To Summon a God

by Marie Maness

The gods have been in hiding for more than two thousand years, running from an ancient Roman family desperate for the power the gods possess. Now, the ten gods and goddesses spend their time helping humanity from the shadows.

Historian Eila Martin is passionate about her job, spending her days translating texts found in the recent discovery of a temple in Turkey. She knows in her heart these gods exist or, did at one point, but stumbling upon a journal explaining exactly how to summon the god of pleasure seems too good to be true. She has to try it, right? Eila has no idea what The Fates have in store for her as she throws caution to the wind and invites the mysterious masked god to her bed.

Kallen has always been the model of self-control but had none from the moment Eila summoned him. Now he spends his days consumed by her, desperate to fulfill her every desire. The god of pleasure finds himself tangled up and enraptured by this woman.

An ancient prophecy, along with the original threat to the gods, has resurfaced turning both of their worlds upside down. They cling to each other as they find answers, love, family, power, and of course, pleasure. Will it be enough to save them from the betrayal that rocks them all?

18+ only! This book contains adult content not suitable for minors.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

415 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2024

About the author

Author Marie Maness is a self published author that specializes in reimagined Mythology with a big helping of spice. Literature, writing, and history have always been her biggest passions. Combining them all into one has been a dream come true for the small town indie author. Born in Central Kentucky, she currently lives in South Central Kentucky with her husband and four children and loves the quiet little town life. Marie hopes her writing will encourage people everywhere to embrace their bodies and sexuality, to find pleasure in all of life’s aspects, and to remember that love is infinite.

Reviews

[Grace Btrs (semi ia - mostly overwhelmed) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you add one debut indie novel to your TBR because of me this month, let it be this one.
I know it doesn't have enough ratings, but take my word for it.

If you like:
- powerful women coming into their element.
- mythology and a court of gods.
- fated mates.
- a balance between spice and plot.
- to read between the lines, spot your foreshadowing, but still be surprised.
- to encourage indie authors.
Then this book is for you.

If you like low fantasy, this book is set on this planet and tackles the themes of deities and creation in a smart way.

The characters are gritty, whether human or gods.
You meet our smart historian, Eila, who is researching old pagan gods and stumbles upon a ritual to summon the God of pleasure, Kallen.
They meet, and it's instant chemistry.
Thus begins their attraction to each other and the threat of the world knowing that these gods still exist and they have magic.

Between the family of gods, the family of humans, and the university research, this book keeps a fast-paced, action-filled, self-discovery and coming-together story that keeps you wanting more.

This is book 1 of a trilogy. Book 2 is coming out on December the first and is available on KU. Do give it a try; I promise it's worth it.

I have received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Rest assured, my opinions are honest and unbiased and would not be different had I not been gifted this from Marie.

--
Pre-read:
It is always nice to receive gifts from authors!
So excited to start this series 🤓

[Katerina Paus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ve ever had such controversial feelings about a book before.
For every bit I loved the plot, the romance fell flat for me. And it probably has to do with the fact that it’s the author’s first work. But my opinion stands. So I settled on 3 stars.

The plot:
Great premise - a historian studies ancient gods and finds a journal describing how to summon a god of pleasure. So she does just that (who of us wouldn’t, right?)
There are many plot twists. Some left me with goosebumps, some with tears in my eyes. But all of them caught me off guard!
I love mythology, so I appreciate that this book has many side characters instead of focusing on only one god. I’m excited to see more of them and their own stories.

The romance:
MCs started to develop feelings hard and fast. And even though it is explained to some extent later, I believe the story could have painted a different picture.

One of the things that deters me in stories is when main characters act "you’re my everything and I’d do anything for you" after knowing each other for barely any time.
Plus, the choice of words made some situations comical to imagine. Honestly, I could go on about the things that didn’t work for me in the writing...
So, all of that combined made it impossible for me to believe in their love or care for their relationship. It’s more like I’m getting used to them because I really love the plot.

However, the plot is sooo good I’m starting the second book right away!

[Olga Ziminska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Okay, let’s just kick things off with how freaking good this book is! I was hooked from the very start. This story is fast-paced, spicy (oh my god the spice is so delicious!), and suspenseful! I caught myself gasping a few times as more answers were revealed!

Marie does a fabulous job bringing a modern twist to the gods! I can’t wait to jump into book 2!!

BUT THAT ENDING!!🫠

[Ashley Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very spicy story! Nice telling of fictional God's in modern society but connected to the mythology we know and love. The only critique I have is that some of it felt rushed or long-winded, and there were a few grammatical errors but not enough to take away from the plot. Well done for this authors first book!

[Meghan Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book. It pulled me in immediately. I borrowed it from KU after I saw the author wrote it based off of "The Summoning" by Sleep Token and I was hooked. I cannot wait for book 2!

[Krystal Herndon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

I received an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

My mind is blown. Wow. Wow. Wow. Eila from chapter 1 and Eila at the end of the book are two very different people. I love it. I'm here for a strong FMC. I knew she was going to be a bad ass but damn!! Also her relationship with Casey is precious and closely reflects a friendship I'm all too familiar.

Kallen, oh Kallen. He switches from dominate alpha male to golden retriever so quick. However, it's only for his Little Siren. Their relationship is a partnership. A give and take. It's a little fast, but it makes sense in this world.

I totally saw the @$$holes coming. But I'm still dying over here. I need the second book tomorrow. OR LIKE NOW MAAM!!!

This is one hell of a debut novel. The world building relies on the reader knowing mythology, which I love. Also the spice is SPICING!! Brava Marie. You knocked this out of the park!

[Kristen N · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like mythology, you will have your fill of God's in this book! If you love a strong FMC, you will love Eila who only gets stronger as the book goes on. If you love spice, well you in luck as there is a pleasure god involved in the story!

Eila finds old journals and she decides to see if the summoning spell works. When Kallen gets summoned its like a pull hes never felt before. Instantly there is a connection between the two of them that neither of them can deny. Eila ends up being something completely different then anyone else Kallen has ever met.

This book had me pulled in from beginning to end. I never wanted to put it down. I fell in love with the characters and the way Marie Maness wrote the book you feel like you are right there in the book with everyone. There's twists all through the book and the one at the end had you dying for more!

[Jax · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Summon a God follows Eila, a historian studying the oldest original gods and goddesses who finds an unlikely summoning for the God of Pleasure in her historical texts. When she uses it, her world turns upside down in more ways than one and she jumpstarts the path to forever without even knowing it.

This was SO good. I’m not normally a fan of super spicy books but this had such a rich plot and so much going on with the characters besides the spice that I really couldn’t put it down. I read it in two sittings and that’s not common for 600 plus page reads. Can’t wait to read more of this series!!

[Shaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t often write actual reviews. But I cannot praise this book highly enough. It’s been a long while since a book has had me sitting on the edge of my chair needing to keep reading one second and the next having to carefully place my kindle down so I don’t hurt it in the process of being left on a cliff hanger. Now bbs going to read book 2 and have my heart broken having to wait for book 3

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m reading this series in preparation for ARC reading the final book coming out this summer and after reading this first one, I’m so excited.

I love myth retellings and this has a unique spin. It is VERY spicy and yet somehow still has an actual plot. This book is fast paced, easy to read, and hard to put down.

The world building is simple because it’s set on earth, with some magical additions. This is great for people like me that easily get bored with detailed world building.

I love Eila’s growth through the book. A little concerned she might grow TOO much though 😬 I love that Kallan got his chance at happiness after everything from his past. I really hope they figure out how to kill gods though because I have feelings about Cade.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will scream for this one from the rooftops. This Indie Author deserves all of the recognition and then some for this book. I read this book on my kindle but I purchased a physical copy as well because Marie Maness I believe you deserve every penny. I hope this Indie author gets picked up by a publishing company. Atria books here is another shining star. 💫

[Jacey Eschete · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 Recommend

I found this book on a Facebook group and decided I would read it at the start of the year. This book is amazing and I have read it twice now. It is very well written and the story had a good grip on me!

[Erin Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

the cliffhanger 🤯

I’ve been loving romantasy about gods/goddesses lately and this is close to the top! Pretty fast paced and action filled. Spicy, sweet and steamy. So good. Can’t wait for the next!

[Julie Bartley · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, JUST WOW!
Knowing this is your debut book Marie is impressive. I love the writing style and I loved watching the FMC grow into the badass she is now! This spice is definitely there but the plot is just as thick!!! And that cliffhanger??? OMG, thank goodness the 2nd book was already out!

[Alinar Den · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot hot hot! 😅
I'm not much of a spice reader, but I read it occasionally. This book made me sweat on multiple occasions, being overwhelmingly hot at times.
Besides that, there is a great story, interesting characters, and unexpected plot twists! Very nice!

[Chapters & Chill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a little bit of everything! Gripping storyline and spicyyyyyy scenes!

[Brittany Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an absolute masterpiece! I read it in one day because I could not put it down! First- the spice in this was perfection. But, besides that, the story itself was just amazing! I was completely invested in chapter one! I cannot wait to start the next book!

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. Plot and character growth throughout. Suspenseful and keeps you on your toes guessing what will happen next. Very spicy 🌶. Highly recommend

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sold at old gods in modern times, strong legitimately adult-aged FMC’s from the very start, and the dark academia/researcher element. Looking forward to seeing where this series goes.

[Sam R · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are into super smutty books, Gods, and don’t mind a bunch of typos and grammatical errors, this book is for you. At first, this storyline was just too much for me. But I kept reading to see if it would take a turn. It did! Eventually mystery was mixed in which ended up hooking me. I’d give it 3.5 stars ⭐️… sometimes the smutty stuff and corny parts made me roll my eyes 😂

[MrXDG · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

I really enjoyed this book. What pulled me in right away was how Maness took the gods we’re all familiar with from mythology and gave them such a fresh, modern spin. I liked seeing how they function and fit into the world now, and it never felt forced. The FMC’s background in foster care really hit home for me since that’s where I come from too, so it made her feel real and relatable in a way that stuck with me.

The only small thing that slowed me down a little was the build-up around the ritual. It felt like it dragged in spots, but honestly it didn’t take much away from the story because I was still hooked on the mix of mythology, magic, and spice. Speaking of the spice, I thought it worked great. I know some people might find it distracting, but if you read the dedication page, you already know what you’re in for. For me it added depth to the characters and their connections.

The ending was exactly what I want out of a first book in a series. Maness wrapped up enough to make it feel satisfying but then hit me with a cliffhanger that made me eager to jump into book two. It laid down the characters, the threat, a sense of the stakes, and then raised the bar right when it needed to. I closed the book ready to keep going, and I’ll definitely be sticking with this series until the end.

Thank you for writing something so unique, fun, and memorable. This one’s going to stick with me for a while.

[Laura Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall: 4.75 ⭐️/5 ; Spice: 4🌶️/5

If you love spicy romance, but also mythology… if you loved Sandman or American Gods or the All Souls series… if you enjoy a good bit of prophecy and fate… if you like a strong, sex positive FMC… this is ABSOLUTELY the next book you should read. It is also the best book that you have probably never heard of. I don’t want to give too much away, because the twists are really good, but I had to put a review out there because I absolutely DEVOURED this book in one sitting… and yes, there is a cliffhanger that almost made me throw my phone in outrage 🤣 The second book is coming in December, so thankfully there won’t be too much of a wait - but I know I will be rereading this over and over until I can get my hands on it!!

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author did an amazing job with this one! I was there every step of the way with each character. Being in their world and learning about each character left me wanting more. I can't wait to read book two.

[just_a_latte_literature · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Final Goddess Trilogy

Genre: Romantasy/Mythology
Themes: fated mates, power/control, identity/self-discovery
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
World Building: mild

When I first picked up this book (thanks to my sister’s recommendation), I had no idea it was about Dionysus, the God of Pleasure. Let’s just say it started off WAY spicier than I expected—like, wayyy spicier—and I wasn’t sure it was my thing at first. But the storyline? The characters? Totally captivated. If you're into mythology, fantasy, and a little extra spice, this series is so your vibe.

I’m OBSESSED with mythology in my fantasy books right now, and this take on the Gods is honestly so unique! I’ve never read anything quite like it, and I definitely didn’t see where the story was headed. Also, for all my fellow red-flag-loving readers (you know who you are) 🤦🏻‍♀️🚩 I’m STILL struggling to hate the villain—like, I KNOW I should, but... help? 😂 (Swipe for a sneak peek of the books!)

With tons of potential for spin-off novellas for the other characters, and a third book on the way, I’m super excited to see where Marie Maness takes us next!

[Rae Waldroop-Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!!

This is one heck of ride. Amazing world building, mind bending, I'm am I love with this series!!!! Can't wait to read more

[Sam Goodin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so this review has a slight spoiler, but it doesn't hurt anything. Kallen is the god of pleasure, and him and his siblings go into hiding. After 2000 years, a historian finds old text and summons the god of pleasure for a little "fun". The god of pleasure shows her a good time and becomes obsessed with our little historian, and some stuff goes down that changes everything. This would have easily been a 5 star read for me, BUT 2 things kept me at 4. The first thing SLIGHT SPOILER was at the orgy. Why TF is Kallen putting his man-rod near anyone but our FMC!??? I don't care if she said it's okay. I don't care if he's the god of pleasure. That's a no-no for me. Second, after stuff went down, and you think everything is gonna be okay, our FMC seems different. Which I understand, but at the same time I miss our quirky historian, and things just seemed off. This book also ends in a cliffhanger, so.... no, I'm not okay. I'll be devouring book two ASAP and would definitely recommend this book if you like the Blood and Ash series cause this is giving the same vibes.

[Alida · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the damn dedication page. I read this while on a riding trip with my family and found myself sneaking away more times than I can count just to keep reading. That’s how addictive this book was.

The FMC is beautiful, witty, and genuinely funny — she had me laughing out loud more than once. Being thrown into a completely different universe and still managing to hold her own the entire time? Loved that for her.

And the God of Pleasure… oh my lord. Order for one, please. Enough said.

One of my favorite parts of this book was how the gods — as a family — actually felt real. Some siblings are incredibly close, others can barely stand each other, and that dynamic made everything feel so relatable and grounded.

The twists and turns kept me fully invested, and every character brought something unique to the story. The FMC especially felt so easy to connect with.

This author is incredibly talented, and this book completely blew me away. I’m officially hooked and cannot wait to continue this series.

[Sarah Ann (Aldora Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A fast-paced, steamy mythological fantasy with heart, heat, and high stakes.

To Summon a God kicks off The Final Goddess Trilogy with a bang, literally and figuratively. Historian Eila Martin’s world flips upside down when she stumbles on a journal detailing how to summon the god of pleasure… and does exactly that. Enter Kallen: masked, powerful, and completely undone the moment he meets her.

The multiple POVs were handled seamlessly, I always knew whose perspective I was in, and each voice felt distinct and purposeful. I did get a little lost at first trying to remember which god or goddess did what, but the story explained it when it was needed, without feeling info-dumpy or overwhelming.

And those twists? Didn’t see them coming, but once they landed, they made perfect sense and hit hard. I was fully hooked on both the romance and the unraveling fate of the gods.

A strong start to what promises to be an addictive trilogy. Can’t wait to see where it goes next!

[Kellye Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Wow! What a book! The story immediately pulls you in and takes off! It starts with the FMC Eila who gets her hands on an old journal about the god of pleasure and her curiosity gets the best of her one night and decides to "use the words" to summon him to her and he answers. Her world is then turned upside down and she deep dives into his world of his other godly siblings and the drama that ensues with Eila now apart of his world!

This book is SPICY. I mean how can a book about the god of pleasure NOT be spicy!

This book is great for any fantasy reader who love anything about mythology and the spice that goes along with it and action packed with gods with different abilities and some twist and turns along the way!

Can NOT wait for book 2!

[Jamie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old gods from days past, mixed with the new world! Love, betrayal, sex, and intrigue.
I have always loved mythology of various types, especially gods. This book was a fantastic read from an amazing indie author. The description of each god, their backstory, their family life, gives the reader such an insight into this family.

Kallen, God of Pleasure, gives such duality. Would burn the world for his love but then also has such moments of golden retriever energy…makes it so easy to fall for him. Then he meets his Little Siren, a history buff who takes a chance on reciting old words. Not knowing that her entire world is about to change.

For the better or worse, let’s find out!