Pros
- Jon Ryan’s adventures continue in an absurd manner
- Villain in this story is more powerful than even Ralph
- Trio of friends face the enemy instead of just Ryan himself
- Strange portrayals of gods
Cons
- Humor can be a little tiring at times
- Can’t help but feel a little bleed through from author himself at times
Return of the Ancient Gods Review
Return of the Ancient Gods by Craig Robertson continues the (mis)adventures of Jon Ryan as he faces off against yet another overwhelming enemy. There’s a lot to like about Ryan. His carefree attitude in the face of imminent death is to be admired in a protagonist even if it sometimes diminishes the threat level of the villain or the situation.
Ryan’s adventures entail facing ever stronger enemies, but without fail, he takes them down, usually with a lot of luck and a semblance of a plan. It’s this combination of overwhelming odds and last-minute-hail-mary planning, along with a can-do attitude, that characterizes Ryan’s strategy. So it’s no surprise to see that happening in Return of the Ancient Gods.
Whereas previous stories had Ryan facing corporeal enemies like the Adamant, he’s now facing, as the title reveals, gods. It’ll be interesting to see how Ryan can face off against gods in a universe where the physical laws just don’t apply and where Ryan will be unable to use his toys to manipulate, blast, and teleport his way through swaths of enemies.
Though armed with nothing but his wits and sense of humor, it seems that Ryan is able to befuddle, annoy, and confuse his opponents. Readers who want more funny dialogue, crass jokes, and other tomfoolery will really enjoy this series by Craig Robertson.
What makes Return of the Ancient Gods fun is that it’s a story that doesn’t really take itself seriously. Robertson seems to be having a bit of fun here, perhaps even injecting a bit of himself with the mention of dive bars and Sunday mornings. This can also be seen in the descriptions of the gods, whose behaviors surprisingly parallel the antics of the Greek pantheon of gods.
The strange description of the gods and their power, illustrated by their domination of Ralph, make for an interesting puzzle for Ryan to solve. It’s a fun story to be sure, and this time he’s accompanied by his longtime friend and spouse. Fans of Robertson’s works will likely have an idea of how the story will end, as Robertson includes foreshadowing details that are fairly blatant. However, even if readers know that Ryan will ultimately prevail, the enjoyable part remains how Ryan finds his way to victory.
Return of the Ancient Gods by Craig Robertson is a fantastic start to a new series starring Jon Ryan and his beloved friends squaring off an immeasurably powerful enemy whose powers are godlike. Fans of Robertson and his stories starring Jon Ryan and friends will continue to enjoy this exciting adventure, and there’s no doubt that Robertson will continue to meet expectations.
Read reviews of other books by Craig Robertson.
