Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded up)
Pub date: Jan 27 2026

*Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the eARC of this book.

This was a stunning book - especially as a debut!

The plot and story itself is intriguing - a training school for witches, where one human without magic has made it past the doors and taken up training. From the start, the magic system is described in great detail, and I admired how it was not an 'info-dump;' rather, the details were explained throughout the story (primarily in the beginning) through archive excerpts at the beginning of each chapter, conversations, and the main character's experiences. The system itself is incredibly fascinating, from distinctions between witches, which contributes to the major conflict in the story between organizations, to the monsters (Orcans) and means of wielding/practicing magic itself. The magic system was unique and not a copy-and-paste of others I have read.

Just as the magic system was described excellently and kept me intrigued, the main character (Vic) was thoroughly developed, and I came to love her as a character. Her motivations, history, and thoughts, along with her backstory, were rich with detail.

Anderson's writing (in terms of technical skill) was impressive from her descriptions to her dialogue. I loved the humor and romance aspects that were integrated into the book, as well!

I also absolutely loved the ending of the book, and, assuming that this novel is the start of a series of some sort, it did a fantastic job of leaving me on the edge of my seat and wanting more.

I do wish that some characters and relationships were given more attention and description relative to how well-developed Vic's character was. While we got glimpses into some other characters and their histories, I would have loved to have gotten more details. I also would have loved more details about the Orcans/monsters, as sometimes I couldn't get a good picture of what they looked/were like with the given descriptions. I also struggled a bit with the pacing. The start of the book hooked me in as it jumped right into conflict and turmoil for Vic and started immediately explaining the fascinating magic system. The last fifth or so of the book also picked up the pace quickly and was gripping. However, I struggled with a 'lull' for a majority of the middle of the book; paradoxically, things were changing/happening, yet I wanted 'more.' I wanted more gripping events or action, or at least a faster pace. The beginning and end of the book were redeeming, but I did struggle to get through the middle with as much enthusiasm and eagerness. It almost seemed like the events/conversations were redundant, so perhaps that explains the paradox of things still 'happening' yet the pace feeling so much slower.

My review will be published on my Goodreads account and Instagram page (dedicated to book content and reviews) on May 23rd, 2025.

Rather than following the usual hero’s journey, Liza Anderson shifts the focus to the sibling destined to protect them. The story wonderfully captures the experience of living in the shadow of someone, offering a fresh perspective on family dynamics and personal identity.

I couldn’t put this book down. I loved the twists and turns that kept the plot unpredictable and gripping.

Thank you Liza Anderson and Ballantine Books for giving me an arc to review.

I really enjoyed this book a lot and it was a fun and easy read. Vic was a nice contrast to typical tropes and almost felt like a reverse Harry Potter. I also thought the magic system was well thought out and written. My only complaint with the book was that it felt almost too short/rushed in points. I wanted to experience more of the life in the castle and see Vic build up her relationships with Xan, Sarah, and May more. Overall, it was a solid book and would definitely recommend this to others who enjoy urban fantasies!

We Who Have No Gods was such a solid intro novel for what promises to be an awesome series! I found myself so hooked on the characters, the world building, and the lore of this magical world.
Adult Harry Potter vibes with a touch of horror, monsters, suspicious parents, and magic. SLOOOWWWW BURNNN romance that was so delicious!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will anxiously await the next one because CLIFF HANGER!!!!! 5 stars!

How do you find where you fit in when you've been on the run most of your life? How do you find who you are when you've always been your brothers protector? How do you fit in with witches when you have no magic? Vic will find a way.

This was a great beginning into this series, I love a strong FMC and someone who is willing to see their flaws. A small personal favorite of mine was the use of Filipino folk lore, I was incredibly surprised to see it depicted in this book!

I will be anxiously awaiting the rest of the series! I NEED to know where this goes.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for sending me We Who Have No Gods prior to release date.
We Who Have No Gods is a page turner with the bones and concept of a good fantasy series that gets lost along the way. We meet Vic, a hard working, no nonsense waitress and guardian to her younger brother, Henry. After their mother disappeared eight years ago, leaving them with only a warning that someone would be coming for Henry, Vic has made his safety priority one. When they are finally found, it is revealed that their mother was a witch, belonging to the Archeron Order and Henry is as well. It is now time for Henry to move to Avalon Castle and become the Order's newest recruit. Vic, not willing to leave Henry, and inundated with even more questions surrounding her mother's life, is coming too.
This was an interesting and fresh take on fantasy and academia. I found the book well written and greatly appreciated and enjoyed the blurbs of information we got before each chapter, giving further insight into the Order. However, I felt it greatly lacked character development and the flow was clunky at times. The chase/fight scenes were hard to follow and visualize and the romance in the book seemed forced. It felt rushed. I feel it could have greatly benefited from a slower pace, allowing the reader to really get to know Vic and build those relationships.
Overall, I think this is a fast read, the concept is strong and unique, and it is entertaining. I would hope to see in book two more development.

I plan to post my review on GoodReads after publication date, the week of February 2nd. Thank you again for the advanced copy and congratulations to Liza Anderson on her debut.

This is my first Arc, thank you Netgalley!!

Vic has one goal, and that's to protect her brother Henry. When a secret society shows up and whisks him away to magic training she of course follows him. Unfortunately, Vic is as human as they come and she's about to enter a world where she does not belong.

Writing: 7/10
World building: 8/10
Characters: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
Spice: 🌶️/5
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For the writing, I gave that an 7 out of 10. I enjoyed the writing immensely. For the most part, I think the writing was phenomenal. There are a few places where there are repeated sentences or repeated words, but I will let it slide since this doesn’t release for another 6 months. I think everything was described really well, and I thought it was very engaging. It left me wanting to keep reading until I finished the whole thing. My only critique is that it was written in third-person but felt like first-person. In that sense, it was a bit disjointed. Normally, I prefer third-person writing, but I think first person would have been more appropriate.

For the plot, I gave that an 8 out of 10. The plot was fantastic. I was truly on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen next. It wasn’t entirely unpredictable in some instances, but when things did happen, it left you validated rather than dissatisfied. It first began as a relatively straight - forward plot but quickly expanded into something much more engaging that I hope carries through to the next books.

For the characters, I gave that a 7 out of 10. I think Vic is such an interesting and complex character. As an eldest daughter who also had to help raise their siblings, I connected with her in a lot of ways. She has spent the last 8 years taking care of her brother and picking up responsibilities that should never have been hers. During those years, she would normally have been figuring out who she is and who she wants to be. Instead, she’s spent that time in fight or flight mode, on the run from people she doesn’t know. Once Henry makes the decision to go to Avalon Castle, she stays with him because that’s all she knows. Later in the book, she’s told she needs to leave the castle because she’s not a witch and doesn’t belong there. However, she then realizes she has no purpose outside of Henry. She spent her whole life being a parent to her brother and now she is starting late in life the work of figuring out her place in the world. Vic does remain at the castle while she figures out what she wants to do, but she also feels that the castle is not as safe as the Elders keep telling her and decides to keep watching out for Henry.

Despite her faults, I do love that she is tough but also a girl’s girl. She likes fighting and drinking. She’s loud and unapologetic, and she could have easily been a pick-me. However, she makes really good friends while she’s there and I love that for her.

One thing I do want to mention with the romance subplot. This book is not spicy. Vic and the love interest do have a lot of tension, and a few make-out scenes but nothing beyond that. There is a part at the end where they are getting hot and heavy, but it was a little embarrassing that they “finished” with clothes on and they’re adults. Something to keep in mind that it did leave me with second - hand embarrassment.

Tying back into the writing, this is told in third-person, but we’re solely focused on Vic. All other characters are seen through her lens and so we don’t get the depth that I think we should have with other characters. This is why I think it would have been better written in first - person, but that’s the main critique. I know that keeping other characters vague is what gives us the surprise factor at the end of the book, so it does work. I just feel that first-person would have been more appropriate for the context of the story.

For the world-building, I gave that an 8 out of 10. I think it was very well thought out. It’s not explained in great detail how the magic works but that fits the story. Vic is a non-magical person, so she can’t see the “threads” that witches manipulate to work the magic. She’s attended classes and has her friends that explain the mechanics to her, but she doesn’t necessarily see what they do. However, I do feel it will be heavily expanded in the next book.

I liked the idea of the Order essentially existing to keep the balance between the world of the living and the dead. It does remind me a bit of The Mortal Instruments series where they hunt demons, and I loved that series as a teenager. The biologist in me loves that we got to learn the classifications of each monster, how they come through the Veil, and how to get rid of them. It could have easily been wishy-washy, but it wasn’t and I appreciated that.

The Order is described as being this old money organization, and we know old money means rich white people. It does hint a bit at the discrimination and sexism that has taken place at the Order and continues to happen, but it wasn’t really expanded besides this hate towards Vic for being in the castle but not having magic. There is this idea that the Order is tasked with protecting humans from the monsters across the Veil but they hate humans. This book is about 300 pages, so it’s not a long time to sit with this idea. I’m hoping we can expand more in the second book to have some sort of social commentary about old institutions and their lack of inclusivity.

Overall, I gave this 3.75 stars. I really enjoyed this book. I have no expectations going into it. I don’t usually gravitate to dark academia, but I think this was more dark academia light so I enjoyed it more.

Wow—what a debut! This dark fantasy delivers a gripping blend of immersive worldbuilding, compelling characters, and just the right touch of horror. From the first page, the story sinks its claws in and doesn’t let go. The plot is always moving, keeping the reader engaged with a steady, deliberate pace that never feels rushed or aimless.

The magic system is both fascinating and coherent, rooted in rules that feel intuitive yet fresh. The societal structure draws on familiar real-world dynamics, which makes the fantasy elements feel even more grounded and believable. One especially clever device is the historical blurbs at the start of each chapter—snippets of lore, documents, or in-world history that enrich the reading experience and deepen the setting. These details create an atmospheric texture that really brings the world to life.

The distinction between Born and Made witches adds a layer of complexity to both the world and the plot. The way magic subtly alters perception (like how only certain people can see magical elements, or how a witch’s shine in their eyes reveals their power) is inventive and haunting. The dark urban setting adds mood and mystery, without ever resorting to heavy exposition.

What really stands out is the moral ambiguity—the conflict between the Order and the Brotherhood doesn’t fall into neat binaries. There’s a delicious grayness to the story where good and evil aren’t immediately clear, which makes the character dynamics all the more engrossing. And the tension between the protagonists and antagonists is intricately woven, making for a rich and layered narrative.

For a debut, this is an astonishing achievement. Readers will be left hungry for book two.

This book is perfect for:
• Fantasy readers who crave dark, immersive worlds with rich lore and morally complex characters.
• Fans of urban fantasy who enjoy modern, gritty settings with supernatural twists.
• Those who loved “The Ninth House” by Leigh Bardugo, “The Atlas Six” by Olivie Blake, or “A Deadly Education” by Naomi Novik.
• Readers who enjoy stories that include in-world documents or lore-building as part of the narrative.
• Anyone who loves a mix of magic, political tension, and a touch of horror—but isn’t afraid to dive into morally gray territory.

Trigger warnings are important here—this book doesn’t shy away from darker elements, so sensitive readers should review content warnings before diving in.

Oh. My. Gods. This book completely consumed me! Vic is such a relatable main character—tough, loyal, and way out of her depth, but she never backs down. And Xan?? The broody, morally gray Sentinel with serious “I hate everyone but her” energy? Swoon. Their tension crackles off the page, and every scene between them had me holding my breath. The vibes are gothic, the stakes are high, and the slow-burn tension?? Chef’s kiss.

The worldbuilding is insane. This isn’t just a romance it was amazing! If you love enemies-to-lovers tension, immersive magic systems, and “touch her and die” MMCs, you NEED this book on your shelf yesterday.

This was my first ARC. The book name and cover are what initially drew my attention.
I felt a connection with the main character, who at times frustrated me to no end, but I’m glad. The character kept true to who she was throughout the book but had subtle growth that was genuine. During times of stress she still reverted to her base instincts even with her growth showing it in its true non-linear form.
The magic system was unique from other books and had a good foundation, I wish there had been a bit more depth given between the order of witches but I’m hoping that will come with the next book!
The end kept me on edge and not wanting to stop, and the cliffhanger at the end was not one I saw coming!

It was fun, suspenseful, hooking you in from the start. The characters are easy to love and it makes you want to read it all the more. I was sometimes even so scared I didn’t want to read further, that’s what makes a good book.

Wow! This was the first thought entered my mind to describe this book. This has absolutely everything I love in a fantasy book plus a little horror. Make sure you check your trigger warnings before you commit to this, but I loved it. Thank you Netgalley for this e-arc.

Oh. My. God. I genuinely think this is one of the best written and refreshing modern fantasies I have read in a very long time. Lately, the genre is saturated in regurgitated storylines and sloppy seconds, but this book is seriously incredible with few setbacks. And the fact that this is a debut novel???? Insane. I gave this 4.5 stars.

We Who Have No Gods is a dark academia, gothic fantasy (This is absolutely NOT NOT NOT a romantasy) about Victoria Wood, a human whose brother, Henry, possesses magical powers. Vic is your classic big sister, caring for and protecting her little brother since their mom's death. When Henry receives a not-so-subtle summons to The Archeron Order at Avalon Castle, Vic decides to go with him, because what could go wrong with a human in a school of witches?? Whie they are at Avalon, Vic meets people from her mother's past and begins to peel back the layers of the life she thought they had and the cause of her mother's abrupt death. Additionally, this is NOT a high school-like academy. It is actually typically attended by individuals who have finished college or are of that age. Most attendants are in their mid-to-late twenties.

This book captured my attention from the first page. Vic's story is captivating and tumultuous- we learn that humans are adamantly banned from any knowledge of or access to the Order, so Vic being granted permission to stay is a BIG deal. This lays the foundation for the recurring conflict of introducing new ways in a very old, traditional environment and the resistance met with that. There is very real, radical passion on both sides. Because of this, Vic is treated horribly by most everyone there, with a few favored exceptions - her brother included. Vic is an observational character with a lot of backbone - although sometimes I do think she gets a little big-headed. The plot has stellar movement and pacing and I LOVE that it's written to be real, not pretty (EMPHASIS ON THIS). The creatures, the violence, the gore, it is all described so realistically (as realistic as a creepy creature can be, I guess). This book is such a refreshing approach with raw physicality and I can't get over it. It also has the perfect villains - although I do think Aren's initial manipulation could've been integrated a little bit better- I still love it all. Vic's journey, Henry's journey, their mom's past, the Acheron Order leadership, the many diverse conflicts (physical, social, and mental).

ALSO, the romantic element is TRULY a SUBplot. I feel like a lot of modern fantasy is propped up on a cliché romantic plot, but this was just high magic, high in character development, high in world building and realism, high in exposed and unembellished violence. It does not stand on the shoulders of romance- rather, the romance is a background addition to the primary story being told- It could have used a little more emotional development though, I think.

Honestly, this entire book reminds me of the Mortal Instrument Series with more gore and less embellishment, and maybe better?? (I know that's bold, don't come for me). I would say that this is a (new) ADULT read only because of the gore, not the romance. But I also know that Liza Anderson intends to potentially spice it up as the series progresses since this book focused on world/plot establishment. Albeit a little predictable at times, I love love loved this book. The only potential setback (that is not really even a setback) is ONE character/ability combo that I think is becoming overdone across the board in fantasy- I won't spoil it for you. But honestly, it didn't even bother me that much because it is done differently and I was also just so invested in the book by that point.

The execution of this story is unreal and I am EAGERLY awaiting the second book of this series like a dog by the front door. I am so extremely confident that this book is going to be a BIG DEAL. Liza Anderson, please quit your job and write the next book immediately, I cannot be kept in suspense.

Where do I preorder????

Thank you Ballantine Books and Liza Anderson for this homerun of an ARC and debut novel. I am so stoked for the journey you are about to go on. 

*This review will also be posted to Fable, Amazon, and Instagram, in addition to Goodreads. Links will be added as posts are made*

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an eARC of this wonderful novel! Release date: Jan 27, 2026
Review: posted to NetGalley, will be posted to Instagram and GoodReads Jan 3, 2026 to better align with release date (links provided below to both profiles, reviews to come later).

We Who Have No Gods is Liza Anderson’s first novel, but you would NOT know that from reading it! It started a little slow, which I sometimes don’t prefer…BUT, this gave me plenty of time to get to know our MC! Victoria (Vic) is a classic older sibling; strong willed, forgets her own needs, dotes on her younger brother, thinks she knows best, thinks she’s invincible. She and Henry (her magic-abilitied brother) fall into the Acheron Order, a historic society of uptight witches who believe they hold the balance between the living and the monsters of the realm of death. The author paints a vivid picture of the traditions, rules, and roles the Order holds to, and how Vic’s entrance (as a non-magical human) really shakes things up. We also meet Xan, the chief Sentinel; cold, powerful, and frustratingly composed.

Things I loved:
- Our MCs (Vic and Xan) are true adults- both in their late 20s/early 30s- no kiddie stories here!
- The feelings in the story progress naturally- no random “I love you” declarations, no surprise weddings, etc. They’re believable!
- Vic is so relatable!!! I love a MC who isn’t painfully clueless, who has thoughts, who sees her own bad habits, knows her own thoughts. She is so refreshing.
- Xan’s backstory! I’m so happy to know his motivations. We don’t see his perspective, but we do get a taste of why he is how he is, which helps with the layering of the story SO MUCH.
- The ACTION! It was exciting, it was dangerous. Just enough violence and gore for the genre, and to keep me worried for the characters’ safety, without seeming impossible.
- The rules/world build! I cannot compliment the author ENOUGH! For a first book especially, this was incredible. The magic makes sense, the society uses principles from our world, the characters live enough by the rules/break enough rules to seem realistic, and I absolutely adore when author’s add little historical facts/documents. At the beginning of each chapter, we get some history/learn some more about the Order or the world, which really put me in the scene and gave me info to go off of when reading. Super super fun and helpful!

No book is perfect, so I did have some issues. What I didn’t love:
- The actual scene setting; some chase scenes/action scenes were a little overdone or quick moving. I lost track of where we were going or who was there a couple of times, and the fast pace sometimes didn’t track with the story.
- The lumen factor didn’t really seem to fit. It’s mentioned briefly in a historical quote we get, but otherwise we don’t really hear about it until the very end. It didn’t seem like all that important of a detail (but this could’ve been intentional, and Vic is non-magical and couldn’t see it?)
- Henry is a little bit of a weak character. I think this might be intentional/play in a role in what I think (& hope) will be come a series??? But I think it might’ve hindered this book.
- My biggest qualm is Xan’s size descriptions. I’m not a fan of “big huge man/tiny woman” tropes- Vic isn’t described as not too small, but Xan is described as a giant MULTIPLE times in the story, and upon meeting him. I think it’s cheesy, but that’s really just a personal preference, and it isn’t a theme that carries too strongly or overshadows his story.

Truly, bravo to Liza for her first book! WWHNG has heart, action, growth, surprises, danger, romance, friendship, risk- the making of a great fantasy book. I would definitely pick up the second of the series or anything else the author puts out!

Ever since their mother disappeared eight years ago, Vic Wood has had two primary goals in her life – to provide for her younger brother Henry and to protect him against people Meredith Wood said would be coming for him, intent on doing him harm. But when it seems that day is upon them, Vic and Henry are warned to flee, by a faction of the very group Meredith had warned them against.

Because Henry, like his mother, has witchcraft in his blood. And it is time for him to commence his training to control and wield this powerful heritage, though in doing so, he is stepping square into the middle of an escalating conflict between two powerful arcane groups.

Liza Anderson, in her debut novel, has taken this apparent opening to the classic Hero’s Journey of fantasy and turned it on its ear. Because the hero here is not the orphaned boy, unaware of his heritage until he must rise to his destiny. The protagonist throughout is Vic, his tough-as-nails sibling, apparently bereft of any occult powers, whose obsession with protecting Henry leads her to wheedle her way into residence at Avalon Castle, deep in the forests of northern New York. There, a venerable group of witches known as the Acheron Order, educate and guide youngsters born to the blood. (This training ground for young witches, by the way, definitely ain’t yo mama’s Hogwarts.)

Anderson keeps coming up with original and intriguing notions about the nature of 21st century witchcraft, from a truly fresh take on the nature of witch’s familiars to physical tools designed to enhance and expand the powers of individual practitioners. She cranks up the drama by pitting the Acheron Order not only against the forces of chaos (including some of the most frightening monsters ever put on paper), but also against a rival group of witches known as The Brotherhood, which may or may not be in league with the monsters Vic finds herself battling.

Imagined excerpts from the journals of past Acheron masters head each chapter, providing a clever and succinct way to drop expository information into the kettle without slowing down the boil.

And boil it does, as Vic meets one challenge after another in her battle to stay at Avalon to protect Henry, who has definitely faded into the background of the action at this point. His character is probably the least skillfully developed of the cast, which robs the revelations in the final chapter of some of their punch. And the author comes perilously close to slipping into Romance Mode, with Vic’s instant attraction to the buff and brooding Xan, Chief Sentinel of the Order, charged with the physical training of the students and generally keeping Vic out of trouble.

Overall, however, this is a fast-moving and often violent foray, with a gore factor and sexual undertone that probably kicks it out of YA territory. It should find an appreciative audience in fans of Rebecca Yarros and LJ Andrews.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
An ARC of this book was provided for review via NetGalley.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine books for this ARC!

4.75-5 stars! A new favorite for me and I'll definitely be buying a physical copy! This book is fantasy that teeters on horror, so definitely check trigger warnings. I really wish this book came out in October instead of January because the spooky vibes are immaculate.

Trigger warnings:
Explicit: Blood, Gore, Body Horror, War, Violence, Death of a parent, Fire/fire injury, Torture, Murder
Moderate: Abandonment, Classism, Cursing

The plot of this book is extremely unique. This isn't just a magic school for magical people. These are every day people who happen to be able to do magic, sort of like Purebloods, Muggles, and Halfbloods in the Harry Potter universe but with more magical classism/racism. These people are regular adults who go to college, have jobs, families, etc. But also hunt monsters.

Imagine: Supernatural (CW) but with more swearing. Victoria Wood's mom hunts literal monsters until one day "Mom's been on a hunting trip and hasn't come back". Vic (the Dean of the story) has to take her brother Henry (the Sam of the story) to magic school after a mysterious visitor threatens them. I will mention that there are a lot of 3-4 letter names in this story. There, she is an outsider because she can't do magic (SPN S2 anyone?). But Vic can fight, and it just so happens Xan needs help teaching his Sentinels hand to hand combat.

The worldbuilding in this story is crazy good. It's got blurbs at the beginning of each chapter that serves as historical background to the chapter (some of which are long and admittedly, I skimmed). The way you can identify who is a witch by the shine in their eyes, how non magical people can't see certain things because of it. The way the antagonists are entwined with the protagonists. I need book two immediately!!

Wow!!! This was such an incredible read from beginning to end!
We follow Victoria Wood, who possesses no known magic to her name, as she tries to raise and care for her magically inclined brother, Henry, after their mother's passing, all while hiding from the people their mother warned were after Henry for his abilities.

They end up at Avalon Castle, navigating through the intricate webs of a secret society of witches warring amongst themselves in the ultimate power struggle, while Vic is forced to grapple for her place somewhere among them in order to remain close to her brother-or risk losing him.

When Vic meets Xan and they instantly clash, you just know their tension was going to build slowly and deliciously. And it does! Overall, I'd give it only maybe one 🌶️, but that only sets it up for future peppers to be added.

Although the ending was a little predictable to me, I felt the build-up to it was spectacular and kept me eagerly engaged, so I really didn't care about the fact that I already suspected it in my mind.

Without giving away any spoilers:
This book starts off a little slow, but if you give it chance to build and unfurl, you'll see that it was beautifully crafted to carry you through Victoria's struggle to find her place in a tumultuous world she's only just discovered, teetering on the precipice of an all-out war, while fighting to stay alive against forces who would sooner see her dead than accepted.
The excerpts at the beginning of each chapter give you relevant insights into The Elders' historical documentation of the laws and ideology of the society, along with useful references to various Orcan demons.

You get magic, you get action, you get blood and gore, you get anguish and fear and raw human emotion. You get a relatable FMC and a MMC with touch her and die vibes. What more could you want?

This book definitely gives gothic fantasy dark academia vibes and I'm totally here for it.

I really enjoyed the world that we had in here. While it reminded me of many of my favorite books it also provided something new and fresh. I found the writing to be quick passed yet so beautiful which is sometimes lacking in the books I’ve been reading lately. I would personally recommend this to anyone who has been in a romantacy drout

Bold, haunting, and quietly devastating—in the best way.

This book got me. We Who Have No Gods is one of those stories that sinks its teeth in slowly, then refuses to let go. It’s layered and complex, with themes that feel deeply personal yet universally resonant—faith, identity, survival, and the price of truth.

Liza Anderson’s writing is raw but lyrical, and the world she’s built feels heavy with history and emotion. The characters are messy, flawed, and beautifully real. No easy answers, no clean lines—just pain, power, and resilience wrapped in sharp prose.

It’s not a light read, but it is a powerful one. It made me think. It made me feel. And by the final page, I was wrecked in the best way.

5/5 – Poignant, unflinching, unforgettable. This one will stay with me.


*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*