Customer Reviews

Lord Of Crooked Paths (Ace Fantasy Special)

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The title of this book attracted me, and once I started reading, I was hooked! I really, really enjoyed this book. I particularly liked the author's 'voice' in writing. It was very fresh and modern and conversational with no attempts to sound archaic or contrived. All the characters were totally 3-D and well-drawn with believeable (though not always likeable) personalities. All the characters are drawn from Greek mythology of the Age of the Titans, which predated the more commonly-known Greek gods & goddesses. The greatest portion of this book is just a fly-on-the-wall view of the Titan and Titaness lords and ladies going about their everyday life, which is imagined down to the smallest detail and is totally believeable. I had moments where I thought I was watching a reality TV show! But all was not golden in the Age of Gold - the Titan King, Kronos (father of Zeus) suspects a plot against his authority. Kronos desires a minor goddess, and when she rejects his advances, he is not happy. And the immortal gods and goddesses are beginning to learn about mortality and discover humanity. Over all lies the prophecy that Kronos will be killed by his child, just as he killed his father many ages before.

An excellent read, highly recommended! I would say that this is suitable for all ages from young teens up. I would hesitate to recommend it for younger children because while there's no graphic descriptions, there are definitely adult situations, not all pleasant.

Note on the Kindle formatting: Perfect. Period.

This author expertly weaves Greek Myth into a fascinating adventure. Every time I had to put it down, I couldn't wait to get back to it. Learning about the Titans by reading non-fiction reference books did not help me understand their origins and roles in mythology as much as this novel did. I truly hope there is a sequel out there somewhere that takes up the thread of this story and continues it (and that it becomes available for Kindle). I would highly recommend this book to anyone (whether you are a fan of mythology or not). If you like a different and new take on old, obscure tales, this book is for you. If you like a story that moves and keeps the pace moving without becoming predictable, this book is for you. Loved it.

I really enjoyed this book and was sad when it ended. However I'm really sad because this book was written almost 2 decades ago but the third part isn't on Kindle yet (there are two stories/parts in this ebook).

This story tells the tale of Kronos, King of the Gods of Greek mythology. I don't know how accurate it is but it's quite interesting. For those who may be shying away thinking it might be too academic, I assure you that it's not. It's sort of like watching The Tudors or The Other Boleyn Girl... of questionable accuracy and with a certain amount of poetic licence but the story is made interesting.

Basically, Kronos stole the throne from his father and was cursed with the warning that his child would one day do to him what he did to his own father. So Kronos' solution? His children are immortal, they cannot be killed, so he devours them. (These are not spoilers since this myths and legends have been around for thousands of years.) Kronos, in spite of his concerns about having a child who will dethrone him, still has affairs with just about every pretty face he sees. Anyway, meanwhile, Kronos has a mad scientist-like god, Thanatos, working to discover whether gods truly are immortal,probably because getting rid of your enemies (and kids) when they're immortal is quite the nuisance.

Not satisfied with just being King of the Gods and of Olympos, Kronos wants everyone to worship daily at his feet; acknowledging him as King isn't enough, you must grovel too. So his older brother Okeanus, King of the Oceans, is one of his least favourite people because Okeanus lives in his deep sea world rather than, like just about every other senior god, living and worshipping at Kronos' sandaled feet at Mt. Olympos. Absolute power corrupts absolutely but Kronos wants it anyway and has driven himself mad in his pursuit of absolute power. Devouring your children and knowing that you are destined to be overthrown by your own child even while you sleep with every pretty face far and wide can't help matters much.

Meanwhile, Okeanus' young daughter, Metis, is out one day and discovers a new creature... a really tiny god-like creature that her companion (a Muse) decides to call 'man'. Metis decides to steal one of these new creatures for a pet and secrets him into her room at the palace at Olympos. Thanatos (mad scientist) has also discovered these new creatures and wants to experiment on them; they look like gods but they're mortal! Like all mad scientists, he is not about to let a little thing ownership get in the way. So what if this creature is a child's new pet and so what if he has already found others? He wants them ALL for his experiments and he'll steal Metis' new toy. But he messed with the wrong kid! Metis (who is described as a child and I think sometimes might be 10, other times maybe 12 or even 14 in human-like years) is by far my favourite character. She is as much the little scientist as Thanatos and only slightly more moral (she's not about to kill out of curiosity but she's not above painful but not fatal poisoning for revenge).

This book is based on ancient myths - Kronos is married to his sister (there are other sibling-spouses) and like many royal stories, there is a lot of infidelity. Women are secondary to men (but I wouldn't exactly go around pitying these women! Most are smart, powerful and cunning). There are other minor warnings along the lines of incest and people devouring their children but you shouldn't let that deter you. They're not graphic.

I recommend trying the sample - the entire thing. The book can be a little difficult to follow at first because of all of the unusual (Greek) names but once you get past them, the story is very interesting!

I do hope that they will post the third story. I want to know how Zeus (son of Kronos) will overthrow Kronos!

Lord of the Crooked Paths (including Master of the Fearful Depths), it must be pointed out, is an omnibus of two books: Lord of the Crooked Paths (1987 publication) and Master/fearful Depths, from a three-part series that apparently concludes in Sons Of The Titans. Both books are short, but the decision to pair them in omnibus was a good decision, and together they form a work of reasonable length.

The story is set, as described, during the mythological Age of the Titans, when Kronos ruled the Gods. Man is first discovered being born from the earth by a number of Goddesses including the Fates, the Muses and a young Okeanid named Metis. The story sweeps forward into Olympos, which is being dragged to the brink of destruction by the mad paranoia of Kronos who, after dethroning and castrating his father Ouranos received the prophecy that his own son would overthrow him. In light of this, he has indeed been devouring his children by Rhea, who herself has had enough and begun to plot against him. Meantime, Kronos' mad mind is inventing plots against him by his brother Okeanos and the god Nereus. It is up to the young child Metis, her brother Proteus and their family on Olympos, together with the fledgling creatures known as "Man", to avert Kronos' insane plot that would result in a civil war amongst the gods.

A brilliantly told, fast-paced fantasy epic which results from the author's mythological research from sources such as Hesiod, Homer, Ovid and fragments of the Titanomachia is an exciting read that holds you on the edge of your seat. Though we all may know the eventual conclusion to this conflict, the bright personalities of the madly brilliant Kronos, the gentle Philyra, determined Proteus and intelligent Metis with the wildcard of human beings keep the reader guessing, and turning pages until the satisfying end.

It took everything out of me to put this book down and go to sleep. Every page was filled with excitement and some kind of drama. I really hope that there will be a book two. The prologue leaves you wondering what Kronos is planning. For all of us who love mythology already know what will happened. I rather the author write a book and tell me what happened. Mr Adkins I hope you are reading this.

The Greek gods are not only not forgotten, they are kicking up a fuss on Mount Olympus. Fully brought to life by Patrick Adkins in fantasy fable format similiar to Terry Windlings famed Fairy Tale series, these gods are amusing and yes, powerful, as all good mythic figures must be.