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A review by zoetic
Masters of Death by Olivie Blake
5.0
"Things are so much sweeter when they have an ending; things are so much more painful when they can be ripped away." - Olivie Blake, Masters of Death
"Fuck is a good work, Fox. I like it. It fits nicely in my mouth. I like the way it feels like a weapon" - Olivie Blake, Masters of Death
Masters of Death is an intriguing story that features the consequential tomfoolery of immortals, bored by their eternal lives.
The narrative strikes a balance between satirical humor and profound philosophical depth.
"Balance is king." — Olivie Blake, Masters of Death
"You can never truly know a culture until you've been bitten by one of its myths." - Olivie Blake, Masters of Death
The story introduces a memorable cast of characters, including a gender-fluid—though open to interpretation—personification of Death. It brings to life gods, goddesses, and mythological beings from various religions, alongside Abrahamic angels like Gabriel and Raphael. Masters of Death plays with the trope of found family, giving it a fresh twist.
The relationship between godfather and godson was authentic and endearing. It was enjoyable to see the characters' development and how their relationships evolved.
"I forgave him the moment he came back to me. I would love him still, even if he left me again. I would love him through several lifetimes, I think," Fox determined, resigning himself to the truth, "and I would love him in every world, if he asked." - Olivie Blake, Masters of Death
The story is a relationship-driven exploration of the complexities of human connection and the weight of existence. The novel thoughtfully examines the consequences of indulging in vices and the pursuit of a fulfilling mortal existence, while prompting deeper, more nuanced introspection. The inclusion of queer representation, particularly the bisexuality of the male protagonist, Fox, further enriches the story.
I enjoyed the inclusion of the theme of forgiveness as something for oneself.
"To love, to forgive, to lose, to live - it was always a choice, and thus, the fact that he was a mortal was finally one worth celebrating. Because it would end! Maybe that was the entire secret, and therefore the whole thing was actually astonishingly simple. That over and over, he was presented with the same impossible decision - live and suffer, love and grieve - but still, every time, with all his being, his answer was and would always be yes. It would be difficult and painful, and however it ended, it would end - but still, he could choose it. To live, to love; it was always a choice, and inherently a brave one, to face down certain doom, with open arms." - Olivie Blake, Masters of Death
Overall, Masters of Death is masterfully written, and I would highly recommend it to New Adult and adult readers.
I would consider Masters of Death a favorite and could easily see myself rereading it and annotating it in depth.
"Fuck is a good work, Fox. I like it. It fits nicely in my mouth. I like the way it feels like a weapon" - Olivie Blake, Masters of Death
Masters of Death is an intriguing story that features the consequential tomfoolery of immortals, bored by their eternal lives.
The narrative strikes a balance between satirical humor and profound philosophical depth.
"Balance is king." — Olivie Blake, Masters of Death
"You can never truly know a culture until you've been bitten by one of its myths." - Olivie Blake, Masters of Death
The story introduces a memorable cast of characters, including a gender-fluid—though open to interpretation—personification of Death. It brings to life gods, goddesses, and mythological beings from various religions, alongside Abrahamic angels like Gabriel and Raphael. Masters of Death plays with the trope of found family, giving it a fresh twist.
The relationship between godfather and godson was authentic and endearing. It was enjoyable to see the characters' development and how their relationships evolved.
"I forgave him the moment he came back to me. I would love him still, even if he left me again. I would love him through several lifetimes, I think," Fox determined, resigning himself to the truth, "and I would love him in every world, if he asked." - Olivie Blake, Masters of Death
The story is a relationship-driven exploration of the complexities of human connection and the weight of existence. The novel thoughtfully examines the consequences of indulging in vices and the pursuit of a fulfilling mortal existence, while prompting deeper, more nuanced introspection. The inclusion of queer representation, particularly the bisexuality of the male protagonist, Fox, further enriches the story.
I enjoyed the inclusion of the theme of forgiveness as something for oneself.
"To love, to forgive, to lose, to live - it was always a choice, and thus, the fact that he was a mortal was finally one worth celebrating. Because it would end! Maybe that was the entire secret, and therefore the whole thing was actually astonishingly simple. That over and over, he was presented with the same impossible decision - live and suffer, love and grieve - but still, every time, with all his being, his answer was and would always be yes. It would be difficult and painful, and however it ended, it would end - but still, he could choose it. To live, to love; it was always a choice, and inherently a brave one, to face down certain doom, with open arms." - Olivie Blake, Masters of Death
Overall, Masters of Death is masterfully written, and I would highly recommend it to New Adult and adult readers.
I would consider Masters of Death a favorite and could easily see myself rereading it and annotating it in depth.