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Aesymarean Duet #1
The Ascended
Revenge demands the ultimate sacrifice. When twins Thais and Thatcher are thrust into the deadly Trials of Ascension, they'll navigate brutal competitions and forbidden desires, discovering some secrets are worth dying for—and others are worth killing for.
In a world where divine power bleeds into the mortal realm, Thais Morvaren has mastered the art of deception. To her seaside village, she's just a fisherman's daughter, serving oysters to summer tourists. In secret, she hides her ability to forge weapons from starlight—a power that would force her into the deadly Trials of Ascension.
But when a priest's ritual exposes her divine heritage, Thais is seized and conscripted into the trials against her will. Now trapped in a competition she never wanted to enter, she transforms her fear into to kill Olinthar, King of the Gods—the father whose divine touch proved fatal to her mother.
To take down a god, she must become one, even if it costs her everything.
Worse still, the selection ceremony binds her to a Xül. A necromancer prince with blood-soaked hands, a sharp tongue, and dark secrets of his own. From the moment they meet, sparks fly. He's insufferably arrogant, she's stubborn to the bone, and neither has any intention of yielding to the other... or to the heat between them.
Each trial survived brings her closer to godhood, but beneath the spectacle of competition, something ancient and malevolent stalks the shadows of the divine realm—a darkness that threatens to unravel the heavens themselves.
Thais may have been forced into the Trials seeking survival, but she'll finish them seeking vengeance.
And the cost of godhood is rising.
Because some stars aren't meant to be weapons.
Some stars are meant to fall.
In a world where divine power bleeds into the mortal realm, Thais Morvaren has mastered the art of deception. To her seaside village, she's just a fisherman's daughter, serving oysters to summer tourists. In secret, she hides her ability to forge weapons from starlight—a power that would force her into the deadly Trials of Ascension.
But when a priest's ritual exposes her divine heritage, Thais is seized and conscripted into the trials against her will. Now trapped in a competition she never wanted to enter, she transforms her fear into to kill Olinthar, King of the Gods—the father whose divine touch proved fatal to her mother.
To take down a god, she must become one, even if it costs her everything.
Worse still, the selection ceremony binds her to a Xül. A necromancer prince with blood-soaked hands, a sharp tongue, and dark secrets of his own. From the moment they meet, sparks fly. He's insufferably arrogant, she's stubborn to the bone, and neither has any intention of yielding to the other... or to the heat between them.
Each trial survived brings her closer to godhood, but beneath the spectacle of competition, something ancient and malevolent stalks the shadows of the divine realm—a darkness that threatens to unravel the heavens themselves.
Thais may have been forced into the Trials seeking survival, but she'll finish them seeking vengeance.
And the cost of godhood is rising.
Because some stars aren't meant to be weapons.
Some stars are meant to fall.
758 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2025
About the author
Bree Grenwich
10 books2,369 followersBree Grenwich and Parker Lennox are two platonic soulmates who have been nearly inseparable since meeting at 19. Their shared love of fantasy, badass heroines, and steamy romances fueled their dream of co-authoring a novel, which they've finally achieved with their debut, Riftborne. When they're not conjuring worlds filled with female empowerment and swoon-worthy relationships, they’re binge-watching reality TV or obsessing over the last Dungeons and Dragons session.
Bree enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, who she claims is indeed a man written by a woman. A true Pisces, Bree finds solace in weekends by the sea or lake, engrossed in a book with music drowning out the world. She also holds a fascination with the paranormal and all things witchy, a love that undeniably creeps into her writing.
Parker, on the other hand, splits her time between the Southern US and the beautiful wine-country of Bordeaux, France, where she visits her boyfriend (living proof that romance novels can mirror reality!). An artist at heart, Parker expresses her creativity through graphic design, photography, and delectable culinary adventures, always with a sourdough starter bubbling away in the background.
Together, they weave addictive Romantasy novels for the New Adult audience.
Bree enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, who she claims is indeed a man written by a woman. A true Pisces, Bree finds solace in weekends by the sea or lake, engrossed in a book with music drowning out the world. She also holds a fascination with the paranormal and all things witchy, a love that undeniably creeps into her writing.
Parker, on the other hand, splits her time between the Southern US and the beautiful wine-country of Bordeaux, France, where she visits her boyfriend (living proof that romance novels can mirror reality!). An artist at heart, Parker expresses her creativity through graphic design, photography, and delectable culinary adventures, always with a sourdough starter bubbling away in the background.
Together, they weave addictive Romantasy novels for the New Adult audience.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,591 reviews
October 11, 2025
Goodreads needs an infinity.
This 👏is 👏 what 👏romantic 👏fantasy👏is👏about.
The plot and romance were perfection. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, completely absorbed. The relationship development and character depth were outstanding… feet kicking romance paired with a truly addictive plot. Also possibly my favourite nickname ever (as a self proclaimed nickname hater)… it gives Manon and Dorian (iykyk)
The trials gave me the same rush I had reading Goblet of Fire at fifteen. That level of originality and intensity omggggggg!!!!!! Screaming !!!!!!
The crossover between worlds HOlY F. You can easily read this as a standalone (though fair warning, Riftborne was just okay for me), but if you’ve read the other books first, prepare for your jaw to hit the floor!!!!!!!
This 👏is 👏 what 👏romantic 👏fantasy👏is👏about.
The plot and romance were perfection. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, completely absorbed. The relationship development and character depth were outstanding… feet kicking romance paired with a truly addictive plot. Also possibly my favourite nickname ever (as a self proclaimed nickname hater)… it gives Manon and Dorian (iykyk)
The trials gave me the same rush I had reading Goblet of Fire at fifteen. That level of originality and intensity omggggggg!!!!!! Screaming !!!!!!
The crossover between worlds HOlY F. You can easily read this as a standalone (though fair warning, Riftborne was just okay for me), but if you’ve read the other books first, prepare for your jaw to hit the floor!!!!!!!
October 19, 2025
2 weeks since I finished and I can’t stop thinking & talking about this book. Their best book yet, 5 stars 🌟
Pls read Riftborne & Duskbound before this as this is technically 3rd in the reading order for this universe!!
Pls read Riftborne & Duskbound before this as this is technically 3rd in the reading order for this universe!!
May 6, 2026
This is easily one of the best books I've read this year and I honestly did not expect that especially with the poor writing quality in Riftborne and Duskbound. Yes, you're going to want to read those two first to enjoy the full impact of the ending in this one. So suffer through those two, pay your dues and earn your reward here. This book makes it worth it 😭❤
Apologies on the long review but I have so much to say!! 😭😭😭
I'm honestly never going to recover from this one for a long time. Everything went right here: the world building? Chef's kiss. So rich and vibrant, yet not being dumped on you. The visuals that were planted in my mind with those descriptions was so well done. It's an immersive reading experience. Magic system was perfect and vast, the potential is great if it expands on it in the next book. The writing is perfect, no info dumps or filler scenes. Everything is being built on to something. Every character has a role to play and not just there for shits and giggles. The balance of the ruthless trials while maintaining character depth and emotional intimacy is well done.
The plot is so exceptionally well done. Like my jaw was on the floor, the twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat. I don't think even with how much you love the book that it's the sort of binge. Imo it's the sort you take your time with, let yourself feel the intensity of all the highs and lows. The pacing was consistent, it could be perceived as a slow pacing from a critical point of view but I had a great time with it. Cause it took time to build on to each event/trial. And I wasn't just thrown into it. The action sequences of the trials in particular was so perfect, I don't think I was breathing for a few chapters at a time.
The best part for me as much as I LOVED the romance, was the siblings dynamic. I absolutely adored how much Thatcher and Thais loved each other. The depth of the twins bond was everything to me. The way they were ready to burn themselves along with the rest of the world but never once let go of each other? My heart aches with how much I love them.
💙 Thais in such a fierce character, I loved that we started with her struggles, glimpses of her sharp and strong mind. Yet she had that recklessness which bit her back in her arse few times and every damn time she stood up again. The learning curve emotionally is so up and down, it's raw. It's realistic. I can't wait to see her grow more.
🤍 Thatcher, my baby. I loved him. He deserved so much better throughout the book. From being cocky, protective and then thrown into something he never wanted, losing his autonomy in a way, going through such trauma and yet never losing his spark and that bond with his sister? I swear he is the heart of this book for me.
🖤 Xül.. Okay I get it. I get the hype around this man. I really do. Because I went from thinking what an arrogant man to actually blushing, giggling within mere sentences? What sorcery?! He's perfect for you if you like brooding, possessive leaders. Yet someone who actually has a personality, can hold an intellectual conversation, can challenge and love fiercely.
The side characters are easy to keep track of. One doesn't overpower the other. I liked Marx in particular and her backstory had me aching. But apart from her too, the gods and the legends are so interesting. The political intrigue is so interesting you guys. I love when there's drama and politics because it shows me that nothing is shallow 🤌😩
The romance between Xül and Thais had me swooning. Its slow burning, intense, steamy but not forceful. The chemistry between them flows naturally. These two did not hesitate in pushing each other's boundaries but it never felt wrong. The angst had me in a chokehold even until the end. Like believe me, these two will break your heart and you will love them for it 😭❤️🔥 And the spice? Good Lord, what I'll do for Xül. The man is devoted and has a filthy mouth 🥵🥵
Coming to the ending, it's gonna take me light years to recover. Cause it's like my heart was ripped out and then stomped over by horses. In no way it should have been this painful. Like I was targeted everywhere: family dynamics, romance, authenticity, truths and lies. Like hit me all at once with it all and I loved it 😭😭😭😭 Yes it made me cry like a sob fest. Yes I loved every minute of that pain cause that's how you know it's a PERFECT book 😭😭😭
Someone tell me we get book two soon 😩
Or even it's Realmblade next to release, please let it be this well written 😭🤞
~•~•~•
With how disappointing Riftborne and Duskbound were for me, my expectations are now super low. But I guess we'll found out if this was worth the trouble 🤷♀️
Apologies on the long review but I have so much to say!! 😭😭😭
I'm honestly never going to recover from this one for a long time. Everything went right here: the world building? Chef's kiss. So rich and vibrant, yet not being dumped on you. The visuals that were planted in my mind with those descriptions was so well done. It's an immersive reading experience. Magic system was perfect and vast, the potential is great if it expands on it in the next book. The writing is perfect, no info dumps or filler scenes. Everything is being built on to something. Every character has a role to play and not just there for shits and giggles. The balance of the ruthless trials while maintaining character depth and emotional intimacy is well done.
The plot is so exceptionally well done. Like my jaw was on the floor, the twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat. I don't think even with how much you love the book that it's the sort of binge. Imo it's the sort you take your time with, let yourself feel the intensity of all the highs and lows. The pacing was consistent, it could be perceived as a slow pacing from a critical point of view but I had a great time with it. Cause it took time to build on to each event/trial. And I wasn't just thrown into it. The action sequences of the trials in particular was so perfect, I don't think I was breathing for a few chapters at a time.
The best part for me as much as I LOVED the romance, was the siblings dynamic. I absolutely adored how much Thatcher and Thais loved each other. The depth of the twins bond was everything to me. The way they were ready to burn themselves along with the rest of the world but never once let go of each other? My heart aches with how much I love them.
💙 Thais in such a fierce character, I loved that we started with her struggles, glimpses of her sharp and strong mind. Yet she had that recklessness which bit her back in her arse few times and every damn time she stood up again. The learning curve emotionally is so up and down, it's raw. It's realistic. I can't wait to see her grow more.
🤍 Thatcher, my baby. I loved him. He deserved so much better throughout the book. From being cocky, protective and then thrown into something he never wanted, losing his autonomy in a way, going through such trauma and yet never losing his spark and that bond with his sister? I swear he is the heart of this book for me.
🖤 Xül.. Okay I get it. I get the hype around this man. I really do. Because I went from thinking what an arrogant man to actually blushing, giggling within mere sentences? What sorcery?! He's perfect for you if you like brooding, possessive leaders. Yet someone who actually has a personality, can hold an intellectual conversation, can challenge and love fiercely.
The side characters are easy to keep track of. One doesn't overpower the other. I liked Marx in particular and her backstory had me aching. But apart from her too, the gods and the legends are so interesting. The political intrigue is so interesting you guys. I love when there's drama and politics because it shows me that nothing is shallow 🤌😩
The romance between Xül and Thais had me swooning. Its slow burning, intense, steamy but not forceful. The chemistry between them flows naturally. These two did not hesitate in pushing each other's boundaries but it never felt wrong. The angst had me in a chokehold even until the end. Like believe me, these two will break your heart and you will love them for it 😭❤️🔥 And the spice? Good Lord, what I'll do for Xül. The man is devoted and has a filthy mouth 🥵🥵
Coming to the ending, it's gonna take me light years to recover. Cause it's like my heart was ripped out and then stomped over by horses. In no way it should have been this painful. Like I was targeted everywhere: family dynamics, romance, authenticity, truths and lies. Like hit me all at once with it all and I loved it 😭😭😭😭 Yes it made me cry like a sob fest. Yes I loved every minute of that pain cause that's how you know it's a PERFECT book 😭😭😭
Someone tell me we get book two soon 😩
Or even it's Realmblade next to release, please let it be this well written 😭🤞
~•~•~•
With how disappointing Riftborne and Duskbound were for me, my expectations are now super low. But I guess we'll found out if this was worth the trouble 🤷♀️
April 15, 2026
ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ✦ . ⁺ . 4.7 - 4.9 ☆ . ⁺ . ✦
ㅤ ㅤ ˋ°•*⁀➷ㅤmight contain spoilers ❗
ㅤ At this point, I am genuinely convinced that these two authors are rapidly climbing into the ranks of my all-time favourites. It increasingly feels as though they are writing these magnificent books specifically for me, which is both delightful and slightly suspicious. So let me begin by applauding these two remarkable women for delivering such an outrageously good book.
ㅤ I have been captivated by this universe ever since reading Riftborne and Duskbound, so the moment I discovered that another interconnected series would expand this world, I knew I had to see it for myself. And truly, this book is wild in the best possible way.
ㅤ Is it flawless? Of course not. It has its minor imperfections. But none of them mattered to me in the slightest. I was completely enthralled, hypnotised even, by the world it builds. A universe where cruel gods pursue their own mysterious agendas, presiding over breathtaking domains and realms saturated with magic. I did not simply enjoy it. I fell entirely in love.
ㅤ ㅤ “There's always a choice. But sometimes all the options are terrible. Then you choose the least terrible one. And you find ways to live with the consequences.”
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ honest thoughts
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ I will start this very aggressively: READ RIFTBORNE AND DUSKBOUND FIRST BEFORE PICKING THIS UP!! Just trust me; it's for maximum emotional impact.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ Let me begin with the element I loved most about this book: the world-building. I was completely captivated by it. Every description, every fragment of information about how this world functions, its politics, and its complex rules had my full attention. I devoured it all with embarrassing enthusiasm.
ㅤ The magic, the people, the landscapes – everything felt rich and immersive, like an endless journey I had no desire to leave. Honestly, just drop me there and let me see it for myself, ok???? I am fully aware that these creatures would probably kill me within minutes, but frankly, I would risk it for the chance of seeing all of this with my own eyes for a few moments.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ There is a ✨glossary✨! You all know I absolutely LOVE glossaries in books..i am so happy right now...
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ These people have some really fuckass names, but you get through it later on. I am pretty fine with them at this point.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ This is not a romantasy book; this is a romantic fantasy. I feel like I need to clarify that. Don't go around calling it 'romantasy' because this is an epic fantasy masterpiece in a very gorgeous form...one that also has some very intense romance. But I feel like if you entirely took out the romance aspect of the book, you would still get a really amazing story; therefore, I wouldn't really call this a romantasy book.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ This is also very much NOT a slow-burn romance, despite how it is often marketed. From the moment he lays eyes on this savage, unapologetically outspoken girl, it is painfully obvious that the man is already a full-fledged simp.
ㅤ That said, the romance remains genuinely beautiful and compelling. What unfolds is a forbidden relationship that blooms quickly, only to be smothered by rules, consequences, and an impressive amount of angst. It struggles to survive in a world that clearly would prefer it did not exist, only to rise again. Or maybe not. Maybe it ends tragically instead of overcoming all odds. I will not tell you, so you go and read it.
ㅤ But yes, it will absolutely put you through emotional trauma.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ You get trials — magnificent ones, even. You get brotherly love and compassion, friendships built on genuine camaraderie, and family. There is so much more I would love to discuss, but I refuse to spoil any of it.
ㅤ What I can say is that this is an incredibly layered book. It offers a little of everything, and somehow all those elements come together seamlessly, creating a story that feels both rich and remarkably complete.
ㅤ Sure, as I said there were some certain flaws; I did not enjoy some of the smut scenes entirely and also some of the "a bit too repetitive" plotlines. I also found some of the dialogues to be either a bit too cringe-worthy or too unnecessarily complicated at times. But all these things were not enough to deter me from absolutely loving this book.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ The ending...oh, God, the ending....
ㅤ I will say this again because it seems like it is never enough: PLEASE READ RIFTBORNE AND DUSKBOUND FIRST, THEN COME TO THIS. Because the ending will absolutely wreck you and suddenly everything will make perfect sense. I feel almost compelled to apologise, because I first read the other two books more than a year ago and my brain was apparently far too hazy and stupid to notice certain details now(i just simply forgot the details from those books, to my shame....).
ㅤ But, my God, the final chapter shattered my heart and then calmly stopped it altogether. I was left completely speechless, and somehow that was the best possible outcome.
ㅤ Thank you to these two authors for causing my brain to malfunction for a whole 30 seconds there before I literally started screaming.
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ characters
ㅤ ⊹ Thais Morvaren — I will admit that I occasionally grow a little tired of the very outspoken, endlessly brave, self-sacrificing FMC archetype — yk the one who contradicts everyone and feels personally responsible for solving every problem in existence. It is a familiar pattern. And yet, despite that, I still found myself liking Thais. She is determined to a fault and intensely focused once she sets her mind on something. More importantly, when it truly matters, she proves herself to be both brave and remarkably intelligent.
ㅤ But, I am not going to lie, I did not feel THAT connected to her at times. Some things about her just seemed slightly unnatural to me and I couldn't relate to her at all in many instances. I am looking forward to her progress in book 2.
ㅤ ⊹ Xül — I will admit that, for someone meant to be so almighty and powerful, there were many moments where I completely forgot what he was actually supposed to be. Much of the time, his character felt reduced to being broody and endlessly sacrificial to his cause (guess this is why they are a perfect match) and a slightly more restrained variant of Christian Grey. I cringed at times because of him, if I am being entirely honest. But, apart from that, he was hot as hell. I loved his sassy ass most of the time, and there is just something about him that makes him hypnotic in a way. He definitely has A LOT of space and capacity to grow.
ㅤ ⊹ Tatcher Morvaren — Oh. My. God.
ㅤ I hope this man is aware of how much joy he brought me up until now...and yeah, I will just leave it at that....
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ should you read this?
ㅤ Yes, of course. What are you even doing with your life if you are not reading this???
ㅤ But, and you all already know what is coming here: GO AND READ RIFTBORNE AND DUSKBOUND FIRST. ISTG IF I SEE ANYONE NOT LISTENING TO ME WITH THIS, I WILL PERSONALLY COME TO KNOCK DOWN YOUR DOOR AND FIGHT YOU.
ㅤ Anyway, please do go and give this entire universe a chance because you will not be disappointed. 🥺 Atp the authors can just hire me for marketing.
⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍendㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹
ㅤ ᯓ ✿ pre-reading ⪼ ㅤ started ┆02-March-2026┆
ㅤ ㅤ ⤿ I need something good to help me recover after the disappointment of my last read and I do trust these authors with my life so LET’S GO 😩
ㅤ ㅤ ˋ°•*⁀➷ㅤmight contain spoilers ❗
ㅤ At this point, I am genuinely convinced that these two authors are rapidly climbing into the ranks of my all-time favourites. It increasingly feels as though they are writing these magnificent books specifically for me, which is both delightful and slightly suspicious. So let me begin by applauding these two remarkable women for delivering such an outrageously good book.
ㅤ I have been captivated by this universe ever since reading Riftborne and Duskbound, so the moment I discovered that another interconnected series would expand this world, I knew I had to see it for myself. And truly, this book is wild in the best possible way.
ㅤ Is it flawless? Of course not. It has its minor imperfections. But none of them mattered to me in the slightest. I was completely enthralled, hypnotised even, by the world it builds. A universe where cruel gods pursue their own mysterious agendas, presiding over breathtaking domains and realms saturated with magic. I did not simply enjoy it. I fell entirely in love.
ㅤ ㅤ “There's always a choice. But sometimes all the options are terrible. Then you choose the least terrible one. And you find ways to live with the consequences.”
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ honest thoughts
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ I will start this very aggressively: READ RIFTBORNE AND DUSKBOUND FIRST BEFORE PICKING THIS UP!! Just trust me; it's for maximum emotional impact.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ Let me begin with the element I loved most about this book: the world-building. I was completely captivated by it. Every description, every fragment of information about how this world functions, its politics, and its complex rules had my full attention. I devoured it all with embarrassing enthusiasm.
ㅤ The magic, the people, the landscapes – everything felt rich and immersive, like an endless journey I had no desire to leave. Honestly, just drop me there and let me see it for myself, ok???? I am fully aware that these creatures would probably kill me within minutes, but frankly, I would risk it for the chance of seeing all of this with my own eyes for a few moments.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ There is a ✨glossary✨! You all know I absolutely LOVE glossaries in books..i am so happy right now...
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ These people have some really fuckass names, but you get through it later on. I am pretty fine with them at this point.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ This is not a romantasy book; this is a romantic fantasy. I feel like I need to clarify that. Don't go around calling it 'romantasy' because this is an epic fantasy masterpiece in a very gorgeous form...one that also has some very intense romance. But I feel like if you entirely took out the romance aspect of the book, you would still get a really amazing story; therefore, I wouldn't really call this a romantasy book.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ This is also very much NOT a slow-burn romance, despite how it is often marketed. From the moment he lays eyes on this savage, unapologetically outspoken girl, it is painfully obvious that the man is already a full-fledged simp.
ㅤ That said, the romance remains genuinely beautiful and compelling. What unfolds is a forbidden relationship that blooms quickly, only to be smothered by rules, consequences, and an impressive amount of angst. It struggles to survive in a world that clearly would prefer it did not exist, only to rise again. Or maybe not. Maybe it ends tragically instead of overcoming all odds. I will not tell you, so you go and read it.
ㅤ But yes, it will absolutely put you through emotional trauma.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ You get trials — magnificent ones, even. You get brotherly love and compassion, friendships built on genuine camaraderie, and family. There is so much more I would love to discuss, but I refuse to spoil any of it.
ㅤ What I can say is that this is an incredibly layered book. It offers a little of everything, and somehow all those elements come together seamlessly, creating a story that feels both rich and remarkably complete.
ㅤ Sure, as I said there were some certain flaws; I did not enjoy some of the smut scenes entirely and also some of the "a bit too repetitive" plotlines. I also found some of the dialogues to be either a bit too cringe-worthy or too unnecessarily complicated at times. But all these things were not enough to deter me from absolutely loving this book.
ㅤ ⋅ ☾ The ending...oh, God, the ending....
ㅤ I will say this again because it seems like it is never enough: PLEASE READ RIFTBORNE AND DUSKBOUND FIRST, THEN COME TO THIS. Because the ending will absolutely wreck you and suddenly everything will make perfect sense. I feel almost compelled to apologise, because I first read the other two books more than a year ago and my brain was apparently far too hazy and stupid to notice certain details now
ㅤ But, my God, the final chapter shattered my heart and then calmly stopped it altogether. I was left completely speechless, and somehow that was the best possible outcome.
ㅤ Thank you to these two authors for causing my brain to malfunction for a whole 30 seconds there before I literally started screaming.
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ characters
ㅤ ⊹ Thais Morvaren — I will admit that I occasionally grow a little tired of the very outspoken, endlessly brave, self-sacrificing FMC archetype — yk the one who contradicts everyone and feels personally responsible for solving every problem in existence. It is a familiar pattern. And yet, despite that, I still found myself liking Thais. She is determined to a fault and intensely focused once she sets her mind on something. More importantly, when it truly matters, she proves herself to be both brave and remarkably intelligent.
ㅤ But, I am not going to lie, I did not feel THAT connected to her at times. Some things about her just seemed slightly unnatural to me and I couldn't relate to her at all in many instances. I am looking forward to her progress in book 2.
ㅤ ⊹ Xül — I will admit that, for someone meant to be so almighty and powerful, there were many moments where I completely forgot what he was actually supposed to be. Much of the time, his character felt reduced to being broody and endlessly sacrificial to his cause (guess this is why they are a perfect match) and a slightly more restrained variant of Christian Grey. I cringed at times because of him, if I am being entirely honest. But, apart from that, he was hot as hell. I loved his sassy ass most of the time, and there is just something about him that makes him hypnotic in a way. He definitely has A LOT of space and capacity to grow.
ㅤ ⊹ Tatcher Morvaren — Oh. My. God.
ㅤ I hope this man is aware of how much joy he brought me up until now...and yeah, I will just leave it at that....
ㅤ ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ should you read this?
ㅤ Yes, of course. What are you even doing with your life if you are not reading this???
ㅤ But, and you all already know what is coming here: GO AND READ RIFTBORNE AND DUSKBOUND FIRST. ISTG IF I SEE ANYONE NOT LISTENING TO ME WITH THIS, I WILL PERSONALLY COME TO KNOCK DOWN YOUR DOOR AND FIGHT YOU.
ㅤ Anyway, please do go and give this entire universe a chance because you will not be disappointed. 🥺 Atp the authors can just hire me for marketing.
⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍendㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹
ㅤ ᯓ ✿ pre-reading ⪼ ㅤ started ┆02-March-2026┆
ㅤ ㅤ ⤿ I need something good to help me recover after the disappointment of my last read and I do trust these authors with my life so LET’S GO 😩
September 3, 2025
6 stars, completely and totally amazing. HOLY SHIT!!!!!
This book is the pinnacle of romantasy. High stakes trials, heart wrenching romance, meddling gods, and EPIC main characters.
Thais the FMC is bad ass and although sometimes she made decisions I wouldn’t, I loved her so much, and because of the writing everything came together as it should. Completely fantastic.
The MMC Xül, omg SWOON. He’s the God of death, and I’m obsessed with him. I loved his growth over this story, too.
Overall this was just a masterpiece, and the ending left me completely slack jawed. Literal perfection.
This book is the pinnacle of romantasy. High stakes trials, heart wrenching romance, meddling gods, and EPIC main characters.
Thais the FMC is bad ass and although sometimes she made decisions I wouldn’t, I loved her so much, and because of the writing everything came together as it should. Completely fantastic.
The MMC Xül, omg SWOON. He’s the God of death, and I’m obsessed with him. I loved his growth over this story, too.
Overall this was just a masterpiece, and the ending left me completely slack jawed. Literal perfection.
March 3, 2026
This book was like crack! And before anyone panics, I have zero real idea what crack is actually like. This book took control of my brain and would absolutely have pulled strings on my life if it could. Now, somehow the universe decided the exact moment I picked this up would be the moment I would be interrupted every 12 seconds. I really need a woman cave.
I've already commented on the thickness of this book, which surprised me as it's only the first book in the duet. Before I even started it, I couldn’t stop staring at the 754 pages and thinking would someone get an editor in here please? Somebody?
Once I accepted my fate and started though, I gobbled it all up. Now this book is by no means perfect, but it has all the makings of a great Romantasy novel and then some more:
.✦ ݁˖ Good writing
.✦ ݁˖ Immersive world
.✦ ݁˖ High stakes
.✦ ݁˖ Captivating premise
.✦ ݁˖ Competitions and Trials
.✦ ݁˖ Mentor/mentee relationships
.✦ ݁˖ Teacher/ student romance (questionable but we'll get to that later)
.✦ ݁˖ Dual POVs (Thais and Thatcher)
.✦ ݁˖ Thrills. Lots of them!
The Ascended is a story about relentless survival, betrayal, vengeance, family, gods, and competition. In the world of The Ascended divine power bleeds into the mortal realm, and those born with that power are called the blessed.
Thais Morvaren has spent her life pretending to be an ordinary fisherwoman in her quiet seaside village, all while hiding her ability to wield the power of the stars. When her powers are exposed, she is seized and thrown into the deadly Trials of Ascension. The stakes here are literally god‑tier as it is a competition where the blessed must fight either to become a god or die trying. What’s worse is her twin brother, Thatcher, gets dragged in too, forcing her to protect more than just herself.
The premise sounds epic because it is epic. It feels like Hunger Games meets Greek mythology meets forbidden flame.
This world is made up of primordials, gods, legends, the Blessed, and priests, each group occupying its own place in the hierarchy.
The gods here feel both majestic and monstrous, as gods usually do. In the divine arenas, competitors are hunted for sport, thrust into perilous trials, and forced to outwit monsters and other gifted humans alike, all while being watched by beings who treat their suffering as spectacle. Each god presides over their own House.
The Blessed are those born with supernatural abilities. They are marked from the start as either weapons or threats depending on who is looking at them. They are revered, feared, and hunted in equal measure.
The Legends are mentors and previous Ascended champions.
The priests hunt the Blessed, enforcing divine will under the guise of righteousness.
Give me trials, competition, unexpected danger, moral dilemmas, sketchy alliances and you draw out the adrenaline junkie monster in me. The Trials are not just physical tests but psychological and emotional crucibles that strip characters of who they were and force them to become who they must be. Each Trial reveals something dangerous about the gods, the system they’ve enforced, and the cost of ascending to power.
Despite the presence of gods, myths, and all this immersive worldbuilding, there are moments where it feels surprisingly simple. At times that simplicity works in its favor. At other times, it risks feeling like there could have been just a little more depth beneath the surface.
Usually, my interest as a reader is driven by the characters, and while I liked the ones in this novel, I wasn’t especially endeared to them. I found myself more consumed by everything else happening in the story.
Thais (26y): our heroine, is impulsive, fiercely loyal, and devoted to those she loves. She shares a twin bond with Thatcher that is exceptionally powerful. One of my favorite parts of the story is the portrayal of their relationship.
Thatcher (26y): is more level-headed and calm. He possesses great powers that I think would be best discovering in the book, as they explode at pivotal moments 🤭
Xül also known as the Prince of death. He is Thais' mentor and love interest. He has a sharp tongue and an even sharper demeanor. My first impression of him was: “What an absolute prick.” However, with time he grows on you.
Despite all the great aspects of this book, the romance is where things flopped big time for me. Between secrets, miscommunication, and endless misunderstandings, it was just too much for me. The romance takes a backseat for at least the first 70% of the book. And at that point, it’s not even slow burn anymore. Slow burn implies there is a flame somewhere. This felt like someone forgot to turn the stove on. Like something went wrong with the recipe because no one put the romance in romantasy. There were so many moments where I thought, this is it. We’ve been building toward this, and now it’s finally going to happen. I'm not kidding, it nearly drove me mad. The whole situation just had me like
When they finally gave in in the last quarter of the book, it was too late for me. I was already packed up and ready to leave
If you enjoy romance that is built on constant withholding, you will absolutely love this. The spice is a 🌶️🌶️🌶️ out of 5.
In the end, everything else about the novel, the ending especially, more than made up for what it lacked. Sometimes a story just has that X factor, and no matter how many reasons you list for why it works despite its flaws, it still can’t fully capture it.
What would’ve made it a five-star read for me *ੈ✩‧₊˚
☑ Better pacing
☑ A romance that truly earns the “romantasy” label
☑ Engaging dialogue
☑ Less miscommunication, unnecessary secrets and drama between the MCs
☑ Moments of genuine vulnerability between the MCs
Updates while reading ༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･
“Tell me you don't feel it too," he said, his breath warm against my ear. "Tell me you don't lie awake thinking of my hands on your skin, my mouth on yours."
Pride be damned! Pride be damned to hell. Girl jump his bones 😮💨 You shall live to stress another day
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･༄˖°.🍂.ೃ࿔*:･
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･༄˖°.🍂.ೃ࿔*:･
This book is THICK and it's only the first book in the series
I've already commented on the thickness of this book, which surprised me as it's only the first book in the duet. Before I even started it, I couldn’t stop staring at the 754 pages and thinking would someone get an editor in here please? Somebody?
Once I accepted my fate and started though, I gobbled it all up. Now this book is by no means perfect, but it has all the makings of a great Romantasy novel and then some more:
.✦ ݁˖ Good writing
.✦ ݁˖ Immersive world
.✦ ݁˖ High stakes
.✦ ݁˖ Captivating premise
.✦ ݁˖ Competitions and Trials
.✦ ݁˖ Mentor/mentee relationships
.✦ ݁˖ Teacher/ student romance (questionable but we'll get to that later)
.✦ ݁˖ Dual POVs (Thais and Thatcher)
.✦ ݁˖ Thrills. Lots of them!
The Ascended is a story about relentless survival, betrayal, vengeance, family, gods, and competition. In the world of The Ascended divine power bleeds into the mortal realm, and those born with that power are called the blessed.
Thais Morvaren has spent her life pretending to be an ordinary fisherwoman in her quiet seaside village, all while hiding her ability to wield the power of the stars. When her powers are exposed, she is seized and thrown into the deadly Trials of Ascension. The stakes here are literally god‑tier as it is a competition where the blessed must fight either to become a god or die trying. What’s worse is her twin brother, Thatcher, gets dragged in too, forcing her to protect more than just herself.
The premise sounds epic because it is epic. It feels like Hunger Games meets Greek mythology meets forbidden flame.
This world is made up of primordials, gods, legends, the Blessed, and priests, each group occupying its own place in the hierarchy.
The gods here feel both majestic and monstrous, as gods usually do. In the divine arenas, competitors are hunted for sport, thrust into perilous trials, and forced to outwit monsters and other gifted humans alike, all while being watched by beings who treat their suffering as spectacle. Each god presides over their own House.
The Blessed are those born with supernatural abilities. They are marked from the start as either weapons or threats depending on who is looking at them. They are revered, feared, and hunted in equal measure.
The Legends are mentors and previous Ascended champions.
The priests hunt the Blessed, enforcing divine will under the guise of righteousness.
Give me trials, competition, unexpected danger, moral dilemmas, sketchy alliances and you draw out the adrenaline junkie monster in me. The Trials are not just physical tests but psychological and emotional crucibles that strip characters of who they were and force them to become who they must be. Each Trial reveals something dangerous about the gods, the system they’ve enforced, and the cost of ascending to power.
Despite the presence of gods, myths, and all this immersive worldbuilding, there are moments where it feels surprisingly simple. At times that simplicity works in its favor. At other times, it risks feeling like there could have been just a little more depth beneath the surface.
Usually, my interest as a reader is driven by the characters, and while I liked the ones in this novel, I wasn’t especially endeared to them. I found myself more consumed by everything else happening in the story.
Thais (26y): our heroine, is impulsive, fiercely loyal, and devoted to those she loves. She shares a twin bond with Thatcher that is exceptionally powerful. One of my favorite parts of the story is the portrayal of their relationship.
Thatcher (26y): is more level-headed and calm. He possesses great powers that I think would be best discovering in the book, as they explode at pivotal moments 🤭
Xül also known as the Prince of death. He is Thais' mentor and love interest. He has a sharp tongue and an even sharper demeanor. My first impression of him was: “What an absolute prick.” However, with time he grows on you.
Despite all the great aspects of this book, the romance is where things flopped big time for me. Between secrets, miscommunication, and endless misunderstandings, it was just too much for me. The romance takes a backseat for at least the first 70% of the book. And at that point, it’s not even slow burn anymore. Slow burn implies there is a flame somewhere. This felt like someone forgot to turn the stove on. Like something went wrong with the recipe because no one put the romance in romantasy. There were so many moments where I thought, this is it. We’ve been building toward this, and now it’s finally going to happen. I'm not kidding, it nearly drove me mad. The whole situation just had me like
When they finally gave in in the last quarter of the book, it was too late for me. I was already packed up and ready to leave
If you enjoy romance that is built on constant withholding, you will absolutely love this. The spice is a 🌶️🌶️🌶️ out of 5.
In the end, everything else about the novel, the ending especially, more than made up for what it lacked. Sometimes a story just has that X factor, and no matter how many reasons you list for why it works despite its flaws, it still can’t fully capture it.
What would’ve made it a five-star read for me *ੈ✩‧₊˚
☑ Better pacing
☑ A romance that truly earns the “romantasy” label
☑ Engaging dialogue
☑ Less miscommunication, unnecessary secrets and drama between the MCs
☑ Moments of genuine vulnerability between the MCs
Updates while reading ༄˖°.☕️.ೃ࿔📚*:･
“Tell me you don't feel it too," he said, his breath warm against my ear. "Tell me you don't lie awake thinking of my hands on your skin, my mouth on yours."
Pride be damned! Pride be damned to hell. Girl jump his bones 😮💨 You shall live to stress another day
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･༄˖°.🍂.ೃ࿔*:･
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･༄˖°.🍂.ೃ࿔*:･
This book is THICK and it's only the first book in the series
October 14, 2025
After almost giving up on this completely, I decided to give it another chance because of so many positive reviews. This had potential, but the execution ultimately didn’t deliver. I’m still shocked to see so many rave reviews.
The world & magic were cool but neither were fleshed out or explored. I liked the different levels of powers and I really wish we got more of that, or at least expanded on. I’m a sucker for trials, and I will say I did enjoy the way those were done. This book was overall WAY too long though, and it absolutely could have benefitted from more rounds of edits.
I really wanted to love the characters, but I could never fully get behind them. The dialogue and conversations were very bland, and a lot of the time cringy. Both MCs kept secrets from each other, and this was heavy on the miscommunication trope - which is one of my least favorite tropes ever. This made it REALLY hard to root for anyone because things just kept going in circles, which was so frustrating. Both Xül & Thais lacked the banter & chemistry I hoped they would have to really make me care about them. I also feel like neither MC grew at all over the course of the book, and they were very stagnant from start to finish. Thatcher was probably the most interesting character overall, but he wasn’t enough to save this.
The ending was a semi-interesting twist, but I just didn’t care enough about anyone to really feel the shock value. Very undecided on picking up the next one.
The world & magic were cool but neither were fleshed out or explored. I liked the different levels of powers and I really wish we got more of that, or at least expanded on. I’m a sucker for trials, and I will say I did enjoy the way those were done. This book was overall WAY too long though, and it absolutely could have benefitted from more rounds of edits.
I really wanted to love the characters, but I could never fully get behind them. The dialogue and conversations were very bland, and a lot of the time cringy. Both MCs kept secrets from each other, and this was heavy on the miscommunication trope - which is one of my least favorite tropes ever. This made it REALLY hard to root for anyone because things just kept going in circles, which was so frustrating. Both Xül & Thais lacked the banter & chemistry I hoped they would have to really make me care about them. I also feel like neither MC grew at all over the course of the book, and they were very stagnant from start to finish. Thatcher was probably the most interesting character overall, but he wasn’t enough to save this.
The ending was a semi-interesting twist, but I just didn’t care enough about anyone to really feel the shock value. Very undecided on picking up the next one.
December 3, 2025
5⭐️
The best Romantasy of 2025! Well I haven’t read a lot because I have been in such a slump that it was almost impossible for me to enjoy any Romantasy. I found them all very predictable and similar. This one is just “wow”! Let me say I didn’t read the previous books by these authors so if there was any connection to those I missed it.
At the beginning I would say I could see a bit of the Hunger Games but then the plot was so unique and action driven that I was very much enjoying myself and the spice? Just right amount for Romantasy👍👌. Now I will definitely read the previous books!
The best Romantasy of 2025! Well I haven’t read a lot because I have been in such a slump that it was almost impossible for me to enjoy any Romantasy. I found them all very predictable and similar. This one is just “wow”! Let me say I didn’t read the previous books by these authors so if there was any connection to those I missed it.
At the beginning I would say I could see a bit of the Hunger Games but then the plot was so unique and action driven that I was very much enjoying myself and the spice? Just right amount for Romantasy👍👌. Now I will definitely read the previous books!
February 2, 2026
5⭐️
this is romantasy. holy hell. this book really does deserve all the hype surrounding it.
the world + magic in this book are one of favorites✨
the plot had me in a chokehold from chapter 1
i absolutely ate the trials up in this book (they felt so unique and the stakes felt high)
thais and xül🖤✨
the yearning, the tension? to die for!! and that slow burn🥵 their banter🤩🤩 kicking my feet hehe
and thatcher!!🥺 UGHHH my heart
i truly grew attached to all of the side characters and love them all😅🥰
i’m looking forward to the next book and seeing how everything comes together in this duet🌠💫
ALSO THAT ENDING??! 🥺… 😍 … 🤭 screaming
this is romantasy. holy hell. this book really does deserve all the hype surrounding it.
the world + magic in this book are one of favorites✨
the plot had me in a chokehold from chapter 1
i absolutely ate the trials up in this book (they felt so unique and the stakes felt high)
thais and xül🖤✨
the yearning, the tension? to die for!! and that slow burn🥵 their banter🤩🤩 kicking my feet hehe
and thatcher!!🥺 UGHHH my heart
i truly grew attached to all of the side characters and love them all😅🥰
i’m looking forward to the next book and seeing how everything comes together in this duet🌠💫
ALSO THAT ENDING??! 🥺… 😍 … 🤭 screaming
October 18, 2025
Let my experience with The Ascended serve as a reminder: Books with sky-high ratings that are new releases require a cooling off period before you can really tell if they're any good. It's always professional hypesters who come in early with 5 stars and gushing reviews (Booktok, Amazon, friends of the authors, readers who want to discover the next big thing first, etc.)
This was immensely mediocre. So much was ripped off from other authors and series, most obviously The Hunger Games, and not just because players are fighting to the death at the whims of the elite. No - Thais even has a trio of Cinnas. C'mon now, building a fragile trust with stylists of all things is pretty fucking specific! Plenty of other series serve as uncredited inspiration, too, and even poets aren't safe from these writers. Poor Dylan Thomas wasn't spared:
And then there's the MMC, Xül, pronounced the same as the most recognizable demon dog in cinematic history. Or at least, from 1984.
Before I stop - because I really need to stop before GR puts me on the naughty list - there's this little gem that actually made me laugh.
Yeah, it's a throwback pic, but it's still his best look. They're obv A7x fans, and I can't hate them for that.
Just no. Way too much egregious behavior. COME UP WITH YOUR OWN MATERIAL, PLEASE.
This was immensely mediocre. So much was ripped off from other authors and series, most obviously The Hunger Games, and not just because players are fighting to the death at the whims of the elite. No - Thais even has a trio of Cinnas. C'mon now, building a fragile trust with stylists of all things is pretty fucking specific! Plenty of other series serve as uncredited inspiration, too, and even poets aren't safe from these writers. Poor Dylan Thomas wasn't spared:
My power fought against the nothing, insisting we existed, that we mattered, that we would not go gentle into absolute night.Normally I wouldn't call out one small "borrow" like this, but after 728 pages of similar examples, I just have to rage, rage against such obvious plagiarism.
And then there's the MMC, Xül, pronounced the same as the most recognizable demon dog in cinematic history. Or at least, from 1984.
Before I stop - because I really need to stop before GR puts me on the naughty list - there's this little gem that actually made me laugh.
I spotted Marx immediately—she moved with that sinister gait that had surprisingly become familiar to me now.
Yeah, it's a throwback pic, but it's still his best look. They're obv A7x fans, and I can't hate them for that.
Just no. Way too much egregious behavior. COME UP WITH YOUR OWN MATERIAL, PLEASE.
March 1, 2026
╰┈➤ 𝟺.𝟸𝟻 ✰ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ ✨
❝ “𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝐼 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝓂𝒶𝓎𝒷𝑒 𝒶𝒹𝓋𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝒾𝓈𝓃'𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝑔𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓃𝑒𝓌. 𝒮𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝒾𝓉'𝓈 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒽 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝑜𝓇." ❞
📚⋮ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐡 & 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐱
⤷ buddy read with Kelsey ♡ check out her review!
📜⋮ 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 𝟽𝟻𝟾
🏷️⋮ 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚢
📱⋮ 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎
📆⋮ 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟸/𝟸𝟸/𝟸𝟼-𝟸/𝟸𝟾/𝟸𝟼
💬⋮ 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 ”When twins Thais and Thatcher are thrust into the deadly Trials of Ascension, they'll navigate brutal competitions and forbidden desires, discovering some secrets are worth dying for and others are worth killing for. Each trial survived brings them closer to godhood, but beneath the spectacle of competition, something ancient and malevolent stalks the shadows of the divine realm. Thais and Thatcher may have been forced into the Trials seeking survival, but they’ll finish them seeking vengeance. And the cost of godhood is rising. Because some stars aren't meant to be weapons. Some stars are meant to fall.”」
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
❝𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑒𝓈𝓎𝓂𝒶𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎'𝒹 𝒸𝒶𝓅𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝓌𝑜 𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓇𝒾𝒻𝒾𝑒𝒹 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒶𝓁𝓈. 𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒽𝒶𝒹 𝓃𝑜 𝒾𝒹𝑒𝒶 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎'𝒹 𝒶𝒸𝓉𝓊𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝓊𝓃𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓈𝒽𝑒𝒹.❞
ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★.25/5
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟺.𝟻𝟼 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️½
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴏʏꜱᴛᴇʀꜱ 🦪
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: 👍🏼
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ꜱᴛᴀʀʟɪɢʜᴛ — ᴛᴀʏʟᴏʀ ꜱᴡɪꜰᴛ
1:23 ———♡——— 3:40
⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻
╭───
┆
╰⪼ 🎶 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥, "𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦. 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘺.” 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘱 𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯, 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 "𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵? 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴?"
⊱ ────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ────── ⊰
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
💫 “ꜰᴜᴄᴋ ɪᴛ”
✨ ᴅᴇᴀᴅʟʏ ᴛʀɪᴀʟꜱ
💫 ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀꜰᴜʟ ꜰᴍᴄꜱ
✨ ᴛʀᴀɪɴᴇʀ/ᴛʀᴀɪɴᴇᴇ
💫 ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ᴅᴀᴅᴅɪᴇꜱ
✨ ʜᴇ ꜰᴀʟʟꜱ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ & ʜᴀʀᴅ
⚠️TW: blood, murder, gore, torture, sexual content, death of a parent, rape (off page)
❝ "𝑀𝓎 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓃𝓁𝓎 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒷𝑒𝒶𝓉 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊." 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝒹𝓈 𝒸𝒶𝓂𝑒 𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓇𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽, 𝑒𝒹𝑔𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒹𝒶𝓇𝓀𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈. "𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝓂𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝓅𝓁𝑒𝓉𝑒𝓁𝓎. ���𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁." ❞
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
💭⋮ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• I’m gonna be so for real: romantasy has been letting me down lately. I’ve been on the hunt to get that same ✨ feeling ✨ that SJM books give me & The Ascended was the closest I’ve got to it in a long time.
♥︎ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝:
↬ Xul (the MMC). A shadow daddy, the prince of death, brooding, & possessive. I mean, can he be anymore of my type? 😮💨 We also get a “fuck it” scene which if you didn’t already know is one of my favorite mini tropes.
↬ The world. Even though the world building itself gave me & Kelsey a headache, I really enjoyed the originality with the gods/divine beings, the trials, & the realms.
↬ Thais (the FMC). I love the “powerful FMC grows into her powers” mini trope.
↬ The side characters were easy to like & get attached to.
↬ The ending! 🫢
✘ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞:
↬ It was a little too long & some parts started to feel like they were dragging. I wouldn’t have minded it being about 200 pages less.
↬ How confusing the hierarchy & politics of it all. Just when I thought understood it all, I was thrown for a loop.
• I can’t wait until the second book comes out next year. In the meantime, I’m definitely going to be checking out the Riftborne series to help with my withdrawals.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚
❝“𝐸𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝓁𝑜𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊, 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝒾𝓈.
𝑀𝓎 𝒷𝑜𝒹𝓎, 𝓂𝓎 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉, 𝓂𝓎 𝒻𝓊𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓈𝑜𝓊𝓁— 𝒾𝓉’𝓈 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈.”❞
October 31, 2025
I am still trying to process what I just read. WOW. The way my brain exploded in the last 10%. ROUND OF APPLAUSE
I am team read Riftborne & Duskbound first. The ultimate pay off at the end is everything as a reader. EVERYTHING 👏
I am still quite speechless but this was magnificent. I literally took notes in excel while reading because it was a BUTTLOAD of information but I do think it all pays off. I have to say, Marx is my favorite. I literally love her with everything.
This is definitely a 5⭐️ read for me, especially when you get to that WOAH moment but my only qualm is that there are so many freaking characters I had to make my own glossary 🫣 At times, it was a bit hard to keep up and I got confused quite a bit so it took me a little longer to read. But, all in all I loved it, the last chapter gave me body chills, and I CANNOT wait for more!!
So so good!!
"I don't need anything from you. I just need you to exist. To be here."
I am team read Riftborne & Duskbound first. The ultimate pay off at the end is everything as a reader. EVERYTHING 👏
I am still quite speechless but this was magnificent. I literally took notes in excel while reading because it was a BUTTLOAD of information but I do think it all pays off. I have to say, Marx is my favorite. I literally love her with everything.
This is definitely a 5⭐️ read for me, especially when you get to that WOAH moment but my only qualm is that there are so many freaking characters I had to make my own glossary 🫣 At times, it was a bit hard to keep up and I got confused quite a bit so it took me a little longer to read. But, all in all I loved it, the last chapter gave me body chills, and I CANNOT wait for more!!
So so good!!
"I don't need anything from you. I just need you to exist. To be here."
August 5, 2025
6 stars. one of the best books I've ever read. the most beautiful writing I think i've ever read and the best world building. the first chapter is the single best first chapter of a book i've ever read. will be updating more here soon but MARK YOUR DANG CALENDARS.
This isn’t just a book. It’s a whole experience!!!!!
Every once in a while, you read a book that shifts something in you. Where the pages feel like they’re written for you - your soul, your mind, your tastes - and it’s impossible to articulate just how good it is without wildly gesturing and begging people to read it. That was The Ascended for me.
I had the absolute honor of b e t a reading this novel, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read in my entire life.
Let’s break this down:
✨ WRITING & STRUCTURE
The writing in The Ascended is stunning - mature, immersive, emotionally intelligent, and intentional in every line. It’s not just about telling a story; it’s about making you feel it. I stopped multiple times mid-scene just to reread the language, sit with the weight of the moment, and let the nuance land. There were lines of dialogue that made me pause, reread, and highlight immediately. I had 23 highlights from Chapter One alone. Yes, Chapter One.
Oh—and speaking of structure:
The prologue hooks you instantly.
Chapter One is genuinely the best first chapter I’ve ever read.
The trials? They gave me the same high I felt reading The Hunger Games for the first time - but better tbh. Elevated. Fresh. Strategic. Emotional.
800+ pages and not once did I feel fatigued. I never wanted it to end. (which is saying a lot for something with such immersive world building...)
🌍 WORLD-BUILDING
If you're a fantasy reader who craves layered politics, mythology that actually makes sense, and settings that feel lived in - this is your book.
The world of The Ascended is massive and intricate, but the way information is revealed is masterful. You’re never info-dumped. You’re drawn in, one detail at a time. The lore, the systems of power, the roles of magic and morality - they unfold with the kind of craftsmanship that reminds you what fantasy can be at its best.
This is the kind of world where you can feel the history beneath the surface. It’s textured. Lush. Purposeful.
🖤 CHARACTERS (AKA: I’d wage wars for them)
Let’s talk about Thais.
She is everything I’ve wanted in a female lead. She’s strong without being loud about it. Defiant without being childish. She actually communicates like an adult, which sounds like a low bar -but in romantasy? It can be rare. (she is 26 years old!!) Her choices made sense. Her strength was steady. She never felt like a trope. She just was. I haven’t loved a character this quickly and this deeply in a long time.
And then there’s Xul…
The restraint. The layers. The banter. The alignment. Their relationship is smart, slow-burning without the drag, and emotionally gripping. It’s not built on miscommunication or petty drama - it’s built on tension, earned trust, and genuinely brilliant pacing. Every interaction between them felt like watching two people who are meant to collide.
Even beyond the leads, the side characters, sibling dynamics, found family, and relational webs were incredibly well-done. Everyone felt real. Every interaction had meaning. Even the small moments mattered.
🔥 THEMES & TONE
This book has teeth - but it also has a soul.
It wrestles with morality, power, sacrifice, control, and identity in a way that feels fresh and weighty without ever being preachy. There’s a feminism at the root of this story that’s fierce and quiet and clear.
And best of all? It’s not just vibes. It has depth.
You don’t always get both.
⏳ FINAL THOUGHTS
The Ascended is part of a planned duology and set in the extended universe of the Esprithean Trilogy - but this is absolutely its own powerhouse.
If you’re tired of overhyped fantasy with shallow stakes…
If you want banter that doesn’t rely on snark alone…
If you crave smart women, emotionally complex men, and romance that builds instead of burns out…
You need this book.
I already know this will be a reread for me. And I already know it’ll be the book I recommend for the rest of the year.
Do yourself a favor - mark your calendar for October 7th.
The Ascended is going to take over - and it deserves to.
spoiler free tiktok review: https://www.tiktok.com/@suegainz/vide...
This isn’t just a book. It’s a whole experience!!!!!
Every once in a while, you read a book that shifts something in you. Where the pages feel like they’re written for you - your soul, your mind, your tastes - and it’s impossible to articulate just how good it is without wildly gesturing and begging people to read it. That was The Ascended for me.
I had the absolute honor of b e t a reading this novel, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read in my entire life.
Let’s break this down:
✨ WRITING & STRUCTURE
The writing in The Ascended is stunning - mature, immersive, emotionally intelligent, and intentional in every line. It’s not just about telling a story; it’s about making you feel it. I stopped multiple times mid-scene just to reread the language, sit with the weight of the moment, and let the nuance land. There were lines of dialogue that made me pause, reread, and highlight immediately. I had 23 highlights from Chapter One alone. Yes, Chapter One.
Oh—and speaking of structure:
The prologue hooks you instantly.
Chapter One is genuinely the best first chapter I’ve ever read.
The trials? They gave me the same high I felt reading The Hunger Games for the first time - but better tbh. Elevated. Fresh. Strategic. Emotional.
800+ pages and not once did I feel fatigued. I never wanted it to end. (which is saying a lot for something with such immersive world building...)
🌍 WORLD-BUILDING
If you're a fantasy reader who craves layered politics, mythology that actually makes sense, and settings that feel lived in - this is your book.
The world of The Ascended is massive and intricate, but the way information is revealed is masterful. You’re never info-dumped. You’re drawn in, one detail at a time. The lore, the systems of power, the roles of magic and morality - they unfold with the kind of craftsmanship that reminds you what fantasy can be at its best.
This is the kind of world where you can feel the history beneath the surface. It’s textured. Lush. Purposeful.
🖤 CHARACTERS (AKA: I’d wage wars for them)
Let’s talk about Thais.
She is everything I’ve wanted in a female lead. She’s strong without being loud about it. Defiant without being childish. She actually communicates like an adult, which sounds like a low bar -but in romantasy? It can be rare. (she is 26 years old!!) Her choices made sense. Her strength was steady. She never felt like a trope. She just was. I haven’t loved a character this quickly and this deeply in a long time.
And then there’s Xul…
The restraint. The layers. The banter. The alignment. Their relationship is smart, slow-burning without the drag, and emotionally gripping. It’s not built on miscommunication or petty drama - it’s built on tension, earned trust, and genuinely brilliant pacing. Every interaction between them felt like watching two people who are meant to collide.
Even beyond the leads, the side characters, sibling dynamics, found family, and relational webs were incredibly well-done. Everyone felt real. Every interaction had meaning. Even the small moments mattered.
🔥 THEMES & TONE
This book has teeth - but it also has a soul.
It wrestles with morality, power, sacrifice, control, and identity in a way that feels fresh and weighty without ever being preachy. There’s a feminism at the root of this story that’s fierce and quiet and clear.
And best of all? It’s not just vibes. It has depth.
You don’t always get both.
⏳ FINAL THOUGHTS
The Ascended is part of a planned duology and set in the extended universe of the Esprithean Trilogy - but this is absolutely its own powerhouse.
If you’re tired of overhyped fantasy with shallow stakes…
If you want banter that doesn’t rely on snark alone…
If you crave smart women, emotionally complex men, and romance that builds instead of burns out…
You need this book.
I already know this will be a reread for me. And I already know it’ll be the book I recommend for the rest of the year.
Do yourself a favor - mark your calendar for October 7th.
The Ascended is going to take over - and it deserves to.
spoiler free tiktok review: https://www.tiktok.com/@suegainz/vide...
October 8, 2025
Soft DNF’d at 20%
I’m not a literary critic or anything, but this book has me constantly cringing 😭😭😭 The dialogue is so painfully corny. Every time the FMC speaks, it’s like hearing someone say “no more mister nice guy” out loud.
I’ve been trying to push through and give it a fair chance, but I’m struggling. The urge to bash my head against a wall is so real 💀 And it’s such a shame because I was really looking forward to this release. Everyone with ARCs on TikTok was giving it 6 stars, and all the early reviews here are 5s. I guess I’ll have to wait until more regular readers get their hands on it, since it just came out.
I’m not familiar with these authors’ writing styles, but I’ve had Riftborn sitting in my KU library for a while. Not sure if I’m going to read it atp. Can someone please tell me if it’s just me feeling this way? 😭
I’m not a literary critic or anything, but this book has me constantly cringing 😭😭😭 The dialogue is so painfully corny. Every time the FMC speaks, it’s like hearing someone say “no more mister nice guy” out loud.
I’ve been trying to push through and give it a fair chance, but I’m struggling. The urge to bash my head against a wall is so real 💀 And it’s such a shame because I was really looking forward to this release. Everyone with ARCs on TikTok was giving it 6 stars, and all the early reviews here are 5s. I guess I’ll have to wait until more regular readers get their hands on it, since it just came out.
I’m not familiar with these authors’ writing styles, but I’ve had Riftborn sitting in my KU library for a while. Not sure if I’m going to read it atp. Can someone please tell me if it’s just me feeling this way? 😭
October 31, 2025
Oh, hell yeah. This ending has me absolutely JACKED for the next book & continuation of this world. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
🚨 BUT I DO THINK you should read Riftborne & Duskbound — books 1 & 2 of the Esprithean trilogy — before reading this. The series are standalone stories, sure, but they exist in the same universe so there are Easter eggs & they wouldn’t hit without the context of the Esprithean trilogy. Things happen that are only SUPER FUCKING COOL because I read Esprithean. So I highly recommend reading those 2 books before this one. 🚨
Now, let’s get into the review.
PLOT
Thais & Thatcher are twins living in hiding; both from the world knowing their father is actually the king of gods & also from the world for finding out Thais is gifted with magic. Because the Gifted get forcibly entered into The Trials. The winners of The Trials get to ascend to godhood, but not without facing 4 rounds of trials created to kill them. Their saviors? Their powers & their mentors, if they care enough to keep them alive. This book has
- deadly trials
- multi POV (but mostly Thais)
- gods, humans, magic, & political maneuvering
- part of the Sundered Realms Universe
- lower spice
- Easter eggs galore
- trainer/trainee
PROS
- Honestly solid characters across the board. Marx is my favorite & I can’t wait for more from her. But Thais is a great FMC & I particularly liked some of the emotional shit we deal with at the end. It was pretty easy to be in her mind for the majority of ~800 pages. She’s tough, snarky, & stubborn without being blind to circumstance & I appreciate that tremendously in an FMC.
- Thatcher is my angel baby. I love him. I loved him from the jump & I will love him forever.
- The trials themselves were super interesting and I loved the concept of each. They were extremely detailed & I just thought they were really well done.
- Marx is just my favorite type of character. A super likeable clever weirdo badass. & her magic was super cool too.
- The evolution of Xül & Thais’s relationship was solid. Some really tense moments. Some real ups & downs. & EXTREMELY interesting next steps.
- Loved the ending & everything that went down in the last 15% or so. But it wasn’t a “this book was mid until the last 10%” situation like, the book was solid all the way through. I just really liked the ending. Not saying it’s a “good” ending or a happy ending, but I liked it a lot.
- Some solid twists! I am super good at predicting plot points & while I definitely got, most of them I’d say, I had some surprises & I LOVE to be surprised &/or wrong.
CONS
- She’s a chonky book & it maybe could have trimmed down some but honestly not by much. So if you don’t like long books, beware because she’s almost 800 pages.
Clearly I will keep reading everything in this world! Can’t wait for book 3 in the Esprithean trilogy!
⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
No really
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- The first note I took was “Thatcher’s magic seems close to Duskbound magic but way more badass” so that came back haha but I told myself they weren’t the same so it couldn’t *be* so I’m super pumped for where this goes. I feel like I want to reread Duskbound now.
- Thatcher’s powers were SO COOL. JUST BLOW ‘EM UP. GIT ‘EM.
- I was heartbroken at the end in the best way. Thais’s grief & emptiness at everything. Xül still having to marry that goddamn woman. I sort of hate his dad now. Maren (name?) finding a new human girl. Thatcher being in the abyss. It all was just such a bummer & you felt the heaviness of it.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
K BYEEER
🚨 BUT I DO THINK you should read Riftborne & Duskbound — books 1 & 2 of the Esprithean trilogy — before reading this. The series are standalone stories, sure, but they exist in the same universe so there are Easter eggs & they wouldn’t hit without the context of the Esprithean trilogy. Things happen that are only SUPER FUCKING COOL because I read Esprithean. So I highly recommend reading those 2 books before this one. 🚨
Now, let’s get into the review.
PLOT
Thais & Thatcher are twins living in hiding; both from the world knowing their father is actually the king of gods & also from the world for finding out Thais is gifted with magic. Because the Gifted get forcibly entered into The Trials. The winners of The Trials get to ascend to godhood, but not without facing 4 rounds of trials created to kill them. Their saviors? Their powers & their mentors, if they care enough to keep them alive. This book has
- deadly trials
- multi POV (but mostly Thais)
- gods, humans, magic, & political maneuvering
- part of the Sundered Realms Universe
- lower spice
- Easter eggs galore
- trainer/trainee
PROS
- Honestly solid characters across the board. Marx is my favorite & I can’t wait for more from her. But Thais is a great FMC & I particularly liked some of the emotional shit we deal with at the end. It was pretty easy to be in her mind for the majority of ~800 pages. She’s tough, snarky, & stubborn without being blind to circumstance & I appreciate that tremendously in an FMC.
- Thatcher is my angel baby. I love him. I loved him from the jump & I will love him forever.
- The trials themselves were super interesting and I loved the concept of each. They were extremely detailed & I just thought they were really well done.
- Marx is just my favorite type of character. A super likeable clever weirdo badass. & her magic was super cool too.
- The evolution of Xül & Thais’s relationship was solid. Some really tense moments. Some real ups & downs. & EXTREMELY interesting next steps.
- Loved the ending & everything that went down in the last 15% or so. But it wasn’t a “this book was mid until the last 10%” situation like, the book was solid all the way through. I just really liked the ending. Not saying it’s a “good” ending or a happy ending, but I liked it a lot.
- Some solid twists! I am super good at predicting plot points & while I definitely got, most of them I’d say, I had some surprises & I LOVE to be surprised &/or wrong.
CONS
- She’s a chonky book & it maybe could have trimmed down some but honestly not by much. So if you don’t like long books, beware because she’s almost 800 pages.
Clearly I will keep reading everything in this world! Can’t wait for book 3 in the Esprithean trilogy!
⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
No really
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- The first note I took was “Thatcher’s magic seems close to Duskbound magic but way more badass” so that came back haha but I told myself they weren’t the same so it couldn’t *be* so I’m super pumped for where this goes. I feel like I want to reread Duskbound now.
- Thatcher’s powers were SO COOL. JUST BLOW ‘EM UP. GIT ‘EM.
- I was heartbroken at the end in the best way. Thais’s grief & emptiness at everything. Xül still having to marry that goddamn woman. I sort of hate his dad now. Maren (name?) finding a new human girl. Thatcher being in the abyss. It all was just such a bummer & you felt the heaviness of it.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
K BYEEER
September 26, 2025
top notch romantasy right there.
♾️ ⭐️
thank you to the authors for an arc
♾️ ⭐️
thank you to the authors for an arc
October 9, 2025
⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
I honestly can’t believe I read the same book as everyone else here! The glowing reviews had me expecting something amazing, but I ended up feeling frustrated most of the time.
I have two main issues with this book. The first is the inconsistency — some phrases and expressions felt way too contemporary for the time period in which the story is supposed to be set. It completely broke the immersion and almost made me DNF. On top of that, a few characters (especially the MMC) seem to develop entirely new personalities by the end of the book, which made the whole thing feel uneven.
My second issue is the FMC. She’s both “too little and too much” at the same time. I love strong female leads, but this 26-year-old character just complains constantly, comes off as rude and entitled, and makes poor decisions while somehow being praised by everyone around her. She’s insufferable — not in a fun, flawed way, but in a please-stop-talking way.
The story and the magic system were the only thing that kept me going; it was very interesting, entertaining and the trials were creative
Overall, I just couldn’t connect with the characters or the writing style, but the story was entertaining enough.
December 29, 2025
completely blown away, one of the best fantasy books I have EVER read, just read it 🤯
November 4, 2025
2.5 stars
I'm honestly baffled that there are so many 5 or sorry 6 star reviews here. Did we read the same book?
This was painfully avarage, sometimes not even that. The dialogues were extremely unoriginal and basic. You get the feeling that the authors just collected clichè phrases and put them all together.
The characters were one dimensional, the only relationship that actually worth something was the twin bond. But we got relatively little of that through the book. After the Ascension there were chapters that were worth reading.
Thais and Xül whole relationship felt forced and empty. I honestly couldn't see how it's progressing, the conversations were shallow, the chemistry barely there. Couple of good moments at best, and most of the intimate ones were cringey.
The same with Thais & Marks, I actually liked both characters but when they were talking with each other..it was like the authors looked up their list of "what is the most meaningless, mainstream phrases that fourteen years old girls use" and just wrote them after one another.
There was no depth, no soul in these bonds.
To say some positive things too, they figured out the trials and what's happening around them quiet quickly. There should have been more intrigue, but I liked that they weren't stupid to see obvious things and also catch up on the hidden clues. The world-building wasn't bad per se but nothing more than avarage.
The ending wasn't disappointing at least.. so that's something, I'll see if the second one will worth a try..
I'm honestly baffled that there are so many 5 or sorry 6 star reviews here. Did we read the same book?
This was painfully avarage, sometimes not even that. The dialogues were extremely unoriginal and basic. You get the feeling that the authors just collected clichè phrases and put them all together.
The characters were one dimensional, the only relationship that actually worth something was the twin bond. But we got relatively little of that through the book. After the Ascension there were chapters that were worth reading.
Thais and Xül whole relationship felt forced and empty. I honestly couldn't see how it's progressing, the conversations were shallow, the chemistry barely there. Couple of good moments at best, and most of the intimate ones were cringey.
The same with Thais & Marks, I actually liked both characters but when they were talking with each other..it was like the authors looked up their list of "what is the most meaningless, mainstream phrases that fourteen years old girls use" and just wrote them after one another.
There was no depth, no soul in these bonds.
To say some positive things too, they figured out the trials and what's happening around them quiet quickly. There should have been more intrigue, but I liked that they weren't stupid to see obvious things and also catch up on the hidden clues. The world-building wasn't bad per se but nothing more than avarage.
The ending wasn't disappointing at least.. so that's something, I'll see if the second one will worth a try..
Read
April 12, 2026BookTok lied, and I fell for it. 800 pages of potential that never showed up.
January 20, 2026
I held off reading this for months because the hype was intimidating, but oh my GOSH it’d be criminal for me to rate this any less than 5 stars.
An absolute must-read for dark fantasy romance / romantasy lovers.
What to expect:
🖤 Dark fantasy romance
🖤 1st person, multi POV
🖤 Mentor x mentee
🖤 Deadly trials
🖤 Fast-paced
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
Where do I even begin describing my love for this book?! First and foremost, I love the sibling bond between Thais and Thatcher. Their dedication and loyalty to one another is unwavering, and it really built up my impression for the integrity of these characters. In a world demanding sacrifice, I love that they always choose each other above all else.
This is book 1 in a duology set in the same universe as the Esprithean Trilogy (Riftborne and Duskbound). As someone who read those two books first and have seen a lot of buzz about the reading order—I don't think you HAVE to read those books first in order to understand this book or enjoy it. HOWEVER, the ending will be WAY more impactful if you do (I think you'll regret reading them out of order). My face looked like this: 🤯
That all being said, I love that Grenwich and Lennox didn't rely on readers reading those books when building the world for The Ascended. I believe this book/duology can truly stand on its own, so far. I didn't feel like it was dumpy at any moment, and the pacing of this book was fantastic. I flew through this 750 page book, which is a testament to the pacing.
As someone who has become a litttleeee tired of trials in romantasy books (it's my own fault because I keep choosing books with trials), these were refreshing. They didn't feel overly predictable and had me sitting on the edge of my seat. There's this added layer of suspense because I'm not just worrying about Thais—I'm equally as terrified for Thatcher.
Now, the ROMANCE!!!! I'm a sucker for a mentor x mentee dynamic, especially when they don't like each other. The tension between these two was palpable. I gobbled up every second. The combination of this romance and the plot? Electric—inject it straight into my veins. I'd give this book 6 stars if I could.
That ending? Criminal. I don't know how I'm going to wait until 2027 to be back in this universe, but I'll be counting down the days.
An absolute must-read for dark fantasy romance / romantasy lovers.
What to expect:
🖤 Dark fantasy romance
🖤 1st person, multi POV
🖤 Mentor x mentee
🖤 Deadly trials
🖤 Fast-paced
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
Where do I even begin describing my love for this book?! First and foremost, I love the sibling bond between Thais and Thatcher. Their dedication and loyalty to one another is unwavering, and it really built up my impression for the integrity of these characters. In a world demanding sacrifice, I love that they always choose each other above all else.
This is book 1 in a duology set in the same universe as the Esprithean Trilogy (Riftborne and Duskbound). As someone who read those two books first and have seen a lot of buzz about the reading order—I don't think you HAVE to read those books first in order to understand this book or enjoy it. HOWEVER, the ending will be WAY more impactful if you do (I think you'll regret reading them out of order). My face looked like this: 🤯
That all being said, I love that Grenwich and Lennox didn't rely on readers reading those books when building the world for The Ascended. I believe this book/duology can truly stand on its own, so far. I didn't feel like it was dumpy at any moment, and the pacing of this book was fantastic. I flew through this 750 page book, which is a testament to the pacing.
As someone who has become a litttleeee tired of trials in romantasy books (it's my own fault because I keep choosing books with trials), these were refreshing. They didn't feel overly predictable and had me sitting on the edge of my seat. There's this added layer of suspense because I'm not just worrying about Thais—I'm equally as terrified for Thatcher.
Now, the ROMANCE!!!! I'm a sucker for a mentor x mentee dynamic, especially when they don't like each other. The tension between these two was palpable. I gobbled up every second. The combination of this romance and the plot? Electric—inject it straight into my veins. I'd give this book 6 stars if I could.
That ending? Criminal. I don't know how I'm going to wait until 2027 to be back in this universe, but I'll be counting down the days.
October 20, 2025
I feel like i’m on an episode of Punkd. I feel like I have been betrayed. Lied to. I feel deceived, I feel like I’m gaslighting myself into thinking I am insane because of how I feel about this book.
I’m being over the top, but also I’m serious. What the hell? I cannot tell you how excited I was to read this, it’s been anticipated for months at this point and people I usually agree with on book recs were raving about this. I went in expecting another 5 star read for sure. But, oh I could not have been more wrong!
I am clearly in the minority with this book, it has a super high rating so far on GR and here. Obviously, it just missed the mark for me. I simply didn’t find any of this BELIEVABLE?? The romance was so deeply lacking in chemistry for me from the very beginning, it felt so forced. Thais is giving HEAVY on the i’m not like other girls thing (IMO)! The dialogue was so cringy like 90% of the time. This book felt really juvenile to me, despite the characters being mid twenties at least.
I found the trials to be boring and predictable, the stakes were setup as high but never really felt that way. I honestly preferred Thatcher over Thais, and why in the actual F*** did it feel like they (siblings) had more chemistry than her and Xül? WHAT!!!!! In the beginning I felt disconnected and disinterested and then we got the first big moment and that really piqued my interest and made me think, damn that’s what I’m looking for. And then, that never happened again. The ending could be seen from a mile away.
I don’t know guys. I am so mad, I wanted to love this and I finished it solely for the reason of being able to review it because 1. refused to DNF by the time I was so far into and 2. I don’t rate DNFs, and I HAD to be able to review this. *updating to 1 star cause it’s just not worth 2
I’m being over the top, but also I’m serious. What the hell? I cannot tell you how excited I was to read this, it’s been anticipated for months at this point and people I usually agree with on book recs were raving about this. I went in expecting another 5 star read for sure. But, oh I could not have been more wrong!
I am clearly in the minority with this book, it has a super high rating so far on GR and here. Obviously, it just missed the mark for me. I simply didn’t find any of this BELIEVABLE?? The romance was so deeply lacking in chemistry for me from the very beginning, it felt so forced. Thais is giving HEAVY on the i’m not like other girls thing (IMO)! The dialogue was so cringy like 90% of the time. This book felt really juvenile to me, despite the characters being mid twenties at least.
I found the trials to be boring and predictable, the stakes were setup as high but never really felt that way. I honestly preferred Thatcher over Thais, and why in the actual F*** did it feel like they (siblings) had more chemistry than her and Xül? WHAT!!!!! In the beginning I felt disconnected and disinterested and then we got the first big moment and that really piqued my interest and made me think, damn that’s what I’m looking for. And then, that never happened again. The ending could be seen from a mile away.
I don’t know guys. I am so mad, I wanted to love this and I finished it solely for the reason of being able to review it because 1. refused to DNF by the time I was so far into and 2. I don’t rate DNFs, and I HAD to be able to review this. *updating to 1 star cause it’s just not worth 2
March 15, 2026
Just NO. Do not read it unless it’s shortened and edited (interesting idea, poor execution).
October 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6 agonizing, beautiful, tortuous stars of absolute perfection. I truly don’t know how I’ll recover after reading this. I don’t think a story has made me feel this way since reading The Stormlight Archive. I don’t even know how to gather my thoughts and convey just how immaculately written and interwoven this story was. This story is worth all the hype it’s getting and then some. Truly one of my favorite books of all time and that’s not even a question.
First off, you NEED to read Riftborne & Duskbound before reading this book. It’s not up for debate. The emotional turmoil and beautiful of this story is magnified by reading the previous duology. It takes it from a really good story to an absolutely god tier book of pure magic.
Some tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- Mentor x mentee
- Trials
- Gods and primordials
- Yearning
- A little bit spicy
- Sacrifice
- Touch her and die
- Hidden identities and motives
& so many more!
I’m going to make this spoiler free as much as I can even though I want to scream the truths from the roof tops. Thais, our beautiful and strong-willed fmc. She was determined, intelligent, vengeful and flawed. The fmc that closely resembles her to me is Diana from Gods & Monsters series (which iykyk). She possesses power from the stars and commands light and celestial magic. Her story starts out in her little coastal home where she’s hiding her magic with her twin brother Thatcher. But she’s quickly found by the priests that hunt for people with power to enter them into deadly trials competing for godhood. Her twin is dragged with her and from there all manner of hell breaks loose. Thatcher possessing power unknown to him or anyone. Then they’re off to compete in trials and win or die trying.
Xul, prince of death, becomes Thais’ mentor. He is brooding, arrogant, dark, and cruel. He cares for nothing and no one and would rather do anything other than have to train Thais. That is of course, until he becomes completely and totally enamored with her. His story is depressing and dark and learning more about him and why his walls were up was so important to the story. Watching him soften for Thais and share his truths, his family and life with her was beautiful. He is my ultimate mmc and I feel like I would equate him to Rhysand and Cardan combined. I can’t wait to share some quotes from him later on. He is number one book boyfriend now and that is indisputable.
The magic system in this and plot were so unique. In a world of redundant fantasy stories, this one was a breath of fresh air. Completely and totally new. High stakes that made me cry and scream and wish for the second book in my hands immediately. All the powers people possess are unique from what I’ve ever seen and even the structure of the gods and primordials are different from anything I’ve seen. It takes a lot for a book to completely capture my attention and leave me reeling but this book did that.
The ending tore my heart to pieces. Even though I started to call what the ending would be from reading the previous duology, it did nothing to curb the emotional pain and turmoil I was in. I cannot express enough how imperative it is to read the first duology. The final battle, the story interweaving across all three books was masterful and incredibly well done. I will be thinking of that ending for years until we get the next book. I need it more than I need air!
Quotes that left me on my knees:
- “You clean up well, Starling. Though perhaps I preferred you covered in blood and victory after the Hunt.”
- “Oh, I’ve found myself on my knees more than a few times. But I have standards when it comes to those I deem worthy of such devotion.”
- “I didn’t understand then that some people just… break something else when they’re broken.”
- “That woman doesn’t cower behind fatalism, she’s doesn’t hide behind martyrdom. She fights— not because she expects to win, but because surrendering isn’t in her nature.”
- I’m going to burn you alive, Thais. To make up for all the time wasted.”
- “I’d wage wars for you.”
- “I’ll paint this temple with divine blood before I let them touch her.”
- “Because I loved her more than my own freedom. More than any future. More than anything.”
There are so many more quotes I want to share but if you’re even kind of considering reading this, do it. I guarantee it will wound your heart in the most heartbreakingly beautiful way. Now I’m off to go stare at a wall for a few hours… ✨❤️🔥🗡️🩸☠️🫠
First off, you NEED to read Riftborne & Duskbound before reading this book. It’s not up for debate. The emotional turmoil and beautiful of this story is magnified by reading the previous duology. It takes it from a really good story to an absolutely god tier book of pure magic.
Some tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- Mentor x mentee
- Trials
- Gods and primordials
- Yearning
- A little bit spicy
- Sacrifice
- Touch her and die
- Hidden identities and motives
& so many more!
I’m going to make this spoiler free as much as I can even though I want to scream the truths from the roof tops. Thais, our beautiful and strong-willed fmc. She was determined, intelligent, vengeful and flawed. The fmc that closely resembles her to me is Diana from Gods & Monsters series (which iykyk). She possesses power from the stars and commands light and celestial magic. Her story starts out in her little coastal home where she’s hiding her magic with her twin brother Thatcher. But she’s quickly found by the priests that hunt for people with power to enter them into deadly trials competing for godhood. Her twin is dragged with her and from there all manner of hell breaks loose. Thatcher possessing power unknown to him or anyone. Then they’re off to compete in trials and win or die trying.
Xul, prince of death, becomes Thais’ mentor. He is brooding, arrogant, dark, and cruel. He cares for nothing and no one and would rather do anything other than have to train Thais. That is of course, until he becomes completely and totally enamored with her. His story is depressing and dark and learning more about him and why his walls were up was so important to the story. Watching him soften for Thais and share his truths, his family and life with her was beautiful. He is my ultimate mmc and I feel like I would equate him to Rhysand and Cardan combined. I can’t wait to share some quotes from him later on. He is number one book boyfriend now and that is indisputable.
The magic system in this and plot were so unique. In a world of redundant fantasy stories, this one was a breath of fresh air. Completely and totally new. High stakes that made me cry and scream and wish for the second book in my hands immediately. All the powers people possess are unique from what I’ve ever seen and even the structure of the gods and primordials are different from anything I’ve seen. It takes a lot for a book to completely capture my attention and leave me reeling but this book did that.
The ending tore my heart to pieces. Even though I started to call what the ending would be from reading the previous duology, it did nothing to curb the emotional pain and turmoil I was in. I cannot express enough how imperative it is to read the first duology. The final battle, the story interweaving across all three books was masterful and incredibly well done. I will be thinking of that ending for years until we get the next book. I need it more than I need air!
Quotes that left me on my knees:
- “You clean up well, Starling. Though perhaps I preferred you covered in blood and victory after the Hunt.”
- “Oh, I’ve found myself on my knees more than a few times. But I have standards when it comes to those I deem worthy of such devotion.”
- “I didn’t understand then that some people just… break something else when they’re broken.”
- “That woman doesn’t cower behind fatalism, she’s doesn’t hide behind martyrdom. She fights— not because she expects to win, but because surrendering isn’t in her nature.”
- I’m going to burn you alive, Thais. To make up for all the time wasted.”
- “I’d wage wars for you.”
- “I’ll paint this temple with divine blood before I let them touch her.”
- “Because I loved her more than my own freedom. More than any future. More than anything.”
There are so many more quotes I want to share but if you’re even kind of considering reading this, do it. I guarantee it will wound your heart in the most heartbreakingly beautiful way. Now I’m off to go stare at a wall for a few hours… ✨❤️🔥🗡️🩸☠️🫠
April 1, 2026
Let’s get my frustrations out of the way first: this was one of those times where a super hyped book just did not live up to expectations 😭 I wanted to love this so badly… I love being part of the hype train!
Maybe I went in expecting too much, but I am officially tired of trial-based plots. And not just that—why did this feel like a Temu version of The Hunger Games? I’m begging authors… can we get some originality PLEASE?
We’ve got a fight-to-the-death competition, a single victor, mentors (who’ve competed before, of course), elaborate outfits, prep teams, public showcases… like, we’ve seen this all before. It didn’t feel fresh, just recycled.
The MMC? So dry 😭 I genuinely don’t know what his personality was supposed to be. The FMC was… fine, I guess, but very much giving “I don’t understand my powers yet but I’m going to overthrow everything” energy—which, again, we’ve seen a hundred times.
That said—credit where it’s due:
⭐ 2 star goes to Thatcher and Thatcher ONLY. Easily the most interesting character in the book. And that ending 🤯
⭐ 1 star for the world and magic system. I’m a sucker for anything inspired by Greek mythology, so that aspect definitely worked for me.
But overall, the execution just didn’t land FOR ME. Even though it was an easy read, I kept getting bored and had to push myself to pick it back up just to finish.
Do you need to read Duskbound and Riftborne first? Not really. There’s a small reference at the end that might hit harder if you have, but since this is set earlier, you can read it as a standalone without issue.
Overall: not the worst book I’ve read… but just okay. I think this might be due to the fact that it was so HYPED and this happens to me all the time. So very much could be a personal thing. I will be continuing the series because I do like where I think they are going with this universe.
Maybe I went in expecting too much, but I am officially tired of trial-based plots. And not just that—why did this feel like a Temu version of The Hunger Games? I’m begging authors… can we get some originality PLEASE?
We’ve got a fight-to-the-death competition, a single victor, mentors (who’ve competed before, of course), elaborate outfits, prep teams, public showcases… like, we’ve seen this all before. It didn’t feel fresh, just recycled.
The MMC? So dry 😭 I genuinely don’t know what his personality was supposed to be. The FMC was… fine, I guess, but very much giving “I don’t understand my powers yet but I’m going to overthrow everything” energy—which, again, we’ve seen a hundred times.
That said—credit where it’s due:
⭐ 2 star goes to Thatcher and Thatcher ONLY. Easily the most interesting character in the book. And that ending 🤯
⭐ 1 star for the world and magic system. I’m a sucker for anything inspired by Greek mythology, so that aspect definitely worked for me.
But overall, the execution just didn’t land FOR ME. Even though it was an easy read, I kept getting bored and had to push myself to pick it back up just to finish.
Do you need to read Duskbound and Riftborne first? Not really. There’s a small reference at the end that might hit harder if you have, but since this is set earlier, you can read it as a standalone without issue.
Overall: not the worst book I’ve read… but just okay. I think this might be due to the fact that it was so HYPED and this happens to me all the time. So very much could be a personal thing. I will be continuing the series because I do like where I think they are going with this universe.
October 22, 2025
This might be my favorite book I’ve ever read so give me a minute to PROCESS !!!! 🤯🤯😭😭😭
September 3, 2025
BUCKLE 🆙 This is an ♾️ ⭐️ read. I have so much to say, but I still feel like my brain is being pieced back together after that explosion of an ending. 🤯 It’s 1:30 in the morning. I will come back for a proper review tomorrow after I stitch myself together again. 😮💨 I’m sick. Like this was the best book I’ve read dare I say in my entire life. More to come! 🖤👀💁🏻♀️
Okkkkkk.. whooo 😮💨😮💨😮💨
My Review ✍🏽
How am I supposed to carry on with normal life after this? One name, and everything I thought I knew changed. Words feel too small for a story like this. Masterpiece doesn’t even come close. ✨📖
This book was 828 pages on my Kindle, and I would have devoured another 800 without hesitation. Every single moment felt deliberate, every thread woven with intention. The characters didn’t just exist on the page—they lived, breathed, and carved themselves into my soul. 💔🔥
The tension. The desire. The heartbreak. All of it bound together in a way that left me undone. That ending… my god, the ending. My brain felt like it was shattering into light, and I had to flip back through pages, desperate to piece everything together again. By the time I reached the final line it was 1:30 in the morning, and still I couldn’t sleep. My mind was racing, my heart trying to stitch itself closed around the wounds this story left behind. 🌙🕰️🧩
Deception. Lies. Love. Truths too heavy to bear. This book didn’t just consume me—it OBLITERATED me. And now, whatever I pick up next won’t even have a fair chance against the brilliance of this one. 🌌💥📚
I’m endlessly grateful to have an opportunity on the street team and to have received this ARC. 💌 The fact that I got to experience this story early still doesn’t feel real. If you haven’t already, mark your calendars—The Ascended releases October 7th, 2025, and you absolutely do not want to miss it. 📅✨
⸻
📖 Summary
Thais Morvaren has spent her life hiding her dangerous gift, the ability to forge weapons from starlight. But when a priest’s ritual exposes her divine heritage, she’s forced into the brutal Trials of Ascension, a deadly competition meant to create gods. Against her will, Thais must fight, deceive, and survive while confronting the truth about her lineage and the father who destroyed her family: Olinthar, King of the Gods.
To defeat a god, she must risk becoming one herself.
Alongside her twin brother, Thatcher, whose powers manifest unexpectedly, and bound to a dangerous mentor, Xül, an arrogant necromancer prince with dark secrets… Thais is pulled deeper into a game of survival, vengeance, and forbidden desire.
Each trial brings her closer to godhood, but also closer to unraveling a darkness that threatens the divine realm itself. And while Thais may have entered the trials seeking survival, she’ll finish them seeking vengeance—no matter the cost.
⸻
✨Tropes & Vibes ✨
🔥 Enemies to lovers tension (sparks with the necromancer mentor Xül)
👥 Twins with hidden power + strong sibling bond
⚔️ Deadly competition / brutal trials
💔 Vengeance-driven heroine
🌌 Secret heritage revealed (divine bloodline, forbidden power)
📚 Mentor–student dynamic with serious tension
👑 Godhood as both curse and temptation
🌑 Ancient darkness lurking behind the trials
⭐ Starlight weapon-forging magic
⚡ High stakes epic fantasy (rebellion, sacrifice, unraveling heavens)
💫 Poetic, destiny-laden vibes (fate, lies, love, sacrifice)
Okkkkkk.. whooo 😮💨😮💨😮💨
My Review ✍🏽
How am I supposed to carry on with normal life after this? One name, and everything I thought I knew changed. Words feel too small for a story like this. Masterpiece doesn’t even come close. ✨📖
This book was 828 pages on my Kindle, and I would have devoured another 800 without hesitation. Every single moment felt deliberate, every thread woven with intention. The characters didn’t just exist on the page—they lived, breathed, and carved themselves into my soul. 💔🔥
The tension. The desire. The heartbreak. All of it bound together in a way that left me undone. That ending… my god, the ending. My brain felt like it was shattering into light, and I had to flip back through pages, desperate to piece everything together again. By the time I reached the final line it was 1:30 in the morning, and still I couldn’t sleep. My mind was racing, my heart trying to stitch itself closed around the wounds this story left behind. 🌙🕰️🧩
Deception. Lies. Love. Truths too heavy to bear. This book didn’t just consume me—it OBLITERATED me. And now, whatever I pick up next won’t even have a fair chance against the brilliance of this one. 🌌💥📚
I’m endlessly grateful to have an opportunity on the street team and to have received this ARC. 💌 The fact that I got to experience this story early still doesn’t feel real. If you haven’t already, mark your calendars—The Ascended releases October 7th, 2025, and you absolutely do not want to miss it. 📅✨
⸻
📖 Summary
Thais Morvaren has spent her life hiding her dangerous gift, the ability to forge weapons from starlight. But when a priest’s ritual exposes her divine heritage, she’s forced into the brutal Trials of Ascension, a deadly competition meant to create gods. Against her will, Thais must fight, deceive, and survive while confronting the truth about her lineage and the father who destroyed her family: Olinthar, King of the Gods.
To defeat a god, she must risk becoming one herself.
Alongside her twin brother, Thatcher, whose powers manifest unexpectedly, and bound to a dangerous mentor, Xül, an arrogant necromancer prince with dark secrets… Thais is pulled deeper into a game of survival, vengeance, and forbidden desire.
Each trial brings her closer to godhood, but also closer to unraveling a darkness that threatens the divine realm itself. And while Thais may have entered the trials seeking survival, she’ll finish them seeking vengeance—no matter the cost.
⸻
✨Tropes & Vibes ✨
🔥 Enemies to lovers tension (sparks with the necromancer mentor Xül)
👥 Twins with hidden power + strong sibling bond
⚔️ Deadly competition / brutal trials
💔 Vengeance-driven heroine
🌌 Secret heritage revealed (divine bloodline, forbidden power)
📚 Mentor–student dynamic with serious tension
👑 Godhood as both curse and temptation
🌑 Ancient darkness lurking behind the trials
⭐ Starlight weapon-forging magic
⚡ High stakes epic fantasy (rebellion, sacrifice, unraveling heavens)
💫 Poetic, destiny-laden vibes (fate, lies, love, sacrifice)
October 14, 2025
”Tell me to take you back to the ball, and we'll never speak of this again."
I should have. Should have remembered my pride, my purpose, the deadly game of which I was still a part.”
yes girl, you should have, for the sake of my sanity.
anyway, 3 stars for the plot and power system only, the authors clearly tried to create a new world and i was invested in seeing it through. i haven’t read their other series, but the way it all interconnects at the end was definitely an interesting plot twist.
the writing was criminal, if you’re gonna write fantasy then please COMMIT. i’m tired of modern day language seeping into these books…“hate sex, after all, was quite thrilling, or so i’d heard”…why are we referencing a trope in a fantasy novel, don’t piss me off! romance was bland, embarrassing, banter was stale, felt like actors reciting lines, nothing new! i have enemies from 5th grade i hate more than these two “hated” each other.
I should have. Should have remembered my pride, my purpose, the deadly game of which I was still a part.”
yes girl, you should have, for the sake of my sanity.
anyway, 3 stars for the plot and power system only, the authors clearly tried to create a new world and i was invested in seeing it through. i haven’t read their other series, but the way it all interconnects at the end was definitely an interesting plot twist.
the writing was criminal, if you’re gonna write fantasy then please COMMIT. i’m tired of modern day language seeping into these books…“hate sex, after all, was quite thrilling, or so i’d heard”…why are we referencing a trope in a fantasy novel, don’t piss me off! romance was bland, embarrassing, banter was stale, felt like actors reciting lines, nothing new! i have enemies from 5th grade i hate more than these two “hated” each other.
February 14, 2026
I need more!!!!! I am glad Thais has 7 seconds of hope. That poor girl (Goddess) has lost so much. I love Marx and need to hear more. What is Thatcher's (Aether's) destiny? What of Xül? He has lost just as much as Thais.
April 22, 2026
I was so hooked from the beginning of this book. The pacing kept me engaged, the stakes felt high, there was constant tension, and I was genuinely invested in what was happening. There’s so much to love, especially with how the story continues to expand.
The main reason this wasn’t 5 stars for me is the ending. It felt a little rushed, and the resolution with Olinthar irritated me. Thais and Thatcher’s entire plan is his demise, and then it’s over in a heartbeat. Granted, that’s exactly what they wanted, but I wish we got a little more of Olinthar instead of Moros but maybe that’s just me.
The cliffhanger ending was also upsetting. I don’t mind open endings, but this one felt more like the story just stopped at its peak rather than offering any real resolution, which was frustrating, especially with no next book yet.
I still really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait for the next one, but I’m hoping for a stronger payoff there.
The main reason this wasn’t 5 stars for me is the ending. It felt a little rushed, and the resolution with Olinthar irritated me. Thais and Thatcher’s entire plan is his demise, and then it’s over in a heartbeat. Granted, that’s exactly what they wanted, but I wish we got a little more of Olinthar instead of Moros but maybe that’s just me.
The cliffhanger ending was also upsetting. I don’t mind open endings, but this one felt more like the story just stopped at its peak rather than offering any real resolution, which was frustrating, especially with no next book yet.
I still really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait for the next one, but I’m hoping for a stronger payoff there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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