Book Review: Black Sea Gods by Brian Braden

I picked up Black Sea Gods after one of those rare positive interactions with authors on social media.  I expected a standard mythological fantasy and was genuinely impressed by how cleverly Brian Braden wove together two ancient traditions I’d never seen blended before: the newly rediscovered Black Sea flood legends and the rich cosmology of ancient China, centred on the demigod Fu Xi.

I’m sad to admit that I know little about these two traditions, so I ‘stumbled’ half-blind and pretty confused through a significant portion of the book. But thankfully everything made sense in the end.

The story opens with an eerie, pre-apocalyptic scenario where fish have vanished from the sea, animals have fled inland, and both mortals and immortals sense something catastrophic is coming. What follows is a tense race against a mysterious curse that threatens to unmake the world.

At the heart of it all are the converging journeys of three unlikely heroes: the humble fisherman Aizarg, the brave and resourceful slave girl Sarah, and the powerful yet burdened Fu Xi himself.

Braden’s imagination shines through in the world-building and intricate plot. The prose is easy to read, with the occasional flourish that never becomes purple.

This is a tense and intelligent narrative with high stakes and themes of sacrifice, duty, and the complicated relationship between gods and men. Perfect for fans of thoughtful epic fantasy, mythological retellings and mashups, or anyone who loves a story with mythic depth.

A strong start to what promises to be a memorable series.