Delving Into "An Axe to Eat the Gods"

...a look inside the "Barbarians of the Storm" book that sets a different tone

I have talked about redemption many times before, and how that is something that is explored and drives different character arcs in the Barbarians of the Storm series. However, the real theme of this book isn’t simply redemption, so much as it is change, growth, and atoning for your past sins. There’s much more of a proactiveness in that regard with some characters and not just the “bad” ones. Fenrik, the biggest hero of the series, is included in this.

The reoccurring theme of mortals playing God also comes full circle and is explored in much more depth with this book, and there is a correlation between these two themes for several characters: Killer, Xulgog, Khadaris, Palus/Gútred.

I have been planting the seeds and building towards this from the get go, but we’ve surpassed the midpoint for the saga books and the series as a whole. With that, these characters are at the point where they have to become their best selves against the greatest darkness. That is, if they can. They aren’t all guaranteed a brighter future, success or redemption.

For those who are the victims of others (or themselves) playing god (Killer, Xulgog, Khadaris, and Gútred), there is the exploration as to whether they are (or can be) good despite the curse that came with their alterations. For some of these characters, their curse is fixed by encountering the light, which gives them clarity they did not have before thanks to the dark mental cloud that could push them into very poor decision making, mania and fits of rage.

As for Fenrik, Erzulyn, and others who are simply growing up and having new responsibilities thrust upon them as the universe around them grows darker, there is the growth in their character, the guilt that comes with past mistakes, and owning up to these new responsibilities in an effort to become the best version of themselves in the face of the universe’s greatest adversity.

This is all deeper stuff than what has been in the previous books for the most part. At least, it hasn’t been as much of a focal point. But this transition needed to happen now and it is also the main reason as to why this story is the biggest and why the first part of the book is very focused on turning this page, especially for Fenrik.

While I know that people love the fun Fenrik and the banter of the earliest books, naturally he has to move a little bit away from that Errol Flynn type of hero and into something more self-reflective and stoic. Besides, a major revelation was dropped on him just before the events of this book and his entire life trajectory and living beyond just himself is now a reality he must face. With that, he has a deep fear about failure and not living up to his responsibilities. Carrying the weight of his past mistakes sets him off on a quest to try and right the wrongs he perceives about his past actions.

For the sake of comparison, unlike the MCU’s Thor, he doesn’t go from jovial, playful badass to beat down, overweight, drunk gamer. Fenrik takes the fucking reins and sets out to ensure that he is a better man than he was previously. He doesn’t wallow in grief or depression, he simply can’t… there’s no time for that shit. And that’s why he is destined to be a legendary hero and an example to the people of his world and beyond. But yes, he’s still going to run into the mouth of a dragon, sword in hand, screaming hilarious obscenities.

Because of all that, the book itself is more serious in tone. Sure, there are funny moments, but the evil the heroes face is becoming so grand when compared to what they have faced previously that taking the Drir, the God of Eyes, and Satan himself lightly, just doesn’t feel right… nor should it.

I still think that readers will enjoy the hell out of this chapter in the Barbarians of the Storm saga. The endpoint is in sight, but I will talk more about that next week, as the next big article will be about the shifting/shortening trajectory of the BotS book series and the reasoning why I am altering/condensing the saga’s path.