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The Fragile Divine #1
The Goddess Of
No gods or curses will keep them from each other.
Naia, the daughter of the High Sea Goddess, is an embarrassment. She holds no title and no power but is the key to a curse placed centuries ago on her mother: Naia must form a union with a god from an opposing family.
When the day arrives for her arranged marriage, she turns to the High God of Death and Curses for help.
He assists Naia under one condition—she must accept a curse, blindly. Willing to do whatever it takes to escape her mother’s kingdom beneath the sea, Naia agrees and flees to the Mortal Land.
When she wakes up in Ronin Kahale’s childhood home, she’s greeted by the warm, welcoming twenty-eight-year-old mortal. Distrustful of Ronin and his selfless hospitality, she’s convinced there’s more to him than what he’s sharing.
However, he’s her one-way ticket into Hollow City, an ominous concrete jungle infested with witches. Somewhere among its streets lies Finnian, Naia's younger brother and the only one capable of helping her hide from their cruel mother.
Naia desperately tries not to care for another mortal, but as her life intertwines with Ronin’s, she questions the lengths she will go to keep him safe from the gods who hunt her down—and the curse that looms over her.
With gods, though, everything comes with a price.
The Goddess Of is the first book in the Fragile Divine, an interconnected dark fantasy romance series about the frailty of gods and goddesses. You can expect high stakes, all the emotions, a mythology-inspired world, urban settings, mental health rep, and a little horror. The series must be read in order.
It is not intended for readers under 18 years of age. Please check content warnings as some material may be sensitive for some readers.
Naia, the daughter of the High Sea Goddess, is an embarrassment. She holds no title and no power but is the key to a curse placed centuries ago on her mother: Naia must form a union with a god from an opposing family.
When the day arrives for her arranged marriage, she turns to the High God of Death and Curses for help.
He assists Naia under one condition—she must accept a curse, blindly. Willing to do whatever it takes to escape her mother’s kingdom beneath the sea, Naia agrees and flees to the Mortal Land.
When she wakes up in Ronin Kahale’s childhood home, she’s greeted by the warm, welcoming twenty-eight-year-old mortal. Distrustful of Ronin and his selfless hospitality, she’s convinced there’s more to him than what he’s sharing.
However, he’s her one-way ticket into Hollow City, an ominous concrete jungle infested with witches. Somewhere among its streets lies Finnian, Naia's younger brother and the only one capable of helping her hide from their cruel mother.
Naia desperately tries not to care for another mortal, but as her life intertwines with Ronin’s, she questions the lengths she will go to keep him safe from the gods who hunt her down—and the curse that looms over her.
With gods, though, everything comes with a price.
The Goddess Of is the first book in the Fragile Divine, an interconnected dark fantasy romance series about the frailty of gods and goddesses. You can expect high stakes, all the emotions, a mythology-inspired world, urban settings, mental health rep, and a little horror. The series must be read in order.
It is not intended for readers under 18 years of age. Please check content warnings as some material may be sensitive for some readers.
427 pages, Paperback
Published April 25, 2024
272 people are currently reading
9304 people want to read
About the author
Randi Garner
3 books189 followersRandi is a lover of evocative words. She aspires to create characters that live on with her readers. When she’s not daydreaming about her next story, you can find her staying up too late, immersed in a book or webtoon with coffee in hand, or enjoying the company of her husband and their three dogs.
You can find her on Instagram (@randimgarner) where you can sign up for her newsletter and stay up to date with her upcoming releases.
You can find her on Instagram (@randimgarner) where you can sign up for her newsletter and stay up to date with her upcoming releases.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 500 reviews
April 24, 2025
4.25 ⭐️ CALLING ALL ROMANTASY LOVERS!
"They have taken from you your whole life, Naia. Let this be the last time."
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ urban fantasy romance
✨ mythology
✨ meddling gods, mages, humans
✨ magic and curses
✨ she's the first daughter of the High Goddess of the Sea who escapes a life of imprisonment
✨ he's the man who finds and helps her navigate the human world
✨ star crossed lovers
✨ he falls first
✨ force proximity
✨ slow burn
✨ 1.5/5 🌶️
✨ touch her/him and die
✨ high stakes
✨ hidden identity
✨ hurt/comfort
✨ mental health rep
✨ found family
✨ Japanese culture/influence
✨ dual timeline
✨ TW: death of loved ones, torture, blood, gore, abuse, r4pe (forced but neither party wants to) - check the author's full list of trigger warnings beforehand
Blurb:
A goddess falls in love with a mortal and must keep him safe from the gods who hunt her down - and the curse looming over her.
My Thoughts:
Audiobook rating: 4.5⭐️ I thought the narrator did a great job! Abigail Reno truly brought this story to life.
Story rating: 4⭐️ The Little Mermaid meets Cinderella but with gods and goddesses.
I enjoyed this book! From the very first pages, I was drawn into this world full of gods and magic. Things did slow down a bit when Naia entered the human world, but then, the story had me hooked by 40%, and by the time I hit 60%, I couldn’t stop listening. The emotional journey, the romance, and the reveals / plot development kept me invested till the very end.
I absolutely adore the FMC, Naia. As an 800-year-old lesser goddess who has endured so much trauma and abuse, she starts off feeling completely helpless and worthless. But throughout the story, she discovers what she is capable of and evolves from a submissive daughter to someone who learns her worth and fights for her freedom. Her change was slow, but satisfying. The only thing that gave me pause was the fact it took her 800 years of emotional, physical, and mental abuse from her family to finally break the cycle. I suppose with eternal gods, 800 years doesn't seem so long, but, personally, I would’ve kept trying to escape every second of every day.
The MMC, Ronin, was a gem. I loved that he was a bit mysterious, broody, and closed off but had a soft spot for Naia. He's protective of her from the beginning, and even though you don't completely understand why, there is something about him that feels trustworthy. I enjoyed the way his backstory is revealed and finding out how he and Naia are connected.
Naia and Ronin's love story was beautiful. I really cannot say much without spoiling things, but they truly are soulmates. 🥹 The way Ronin cares for Naia, providing her with a safe space when all she’s known is cruelty and pain, made me want to cry happy tears. With Ronin, she was finally able to receive the love and support she’s always longed for and with someone who would always fight for her. What’s even more beautiful is how Naia begins to care for him, seeing him for who he truly is without judgment. And the “touch him/her and die” energy they give off? Absolutely perfection. 👏 You can feel their love and devotion radiating off the page, and that's the kind of romance I want to read about!
The dual timeline definitely added so much depth to this story. Since Naia is 800 years old, she’s lived through so much, and I think Randi Garner did an amazing job showing us her past alongside the present. The dual timeline lets us experience Naia's journey in real-time, both past and present, which makes us feel even more connected to her. And as the story progresses and we slowly uncover Naia’s past, I found myself more invested and constantly aching for her. The way the abuse was revealed bit by bit had me on edge, and the fact it got progressively worse sent me into an absolute rage. It's just so unfair what she endured. 😭
I don't know if I've ever hated a family as much as I hate Naia's. Naia's mother and siblings are absolute monsters. The way they inflict so much pain onto her, infuriated me. And while I understand why her father couldn't really do much to stop this abuse and torture, I still can't quite fathom how he could watch her suffer and found myself being angry at him as well. Even though the interactions with Naia and her family were hard to read/listen to, I think Randi Garner did a good job exploring a toxic, cruel family dynamic. It definitely made me sympathize with Naia and constantly root for her to fight back. I'm glad that in the end, she escapes them and ends up finding a new family with Ronin and his friends. 🫶
The ending was wild!!! So much went down from 60% to the end, I could barely catch my breath. This story has incredibly high stakes and since it's a standalone, the conflict at the end is intense. So many reveals and plot twists that will make your heart stop. Thankfully, Naia and Ronin’s story wraps up nicely, but the ending leaves things wide open for the next couple.
The mythology surrounding the gods and mages was super interesting. Even though there were many names and a lot of history explained, Randi Garner introduced these characters and their stories in a way that made it easy to digest and follow. I especially found the gods fascinating and I honestly cannot wait for book 2, since it'll focus on the God of Death and Curses, who cursed Naia in the first place.
That said, the modern setting did throw me off a bit. Once Naia goes into the human realm, it becomes an urban fantasy (which I don't typically love), with a mix of modern technology and magical world-building. One minute, you have gods and supernatural beings, and the next, there's cell phones, cars, newspapers, coffee shops, braces, elevators, etc. The setting switch was a bit jarring. And the fact Naia knew about certain human things while being completely clueless about others seemed a bit convenient. I think the explanation was that Naia had been able to watch humans from a distance, but, I'll be honest, this wasn't really a satisfying explanation. The blending of modern and magical elements did occasionally pulled me out of the story at times. While it bothered me at first, I eventually accepted it as part of the world-building so I could continue to enjoy the story.
*Update: After sitting on this for a bit, I realize maybe it was meant to be jarring. Maybe the reader is meant to feel as out of place exploring this modern world just like Naia.
Abigail Reno was a fantastic narrator. I was really impressed with how she captured Naia’s emotions. Her delivery truly brought to life the tension, heartbreak, and triumphs of this story, and I couldn't help but get fully immersed.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The world-building was unique, the characters were engaging, and the romance between Naia and Ronin was everything. This is definitely an underrated story that needs to be added to your TBR immediately!
Thank you Randi Garner for sending me the audiobook on NetGalley! As always, all opinions are my own.
Favorite Quotes:
"You will always have a home here in me. And I promise you, that I will do everything in my power to not let them take anything else away from you. Happiness. Freedom. Whatever you want. I will make sure it is yours."
_______
"I will find you, no matter where you go."
_______
"They have taken from you your whole life, Naia. Let this be the last time."
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ urban fantasy romance
✨ mythology
✨ meddling gods, mages, humans
✨ magic and curses
✨ she's the first daughter of the High Goddess of the Sea who escapes a life of imprisonment
✨ he's the man who finds and helps her navigate the human world
✨ star crossed lovers
✨ he falls first
✨ force proximity
✨ slow burn
✨ 1.5/5 🌶️
✨ touch her/him and die
✨ high stakes
✨ hidden identity
✨ hurt/comfort
✨ mental health rep
✨ found family
✨ Japanese culture/influence
✨ dual timeline
✨ TW: death of loved ones, torture, blood, gore, abuse, r4pe (forced but neither party wants to) - check the author's full list of trigger warnings beforehand
Blurb:
A goddess falls in love with a mortal and must keep him safe from the gods who hunt her down - and the curse looming over her.
My Thoughts:
Audiobook rating: 4.5⭐️ I thought the narrator did a great job! Abigail Reno truly brought this story to life.
Story rating: 4⭐️ The Little Mermaid meets Cinderella but with gods and goddesses.
I enjoyed this book! From the very first pages, I was drawn into this world full of gods and magic. Things did slow down a bit when Naia entered the human world, but then, the story had me hooked by 40%, and by the time I hit 60%, I couldn’t stop listening. The emotional journey, the romance, and the reveals / plot development kept me invested till the very end.
I absolutely adore the FMC, Naia. As an 800-year-old lesser goddess who has endured so much trauma and abuse, she starts off feeling completely helpless and worthless. But throughout the story, she discovers what she is capable of and evolves from a submissive daughter to someone who learns her worth and fights for her freedom. Her change was slow, but satisfying. The only thing that gave me pause was the fact it took her 800 years of emotional, physical, and mental abuse from her family to finally break the cycle. I suppose with eternal gods, 800 years doesn't seem so long, but, personally, I would’ve kept trying to escape every second of every day.
The MMC, Ronin, was a gem. I loved that he was a bit mysterious, broody, and closed off but had a soft spot for Naia. He's protective of her from the beginning, and even though you don't completely understand why, there is something about him that feels trustworthy. I enjoyed the way his backstory is revealed and finding out how he and Naia are connected.
Naia and Ronin's love story was beautiful. I really cannot say much without spoiling things, but they truly are soulmates. 🥹 The way Ronin cares for Naia, providing her with a safe space when all she’s known is cruelty and pain, made me want to cry happy tears. With Ronin, she was finally able to receive the love and support she’s always longed for and with someone who would always fight for her. What’s even more beautiful is how Naia begins to care for him, seeing him for who he truly is without judgment. And the “touch him/her and die” energy they give off? Absolutely perfection. 👏 You can feel their love and devotion radiating off the page, and that's the kind of romance I want to read about!
The dual timeline definitely added so much depth to this story. Since Naia is 800 years old, she’s lived through so much, and I think Randi Garner did an amazing job showing us her past alongside the present. The dual timeline lets us experience Naia's journey in real-time, both past and present, which makes us feel even more connected to her. And as the story progresses and we slowly uncover Naia’s past, I found myself more invested and constantly aching for her. The way the abuse was revealed bit by bit had me on edge, and the fact it got progressively worse sent me into an absolute rage. It's just so unfair what she endured. 😭
I don't know if I've ever hated a family as much as I hate Naia's. Naia's mother and siblings are absolute monsters. The way they inflict so much pain onto her, infuriated me. And while I understand why her father couldn't really do much to stop this abuse and torture, I still can't quite fathom how he could watch her suffer and found myself being angry at him as well. Even though the interactions with Naia and her family were hard to read/listen to, I think Randi Garner did a good job exploring a toxic, cruel family dynamic. It definitely made me sympathize with Naia and constantly root for her to fight back. I'm glad that in the end, she escapes them and ends up finding a new family with Ronin and his friends. 🫶
The ending was wild!!! So much went down from 60% to the end, I could barely catch my breath. This story has incredibly high stakes and since it's a standalone, the conflict at the end is intense. So many reveals and plot twists that will make your heart stop. Thankfully, Naia and Ronin’s story wraps up nicely, but the ending leaves things wide open for the next couple.
The mythology surrounding the gods and mages was super interesting. Even though there were many names and a lot of history explained, Randi Garner introduced these characters and their stories in a way that made it easy to digest and follow. I especially found the gods fascinating and I honestly cannot wait for book 2, since it'll focus on the God of Death and Curses, who cursed Naia in the first place.
That said, the modern setting did throw me off a bit. Once Naia goes into the human realm, it becomes an urban fantasy (which I don't typically love), with a mix of modern technology and magical world-building. One minute, you have gods and supernatural beings, and the next, there's cell phones, cars, newspapers, coffee shops, braces, elevators, etc. The setting switch was a bit jarring. And the fact Naia knew about certain human things while being completely clueless about others seemed a bit convenient. I think the explanation was that Naia had been able to watch humans from a distance, but, I'll be honest, this wasn't really a satisfying explanation. The blending of modern and magical elements did occasionally pulled me out of the story at times. While it bothered me at first, I eventually accepted it as part of the world-building so I could continue to enjoy the story.
*Update: After sitting on this for a bit, I realize maybe it was meant to be jarring. Maybe the reader is meant to feel as out of place exploring this modern world just like Naia.
Abigail Reno was a fantastic narrator. I was really impressed with how she captured Naia’s emotions. Her delivery truly brought to life the tension, heartbreak, and triumphs of this story, and I couldn't help but get fully immersed.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The world-building was unique, the characters were engaging, and the romance between Naia and Ronin was everything. This is definitely an underrated story that needs to be added to your TBR immediately!
Thank you Randi Garner for sending me the audiobook on NetGalley! As always, all opinions are my own.
Favorite Quotes:
"You will always have a home here in me. And I promise you, that I will do everything in my power to not let them take anything else away from you. Happiness. Freedom. Whatever you want. I will make sure it is yours."
_______
"I will find you, no matter where you go."
_______
May 21, 2025
3.75 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Dreamscape Media & NetGalley for the ALC! 💌
GODS, CURSES & A MORTAL WHO STEALS YOUR HEART?! SIGN ME UP. 😭💖
This book had me hooked from the moment Naia ran from her nightmare of a family and straight into the arms (well, home) of Ronin, our mysterious mortal MMC. The stakes? SKY HIGH. The emotions? ALL OVER THE PLACE. The romance? CHEF'S KISS. 💋✨
Naia is a goddess without power, without a title, and without a place to belong. Her mother treats her like nothing more than a pawn in a divine game, and her only way out is through a curse she doesn’t even understand. And Ronin? Soft, broody, mysterious, and hiding secrets that had me screaming. He’s the kind of MMC who will destroy anyone who dares hurt her, and I ate that up!! 😭🔥
🏹 Fated Mates / Cursed Lovers
🖤 Grumpy & Soft Dynamic
🏹 Gods Among Mortals
🖤 The Heroine With No Power (Or So She Thinks 👀)
🏹 A Deal With A Dark Power
🖤 Slow-Burn, High-Stakes Romance
The urban fantasy world-building was so unique! Imagine gods and witches walking around a modern city, blending magic with the real world in the best way. The writing was lush, poetic, and cinematic. It gave me Greek mythology meets dark fairy tale vibes, but with its own fresh spin.
The narration by Abigail Reno and Benjamin Crow was absolutely incredible. They really brought these characters and the world to life in such a vivid way, adding layers of emotion and tension. Their voices perfectly matched the dark, mysterious tone of the story, making it impossible to stop listening. I couldn’t have imagined a better pair to narrate this fantastical ride.
THE GOOD STUFF:
✔️ NAIA. Babygirl deserved the world. The pain, the trauma, the yearning—I was FEELING IT. 💔
✔️ Ronin. SIR. Protective, devoted, & ready to set the world on fire for her. 🖤🔥
✔️ A curse that keeps you on edge—What did she agree to?! WHO IS RONIN REALLY?!
✔️ A mix of fantasy, romance, horror, and emotional devastation. Yes, please. 😭
THE NOT-SO-GOOD STUFF:
⏳ The pacing jumped around a bit, and some time skips had me a little lost.
🌀 The mythology is fascinating, but I needed more depth on the gods & their rules.
That ENDING. I—I need book 2 RIGHT NOW. 😭 But what has me even more feral?? Finnian & Cassian, the GOD OF DEATH AND CURSES. True MM enemies-to-lovers in a world of gods, magic, witches & curses?? THE ANGST IS GOING TO BE OFF THE CHARTS. 😩🔥
Final verdict: A lush, emotional, and utterly captivating romantasy that blends mythology, heartbreak, and an MMC you’ll absolutely fall for. 💘✨ PICK THIS UP.
GODS, CURSES & A MORTAL WHO STEALS YOUR HEART?! SIGN ME UP. 😭💖
This book had me hooked from the moment Naia ran from her nightmare of a family and straight into the arms (well, home) of Ronin, our mysterious mortal MMC. The stakes? SKY HIGH. The emotions? ALL OVER THE PLACE. The romance? CHEF'S KISS. 💋✨
Naia is a goddess without power, without a title, and without a place to belong. Her mother treats her like nothing more than a pawn in a divine game, and her only way out is through a curse she doesn’t even understand. And Ronin? Soft, broody, mysterious, and hiding secrets that had me screaming. He’s the kind of MMC who will destroy anyone who dares hurt her, and I ate that up!! 😭🔥
🏹 Fated Mates / Cursed Lovers
🖤 Grumpy & Soft Dynamic
🏹 Gods Among Mortals
🖤 The Heroine With No Power (Or So She Thinks 👀)
🏹 A Deal With A Dark Power
🖤 Slow-Burn, High-Stakes Romance
The urban fantasy world-building was so unique! Imagine gods and witches walking around a modern city, blending magic with the real world in the best way. The writing was lush, poetic, and cinematic. It gave me Greek mythology meets dark fairy tale vibes, but with its own fresh spin.
The narration by Abigail Reno and Benjamin Crow was absolutely incredible. They really brought these characters and the world to life in such a vivid way, adding layers of emotion and tension. Their voices perfectly matched the dark, mysterious tone of the story, making it impossible to stop listening. I couldn’t have imagined a better pair to narrate this fantastical ride.
THE GOOD STUFF:
✔️ NAIA. Babygirl deserved the world. The pain, the trauma, the yearning—I was FEELING IT. 💔
✔️ Ronin. SIR. Protective, devoted, & ready to set the world on fire for her. 🖤🔥
✔️ A curse that keeps you on edge—What did she agree to?! WHO IS RONIN REALLY?!
✔️ A mix of fantasy, romance, horror, and emotional devastation. Yes, please. 😭
THE NOT-SO-GOOD STUFF:
⏳ The pacing jumped around a bit, and some time skips had me a little lost.
🌀 The mythology is fascinating, but I needed more depth on the gods & their rules.
That ENDING. I—I need book 2 RIGHT NOW. 😭 But what has me even more feral?? Finnian & Cassian, the GOD OF DEATH AND CURSES. True MM enemies-to-lovers in a world of gods, magic, witches & curses?? THE ANGST IS GOING TO BE OFF THE CHARTS. 😩🔥
Final verdict: A lush, emotional, and utterly captivating romantasy that blends mythology, heartbreak, and an MMC you’ll absolutely fall for. 💘✨ PICK THIS UP.
April 20, 2025
Finally free from this torment.
I went into this book fully aware that it is a romantasy, knowing that this genre is not compatible with me. However, my eagerness to read the second book in the series compelled me to tackle the first to gain insight into the world and its characters. The setting is compelling and richly atmospheric, delivering those intriguing gothic vibes. The plot managed to hold my attention, which is a plus.
The book navigates two timelines—past and present. Unsurprisingly, I found the past timeline far more engaging than the present. In the past, I was immersed in the lore about the gods rather than witnessing the absurd romance and the frustratingly incompetent protagonist.
Now, let's address what I absolutely disliked—there’s plenty to cover. Naia is, without a doubt, the most exasperating and ineffective protagonist I've encountered throughout my reading journey. Despite being a goddess with a long history, she behaves like a petulant 12-year-old. Shockingly, even the actual child in the story displayed more maturity than she did. Her naivety was grating, resembling a fragile lotus flower—weak, pathetic, and utterly useless. While I acknowledge her history of abuse, I simply could not muster any sympathy for a character portrayed in such an infantilized manner.
The romance? Dismal. The instant flirtation from the male love interest during their very first encounter felt forced and uncomfortable. The infantilization of Naia overwhelmingly overshadowed the romance, making her come across as childlike, which only intensified my discomfort.
Now, I’m finally ready to dive into the second book, focusing on Finnian (The High God of Witchcraft and Sorcery)and Cassian (High God of Death and Curses). I expect much more depth and excitement from their story, and I’m eager to see how it unfolds!
I went into this book fully aware that it is a romantasy, knowing that this genre is not compatible with me. However, my eagerness to read the second book in the series compelled me to tackle the first to gain insight into the world and its characters. The setting is compelling and richly atmospheric, delivering those intriguing gothic vibes. The plot managed to hold my attention, which is a plus.
The book navigates two timelines—past and present. Unsurprisingly, I found the past timeline far more engaging than the present. In the past, I was immersed in the lore about the gods rather than witnessing the absurd romance and the frustratingly incompetent protagonist.
Now, let's address what I absolutely disliked—there’s plenty to cover. Naia is, without a doubt, the most exasperating and ineffective protagonist I've encountered throughout my reading journey. Despite being a goddess with a long history, she behaves like a petulant 12-year-old. Shockingly, even the actual child in the story displayed more maturity than she did. Her naivety was grating, resembling a fragile lotus flower—weak, pathetic, and utterly useless. While I acknowledge her history of abuse, I simply could not muster any sympathy for a character portrayed in such an infantilized manner.
The romance? Dismal. The instant flirtation from the male love interest during their very first encounter felt forced and uncomfortable. The infantilization of Naia overwhelmingly overshadowed the romance, making her come across as childlike, which only intensified my discomfort.
Now, I’m finally ready to dive into the second book, focusing on Finnian (The High God of Witchcraft and Sorcery)and Cassian (High God of Death and Curses). I expect much more depth and excitement from their story, and I’m eager to see how it unfolds!
June 11, 2025
3.5⭐️
мені подобається вплітання богів в сюжети роментезі, а коли пантеон вигаданих богів виступає основними персонажами, все, не тримайте, вже біжу читати 💃
це виявилась історія богині, яка втікає з підводного світу своєї матері, верховної богині моря, і від шлюбу з верховним богом вогню. цей запланований союз повинен був зруйнувати прокляття двох сімей, чого так довго усі чекали. але гг сказала "не в мою зміну" і втікла у світ смертних.
ная - нижча богиня, яка вже 800 років не може проявити свою силу, щоб пройти випробування і стати середньою, а потім верховною богинею. тому і вона і ми до самого фіналу не будемо знати богинею чого саме ная являється.
спочатку вона здалась мені трохи наївною та безпорадною, що трохи не складалось з її віком, але під кінець стрижень в героїні все-таки з'явився і вона стала подобатись мені більше 😎
ронін - чоловік, в чиї руки ная випала з моря, одразу після втечі. ну а як інакше, тільки так треба знайомитись з чгг 😁
цей мен буде допомагати наї в адаптації, ще він дуже смачно готує, його уроки з приготування це просто милота 🥹
не без своїх таємниць, але в цілому він вийшов солодким пиріжечком, який готовий на усе заради своєї жінки, тобто богині 😈
чесно, хотілося більше якраз заворушки між богами. оскільки, як тільки ная потрапляє до людей, усе стає більш буденним та звичним.. але радію, що в книзі є друга лінія оповіді, де розповідають про минуле наї. і от ці розділи мене більше інтригували. усі ці сімейні драми та інтриги богів, саме за цим я сюди прийшла з 🍿
середина книги по сюжету трохи просідала, але після 70% все динамічно несеться. трохи епіку, сутички магів та богів, розкриваються таємниці та міфи, обожнюю такі моменти. ще й хитромудрий верховний бог смерті й проклять зі своїми давно спланованими маніпуляціями, ну смак 🤌
хоч саме вирішення головного конфлікту передбачуване, але емоційно непогано витягує. тут і драма зі слізьми, хвилювання за коханнячко наї та роніна і заслужений хе для їх пари.
окрема згадка за оформлення. яке ж воно гарне, як обкладинка, так і наповнення. полюбляю, коли автори самостійно заморочуються, аби для їх історій були створені гарні арти. в цьому плані інста авторки просто цукерочка 😍
p.s. повелася на верховного бога смерті й проклять з його першої появи. кассіан просто 😮💨🥵 вже вриваюсь в його книгу. добре, що вона наступна 🙌
мені подобається вплітання богів в сюжети роментезі, а коли пантеон вигаданих богів виступає основними персонажами, все, не тримайте, вже біжу читати 💃
це виявилась історія богині, яка втікає з підводного світу своєї матері, верховної богині моря, і від шлюбу з верховним богом вогню. цей запланований союз повинен був зруйнувати прокляття двох сімей, чого так довго усі чекали. але гг сказала "не в мою зміну" і втікла у світ смертних.
ная - нижча богиня, яка вже 800 років не може проявити свою силу, щоб пройти випробування і стати середньою, а потім верховною богинею. тому і вона і ми до самого фіналу не будемо знати богинею чого саме ная являється.
спочатку вона здалась мені трохи наївною та безпорадною, що трохи не складалось з її віком, але під кінець стрижень в героїні все-таки з'явився і вона стала подобатись мені більше 😎
ронін - чоловік, в чиї руки ная випала з моря, одразу після втечі. ну а як інакше, тільки так треба знайомитись з чгг 😁
цей мен буде допомагати наї в адаптації, ще він дуже смачно готує, його уроки з приготування це просто милота 🥹
не без своїх таємниць, але в цілому він вийшов солодким пиріжечком, який готовий на усе заради своєї жінки, тобто богині 😈
чесно, хотілося більше якраз заворушки між богами. оскільки, як тільки ная потрапляє до людей, усе стає більш буденним та звичним.. але радію, що в книзі є друга лінія оповіді, де розповідають про минуле наї. і от ці розділи мене більше інтригували. усі ці сімейні драми та інтриги богів, саме за цим я сюди прийшла з 🍿
середина книги по сюжету трохи просідала, але після 70% все динамічно несеться. трохи епіку, сутички магів та богів, розкриваються таємниці та міфи, обожнюю такі моменти. ще й хитромудрий верховний бог смерті й проклять зі своїми давно спланованими маніпуляціями, ну смак 🤌
хоч саме вирішення головного конфлікту передбачуване, але емоційно непогано витягує. тут і драма зі слізьми, хвилювання за коханнячко наї та роніна і заслужений хе для їх пари.
окрема згадка за оформлення. яке ж воно гарне, як обкладинка, так і наповнення. полюбляю, коли автори самостійно заморочуються, аби для їх історій були створені гарні арти. в цьому плані інста авторки просто цукерочка 😍
p.s. повелася на верховного бога смерті й проклять з його першої появи. кассіан просто 😮💨🥵 вже вриваюсь в його книгу. добре, що вона наступна 🙌
November 30, 2025
4.5 ☆
”When she’d thought she was nothing to everyone, she’d always been someone to him.”
i experienced every emotion while reading this book, it ended up having so much more depth than i was expecting. Naia has been through a lot, really everyone around her has and it was truly killing me hoping that she’d finally get her happy ending. she never really knew a moment of true peace, she’d always been ridiculed and forced into situations she didn’t want. it made me sad for her but i do love when a god or goddess is out of touch with the human world and has to be taught how to integrate themselves into a society that’s a lot different to theirs. at least there she could form new relationships and have a little freedom.
“You will always have a home here, in me, and I promise you, I will do everything in my power to not let them take anything else away from you. Happiness, freedom, whatever you want. I will make sure it is yours.”
this setup led to a lot of cute moments between her and Ronin, i loved the different sides they brought out of each other and the whole backstory of their romance? please 🥹 even with the pregnancy trope that i honestly usually can’t stand, it didn’t bother me here and i just wanted the best for everyone involved. i already know the next books will be the best torture due to who they’re following, but i can’t wait for Finnian’s book especially and I’m so very intrigued by Cassian (death).
———
the cover + fan art for this series convinced me 😍
”When she’d thought she was nothing to everyone, she’d always been someone to him.”
i experienced every emotion while reading this book, it ended up having so much more depth than i was expecting. Naia has been through a lot, really everyone around her has and it was truly killing me hoping that she’d finally get her happy ending. she never really knew a moment of true peace, she’d always been ridiculed and forced into situations she didn’t want. it made me sad for her but i do love when a god or goddess is out of touch with the human world and has to be taught how to integrate themselves into a society that’s a lot different to theirs. at least there she could form new relationships and have a little freedom.
“You will always have a home here, in me, and I promise you, I will do everything in my power to not let them take anything else away from you. Happiness, freedom, whatever you want. I will make sure it is yours.”
this setup led to a lot of cute moments between her and Ronin, i loved the different sides they brought out of each other and the whole backstory of their romance? please 🥹 even with the pregnancy trope that i honestly usually can’t stand, it didn’t bother me here and i just wanted the best for everyone involved. i already know the next books will be the best torture due to who they’re following, but i can’t wait for Finnian’s book especially and I’m so very intrigued by Cassian (death).
———
the cover + fan art for this series convinced me 😍
February 16, 2025
Like a Peaches and Honey love story mixed with high takes gods taking out their rage on each other mixed with gang warfare with witches 🖤
Naia is navigating a hateful mother, psychotic siblings, and trying to escape the cage her fate has forced her into.
“Love lasts forever, but people and moments do not”
“Happiness was a mirage, and perhaps it was better for it to remain that way. Basking in its rays of light would only make the darkness that much colder”
There is a pregnancy trope and lots of torture/abuse so please check content warnings
Naia is navigating a hateful mother, psychotic siblings, and trying to escape the cage her fate has forced her into.
“Love lasts forever, but people and moments do not”
“Happiness was a mirage, and perhaps it was better for it to remain that way. Basking in its rays of light would only make the darkness that much colder”
There is a pregnancy trope and lots of torture/abuse so please check content warnings
October 2, 2025
This story is gorgeous, both inside and out.
Naia is a goddess without a title. She's shunned and abused by her family of vicious immortal gods. Her only value to them is her prophesized destiny. Finally escaping the turmoil on her wedding day, she meets Ronin - a broody mortal man with secrets and battles of his own.
Naia is a phenomenal FMC. I adore her journey, her softness, and her love of sugary sweets. I found myself wholeheartedly rooting for her throughout the story.
Ronin, our male main character, exudes mystery and broodiness, but the love and devotion he has for Naia is wonderful. He has a strong "will-burn-the-world-for-her" vibe.
It's easy to tell that this story has roots in Greek [and other types of] mythology - with its depiction of gods and their immortal life spans - but the author has created a new world, featuring gods of different titles and powers in a modern-day setting. I went into this book mostly blind and completely fell in love with the characters and the story. Randi Garner has created an eloquent and beautifully layered story. The world-building is also enthralling and meticulously crafted.
I did find the pacing a bit challenging at times, as the story covers a large period, sometimes within just a few pages. I certainly didn't anticipate the ending or the various twists, and I appreciate how the story offers a well-rounded conclusion while leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next book.
I'm very excited to continue with this story and characters.
𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓸𝓵𝓿𝓮, 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓲𝓭, "𝓘 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰, 𝓡𝓸𝓷𝓲𝓷."
𝓗𝓲𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓹𝓼 𝓼𝓴𝓲𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓭 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓳𝓪𝔀𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮. "𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓵𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮."
Naia is a goddess without a title. She's shunned and abused by her family of vicious immortal gods. Her only value to them is her prophesized destiny. Finally escaping the turmoil on her wedding day, she meets Ronin - a broody mortal man with secrets and battles of his own.
Naia is a phenomenal FMC. I adore her journey, her softness, and her love of sugary sweets. I found myself wholeheartedly rooting for her throughout the story.
Ronin, our male main character, exudes mystery and broodiness, but the love and devotion he has for Naia is wonderful. He has a strong "will-burn-the-world-for-her" vibe.
It's easy to tell that this story has roots in Greek [and other types of] mythology - with its depiction of gods and their immortal life spans - but the author has created a new world, featuring gods of different titles and powers in a modern-day setting. I went into this book mostly blind and completely fell in love with the characters and the story. Randi Garner has created an eloquent and beautifully layered story. The world-building is also enthralling and meticulously crafted.
I did find the pacing a bit challenging at times, as the story covers a large period, sometimes within just a few pages. I certainly didn't anticipate the ending or the various twists, and I appreciate how the story offers a well-rounded conclusion while leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next book.
I'm very excited to continue with this story and characters.
𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓸𝓵𝓿𝓮, 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓲𝓭, "𝓘 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰, 𝓡𝓸𝓷𝓲𝓷."
𝓗𝓲𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓹𝓼 𝓼𝓴𝓲𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓭 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓳𝓪𝔀𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮. "𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓵𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮."
November 12, 2024
This one was very enjoyable! A refreshing take on gods & goddesses with a unique setting.
In this world, gods are born with titles or gain them. Our FMC was born without one and had no affinity for anything during her centuries of existence. Her mother is Queen of the seas and has a rather sinister agenda of her own. Including marrying off our FMC to someone she would rather sacrifice everything than marry.
And she does exactly that. She makes a deal with the god of curses and escapes her arranged marriage. But all magic comes with a price and her deal is much more than she bargained for.
In this world, gods are born with titles or gain them. Our FMC was born without one and had no affinity for anything during her centuries of existence. Her mother is Queen of the seas and has a rather sinister agenda of her own. Including marrying off our FMC to someone she would rather sacrifice everything than marry.
And she does exactly that. She makes a deal with the god of curses and escapes her arranged marriage. But all magic comes with a price and her deal is much more than she bargained for.
February 18, 2025
My first 5 star read of the year!
This was such an eerily beautiful gothic fever dream of a story! Plenty of gothic horror vibes and a sweeping story telling that kept everything flowing and engaging. I couldn't put the book down. I read 400pgs in one sitting ignoring the world around me. I received the ARC for book 2 so jumping into that now!
Naia, the daughter of the High Sea Goddess, is an embarrassment. She holds no title and no power but is the key to a curse placed centuries ago on her mother: Naia must form a union with a god from an opposing family.
When the day arrives for her arranged marriage, she turns to the High God of Death and Curses for help.
He assists Naia under one condition—she must accept a curse, blindly.
This was such an eerily beautiful gothic fever dream of a story! Plenty of gothic horror vibes and a sweeping story telling that kept everything flowing and engaging. I couldn't put the book down. I read 400pgs in one sitting ignoring the world around me. I received the ARC for book 2 so jumping into that now!
Naia, the daughter of the High Sea Goddess, is an embarrassment. She holds no title and no power but is the key to a curse placed centuries ago on her mother: Naia must form a union with a god from an opposing family.
When the day arrives for her arranged marriage, she turns to the High God of Death and Curses for help.
He assists Naia under one condition—she must accept a curse, blindly.
June 9, 2024
This book left me speechless. 10/10 - no notes.
This beautifully evocative story weaves elements of what feels like classical mythology and broody tragedy in a more modern setting. It was a deeply emotional and immersive reading experience for me. Naia, the cursed daughter of the High Sea Goddess, is burdened by her lack of power and the prophecy surrounding her circumstances. She is the key to breaking an ancient curse placed on her mother and must unite with a god from an opposing family. Desperate to escape her fate, she turns to the High God of Death and Curses, accepting a curse blindly in exchange for his help.
Garner excels in crafting an atmospheric setting that feels both modern and timeless. The juxtaposition of a contemporary world with ancient mythological elements creates a unique backdrop for the story. The world-building is rich and detailed, with Hollow City serving as a dark, almost dystopian setting filled with rival factions. This setting enhances the sense of peril that Naia faces at every turn.
The portrayal of the gods is reminiscent of the capricious and often cruel deities of Greek mythology. They are petty, angry, and seemingly unfeeling, adding a layer of brutality to their interactions with Naia and mortals. Naia, as the tragic heroine, embodies the qualities of a character straight out of a classical tragedy. Her journey is filled with suffering and a sense of inevitable doom, yet she remains genuine, thoughtful, and remarkably resilient. This juxtaposition of her inner strength against the external horrors imposed by her family makes her a compelling and sympathetic character despite her godhood. Ronin’s warm hospitality and selflessness starkly contrast the divine cruelty to which Naia is accustomed. Their growing relationship is central to the story and their bond has a deep emotional resonance. Naia's desperation to protect Ronin from the gods and the looming curse she carries creates a sweet but often heart-wrenching story.
Garner does not shy away from exploring themes of suffering, love, and sacrifice. The characters are deeply human, despite their divine connections, and their struggles and heartbreaks are palpable. The story is filled with moments that are both tender and devastating. Naia's journey is one of self-discovery and empowerment, and watching her grow and fight against her fate is inspiring. I am not sure I'll ever find another character who is so strong and vulnerable.
This is a book that will stay with me long after I've finished it and it holds a special place in my heart. It’s a perfect read for those who enjoy emotionally charged stories with a lot of heart.
Thanks to the author and Book of Matches Media for the copy. This review is based on a complimentary pre-released copy and it is voluntary.
This beautifully evocative story weaves elements of what feels like classical mythology and broody tragedy in a more modern setting. It was a deeply emotional and immersive reading experience for me. Naia, the cursed daughter of the High Sea Goddess, is burdened by her lack of power and the prophecy surrounding her circumstances. She is the key to breaking an ancient curse placed on her mother and must unite with a god from an opposing family. Desperate to escape her fate, she turns to the High God of Death and Curses, accepting a curse blindly in exchange for his help.
Garner excels in crafting an atmospheric setting that feels both modern and timeless. The juxtaposition of a contemporary world with ancient mythological elements creates a unique backdrop for the story. The world-building is rich and detailed, with Hollow City serving as a dark, almost dystopian setting filled with rival factions. This setting enhances the sense of peril that Naia faces at every turn.
The portrayal of the gods is reminiscent of the capricious and often cruel deities of Greek mythology. They are petty, angry, and seemingly unfeeling, adding a layer of brutality to their interactions with Naia and mortals. Naia, as the tragic heroine, embodies the qualities of a character straight out of a classical tragedy. Her journey is filled with suffering and a sense of inevitable doom, yet she remains genuine, thoughtful, and remarkably resilient. This juxtaposition of her inner strength against the external horrors imposed by her family makes her a compelling and sympathetic character despite her godhood. Ronin’s warm hospitality and selflessness starkly contrast the divine cruelty to which Naia is accustomed. Their growing relationship is central to the story and their bond has a deep emotional resonance. Naia's desperation to protect Ronin from the gods and the looming curse she carries creates a sweet but often heart-wrenching story.
Garner does not shy away from exploring themes of suffering, love, and sacrifice. The characters are deeply human, despite their divine connections, and their struggles and heartbreaks are palpable. The story is filled with moments that are both tender and devastating. Naia's journey is one of self-discovery and empowerment, and watching her grow and fight against her fate is inspiring. I am not sure I'll ever find another character who is so strong and vulnerable.
This is a book that will stay with me long after I've finished it and it holds a special place in my heart. It’s a perfect read for those who enjoy emotionally charged stories with a lot of heart.
Thanks to the author and Book of Matches Media for the copy. This review is based on a complimentary pre-released copy and it is voluntary.
December 24, 2024
There is nothing better than when your rooting for
a character SO much with your heart aching for them
for a beautiful outcome 🥺🖤
This book is filled with Gods, Witches, magic and so many heart aching moments, I kept melting and screaming!! 😭😭
(Also loved the modern twists)
There were sometimes where I had to circle back to understand but there is a dual timeline which I love and highly appreciated because it helps everything come back full circle ✨
If you’re looking for a Romantasy with lots of dark battles to a beautiful FMC, finally reaching her true love and happiness, pick this up! 🫶
a character SO much with your heart aching for them
for a beautiful outcome 🥺🖤
This book is filled with Gods, Witches, magic and so many heart aching moments, I kept melting and screaming!! 😭😭
(Also loved the modern twists)
There were sometimes where I had to circle back to understand but there is a dual timeline which I love and highly appreciated because it helps everything come back full circle ✨
If you’re looking for a Romantasy with lots of dark battles to a beautiful FMC, finally reaching her true love and happiness, pick this up! 🫶
September 1, 2025
"what's the point of immortality if you never truly live?"
do you see the cover!?! it's STUNNING!!!
i enjoyed this soo much more than i expected. the goddess of was unique, full of angst + high stakes, action and the sweetest, most gentle love story.
➝ urban fantasy
➝ mafia vibes
➝ goddess falls in love with a mortal
➝ star crossed lovers
➝ he falls first
➝ touch her and you die
➝ hurt + comfort
➝ dual timelines
➝ meddling gods
➝ found family
➝ mental health rep
➝ asian rep
quotes i like:
╰┈❥ "no gods or curses will keep them from each other"
╰┈❥ In a week, he’d taken her in, tortured a man for information, voluntarily walked into enemy territory, exposed his family secret, and intervened in a fight with a High God.
╰┈❥ “But what if I am taken away from you?���
His hand settled on her cheek, swiping his thumb over her wobbling lips. “I will find you, no matter where you go.”
the only thing i didn't like:
× the last 20% was very fast paced and action full. it didn't match the pacing of the rest of the book, which threw me off
do you see the cover!?! it's STUNNING!!!
i enjoyed this soo much more than i expected. the goddess of was unique, full of angst + high stakes, action and the sweetest, most gentle love story.
➝ urban fantasy
➝ mafia vibes
➝ goddess falls in love with a mortal
➝ star crossed lovers
➝ he falls first
➝ touch her and you die
➝ hurt + comfort
➝ dual timelines
➝ meddling gods
➝ found family
➝ mental health rep
➝ asian rep
quotes i like:
╰┈❥ "no gods or curses will keep them from each other"
╰┈❥ In a week, he’d taken her in, tortured a man for information, voluntarily walked into enemy territory, exposed his family secret, and intervened in a fight with a High God.
╰┈❥ “But what if I am taken away from you?���
His hand settled on her cheek, swiping his thumb over her wobbling lips. “I will find you, no matter where you go.”
the only thing i didn't like:
× the last 20% was very fast paced and action full. it didn't match the pacing of the rest of the book, which threw me off
June 6, 2025
C’était tellement douloureux.
Found family, proximité forcée, réincarnation, FMC douce et résiliante, représentation queer, POC. 1,5🌶️
La protagoniste est une déesse qui se fait littéralement traiter comme une merde par toute sa famille. La violence qu’elle subit pendant 800 ans semble prendre fin quand elle rencontré Ronin (un protagoniste masculin asiatique ENFIN???) qui malgré le fait que tout les opposent dans leur destinée va lui donner tout ce que personne n’a jamais vraiment sur lui apporter.
J’ai beaucoup aimé l’intrigue, j’étais sûre de ce qui allait se passer à la fin mais ça ne m’a pas empêché de PLEURER à mort. Y’a eu quand même quelques petits passages un peu lent ce qui fait que je ne mets que 4 étoiles. Mais c’était juste génial.
Found family, proximité forcée, réincarnation, FMC douce et résiliante, représentation queer, POC. 1,5🌶️
La protagoniste est une déesse qui se fait littéralement traiter comme une merde par toute sa famille. La violence qu’elle subit pendant 800 ans semble prendre fin quand elle rencontré Ronin (un protagoniste masculin asiatique ENFIN???) qui malgré le fait que tout les opposent dans leur destinée va lui donner tout ce que personne n’a jamais vraiment sur lui apporter.
J’ai beaucoup aimé l’intrigue, j’étais sûre de ce qui allait se passer à la fin mais ça ne m’a pas empêché de PLEURER à mort. Y’a eu quand même quelques petits passages un peu lent ce qui fait que je ne mets que 4 étoiles. Mais c’était juste génial.
March 16, 2025
I am sad to say that my enjoyment of the book did not match my enjoyment of the cover. Cover design is a 5+/5 stars, fantastic. The book itself left me wanting.
I generally struggle with books that are most definitely fantasies, but then have very modern real-world components. In this book, we found nitro cold brew and cell phones, among other items. I found it jarring to read about a coffee shop owner levitating coffees around the room, while moving straight into another scene with elevators. Say what you want about the Crescent City series, the way that technology and magic are integrated is fantastic. I couldn't say the same there - they were not integrated whatsoever and it had me asking what the purpose of the real world technology was.
I also found the pacing to be difficult. I felt that the first 80% was relatively evenly paced, on the slower side and left me cranking up the listening speed and wondering if all these scenes were mandatory. And then the last 20% was pedal to the medal, everything is happening, we're getting time jumps, POV changes. Wild.
One last note - I didn't like the FMC. Towards the end, she has a mantra along the lines of "I will no longer be useless" and I was wondering how it took her 800 years to grow a backbone. Many readers will love the character growth, but it was too little too late for me.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I generally struggle with books that are most definitely fantasies, but then have very modern real-world components. In this book, we found nitro cold brew and cell phones, among other items. I found it jarring to read about a coffee shop owner levitating coffees around the room, while moving straight into another scene with elevators. Say what you want about the Crescent City series, the way that technology and magic are integrated is fantastic. I couldn't say the same there - they were not integrated whatsoever and it had me asking what the purpose of the real world technology was.
I also found the pacing to be difficult. I felt that the first 80% was relatively evenly paced, on the slower side and left me cranking up the listening speed and wondering if all these scenes were mandatory. And then the last 20% was pedal to the medal, everything is happening, we're getting time jumps, POV changes. Wild.
One last note - I didn't like the FMC. Towards the end, she has a mantra along the lines of "I will no longer be useless" and I was wondering how it took her 800 years to grow a backbone. Many readers will love the character growth, but it was too little too late for me.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 3, 2025
4.25/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️
Tropes & what to expect:
- Dark romantasy
- Gods/goddesses/witches/mages
- Urban fantasy setting
- Plot twist after plot twist
- Hidden powers
- Found family
If you're looking for the most beautiful, magical, dark romantasy, then you need to read this book! I also want to recommend the audiobook because the performance was phenomenal. It was dual narration, but the female narrator did such a fantastic job narrating both parts! I believe the male narrator only popped in at the very end.
The FMC goes through absolute HELL for like 800 years of her life. Her mother is honestly THE WORST and she loses everyone she loves. I felt so bad for her, but loved that she never stopped fighting for her happiness and freedom.
The way Ronin protected and loved Naia - I WAS SWOONING SO HARD. This is top tier book boyfriend material!
I can't wait to read book 2 - and I'm pretty sure it's about Naia's brother Finnian! 🤭
2/5 🌶️
Tropes & what to expect:
- Dark romantasy
- Gods/goddesses/witches/mages
- Urban fantasy setting
- Plot twist after plot twist
- Hidden powers
- Found family
If you're looking for the most beautiful, magical, dark romantasy, then you need to read this book! I also want to recommend the audiobook because the performance was phenomenal. It was dual narration, but the female narrator did such a fantastic job narrating both parts! I believe the male narrator only popped in at the very end.
The FMC goes through absolute HELL for like 800 years of her life. Her mother is honestly THE WORST and she loses everyone she loves. I felt so bad for her, but loved that she never stopped fighting for her happiness and freedom.
The way Ronin protected and loved Naia - I WAS SWOONING SO HARD. This is top tier book boyfriend material!
I can't wait to read book 2 - and I'm pretty sure it's about Naia's brother Finnian! 🤭
March 31, 2025
Naia is the oldest daughter of the High Sea Goddess and has no powers or title. She is seen as a disgrace by her entire family over centuries, except by her father. She endures so much over time and longs to be free, so when an opportunity with the High God of Death and Curses presents itself, she makes the deal so she doesn’t have to wed. He won’t tell her of the curse she’ll receive later for the bargain, and Naia begins a hopeful journey forward. But when that ugly curse reveals itself, it will challenge everything she has come to know and love. Can she break it, or will it break her?
I went into this one expecting more of a historical mythology mix, but I was pleasantly surprised that it was urban magic and mythology. The fresh take on humanizing the gods’ characters really had me invested and actually caring about what happened to some of them. This story had fated lovers, found family, cursed destinies, and an underdog heroine- all tropes I love! The characters had depth, the storyline was well-written and paced, and I got a full experience listening to the audio while reading the book. The narrator did a fabulous job with all characters to make them believable and easy to relate to. Overall, I’m giving this one 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up! I’m excited to see where the next book takes us! I received an ALC of The Goddess from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media and all reviews and opinions here are my own.
I went into this one expecting more of a historical mythology mix, but I was pleasantly surprised that it was urban magic and mythology. The fresh take on humanizing the gods’ characters really had me invested and actually caring about what happened to some of them. This story had fated lovers, found family, cursed destinies, and an underdog heroine- all tropes I love! The characters had depth, the storyline was well-written and paced, and I got a full experience listening to the audio while reading the book. The narrator did a fabulous job with all characters to make them believable and easy to relate to. Overall, I’m giving this one 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up! I’m excited to see where the next book takes us! I received an ALC of The Goddess from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media and all reviews and opinions here are my own.
June 2, 2025
I really enjoyed how this was a mix of traditional fantasy and urban fantasy. It was very different from most romantasys out right now and felt like a breath of fresh air 🤩. I loved our FMC the most sweet and kind hearted goddess. The politics were tea. I also teared up at some parts. After 2 months of hating almost every book, I see the light at the end of the tunnel 😎
That being said, the last half was super slow in a way? SO much happened in this book— it spans like nearly 2 years. But the ending picked up again. The romance was kindaaaa lacking depth, but not horribly so. Also did not realize this was kinda a standalone but okay.. 🧐
That being said, the last half was super slow in a way? SO much happened in this book— it spans like nearly 2 years. But the ending picked up again. The romance was kindaaaa lacking depth, but not horribly so. Also did not realize this was kinda a standalone but okay.. 🧐
September 25, 2025
Edit: I was already in need of a reread so I listened to the audiobook and it was amazing! Once again this book deserves a million stars there were so many little things that mean so much more in the second read through!
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The Goddess Of is one of those books that I just know I won’t be able to put into words how good a book it is and how much I loved it!
To start the writing was so beautiful and deeply emotional I had tears in my eyes multiple times and by the end, I was full-on crying. This book was sad at parts but it was mostly emotional because of how beautiful and meaningful every single thing is! The way Randi ties all of the little things together is absolute perfection!
I love getting to learn about this new world and all the realms of the different Gods/Goddesses. Even while in the Mortal Realms we got to learn so much about Ronin’s culture and traditions.
Ronin and Naia have become a new favourite couple they were truly soulmates and their relationship was so sweet. Ronin is the perfect book boyfriend… he is sweet and will do anything for those he cares about including killing those who threaten Naia 🥹
I love this book so much and am so happy that I can go right into the second book in the series! This is a series I can see myself revisiting often
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The Goddess Of is one of those books that I just know I won’t be able to put into words how good a book it is and how much I loved it!
To start the writing was so beautiful and deeply emotional I had tears in my eyes multiple times and by the end, I was full-on crying. This book was sad at parts but it was mostly emotional because of how beautiful and meaningful every single thing is! The way Randi ties all of the little things together is absolute perfection!
I love getting to learn about this new world and all the realms of the different Gods/Goddesses. Even while in the Mortal Realms we got to learn so much about Ronin’s culture and traditions.
Ronin and Naia have become a new favourite couple they were truly soulmates and their relationship was so sweet. Ronin is the perfect book boyfriend… he is sweet and will do anything for those he cares about including killing those who threaten Naia 🥹
I love this book so much and am so happy that I can go right into the second book in the series! This is a series I can see myself revisiting often
June 7, 2024
WOW! This book is absolutely incredible 😍 I read it in two days and loved every minute of it. The author wove together a breathtaking tale of cruel gods, a cursed titleless goddess, a great romance and found family.
The chapters dedicated to Naia's past in her mother's kingdom made me so sad and angry at the same time, for all she had to endure. Her bond with her father and Finny was a breath of fresh air in the middle of it all.
Naia's time in the mortal world isn't easy, either, but her and Ronin are exceptional together! The development of their relationship is so beautiful to read, all their feelings so tangible. I found it so cute how, for a while, Naia keeps trying to hide how much she doesn't know about the Mortal Land and fails. Ronin never presses her about her past and takes it upon himself to help her find joy again 🥰
Generally, I can't stress enough just how much I enjoyed this book 🌟 Randi Garner brought this world to life masterfully, creating a story that will definitely stick with me. I can't wait to read more of her work!
The chapters dedicated to Naia's past in her mother's kingdom made me so sad and angry at the same time, for all she had to endure. Her bond with her father and Finny was a breath of fresh air in the middle of it all.
Naia's time in the mortal world isn't easy, either, but her and Ronin are exceptional together! The development of their relationship is so beautiful to read, all their feelings so tangible. I found it so cute how, for a while, Naia keeps trying to hide how much she doesn't know about the Mortal Land and fails. Ronin never presses her about her past and takes it upon himself to help her find joy again 🥰
Generally, I can't stress enough just how much I enjoyed this book 🌟 Randi Garner brought this world to life masterfully, creating a story that will definitely stick with me. I can't wait to read more of her work!
December 10, 2024
2.5 stars Overall not too bad . But there were a few story building elements that bugged me . 1. How is there Christmas in a world that worships different gods ? 2. How does and India Pale Ale exist in a world without India ??
December 29, 2024
This was promising, but it was written so weirdly! I don't understand how people aren't talking about it. It almost seems like AI. Calling hair 'strands' constantly, the thesaurus-like, unecessary wording and the sentences that make zero sense. I couldn't finish it.
November 12, 2025
The Goddess Of was… pretty good, just not amazing. It had some really solid emotional moments and a few lines that totally stuck with me, but it also dragged a bit in places. The writing’s beautiful and kind of poetic, but sometimes it felt like it was trying too hard to be deep instead of just being. The story had potential — you can feel what it’s going for — but it didn’t always hit as hard as it could’ve.
Still, I liked the vibe and the themes, even if I didn’t fully connect with everything. It’s one of those reads where you’re glad you finished it, but you’re not exactly running to reread it.
Still, I liked the vibe and the themes, even if I didn’t fully connect with everything. It’s one of those reads where you’re glad you finished it, but you’re not exactly running to reread it.
February 17, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free audio arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was an enjoyable read being a mix of romantasy with some action, cozy fantasy, with some influence from various mythologies. The fmc Naia is very a very tenacious and strong character while also having a tender side, which makes it strange for her being a deity. She endures so much throughout her life that you really feel for her and end up rooting for her throughout the story.
She meets Ronin the mmc, and he has a mysterious air about him, which you find out later on more about, but also a tender side which melds together well with Naia. Learning about his background and how it seems to affect the gods was a really intriguing part of the plot.
The side characters were also very interesting, including Naia's family who minus her father you can't stand, along with a found family. Good twists throughout and a good amount of action.
This book is on Kindle Unlimited, so if you'd like to read it through there you can, but I recommend the audiobook as well, as it was great! Will definitely pick up the second one coming out in March! (Also on Kindle Unlimited).
This was an enjoyable read being a mix of romantasy with some action, cozy fantasy, with some influence from various mythologies. The fmc Naia is very a very tenacious and strong character while also having a tender side, which makes it strange for her being a deity. She endures so much throughout her life that you really feel for her and end up rooting for her throughout the story.
She meets Ronin the mmc, and he has a mysterious air about him, which you find out later on more about, but also a tender side which melds together well with Naia. Learning about his background and how it seems to affect the gods was a really intriguing part of the plot.
The side characters were also very interesting, including Naia's family who minus her father you can't stand, along with a found family. Good twists throughout and a good amount of action.
This book is on Kindle Unlimited, so if you'd like to read it through there you can, but I recommend the audiobook as well, as it was great! Will definitely pick up the second one coming out in March! (Also on Kindle Unlimited).
February 27, 2025
02/24/2025 - Just bought….. I’m taking a chance on this against better judgement that has a 99% correct rate (I’m never wrong). We’ll see how competent the FC is, how often she faints, how much of a damsel needing saving who just so happens to be a virgin.
I’m banking on that not being the case so we shall see….
02/27/25 - Already I hate it. The FC is so irritating and weak. This chick is over 1000 years old and has nothing to show for it. She can’t do anything herself without fucking up. And she is CONSTANTLY falling on her “tailbone”. Within 1 chapter, it happened 4 fucking times.
She’s supposed to be a goddess but is so weak, I don’t know why the author even bothered. It would’ve made more sense to make her humane in a fae land like so many other thinly disguised YA books.
Also the fact that everyone in her family and village literally hated her so much that they treated her like a slave without any reason as to WHY they are acting like that is such a flimsy backstory to try to force readers to feel for her. I think chapter one was supposed to make me feel for her with her harddoings but to me it was a life she created herself just so she can feel sorry for herself. Why should the FC be saved when she can’t even manage to save herself? That’s why this book screams YA. Having a story like this being told in the hands of an amateur writer makes it stupid and irritating. To me the books description doesn’t match the actual story at all.
Literally thousand years old and you have NOTHING to show for it, not a fighter, or good at masking your emotions, or making your family believe your going along with their plans, etc. nothing until the last 48 minutes before your marriage to some god we know nothing about except he’s “horrible” and your family forced a curse on you of unknown origins or what that curse does or why they are forcing a marriage on you, only for you to beg the god of death to lift that unknown curse in exchange for a new curse of unknown origin to be activated at an unknown time. Lmao come on. Such a stupid plot.
You can tell all the glowing reviews are from the PR team (ARC) because all the new reviews within the last month are less than stellar lmao
I’m banking on that not being the case so we shall see….
02/27/25 - Already I hate it. The FC is so irritating and weak. This chick is over 1000 years old and has nothing to show for it. She can’t do anything herself without fucking up. And she is CONSTANTLY falling on her “tailbone”. Within 1 chapter, it happened 4 fucking times.
She’s supposed to be a goddess but is so weak, I don’t know why the author even bothered. It would’ve made more sense to make her humane in a fae land like so many other thinly disguised YA books.
Also the fact that everyone in her family and village literally hated her so much that they treated her like a slave without any reason as to WHY they are acting like that is such a flimsy backstory to try to force readers to feel for her. I think chapter one was supposed to make me feel for her with her harddoings but to me it was a life she created herself just so she can feel sorry for herself. Why should the FC be saved when she can’t even manage to save herself? That’s why this book screams YA. Having a story like this being told in the hands of an amateur writer makes it stupid and irritating. To me the books description doesn’t match the actual story at all.
Literally thousand years old and you have NOTHING to show for it, not a fighter, or good at masking your emotions, or making your family believe your going along with their plans, etc. nothing until the last 48 minutes before your marriage to some god we know nothing about except he’s “horrible” and your family forced a curse on you of unknown origins or what that curse does or why they are forcing a marriage on you, only for you to beg the god of death to lift that unknown curse in exchange for a new curse of unknown origin to be activated at an unknown time. Lmao come on. Such a stupid plot.
You can tell all the glowing reviews are from the PR team (ARC) because all the new reviews within the last month are less than stellar lmao
May 8, 2024
What if you were a goddess born without a title? This is her story.
Naia is an 800 year old goddess, daughter to the high goddess of the sea. Her mom cursed her to never leave. The story opens up with her fleeing the night of her marriage to a high god. How? You need to read to find out 😉 Our little goddess has had a rough few centuries. Her mother is a terrible creature. Naia just wants to love and be loved in return. This is her journey to self discovery and love.
This story gives all the feels-heartache, anger, longing, friendship, found family, love. I was hesitant at first, but got sucked in by the beautiful storytelling. I became attached to these characters and their journey.
This story is set in an urban fantasy/modern world with flashbacks to Naia’s “younger” years. We watch and learn what events have shaped her into the goddess she currently is. We watch her grow. This reads like a stand-alone as it wraps up nicely, but the epilogue has be wondering if there will be a continuation of the story 🤔 If there is, I will definitely read it!
Naia is an 800 year old goddess, daughter to the high goddess of the sea. Her mom cursed her to never leave. The story opens up with her fleeing the night of her marriage to a high god. How? You need to read to find out 😉 Our little goddess has had a rough few centuries. Her mother is a terrible creature. Naia just wants to love and be loved in return. This is her journey to self discovery and love.
This story gives all the feels-heartache, anger, longing, friendship, found family, love. I was hesitant at first, but got sucked in by the beautiful storytelling. I became attached to these characters and their journey.
This story is set in an urban fantasy/modern world with flashbacks to Naia’s “younger” years. We watch and learn what events have shaped her into the goddess she currently is. We watch her grow. This reads like a stand-alone as it wraps up nicely, but the epilogue has be wondering if there will be a continuation of the story 🤔 If there is, I will definitely read it!
February 20, 2025
I didn’t care for this. The main character is born as a minor goddess and gets tortured for nearly 800 years because her mom hates her. The constant back and forth of torture-disappointment-torture again got old super fast. MC runs away on her wedding night and gets saved by a human witch that the gods hate because blood magic. They fight her siblings and trick the god of death. They have a baby. She almost dies. The end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2025
3.5 ⭐
не погано, але мені чогось не вистачило
не погано, але мені чогось не вистачило
March 9, 2025
The Goddess Of is a cute, enchanting story. I give it a solid 4 stars, and a 2 for spice.
The world is rich, with gods, goddesses, mages/witches, blood magic, curses, undead, and more, all set against a cute island that I think is set near Japan. The character arc of Naia is great, she really comes into herself over the course of the book. Ronin is book boyfriend goals, caring, loving, protective, "touch her and die", accepting of every aspect. I love him. Its hard to get flirty, witty banter and interactions between characters right, but this book has done a great job with it. Its not over-done or forced, it feels very natural for the characters and scene. The pacing was right, the action was well spaced out and not over-forced. There are lots of little twists and turns, especially towards the end. Cassian is playing 3D chess while everyone else is playing checkers. Props to the author for the detailed plot in this book!
The narrator did an excellent job, the characters all had unique and identifiable voices. The voices fit the characters, and emotions were well portrayed. Overall, this was a very enjoyable book to listen to. I personally am not a fan of a certain trope that was present in this book, though this gets a bit of a pass since it was an important plot device in this specific case. I'm not naming the trope because of its plot involvement, you'll have to read this book to discover it for yourself. It just lost out on that 5th star because I just feel it was lacking a little something that would have pushed it into the 5 star range.
Still, this book is absolutely worth a listen or read and I'm hoping the second book follows Finnian's story next as I don't see how Naia could have more to her story. It all seemed wrapped up in a nice HEA bow at the end. Unless something crazy happens to disrupt that HEA ending? Book 2 comes out soon, so I can't wait to read that and find out!
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.
The world is rich, with gods, goddesses, mages/witches, blood magic, curses, undead, and more, all set against a cute island that I think is set near Japan. The character arc of Naia is great, she really comes into herself over the course of the book. Ronin is book boyfriend goals, caring, loving, protective, "touch her and die", accepting of every aspect. I love him. Its hard to get flirty, witty banter and interactions between characters right, but this book has done a great job with it. Its not over-done or forced, it feels very natural for the characters and scene. The pacing was right, the action was well spaced out and not over-forced. There are lots of little twists and turns, especially towards the end. Cassian is playing 3D chess while everyone else is playing checkers. Props to the author for the detailed plot in this book!
The narrator did an excellent job, the characters all had unique and identifiable voices. The voices fit the characters, and emotions were well portrayed. Overall, this was a very enjoyable book to listen to. I personally am not a fan of a certain trope that was present in this book, though this gets a bit of a pass since it was an important plot device in this specific case. I'm not naming the trope because of its plot involvement, you'll have to read this book to discover it for yourself. It just lost out on that 5th star because I just feel it was lacking a little something that would have pushed it into the 5 star range.
Still, this book is absolutely worth a listen or read and I'm hoping the second book follows Finnian's story next as I don't see how Naia could have more to her story. It all seemed wrapped up in a nice HEA bow at the end. Unless something crazy happens to disrupt that HEA ending? Book 2 comes out soon, so I can't wait to read that and find out!
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 15, 2025
I was disappointed in this story because it had SO much potential and fell extremely flat in several areas:
1. I was not convinced in the love story at all. Naia and Ronin are essentially fated mates yet their love seemed superficial and surface level. I did not feel invested in them whatsoever.
2. There were many inconsistencies that bothered me. It was established that Gods and Goddesses did not need to rely on human necessities like sleep, food, drinks, or bodily functions. Yet, Naia has her period and there are way too many scenes revolved around food.
3. So much of the book was focused on details that set the scene, but had no real relevance. There were important plot points that felt like they barely were touched upon that could have been elaborated more if we weren’t so focused on what they were eating all the time.
4. This sounds awful to say, but I didn’t feel connected at all to Naia. She has a tragic backstory, yes. But past that, I didn’t feel passionate about her at all.
5. Some of the plot made no sense to me. I found myself questioning if I was understanding what was happening one too many times.
6. The pacing for this book was so inconsistent. The middle was extremely slow and the end felt rushed. It was 400 pages but felt like 800.
I’m planning to sit with my thoughts on this one and may come back to rate differently. And, I will say this book feels like it has set the stage for an interesting second book with the characters established here.
1. I was not convinced in the love story at all. Naia and Ronin are essentially fated mates yet their love seemed superficial and surface level. I did not feel invested in them whatsoever.
2. There were many inconsistencies that bothered me. It was established that Gods and Goddesses did not need to rely on human necessities like sleep, food, drinks, or bodily functions. Yet, Naia has her period and there are way too many scenes revolved around food.
3. So much of the book was focused on details that set the scene, but had no real relevance. There were important plot points that felt like they barely were touched upon that could have been elaborated more if we weren’t so focused on what they were eating all the time.
4. This sounds awful to say, but I didn’t feel connected at all to Naia. She has a tragic backstory, yes. But past that, I didn’t feel passionate about her at all.
5. Some of the plot made no sense to me. I found myself questioning if I was understanding what was happening one too many times.
6. The pacing for this book was so inconsistent. The middle was extremely slow and the end felt rushed. It was 400 pages but felt like 800.
I’m planning to sit with my thoughts on this one and may come back to rate differently. And, I will say this book feels like it has set the stage for an interesting second book with the characters established here.
December 29, 2024
This story was not at all what I expected, but in the best way. The blurb states that it explores the fragility of gods through the life of Naia, a goddess with no title and therefore no real powers (other than immortality and super strength). It is SO much more than that. The story explores what love truly means. The cover is a tiny bit deceiving because I expected 1920s vibes, but this was an urban fantasy with gods and witches. It’s tough, heart-wrenching, action-packed, and an absolutely beautiful love story. My jaw was on the floor with most of the plot twists.
The ending, though it gracefully tied up all the loose ends and set up the second book, dragged in certain parts. I found myself skimming over very repetitive areas just to get to the end.
The ending, though it gracefully tied up all the loose ends and set up the second book, dragged in certain parts. I found myself skimming over very repetitive areas just to get to the end.
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