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We Are Dying Gods

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From the ruins of Freya's temple, a new era of gods have risen. Carrying the power of those who came before them, they're tasked with doing what their predecessors could not - protecting the realm from the time beings who want to see it destroyed. It's an impossible task that leaves them with no room for failure.

But when their greatest enemy offers to become their ally, offering up Freya's darkest secrets in exchange for their trust, Brandi begins to question who it is they should be protecting the realm from - the time beings or the gods?

Weighed down with more questions than answers, Brandi chooses the path of greatest destruction. She'll lead the rebellion against the queendom, have Sarah bid for the throne, and escort Adam Bertanal to the gods herself. And anyone who defies her will learn what it means to face the true wrath of a god.

428 pages, Paperback

Published August 29, 2023

13 people are currently reading
390 people want to read

About the author

C.M. Lockhart

9 books139 followers
C. M. Lockhart (also known as Chelsea) is a Black writer of fantasy because she loves creating worlds, exploring relationships, and writing stories about Black girls who aren't all that nice. She is the founder of Written in Melanin LLC — which encompasses a weekly podcast and YouTube channel of the same name — and the Melanin Library, an online database of books written by Black authors.

She is also a lover of video games and anime, so whenever she isn't reading and writing — or talking about reading and writing — she's watching anime, playing her Switch, and dreaming about the day her books get animated.

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Kutasha M'sango.
28 reviews4 followers
August 29, 2023
It’s been a few weeks since I finished this book and I’m still not sure if I can put my thoughts into a coherent review without too many spoilers. I tried my best over on the ⏰ app but my review ended up just being me talking about how much I loved the book and how the characters made me feel throughout the book which definitely included a few spoilers. Although I think they are mainly spoilers for the first book 🤷🏾‍♀️ I don’t know if I’ll be able to write a coherent review for this book but I’m going to give it my best shot.

I loved everything about this book. From the expansion on the world building, the revelations and plot twists and the growth of some of the characters.
Brandi remains one of my favorite FMCs ever. She was really put through the ringer in this book and I loved how she reacted to every revelation and situation. She truly is a badass. Sarah also has a special place in my heart even though she drove me crazy for most of this book. Everyone was also talking crazy to and about Sarah and I really needed them to stop. “Not to much on my girl Sarah” She did need to get it together though. Freya shocked the hell out me in this book. When Chelsea says she writes books about black girls who aren’t all that nice she really means it!!

I will continue to be in awe of Chelsea’s mind because this world she created is so fascinating, beautiful and amazing. Also the way she manages to balance this phenomenal world building with a character driven story is incredibly!
10s across the board!! 5/5⭐️
Y’all need to read this series!! It my favorite New Adult fantasy series!!

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for KMart Vet.
1,575 reviews84 followers
August 28, 2023
"We Are Dying Gods" by C.M. Lockhart continues the captivating journey begun in the first book of the series. It opens with a bang, mid-battle with emotions still raw. In this installment, the realm's new generation of gods faces the daunting task of safeguarding their world against the time beings. Carrying the weight of their predecessors' powers, they must navigate a treacherous landscape and confront an enemy that could lead to their downfall.

Lockhart weaves a tapestry of intrigue and lore in this sequel, delving deeper into the intricate mythology of the world. The narrative expands what we know already, allowing readers to explore a wider realm and witness the characters' struggles and triumphs. The central character, Brandi, shines even brighter as her complexities are further explored. Her relationships, growth, and the choices she makes are at the heart of the story, showcasing themes of forgiveness, empowerment, difficult choices, and losing faith. The blurred lines between friend and foe add even more depth. As a weary Brandi navigates a path of rebellion and challenges the established order, the story delves into the consequences of taking power. The other character arcs are thoughtfully developed, particularly that of Sarah, whose evolution from vulnerability to strength is a compelling highlight even if I want to shake her often. ;)

Lockhart's ability to balance intricate world-building with character-driven storytelling remains impressive. The intricate relationships, particularly among the gods and their allies, continue to captivate, drawing readers in. "We Are Dying Gods" is an engaging and thoughtful continuation of the series. I absolutely can't WAIT to see more.

I received this as an ARC for the lovely author and this is an honest review.
Profile Image for TashaReads.
19 reviews
July 23, 2023
It's time for a book review ✨️

𝐖𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐨𝐝𝐬 | 𝐂. 𝐌. 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★★★★★
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝗡𝗔 𝗙𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆

⇘ 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ⇙

💚  Before I start, I would like to thank the author for letting me be able to read the 2nd book of this series.

💚 I absolutely am in love with the first book, and this series is definitely my #1 favorite fantasy series. I am OBSESSED with every little thing! From the story to the characters, to the lore of the world. This book picks up right where the 1st book ends, and it charges straight into the story. From start to finish, again.. I was mind blown by the main character. I never thought I would come across a book where I would feel so attached to character, and I feel this way with Brandi. The way she carries herself and handles each situation is with such boldness, I can't help but love her.

💚 If you read the first book, any questions you have will definitely be answered since a lot of the backstory with Freya unfolds. You even learn more about the Queendom .. which, again, the author does amazing with telling the lore of the world she has created with this story.

💚 I absolutely NEED the 3rd book, and I am so excited for you all to read the 2nd book! This is a 5/5 stars (honestly, it breaks my scale, lol). I am still mind blown by how this ended. This second book will not disappoint you!
Profile Image for Bookish_Pixie.
45 reviews4 followers
July 19, 2023
I have so many thoughts about this book and they are all positive. First off, C.M. Lockhart wrote her butt off in this book. The representation I felt in the characters, mainly Brandi, was something I haven't felt since I read Minion by L.A. Banks as a teenager (I'm in my 30s now). I loved the world building, character development, plot twists and magic use. My questions from book one were answered so I am very pleased. 5/5

The concept of forgiveness was a theme i really enjoyed throughout the book because of how the author chose to have the main character handle it. I was not disappointed. Also, respectability politics was addressed and how sometimes a more direct/firm approach is needed.
The pacing of the book didn't bother me. I felt like the author had the characters explain the timeline of everything in the first few chapters so I felt comfortable where with the story was taking me. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the other realms we got to visit and how the realms correlated with Brandi.
Brandi really is a character that I can read about all day. The relationship between Freya and Brandi had me wanting to call my therapist due to my own mommy issues that I'm still trying to work out. This book was very healing in a way that I did not expect.

Now, controversial hot take: I don't hate Sara! I feel like her character is necessary to the storyline. Her character is very realistic and realistically this kind of personality annoys the crap out of me. The fact that Sara can irk my nerves is because she reminds me of people i have had to deal with. Her annoying nature is just a testiment to how well C.M. Lockhart wrote her.

On to my favorite,"Tiki is Tiki." That shader is my favorite character next to Brandi. I was so happy to have more of them in this book.

If you love fantasy and you tend to enjoy more of an antihero vibe from a female lead this is the book for you series for you.

Check Trigger Warnings
Profile Image for Damilola.
218 reviews15 followers
September 18, 2023
Wow, I am absolutely speechless. This was such a great sequel and set-up book 3 without making me feel empty. I’m in awe really. I don’t even know what to say honestly just wow 🤩
Profile Image for Bookish_Pixie.
45 reviews4 followers
July 19, 2023
I have so many thoughts about this book and they are all positive. First off, C.M. Lockhart wrote her butt off in this book. The representation I felt in the characters, mainly Brandi, was something I haven't felt since I read Minion by L.A. Banks as a teenager (I'm in my 30s now). I loved the world building, character development, plot twists and magic use. My questions from book one were answered so I am very pleased. 5/5

The concept of forgiveness was a theme i really enjoyed throughout the book because of how the author chose to have the main character handle it. I was not disappointed. Also, respectability politics was addressed and how sometimes a more direct/firm approach is needed.
The pacing of the book didn't bother me. I felt like the author had the characters explain the timeline of everything in the first few chapters so I felt comfortable where with the story was taking me. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the other realms we got to visit and how the realms correlated with Brandi.
Brandi really is a character that I can read about all day. The relationship between Freya and Brandi had me wanting to call my therapist due to my own mommy issues that I'm still trying to work out. This book was very healing in a way that I did not expect.

Now, controversial hot take: I don't hate Sara! I feel like her character is necessary to the storyline. Her character is very realistic and realistically this kind of personality annoys the crap out of me. The fact that Sara can irk my nerves is because she reminds me of people i have had to deal with. Her annoying nature is just a testiment to how well C.M. Lockhart wrote her.

On to my favorite,"Tiki is Tiki." That shader is my favorite character next to Brandi. I was so happy to have more of them in this book.

If you love fantasy and you tend to enjoy more of an antihero vibe from a female lead this is the book for you series for you.

Check Trigger Warnings
Profile Image for Tatiana Obey.
Author 9 books163 followers
August 29, 2023
We Are Dying Gods is the sequel to the epic fantasy novel, We Are the Origin by C.M. Lockhart. In order to defeat a group of time beings from destroying the world, as only mortals can defeat time, the gods have transferred their powers to Brandi and her crew. Brandi, a former assassin, now has to figure out how to save the realms. Or does she even want to?

Full disclosure, I beta read this book so I'm a little biased, but I enjoyed this installment even more than the first. The sequel featured more revelations, more of Brandi taking care of business, and more growth for the main character. We get new information on old characters as well as exciting introductions to new ones. The author’s tagline, “I write Black girls who aren’t all that nice,” certainly holds just as true for the first book as well as the sequel. In addition, it is refreshing to read a Black MC who is selfish and who unapologetically chooses herself and her wellbeing over the fate of the realms. I love a great unapologetic morally grey character and Brandi is a wonderful character that stands out within the fantasy genre. I can’t wait to see where this author goes from here.
Profile Image for S. Nicole.
Author 1 book16 followers
November 1, 2023
Unfortunately, I have had to DNF this installment of this series. The first book was so much fun and for those who love this series, I'm sure the final novel will be a wonderful ending to this story, however this one was not for me.

I prefer a lighter read, not in complexity, but in feel. This novel was simply too heavy and dark. It felt cold to me personally, so it wasn't much fun. The first one had balance (from what I remember) of dark and fun moments with Noble being a more joking character and some interactions that felt more lighthearted even though these circumstances are dark. However, this one was a lot more frigid. The characters were more mean and I felt as if I no longer knew them.

I'm leaving a 3 star review since the series has a great storyline and intriguing plot. It's not a bad series, just no longer my taste. I was more detailed in my comment under Tya C.'s 3 star review.

Happy Reading!
Profile Image for Nikita Mzamo.
38 reviews1 follower
February 12, 2024
C.M. Lockhart, my angel. If you are reading this I have some tips for you 'cause your books are sooooo good.

For one, this is the second book of a series and I didnʼt know that 'cause you donʼt have a series name so this is not listed under a series.

Secondly, you need to add more tags. Your summary is already a short little paragraph so your tags are gonna need to give the readers something or they wonʼt be interest enough. “fantasy” and “gods” arenʼt enough. You need to have at LEAST 10 tags to attract wider audiences. Like, look at the low number of reviews and ratings in both books.

The cover is GORGGGG, the title is intriguing but they are not enough. Only someone who is really curious or bored will bother getting the book based on so little info.
Profile Image for Brittney Thomas .
173 reviews1 follower
September 9, 2023
I enjoyed reading this book! It has so much depth and complexity to uncover. Freya's character surprised me. Brandi handled everything thrown at her and showed great resilience. I do not doubt that she will continue to be a badass goddess. I was thrilled to see Sarah step up and try to understand the events happening around her. I can't wait for her and Brandi to form a powerful alliance. The character growth in this book is amazing. I even think that Sarah will become someone who Noble will fall for. I'm excited for more between Brandi and her father .The book's message to me was about overcoming your circumstances and not giving up on being your best self.
Profile Image for Sunny F.
66 reviews2 followers
December 15, 2023
I was expecting just as much fighting I this book as the first one. But, there was a lot of plot building. Just as it started to get exciting, it ended. Don’t get me wrong, I’m eagerly awaiting the next book. But I hope it’s a healthy balance of book one and two.

I mostly enjoyed Brandi’s growth throughout this story. I understood her coming to terms with her relationship with Freya. The story of the shaders and their changes had me on the edge of my seat! Not to mention I’ve started to dislike Sarah a little less. Her character arc was long awaited. Overall this was a pretty good book. There’s definitely a lot of unpacking of information, but it was worth the read.
Profile Image for Shanara.
123 reviews6 followers
February 19, 2024
Answering Questions

This book definitely answered some questions from book 1 surrounding the main theme of why?
Everything is starting to make sense and just like I thought or assumed from book 1, the gods are selfish asf and deserve whatever destruction is coming their way.
Very happy my girl Brandi is finally getting her answers and also that she is able to lean more into her power. I need book 3 asap because I just HAVE to know what her domain will look and how things will end.
1 review
August 29, 2023
I had the privilege to read this book before its release to the general public and why haven’t you already added it to your shopping list. It’s a book you can sit and devour in less then day without feeling as though the pacing had been compromised. The author has a fantastic mind and I’m lucky to see her world!
2 reviews
August 29, 2023
I was blessed enough to read this book before release and I plan on reading it again when my copy arrives. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the second entry to the Wrath of the Gods series. The twists and turns C.M. Lockhart takes Brandi and her team through had me glued to each page. Pick this book up!
Profile Image for Brandi - RomanceStanAccount.
91 reviews1 follower
January 18, 2025
This series had amazing storytelling and world building. I loved all the characters and the roles they played in the story. I really hope Book 3 is coming. That being said what an amazing introduction this series was to this author. It is so nice finding authors that are amazing and diving into their works. I can't wait to read more from her.
258 reviews1 follower
September 1, 2024
A worthy follow-up to its predecessor.

Enjoyed the new plot and character twists but Sarah remains just as annoying as in the last book. Do we really need her here?
Profile Image for _shauneereads.
28 reviews
June 22, 2024
If you like Gods & Goddesses, this is the book for you. If you like black fantasy, this is the book for you. If you want to read about a black woman being unapologetically NOT NICE & selfish, this is the book for you. I loved Brandi, I loved the world building & all of those twist & turnsss… there was so much revealed in this book. Can’t wait for book 3!!!
Profile Image for Shyheim Williams.
14 reviews22 followers
August 28, 2023
We Are Dying Gods is a fast track, action packed fantasy novel that leaves you wanting more rage, vengeance and gore. Brandi and the gang’s ascension will be a story you’ll never get tired of. I really enjoyed watching the characters grow beyond their limits and insecurities, developing new relationships, and watching the rose-tinted glasses slide down their noses as they learn more about their worlds and the gods they serve.
Profile Image for Tya C..
373 reviews103 followers
Read
August 28, 2023
I read the first book in this series, We Are the Origin, last year and really enjoyed it, so I couldn’t wait for the sequel! However, this one just did not work for me. I DNF’d at 44% in.

There were a few things I did enjoy, so we’ll start with those. I always have and always will love the shaders! And I especially loved the baby shader Ronka who was introduced in this novel. So adorable!😍 I loved the chapter headings and highlighted several of them! The writing of those was gorgeous. And I was very intrigued by some *reveals* that happened in this story. (I obviously can’t say what because of spoilers lol) I found those very interesting and I thought they would move the story forward.

But honestly, I was almost halfway done with this book and NOTHING had happened. All they did was sit in the woods and talk… It felt like one long scene. They didn’t change locations, no action had happened since the first few pages, most of the conversations that were had were either unimportant or could’ve been had later in the book after the actual story started, NOTHING was happening. The story did not move forward at all. And I thought once the *reveals* that I mentioned earlier happened, that the story would move along, but nope, they’re still just sitting in the woods talking…

I also did not enjoy how much meaner (and weaker) the characters were in this novel. I understand that the main character, Brandi, is not supposed to be nice, and I enjoyed her not-so-niceness in the first book, but in this one she’s a straight bully. And Sarah, who is another character that I liked in the first book was so much weaker in this one. And don’t get me started on Noble, who is even meaner than Brandi. I just couldn’t stand any of the characters in this book, and that was very disappointing because I enjoyed some of these characters in the last one.

This was just a disappointing sequel for me. I tried to push through so I could continue the series, but I just can’t. Maybe another day when I can prepare myself for the slow pace, I’ll pick this back up so that I can try the next book.

Thank you to the author for this arc. All opinions are my own.
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