Rin Sarduuri has everything going for her. She's a powerhouse in her company, negotiating deals her parent's are immensely proud of and taking the business to new heights. But as she is still single, one of her business partners quite suddenly proposes to her right in front her the entire office as well as her parents. Feeling trapped, Rin flees to the altar of Vistri; a shape-shifting trickster god and agrees to whatever the god wants to get her out of this marriage. But what Vistri offers is to be her bride instead.

It was hard to get a bead on this book because of the distinctly modern setting but the gods are real. I can only really chalk that up to the story simply not having enough time for world building because of the breakneck pace and short length. This cute little story about a god and a human falling in love hits all the beats it should without feeling forced and it's a nice diversion for a quick read. 3.9 out of 5.

This was a very nice and interesting read. The time frame, depth and plot are falling short because it's a short story, but I really think the author did a good job creating an innovative, fascinating world and two great main characters.

Since things naturally have to progress fast within the given 21k words, it might feel a bit rushed all in all - but I don't mind that in this case, because it kind of makes you feel like the main character Rin has to feel in the situation she stumbles in.

It's nice to have a character like Rin who is driven and determined and then let her face a chaotic but powerful presence like Vistri. It's intriguing and really fun to read.

And the worldbuilding is great - to see a society that manages to feel futuristic and digital/science-oriented and at the same time mythological and magical is something I definitely haven't read like this before.
My highlight were the physical meetings of gods with humans and the stories Vistri told about being a god and all the god's past.

"Chaos and order, light and dark, neither can survive without the other."

First off: This is the first story I’ve read by this author. What did I know going in? Not much – something about a business partner proposing marriage to Rin, Rin not wanting to marry, turns to a Goddess for help, who tells her to marry her instead. Or . . I think that last part was something I read somewhere the story was about. Sounded interesting enough. Oh, and the cover indicated an interracial relationship of some kind.

What did I find? Well, I immediately knew my impression was off. From the ‘this is what the story is about’ I pictured some Middle Ages (knights and castles level) level fantasy world. And the story opens with Rin turning off a computer. Soooo… Oh, and the people in this world are super focused on business matters (’the Empire of Alhira was a corporate country through and through. Business was expected to be her first love’).

Oh, and that business partner who proposed marriage is male (with Rin 2being female).

So this is a ‘modern’ world with computers, technology, people living for their jobs, etc. etc., mixed with an active polytheistic religion with multiple Gods and Goddesses – who can be seen in person (‘the goddess walked the earth just as all gods did’ – so said after seeing the goddess Hina walking around picking up pastries to eat late at night).

….

Forgot to mention the Goddesses name (God/Goddess, whatever, they are/can be both, heck when first meet, they were a cat licking up milk) – that name being Vistri.

Not sure I particularly like either main character. Rather than saying no to Jarrod, the man who proposed marriage, Rin went to the Gods for help. Um, eh? Saying no is harder than making a plea for help from a trickster god? And the other, Vistri, appears to be a pompous asshole. Eh, whatever.

…

Vistri uses terms of endearment, like ‘dear’ way too much.
…
Right, so, short story read. Unfortunately I never really got into it as much as I thought I would. I was a little too detached from what was going on.

Rating: 3.44

July 2 2018

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Heart of Chaos from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a special book. The basis for the book is that people in this society mostly marries for business and not love. This has become the tradition. You marry to cement a merger or to improve the company in some way. Some of the younger generation is against this but most people eventually marry for business reasons later in life.

What's interesting about this book is that gods and goddesses walk the earth and sometimes choose to take an active role in the lives of mortals, which is important to the story.

Our main character, Rin, is about to have a merger with her partners company. They have great compatibility... In the business world. But Rin doesn't want more then that despite hints from her parents that they want a marriage to take place. It makes sense in their world for her to marry her male partner even if she likes women. Which is a problem in the corporate world. The author even mentions that people are expected to marry the "appropriate" type of person (Ie women/male pairing). Its ok if you work outside of the corporate world. When her business partner proposes, Rin makes the right choice to pray at the alter of a god and he answers.

Vistra is a shapeshifter god and not one prayed to often. Only the desprite go to him/her. This is because a shapeshifter is looked on with suspicion even if he is a god. Even other God's look on him/her with suspicion. And she's tired of it.

I liked the book because it showed Vistra as more then a woman or more then a man. He/she was both and niether and everything in between. And he/she is more then his shapeshifter ability. Vistra is a person albiet an imortal one with immense power. He/she is lonely because most gods and mortals ignore or ignore him/her because of his/her ability to change shape at will. With Rin's situation, he/she sees an opportunity to help themselves as well as her.

I love the relationship between Rin and Vistra. It's unique and special. Their banter is amazing and funny.

So finally, what's the god's solution to Rin's problem you ask? You've probably guessed it but you need to read the book. It's great, it's fantastic and left me wanting to read more books in this world.