What do you think?
Rate this book
House of Shadows #2
Queen of Gods
Return to the Underworld...
Deina has finally found what matters most to her in all the world. And lost it. To save the one she loves, she's bound herself to the Underworld and an endless future of darkness.
But not even her sacrifice is enough to secure Theron or her friends' safety in the mortal realm. Aristaeus has seized power in Thebes and his tyrannical reign is a constant, looming threat to their lives.
So when Deina is offered the chance to destroy him and the gods altogether, she sets out on a new quest. But to succeed, she must turn away from everything she holds true.
In a game with the gods, the rewards are infinite . . . but the punishments are eternal.
Be prepared for a nail-biting race for survival in the breathtaking sequel to Daughter of Darkness .
Deina has finally found what matters most to her in all the world. And lost it. To save the one she loves, she's bound herself to the Underworld and an endless future of darkness.
But not even her sacrifice is enough to secure Theron or her friends' safety in the mortal realm. Aristaeus has seized power in Thebes and his tyrannical reign is a constant, looming threat to their lives.
So when Deina is offered the chance to destroy him and the gods altogether, she sets out on a new quest. But to succeed, she must turn away from everything she holds true.
In a game with the gods, the rewards are infinite . . . but the punishments are eternal.
Be prepared for a nail-biting race for survival in the breathtaking sequel to Daughter of Darkness .
421 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2023
31 people are currently reading
2948 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
August 21, 2023
As irresistibly plot twisty and thrilling as its predecessor, Queen of Gods was one of my most anticipated reads for 2023 (having absolutely devoured the first book, Daughter of Darkness last year), so imagine my excitement when I was offered an early copy (which, obviously I accepted.)
And I’m glad I did, because the expansion of the setting (which sees our intrepid protagonists explore beyond the underworld) and the exquisite attention to detail that I’ve come to love in Katharine and Elizabeth’s writing, really added an immersive element that brought this world (and it’s endearing, depth-filled characters) to life.
Deina, having only recently discovered her parentage (and having bound herself to the underworld in order to save her friends) is still coming to terms with what it means to be a Demi-god and all the powers that come with it, which is something I found really intriguing. As was the emotional character progression we see Deina embark on (that’s initially spurred by her conflicting feelings for Theron and Nat), but which ultimately delves into the themes of nature vs. nurture, ethics and what it means to be human.
But don’t worry about things getting too philosophical, as the non-stop action leads us into Poseidon and Zeus’ domains— on a perilous quest that even Percy Jackson would think twice about undertaking. Though I admit I was utterly entertained by the scheme used to enter (and snoop through) Olympus.
I should also warn that the love triangle dynamics between Deina, Theron and Nat are even stronger (and more central to the plot) this time around so do bear this in mind if that’s something to don’t enjoy. I loved that we got to see more of Thanatos (Nat) and explore his past, emotional vulnerabilities and fraught relationship with brother Hypnos in more depth.
In fact, we get to meet a lot of new characters like Hypnos—Gods and Demi-gods alike, and I really enjoyed exploring the complex (and often dysfunctional) nature of their immortal family ties. A few of my standout faves had to be Tyche (the surprisingly schemey goddess of fortune) and Chronos (father of the Olympian Gods who still doesn’t feel remorse for swallowing them as babies.)
The ending was fantastic and the plot, though inspired by Greek mythology, weaves a wholly unique and compelling tale that has me eager for more stories set in this fabulous world. So, if you’re a YA Fantasy lover or Greek Myth aficionado, you definitely need to add to their TBRs immediately!
*I just wanted to note that this is a sequel, so if you haven’t checked out the first book, Daughter of Darkness then I highly recommend doing so before reading this
Also, a huge thank you to Pippa over at Hot Key Books for the physical copy.
And I’m glad I did, because the expansion of the setting (which sees our intrepid protagonists explore beyond the underworld) and the exquisite attention to detail that I’ve come to love in Katharine and Elizabeth’s writing, really added an immersive element that brought this world (and it’s endearing, depth-filled characters) to life.
Deina, having only recently discovered her parentage (and having bound herself to the underworld in order to save her friends) is still coming to terms with what it means to be a Demi-god and all the powers that come with it, which is something I found really intriguing. As was the emotional character progression we see Deina embark on (that’s initially spurred by her conflicting feelings for Theron and Nat), but which ultimately delves into the themes of nature vs. nurture, ethics and what it means to be human.
But don’t worry about things getting too philosophical, as the non-stop action leads us into Poseidon and Zeus’ domains— on a perilous quest that even Percy Jackson would think twice about undertaking. Though I admit I was utterly entertained by the scheme used to enter (and snoop through) Olympus.
I should also warn that the love triangle dynamics between Deina, Theron and Nat are even stronger (and more central to the plot) this time around so do bear this in mind if that’s something to don’t enjoy. I loved that we got to see more of Thanatos (Nat) and explore his past, emotional vulnerabilities and fraught relationship with brother Hypnos in more depth.
In fact, we get to meet a lot of new characters like Hypnos—Gods and Demi-gods alike, and I really enjoyed exploring the complex (and often dysfunctional) nature of their immortal family ties. A few of my standout faves had to be Tyche (the surprisingly schemey goddess of fortune) and Chronos (father of the Olympian Gods who still doesn’t feel remorse for swallowing them as babies.)
The ending was fantastic and the plot, though inspired by Greek mythology, weaves a wholly unique and compelling tale that has me eager for more stories set in this fabulous world. So, if you’re a YA Fantasy lover or Greek Myth aficionado, you definitely need to add to their TBRs immediately!
*I just wanted to note that this is a sequel, so if you haven’t checked out the first book, Daughter of Darkness then I highly recommend doing so before reading this
Also, a huge thank you to Pippa over at Hot Key Books for the physical copy.
July 22, 2023
I loved the first book (Daughter of Darkness) and I already knew going into this one that I would love it too, because Katharine and Elizabeth are amazing storytellers. I will say I didn’t expect to cry as much as I did in this one, I mean, WAS ALL OF THAT NECESSARY!? Gods, give the characters a BREAK already you two. Special mention to Thanatos in this one though, he held my heart in his dead hands like an absolute champion.
Whilst I did appreciate the ending to this, I’m not ready for this series to be over. I think I need more stories from some of the other characters in this beautiful world, or an alternative ending? 👀 I just don’t want to let this series go. I guess I’ll have to go back to book one and start again.
Thank you to Hot Key Books for sending me an early copy of this one.
Whilst I did appreciate the ending to this, I’m not ready for this series to be over. I think I need more stories from some of the other characters in this beautiful world, or an alternative ending? 👀 I just don’t want to let this series go. I guess I’ll have to go back to book one and start again.
Thank you to Hot Key Books for sending me an early copy of this one.
September 21, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I do think that this was a good sequel to Daughter of Darkness, but it hasn't made this duology into one of my favourite series.
I love Greek mythology stories, and I do love the take of this duology on Greek mythology, I love the way the gods are represented and the various demigods including the Soul Severers. However, I found that there just weren't really any stakes involved for this book; anything that can be undone, pretty much is, which just takes all the emotion out of the ending, and you could easily skip 5 chapters anywhere in the book and still know what's going on. A lot of the dialogue also felt quite stiff and awkward at times, particularly when it was coming from one of the gods.
I think if you loved the first book, you will love this sequel, but unfortunately neither were really for me.
I do think that this was a good sequel to Daughter of Darkness, but it hasn't made this duology into one of my favourite series.
I love Greek mythology stories, and I do love the take of this duology on Greek mythology, I love the way the gods are represented and the various demigods including the Soul Severers. However, I found that there just weren't really any stakes involved for this book; anything that can be undone, pretty much is, which just takes all the emotion out of the ending, and you could easily skip 5 chapters anywhere in the book and still know what's going on. A lot of the dialogue also felt quite stiff and awkward at times, particularly when it was coming from one of the gods.
I think if you loved the first book, you will love this sequel, but unfortunately neither were really for me.
October 4, 2023
Reviewing soon!!
August 8, 2023
4.5 (RTC)
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Hot Key Books for approving me for an ARC of this book. After reading the first book in the series last year, I was excited to see how this duology ended.
⭐We pick up exactly where the first book left off and from there the story is a whirlwind of action and adventure. Deina’s new challenges proved to be very tense and had me on the edge of my seat.
👩🏻Deina is continually conflicted about what she needs to do. She’s trying to keep everyone safe, help Theron regain control of Thebes and try to free herself from Hades and her destiny. Whilst I could see where Deina would end up we did have a few surprises getting to the epic finale.
💓I loved Nat, he was one of my favourite characters and underwent quite a transformation himself. His complicated feelings for Deina and sarcastic attitude gave this story a lighter feel at times.
✒️Once again the world-building was fantastic, I could vividly picture each scene. This book was one huge adventure and I’m sad that it is all over. I would love to see further stories about some of the other characters too, I’m not quite ready to leave Thebes, and all its adventures, behind.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Hot Key Books for approving me for an ARC of this book. After reading the first book in the series last year, I was excited to see how this duology ended.
⭐We pick up exactly where the first book left off and from there the story is a whirlwind of action and adventure. Deina’s new challenges proved to be very tense and had me on the edge of my seat.
👩🏻Deina is continually conflicted about what she needs to do. She’s trying to keep everyone safe, help Theron regain control of Thebes and try to free herself from Hades and her destiny. Whilst I could see where Deina would end up we did have a few surprises getting to the epic finale.
💓I loved Nat, he was one of my favourite characters and underwent quite a transformation himself. His complicated feelings for Deina and sarcastic attitude gave this story a lighter feel at times.
✒️Once again the world-building was fantastic, I could vividly picture each scene. This book was one huge adventure and I’m sad that it is all over. I would love to see further stories about some of the other characters too, I’m not quite ready to leave Thebes, and all its adventures, behind.
February 4, 2024
3.5 stars*
while this one still had its moments of high stakes and interesting conflict, particularly towards the end of the novel, i just often found myself disengaged from what was actually going on. i didn’t really form any real connections with any of the characters as a lot of them just felt rather one-dimensional: theron is a singer, aster kind of cares about honour, dendris controls trees, aristeus (i think that’s his name?) is just evil and greedy, pretty much the same as the villain in the previous book except without the added interesting conflict of eurydice.
still, there was enough going on to keep me reading and i was invested in how the story ended. in regards to the ending, some aspects of it were very satisfying, but it was also almost too perfect: everything bad was magically undone, despite the points about how you could not change the past.
love triangles are blegh at the best of times, and i wasn’t really interested in this one at all. we all knew who deina would end up with. additionally, the side love triangle of dendris being in love with theron was so unnecessary and stupid. dendris is a girl’s girl and it would have made more sense if it was just a projection of dendris’ own insecurities rather than something that is for some reason confirmed by a god.
spoilers beyond this point: if i wrote the ending, i would have killed deina off at the end, deciding there is more freedom in the choice to die than to live the immortal life that she was forced into. then, the epilogue could have been about her and theron existing together in the underworld, with thanatos’ gift to them being places in elysium, the ability to travel into the mortal world and feel human emotions, even if it is just an imitation of the real thing. also, theron becoming king didn’t really make any sense?? his dream the entire time was to be a travelling bard, and so another alternate ending would have been for him to be brought back to life and for he and deina to travel the world together, him singing and her exploring. in both of my versions, aster becomes the king (with theron’s blessing, of course), because he is honourable and, crucially, not dead.
while this one still had its moments of high stakes and interesting conflict, particularly towards the end of the novel, i just often found myself disengaged from what was actually going on. i didn’t really form any real connections with any of the characters as a lot of them just felt rather one-dimensional: theron is a singer, aster kind of cares about honour, dendris controls trees, aristeus (i think that’s his name?) is just evil and greedy, pretty much the same as the villain in the previous book except without the added interesting conflict of eurydice.
still, there was enough going on to keep me reading and i was invested in how the story ended. in regards to the ending, some aspects of it were very satisfying, but it was also almost too perfect: everything bad was magically undone, despite the points about how you could not change the past.
love triangles are blegh at the best of times, and i wasn’t really interested in this one at all. we all knew who deina would end up with. additionally, the side love triangle of dendris being in love with theron was so unnecessary and stupid. dendris is a girl’s girl and it would have made more sense if it was just a projection of dendris’ own insecurities rather than something that is for some reason confirmed by a god.
spoilers beyond this point: if i wrote the ending, i would have killed deina off at the end, deciding there is more freedom in the choice to die than to live the immortal life that she was forced into. then, the epilogue could have been about her and theron existing together in the underworld, with thanatos’ gift to them being places in elysium, the ability to travel into the mortal world and feel human emotions, even if it is just an imitation of the real thing. also, theron becoming king didn’t really make any sense?? his dream the entire time was to be a travelling bard, and so another alternate ending would have been for him to be brought back to life and for he and deina to travel the world together, him singing and her exploring. in both of my versions, aster becomes the king (with theron’s blessing, of course), because he is honourable and, crucially, not dead.
July 23, 2023
Queen of Gods is the second book in the House of Shadows duology. I must admit I didn’t enjoy I’d as much as the first one which was action-packed, intense an hugely compelling. This one fell a little short in that respect and I tried hard to engage with the storyline. There were no particular elements that hooked me into the story and kept me turning the pages and therefore it was a bit of a struggle to get through.
There is no doubt it is well written and well researched, with a plethora of characters. Thanatos, the god of death, still remains a firm favourite. The Corr sisters certainly know their stuff when it comes to writing about gods, magic and Greek mythology and adding their own twist.
Overall, although I enjoyed the mythology elements and being introduced to the different gods, the plot was not gripping enough to hold my attention throughout.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the eARC via Netgalley
There is no doubt it is well written and well researched, with a plethora of characters. Thanatos, the god of death, still remains a firm favourite. The Corr sisters certainly know their stuff when it comes to writing about gods, magic and Greek mythology and adding their own twist.
Overall, although I enjoyed the mythology elements and being introduced to the different gods, the plot was not gripping enough to hold my attention throughout.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the eARC via Netgalley
June 17, 2023
I have adored reading this duology and it has truly been a ride from start to finish. I can remember how action packed and intense the first book was, and right before I launched into the release of this one, I went straight to reread the first book again and dove into the Queen of the Gods straight after.
The pace really picked up in this one and it was such an epic journey. The story was amazing, the twists and turns were insane and it so went to places I wasn’t expecting!! The creativity in this was amazing and the way the plot developed was so unexpected, I didn’t see half the things that came about to fall. It made for some excited reading!
I’ve loved the sense of adventure in these books and it was honestly so easy to read. I’ve always enjoyed reading books based off the greek gods and they’ve always provided a little extra magic, chaos and excitement to reading. And this one had the added element of something slightly dark and looming that I loved too.
This book is for sure a 5 star read easy. I only knocked a star off because something I was hoping to happen didn’t quite end up that way. The ending was so built up and I was left feeling a little mind blown, happy in some ways for how it was left but also a little bereft and sad that it didn’t quite end in another way.
Can we get a spin off book for Nat please because I feel like we’ve just started to go somewhere with him and we neeeed to follow it up!
This duology has been entertaining from start to finish and these authors have never let me down with their books. From the Witches Kiss trilogy to this one, I can’t wait to see what they’ll come out with next.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
The pace really picked up in this one and it was such an epic journey. The story was amazing, the twists and turns were insane and it so went to places I wasn’t expecting!! The creativity in this was amazing and the way the plot developed was so unexpected, I didn’t see half the things that came about to fall. It made for some excited reading!
I’ve loved the sense of adventure in these books and it was honestly so easy to read. I’ve always enjoyed reading books based off the greek gods and they’ve always provided a little extra magic, chaos and excitement to reading. And this one had the added element of something slightly dark and looming that I loved too.
This book is for sure a 5 star read easy. I only knocked a star off because something I was hoping to happen didn’t quite end up that way. The ending was so built up and I was left feeling a little mind blown, happy in some ways for how it was left but also a little bereft and sad that it didn’t quite end in another way.
Can we get a spin off book for Nat please because I feel like we’ve just started to go somewhere with him and we neeeed to follow it up!
This duology has been entertaining from start to finish and these authors have never let me down with their books. From the Witches Kiss trilogy to this one, I can’t wait to see what they’ll come out with next.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
June 10, 2023
Am I biased because @lizcorrwrites and @katharinecorrwrites are wonderful and lovely friends?
Yes, but honestly, when the story's this good it's irrelevant! The story picks up where Daughter of Darkness left off with Deina trapped in the underworld and Theron and the other Theodesmioi on the run. Whilst Orpheus is vanquished Aristaeus has seized the throne and is determined to control every Theodesmioi and every other man, woman, and child in Greece.
Aided by Thanatos, Deina must face her being destroyed by her destiny or by Aristaeus.
I was swept along on the story and the incredible locations as Deina races against time before her curse drags her back to the underworld or Aristaeus achieving his goal.
With savage emotional highs and lows, Liz would like you to know Katharine is responsible for all the deaths xD (At least that's what she said when I yelled in her inbox xD) I adored this story and ached at the end for one of my favourite characters.
Out in August you should definitely treat yourself to Queen of Gods and if you haven't already get your mitts on Daughter of Darkness!
A massive shout out to the wonderful people at @hotkeybooks for the eARC on Netgalley
Yes, but honestly, when the story's this good it's irrelevant! The story picks up where Daughter of Darkness left off with Deina trapped in the underworld and Theron and the other Theodesmioi on the run. Whilst Orpheus is vanquished Aristaeus has seized the throne and is determined to control every Theodesmioi and every other man, woman, and child in Greece.
Aided by Thanatos, Deina must face her being destroyed by her destiny or by Aristaeus.
I was swept along on the story and the incredible locations as Deina races against time before her curse drags her back to the underworld or Aristaeus achieving his goal.
With savage emotional highs and lows, Liz would like you to know Katharine is responsible for all the deaths xD (At least that's what she said when I yelled in her inbox xD) I adored this story and ached at the end for one of my favourite characters.
Out in August you should definitely treat yourself to Queen of Gods and if you haven't already get your mitts on Daughter of Darkness!
A massive shout out to the wonderful people at @hotkeybooks for the eARC on Netgalley
August 7, 2023
I liked the first book in this series even if it dragged a bit. This one was better and faster. I enjoyed the plot and found the characters and the world building well done
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
July 12, 2023
I have received a free copy of this from NetGalley (thank you!) and I am sharing my honest and unbiased opinion.
Okay so I did enjoy this book, but I feel like the first one was miles better. There were parts of this that felt a bit too much like character assassination for my liking, and the thing is it wasn’t as resolved as I think the authors intended it to come across as. I did also find myself skipping in places and had to force myself to stop, but it was not good that I skipped about 50 pages and still knew what was going on. This book was more of a personal/existential crisis sequel to the MC, honestly it could have just been the first book since this one didn’t really have the plot or villain elements from the last one - even Hades and the gods didn’t present like that to me and that was the main crisis beyond Deina. The stakes were also not really there, most of what she does in the novel is and can be undone despite the characters making it clear they can’t undo what happened in the past. Kind of killed the ending. But Thanatos really pushed me through this, I loved him in the first book and I still love him now, the triangle may not have been perfectly done but Nat was phenomenal throughout. These are my issues with the book, but again I did enjoy it and if you loved the first one as much as I did I would still encourage you to try this as the ending overall was enjoyable minus the issues I mentioned here.
Okay so I did enjoy this book, but I feel like the first one was miles better. There were parts of this that felt a bit too much like character assassination for my liking, and the thing is it wasn’t as resolved as I think the authors intended it to come across as. I did also find myself skipping in places and had to force myself to stop, but it was not good that I skipped about 50 pages and still knew what was going on. This book was more of a personal/existential crisis sequel to the MC, honestly it could have just been the first book since this one didn’t really have the plot or villain elements from the last one - even Hades and the gods didn’t present like that to me and that was the main crisis beyond Deina. The stakes were also not really there, most of what she does in the novel is and can be undone despite the characters making it clear they can’t undo what happened in the past. Kind of killed the ending. But Thanatos really pushed me through this, I loved him in the first book and I still love him now, the triangle may not have been perfectly done but Nat was phenomenal throughout. These are my issues with the book, but again I did enjoy it and if you loved the first one as much as I did I would still encourage you to try this as the ending overall was enjoyable minus the issues I mentioned here.
September 28, 2023
shut UP. i am NOT crying. there’s just something in my eye.
i’m having such a chill and normal reaction.
’Sleep my love, I’ll be there when you wake up’
i’m having such a chill and normal reaction.
March 20, 2024
The ending really ruined it for me🫠deffo too long overall but had such potential
September 21, 2023
Right from the start, I still did not fully like Theron and Deina but I guess I grew to be accepting because after all they are a healthy couple and the love they have for each other is obvious but more to that later.
This book was 420 pages and while the first one was about the same length this one felt longer. In a good way. So much happened that also had me question the events of the first book because yes there also were things happening but not even close to as much as had happened here.
I wished I could have read about Dendris, Aster and Theron's way more, when they tried to flee but there was still so much. Deina getting a way out of the Underworld - twice - and getting her group together, finding ways into Poseidon's and Zeus' realms and her way to find what she is looking for. No matter how bad it was I just knew Deina would survive and they would get through, even when Theron died I knew it wasn't permanent and no matter what they all had their part, they all contributed to their success. I just wish Archis and her brother could have been reunited.
I also love that Deina got the freedom she dreamed of, that she did not have to be in the Underworld for the rest of her time, if she doesn't wish to and that her friends also got their happy ever after.
But now we get to what I did not like. This book had more romance than the other one. So much more. And it often felt so forced. Like I came to understand Theron and Deina's dynamic and - just as I hoped - there was also a lot between Deina and Nat but so many of the interactions between Theron and Deina felt forced. The constant repetition of Theron's love confession and how he will never leave her and then again she has to chose. I cannot tell how often he said it. With the very same words, maybe in different sentence structure. I love romance, am a self-claimed hopeless romantic but that was just so exhausting and this time it had nothing to do with me not liking them together - I swear by the Styx!;)
No for real, I understood that, no matter for who I was rooting, Deina wanted to live and be mortal and in that life Theron was her partner, the one she loves most.
It was just undeniable that she loves Nat just the same, if not more. So I like to think that in death she will be with him somehow, here I would be totally open for a third book for those Deinat people (is that a good shipping name?), while I hope I am not alone I also think this will never happen, so I guess I just have to hold that thought for me, imagine it and gaslight me into thinking that it is canon. Or Nat finds someone else, he may not love as much but he deserves to not be alone anymore.
I also found it hard to believe that all the gods and goddesses just truly did not care about humans, not one of them. Don't get be wrong, yes they are immortal (or were? I don't know judging from the end) so it is not surprising that they may fall in love with a mortal and also move on from their death, everyone deserves to be able to move on, live on BUT they fell in love with them all the time, sometimes truly, sometimes in a mood and then in the end they were like "meh humans I don't care". I really struggle to believe that apparently the titans were the only one who were up to helping mortals - somewhat at least. And again can't believe that EVERY god and goddess there is, doesn't care. Yes they are immortal and can't fathom the meaning of death and all and sure they get bored. I also can understand that they won't act as a human's genie regarding them endless wishes, doing what they want and that they would not care about every single one but not care at all?? Unless their immortality (which is somewhat gone now) is in question. I also don't understand how the human's service is the only thing keeping them truly immortal because what was before the first Theodesmioi?
Anyways, I hope my review isn't too much all over the place. I loved to read this book and the plot kept me hooked. I strongly recommend this!
One of my favourites now.
This book was 420 pages and while the first one was about the same length this one felt longer. In a good way. So much happened that also had me question the events of the first book because yes there also were things happening but not even close to as much as had happened here.
I wished I could have read about Dendris, Aster and Theron's way more, when they tried to flee but there was still so much. Deina getting a way out of the Underworld - twice - and getting her group together, finding ways into Poseidon's and Zeus' realms and her way to find what she is looking for. No matter how bad it was I just knew Deina would survive and they would get through, even when Theron died I knew it wasn't permanent and no matter what they all had their part, they all contributed to their success. I just wish Archis and her brother could have been reunited.
I also love that Deina got the freedom she dreamed of, that she did not have to be in the Underworld for the rest of her time, if she doesn't wish to and that her friends also got their happy ever after.
But now we get to what I did not like. This book had more romance than the other one. So much more. And it often felt so forced. Like I came to understand Theron and Deina's dynamic and - just as I hoped - there was also a lot between Deina and Nat but so many of the interactions between Theron and Deina felt forced. The constant repetition of Theron's love confession and how he will never leave her and then again she has to chose. I cannot tell how often he said it. With the very same words, maybe in different sentence structure. I love romance, am a self-claimed hopeless romantic but that was just so exhausting and this time it had nothing to do with me not liking them together - I swear by the Styx!;)
No for real, I understood that, no matter for who I was rooting, Deina wanted to live and be mortal and in that life Theron was her partner, the one she loves most.
It was just undeniable that she loves Nat just the same, if not more. So I like to think that in death she will be with him somehow, here I would be totally open for a third book for those Deinat people (is that a good shipping name?), while I hope I am not alone I also think this will never happen, so I guess I just have to hold that thought for me, imagine it and gaslight me into thinking that it is canon. Or Nat finds someone else, he may not love as much but he deserves to not be alone anymore.
I also found it hard to believe that all the gods and goddesses just truly did not care about humans, not one of them. Don't get be wrong, yes they are immortal (or were? I don't know judging from the end) so it is not surprising that they may fall in love with a mortal and also move on from their death, everyone deserves to be able to move on, live on BUT they fell in love with them all the time, sometimes truly, sometimes in a mood and then in the end they were like "meh humans I don't care". I really struggle to believe that apparently the titans were the only one who were up to helping mortals - somewhat at least. And again can't believe that EVERY god and goddess there is, doesn't care. Yes they are immortal and can't fathom the meaning of death and all and sure they get bored. I also can understand that they won't act as a human's genie regarding them endless wishes, doing what they want and that they would not care about every single one but not care at all?? Unless their immortality (which is somewhat gone now) is in question. I also don't understand how the human's service is the only thing keeping them truly immortal because what was before the first Theodesmioi?
Anyways, I hope my review isn't too much all over the place. I loved to read this book and the plot kept me hooked. I strongly recommend this!
One of my favourites now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2023
3.5 stars.
Slightly conflicted feelings, though I did enjoy it a lot overall. I still think it's a really cool adventure story that borrows from Greek mythology while also telling something that feels fresh within the genre. The writing style flows nicely and it's an easy read. Like the first book, there's an element of quests that was lots of fun. And Theron really holds my heart. I loved how he was quite honest on multiple occasions and, while not a fan of his potential love rival, he simply asked Deina if she'd rather he stopped pursuing her and that he'd step away if she preferred Nat. I wasn't a fan of the love triangle/quadrangle, but this aspect was sweet and refreshing.
The points of the book that I had some problems with were the pacing and slips in consistency.
For the first, there was a sudden change somewhere in the second half of the book when it went from a slow to normal pacing to extremely fast-paced. So many things going wrong, so many enemies popping up one after the other and so many solutions appearing without any proper build up. Plus, a plot-twist from book one was kinda repeated.
And the consistency had to do, mostly, with Deina and her being a god. For example, there's be a section saying they stopped to eat and drink while travelling, and then half a page later she'd be thinking that she hadn't eaten for days. The extent to which she retained emotions also varied even within a single scene, as she transformed. A bit more editing would have solved this, I think.
Slightly conflicted feelings, though I did enjoy it a lot overall. I still think it's a really cool adventure story that borrows from Greek mythology while also telling something that feels fresh within the genre. The writing style flows nicely and it's an easy read. Like the first book, there's an element of quests that was lots of fun. And Theron really holds my heart. I loved how he was quite honest on multiple occasions and, while not a fan of his potential love rival, he simply asked Deina if she'd rather he stopped pursuing her and that he'd step away if she preferred Nat. I wasn't a fan of the love triangle/quadrangle, but this aspect was sweet and refreshing.
The points of the book that I had some problems with were the pacing and slips in consistency.
For the first, there was a sudden change somewhere in the second half of the book when it went from a slow to normal pacing to extremely fast-paced. So many things going wrong, so many enemies popping up one after the other and so many solutions appearing without any proper build up. Plus, a plot-twist from book one was kinda repeated.
And the consistency had to do, mostly, with Deina and her being a god. For example, there's be a section saying they stopped to eat and drink while travelling, and then half a page later she'd be thinking that she hadn't eaten for days. The extent to which she retained emotions also varied even within a single scene, as she transformed. A bit more editing would have solved this, I think.
April 21, 2024
This series was a massive disappointment. While I understand that it was an attempt at rewriting Greek mythology, there were so many inconsistencies and plot holes. Without explanation, entire elements of founding Greek myths were changed without purpose or explanation, including the actual race of the different Gods, Primordials, and Titans. Furthermore, the storyline was rushed and random, speeding past needed explanations in favor of nothing. There was very little character building, little to no world building, and no recognizable character development. Characters switched sides randomly, only to switch back with no punishment or consequence. The bit that pissed me off the most though is the fact that some of the most powerful deities were reduced to weak and almost useless characters, while weaker characters actually had power. Overall just a poorly written series.
September 30, 2023
3.5 Overall I enjoyed the story but just a few little niggles. Certain things were just too convenient and easily solved and, as with many YA stories, there were just not enough lasting consequences. But good characters in general.
February 23, 2024
Fun Read, good storyline even tho I would have made different choices
June 13, 2024
3⭐️
i disliked a lot of the decisions that were made in this book but i still liked the end.
i disliked a lot of the decisions that were made in this book but i still liked the end.
December 7, 2024
I was rooting for Nat 😭 but it was a good book.
February 27, 2025
I gave up on it half way 🤓 the storyline just got sooo repetitive and I could see the betrayal from a MILE away- although it was an OK book it just got too annoying
December 24, 2024
I never expected the ending that occurred until it happened and I think that makes me love this book more!
July 17, 2023
Well, you can tell it's a good book when I breezed through this in less than a day 😂 what a stunning conclusion to this duology!!!
Update: My full review is now available on my blog, here: https://rachels-readings.blogspot.com...
Update: My full review is now available on my blog, here: https://rachels-readings.blogspot.com...
November 5, 2023
I was kindly given a copy via netgalley.
Queen of the Gods is the sequel to Daughter of Darkness, and follows Deina as she deals with the consequences of her actions book 1. I absolutely loved the first book and was so excited to see how it would end. The sequel takes us deeper into the world of the Gods, not only do we see more of the underworld, but we also visit Zeus and Poseidon!
Throughout all the danger Deina and her friends must face, she's also coming to terms with her newly discovered parentage. This really is a journey of growth for Deina with the added high stakes from a war with the Gods. There was a hint of a love triangle in the first book but it's a larger focus in this one and I have to admit this isn't my favourite trope. I did like how it ended though, and the climax as a whole was amazingly written! Definitely read this duology if you're looking for a new take on Greek mythology!
Queen of the Gods is the sequel to Daughter of Darkness, and follows Deina as she deals with the consequences of her actions book 1. I absolutely loved the first book and was so excited to see how it would end. The sequel takes us deeper into the world of the Gods, not only do we see more of the underworld, but we also visit Zeus and Poseidon!
Throughout all the danger Deina and her friends must face, she's also coming to terms with her newly discovered parentage. This really is a journey of growth for Deina with the added high stakes from a war with the Gods. There was a hint of a love triangle in the first book but it's a larger focus in this one and I have to admit this isn't my favourite trope. I did like how it ended though, and the climax as a whole was amazingly written! Definitely read this duology if you're looking for a new take on Greek mythology!
July 25, 2023
An outstanding sequel! The story picks up where Daughter of Darkness left off with Deina trapped in the underworld and Theron and the other Theodesmioi on the run. Whilst Orpheus is vanquished Aristaeus has seized the throne and is determined to control every Theodesmioi and every other man, woman, and child in Greece.
Aided by Thanatos, Deina must face her being destroyed by her destiny or by Aristaeus.
I was swept along on the story and the incredible locations as Deina races against time before her curse drags her back to the underworld or Aristaeus achieving his goal.
With savage emotional highs and lows, Liz would like you to know Katharine is responsible for all the deaths xD (At least that's what she said when I yelled in her inbox xD) I adored this story and ached at the end for one of my favourite characters.
You should definitely treat yourself to Queen of Gods and if you haven't already get your mitts on Daughter of Darkness!
Aided by Thanatos, Deina must face her being destroyed by her destiny or by Aristaeus.
I was swept along on the story and the incredible locations as Deina races against time before her curse drags her back to the underworld or Aristaeus achieving his goal.
With savage emotional highs and lows, Liz would like you to know Katharine is responsible for all the deaths xD (At least that's what she said when I yelled in her inbox xD) I adored this story and ached at the end for one of my favourite characters.
You should definitely treat yourself to Queen of Gods and if you haven't already get your mitts on Daughter of Darkness!
August 19, 2024
This is a YA greek mythology / historical high fantasy book set in ancient Thebes and *very loosely* based on the myth of 'Orpheus and Eurydice'. It is a sequel to- and follows on directly from the events in "Daughter of Darkness" (House of Shadows 1) , which has the same set up. Pointing out that this is loosely based around ancient myth, rather than a re-telling is important, as it sets up expectations accordingly. This book selectively borrows elements from myth and existing magic/belief systems and bases its story around it.
Deina, our main female character is offered a chance to destroy not only the tyranny left behind by Orpheus and Aristaeus , but also a chance to end the oppression of the gods. Aside from the books primary quest/adventure type storyline to achieve this goal, Deina struggles with the moral dilemmas surrounding this, as well as accepting the revelations around her parentage and coming to grips with what this means for her life going forward.
She is a somewhat reluctant and atypical 'hero'/chosen one with a complex and morally grey character.
The book employs several of the common fantasy tropes including "the chosen one" and the "reluctant hero", "the quest", "magical artifacts", "hidden truth / revelation" and the "ally turned antagonist". It's really well done, and betrayal and plot twists are a major theme in this duology, but still manage to surprise the reader. Despite "Daughter of Darkness" already including a major betrayal moment, I didn't see the betrayal in "Queen of Gods" coming and was surprised again by the plot twist.
The'quasi' love triangle (because this is YA - all we're getting is a few kisses and love declarations) is also pretty well done, because it really isn't clear until right at the end which way it's going to go, and the storyline is fraught with angst, betrayal, plot twists and doubt. I was personally rooting for a different outcome, but the ending makes sense and was fine.
One of my criticisms of this story is the 'happily-ever-after' focussed ending we're getting at the cost of 'undoing' a lot of the dramatic plot lines that added to the story. I would probably be equally as unhappy if there had not been a resolved story with a HEA, so this isn't really a major point, but there it is.
I really really liked the depiction of the gods as beings beyond shape/size/gender and also the portrayal of the underworld, though I would have liked to see more. Considering that the main focus of the story was on the 'House of Hades' and the Soul Severers I personally coud have done with a bit more of a description of the powers, the 'inbetween' space, etc., but for the purposes of the story it was enough.
Overall this was a good conclusion to the duology. I really enjoyed the setting and the plot, and would recommend to those enjoying a good YA mythology fantasy read.
Deina, our main female character is offered a chance to destroy not only the tyranny left behind by Orpheus and Aristaeus , but also a chance to end the oppression of the gods. Aside from the books primary quest/adventure type storyline to achieve this goal, Deina struggles with the moral dilemmas surrounding this, as well as accepting the revelations around her parentage and coming to grips with what this means for her life going forward.
She is a somewhat reluctant and atypical 'hero'/chosen one with a complex and morally grey character.
The book employs several of the common fantasy tropes including "the chosen one" and the "reluctant hero", "the quest", "magical artifacts", "hidden truth / revelation" and the "ally turned antagonist". It's really well done, and betrayal and plot twists are a major theme in this duology, but still manage to surprise the reader. Despite "Daughter of Darkness" already including a major betrayal moment, I didn't see the betrayal in "Queen of Gods" coming and was surprised again by the plot twist.
The'quasi' love triangle (because this is YA - all we're getting is a few kisses and love declarations) is also pretty well done, because it really isn't clear until right at the end which way it's going to go, and the storyline is fraught with angst, betrayal, plot twists and doubt. I was personally rooting for a different outcome, but the ending makes sense and was fine.
One of my criticisms of this story is the 'happily-ever-after' focussed ending we're getting at the cost of 'undoing' a lot of the dramatic plot lines that added to the story. I would probably be equally as unhappy if there had not been a resolved story with a HEA, so this isn't really a major point, but there it is.
I really really liked the depiction of the gods as beings beyond shape/size/gender and also the portrayal of the underworld, though I would have liked to see more. Considering that the main focus of the story was on the 'House of Hades' and the Soul Severers I personally coud have done with a bit more of a description of the powers, the 'inbetween' space, etc., but for the purposes of the story it was enough.
Overall this was a good conclusion to the duology. I really enjoyed the setting and the plot, and would recommend to those enjoying a good YA mythology fantasy read.
Read
June 22, 2023★★★★★ 5/5
After the events of Daughter of Darkness, Deina sacrificed her freedom and bound herself to the darkness of the Underworld. Aristaeus, now in power, is ruining the lives of not just her friends, but everyone in the kingdom. And he must be stopped, by whatever means necessary.
When opportunity strikes, Deina thinks she knows the price she must pay, but nothing can prepare her for the fight ahead, as well as the losses. To go against the gods is to play their games, and as history shows, not everyone has come out of their battles on the winning side. For Deina and her friends, further sacrifices must be made, more truths uncovered, and deals with the unlikeliest of people must be adhered to all to save the people.
I was lucky enough to read the first book and get hooked in from the very first pages, and when I saw the sequel was up on netgalley, I knew I needed to read it and find out what happened to my favourite soul severers. The sequel, and final book in the duology didn’t disappoint.
There’s so much to love, from my favourite god of Death and his sarcasm, (seriously, Nat was hands down my absolute favourite and I need more), Deina’s character progression, and of course, the settings. I really liked how personal Deina’s POV feels, how we get a real and honest look at how lonely and isolated she feels, even at times jealous, and how that, accompanied with the events of the book, gives an ending I’d hoped for, but at times definitely didn’t think was going to happen.
The pacing was perfect, taking me on multiple wild rides from beginning to end. With such amazing details, it was impossible not to get wrapped up in the story being told, feeling truly immersed in the locations and the adventures the characters were on. What I also loved was how myths were interweaved within the story, but Queen of Gods was a story all its own, giving us a better look at the Olympians and their domains, and making it a standout book for me.
With more twists and turns, it’s easily another favourite to add to my ever growing list, and I really liked the style of the recap at the beginning. It saved me having to struggle to remember or rereading the first book, which I was grateful for as I couldn’t wait to jump right on in.
Did I like the book? Yes
Did I love it? Yes! It’s a great conclusion.
Would I recommend it? Yes! If you’re yet to read a book by the Corr sisters, the House of Shadows duology is a great place to start.
This review can also be found at Finally Got Around to It
After the events of Daughter of Darkness, Deina sacrificed her freedom and bound herself to the darkness of the Underworld. Aristaeus, now in power, is ruining the lives of not just her friends, but everyone in the kingdom. And he must be stopped, by whatever means necessary.
When opportunity strikes, Deina thinks she knows the price she must pay, but nothing can prepare her for the fight ahead, as well as the losses. To go against the gods is to play their games, and as history shows, not everyone has come out of their battles on the winning side. For Deina and her friends, further sacrifices must be made, more truths uncovered, and deals with the unlikeliest of people must be adhered to all to save the people.
I was lucky enough to read the first book and get hooked in from the very first pages, and when I saw the sequel was up on netgalley, I knew I needed to read it and find out what happened to my favourite soul severers. The sequel, and final book in the duology didn’t disappoint.
There’s so much to love, from my favourite god of Death and his sarcasm, (seriously, Nat was hands down my absolute favourite and I need more), Deina’s character progression, and of course, the settings. I really liked how personal Deina’s POV feels, how we get a real and honest look at how lonely and isolated she feels, even at times jealous, and how that, accompanied with the events of the book, gives an ending I’d hoped for, but at times definitely didn’t think was going to happen.
The pacing was perfect, taking me on multiple wild rides from beginning to end. With such amazing details, it was impossible not to get wrapped up in the story being told, feeling truly immersed in the locations and the adventures the characters were on. What I also loved was how myths were interweaved within the story, but Queen of Gods was a story all its own, giving us a better look at the Olympians and their domains, and making it a standout book for me.
With more twists and turns, it’s easily another favourite to add to my ever growing list, and I really liked the style of the recap at the beginning. It saved me having to struggle to remember or rereading the first book, which I was grateful for as I couldn’t wait to jump right on in.
Did I like the book? Yes
Did I love it? Yes! It’s a great conclusion.
Would I recommend it? Yes! If you’re yet to read a book by the Corr sisters, the House of Shadows duology is a great place to start.
This review can also be found at Finally Got Around to It
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews