I didn’t originally notice when I asked for the ARC of this book that it was a reprint of Babylon Steel. I was hoping it was a new book by this author because I’d really enjoyed the books I’d read by her before. That’s ok though, it’s been years since I read it last and it was every bit as enjoyable as I remembered. Babylon Steel is a Madam who runs her brothel in a nexus city where multiple portals meet. There’s all manner of different species there and consensual prostitution is legal. There’s a clear difference between the lot of those willing working in a clean house where they are protected and those in a back street alley. Babylon has a mysterious past which is catching up with her though and it’s told in flashbacks bit by bit. A fun light read unless her profession will bother you, then it’s not for you. I hope the author writes a new novel, I’d happily read it.

This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. But I wasn't able to read this book, it was exciting for me to continue

DNF: The pacing of this book was off. I felt like I'd made it through a significant amount, and still, nothing happened. I liked the idea of this book, but the execution just wasn't it.

Ok. It's funny but also clever. I had a blast reading it and will definitely check more books by Gaie Sebold. I plan to write longer review closer to publication date.

I asked to review this book because I was curious to know if the story was a odd as both the cover and its title and if the synopsis was even close to accurate. All in all, I am more than happy that I was granted my wish as it turned out to be a weird but totally captivating read and I totally loved every last word.

For sure, it is full of very odd "people" getting into seriously peculiar situations but it all hangs together amazingly well. The icing on the cake was that on reaching the end of this very tall tale I discovered that there is going to be a book 2 - hurrah for that.

If you like stories to be odd and the characters even odder, you really must read Bad Gods as I cannot imagine you will be disappointed.

Not for those easily offended (there are a few nowadays) but a rollicking read full of fun and frolics

I really enjoyed this one. I was excited for another Gaie Sebold book, but it's the same as Babylon Steel but with a new title and cover. I like the previous cover better. It's something that I'll probably keep rereading periodically. Good for open minded fans of fantasy. May not have a large readership in smaller collections, but a good one to have even if you just want one or two in this category.

Caveat, This was originally published as Babylon Steel. I loved it then and I love it now.. I have to go and re-read Ms Sebold's other books: Shanghai Sparrow and Dangerous Gifts (another Babylon Steel novel).

Babylon Steel is a high-class brothel keeper in Scalentine, a place with many portals to other planes and a mixed population of humans and other races, furred, scaled and magical.. She's a tough cookie, revelling in sex and always ready for a fight. She's gathered about her a family of sorts: her cook, her guards and her prostitutes, plus there's a police chief she can rely on for a good game of chess. She prides herself on running the best brothel in town, but she's not having a good week. Her taxes are way overdue and sher's not sure she can pay the bill. The Vessels of Purity, a strict religious order (of men) are protesting against brothels.

When the mysterious (and very attractive) Darask Fain offers her a job finding a missing girl, Babylon decides to take it, but there are complications. Neither Fain nor the missing girl are quite what they seem, but neither is Babylon, and Babylon's secret past is about to catch up with her. Babylon's past and present are told in alternating chapters, beautifully timed so that they both come together at exactly the right moment. Babylon has a thing about young girls being taken advantage of and what she'll do to help goes beyond money.

This book has a great cast of characters and there's never a dull moment. Babylon has the knack of making friends and her contacts across the city are introduced both as characters and as part of the world-building. From lizard men and four-breasted hermaphrodites to Police Chief Bitternut who's a were… but a were what… this is fascinating glimpse into the world of Scalentine as Twomoon approaches - a massive conjunction that echoes across all the planes of existence.

I particularly liked Babylon's crew. Flower, the big green troll cook, Cruel and Unusual, a pair of siblings who cater for clients with 'special tastes', Laney the fae and Previous, the ex-mercenary who guards the door, but doesn't do 'upstairs' work.. They don't get much page time, but they are well drawn and sympathetic, particularly Previous. I thoroughly recommend this story.

4.5 out of 5 stars. BAD GODS is a far more layered read than I expected from the book's description. I went in expecting an irreverent, sex-positive, found-family-based romp detailing episodes of problem-solving across various species and unfamiliar cultures in a fantasy brothel. What's hidden by the book blurb's generalizations describing an ex-mercenary-now-madam are the layers of manipulation and introspection that have made proprietress Babylon Steele into the successful leader she is.

My attention wandered at the beginning, while the stage was set and almost everyone was introduced at once. There is also some awkwardness arising from two stories being told simultaneously across several chapters. But Babylon hits her stride as she skillfully navigates (or manipulates) old and new connections to find a missing heiress, deal with religious zealotry, and keep the Red Lantern financially afloat, The intimate relationships forged through the brothel's operations are used with respect here rather than just as owed favors or blackmail material, and this kind of power becomes important as Babylon's own shadowed history starts to catch up with her.

There are countless story opportunities presented by portal travel between disparate planes and civilizations. I enjoyed this first taste enough to come back for more, and I look forward to the adventures Babylon will encounter and the cast of friends and enemies she'll make along the way.

Bad Gods by Gaie Sebold, a good book that draws you in slowly and then ups the ante on you. Enjoyable and fun to read.

My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this little gem.
I have to admit, it started off a little slowly, and seemed a bit too much like the author just threw in as many diverse characters (orc, fey, lizard-creatures etc) as possible, with the worn trope of the business owner (in this case, a brothel) badly in need of cash. However, the plot thickens very quickly, as a young girl is murdered, another, far more affluent, disappears, and Babylon (our heroine) runs afoul of a severe and rigid cult. Add to this her burgeoning relationship with the new captain of the local militia, an upcoming Twomoon conjunction, and her distant past starting to catch up with her, and suddenly it became almost too lively.
Needless to say, Sebold ties up all the disparate threads very nicely, with plenty of drama along the way. Several things make this an above-average read, though. The characters are very well drawn, and quickly, despite their physical variations and sexual orientations, become distinct and credible people. Narrated by Babylon Steel herself, there are two alternating stories here, which (no spoiler) eventually intersect, but the switches between the two greatly help the pace of both. There is a smidge of romance, but not irritatingly much, and there is as quite as much fighting as there is sex (it's a brothel!).
Overall, this reminds me of Alan Dean Foster's Pip and Flinx series, and that's no mean compliment. Bad gods is not great literature, but it's a very well written and entertaining book, and when I finished it, I immediately bought the second in the series on Google Play, just to have something in the bag for those grey and desperate days. Her Evvie Duchen Eastern steampunk series looks pretty darn good too, so thanks again Netgalley for the intro!

This is a great fantasy book I enjoyed reading through this I read it relatively quickly for a novel and I thought this was well thought out I enjoyed it very very much I think the front cover of this book is absolutely stunning and I might buy a physical copy just to have as a decorative book on my shelf I thought the characters were great the 3-D relatable and I loved the setting