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Game of Gods
Sparktopia
Spark is light, Spark is magic, Spark is power.
Spark is everything and it blooms inside the bodies of Tau City’s young women. Once a decade, in exchange for enough power to keep the city modern and comfortable, a Spark Maiden must be sacrificed to their mysterious tower god in a ritual called The Extraction.
Ten Maidens are Chosen, but only one enters the tower as a sacrifice, never to be seen again. The nine leftovers are elevated to celebrity status and spend the next decade living in the luxurious Maiden Tower, wearing couture gala gowns, and partying with the city’s most interesting and beautiful people. Every young woman in Tau City wants to be a Spark Maiden because the odds have always been in their favor.
Until now.
One by one, the greedy god has summoned the leftover Spark Maidens into sacrifice. When Clara Birch, Spark Maiden number nine, gets the call, she fully expects her fiancé, Finn Scott, the Extraction Master’s son, to save her.
Spoiler He’s not going to.
At the same time, a rebellion is brewing. The forgotten underclass is plotting the end of the god and his tower with strategically-placed Rebel spies that will bring it all down. Jasina Bell is a young woman on a mission to make history and she will stop at nothing to get the fame she deserves.
When Clara is forced into the tower against her will, she makes an unexpected discovery. There is no god—just a man, one willing to do what Finn Scott wouldn’ save Clara Birch.
Even if it means destroying the entire world to do so.
Betrayal and sacrifice, loyalty and power plays—four people are entangled across time and space as they seek truth, freedom, and true love in this wild and twisted adult romantasy that will have readers breathlessly turning pages until the very last word.
Enemies to Lovers
Anti-Hero
Ride or Die
Across Time and Space
Ultimate Betrayal
Morally Grey
Spark is everything and it blooms inside the bodies of Tau City’s young women. Once a decade, in exchange for enough power to keep the city modern and comfortable, a Spark Maiden must be sacrificed to their mysterious tower god in a ritual called The Extraction.
Ten Maidens are Chosen, but only one enters the tower as a sacrifice, never to be seen again. The nine leftovers are elevated to celebrity status and spend the next decade living in the luxurious Maiden Tower, wearing couture gala gowns, and partying with the city’s most interesting and beautiful people. Every young woman in Tau City wants to be a Spark Maiden because the odds have always been in their favor.
Until now.
One by one, the greedy god has summoned the leftover Spark Maidens into sacrifice. When Clara Birch, Spark Maiden number nine, gets the call, she fully expects her fiancé, Finn Scott, the Extraction Master’s son, to save her.
Spoiler He’s not going to.
At the same time, a rebellion is brewing. The forgotten underclass is plotting the end of the god and his tower with strategically-placed Rebel spies that will bring it all down. Jasina Bell is a young woman on a mission to make history and she will stop at nothing to get the fame she deserves.
When Clara is forced into the tower against her will, she makes an unexpected discovery. There is no god—just a man, one willing to do what Finn Scott wouldn’ save Clara Birch.
Even if it means destroying the entire world to do so.
Betrayal and sacrifice, loyalty and power plays—four people are entangled across time and space as they seek truth, freedom, and true love in this wild and twisted adult romantasy that will have readers breathlessly turning pages until the very last word.
Enemies to Lovers
Anti-Hero
Ride or Die
Across Time and Space
Ultimate Betrayal
Morally Grey
814 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2024
About the author
J.A. Huss
158 books9,126 followersJ.A. Huss never wanted to be a writer and she still dreams of that elusive career as an astronaut. She originally went to school to become an equine veterinarian but soon figured out they keep horrible hours and decided to go to grad school instead. That Ph.D wasn’t all it was cracked up to be (and she really sucked at the whole scientist thing), so she dropped out and got a M.S. in forensic toxicology just to get the whole thing over with as soon as possible.
After graduation she got a job with the state of Colorado as their one and only hog farm inspector and spent her days wandering the Eastern Plains shooting the shit with farmers. After a few years of that, she got bored. And since she was a homeschool mom and actually does love science, she decided to write science textbooks and make online classes for other homeschool moms. She wrote more than two hundred of those workbooks and was the number one publisher at the online homeschool store many times, but eventually she covered every science topic she could think of and ran out of shit to say.
So in 2012 she decided to write fiction instead. That year she released her first three books and started a career that would make her a New York Times bestseller and land her on the USA Today Bestseller’s List eighteen times in the next three years. Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world, the audio version of her semi-autobiographical book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie award in 2016 and 2017 respectively, her audiobook Mr. Perfect was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017, and her book, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award in 2018. Johnathan McClain is her first (and only) writing partner and even though they are worlds apart in just about every way imaginable, it works.
She lives on a ranch in Central Colorado with her family.
After graduation she got a job with the state of Colorado as their one and only hog farm inspector and spent her days wandering the Eastern Plains shooting the shit with farmers. After a few years of that, she got bored. And since she was a homeschool mom and actually does love science, she decided to write science textbooks and make online classes for other homeschool moms. She wrote more than two hundred of those workbooks and was the number one publisher at the online homeschool store many times, but eventually she covered every science topic she could think of and ran out of shit to say.
So in 2012 she decided to write fiction instead. That year she released her first three books and started a career that would make her a New York Times bestseller and land her on the USA Today Bestseller’s List eighteen times in the next three years. Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world, the audio version of her semi-autobiographical book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie award in 2016 and 2017 respectively, her audiobook Mr. Perfect was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017, and her book, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award in 2018. Johnathan McClain is her first (and only) writing partner and even though they are worlds apart in just about every way imaginable, it works.
She lives on a ranch in Central Colorado with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
October 14, 2025
so this book had such a promising concept. I was genuinely hyped going in but it just didn’t deliver. Like, at all. The characters? Flat as a dry pancake. They lacked the depth and layers that make you feel something, you know? I wanted to root for them, cry with them, something. But their motivations and backstories felt either skimmed over or straight-up nonexistent. It’s hard to care about what’s happening when you don’t care about who it’s happening to.
The writing style didn’t help either. It was clear, sure, but it was also painfully bland. There was no spark, no energy, no subtlety. I kept waiting for the tone to shift or the emotions to hit harder, but it just stayed at this one, super-neutral level. The prose felt functional, not memorable. I can’t even quote anything from it because nothing really stuck with me.
Then there were the relationships, which honestly felt so forced. Like, where was the chemistry? The authenticity? The kind of natural flow that makes you root for the connections between characters? Instead, we got stilted dialogue that felt more like filler than anything meaningful, and their interactions didn’t do much to move the story forward. It felt like the relationships were there because they had to be, not because they made sense or added value to the plot.
And let’s talk about the smut. Look, I’m all for a good steamy scene. who isn’t? but it felt like that was all this book had to offer. The endless focus on physical descriptions and sexual content completely overshadowed the actual story. It got to the point where I was like, “Is this plot just a vehicle for smut? Because it sure feels like it.” Smut should enhance the narrative, not drown it out. all in all this book just didn’t hit the mark for me. It had potential, but between the flat characters, uninspired writing, awkward relationships, and an over-reliance on steamy scenes, it ended up feeling hollow. With stronger character development, more thoughtful prose, and relationships that actually make sense, this could’ve been a solid read. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t.
— ARC provided by the author—J. A. HUSS—in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own!
The writing style didn’t help either. It was clear, sure, but it was also painfully bland. There was no spark, no energy, no subtlety. I kept waiting for the tone to shift or the emotions to hit harder, but it just stayed at this one, super-neutral level. The prose felt functional, not memorable. I can’t even quote anything from it because nothing really stuck with me.
Then there were the relationships, which honestly felt so forced. Like, where was the chemistry? The authenticity? The kind of natural flow that makes you root for the connections between characters? Instead, we got stilted dialogue that felt more like filler than anything meaningful, and their interactions didn’t do much to move the story forward. It felt like the relationships were there because they had to be, not because they made sense or added value to the plot.
And let’s talk about the smut. Look, I’m all for a good steamy scene. who isn’t? but it felt like that was all this book had to offer. The endless focus on physical descriptions and sexual content completely overshadowed the actual story. It got to the point where I was like, “Is this plot just a vehicle for smut? Because it sure feels like it.” Smut should enhance the narrative, not drown it out. all in all this book just didn’t hit the mark for me. It had potential, but between the flat characters, uninspired writing, awkward relationships, and an over-reliance on steamy scenes, it ended up feeling hollow. With stronger character development, more thoughtful prose, and relationships that actually make sense, this could’ve been a solid read. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t.
— ARC provided by the author—J. A. HUSS—in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own!
August 6, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for a chance to review this ARC!
I will start out by saying that the premise was so interesting that I got into this book right when I got accepted for the ARC.
This rating is really disappointing for me… I thought this was going to be a new favourite. Especially when I saw that the MCs were 28 and already in a long term relationship (I’ve been wanting to read more about that).
🚨 This book definitely needs TW. 🚨
Look, there’s a difference between extreme smut & something spicy. Smut is fine in my monster romances or when I actually want to read about that but in my Fantasy books? If they take up more than 10% of the story it will significantly decrease my enjoyment of the story.
Sex scenes, talking about sex, thinking about sex, sexualizing women, etc. Took up at least 50% of the story and didn’t add anything to the story line either. It actually made me mad that it’s her last day in this city forever and all he wants is sex sex sex. They constantly talk about women being ‘fuckable’… it’s so degrading.
And the term ‘fuckable’ is used to describe women quite a lot :/ or whore, or slut. It’s so degrading. I can’t say more without spoiling but I really couldn’t believe what I was reading at least 10 times.
I wanted to DNF so bad but I didn’t want to cause a dent in my feedback ratio on NetGalley by not reviewing. I had a lot of problems with this book but I want to forget I ever read it so I will not dwell on it.
That being said, keep in mind that those are MY personal opinions and you should still read it and see what you think.
I will start out by saying that the premise was so interesting that I got into this book right when I got accepted for the ARC.
This rating is really disappointing for me… I thought this was going to be a new favourite. Especially when I saw that the MCs were 28 and already in a long term relationship (I’ve been wanting to read more about that).
🚨 This book definitely needs TW. 🚨
Look, there’s a difference between extreme smut & something spicy. Smut is fine in my monster romances or when I actually want to read about that but in my Fantasy books? If they take up more than 10% of the story it will significantly decrease my enjoyment of the story.
Sex scenes, talking about sex, thinking about sex, sexualizing women, etc. Took up at least 50% of the story and didn’t add anything to the story line either. It actually made me mad that it’s her last day in this city forever and all he wants is sex sex sex. They constantly talk about women being ‘fuckable’… it’s so degrading.
And the term ‘fuckable’ is used to describe women quite a lot :/ or whore, or slut. It’s so degrading. I can’t say more without spoiling but I really couldn’t believe what I was reading at least 10 times.
I wanted to DNF so bad but I didn’t want to cause a dent in my feedback ratio on NetGalley by not reviewing. I had a lot of problems with this book but I want to forget I ever read it so I will not dwell on it.
That being said, keep in mind that those are MY personal opinions and you should still read it and see what you think.
June 18, 2025
LOVED this so much! This is a romantasy by one of my favorite authors. I have NO idea how she can write a book this long and keep me hooked all the way through. It's a rare author who can orchestrate a plot this complex and keep the tension high and not info dump the story. SO good! The second book is coming out in a few weeks and I am SO ready!
August 10, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and the Author for letting me read and review this book. You may also find this review at: https://snoozlykitsune.com/2024/08/10...
Where should I begin with this review because I honestly have a lot of confused feelings for this book? Like, as I’m sitting and typing this review, I still couldn’t make up my mind about the dominant feeling I had after reading the book. Should I grade this according to my standards for erotica books? Should I grade it according to my standards for sci-fi stories? Or maybe I’ll just use my criteria for grading fantasy books?
So okay, let’s put the confusion aside and familiarize ourselves first with how the story of Sparktopia went. In the fictional world of Tau City wherein electricity is highly regulated and a rare commodity, selected women are born gifted with a spark; yes, as in electrical spark. Every decade, a festive event called the Extraction (another weird term for beauty pageant actually, only difference is that one aspect of the show is that the women are required to show off their sparking abilities ) is organized wherein these women are encouraged to join wherein at the end, ten out of the hundred hopefuls will be selected and marked as Spark Maidens. The Maiden who has the highest amount of spark in her body is the only one who gets to enter the tower and be sacrificed to the god who makes the electricity to power up the whole City. The other 9 Maidens, meanwhile, will get to live their lives lavishly for the succeeding ten years until such time that another Extraction event is organized. These maidens will then retire or get married or live the lives that they want, wealthy and respected. Our 28-year old heroine, Clara Birch, is Maiden number 9 and she got somewhat complacent because there’s only three months left of being beholden to the Tower god before she can leave the Tower and marry the love of her life, Finn Scott.
Unfortunately, fate has other plans for Clara because the bells kept on ringing, signalling that the god is no longer satiated with just one sacrificial Maiden every 10 years. The entity in the tower is getting hungrier and hungrier as the weeks passed by and it has already gobbled up Maiden number 8. And as much as she prayed for the three months to end without the ringing of bells, the bells rang again summoning Clara Birch. This is where the exciting part starts because you can’t help but anticipate and dread what’s coming for our heroine. Will she escape? How? Will she be saved by some deux ex machina? Will she be the girl of destiny who uncover the truth behind the existence of the deity? Will the love of her life save her? These were the questions that really made me read this book non-stop because the Tower god is as creepy and mysterious as f—ck and I just want some answers.
I must admit that my excitement about where the story was going was kind of shadowed with how I disliked Finn Scott and Clara Birch to the core. They’re one of the most superficial leading characters that I have the misfortune to meet in my reading career. Finn Scott is a spineless a-hole who thinks with his dick rather than his brain. And Clara Birch is one entitled, gaslighting bitch who thinks that she just can just have it easy without thinking that she’s living a life that’s too good to be true. And what’s with all the sex scenes and all the slut/whore calling that seemed so out of place in the whole story? I really don’t mind reading smut or anything explicit as long as it’s within context but some of the sex scenes in this book feel like they were just injected as fillers or as advertisement or maybe, to make the story longer. And then, another heroine (Jasina) and hero (Tyse) were introduced, which are more likeable as far as I am concerned. But still, I am kind of weirded out because once these characters were interacting with our other leading characters, the convo and other scenes just slip into out-of-this-world sexual territory. I just have to suspend my disbelief because there’s just no way that sex is just thrown casually by the author here and there.
So what I’m saying is that, the plot was definitely well-executed peppered with delicious surprises here and there. The author definitely has a good idea where the story of Sparktopia is going. She had laid out a solid foundation which really made for this one an entertaining read albeit my loathing for Clara and Finn. The spark system was definitely innovative and thoroughly explained so it was not that hard to grasp how everything worked. But boy oh boy, I could not give this book a much higher rating because of the unnecessary smut, and the repetitive slut-whore shaming. And well, this book could have also benefitted a lot if it was shorter because the other scenes (esp. the smutty ones) are just non-value adding to the whole mission of the story.
Where should I begin with this review because I honestly have a lot of confused feelings for this book? Like, as I’m sitting and typing this review, I still couldn’t make up my mind about the dominant feeling I had after reading the book. Should I grade this according to my standards for erotica books? Should I grade it according to my standards for sci-fi stories? Or maybe I’ll just use my criteria for grading fantasy books?
So okay, let’s put the confusion aside and familiarize ourselves first with how the story of Sparktopia went. In the fictional world of Tau City wherein electricity is highly regulated and a rare commodity, selected women are born gifted with a spark; yes, as in electrical spark. Every decade, a festive event called the Extraction (another weird term for beauty pageant actually, only difference is that one aspect of the show is that the women are required to show off their sparking abilities ) is organized wherein these women are encouraged to join wherein at the end, ten out of the hundred hopefuls will be selected and marked as Spark Maidens. The Maiden who has the highest amount of spark in her body is the only one who gets to enter the tower and be sacrificed to the god who makes the electricity to power up the whole City. The other 9 Maidens, meanwhile, will get to live their lives lavishly for the succeeding ten years until such time that another Extraction event is organized. These maidens will then retire or get married or live the lives that they want, wealthy and respected. Our 28-year old heroine, Clara Birch, is Maiden number 9 and she got somewhat complacent because there’s only three months left of being beholden to the Tower god before she can leave the Tower and marry the love of her life, Finn Scott.
Unfortunately, fate has other plans for Clara because the bells kept on ringing, signalling that the god is no longer satiated with just one sacrificial Maiden every 10 years. The entity in the tower is getting hungrier and hungrier as the weeks passed by and it has already gobbled up Maiden number 8. And as much as she prayed for the three months to end without the ringing of bells, the bells rang again summoning Clara Birch. This is where the exciting part starts because you can’t help but anticipate and dread what’s coming for our heroine. Will she escape? How? Will she be saved by some deux ex machina? Will she be the girl of destiny who uncover the truth behind the existence of the deity? Will the love of her life save her? These were the questions that really made me read this book non-stop because the Tower god is as creepy and mysterious as f—ck and I just want some answers.
I must admit that my excitement about where the story was going was kind of shadowed with how I disliked Finn Scott and Clara Birch to the core. They’re one of the most superficial leading characters that I have the misfortune to meet in my reading career. Finn Scott is a spineless a-hole who thinks with his dick rather than his brain. And Clara Birch is one entitled, gaslighting bitch who thinks that she just can just have it easy without thinking that she’s living a life that’s too good to be true. And what’s with all the sex scenes and all the slut/whore calling that seemed so out of place in the whole story? I really don’t mind reading smut or anything explicit as long as it’s within context but some of the sex scenes in this book feel like they were just injected as fillers or as advertisement or maybe, to make the story longer. And then, another heroine (Jasina) and hero (Tyse) were introduced, which are more likeable as far as I am concerned. But still, I am kind of weirded out because once these characters were interacting with our other leading characters, the convo and other scenes just slip into out-of-this-world sexual territory. I just have to suspend my disbelief because there’s just no way that sex is just thrown casually by the author here and there.
So what I’m saying is that, the plot was definitely well-executed peppered with delicious surprises here and there. The author definitely has a good idea where the story of Sparktopia is going. She had laid out a solid foundation which really made for this one an entertaining read albeit my loathing for Clara and Finn. The spark system was definitely innovative and thoroughly explained so it was not that hard to grasp how everything worked. But boy oh boy, I could not give this book a much higher rating because of the unnecessary smut, and the repetitive slut-whore shaming. And well, this book could have also benefitted a lot if it was shorter because the other scenes (esp. the smutty ones) are just non-value adding to the whole mission of the story.
September 23, 2024
I really had high hopes for this. I was so annoyed with Clara and Finn in part one, but thankfully that changed for Clara.
But Finn... it was truly a job for me to get through his parts. He's absolutely disgusting and how he treats women was nausea inducing. I wish he wouldn't have gotten his own POV, I could *maybe* hold out hope for him getting better. Manipulating girls to have sex is fucking gross and it really brought his storyline down, in turn just really ruining the rest for me.
But Finn... it was truly a job for me to get through his parts. He's absolutely disgusting and how he treats women was nausea inducing. I wish he wouldn't have gotten his own POV, I could *maybe* hold out hope for him getting better. Manipulating girls to have sex is fucking gross and it really brought his storyline down, in turn just really ruining the rest for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2025
3.75 Stars ⭐️
Well, this one had me going back and forth before writing this review. Overall, I think the premise was unique and extremely interesting. In fact, it wasn't until the very end of the book that I completely understood the premise of exactly HOW the two locations were related. I think some more detailed world building might have helped with that, but part of my hesitation comes with the main characters.
In this book, there are 4 main characters as the story unfolds. We have Clara Birch - a Spark Maiden whom the majority of the story revolves around, and her childhood boyfriend Finn Scott, the Extraction Master’s son. During the second half of the story, we meet Jasina Bell, a Little Sister going through the Choosing and then Tyse Saarinen, a washed-out soldier who is actually an Augment. The thing is, I didn't really like ANY of them.
Actually, that's not true. I did like Tyse - quite a lot. But everyone else, especially Finn, well, they were just completely awful people. When I say awful, I mean it. By the end of this book, I could NOT stand Finn and Jasina wasn't much better. Clara actually has a bit of a redemptive arc, but for most of the book she is also a clueless and entitled person who doesn't really care about anything if it does not impact her.
So, liking the characters is a pretty important prerequisite in liking a book, so it says a lot that I still came away interested in whatever is going to happen next in this series. This book has a science fiction/fantasy storyline based in a world where there is a "god" that has an agreement with a city to run the city (think electric and city services) and requires one Spark Maiden to be volunteered up every decade. There are whole customs and societal norms revolving around this that help the citizens overlook the fact that they are giving their daughters up as a sacrifice. The problems begin when the "god" changes the plans and 9 of the Spark Maidens are called up during a single time period. Clara Birch is number 9.
The second half of the book takes place after Clara is sacrificed, and it deals with what happens to her during the "after". Without going into spoilers, let's just say that nothing is what it seems, and nothing was what anyone expected.
Again, the storyline itself was interesting and I was invested, but there were a couple of things that kept pulling me out of the story. One, as already stated, was the unlikability of the characters. The other was the constant degradation of women by the males in this story. The words "whore" and "slut" are used a lot, and I mean A LOT. The first couple of times it came off as somewhat of a shock, but then it started to become annoying with just how often it was thrown out towards female characters.
To top that off, there was the disjointed insertion of s*x in places that were completely inappropriate. I have absolutely no problem with s*x being a part - even a huge part- of a story. What occurs in this story is just....odd. The MMC Finn seems to all of a sudden change from a supposed nice guy to a man who cannot stop thinking about s*x, even to the point where he feels like he is OWED it on the day that his girlfriend Clara is about to be sacrificed. His internal monologue detailing what he begins to "expect" is just disturbing - and don't get me started on his actions when it comes to the other female MC. Yeah, I don't think that my first and only thought when I realize that the place that I am in is about to explode is to get my rocks off....and then to just fall asleep?????? See.....odd.
So, there is definitely room for improvement in the next book and I hope that we get redemptive arcs for these three characters. Honestly, I don't think Finn can be redeemed, but I can still have hope for Clara and Jasina.
Well, this one had me going back and forth before writing this review. Overall, I think the premise was unique and extremely interesting. In fact, it wasn't until the very end of the book that I completely understood the premise of exactly HOW the two locations were related. I think some more detailed world building might have helped with that, but part of my hesitation comes with the main characters.
In this book, there are 4 main characters as the story unfolds. We have Clara Birch - a Spark Maiden whom the majority of the story revolves around, and her childhood boyfriend Finn Scott, the Extraction Master’s son. During the second half of the story, we meet Jasina Bell, a Little Sister going through the Choosing and then Tyse Saarinen, a washed-out soldier who is actually an Augment. The thing is, I didn't really like ANY of them.
Actually, that's not true. I did like Tyse - quite a lot. But everyone else, especially Finn, well, they were just completely awful people. When I say awful, I mean it. By the end of this book, I could NOT stand Finn and Jasina wasn't much better. Clara actually has a bit of a redemptive arc, but for most of the book she is also a clueless and entitled person who doesn't really care about anything if it does not impact her.
So, liking the characters is a pretty important prerequisite in liking a book, so it says a lot that I still came away interested in whatever is going to happen next in this series. This book has a science fiction/fantasy storyline based in a world where there is a "god" that has an agreement with a city to run the city (think electric and city services) and requires one Spark Maiden to be volunteered up every decade. There are whole customs and societal norms revolving around this that help the citizens overlook the fact that they are giving their daughters up as a sacrifice. The problems begin when the "god" changes the plans and 9 of the Spark Maidens are called up during a single time period. Clara Birch is number 9.
The second half of the book takes place after Clara is sacrificed, and it deals with what happens to her during the "after". Without going into spoilers, let's just say that nothing is what it seems, and nothing was what anyone expected.
Again, the storyline itself was interesting and I was invested, but there were a couple of things that kept pulling me out of the story. One, as already stated, was the unlikability of the characters. The other was the constant degradation of women by the males in this story. The words "whore" and "slut" are used a lot, and I mean A LOT. The first couple of times it came off as somewhat of a shock, but then it started to become annoying with just how often it was thrown out towards female characters.
To top that off, there was the disjointed insertion of s*x in places that were completely inappropriate. I have absolutely no problem with s*x being a part - even a huge part- of a story. What occurs in this story is just....odd. The MMC Finn seems to all of a sudden change from a supposed nice guy to a man who cannot stop thinking about s*x, even to the point where he feels like he is OWED it on the day that his girlfriend Clara is about to be sacrificed. His internal monologue detailing what he begins to "expect" is just disturbing - and don't get me started on his actions when it comes to the other female MC. Yeah, I don't think that my first and only thought when I realize that the place that I am in is about to explode is to get my rocks off....and then to just fall asleep?????? See.....odd.
So, there is definitely room for improvement in the next book and I hope that we get redemptive arcs for these three characters. Honestly, I don't think Finn can be redeemed, but I can still have hope for Clara and Jasina.
March 7, 2025
I listened to the audiobook adaptation. However, Goodreads doesn’t have said adaptation available on their platform.. that’s why I went for the Kindle edition instead.
I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into when I started this book, and honestly? That made the experience even better.
This cast? I loved them all. Every single voice brings life into the story, making the full-cast narration one of the most interesting ones I’ve ever listened to. It gives you such an intimate look into every perspective, making the world feel so real. And what a world it is—this is officially one of my favourite fantasy settings.
As a romantasy, Sparktopia is like nothing I’ve read before. It’s unique, intricate, and filled with depth, keeping me completely captivated from start to finish. Oh, and let’s not forget the spice—vivid is an understatement.
Also, let’s talk about Tyse. Tyse. I’m officially in love. Someone find me a Tyse in real life, please.
The ending? Tense but so worth it. I was holding my breath, but thankfully, it all wrapped up in a way that left me so satisfied.
This book is an experience. One I won’t forget anytime soon.
I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into when I started this book, and honestly? That made the experience even better.
This cast? I loved them all. Every single voice brings life into the story, making the full-cast narration one of the most interesting ones I’ve ever listened to. It gives you such an intimate look into every perspective, making the world feel so real. And what a world it is—this is officially one of my favourite fantasy settings.
As a romantasy, Sparktopia is like nothing I’ve read before. It’s unique, intricate, and filled with depth, keeping me completely captivated from start to finish. Oh, and let’s not forget the spice—vivid is an understatement.
Also, let’s talk about Tyse. Tyse. I’m officially in love. Someone find me a Tyse in real life, please.
The ending? Tense but so worth it. I was holding my breath, but thankfully, it all wrapped up in a way that left me so satisfied.
This book is an experience. One I won’t forget anytime soon.
April 3, 2025
This book has such great promise and an intriguing promise. It quickly degraded into sex scenes that basically became the lead man's (Finn) r@p3 fantasies played out and that's where I gave up. We have enough issues in real life with women being treated like crap and men thinking they can take whatever they want at any time. I don't need it in my fantasy readings as well. I am happy for the people who found joy in this book, but it was not for me, and I would not recommend this to anyone, especially people who have experienced SA.
April 28, 2025
Fantastic
This is a prime example of the genius of JA Huss. She sits you back in a story that is sublime and brave and so interesting and then BLAM, you are through a trap door, down a twisty slide, submerged, and you pop your head up into the 2nd story. And each story feeds off the other and it’s so wonderful. I love all her books and I swear every one I think, this is my favorite.
This is a prime example of the genius of JA Huss. She sits you back in a story that is sublime and brave and so interesting and then BLAM, you are through a trap door, down a twisty slide, submerged, and you pop your head up into the 2nd story. And each story feeds off the other and it’s so wonderful. I love all her books and I swear every one I think, this is my favorite.
May 19, 2026
4.5-4.75 stars
I don’t even know where to start. This was really good. I am at a loss for words, like the different dimensions, the gods, the Choosings, the Extractions… It’s just really engaging material. To be honest, I actually think there should’ve been less sex because it really didn’t need it. Like there was enough angst to keep the plot moving forward on its own. All in all, I am very excited to read Godslayer.
I don’t even know where to start. This was really good. I am at a loss for words, like the different dimensions, the gods, the Choosings, the Extractions… It’s just really engaging material. To be honest, I actually think there should’ve been less sex because it really didn’t need it. Like there was enough angst to keep the plot moving forward on its own. All in all, I am very excited to read Godslayer.
May 3, 2025
Interesting premise that will keep you guessing, but that's it's one saving grace.
The amount of loathing I have for Finn, the MMC, is immeasurable. He is the absolute worst specimen of male imaginable, If you enjoy hating the MMC, this one is for you.
Then, Clara, the FMC, is a whiny brat who can do nothing for herself.
Jesina, the wannabe FMC, is just gross. I can't.
The amount of loathing I have for Finn, the MMC, is immeasurable. He is the absolute worst specimen of male imaginable, If you enjoy hating the MMC, this one is for you.
Then, Clara, the FMC, is a whiny brat who can do nothing for herself.
Jesina, the wannabe FMC, is just gross. I can't.
September 23, 2024
Sparktopia by JA Huss is a captivating adult romantasy that blends elements of science fiction, fantasy, and historical fiction into a thrilling narrative. With its unique premise of Spark Maidens and a mysterious tower god, the author crafts a world that is both intriguing and unsettling.
The story centers around Clara Birch, a Spark Maiden who is unexpectedly summoned to sacrifice. As she grapples with betrayal and the realization of the god's true nature, her journey intertwines with Jasina Bell, a rebellious underclass member seeking fame and power. The dynamic between Clara and Jasina, as well as their respective relationships with Finn Scott and the enigmatic figure behind the tower, adds depth and complexity to the narrative.
One of the novel's strengths lies in its exploration of morally gray characters. Clara, Jasina, Finn, and even the god himself are presented as flawed individuals with their own motivations and desires. This allows for a nuanced and thought-provoking exploration of themes such as betrayal, loyalty, and the consequences of power.
Julie's writing style is engaging and immersive, drawing readers into the world of Tau City and its intricate social hierarchy. The pacing is well-executed, with a balance of action, character development, and plot twists that keep the reader hooked. The romantic elements, while present, are seamlessly integrated into the overarching narrative, adding a layer of emotional depth to the story.
Overall, Sparktopia is a compelling and original adult romantasy that offers a fresh take on familiar tropes. With its complex characters, intriguing world-building, and thrilling plot, it is a must-read for fans of science fiction, fantasy, and romance.
The story centers around Clara Birch, a Spark Maiden who is unexpectedly summoned to sacrifice. As she grapples with betrayal and the realization of the god's true nature, her journey intertwines with Jasina Bell, a rebellious underclass member seeking fame and power. The dynamic between Clara and Jasina, as well as their respective relationships with Finn Scott and the enigmatic figure behind the tower, adds depth and complexity to the narrative.
One of the novel's strengths lies in its exploration of morally gray characters. Clara, Jasina, Finn, and even the god himself are presented as flawed individuals with their own motivations and desires. This allows for a nuanced and thought-provoking exploration of themes such as betrayal, loyalty, and the consequences of power.
Julie's writing style is engaging and immersive, drawing readers into the world of Tau City and its intricate social hierarchy. The pacing is well-executed, with a balance of action, character development, and plot twists that keep the reader hooked. The romantic elements, while present, are seamlessly integrated into the overarching narrative, adding a layer of emotional depth to the story.
Overall, Sparktopia is a compelling and original adult romantasy that offers a fresh take on familiar tropes. With its complex characters, intriguing world-building, and thrilling plot, it is a must-read for fans of science fiction, fantasy, and romance.
November 13, 2024
This was one of, if not my most, anticipated books of the year. And it did not disappoint.
I will say that I am a huge fan of romantasy. I've read so many of the popular releases, and dove into the not so well known ones as well. I love them because there really are no limits. Nothing is inconceivable. And you have that romance and eroticism that I crave as well.
When I first heard about Sparktopia, I knew I needed it in my greedy hands. Especially the full cast audiobook. And it is so good. The storyline is unique, and listening to it on Patreon was an amazing experience. JA Huss's vision came to life with full color photos that she included to enhance our reading. I can't wait to buy the paperback because it's going to be stunning. Tau City is beautiful in its cruelty and so are its people.
The characters are so unique and my heart hurt for them all at times, and I was angry with them all at times too. I'm not a "throw my kindle" kind of girl but there were times I probably could have done that at some of their decision making.
All that being said, if you love fantasy, and romance, and have a big imagination and can open yourself up to a new world, I think you would love this one as much as I did.
This audio is absolutely amazing. The full cast duet narration is jam packed with superstar narrators. They did a phenomenal job bringing this book to life.
I will say that I am a huge fan of romantasy. I've read so many of the popular releases, and dove into the not so well known ones as well. I love them because there really are no limits. Nothing is inconceivable. And you have that romance and eroticism that I crave as well.
When I first heard about Sparktopia, I knew I needed it in my greedy hands. Especially the full cast audiobook. And it is so good. The storyline is unique, and listening to it on Patreon was an amazing experience. JA Huss's vision came to life with full color photos that she included to enhance our reading. I can't wait to buy the paperback because it's going to be stunning. Tau City is beautiful in its cruelty and so are its people.
The characters are so unique and my heart hurt for them all at times, and I was angry with them all at times too. I'm not a "throw my kindle" kind of girl but there were times I probably could have done that at some of their decision making.
All that being said, if you love fantasy, and romance, and have a big imagination and can open yourself up to a new world, I think you would love this one as much as I did.
This audio is absolutely amazing. The full cast duet narration is jam packed with superstar narrators. They did a phenomenal job bringing this book to life.
October 4, 2024
Sparktopia is a dazzling fantasy that explores themes of feminisim, power dynamics, perception, and government rule all in the backdrop of the fantacy world of Tau City. This novel tells a beautiful story, weaving the lives of Clara, Jasina, Finn,and Tyse as they live under the rule of a mysterious god in a tower. JA Huss explores the idea of how much you really know the world you live in and how the perception of that world can dictate how life is lived. This is a beautifully constructed fiction that bostes vivid imagry and intrege making for a wonderful and fun reading experience.
The audiobook is a wonderful way to fully emmerse yourself in the vivid storytelling. A full cast os acclaimed voice actors including Eric Nolan, Jill Redfeild, Ava Erickson, and CJ Mission lend their own spark to the novel making it a cinematic experience.
I can't wait to see what JA Huss does this with this world in the next book.
The audiobook is a wonderful way to fully emmerse yourself in the vivid storytelling. A full cast os acclaimed voice actors including Eric Nolan, Jill Redfeild, Ava Erickson, and CJ Mission lend their own spark to the novel making it a cinematic experience.
I can't wait to see what JA Huss does this with this world in the next book.
August 5, 2024
(4.9 Stars)
Welcome to a new mystical world introducing Clara Birch, Jasina Bell, Finn Scott, & Tyse Saarinen. Once a decade in Tau City a new spark maiden is chosen. Only one is sacrificed to keep the city going but this time the evil gods wants them all. Clara is one of those Sparks and she hopes her fiancé, Finn, will save her but can he? Who is this god? What truly is the ritual? Told in four parts this embarks on a journey and rebellion against the powerful that unlocks many secrets. This was slow to start as it is introducing all the facts and tidbits of the characters and their roles in this magical city however, once you get into the mystery of what’s really true within the city it’s gets really good. So many secrets held within these walls can anyone truly be trusted? A dark semi romantasy mystery is the vibe here that ends in a cliffhanger. Told in first person and multiple POV.
Welcome to a new mystical world introducing Clara Birch, Jasina Bell, Finn Scott, & Tyse Saarinen. Once a decade in Tau City a new spark maiden is chosen. Only one is sacrificed to keep the city going but this time the evil gods wants them all. Clara is one of those Sparks and she hopes her fiancé, Finn, will save her but can he? Who is this god? What truly is the ritual? Told in four parts this embarks on a journey and rebellion against the powerful that unlocks many secrets. This was slow to start as it is introducing all the facts and tidbits of the characters and their roles in this magical city however, once you get into the mystery of what’s really true within the city it’s gets really good. So many secrets held within these walls can anyone truly be trusted? A dark semi romantasy mystery is the vibe here that ends in a cliffhanger. Told in first person and multiple POV.
July 19, 2025
I listened to the audiobook and I just have to say that some characters had really weird voices.
I was pleasantly surprised by the plot. It read unique to me. The whole concept of multiple worlds was interesting.
The start was a bit slow and it was painful to hear repeatedly how Clara would end up with Finn because omg childhood lovers etc. I mean he’s blonde… also, very much Tamlin thoughts from you, Mr. Finn: the love of your life is 99% dying tonight and all you can think about is bending her over furniture???
Mitch is just such a slimy little shit. Objectifying teenagers. Bleh.
Tyse was introduced in the second part and stole the show. He could write a book on how to treat a woman. I mean, not freaking out about her interior redesign was a five-star move.
Jesina honestly annoyed me. She seems super shallow and her motivations are questionable. Also, this whole “I don’t care he’s thinking about Clara” approach gave me the ick. BUT she takes nice notes.
I guess I didn’t really get the character development from Finn the author was describing because for me he didn’t really improve towards the end. He seems like a lost puppy who’s also childish af:
- the amount of times he mentions the kissing
- “if I can’t have her no one can”
- chaos again = he’s in sex mode again
- choosing Jesina does indeed sound like settling.
To be honest, they deserve each other and should stay in the shallows.
I wanted to give 5stars but I did read it differently than the author intended. So I guess it gets 4.
I was pleasantly surprised by the plot. It read unique to me. The whole concept of multiple worlds was interesting.
The start was a bit slow and it was painful to hear repeatedly how Clara would end up with Finn because omg childhood lovers etc. I mean he’s blonde… also, very much Tamlin thoughts from you, Mr. Finn: the love of your life is 99% dying tonight and all you can think about is bending her over furniture???
Mitch is just such a slimy little shit. Objectifying teenagers. Bleh.
Tyse was introduced in the second part and stole the show. He could write a book on how to treat a woman. I mean, not freaking out about her interior redesign was a five-star move.
Jesina honestly annoyed me. She seems super shallow and her motivations are questionable. Also, this whole “I don’t care he’s thinking about Clara” approach gave me the ick. BUT she takes nice notes.
I guess I didn’t really get the character development from Finn the author was describing because for me he didn’t really improve towards the end. He seems like a lost puppy who’s also childish af:
- the amount of times he mentions the kissing
- “if I can’t have her no one can”
- chaos again = he’s in sex mode again
- choosing Jesina does indeed sound like settling.
To be honest, they deserve each other and should stay in the shallows.
I wanted to give 5stars but I did read it differently than the author intended. So I guess it gets 4.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2026
I’m between a 3 and 4 for this one. It started off a strong 4 for me, but then by the end it was more of a three. I’m rounding up to 4 since I do still want to read the second book to see what happens.
October 24, 2024
Loved this new (to me) Huss
Sparktopia was so different from any other Huss book I've read, but it sucked me in from the very beginning and held on until the very end!! It was fascinating and fun and enchanting! The world was so descriptive, and the characters very well developed. I loved reading it!! And even though I did not know it was a series going in...I'm definitely looking forward to more books!
Sparktopia was so different from any other Huss book I've read, but it sucked me in from the very beginning and held on until the very end!! It was fascinating and fun and enchanting! The world was so descriptive, and the characters very well developed. I loved reading it!! And even though I did not know it was a series going in...I'm definitely looking forward to more books!
April 15, 2025
If you have been missing the magic of discovering a new romantasy series and immersing in a new world (hello, have you read ACOTAR?) give Sparktopia by JA Huss a try. Cool premise, decent character development, lots of spice! Book 2 publishes this June and I cannot wait.
I read the audio and it was full cast but not graphic audio. Available on Audible and Kindle Unlimited.
I read the audio and it was full cast but not graphic audio. Available on Audible and Kindle Unlimited.
February 12, 2026
Sooo good.... lets go Godslayer...
October 27, 2025
Sparktopia
Game of gods Bk. 1
JA Huss
Narrated By: Jill Redfield, CJ Mission,
Ava Erickson, Eric Nolan, Teddy Hamilton,
Kingsley Rose, & Joel Foomkin
Sacrifice ONE for the Greater Good? Or BURN IT ALL DOWN to save her?
Spark is light, Spark is magic, Spark is power. Spark is everything and it blooms inside the bodies of Tau City's young women. Once a decade, in exchange for enough power to keep the city modern and comfortable, a Spark Maiden must be sacrificed to their mysterious tower god in a ritual called The Extraction.
There are Ten Maidens that are Chosen, but only one will enter the tower as a sacrifice, never to be seen again. The nine leftovers are elevated to celebrity status and they spend the next decade living in the luxurious Maiden Tower, wearing couture gala gowns, and partying with the city's most interesting and beautiful people. Every single young woman in Tau City wants to be a Spark Maiden because the odds have always been in their favour.
That is until now.
One by one, the greedy god has been summoning the leftover Spark Maidens into sacrifice. When Clara Birch, Spark Maiden number nine, get the call, she full expects her fiance, Finn Scott, who happens to be the Extraction Master's son, to save her.
Spoiler: Finn Scott and his father are not going to save her.
At the same time all this is happening, a rebellion is brewing. The forgotten underclass is plotting the end of the god and his tower with strategically-placed Rebel spies that will bring it all down. Jasina Bell is a lovely young woman who is on a mission to make history and she'll stop at nothing to get the fame she deserves.
Then Clara is forced into the tower, against her will, there she makes an unexpected discovery. There is no god in the tower – just a man, one who is willing to do what Finn Scott would never do: save Clara Birch.
And he's willing to do it even if it means destroying the entire world to do so.
Betrayal and sacrifice, loyalty and power plays—four people are entangled across time and space as they seek truth, freedom, and true love in this spicy and twisted adult romantasy that will have readers breathlessly turning pages until the very last word.
YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. There is some content and scenes in this book that are not suitable for all readers and could be triggering for others. Always remember that your mental health comes first at all times. Reader discretion is advised.
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Anti-Hero, Ride or Die, Across Time and Space, Ultimate Betrayal, Morally Grey, Dark Romance, Magic, Fated Mates, MF Romance, Sweet. Gentle Heroine, Height Difference, Sassy Heroine, Curvy Heroine. New Adult, Urban Fantasy, and Forced Proximity.
Sparktopia is the 1st book in the Game of gods series by J.A. Huss and it was narrated by: Jill Redfield, CJ Mission, Ava Erickson, Eric Nolan, Teddy Hamilton, Kingsley Rose, & Joel Foomkin.
There's no audio adaptation available on Goodreads for Sparktopia so, as I listened to the audio book adaptation, I choose to post my review of this book here instead.
I happened to get Sparktopia for free and I really didn't know what to expect, I had just read the synopsis and thought this book looked interesting and I enjoy listening to audio books so, I downloaded it. Not knowing what I was honestly getting myself into just made this listening to made this experience all that much more enjoyable.
The cast of narrators, Jill Redfield, CJ Mission, Ava Erickson, Eric Nolan, Teddy Hamilton, Kingsley Rose, & Joel Foomkin, I hadn't listened to a lot of these narrators with other books I had listened to. But, I have to say that each and every one of the narrators brought this story to life, bringing in a full cast of narrators made this one of the most interesting audio books I have gotten to listen to. And they helped to not only bring life to the characters but also to the world, and this has now become on of my favourite fantasy settings that I have been given the chance to spend time in.
I love the way that J.A. Huss blended elements of science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction with a thrilling narrative. I love the intriguing and unique premise of Spark Maidens along with a mysterious tower god that our author then crafts a world around and it's intriguing and at times it's unsettling.
Sparktopia is a romantasy and it is a romantasy like non I have ever listened to before. It is intricate and unique, it's filled with such depth, it kept me completely enthralled from the opening to the closing of the audio. And the spice that J.A. Huss included, well our narrators made it so vivid and real and that's a complete and total understatement.
Sparktopia centres around Clara Birch, she is a Spark Maiden who is suddenly and unexpectely summoned to the tower as a sacrifice to the god who lives in the tower. She believes that her fiancee Finn Scott or his father is the Extraction Master will save her. But, she quickly realizes that they are not going to come to her rescue. Now he has to grapple with Finn and his father's betrayal.
Once she realizes that she's not going to find any rescue she knows that she has no other choice but to enter the tower and face the god that lives in that tower. When she faces the god she has to come to realization of the god's true nature.
Clara sets out on a journey that intertwines with Jasina Bells, a rebellious underclass member who is seeking nothing but fame and power. There's an interesting dynamic between Clara and Jasina, and their respective relationship with Finn Scott who just happens to be the enigmatic figure behind the tower, the one who acts as the “god in the tower” and all this add such depth and complexity to the overall narrative.
One of the great things that J.A. Huss did with Sparktopia I think is that this story explores morally grey characters like Clara, Jasina, Finn are all presented as flawed making them feel more real with their motivations, desires. I found that all of this together allowed for J.A. Huss to really explore a nuanced and somewhat thought-provoking exploration of really very important themes like betrayal, loyalty, and what the real consequences of power are.
J.A. Has this writing style that converts into an immersive listening experience that draws the listeners in and enthralls you and pulls you into the world of Tau City and it's intricate social hierarchy. I will say that the pacing is well done and consistent and well balanced between action, character development, the plot twists that draw you further in and keep you enthralled. Then the romantic element elements that J.A. Included, are just perfectly woven into the story and overall narrative that adds an amazing layer of emotional depth to this exceptionally well done story.
There is one character that I have to talk about. Tyse. Tyse is one of those characters that I completely fell in love with.
And that ending, it was tense but so very worth it. It left me holding my breath and at the same time it wrapped everything up in a way that I am thankful to say that is satisfying.
This audio book is the kind of book that I will not be forgetting about anytime in the future and I know that I will be listening to it again.
Game of gods Bk. 1
JA Huss
Narrated By: Jill Redfield, CJ Mission,
Ava Erickson, Eric Nolan, Teddy Hamilton,
Kingsley Rose, & Joel Foomkin
Sacrifice ONE for the Greater Good? Or BURN IT ALL DOWN to save her?
Spark is light, Spark is magic, Spark is power. Spark is everything and it blooms inside the bodies of Tau City's young women. Once a decade, in exchange for enough power to keep the city modern and comfortable, a Spark Maiden must be sacrificed to their mysterious tower god in a ritual called The Extraction.
There are Ten Maidens that are Chosen, but only one will enter the tower as a sacrifice, never to be seen again. The nine leftovers are elevated to celebrity status and they spend the next decade living in the luxurious Maiden Tower, wearing couture gala gowns, and partying with the city's most interesting and beautiful people. Every single young woman in Tau City wants to be a Spark Maiden because the odds have always been in their favour.
That is until now.
One by one, the greedy god has been summoning the leftover Spark Maidens into sacrifice. When Clara Birch, Spark Maiden number nine, get the call, she full expects her fiance, Finn Scott, who happens to be the Extraction Master's son, to save her.
Spoiler: Finn Scott and his father are not going to save her.
At the same time all this is happening, a rebellion is brewing. The forgotten underclass is plotting the end of the god and his tower with strategically-placed Rebel spies that will bring it all down. Jasina Bell is a lovely young woman who is on a mission to make history and she'll stop at nothing to get the fame she deserves.
Then Clara is forced into the tower, against her will, there she makes an unexpected discovery. There is no god in the tower – just a man, one who is willing to do what Finn Scott would never do: save Clara Birch.
And he's willing to do it even if it means destroying the entire world to do so.
Betrayal and sacrifice, loyalty and power plays—four people are entangled across time and space as they seek truth, freedom, and true love in this spicy and twisted adult romantasy that will have readers breathlessly turning pages until the very last word.
YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. There is some content and scenes in this book that are not suitable for all readers and could be triggering for others. Always remember that your mental health comes first at all times. Reader discretion is advised.
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Anti-Hero, Ride or Die, Across Time and Space, Ultimate Betrayal, Morally Grey, Dark Romance, Magic, Fated Mates, MF Romance, Sweet. Gentle Heroine, Height Difference, Sassy Heroine, Curvy Heroine. New Adult, Urban Fantasy, and Forced Proximity.
Sparktopia is the 1st book in the Game of gods series by J.A. Huss and it was narrated by: Jill Redfield, CJ Mission, Ava Erickson, Eric Nolan, Teddy Hamilton, Kingsley Rose, & Joel Foomkin.
There's no audio adaptation available on Goodreads for Sparktopia so, as I listened to the audio book adaptation, I choose to post my review of this book here instead.
I happened to get Sparktopia for free and I really didn't know what to expect, I had just read the synopsis and thought this book looked interesting and I enjoy listening to audio books so, I downloaded it. Not knowing what I was honestly getting myself into just made this listening to made this experience all that much more enjoyable.
The cast of narrators, Jill Redfield, CJ Mission, Ava Erickson, Eric Nolan, Teddy Hamilton, Kingsley Rose, & Joel Foomkin, I hadn't listened to a lot of these narrators with other books I had listened to. But, I have to say that each and every one of the narrators brought this story to life, bringing in a full cast of narrators made this one of the most interesting audio books I have gotten to listen to. And they helped to not only bring life to the characters but also to the world, and this has now become on of my favourite fantasy settings that I have been given the chance to spend time in.
I love the way that J.A. Huss blended elements of science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction with a thrilling narrative. I love the intriguing and unique premise of Spark Maidens along with a mysterious tower god that our author then crafts a world around and it's intriguing and at times it's unsettling.
Sparktopia is a romantasy and it is a romantasy like non I have ever listened to before. It is intricate and unique, it's filled with such depth, it kept me completely enthralled from the opening to the closing of the audio. And the spice that J.A. Huss included, well our narrators made it so vivid and real and that's a complete and total understatement.
Sparktopia centres around Clara Birch, she is a Spark Maiden who is suddenly and unexpectely summoned to the tower as a sacrifice to the god who lives in the tower. She believes that her fiancee Finn Scott or his father is the Extraction Master will save her. But, she quickly realizes that they are not going to come to her rescue. Now he has to grapple with Finn and his father's betrayal.
Once she realizes that she's not going to find any rescue she knows that she has no other choice but to enter the tower and face the god that lives in that tower. When she faces the god she has to come to realization of the god's true nature.
Clara sets out on a journey that intertwines with Jasina Bells, a rebellious underclass member who is seeking nothing but fame and power. There's an interesting dynamic between Clara and Jasina, and their respective relationship with Finn Scott who just happens to be the enigmatic figure behind the tower, the one who acts as the “god in the tower” and all this add such depth and complexity to the overall narrative.
One of the great things that J.A. Huss did with Sparktopia I think is that this story explores morally grey characters like Clara, Jasina, Finn are all presented as flawed making them feel more real with their motivations, desires. I found that all of this together allowed for J.A. Huss to really explore a nuanced and somewhat thought-provoking exploration of really very important themes like betrayal, loyalty, and what the real consequences of power are.
J.A. Has this writing style that converts into an immersive listening experience that draws the listeners in and enthralls you and pulls you into the world of Tau City and it's intricate social hierarchy. I will say that the pacing is well done and consistent and well balanced between action, character development, the plot twists that draw you further in and keep you enthralled. Then the romantic element elements that J.A. Included, are just perfectly woven into the story and overall narrative that adds an amazing layer of emotional depth to this exceptionally well done story.
There is one character that I have to talk about. Tyse. Tyse is one of those characters that I completely fell in love with.
And that ending, it was tense but so very worth it. It left me holding my breath and at the same time it wrapped everything up in a way that I am thankful to say that is satisfying.
This audio book is the kind of book that I will not be forgetting about anytime in the future and I know that I will be listening to it again.
November 13, 2024
This was one of, if not my most, anticipated books of the year. And it did not disappoint.
I will say that I am a huge fan of romantasy. I've read so many of the popular releases, and dove into the not so well known ones as well. I love them because there really are no limits. Nothing is inconceivable. And you have that romance and eroticism that I crave as well.
When I first heard about Sparktopia, I knew I needed it in my greedy hands. Especially the full cast audiobook. And it is so good. The storyline is unique, and listening to it on Patreon was an amazing experience. JA Huss's vision came to life with full color photos that she included to enhance our reading. I can't wait to buy the paperback because it's going to be stunning. Tau City is beautiful in its cruelty and so are its people.
The characters are so unique and my heart hurt for them all at times, and I was angry with them all at times too. I'm not a "throw my kindle" kind of girl but there were times I probably could have done that at some of their decision making.
All that being said, if you love fantasy, and romance, and have a big imagination and can open yourself up to a new world, I think you would love this one as much as I did.
This audio is absolutely amazing. The full cast duet narration is jam packed with superstar narrators. They did a phenomenal job bringing this book to life.
I will say that I am a huge fan of romantasy. I've read so many of the popular releases, and dove into the not so well known ones as well. I love them because there really are no limits. Nothing is inconceivable. And you have that romance and eroticism that I crave as well.
When I first heard about Sparktopia, I knew I needed it in my greedy hands. Especially the full cast audiobook. And it is so good. The storyline is unique, and listening to it on Patreon was an amazing experience. JA Huss's vision came to life with full color photos that she included to enhance our reading. I can't wait to buy the paperback because it's going to be stunning. Tau City is beautiful in its cruelty and so are its people.
The characters are so unique and my heart hurt for them all at times, and I was angry with them all at times too. I'm not a "throw my kindle" kind of girl but there were times I probably could have done that at some of their decision making.
All that being said, if you love fantasy, and romance, and have a big imagination and can open yourself up to a new world, I think you would love this one as much as I did.
This audio is absolutely amazing. The full cast duet narration is jam packed with superstar narrators. They did a phenomenal job bringing this book to life.
May 9, 2025
The plot of this book was a mess. I don't know if I can even properly explain how messy this book was...There's multiple worlds, but they're actually different layers? There's gods, but they're actually A.I. brained people? And there's a magic system called Spark, but it's actually just electricity/electromagnetic power? I have no idea what happened in this book and I felt like hardly anything was explained well. I wasted an Audible credit for this thing.
The worst thing, besides the plot, was the absolute degradation of every single female character. Women were basically the same as fuck dolls. They were constantly described as sluts, whores, prostitutes, and worse things. Sex was constantly asked for and rough sex was given without consent. Rape fantasies were a main thought of one of the MMC and he frequently acted them out with two FMCs. The MMC in question said his fantasies would be allowed by the FMCs if he "primed" them correctly while they were having regular sex. There's worse stuff I won't get into, but if I didn't know any better, I'd assume this book was written by a man with some serious issues, judging by how all the male characters were dogs.
The worst thing, besides the plot, was the absolute degradation of every single female character. Women were basically the same as fuck dolls. They were constantly described as sluts, whores, prostitutes, and worse things. Sex was constantly asked for and rough sex was given without consent. Rape fantasies were a main thought of one of the MMC and he frequently acted them out with two FMCs. The MMC in question said his fantasies would be allowed by the FMCs if he "primed" them correctly while they were having regular sex. There's worse stuff I won't get into, but if I didn't know any better, I'd assume this book was written by a man with some serious issues, judging by how all the male characters were dogs.
September 14, 2024
liked the book.
The idea related to the God that needs to be given a Spark Maiden has definitely been done before. I’ve read about it lots of times, although this story felt different. The atmosphere was regal, the girls, especially Jasina were special, they felt like real people and I instantly connected with them.
The author is incredibly skilled at offering each of the characters their own voice. Clara felt mature, enamored and a dreamer, while Jasina had a playful tone, typical to younger girls.
Although I liked how the story unfolded, it soon occurred to me that it wasn’t going to be how I had imagined it.
I hope we all collectively despise Mitch and Finn. I hate Finn so much and I was terrified the author will try to redeem him, which actually happened.
This, along with the last 15% of the book (which felt more sci-fi than fantasy to me) ruined the story.
I still enjoyed the most part but I just wish it didn’t have to become a completely different story.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC. ❤️
The idea related to the God that needs to be given a Spark Maiden has definitely been done before. I’ve read about it lots of times, although this story felt different. The atmosphere was regal, the girls, especially Jasina were special, they felt like real people and I instantly connected with them.
The author is incredibly skilled at offering each of the characters their own voice. Clara felt mature, enamored and a dreamer, while Jasina had a playful tone, typical to younger girls.
Although I liked how the story unfolded, it soon occurred to me that it wasn’t going to be how I had imagined it.
I hope we all collectively despise Mitch and Finn. I hate Finn so much and I was terrified the author will try to redeem him, which actually happened.
This, along with the last 15% of the book (which felt more sci-fi than fantasy to me) ruined the story.
I still enjoyed the most part but I just wish it didn’t have to become a completely different story.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC. ❤️
January 30, 2025
Good, but not great? I listened to the audiobook. Can someone...PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THEY LET MITCHELL SOUND LIKE A DUDE BRO?! WHO LET THAT HAPPEN 😆 Bruuuuuuh
Clara is the most vapid insufferable fmc. I only continued reading because the world building is so interesting. I genuinely didn't realize how old Clara was until I saw a review elsewhere. In my head she's a whiny teenager.
Finn is just as bad as Clara. Spineless weasel with his bros.
The smut. So unnecessary. Take it out, and the book would be better imo. It would make zero difference to the plot.
If there is a sequel I think i will be skipping it due to the sheer amount of slut/whore shaming. Author come on, that's completely unnecessary to the plot and isn't needed to show class divisions or prejudices.
Clara is the most vapid insufferable fmc. I only continued reading because the world building is so interesting. I genuinely didn't realize how old Clara was until I saw a review elsewhere. In my head she's a whiny teenager.
Finn is just as bad as Clara. Spineless weasel with his bros.
The smut. So unnecessary. Take it out, and the book would be better imo. It would make zero difference to the plot.
If there is a sequel I think i will be skipping it due to the sheer amount of slut/whore shaming. Author come on, that's completely unnecessary to the plot and isn't needed to show class divisions or prejudices.
September 1, 2024
This is a 5-star read, in my opinion. It was so unique! One of the MMCs had me giggling through the whole book. The transformation of some of the characters and the uncomfortable feeling of others are very compelling. There are some I’m just not sure about. It does have a darker feel in some parts of the story, but it really added to the ending and where the story is going to go. You could tell JA Huss had fun writing this and I’m so happy I read it.
September 24, 2024
Too convoluted and dramatic
When reading a book it all comes down to personal preference. I don’t have any complaints about the editing or the writing itself. I would also like to point out that I DFN this book. I did try but I just felt like it was moving way too slow and there was too more drama for my taste. There are several POVs and although I have no issue with that, the story felt at times very convoluted. This was not really my cup of tea.
When reading a book it all comes down to personal preference. I don’t have any complaints about the editing or the writing itself. I would also like to point out that I DFN this book. I did try but I just felt like it was moving way too slow and there was too more drama for my taste. There are several POVs and although I have no issue with that, the story felt at times very convoluted. This was not really my cup of tea.
January 24, 2025
It’s going to be a DNF ughh, it had the potential to be really good… but there is an icky feeling to all the sexual content, it’s rapey ish and not sexy at all , I don’t know, just upsetting and uncomfortable how they frame interactions and it’s pretty derogatory to the women in the story, the background story is fascinating but not worth the ick feeling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2026
I honestly don’t understand how this got such high reviews. The characters are whiney and unlikeable. And a lot of the sex is borderline rape-y. I wanted to DNF so bad but pushed through. It never got better.
September 24, 2024
I hated almost everything about this.
Clara was an absolute moron.
Finn was a total piece of shit.
Jasina was horrible.
It’s a fucking no from me.
Clara was an absolute moron.
Finn was a total piece of shit.
Jasina was horrible.
It’s a fucking no from me.
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