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The Titan's Wrath Trilogy #1
This Gilded Abyss
Sergeant Nix Marr is a damn good soldier. She’s also desperate to leave her haunted past deep in the bioluminescent ocean, buried alongside her best friend, Quian. So, when Subarch Kessandra, Valkesh’s favorite royal–and Nix’s loathed ex–requests Nix’s help investigating a massacre in the abyssal city of Fall, Nix refuses. Vehemently.
She should have known Kessandra would fight back.
Consigned as Kessandra’s bodyguard, Nix grudgingly boards the Luminosity, a luxurious submersible that offers the only transportation to Fall. But Kessandra wasn’t truthful–surprise, surprise–and her “investigation” isn’t about the massacre, but rather what caused it: an illness that incites its victims into a violent craze.
When another royal is brutally murdered, Nix and Kess realize the disease has spread–and no one on the Luminosity is safe. If they’re going to survive until Fall, they’ll have to trust each other… but considering Kessandra is responsible for Quian’s death, that won’t be easy.
She should have known Kessandra would fight back.
Consigned as Kessandra’s bodyguard, Nix grudgingly boards the Luminosity, a luxurious submersible that offers the only transportation to Fall. But Kessandra wasn’t truthful–surprise, surprise–and her “investigation” isn’t about the massacre, but rather what caused it: an illness that incites its victims into a violent craze.
When another royal is brutally murdered, Nix and Kess realize the disease has spread–and no one on the Luminosity is safe. If they’re going to survive until Fall, they’ll have to trust each other… but considering Kessandra is responsible for Quian’s death, that won’t be easy.
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2023
289 people are currently reading
13655 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Thorne
14 books1,951 followersRebecca Thorne is a USA Today, Indie, and Sunday Times Bestselling author, specializing in fantasy and sci-fi with romantic subplots.
She is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, lives near Denver, Colorado, and uses her ADHD as a superpower to write multiple books a year. When she’s not writing (or avoiding writing), Rebecca can be found traveling the country as a flight attendant, hiking with her dogs and lovely fiancée, or basking in the sun like a lizard.
She is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, lives near Denver, Colorado, and uses her ADHD as a superpower to write multiple books a year. When she’s not writing (or avoiding writing), Rebecca can be found traveling the country as a flight attendant, hiking with her dogs and lovely fiancée, or basking in the sun like a lizard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 484 reviews
June 15, 2023
I have such mixed feelings about this one. The setting was phenomenal. The story was ok. The pacing was poor. I think my real problem is that Thorne’s writing really does not work for me; I actually picked up but rapidly dnf’d Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea, but over the course of persevering through this one, I managed to put my finger on exactly what it is that I don’t like about her style (across two super different genres): I’m so sorry, there’s no way for this to not sound really harsh, but Rebecca Thorne writes completely and utterly without subtlety, nuance, or subtext. She’s an incredibly “tell”-y author, in terms of showing versus telling. The emotional state of the characters is over explained until it rings very artificial, and I constantly found myself saying, “don’t tell me that! Stop explaining this to me! Let me figure this out from subtext!”
In tackling the horror genre in particular, a lack of subtlety translates to… not the kind of horror I like to read. This comes down to personal preference, but I prefer psychological horror; I want it to be clever, I want it to be thematically dense, I want it to surprise me. This is a sledgehammer of a horror novel, just overflowing with blood and guts and gore, like the author thinks the scary factor directly correlates with how many people she kills off. I realize that a lot of people actually do like stories like that, and that’s cool! You’ll like this. I got bored. By the end I was skimming past the overly long, gratuitous descriptions of “smeared” corpses. It just loses impact.
Speaking of getting bored, you could easily shave 50-100 pages off this book in edits. Around the 55% mark I felt like the story was finally getting off the ground, and even after that point, so many scenes started to feel repetitive or unnecessary.
All in all, I want to stress that I did not hate this as much as I’m probably making it sound. Once again, I LOVED this setting and premise. There are some really cool world-building elements here (although some don’t quite make sense, or seem to contradict each other.) I also liked the romance okay, although I never totally bought into Kessandra as a character; this is another consequence of Thorne’s “tell”-y writing, as we’re repeatedly told what kind of a person she is (she’s so clever!!! She’s the perfect politician! She’s always one step ahead!) but the character never actually demonstrates any of these traits to us.
I’m glad to have read this, mostly because the deep sea is a special interest of mine and I go feral for any underwater setting, but I will not be picking up the sequel.
In tackling the horror genre in particular, a lack of subtlety translates to… not the kind of horror I like to read. This comes down to personal preference, but I prefer psychological horror; I want it to be clever, I want it to be thematically dense, I want it to surprise me. This is a sledgehammer of a horror novel, just overflowing with blood and guts and gore, like the author thinks the scary factor directly correlates with how many people she kills off. I realize that a lot of people actually do like stories like that, and that’s cool! You’ll like this. I got bored. By the end I was skimming past the overly long, gratuitous descriptions of “smeared” corpses. It just loses impact.
Speaking of getting bored, you could easily shave 50-100 pages off this book in edits. Around the 55% mark I felt like the story was finally getting off the ground, and even after that point, so many scenes started to feel repetitive or unnecessary.
All in all, I want to stress that I did not hate this as much as I’m probably making it sound. Once again, I LOVED this setting and premise. There are some really cool world-building elements here (although some don’t quite make sense, or seem to contradict each other.) I also liked the romance okay, although I never totally bought into Kessandra as a character; this is another consequence of Thorne’s “tell”-y writing, as we’re repeatedly told what kind of a person she is (she’s so clever!!! She’s the perfect politician! She’s always one step ahead!) but the character never actually demonstrates any of these traits to us.
I’m glad to have read this, mostly because the deep sea is a special interest of mine and I go feral for any underwater setting, but I will not be picking up the sequel.
February 19, 2024
WOOOOWWW, HOLY SHITTAKI MUSHROOMS
This book is just....chefs kiss.
If I could describe it in one sentence: LESBIAN SOLDIERS FIGHTING ZOMBIES IN THE TITANIC
You still don't want to read it???? How else can I convince you?
hot angry lesbians....check
titanic like ship......check
zombies.....check
AMAZING worldbuilding.....check
intriguing characters.....check
high stakes......check
I have a feeling I'm going to love "You can't spell treason without tea" because Rebecca Thorne put her whole Thornussy into this book. Seriously. FR. READ THIS BOOK....or else :(
This book is just....chefs kiss.
If I could describe it in one sentence: LESBIAN SOLDIERS FIGHTING ZOMBIES IN THE TITANIC
You still don't want to read it???? How else can I convince you?
hot angry lesbians....check
titanic like ship......check
zombies.....check
AMAZING worldbuilding.....check
intriguing characters.....check
high stakes......check
I have a feeling I'm going to love "You can't spell treason without tea" because Rebecca Thorne put her whole Thornussy into this book. Seriously. FR. READ THIS BOOK....or else :(
August 29, 2023
Wow. This was intense and made me go through so many different emotions… and I’m here for it. The twists shocked me and the romance was captivating, a slow burn second chance with a lot of tension🥵 so pumped for the next book.
January 3, 2025
This blood-soaked SFF novel grabbed me from the first page and still hasn’t let go since I finished it. It has so many twists and turns, I was kept guessing until the very end. Rebecca Thorne’s writing is so immersive and engaging, she’s one of those writers who makes you forget that you’re reading. I can never forgive her for that devastating cliff hanger, though…
The premise is really creative, and I loved the main character. She was multifaceted, flawed (all the best characters are), and so strong-willed. And the romance? Lovers to enemies to lovers? ‘It’s like a reward’ - iykyk.
Overall, a solid 5 stars for this brutal, thrilling, sapphic adventure that I’m really excited to continue.
The premise is really creative, and I loved the main character. She was multifaceted, flawed (all the best characters are), and so strong-willed. And the romance? Lovers to enemies to lovers? ‘It’s like a reward’ - iykyk.
Overall, a solid 5 stars for this brutal, thrilling, sapphic adventure that I’m really excited to continue.
November 29, 2025
what a wild fucking ride that's nowhere near over 😭😭 ugh, what am i supposed to do with myself until book 2?
November 16, 2024
Nix is career military and out of the blue gets dragged into going back to the deep water mines, the most treacherous of duties. Her old flame, Kessandra, who also happens to be high royalty and a soldier herself, blackmails Nix into bodyguard service. Together, they investigate a tragedy at the mines but nothing is at it seems so danger lurks.
I like to call these stories “popcorn books” because they remind me of those action movies where you watch with a tub of popcorn, enjoying every minute of the roller coaster ride. Kessandra is my favorite. She is haughty and intelligent and the best kind of brave. I would recommend this book just for her. Nix is great too but not as charismatic as Kess and a tad whiny. Of course, Kessandra and Nix start out as abrasive ex’s but they slowly regain trust and rekindle the old fire for each other. Lots of twists and scary monsters heightened by the claustrophobia of a submersible make it a fun read. I listened to the audiobook and Natalie Naudus rocked the narration.
4.5 stars.
I like to call these stories “popcorn books” because they remind me of those action movies where you watch with a tub of popcorn, enjoying every minute of the roller coaster ride. Kessandra is my favorite. She is haughty and intelligent and the best kind of brave. I would recommend this book just for her. Nix is great too but not as charismatic as Kess and a tad whiny. Of course, Kessandra and Nix start out as abrasive ex’s but they slowly regain trust and rekindle the old fire for each other. Lots of twists and scary monsters heightened by the claustrophobia of a submersible make it a fun read. I listened to the audiobook and Natalie Naudus rocked the narration.
4.5 stars.
January 24, 2024
why aren’t more people taking about this book, it’s so good
July 3, 2023
DNF 40%
Я старалась, но в итоге из всей книги мне понравилась только Злобная Бывшая и ее троллинг героини.
☆ в диалогах или действиях язык еще нормальный, в описаниях все очень плохо. На 40% появляются куски человеческих тел, а мне пофиг. Описания архитектуры я скипала, потому что тогда бы я померла еще на первых 10%. От "цвета розового золота" уже начал дергаться глаз.
☆ мир вроде интересный, а подан через ж. Ну например, зима, ледяной шторм, все в шубах, а героиня в футболке и кожаной куртке, и ей отлично. Потому что автор просто забыл про шторм.
☆ ценю автора за попытку в военную тему. Ценю, но любить не буду. Кринжа поменьше, чем в стандарных космодесантниках - у главгероини Никс хотя бы есть бицухи, мрачные воспоминания и две дуэли. Но на 40% терпець урвався.
СПОЙЛЕРЫ!
Никс заявлена опытным и осторожным сержантом с нехилым боевым опытом. Волею судьбы и приказом начальства Никс придется стать единственным телохранителем у своей Злобной Бывшей - на борту Титаника, посредине океана светских кобр и революционных заговорщиков.
Никс не берет никакого оружия, кроме табельной катаны, не проверяет каюты и пути возможной эвакуации, при первой ссоре с Бывшей убегает и сидит в библиотеке, бросив Бывшую на сьедение врагам.
В одной из драк Никс получает ножом в плечо, рука парализована, кровища струей, Никс бежит десять этажей до номера, оставляя красный след, баррикадирует дверь диваном и такая: надо перевязать рану! И начинает снимать рубашку, страшно переживая за ковры, на которые она вот-вот упадет замертво из-за потери крови.
К счастью, у Бывшей есть аптечка (я говорила, что она мне нравится?). В аптечке есть обезбол и нитки для шитья. Проигнорировав обезбол, Бывшая сует Никс в рот ремень и начинает шить наживо.
На этом месте у меня чуть не пошла кровь из глаз, и я решила повысить оценку Leech на ползвезды за медицинскую матчасть.
--------
Пятиминутка ликбеза:
☆ при массивном артериальном кровотечении счет идет на секунды. Через минуту боец уже никуда не бежит и диваны не двигает. Поэтому у бойца всегда при себе должно быть что? Жгут! А лучше три.
☆ одежду с раненого не снимают, а срезают. Во-первых, снимать долго, во-вторых, можно усилить кровотечение. Поэтому у бойца всегда при себе должно быть что? Нож! А лучше три.
☆ отсутствие обезбола не комментирую.
Я старалась, но в итоге из всей книги мне понравилась только Злобная Бывшая и ее троллинг героини.
☆ в диалогах или действиях язык еще нормальный, в описаниях все очень плохо. На 40% появляются куски человеческих тел, а мне пофиг. Описания архитектуры я скипала, потому что тогда бы я померла еще на первых 10%. От "цвета розового золота" уже начал дергаться глаз.
☆ мир вроде интересный, а подан через ж. Ну например, зима, ледяной шторм, все в шубах, а героиня в футболке и кожаной куртке, и ей отлично. Потому что автор просто забыл про шторм.
☆ ценю автора за попытку в военную тему. Ценю, но любить не буду. Кринжа поменьше, чем в стандарных космодесантниках - у главгероини Никс хотя бы есть бицухи, мрачные воспоминания и две дуэли. Но на 40% терпець урвався.
СПОЙЛЕРЫ!
Никс заявлена опытным и осторожным сержантом с нехилым боевым опытом. Волею судьбы и приказом начальства Никс придется стать единственным телохранителем у своей Злобной Бывшей - на борту Титаника, посредине океана светских кобр и революционных заговорщиков.
Никс не берет никакого оружия, кроме табельной катаны, не проверяет каюты и пути возможной эвакуации, при первой ссоре с Бывшей убегает и сидит в библиотеке, бросив Бывшую на сьедение врагам.
В одной из драк Никс получает ножом в плечо, рука парализована, кровища струей, Никс бежит десять этажей до номера, оставляя красный след, баррикадирует дверь диваном и такая: надо перевязать рану! И начинает снимать рубашку, страшно переживая за ковры, на которые она вот-вот упадет замертво из-за потери крови.
К счастью, у Бывшей есть аптечка (я говорила, что она мне нравится?). В аптечке есть обезбол и нитки для шитья. Проигнорировав обезбол, Бывшая сует Никс в рот ремень и начинает шить наживо.
На этом месте у меня чуть не пошла кровь из глаз, и я решила повысить оценку Leech на ползвезды за медицинскую матчасть.
--------
Пятиминутка ликбеза:
☆ при массивном артериальном кровотечении счет идет на секунды. Через минуту боец уже никуда не бежит и диваны не двигает. Поэтому у бойца всегда при себе должно быть что? Жгут! А лучше три.
☆ одежду с раненого не снимают, а срезают. Во-первых, снимать долго, во-вторых, можно усилить кровотечение. Поэтому у бойца всегда при себе должно быть что? Нож! А лучше три.
☆ отсутствие обезбола не комментирую.
June 30, 2024
Rebecca Thorne seamlessly blends sci-fi, steampunk fantasy, horror, mystery and royal/bodyguard enemies-to-lovers sapphic romance in This Gilded Abyss, a thrilling and emotional adventure with vibrant and immersive Arcane aesthetics.
Okay, so I am not ashamed to admit that this absolutely delicious cover is the entire reason why I picked up this book; the electrifying tension between these two fierce and sexy ladies is just to DIE for! Though, after not having loved Thorne's cozy queer fantasy Can't Spell Treason Without Tea, I was also quite nervous to see if this story would actually be able to live up to my expectations (and its alluring cover).
Spoiler alert, it totally did! From the moment I met my fierce yet broken warrior Nix, I was just sold. She could so easily have fallen into the 'not like other girls' stereotype, but instead we get a beautifully complex and realistically flawed exploration of a fearsome woman who should absolutely not be fucked around with, but who still has such an incredibly big heart.
And then when she gets assigned to become Kessandra's bodyguard for a dangerous mission, all the trauma and emotions just start bleeding off the page. Their complicated, tense, yet undeniably wholesome dynamic just worked so well for me in this story, and I loved how much they both grew as individuals and as a duo over the course of this crazy adventure. Also, I would totally date them both (JUST LOOK AT THEM!), just saying.
For me, the various complex interpersonal relationships were absolutely the highlight of the story, but there is also no denying that the rich world building and riveting mystery plot were extremely well written. In a way, the setting and atmosphere of This Gilded Abyss reminded me of the aesthetics of Arcane or BioShock, and I truly loved how Thorne brought this vibrant yet dangerous sci-fantasy world to life in my mind's eye.
As the story progresses, the tone starts leaning more and more towards horror, with a mystifying plague which infects the brain starting to run rampant while everyone is stuck on a ship for the foreseeable future; the looming sense of dread truly kept me in a chokehold and my claustrophobia quickly shot through the roof. And because the slow-burn set-up in the first half of the novel was so strong, I was fully emotionally invested when shit hit the fan.
Now, if you are not a fan of cliffhangers, be forewarned. I was personally not aware that this would be a series when I picked this novel up, so when we suddenly cut off in the middle of an intense scene, I was shocked to my core. This first instalment left me with more questions than answers, and I desperately need to know how they are going to get out of the dire situations that we left them in!
This story honestly surprised me in all the best ways, and I think it is a perfect example of the excitingly refreshing and wonderfully inventive stories that the indie scene has to offer. If you want some horror and trauma alongside your escapism and swoon-worthy romance, then I can't recommend This Gilded Abyss highly enough!
Okay, so I am not ashamed to admit that this absolutely delicious cover is the entire reason why I picked up this book; the electrifying tension between these two fierce and sexy ladies is just to DIE for! Though, after not having loved Thorne's cozy queer fantasy Can't Spell Treason Without Tea, I was also quite nervous to see if this story would actually be able to live up to my expectations (and its alluring cover).
Spoiler alert, it totally did! From the moment I met my fierce yet broken warrior Nix, I was just sold. She could so easily have fallen into the 'not like other girls' stereotype, but instead we get a beautifully complex and realistically flawed exploration of a fearsome woman who should absolutely not be fucked around with, but who still has such an incredibly big heart.
And then when she gets assigned to become Kessandra's bodyguard for a dangerous mission, all the trauma and emotions just start bleeding off the page. Their complicated, tense, yet undeniably wholesome dynamic just worked so well for me in this story, and I loved how much they both grew as individuals and as a duo over the course of this crazy adventure. Also, I would totally date them both (JUST LOOK AT THEM!), just saying.
For me, the various complex interpersonal relationships were absolutely the highlight of the story, but there is also no denying that the rich world building and riveting mystery plot were extremely well written. In a way, the setting and atmosphere of This Gilded Abyss reminded me of the aesthetics of Arcane or BioShock, and I truly loved how Thorne brought this vibrant yet dangerous sci-fantasy world to life in my mind's eye.
As the story progresses, the tone starts leaning more and more towards horror, with a mystifying plague which infects the brain starting to run rampant while everyone is stuck on a ship for the foreseeable future; the looming sense of dread truly kept me in a chokehold and my claustrophobia quickly shot through the roof. And because the slow-burn set-up in the first half of the novel was so strong, I was fully emotionally invested when shit hit the fan.
Now, if you are not a fan of cliffhangers, be forewarned. I was personally not aware that this would be a series when I picked this novel up, so when we suddenly cut off in the middle of an intense scene, I was shocked to my core. This first instalment left me with more questions than answers, and I desperately need to know how they are going to get out of the dire situations that we left them in!
This story honestly surprised me in all the best ways, and I think it is a perfect example of the excitingly refreshing and wonderfully inventive stories that the indie scene has to offer. If you want some horror and trauma alongside your escapism and swoon-worthy romance, then I can't recommend This Gilded Abyss highly enough!
December 10, 2025
Oh. My. GOD. I was feral for this book.
A submarine straight out of hell? Zombie like creatures lurking in the dark? Royalty, bodyguard tension, sapphic longing, and action scenes that feel like you’re watching the world’s most unhinged blockbuster?? I was locked in from page one.
Nix and Kessandra??? The chemistry between these two is INSANE. The tension?? Off. The. Charts. The spice takes a slow, torturous route to get there but when it hits?? So hot, I was screaming. Their dynamic is so layered it’s angsty, complicated, a little broken, and absolutely magnetic.
The worldbuilding is so vivid and cinematic you practically smell the metal and seawater. The danger, the twists, the emotional depth, everything just worked for me. It’s intense, it’s bloody, it’s sapphic excellence, and I devoured every second.
A submarine thriller with hot lesbians and zombies?? YES. Inject it into my bloodstream.
5 freaking stars. I need book two IMMEDIATELY.
A submarine straight out of hell? Zombie like creatures lurking in the dark? Royalty, bodyguard tension, sapphic longing, and action scenes that feel like you’re watching the world’s most unhinged blockbuster?? I was locked in from page one.
Nix and Kessandra??? The chemistry between these two is INSANE. The tension?? Off. The. Charts. The spice takes a slow, torturous route to get there but when it hits?? So hot, I was screaming. Their dynamic is so layered it’s angsty, complicated, a little broken, and absolutely magnetic.
The worldbuilding is so vivid and cinematic you practically smell the metal and seawater. The danger, the twists, the emotional depth, everything just worked for me. It’s intense, it’s bloody, it’s sapphic excellence, and I devoured every second.
A submarine thriller with hot lesbians and zombies?? YES. Inject it into my bloodstream.
5 freaking stars. I need book two IMMEDIATELY.
June 12, 2023
2.5 stars
I was so excited when I heard that Rebekah Thorne was writing a book in my preferred genre, horror, that I wanted to read it as soon as possible which is why I was so happy to receive an ARC! First, what I enjoyed: the setting was really great I can usually imagine what I’m reading in my head, but with this I could really see it in my mind’s eye. I don’t know if that’s because of how it’s written, or because I just really got into the setting, or both but that was my favorite part. Especially when they went into the submarine, the claustrophobia and foreboding eeriness I felt just through reading made it one of my favorite settings in a book. The enemies to lovers storyline was done really well for the most part I really liked it. The dynamic between Nyx and Kess and their opposite personalities made even the social parts of this really action heavy book fun to read.
Now for what I didn’t like: Nyx. Reading a book where you don’t really understand or like the main character makes it really hard to enjoy anything else that’s going on. She was complacent, almost apathetic unless they were in active danger which was extremely frustrating to read. Any sort of conflict in the book that happened in the beginning seemed to solely be blamed on Kess where I would have liked to have seen more anger directed at the powers that be as a whole. It felt like the really serious and systematic issues in the book (political, societal) were solely used as storyline for Kess and Nyx. The thing that pulled me out of this book the most was that Nyx was completely, wholeheartedly dedicated to the military system in the book despite them blatantly neglecting their own people and maybe a little less blatantly, but still pretty obviously fighting a useless war. Maybe this is all character arcs for a different book, but just going off the first one it was extremely frustrating as a reader.
I was so excited when I heard that Rebekah Thorne was writing a book in my preferred genre, horror, that I wanted to read it as soon as possible which is why I was so happy to receive an ARC! First, what I enjoyed: the setting was really great I can usually imagine what I’m reading in my head, but with this I could really see it in my mind’s eye. I don’t know if that’s because of how it’s written, or because I just really got into the setting, or both but that was my favorite part. Especially when they went into the submarine, the claustrophobia and foreboding eeriness I felt just through reading made it one of my favorite settings in a book. The enemies to lovers storyline was done really well for the most part I really liked it. The dynamic between Nyx and Kess and their opposite personalities made even the social parts of this really action heavy book fun to read.
Now for what I didn’t like: Nyx. Reading a book where you don’t really understand or like the main character makes it really hard to enjoy anything else that’s going on. She was complacent, almost apathetic unless they were in active danger which was extremely frustrating to read. Any sort of conflict in the book that happened in the beginning seemed to solely be blamed on Kess where I would have liked to have seen more anger directed at the powers that be as a whole. It felt like the really serious and systematic issues in the book (political, societal) were solely used as storyline for Kess and Nyx. The thing that pulled me out of this book the most was that Nyx was completely, wholeheartedly dedicated to the military system in the book despite them blatantly neglecting their own people and maybe a little less blatantly, but still pretty obviously fighting a useless war. Maybe this is all character arcs for a different book, but just going off the first one it was extremely frustrating as a reader.
November 11, 2025
3.5/5
this gilded abyss was a breath of fresh air in an oversaturated climate of cookie cutter fantasy and sci-fi novels. our main character nix is asked by the beloved royal, kessandra, to aid in her investigation of a disease that causes individuals to go into a violent craze and massacre victims. the catch? kessandra and nix have a complicated history and nix vowed to herself she’d never speak to kess again, especially considering she believes she’s responsible for the death of her best friend.
the setting and plot of this book was phenomenal! going into it blind, I had no idea the direction the story would take and I was constantly surprised and taken aback by the revelations. the world and magic felt really unique and being alongside our main character as she tries to understand how these elements work together was a solid choice, as I was able to learn with her the inner workings of this world. the latter half of the book really picked up and it was nonstop action from the 60% mark until the end, where the cliffhanger made me so excited to read the sequel!
I have two criticisms that brought my rating down -
1. I wasn’t fully sold on the romance. when it comes to second chance, I have a hard time believing in why characters belong together when almost all of it relies on their past relationship with no real growth in the present. with this being a trilogy, I wish that this first book stayed in the “enemies” territory, with a larger focus on exploring their personal history and the conflict of this book, which can then build a strong foundation for a romance in the future books as they navigate their past while fighting new threats. with a fantasy series, I don’t always love my main characters already together in the first book, especially when it’s a second chance plot line.
2. the writing felt very tell-y to me, in the sense that the author explained every action, emotion, and motivation for the characters without giving me space to draw my own conclusions. I personally enjoy stories in which the motivations behind certain characters is more ambiguous, as it gives me a space to form my own opinions that may or may not align with what the main character feels. with this book, it felt like the author made sure that I had the same exact feelings as nix about each person we encountered.
overall, this gilded abyss felt like a fresh fantasy story with a unique plot, lots of twists and turns, and a set of characters that I am interested to keep reading about!
thank you to NetGalley, Tor Books, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
this gilded abyss was a breath of fresh air in an oversaturated climate of cookie cutter fantasy and sci-fi novels. our main character nix is asked by the beloved royal, kessandra, to aid in her investigation of a disease that causes individuals to go into a violent craze and massacre victims. the catch? kessandra and nix have a complicated history and nix vowed to herself she’d never speak to kess again, especially considering she believes she’s responsible for the death of her best friend.
the setting and plot of this book was phenomenal! going into it blind, I had no idea the direction the story would take and I was constantly surprised and taken aback by the revelations. the world and magic felt really unique and being alongside our main character as she tries to understand how these elements work together was a solid choice, as I was able to learn with her the inner workings of this world. the latter half of the book really picked up and it was nonstop action from the 60% mark until the end, where the cliffhanger made me so excited to read the sequel!
I have two criticisms that brought my rating down -
1. I wasn’t fully sold on the romance. when it comes to second chance, I have a hard time believing in why characters belong together when almost all of it relies on their past relationship with no real growth in the present. with this being a trilogy, I wish that this first book stayed in the “enemies” territory, with a larger focus on exploring their personal history and the conflict of this book, which can then build a strong foundation for a romance in the future books as they navigate their past while fighting new threats. with a fantasy series, I don’t always love my main characters already together in the first book, especially when it’s a second chance plot line.
2. the writing felt very tell-y to me, in the sense that the author explained every action, emotion, and motivation for the characters without giving me space to draw my own conclusions. I personally enjoy stories in which the motivations behind certain characters is more ambiguous, as it gives me a space to form my own opinions that may or may not align with what the main character feels. with this book, it felt like the author made sure that I had the same exact feelings as nix about each person we encountered.
overall, this gilded abyss felt like a fresh fantasy story with a unique plot, lots of twists and turns, and a set of characters that I am interested to keep reading about!
thank you to NetGalley, Tor Books, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2025
Wow, I really liked it.
I wasn't expecting at all what this book would be about.
I meannnn, enemies to lovers, tragedy, and zombies in a submersible? Yes, please. I had chills.
And Nix and Kess's relationship reminded me a lot of Vi and Caitlyn's from Arcane, btw.
Some scenes in the first half of the book were a biiiit slow for me, and I felt kinda lost, but other than that, it was really good and original.
I can't wait for the second book to come out!!!! 😩😩😩
I really recommend it.
I wasn't expecting at all what this book would be about.
I meannnn, enemies to lovers, tragedy, and zombies in a submersible? Yes, please. I had chills.
And Nix and Kess's relationship reminded me a lot of Vi and Caitlyn's from Arcane, btw.
Some scenes in the first half of the book were a biiiit slow for me, and I felt kinda lost, but other than that, it was really good and original.
I can't wait for the second book to come out!!!! 😩😩😩
I really recommend it.
June 6, 2023
Review originally published on JamReads
This Gilded Abyss is a horror fantasy novel, written by Rebecca Thorne, also known for her series of cozy novels Tomes & Tea. Really different from her other novels, in this case, we have a horror story set in a world with Bioshock vibes, tickling several boxes on what I look for in a book.
In this story, we are going to be following Sergeant Nix, a soldier who wants to forget her traumatic past, as she lost one of her best friends years ago, Quian. When Subarch Kessandra, one of the favourite royals of Valkesh, and Nix's ex, requests Nix's protection to investigate a massacre in the city of Fall, a submarine place, she immediately refuses; Kess is part of that past she's trying to flee from.
Using her influence, Kessandra manages to enroll Nix in this mission, getting both aboard the Luminosity, a submersible. But once the truth is revealed, this luxury vehicle becomes a dangerous place, as Kess is not really investigating the massacre, but the cause of it: a illness that creates a violent rage in its victims, and that seems to have been spreading in the Luminosity. Our characters won't have any other option than leaving the past behind and trusting each other if they want to survive until the submersible is docked into Fall.
With this premise, we also have an enemies-to-lovers relationship in the figures of Nix and Kess, influenced by their shared past. Both are similar in some aspects, especially in how both are super fixated on what they think, and that makes their personalities clash. Nix is suffering guilt and anger due to Quian's death, and partly, she blames Kessandra; overcoming this trauma will be key to survival.
On the other hand, Kessandra is one of the most loved royals, and she's trying to combat this mysterious disease, which seems to be related to Ichoron. Her position seems powerful, but in reality, she has taken several risks to discover the origin of the disease, becoming the target of a complot to eliminate her.
Thorne weaves a credible relationship between our two characters, using the tension created by the situation to make it evolve. I would say it's not especially spicy in terms of romance, but if you like to read some romance, you won't be disappointed by this sapphic one.
Another aspect that I feel Thorne nailed is the horror atmosphere. Using a closed location, the tension is enhanced greatly, and I would say the existence of an "invisible threat", such as a disease, is certainly a success; vibes are really similar to the ones I experienced playing Prey (by Arkane Studios).
Talking about the pacing, I would qualify it as relatively slow at the start, taking its time to introduce the world and the relationships among the characters, which will be central to the plot. Once we are aboard the Luminosity, it accelerates to the point you are just devouring the pages.
My other gripe is the ending, as I think it could have worked better as a standalone, instead of using an open ending, which prepares for a trilogy. Said that, This Gilded Abyss is an excellent book, even when you take those minor things into account; a total recommendation if you like horror in your fantasy. Extra points for the steampunk vibes.
This Gilded Abyss is a horror fantasy novel, written by Rebecca Thorne, also known for her series of cozy novels Tomes & Tea. Really different from her other novels, in this case, we have a horror story set in a world with Bioshock vibes, tickling several boxes on what I look for in a book.
In this story, we are going to be following Sergeant Nix, a soldier who wants to forget her traumatic past, as she lost one of her best friends years ago, Quian. When Subarch Kessandra, one of the favourite royals of Valkesh, and Nix's ex, requests Nix's protection to investigate a massacre in the city of Fall, a submarine place, she immediately refuses; Kess is part of that past she's trying to flee from.
Using her influence, Kessandra manages to enroll Nix in this mission, getting both aboard the Luminosity, a submersible. But once the truth is revealed, this luxury vehicle becomes a dangerous place, as Kess is not really investigating the massacre, but the cause of it: a illness that creates a violent rage in its victims, and that seems to have been spreading in the Luminosity. Our characters won't have any other option than leaving the past behind and trusting each other if they want to survive until the submersible is docked into Fall.
With this premise, we also have an enemies-to-lovers relationship in the figures of Nix and Kess, influenced by their shared past. Both are similar in some aspects, especially in how both are super fixated on what they think, and that makes their personalities clash. Nix is suffering guilt and anger due to Quian's death, and partly, she blames Kessandra; overcoming this trauma will be key to survival.
On the other hand, Kessandra is one of the most loved royals, and she's trying to combat this mysterious disease, which seems to be related to Ichoron. Her position seems powerful, but in reality, she has taken several risks to discover the origin of the disease, becoming the target of a complot to eliminate her.
Thorne weaves a credible relationship between our two characters, using the tension created by the situation to make it evolve. I would say it's not especially spicy in terms of romance, but if you like to read some romance, you won't be disappointed by this sapphic one.
Another aspect that I feel Thorne nailed is the horror atmosphere. Using a closed location, the tension is enhanced greatly, and I would say the existence of an "invisible threat", such as a disease, is certainly a success; vibes are really similar to the ones I experienced playing Prey (by Arkane Studios).
Talking about the pacing, I would qualify it as relatively slow at the start, taking its time to introduce the world and the relationships among the characters, which will be central to the plot. Once we are aboard the Luminosity, it accelerates to the point you are just devouring the pages.
My other gripe is the ending, as I think it could have worked better as a standalone, instead of using an open ending, which prepares for a trilogy. Said that, This Gilded Abyss is an excellent book, even when you take those minor things into account; a total recommendation if you like horror in your fantasy. Extra points for the steampunk vibes.
May 9, 2023
4/5 stars, ARC review, highly recommended for horror/thriller/crime novel lovers
This is the first book in the new horror fantasy series by Rebecca Thorne. We follow Nix, a sergeant in the Valkeshian army. She is "asked" by her ex Kessandra, an influential politician, to accompany her to Valkesh's underwater mining town. Her Ex, who is also responsible for the death of Nix' best friend since kindergarden. To bad, that 'Kes' is not only beloved by everyone, the tour, where Nix' friend died was also erased from her records, so there is no official way for her to decline. To make matters worse, there is also an assassination planned on Kes, and now the commander orders Nix to be Kes' bodyguard and keep her alive.
With an explosive set up like that, the only remaining question is, whether they will even reach the Mining town alive. Not that it would matter, not with a deadly pandemic that is covered up by the highest politicians, raveging in the town below. And hopefully just in there, and not in the train to the town, too.
The first half of the book is to give you an introduction into the world, the characters and the conflict points. This is in parts a bit slow, but never boring and you get drawn into this story easily. With the first of these crisis points breaking in the middle of the book, the second half starts. Here the pace picks up significantly, and so does the "horror" part of "horror fantasy". This is NOT a light read, and you will take some emotional damage from this. The second half is absolutely captivating and I stayed awake until 2 am because I NEEDED to finish this.
If you like crime novels/ thrillers/ horror/ high stakes fantasy stories, you will really enjoy this and I can only recommend this to the fullest extend.
This is the first book in the new horror fantasy series by Rebecca Thorne. We follow Nix, a sergeant in the Valkeshian army. She is "asked" by her ex Kessandra, an influential politician, to accompany her to Valkesh's underwater mining town. Her Ex, who is also responsible for the death of Nix' best friend since kindergarden. To bad, that 'Kes' is not only beloved by everyone, the tour, where Nix' friend died was also erased from her records, so there is no official way for her to decline. To make matters worse, there is also an assassination planned on Kes, and now the commander orders Nix to be Kes' bodyguard and keep her alive.
With an explosive set up like that, the only remaining question is, whether they will even reach the Mining town alive. Not that it would matter, not with a deadly pandemic that is covered up by the highest politicians, raveging in the town below. And hopefully just in there, and not in the train to the town, too.
The first half of the book is to give you an introduction into the world, the characters and the conflict points. This is in parts a bit slow, but never boring and you get drawn into this story easily. With the first of these crisis points breaking in the middle of the book, the second half starts. Here the pace picks up significantly, and so does the "horror" part of "horror fantasy". This is NOT a light read, and you will take some emotional damage from this. The second half is absolutely captivating and I stayed awake until 2 am because I NEEDED to finish this.
If you like crime novels/ thrillers/ horror/ high stakes fantasy stories, you will really enjoy this and I can only recommend this to the fullest extend.
October 6, 2023
This book was a wild and intense ride!! If I had known this was a part of a trilogy, I wouldn't have read it because now I have to sit with the pain of how this book ended. I need book two asap!
November 22, 2024
“All your meticulous plans, your precious chessboard, and you forgot. I’m not a pawn. I’m a Lumos-damned knight, and I’m not killing my queen.”
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this a lot, but I also have... thoughts. A lot of them are nitpicky and possibly unfair and probably silly. Like, I love the premise and the themes and what I think the book is going for, but the vibe and some of the character building and character decisions let me down. And I'm sad about it, even though I really did mostly like this. See, when I saw the list of tropes, I knew I wanted to read it. It reminded me a little of one of my favourite series ever, The Locked Tomb. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's been directly comped to GTN. And so, I couldn't help but compare the two books, and when I do that, well... this doesn't really stack up. And I mean, I don't think that's fair of me. Just because it's comped to GTN doesn't mean it's trying to emulate it in any way. Nevertheless, that didn't stop me from making comparisons. I'll certainly continue the series when the time comes, and hopefully when I reread this, I'll enjoy it more.
This is a second chance, enemies to lovers, bodyguard/princess romance in a fantasy, horror-esque world. Nix is tasked with guarding her ex-girlfriend Kessandra as they journey to the underwater city of Fall to investigate a series of brutal murders. I'll try to do this in bullet points. All my thoughts are gonna be really spoilery.
My positive feelings are definitely partially thanks to the audiobook as read by Natalie Naudus. Forever one of my absolutely favourite narrators. Her character voices and the way she does emotion? Always spot on. Even when I found myself getting annoyed at little things, it never overtook my enjoyment, because this was just fun to listen to. I am tentatively optimistic about the rest of the series. We'll see!
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September 11, 2025
You cannot leave me hanging like this!!!
Okay okay okay.
You all know how much I FUCKING LOVE sapphic space horror, right?
So. This is a sapphic military deep sea expedition. Think, like, Disney's Atlantis except there's an underwater city and it's kinda steampunky kinda not, and there's a military princess and the sergeant she dumped four years ago and now wants as her bodyguard for reasons. There are zombie-like creatures and a whole lot of other stuff, and I was INVESTED.
It's like if Disney's Atlantis and Katya's World met The Scourge Between Stars, and then had a little make-out session with The Luminous Dead and Into the Drowning Deep.
I CANNOT wait for book 2.
Okay okay okay.
You all know how much I FUCKING LOVE sapphic space horror, right?
So. This is a sapphic military deep sea expedition. Think, like, Disney's Atlantis except there's an underwater city and it's kinda steampunky kinda not, and there's a military princess and the sergeant she dumped four years ago and now wants as her bodyguard for reasons. There are zombie-like creatures and a whole lot of other stuff, and I was INVESTED.
It's like if Disney's Atlantis and Katya's World met The Scourge Between Stars, and then had a little make-out session with The Luminous Dead and Into the Drowning Deep.
I CANNOT wait for book 2.
June 7, 2024
4.5⭐️ - It checked all of my boxes for what I like in a book and then some, but it’s definitely not the kind of book I normally find or even read myself. I’d like more though, please and thank you.
Rtc!
Rtc!
June 9, 2025
3.5
adult lesbian fantasy with a butchfemme main couple, dark skin black femme, gore, and eroticism of knighthood, i shouldve loved this! unfortunate i did not. it’s not terrible, it’s just “alright”. i believe everything i didn’t like can be better because what works, works! so clearly the author knows how to write. i love the science and conflict, the setting which feels like being in some otherworldly underwater cave (hard to describe), i loved the twist. i think it was really well done, you get a feeling something might be off and when it hits, you feel it — or at least i did. i enjoyed the main relationship, i do wish nix was a little meaner to Kess to balance it a bit but they work. at some you really did just want them to talk (and fuck) so when it happens, it’s a sigh of relief!
my issue comes from Nix’s character. way too much telling instead of showing with her. i don’t know how she got to the position she’s in or how she’s trusted with that position tbh. she doesn’t seem all that competent and extremely short sighted. she’s never allowed to piece things together, only told. which makes her feel very stupid, especially next to Kess who seems to be all knowing. i know she’s the audience stand in but the audience isn’t stupid either!
i also find that this book seems …afraid to mean something? i’m not asking for some great grand statement but you have empires, wars, religion, xenophobia, etc etc and you don’t seem interested in having the main character (nix) ruminate on anything? she’s a pawn in a useless war and she thinks? nothing of it? the plot twist could’ve been the perfect moment to have reflection and yet? feels like the author only thought of the romantic relationship first and wanted everything else as just set dressing tbh.
i do hope this improves in the future books because i cannot imagine three books where our main character doesn’t grow or has no deep thoughts about anything! and though i lowkey think that it was a mistake to have the mcs get together already, i AM interested to see where this story takes them and will be tuning in!
adult lesbian fantasy with a butchfemme main couple, dark skin black femme, gore, and eroticism of knighthood, i shouldve loved this! unfortunate i did not. it’s not terrible, it’s just “alright”. i believe everything i didn’t like can be better because what works, works! so clearly the author knows how to write. i love the science and conflict, the setting which feels like being in some otherworldly underwater cave (hard to describe), i loved the twist. i think it was really well done, you get a feeling something might be off and when it hits, you feel it — or at least i did. i enjoyed the main relationship, i do wish nix was a little meaner to Kess to balance it a bit but they work. at some you really did just want them to talk (and fuck) so when it happens, it’s a sigh of relief!
my issue comes from Nix’s character. way too much telling instead of showing with her. i don’t know how she got to the position she’s in or how she’s trusted with that position tbh. she doesn’t seem all that competent and extremely short sighted. she’s never allowed to piece things together, only told. which makes her feel very stupid, especially next to Kess who seems to be all knowing. i know she’s the audience stand in but the audience isn’t stupid either!
i also find that this book seems …afraid to mean something? i’m not asking for some great grand statement but you have empires, wars, religion, xenophobia, etc etc and you don’t seem interested in having the main character (nix) ruminate on anything? she’s a pawn in a useless war and she thinks? nothing of it? the plot twist could’ve been the perfect moment to have reflection and yet? feels like the author only thought of the romantic relationship first and wanted everything else as just set dressing tbh.
i do hope this improves in the future books because i cannot imagine three books where our main character doesn’t grow or has no deep thoughts about anything! and though i lowkey think that it was a mistake to have the mcs get together already, i AM interested to see where this story takes them and will be tuning in!
September 2, 2024
The story was quite good and kept me invested, even if it's outside of my typical taste in books. However, a lot of the writing felt stilted and like reading a college student's story — a good one, but still with a lot of room to improve. The whole time I was reading, I was aware that I was reading, which isn't ideal in a book that has a potentially immersive universe.
I did like it, though, and will probably check out another book of Thorne's at some point.
I did like it, though, and will probably check out another book of Thorne's at some point.
June 9, 2024
This is a lesbian steampunk fantasy, first in a planned trilogy. Interesting world building with a lot of possibilities.
And it isn’t bad, it just isn’t great either.
Edit: Someone needs to let the author know that there are more expressions than *smirk*
And it isn’t bad, it just isn’t great either.
Edit: Someone needs to let the author know that there are more expressions than *smirk*
August 25, 2024
*2.75 stars*
Too weak on all fronts... It did have promise, but--
Too weak on all fronts... It did have promise, but--
December 21, 2025
This was surprisingly way more horrory leaning than I expected and what a great surprise it was.
Nix is still grieving the loss of her best friend when Kessandra, the princess and Nix's ex who was supposed to get out of her life forever, shows back with an offer Nix can't refuse. Kessandra wants Nix to go back with her to the place where she lost her best friend to help her solve a crime that happened there.
I really enjoyed Nix and Kessandra as characters and their chemistry was brilliant. They were both slightly snarky and stubborn and just fun to get invested in. It was clear neither of them is over their relationship and the second chance enemies to lovers was just an icing on the cake.
And then there's the main plot. I had so much fun with the slow reveal of how much danger the characters were in. The threat being so much bigger and way more horrifying than I expected. I really enjoyed the small twists and turns in that storytelling and I really look forward to finding out where this story is going.
Book 2 cannot come soon enough!
Nix is still grieving the loss of her best friend when Kessandra, the princess and Nix's ex who was supposed to get out of her life forever, shows back with an offer Nix can't refuse. Kessandra wants Nix to go back with her to the place where she lost her best friend to help her solve a crime that happened there.
I really enjoyed Nix and Kessandra as characters and their chemistry was brilliant. They were both slightly snarky and stubborn and just fun to get invested in. It was clear neither of them is over their relationship and the second chance enemies to lovers was just an icing on the cake.
And then there's the main plot. I had so much fun with the slow reveal of how much danger the characters were in. The threat being so much bigger and way more horrifying than I expected. I really enjoyed the small twists and turns in that storytelling and I really look forward to finding out where this story is going.
Book 2 cannot come soon enough!
June 18, 2023
Wow, this book. What a fabulous (and intense) ride!
I received an ARC of this book, and I’m so glad I did. I had some big life events happening between the time I received and the time I finished (intense books call for more breaks than cozy books when life is intense, which is why I flew through Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea before finishing this one, but this book was absolutely worth it).
Starting off strong with the Author’s Note (“But it does have lesbians.”), and a heads up to her mom to skip Chapter 23. 😏 (Chapter 23, though 🥵!!)
Nix fantasizing about bloodying her former royal lover within the first few pages does confirm the author telling us this is not going to be a cozy read 😂 And the rest of the books continues to confirm, holy wow.
Stab me in the metaphorical heart several times, why don’t you. When the author said she almost killed her main character, I wondered if I would notice which part that was… I did 😳😂.
The glimpses we get of Nix’s past with Kessandra and the mines are perfectly tantalizing and drive home the likelihood of PTSD. I really love how flinty Nix is with Kess from Kess first barging and bullying her way back into Nix’s life after promising to leave Nix alone. (Go, girl!)
Kess is an absolute queen. Smart as hell, willing to do what’s necessary, and their eventual flirting is chef’s kiss. The interactions between these two going from coldly furious to hotly furious and then just hot was a fabulous ride.
The world building was sprinkled through the beginning so well. Picturing the shining city of Valkesh against the poorer areas of the city was a delight. The ship that brings them to the mines and the slowly developing mystery that unveils the horror aspects was well paced and had some twists that I didn’t see coming (in the good way, not the way where the author is simply trying to trick the audience).
Tropes/Tags: LGBTQ+, enemies to lovers, class differences, knife to the throat, sparring, ships, war (not on screen but heavily prevalent in the background), PTSD, gore, character death. The author has tagged her content warnings well!
Quotes (out of order):
‘It made Nix want to scream or throttle her…or both. Both might be nice.’
“What’s so important that you’d blackmail me with my father’s health?” (Welp, that was fabulously cutting.)
“I’m a soldier, not your pet.”
‘. . . despite all the *honors* and *gratitude* the Valkeshian government proffered its military, the royals continued to enjoy existence elsewhere.’
‘They’d never watched those lifelong bonds fall away one by one. Even if they survived in body, only a few survived in spirit.’
“The nation’s favorite subarch. You’re a poison to society.”
‘It made Nix want to scream or throttle her.’
I received an ARC of this book, and I’m so glad I did. I had some big life events happening between the time I received and the time I finished (intense books call for more breaks than cozy books when life is intense, which is why I flew through Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea before finishing this one, but this book was absolutely worth it).
Starting off strong with the Author’s Note (“But it does have lesbians.”), and a heads up to her mom to skip Chapter 23. 😏 (Chapter 23, though 🥵!!)
Nix fantasizing about bloodying her former royal lover within the first few pages does confirm the author telling us this is not going to be a cozy read 😂 And the rest of the books continues to confirm, holy wow.
Stab me in the metaphorical heart several times, why don’t you. When the author said she almost killed her main character, I wondered if I would notice which part that was… I did 😳😂.
The glimpses we get of Nix’s past with Kessandra and the mines are perfectly tantalizing and drive home the likelihood of PTSD. I really love how flinty Nix is with Kess from Kess first barging and bullying her way back into Nix’s life after promising to leave Nix alone. (Go, girl!)
Kess is an absolute queen. Smart as hell, willing to do what’s necessary, and their eventual flirting is chef’s kiss. The interactions between these two going from coldly furious to hotly furious and then just hot was a fabulous ride.
The world building was sprinkled through the beginning so well. Picturing the shining city of Valkesh against the poorer areas of the city was a delight. The ship that brings them to the mines and the slowly developing mystery that unveils the horror aspects was well paced and had some twists that I didn’t see coming (in the good way, not the way where the author is simply trying to trick the audience).
Tropes/Tags: LGBTQ+, enemies to lovers, class differences, knife to the throat, sparring, ships, war (not on screen but heavily prevalent in the background), PTSD, gore, character death. The author has tagged her content warnings well!
Quotes (out of order):
‘It made Nix want to scream or throttle her…or both. Both might be nice.’
“What’s so important that you’d blackmail me with my father’s health?” (Welp, that was fabulously cutting.)
“I’m a soldier, not your pet.”
‘. . . despite all the *honors* and *gratitude* the Valkeshian government proffered its military, the royals continued to enjoy existence elsewhere.’
‘They’d never watched those lifelong bonds fall away one by one. Even if they survived in body, only a few survived in spirit.’
“The nation’s favorite subarch. You’re a poison to society.”
‘It made Nix want to scream or throttle her.’
April 21, 2024
Wowza!! I need book 2!!
February 2, 2024
I think if you go into this book just expecting a little hehe haha ride & don’t take anything seriously, you will enjoy it.
I did not go in with that expectation and I found myself annoyed with the main character + story
If you want a quick little escape from reality where you don’t have to think much, you will enjoy this book & should check it out !
Just some of my thoughts:
The fact that Kess gave Nix her position makes sense because there’s no way Nix would have earned it on her own. Nix doesn’t make good choices under pressure. She doesn’t share crucial information. She has several times where she thinks: wow this is a bad idea I need to be more careful next time
Spoiler: she is not more careful next time
You can not convince me that Nix actually earned her position in the army.
The funniest part is that the characters around her act like Nix is competent, smart, and resourceful
I did not go in with that expectation and I found myself annoyed with the main character + story
If you want a quick little escape from reality where you don’t have to think much, you will enjoy this book & should check it out !
Just some of my thoughts:
The fact that Kess gave Nix her position makes sense because there’s no way Nix would have earned it on her own. Nix doesn’t make good choices under pressure. She doesn’t share crucial information. She has several times where she thinks: wow this is a bad idea I need to be more careful next time
Spoiler: she is not more careful next time
You can not convince me that Nix actually earned her position in the army.
The funniest part is that the characters around her act like Nix is competent, smart, and resourceful
July 14, 2023
You know, after that whole page of content warnings at the beginning, This Gilded Abyss turned out to be a fairly mild, inoffensive read. The plot is, basically, underwater zombie apocalypse, but with lesbians. It's not particularly original, but the world building is well done, and I like the two main characters. Even though I have a fairly good idea of how the plot in future books will progress, I will most probably pick up the sequel when and if it comes out.
Also, kudos to the cover artist. Give them all the moneys, because that artwork sells the book all on its own.
Also, kudos to the cover artist. Give them all the moneys, because that artwork sells the book all on its own.
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