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This series gets better with each book! Wicked Saints were really good, and Ruthless Gods are AMAZING! I was so invested in the story that I didn't know when I had reached half of it! The story continues fast, and I think this story is better explained than the one in WS, and due to that, I LOVED it, instead of just liking it. I think I would classify this story as a fantasy adventure, that follows really intriguing events and full-blooded characters! The journey that is EPIC continues and gets even MORE epic!
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Nadya, the cleric, grew a lot on me in this story, she had developed in a way that was amazing. Ms. Duncan did a great job here with her. I need more characters like Nadya in the literature!
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To sum up, this story is addictive, thrilling, full of darkness and goth vibes that are present in Polish fairytales that this story is coming from (some names can be strange for English speakers, but they are coming from my language - Polish). There is some romance, but it's not coming to the first plan, as the adventure and fantasy theme is the most important here.
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This is all I will say as or would probably spoil the story for the future readers, and I avoid that at all costs. This story was just amazing and book three is a MUST have to me from now on, and I can't wait to get my hands on it next year!

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Nadya's magic has been corrupted and the gods don't talk to her anymore. Serefin survived his father's plots but now hears voices and sees visions that go along with the mysterious voice demanding his allegiance. Malachiasz is more than mortal, but not quite what he had hoped to be. In spite of their actions, the war continues to rage and there are signs that something else has gone very, very wrong with the world.

Ruthless Gods is a direct sequel to Wicked Saints, taking place four months after the conclusion of that novel. As a result, you really need to read that one first. Otherwise, you're at a disadvantage as to who the characters are in relation to each other, as well as how magic works in this world. Nadya, who had always been sure she knew had magic worked and that she would remain faithful to her cleric origins had done the unthinkable in the conclusion to the first novel. Now her gods have fallen silent and don't allow her to tap into their power. Instead, she has a line connecting her to what's left of Malachiasz, and it's killing her by inches. Malachiasz had always been called a monster and Vulture before due to the way that tortures had been used to transform people into something more within that death cult. Now he has taken it to a whole new level of monstrous, becoming more like an eldritch horror befitting a Chthulu mythos. As for Serefin, he continues to drink and casually drive away those closest to him. Perhaps it's being raised in the treacherous court of a country with casual bloodletting for magic purposes, but he is awfully cavalier about the death threats he receives.

The dark and dramatic imagery in this novel is likely the stuff of nightmares. The Salt Mines, mentioned before as the home of the Vultures and as a place no one wants to ever enter, is every bit as horrible as was implied. Blood, bone, screams, and death are everywhere, and the horrid shape-shifting properties are especially vivid here. Nadya has incredible bravery to offer to enter and to try to draw out the humanity in the monsters that reside there. It's something that remains true even as she realizes she's changed so much from the first novel and is still an admirable quality about her. The curiosity remains the same, as well as her loyalty to those she cares about. That combination catapults the quest she chooses to undertake, which seems like more of a fool's errand at first.

Serefin initially comes across as even whinier than he had at the close of the first novel, and the drinking and arguing really make me lose respect for him. For someone introduced in such a fierce and terrifying way, his plight truly seems less engaging. It changes when the voice and hallucinations start, though he is still trying to escape his fate. In the final third of the book, I really like him more, though he still remains somewhat passive. Malachiasz has his passive moments as well, and it seems as though everyone is lying and everyone has ulterior motives. The book summary mentions a stunning betrayal, but it's more accurate to say that there are several betrayals, and as much as they had foreshadowing, I was still surprised by them. I can't wait to see what Emily has in store for the conclusion of the trilogy.

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*We received an early copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own and do not reflect the thoughts or opinions of the publisher or author.

Quick Take: a continuation of the New York Times bestseller Wicked Saints, Ruthless Gods continues the stories of Nadya, Serefin and Malachiasz right where things left off in the first novel as all three wrestle with

What I Loved: I love Russian/Slavvic-based magic systems. Ever since falling in love with The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden, However, as anyone who has read Wicked Saints will know, this series is incredibly dark which I am totally here for. I think one of the most powerful aspects of both books is Nadya’s development from the beginning of the series to this point. Speaking from personal experience, I know what its like to completely deconstruct your own worldview and then do your best to pick up the pieces. It can be incredibly jarring and the internal monologues Nadya has, along with the philosophical conversations she participates in about the gods were really fascinating and touching to me personally.

What I Didn’t Love: I honestly thin I would have enjoyed this one more if I had read a physical copy. I listened to it on audio and as a result I feel like I missed a few things. Plus, the narrative is naturally confusing because each of the characters have their own internal monologues with other beings and the narrators aren’t that great at distinguishing between the different voices and characters so yeah, it just became really muddled and while I’ll pick up the next book because I want to now how the trilogy ends, it probably won’t be in audiobook form.

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Ruthless Gods really took everything that Wicked Saints was and took it one step further. This book is dark and creepy and I really had to skip one passage, because it was just a bit too gruesome for me. That's one that that anyone should definitely know before starting this series. There is a lot of blood. Things are pretty dark.

This book included interlude chapters featuring different characters from the book other than the main POVs and while I did enjoy some of them, they took me out of the story a bit and I don't think they were necessary. Overall I think this book didn't have to be as long as it is and it did jump a lot without really showing it on page, but this might be an issue with this early copy. It just confused me at times how quickly the characters moved witho9ut warning.

I did enjoy everything, these characters are well fleshed out, their connections always feel natural and the romance develops at such a good pace. Serefin is still my favourite character in this series and I'm as excited as I am anxious to see his story continued. Even with being so dark, this book has a great sense of humour and the twists are actually surprising.

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I liked this but didn't love it. This really felt like the second book in a trilogy where there is a lot of build up for most of the book and then the last quarter is where all the action is. The pacing was to slow for me and while I enjoyed the general story, I was missing a lot of the world building and character development that I loved from the first book. The big thing that brought this down for me was that I'm just not loving the love story between Nadya and Malachiasz; it's just to love-hate to fully appeal to me. But, that all being said, I'm still interested in this world and theses characters so even though I was a little disappointed by Ruthless Gods, I will still likely read the next book.

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Thank you @netgalley! I absolutely loved this book beginning to end! I love the boys in this book! And I can not wait for the next one to come out!

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Ruthless Gods is book two in the “Something Dark and Holy” series by Emily A. Duncan. Like book one, this was an atmospheric read. I felt like I was in the book and it was scary as hell lol. The pacing was a bit slow this time around and I found myself ready to get to some action. The worldbuilding was good but a tad confusing at times. The characters in this story, both new and old, were well developed. Overall, it was a good follow-up.
Actual Rating: 3.5/ 5 stars

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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I didn't completely hate it. It was boring, and then interesting, but then boring again. The intrigue was not enough to keep me reading and the characters weren't enough. I dnfed it twice before forcing me to finish it and write this.

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Overall, Ruthless Gods is a successful sequel in terms of the plot and expanding its mythology. However, the characters and prose had major setback in terms of enjoyment. I’m still interested with the plot, but the writing and characters are such a struggle, I’m both drawn and repealed by them. I guess we’ll see how long the series will go and how I feel when the next book is released.

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Picking up the pieces left behind from the events in Wicked Saints and working to end the war between Kalyazin and Tranavia (one way or another), Nadya and Serefin find themselves at the brink of something big, dark, and more dangerous than they have ever done.

Serefin’s very sight, although not good to begin with, is changed after his experience in the temple and is now hosting a fallen god within him, while Nadya has been cut completely away from her gods and has been imbued with a strange, dark power that has scarred her hand and left her off-balance. However, despite these struggles, there is work to be done.

Someone in the court is trying to usurp Serefin’s throne.

Nadya must reconnect with her gods so she can fulfill her divine purpose as a cleric.

And the Black Vulture must be confronted before he destroys the world.

Overall I liked the story and I want to know how it ends. There were some very enjoyable parts throughout, such as the descent into the Black Vulture’s layer as well as the later portions of the book when they reach the forest where all hell breaks loose. The plot slowed a little in the middle but otherwise was intriguing. However, I felt that this one suffered a little from the problem that sometimes happens with constantly switching POVs where one is taken out of the story and has a hard time reconnecting. Because of this, it took me longer than I would like to admit to finish it. There are also portions later in the book where it feels like huge swaths of certain character’s stories are missing and it’s very disjointing, although it is certainly plausible that that is the whole point. The last third of the book takes on an interesting, ethereal quality after all. Also, if you’re looking at this for the romance aspect, prepare for that to fall a little short and just enjoy the ride.

I would recommend this to anyone who has read Wicked Saints. I think the story is still a good continuation, and it sets readers up for an explosive third installment!

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

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These books are simply entertaining. Not groundbreaking but if you're looking for dark fantasy featuring some morally grey characters who are in love and also destined to betray one another this is the book for you. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who is looking for groundbreaking fantasy writing but if you're looking for something inherently reylo and you love Kylo Ren (as I desperately do) or you have a weakness for hopelessly hopeless characters this is the series for you. I'm patiently looking forward to the last book.

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I enjoyed Wicked Saints despite a few flaws in the writing and the overly complicated names. I was really hoping Ruthless Gods would improve on book one for me but unfortunately it fell flat for me. The writing seemed awkward in more than a couple places and felt forced instead of flowing. I didn't enjoy the character development, the story was all over the place and I got very tired of the repetitiveness. Overall this one was not for me.

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I mean, you can already guess what books we’re talking about today. No harm in correctly guessing.

Yes, we’re talking about Eliza’s Dog by Betsy Hearne.

(I’d say April Fool’s but we’re a bit late for that.) (Believe it or not that is indeed a real-life book, and I had a copy that I read to death because I, too, was a ten-year-old that wanted a dog and had friends who ditched me because they moved. Good times for child-sized Roni, good times.)

No, this is a review of RUTHLESS GODS by Emily Duncan. A long-awaited book for some, a mystery to others, and I am here to give you THE DEETS on what goes down.

Ish.

I’m not spoiling it for you.

But I WILL tell you that this single story has some of the best literary body horror I’ve read in a hot minute.

So let’s talk about RUTHLESS GODS.


We pick up a bit of time after WICKED SAINTS. Serefin is king, and the tops families are threatening to overthrow him. Nadya can’t hear the gods anymore, and is struggling with the mystical power that boils away inside her. And Malachiasz is fighting the battle between the boy Nadya fell for and the monster he was forged into.

We’ve got a masterclass in multi-POV writing – Emily keeps them clear and distinct, while allowing each narrator to build off each other’s tension. Also, as stated above, I absolutely adore the body horror of this novel. (Emily on Twitter talked about her favorite part to write, and I have to concur that it was easily my most favorite part to read. Monster god statue scene, you are my new best friend.)

Nothing about this sequel dragged or doubled back on what was laid out in the first volume. I fully enjoyed each and every inch of this story, and I’m excited to see what this cliffhanger is leading us into.

It actually plays well with next week’s reviews, THE UNSPOKEN NAME and HEARTS OF OAK. Both Nadya and Csorwe were raised basically for slaughter – Nadya is the accepted sacrifice to be the gods’ pawn and mortal voice, Csorwe the actual literal sacrifice to the Unspoken. And with both of them being raised in that sort of environment bring out the only two outcomes: leaning all the way into it, or rebelling as hard as possible against it. Nadya sees herself as a the a savior and the only. thing standing between her and complete annihilation, Csorwe sees herself as an innocent who wanted more than the choice foisted upon her.

Good trope, great way to explore both outcomes. Highly reccomend reading both in the same time frame.

ANYWAYS, as I’ve said, RUTHLESS GODS is downright amazing. 10/10 will reread and reread until the next book appears in my hands.

Don’t forget to check out the podcast review, out now on your favorite podcatcher!

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I enjoyed Emily A. Duncan’s first book in this trilogy, Wicked Saints but this second book is definitely superior. I love the gothic, dark writing. The characters are more developed in this second book as well. If you like a dark, YA series, keep these in mind.
Now I have to wait, impatiently, for book three!
#Netgalley #RuthlessGods #StMartinsPress #WednesdayBooks

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Ruthless Gods was everything you can find in Wicked Saints but times 2. More blood, more action, more sexy, more Gods, more existential crisis. So anyone that liked the first one will love this next installment.

The writing is beautiful and poetic, however it has a flaw that you can find all throughout the book : it is very repetitive. The questions the characters are asking themselves or each others, their emotions, etc. Is repeated over and over again which really slowed my reading. Once the action starts it's better, but otherwise in the slower parts it can become annoying.

Will be waiting for the next last installment !

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First off I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy of Ruthless Gods. I thoroughly enjoyed Wicked Saints and couldn't to dive into the sequel. I am guilty as charged when it comes to the enemies to lovers trope and I am just waiting for that book that brings two unlikely people together or where a girl falls down the path of destruction for love regardless if it is right or wrong. I am really hoping that is how this trilogy will end. I have hope given to what Nayda and M ( not sure how to spell his name) have gone through in this story and I am hoping she is able to pull him back from the depths of hell and save the world from his destruction. There is just something about a broken boy who needs to be rescued by an unlikely person who is supposed to be against everything he is. The story has ripped my heart out just to put it back in and give me hope that not all is lost in M.

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Wow this was even more intriguing that Wicked Saints. It is a lot darker and so much more betrayal and plot twists and blood, so much blood. All this magic coming from every where and every one having an existential crisis. If you like Gothic themed magic this is definitely the book for you.

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Ruthless Gods was a hell of a sequel to Emily A. Duncan's Wicked Saints, and leaves me waiting with baited breath for what comes from the last installment of this trilogy.

Darkness never works alone...

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. (Goodreads)



I received an eARC of Ruthless Gods from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like I've been trying to write this review for two weeks. Ruthless Gods was a lot to read, in a good way. It is chaotic and it is magical. It is horrifying and it is beautiful. I loved it.

Because this is a sequel, I'm assuming that you've read Wicked Saints before starting this one. Many of the same trigger warnings apply. Ruthless Gods does need a few trigger warnings that weren't necessary for the first book - minor drug use, imprisonment, body horror, and massive eye trauma. You can see more information about that directly from the author.

Duncan fleshed out many of the existing characters in this book, expanding on relationships and making it all a little bit queerer. We also got some great new characters to fall in love with, fear, and fear for - including gods that are new to both the protagonists and us as readers.

A lot of things changed in Ruthless Gods, which makes it hard to talk about, but I am so excited for book three to come out. If you liked Wicked Saints and body horror doesn't bother you, I highly recommend Ruthless Gods.

You can pick up a copy for yourself from Amazon, Book Depository or Bookshop through our affiliate links. I think you'll enjoy yourself.

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I feel like if I would’ve waited until I had a copy in front of my face I would’ve enjoyed this book a lot more. I enjoyed the first book in the series and got attached to the characters. However, in this book I feel like it suffered from middle book syndrome. I’m going to end up continuing the series just to see where it goes but, I’m definitely on edge about what is going to happen. I only was really able to fully follow the novel the last 5 or 6 chapters. I didn’t feel like the plot of this book was easy to follow like the first book was. The book was written very well though and hopefully I will enjoy the third book a lot more than this one. I feel like the atmosphere was just extremely hard to follow.

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”Once there was a boy who was shattered into pieces and put back together in the shape of a monster. Once there was a boy who clutched at the remnants of what he had left as it fell through his fingers. Once there was a boy who destroyed what little there was remaining because it wasn’t enough.” — Wicked Saints

Wicked Saints was a book that ripped hearts out and laughed about it. Ruthless Gods was a book that took those hearts, smashed them with a hammer, ran them over with a steamroller, and lit them all on fire to make sure they were well and truly dead. So much happened in this book, much of it very Not Good and the stakes are incredibly high for all involved. The Holy War is far from over and now there’s something deep, dark, and vicious at the center of it all.

Wicked Saints was, without a doubt, a very dark book and if you thought things couldn’t get darker (more hopeless), well, you were wrong. Ruthless Gods is Wicked Saints bigger, meaner, uglier, bloodier sibling, but gods! it’s also such a beautiful book. From Duncan’s impeccable, lyrical writing, to the interactions between some of the characters and their sweet honeyed words. Do not be fooled though — there is no brightness in this book and just when you think there could be, something comes along and murders that thought.

”Things are waking up. Old things, dark things. The old ones who have slept for so very very long.” — Ruthless Gods

The three fated characters are still very much a part of the overall story arc, but their capacities have changed quite a bit from the first book. There are bigger forces at play between the Divine and the heretics, the war between Kalyazin and Tranavia, and things are spiraling out of control very quickly. All are pawns in this game of ruthless gods, but they each have their own agendas as well. Trust isn’t possible when the fate of their world hangs in the balance and it’s anyone’s guess whether this world or these characters will endure.

Aside from the war ramping up by one million notches, there were quite a few surprises and revelations thrown about in this book. Some of those revelations will have a giant impact on the fate of this world, while several others will have a giant impact on the fate of readers’ hearts. All I can say is if you think you’re immune to pretty books breaking your heart, think again. And if this book doesn’t break your heart, then perhaps you didn’t have one to begin with.

”His was not a power that could save. He was made for nothing but destruction, chaos, disaster, pain, pain, pain. — Ruthless Gods

Bottom line — the Something Dark and Holy series is a bloody, dark, gothic masterpiece that’s become one of my top 5 favorites. I can’t wait to see what the third book of this beautifully monstrous series brings to these beloved and broken characters.

*eARC received via NetGalley.

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