This book surprised and delighted me. I am a huge fan of the Locked Tomb series, and while this book is very very different from that series, Lys is just as snarky and sarcastic as my beloved Gideon and I really enjoyed having that. I feel like we don't always get a POV character who is so jaded and sardonic and it's a nice l0ok. Besides that, the world building was solid, the plot was great, and I really enjoyed how the world and characters slowly opened up to us. Besides that, it is definitely going to have a sequel, WHICH I WILL BE READING.

This fantasy book takes place in a world where almost all gods and goddesses are a thing of a past. Wars between them have left only one standing, Tempestra and her avatar, the person she inhabits Innara. Forcing devotion across the land, Tempestra-Innara gives her gifts to small children with drops of her blood. These children are raised by her acolytes to become priests, hunters and warriors.

After a near death experience Tempestra-Innara sends two of her best warrior trainees, Lys and Nolan, on a quest to find the only object that might let her enemies finally destroy her, The Lost Reliquary.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 3.5⭐️.

I did really enjoy this book and liked the two main characters, Lys and Nolan. I liked the begrudging friendship and respect that developed between them as the book went on and appreciated that this didn’t turn into a typical romantasy. There were some surprises thrown in at the end that I didn’t see coming and I always enjoy the unexpected. I liked how this book ended and will definitely read the next one in the series.

The biggest issue I have with this book is that it felt too long. There are only so many double crosses of a double cross and betrayals of someone who had already been betrayed before it’s time to just get moving. There was a good 10-15% portion of this book where I was ready to DNF it completely. I’m glad that I didn’t, but I think this could have been thinned down a bit.

I look forward to posting about this book on my social media (TikTik and YouTube) closer to its release date.

The Lost Reliquary is an atmospheric adventure full of intrigue, hidden truths, and a touch of magic. Ely’s writing blends mystery and tension with rich world-building that pulls you in from the start. The pacing keeps a steady rhythm, never feeling rushed or dull, allowing the characters and plot to unfold naturally. There is a haunting quality to the setting that lingers long after you have turned the last page. If you enjoy stories that combine dark secrets with a sense of discovery, this one is worth picking up.

THE LOST RELIQUARY, by Lyndsay Ely, takes you to the Devoted Lands, a theocratic society ruled by one, Tempestra-Inara, the Eternal Flame Goddess. Lys has been living her life by going through the motions as a Chosen. A warrior, devout in her actions, but disdainful in her daydreams. Killing her goddess brings her the will to get through each day. There is an execution attempt on Tempestra-Innara's life that reveals it can be possible to kill a god, and her daydreams turn into decidal hope for freedom.

Tasked with tracking down heretics, Lys is partnered with Nolan, a devout rival, and is asked to work together, a highly unusual order, as her blood brothers are usually pitted against one another. She is now forced to pretend loyalty and hide her true goals from her new friend in her quest for freedom.

Verdict:

Loved it. This witty, flippant, cheeky, amusing, and action-packed tale has secrets, twists, and twits. An illustration of one’s struggle with faith, what is true when forced? A theocratic world with enough fear and suspense. Both Nolan and Lys are relatable characters, one being devout and the other scornful. (9/10)

The short of it: I took a long time to read this because I was really having a great time on this ride and wasn’t ready to have it end.

The long:
“Monster. Lapdog of the Butcher Goddess. May you both drop dead tomorrow and used in the return of the fallen divine.”

Lys is trained devotee of the remaining Goddess of her world. Raised since she was a child to be merciless, brutal, and utterly devoted, too bad she wants nothing more than to kill her. Her opportunity arises when she’s sent on a mission by her Goddess with a rival from another Cloister. She is set on finding an artifact that could potentially make her dreams a reality or bring power to her enemy. She just has to work with Nolan long enough to get it.

“Cloister-based education has so many gaps that a simple clerical in the middle of nowhere is better informed than I am.”
Unfortunately for her, the more she learns, the more complicated her mission gets.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you wanted to get carved up into pieces!”
Lys is snarky but she’s intelligent, a survivalist and empathetic despite her harsh upbringing. Her inner turmoil between love and hate, devotion and disgust, feels tangible and real as she moves through this world.

“Liars. Killers. Very, very reluctant allies.”
Nolan our secondary main character(no POV) is calculating but devoted to his Goddess.

“Whoever he is, I don’t know him at all.”
Watching them grow from rivals to having a working partnership was a delight. There is a twist to this that I won’t give away but it was chefs kiss to me.

Ely has made a world that reminds me a bit of Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson but if the orphans were trained for battle and to fight for their gods. It’s still unique and accessible.

This book hasn’t been published yet and I unfortunately for me, I’m all ready for the next one! I think this will definitely work for fans of Godkiller by Hannah Kaner, and Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson. Fantasy fans in general. I haven’t read Gideon the Ninth but I have heard that Lys’ snark and humor is similar to the main character!

Even a selfish choice can serve the greater good.

I live for an FMC that wants to kill a god. This book was certainly an adventure! I really enjoyed the internal struggle of the FMC throughout the story - she was constantly torn between wanting to be free from her attachment to the goddess and yet still finding comfort in the familiarity of her upbringing as a devotee. The pairing of an FMC with an MMC who was the epitome of DEVOTED certainly made for some comical moments. The tension between wanting to be friends but also wanting to betray one another was brilliant.

I found the history/world of the gods very interesting and I wish it had been explored more in the beginning. However the reader learns as the FMC does so there is room for more exploration in the next book.

The ending was brilliant, after a slight slog in the middle around the 45% mark, the story really picked up and I enjoyed the plot twists and the clear arc set up for the future sequel! I was 😱 for the last like 50 pages. I feel like in terms of other books I’ve read it’s giving Bonesmith and Vespertine vibes which I LOVE.

Thank you to Saga Press, NetGalley, and Lyndsay Ely for the ARC!! My review can be found on my linked Goodreads!

The Lost Reliquary Review

I admit, I am always weak for an angry, god hating FMC. Pitched for fans Hannah Kaner’s GodKiller, THE LOST RELIQUARY definitely lived up to that expectation, diving deep into an exploration of faith and the trust we place in others. Lys’s (FMC) inner monologue is created in a way that gives this story distinct voice that easily pulls the reader in. And, while I think the book is quite fast-paced, the author planted the seeds in the “slower” moments throughout the book, coming to fruition in many plot twists that I didn’t see coming. Overall, THE LOST RELIQUARY was an engaging read that I enjoyed from start to finish, and am looking forward to seeing what comes of Lys and Nolan in the next book!


Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Lost Reliquary is a dark, fast-paced fantasy that throws you into a world where gods are real, deadly, and tangled in brutal power struggles. The story follows Lys, a warrior unwillingly bound to the last living goddess and forced to take on a mission she never asked for.

The world is intense and unforgiving, filled with corrupt theocracy, dangerous magic, and characters who carry real weight. Lys is complicated in all the right ways: strong, angry, not always likable, but always compelling. Her interactions with Nolan, a soldier tied to an opposing faction, keep the tension tight throughout.

The writing moves quickly, with clear stakes and a strong atmosphere. The plot does not get lost in heavy exposition, but the setting still feels solid and lived-in. There is blood, conflict, and emotional fallout, but it never leans into edge for the sake of it.

This is a strong start to a series. It is not flawless, but it works and it left me wanting more.

Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for the eARC. This review reflects my honest opinion.

Quick very high level summary.
Lys is a potentiate (warrior) of the Dawn Cloister. She is chosen to hunt down heretics responsible for an assassination attempt on Tempestra-Innara. The only problem is that Lys though loyal appearing on the outside, secretly harbors dreams of killing her. Lys is paired with Nolan, a potentiate from a rival cloister and together they set off in search of an ancient reliquary with the power to kill a god.

My Take.
Write away you will be immersed in the world that Ely creates with words. The world building was very well done. Its well written and vivid so the reader has no problem picturing what is happening. Another strong aspect to this novel is the character development. The characters are relatable and realistic. The reader can actually feel Lys’s doubt and questioning of faith. This novel deals with some heavy themes like forced devotion vs actual faith. This book will make you think. Finally a well done high fantasy that resists the urge to add needless romance between the main characters! Thank you, Ely!

Why Ely why! Why did you give me Atreyu and Artax PTSD! Reliving childhood trauma.

I requested this book based on the plot summary and the stunning cover. What can I say, you had me at deicide!

The story follows Lys, a potentiate of the Dawn Cloister, who is unexpectedly thrust into the running to become the Executrix of her god, Tempestra Innara. As you’ll hear constantly throughout the book, Lys has zero interest in serving the gods in any capacity. When she’s sent on a quest to find a lost reliquary alongside her overly zealous, one-sided rival Nolan, she decides this divine errand will end with Tempestra six feet under. If that’s even possible.

If it let me, I’d give this a solid 3.5 ⭐️.

I have two main gripes with the book.

1. Pacing: This is a hefty 500+ page read, and the middle dragged quite a bit. There just wasn’t enough tension or momentum to carry me through those chapters. Trimming a plot point or two could really help streamline the story. That said, once we reached Cyprene, things finally started to cook. There may have been one too many defeats during that stretch, but the guilt, secrets, and looming consequences kept my heart pounding. I knew Lys was going to get caught. I just didn’t know when or by whom.

2. Repetitive inner monologue: Lys’s guilty thoughts started to feel like a hammer to the head. Her internal dialogue was clunky at times and often revolved around things she had already agonized over earlier in the book. It got repetitive and slowed her character development.

Now, what I loved ❤️

Nolan. What a frustratingly loyal, self-serving, and surprisingly sentimental character. I loved the non-romance between him and Lys. Their eventual, comfortable friendship was refreshing, and I need more of their dynamic.

I also really enjoyed the worldbuilding. The setup is rich and layered, and I’m excited to see more of it, as the plot for the next book should definitely enlighten us or take us to new places!

I can’t say if it’s for fans of Gideon the Ninth, but I did read Godkiller and I liked this one a whole lot more. All in all, this is a solid fantasy with great bones that just needs a little trim. 🥰

For the lovers of epic fantasy, interesting magic systems with gods, and action packed, fasted paced endings where you never know what might happen (but then it all fits perfectly and has been laid out for the whole book).
I absolutely loved The Lost Reliquary and it satisfied my need for a fun epic fantasy. The ending was the closest thing to a Brandon Sanderson "Sanderlanche" as I have ever seen another author write, it was simply outstanding and makes me SO excited for the second book. I loved the characters, pacing, world, everything!
A few points that people may struggle with:
The prose works hard to elevate above "standard" prose, but sometimes sacrifices readability. I found myself occasionally having to re-read long sentences. If you want super simple prose, this might not be for you.
Finally, if you cannot handle a teenage angsty but capable female main character you will struggle with this book. I would have loved to see the main character be a bit more grown up to fit with an adult epic fantasy.

Thank you for the ARC from NetGalley!

The Last Reliquary by Lindsay Ely is an epic fantasy that follows Lys, a Dawn Potentiate of Tempestra-Innara, a fire Goddess whose religion controls all of their country, and Nolan, a Dusk Potentiate, as they journey to find a weapon that was used in an attack on the Goddess. Lys has a secret though; she secretly dreams of the day Tempestra-Innara is dead and she can be free of her, which she must hide from Nolan as they journey together, as his loyalty and devotion their Goddess is unmatched.

As they journey together, Lys’s determination to be free only grows, as she sees new sights and experiences a freedom she hasn’t known since she was brought to the citadel to become one of Tempestra-Innara’s Chosen as a child, blessed with the blood of the Goddess and transformed by it to be stronger - a bit of living divinity. But as they get closer to their goal, Lys is faced with challenges and betrayals, that force her to choose just how far she’ll go to be free.

This book was dense, with thorough world-building that I found intriguing. I loved the premise, that the world used to have six sibling gods with their own centers and worshippers, until they started wars between them for dominance. Tempestra-Innara emerged victorious, despite being wounded and having to select a new avatar. The worship of the other gods was violently suppressed and outlawed. The Goddess is supposedly invincible, as only divinity can hurt divinity, until a condemned man grievously wounds Tempestra-Innara in their citadel. To keep their vulnerability secret, the Goddess slaughters the hundreds of devoted that had come to see the execution of the heretic and bask in the Goddess’ justice.

Lys, already disenchanted with her forced service, is horrified by the slaughter. Her service is reluctant, and her disgust with the violence of the religion built around the Goddess. She is conflicted throughout the book, wanting to be ruthless but continuously acting against her own interests in order to do what is right. Her character arc shows some growth, but she doesn’t really change as a character until the last ten percent of the book.

The book is written as a first-person singular POV focusing on Lys. The prose was a little clunky, and not always smooth, which made getting into the flow of the book difficult at times. I felt myself glazing over on some of Lys’ internal dialogue, especially when it didn’t really advance the plot. The author injects Lys with a wry cynicism that emerges as sarcastic humor, but it doesn’t always fit well; there were several instances where the writing felt trite because of it. While I loved the world-building and imagery, this chonk of a book - over 500 pages - could have used some streamlining. The pacing is slow, and doesn’t really change until the very end of the book.

I’m not entirely sure how Lys is supposed to view Nolan as her feelings towards him shift around frequently, but it feels like the author is setting him up as a love interest. I find this a little questionable as there wasn’t really any chemistry and barely a friendship between them by the end. This made the ending twist slightly unbelievable as it felt inconsistent with Lys’ motivation and desires - and we receive a massive amount of internal monologue to be evaluate those thoughts and desires. The twist was still enjoyable and was definitely unpredicted, but it didn’t quite stick in terms of story coherence.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and found the world-building gorgeous. I am curious to see where the author goes next with the story, and will pick up the sequel when it is published.

The Lost Reliquary is my introduction to Lyndsay Ely and let me just say this: WOOOOW. This book was sooo good!!

I love a strong FMC, and feel like I'm always searching for more of them, and Lys absolutely fits that bill. She's witty, headstrong, and such a beautifully written character. The tension between Lys and Nolan?😍🥵 So well done. I'd probably get banned if I said what I want to see between them, so I'll just leave it at I cannot wait to see their story evolve🤭

I want to see Nolan through his eyes, to get to know the "real" him and not only seeing him through the pov of Lys. Handsome, tortured, and knows how to handle a weapon? Yes please!!

I was hooked and hated putting this book down. I finished it in maybe 2 days (since I had to sleep sometime😅) and I absolutely need more!!

A big thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for the chance to read this!!

I had SO much fun reading The Lost Reliquary! From the very first page, the author’s writing draws you in and hooks you. Lys's character is strong, badass, and memorable. I loved the writing and cannot wait to continue the series. Thank you Saga Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

This is a fun and awful road trip adventure with two rivals sent by their goddess— who was nearly killed by a magical weapon — to find more of the weapon that could, in fact, kill her. If they succeed they shall be rewarded with more than they could ever dream of: positions, power, proximity to their goddess and her endless love. Only, Lys wants very badly for her goddess to die, but she also needs Nolan’s help to find the mystery weapon. Nolan, on the other hand, having seen his goddesses physical body injured … wants to be the new avatar. If he finds out what Lys is up to, he’ll kill her.

This is how you do rivals to friends and — maybe in the next book — lovers. The differences between them, as well as the similarities make for some fun banter. Nolan is an asshole, a zealot, but he’s not terrible. Just, like Lys, very flawed. As children they were indoctrinated into the cult of their goddess, kept close so they could feel her divine love, tortured, broken, and trained to be devoted tools who would do anything for her. Where Lys had the ability to rebel, Nolan didn’t. Or chose not to.

They romp across the world, following leads, and for the first time seeing the world outside of their goddess’s control. They make friends. They eat different food, wear different clothing, and start to be more than just what they’ve been trained to be. There’s a lot of murder in this book, some justified, some not. There are well written moments where Lys forces herself to face the consequences of her actions, moments where she turns away from them.

The mythology, the magic, the ways in which religion is used and the ways in which humans take advantage of their gods; how faith and hope and love twine and twist around control, power, myths and zealotry; the constant double crosses and triple crosses and grand reveals and final battles … the pace is perfect, never lingering too long and always keeping the focus on Lys’s thoughts and emotions. Every decision she makes feels natural and organic.

But given how events unfold in the book, poor Nolan is going to be going through a lot in book two. Lys, herself, won’t be having a fun time either, but at least she was able to make a choice for herself. This is an excellent first book, setting up the world and its gods, the stakes, and the various players in the game. It also sets up the growing friendship between Nolan and Lys.

I really enjoyed this book and am eagerly looking forward to the next one. Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

Devotion is the purest form of love
The Lost Reliquary is a witty, fast paced and thought provoking epic fantasy. We meet Lys, a trained warrior of the last living goddess - blessed by their blood. Although the blessed part is debatable, based on what we learn from Lys. Our friend is forced to serve her goddess and fights internal conflicts as well as physical ones to find her answers. Oddly enough, the deeper she digs, the more questions arise and we are left to ponder what devotion to a god truly means.

There were perfectly satisfying plot twists, that had me up in arms! The inner monologue of Lys is spot on and her commentary is that of a friend anyone would love to have. We even have an animal companion, I’ll give you one spoiler, it’s a horse.

The characters are very nuanced and Ely truly had me guessing until the very end. Fast paced, intriguing plot and lore, and most importantly the magic system made sense and wasn’t overly complicated. This is a definite and easy 5 star read and I can honestly say, I enjoy Ely’s writing style and will read whatever she puts out next!

Thank you to @lynzely and @sagapress @netgalley for this amazing journey!

Mixed feelings here. The beginning was really good. The ending was fantastic. But for me, the middle sagged heavily. I think ultimately that the pacing in the second act was off, and a lot of the scenes seemed either repetitive or inconsequential. If all of that had been tightened up, I would have enjoyed the book more. Still, I was satisfied with the ending, and I’ll most likely pick up the second in the series.

I received a free copy from Saga Press via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Publish date October 21st, 2025.

I requested this book based on its striking cover and comps to Gideon the Ninth and Godkiller. In The Lost Reliquary, Lys is a reluctant potentiate to the cruel fire goddess Tempestra-Innara. When a heretic attack leaves the goddess and many of Lys' fellow dedicates injured, Lys is freed from the cloisters for the first time in her life on a mission to find the heretics--a once in a lifetime opportunity for Lys to plot to kill the goddess.

The core of The Lost Reliquary is Lys' struggle between her forced reverence of the goddess and her passionate hatred of being bound to uphold Tempestra-Innara's cruel laws. The goddess' holy light forces their dedicates to worship them, and induces an addictive craving to please. The only way Lys can escape is through Tempestra-Innara's death--she can't run away without going into godly withdrawal. Lys' combination of involuntary fawning devotion and seething hatred is compelling, and carries much of the plot. However, Lys' other defining trait is an irreverent snarkiness that no doubt invited the Gideon the Ninth comp. While other readers may differ, I found Lys' constant witticisms and inability to take anything seriously a bit grating. Her obvious love of horses was sweet, though.

Despite the comparison to two queer novels, Lys only ever expresses attraction to men. (Although perhaps I can hold out hope for a sapphic romance in book two.) I found this to be a disappointment, but I did enjoy Ely's handling of the main relationship between Lys and the cold and fanatically devoted Nolan, who's sent on the mission with her. Nolan is an interesting character in his own right, an opaque manipulator who hides his true thoughts under a mask of standoffishness. Most authors would jam in an obligatory romance, but Ely resists the temptation. Lys even comments early on that Nolan is annoyingly attractive, but as they get to know each other better, these thoughts seem to disappear. An interesting approach, and I'm glad their relationship wasn't romantic.

The worldbuilding was a touch spare, but it suited the protagonists. Cloistered Lys only knows Tempestra-Innara, devotion, and stories of the old gods, and we don't get much more detail. Just as Lys knows little to nothing about the lands outside Tempestra-Innara's domain, we don't learn anything about them either. The plot tends a little towards the predictable fantasy journeying of a quest, but there are a handful of really excellent twists I won't spoil that keep the plot tense. Including the last chapter--based on that ending, it's clear Ely is planning a direct sequel.

An interesting debut about being bound to a goddess you hate. Recommended for fans of Godkiller or Frances Hardinge's Deeplight.

Oh, this book was fantastic. It so wonderfully presents the ideas of faith and devotion and the way both love and hate exist side by side.

The world is so beautifully built, gods long dead but still influencing the shape of the world. There is just the right amount of snark, Lys pushing every boundary that she meets. This book is everything that I love about fantasy; it's absolutely incredible.

The Lost Reliquary immerses readers into a well drawn world that has undergone religious wars and introduces the character of Lys. Lys is a potentiate, raised within the Dawn Cloister and sent by the cloister on a mission to stamp out some heretics and return a lost reliquary. Success in this mission, could translate to rich rewards in their religion who worship the goddess Tempestra-Innara, not necessarily a reward that Lys desires but ... And Lys is not alone in her mission, she is joined by Nolan, a potentiate from another cloister who is at times ally and times competition. Together they travel to a distant land and through cunning, circumstance, strange luck, and some interesting skirmishes --did I mention she fights with a scythe in each hand-- we reach the apex of the plot. But, as in so many good series, the first book ends by pulling the rug out from under us and everything seems to fall apart. The combination of an interesting plot, vibrant world-building, complex characters, and a pov character who piqued my interest, all kept me hooked on this book right up to the cliffhanger ending. I eagerly await the next entry to this series to see where all the pieces land.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, S&S/Saga Press) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.