Book Review: Acts of deicide

When one picks up a debut, it’s always hard to know what to expect. Often, new writers are still finding their footing, from a storytelling perspective. And confidence is one of those intangibles that can make a major difference in when it comes to writing a compelling story. The ability to commit to ideas and themes with unflinching conviction often yields a far more interesting and rewarding piece of literature than one with a tepid suggestions of an idea. In this respect, L.E. Garrison is hitting above her weight class as a debut indie author with Acts of Deicide. This book has some serious things to say about life, love, belief, redemption and the weight of humanity, and it says them without stuttering. Full of heavy themes, visceral worldbuilding and some truly dark and intense scenes, Acts is the type of story that is not for the faint of heart. Sufficed to say, the potential horrors of immortality are well explored within these pages. But for those with a strong constitution, there is deft balance of brutal darkness and inclusive romance for a story that delivers both action and genuinely touching moments.

Like so many novels, Acts of Deicide is difficult to discuss without getting too far into it’s plot. Because much of what it does well and what sets it apart is intrinsically tied to the development of its characters and the culmination of its story, much of what I have to praise about it veers heavily into spoiler territory. But despite this, there are some things that I feel can be safely discussed in general terms without giving too much away. The story focuses on an unnamed, immortal protagonist, who is given the moniker Blue early on, and her quest to end her own life. We are almost immediately treated to a scene of attempted suicide which sets the tone for what to expect from the narrative going forward. Had this been a lesser novel, our author might have let this premise drag out for an extended period, overplaying the effective yet dismal impact of that cold open. Luckily, we are given a timely introduction to our second main protagonist, Sarai, who’s optimism and generally sunny disposition offers some much needed contrast to the world. It is in this partnership of dual protagonists that Garrison exemplifies a strong understanding of what makes the stories like hers work; namely, balance.

Grimdark as a subgenre is one that tends to fall short of its potential. At it’s best, Grimdark is rife with realistic and challenging characters, gritty and unforgiving worlds and heart-wrenching moral choices that make us question our own preconceived notions of right and wrong. Unfortunately, a not insignificant amount of what gets put out is trope filled and thinly disguised misery voyeurism without the depth or ambition to reach beyond the lowest hanging fruits of the subgenre. So when one proposes a story centered around characters who cannot die, the pitfalls of cheap thrills are plainly obvious. But Garrison does a masterful job of exploring the ramifications of an immortal protagonist without delving into pure gore for gore’s sake of some lesser writing. In fact, the violence and bloodshed in this novel all serves clear narrative purpose, never feeling excessive, even for all it’s explicitness. Each scene that pushes the premise to some of its darkest potential conclusions feel not only earned, but important to the story’s themes and worldbuilding.

Similarly to the potential for violence, the of this book is loaded with with the potential for so extremely heavy handed messaging. While the author does clearly have a perspective she is endorsing, it never feels overtly preachy or like it devolves into a treatise on philosophy. Rather, almost all the scenes that touch on the central themes flow naturally and feel earned in the blood and broken bones of our characters. As with the romance, the author is able to integrate her focuses well and have them add meaningfully to the overall story so that it feels like an important feature rather than something tacked on or unnecessary. Ultimately, Acts is an intense but enjoyable read that captures much of what makes the Grimdark subgenre of fantasy so fascinating and deftly explores its the limits of its potential, telling a story that is as heartfelt as it is dark.