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The Eternal Wars #0.5

Unwritten by the Gods

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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.

120 pages, Paperback

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About the author

Caty Rogan

5 books1,087 followers
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

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5 stars
1,313 (55%)
4 stars
824 (34%)
3 stars
212 (8%)
2 stars
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 652 reviews
Profile Image for Rachel Louise ☆.
88 reviews110 followers
July 5, 2026
5 ⭐️

'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 🤸🏼‍♀️
Profile Image for ⋆˚dak ✿˖°.
196 reviews140 followers
July 4, 2026
ate this up! excited to start kissed by the gods next 🖤🗡️🪽✨
Profile Image for amandathebookworm &#x1f4da;&#x1fab1;.
280 reviews1,185 followers
June 17, 2026
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.


DON’T skip this novella!
Profile Image for Bea27x.
175 reviews15 followers
November 4, 2025
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.
Profile Image for shaelinslibrary.
298 reviews1,573 followers
September 3, 2025
Novellas can be a tough thing to pull off, but this book was amazing!

I was tearing up throughout this whole thing. I loooove Maera, she’s so bad ass. I hope we get more of these characters in this series!

This tiny little thing packed a PUNCH.

5 stars!
Profile Image for Emily-Rose At The Rose House.
140 reviews161 followers
November 23, 2025
“You seduce me just by breathing”

Let me catch my breath, this fast paced novella has me so excited to dive into Kissed By The Gods!

Meddling gods, warriors, rebels, mythical creatures and hidden powers , I can’t wait to see how it all connects.

“The gods may have stolen our past, but our story continues. Unfinished. Unwritten. Unknown. And beautifully, wonderfully ours.”
Profile Image for Kayla.
236 reviews32 followers
September 20, 2025
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!
Profile Image for Tammy.
332 reviews
February 9, 2026
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.
Profile Image for TwinreadsandReds-Heather.
327 reviews2,749 followers
October 5, 2025
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?! 🤯
Profile Image for Gabi Koz.
263 reviews1,210 followers
September 21, 2025
Just read this in one sitting and I am now INSANELY EXCITED to dive into book 1!!! I’m shook - this was outstanding !!!

I seriously NEED more of Bri, Maera & Aelric NOW pls
Profile Image for Kylie.
733 reviews1,420 followers
February 23, 2026
4.5/5 ⭐️

Tropes & what to expect:
- Romantasy
- Second chance romance
- Forbidden romance

You guys, I don't typically LOVE novellas, but this one was so good!

This was fast paced and such a page turner. I'm so excited to dive into book 1 now!
Profile Image for Nawelle Feral Reader Books.
152 reviews1 follower
November 21, 2025
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.
Profile Image for Karly Rose.
417 reviews447 followers
September 10, 2025
(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.
Profile Image for MyNeverEndingTBRList.
599 reviews12 followers
May 25, 2026
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 🤷🏼‍♀️

Still enjoyed it for what it was though.

3.5 🌟
Profile Image for Sandra's Book  Nook.
309 reviews20 followers
January 4, 2026
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!
Profile Image for Chasing Silhouettes.
339 reviews29 followers
September 15, 2025
“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)
Profile Image for Miranda.
521 reviews120 followers
March 16, 2025
Rating 4.5
Spice 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

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.
Profile Image for Amanie ✮⋆˙.
84 reviews156 followers
September 25, 2025
“ʜᴏᴡ ᴅᴏᴇꜱ ꜱʜᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ꜱʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ? ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴜᴄᴋɪɴɢ ɢᴏᴅꜱ ᴛʜᴇᴍꜱᴇʟᴠᴇꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ. ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴜᴘ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ — ᴍʏ ᴠᴇʀʏ ʙᴇɪɴɢ, ᴍʏ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ꜱᴇʟꜰ — ꜰᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ.”

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. 💫
Profile Image for Jordan Miner.
434 reviews91 followers
April 28, 2026
4.5☆ “maera mine.”

ughhh stop it rn 😩 I need a full novel of them tysm.
Profile Image for TJ.
3,370 reviews313 followers
October 12, 2025
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.
Profile Image for Sarcasticpageturner.
849 reviews154 followers
December 3, 2025
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!
Profile Image for thebookish.dragon.
321 reviews35 followers
May 19, 2026
[This was read before Kissed by the Gods]



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!
Profile Image for Lee-Anne.
569 reviews7 followers
June 1, 2026
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.
Profile Image for Kim.
421 reviews174 followers
May 4, 2026
"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.”
Profile Image for Lena.
525 reviews105 followers
January 20, 2026
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.
March 15, 2026
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.
Profile Image for Alex (HEABookNerd).
2,525 reviews
July 20, 2025
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.”

- - - - -

“You seduce me just by breathing, Maera.”
Profile Image for BONNIE SMITH.
504 reviews76 followers
April 1, 2025
Talk about a TEASER!

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.
Profile Image for Aricka Shively.
100 reviews3 followers
March 17, 2025
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!
Profile Image for Anna.
143 reviews
June 19, 2026
Winged horses. What else do you need?

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!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 652 reviews