Book Review: Inanna by Emily H. Wilson

About the Book:

Title: Inanna

Author: Emily H. Wilson

Page Length: 432

Publication Date: Aug. 1, 2023

Publisher: Titan Books

Synopsis: The fates of a young goddess, a warrior, and a mortal soldier collide in this enthralling and lyrical fantasy re-telling of The Epic of Gilgamesh that will captivate readers of Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint.

Stories are sly things…they can be hard to catch and kill.

Inanna is an impossibility, the first full Anunnaki born on Earth. Crowned the goddess of love by the twelve immortal Anunnaki who are worshipped across Sumer, she is destined for greatness.

But Inanna is born into a time of war. The Anunnaki have split into warring factions, threatening to tear the world apart. Forced into a marriage to negotiate a peace, she soon realises she has been placed in terrible danger.

Gilgamesh, a mortal human son of the Anunnaki, and notorious womaniser, finds himself captured and imprisoned by King Akka who seeks to distance himself and his people from the gods. Arrogant and selfish, Gilgamesh is given one final chance to prove himself.

Ninshubar, a powerful warrior woman, is cast out of her tribe after an act of kindness. Hunted by her own people, she escapes across the country, searching for acceptance and a new place in the world.

As their journeys push them closer together, and their fates intertwine, they come to realise that together, they may have the power to change to face of the world forever.

LINKS:   Goodreads   |    Amazon

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My Review:

Inanna is partially a retelling of Gilgamesh, which is thought to be the oldest piece of literature in existence. I taught The Epic of Gilgamesh 800 years ago, so I have some knowledge of the tale, but this isn’t just his story. Instead, it twines his epic with two significant Mesopotamian myths in which Inanna is the focus.

The story follows three different points of view. Inanna, Gilgamesh, and Ninshubar. Each character is deftly developed, and their journeys are all engrossing, both individually and when they begin to intertwine. There are some parts that might be triggering and are difficult to read, and I would recommend checking out the content warnings before starting the book. Though not graphic, the horrific experiences characters, especially Inanna, had to endure were disturbing and difficult to read at times. I don’t know that I would have read it if I had read the warnings ahead of time, but there are some strong and thought-provoking messages about power, control, duty, and revenge.

The world-building is also detailed, layered, and rich with Sumerian customs and mythology. I found it fascinating, as I didn’t have a ton of background knowledge on the subject, and I liked the inclusion of science fiction elements. I also appreciated the “Notes About the Book” section at the end of the book where the author discusses fact from fiction, her stylistic and content choices, and more information about the myths, history, and characters. It’s clear a lot of research and thought went into the development of the story.

Special thanks to Titan Book for gifting me a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Rating:

Favorite Line:

Stories are sly things. They can be hard to catch and kill.

Recommendations:

I would definitely recommend checking the content warnings before starting the book, as it includes abuse, violence, sexual assault, torture, pedophilia, and many other elements that could trigger readers.