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].

4.25 ⭐️ CALLING ALL ROMANTASY LOVERS!

"They have taken from you your whole life, Naia. Let this be the last time."

WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ urban fantasy romance
✨ mythology
✨ meddling gods, mages, humans
✨ magic and curses
✨ she's the first daughter of the High Goddess of the Sea who escapes a life of imprisonment
✨ he's the man who finds and helps her navigate the human world
✨ star crossed lovers
✨ he falls first
✨ force proximity
✨ slow burn
✨ 1.5/5 🌶️
✨ touch her/him and die
✨ high stakes
✨ hidden identity
✨ hurt/comfort
✨ mental health rep
✨ found family
✨ Japanese culture/influence
✨ dual timeline
✨ TW: death of loved ones, torture, blood, gore, abuse, r4pe (forced but neither party wants to) - check the author's full list of trigger warnings beforehand


My Thoughts:

Audiobook rating: 4.5⭐️
Story rating: 4⭐️

It's giving the Little Mermaid meets Cinderella but with gods and goddesses.

I enjoyed this book! From the very first pages, I was drawn into this world full of gods and magic. Things did slow down a bit when Naia entered the human world, but then, the story had me hooked by 40%, and by the time I hit 60%, I couldn’t stop listening. The emotional journey, the romance, and the reveals / plot development kept me invested till the very end.

I absolutely adore the FMC, Naia. As an 800-year-old lesser goddess who has endured so much trauma and abuse, she starts off feeling completely helpless and worthless. But throughout the story, she discovers what she is capable of and evolves from a submissive daughter to someone who learns her worth and fights for her freedom. Her change was slow, but satisfying. The only thing that gave me pause was the fact it took her 800 years of emotional, physical, and mental abuse from her family to finally break the cycle. I suppose with eternal gods, 800 years doesn't seem so long, but, personally, I would’ve kept trying to escape every second of every day.

The MMC, Ronin, was a gem. I loved that he was a bit mysterious, broody, and closed off but had a soft spot for Naia. He's protective of her from the beginning, and even though you don't completely understand why, there is something about him that feels trustworthy. I enjoyed the way his backstory is revealed and finding out how he and Naia are connected.

Naia and Ronin's love story was beautiful. I really cannot say much without spoiling things, but they truly are soulmates. 🥹 The way Ronin cares for Naia, providing her with a safe space when all she’s known is cruelty and pain, made me want to cry happy tears. With Ronin, she was finally able to receive the love and support she’s always longed for and with someone who would always fight for her. What’s even more beautiful is how Naia begins to care for him, seeing him for who he truly is without judgment. And the “touch him/her and die” energy they give off? Absolutely perfection. 👏 You can feel their love and devotion radiating off the page, and that's the kind of romance I want to read about!

The dual timeline definitely added so much depth to this story. Since Naia is 800 years old, she’s lived through so much, and I think Randi Garner did an amazing job showing us her past alongside the present. The dual timeline lets us experience Naia's journey in real-time, both past and present, which makes us feel even more connected to her. And as the story progresses and we slowly uncover Naia’s past, I found myself more invested and constantly aching for her. The way the abuse was revealed bit by bit had me on edge, and the fact it got progressively worse sent me into an absolute rage. It's just so unfair what she endured. 😭

I don't know if I've ever hated a family as much as I hate Naia's. Naia's mother and siblings are absolute monsters. The way they inflict so much pain onto her, infuriated me. And while I understand why her father couldn't really do much to stop this abuse and torture, I still can't quite fathom how he could watch her suffer and found myself being angry at him as well. Even though the interactions with Naia and her family were hard to read/listen to, I think Randi Garner did a good job exploring a toxic, cruel family dynamic. It definitely made me sympathize with Naia and constantly root for her to fight back. I'm glad that in the end, she escapes them and ends up finding a new family with Ronin and his friends. 🫶

The ending was wild!!! So much went down from 60% to the end, I could barely catch my breath. This story has incredibly high stakes and since it's a standalone, the conflict at the end is intense. So many reveals and plot twists that will make your heart stop. Thankfully, Naia and Ronin’s story wraps up nicely, but the ending leaves things wide open for the next couple.

The mythology surrounding the gods and mages was super interesting. Even though there were many names and a lot of history explained, Randi Garner introduced these characters and their stories in a way that made it easy to digest and follow. I especially found the gods fascinating and I honestly cannot wait for book 2, since it'll focus on the God of Death and Curses, who cursed Naia in the first place.

That said, the modern setting did throw me off a bit. Once Naia goes into the human realm, it becomes an urban fantasy, with a mix of modern technology and magical world-building. One minute, you have gods and supernatural beings, and the next, there's cell phones, cars, newspapers, coffee shops, braces, elevators, etc. The setting switch was a bit jarring. And the fact Naia knew about certain human things while being completely clueless about others seemed a bit convenient. I think the explanation was that Naia had been able to watch humans from a distance, but, I'll be honest, this wasn't really a satisfying explanation. I think the story would’ve worked just fine without the modern tech, which made its inclusion feel unnecessary. The blending of modern and magical elements didn’t always mesh, and it pulled me out of the story at times. While it bothered me at first, I eventually accepted it as part of the world-building so I could continue to enjoy the story.

Abigail Reno was a fantastic narrator. I was really impressed with how she captured Naia’s emotions. Her delivery truly brought to life the tension, heartbreak, and triumphs of this story, and I couldn't help but get fully immersed.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The world-building was unique, the characters were engaging, and the romance between Naia and Ronin was everything. This is definitely an underrated story that needs to be added to your TBR immediately!

Thank you Randi Garner for sending me the audiobook via NetGalley! As always, all opinions are my own.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ALC of A Goddess Of; all opinions are my own.**

4.25 ⭐️
2 🌶

I was pleasantly surprised by this one! I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this ALC, but several of my friends love this series, so I wasn't concerned about going in blind.

Running away from her wedding by making a new deal with the god who originally cursed her, we follow a goddess with no powers of her own. She finds herself in the Mortal world, and sticks close to Ronin, who has ties to the brother she's looking for. Their story is bittersweet, but I loved it all. I'm very intrigued to see where this series goes! This story is a little dark, so proceed with caution! ⚠️ There were several times when I had to stop listening because it was difficult to continue because of the subject matter.

If you like:
▪︎gods & goddesses
▪︎morally grey
▪︎FMCs taking their fate into their own
hands
▪︎curses
▪︎he-falls-first
then this could be the next series for you!

My very first audiobook arc! Thank you dreamscape media and NetGalley for my Arc in exchange for my honest review.

Firstly a moment for the gorgeous cover she is a stunner!

Unfortunately this was a little bit of a miss for me.

This is an urban fantasy with a lot of real life components and whilst i generally don’t mind it when reading fantasies, this one threw me a bit. I felt the way the magically and real life elements were written together just didn’t flow or feel natural.

Whilst the dual time lines of the past and present worked for the story, I found the pacing overall was a little slow and found myself increasing the speed of the audio often.

Overall it wasn’t a bad book but I just don’t think it’s a book for me as I struggled to connect or care about any of the characters.

I will say please don’t ignore the trigger warnings advised by the author, as this definitely has some dark fantasy elements and scenarios to be aware of.

The Goddess Of is one of those books that I know I won’t be able to put into words how good a book it is and how much I loved it!

To start the writing was so beautiful and deeply emotional I had tears in my eyes multiple times and by the end, I was full-on crying. This book was sad at parts but it was primarily emotional because of how beautiful and meaningful every single thing is! The way Randi ties all of the little things together is absolute perfection!

I loved learning about this new world and all the realms of the different Gods/Goddesses. Even while in the Mortal Realms we got to learn so much about Ronin’s culture and traditions.

Ronin and Naia have become a new favourite couple they were truly soulmates and their relationship was so sweet. Ronin is the perfect book boyfriend… he is sweet and will do anything for those he cares about including killing those who threaten Naia 🥹

The audiobook Itself was so well done! Abigail Reno narrates this story and plays our lovely FMC Naia. Her voice fits the character perfectly and she does so in a way that It becomes clear when the character is speaking versus when the character is thinking something. A lot of audiobooks and narrators aren't able to capture this as smoothly as The Goddess Of Audiobook does. The narration enhances how beautiful the book is and helps to transport the listener into the story. This book is part of a bigger series that switches the character focus at the end of the book, and a really cool thing that this audiobook does is switch the narrator in the epilogue to transition to a new main character who will be narrating the next book. Having this new narrator really added to the overall performance of the audiobook.

I love The Goddess Of so much and see it as a book that I will revisit often!

Naia is the daughter of the High Sea Goddess. She has no power of her own but her mother believes that she is a key to unlocking a curse. Naia has only known cruelty at the hands of her mother and siblings. Only her father and brother, Finnian have ever shown her kindness. On her wedding night she escapes after making a deal with another god. A promise to be fulfilled later. She flees to a mortal island where she falls in love with a human, Ronin. Naia isn’t safe because her family is out to destroy her and anything she loves. Ronin, morally grey and no mere mortal, becomes a powerful ally.

This was one intense story! I’d never encountered a mythology like this before. I mean, a lot of them have vengeful gods and brutality, but the ones here take that to an entirely new level. Naia is the innocent one in this. As much as I loved her kind heart, I wished for her to overcome her helplessness sooner. That was a growth that was painfully slow. The story also has a bevy of fascinating characters, creatures, and subplots. I loved Ronin and Naia’s connection. They are 🔥together.

Highlights:
💫 Conniving gods, toxic families, break the cycle
💫 Fated mates, morally grey MMC
💫 Spice, open door
💫 Japanese culture/influence

Be aware of: abusive behavior from family

I easily fell into this world, enthralled by both the writing and the characters involved. The narration captured a fantastic range from Naia’s fragility and innocence to the cruelties of her kin. It wasn’t until the end that I felt I could catch my breath again! And that was followed by a surprising POV from her brother, Finnian, who’s the focus of the next book, 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵. I cannot wait to read that and have my heart go through the wringer again!

Thank you @dreamscape_media & @netgalley for my ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a sucker for a book about Gods, and even more so when the Gods are petty and have it out for one another.

Naia, the FMC, has a horrible mother and siblings that are total psychopaths. Naia has no title, but her mother is a goddess with a curse to break. The way to break the curse is to marry off her FMC to the son of her enemy. Naia would rather die than to marry him. She makes a deal with the God of Death and Curses and is able to flee (but not without a catch).

She learns that magic and curses (and broken curses) come with a cost and she may have to sacrifice everything for the ones that she loves.

I couldn't put this book down. I felt very connected to the characters and was rooting for them!

This was an atmospheric fantasy novel that was both ancient and modern at the same time. There is love, loss, suffering, sacrifice, divinity and humanity. It was a beautiful story and I enjoyed every word!

The narrators did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly held my breath or cried the whole time because it’s absolutely moving. (Until the last 30 minutes when I knew what was going to happen). The narrators did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. The female embodied her perfectly, the emotions were spot on. In the end there is love and happiness, I thought this was such a good, well rounded and moving book. I’ll be reaching for the next one on audiobook soon enough.

Okay, book fam, get ready to be OBSESSED! ✨ "Goddess Of" by Randi Garner just stole my heart and isn't giving it back! 💖
This book? Pure magic. Imagine: a sea goddess's daughter, a forbidden love, and a city teeming with secrets. 🌊🖤 Naia, our fierce heroine, makes a deal with the High God of Death and Curses (!!!) to escape an arranged marriage, and ends up in the mortal world with the swoon-worthy Ronin. 🔥 He's all warmth and kindness, but is he hiding something? The tension? Off. The. Charts.
Garner weaves a world that’s dark, enchanting, and utterly addictive. The forbidden romance? Chef's kiss. The plot twists? Jaw-dropping. And Naia's journey? Inspiring AF. 💪
If you love complex characters, heart-pounding romance, and a story that’ll keep you up all night, "Goddess Of" is your next must-read. Seriously, I’m still reeling! 🤯
Warning: This book is for mature readers (18+) and packs a punch! Check those content warnings, babes! 😉

This was a wonderful blend of mythology and modern fantasy. I thought the world-building was lush and the story had compelling characters. Naia’s struggle for freedom and her growing bond with Ronin create an emotional and engaging dynamic.

The atmospheric settings, from the sea kingdom to Hollow City, are vividly described, making the world feel immersive. However, the pacing is slow at times, with large time jumps that occasionally I felt bored but still so captivated and interested enough to keep reading. Despite this, the plot twists and emotional stakes keep the story intriguing. With its unique pantheon of gods and dark romantic undertones, this is a strong start to the series. I’m eager to see where the next book takes these characters

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was good. I expected it to be a new favorite based on everything I had read and heard about it. It started out strong but it started to level out to just okay at about 25% and it never went back up. The story and the writing style were excellent though so I do recommend this book. The fact that it ended up at 3.75 stars for me could be for a lot of outside reasons. I do think a lot of people will enjoy this book a lot.

Gorgeous cover! I really liked the story and the characters. I will likely continue with book 2, when it's available.

What a beautiful cover and beautiful writing but I just can’t connect with this book, I keep zoning out and just am not gripped by this story, The little mermaid and Hercules vibes were so appealing but it’s just not clicking, perhaps it is the modern elements of this, I prefer my fantasy to be more medieval. Thank you for the chance to review this book

I rounded up for this rating. There was nothing objectively wrong or awful about this book, it just felt a little lackluster for me. The first 75% of the story, I was utterly bored. It did pick up there at the end. I didn't feel any real connection between the main characters either.

This book packed in so much plot that it was sometimes a challenge to keep up! At first, I thought we were stepping into a classic fantasy setting, full of gods and divine intrigue. But just as I was settling in, the world shifted, revealing a modern landscape complete with smartphones, newspapers, cars, and even breweries. That unexpected mix of mythology and contemporary elements threw me off at first, and while it took some getting used to, it did make for a unique perspective shift. The story had plenty of interesting moments, but the pacing and world-building didn’t always flow smoothly, making it a bit hard to stay fully engaged.

At the heart of it all is a young goddess desperate to escape her fate, so she makes a deal with a god far more powerful than she is. The catch? She won’t even know the terms until the time comes. As she navigates the human world, she’s forced to confront long-hidden truths and unravel secrets that change everything she thought she knew. While this book wasn’t a perfect read for me, I’m still invested enough in the story to pick up book two and see where things go next.

I am sad to say that my enjoyment of the book did not match my enjoyment of the cover. Cover design is a 5+/5 stars, fantastic. The book itself left me wanting.

I generally struggle with books that are most definitely fantasies, but then have very modern real-world components. In this book, we found nitro cold brew and cell phones, among other items. I found it jarring to read about a coffee shop owner levitating coffees around the room, while moving straight into another scene with elevators. Say what you want about the Crescent City series, the way that technology and magic are integrated is fantastic. I couldn't say the same there - they were not integrated whatsoever and it had me asking what the purpose of the real world technology was.

I also found the pacing to be difficult. I felt that the first 80% was relatively evenly paced, on the slower side and left me cranking up the listening speed and wondering if all these scenes were mandatory. And then the last 20% was pedal to the medal, everything is happening, we're getting time jumps, POV changes. Wild.

One last note - I didn't like the FMC. Towards the end, she has a mantra along the lines of "I will no longer be useless" and I was wondering how it took her 800 years to grow a backbone. Many readers will love the character growth, but it was too little too late for me.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Naia is the daughter of the High Sea Goddess. She holds no title and no power and is subject to the cruelest treatment from her mother and siblings. Her father and youngest brother are her only friends. They are all she has until she doesn't and her mother has set up an arranged marriage in hopes to get a curse set upon her lifted the only way that can happen is to have a union with a opposing family. Who better then the daughter she hates.

When the wedding day comes Naia cant go through with it and makes a deal with the High God of Death to get her away the only way he will help is to accept a curse blindly she is desperate and accepts and escapes to the mortal world to hide.

With the escape comes a price that in the end she will fight with everything shes got to keep her new life safe from the god of death and her family. This was such a beautiful read and it ends with no cliffhangers and things left in a simi good place. I will definitely be reading book 2.

Also hello BEAUTIFUL cover.

Thank you NetGalley for this audio arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.