Children of Fallen Gods

My Review: (This review may contain spoilers, fair warning upon reading this review)

I was highly anticipating this one after the first book, everyone seems to rave about this book and this whole series. I was expecting this one to be a five star rated book actually. This week has NOT been good omens apparently because I had high expectations going into this one here and they just didn't meet up to what I expected.

This is a very fantasy heavy story. If you are expecting a fantasy romance....that is not what this is. the relationship is not focused hardly at all. I did end up reading till about 60% and they were apart the WHOLE time practically. So keep that in mind if you want to read this series, that the romance takes a backseat and you are going to have to push through heavy world building, many battles and dreary moments. So keep that in mind when investing in the series. Another issue I had that really I felt wasn't necessary was the added pov. This is where much of the POV could have been minimized, it felt way too drawn out and especially if you are listening on audio....its super distracting from the story itself. And the POV that it is....well quite frankly I don't really care to learn about the past of a evil being who made Max kill innocent people having such a focus in this story. She could have just had a prequel or something of this POV. Especially with how it is written, it takes you so much out of the story which makes it hard to really push through. So much of this story just didn't make sense. Its like all the work that happened in book one....just goes out the window for what .....to make the characters just go through hell I guess??? LOL I need it to truly have purpose and if I am reading what is reported to be a fantasy romance....I need the romance (crazy expectation I know haha) I am going to look into her other series (the vampire one) and see if that one is more romance focused and see if it works better for me. I am just really heartbroken because I wanted to LOVE this author so much and feel sick and very sad.

We are the children of fallen gods and lost empires. We are the memories of bones in the plains. And we are more than they ever thought we would be. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Oh... wow. I am speechless. I'm not even sure what to type here. Children of Fallen Gods is the most beautiful, heart-wrenching, epic book that I have read all year, and possibly that I have ever read, ever. I'm not sure I can find a single fault with this, I am completely and utterly in love with this series. Sooo much happens in the book - it is completely action packed, we go from epic battles, armies, war, politics to stunning professions of love, of deep connection, of understanding and support to heart-breaking, soul destroying moments, the angst, the anguish - oh my word. “No war can be fought with clean hands,” he said. “Not even the ones waged for the right reasons. Not even the ones you win.” Tisaanah and Max are perfection, maybe too perfect, but even that isn't enough to mar this story. You cannot help but fall absolutely in love with these two - and it doesn't help that every few chapters one of them goes and does something insane that'll have you tearing your hair out and praying for their survival. I am not sure how many near-death experiences I can live through. “I like to live an exciting life, Max. This is part of my charm.” “When all this is over, maybe we’ll take up hiking. Something scenic with a low mortality rate.” We also are introduced to a new character POV in Children of Fallen Gods, Aefe (I'm choosing to pronounce this Ava - does anyone know the correct way??) who is Fey and the daughter of one of the Kings in the Fey land. Her added perspective adds another fascinating layer of intrigue, and the moment where the intertwined stories overlap is just breath-taking, I was in so much shock I had to put the book down and process it. I thought I was smart guessing my way through and then, now, reading back through the quotes I highlighted I am struck by how much the actual truth was forewarned. I could literally feel my heart being dragged out through my stomach when I realized what was happening. There were so many twists like this throughout this book, it definitely isn't for the weak of heart. Perhaps once I was something. But I do not remember what. And maybe I have never been anything but the discarded remains of others. Here are a few more of my favourite quotes, because I'm not sure I can possibly say anything else that would live up to what I just read. “The temples were beautiful,” Caduan said, quietly. And he paused, as if remembering, a mournful smile at his lips. Then he looked back at the fire, and it was gone. “But when the humans came, they crumbled just as easily as the brothels. And the scholars and the whores ended up in the same graves.” "I showed these cities exactly what I was capable of doing to them. My spectacles embodied the shattering of their greatest strengths. I collapsed the stone around the most fortified district, as if to whisper to them, I can tear your walls like paper. In the one sheltered by the sea, I roiled the waves until they were ten, twenty, fifty feet high, to show them, I could swallow you whole. I made mountains shudder and fields wither; I filled the sky with smoke and snarling eyes. Upon every target, I unleashed hell." "No one deserves to be put on a pedestal. They won’t climb down to save you, and if you’re looking up at them, you’re not looking ahead at what’s coming for you."

Honestly dissapointing compared to the 1st book. The romance is basically settled, no surprises left. The twists were not that interesting to me, characters are presented as being morally grey (Nura) while not behaving so at all (she's just evil tbh), I liked the tension with the fae and the origin story of Reshaye but that's litteraly it... the only reason this book gets a second star is bcs of this backstory.