Fragile Chaos

by Amber R. Duell

[lizarodz]

I love mythology and when I read the blurb for Fragile Chaos, I couldn’t help but added to my TBR list. It did not disappoint.

You get the gist of the story from reading the blurb, so I will not repeat it all again. I will add that the story takes place in a made up world that felt very modern at heart. All the gods are siblings and they have powers similar to Greek mythology (King, War, Nature, Sea, Love, Netherworld). Each of the gods live in a realm with the “in between” in the middle (sort of like the spikes in a wheel with a aweful center). The gods are all-seeing and all-powerful, but also depend at some extent on sacrifices to them. The rules are very clear on what happens to these “sacrifices”.

Cassia is 16 and has gone through a lot. When she ends up as one of Theo’s sacrifices she tries to understand better his world and to make a life for herself. I can appreciate her strength, her need to go on, to do something and not wallow in pity. Theo is strong, stubborn, pigheaded, but has a heart of gold.

I love Cassia and Theo together, but I wish they had more time to be together and get to know each other even better. I felt that more attention was given to the war and it’s strategy and to the sibling rivalry and intervention than to the relationship. Is there romance in this book? Yes! Fragile Chaos is short though. I would have loved more Theo and Cassia time.


I also didn’t think that Theo’s behavior was entirely believable. I felt like he should have known better for a god that’s lived for so long. He was very insecure and he’s fear of losing ground, losing control and his believe that he was always right was infuriating. Cassie was just 16, so I’m more understanding with her behavior and the cards she was dealt.

I think the world building was well done, especially given all the information at the end of the book (mind you, I read a digital ARC) and the maps. All this information would make it really easy for Duell to conceivably write other books with these characters, based on this world. I wouldn’t mind getting to know Theo and Cassia better or Theo’s siblings, especially Leander. The writing was easy to read an follow, even with all the politics and talk about war. Characterization was very well done, especially with Theo’s siblings and with his friend and adviser, Goran.

Overall, Fragile Chaos is a great story of the follies of pride, the consequences of abusing power, and the power of love to heal all wounds.