Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Gameboard of the Gods
(Age of X, #1)
by Richelle Mead
Released |June 4th 2013 by Dutton Adult|
Edition |eARC|
Source |Edelweiss|
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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.

Okay, so to start off this review I must say this was a DNF (Did Not Finish) for me. I was so excited to get my hands on a review copy of Gameboards of the Gods because, hello, it's by Richelle Meads and it was about mythology, but I just couldn't get into the story at all. This review will probably be short since I only made it around to 30 something percent/page 164/chapter 14 before I finally had to call it quits. And couldn't continue to push myself to try and finish the book. I started pushing myself to finish reading about 80 pages in. So, I'll basically explain why I stopped reading.


First off, the thing that was completely turning me off from the story was how slow paced it was. NOTHING was happening that made me even the slightest bit excited. There was basically a whole lot of explaining going on about things I absolutely can't remember anything about. The only thing that was exciting was when Mae beat the girl to pulp at a funeral and that happened within the first few chapters.

Also, the characters. Both Mae and Justin were a complete bore. Justin is pretty much a genius at reading people, but is also a drug addict and Mae is some kind of super enhanced soldier who is as stiff as a brick. As far as read, the relationship between the two wasn't all that interesting. Justin liked Mae and Mae pretty much played the 'I hate you' game. I was already kind of turned off because they had 'sexual relations' the first time they met. As in the first night ...

Overall, this just wasn't for me and I couldn't get into the story at all. Maybe it will be better for some of you, but the pacing was too slow for my liking and I wasn't connecting with the characters. I received a copy for review from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.