A Game for Gods

The Godgame #1

by Keith Deininger

Some say the world of Meridian is in its last age of existence. The Flood is coming, an event that will wipe the planet clean of corruption. But for humanity, there are more immediate troubles. A war is brewing between the decadent and industrial City of Talos and the rural territory of Nova. When twelve-year-old Ash Alexander is recruited by the Novan militia, his life—and the life of each member of his family—is thrown into chaos, into a war far deadlier than anyone could have predicted. While Ash’s sanity is tested against the horrors of war; a woman seeks to uncover the mysteries of the School of the Unseen in her lifelong quest to travel the world; a man will do anything to cure his wife of a horrible sickness; and the chief adviser to the ruler of Talos will align himself with grotesque and otherworldly beings in order to achieve his ambitions. The game of gods has begun.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy

334 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2015

About the author

Keith Deininger is an award-winning dark fiction author. His titles include WITHIN, MARROW'S PIT and A GAME FOR GODS. He is best known for blending elements of fantasy with horror in his surreal, literary style. He grew up in the American Southwest and currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife and daughter.

www.KeithDeininger.com

Reviews

[Char]

The Godgame is a difficult book to label. It doesn't conveniently fit into any one category.

I'll call it a dark fantasy tale with some epic world building and characters I won't soon forget.

Featuring various cities and races of people, all the pieces of this puzzle do not yet fit together, but I have faith that Keith will do just that as this series continues.

An excellent beginning to what will be a six book series and I'm looking forward to starting the next one.

Recommended to fans of dark fantasy.

*A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. This is it! *

[Andi Rawson]

How do you sum up a world? From our brilliant storyteller, Keith Deininger, we have The Godgame, a full-immersion plunge into a fantastical world known as Meridian. First introduced in the book Shadow Animals ( a personal favorite of mine), we delve straight down the rabbit hole - and we keep on going. Although that is the only Alice in Wonderland comparison I can give you, because this is not your children's bedtime story.

The Godgame is partially horror, all fantasy and entirely entertaining. Keith does an excellent job of not only bringing each one of his characters to life but also seamlessly interweaving them into his world. There are no generic personalities here. Every character is entirely original and viewed from Keith Deininger's unique and often quirky perspective. The majority of the story in the Godgame takes place between the city of Talos and the small village of Fallowvane. Talos is the a technologically advanced mecca under the rule of the The Archon and the mystical and violent hallowgeons. Fallowvane is a small farming village inhabited by the Novan's, who for the most part reject the teachings of the Talosians. As rumors of unrest and a war against Nova are spreading, so is the tension between the two and a war, intentional or not, may just be unavoidable.

If you enjoyed Shadow Animals, The Godgame will be the icing on your cake. The first in a series of (at least) six books, I am very much looking forward to what Keith has in store for us in the series.

I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion and there you have it.

[Michael Hicks]

Keith Deininger's THE GODGAME is a terrific work of dark fantasy, picking up right on the heels of the prologue novella, Marrow's Legacy (The Godgame Book 0).

Readers are taken to the lands of Talos and Nova, where war is ready to erupt, and Deininger does a proficient job building up both the world outside of The Machine, where LEGACY was set, and a cast of new characters. The descriptions of war are very well done, and the technological advancements (or perhaps leftovers is more accurate) that Talos possesses gave the climax's conflict some small, and welcome, shades of Mad Max chaos. I also really liked the way Deininger describes the opulence and self-entitlement of the Archons, the ruling elite in Talos; obese and situated on floating mechanical platforms and hooked up to life-sustaining tubes, there's some really fantastic and gruesome depictions of these warmongers.

I was a bit surprised to discover that Eli Sol, the protagonist of MARROW'S LEGACY who received the cryptic warning that the Flood Is Coming, was almost entirely absent here after this book's opening chapter. One more than one occasion I found myself wondering what he was up to and how the denizens living in The Machine were holding up in the aftermath of Legacy's finale. I really would have liked for Deininger to check in on him from time to time. However, my frustrations with the sudden absence of Eli are somewhat eased with the author's afterword admission of this being a fairly long series, with six books planned. I guess that gives us plenty of time to return to Eli's story; I just need to be a bit more patient!

So, the absence of Eli aside, what we're given here, in this proper Book 1 of this series, is some really great stuff. Excellent attention to detail, an interesting premise and cast of characters, particularly the Novan child-soldier of Ash, and a great mix of action and nefarious Talosian politicking make this one a winner. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to start in on Book 2, The Blood of Talos.

[Steve]

I received this from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, that cliffhanger ending was intense!

The Godgame is the first novel in a planned series set in the dark fantasy world of Meridian and the lands of Talos and Nova. Opposing forces, obscure prophecies, racial hatred, and hidden truths are the driving forces pushing the main characters into dangerous, life-threatening situations. And it is only beginning.

This book might be confusing for readers unfamiliar with Meridian, which can be rectified by picking up Marrow's Pit and Marrow's Legacy. While not directly tied to this book, these two novellas provide some foundation and back story.

The author is very adept at world building, which was actually started in Marrow's Pit. He has greatly expanded the perspective in this novel, drawing his readers deeper and deeper into the developing storyline. The writing is very compelling, and character development was great.

Thanks to the author for the opportunity to review this book. I'll be diving right into the next volume: The Blood of Talos.

[Leo Robertson]

OMgggg this series is going to be so good!

Deininger starts off with an at-first bewildering range of characters and locations for the first half of the book or so, building the lands of Talos and Nova and introducing the main characters and threads of plot. I see from other reviews that he has been tinkering with this world in some prequel novellas, but I dove into this one first without any problems. And all this pays off way faster than it normally does for a book of this scope, progressing towards the advent of an epic battle and ending in a crescendo mid-narrative- aw. (Lol I have the second book anyways so whatever.)

It really is a testament to Deininger's skills as a writer that the weave of world-build, plot, characterisation and so on is near-invisible, and the elements of horror and whatever dark fantasy means into the narrative is performed with originality, style and without ever feeling cliche.

I don't normally read books like this, though I was reminded of Clive Barker or George R. R. Martin- maybe China Mieville? (Don't ask me.) But I will definitely continue with this series. Feel free to get started yourself!

Highly recommended :)

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/11/2020)! 🎁

[Scott]

I'm a big fan of Keith Deininger and have read everything he has released. Certain details in his works hint at a connection between them, some overtly and some so minor they are easy to miss. Now, with The Godgame, elements are coming together to start to illustrate the big picture.

The world of Meridian is a dystopian one, a world that may be recovering from an apocalypse in its past. This is the setting for an epic dark fantasy full of war, politics, racial and gender conflicts, and revenge. The story is told through a few main characters, but there are so many moving parts that I wouldn't be surprised if many more turn out to be just as important. Keith's writing is top notch as usual, poetic and descriptive without being "purple", and sparse and minimalist when it is called for.

The only thing I didn't like didn't have anything to do with the story or the writing. The Godgame feels like the first act of a long novel, not a book on its own. I realize there are valid business reasons for this, but I would prefer more of a conclusion even though the story continues in the next book.

I loved The Godgame and I've already purchased The Blood of Talos (Book 2) and will devouring it shortly. Highly recommended, especially for dark fantasy fans. 5 stars.

[Nev Murray]

"What I can tell you is this – it’s bloody good. This is something that I never thought I would see Mr Deininger write. His previous writings have always had a fantasy element to them but have edged more towards pure horror. This story, at the minute, is pure fantasy. Set in a fantasy land, in a fantasy time with fantastical characters from different realms and worlds all trying to mix together but all having their own agendas. I can’t wait for the time in the story that the dark stuff really comes to the surface. I think it’s going to take off big style."


The Godgame (The Godgame #1)

[Anthony Hains]

I’ll admit something up front … I tend not to be a fan of Fantasy novels. I suppose “Dark Fantasy” is okay, although I am not entirely sure what that is. If it has horror components, then I’m in. Horror, to those who keep score on these things, is my favorite genre. But, if I find myself reading about cute elves or dragons, my interest wanes rather quickly (Harry Potter being an exception.)
With a little apprehension, I began reading the dark fantasy novel The Godgame by Keith Deininger not knowing what to expect. I’ve read multiple novels and novellas by Keith and thoroughly enjoyed them. He is a true rising star in speculative fiction. When I picked up The Godgame (figuratively speaking, that is-it was on my Kindle), I noticed the F-word and thought, “oh no, Keith has gone over to the dark side.”
I didn’t need to worry. The Godgame is no tiresome fantasy with elves. Granted the story takes place in an alternative world. But the world was the same one Keith wrote about in two of his previous works that I’ve read: Shadow Animals and Marrow’s Pit. Both were chilling and gripping reads (I liked Shadow Animals a tad better), so I settled in for a great read knowing I was in safe territory.
The action takes in two neighboring communities: the city of Talos and a small village in Nova. Talos is depicted as a decadent, depraved, and narcissistic community. Nova, however, contains multiple small idyllic villages that somehow have escaped the cynicism of the larger city. The leader of Talos (who is called the Archon) is readying his city and army for an attack on the small village of Fallowvane.
There are a number of subplots which are too difficult to describe here, but within the course of the narrative the strands become tied together quite well. There are also a ton of characters, and Keith manages to juggle them all well – giving them independent lives and characteristics which help the reader not only tell them apart but also imbue them with three-dimension personalities. For instance, a chief aid/assistant for the Archon named Trevor is a standout. This conniving character has disturbing intentions, and his maneuverings for power and privilege keep the action rolling. The hero of the tale (at this stage at least) is a 12-year old boy named Ash who evidently has supernatural skills and abilities. He is unaware of these skills – as is the reader - but the scheming Talosians are certainly knowledgeable of them and want to capture him for exploitation. Ash is nicely rendered by Keith – his actions, thoughts, and dialog ring true for a 12 year old. Ash’s mother, Lena, is deathly ill for the first 70% of the novel and does not get much screen time. But when she comes to the forefront in the later sections, she establishes herself as a fascinating character in a manner that I didn’t see happening. Others like Embra, (Lena’s sister), the Anchon (a distasteful character – think of a human sized bag of pus), and Ash’s little sister (who has a bright future in episodes to come) are also dazzling when the reader experiences their point of view.
When the invasion of Nova by the army of Talos occurs, the portrayal is riveting and ghastly. The tension is relentless and the grip of the narrative is unyielding. This was one of my favorite sections of the book.
My one relatively minor criticism occurs sporadically in roughly the first 30% of the novel. Since Keith is creating his own world, he has to help his readers catch up on whatever is going on by providing brief summaries of history and back story. The result is an occasional slippage into “telling” the story as opposed to Keith’s typically skillful “showing” the story. While this slows things down a bit and can overwhelm the reader, it occurs infrequently so is not a major flaw.
Overall, The Godgame is another dynamic piece of dark fantasy from Keith Deininger. This book is part of a larger series and represents an exciting entry into the land of Talos. Highly recommended.

[Katy]

When I first began The Godgame, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed. I was completely lost and more than a little confused. Luckily for me, that was my fault, not the author's. I'd read Marrow's Pit, but somehow missed Marrow's Legacy, a much needed and fantastic prequel to, The Godgame. So, after fixing that problem, it all started to make sense.
This book takes us beyond the machine, into the cities of Nova and Talos, and the war that is brewing between them. The world building is well done and engrossing, the simple living Novans and the oppressive, overstuffed Talosians are painted clearly from the beginning.
I'm usually frustrated by a constantly changing character point of view, but in this case it worked, and it worked well. Despite being given less page time to develop, each of the characters felt completely fleshed out and three dimensional. One of the things I love most about Deininger's characters is that they all exist in a varying shades of gray, to the point where I'm not even sure who I should really be rooting for.
I love watching as small parts of his other works come together to give history to the world he has built and hint at things to come. As with Marrow's Pit and Marrow's Legacy, I particularly enjoyed identifying the small parts of our world that had survived and bled into their strange and fantastic world. (Wait, why don't they know what that ringing is?)
My only complaint is a small one, and possibly just one of personal preference. I really wish the book had come full circle in some way, ending at least with the character it began with, Eli Sol. I have to admit, I spent much of the book wondering if THIS would be the part that he would make his appearance. I was determined to see how it all fit! I wanted a few more pieces in my own personal book plot jigsaw puzzle. But, I can be patient. I look forward watching it all come together, one book at a time.

[Amanda M. Lyons]

Ash lives in an idyllic town far from the vast and complex city of Talos, a world from which his mother had fled years ago seeking a new life, separate from the society and social order that bore down on her, even leaving behind her father and sister. He is young, 12 and just old enough to be drafted for the Nova militia, he has friends, a loving family, and never expected to have things change. Change is coming to all, however, the machinations of Talos will come to sweep over the small nation of Nova, and soon the wheels of fate will come to bear down on them all.
This is the first time I’ve read one of Deininger’s fantasy books and I have to say I was really pleased with the experience. As I read I often thought to some of my favorite fantasy writers, Clive Barker and China Mieville for example, and even films like Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal all of which have a strong emphasis on very immersive fantasy worlds, engaging characters, and complex and interesting societies which offer some fresh perspectives on the way we interact in our own. If you’re a fan of books like Abarat, Perdido Street Station or even the Discworld books from Terry Pratchett (though this book is serious in tone unlike many of Pratchett’s books) with their quirkiness and discussion of morality and good and evil versus human nature you’re going to find a nice experience with Deininger’s fantasy books. I highly recommend this book and its author to all fantasy fans (probably best if you’re 16+ for some of the darker bits), but especially to those who like books that deal with war, social disorder, completely separate worlds, and intrigue set in a dark fantasy world.

[Walter Critz]

This book gets high marks for creativity in the world view it lays out, and in having fascinating characters. I did find it a bit gloomy to dredge through the plot and follow all of its convolutions.