Name: Mythos's review of Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan
Item: Ruthless Gods
Rating: 1
Author: Mythos

Emily A. Duncan

The stunning sequel to the instant New York Times bestselling Wicked Saints, now in paperback. "Ruthless Gods opens the door to a world of fallen gods and eldritch horrors... Gruesome, grotesque, and so, so glorious." - Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows 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. Their paths are 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. In her dramatic follow-up to Wicked Saints, the first book in her Something Dark and Holy trilogy, Emily A. Duncan paints a Gothic, icy world where shadows whisper, and no one is who they seem, with a shocking ending that will leave you breathless. "Ruthless Gods will leave fans demanding the final installment in the trilogy." - Christine Lynn Herman, author of The Devouring Gray

A Novel

Ruthless Gods

Sarah Gerton

The stunning sequel to instant New York Times bestseller, Wicked Saints 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. Their paths are 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. In their dramatic follow-up to Wicked Saints, the first book in their Something Dark and Holy trilogy, Emily A. Duncan paints a Gothic, icy world where shadows whisper, and no one is who they seem, with a shocking ending that will leave you breathless. This edition uses deckle edges; the uneven paper edge is intentional.

Mythos

Not reading because of problematic creator.

Ya this was weird. Something about being covered in blood and making out on an altar just does not sit right with me. It was also kinda hot. Idk. 

Carine

Laura Kehoe

Well, Emily A. Duncan, you've manage to reduce me to a hot mess of emotions yet again. This second installment in her Something Dark and Holy series was just as action-packed and heart-wrenching as Wicked Saints. I loved seeing all the old gang again and meeting new characters--even if they continued to tear my heart into tiny pieces.

It was so interesting seeing all of the character development. I loved how everyone had a very unique perspective on what was happening. There were a few times when I got a little annoyed with the abundance of angst, but for the most part I felt their feelings and emotions were understandable and tugged at my little heart.

Also, world building. I am so impressed with Duncan's ability to build such an interesting and complex world. It was fun to be able to dig deeper into this world and learn so many new things. While I don't know if I'd actually want to live there, I do feel like I could step right into the world she's created.

All in all, this sequel was a powerhouse of a book. I loved it just as much, if not more, than the first one. I'm so interested to see where she takes the story next and can't wait to read book three!

The stunning sequel to instant New York Times bestseller, Wicked Saints "Ruthless Gods opens the door to a world of fallen gods and eldritch horrors... Gruesome, grotesque, and so, so glorious." - Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows 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. Their paths are 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. In her dramatic follow-up to Wicked Saints, the first book in her Something Dark and Holy trilogy, Emily A. Duncan paints a Gothic, icy world where shadows whisper, and no one is who they seem, with a shocking ending that will leave you breathless. "Ruthless Gods will leave fans demanding the final installment in the trilogy." - Christine Lynn Herman, author of The Devouring Gray This edition uses deckle edges; the uneven paper edge is intentional.

Elisa Bieg

This... I... hmmm 😑

How to summarize my feelings in words? My very mixed, contradicting, unexpected feelings??

Let’s start with the things I enjoyed. Loved, even. I LOVED Malachiasz and Nadya. I even loved Serefin in the first 1/3 because he finally seemed like a character in his own right, rather than the embodiment of some sort of plot device. Turns out Serefin is funny, blessed in spades with acerbic humor and sarcasm.
ALL HAIL HIS MAJESTY! 
He came so close to becoming a favorite, before the story started dragging. (Though there was a brief ray of sunshine there with Kacper)

And let’s go back to Nadya and Malachiasz: 
aaaahhhh never was the enemies-to-lovers trope such heartbreaking, amazing fun (oxymoron? Not here)
This relationship gave the story a different dimension, but even though the romance aspect was more prominent in this installment, it was far from a sappy romance. It was a tortured, heartbreaking romance that fit right in with the gloomy mood, rather than feeling repetitive and trite. 
I love these two SO DAMN MUCH, and I am deeply grateful for all the back-and-forth, all the moments, everything. It made my monster-loving heart so, so happy. I felt like a well-fed cat (whatever that means. Just seems like the right image at the moment.)

I also loved the running theme of tolerance, specifically how hard it can be to reconcile learning to be tolerant and open-minded with deep-seated feelings of xenophobia and intolerance that come from your upbringing.

  The characters develop a reluctant friendship and mutual respect, but they are in constant emotional turmoil and mental self-flagellation because it all goes so much against what they were brought up to believe and feel.
 Because they CARE. 
This was so well done, and it is my favorite feature of this book and this series so far. 

BUT
But.
Man, was this tough to get through at times. The whole last 1/3 of the book draaaagggeddddd, OMG
I don’t even understand how, because there was so much happening, lots of looking for answers and trying to figure things out, but these parts somehow lack tension, and a sense of mystery. As a result, they end up being... well, *whispers, looks around* boring. 
(I know, I know, I said the B word, I’m sorry!!! 😭😭)

The narration feels kind of meandering and a bit unfocused. It feels like it’s probably going somewhere, but so much happens before the next step. 

There are also several instances where the language feels anachronistic, or at least not consistent with a society and culture without technology or modern medicine. It isn’t a terrible crime, but it pulled me out of the narration every time.

In the end, I am giving this 3 1/2 STARS, which is only 1/2 star less than I gave to Wicked Saints — this is mostly due to Malachiasz and Nadya, who were so prominently featured here, and for that I am deeply grateful. 
But right now I am also a little thankful to have finally finished the book, so I’m afraid I can’t go higher.

You’d better believe I’ll still get the next one, though.

Nicole Dykeman

You know how sometimes the second book in a trilogy suffers from sequel syndrome and it’s just generally not good? This is the exact opposite scenario. Ruthless Gods absolutely blew me away and I am SO UPSET that I have to wait for book three *cries forever* The world of Tranavia and Kalyazin grows so much more complex, the magic systems are freaking awesome, I’m in love with every character, and Emily Duncan’s writing is incredibly compelling. 

Nadya and Malachiasz are amazing central characters. I especially loved Nadya throughout her arc in this book—the tension between trust and distrust, confidence and uncertainty, felt so genuine to me and crucial to her character development. And her attraction to Malachiasz? The dark and steamy romance, the lovers with opposite motives?? I’m HERE FOR IT. I wasn’t quite sure if I was on board with Nadya and Malachiasz in Wicked Saints, but I am firmly in love with their love/hate relationship right now. And there are so many heart-stopping interactions between them in this book. The drama of it all is going to kill me. I am also officially in love with Serefin now, who I didn’t particularly care for before I started. He really got the time, attention, and development he deserved, as did Kacper and Parijahan. 

I’m not even going to try to say words about the ending. Let’s just say that by 150 pages into this, I did not want to put it down, and if it weren’t for college, I would have finished it in one day. In the last 50 pages, I nearly cried and barely resisted yelling out loud at my book. I’m a mess now, and I will be until I get to see more of this beloved cast of characters.

Savannah Winchell

3.5 ⭐️
U kno wut I’m not mad at all lmao

Aurora Corbett

I cried at the end of the first book and I was balling my eyes out at the end of this one. Honestly the whole plot with the gods was kind of confusing and I still don't really understand but I hope that I will in the third one. OMG THE BETRAYAL THOUGH. AND ALL THE RELATIONSHIOPS BETWEEN EVERYONE TOO. or here's a quote out of context just so you'll read it.

'"I love you,' he said cutting her off. 'So much. I wanted..."'

JUST READ THAT AND THEN TRY TELLING ME YOU DONT WANT TO READ IT.

Skye

If you thought this series couldn’t get better than its first installment, Wicked Saints, think again! Ruthless Gods is everything you’ll want and more. Gothic, cerebral, and fantastically devastating, it transports readers between Tranavia’s dysfunctional royal court, the heretical mines of the Vultures, Kalyazi’s holy places of worship, sinister forests where the unknown lurk at every edge, a witch’s quarters, shaky campsites, and the home of the gods. 

Emily A. Duncan brings together Wicked Saints characters and continues to peel back their layers — making you fall more in love with each of them by the page. She exposes many sides to her characters — showcasing their true depth and humanity (along with their monstrousness). Emily doesn’t try to hide the ugliness of her characters or sway you to one side. She fairly displays each angle and lets you make up your own mind — while foreshadowing uncovered secrets that lie ahead. She sprinkles in some new faces, and adds in the perfect amount of twists and surprises. 

Emily has built the storyline with such intent and care. Every piece of the journey is necessary to the story and ties in beautifully with what’s come before it and what’s on the way. She takes us on an odyssey that has us questioning belief systems and challenging the current order — right along with our favorite holy cleric, skeptical prince-turned-king, and tortured Black Vulture.

Emily’s ability to use one or two simple lines to break your heart is incredible. Her illustrative narrative is so descriptive that at any moment you’ll feel your skin crawl (I’m looking at you, bloody eyes), heart race, and breath catch as though you are in the story as another character with our motley crew. 

After it pulls out your heart, crushes it, and tastes the blood, this more-than-satisfactory sequel will leave you begging for the final installment.

Julia Thompson 

I am in love with  Ruthless Gods . I will be picking this up so fast after release.
Nadya is a lone cleric stuck in a land full of heretics in love with the monster who wishes to destroy her gods. Serefin is the king of his country of blood mages and the host for a spiteful god.
The story was as gorgeous as it was grotesque. Equal parts beautiful and breaking. I was left crying and desperately flipping through for more. 
Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen on the next page I was devastatingly wrong. I need time to recover seeing as I feel a bit empty now. Plus, I am unwillingly in love with Malachiasz and I don't know how to take that.
Too many feelings in my heart after finishing  Ruthless Gods . 

 I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Olivia Camarena

Hay libros que vale la pena tener a la mano cuando terminas el anterior, uno de esos es #RuthlessGods. 

Terminé Wicked Saints con una inmensa necesidad de continuar con la historia. Muchas preguntas se posaron en mi mente y en ese momento solo pude hacer una cosa: tomar Ruthless Gods y descubrirlo por mí misma. 

Una amiga me hizo ver hace no mucho tiempo que el ambiente y el mundo son factores que me fascinan en una novela. Aquí se confirma. Ruthless Gods nos ayuda a comprender mejor el mundo en el que se desarrolla la historia, su magia y el origen de la divergencia entre Kalyazin y Tranavia. ¡Y algo extraordinario: conocemos territorio “divino” y los viejos dioses! 

Aunque soy fan acérrima de las Dark Academias, villanos y la fantasía oscura, poco me imaginé que fuese a encontrar una historia que sucesivas veces envolviese a sus personajes en un manto de oscuridad. Y no solo eso, Ruthless Gods va tirando de ellos (y nosotros) poco a poco hasta el punto de no retorno. 

Reseña completa en el blog, CLICK AQUÍ

Kaitee Tredway

monsters. saints. mortals. gods. blood. darkness. chaos. I love way this book weaves these things together. I just love it.

Vale Roman

Ese final!! Amo a los personajes, y esa pareja, me los veía venir desde el primer libro, me encantan juntos, también no puedo creer que no hiciera la conexión de quien era la reina antes de que dijeran, era tan obvio y yo tenia teorías que nada que ver, todo parece estar de la chingada, quien sabe como lo arreglaran, pero es un alivio el epilogo aun asi

Story Eater

Cannibalism. That’s right cannibalism. It feels like the YA 
books coming out in the past few years try to push boundaries of what should be alluded to in books for young adults and what should not even be there. This has some of that in it. It is incredibly violent in parts. If this were a film, the MPAA would rate it R. Which speaks to what the proper market for the book should be. That being established, the rating from me would be higher if it were marketed as an adult fantasy.

Duncan has firmly established herself, in my mind, with the likes of Jay Kristoff with this violent, gothic, conflicted narrative. I also feel she successfully bested her first in the series, Wicked Saints. In Ruthless Gods, readers get a bit more character development, the plot is not as linear, and the mystery of the old gods and where the magic comes from slowly unravels itself. Sure, it lags a bit on the way, but Duncan has done some research work into the incredible complex world that is medieval Russian/Polish folklore and mythology. Like any other historical writer, it is completely okay to show off the knowledge and work a bit. Those craving some intellect to go along with their fiction will/should appreciate it.

The drawback for me, in addition to the content not matching the audience, is the insane amount of melodrama. While it works for some, I’m not into it. The doomed love dynamic took up the entirety of the book, and many of the side characters I grew attached to suffered from lack of exposure because of it. 

While I realize some who read my review may be thinking, “then don’t read it,” I don’t just read for my enjoyment. I teach students who read YA. There are parents who still care what media their children are exposed to, so when I get asked about a book, I know what to tell them and don’t just stand there uselessly shrugging my shoulders at them. This one will definitely come with content warnings from me.

danielle bush

This was amazing! I had no idea what was going to happen from one minute to the next. Whats going to happen between Nadya and Malachiaz? Why didn't I wait till closer to the release date of the next one?! What am I going to do until then?

Emily

~ Thank you to Wednesday Books and Goodreads for hosting a giveaway of the ARC, which I won! ~ 

3.75 stars!

I feel very similarly about this book as I do with Strange the Dreamer and ACOMAF: At the heart of it, there is something incredible, especially the characters, but the book is too slow! Yes, I can appreciate a slow burn when it's done well, but this book drags out the inconsequential moments and rushes the essential ones. There were so many times when I felt like I accidentally skipped a part because the setting abruptly altered. All of a sudden Nadya and Malachiasz were outdoors in a tent when five seconds ago they were chilling on the balcony of a palace. Additionally, dialogue constantly confused me because I couldn't tell who was speaking when.

Besides these mechanical problems (which may very well be fixed in the final version), the story is extraordinary. I love the growth in Nadya's perception of magic and deities. It truly was fascinating.

The character work was also exceptional. The relationship between Nadya and Malachiasz is not quite like any I've read before, so I applaud that. However, I personally thought the most interesting characters were the side characters and I hope we get more of them in book three. Kacper, Ostiya, Katya, and Parijahan kind of stole the show (sorry, I know Rashid exists but I can't say I really care about him). 

I'm interested in reading the sequel, but that's a long ways away and who knows if I will still have interest by then. Only time will tell, I suppose!

Shannon Miller

The plot alone earned this book 3 stars, the writing style lost it the other two.

Megan Leprich

*Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy for my honest review*

I won't lie, the first book in this series confused me with how much it jumped around and the characters all bled into each other in a way. Unfortunately the second book was the same for me. While I do love the characters, this book was just too much for me. I didn't like the romance and I feel like a lot of things were still left unanswered. I will probably still read the third book in hopes that it ties some things up for me.

Caitlin Johnson

WOOOOOOW

Wow. GIVE US MOAR PLEASE. BOOK THREEEEEEEEE!!!! ABSOLUTELY ANGUISH INDUCING AND SUSPENSEFUL AND HEARTBREAKING. INCREDIBLE WORLD BUILDING, AND THE CHARACTERS ARE A PART OF MY SOUL NOW. 👐💔📿

Jessika Rucker

WOWZA, that was an adventure! If you haven’t read Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan, go do it now so that you are ready to go when this comes out! This book was so dark and a pretty good sequel! Emily Duncan, thank you for this series.

If you are not a fan of dark books, please turn away now because this is one dark book! We start a few months after the first book, and we follow our favorite as they find out answers to their questions, and experience some crazy magic. When I saw we follow our favorite characters, I mean, we get to read from a lot of people’s point of view! It’s crazy, a little confusing, and let’s not lie, like a lot of sequels, it was a bit boring at times.


I don’t want to get into too many details of the book, because I don’t want to give out any spoilers, but you will not see this coming. So many twists and turns I honestly got a little lost, it was good! I honestly have no idea who to trust. Everyone is so secretive, wanting to do their own thing, and I don’t even know what to think!

Even though I loved this book, it took me forever to finish reading it. I would always start it and either falls asleep or get bored and put it down. I can see a lot of people loving this book as much a the first one, but for me, the sequel just wasn’t as exciting as Wicked Saints.

Aubrey Erskine

For the full review visit my blog:
 https://shelflifechronicles.com/2020/...

“The girl who is a cleric but not a cleric, a witch but not a witch.”

“The monster who sits on a throne of gilded bones and reaches for the heavens far past his understanding...”

“...the princeling touched by a power he does not believe in.”

At the end of Wicked Saints Malachiasz betrayed Nadya and Serefin to become a god. Everyone is really feeling the repercussions of that and it set into motion a chain of events seemingly above the war already happening. All three seem to be pieces in a much larger game set in motion by unknown players. Nadya cannot hear her gods anymore and has a magic that rips apart the magic system she has been taught. Serefin now has a voice in his head from some forgotten being after dying and being brought back. Malachiasz reached to be a god and seems to have failed, stuck in a state of unraveling into the dark.

Cori McCarthy

One thing I know for sure is that I don't know how I am going to wait for the next book! This book was so addicting to read, and at times I couldn't physically put it down!

Every singly character in this book is struggling from what happened in "Wicked Saints," and believe me, not one single person is having a good time in this book. My favorite thing about reading this book is getting some new POV's, and getting to know some character better than in the first book. This book was more dedicated to character development, and I have to say it was beautifully done. I also loved seeing some new characters, and getting to know them as well. There was just as much betrayal and darkness as there was in the first book, if not more. One thing I have gotten from this book is that people have the power to betray you. but friends even more so. 

“What happens when a monster tries to become a god?”
― Emily A. Duncan, Ruthless Gods

Gemma

I didn't care for book 1 but as a completionist I felt I had to read this sequel. Then shit hit the fan about this author as a bully and an antisemite so lmaoooo 1 star it shall remain

Sarah Gerton &
Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan

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