If you're looking for your next book hangover, look no further! Because Elizabeth May seriously brings it in To Cage a God. I can't say too much but gahhh this book is everything! I could NOT put it down once I started it! Mark your calendars because you are not going to want to miss this!

Who stayed up until 2am reading, got up at 8am for work, and proceeded to read during every break? This girl! To Cage a God by Elizabeth May was absolutely amazing and I can’t wait for everyone else to get to experience it in February! Fans of Fourth Wing (as it has been all the rage recently) will definitely enjoy it and I plan to sell it to every romantasy fan that comes into the store!

To Cage a God has five POV characters (iirc) and usually I end up with a favorite, begrudgingly reading the other POVs, but I truly loved every single character in this book!

We get not one, but TWO romances in this book, and Elizabeth May delivers beautifully! Sera left her lover Vitaly four years prior when she fled with her sister Galina. Sera and Vitaly work so well together and it’s hilarious that Vitaly’s love language is essentially murder. Galina infiltrates the palace to take the empire down from within, and in the process falls for the reclusive Princess Vasilisa. (Yes, we get a sapphic romance too!) I loved the disability rep from Vasilisa and watching them fall for each other made me swoon.

Elizabeth May does a great job of mixing the sweet and spicy without losing any plot or worldbuilding. The plot is tight and fast paced while the world is expansive and deep. The world may be Russian inspired, but expect more revolution than Anastasia vibes (which I loved)! This new take on dragons, gods, and magic was exciting and had me entranced until the final page! I will be eagerly awaiting book two in the duology!

Well, this was a wonderful surprise. After reading some reviews, I was scared I would be let down by this book, even though I was so excited about it. And, honestly, I loved it. Elizabeth May created a beautiful work full of resilience, love, family, and the cruelty humans are capable of. I loved the relationship between Sera and Vitaly so much! Amazing book, and I can't wait for the next one.

Really enjoyed this book. A page turner - dragons, complex family dynamics, queer characters and complex relationships. What’s not to like? Magic and mayhem - looking forward to a sequel! Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

This was such a wonderfully violent fantasy that puts so much focus on its characters, making it bloody and endearing in equal measures. It's truly just a blast to read.

I devoured this book. I could not put it down because I was so fascinated with the magic system and the characters. I absolutely loved Gallina and Vasilisa the most, but Sera’s plotting and character growth throughout were fantastic.

There are a lot of things that induce trauma on these characters so please check out the CWs before reading this (off the top of my head: cutting, traumatic childhood pain, torture, so much violence, hiding a chronic disease, alcoholism, suicide, stabbing (some self-inflicted), and emotional abuse).

There were a lot of things that felt familiar about this book, but with the biggest difference being a magic system that involves caging a god inside a persons body - and these gods are dragons! Now one thing I would have loved more of is some rules on this magic system, but hopefully we find out more in the sequel!

My ratings are often based on how a book makes me feel and this one made me feel all kinds of things - both good and bad (so much trauma)!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️1/2

Thank you to DAW Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

absolutely gorgeous romantasy. the sisters had an awesome relationship and a fun set. Vitaly was very very edgy (and at times a bit TOO edgy) but it still worked, and the princess was awesomely fun. the romance was gorgeous, and the fantasy setting was excellent. nice work. thanks for the arc.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review*

Elizabeth May has been a favourite author of mine since I found The Falconer trilogy back in grade 11. The Falconer trilogy continues to be one of my favourite series of all time, and when I heard that May was releasing an adult romantasy, oh my GOD was I excited. And this? TO CAGE A GOD exceeded my expectations.

First of all, both the US and UK covers are two of the best covers out there. Secondly, this book was phenomenal. I was never bored. The pacing was amazing. The story was so GOODDDD. I'm desperate for more. I need the next one.

If you've read The Falconer trilogy and love the banter between Aileana, Kiaran, Aithinne, and Derek, oh my god you are in for a TREAT in To Cage A God!!!!!!!! I was hoping for banter, and I got what I wanted.

Elizabeth May, you've done it again.