In a world ruled by gods and torn by rebellion, a serf-turned-rebel must face the man she once loved—and the betrayal that broke them.
As a serf in Selencia, Maera had no right to love Aelric, the son of the overlord. Aelric was forbidden to love her back, and when the gods reveal Aelric is an elite warrior his family tries to erase all evidence of their relationship, including Maera. She escapes and forges herself into a weapon for the rebellion.
Ten years later, a chance mission brings her face-to-face with Aelric, the man she loved and mourned, forcing the truth of their past to collide amid the chaos of war.
As the rebellion escalates and the gods’ war looms, Maera and Aelric must confront their buried love, the scars of betrayal, and a secret that could change everything.
For fans of forbidden romance, second chances, and high-stakes rebellion, Unwritten by the Gods is a heart-wrenching tale of love, survival, and redemption.
Unwritten by the Gods is available in Bewitched Blooms: A Fundraiser Anthology for Zoë.
Caty Rogan wrote her first story at five—with crayons, dramatic flair, and a firm belief the Power Rangers were the villains. She later became an award-winning journalist, chasing stories across the globe.
Now she writes spicy romantasy full of badass heroines and he-falls-first heroes. Caty lives in Arizona with her two boss-girl daughters and her husband—her real-life he-falls-first hero—and survives on caffeine, popcorn, and pure chaotic energy.
Find her at www.catyrogan.com and on Instagram and TikTok @CatyRogan
'The gods watch above it all, restless and angry, their hands already reaching down to twist fate. The game is no longer just theirs to play. It is ours to survive.'
How can a 124 page novella bring more emotion and developed world building than some 400+ page fantasy novels?
This was beautiful. Having already read and loved Kissed by the Gods, I was desperate to be back in this world, and this novella actually made me love the series even more. Questions I had from KBTG were answered, but not in a simple or fleeting way. They were answered with the kind of depth that is usually reserved for full length novels and the kind of emotional connection that is sometimes rare to find in fantasy books these days.
I loved Aelric. I loved Maera. Their story and their history? Breathtaking. I also loved having more of a background to The Elder, especially given he was one of my favourite characters in book 1. The way Caty Rogan writes her characters and the relationships between them.. I just can't describe how much I adore it.
'If I'm tender, Maera, it's not because I think you'll break. It's because I want you to feel the softness denied to you. If I'm protective, it's not because I doubt your strength. It's because I know how hard you've had to fight and I want to carry the weight for you, even if only for a moment. If I'm careful, it's not because I think you're fragile. It's because you're precious to me, and when things are precious you treat them with care.' 🥹
There are romance books I've read with less chemistry than this novella. There just wasn't anything about this that I could fault, and to experience the level of emotion I did in such a short amount of pages honestly is incredible. You guys are gonna get so sick of me yapping about the series but can't stop, won't stop 🥰 just read it ok
pre-read needed to be back in this world immediately so here I am reading the prequel novella 🤸🏼♀️
K so I loved this. 5⭐️ novella that just made me fall in love with everyone.
I think you can read this before or after Kissed by the Gods. Before will be chronological as far as timeline, after will be a fun sort of look back for more context. If you read before it’s going to be super light on worldbuilding.
PLOT 2 teens fall in love, a serf & the son of an overlord. He is revealed to be an elite warrior & goes off to training while she hangs back. But he thinks she died & she thinks he left her for dead. 10 years later they find out what actually is in store for them. - “fuck the fates” vibes - second chance romance - suuuuch longing - med spice (considering that it’s a novella) - he’ll literally give up everything for her
PROS - I literally just loved everything about this. I am a MASSIVE fan of the “they used to be in love, something happened, 10 years pass & they run into each other” trope I just think it creates SUCH incredible longing & it was ever present here. - Bri was SUCHHHHH a welcome addition to the story. I loved that so much. - Not a lot of spice but hot lil spice. - I love the leads. He will give up everything for her & she will remember what it’s like to love & be loved. - I enjoyed that this was leading right up to Kissed.
CONS - I honestly could have had more. I def enjoyed Kissed but I feel like I could read a whole series of these 2 being leads.
3,5 Really good and interesting. Being a novella there's not that much character development, but what we see of them is well done. A nice tease for a new world to read, it definitely piqued my curiosity for the series.
Okay wow!! So much happened in such a short novella. The writing is so wonderful, I already feel deeply connected to the characters. What a way to start to the series. It truly has me excited to continue to book 1 immediately!
Thank you so much to Caty Rogan and The Nerd Fam for the physical copy!
I really enjoyed reading this after Kissed by the Gods even though this is a prequel. You already know what’s going to happen but I still cried. Happy tears of course. I’m looking forward to more from this series.
Ok is this was just the prequel novella to this story I immediately know I’m going to love it! How did Caty Rogan make me fall in love with the characters so much in 88 pages?! 🤯
A deeply moving, beautifully crafted novella that took my heart apart and put it back together with trembling hands. I picked this up right after finishing Kissed by the Gods, and I’m genuinely glad I read them in that order. Where Kissed hits with intensity, heat, and feral energy, Unwritten by the Gods follows like a quiet aftershock — gentler in size but devastating in emotional power. It felt like stepping into the soft, aching heart of the world after surviving the storm.
And somehow, this novella managed to carve its way even deeper into me as it expanded on what I had already learnt in KBTG.
This is a story about love that endures beyond death, beyond destiny, beyond the brutality of the world they live in. It’s tender and sharp all at once, filled with the kind of aching sacrifice that sneaks up on you. I wasn’t prepared for how much it would move me. I cried — the real, stinging-behind-the-eyes kind of cry — because the love in these pages is that powerful.
✨ Maera & Aelric Their relationship is written with such emotional clarity that even the smallest gestures feel monumental. Rogan captures the full spectrum of grief, longing, anger, devotion — and threads it through every look, every breath, every touch.
The reunion scene? I had to set my Kindle down. The rawness of his grief, the disbelief, the desperate tenderness… it’s one of the best reunion moments I’ve read all year.
And then there’s the moment Aelric learns he has a daughter. The awe. The tremble. The way he sees her and just breaks. It’s powerful without being melodramatic, and it floored me.
✨ Themes that lingered with me
Second chances— fragile, rare, and fought for with everything they have. Fate vs. free will — the gods write stories, but love rewrites them. Resilience — Maera’s strength is quiet but relentless; Aelric’s devotion is fierce enough to defy heaven. Parenthood — unexpected, tender, and life-altering in the softest ways.
✨ Favourite quotes: ✨“Everything to do with you matters to me.” ✨“There are no gods here, Maera. Just you and me.” ✨“My strength is yours. My love is yours… even if the Kher’zenn take my body, they’ll never take my soul, because it already belongs to you.” ✨“The gods may have stolen our past, but our story continues. Unfinished. Unwritten. Unknown. And beautifully, wonderfully ours.”
✨ Final Thoughts For a novella, this story carries the emotional weight of a full-length novel. It’s rich with heartache, devotion, and impossible choices — yet it never feels rushed or thin.
Reading it straight after KBTG made the experience even richer, almost like I’d stepped into a secret corner of the same universe where the tone shifts from battle and desire to intimacy and fate.
This is a story I’ll come back to when I want to feel something real and raw and hopeful. Absolutely stunning and I was WHOLLY UNPREPARED.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
(4.25/5) What a great snack of a novella before I jumped into book 1!
What to expect: 🪶 Fantasy romance novella 🪶 1st person, single POV 🪶 Second chance romance 🪶 Forbidden romance 🪶 Gods, magic & war
Spice rating: 🌶🌶 Available on KU (indie)
This book was a super fast-paced read that I finished in one sitting. It gave me a great initial foundation to this world, a taste for Caty Rogan's writing style, and had me excited to officially start Kissed by the Gods.
A sincere thank to Inkspire Author Services & Caty Rogan for gifting me a physical copy.
This was a cute little novella. Honestly, I can’t remember much from the other book at this point, so I was basically just listening for the vibes 🤷🏼♀️
This was a quick read.Full of meddling gods and mythical creatures! Forbidden love and second chance romance. You will love Maera and Aelric. The characters are written very well, and I'm looking forward to the next book after reading this page turner!
“Once upon a time, there was a boy and a girl. They were the very best of friends. And then, as they grew older, the boy and the girl fell in love…” (Ch 5)
I absolutely love this prequel! Was about to read Kissed by the Gods eARC, but found out that this prequel existed in the Bewitched Blooms anthology, which I already had, but haven't yet had a chance to read. Figured I'd read this short story first as I have found that prequels often help a reader to have a deeper understanding of a series, or at least help enhance the journey.
"This kiss … It’s a battle that’s won and a war yet to be fought." (Ch 17)
Loved every aspect of this, the story, the love, and the secrets! Hoping it is a fine example and prelude of what is to come with this series. Even more excited to read Kissed by the Gods than I was before!
“Our story was written by the gods long ago, and we didn’t get a say in the ending.” (Ch 4)
This is an amazing set paced and intro prequel to a series I’m so excited for. It’s got great intro to our leading characters, with definitely leads to more depth for more layers to unfold. World build wasn’t super fleshed out but you do grasp the concept quite well and can easily follow. Eager to see what the gods and fate decide for this little family.
After seeing all the hype around the upcoming release of Kissed by the Gods, I just haddd to pick up this prequel while I waited — and oh, I’m so glad I did.
This was such a beautiful introduction to this world. I’m confused, yes. But I’m also intrigued. Excited. Nervous. Absolutely buzzing with anticipation for what’s to come.
Caty’s writing is nothing short of magical — lyrical and aching and so full of heart. If this is how she wrote a prequel, I can’t even imagine what’s waiting for us in the first installment. My heart is so not ready, but I am counting down the days until I start the next book!!
This story felt like heartbreak and hope colliding — like falling apart and falling in love all at once.
And Aelric… oh, this man. The way he YEARNS. The way he loves. I was blushing, swooning, giggling into my pillow — it’s been a while since a character made me feel like that.
“You strip me of all reason, of all thought. Of control, of restraint, of anything that isn’t you.”
If you’re craving a story that will tug on every string of your heart and leave you daydreaming about star-crossed souls and fate-defying love, this prequel is the perfect place to begin. 💫
This is the story of Maera, the billion commander’s daughter, and Aelric, the Altor who was “lost” and never found, - two characters barely mentioned in “Kissed by the Gods”. They are also tied to the young girl, “Bri” who was introduced in KBTG as Leo’s (Leina’s little brother) best friend. Although SUPER minor characters in the first book, it looks like they will probably have some serious influence in books to come.
Unwritten by the Gods absolutely blew me away. Wow this prequel was incredible and I couldn’t put it down for a second. It sets the tone for what I know is going to be a top tier series.
Aeleic is already a top tier book boyfriend and I am fully obsessed. And Bri? I cannot wait to see who she becomes and how her power unfolds. The world, the tension, the setup, everything hooked me instantly.
I’m so excited to dive into Kissed by the Gods next. If the prequel is this good, I can only imagine what’s coming!
Wow, I devoured this novella 😅 the story was immersive, the pacing was perfect, the spice was spicing, and the lore was teased just enough that I want to dive in to book 1 immediately!
Unwritten by the Gods is a beautiful novella in the world that Caty Rogan has crafted. Small but mighty. Such great characters and romance. I found it really moving and loved it.
I listened to the audiobook and thought it was well done.
"I will always have you. Maera. Even when I thought you were lost to this realm, I knew I would find you in the next one. There is no world- no war, nor distance- where I do not belong to you."
2026 audiobook re-read: The audiobook solidified my love for this prequel! Shane East & Sophia Lett did an amazing job narrating and bringing this story to life.
Thank you Caty Rogan for the ALC.
2025 first read: What a wonderful introduction into this fantasy world! I am beyond excited, and so intrigued to read on and see where this story goes!
“The gods have made their next move. Now, we play.”
I’m honestly floored. Very rarely do I feel this strongly about a novella, if ever. This packed so much character development and world building into 120 pages. I absolutely love Maera, Aelric, and Bri. I’m so excited to jump into book 1.
I’m pretty indifferent about this novella. It’s not because it’s short, I’ve read novellas with completely different characters from the main series and still ended up crying over them. This one just didn’t really do it for me.
I finished it in one sitting, and I can see the vision the author had. Maybe it would have worked better for me if I had read it after book one. Goodreads labels it as 0.5, so I assumed it was meant to be read first.
It could have been a really cute story if we had seen more of the characters especially when they were 19 and when everything actually went down. I wasn’t expecting them to be 29, and because of that it felt like we skipped over a lot.
I’m not even sure how to rate it because their story technically ended, but I still feel like I barely know anything about them. I wouldn’t say I disliked the book because I’m still planning to pick up the next one right away but this one just kind of… exists for me right now. Maybe my opinion will change after I read the second book.
Also, I’m not really a fan of Bri right now. She kind of creeps me out. I’m generally not a fan of storylines with children who have undiscovered powers, so that part didn’t really work for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
UNWRITTEN BY THE GODS was a fantastic introduction to the ETERNAL WARS series and I can't wait to read book 1 when it comes out! The world-building was so intriguing and even though we don't have the full picture yet, it was still really easy to understand.
But what I truly loved was the romance between Maera and Aelric which had me swooning and highlighting quotes like crazy. Aelric was a warrior and protector and when he discovered the woman he loved wasn't dead like he thought, he didn't hold back. I loved how honest he was with Maera and how sweet he was with Bri. Throw in a few "good girls" and some dirty talk and yes please! I also really liked Maera and how she represented a different kind of strength with her resilience and devotion to her family.
Add a cute but not annoying kid, a budding rebellion, mysterious gods, and winged warhorses, and I loved everything about this.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Favorite Quotes:
I’ve broken into a thousand pieces and I’ve rebuilt myself. I gathered those pieces, no matter how sharp, and forged them into something stronger, something harder. I am not fragile. I am a mosaic of resilience and scars.
- - - - -
“You’re a force, Maera. I don’t protect you because I doubt your strength. I protect you because you’re everything to me.”
- - - - -
“Maybe tonight,” she says softly, “we can be the softness denied to us both. We can carry the weight for each other, even if just for a while.”
Unwritten by the Gods is a fast paced teaser for the upcoming series The Eternal Wars by Caty Rogan.
Ms. Rogan wasted no time, in 120 pages they have packed in so much action, romance and turmoil that if fleshed out- it could have been an epic novel of HUNDREDS of pages.
So- good thing the first in the series in coming in August.
In this, we meet Maera, who has no right to love Aelric, but that doesnt change their feelings. Ripped from her love, she is turned into a weapon for a rebellion. But, in tragic romantasy rules, she comes face to face with Aelric again...
Yes, you need to read this, and YES we are all excited to read the first in the series in August, stay tuned.
Thank you to the author and InkSpireServices for the chance to read and review.
This book was such an amazing prequel to what I can imagine will be a completely insane (good) series that I am anxious to dive into! Rogan is so talented in the way she writes and creates this world that was seamlessly portrayed throughout this novella. The chemistry between our main characters, the inexplicable yearning and the devastation and hope we feel alongside them was fantastic. Plus the spice was immaculate if I do say so myself. I highly recommend everyone read this once it’s published, so we can all be waiting on the edge of our seats for the rest of the series!
I had a lot of fun with this little novella. Was it life-changing? No. Did it have magical flying warhorses? Yes. And honestly, that was enough to keep me entertained.
The story kept me engaged and I’m invested enough to keep going. Onto Kissed by the Gods we go!