Divine Mortals

Divine Mortals #1

by Amanda M. Helander

Mona can name anyone's soulmate—but she'll do anything to avoid being matched with her own. Especially when she learns he's the king.

This debut romantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros delivers sizzling romance, cutthroat competition, a lush fantasy world, and an unforgettable heroine.

Blessed by the gods, Mona Arnett has the unique ability to divine soulmates, but she refuses to seek out her own—until she learns the king is dying without an heir, threatening the royal line and the world’s access to magic. Tasked with naming his future queen, Mona discovers the king’s soulmate is . . . her.

A royal match is the last thing Mona wants—especially when she starts falling for the king’s closest advisor—so she lies, cheats, and contends with scheming gods to hide the truth. But when this high-stakes game of thrones leads to murder, survival and the fate of the kingdom will depend on her finding the courage to face her destiny.

Delightful wit, spellbinding prose, and a flawed, funny protagonist you'll love from page one make this debut fantasy a must-read.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Romantasy, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Fantasy Romance

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 2024

About the author

Amanda Helander (pronounced “HELL-ander”) is a romantic fantasy author and paralegal from Seattle, Washington. She likes to write about mental health struggles and hot wizard boyfriends. When she’s not writing, Amanda can be found watching horror movies, learning to crochet, or eating entire blocks of parmesan in one sitting.

Reviews

[Amanda M. Helander]

Hi, I wrote this book! Here are a few things you might want to know.

Divine Mortals is the first book in a duology. The sequel comes out in 2025.

You may have seen promo suggesting Divine Mortals is for fans of certain megafamous romantasy authors. While I'm flattered, a couple more germane comps would be Violet Made of Thorns and This Vicious Grace.

Divine Mortals is YA; I beg of you, don't ask me if it’s spicy. That puts us both in an awkward position. It *does* have sexual content, however. Please ask a librarian or other smart person if you have questions about the maturity level or appropriateness for a teen reader.

What age range is Divine Mortals for? It’s rated for teens aged 14-18. I would classify it as upper YA, so it’s aimed at the higher end of that range. The book was originally new adult (18-25), but I aged it down so Disney would acquire it and throw heaps of money at me. That only half worked.

Below are some content warnings for Divine Mortals. Please be safe with your brains.
• Violent death/murder
• Dead bodies
• Self-mutilation (one scene, not in a self-harm context)
• Chronic and terminal illness
• Mention of cults and mass suicide
• Mental illness stigma
• Alcohol use/abuse
• Sex/masturbation

I really hope you enjoy this book. If you don’t, that’s fine too. We can still be friends.

Cheers,
Amanda

[A.Y. Chao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was lucky enough to read an early version of this story. The world better get ready for Princess Mona! Witty banter, sexy LI, and heartwrenching grief. Looking forward to rereading this when it comes out and diving back into Helander’s beautifully rendered world and characters.

[Anita Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHHHHHHH MONA FUCKING ARNETT

[Wendy Ragland · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book based on the synopsis and really wanted to adore it. Maybe I expected too much? The premise was perfect but, in reality, the plot dragged and it was difficult to become invested in the characters. I found the fantasy world of The Flood not well fleshed out and the relationships between characters glossed over with a lot of unanswered “Whys.” Still, it was captivating enough to want to know what happened in the end. All in all, it was a book I had to make myself read rather than one I could put down.

[Gigi Griffis · Rating 5 out of 5]

SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP. This is one of my favorite manuscripts I've ever read and I cannot wait for it to be a real book in the world!

Mona is the most likable unlikable female character and I fell for her right away. An agoraphobic seer, she has a special talent for predicting people's soul mates. When she's asked to predict who should marry the king, the unfortunate answer is HER. Which is going to interfere majorly with her need to stay within the four walls of her own home...not to mention the crush she's developed on...not the king.

A truly marvelous book. I couldn't be happier that I get to put it on my bookshelf in 2024.

[ashley marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. I started and stopped this book three times before finishing because I kept losing interest.

The concept is really engaging. I love the idea of Gods picking favored mortals and providing gifts because of it. However, being that the magic and the world was underdeveloped, it was hard to really get a grasp and understanding of what was happening. I think this plot really suffered from editing. There were many different lines that needed to be followed and I don't feel any of them really settled well. I also feel like the sexual aspects were not paired down enough for a YA book. A few of the scenes were still pretty spicy.

There also weren't any characters to cling to. Our main character was frustrating for most of the story, her best friend in the story didn't really like her, and the love interest was lackluster too. There were many side characters to follow with little to build on or really care about.

If there weren't so many loose ends being tied up in the last 5-10% of the book, I may have felt differently, but I just did not enjoy this the way I hoped when it started. Thank you to Disney Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delicious fantasy with unforgettable characters, a perfect premise, and a true heart underneath it all.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yea this is a longer review of mine, but it’s finals season and I’d rather write a review than write a paper…

I fear I have not read the same book as all these other reviewers. The first chapter was so intriguing too, but this book had three issues for me:

1. There was little depth to the characters. The only “complex emotion” the FMC Mona had was the guilt around her brother dying. Other emotions? Like the supposed romance aspect of the book? Drier than the Sahara. Color me shocked when we’re told Mona loves Whitman and he supposedly knows it. I 100% do not mind if there’s not romance or it’s not even that important to the book, but don’t market it as sizzling when it’s anything but.

2. The world building? First off, if you’re going to explain all these cities and where they are in connection to one central place, please draw a map. Even more, why explain the geography when it seems like nothing in this world is relevant besides the royal castle and the god’s realm? And speaking of gods, can they even do anything useful? It was only the mortals doing literally anything in this book, so what was the point at all of having gods 😂

3. Details, details, details. Did any of these matter? This point ties into the world building I guess - it felt like a higher word count book, but I can’t comprehend the most basic fact set of who does what in this world politically nor magically.

[mads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Forgot I never reviewed this, so to put it very briefly: not so good.

[LC Milburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blessed to receive an early copy of this book. I took full advantage of my early-reader privilege and gobbled it up in only a few hours.

I've entered my romantasy era and this book was the one I didn't know I needed!!! Okay, I knew I needed it, because Amanda Helander is an amazing writer. But I had no idea I would find exactly my type of book in a romantasy.

I adore women who are wrecks but find their way--in their own messy way--to lives well lived. Mona is perfection on this count, even if she's not perfect in any other way.

And the romance? STAHHHHP. Exceptional.

[Sella Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually one of my favorite books, with one of my favorite main characters, and one of my favorite romances. I truly pity y'all that y'all gotta wait for it meanwhile I'm openin the docx for the millionth time

[Kaela Lockard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story! I've read several books lately that feel very similar to one another but not Divine Mortals. Fresh story, well written. It might be rated YA, but it's a fantasy book adults will love, too. When's book 2 come out?!

[Connie Chang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an early version of this book, and EVERYONE NEEDS MONA IN THEIR LIVES 🤩🤩🤩🤩 I can’t WAIT to hold this AMAZING book in my hands 🥹🥹🥹🥹

[Marlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly loved this book. I do wish it was longer because I felt like some much needed world building wasn’t added in but hopefully it’ll come to light in the next one.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Całkiem spoko, ale raczej nic więcej. Zaciekawiłam się mocno na początku, ale później to zainteresowanie trochę wyblakło. Ja wiem, że nie każdych bohaterów da się lubić, ale zżycie z nimi pomaga i bardziej wciąga w historię. Mi tutaj brakowało tego zaaranżowania, ale to chyba właśnie dlatego, że postacie były płytkie.

Bogowie i Przypływ na duży plus, ale nie wiem czy będę kontynuować. Niby mnie trochę ciekawi co ich wszyskich czeka, ale z drugiej strony jak tu już się męczyłam pod koniec czy chce dalej o tym czytać?

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept hearing this was for fans of other Romantasy authors, but I felt this book was unlike any I’ve ever read before. I really enjoyed the plot. It was interesting and something new was always happening. There were always twists and turns I didn’t see coming.

I loved the characters. I loved their dynamics. They were witty and it was just fun to read.

The world building was good, it just could have used a little fine tuning. There were parts that I found a little confusing. But in the end, it all came together.

[Sarah Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 The storyline for this book is very different than anything I have read. There was way more world building than I expected, but then also not enough for how much was going on. The main character is insufferable and I know that is the point but still very annoying. But the story was intriguing. There is still a lot that can be unpacked in the next books in the series.

Final random thoughts: I kept imagining The Flood as Bikini Bottom and the author used the word Chaise Longue no joke 30 times.

[Summer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I DNF’ed this book at chapter 11. I really tried to get into this book but the plot was uninteresting and the FMC unlikable. Mona was whiny and I found it hard to follow her immature line of thinking. I found it hard to connect or care about her. The plot just didn’t draw me in and the added mystery element felt incredibly cliché. Not for me.

[Cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started strong, then fell off. Not sure I'll go back for book 2

[Rahdika K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a debut fantasy novel and the first book in a duology. The story centers around Mona, a young woman with the rare ability to identify soulmates. However, when she discovers that she is destined to be the king's soulmate, she desperately tries to avoid it—especially as she finds herself drawn to the king’s advisor instead. As political intrigue deepens and murder strikes, Mona must face her destiny and find the courage to save the kingdom.

This novel has all the hallmarks of a great fantasy: immersive world-building, an intriguing magic system, and a compelling political landscape. I particularly appreciated the blend of these elements with moments of humor, which added a lightness to the narrative that I thoroughly enjoyed.

One of the book’s standout strengths is its sensitive handling of grief. The author portrays the complex relationship between guilt and grief with empathy, exploring how these emotions can profoundly shape a person’s life and choices.

While the plot initially grabbed my attention and kept me engaged through the middle of the book, it began to feel somewhat predictable as the story progressed. The pacing seemed to falter towards the end, with events becoming a bit chaotic and the conclusion feeling rushed.

I wouldn't say I didn’t enjoy the book, but I can’t say I loved it either. There’s something about it that I can’t quite put my finger on—it just didn’t fully resonate with me. The characters, for instance, felt somewhat forgettable, lacking the depth that would make me truly care about them.

One thing to note: although the book is marketed as YA, there are some spicy scenes that might make it less suitable for younger readers.

Overall, if you’re a fan of stories about gods bestowing special powers on mortals, romantic fantasy, and a mix of political intrigue with humor, this book might be just the book for you.

Received a review copy from Times Reads.

[isla · Rating 4 out of 5]

this took me soooo long to finish! i was honestly just here for the romantasy, but the mystery was a nice touch. it was a nice read, and it didn't satisfy my romance cravings as much as i would like, but it was good enough! cute read, and mona's not that annoying, and whitford is hot, so it was good enough.

[Teodora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me about 100 pages in for it to click for me, but once it did, I started flying through. Such an interesting and unique story, and I can't wait for book 2.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me, this book had a good start. The concept of the gods having favored individuals with special talents isn’t exactly new, but I like these kinds of stories and I thought the author set it up in an interesting way. However, once the FMC came to the castle it felt like not much was really going on, even with the issues with the cultist. Apart from that, there wasn’t much chemistry between her and Whitman as the main couple. It seemed very obvious to me from the onset of the book that the gods were not to be trusted, and that the king was not her actual soulmate. By the time I reached the last 3/4 of the book, I was skimming because I was so bored. I don’t think I want to read the second book.

I felt like certain plot conflicts in the book were resolved very easily, particularly the one about her receiving false readings. All she had to do was try, and just like that, she found the real reading. And even though it was shown that the reading for the king was false, the book didn’t address what happened to Elsie’s reading, which also wasn’t the king’s name.

The other issue with this book is that I don’t see how it could possibly be considered YA. The author says it’s meant for ages 14-18, but I would never recommend it to a 14/15 yo to read. It’s more appropriate for 18+. Even though the sexual scenes are not frequent, they are detailed enough to be past the point of YA.

That being said, this book just isn’t for me. It may be for others and I’m not going to knock on someone liking it.

[Sydney McKay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wish I liked this book more than I actually did. It had such a strong concept, but it fell flat in execution.

The prologue was an explosive start, but the pacing afterward felt a bit off. It felt like we were thrust into the middle of a story. And while it wasn’t very hard to follow the lore, or any of the plot points, the lack of world building made it hard to feel grounded in the story.

It didn’t help that I also had very little connection to any of the characters. I think the most interesting part of Mona’s character is that she is an agoraphobe. I didn’t sense any chemistry between her and the MMC. It was all very flat and underdeveloped.

The best part of this book was the murder mystery/intrigue going on. But even that got an unsatisfying tie up in the last 5%.

Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Publishing for providing me this e-AEC in exchange for a honest review.

[Maegan Morin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's the thing. I don't think this was an inherently bad book BUT it wasn't great... Divine Mortal by Amanda Helander should have been good. It's everything that I love in a book, fantasy with a slow burn romance, an interesting magic system and a new and creative world. HOWEVER I found that the book just dragged on for SO long and I had a really hard time picking it up again. I felt like there was a lot of dead space and not enough action. On top of that Mona is the literal worst, whiney, selfish kind of person and it made it really hard to root for her. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with an unlikeable main character, she just had NO redeeming qualities. Overall this book was just mid. Not sure if I'll read the next.

[reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

An agoraphobic girl who is in the favor of a god has to leave the house for the first time in 10 years. Honestly what a hook of an opening premise. We pretty quickly meet a strait laced master of the Royal Practitioner’s Company named Whitman who takes a no nonsense approach to Mona’s flirty avoidant tactics. Mona’s gift to sense the soulmates of people and other connections with the River pull her into orbit no matter her trauma or protests.
Whitman, my man, is such an Emeric character (little thieves) that I think I’m drawn to him because I miss that shitty prefect from Margaret Owen’s books.
With another set of characters, there’s an unlikely partnership formed from secrets and necessity which adds a fun layer to the story. We all know that I love a secret.
The writing is very straightforward with first person present giving us a lot of access to Mona’s internal hopes, snappy judgements, and consuming fears. I hoped that scenes would read more vividly than they do since we are in the mind of a terrified girl. As a reader I’m being being told what is happening without much embellishment to the text. Instead we are locked into the moment and Mona’s reactions. If Mona were more erratic and exciting internally I’d be happy with this choice, however it feels like I’m reading a casual or generic narration that doesn’t hook me in. Though the plot is more of a mystery, I don’t find it drawing me in with the holes poked or unanswered questions.

I did read this book because silly me, I didn’t realize that the ARC I received was book 2 in this series.
2.7/5

[Faith Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

“ Men, they give their violence away, like it's nothing. But women hold it inside, close to the heart. Deep inside, festering, until it is needed.”


This book had all the ingredients for what’s shaping up to be an incredible debut fantasy duology!! Immersive world building, a unique magic system, a compelling and rich political landscape and thick ( giggling kicking my feet) romantic tension.

Divine Mortals delivers from start to finish a beautiful sense of wonder, magic, deep lore, mystery and adventure.

My favourite element of this book was both the completely beautiful conversation on grief and guilt, and the focus on friendship and girlhood.

Mona is the kind of lead you root for all the way, she has so much heart, wit and cleverness.

[Leanne Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mona Arnette the woman you are

How can I say how much I adore this book? I couldn’t stop reading. Mona’s voice is irresistible. She’s a menace. I love her.

This book is chock full of stunning characters. I’m sick over Whitman, Bernadette, and every last one tbh. Just do yourself a favor and read this.

[hm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! It wasn’t perfect but I liked reading it. I don’t understand the reviews saying they hated Mona. She had a personality and distinct voice, unlike some other protagonist I could name. Some things I liked: Bernadette Byers, the murder mystery element, the parallel worlds. Some things I disliked: the sex scenes, the way that certain conclusions were reached too easily, the vagueness of the magic system and certain plot progressions (like with the wedding).

[Natasha's Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Divine Mortals is a fantasy novel that follows a young woman who is taken to the king to help "see" who his soulmate is to help him find a wife and save his kingdom. The storyline involves Gods, treachery, murder and some romance. It was an okay read, but not something I'd probably re-read.