Dawn of Humanity by K. Kalor is science fiction mixed with Greek mythology. In simple words, the powers of the Gods are explained through science yet keep the folklore alive. When Anunnaki and Titans stumble upon a planet that provides a deeper connection to their power as described from the days of Olympus, the lizard shape reptiles are sure this planet is their new home.
This discovery results in Sa-Tan Enki taking a team that has set out to start a new race, one which is a mixture of humans and immortals. As a fantasy and sci-fi lover, I always look for something that transports me to a new world with space science, mythology, magic, or monsters. Dawn of Humanity had all four and so much more.
Dawn of humanity majorly covers the initial years of the new race and the old Gods learning to co-exist on a planet. Dawn of Humanity reminds me of ‘the 100’ by Kass Morgan, in terms of the vibes or aesthetics of the book, however, I’d like to clarify there is no similarity between the plots of the two. One of the most interesting parts of this book was the Greek mythology and how amazing it was exploring Hades and Athena among others. Their birth and how they came into existence. The creative liberty the author has taken in getting them very powerful backstories and how they came to be known as the God of the underworld and Goddess of war is intriguing.
K. Karlor has tried to pinpoint some amazing things about the war at the beginning of the book itself, which takes you into the world right from the beginning. Firstly, the author talks about the terror or fear people go through when they are attacked in their home, a place that’s supposed to give them a sense of comfort. Secondly, she talks about power and the need to control it. There are several instances where it is shown how power can corrupt the best of people and make them betray the people closest to them and hurt them in the process. And when you have the security of people in your hand there are bound to be innocent people who become collateral damage. Dawn of Humanity sensitively talks about these issues. These topics don’t make this a sad or heavy read and that is commendable on the author’s part.
The world-building is amazing. The story follows the continent of Europe and Asia through Gaia, Enki’s daughter, and the first combination of humans and immortals. Gaia also happens to be my favorite character in the first book. She stood out to be smart, powerful, and compassionate. Her excursion with a few of the other characters and beliefs is something worth rooting for. Her friends Khione and Aamira come close to the second favorite, I loved them both equally. They make for a powerful group of friends who also got some of the best character arcs and settings exploring the world on a ship. Aamira and Khione have a constant struggle within themselves trying to adapt to the changes that happened around them and the author portrays the constant struggle of the two while being a Goddess. Their characters were most relatable and spoke to me.
I feel we need more books that talk about the concerning issues in the world at large but these books shouldn’t be overwhelming to read since in the end fiction is meant to be enjoyed. A good story is one where you can enjoy an amazing time reading it and gives you something to think about. Dawn of humanity does both fairly and decently. Dawn of humanity is an amazing novel that much exceeded readers’ expectations, especially those who are familiar with Greek mythology. Knowing Greek mythology, you can predict some events. Expectations, however, frequently take unexpected turns. The Greek mythology canon is not diminished by the changes. I recall constantly asking myself, when is this character going to be introduced or this event going to happen, and then being happily surprised by what occurred.
One of the biggest issues for me was the time-lapse being inculcated in the story, and while it helps with the pacing of the story because we’re talking about immortals, narrating the story one day at a time isn’t possible, the time-lapse disconnects the story. There were several minor time gaps and one major time lapse that happened in the second half of the book. Time-lapse breaks the connection of the story especially when it happens without a description of the timeline. It got me confusing the plot several times and took me minutes before putting the pieces together. The time-lapse introduces new characters and there is no build-up for the same. It feels like the story is divided into three parts and the author fails in connecting the parts for the greater picture.
Overall Dawn of Humanity is a good read and although there is a lot, it was easy to follow, because it flowed easily. This is an excellent book if you’re seeking something unique and imaginative to keep you interested and turning pages.
Pros:
- An interesting take on Greek mythology combined with science
- Talks about the relevant topics such as war, control of power
- A medium paced novel with surprising plot twists
Cons:
- One too many time lapses.
Cover score: 7.5/10
Book score: 8.6/10
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This review was made by Akansha.
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