The Bones of the Earth - (Bound Gods) by Rachel Dunne (Paperback)

About the Book

To win the coming battle for control of the world and the mortals who dwell in it, the cunning priest Joros secretly assembled a team of powerful fighters--Scal, a lost and damaged swordsman from the North; Vatri, a scarred priestess who claims to see the future in her fires; Anddyr, a drug-addled mage wandering between sanity and madness; and Rora and Aro, a pair of twins who have secretly survived beyond the reach of the law. But the war is only beginning for these disparate warriors and victory is far from certain when the enemy is a pair of vengeful gods. As the bound Twins strengthen in force against their parents--the Divine Mother and Almighty Father--who exiled them, a shadow begins to spread across the land, threatening to engulf all in its wake. As deadly magic takes hold, the tenuous bonds tying these uneasy allies begins to unravel. If they cannot find a way to keep their band together, each of their lives--and the entire world--will be lost to the darkness, leaving nothing but the bones of the earth.

Book Synopsis

A mismatched band of mortals and their violent, secretive leader must stand against a pair of resentful gods to save their world in this second volume in Rachel Dunne's breathtaking dark epic fantasy trilogy, The Bound Gods, which began with In the Shadow of the Gods.

To win the coming battle for control of the world and the mortals who dwell in it, the cunning priest Joros secretly assembled a team of powerful fighters--Scal, a lost and damaged swordsman from the North; Vatri, a scarred priestess who claims to see the future in her fires; Anddyr, a drug-addled mage wandering between sanity and madness; and Rora and Aro, a pair of twins who have secretly survived beyond the reach of the law.

But the war is only beginning for these disparate warriors and victory is far from certain when the enemy is a pair of vengeful gods. As the bound Twins strengthen in force against their parents--the Divine Mother and Almighty Father--who exiled them, a shadow begins to spread across the land, threatening to engulf all in its wake.

As deadly magic takes hold, the tenuous bonds tying these uneasy allies begins to unravel. If they cannot find a way to keep their band together, each of their lives--and the entire world--will be lost to the darkness, leaving nothing but the bones of the earth. . . .

From the Back Cover

The bound Twins are growing stronger, and soon they will once again be able to challenge their parents--the Divine Mother and the Almighty Father. Their pursuit of power, though, casts a shadow across the land, creating sharp divisions as an ancient war rises reborn. For most, survival is paramount, but a sly priest named Joros has secretly assembled a disparate group of exceptional people to turn the tide in his favor . . . whichever way that might be.

But they are all still just mortals, and this is a war among gods. Victory--and what that means to the people of this world--is far from certain.

As deadly magic takes hold, the tenuous bonds tying these uneasy allies begin to unravel. If they cannot find a way to keep their band together, each of their lives--and the entire world--will be lost to the darkness, leaving nothing but the bones of the earth. . . .

Review Quotes

"The gritty mythos and conflicted characters are compelling enough to bring the reader along to the last page...and to the coming sequel. Antiheroes carry the day...in this dark tale of pragmatism and survival." - Kirkus Reviews on IN THE SHADOW OF THE GODS
"The gods have brought this group together - but which gods, and to what purpose? The interesting concept will keep readers involved as the story gradually unfolds. Dunne's polished prose and well-rounded characters make it a strong start." - Publishers Weekly on IN THE SHADOW OF THE GODS
"Joros is an interesting character, full of suprises to both readers and to those around him, and able to draw others to himself while maintaining some mystery. This novel is full of battles and blood, but never loses the heart of the story amidst the chaos." - RT Magazine (4 stars) on IN THE SHADOW OF THE GODS
"Dunne's debut novel is visceral grimdark fantasy with ruthless religions, deeply conflicted characters, and a bleak, hostile setting. This trilogy is off to a gritty, gutsy start." - Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger, on IN THE SHADOW OF THE GODS
"Brutal and cold, In the Shadow of the Gods is a stunning début. A must-have for fans of dark fantasy." - Michael Fletcher, author of Beyond Redemption on IN THE SHADOW OF THE GODS