This was a cool world and story overall. I wish I would've liked the characters even more! I didn't care for the chapters with Laskia or Jude. They didn't keep my attention well. But I loved the world overall and the emotion behind it. Wish the characters were more involved, especially our main three.

I've been dying to read this book and it did not disappoint! Following tradition for Kaufman, there are multiple main characters and points of view so things are never slow or dull. The group sort of divides into good guys and bad guys and I loved seeing the story from all sides.

Selly is a badass sailor, with a wild magic she doesn't quite know how to use and a strong loyalty to her father and crew. She was my favorite to follow, since she's always coming up with plans while also starting to maybe fall for a certain prince...

Laskia is also great because in her thirst for recognition and respect, she starts to be consumed and gets more unhinged as things progress. I always enjoy a character that surprises you and has no boundaries.

The ending was complete madness and I'm dying to know how things will go in the sequel!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for the copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Centuries ago, the gods fought each other for peace. One is bound in sleep, another remains as sentinel, and the rest have left this world. Now, a sacrifice must be made to preserve this peace. A prince, a scholar, and a sailor come together against grave odds to prevent another war.

I loved this book! It has high seas adventure, romance, and high-stakes mythical conflict. I will say that multiple POVs were a little confusing at first until I got to know all the characters and how their stories intertwined. Around 25% I felt like I finally had enough context for everything to come together, and then the action really started and I was totally hooked. I’m a sucker for a rag tag team working together, and I was rooting for them the whole way. The romance story line was quite sweet, as well. The mythology of the world was intriguing and I’m looking forward to learning more as the series continues.

I loved this book! I love a good found family story and this one fit perfectly. The slow-burn romance between the two main characters was sweet. The found magic and prophecy was awesome too. I read this book so fast and loved every second. I can't wait for book 2!

I love the multiple points of view in Isle of the gods. The way Kaufman sets this book up provides enough mystery around each character that keeps the reader guessing. This book sets around a magic system where a sacrifice made every twenty years to a goddess to keep a land healthy and protected from war. This time Prince Leander is late by one year, his country is on the brink of war and is dependent on a small vessel to make the journey. This is much to the chagrin of Selly, a girl I’m used with magic but unable to access her powers. All she wanted was to escape her current plight, reuniting with her father, but prince Leanders appearance in the middle of the night, spelled out a completely different future. This book was a fresh, original story idea and a devouring read!

Thank you so much Random House Children's Publishing and Netgalley for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

And I can't believe finally, finally found my magic, and I couldn't follow the one instruction I was given. I'm not an asker, and I never have been. I've always taken.
But I nearly cost us everything.
Our water, our boat.
Our lives.
All because I couldn't meet the spirits halfway.

*4.25 stars*

First of all, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Amie Kaufman is well-known for her sci-fi collabs (Illuminae & Aurora Rising with Jay Kristoff, The Other Side of the Sky with Meagan Spooner), not fantasy solely written by her. Therefore, I wasn’t going into this expecting much that way I could actually enjoy the story. I was pleasantly surprised by it due to how well the worldbuilding was, especially the magic system (the spirit part was interesting, and I hope we learn more about what they do in book 2) and politics behind the storyline, as well as the high seas plotline (do NOT mistake this for a pirate book! It is not; it is a high seas adventure).

Secondly, one of the critiques I could make is that it was really hard to tell who was telling the story because the five different POVs had no individual voice (I especially wish Selly had some kind of accent). I wouldn’t have known who was speaking if it weren’t for the headings on the chapters (and some context clues, like the character addressing other characters by their first names). The other problem I had with this was the rising action was sooooooooooooo long. Like the real storyline didn’t start until 40% through.

Thirdly, I loved the trio of Keegan, Selly, and Leander. Their begrudged alliance to actual friendship was believable. I also REALLY loved the romance between Leander and Selly (I wouldn’t call it enemies to lovers; it’s more like complete strangers - with grudges - to friends to lovers). The banter was great.

Overall, a really fun high seas book that I’d recommend to fans of Fable by Adrienne Young. I can’t wait for book 2, especially with the cliffhanger Kaufman left us with!

The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman (The Isles of the Gods #1)
Published: May 2, 2023, Knopf Books for Young Readers
Format: eARC (from publisher via NetGalley)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

This is the first YA fantasy novel that I’m reading by Amie Kaufman. I’m more familiar with her YA science fiction novels that she cowrote with Jay Kristoff. But Kaufman didn’t disappoint with The Isles of the Gods. It has the multiple POVs and a strong squad similar to the novels I’ve already read but in a creative fantasy setting.

The idea of sleeping gods and warring gods isn’t unique, but I found the way Kaufman presented that idea to be very creative. Essentially, each country worships a different god, and in this story, the villains are trying to wake up their god that the heroes’ god put to sleep. The fact that waking up their god will start a war is simply a necessary thing the villains are willing to face in order to achieve their goal. The countries also couldn’t be more dissimilar in their cultures, but the magic is the same. It was such an interesting world. Kaufman did start with what some would call an “info dump” in the beginning, but I personally appreciated it. It provided just enough background to understand the history behind the gods so I could focus on the present day world she was creating.

The multiple POVs also made the story compelling. It did mean that the story had a slower start. I had to cycle through a couple of POVs before I really got into things. But we get to see two parallel story lines through the five POVs and each of the characters personal motivations. Three of the POVs followed the heroes of the story: Selly, the sailor, Leander, the prince, and Keegan, the scholar. Two of the POVs followed the villains: Laskia, the gangster, and Jude, Leander’s former friend. If there was a main character focus for this story, it’d likely be Selly. However, each of the characters went through their own character growth, and all of them were flawed and had personal obstacles to overcome. While I definitely was rooting for the heroes, I also sympathized with the villains.

Some other small things from this story that I enjoyed were the subtle LGBTQ+ representation and the moment when the heroes thought an adult was finally stepping in to save the day. I could feel the relief of the characters flow right off the pages, but of course, something had to go wrong.

If you love Amie Kaufman or fantasy stories featuring gods or sailing, this book is definitely something you should pick up. I absolutely can’t wait until the sequel releases.

Quick Rating: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

ok WOW- i want to start this off by saying i started this book over a month ago. normally i read books pretty quick, but i had a really busy month or two recently and so i was sort of thrown in a reading slump because of that. despite this i still LOVED whenever i had time to read this book, and now im kicking myself for not making time for it sooner

a big thank you to netgalley for providing me and arc of this book and a big sorry that i wasnt able to push out this review until post-release :)

With that aside, if you’re wondering if you should read this book, YOU SHOULD. If you’re remotely interested please please give it a shot and spread the word about this because i NEED people to talk about this

An EPIC ya fantasy, this novel has it ALL!
Sleeping gods? ✅
A goofy prince who kind of reminds me of Dorian in the first few Throne of Glass books? ✅
Set mostly on the SEA? ✅
Cool and realistic main character? ✅
BEAUTIFUL world building? ✅
Intriguing politics within said incredible world? ✅
A unique take on magic that I found really refreshing to read about? ✅
5 separate povs from both villains and heroes? ✅
Characters TO DIE FOR? ✅
Plot twists that leave you flabbergasted? ✅
AND SO MUCH MORE !!

when i say i love ya fantasy THIS is what i mean. please please please read this book and recommend it because it’s just wonderful and i need more people to read and appreciate it <333

I NEED BOOK 2 NOW

An enormous thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, and the ever-talented Amie Kaufman for providing me with an eARC of this book.

I absolutely adored this book and the world that Kaufman created. A wonderful blend of old and new, sailing and royalty, magic and gods, and new technology bustling around.

The characters were fantastic and I loved all the different POV’s throughout. This book had me hooked from beginning to end and I cannot wait for the next one.

If you enjoy the adventures that come with sailing, epic quests for the history books, and intriguing world-building, then this book is for you!

I loved everything abou it! A lovely read withou a doubt , so fun and interesting. Amie Kaufman has an amazing way to bring our curiosity to her books, seriously, this woman is amazing.

The gods have been asleep for centuries. Selly isn't concerned with them when her captain allows a charming stranger unexpected passage upon their ship. But Leander is tasked with a special mission: To visit The Isle of the Gods and enact a sacred ritual that prevents the gods from waking and warring once again. It's a task that his former classmate and fellow passenger, Keegan, certainly doesn't think he's capable of completing. When the ship finds itself in the clutches of a rogue enemy begging for war, Selly, Leander, and Keegan hold the fate of their country and their goddess in their hands.

Selly and Leander are certainly featured that most, the book has five POVs, including Keegan, the scholar who finds himself on the journey with them, Jude, a former friend of Leander's who's now reluctantly hunting him down, and Laskia, an enemy rebel and crime boss's younger sister who is trying to make a name for herself by killing Leander. Laskia and Jude had interesting moments, but I mainly found myself wanting to read more of the main three. I wanted more of Keegan, who gets a hint of a backstory, but feels slightly underutilized.

The general character chemistry between Selly, Leander, and Keegan is great, but I was a bit surprised with how quickly Selly and Leander developed a romantic storyline. It felt like it was going to be a slow burn but then boom! It was happening! They were very cute together, though, and the expedited romance makes sense once the big end scene comes into play.

If there's one thing Kaufman is very good at, it's writing in a big shocker ending sequence that leaves you wanting more. Despite any flaws, I want to know how this ends!

This is the first solo Amie Kaufman novel that I've read, but I've checked out plenty of her writing team-ups with Megan Spooner and Jay Kristoff. Amie's books typically lean toward sci-fi, but she slides into the fantasy genre with ease. The action scenes are palpable and the plot had some great twisty moments, but the series starter vibes were a little too strong— meaning the pacing sometimes slowed a little too much in favor of worldbuilding. This will probably pay off a little more in Book 2. We'll have to see!

Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book. It's a fantasy while Kaufman's previous works have been sci-fi, and while I don't believe it is bad, I don't think it was particularly good, either. None of the protagonists really felt compelling. I was reading their perspectives but none of them were particularly interesting or felt worthy of a connection. I don't mind a bit of predictability with the plot, but I don't think I was ever surprised by anything, which was disappointing. This book felt like it was just kind of going through the motions.

I did not entirely enjoy this book the way that I wanted to. This book just didn't have that same magic that I'm used to from Kaufman when it comes to her YA titles, perhaps it's because this is fantasy and not sci-fi but I found myself underwhelmed.

Book Review of The Isles of the Gods (The Isles of the Gods #1) by Amie Kaufman

Cover Story: Big Face, Little Ship
BFF Charm: Mixed Bag
Talky Talk: Straight Up
Bonus Factors: LGBTQ+, Magic System
Anti-Bonus Factor: Religious Fanatics
Relationship Status: On Board

Cover Story: Big Face, Little Ship
The girl looks like Selly, with her windswept hair and tense expression, and since most of this story takes place at sea, it’s only fitting to have a sailing ship on the cover. The drawing style reminds me of some 1990’s fantasy book covers, in a nice, nostalgic way. I would have liked to see the other characters too, though.

The Deal:
The kingdoms of Alinor and Mellacea may be on the edge of a holy war, but Selly Walker has no time for politics or religion. All she wants is to get away from her boring job as a ship’s deckhand and travel north to find her father, so he can award her the first mate’s position she’s always dreamed of. When Prince Leander of Alinor derails her plans by chartering her ship for a secret pilgrimage to the Isles of the Gods, her first instinct is to resent him (no matter how charming he is). But the Prince’s voyage could change the balance of power, not only between the nations, but their gods – and there are some who would do anything to make sure he never arrives.

BFF Charm: Mixed Bag
There are five narrators; six, if you count the king in the 501-year-old prologue. On the Alinorish ship, we have brusque, no-nonsense Selly, charming Prince Leander, who’s more complex than he seems, and Keegan Wollesley, Leander’s former classmate, who is escaping an arranged marriage and heading for the Bibliotek, the world’s greatest library, to study. (As a fellow bookworm, he’s my favorite.) In Mellacea, we have Laskia, the ambitious younger sister of a crime boss, and Jude, who works for her syndicate and has an old grudge against Leander. Watching the lead-up to war from the perspective of both nations is interesting, as well as tragic, because you can see that both sides are human. Empathy only goes so far, however, and mine ran out after the first murder.

Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Selly and Leander’s enemistry is obvious from the moment she tucks a flower behind his ear, because “everything useless around here needs to be beautifully decorated,” and he calls her “naturally cranky.” They’re both right and wrong; he’s spent his life hiding from the responsibility of being royal, while she’s eager to command a ship, but doesn’t understand yet what that means. They learn a lot from each other, and later moments when they appreciate each other the way they are – Leander folding a paper boat for Selly to honor her love of the sea, or Selly admiring Leander’s magic – feel all the more precious because they’re earned.

Talky Talk: Straight Up
Most of the narrators share Kaufman’s easy, straightforward prose style, although Selly thinks a lot in nautical metaphors and Keegan’s language is slightly more formal than the rest.

Bonus Factor: LGBTQ+
I like the casual representation in this book. One of the gods is referred to with they/them pronouns, and so are some of the people the narrators meet. The queen of Alinor has a wife. Laskia is a girl who wears men’s suits and flirts with other girls. Jude is seeing a man named Tom. When Selly goes shopping for a party dress, she’s gently teased by the salesclerk about impressing “him or her.” Keegan is, in his own words, “not romantically inclined,” and his companions don’t bat an eye when he tells them. In this universe, being queer is totally normal.

Bonus Factor: Magic System
Open book with moving pages in front of a glowing blue sphere and twinkle lights
The magic in this world comes from the spirits of earth, air, fire and water, who respond to sacrifice: if a magician offers them an object, it vanishes, and the magician can ask them for help. Since each element has a different personality, all wild and unpredictable, magic takes a lot of diplomatic skill. Also, the value of the object is in the magician’s mind. One coin can be enough to start a fire, but only if it’s your last coin. It’s an effective way to show the recurring theme of sacrifice.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Religious Fanaticism
The “green sisters,” an order of nuns who worship the sleeping god of Mellacea, believe it’s their duty to wake him up so he can win the war for them. Even though the last time the gods fought, an entire nation was wiped off the map and is now known as the “Barren Reaches.”

Relationship Status: On Board
I’d join Selly, Leander and Keegan on their voyage anytime (not literally, because I’d be hanging over the rail seasick, but you know what I mean).

High-seas adventure awaits! In Amie Kaufman's newest book, the gods are real and must be appeased with sacrifice. War looms on the horizon, with queens and high priestesses pulling strings. With action, romance, and heart, this book carries the reader into a tense (but not devastating, thank goodness!) cliffhanger. I can't wait for the sequel!

[NOTE: Unless otherwise stated, my NetGalley feedback is not a blurb or endorsement. If a publisher wishes to use any part of my comments for promotional purposes, please contact me or my agent via email. I would prefer not to include star ratings but NetGalley won't let me post without one, so all will be 5 stars.]

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman.

This book was pure, thrilling adventure with a perfect mix of magic and lore. I loved it! Selly, our main gal, is roped in on a task that could end in her losing everything- including her own life. As she ventures out to deliver the prince to the Isle of his god to make the quarterly sacrifice- Selly finds herself on the most important job of her life to date.

The characters, plot, and world were all exactly up my alley and I adored the entire book.

I need more!!

All Selly wants is to see her father again, she decides to stow away on a ship headed in his direction but things don't go as planned. She ends up back on her ship and has a mission to help a prince stealthily across the sea to preform an ancient ritual to save their people.
Leander is a prince but his one main duty is to go to the Isles of the Gods and give a sacrifice like his ancestors have been doing and he's already a year behind schedule.
Keegan is also aboard the ship, trying to escape his family and do what he wants to do with his life, learn and read his books.
The three as well as the rest of the crew set off hoping for an easy ride but soon discover that this journey will be the hardest endeavor of their lives.
Jude knew Leander and Keegan in school but now he's on his own to take care of his mother, believing that everyone forgot about him and cut contact he helps Laskia along the way to trail the ship and stop them from making the sacrifice.
Laskia just wants to have her sisters approval no matter what it takes. Even if it means killing someone to get where she needs to be. She wants approval and recognition, and she will stop at nothing to get it.
This book is super fast paced and easy to understand. There is betrayal and love and magic, all the key components to a wonderful story. It's an epic tale of faith and trust. I loved it and need book two right now!! The ending left me with so many questions and concerns. Overall I highly recommend this book!!!

Isles of the Gods is a wonderful immersive and engaging reading experience. Sleeping gods have awoken and gone to war. Most of the plot takes place at sea, which is a wonderful setting for the story. The characters are bold, interesting and wonderfully written. Using multiple points of view, Kaufman gives us a glimpse into the characters fears, motivations, and relationships. The characters drive this story as the entire plot actually only takes place over a handful of days. It makes the story easy to read and interesting. Kaufman provides a lot of information with out falling on info dumping. This makes the reading experience insightful without being overwhelming. This is one I will definitely recommend to our young adult fantasy readers. Overall, a wonderful first book in the series. I certainly look forward to continuing.

Starting with the positives: the setting and world building were fascinating. I loved everything involving the lore for different gods, the brewing political tensions, the magic system and required sacrifices—it was all narrated so beautifully, and it made me want to learn so much more.

I also enjoyed reading Leander, Keegan, and Selly’s chapters. Their dynamic was a lot of fun, and it was interesting to see how they grew close despite their initial interactions. Keegan actually ended up being my favorite with his quiet musings, love for knowledge, and willingness to protect the prince, even when he harbored resentment for how Leander treated him back at school. He was unceasingly brave, but in a different, more subtle way.

I usually enjoy multi-POVs, but I'm not too sure if it worked for me in this book. I felt that, despite their compelling backgrounds and motives, Laskia and Jude's perspectives didn't add too much. Their chapters fell a little flat, and disrupted the flow that worked well between Leander/Keegan/Selly. It threw off the pacing. I also wish that their relationships could have developed a bit more, because it felt like some aspects of the story were rushed—especially during the peak of the plot. I think I was supposed to feel a certain way about a certain thing, but I didn't, because as much as I liked the protagonists, I didn't feel too attached.

This is supposed to be a series, so I hope that the next book dives a little bit deeper into their character arcs! I definitely think there's potential. The author is clearly a strong writer.

Going into this book, I was so excited. The pirate aspect is what hooked me the most but then the magic just came in and swooped me off my feet. Unfortunately, most of the novel felt like a let down. In the most literal sense, this book is so slow. It took me a long time to keep wanting to pick it up and continue reading. It wasn't until I was about 48% of the way through when the story finally started to pick up intensity.

The story itself is told off of five different people told in first person. that alone was already hard to keep track of, especially in the first 25% of the book. There wasn't much to help keep those perspectives of reading separate and unique. If you have to stop mid-chapter, just go back to the beginning of that chapter when you restart. Although it was great to read the separate changed of the same storyline take place.

Yet, one of the biggest disappointments for me was the constant use of "my old school friend/enemy" trope that was a constant factor in the whole novel. The characters felt too mature and advanced to continue being hung up on their old ways of high school or whatever.

Overall, the story was rather enjoyable, but mostly predictable. The story building was masterly present and could visually be represented. It was well written for a character driven novel. It was very easy to read and proceeds great for the YA community. This is a book I would recommend in my high school library.