I originally picked Lost Gods by BROM up to be part of a Spooktober read. Then, discovered it wasn’t so much spooky as it was just a really great dark fantasy book full of interesting mythology. Pacing was a little off at times, but the story was amazing. It reminded me of the Greek tragedies where heroes are sent on a quest in the Underworld only to reach an end they were not expecting. What Brom captures in Lost Gods is eerily close enough to what I’ve always pictured an underworld type place to be after death.
The story starts off with a bang. Well, multiple bangs. We meet protagonist Chet who, fresh off a stint in prison, is back to reunite with his pregnant girlfriend, promising to do right this time. They run off, Chet “accidentally” killing someone in the process, and arrive at his grandmother’s house. This is when everything goes to hell, literally. But, it’s also when the most fun is had. Chet makes friends and with them, they travel through the various parts of hell to find his grandfather, who supposedly, has the key to saving his unborn daughter and girlfriend from the horror that took him.
Along the way, he meets various gods and it is just so interesting. I loved this concept, that pagan gods still exist, in their own tiny place, welcoming whatever worshipers happen to arrive in the modern day. However, as more people take up the “modern” religions and forget the ancients, the less power they seem to have. The world is just so interesting and fantastic. I’d love to read more adventures of souls maneuvering their way through the underworld. Follow stories of townies that live there and haggle. Pirates in the underworld. All of it, I want it.
Character development and personal growth, we see a bit of that with Chet, but also Ana and a few of the gods. But honestly, it’s just the great plot and amazing world building that really makes Lost Gods by BROM a standout read.
