. I thought that Eve was too pure hearted and self-less to be stuck with a counterpart like Adam. Hence. this is why I liked her with Thor since he was the exact opposite of Adam and a total heart throb!
The downside of this story (*which made it me think that fate was sometimes a stench) is the heady price that Thor, Adam and Eve have to endure for all of eternity. It's cruel and heart breaking when you think about it but it's just the reality for this characters. I don't know what's worse between the three of their fates: bound to live many lives or never attaining what you really want and/or watching from afar. All fates to me are utterly undesirable.
.....
*Phew,* glad I got all that off my chest! I needed a breather after I finished this to collect my thoughts on it.
Now I'm off to read "Tempting Fate," the next installment in the series, thanks to the courtesy of the publisher!! I'm so excited!!
February 7, 2017
I don't know how much more original you can get whilst playing with so much familiar.
- Fantastic writing style, great storytelling, great pacing. Not enough people know about Amalia Dillin. She's like a mix between Grace Draven and Juliet Marillier. Really talented. I hope her popularity soars as she continues to write -- I was impressed by her orc series and I was impressed by this one, too.
- Gods. Goddesses. So many gods and goddesses. Thor and Zeus. Ra and Saraswati. Baldur and Athena. They all have their normal, mythical backstories, but they interact with one another in fascinating ways, all satellites to Adam and Eve.
- This is Biblical fanfiction, in a way. I don't say that to cheapen it, it's just that I've never read such interesting interpretations of Adam and Eve's purposes.
- Fantastic writing style, great storytelling, great pacing. Not enough people know about Amalia Dillin. She's like a mix between Grace Draven and Juliet Marillier. Really talented. I hope her popularity soars as she continues to write -- I was impressed by her orc series and I was impressed by this one, too.
- Gods. Goddesses. So many gods and goddesses. Thor and Zeus. Ra and Saraswati. Baldur and Athena. They all have their normal, mythical backstories, but they interact with one another in fascinating ways, all satellites to Adam and Eve.
- This is Biblical fanfiction, in a way. I don't say that to cheapen it, it's just that I've never read such interesting interpretations of Adam and Eve's purposes.
March 27, 2017
This review is way overdue, People. Ridiculously overdue. (And the Most Patient Author Award goes to….Amalia Dillin!) I say that it’s overdue because a) I finished it in 2 days and b) that was awhile ago. But, the last book that I read by this author (check that out here) affected me the very same way! I finished the book quickly, but needed time to mull it over. There’s just something about the way this author writes that speaks to me on several different levels.
My very favorite subject in High School was Greek Mythology. I loved learning about the different gods and goddesses, who was married to whom, who was related to whom, and what their stories were. And if the story involved Athena? I was all over it. This love then led to my studying of the mythology of my own ancestors; Norse Mythology. Which, by the way, is absolutely nothing like Marvel comics would have you believe. Ahem. Just saying.
Amalia creates a story where all of the mythologies come together; Thor, Odin, Zeus, Isis, God, angels. All of it is real, all of it exists, and all of the deities are aware of each other, visit each other, work together, argue with one another and are invested in the lives of the humans. The book covers three different time periods; Creation, Present and Future.
In Creation Adam has fallen and is angry, jealous and power hungry. Eve is newly created, with the purpose of being God’s grace personified to all of humanity. She soon learns that she isn’t like the others, and that Adam is someone to be avoided. In the Present time, Eve (who reincarnates at death and is fully aware of her past lives) falls in love with a strong, compassionate, protective and brave warrior man. (Who just happens to be Thor, unbeknownst to Eve.) In the Future timeline, Eve is married again and learning to live with her new life, while haunted by memories of her one love (Thor) and suddenly finding herself faced with Adam.
Amalia Dillin is brilliant (Superb. Glorious. Remarkable. Exceptional. I need another synonym, quick!) at weaving stories together in such intensely beautiful ways. You get drawn in to the lives of the characters and the seamless flow between timelines. But more than that, the characters work their way into your soul. (Especially Thor. Not ashamed to admit that I am slightly infatuated with Thor.) (Also? Athena is in this book. I’m not even kidding. You’re welcome.)
Bottom Line: I will forever purchase anything that Amalia writes. I don’t even care what the subject is that she chooses to write about. She could write an entire book about French Fries, and I would be like, “Oh my goodness Friends, give me all the french fries!” In other words, you won’t be disappointed in this book. Pinky swear.
My very favorite subject in High School was Greek Mythology. I loved learning about the different gods and goddesses, who was married to whom, who was related to whom, and what their stories were. And if the story involved Athena? I was all over it. This love then led to my studying of the mythology of my own ancestors; Norse Mythology. Which, by the way, is absolutely nothing like Marvel comics would have you believe. Ahem. Just saying.
Amalia creates a story where all of the mythologies come together; Thor, Odin, Zeus, Isis, God, angels. All of it is real, all of it exists, and all of the deities are aware of each other, visit each other, work together, argue with one another and are invested in the lives of the humans. The book covers three different time periods; Creation, Present and Future.
In Creation Adam has fallen and is angry, jealous and power hungry. Eve is newly created, with the purpose of being God’s grace personified to all of humanity. She soon learns that she isn’t like the others, and that Adam is someone to be avoided. In the Present time, Eve (who reincarnates at death and is fully aware of her past lives) falls in love with a strong, compassionate, protective and brave warrior man. (Who just happens to be Thor, unbeknownst to Eve.) In the Future timeline, Eve is married again and learning to live with her new life, while haunted by memories of her one love (Thor) and suddenly finding herself faced with Adam.
Amalia Dillin is brilliant (Superb. Glorious. Remarkable. Exceptional. I need another synonym, quick!) at weaving stories together in such intensely beautiful ways. You get drawn in to the lives of the characters and the seamless flow between timelines. But more than that, the characters work their way into your soul. (Especially Thor. Not ashamed to admit that I am slightly infatuated with Thor.) (Also? Athena is in this book. I’m not even kidding. You’re welcome.)
Bottom Line: I will forever purchase anything that Amalia writes. I don’t even care what the subject is that she chooses to write about. She could write an entire book about French Fries, and I would be like, “Oh my goodness Friends, give me all the french fries!” In other words, you won’t be disappointed in this book. Pinky swear.
May 19, 2017
WhAT did I just read??????
Seriously the weirdest book I've read this year, and yet it's also the best new book/new author I've read as well. A rich blend of various pantheons come together in some of the most unique world-building fantasy I've read so far. I'm intrigued without being too sketched out, and the writing is so solid you could use it as a step stool. Well-fleshed-out characters that have clear motivations and wishes, non-awkward romantic/sex scenes, Innovative use of cultural research without getting weirdly imperialized, and acknowledgement of cultural difference without condescension. I can't recommend this book enough!
Seriously the weirdest book I've read this year, and yet it's also the best new book/new author I've read as well. A rich blend of various pantheons come together in some of the most unique world-building fantasy I've read so far. I'm intrigued without being too sketched out, and the writing is so solid you could use it as a step stool. Well-fleshed-out characters that have clear motivations and wishes, non-awkward romantic/sex scenes, Innovative use of cultural research without getting weirdly imperialized, and acknowledgement of cultural difference without condescension. I can't recommend this book enough!
September 12, 2019
Made for a good story
Can't wait to read the next book. I love a good story. I'm wondering how the author is going to weave these gods together.
Can't wait to read the next book. I love a good story. I'm wondering how the author is going to weave these gods together.
March 9, 2013
Forged by Fate is a novel that deftly weaves together the pantheon of gods from around the world, and weaves the around a central pillar of Christian beliefs in a way that everything makes sense and feels right. Thor falls in love with Eve and pals around with Ra and Athena and none of that feels weird when you're reading it.
The book deals with three different timelines and switched between them well to keep the reader apprised of what's going on in each regularly and not losing interest in any of the time lines. There is the current time line where Eve is getting ready for her marriage. The Creation time line where Eve is created and has to deal with the situation in the Garden of Eden. The final time line is Thor arriving on Earth and him traveling the world.
The Thor time sections of the story held my interest the best as Thor is traveling Earth, and his relationship with Eve or Tora as she's known then was well written and dealt with. The interactions with the other Norse Gods was fun to watch as well, and it's good to see that Loki is a dick here as pop culture always treats him, and the way I like to see him used. His interactions with Ra and Athena are very entertaining, and I especially enjoyed the relationship he developed with Athena. Through this view we get to see a lot of neat ways that Eve is folded into the rest of Christian beliefs as well as some other mythological stories, namely lots of hints about the Trojan War.
The Creation part of the story is a really interesting take on the Christian Creation myth and creates a lot of new dynamics on a story everybody knows. Lucifer as the snake plays less of a role in the forbidden fruit being eaten, and Eve sacrifices the garden to be able to escape the harsh rule of Adam.
The part of the story set in the present is the only part that dragged for me as it really seemed to be setting itself up for awesome stuff that's going to be happening later in the story. There is a lot of tension in this section built up between Eve and Adam, but it slowly plays out her relationship with Garrit a member of her protector family. There are also a lot of interesting hints at Eve's life before this current one which I wanted to see more of, but that is a lot of what the present story was, hints at what I want to see more of and a build up to what should be more explosive in the rest of the series.
The ending of the book is kind of a letdown as well, as it really feels like the author ran out of book and had to call it a day for this part of the series, but it's still a really well written part, it's obviously going to be a series that is much more appealing when you can read the whole series at once, but there is still a lot of good stuff shoved into this part of the story. The epilogue does leave a good taste for what we'll be reading in the future and I'm excited to get there and see what that future holds. This is definitely a book I want to read again, but I'm going to wait until I have more of the series to read it, maybe.
The book deals with three different timelines and switched between them well to keep the reader apprised of what's going on in each regularly and not losing interest in any of the time lines. There is the current time line where Eve is getting ready for her marriage. The Creation time line where Eve is created and has to deal with the situation in the Garden of Eden. The final time line is Thor arriving on Earth and him traveling the world.
The Thor time sections of the story held my interest the best as Thor is traveling Earth, and his relationship with Eve or Tora as she's known then was well written and dealt with. The interactions with the other Norse Gods was fun to watch as well, and it's good to see that Loki is a dick here as pop culture always treats him, and the way I like to see him used. His interactions with Ra and Athena are very entertaining, and I especially enjoyed the relationship he developed with Athena. Through this view we get to see a lot of neat ways that Eve is folded into the rest of Christian beliefs as well as some other mythological stories, namely lots of hints about the Trojan War.
The Creation part of the story is a really interesting take on the Christian Creation myth and creates a lot of new dynamics on a story everybody knows. Lucifer as the snake plays less of a role in the forbidden fruit being eaten, and Eve sacrifices the garden to be able to escape the harsh rule of Adam.
The part of the story set in the present is the only part that dragged for me as it really seemed to be setting itself up for awesome stuff that's going to be happening later in the story. There is a lot of tension in this section built up between Eve and Adam, but it slowly plays out her relationship with Garrit a member of her protector family. There are also a lot of interesting hints at Eve's life before this current one which I wanted to see more of, but that is a lot of what the present story was, hints at what I want to see more of and a build up to what should be more explosive in the rest of the series.
The ending of the book is kind of a letdown as well, as it really feels like the author ran out of book and had to call it a day for this part of the series, but it's still a really well written part, it's obviously going to be a series that is much more appealing when you can read the whole series at once, but there is still a lot of good stuff shoved into this part of the story. The epilogue does leave a good taste for what we'll be reading in the future and I'm excited to get there and see what that future holds. This is definitely a book I want to read again, but I'm going to wait until I have more of the series to read it, maybe.
November 6, 2013
Absolutely breathtaking. An imagination so new and refreshing has created such a detailed and beautifully complex world of gods and mortals.
It is an elegant roller coaster of myth, legend, love and indeed life that spans across all pantheons old and current. A tale that connects through different lives, histories, cultures and indeed time.
Amalia shows greath depth with grace as her vast cast of characters introduces the reader to something new, something familiar and something magical within each chapter. Neither flaunting her knowledge and understanding of the cultures and faiths she writes about but doesn't leave the reader completely miffed either.
The characters have real fire and real passion as well as real pain shining through the words and the imagery of scenery, scents, emotions even are so strong and vivid that I can't help but imagine it all as a movie directed and produced by my imagination but Amalia has written the script, in my head. And that of course is the mark of a truly good book.
The plot grips you tight and turns you one way and then another, like a swift flowing stream so the change in focus, direction or attention isn't forced or stitled but almost natural as the tension increases and the reader is always left anticipating what comes next.
If you like mythology of any kind, if you like a love story but want a love story with a truly original twist like none other, if you like drama and magic, if you like to see the timeless war of good vs bad, right vs wrong, then this is the book for you.
It is an elegant roller coaster of myth, legend, love and indeed life that spans across all pantheons old and current. A tale that connects through different lives, histories, cultures and indeed time.
Amalia shows greath depth with grace as her vast cast of characters introduces the reader to something new, something familiar and something magical within each chapter. Neither flaunting her knowledge and understanding of the cultures and faiths she writes about but doesn't leave the reader completely miffed either.
The characters have real fire and real passion as well as real pain shining through the words and the imagery of scenery, scents, emotions even are so strong and vivid that I can't help but imagine it all as a movie directed and produced by my imagination but Amalia has written the script, in my head. And that of course is the mark of a truly good book.
The plot grips you tight and turns you one way and then another, like a swift flowing stream so the change in focus, direction or attention isn't forced or stitled but almost natural as the tension increases and the reader is always left anticipating what comes next.
If you like mythology of any kind, if you like a love story but want a love story with a truly original twist like none other, if you like drama and magic, if you like to see the timeless war of good vs bad, right vs wrong, then this is the book for you.
February 4, 2014
This book was a wonderful weaving of the different mythologies from human history. It's abundantly clear that Ms. Dillin knows her mythology inside and out, and she does an excellent job guiding the reader through them.
If you're a hardcore Christian, this is not the book for you. The basic premise of the book can be boiled down to, "What if ALL the Gods are real?" I loved this premise, and though the plot focuses on the development of Eve and Thor more than anything else, my favorite bits were seeing how the Gods from different cultures interacted with each other. Personally, I'm dying see more of that in any follow-up books. The historical parts of the book felt much more interesting to me than the present-day, though that might be because the present-day chapters had a very slow buildup, whereas the historical chapters hit hard and fast, giving the reader broad bits of information all at once. One issue I had with the book (really, my only issue) was Sif's motivation; I don't want to give away anything of the story, but her vindictiveness rang totally hollow for me considering it was her fault! I have my suspicions as to the real reason behind her actions, and I'm hoping it's confirmed in Volume Two (rather than implied).
Overall, this was a fantastic read and I'd happily recommend it to anyone with imagination, love of a good story, an interest in history and mythology or all of the above.
If you're a hardcore Christian, this is not the book for you. The basic premise of the book can be boiled down to, "What if ALL the Gods are real?" I loved this premise, and though the plot focuses on the development of Eve and Thor more than anything else, my favorite bits were seeing how the Gods from different cultures interacted with each other. Personally, I'm dying see more of that in any follow-up books. The historical parts of the book felt much more interesting to me than the present-day, though that might be because the present-day chapters had a very slow buildup, whereas the historical chapters hit hard and fast, giving the reader broad bits of information all at once. One issue I had with the book (really, my only issue) was Sif's motivation; I don't want to give away anything of the story, but her vindictiveness rang totally hollow for me considering it was her fault! I have my suspicions as to the real reason behind her actions, and I'm hoping it's confirmed in Volume Two (rather than implied).
Overall, this was a fantastic read and I'd happily recommend it to anyone with imagination, love of a good story, an interest in history and mythology or all of the above.
March 19, 2013
Ok I have to admit. As a friend of the author, I tried to read this book 2 years ago and I couldn't even get through the first two chapters. I really, really didn't like it. I wanted to strangle every single character. So when I picked it up this time, it was with some misgivings, but since she got it published, I was gonna do my darnedest to give it a go!
Boy am I glad I did!! What an improvement. I was hooked from the very beginning. Every single character in this is now so real, I felt like I could touch them. I cared about Eve and in the end, oddly enough, I cared about Adam too. I cared about Thor through the whole thing and seriously... Thor plushies? Anyone? <3
It isn't the first time I have read a book involving multiple pantheons rubbing elbows, but it is the first one I have read that was not a satire and it really is a HUGE success. I highly recommend this book to just about anyone. It's about religion, yes, but it is not religious. It is about romance, yes, but it is not romantic.
And there are goats.
Me-eh.
Boy am I glad I did!! What an improvement. I was hooked from the very beginning. Every single character in this is now so real, I felt like I could touch them. I cared about Eve and in the end, oddly enough, I cared about Adam too. I cared about Thor through the whole thing and seriously... Thor plushies? Anyone? <3
It isn't the first time I have read a book involving multiple pantheons rubbing elbows, but it is the first one I have read that was not a satire and it really is a HUGE success. I highly recommend this book to just about anyone. It's about religion, yes, but it is not religious. It is about romance, yes, but it is not romantic.
And there are goats.
Me-eh.
February 1, 2014
"And as long as she lives, as long as she thinks of me with fondness and the memory of our life together brings her comfort, I will honor her for it. I will love her above all else in this world and the next. And there is nothing you can do stop it." - Thor
The sweetest quote I've come across in this book yet. And I'm only at 66%!
Edit-
Wow..just wow. At first it took me a while to warm up to Dillin's writing but after you get past the way she jumped within "Creation", "B.C" and "Present" eras, it got really good. After I finished reading a chapter of creation, I go WTFF bc she left me hanging..and then I would read the next chapter held during the B.C era and then the next chapter would shift to the Present time era...and damn, it's just cliffhangers all over the place! Kept me on edge haha I really enjoyed this book. So happy I bumped into it surfing through listopia. Definitely rereading this in the future.
4.5 stars!
The sweetest quote I've come across in this book yet. And I'm only at 66%!
Edit-
Wow..just wow. At first it took me a while to warm up to Dillin's writing but after you get past the way she jumped within "Creation", "B.C" and "Present" eras, it got really good. After I finished reading a chapter of creation, I go WTFF bc she left me hanging..and then I would read the next chapter held during the B.C era and then the next chapter would shift to the Present time era...and damn, it's just cliffhangers all over the place! Kept me on edge haha I really enjoyed this book. So happy I bumped into it surfing through listopia. Definitely rereading this in the future.
4.5 stars!
March 14, 2013
I love this book so much. The mythology is incredible, the gods and goddesses feel so real, the world itself was amazing and unique, mixing both history and mythology in a seamless, believable way that left me enthralled from the first page to the last! The story's design made reading about the different timelines incredibly fascinating and I was constantly on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what happened and how everything tied together. I love this book SO much, I recommend it wholeheartedly. I loved the characters, especially Eve, she was relatable and genuine and I loved seeing the world's history through her eyes.
This is the kind of story that will leave you thinking about the world and life in a deep and profound way. I thought about the story and characters for weeks after I read it. Read this book! You will be so happy you did!
This is the kind of story that will leave you thinking about the world and life in a deep and profound way. I thought about the story and characters for weeks after I read it. Read this book! You will be so happy you did!
March 8, 2014
Forged by Fate knew where to push my soft buttons. And also I'm a huge sucker for Mythologies and this book really sated me! - I mean it, very much. It landed on my favorite list.
The book was so good, it's great on itself. Every cast was fully 'furnished' even to the little things. Every riddle will make you think and solve it by yourself. The twists and turns turned my brain on.
Thor became my favorite Norse God because of this. His passion, faithfulness and love for Eve was breathtaking. Adam was arrogant and self-fish but when it comes to his soft side, he is really a - well, you can figure it out by yourself. Ha ha. Eve is great and keeps getting great, I hope she didn't 'coz any change except for one. And I expect it big. Ooops! That's enough for spoiling.
Even it's good on itself, I can't wait for the sequel. I hope it exceed this.
The book was so good, it's great on itself. Every cast was fully 'furnished' even to the little things. Every riddle will make you think and solve it by yourself. The twists and turns turned my brain on.
Thor became my favorite Norse God because of this. His passion, faithfulness and love for Eve was breathtaking. Adam was arrogant and self-fish but when it comes to his soft side, he is really a - well, you can figure it out by yourself. Ha ha. Eve is great and keeps getting great, I hope she didn't 'coz any change except for one. And I expect it big. Ooops! That's enough for spoiling.
Even it's good on itself, I can't wait for the sequel. I hope it exceed this.
July 6, 2013
I'm a huge fan of world mythologies, and this novel is an imaginative blending of the Egyptian, Norse, and Greek pantheons, with the characters from the Bible thrown in to boot. Being a total Egyptophile, of course my favorite scenes were those with Re, but Thor is easily my favorite character. What I love most about this novel is the name-dropping of major historical characters and events, and how they all connected back to Eve somehow--the story of Moses, Helen and the Trojan War, etc. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book!
March 20, 2015
I really enjoyed this start to the series. It's hard to give a firm opinion on the whole story since it continues in the next book. What I love is the different pantheons and how they live together and interact. Anything with gods and goddesses has me hooked immediately. I was leery about Adam and Eve because I don't follow that faith and worried it would be too religious. It definitely wasn't. Amalia takes a whole new twist on the Adam and Eve myth that is fascinating!
I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction with mythology.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction with mythology.
December 5, 2012
I really enjoyed this -- although it's not necessarily a genre I would automatically pick up. The re-imagining of the pantheons is consistent and thoughtful, and the characters of the gods are 'authentic' enough not to annoy a pedant like me, while 'human' enough to be engaging and emotionally affecting. I definitely ended up wanting to know more about the main characters and the various mysteries of the backstory, so I look forward to the rest of the series. A very good read. :)
May 18, 2016
Forged by Fate was a beautifully crafted story which follows two point-of-view characters in three timelines. Usually, stories which jump back and forth through time can feel very disjointed; but in this case, each timeline added intrigue to the next. The world building is spectacular, with a unique take on biblical stories and other mythologies.
August 2, 2017
A thoroughly entertaining new perspective delivered by the imaginative, talented writer of this publication.
March 10, 2018
This author is fast becoming a favourite of mine and I absolutely loved this refreshing twist on the story of Adam and Eve.
Amalia Dillin builds a world where ALL Gods exist and interact with each other. The story follows the constantly reborn, Eve and flicks around between present day and creation with an additional thread told through the eyes of Thor as he protects her through her many lifetimes.
Forged by Fate is the first in the trilogy and I can't wait to read more.
Amalia Dillin builds a world where ALL Gods exist and interact with each other. The story follows the constantly reborn, Eve and flicks around between present day and creation with an additional thread told through the eyes of Thor as he protects her through her many lifetimes.
Forged by Fate is the first in the trilogy and I can't wait to read more.
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January 31, 2023Final Proofs are COMPLETE, time to get these freshly minted files uploaded! Can't wait to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Forged by Fate with all of you!!
April 24, 2017
Fascinating
This book has a very interesting premise. The blend of cultures and beliefs was fascinating. I am curious to see where it goes next.
This book has a very interesting premise. The blend of cultures and beliefs was fascinating. I am curious to see where it goes next.
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