No Gods For Drowning is a dark fantasy/cosmic horror hybrid that manages to be bleak, bloody, and melancholy while also being epic in scope and completely mesmorizing.
In this world, Gods and Goddesses are very real and help protect the citizens of the fictional city of Valentine from many things, including creatures known as Glories who are hellbent on the destruction of humans.
The beginning of this novel tells us that, for reasons unknown, the Gods and Goddesses have abandoned the people for the past ten years, leaving them open to natural disasters, especially floods, and at the mercy of these Glories.
A string of brutal bloody murders take place over the course of a couple of nights and the murderer has left a symbol of a Goddess drawn in blood at the scenes. Apparently, whoever is responsible believes this Goddess will return by way of blood sacrifices and this symbol.
Our main protagonist, Arcadia, finds the first scene and understands the implication. With the help of a couple of private detectives, they will have to face truths that will eventually change them all in drastic and horrible ways. But the floods are quickly approaching and the Glories are making themselves known so time is of the utmost importance to their mission.
The rest is simply a breathtaking, immersive tale that you won't want to stop reading. Arcadia, as a character, is haunted by events in her past and displays a vulnerability and sadness that is palpable from the page. But she's also (despite her pacifism) one of the strongest characters you'll read in a book like this. In my opinion, she's the most well thought out and relatable queer characters I've read in a horror book.
The other characters are just as well rounded and really enhance Arcadia's character to shine. This book does get bloody and brutal but it's so beautifully written you'll never want to look away.
Dave from Horror Reads
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