Review: Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Release Date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Dutton Adult
Format: eBook
Pages: 464

Genre: Sci-fi, adventure
Series: Age of X #1

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads Synopsis: 

In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of X series, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense.

My Thoughts: Wow, what a fantastically awesome book. I know my Goodreads page says I started it way back in February. I did plan on diving into it then, but got caught up reading and reviewing some other books. I devoured Gameboard of the Gods in a matter of days, 5 to be exact and I can’t think of a bad part about it. Oh wait, the ending is very sudden. Does that even count as bad? Because I know was like “Wait! It can’t be done yet! What about….” Haha, don’t want to give anything away. But immediately I was on Richelle’s website, looking for more information.

Gameboard of the Gods has a very detailed plot. There are so many things that work into it. You can really tell that Richelle put a ton of effort into creating the story line. Her characters are extremely well developed too; even the side characters have their own distinct personalities. I love Mae’s friends Val and Dag; they were definitely my favorite characters with an awesome sense of humor, but I would not want to be their enemies. I don’t know whether it would be cool to be a praetorian, or not, but the concept is pretty neat. To be able to control the human body in such a manner and make it into an emotionless super soldier is something I am sure scientists somewhere are working on. Kind of a scary thought, actually.

I would definitely recommend Gameboard of the Gods to readers of sci-fi, suspense, drama, and adventure. I can’t wait for the next book in Richelle Mead’s Age of X series.

Would you volunteer as a Praetorian? What are your thoughts on the subject of human genetic and computer enhancement?

Becca