I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

The Goddess Of by Randi Garner
Audiobook
Picked this one up for the cover and stayed for the story, and I’m so glad I did! This was such a fun surprise. Naia, the daughter of the gods, is seriously underestimated and mistreated by her overbearing divine family, and that instantly had me rooting for her. I loved the opening in the fantasy realm; it had that dreamy, sweeping worldbuilding I love. When the setting shifted to modern day, I’ll admit I was hesitant (urban fantasy usually isn’t my thing), but it worked.

And Ronin? Yes, please. The slow burn between him and Naia kept me fully engaged.

Would I recommend it?
YUP! It may not have shattered the fantasy genre, but it’s an enjoyable, entertaining read with a compelling FMC and a world (well, two!) that I’m eager to return to.

I’ll definitely be continuing with the series.

Thank you, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley, for allowing

I'll be honest, I went into this book completely blind. I'm a graphic designer, so oops, I judge books by their covers. I was enthralled by the imagery and instantly had to add it to my TBR. I am so glad I did.
Naia is an 800 goddess but she is seen as a disgrace because she has no title or power. Her mother is cruel, and in efforts to escape an arranged marriage, Naia makes a deal with the God of Death and Curses. While trying to hide from her mother, Naia finds herself in the company of a mortal who hates the Gods.
For some reason he is still drawn to her and the need to protect her.
This book has a dual timeline so you get to see events from Naia's past and what is happening currently. Talk about family trauma, I don't blame her for wanting to escape. There was an interesting blend of the world of the Gods and a modern urban setting. Naia's discovery of sweets and coffee had me grinning.
"It's not sweet enough for you." You and me both girl, the sweeter the better.
The last few chapters had me emotional...l'm not crying, you are....My coworkers must think l'm insane, because surely my work emails don't bring tears to my eyes. With that being said I must keep reading this series becuase I need to know what happens next... thank goodness I got approved for that ALC too!
The overall content can get pretty heavy, please check trigger warnings before reading. Truly a great story.
I was given the honor of receiving an Advanced Listeners Copy of this book through NetGalley & Dreamscape Media. Thank you to Randi Garner for allowing me to listen to this. All opinions are my own.

I can’t believe this book hasn’t been heralded from the rooftops! The Goddess Of was exactly the type of novel I would expect about ruthless Gods and Goddesses and I was entranced from the beginning. Naias compassion and vulnerability humanized her in the most beautiful way. I could not have envisioned a better protagonist for this story. The relationships that she forged and her never-ending hope for a better future for herself were nothing short of inspiring. Randi Garner has a breathtaking writing style that envelops the reader right into the world as she weaves it. The way that she utilized the dual timeline perfectly emphasized the numerous injustices in Naias life, leaving me heartbroken and enraged in equal measure. I truly appreciated how unique the storyline was and I never would have guessed the full measure of the plot. Everything about this story was beautiful and I wouldn’t change a single thing about it.

The audio for The Goddess Of was absolutely beautiful. Abigail Reno was the perfect fit for Naia and beautifully captured the full breadth of her emotions. Her performance only heightened my appreciation for Naias character and the lengths that she went to for those important to her.

I devoured this audio book. The narrators both did an excellent job and the writing is phenomenal. It’s been so long since a book made me as emotional as this one did. I can not wait for the next.

Holy smokes, what an emotional ringer. I had to sit with this one for awhile before I could put my thoughts and feelings in order. Because it was DARK. Check your trigger warnings people!

Let’s me start by saying that Abigail Reno and Benjamin Crow were SO GOOD with the dual POV narration! I especially loved the raw emotion in Abigail’s performance as Naia. I’ll definitely look for more of her work.

Our MMC, Naia, was conceived for the sole purpose of breaking a curse placed on her mother - high goddess of the sea- who is cursed never to leave the sea for her part in a deadly battle centuries ago. She is promised in marriage to Alaris, a sun god, who’s mother was cursed to live in a volcano for her part in the same battle. Naia and Alaris’ union is supposed to break their curses. A fate she rebels against, but is nearly powerless to do anything about.

The magic system in The Goddess Of is so different from anything I’ve read before! There are high, middle and low gods and goddesses. Each is born with a title as a low or middle god(goddess, and can rise to the stature of high god/goddess of a given thing by defeating the reigning god/goddess in battle. And then there’s Naia who was born with no title or discernible power. And her mother despises her for it. Her father, however, dotes on her. Her siblings are equally cruel to her - except for her baby brother Finnian. Naia’s mother and sibling subject her to centuries of torture before she is able to escape via a deal with the high goddess of death and curses.

Once on land, Naia meets and falls in love with Ronin, a mortal witch, despite her best efforts. All she wants is to find Finnian, who was banished to the land centuries ago. But the longer she stays with Ronin, the deeper she falls, the deeper she becomes embroiled in the power struggles between witches of deities, and the more she learns the truth about her family’s curses and her own fate.

I found the pacing of the plot of The Goddess Of to be spot on. And that’s something given it’s twists and turns! There’s a point about 80% through the book after a major reveal/plot twist that could have been boooooring. Instead, Randi managed to create more emotional stakes while also growing Naia and Ronin as characters. And it also served as a false sense of security before the final roller coaster.

I’m definitely looking forward to the sequel. I’ll just need to emotionally prepare myself first!

Naia isn’t your typical goddess—no title, no powers, and no respect from her immortal, cutthroat family. She’s spent centuries being overlooked, mistreated, and underestimated… until she finally seizes her chance to escape on her wedding day. Enter Ronin: a mysterious, broody mortal with secrets of his own and a protective streak a mile wide. (Seriously, he gives major “I’ll burn the world for her” energy.)

From the very start, Naia had me hooked. She’s soft but resilient, sweet—literally, she has a thing for sugar—and deeply relatable in her yearning for freedom and identity. Watching her grow into her strength was so satisfying. And Ronin? The emotional depth behind his gruff exterior made him the perfect balance to her light.

The world itself is a fascinating blend of mythology and modernity. While it draws inspiration from Greek myth, the author builds something entirely new—gods with unique titles and curses, immortal politics, and a deeply emotional undercurrent that grounds the fantasy. It’s urban magic meets epic destiny, with a rich atmosphere and characters that genuinely feel alive.

The story covers a lot of ground—sometimes a little quickly—but the twists, the curse, and the emotional stakes kept me fully invested. There’s fated love, found family, painful sacrifices, and a heroine you can’t help but root for. Plus, the audio version brought even more life to the characters, thanks to a fantastic narrator.

If you’re into underdog goddesses, brooding men with soft hearts, and a layered fantasy world full of emotion and myth, this one’s for you. I’m already counting down the days for the next book.

Thank to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio book of "The Goddess of" by Randi Garner.
I enjoyed this book very much. The narrator was great. She was able to capture the FMC's emotions perfectly though hearing male character dialogues from female narrator was a bit weird for me. Besides this, I really enjoyed the storyline, characters, dynamic of the book.

This is your sign to pick up the Goddess of. The story follows Naia, the daughter of two powerful deities. Trapped under her mother’s cruel control, the sea goddess selfishly promises Naia in an arranged marriage. Desperate to escape her Fate, Naia pleads to High God of Death and Curses for help.
This book wrecked me and put me back together. I enjoyed the blend of realism and magic interwoven in our world. The romance and magic in this book was very well done. This book brought out every emotion in me.

I was lucky to receive an advanced listener copy of the goddess of thru dreamscape Media and netgalley.

I highly recommend listening for an enhanced and immersive experience.

Key points:
The tone in narration:
Abigail Reno did an outstanding job pulling the reader into the story. The natural emotion caught in her voice transported me into the pages of the story. She had me shameless, crying in after-school carline and squealing in excitement while cutting carrots and washing rice. (Iykyk)
The goddess is part of an Interconnected series, The Fragile Divine. I can't wait to continue the story in the second book, Even In Death!

Thank you, Dreamscape Media and Netgalley.
#TheGoddessOf #NetGalley.

The goddess of & Even in Death are Available now.
7h

I really enjoyed this from the start. It held my interest and the narrator was fantastic and so easy to listen to.

Unfortunately, somewhere in the middle, my feelings began to shift. The urban fantasy elements felt a little odd. The different POVs and time jumps were extremely hard to keep up with for me on audio. I also felt like the characters emotions were all over the place, but we never knew how they got there. For example, at one point she mentions her and Ronin being in a good place after some stressful news, and then the next thing we know he’s not speaking to her. Parts of this book genuinely made me feel like I was missing chapters or major pieces of information.

While I liked the characters individually, I didn’t feel a pull to their relationship or romance over time, and this caused me to lose interest in the plot as it went on. While I think I am the minority on this and the premise is extremely interesting, this book just didn’t work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ALC in exchange for my honest review

Alright… going to need to read Even in Death immediately because this book had me hooked from start to finish. If you’re a romantasy lover, I think you’ll enjoy this one. It took me a little bit to become invested in this story. I stopped and started it a few times but once I got into it, I couldn’t wait to go back! Huge thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC for The Goddess Of!

Naia has no title and no powers even though she is the daughter of the High Sea Goddess. Forced into an arranged marriage she called upon the High God of Death and Curses to help her out, but it comes at a price. Will she be able to keep from falling in love with a mortal? Can her brother help her break the curse she asked for? Will she ever be more than just the means to end of her own mother’s curse?

I loved this audiobook. Listening to Naia and Ronin’s story play out was very entertaining. There is spice to this book, but it is so incredibly well done. I am extremely excited to dive into the next book!

I love folklore/fairy tale and mythology and this was such a unique combination of the genres. I loved the overlapping of earth and the god realms. It was a wonderful and refreshing take.

This story was gorgeous! A unique take on the gods/goddesses that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The audio was engaging and kept me hooked right from the get go!

I loved this one! Even though this is not what you would consider a cozy fantasy, the writing style made this feel that a very cozy/comfort read. I don't know how else to explain it. Yes there were serious issues at play but it was truly a joy to listen to the audiobook.

I loved all the characters, including so many of the side characters. The relationship development between the MCs flowed naturally and progressed in such a satisfying and rewarding way.

The narrators were fantastic. They did a wonderful job of bringing the world and characters to life in a way that was so easy to listen to.

I'm really excited for what's next to come in this world!

Thank you Dreamscape Media & Netgalley for the ALC.

Naia is the oldest daughter of the High Sea Goddess and has no powers or title. She is seen as a disgrace by her entire family over centuries, except by her father. She endures so much over time and longs to be free, so when an opportunity with the High God of Death and Curses presents itself, she makes the deal so she doesn’t have to wed. He won’t tell her of the curse she’ll receive later for the bargain, and Naia begins a hopeful journey forward. But when that ugly curse reveals itself, it will challenge everything she has come to know and love. Can she break it, or will it break her?

I went into this one expecting more of a historical mythology mix, but I was pleasantly surprised that it was urban magic and mythology. The fresh take on humanizing the gods’ characters really had me invested and actually caring about what happened to some of them. This story had fated lovers, found family, cursed destinies, and an underdog heroine- all tropes I love! The characters had depth, the storyline was well-written and paced, and I got a full experience listening to the audio while reading the book. The narrators did a fabulous job with all characters to make them believable and easy to relate to. Overall, I’m giving this one 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up! I’m excited to see where the next book takes us! I received an ALC of The Goddess from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media and all reviews and opinions here are my own.

My thoughts:

Wow! Just wow!

I loved how different, beautiful, and brutal this book was.

Naia is born without powers into a violent, toxic, powerful family. The only people who care for her can do nothing to save her from her mother’s and siblings’ wraths. It is gory, violent, and brutal. But she forges on. And even though she feels helpless, she doesn’t stop choosing to pursue freedom.

Ronin! Oh my sweet, strong, morally gray mortal Ronin. He is also brutal, but in such a way that he strives to protect the good in the world and the vulnerable around him.

I loved the wide cast of side characters, and the questionable integrity of most of them. I want to know so much more about Theon!

And there is a scene near the end of the book that made me cry. Randi Garner has written a beautiful romantasy with island and Japanese influences that broke my heart and sewed it back together again. I cannot wait to read what she writes next.

Review: The Goddess Of by Randi Garner (Audiobook) – Did Not Finish
While the premise had promise, The Goddess Of didn’t quite land for me. The pacing felt off, and I had trouble getting pulled into the world. That said, the narration was nicely done, and I think those who enjoy introspective, character-driven fantasy might get more from it than I did.

3.5 stars
I had a lot of mixed feelings with this book. Some elements were entertaining such as the past chapters of the goddess being raised. But other parts were incredibly slow and cringe such as the mundane human tasks the MC hyper-fixates on & the twist revealed during the wedding scene. I was incredibly intrigued with the god that was over curses as well as the MC brother. That said, I didn’t quite care much for the female main character. While it had tons of potential, I don’t see myself continuing the series.

The audiobook production was done well and I enjoyed the narrator.

Narrators: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was pretty good. I was hooked. Abigail Reno did an amazing job. Benjamin Crow only comes in at the last chapter. Its told in single POV from the FMC.

This story is about a goddess, Naia, who has no power and is going to be marrying a man she doesn't want but was forced on her from childhood. She makes a deal with the same God that cursed her years ago which allows her to escape into the human world to look for her brother. While looking for her brother she finds a human man who is selflessly helping her but because of her past she doesn't trust him. On her quest to look for her brother he is constantly along for the ride. When she finds her brother she finds out how alone she really is, but the Ronin doesn't leave her and they start to build a bond. But she has a past and he has secrets.

This book has a lot of parts. Some I didn't see coming and some that were not so surprising. Her family with the exception of her youngest brother and father are absolutely horrible. Her mother is a bitch. Her other 3 siblings are just as horrible. They all treat her like trash and are constantly making her life a living hell. For a goddess who lives forever, that's a long time to live in misery. She is so strong. She took care of her brother after what happened to her father and even after that she never let them break her. Her to be husband is weak. I did not like him at all. I know he cared about her but he would not stand up to anyone.

The struggles Naia and Ronin went through were a lot. There were also a lot of battles. Ronin was constantly by her side no matter what and stood up for her in a way no one else would. I respect him for that.

Towards the end it got a little boring. But it didn't take long to pick back up. She was such a selfless person and she made so many sacrifices throughout her life. When she finally gets her power I was a little disheartened. It did help and its a powerful power but not in a way that can really help in a fight.

Honestly, at the end I'm way more curious about what the brother's plan is. He put himself in this position and I know its not all for his sister. But that was the point. To make me beg for book 2. And it worked because I'm ready.

Thank you Netgalley for the ALC!

The Goddess Of by Randi Garner is a dark fantasy, romance novel that follows the main character, Naia, an 800 year old goddess with no title who tries desperately to escape her treacherous mother and break her curse holding her there.

Naia, a lesser goddess with no title, is bound to the walls of her mothers, the High Sea Goddess, home all because Naia is needed to break her mother’s curse, which also keeps her bound to her domain under the sea. Her mother is tortuous and unaffectionate while waiting for Naia to turn 800 years old and marry to help break her curse. Naia makes a deal with the God of Death and Curses to break her own curse allowing her to escape her mother’s grasp and flee out of the sea and into the mortal realm. There she meets Ronin, who helps her get acclimated to life on land and help her find her brother. All the while Ronin has motives of his own while tension also builds between the two.
I listened to about 70% of this audiobook and find myself resisting listening to the rest. I hope to one day finish this story, maybe it would be better if I was able to read it? The narrator was good, although I didn’t enjoy the parts where they read in a masculine voice (which is a significant portion of the book).

I did really enjoy this book in the beginning. I thought it was engaging and was enjoying learning of the different gods and their powers. There was a lot of emotional depth to this book as well to keep the story moving forward and I’m a sucker for world building but somewhere along the way, I got lost. There were a lot of time skips, without notice, so the actual timeline of the story kept getting mixed up in my head. The beginning was also pretty slow but then suddenly picks up and too many things happen all at once that it was hard to keep up.
I did like the mix of mythology and blends of fantasy though this book. The tension between the main characters was, I think, what kept me intrigued for most of the book. The main character has a strong sense of compassion but she herself lacks any confidence. I did find it strange that she needed 800 years to gather enough courage to break her curse and then falls in love with Ronin, a mortal mage, who’s in his 30s? Which reminds me of the show Goblin/Guardian: The Lonely and Great God.

I’d still recommend this book to others. This book does explore family abuse, found family, inner strength, and resilience. There are scenes of torture [content warning].