Book Review: Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan

Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Let me just say, I had no idea what I was getting into when I started reading this series. If you have not had the chance to watch my YouTube series on Wicked Saints, please check that out by clicking here. Keep in mind, it is spoiler inclusive so I really recommend reading the chapters before you listen to me talk about them.

Overall, I really liked this novel. I will tell you more about it (with no spoilers because it’s so new) after I give you a little summary.

Summary of Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan

Nadya doesn’t trust her magic anymore. Serefin is fighting off a voice in his head that doesn’t belong to him. Malachiasz is at war with who–and what–he’s become.

As their group is continually torn apart, the girl, the prince, and the monster find their fates irrevocably intertwined. They’re pieces on a board, being orchestrated by someone… or something. The voices that Serefin hears in the darkness, the ones that Nadya believes are her gods, the ones that Malachiasz is desperate to meet—those voices want a stake in the world, and they refuse to stay quiet any longer.

Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan

My Review of Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan

This book became one of those that I could not put down. So many books promised a dark atmosphere but this is truly one of the few that actually delivered. I really feel like it’s unlike a lot of things I read and really plays into the idea of who are these beings that we worship and call gods? They could look or be anything. While this thought was explored originally in the first book, I think it truly came to fruition in this one.

I also really enjoy how this world interacts with the idea of magic. How it’s not necessarily light, happiness, and healing as we wish it would be. It can corrupt and lead you astray. This book also has an interesting dynamic amongst the characters, which I think is interesting and I hope will be explored more in the next book. I know this book just came out, but I already want more. Is that bad?

Overall, if you don’t mind some dark fantasy and you aren’t one to shy away from religion being question, I think you’ll enjoy this. It’s definitely dark, so if you’re squeamish, perhaps stay away. But, if you enjoyed the first, this book does not disappoint.