The Thirteenth Hour: Book One of The Cruel Gods by Trudie Skies – Review | Blog Tour

A fantasy lover’s delight.

WHAT’S THE BOOK ABOUT

When the saints fail, the sinners step up.

Cruel gods rule the steam-powered city of Chime, demanding worship and tribute from their mortal subjects. Kayl lost her faith in them long ago, and now seeks to protect vulnerable and downtrodden mortals from their gods’ whims. But when Kayl discovers powers that she didn’t know she had—and destroys a mortal’s soul by accident—she becomes Chime’s most wanted.

Quen’s job was to pursue sinners, until the visions started. Haunted by foreboding images of his beloved city’s destruction, Quen hunts soul-sucking creatures made of aether who prey on its citizens—and Kayl is his number one target.

To ensure Chime’s future, Kayl and Quen must discover the truth of Kayl’s divine abilities before the gods take matters into their own hands.

For a city that bows to cruel gods, it’ll take godless heathens to save it.

The Thirteenth Hour is the first book in The Cruel Gods series—a gaslamp fantasy featuring magical portals, gothic cosmic deities, quaint Britishisms, and steampunk vibes. This is an adult book containing strong language and mature themes that some readers may find disturbing.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK

The initial few chapters are confusing due to complex world-building, but I am glad I persisted since the story soon becomes intriguing. The story is set in a world where there are twelve gods lording over twelve domains, each domain being inhabited by wholly different individuals.

Kayl, a Vesper, and Quen, a Warden, team up to solve the mystery of soul-sucking creatures made of aether. I enjoyed reading their interactions a lot.

The three-dimensional secondary characters also enriched the plot, so did the splendid worldbuilding. The author’s prose flows lucidly, however, there are parts in the book which I struggled to read.

Recommended for fantasy lovers looking for steampunk stories.

BOOK DETAILS

Genre: Fantasy || Pages: 535 || Published on 13th October 2021, Self-Published

AUTHOR BIO

Trudie Skies is a British indie author who has been living inside fantasy worlds ever since they discovered that reality doesn’t quite live up to the hype. Through the magic of books, they wish to share these worlds of hope and heroes with other weary souls. You can chat with Trudie on Twitter @TrudieSkies, or to find out more about Trudie and her fantasy worlds, visit http://www.TrudieSkies.com

Author Link(s): Website

If you liked this post, consider supporting my blog through donations on Ko-fi. You can also follow me on Twitter and Goodreads.