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The Agony of the Gods: Softly Falls the Snow

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Who is killing the Gods?

Man created The Machine. The Machine gave to each man or woman a world of their own design, to do with as they pleased. They became Gods – omnipotent, absolute rulers; but also vain, arrogant, hedonistic and brutal.

Now someone is killing them.

The enforcer, a servant of the Gods, is tasked with finding the killer, but first he must train a new apprentice. Given a list of worlds to investigate, they set out trying to find a key to the identity of a killer they cannot hope to overcome. In their travels they come across worlds dedicated to the study of butterflies, to the perfection of music, to eternal war, and to a magical storybook existence where animals talk and act like characters from a children’s story; and on each world they find a brutal disregard for the people who serve the Gods.

As the death toll mounts, and the pressure from their masters to find the killer increases, they learn more and more about the strange universe of The Machine, and about themselves. But soon they face the ultimate question: is the killer a monster…or a hero?

448 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2014

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Tom Wolosz

5 books3 followers

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5 stars
19 (47%)
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11 (27%)
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7 (17%)
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2 (5%)
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1 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Dixie Conley.
Author 1 book9 followers
December 17, 2014
I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say, I'm both nauseated and extremely impressed by this book. It's a science fiction story about a machine that gave its original creators the ability to possess worlds of their own, populated by whoever they wanted. The nauseating and disturbing part is how many of those self-made gods are utterly evil. The story is about a powerless enforcer and his apprentice investigating the murders of some of the worst of the originals.

I expected more beauty than I got. I would have liked more beauty than I got. But the story still came out sounding and feeling true to me. Why oh why can't people be better to each other?
Profile Image for Dianne.
6,790 reviews586 followers
May 3, 2015
In a world filled with dystopian novels and far-reaching plots, I have to say, I enjoyed the Agony of the Gods:Softly Falls the Snow by Tom Wolosz. Why? Because I wasn’t spoon fed each scene, I had to think about what was written, and for me, that is like waving a red flag or something. Even the main characters seemed veiled in a shroud of anonymity, and their relationship was a little unusual, kind of a like/hate/respect/suspect kind of thing that never really resolved itself by the end.

Someone is murdering the gods. So, who are the gods? They are the originals, the ones who created The Machine, who creates others to follow the gods. Each god is given a world to rule over. Some are quirky, but almost innocently sweet, some are vile, disgusting and would make great targets for the mysterious murderer. Enter the Enforcer and his Apprentice who are put on the case to ferret out the murderer. Is it a god after more territory?
World after world uncovers little in the way of clues, particularly if you would like the Enforcer and Apprentice to agree on anything. One is burned out; one is trying to make a name for themself, but is it worth it? Struggling with their own inner demons, these two must present a united front on each world, backed only by the power higher than the gods. Who is the murderer? Why? Is this a game of cat and mouse with the investigators as the main attraction for the entertainment?

Don’t expect any easy answers or fast-paced delivery, The Agony of the Gods rolls long at a steady pace, with its characters all playing slightly discordant tunes of their own making. There never feels like there is any cohesive banding together, the “upper class” is always just that, out of reach, with feelings of entitlement because of their status. If you like your dystopia with a lot of jagged edges and great twisting along the treacherous path to answers, this is going to give you something to ponder for days, as you wonder, did I really read that? There is n need for the token sex scenes, because there is a ton of story just waiting to unravel right before your very eyes! Dark, mysterious and a little uncomfortable at times, a great science fiction read that will make your head spin as it winds down.


Publication Date: January 1, 2015
Publisher: Bookkus Publishing
Genre: Fantasy | Science Fiction
Print Length: 450 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com

Profile Image for Joy.
192 reviews24 followers
December 11, 2015
The Agony of the Gods is a dystopian mystery novel about the creation and destruction of multiple worlds and their respected "gods". Each of these worlds mentioned are unique and vary from others; many are ruled by twisted rulers who don't treat their "people" properly. The story follows a man called "the Enforcer", his "Apprentice", and also an unknown killer. There is someone who has been murdering the gods of some worlds which should be impossible. This is why someone like the enforcer is put on the case. The novel starts with the enforcer receiving a woman who is quickly named his apprentice and the both of them starting to investigate this murder case.

Overall, I loved this book. Everything about it was unpredictable. When I had a theory about the outcome, the next chapter would completely contradict it and I would be back where I started. The whole idea of gods and worlds by itself made the novel very entertaining to read. I also really liked how there weren't any names in these worlds, just titles like "the Director" or "the Lady", which added an element of mystery and suspense. However, the down side would be the POV changes; almost every chapter, the POV would be different but not labeled. For example: "Him" (for the Enforcer), "Her" (for the Apprentice). I didn't know who was talking when there wasn't a label on the chapter, so I was very confused a lot of the time. Also, because the first third of the novel moved so slow, my original impression wasn't very good, and I really only started getting interested about half way through. 4.5

I received an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for William.
11 reviews20 followers
March 20, 2015
There are really some great Science Fiction books out there that really blow your mind. I love so many of them, but I think this books takes me to some new places and keeps me guessing as to what will happen next.

I am the Publisher
-Publisher Review
5 reviews2 followers
December 14, 2014
The best Sci-fi/dystopian novel I've read in years. The characters are so real, even with the incredible world(s) and power they possess; I simply loved some of them...and wanted to grill others over a slow flame. A really emotional saga which I'd highly recommend.
Profile Image for Melinda.
602 reviews10 followers
August 27, 2016
Unique work of fiction

In the far future of some world, artificial intelligence was created, and they dubbed it - The Machine. Striking, isn't it? Anyway, the people concerned either were happy, and the crowd cheered, or they believed all those books and movies about runaway A.I. taking over everything. They hit the road in a mass Luddite exodus.

Welcome to the Machine, where every wish is granted instantaneously - whether it's two historic armies with munitions to recreate the battle of Waterloo, or a complete world to be adored by your worshippers. Anything can be yours.

This story is about Enforcer and his Associate. He is a unique and empathic man, amidst a huge array of vulgar, violent and deadly worlds where the loss of life is seen as entertainment by the Gods who own each world. His Associate has had a harrowing past. They both have secrets.

Their mission: Find out who is killing the Gods on their own worlds.

This book had the feel of Bester novel wrapped in a Northworld novel. Good, old school science fiction is very rare these days. Mr. Wolosz writes like those old sci fi authors, exploring something we see on TV and in books, a murder investigation, in a very unfamiliar setting - the inside of a computer with virtual reality, where worlds can be created or put on hiatus using software and hardware.

It would have been a five star book except for two things: the beginning is slow to get the reader up to speed, and the ending is so blatant, it would not have been clearer with neon signs and arrows pointing to God, Agony and Snow. Such a wonderful novel capped by such nonsense.

If you are a science fiction fan, and like a good murder mystery, along with a very human story, then pick this up right away. The beginning might be slow, but your time will be well spent.

Highly Recommended!
Profile Image for Glenn Conley.
Author 1 book76 followers
December 26, 2014
This is a fascinating book. And, at the same time, it's boring as fuck. Because, the sci-fi elements in this book, the technology, is amazing. But the story is just plain stupid. And unfortunately, the tech is not good enough to carry the entire book. It's good enough for a short story, but just sucks the life-force out of this book.

It's the story of The Machine, and the chaos it's created, throughout the universe. The Machine is a man-made device that basically turned man into Gods. Because it allowed man to achieve anything. To create their own worlds. Create their own people. Create their own universe.

This book is centered around the slaves of these Gods. The police, who call themselves Enforcers. The Enforcers were called into existence by the Gods purely for amusement. Apparently. Just to see what they could, in fact, enforce. If anything. Imagine sending a puny slave up against a God. Comedy gold, right? Not so much.

The problem with this book is that the majority of it is about training one of these slaves to be an Enforcer. And it's slow as fuck. I mean, it's just such mundane shit. What do you want for breakfast? Would you like some tea? How about some nice hot broth, to soothe your stomach? Who gives a bloody fuck. Kill something, for fuck's sake.

I mean, if the Gods created these Enforcers for entertainment purposes, they must be surely disappointed. Because they really are boring as fuck. They'd make shitty reality TV, that's for sure. There's no sex, no deceit, no conflict at all really. So what's the fucking point?

Yes, the technology in this book is fascinating. And it's a compelling read, learning about The Machine, and its history. But that's it. That's all that's worth reading in this book. And unfortunately, that's just a short story. A book, it does not make.
Profile Image for JenMarie.
178 reviews12 followers
January 2, 2015
***WARNING***
If reading this book, do NOT muli-read. This book will need your FULL attention.

Received an advanced copy for an honest review.

This book..... is different.
First, I was confused by the fact instead of using names for the main characters, the author uses "Him, he" and "Her, she." This book actually took me a whole lot longer to read than it says on here.
This is a Syfy based book that makes me think of mix between Stargate, Doctor Who and another show, I can't remember the name of, all together to make a book.
To be honest I hate Doctor Who and Stargate. Both are highly confusing. Which, sadly, is this book.
Confusing.
On the plus side, the author has a creative imagination when writing this book.
I don't know if I would even recommend this book. I continued to read it cause it was frustrating me to the point that I, sort of, wanted to get it over with.
I'm sorry, but it's not my kind of SyFy.
Profile Image for E.R. Yatscoff.
Author 19 books27 followers
December 14, 2014
The Gods are an interesting bunch. They are what we'd be if we had the power and resources, extreme people. The Machine is something you have to get your head around in this story but there is action and an investigation. I didn't like the long rides to get to other worlds. Generally a decent read.
Profile Image for William.
11 reviews20 followers
November 26, 2014
Loved it! Unique and different. Keeps you guessing and always a neat sub story in it.
Profile Image for Jim.
8 reviews
March 15, 2021
Oh,to be a god.

Wonderful book. The world's created with words were truly amazing. This book kept me reading way too late into the night.
Profile Image for Michael Walters.
1 review2 followers
July 6, 2015
What would you do if you had the power to create a world of your own? In Tom Wolosz’s The Agony of the Gods, he explores what humanity would rise, or sink to, because of this ability. We get to see worlds sprung from the imaginations of these god’s that are as varied and deprived as the people who created them. But even with the power of a god, the owners of these worlds are being murdered.

Two unlikely protagonists, called enforcers, are tasked to solve the murders, but they are given very few resources to attempt to complete this task. As they go from world to world investigating the murders, each plays a cat and mouse game with the killer, and each other. But as the depravity of the gods becomes more and more evident, the book’s back cover sums it up. Are the protagonists hunting down a monster or a hero?

Wolosz has developed very well rounded characters that make you think. You invest in both of the main characters, but there are times where you need to take sides, and you don’t always side with the same character. That takes a deft hand. One of my favorite book series where the author did the same thing for me was C. S. Friedman’s Coldfire Trilogy. There, like here, no one is totally good or totally evil. The shades of grey give the characters a life and depth that makes them come alive. When the final confrontation comes the answer is obvious, but unless you were paying attention you wouldn’t have guessed till then end.
This is NOT popcorn fiction. You will have to pay attention to the prose, not just scan for the next juicy moment. Luckily, Wolosz makes this easy. The only times I had to put the novel down were when the gods showed how truly contemptable they are. Yet even as you think this is one step too far, you realize it really isn’t, and you could see it being a true possibility. This makes the book a dark read, but a fun one that trips along the worst of humanity, while still allowing a beacon of hope here and there.

To sum this up, I highly recommend The Agony of the Gods. It is a complex read that is very rewarding. I look forward to reading the sequel and seeing how much farther Wolosz can push the boundaries of the universe with his copy of the Machine that he keeps locked up in his desk drawer. I just hope one day I can find the key and let myself in.
46 reviews6 followers
December 28, 2014
I received a copy of this book as part of a request for reviews by the publisher.

Imagine a people with the power to create worlds, a power granted to them by The Machine, a people egotistical, self-centered and self-indulgent. Asocial to the point that no two of them can live on the same world, so each has his or her own world and rarely interacts with the others. This is a recipe for dysfunction and for proof of the adage the power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. In the universe of these gods, the corruption is absolute.

Now, despite the omnipotence granted them by The Machine, the gods are being killed. The Enforcer is tasked with finding the murderer. As an assistant he is assigned an Apprentice.

There are two mysteries wrapped into The Agony of the Gods. The first is, Who is murdering the gods? The second is, Who is the Apprentice? For either of these mysteries to succeed the reader must given clues that suggest a solution as the Enforcer investigates the crime and works with his Apprentice. As reader, we should be solving the mystery and have a sense of who did it before the end of the book.

The Agony of the Gods seems overly long. The writing is good such that the despite the length one remains engaged albeit wishing that the the plot moved forward more quickly. But as a mystery the book does not work. The reader is provided little information to solve the murders with or to answer the question of the Apprentice.

This is unfortunate as the universe created by Wolosz is an intriguing one.
Profile Image for Marisa.
2 reviews
February 4, 2015
Two terms come to mind when trying to describe “Agony”:

Original: As an avid reader of many genres I am pressed to come up with any title with similarities in plot/character development/world building to this book. It’s refreshing to read a story I haven’t read before and delve into the workings of a wholly new realm! The author has created not only a different world for readers, but fresh “sci-fi” concepts as well. I found myself more intrigued with every world visited – I couldn’t wait to see what twisted new fantasies (and in many cases, extremely depressing fantasies) the gods had in store for us.

Thought Provoking: Again, unlike many popular books I’ve read recently, this book requires the reader to think. There is so much more to this novel than a simple “who dunnit?” The relationship between the main characters is intricate and, in many cases, I found it troublesome deciding which of the main characters I agreed with the most; a process I greatly enjoyed, especially when it came to the ending.

That being said, I enjoyed this novel and found it was hard to put down; the author did a wonderful job of creating muted suspense and tension between characters. I recommend this novel for those who are ready to move beyond the thoughtless bestseller drab and onto new worlds and new ideas.
Profile Image for Steve.
424 reviews17 followers
January 7, 2015
A fascinating, though difficult, read. I got about a third of the way through and found I was really struggling to find the motivation to continue. It seemed slow and lacked tension - except for the relationship between the enforcer and the apprentice. But after reading all the glowing reviews of the book, I decided to push on - and am glad I did. THE AGONY OF THE GODS is a very different read to the usual fare - and so achieves the purpose of the publishers of the book to produce books that different. The story is actually pretty intriguing and delves into all sorts of issues in a very subtle way. The investigation of who is killing the “Gods” almost recedes into the background at times and focuses more on each of the worlds that the enforcer and apprentice visits and the issues going on there. Once I shifted my focus within the narrative, the book actually became quite enjoyable and I started wondering just where the author was going to take me. I don’t think this book will be for everyone. But if you are looking for something more sophisticated and “literary”, but with a tinge of mystery, then this might be for you. I’m looking forward, now, to the next book this author gifts us with.
Profile Image for Obed M. Parlapiano.
212 reviews17 followers
May 14, 2016
I don't even know.

This book was so long and so weird.

The scenario and the idea are quite awesome.

But God... So many questions unanswered. It looks like the author just tried to bite more than he could chew. The story has a lot of details about their feelings, and not too many of the crazy stuff happening all around.

I really don't know. So many things. I don't feel happy with it.. It really struggled to finish it. Which rarely hAppens.

The book is not bad. Some people might love it.. Some people might hate it.. I'm just in the middle.
Profile Image for Jeanette.
1,129 reviews58 followers
December 31, 2014
I am very selective when deciding what I read when it comes to sci fi, as I am not a big fan of this genre. However, The Agony of the Gods was one of those books that drew my attention. Plenty of action and suspense and it certainly got my imagination working. I must admit that there were parts where I started to feel like skipping a few pages, but that could be because of the length of this book.
Profile Image for Teri.
3,918 reviews37 followers
July 9, 2015
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I had a hard time with this book because it just didn't flow for me. It wasn't that it was bad it just didn't grab me and hold my attention. There seemed to be a whole lot going on without any resolution. Just more questions. I love that it was not the standard read that's why I gave 3 stars, but I couldn't go higher because I couldn't relate to the content.
Profile Image for Gerard E. Trigo.
149 reviews1 follower
January 30, 2017
Interesting story and concept. A good read with plot twists and thought provoking ideas. A man sets himself up as judge, jury and executioner of those he sees as being unjust, and who are immune in their society from being brought to justice. Since there is no other law, he sets himself up as the law. In most cases his judgments would be considered fair as the crimes he is judging are so egregious.
Profile Image for Aviar Savijon.
1,220 reviews17 followers
December 1, 2015
The Agony of the gods

A very good read with an unusual plot and narrative. An adventurous tale that goes to many lengths but as e everything good ends with love. You just may enjoy it as much as I did.
343 reviews
December 10, 2016
Very different

I don't know what to think about this novel. The plot was very different. I never felt connected to the characters. Not bad but missing something.
Profile Image for Ali Kerr.
129 reviews1 follower
January 2, 2018
I loved this story, so dark and unique. Multiple worlds and characters to encounter. My favorite of 2017! This one will stay with me
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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