I just finished reading
Gorel and the Pot Bellied God which is described as a “Guns & Sorcery Novella” by Lavie Tidhar. It features the gunslinger Gorel of Goliris. This character is an exile from his own land, to which he seeks to return and have his revenge. In the meantime, he travels the world and seeks his fortune. It should also be mentioned that he is a helpless addict.
The world he inhabits is filled with many fantastic races, like Avians (bird people), Falangs (frog people), not to mention the living gods. This novella features an adventure to Wat Falang, which is the fane of the titular Pot Bellied God of the frog people. Along the way, Gorel teams up with Kettle (an Avian) and Sereli (an aquatic hybrid). All of them have their own reasons to be on this adventure, and it is unlikely they can succeed or even survive.
This world is rather refreshing, and reminds me of the old style sword and sorcery stories like those of Faferd and the Grey Mouser, or Michael Moorcock’s Eternal Champion tales. It’s an interesting setting! I now look forward to reading the other Gorel of Goliris novella
The Black God’s Kiss.
