The Many Gifts from a Terrible God

A debut novel by Matt Cordes

The world’s creator is not benevolent. He made people for his own designs, or by mistake

…though for humanity, the matter is meaningless.

Teru is not just a common name for the world. It is confusingly the name of the ancient empire that dominates the lands, as well

…for in the empire, the distinction is nothing.

The Imperial Archives do not seek truth. Knowledge is their goal, which is derived from truth anyway

…but for Archivist Majel, the distinction means everything.

The Many Gifts from a Terrible God is the working title for the first book of a planned trilogy. It is genre fiction broadly in the fantasy category but without many of the usual trappings.

Sample Chapters

  • The story starts with Majel, an Imperial Archivist journeying the Teru empire to the grand city of Asra. Once there, she knows what to do but not what to expect.

  • For Teru, war is another industry managed by bureaucrats and professionals. For Narjun, after half a lifetime in the streets of Asra, the empire’s next campaign is his chance to make his own luck for himself and his family.

  • The kingdom of Sarth is stable and prosperous—second of course to her neighbor Teru in the north. Young Treffan already has the honor of being a royal guard. Deep down, though, he knows the duties of safeguarding children in the royal line are only the beginning of his adventures.

  • Majel settles in to Asra and continues her work for the Archives. None are aware of her real work, of course, and so long as she’s careful it will stay that way.