Review: Legacy of a Hated God By Patrick Samphire

Blurb:

Nik Thorn should know better than to get involved with gods.

But when a priest of a hated god asks Nik to save his life, Nik can hardly refuse, particularly when the priest knows exactly how, where, when, and why he is going to be killed. How hard can it be?

Of course, that’s not Nik's only problem. When is it ever? A god has been murdered, the city’s high mages are about to go to war, and fury is rising in the streets.

Agatos will burn.

The final book in the Mennik Thorn series.

Review:

Mennik Thorn had once aspired to never get entangled with religion. However, from the events of the last book, we already know that ship has long sailed. In this book, we see our protagonist’s relation with the many gods of Agatos devolve further.

He is not the most powerful mage, but he is determined to save the life of his latest client, Cursed Ard Ethemattian. Even if that takes him neck deep into the world of dangerous politics within the religious establishment, where the denouncers of the Hated God systematically desecrate of the idols of the deity who failed to answer their call at a time of their need as part of their ‘religious’ ceremonies.

‘I sympathised. I had met a couple of gods, and I wasn’t a fan. One had tried to rip my heart out with its arm-long claws, and the other had tried to drive me insane. Why anyone would choose to worship these manifestations of ego, greed, and brutality was beyond me. I had to say I admired a people who could hold a grudge for hundreds of years. That was proper dedication.’

In case you are still wondering if this order of priesthood believes in non-violence, the answer is - Nope! They have in-fact just decided to brutally murder one of their own, the unfortunate fellow who lucked out in their ascension process. And the responsibility to save him has fallen on the shoulders of - you guessed it - our good-hearted mage for hire.

‘Having a conscience was a bastard.’

Besides this case, that got more involved with every page I turned, we also have the little problem of another god’s dead body turning up in his backyard. Yes, Nik’s life is complicated. But he is not one  to back out or give up, especially when the lives of the people who are close to his heart are threatened. And he has help. 

In this book, we also see Sereh’s skill with the blade reach its fullest potential. Though, my favorite scene in the whole series is unquestionably the one where the teenager girl leaps up into a storm to stab the eye of an eldritch monstrosity. Perfection.

So yes, the series had plenty of great moments. Very likeable, morally gray characters. And a really deep plot. But it didn’t deserve to end. Not here, not with this book, not like this. 

‘The weight of inevitability was like a dead body draped over my shoulders.’

While we do get a logical conclusion of the primary plot line, and of Nik’s romantic fantasies, but the story does end with many open tangents. I am not happy that I’ll never get to know what his sister does with her new position of power, whatever happens with the paw that Benny had swallowed, how Mennik leads the rest of his life and if the people of Agatos ever see their city get better.

I know a couple of short stories are planned in the same universe, but what I really want is a ten book spin off series with Sereh as the protagonist. I know it will likely not happen, but I am just not ready to yank myself out of Patrick’s immersive world.

‘Everyone has to die sometime. Better to do it for a reason. The truth mattered.’