Fanboys Anonymous

Richelle Mead's intricate writing has always captivated me. She has this uncanny ability to mix mythical creatures with a believable plot and a modern-day romance.When her newest adult series, Age of X, hit stores a few years ago, I decided to wait a while before diving in. I'm always distraught over cliffhanger endings, and being able to read a few back to back is just what I need to cure a good book hangover. After finishing both books in the series, I can't believe I waited two years!


Gameboard of the Gods is a dystopian world–driven story that is so well developed, so detailed, that I actually felt as though I were part of its culture. Given that Mead has a Master's degree in comparative religions, I wasn't surprised to find that the story had a lot to do with the gods of different cultures.

The story follows Mae, an enhanced military soldier, and Justin, a drug-addicted and sometimes too snippy religious group investigator. Without giving too much away, the book is exactly as the title says. The entire world is a gameboard of the gods. Deities finding followers, performing miracles, and demanding a lifetime of servitude are just a few of the plots that unravel throughout.

Although Mae and Justin have a relationship not unlike the star-crossed versions of other series, Mead writes with such mature diversity that their relationship cannot be compared to that of the infamous young-adult Vampire Academy series. In fact, if you begin this series expecting it to be anything like her bestselling series, you may not enjoy it. It's told in a third-person limited point of view by three different characters.

At 160,000 words, this epic novel really gets inside the heads of the characters and explores all the twists and turns as each scene unfolds. The sequel, The Immortal Crown, furthers the story as we learn more about the controlling deities who have decided to make Mae and Justin their puppets.

If you are a fan of complex adult novels such as A Game of Thrones, this may be just the book for you. If you want something lighthearted and flimsy, you may want to pass. The third installment in the series is due out early next year. Either way, this book is a must read and is going on my list of top series of all time. Have you read or are planning to read this series? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.