Nyx had already been to hell. One prayer more or less wouldn t make any difference...

On a ravaged, contaminated world, a centuries-old holy war rages, fought by a bloody mix of mercenaries, magicians, and conscripted soldiers. Though the origins of the war are shady and complex, there's one thing everybody agrees on--

There's not a chance in hell of ending it.

Nyx is a former government assassin who makes a living cutting off heads for cash. But when a dubious deal between her government and an alien gene pirate goes bad, Nyx's ugly past makes her the top pick for a covert recovery. The head they want her to bring home could end the war--but at what price?

The world is about to find out.

From Publishers Weekly

Readers will be fascinated by the setting of this slow-starting but compelling far-future debut. On a planet settled by Muslims and ravaged by constant war and pollution, Nyx, a former government-sponsored assassin or "bel dame," gets by as a bounty hunter. Her assistant is the foreign magician Rhys, who can control the ubiquitous insects that drive the planet's technology. When the government asks them to hunt down an off-worlder who possesses technology that could end the war, they find themselves facing off against foreign agents and their fellow bel dames. Hurley's world-building is phenomenal, with casual references to insectile technology and the world's history that provide atmosphere without info dumps. Far too many pages are spent introducing the characters, but the story is highly engaging once it starts, and Hurley smoothly handles tricky themes such as race, class, religion, and gender without sacrificing action. (Feb.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Review

"God's War is one of the most thought-provoking debuts I've read so far this year." - Locus Magazine

"Are you frustrated with Mary Sue heroines? Well, here comes God's War to rock your face off... If you like rough, battle-scarred women who know how to regulate, you're going to love Nyx... She makes Han Solo look like a boy scout." - i09

"God's War is a clever reinterpretation of the war novel.  Hurley takes on issues of gender roles, violence, and religion and does it all with a deft hand." - Staffer's Musings

"God's War was part slow burn, part explosive action... in the end the novel was utterly compelling.-  Tor.com

"God's War is a violent tale set against the backdrop of a centuries-old holy war. But beyond all the blood and violence, it's a beautifully crafted work of art that keeps astonishing you when you least expect it." - Pat's Fantasy Hotlist

Kameron Hurley's a brave, unflinching, truly original writer with a unique vision--her fiction burns right through your brain and your heart. --Jeff VanderMeer, author of Finch