Jay Kristoff

A ruthless young assassin continues her journey for revenge in this new epic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff.

Godsgrave (The Nevernight Chronicle, Book 2)

Book Two of the Nevernight Chronicle

Godsgrave

Christine

Amy Weston

The heavens grant us only one life, but through books, we live a thousand.

A ruthless young assassin continues her journey for revenge in this new epic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff. Conquer your fear, conquer the world Mia Corvere, destroyer of empires, has found her place among the Blades of Our Lady of Blessed Murder, but many in the Red Church ministry do not believe she has earned it. Her position is precarious, and she's still no closer to exacting revenge for the brutal death of her family. But after a deadly confrontation with an old enemy, Mia begins to suspect the motives of the Red Church itself. When it is announced that Consul Scaeva and Cardinal Duomo will be making a rare public appearance at the conclusion of the grand games in Godsgrave, Mia defies the Church and sells herself into slavery for a chance to fulfill the promise she made on the day she lost everything. Upon the sands of the arena, Mia finds new allies, bitter rivals, and more questions about her strange affinity for the shadows. But as conspiracies unfold, secrets are revealed and the body count rises within the collegium walls, Mia will be forced to choose between her loyalties and her revenge.

Jade 

Anna

** spoiler alert **
           po prvním díle už jsem neměla tak veliká očekávání, ovšem i tak jsem poměrně zklamaná. druhý díl se točí okolo gladiátorských zápasů a... ne, to je vlastně úplně všechno. akce? skoro žádná. děj? plynul, ale že bych potřebovala číst o mie, která strávila rok jako otrok, to mi taky nepřišlo úplně záživný. nic se tam totiž nedělo. ale autor to i tak dokázal nacpat do neuvěřitelných 500 stran.
na začátku knihy zjišťujeme, že rudá církev ve skutečnosti není až tak svatá (haha, vtip, jak může být škola zabijáků svatá), ale že je doopravdy podplácena samotným scaevou. zajímavý zvrat, ovšem že bych z toho byla na větvi, se říci nedalo. mia si našla novou milenku, a přišli jste na to, je to ashlin, která jí zabila předchozího milence. dost zvrhlé, vskutku. ale nebojte, mia s tím bojuje! ale sexuální chtíč je přeci jen silnější, a tak i v tomto díle můžeme čekat explicitní sexuální scény. a násilí. a sprostá slova. dělá to však z knihy četbu pro dospělé? ani náhodou. autor se snažil do knihy natlačit co nejvíc násilí a nadávek, až se to stalo otravným a poněkud příliš zřejmým, že jeho cíl byl zařadit se do poličky 'fantasy četba pro dospělé'. a to mi na té knize vadilo asi ze všeho nejvíc. ne, jayi, nadávky tě automaticky nedělají dobrým fantasy autorem. a existují i jiná slova než bastard.
přesouváme se ke konci recenze a tím pádem i ke konci knihy. viděli jsme úžasné magni vystoupení s bouřkovými draky a neporazitelnou hrdinkou (další bod; ona sakra zabije úplně všechny, ona je prostě nejlepší, mějte jí rádi, ona zabije 50 můžu a sama z boje má jen sečnou ránu na rameni!), která samozřejmě vyhrála, bylo nám to předkládáno už od prvních stran. takže žádné překvapení na konci. tedy kromě toho, že scaeva nakonec žije, ale... no takhle, je to nejvyšší hlava republiky, dalo se sakra čekat, že nepředstoupí před nejlepší gladiátorku v zemi. takže zvrat taky nic moc. a tric? jo, ten se nám mimochodem vrátil z mrtvých a hraje postavu úžasné Deus ex machina, protože kdyby nestrašil okolo hřbitova, mia i ash by byly dávno mrtvý.
.
nechávám 4*/5*, hlavně za zajímavý svět a za to, že se to dalo číst. vážně jo. a mělo to dobrý vedlejší postavy.

Riley Bell

First off...you may definitely want to buy Darkdawn as well if you’re planning to buy Godsgrave. You will need it immediately. After a while I was tired of Mia’s months as a slave and really was concerned for her since one moment she refuses to kill an innocent and the next she’s slaughtering those I thought she called her friends. But don’t worry just as Mia says it’s all a means to an end and the ending is quite surprising and just as confusing. So just be prepared!!

From the bestselling author, Jay Kristoff, comes the second book in the Nevernight Chronicle. Conquer your fear, conquer the world Mia Corvere, destroyer of empires, has found her place among the Blades of Our Lady of Blessed Murder, but many in the Red Church ministry do not believe she has earned it. Her position is precarious, and she's still no closer to exacting revenge for the brutal death of her family. But after a deadly confrontation with an old enemy, Mia begins to suspect the motives of the Red Church itself. When it is announced that Consul Scaeva and Cardinal Duomo will be making a rare public appearance at the conclusion of the grand games in Godsgrave, Mia defies the Church and sells herself into slavery for a chance to fulfill the promise she made on the day she lost everything. Upon the sands of the arena, Mia finds new allies, bitter rivals, and more questions about her strange affinity for the shadows. But as conspiracies unfold, secrets are revealed and the body count rises within the collegium walls, Mia will be forced to choose between her loyalties and her revenge.

Sunny

Omg.... I need the next book immediately 😭

Mel 

This series would slap as an adult animated tv show like Castlevania.

Tatiana

Godsgrave is an adventure to be had. The twists and turns the story took were astounding and needless to say I was left with my mouth agape as plot twist after plot twist unfolded. 

I shouldn't be surprised at the continuous genius that Jay Kristoff is, but I am still utterly shocked at how real he makes a world, characters, and everything in it. The sheer audacity he has to create minor characters, letting them drop like flies, and the reader doesn't even know they've gotten attached until they're dead. wow.

I don't even know what else to say honestly. My mind is blank. This book is absolutely fantastic, but thank God there is a third.

Danny Werhane

THE AUDACITY OF THIS BOOK! Hard to decide whether I hate it or I love it. So many twists and turns that I can’t bloody keep up. Piss and blood indeed. 

Louise 

** spoiler alert **
           **3.5 ⭐

I have mixed feelings for this installment of the Nevernight Chronicle. 

The relationship in this book between Mia & Ash felt forced, I was never really rooting for them and it felt out of character for Mia to trust her or even catch feelings tbh. I was low-key hoping the wlw relationship was an enemies to lovers trope with Jess🫣

Also, doesn't this book feel like it follows the plot of the movie Gladiator?!? lol

Part 1 was great, it had all the makings of an excellent follow on from Nevernight but Part 2 give me massive Middle Book energy. It felt repetitive, dragged out and I'd be lying if I said I enjoyed it 💀 
Part 3 definitely redeemed a lot of my love for this trilogy thankfully. I love Kristoffs ability to finish a book on a shock ending. He really isn't Afraid to kill off a character lmao

 
Regardless of this books shortcomings, I am excited to read book 3 and finish this trilogy!

menna

i was so torn between either giving this book five stars for mindfuckary or one star for fuck-you-maybe-you-shouldn't-have-done-that,,,, the mindfuckary won.

so here's my rambled thoughts because there's no way in hell i'll be able to write a coherent review:

- first i'd like to say MIA CORVERE IM STILL FREE CONTACT ME
- i was so glad once the flashbacks stopped because that meant no more weird mia and adonai moments,,, JAY KRISTOFF WHAT WAS THAT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TALK
- i mean if i read any more about her "thighs quivering" around him and how "his pants sat low on his hips it was indecent" i might've puked
- mister kindly and eclipse's fights are the best thing in this book and you cannot convince me otherwise
- second to that is mercurio's "i might've lied"
- maybe i have trust issues but i think mia and ash forgave each other way too quickly?? both of you literally killed someone the other loves YOU CANNOT JUST GET OVER THAT
- or maybe i just haven't forgiven ash for what she did to tric yet
-im really hoping i'll like her more in the next book
 - we end up with even more questions about the darkins than we started with and i. just. want. to. know. what. is. going. on.
- the fight scenes are very *chef's kiss*,,, the crowd chanting her name gave me chills i was so proud of her!!
- i was screaming nonstop in the last few chapters
- it was twist after twist after twist and MY MIND WAS EXPLODING
- I MEAN WHAT WHAT WHAT
- after that ending my last two braincells are fighting....one wants to read darkdawn immediately and the other doesn't want to go anywhere near it
-im lowkey still in shock over what happened so there's probably a lot of things i forgot but we blaming jay kristoff for that

In the absolute most loving way...Jay Kristoff...i hate you !! 

i'm so mad at myself for not finding time sooner to read this book! it. was. so. good!

Genuinely think im obsessed with the writing style in this series, it was a bit hard to get used to at first in book 1 but now, i just love learning alllll the additional details and worldbuilding the world has to offer! it's so deeply thought out it baffles me. Anyway 5*, this book hurt my fucking soul and Mia is my precious baby angel and im so aghhhhhh!!

grace richards

me? oh i’m not confused in the slightest. i definitely do not have approximately 65 questions which need answering. thankfully i have book 3 waiting to go.

A ruthless young assassin continues her journey for revenge in this new epic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff. Mia Corvere, destroyer of empires, has found her place among the Blades of Our Lady of Blessed Murder, but many in the Red Church ministry do not believe she has earned it. Her position is precarious, and she's still no closer to exacting revenge for the brutal death of her family. But after a deadly confrontation with an old enemy, Mia begins to suspect the motives of the Red Church itself. When it is announced that Consul Scaeva and Cardinal Duomo will be making a rare public appearance at the conclusion of the grand games in Godsgrave, Mia defies the Church and sells herself into slavery for a chance to fulfill the promise she made on the day she lost everything. Upon the sands of the arena, Mia finds new allies, bitter rivals, and more questions about her strange affinity for the shadows. But as conspiracies unfold, secrets are revealed and the body count rises within the collegium walls, Mia will be forced to choose between her loyalties and her revenge.

Olivia

Rachel Kanyid

I've really been enjoying this series. The gladiatorial aspect of this book was pretty great, and the story was very engaging!

** spoiler alert **
           J’avais apprécié le premier tome à partir de la moitié, mais la ce deuxième tome m’a happée depuis le début !
Et la fin…le retournement de situation avec la non-mort de Scaeva, le retour de Trick et le frère de Mia devenu fils de son pire ennemi…c’est juste DINGUE !

J’ai tellement hâte de lire le tome trois, vraiment je veux savoir comment cette saga se conclut parce que vu toutes les révélations de ce deuxième tome, il y a matière à faire quelque chose d’incroyable pour conclure cette aventure.

I am so unwell, after i finished this i had to sit there with tears in my eyes from shock after going on such a ride of plot twists holy shit - i love this book so much, the writing was incredible, the characters were so interesting and unpredictable, the slow burn romance are you kidding me, THE PLOT TWISTSSSSS - there was no part of me that knew where this was going to end up wow wow wow - loved it

Emma Brothers

What more can I say than the tale Jay Kristoff brings of our beloved Mia only seems to get more sinister and the blood only runs thicker as we near the end. 

The way Kristoff writes is so beautifully composed that it leaves the reader feeling as though they are right there with the characters. Fighting, loving, and bleeding as one. This talent only makes these books that much better.

Mia Corvere has only grown since we last saw her in 

. Tasked with vengeance, and new revelations beckoned, she forges an unlikely alliance with someone she knows she shouldn't. Together, the pair trudge through the complexities of the Republic of Itreya and see just how layered the past is.

With their story building to its final act, Kristoff leaves a conclusion worth killing for (all jokes, gentlefriends). More questions arise as new players enter the game, friend and foe. All that's left now, is to see how this all ends. 

Cassie Burke

What more can I say than the tale Jay Kristoff brings of our beloved Mia only seems to get more sinister and the blood only runs thicker as we near the end. 

The way Kristoff writes is so beautifully composed that it leaves the reader feeling as though they are right there with the characters. Fighting, loving, and bleeding as one. This talent only makes these books that much better.

Mia Corvere has only grown since we last saw her in Nevernight. Tasked with vengeance, and new revelations beckoned, she forges an unlikely alliance with someone she knows she shouldn't. Together, the pair trudge through the complexities of the Republic of Itreya and see just how layered the past is.

With their story building to its final act, Kristoff leaves a conclusion worth killing for (all jokes, gentlefriends). More questions arise as new players enter the game, friend and foe. All that's left now, is to see how this all ends. 



eBook em novo formato, revisto e revisado. Nascimento. Vida. E morte. É assim que cantamos a jornada de personagens heroicos. Porém, a dona desta trama, não é uma heroína com a qual se está acostumado. Mia Corvere – o pequeno corvo – é a encarnação da vingança. Nas viragens passadas, ela era apenas uma discípula da seita de assassinos mais temida da República de Itreya. E, embora tenha falhado no teste final, foi a única capaz de resgatar o ministério da Igreja Vermelha do golpe traiçoeiro dado pelos legionários luminatii. Mia, enfim, foi ungida Lâmina. Agora ela é uma serva da Mãe da Noite. E cada vida que executa é uma oração para a Nossa Senhora do Bendito Assassinato. Mas não pensem que a garota se esqueceu daqueles que destruíram sua família, e cujo sangue realmente quer ter em suas mãos. Para saciar sua sede de vingança, a assassina será capaz de sair do caminho que a Igreja trilhou para ela, e seguir sua própria vontade. Usando de suas artimanhas, Mia Corvere fará de tudo para se tornar uma gladiatii – escravos de lutas que batalham até à morte. Com demônios feitos de sombras ao seu lado, nosso pequeno corvo vai decorar as arenas de vermelho e vísceras. Por sangue e glória, os louros de cada vitória vão aproximá-la ainda mais dos algozes de seu pai e do espetáculo sangrento com o qual ela sempre sonhou. Em Godsgrave, a República está prestes a cair.

O espetáculo sangrento

Elisa Bieg

Four Daughters, if this book isn’t the most brilliant piece of literature I have ever read.

I have no words except: BLOODY.FREAKING.AMAZING.

I don’t even know. Everything is absolutely on point: sharp dialogue (Jay may just have out-snarked himself here! Such strong snark game, gentlefriends); absolutely SUPERB world-building, just flawless; incredibly compelling and well-rounded characters; absolutely fantastic plot and story line, filled with twists and turns but not so much that it’s impossible to follow.

I believe this may truly be the best book I have ever read.

Such a fantastic start to the month! Though... damn, if the other books in my TBR don’t have HUGE friggin’ boots to fill.

Amanda

jess

ooh i liked this a lot more than nevernight. high stakes, a litany of brutality, and the romance had me singing praises.

Livia

Bloody Hell… what a bloody, masterful mess this book is. Whereas the first book focuses on the assassin school, the Red Church, this book’s main focus is about Mia throwing herself into slavery and entering a gladiator in order to get close to Scaeva and Duomo. I think that’s what’s so interesting about this book, the gladiator setting is so much different yet it’s so refreshing and being told well. We get to see the extent of Mia’s cunningness and schemes, how well she can execute an intricate plan in order to climb up the ranking. Even though the code of the gladiator is to fight with strength and brawl, Mia uses her wit to outsmart her opponent, and slowly, she gets to the top. 

I’m not going to talk much about the plot because the first part of the book is going back and forth between Mia being found and sold as a slave in the arena, and then the flashback is Mia being given an assignment from the Red Church to retrieve a map, where she met Ashlinn Jarnheim. Mia was being told about the true nature of the Red Church, hence why she decided to seek answers of her own and act against the wishes of the revered mother. 

This book is just as bloody, if not even more brutal than the previous one. We get to find out Ashlinn’s motives, how she’s very dedicated to helping Mia in achieving her goal. We get to see the side of Mia that’s still caring and wouldn’t want to risk the lives of the people she started to care about. We get to see her getting closer to her former gladiatii, understanding where they’re coming from, and reveling in training with them. And as the scheme starts to come to an end, she had to play a bigger game and not just attempt to save herself and kill Duomo and Scaeva, but also give her new friends a better life. And we also get to see her starting to open up to Ashlinn, despite the betrayal that the latter commit, Mia having to conquer her fear of opening up and letting someone care for her, letting herself care and love someone else. Her character growth is honestly a great thing to witness, while she’s still being lethal, smart, cunning, and ruthless all the same. 
But, I still think the best part about this book is Mr. Kindly and Eclipse. Their loyalty towards Mia is unquestionable, and I love their constant banter because it seems like a cat and a dog will always be fighting with each other. And no one, and I mean, no one talk to me about the last chapter because I’m still absorbing every death and every person turning out not dead happening.

The second thrilling installment of the Nevernight Chronicle, from New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff. In a land where three suns almost never set, a ruthless assassin continues her quest for vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family. Mia Corvere has found her place among the Blades of Our Lady of Blessed Murder, but many in the Red Church hierarchy think she’s far from earned it. Plying her bloody trade in a backwater of the Republic, she’s no closer to ending the men who destroyed her familia; in fact, she’s told directly that Consul Scaeva is off limits. But after a deadly confrontation with an old enemy, Mia's suspicions about the Red Church’s true motives begin to grow. When it’s announced that Scaeva will be making a rare public appearance at the conclusion of the grand games in Godsgrave, Mia defies the Church and sells herself to a gladiatorial collegium for a chance to finally end him. Upon the sands of the arena, Mia finds new allies, bitter rivals, and more questions about her strange affinity for the shadows. But as conspiracies unfold within the collegium walls, and the body count rises, Mia will be forced to choose between love and revenge, and uncover a secret that could change the very face of her world.

Celeste Richardson

I loved this book just as much as its predecessor, if not more. Where Nevernight introduced us to Mia’s world through one of the deadliest schools in fiction, Godsgrave gives us a wider scope of that world. And of Mia herself. 

My favorite aspect of this book, or at least my favorite element that wasn’t present in Nevernight, were the gladiatorial games. I was already fascinated by the Italian Renaissance feel of the first novel. The addition of Ancient Roman elements, mixed with the previously mentioned Italian as well as Kristoff’s own unique world building, make for a story that feels both wholly original and possible because of the vague familiarity of the setting. We get a deep, unflinching look into the lives of those who fight and die in these games. It was fascinating, and enlightening, and honestly pretty difficult to stomach.

Godsgrave is bloody, brutal, entrancing, and oddly elegant. Just like its protagonist. There’s far more corruption in the world that Mia thought. Will she succumb to it and become part of it, or will she find a way to rise above it? I still have no earthly idea, but I can’t wait to see how this ends.

At first it was hard to start reading at first, I couldn't get into it for a long time. Over time it got interesting, but there were some things that made me think "this wasn't necessary to reveal here?" and some scenes didn't give off the energy they should and could be written differently, but that is only my personal opinion. 

The notes present throughout the whole book were unnecessary a lot of time and sometimes the author may think it's funny but no.

The ending,, well it kind of disappointed me, while the last few chapters gave off strong feelings the last chapter felt kind of forced and after the end it wasn't as interesting revelation as it could've been for me.

Over all the book was great, I enjoyed it but there were some things I didn't like. I'm excited how the story continues in the next book.

At first it was hard to start reading at first, I couldn't get into it for a long time. Over time it got interesting, but there were some things that made me think "this wasn't necessary to reveal here?" and some scenes didn't give off the energy they should and could be written differently, but that is only my personal opinion. 

The notes present throughout the whole book were unnecessary a lot of time and sometimes the author may think it's funny but no.

The ending,, well it kind of disappointed me, while the last few chapters gave off strong feelings the last chapter felt kind of forced and after the end it wasn't as interesting revelation as it could've been for me.

Over all the book was great, I enjoyed it but there were some things I didn't like. I'm excited how the story continues in the next book.

mary

5⭐️
non ho parole, sono tipo scioccatissima. le ultime pagine sono state le più confuse che abbia mai letto. sono follemente innamorata di questo libro, dei personaggi, delle descrizioni, le ambientazioni, la trama, ogni singola cosa. ora ho solo bisogno di tante risposte e un giorno per metabolizzare tutto

Alexandra Dawning

I'm really loving this series! I know that one of the biggest criticisms is the flowery prose, and I can see how people could find it irritating! It is pretty convoluted and maybe a bit self-important, but it doesn't bother me in the slightest. I really enjoy some of the imagery and I like the snide asides to the reader and the fleshing out of the world and it's history in the footnotes.

I enjoy the Roman Empire-influenced society and the mystery of the Darkin and I don't find Mia too annoying of a hero (so many protagonists are so painfully one dimensional, but I feel like Mia does EVENTUALLY show character development, even if she has be bludgeoned about the head with an issue sometimes before she changes her mind.) I wish she was a little more self aware; I was rolling my eyes when she finally realised that perhaps she was just as untrustworthy as Ashlinn. I find it a little unbelievable that anyone who has been trained as an assassin hasn't developed at least a little self-awareness and critical thinking! 😅

I do enjoy the characters, but I think I'm more interested in the mystery of what the Darkin are, and the wider world and it's history and politics. Still, as soon as I've finished writing this, I'm going to buy the next book and get reading!

Godsgrave (The Nevernight Chronicle, Book 2)

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