Allison’s Book Report:“House of Many Gods” by Kiana Davenport

If you have been following along on my weekly Book Report for the last two years, you know that the one and only thing that I love more than books is travel. I love exploring new places.  Whether those places are closer to home or halfway around the world, I have found that the best way to bring a piece of them back home with me is by finding a book written by a local author.  This week's book is one of those, brought home from Hawaii last winter, waiting for its turn to be cracked open!

House of Many Gods by Kiana Davenport is a sprawling, deeply emotional story that really digs into the lives of a native Hawaiian family, all while weaving in a complex love story that stretches across continents. It starts in Hawaii, mainly following Ana, a woman who grows up on the “lawless” Wai’anae coast of O’ahu. Her childhood is marked by her mother’s abandonment, forcing her to be a survivor in a place struggling with poverty and drug issues. Against all odds, Ana is incredibly determined and manages to become a physician.

Things get really interesting when Ana meets Nikolai, a Russian filmmaker, while she’s helping out victims after Hurricane Iniki on Kaua’i. Nikolai has a deeply troubled and mysterious past, but he’s dedicated to documenting the ecological horrors of the world, especially in his homeland and the Pacific. Despite their very different backgrounds and emotional baggage, they form an intense and passionate bond.

The story follows Ana and Nikolai’s relationship as an incredible odyssey that spans decades and literally takes you around the globe. You’ll travel from the sun-drenched, yet struggling, parts of rural Hawaii to the forbidding, icy Arctic wastes of Russia, and even the "new Moscow." Beyond the central romance, the book paints a vivid picture of the native Hawaiian family’s struggles against poverty, drug wars, and the increasing military occupation of their sacred lands. Ana’s personal search for her own identity and her mother’s story is a huge part of the narrative.

Ultimately, House of Many Gods is about so much more than just a love story. It’s an epic tale of loss, remembrance, the search for family, and the incredible, redemptive power of love to heal deep wounds. It’s an ambitious book that uses its characters’ journeys to explore bigger issues, making for a truly mesmerizing read!

I hope you enjoy this week's pick – or whatever else you may be reading.  After finishing up House of Many Gods, I feel the itch to plan a trip! Don't forget to pop over to my Instagram @allison.the.reader to check out more tales of both my reading and my traveling adventures.