A Kingdom of Gods and Ruin

A Game of Malice and Greed #0.5

by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

Once upon a dark dream, the gods told me of our ruin,
But I wasn’t nearly as afraid as I should have been.

The walls of my world are crumbling, and it may be too late to save us.
The clock is ticking, and a cruel fate has been laid at my feet,
And now I am standing at a crossroads with the blade of destiny in my grip.

To strike would be to end us all, but staying my hand is not an option.
So perhaps it’s time to accept that my sins may cause the Fae to fall.

This is a prequel novella set 1000 years before A Game of Malice and Greed. Once upon a tangled tale of broken hearts and blackened souls, comes a brand new fantasy romance series retelling from the Wall Street Journal and Amazon #1 bestselling fantasy romance authors of Zodiac Academy. Step into this world of Fae, gods and curses unlike any retelling you’ve read before.

TW: Please be aware there is mention of rape in this story, though it is not described nor on page.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fae, Romantasy, Novella, Fantasy Romance, Adult

121 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2023

About the author

I'm a #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Zodiac Academy series. I write all things dark romance, from fantasy to contemporary, high school bully to mafia, there's bound to be a book for you!

Me and my sister Susanne Valenti now write books together and we've built the most amazing, fun, crazy reader group on Facebook which we would LOVE you to join. Be the first to get teasers of upcoming books, plus interact with us daily, asks us questions, make friends with other book junkies and find your reader home.

Join here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/19697...

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For all business inquiries please contact us at>>

mail@kingshollow.co.uk


For more information, special editions, signed books and more, check out my website here >>

www.kingshollow.co.uk

Reviews

[SK · Rating 4 out of 5]

"But the goddess of death and ruin did not rise to my pleas, did not answer my request, and no matter how potent my own power was, I was no match for death itself."

Enjoyed the concept of the movie Gods of Egypt? Then this is the series for you.

Oh my gosh. A power packed prequel to the upcoming book, A Game of Malice and Greed. I was already so curious about AGOMAG, but after reading this novella my interest has been heightened.

✔️ Fallen fae
✔️ Betrayal
✔️ Set 1000 years before AGOMAG
✔️ Morally grey FMC
✔️ Spicy

The writing has matured so much when you compare it to Zodiac Academy or Ruthless Boys. A Kingdom of gods and Ruin is a breath of fresh air, I was immediately sucked in to the story. The plot is different, and certainly not something that I've read before. The plot twists in just a 121 page novella were chef's kiss. There were moments when I teared up. The world building is so interesting, can't wait to explore more of it.

We follow Kyra's journey who is a force to be reckoned with. Full of personality and wits. I honestly agree with what she did. I can't wait to see what she becomes into in AGOMAG and what her fate holds.

The ending was so raw and heartbreaking. Y'all am telling you this series is going to be worth investing your time and has the potential to be as good, if not more, as Zodiac Academy.

Highly recommended 😉

[Ceceliaₓₒₓₒ | hotforbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There are two cliffs” … “The one you fall off blindly and the one you jump off freely.”

“Both hurt when you hit the ground,” she replied shakily.

“But I’d always prefer to see my fate coming for me.”

This novella was the perfect appetizer for the Twisted Sisters highly anticipated A Game of Malice and Greed! Monsters lurking in every corner while prophecy and destiny are set in motion. So much angst! After that ending, my heart is racing and I am eager to continue this twisted tale.

[Rebecca (life's chaotic catching up) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea how they packed so much tension, intrigue and heartbreak into this novella but it was amazing!!

A Kingdom of Gods and Ruin is the prequel novella to the twisted sisters new book coming out in March, A Game of Malice and Greed. I am so excited for this new series, the magic system is already so interesting and world building is amazing. I won't say much bc it will ruin it, but I have a feeling this may be a new favorite.

This novella had so much action and angst and just checked all the boxes and I can't wait to read the next book!💙

[Iqra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This shouldn’t have taken me half a month to finish. Nevertheless, I’m finally free! (but kyra isn’t 💀)

The story got juicy at the halfway mark and damnnn I ate it up!!

Anyway, Carioth you can chuckle darkly in my ear anytime bby <3

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "twisted sisters" are masters at world creating! Short and to the point A Kingdom of Gods and Ruin gives the insight we need in this new series. Looking forward to seeing were it takes us.

[Souhaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find that adventure, love fiercely, die bravely.

I don't usually rate or review novellas but this didn't even feel like one.

The plot and plot twists that I got in this 121 page novella was more than I've gotten from full length novels before.

I've already read Zodiac Academy( til book 5) and Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac so I'd say that I'm well acquainted with the authors' writing style but this one is so so so much better. It's like reading to a whole different authors.

The story sucked me up from the beginning, I'm already protective of Kayra and would do anything to see her get her happy ending.

I loved this new world and I can't wait to see more of it.

I wasn’t good or evil, I wasn’t kind or cruel, I wasn’t light or dark. I wasn’t anything anymore.

[elea ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was AMAZING ! It was packed with action, and was so well put together, I just fell right into the world. So much happened in so little pages and I'm so excited to read a Game of Malice and Greed because WOW !
Caroline and Suzanne never miss !

[Jessica ❥Chatterbooks Book Blog❥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Noi (in & out)]

50%
I didn't love the smut at 7%
I am not feeling invested
I am confused
It can 100% be a me thing
-------
I'm in the mood for fantasy but can't decide/having trouble committing to a 600+ page book... this felt like a happy medium.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely an interesting novella. It definitely makes me want to read the next book. However, the reviews on the next book, not so much, lol

I think I've seen that this is series or these two books are a play on Aladdin? I'm not sure if that's true or not.

I will read the next one though, because I am curious to see where this all goes.

[lisa.]

Since I’m behind on ZA I’m happy I can start this separate series and not feel overwhelmed lol

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually amazing! I don’t typically love novellas but I was told that this prequel novella was essential before starting A Game of Malice and Greed and I’m SO glad I read this first.

I really enjoyed the world building and the magic system (affinities)! I loved all of the characters, especially Kyra, our female main character. 😍

This novella had it all, but the betrayal was definitely what drove the plot further and what leads us to the end of the novella and into the beginning of AGOMAG.

I’m so excited to start A Game of Malice and Greed next!

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ughh I literally cannot wait for the book to come out

[Chiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introductory novella to this new world.

Can't wait to see what happens to Kyra next

[Krystal- Celestialbookdragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to have an easier time rating novellas because I go in with more clear cut criteria on what I'm expecting to get from them. In this case, I was expecting to get the story of what happened to Kyra to change her from who she was to who she will be when we meet her in A Game of Malice and Greed. More specifically how she got trapped in a coin in the first place! What I was not expecting was to feel her trauma so viscerally that I ended up crying. CRYING! I rarely cry when I read books but the twisted sisters have such a talent when it comes to writing and depicting loss that I couldn't help but be overcome with emotion for Kyra and what she experienced.

The second half of the book had me wanting to rage alongside Kyra on behalf of her family and later for herself. Particularly when the Gods were furious at what was being done to her but did nothing to intervene. I was ready to fight them all and call them out on both their audacity and hypocrisy! And that final chapter? Everything was already pretty bad but oh man did that additional caveat add an extra layer of punishment to her imprisonment. I can't even imagine the emotional turmoil she experienced for the next 1,000 years. No wonder she loses herself and comes out little twisted in the head. Can you blame her?! I am sincerely hoping that part of her journey in the series as a whole involves her taking back her freedom and making peace with her past. This was an excellent prequel novella that I think will add a new layer of depth and understanding to my reading experience for AGOMAG! And I can't wait to start because I've already fallen in love with Kyra, the magic system, and the general mythology of this world! ✨

[Jess✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was completely taken off guard with how much I love this novella! The characters, the plot, the magic system, it’s all just sooo good and had me hooked instantly.

The world building in the beginning is still a bit confusing for me though so that’s why I can’t give this 5 stars; I’m hoping this will be fleshed out more in A Game of Malice and Greed.

[Kirsty Dark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly don’t understand how the twisted sisters managed to fit so much in so few pages?! But this was crack to me! My entire being is ready for A Game of Malice and Greed!

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am pleasantly surprised!!!

After how the last few ZA books have been going my expectations for this new series have been pretty low but this was actually really good?!?!?! The potential is definitely there and now I'm excited to jump into book one.

[micolreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐

This novella gives us a glimpse of the new world of the twisted sisters. I loved Kyra, and felt her pain of her choices. Can't wait to read of her in the next book!

[Suzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an intriguing ending!! I can't wait to see how this plays into the main story.

[Nicole ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic ~100 page prequel to this new world, A Kingdom of Gods and Ruin is the perfect starting point for this new fantasy series. It was, quite literally, short, sweet, and to the point. Taking place roughly 1,000 years before the events of A Game of Malice and Greed, this books gives you insight into how Kyra becomes the “genie” and all the major events and shifts in the world that take place. I loved the introduction to the new world, magic system, and characters. It’s completely different from Zodiac Academy and I’m always in awe of the sisters creativity. I definitely recommend reading this before starting the series, because otherwise the impact of the actions that took place won’t be as significant if you skip it, but also because the shift in the world is soooo different, it really shows you how badly things turned out. I loved AGOMAG and I can tell this series has serious potential to be on my favorites list!

minor spoiler below

The only thing that keeps nagging in the back of my head is the why behind Herdat aiding Kyra. I understand she wanted revenge for her sister, but you can imagine there are probably thousands of Fae who have asked the same thing, and for probably more important reasons? Not to say her sisters death wasn’t important, but she was such a forgettable character that it just doesn’t make sense to me that Herdat would accept her pleas for revenge out of anyone else’s who no doubt, have also been wronged. I wish they would have shown us a little more of the sisterly bond between them, and made her sister more important. Because at the end of the day they were two random Fae and it doesn’t make sense to me why it them who were chosen. I hope it’s something that makes sense later on!

[HERE FOR THE STEAM · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5⭐️) I managed to snag A Kingdom of Gods and Ruin from The Sisters reader group! This fun freebie is a prequel novella to their upcoming release, A Game of Malice and Greed.

We’re thrown into a fantasy world set 1000 years before AGOMAG, where Fae mix with Gods. Throw in powers, a greedy emperor, and a splash of revenge and we have a fantastic start to this complex world!

[whimsy_bookowl · Rating 5 out of 5]

”One kiss from the lips that betrayed you,
one smile for your time in the dark,
a scream for the monsters which plague you,
a debt paid to he with the mark.”

How spectacular! The ultimate start to a new dark series by the Twisted Sisters.

For such a short novella, you get steam, prophecies, action and desperation. Jump into the world of Gods and Monsters and pray they will spare you.

[Brittni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pleasant surprise!

I’m impressed with how much the authors accomplished in such a short read without making it feel rushed. We got a glimpse into multiple characters and a solid understanding of the world. This novella did its job—it intrigued me enough to check out the first book.

At first, I was a little nervous that it would be another Twisted Sisters series, where smut takes priority over the plot. But that wasn’t the case at all!

[Britni Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️: 5/5
🌶️: 5/10

Man have I missed the twisted sisters writing! So excited for this new world. This prequel was perfect to introduce us to this world and who I’m thinking will be a key player in AGOMAG series moving forward. Can’t wait to see where this series goes.

[a · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tell them I loved them more than words could ever convey.
And tell them.. not to wait to begin their adventures. I wasted my life looking at the horizon and never chasing it. The world was out there this entire time, and I never got to taste it

[Nurjana · Rating 5 out of 5]

astounded 😳 wow they did it again 👏

[Kelsi Nastasi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐️
Ooh literally the perfect novella! Kept me on my toes the entire time, I cannot wait to see what happens with Kyra and read book 1!

[Sarah Maloney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is technically a novella but I’m still counting it because it was long lol. So excited to start my journey through the twisted sisters new world! This was just a taste of that world but was soooo good already.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little worried since ZA 8 was such a flop for me, but this was surprisingly good and I thoroughly enjoyed the quick read! I’m hoping A Game of Malice and Greed is just as good as this 🙏