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      The gods of Aotearoa New Zealand are rising—and they will wash humanity away to reclaim their world.

      Ben Henare is racing across the ocean when the sky turns black. Within minutes, a massive tidal wave towers above him—but inside the water, Ben glimpses something impossible. Ancient tentacles writhe beneath the surge. The face of Tangaroa, god of the sea, stares back with rage and hunger. The wave crashes down on Christchurch, and Ben's world shatters.

      Lucy Campion fights to survive as the wave hurls her into the estuary. A junior doctor with ice in her veins, she claws her way to shore only to discover her family home crushed, her parents gone.

      The city is in ruins. Bodies litter the streets.

      And this is no ordinary natural disaster—something supernatural has awakened.

      As aftershocks ripple through New Zealand, Ben's grandfather reveals a terrifying truth: the ancient Māori gods have risen to reclaim the land from humanity. Ranginui and Papatuanuku, separated since the Time Before, weep tears of mist and rain. Their children—gods of forests, rivers, war, and death—stir from their long sleep. Demonic forces hunt through the wreckage, and those who know the old ways are being slaughtered.

      Ben's grandfather thrusts an ancient bone talisman into his hands before a demon tears the old man apart. With his dying breath, he gasps instructions: Ben must take the carving to an ice cave deep in the glaciers where the veil between worlds grows thin. It's the only way to appease the gods and stop the destruction.

      Now Ben and Lucy must journey west through a devastated landscape, racing against time as supernatural forces close in. The mountains tremble. The forests come alive with malevolent spirits. And the gods grow stronger with every human life claimed.

      Perfect for Readers Who Love:

      • Neil Gaiman's American Gods and modern mythology reimagined
      • Supernatural disaster thrillers with apocalyptic stakes
      • Indigenous mythology brought to terrifying life
      • New Zealand settings and Māori culture
      • Fast-paced action with emotional depth
      • Multiple POV survival narratives
      • Ancient gods awakening in the modern world
      • Books by Jeremy Robinson, or James Rollins' supernatural thrillers

      A Unique Collaboration:

      Risen Gods brings together J.F. Penn's expertise in archaeological thrillers and mythology with J. Thorn's mastery of dark supernatural horror. Set against the stunning and treacherous landscape of New Zealand's South Island, this story weaves authentic Māori beliefs with contemporary disaster fiction.

      J.F. Penn is a New Zealand citizen and lived in Auckland 2001-2006. She is married to a New Zealander and returns often to visit family. Risen Gods was read by a Maori reader to check cultural references prior to publication.

      Themes & Content:

      This dark fantasy explores the collision between ancient indigenous spirituality and modern civilization. The novel portrays Māori gods and mythology with respect while delivering visceral supernatural horror. Expect intense disaster sequences, graphic violence, and the emotional devastation of loss and survival.

      The book celebrates Māori culture while asking what happens when the natural world—and its ancient guardians—fight back against humanity's abuse.

      Story Details:

      • Genre: Dark fantasy, supernatural thriller, disaster fiction, indigenous mythology
      • Length: Approximately 50,000 words / 300 pages
      • Reading time: 5-6 hours
      • Mood: Intense, atmospheric, mythic, devastating, relentless
      • Setting: Aotearoa / New Zealand (contemporary)
      • Content note: Violence, body horror, natural disaster trauma, death of family members, demonic entities. Respectful portrayal of Māori culture and beliefs.

      A standalone novel that will leave you breathless—and looking at ancient myths with new eyes.