A young adult fantasy series created by Orson Scott Card. The story takes place in two different worlds; from the point of view of the two protagonist, Danny and Wad.
Once the God Families ruled over humans and often waged war with each other. Until Loki, of the North Family, sealed all the Great Gates that linked Earth to their home world, greatly diminishing the Families' power.
Danny, a member of the North Family, discovers that he is a Gate Father and must now flee from his home, hone his skills, and discover why Loki sealed away the Great Gates so long ago.
Meanwhile in Westil, the home world of mages (who become gods upon passing through a Great Gate), a boy named Wad who has lost his memory has been released from his ancient imprisonment.
Provides Examples Of:
- Crystal Dragon Jesus: Danny's travel to the underworld shows a pre-mortal existence deeply tied into LDS theology.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Danny and the Orphans to the Norse Family near the end of the first book.
- The Dreaded:
- Danny to the Families later in the series.
- The Gate Thief to, well, any Gate Father.
- Manmages and Gatemages for the God families
- And The Dragon/Bel/Set/Satan to everyone.
- Greater-Scope Villain: While Queen and the Greek Family represent a great threat, the Bel is clearly a much bigger threat. It's even hinted that his servants already control most of the world politics, and maybe even several of the Family heads.
- Muggles Do It Better: Played straight at first, Danny wonders just how it is mages feel superior when Drowthers (muggles) have the tech they do. Subverted with greatmages: mages who have gone through a Great Gate and had their powers amplified enough to be worthy of their old titles: Odin, Thor, Poseidon, etc.
- Sufficiently Advanced Alien: The Gods are actually aliens with god-like powers. Magical powers, but yeah.
- Took a Level in Badass: Going through the Great Gate will do this to you.
- Unwanted Harem: Surprisingly Danny gets one in book two. The only reason why it's unwanted is because Danny doesn't want to be like his ancestors leaving behind dozens of little bastards inside a bunch of women.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Avoided. Danny's Family counted on him feeling this way, but he really didn't care.
- Wrong Genre Savvy: In the second book, Danny reads a lot of Young Adult fiction, and acts as if he's in a rather lighthearted one. Unfortunately, he's in an Orson Scott Card novel instead.
