𝙄𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙊𝙛 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙨
by Amie Kaufman
464 pages
@knopfteen
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 very good start to this series

I liked this book, and would like to see what happens in book 2. This was not my favorite YA fantasy, but it was very good. There are many characters, and a ton of politics along with a somewhat complicated mythological system. The story was a little slow, and sometimes I had to go back to see what character was narrating. The conclusion was riveting enough for me to think about its sequel. I think young adults who enjoy Leigh Bardugo, Rick Riordan and the Fable series will find much to enjoy when they begin this series. I will purchase for the HS library. 3.5/5 stars.

Synopsis:

Selly has salt water in her veins. So when her father leaves her high and dry in the port of Kirkpool, she has no intention of riding out the winter at home while he sails off to adventure. But any plans to follow him are dashed when a handsome stranger with tell-tale magician's marks on his arm commandeers her ship. He is Prince Leander of Alinor and he needs to cross the Crescent Sea without detection so he can complete a ritual on the sacred Isles of the Gods. Selly has no desire to escort a spoiled prince anywhere, and no time for his entitled demands or his good looks. But what starts as a leisure cruise will lead to acts of treason and sheer terror on the high seas, bringing two countries to the brink of war, two strangers closer than they ever thought possible and stirring two dangerous gods from centuries of slumber...

Anytime I see Amie Kaufman, I’m in. And this one did not disappoint! I always love a sea faring journey and when you can add romance in there too, it’s perfect!

It's interesting because I loved the Illuminae files but the two authors individually just don't seem to click for me like they normally do. I'm not sure how to feel about it but in general it felt slower than a lot of her author books.

I’ve been a huge fan of this author since I read her Illuminae Files series. I love her storytelling and how she writes characters. I’m excited to see where this story goes.

I had incredibly high hopes for The Isles of the Gods. I loved the premise and the characters felt lovable. That being said, it felt like it was forced during moments of the story and some characters weren't fully fleshed out, falling towards the background. The story is told across multiple POVs and it was a little overwhelming to start. I wish the story was a tad more fleshed out and the pacing was a bit different.

𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖: Want to feel the salt spray and the thrill of a high-sea adventure, meet a few slumbering gods, and steal some sweet kisses along the way, then Amie Kaufman’s YA read The Isles of the Gods may be for you.

This is a fast read, one that sweeps you away to high-sea adventures with magic and slumbering gods. There are dangerous encounters, enchanted islands, and a quest to save it all.

Want to visit a magical temple, flee a gangster's den, witness a secret ritual to awaken a slumbering god, then look no further.

Kaufman writes a thrilling adventure, one that I found to be fun and easy to devour. The romance is an added bonus and there are plenty of moments of witty banter and impish dialogue between the two main characters that I really enjoyed. Plus, a favorite trope of mine, forced proximity is included.

There are 5 POV’s, but don’t let that intimidate you. They are all easy to follow. The characters are multilayered and I definitely have my favorites.

The ending is a cliffhanger, so be prepared, but it’s worth it. I definitely need the next installment.

My rating: 4 Stars

I have been a big fan of Amie Kauffman’s co-author books for years. So, of course I jumped at the chance to read her newest book. I went into this book thinking it was going to be a standalone fantasy but ended up being pleasantly surprised that it will be a series. I love the world building of this book and found it to be very unique it both its religion and magic structure. The ending of this book left me anxiously awaiting the next volume!

Whoa, what a stunning and propulsive start to a series. I was hooked from the first few pages and fell hard for these characters early on. I will wait eagerly for the next installment.

I enjoyed this book and I could not put it down. I really enjoyed the characters and the writing was really well done. It made you want to keep reading.

"The Isles of the Gods" by Amie Kaufman is a captivating fantasy adventure that immerses readers in a world of magic, mythology, and the epic quest for power and redemption. This novel is a thrilling blend of action, intrigue, and the complexities of the human spirit.

Kaufman's writing style is vivid and imaginative, creating a richly detailed world filled with fantastical creatures, ancient gods, and high-stakes challenges. The characters in the novel are beautifully developed, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and motivations that contribute to the depth of the story.

At the heart of the narrative is an epic journey that takes readers on a quest through mythical lands, uncovering secrets and facing dangers along the way. The author skillfully weaves together elements of magic and mythology, creating a narrative that sparks the reader's imagination.

"The Isles of the Gods" successfully balances the thrilling action with moments of introspection and emotional depth, resulting in a narrative that is both exhilarating and thought-provoking. The themes of power, destiny, and the sacrifices one must make for the greater good add complexity to the plot.

In conclusion, "The Isles of the Gods" is a beautifully written and enthralling fantasy adventure that captures the essence of magic and heroism. If you're looking for a book that offers an epic journey through a fantastical world, this novel provides a captivating and immersive narrative that will leave you enchanted and eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Amie Kaufman can do no wrong and Isle of the Gods proves it. Great character development and overall arc and her writing is always amazing. I cannot wait for the next installment

I really enjoyed the sea/ship setting that was in a lot of this book, along with the free-spirited protagonist, Selly, whose passion for the sea shined through. I wish there was more detail and use of the magic system and spirits as I didn't understand the use and seemed significant to Selly's character. This book was a fast read, but I felt it sped through to quick and I missed the deeper character relationships. I think a tough part of this read was that a lot was unanswered/incomplete which I can only assume will be expanded on in the sequel that is alluded to in the end.

I love multiple POVs but had a hard time with this one. There was so much going on it was hard to get invested.

This book was so much fun! Isle of the Gods was one of my most anticipated books of this year, and I am so glad it didn’t disappoint. It took a minute for me to get used to the different perspectives, but once I did, I was HOOKED. This is an excellent pick for anyone who is looking for a pirate-y adventure fantasy with sleeping gods.

I really wanted to like this story. The premise was so interesting and the idea of pirates and dashing princes with a hidden personality… yes! But it felt forced in some parts. I felt like some characters were very two dimensional like Laska. She just wanted to be noticed so bad but there’s really not backstory for her. I got lost in the POVs a lot at the beginning and it just kept taking me out of the story. This book unfortunately feels like a filler for the next book. I kept getting tripped up with pacing and couldn’t just jump right back into the book. I wanted to love the romance and for the most part did. The suspense of will they won’t they… but it was definitely insta love. I felt like the story needed more flushing out and some characters didn’t really need a POV.

This is a very standard YA setup, but it works.

I think teens will really enjoy this story because it's good and entertaining. It isn't revolutionary and that is fine, but it is a good time.

This is a true YA fantasy that is fun and has a nice twist at the end. There’s a small enemies to lovers romance and some high sea adventures that move onto the land.

There are five points of view and I enjoyed them all. Not all of the POVs seemed necessary, so I’m interested to see if in the next book they developed more. I was intrigued by the villians POV. It’s not often we get see the origin of the villian and what pushes her. There’s so much potential for even greater villiany.

I love this ending and now I need the next book. This is a book that introduces us to the world and the characters. I’m sure the next book will bring even more excitement and further develop the story.

This book contains very little if any profanity.

I really enjoyed this first book of an exciting new YA fantasy series from Amie Kaufman! It was full of adventure, action, magic and a dash of romance! I really loved the characters in this book, they were so well written! Selly started out vert strong willed and stubborn and wouldn’t let anything stand in her way.. I feel like she grew so much towards the end of the book! Leander, who I adore, also had a lot of character growth through the book. I can’t wait to see what is next for him and Selly! Keegan is another favorite character. He is so smart and willing to do what is necessary to save the world. He was very selfless and brave as the book went on! This book definitely had me on emotional roller coaster and I cannot wait to see what happens next in this series!

Thank you so much, NetGalley, Random House Children's, Knopf Books for Young Readers for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Selly has a peculiarity: she has salt water in her veins. So when her father leaves her in the port of Kirkpool, she's determined to follow him. But her plans are ruined when an handsome stranger with magician's marks on his arms commandeers her ship. He is Prince Leander of Alinor and he needs to cross the Crescent Sea without deception in order to complete a ritual on the sacred Isled of the Gods. Selly doesn't want to escort him or to be attracted by his good looks, but the "normal" trip becomes soon one filled with treasons, warring countries and slumbering gods deciding to wake up in that moment.

In a sweeping romantic read two very different characters are forced to work together in order to survive a dangerous journey, filled with dangers, gods and magic. I loved reading this book. The worldbuilding is truly awesome and I love how interwined everything was. Selly and Leander are magnificent characters and I loved their relationship and how slowly changed. In this book there's everything you could hope for: there's magic, a perilous journey through the sea, slumbering gods awakening, countries on the brink of wars and more and more and even more!
Go dive in in this book! You won't regret it!

Starts off with a bang with a gorgeous cover and map. The timeframe is particularly hard to place. Feels like you just right in without a lot of help. As much as I love it real life, I don't think I'm one for ocean and ship stories.