An incredibly ambitious debut, Acts of Deicide is a dark fantasy saga that simultaneously explores the grim aftermath of a three-hundred-year-long power vacuum, the complexities of human emotions from the perspectives of two individuals who approach life very differently, and their growing feelings for each other in a chaotic unravelling world.
An immortal protagonist seeking out ways to end their life is a well-trodden trope, but the author’s take on it is fresh, and the overall execution very enjoyable.
He turned his back on his dying city, mouth a thin, grim line, eyes a whirlpool of turmoil.
First and foremost, I absolutely loved the discovery aspect—the simultaneous exploration of past and present from the PoV of an unreliable narrator was wonderfully done. Blue remembering fragments of her life through the journal of a person who knew her as godmother, the written accounts clashing with her own fragmented memories while they traveled the war-torn lands together, forming a better grasp of the present, formed a very immersive reading experience.
Fight in enough conflicts triggered by disagreements of faith, and you eventually wonder what the point of it all is.
And then, of course, there is the mayhem and bloodshed. Many depravities, various facets of zealotry, discrimination, slavery, and cannibalism are explored.
With the god she worshipped gone, our immortal protagonist has nothing left to live for, and yet she cannot die. The many attempts to end her life, both her own initiatives and gruesome innovations by those who sought to torture and take advantage of her, were visceral and horrifying. And at the same time, despite being set in a very dark world, this book is not all gloom and doom. If you are truly determined, you possibly can skim over the darker parts and enjoy the rest of the story.
Damn it if her innocent shrug didn’t spark something deep within me. Something I had no name for. Something I hadn’t experienced in centuries. Something I wanted to nurture even as I considered the benefits of snuffing it out.
Finally, there is a solid plot underneath the braided narratives of love and despair, pain and understanding. I am not as much of a romance enthusiast, but in this case I liked how the growing attachment between Blue and Sarai evolved over the course of the story. The warmth of their relationship served as a great contrast to the darker elements. I had a few minor qualms with some minor plot decisions, but they don’t impact the overall experience.
The usual glimmer in her eyes was absent, though it seemed so long since I’d last seen her that perhaps I’d exaggerated its prior brightness.
The style of prose, approachable yet threaded with witty and prosaic elements, does great justice to all the themes in the story, and it was surprising to discover this was the author’s first book. Being able to depict both softer, emotional aspects as well as adrenaline-pumping visceral action so well is imho quite a superpower, and for that reason alone, I’d be eagerly looking forward to what comes next from L. E. Garrison’s desk.
It’s better to be driven by the need to protect someone, rather than avenge them.