NFT Book Review #01 Death - Bringer
written by Emanuel Souza
NFT Book Review #01
This is the first in a series of NFT book reviews. This text aims to provide literary criticism without evaluating technical aspects such as NFTs, focusing solely on the literary content of the text.
Throughout the writing, I have made every effort to avoid spoilers, providing an analysis of the book as a whole. Occasionally, I may mention characters and scenes, but without delving into plot details that could potentially spoil the experience for future readers.
The Book
Death-Bringer is M.S. Bourland's debut novel and the first book in the Shadows of the Gods series, a mythology-inspired epic set in Bronze Age Greece.
Launching in 2022 on the Ethereum blockchain, a limited edition NFT series that includes original artwork, physical books and token-gated access to an audiobook and eBook formats.
Welcome to Akros
A port city, ships docking, a mysterious woman arriving. She returns to the homeland she once left, carrying scars she wishes to conceal. Briel is the protagonist of this epic, a strong-willed woman haunted by ghosts from the past (sometimes quite literally).
The book begins by introducing us to the character, but reveals little about her past. This is an important aspect of the narrative. The events of the present are heavily influenced by the past, but this past is something that the protagonist wants to hide at all costs, even from us readers.
The narrative takes place in Akros, a fictional island laden with Hellenic inspiration. Right from the beginning, we are immersed in this fictional universe through the descriptions, which undoubtedly are one of the book's strong points. The descriptions are rich in detail and visually appealing. Both the different locations in the city and the attire of the characters are intricately detailed, allowing the reader to enter an ancient world of beautiful yet hostile landscapes, where cultural differences are accentuated and conflicting in a changing age.
The book is divided into subchapters (sections), which allows the text to traverse the perspectives of different characters that make up the plot. The division within the chapters contributes to the rhythm of the story, creating a dynamic viewpoint that follows the plot simultaneously.
Although various characters hold significance in the fabric of the story, Briel is the central point around which the narrative unfolds. In addition to the importance of the protagonist, a significant event serves as the temporal milestone in which the story is set: the funeral of her father, the funeral of the King.
The death of the king is the central point from which the plot extends, both into the future and the past. It serves as the catalyst for bringing together all the characters in the city who are connected in different ways. It delves into the past to unravel the political intricacies intertwined with personal dramas. The funeral rites are not only for the ruler but also for an era.
The human world of Akros is permeated by the edges of the divine. The relationship between the gods and mortals is intriguing, reminiscent of situations described in the Homeric epics. It is evident that the Homeric tradition played a significant role in constructing the divine imagery, as the anthropomorphism of the gods bridged the gap between the human and the divine, infusing the intangible with human emotions and affections. In Death-Bringer, the author successfully incorporates Homeric references into a modern reinterpretation. The gods are portrayed with heightened human qualities, engaging with the human world as a game of power and vanity.
Similar to a hero in Homer's works, Briel has the favor of some gods and the dangerous attention of others. The nature of the protagonist's relationship with the gods is not clear in the book. While hints may arise, the mystery is maintained, leaving an open-ended past that spills over into the present.
Just like in a tragedy, the characters are bound by an inexorable destiny. There is no escape. Just as Oedipus fulfilled the oracle's prophecy while believing he was fleeing from it, the characters who gather in Akros for the king's funeral fulfill the roles assigned to them. "The gods and the winds, uncle—what else brings us anywhere?". Mortals are nothing more than flies trapped in a web woven by the gods. In this sense, the gods will do whatever it takes to tip the scales of time in their favor, even if it means directly interfering in mortal lives. Like the scene where Athena, disguised as a tavern attendant, plants ideas in the mortal minds of what she desires.
The scenes involving the gods are very well-done, but at the same time, they are too short. There is a strong and intrinsic relationship between the gods and mortals. References to the gods are constantly present in the characters' dialogues. In addition to indirect mentions, there are scenes where the gods take center stage. One particularly interesting scene occurs between Apollo and Aphrodite, where the two gods invisibly walk among mortals, engaging in conversation and observation. They behave like two teenagers, gossiping and flirting. The gods traverse the mortal world, drawing their own conclusions from what they observe.
I bring up this scene as an example because it fits seamlessly into the text and provides an intriguing perspective for the reader. However, the scene is brief, and the narrative quickly returns to the mortals. It leaves the impression that scenes like this are underutilized, as we could have accompanied the gods more and gained a better understanding of their plans and thoughts.
The book has a good pace, as mentioned before, and the chapter organization contributes to a well-connected narrative. Different characters have a voice and are important for understanding the complexity of the story. However, after the halfway point, the narrative focuses on Briel and her secrets. The first half is dynamic, with events unfolding rapidly. Although there may be many names and references to remember at times, the events overlap in a way that captivates the reader until the climax of a battle and its consequences. After that, the pace slows down, which is good and allows the reader to breathe, but it never picks up again. There is a sense that Briel's secrets could have been better explored, as much remains unsaid. This undoubtedly creates a desire to read the next volumes, but it makes the ending of this volume feel like a chess game being set up with moves yet to happen.
The plot is well connected, but it could have delved deeper into the hinted backstory, particularly regarding Briel's mysterious days in exile. Similarly, the relationship between the gods and mortals could have been given more pages. However, these points do not diminish the charisma of the characters, and the reader remains close to Briel, like a confidant patiently waiting for answers.
Some interesting points worth highlighting:
- The setting is one of the book's strong points. Blending historical and geographical references with the fictional narrative, the details are rich and immerse the reader in this world. Akros, being a port city that welcomes travelers and merchants from all over the world, is a place where cultural differences become apparent and different worlds collide. The paths, colors, smells, all the sensations that make up the immersive experience, are present. A great scene is when the boy Rian leads us through secret paths and passages, creating a topographical map in the reader's mind of where the story takes place.
- The psychological descriptions are not limited to humans and gods. In an interesting process of subjective anthropomorphism, the thoughts of a dog provide depth to the relationship between the animal and its owner, as well as offering another perspective on what is happening. It is captivating to follow the animal's thoughts in its interactions with the owner and other humans.
- The narrative is situated in a well-defined temporal point. An intriguing dialogue between the sailors Varkes implies that this world is no longer the same. The death of the king carries a symbolic significance, representing the slow death of an era being replaced by another, as stories turn into legends. A mythological world gradually approaching our own world, where the gods are merely myths. This temporal shift intertwines the reader, who in some way finds themselves positioned in the present, reading something from the past of their own world.
- Well-written, the text is an epic with a contemporary touch. The female protagonist highlights power struggles and politics while carrying emotional depth.
Final Remarks
Personally, as a fan of epic fiction, I am already inclined to enjoy M.S. Bourland's book, an mythological epic set in a fictional world that bears a striking resemblance to our own while also carrying the magical and legendary power that resides in our collective unconscious. The narrative is presented in an interesting subdivision of chapters that dictates the book's pace. Briel is an intriguing and bold protagonist, unafraid to speak her mind without filters. Amid political conflicts and the foreshadowing of death, this is a book worth reading.
More about the author and book
Twitter - https://twitter.com/msbourland