BOOK REVIEWS

PRAISE FOR

BY THE GODS OF BABYLON

 

 

 

“Welcome to the world of ancient Mesopotamia. Under the skilled hands and mind of Sin Leqi Unninni, who takes readers on a unique journey into this distant, dark past…brought to life through word and story…The book begins with a strange retelling of a familiar religious story, but as the reader gets further in, the more they are absorbed and fascinated and engaged… The book features a wonderful balance with historical and religious tales from Gilgamesh and others from the period, to providing descriptive goings-on of ancient Mesopotamian life, and yet the characters feel real and fully developed and complex and interesting.

By the Gods of Babylon may be a very long book, but once you get into the meat of the story, you'll be happy just to be along for the very long ride.”—Tulsa book review

 

 

“Journey back to the cradle of civilization—to ancient Sumer, Babylon, Assyria. By the Gods of Babylon follows the lives of several people as they twine, part, and intertwine yet again, from kings to sculptors to religious devotees and simple boatmen…all take their own place in the tapestry being woven. This is a story of palace intrigue, social dynamics, and an exploration of philosophy and anthropology. Throughout inter-city conflicts, the reign of terror caused by a serial killer, and treasonous intra-city plots run tales from the Epic of Gilgamesh that invite the discerning reader to explore where our modern religions first were birthed, how myth is reshaped to suit a new purpose, and the unbalance between logic and faith. It's well worth the read, especially if you enjoy historical fiction.”—Manhattan book review

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“Stories upon stories overlap in this long work of historical fiction…like ripples in a pond and converge into a startling conclusion. By the Gods of Babylon is an interesting book, if a violent one. It covers a seldom written about period of history…and weaves together a complicated plot more or less with success…The author captures a great sense of the ancient world—the sights, sounds, and textures of ancient Mesopotamia, as well as the brutality and orgy of blood-lust. This novel’s great strength is how it makes the ancient feel authentic and recognizably human. The research seems accurate enough for the author’s aims of the story, and is even quite beautiful in some cases.”—Seattle Book Review

 

 

“By the Gods of Babylon is an epic tale of ambition, power, lust, and love. Reckless would apply to all the previous words, as each character embodies that in their nature. The pacing can be frenetic, as the action jumps from one character and their tale into the next. The story overall is strong…and the detail is exhaustive. The book is solid overall but could be much more.”—San Francisco book review

 

 

“A debut novel offers a story about ancient palace intrigue…A lively and intriguing tale about polytheistic Sumerian society…Plots and subplots abound among the multitude of characters…Vivid imagery and courtly formal dialogue, often followed by the characters’ thoughts, bring both the players and the period to life…The last third of the engaging novel deftly connects the stories of the principal characters and ultimately delivers an unpredictable…surprise ending.”—Kirkus reviews