Trudie Skies

4.5
this was WILD son!
the world building is really unique with an interesting array of species, gods & characters.
definitely an adult novel - didn't particularly like that the FMC was already in a relationship - its giving love triangle but there's really only one MMC you want her with.
I stayed up late to finish it as I have honestly not read a story like this and had no idea where it was going. There is a LOT going on. It's kinda hectic. But I dug it this time around.
Read the trigger warnings.… (meer)

Series Info/Source: This is the first book in The Cruel Gods series. I borrowed this on ebook through Kindle Unlimited.

Thoughts: I have been wanting to read this book for some time and it did not disappoint. This is a longer book and it took me a bit to get through. The beginning was challenging to follow because the world-building here is complex. However, once I figured out what the author was doing I was amazed and enthralled.

This book follows two characters, Kayl and Quen, who both live in the city of Chime. Chime is a city outside (but still beholden to) the twelve gods. Kayl is a rebel in a group called the Godless who is trying to protect mortals from their cruel gods. Strange things are happening to Kayl, she seems to have a power that she doesn't understand. Quen is part of the force that pursues and arrests sinners, but then he starts having visions that lead him to Kayl.

The world-building here is complex. There are twelve races of humans all with different physical attributes and powers, twelve worlds, and a number of different groups within Chime. It was overwhelming at first. It would have been incredibly nice to have an intro in the front that introduced to you the names of the twelve gods and the attributes of the races that belong to them. However, by about 15-20% of the way in I had a pretty good grip on the set up and was awed by how well this world was designed and how much thought went into it.

I loved the plot here. There is a mystery around Kayl's condition, a city under immense stress, and the mysterious plot of the gods. The city has a very steampunk feel to it with a lot of contraptions and aether which made the intriguing setting even more to my liking (I love a good steampunk world).

There is also a strange kind of romance here, which at first you think is one thing but then turns into something else. This book does a good job of delving into both the dark and light aspects of human nature. I was impressed on how many different levels this world and story worked for me. It delves into a lot of social issues without shoving them in your face and that only helped to enhance the story.

I should mention that I also loved all the characters in here. They are fun, complex, and delve into a lot of gray moral areas.

I was really impressed with this but it was a long and complex read. I am definitely going to continue with the series and already got the next book to read. However, I am going to take a little break to read some other books first and digest this story a bit more before delving back into the world of Chime.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I loved this and was very impressed with both the world-building and the characters here. This does start off a bit overwhelming but if you stick with it and you will be rewarded with a unique and complex story that is totally worth it. If you enjoy steampunk fantasies with intricate worlds and races I would highly recommend this. It was a surprise to me how much I truly loved this book.… (meer)

This is a pretty classic coming of age story with a young girl learning to come to terms with who she is, who her people are, and the ramifications of her magic. Mina is likeable, though sometimes you want to shake some sense into the headstrong girl, and she moves from trouble to trouble, getting in her own way as danger increases around her. It was a great moment when she realized that she’d just stabbed herself in the foot though, and I was pleased that she continued to grow from the experience, shedding the impulsive vengeful youthfulness and becoming the hero she’s always yearned to be.

My main complaint was the overuse of the trope of one character not having a chance to tell another vital information in time, and there were parts in the middle that bogged down a bit, but overall it was quite entertaining and enjoyable to read.… (meer)

this was WILD son!
the world building is really unique with an interesting array of species, gods & characters.
definitely an adult novel - didn't particularly like that the FMC was already in a relationship - its giving love triangle but there's really only one MMC you want her with.
I stayed up late to finish it as I have honestly not read a story like this and had no idea where it was going. There is a LOT going on. It's kinda hectic. But I dug it this time around.
Read the trigger warnings.… (meer)