by Maz Evans
HEPHAESTUS
Category: Olympian, God of the Forge
Realm: Mount Olympus
Powers: Weaponry
The God of the Forge brings renewed meaning to the concept of ‘a little less conversation’. Weapons expert.
HEROES
Category: Hero (duh)
Realm: Earth
Powers: Various, including strength, courage, cookery, singing, personal training and event management
An elite subgroup of DEITIES including Hercules, Theseus, Jason and Achilles. Legendary for their heroic exploits of yore, now helping/hindering mortals with their gifts.
OLYMPIANS
Category: Olympians
Realm: Mount Olympus
Powers: Various, including juicing, hunting (illegally), jamming, cooking and interior decor
The remainder of ZEUS’s close family, including Artemis, Apollo, Ares, Dionysus, Hera, Demeter, Hestia, Hades and Poseidon. All have retained divine gifts, although this is not always clear.
PEGASUS
Category: Elemental, but considers himself Olympian
Realm: Mount Olympus (where he belongs – self-proclaimed)
Powers: 1) Battle steed 2) Mane sheen
This noble steed is a fearless warrior. Also frequent cover star of Mane Monthly.
THANATOS
Category: Daemon (of Death), King of the Daemons
Realm: Underworld
Powers: 1) Strength 2) Chaos Stones (pending)
Currently preparing for world domination, the King of the Daemons requires only one more CHAOS STONE to fulfil his plans. And for ELLIOT to hand them over. Chances of success currently incalculable.
HYPNOS
Category: Daemon (of Sleep)
Realm: Underworld
Powers: 1) Dominion over sleep 2) Annoying his brother
After successfully delivering ELLIOT to THANATOS, Hypnos’s chances of survival have improved. But true affiliations still unknown. By anyone. Possibly including self.
NYX
Category: Goddess (of the Night); Daemon by marriage and affinity
Realm: Underworld
Powers: 1) Control of nocturnal forces 2) Dissembling 3) Motherhood (contested)
Determined to see her son THANATOS’s plans come to fruition, Nyx remains firmly by his side. Recently masquerading as David Hooper, the Goddess of the Night is now ready for victory. If she gets it.
CHARON
Category: Neutral, immortal ferryman
Realm: All
Powers: 1) Traffic avoidance 2) Hindsight
Charon saw every aspect of the current situation coming (self-proclaimed). Everyone should have listened to him (self-proclaimed). Five-star rated (self-proclaimed).
CERBERUS
Category: Elemental
Realm: Underworld
Powers: Security
The three-headed hound of hell is taking on extra responsibilities in these times of heightened security, and heightened credit-card bills (via wife).
PATRICIA PORSHLEY-PLUM
Category: Mortal
Realm: Earth (currently Home Farm, Wiltshire, UK)
Powers: Too many to note (all nefarious)
Mrs Porshley-Plum has succeeded in her plans to remove Home Farm from the Hooper family and plans to sell forthwith. Also known as Mrs Poorly-Tum, Norseman’s-Thumb and Horse’s-Bum.
MR BOIL
Category: Mortal
Realm: Earth
Powers: 1) Teaching (allegedly) 2) Odour
Estranged from former ally PATRICIA PORSHLEY-PLUM, Lance Boil’s next moves are unclear. Possible inspiration for adage: ‘whoever smelt it, dealt it’.
GRAHAM SOPWEED
Category: Mortal (but you can Call Me Graham)
Realm: Earth
Powers: ?????
The headmaster of Brysmore Grammar School. For now.
Places
MOUNT OLYMPUS
Former residence of OLYMPIANS. Needs a dust.
ELYSIUM
Heavenly home of Zodiac Council. Not accessible to ELEMENTALS.
EARTH
Mortal realm. Very dirty.
ASPHODEL FIELDS
Formerly destination of aimless souls. Now shopping centre.
UNDERWORLD
DAEMON realm. Also home to Tartarus, eternal prison for the wicked. Not accessible to Gods.
RIVER STYX
Link between realms, accessed via CHARON and the Ship of Death.
Also used to swear solemn oaths which, if broken, remove immortality.
Categories
DEITIES
Kardia: Precious metals: Gold (Olympians), Silver (Gods), Bronze (Heroes)
Highest order of immortality including Olympians, Gods and Heroes. Naturally imbued with great powers.
CONSTELLATIONS
Kardia: Crystal
The thirteen members of the Zodiac Council, charged with administering the immortal community.
NEUTRALS
Kardia: Glass
Rare immortals whose special gifts render them immune to other immortals’ powers.
DAEMONS
Kardia: Onyx
Immortals with individual responsibility for human experience (e.g. Happiness, Luck, Wealth, Misery etc.). Require instruments to manifest powers. Currently imprisoned in Tartarus, except for THANATOS and HYPNOS.
ELEMENTALS
Kardia: Naturally occurring substances according to class, e.g. stone, wood, rock etc.
Any immortal entity not listed above. May have human, animal or fantastical form. Often used for manual labour.
Artefacts
CHAOS STONES
Four elemental gems with potent powers, given by Chaos to her son Erebus, Daemon of Darkness (former King of the Daemons, deceased, father to THANATOS and HYPNOS). Earth Stone (diamond), Air Stone (emerald), Water Stone (ruby) and Fire Stone (sapphire).
KARDIA
Necklace worn by all immortals to denote Category and Class. Materials vary according to above, but all shaped like a heart within a flame.
HYDRA BOW
Souvenir of Hercules’s labours, the poisonous arrows are one of few substances lethal to Gods.
ARIADNE’S TWINE
Magical satnav, narrated by Ariadne. Not generally in favour of men.
The Final Thank-yous
It’s with no small amount of snotty emotion that I write these final thanks at the end of a series that has taken me on almost as many adventures as Elliot and Virgo. When I first imagined Elliot’s story back in 2009, I had a strong and spooky feeling that this book was going to change my life. Like Virgo, into whom I have poured so much of my own personality, I was, of course, absolutely right.
The belief that Chicken House have had in me and my books has been an unshakeable bedrock upon which to build this world. They saw a potential in this series that few did and I hope that it has been everything they wanted it to become. To Barry, Rachel H, Elinor, Anja, Jazz, Laura M, Laura S, Kes, Esther and Sarah, my heartfelt thanks for everything you have done for me on the page and off. You are heroes, one and all.
My agent Veronique continues to be a source of strength and Sauvignon as I wobble my way through publishing – V, I cherish you more than you know. Thanks for everything, you utter Goddess.
The series cannot jump into hands from the shelves alone (although it would be so awesome if it could) and so I thank all the teachers, librarians, book fairies, reviewers and bloggers who have helped it on its way. You do vital and brilliant work and I am with you every step of the way. Please file restraining orders accordingly. You won’t be the first.
One of the great rewards of this quest has been the friendship of other authors, to whom I am indebted emotionally, and probably financially. Maya, Kiran, Lisa, Robin, Mark, Nick, Steve, David, Natasha, Perdita, Emma, Ross and Patrice – thank you for all the cuddles and corkscrews along the way. It’s joyful being the comedy sidekick to your authorial adventures – please don’t kill me of
f in the third act.
Now I’ve got one final shot at this: my editor, Rachel Leyshon. Leyshy – I’ve compared you variously to a waxing strip, knickers and grouting, yet you don’t seem to fully comprehend the scope of my thanks . . . How’s about I compare you to an incredible woman who is not only the most extraordinarily incisive editor, but a beloved friend and one of the most wonderful and valued people in my orbit?
Nah, that’s not it either. I’ll keep working on it . . .
Finally, this series has spanned a lot of twists and turns in my real, 3D life and I end it, in every sense, in a very different place from where it began. The Lego bricks that are my family have re-formed into a new shape over these four books, but the love that holds them together is stronger than ever. To Ian and my beautiful babies, you have my love, support and ferocious friendship for as long as it is needed. Just bring me a cuppa first – you know what I’m like in the morning . . . This book is dedicated to my son, who – a baby when I first wrote this idea down – has weirdly morphed into a character so very like the hero of these books! But never in my wildest imagination could I have created a soul as brilliant as yours, my beautiful boy. Go be the hero of your story. I love you so very much.
And so I take my leave of you, my wonderful readers. The GodsSquad has got to be the greatest readership in the world and I love and thank you for coming with me on this journey. I hope we meet again, in this, or another, world – wishing you joy and luck on your adventures.
Love, and other things that don’t fit in a suitcase,
Maz
xxx
Text © Mary Evans 2019
First paperback edition published in Great Britain in 2019
This electronic edition published in 2019
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Produced in the UK by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon CR0 4YY
Cover and interior design by Helen Crawford-White
Cover and interior illustrations by Aleksei Bitskoff
British Library Cataloguing in Publication data available.
PB ISBN 978-1-911077-00-8
eISBN 978-1-911490-87-6