this might be the first book that’s actually earned the hunger games comparisons. a roaring epic of queer rage and love, breakneck pacing, and timely dystopia. a truly beautiful story that’s perfect for teens who need it. i do wish our main character had a little more personality — occasionally he felt very flat compared to the rest of the cast — but overall this was really very good.

Think Hunger Games meets The Sunbearer Trials in this godly YA fantasy.

Crow lives in the Shallows, the desparangingly poor neighborhood of Escal, a land in which the children of the gods can inherit magical abilities. When Crow's uncles get arrested, he reluctantly joins the annual Tournament of the Gods, a gladiator-style battle who's winner gets a favor from the gods themselves. He is sponsored by Chaos, son of the god Discord. While rune magic is commonplace, god magic is rare, and Crow must hide their illegal deathmagic from everyone or face execution.

I really enjoyed this book! While found family and romance are integral to the story, it really is a commentary on capitalism, the class system, fear, and corrupt use of power that leads to the genocide of a marginalized group of people.

...And what happens when those people fight back.

Rep: he/they trans MC, QPR polycule in the background, lots of nonbinary side characters, MC is POC

Summary: Crow is a trans teenager living in the Shallows, which is exactly as fun as it sounds. The streets constantly flood, and even a two-income household isn't enough to pay rent, and Crow is used to helping his uncles cover the rent by fighting in an underground ring. Crow, who isn't exactly a beefy wrestler, wins using one itsy-bitsy tiny secret (the kind that might get them killed) - they're a Deathchild. Being a descendent of the God of Death, and using Deathmagic, was ruled illegal 1o years ago. Even being alive is an act of resistance on Crow's part, but he uses his magic to win fights and help their uncles pay the bills. One night, when coming home from a fight, Crow comes home to find their uncles' being arrested, and the only way to free them is to join the Tournament of the Gods, which take place on the level of the city that his uncles' are being held prisoner. Crow must dodge opponents, learn who to trust, and grapple with their past if they have any hope of coming out of the Tournament alive, and fighting for those they love...

Review:
This the 4th book I've read by this author, and every time I am blown away at the creative world they are able to construct. I really loved the way this book tackled classism and its deadly outcomes, gender identity, and other serious topics. This book doesn't get a perfect score from me for a few reasons: 1. I wish we'd gotten to know Crow's uncles better before everything went down as I had no emotional attachment to them, 2. I was super confused where the romance situation was going for approximately 60% of the book, and 3. I wish we'd spent more time in the actual Tournament - all the competitors felt so 2D and they were there and gone, and the challenges got really routine. I could have used another 100 pages of this book!

Thank you Random House Children’s and NetGalley for the ARC.

Crow (they/he) trying hiding his identity and survive in underground of Shallows with his Uncles. Crow’s secret is he descended is the of God Death and can used death magic, which the other Gods outlawed their’s existence. Everything changes when his uncles got arrested for helping hiding descended children of the god death. So they have to participate in a tournament with help with Chaos, Moddox and Lark. If he survives and win the tournament, the gods will grant his wish. During the tournament they discovered so much about shallow and himself. He has to face many obstacles, to set his uncles free. Will they win the tournament and free their’s uncles? What secrets will they discover?

A lot of people say this book is the hunger games meets An Ember in the Ashes in dystopian. I don’t know if it’s true because I have not read An Embrr in the Ashes. But what I can say is this is the hunger games meets the Sunbearer.

I enjoy every part of this book, but except end. Because I want to know what happened next. That why I give it 4.5 star

This is the exact book that 2025 needed.

This book may be a fictional world run by fictional gods, but the real-world implications and inspiration are obvious. The message is well-executed and anyone who can read remotely critically will see the obvious parallels between the treatment of the Deathchildren and the current treatment of non-white individuals, specifically those with LatinX backgrounds, in the United States under the current 2025 administration. It also clearly shows the disparity between classes and calls it out. I also appreciated all the rep from chronic illness disability to a whole cast of queer characters. And even with those clear societal an political leanings and lots of valid rep, it never felt preachy or forced.

The story itself is phenomenal. The plot moves at a good pace and it held my interest well. Sometimes I can get lost in intense action-sequences, but the fight scenes in this book were well-written and easy to follow. I also appreciated that they weren't overly drawn out, but were succinct and to the point. There were some awesome twists along the way, as well as some heartbreaking ones, but the sadness was always well balanced with joy. I also really liked a lot the characters, especially Chaos and Maddox. Lark was, however, not a favorite. I felt like she didn't really add much to the story and fit like a misshapen puzzle piece--filling the hole but not really completing the picture well. I almost think the story would have been fine without her in it. On the other hand, I really wish we could've had more of Lore. They seemed like an amazing fun character, and they 100% deserved more page time.

And now for a slightly spoiler bit: the relationships.

Chaos and Crow had immediate chemistry, but I like that they remained queerplatonic. There simply aren't enough queerplatonic relationships in books, especially polycules. so I really liked the dynamic with Maddox, Chaos, and Crow. They all fit well together. I liked watching Maddox and Crow's romantic relationship blossom while also watching how their care, concern, and even love for Crow grew as well. The only part of this I felt didn't fit was, once again, Lark. The whole love confession felt wildly out of place and her character had shown at best a sister-like love for Crow. Her having romantic feelings for them seemed way out of left field. There was ZERO indication she felt anything for them beyond that sibling type bond. And Crow had shown ZERO interest in her that way. Even once they started kissing, Crow's attraction seemed very flat and forced. It just felt off. There needed to be more lead up. Maybe if I had connected with and liked Lark a bit more I would've been rooting for them, but Lark and Crow's relationship just simply didn't hold up when compared to the development we get to see with Maddox and Chaos.

So, overall, this book was a solid win for me. (But honestly, when has anything written by Gabe Cole Novoa NOT been a solid win?) This book wrapped up cleanly, so I don't feel like a sequel is necessary, but I can also see potential for a continuation. If there is another book, you better believe I'm reading it.

4.5 Stars Rounded Up

4.5 stars

Gabe Cole Novoa writes some of my favorite YA stories, and These Vengeful Gods was no exception. I have a known weakness for found family, and as usual, this one got me right in the feels.

I will start out by saying that this story is not subtle - and it shouldn’t be. We should be looking this type of hatred and bigotry and state-sanctioned genocide directly in the eye.

The comps to The Hunger Games were 100% correct - at some points, to distraction (I believe I twice made notes saying “it’s giving Mockingjay”). But since I LOVE me some Hunger Games, it wasn’t a deal breaker for me.

The disability representation here was great without being reductive.

There were some things I wanted more of - more Cara/Crow, more Lark/Crow post-feelings, more personality from Crow themselves. But the breakneck pace of this story kept me engaged straight through to the end.

Also obsessed that this was a solid standalone and didn’t leave me hanging waiting for a sequel. It wraps up tidily, which I think we really need more of these days.

As always, I will read more from this author at every opportunity.

These Vengeful Gods is a fast paced YA dystopian story about a world inhabited by Gods, minor godlings and the humans who have been relegated to a lower caste life. Crow (they/he) survives in the lowest levels of society as a fighter but Crow has minor death magic abilities that allow them to heal, regulate their hormone levels and find weaknesses in every opponent. When Crows uncles are arrested for helping the children of the god Death, Crow must participate in a Tournament of Champions to win a boon and free their uncles.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 3.5⭐️.
I really enjoy this authors writing and previous books. They know how to write about a young trans persons experience with a delicate hand that allows for empathy and knowledge in an organic way that I feel is so accessible to readers.
I liked all of the main character and side characters in this book and loved the ending. While a lot happened very quickly at the end, I appreciate that the book was wrapped up as a standalone and not drug out into a duology or a trilogy that is ever so common right now.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review
These Venegeful God
LGBT 🏳️‍🌈 Rep
Trans 🏳️‍⚧️ Rep
Polycule Rep

Comparable Media:
Alita Battle Angel
Final Fantasy 7
Little Bit of The Hunger
Games

Last 8% Was A Bit Rushed

Rune Magic System Was
Dope

Description: Government of Gods decides to kill all of Death’s children which leads to a mass g-side. Crow escapes with his uncle when he is young.

Crow is a fighter in a secret underground fighting ring.

His uncles are abducted by the government.

This forces Crow to join a Death competition

To get a favor from the gods.

Wild ride and loved every second of it.

Mouse the cat is the real MVP

Everything this author writes is such a hit. I love his writing. This story was giving hunger games vibes and I’m here for it. I also adored the characters and of course their diversity. I did think this book was a bit predictable but like I said it’s a good read. I also felt that the ending was a tad rushed but nothing that ruined the story for me. I feel a sequel? If so, I’ll be there

Thank you Random House Children’s and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I love a good competition story! Crow fits in the Underground in the Shallows. Where people are used to the constant flooding, overcrowding, and abuse by the Enforcers. All while the Midlevel and Godlevel citizens stand by and do nothing. Crow fits for more to help him and his uncles get by. But they also hold a secret, Crow is a Deathchild and can wield Deathmagic. Being a descendant of the god Death is outlawed and a death sentence itself. So he has to hide who they are. Every other year Escal hosts the Tournament of the Gods, a gladiator style competition where the winner can ask for a favor from the Gods. Crow is approached to be sponsored in the tournament by Chaos, a minor God descended from the God Discord. Crow refuses as they can’t afford to have the President learn who he is. Their life gets turned upside down when his uncles tell them that they have to go stay with a family friend. Before he knows it their uncles have been arrested. Ravenna and Lark, the family friends, are also Deathchildren but can’t wield magic. That’s when Crow learns his uncles have been helping Deathchildren escape. A death sentence and there is no fair trail. Crow’s only hope is to take Chaos’s offer. But no one from the Shallows has ever won the tournament, hell no one has even made it past the opening trial. Crow’s not the only one from the Shallows entering though, he’s joined by a guy named Maddox and to their surprise Lark. Who just happens to be their rival, his know Lark since they were children. The four of them will band together, hoping for a Shallows victory. But the competition is stiff and no one wants someone from the Shallows to win. Crow, Maddox, and Lark won’t just have to fight their competitors but also a society that is dead set on keeping their people oppressed. Can Crown win the competition? Can they save their uncles? Or is he doomed to lose or possibly die? And can they keep people from finding out his secret? One thing is for sure a revolution has begun but who will be the victor? Fast paced and had me hooked! I couldn’t put it down! I loved the relationship between Crow, Chaos, Maddox, and Lark! Especially Crow and Lark’s antagonism of one another! Full of real world connections that are sure to make readers pissed off at our own unjust society! Gabe Cole Novoa’s These Vengeful Gods tells the story of hope and vengeance that leads to an extremely satisfying conclusion! Highly recommend checking this book out!

Thank you for the opportunity to read an e-arc of These Vengeful Gods. I'm already calling it, that this book is my favourite 2025 read and I've pre-ordered a physical copy because I must have it in my library.

Here's some notes I took while reading. I could go on and on though because I loved this book so much:

-Arcane meets Kaos vibes.
-the banter was immaculate.
-Mouse is the cutest cat.
-oohh poly rep maybe? OOO quad rep!! Yes.
-the trans rep was everything my heart needed to read right now.
-chronic illness rep was also everything. As a trans disabled american I really needed to read this book right now.
-including masks into the world building was really important and nice to read in a fantasy book.
-encapsulates that reading is political.
-I know Vengeful is in the title and so I should have been prepared for the reveal of Crow being Vengeance, but when I tell you my jaw dropped. Incredible reveal and the aftermath was beyond words.
-pleaseeee tell me this is a series because I need more of these characters in my life.

From a deadly competition filled with god magic, to a corrupt political system, to a trans mc willing to burn it all down, this book is amazing. I've said before that Gabe Cole Novoa writes such gripping YA in a way that truly encapsulates everything it should be. This book is no different.