Ruthless Gods is the second book in the Something Dark and Holy series written by Emily A. Duncan. A young adult fantasy that pulls you in from the beginning and leaves you wanting more. Enjoy mystery, intrigue, and unexpected twists and turns along the way.

This was one of my most anticipated sequels this year - and it was so worth the wait.

The followup to Wicked Saints is dark, powerful, bloody, and cerebral.  And it hurt my heart so many times.  Serefin is caught up in something he has no control over and struggles to keep his throne and his sanity.  Nadya makes impossible choices and discovers shocking truths.  And Malachiasz - what can I say?  He's broken, dangerous, cunning, tortured, and by far my favorite character.  His relationship with Nadya is complicated beyond explanation - love/hate on steroids.  Character development is magnificent - at times I wanted to throttle each of them.  

Pacing is a bit slower in this book, and occasionally the dialogue was disjointed and confusing, almost as if some lines were missing - possibly a whole scene.  But this was an ARC, so that occasionally happens.  

Ruthless Gods is a heavy, chaotic, and long read, but something dark fantasy fans will devour.  The next book can't come soon enough. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Ruthless Gods we follow Nadya, Serefin, and Malachiasz as they deal with the consequences of actions taken in Wicked Saints. Nadya, dealing with the silence of her Gods even after doing what they asked by tearing down the barrier keeping them out of Tranavia. Serefin, hearing voices and learning new facets of magic he never thought possible. Malachiasz, monstrous and lost with unimaginable power while still feeling inadequate in regards to his goals. As our main three all feel a pull to the west what awaits them and what more can be sacrificed to Ruthless Gods?

I feel so blessed in receiving a copy of this title. I absolutely devoured Wicked Saints and knowing that Ruthless Gods is almost 200 pages longer than Wicked Saints I was hungry to devour it. I honestly enjoyed this title even more than the first, not only because our characters felt more confident but the author truly was comfortable in this wonderful world she created. Each of these characters has stayed true to what they felt even with shifting alliances and new threats emerge. This series is so beautifully gothic and gory, no one is safe and you feel all the trauma right along with them. My one and only complaint is that some of the inner monologues were quite repetitive, but its such a small gripe that I can't justify giving it any less than 5 glowing stars. If you loved Wicked Saints buckle up, you're in for a divine ride.

3..5 Bloody stars

This novel was one of my most anticipated sequels of the year, if not THE MOST anticipated overall. Duncan's first novel, Wicked Saints, had left me at awe and I read it several times, on audio as well as in physical copy. (The audiobook is fantastic by the way. The narrator's accent is perfect!) What makes these novels so different are the Slavic folklore vibes infused with the gothic and grotesque, yet the writing is brilliantly beautiful in places.

Ruthless Gods has a bit of a different structure. The overall story arc doesn't build until you have read about 60% plus of the novel, and so as a reader, you find yourself in these situational pockets of circumstances and elements that need to be fitted together. With a cast of several characters, and the weaving in and out of a consciousness of a sort of dark underworld, there are many threads one has to hold on to before the picture overall comes together.

The Kalyazi and the Tranavians are still the main factions in this novel but a darker more powerful force is taking hold of the characters on both sides. Rumors of death and dark magic keep everyone guessing upon what is happening and what the reckoning will bring. Everyone lost something, everyone lost someone, and some lost it all.

Serefin is plagued by an inner voice about a boy in darkness, bred in lies and bitterness and the Gods aren't speaking to Nadya anymore. All she is is a Kalyazi peasant girl now. Notes on Kalyazi magic and blood magic keep her guessing about what is ahead. 'Her' magic should never be found in Tranavian spell books! How does it all intersect?

There's an infiltrated traitor among manipulating the outcome of a dooming prophecy and there is so much blood and bone and magic. It's dark, chilling, dirty and spiteful. Desires, hate, and revenge are the driving force of the plot until doubt brings it all to a halt, but a powerful force prevails.

Most of all the chapters begin with a proverb of some sort, like those from the Book of Saints. Those read amazingly genius and I wonder how much was taken from old Slavic texts or others as inspiration.

I find it really difficult to review this novel because I don’t want to give it all away, but at the same time, I may not have caught everything that I should have in reading. Like the first book, it may require several rereads. I have no doubt that Duncan has had it all wrapped up in her mind, but I couldn’t follow everything exactly that was going on. My experience reading this novel was riddling in parts but I love the excruciatingly well-executed situational moments the author has created. With that, the culmination of events didn’t rise as steep and fell slightly flat for me, however, it is still a great read and Duncan’s voice has me at her command.

If you loved Wicked Saints and the writing style, give this a try. Some say it is much darker, but I would say, it just is more intense and powerful in ways of expression. It isn’t all gore or horribly graphic, though I cannot say that a dip in a fountain of blood may or may not happen ;)

Enjoy


More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance

I feel like I’m in exactly the same place with RUTHLESS GODS as I was with WICKED SAINTS. This series, the content in these books, the twisty story of betrayal and blood and more betrayal, is both worthy of love and full of frustration for me. The worldbuilding, the pantheon of gods, of monsters, of heretics and holy people, it’s all very complex and fascinating, but equally confusing and repetitive.

I feel this one did hold together better than book one, where we know so little and even less is made clear (which is apparently how the author wanted it), whereas things took a turn here that revealed both more and, in some ways, well.. not less but definitely not everything.

Another aspect that I both loved and didn’t was the romantic element(s). One couple I was hugely there for (yes, please, more), and the other? I felt smitten by it at times and over it for others. It’s a very push, pull, and then throw the other off a cliff kind of dynamic and it makes it fascinating and fun and also agonizing (not in a good way) as you struggle to keep up and, also, parse it all. Also like in book one, I’m pretty sure I would die for Serefin, and, I mean, I would at least call 911 for the others. If they asked me to.

So, yes, hardly a glowing review, but I think book three has the potential to knock this out of the park. We’re on stronger footing at the end of this installment — it definitely didn’t feel like book two syndrome — and if this trend continues it’ll be bigger and bloodier and probably even more betrayalier (it’s a word). I’ll read on. I’m two books in, after all; can’t stop me now.

Emily A Duncan’s Ruthless Gods is gorgeous gothic goodness, drenched in blood, and dripping in melancholic beauty. I adored this novel from the very first sentence to that brutal heart stopping epilogue.

I don’t know if Duncan sold her soul to a deity that blessed her with her gift for writing, but wow, she has an incredible talent. Lyrical, bloody, stunning, heart-breaking, savage, all-consuming. She’s a genius world-crafter with a stunning gift for penning words.

Ruthless Gods is the follow up to Wicked Saints, which was one of my favorite books last year, so much so that I have three copies of the book. I know, excessive, whatever. I love this series. I was heartbroken over the ending for book one and the end of book two just shattered me.

The characters of this diabolical tale are stellar. Nadya, Serefin and my absolute love, Malachiasz, are everything. It is so unendingly intriguing to be pulled apart and spliced back together by the flaws and motivations of these three. Told from their points of views, with some side characters that steal the show, it’s wonderful. Purely wonderful.

This is a dark YA novel, it’s entrancing, magical, bloody, stunning, creative, wonderfully addictive awesomeness. I can’t recommend the series enough, and this beautiful gem, Ruthless Gods just upped the ante. I can’t wait to see where Duncan takes the story next, will these beautifully doomed relationships survive or will I be left on the floor weeping with the conclusion in book three. I don’t know, I’m here for it though.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read an ARC and review this beautiful novel.

FIVE GLORIOUSLY BLOODY STARS

ARC provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Let me say that you HAVE to read Wicked Saints before diving in into this one. It takes place about eight months after the events in WS and references them frequently throughout the book.

Let’s talk about the good first, because honestly it’s shorter:
1) the ending. What an ending! If I had read this book in reverse it would have been a 5-star review. It was so gripping and I flew through that ending. Especially after Malaschiasz killed Marzena and was ultimately killed himself? Give me more god-on-god conflicts!
2) Nadia is a vulture? Maybe? It’s an interesting twist and explains so much, plus it makes sense as to why her and Malachiasz hit it off so quickly (because that relationship DOES NOT make sense)
3) we finally get to learn more about Parijahan and I loved that. Getting some good characters and we see deeper into the world.
4) the entire war is pointless because everyone is a heretic.
That was it. That was the good of this book. The last 100 pages were so jammed back and it was great. I just wish it was like that throughout it all.

Now the bad:
1) why does Nadia not have a character development???? Until she makes it to the mountain and accepts the power in her, she is literally a lifeless baby. “Oh I’m gonna betray Malaschaisz but I’m so in love with him”. Same song different book and it is old. Betray each other and love each other but stop lamenting on it every third page?
2) speaking of Nadia, her POV in the first half was so confusing honestly, it kept jumping around with no clear reasoning. I almost DNF’d it because of that.
3) that unnecessary love triangle that everyone hated in WS is finally solved. Unfortunately now we have Nadia lamenting about how she doesn’t wanna betray Malaschaisz and we found Kostya and have to deal with that.
4) speaking of Kostya, he does nothing but add confusion to the story. “They didn’t want you to know” THEN WHY SAY ANYTHING?? He was just a plot device to get Nadia to go in the direction of the mountain and I’m okay with him dying...

In summary, Duncan learned nothing from the reviews of WS and this book was still not as good as it could have been if she just took an extra... six months... to edit and really hone in on the writing.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely everything I was looking for and so much more. I loved the way Emily decided to take this story. The story answered many of my questions from Wicked Saints, however, it left me with even more questions hopefully to be answered in the third book.

The characters had a lot more growth in this book, which was definitely pleasant to read about. I have fallen in love with all the characters in this book, both good and bad. They are very unique and well-rounded characters.

The plot twists in this book were on point. I couldn't seem to predict any of them. This definitely added to my reading enjoyment, it made me put the book down a few times so I could absorb what I had just read. This is definitely a book that didn't go in the direction I thought it would. That made it so much better than I had hoped it would be.

This fantasy world just sucked me in and wouldn't let me go.

I defintiely recommend this novel and will continue to recommend this series as it has quickly become a favorite of mine and I cannot wait until book three is released.

*3.75*

I have to say I was quite curious to read the second installment in this trilogy. I've read the first one in June and enjoyed it but I found it at the same time to be a little bit messy in some parts and not quite straightforward in the comprehension of certain scenes.
Sadly, this is a problem I quite had also in the second book, even if in a very minor part.

I was really glad to see Malachiasz, Nadya and Serefin again. I wanted to know what happened to them after the ending of the first book and my curiosity was highly satisfied.
I fell in love with Serefin, I liked him in the first book, but now I really came to adore him. He is so sassy, and so clever, and even though a lot of people underestimate him, I think he will be the greatest king ever. And that ship though. I won't say anything but it was definetely my favourite part of the entire book.

Malachiasz is still my favourite character. I'm so in love with tormented boys in fantasy books, I can't even. I don't particularly enjoy some aspects of his personality, like how we never know if we can truly trust him, but oh well, I guess that's what it takes to be the mysterious character in a book. Sadly, I felt like some of his behaviours were really identical to some things he had done in the first book, so sometimes I found them a bit repetitive.
I totally love him and Nadya together, I have to admit it. Hate to love relationships fuel my soul, and this one is definetely top notch. I think sometimes they should just communicate a little bit more, though. A lot of their problems would be resolved.

The world building is good, but not very strong in my opinion. I love the inspiration from Russian folklore and I love how religion and erethism are a big part of the story, but I feel like some things were left unsaid in the first book and it kind of shows in this second one also.

After all, I enjoyed this second book more than the first one and I grew attached to a lot of new characters, like Kacper, he's literlly the best, and some old ones, like I said Malachiasz and Serefin, so I can't wait to read the third and final book.

This rarely happens, but I can say it: book 2 was better than book 1!

In Ruthless Gods, the gang is all back together and we have waited so long for this sweet reunion of Nadya, Serefin, and Malachiasz! There is SO much betrayal, romance, and OH, THE CLIFFHANGER!!! So its another year to wait but in the meantime, I will feast on the first two books another couple of times because they are just that good.

I struggled through the first book, but I was hoping this sequel would pick up and make me love the series as much as I hoped! Unfortunately, Ruthless Gods was longer and featured less character development than I wanted. If you loved Wicked Saints then you will love the sequel! It features the same dark horror and religious zeal as the first, but I just didn't love it.

Loved, loved, loved Ruthless Gods so much. Emily A. Duncan has such a way with writing painful events for characters that make me just want to take them under my wing and protect them. Honestly, cannot wait to find out what happens next, and I'm so mad at how it ended (not really, but you know what I mean)!!

RUTHLESS GODS picks up about 6 months after the events of WICKED SAINTS as the characters continue to grapple with the consequences of their actions in book 1. (This is definitely a sequel where I would highly recommend re-reading at least the last few chapters of WICKED SAINTS before starting as there isn't really a recap provided and there are a lot of details to keep track of.)

I went in to RUTHLESS GODS intrigued about what would come next in the series but a bit nervous -- I didn't love WICKED SAINTS quite as much as many people seemed to and knew that how I felt about book 2 would determine whether or not I wanted to keep reading this series. In many ways, RUTHLESS GODS delivers on even more of the defining elements of this series. There's lots of betrayal, questions of morality, dark magic, and quips amongst the characters.

The plot itself was a bit confusing to follow. I'm not sure if this was an ARC issue, but the text would jump around in chronology with no clear sign this was happening and there were definitely instances I had to reread sections trying to figure out what had just happened. It would be great if there's a character index in the finished version as there are somehow even more gods to keep track of than with book 1.

The world of RUTHLESS GODS and the questions this series asks continued to fascinate me. The depth of world-building is really impressive, particularly as I now know more about Polish and Russian history than I did when first reading WICKED SAINTS so I've noticed lots of cool touches I missed initially. My big struggle with this book was that I didn't feel a strong emotional connection to the characters. In an effort to avoid spoilers, I'm not going to discuss what specifically they've done that I found frustrating. I

If you really enjoyed WICKED SAINTS, I expect you'll also really enjoy RUTHLESS GODS. As someone who was on the fence about the series after book 1, I think this is where I bow out.

Ruthless Gods was even better than Wicked Saints.

For me, that wasn't hard because it took me multiple times of reading WS to understand the hype. Though I did finally get it.

This second book, was not necessarilly faster paced, but started off with so much happening that it felt like it. That was one of my main issues with book 1, so I was so glad that this one grabbed my attention and held it much better.

 It was fun to watch relationships grow and falter amongst friends and enemies alike. We get a lot more interactions and points of view in this book, which I really enjoyed,

It's much more dark, bloody and one hell of a good time! I would highly reccomend giving Ruthless Gods a go, even if you weren't a huge fan on the first book.

A huge thannk you to Netgalley and publishers for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review,

I received an eARC off this from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Reading this was a breeze sometimes but mostly a labor. The world is rich but the way it is written pulls me out of the story and makes me feel like I’m watching from afar when I’m still in it. I think there are truly some amazing ideas here and some plot points that are wholly original, but it jus in the haze of this book.

Like I really wanted to like and enjoy this book and at times it put me to sleep and I had to force myself to continue. It still took two months to read. Oof.

I am still interested in what is going to happen because geez that ending. Serefin is by far my favorite. I don’t care for Nadya or Malachiasz at all and I see no chemistry between them either (and they’re saying I love you which baffles me).

I can also definitely see some influences from other novels and media. The forest reminded me of the magical forest in The 10th Kingdom, especially with everyone losing each other over and over again. The blood bath was like Nevernight. Just think of this book as the really long and slightly boring trek the Fellowship does that doesn’t amount to much except Gandalf dying and they still have so much more to do.

2.5 Stars rounded up.

So I kind of fell into the Wicked Saints world and liked the first book well enough to continue on with the second one. but I am not sure that I will be continuing with the series after this one. I know that I am probably in the minority here because this seems like such a well loved series. I just find that there are too many issues that I personally can't get past. There was a lot of repetitiveness as well as just some obnoxious behavior from the characters, One of the things that kept my attention in the first book was the fact that the characters were being developed from the ground up and it seems like that behavior stopped during the second book for me. As for someone who reads a ton of romance I felt that the romance in this was seriously outlandish there were other routes that could have been taken but it is what it is because I didn't write this. There were points where I felt that there was promise. but honestly at the end I found most of the story to be forgettable.

This book is a dark fantasy with a fascinating world and magic system. I loved how gritty, dark, and unique it was as well as the romance elements.

The pace of this book was a little slow (I don't recall this being the case with the first), it didn't really pick up until the middle for me. However, the characters were just as fantastic as the first time we saw them, their relationships interesting, and the magic and gods were wonderful. That ending was very interesting, I cannot wait to see what happens next!!

Dark, twisty and exactly what I was hoping after reading the first. Long book but didn't feel terribly long as it read relatively quickly. Thanks netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

RUTHLESS GODS is Book Two in the "Something Dark and Holy" trilogy by author Emily A. Duncan. This book picks up four months after the events in WICKED SAINTS, and yet I was immediately drawn back into the familiarity of remembered characters.

". . . Monsters have always slept at the edges of your world . . . "

The sarcastic banter is still present--despite the dire circumstances--and is easily one of my favorite things about Duncan's writing. Her characters sound real, whether she's talking about their inner emotions, or in a conversation with others. When you believe in the characters, it's so easy to completely immerse yourself in a story.

"Clandestine meetings by your enemies don't suggest a list of demands that can be provided for . . . "

Yet for all that, they stay true to themselves (from the previous book). These characters have grown and continue to change--in a natural response to their circumstances--throughout this journey. The changes are perfect for what precipitates them and I feel this is one aspect that the author truly excels in.

". . . She wasn't particularly good at saving the people she cared about, she considered . . . "

As for the novel itself, the actions, revelations, and individual situations I found to be every bit as captivating--if not, more so--than those in Book One. perhaps it's simply because we've been in this world, with these characters, longer now. However, I've read so many series that don't stay "on track" with how they began--where the actions in sequels seem unbelievable in light of what we've already learned of the characters--that I feel it's more likely that Duncan is just that good, and knows her characters inside and out.

". . . Let her stay; let her see . . . Let her fear."

In this world where half the land put their faith in divine gods, and the other half, human magic, the most unlikely of alliances need to be made in order for anyone to survive.

"Having the power of a god and knowing what to do with it are two very different things . . . "

Filled with all the bloody conflict as WICKED SAINTS, and then some, RUTHLESS GODS is a book I honestly did NOT want to put down. I was completely immersed in this novel as situations changed and the "truths" as we knew them to be became questionable, at best.

". . . what if these gods we worship aren't gods at all?"

In a land of human an divine monsters alike, what if there's something . . . more? What if every move you made was already predestined to some extent? This story kept me going--needing to know what would happen along with the characters.

"Darkness never works alone."

The only thing I was disappointed about was not being able to dive into another novel by the author immediately after this one. I will definitely be looking forward to her future books!

Highly recommended; to be read after Book 1, WICKED SAINTS.