Gods Beneath the Ice

Blood & Souls Duology #2

by Alexandra Kennington

Heartbroken and grappling with unwanted powers, Revna must work with the person she swore to forget if she's to lead her people and unravel the secrets behind her new magic in this page-turning conclusion to the Blood & Souls duology.

Revna knew ruling would be difficult, but she never anticipated ruling with a newfound Lurae. The godtouched fear her, the godforsaken don't trust her, and her best friend doesn't know the truth she's been hiding. When the war-ending treaty is signed, Revna will reveal her secrets and finally put the Hellbringer behind her.

Except the Kryllian Queen refuses to sign the treaty when she discovers how volatile Revna's bloodsinging is. Desperate for any alliance, Revna begrudgingly agrees to the Queen's if Revna can learn to control her magic in three weeks, negotiations will resume. But there's a catch - the queen's general will be the one training her.

Revna will work with the Hellbringer once more, but she won't make it easy. But when the general reveals that the dead are unable to pass on, they realize there's more at stake than their tangled relationship. Ancient, powerful secrets tie the realm - and Revna and the Hellbringer - together, and their only hope of lasting peace is to unweave them.

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

464 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 17, 2026

Reviews

[Veronica ☽◯☾]

IT'S DUAL POV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAM

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why is no one screaming about this duology?! Because they should be.

Gods Beneath the Ice is an absolutely stunning conclusion, and I finished it wondering how this series is still flying under the radar. From the very first book, I was hooked, but this finale completely sealed my love for the story.

Revna is the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for. She goes THROUGH it in this book, emotionally, mentally, and physically l, yet her strength and resilience never falter. Watching her step into her power while navigating leadership, complicated magic, and impossible choices made her journey feel both epic and deeply personal.

This story carries so much emotional weight. The stakes feel real, the consequences hit hard, and several moments genuinely had me holding my breath. Alexandra Kennington does a beautiful job balancing action with vulnerability so the characters never get lost behind the plot.

And the romance? So worth the wait. There is something incredibly satisfying about a relationship that is tested, strained, and fought for rather than handed over easily. When love shows up in this story, it feels earned in the best possible way.

I also love when fantasy isn’t afraid to explore heavier themes, and this book does it wonderfully with identity, forgiveness, healing, and learning how to move forward without letting your past define you. It gives the story a depth that really lingers after you turn the final page.

Honestly, this is one of those series that makes me want to immediately shove it into everyone’s hands and demand they read it so we can talk about it.

If you love character driven fantasy, powerful heroines, emotional storytelling, meaningful romance, and endings that actually satisfy, please put this duology on your radar.

Highly, highly recommend

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Ace, PRH Audio, and Netgalley for providing advanced copies of this book! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year. I'm loving that we're getting shorter fantasy romances (either standalones or duologies). And overall this was a solid debut series.

I think the plot itself was great. I loved how things came together, the pacing, the fact that not everything worked out perfectly. The villains felt villainous and challenging to overcome. The themes were timely and well executed.

Where this lost me a little bit was on the characters. I thought their personal journeys felt kind of repetitive and drawn out. And oftentimes obnoxiously frustrating. The main character just keeps getting in her own way and making choices that make very little sense. She has the same struggles/arguments over and over again. And after a while I got legitimately annoyed with her.

But it wasn't just the heroine. It was the side characters too. While I understood the reactions to some extent, I felt like a lot of them were beyond a believable acceptable reaction. The 180 of Freya's character was absurd and had me actually annoyed with the ending.

I just felt like some aspects were added to further the plot while ignoring the character development.

I am very interested to check out this author's next series. I believe it's set in the same world (and honestly I'd love books for all of the other characters!). And I'm excited to see how her writing grows. Because I think she could become a favorite fantasy romance author.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gods Beneath the Ice was a great conclusion to the Blood & Souls Duology! The author definitely improves from the first book, and I did enjoy Blood Beneath the Snow so I don't mean that in a snarky way. I loved learning more about the lore and having more world building that fleshed out this universe and setting that brought the plot to new heights. The romance had some great angsty moments and the absolute PAIN at the climax had me going for a minute!! The way Soren is only truly soft for Revna made me experience all the warm fuzzy feelings. Him being the only person to never leave her or hold the decisions she had to make when in impossible situations had my heart so full! Their relationship grew in the exact way it needed to and they're perfect for each other. A satisfying, unique plot with a romance that only made everything even better, this duology is definitely worth picking up!

Thank you to Ace Books, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early and free, finished copy!

[Deanna Rodriguez (Cook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a SOLID 4 star duology! I really loved this story and the characters! There was enough build up to connect with the characters and really start to root for the main characters in what they are trying to do and their passionate romance as well! There were a few spicy scenes and I enjoyed them! I just loved all the characters throughout this series it really was an epic journey and I was so hooked!!! Absolutely recommend this fantasy duology!!!

[Allison Agnello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wrapped up so well! A very underrated duology. The author distracts you from the twists just enough to think you know whats coming but then finds a way to still surprise the reader. I enjoyed the underlying message of releaseing anger and forgiving yourself. I also really loved seeing characters saying they were proud of each other and the LGBTQ reps.

"Hey there, Princess. Sorry it took me so long"

Soren and Revna are such a slow burn. After the betrayals in book 1, I wasnt sure what to expect but they made it worth the wait. The ways they are similar especially with their magic feels like soul mates type love. They teamed up much better than when they were opposing sides.

Volkan and Jac deserved more on-page time!! Can we please get a spinoff series of them changing the discrimination laws in Faste and also, obviously, falling in love?!

Frode ❤️‍🔥 my favorite side character in this series! He is the sweetest character in this whole duology and the best brother. I cant imagine being burdened with knowing everyone's thoughts especially during a war and while fighting. I was glad he had a decent part of this book!

[Abigail Books Addiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been waiting for this book ever since I reached the ending of the first one. From that final chapter alone, I knew I needed to see what she was going to do next—especially once she came into her new power. And honestly? It did not disappoint.

From the very beginning, I felt so deeply for her. Nothing in her life was ever easy—not then, not now, not even when she finally gained power. Every step forward came with pain, sacrifice, and impossible choices. That’s why I’ll say this loud and clear: I will always support her decisions, no matter what. If she falls in love with the enemy? I support it. Fully. After everything she’s endured, she deserves love, peace, and choice—even if the world hates who she chooses.

Spoilers ahead

Now let’s talk about the best friend—because I’m sorry, but I did not love her. Not at all. The main character did everything to save her. She risked herself, her freedom, her future—only for that same best friend to suddenly turn around and label her a danger simply because she now has power? Absolutely not.

That argument falls flat for me. If it weren’t for the main character, her so-called best friend would have either stayed imprisoned or died. Period. The lack of gratitude, trust, and loyalty was infuriating, especially considering everything the main character sacrificed. Power didn’t make her dangerous—fear did.

This final book was emotional, frustrating, romantic, and powerful in all the ways a romantasy conclusion should be. It hurt, it healed, and it stayed true to a heroine who has always had to fight for everything she has. And I wouldn’t have wanted her story to end any other way.

[Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝙶𝚘𝚍𝚜 𝙱𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙸𝚌𝚎 📖
✍🏻 𝚋𝚢: 𝙰𝚕𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚛𝚊 𝙺𝚎𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚝𝚘𝚗

𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦 🫶🏻 Berkley for the beautiful free finished copy and PRHAudio for the #gifted audiobook. #berkleypartner #berkleyromance #PRHAudiopartner I am so grateful! All opinions are my own.

𝔽𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕢𝕦𝕠𝕥𝕖 💕
“If I could go back, I would do it all differently. But not in the way you think. I would dance with you more. Touch you sooner. Make you laugh again and again. And kiss you the first time I considered it.”

𝕊𝕦𝕞𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕪 ✏️
Gods Beneath the Ice is the second book in the Blood & Souls Duology. “Heartbroken and grappling with unwanted powers, Revna must work with the person she swore to forget if she’s to lead her people and unravel the secrets behind her new magic.”

𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤 💭
I just love this duology so much and absolutely devoured this book! These stories have everything you could want in a romantic fantasy including monumental world building, amazing characters, heart-pounding action and an epic love story. Once again, Revna is feisty, brave and fights for her people and for the things she holds dear and Soren shows so much vulnerability throughout the story that I fell hard for him all over again. This is a fantastic conclusion to this series and personally I loved it even more than the first because this time we got a dual pov!! 

𝔸𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕠 ℕ𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤 🎧
I loved the audio of both these books and would highly recommend them! Ellie Gossage is fantastic once again and the addition of Will Damron for book 2 only increased my enjoyment of the story!

ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕚𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 📖
✩ Enemies to Lovers
✩ Second Chance
✩ Forced Proximity
✩ Slow Burn 
✩ Chosen One
✩ Dual POV

[Amanda Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gods Beneath the Ice is a strong, emotionally grounded conclusion to the Blood & Souls duology and a satisfying follow-up to Blood Beneath the Snow. Alexandra Kennington expands the world and the magic while keeping the story centered on Revna and the weight of what she’s inherited.

Revna’s struggle as queen felt raw and believable. Her newly awakened abilities complicate everything, and I appreciated that leadership doesn’t come easily or cleanly for her. The way the story connects magic, history, and identity is thoughtfully handled, even if I would have liked some of those threads introduced a bit earlier.

I was especially excited to get Soren’s POV in this installment. His perspective adds emotional depth and balance, and his dynamic with Revna is layered with tension shaped by mistrust, shared history, and the fallout from past choices. Their relationship remains the emotional core of the story, even when they’re forced onto opposite footing.

The middle section dragged slightly for me, particularly coming right after the intensity of the Blood Trials, but the later twists pulled me back in. Several reveals genuinely surprised me, and the emotional reasoning behind the villains, especially Queen Anja, played out better than I expected.

Overall, this is a satisfying and thoughtful conclusion. While the pacing kept it from being a full five stars for me, the character arcs, magic, and central relationship made it well worth the journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Release Date: February 17, 2026

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Alex for reaching out to ensure I was able to get early access to Gods Beneath the Ice! I absolutely adored Blood Beneath the Snow so I feel so lucky to have read this one early as well!

The conclusion to this duology caught me off guard in the best way, I wasn’t sure where we were going to head after the cliffhanger from the first book but we pick up where we left off and barrel on to a devastating end. I swooned, I cried, and I held on for dear life on the edge of my seat.

My beautiful Revna went THROUGH it this book. I was actually so sad for her because she kept getting knocked down, but would get back up every time. She is still one of my favorite FMCs because of her resilience in the face of it all. I loved watching her weave her own narrative. I was worried only briefly for the romance aspect of this because of how book one ended but it was handled really well and I loved how she and Søren fit together (and I just get to picture Adam Driver the whole time so that’s a plus).

Sequels are hard to review without spoiling too much so I just want to say go pick up this duology if you haven’t already. It will sweep you off your feet and take you through an intense journey that wraps up so beautifully. I am SO sad this world is coming to a close because I could have spent so much more time there, but I’m so excited to see what Alex does next!

Gods Beneath the Ice comes out February 17 and I highly recommend checking it out!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the free arc, Ace books!

In the second book of this romantasy duology, it picks up right where book one left off. Revna has realized her true potential with her lurae, and she feels betrayed by many close to her. She also has a new role to fill within the kingdom. In this book, she and Soren need to work together to fulfill their destiny that was predicted years ago in a prophecy.

Please forgive my deliberately vague synopsis- I want to keep the review spoiler-free because the ending of book one was so good. However, without giving anything away, this book is extremely satisfying to the reader by providing many answers and giving the characters a great arc, development, and ending. It is filled with jaw dropping moments, twists and turns, and villains. It is quite different from the first book, and I think I missed some of the intrigue and mystery of that, but it was still very bingeworthy, exciting, and worth reading. I love a duology because it isn’t a huge commitment like a long series but gives you more time with the characters that you grow to love than a standalone book does. Overall, I highly recommend reading this duology in its entirety.

[Milena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gods Beneath the Ice is the second and last book in the Blood & Souls duology. I enjoyed the first book, Blood Beneath the Snow. I also love duologies because I think it’s the perfect number of books to develop and wrap up a fantasy series, without dragging the story out. Gods Beneath the Ice has all the elements that make a great fantasy: interesting worldbuilding and politics, plenty of action, and a very satisfying love story.

I loved Revna and Soren’s romance and Soren’s devotion to her. His support of Revna was unwavering, despite all her mistakes and bad decisions. Unlike Revna’s supposedly best friend, Freja, who was really unfair and unkind to Revna, in my opinion. Besides Freja, there were many great secondary characters who enriched the story.

As I mentioned, the worldbuilding was interesting. I especially liked the idea of the Tapestry and the memories introduced in the second half of the book. I found it fascinating. The ending was very satisfying. I thoroughly enjoyed Blood & Souls duology, and look forward to reading more books by Alexandra Kennington.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

[FabledReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to Ace Books Publishing for the ARC or Gods Beneath the Ice by Alexandra Kennington.

I found the FMC, Revna, to be both relatable and perfectly flawed. I’m so used to main characters in fantasy novels being “the chosen one” or “secret royalty” that it was refreshing to see a FMC that was a little different. Yes, Revna was born to royalty, but is she cut out for leadership? I also liked how the author didn’t have everyone forgive the mistakes that the FMC made. It made this story a little more realistic to me (yes, I know that this is a fantasy book).

When reading this story, I thought that there was no way the author could wrap everything up in two books. While all the loose ends did get tied up, I wish there was more! It almost felt too easy of a conclusion after everything goes wrong for the main characters. But I guess I will take what I can get and I will be looking out for more books by this author!

You will like Blood Beneath the Snow if you like:
🐺Masked men
🫦Enemies to lovers to…?
⚔️Deadly competition
🔥Slow burn… until it isn’t.
🖤Forced proximity

[Elsa L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a solid ending to a duology. I was engaged the whole time I was reading the book, mostly because Revna and Soren are of course broken up. It was very illuminating to see more of the queen and soren and how soren is a scholar? I was surprised by that. Also the forced proximity with soren and revna was just perfect. Revna struggling with her magic, her friendships (she has terrible friends btw), and her broken heart was very emotional. She really changes throughout the book and the end result is very surprising. The backstory with the “gods” and magic was quite unique for me. They are not quite gods but it shows you how an idea can become so explosive it creates such a deep conflict. Soren and Revna navigating their rocky relationship was also the deep connection this book needed. They totally need each other and they compliment the other so well. My only red flag is of course Revna’s friends but it’s for the best. I loved the action scenes, the discoveries and the conclusion to this story. Very well done

[Sarah ⟡ Tea & Tomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Ace Books via NetGalley and PRH Audio for the gifted review copies!

This was a really strong conclusion to the duology, and I appreciated that this story was always intended to be just two books. I sometimes get tired of extended series, and this felt focused and complete in a really satisfying way.

The drama surrounding the Kryllian Queen was especially interesting, and I enjoyed getting to dig deeper into the world’s mythology and magic. Seeing those elements expanded added a lot of weight to Revna’s journey and the larger stakes of the story.

There were still a few moments that felt fairly typical of romantasy, and I think the story would have stood just fine without them, but they didn’t detract too much from the overall experience. The strength of the worldbuilding and the broader narrative kept me invested despite those smaller, familiar beats.

Overall, I really enjoyed this duology and thought it wrapped up in a way that felt earned.

Ellie Gossage and Will Damron were both enjoyable to listen to and worked well together as narrators.

[Grace Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ 3.75⭐️ ✨
This was probably my most anticipated read of 2026 and I wanted to love it the way I loved Blood Beneath the Snow… but the vibes shifted 😭

Gods Beneath the Ice trades bloodshed trials and gut-punch angst for deeper lore: prophecies, a complex magic system, divine politics, and an all-out battle of the gods. The romance is still there—just quieter this time (until Soren shows up and reminds us who he is 🥵).

It’s not a bad sequel—just different. Less emotional devastation, more world-building and long-game setup. I can’t help but wonder if reading these back-to-back would’ve hit harder.

That said… this cover? Absolute perfection. It is the book. ❄️🗡️

[OM · Rating 4 out of 5]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Even more screaming than book 1

There is so much to unpack and screech (yes, screech, not scream) about. This was an epic story from start to finish, from Book 1 to Book 2. It hooks you and doesn’t let you go. I’m glad I didn’t start this at work because I couldn’t put it down.

The magic is unique and breathtaking, and the fabled stories are larger than life. I loved living in that world.

It was so action-packed I thought my heart was going to give out multiple times, not only from the action but from different plot twists. It was a rollercoaster ride in the best sense of the word. I cried multiple times, and I regret nothing.

I loved the cast of characters and how vibrant and unique each of them was.

The Romance? Unbelievable. Revna and Søren? *chefs kiss*. Their love story was so moving and the epitome of why romance is so moving, because it’s about love that transcends all.

I loved how imperfect and angry Revna was because I think we rarely get to see it. Even when FMCs are all-powerful, it’s possible for them not to be perfect, and I loved the messiness of her character and her development so much.

But serious F the haters, they know who they are. Bloodsinger and Hellbringer can do wrong in my eyes. [lala I can’t hear you]

I love how it ended. Alexandra Kennington is brilliant.

Thank you to @Berkleyromance for the free book!

[Rachel Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

What?!?!
Truthfully I had to reread the first book to get back into the story. The first few chapters in this book took a bit of getting in to…… but after that, wow.
Not sure to call it a plot twist or a turn of events. But this was the perfect second book.
If you enjoyed the first, then revna and Soren will not disappoint in this.

[Audie Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heart-pounding conclusion to Soren and Revna's tale! Oh my goodness. The last 30% of the book I was hanging on for dear life. Trying to keep this review spoiler-free, but trust me. You need to read this duology ASAP. Full review to come.

Thank you, NetGalley and ACE for an ARC of Gods Beneath the Ice. Pub Date: February 17, 2026.

[Rachel Igo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 stars
Even though I had some issues with this book and there were some plot holes that had me stopping in my tracks to see if I had just missed something, this was a rollercoaster of a book and I wept like a child at the end.

[Little Feather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Stars! Review to come! Thanks to Berkley for the ARC!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the most reylo any reylo book has ever been I loved it SO MUCH.

[Kristie Kieffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gods Beneath the Ice is a gripping, immersive fantasy that blends myth, survival, and power in a world shaped by cold, secrets, and long-buried gods.

Alexandra Kennington crafts rich, atmospheric worldbuilding that feels both vast and intimate. The frozen setting is more than just a backdrop—it’s a living force that influences the characters, their choices, and the dangers they face. Ancient magic and divine forces simmer beneath the surface, creating constant tension and a sense of looming revelation.

The characters are compelling and complex, driven by loyalty, fear, and the weight of history. Their emotional arcs unfold alongside the plot, giving the story depth beyond its high-stakes conflicts. I especially appreciated how the novel balances action with introspection, allowing quieter moments to carry just as much impact as the more dramatic ones.

Gods Beneath the Ice is a powerful start (or addition) to a mythic fantasy journey—one that rewards patient readers with layered storytelling, emotional resonance, and a world you won’t want to leave.

[Huniyah]

Expected publication February 17