Goddess Tithe

The Vengeful Goddess
Demands Her Tithe

When a stowaway is discovered aboard the merchant ship Kulap Kanya, Munny, a cabin boy on his first voyage, knows what must be done. All stowaways are sacrificed to Risafeth, the evil goddess of the sea. Such is her right, and the Kulap Kanya's only hope to return safely home.

Yet, to the horror of his crew, Captain Sunan vows to protect the stowaway, a foreigner in clown's garb. A curse falls upon the ship and all who sail with her, for Risafeth will stop at nothing to claim her tithe.

Will Munny find the courage to trust his captain and to protect the strange clown who has become his friend?
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My Review

Goddess Tithe, by Anne Elisabeth Stengl is a tale of courage versus fear. When a stowaway is found on the ship Kulap Kanya, all the sailors fear the wrath of the Goddess Risafeth of the Sea. She demands that all stowaways be thrown overboard. None who have resisted have survived, or so the stories go.

Yet Captain Sunan refuses to toss the stowaway out.

The main character, Munny, is a cabin boy on his first voyage out to sea, and he can only believe what the experienced sailors have told him about the goddess. However, Munny likes the stowaway, Leonard, even if he is a bit strange. But, when strange things start happening,will the captain finally throw him overboard? Or will the older sailors do it without the captain's permission?

I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. It portrays people's beliefs in superstition and ultimately shows that it is useless. Also, several of the characters, including Munny himself, demonstrate true courage and self-sacrifice in the face of danger, even when nearly everyone else is too afraid to act. This is true character.

Things you should know: *Spoiler alert*
This book contains false gods, or rather a goddess which, while she is a real creature, she is not a real goddess. She is only called that because she has power. Also, there is an alternate world that the characters travel to on accident. Strange creatures appear in the sea, some dead. The storm is alive. And there is some swearing by terms such as "Dragon's teeth" and "Iubdan's beard".

I have received a free copy of this book in exchange for an hones review.