The isles of the gods by Amie Kaufman
What a roller-coaster ride The isles of the Gods is! I can’t imagine why I left it unread on my shelf for so long, but luckily for me, I have the sequel The heart of the world, to pick up immediately. Selly is determined to sail the north seas to meet her father but her plans are dashed when she discovers that her Captain has agreed on a secret mission, taking a handsome young stranger, Prince Leander, to the sacred Isles of the Gods where he is to perform a ritual to his god, Barrica. On board too is Keegan who desperately wants to reach the Bibliotek to start his dream of being a scholar. Meanwhile, Laskia, a young woman who worships the sleeping God Macean, is desperate to gain the approval of her sister and is willing to do anything to achieve that. Jude once Leander’s friend, must protect his sick mother and Laskia manipulates him to help her destroy Leander. What follow is mayhem on the high seas, murder, gods and magic, with two countries on the brink of war.
Told in alternate chapters by Selly, Leander, Keegan, Laskia and Jude, it is easy to follow the story and relate to each of the characters. Selly is a determined and clever sailor, whose skill and growth is crucial as much of the action takes place on a small sailboat in a dangerous sea. Leander has always been carefree and frivolous but must face his responsibilities and draw on hidden strengths. Keegan is a hero, willing to give up his plans for peace in the world. Laskia is the villain of the story; her desire to impress her sister Ruby and the nuns overtakes any moral qualms she has, while Jude is one that I felt sorry for – trapped looking after a sick mother.
The pace ramps up in the second half of the book and Kaufman is not afraid to describe the deadly actions that Laskia is prepared to commit in her quest to kill the prince. There is a frightening chase across perilous waters and magic swirls through the air. The under current of fear that Leander will not reach the Isles of the Gods in time to sacrifice to Barrica and that Macean will wake and bring war is very suspenseful and the cliffhanger ending will have fans desperate for the next in the series.
The Isles Of The Gods is a riveting fantasy with a slow burning romance, well deserving of its awards: Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA) Nominee for Book of the Year for Older Children (2024), CYBILS Award Nominee for Young Adult Speculative Fiction (2023), and Older Readers Book of the Year Award Notable Books 2024. Readers who enjoyed the fantasy and the sailing aspects of the book might like Fable by Adrienne Young and Devil’s ballast by Meg Caddy.
Themes: Princes, Magic, Gods and goddesses, Sailing.
Pat Pledger