The Gate of Gods, by Martha Wells

The Gate of Gods is book three in a trilogy called The Fall of Ile-Rien. The first two books are The Wizard Hunters, and The Ships of Air. It also helps to have previously read The Death of the Necromancer, which is not part of the trilogy, but has some of the same characters in it.

The trilogy is fantasy adventure, in a world where modern level technology and magic coexist. They drive cars, use natural gas, have handguns, along with using magic to ward houses and heal wounds. Into this world comes an invading force, apparently from out of nowhere, with magic that can overwhelm both their technology and magic.

The main character is Tremaine Valiarde. Tremaine starts off the first book suicidal, but not really having much luck at deciding how to kill herself. So she volunteers for dangerous work during the war, and ends up as part of an effort that discovers where the enemy is coming from.

Each of the characters involved has distinct personalities, and the characterization is well done. Tremaine, in particular, is at once both ruthless and sensitive, not really understanding much about how people relate. Much of the trilogy deals with her learning how to relate with others.

There's plenty of action in the books, too, since this is about a war for survival, and several trips behind enemy lines. The pauses in the action come at all the right spots to let you catch your breath, and then the next bit of action picks up just a bit before you'd expect it.

While there isn't anything revolutionary about these books, they are an extremely enjoyable read. I read the first two in quick succession, and then had to wait a month or two for the third book to be published. The wait was agonizing!

The entire trilogy is highly recommended, along with the prequel.