What do you think?
Rate this book
Godstorm
'This startling alternative history takes us to a newly-imagined world... The result is a vivid, ferocious adventure.' Kim Stanley-Robinson
'A highly original, vividly-imagined fantasy Roman Empire where oil is power' Ruth Downie
A Female Gladiator's Vow. A Stolen Child. A Storm to End Empires
In a petrol-fuelled Roman Empire which never fell, Arrow, a gladiatrix turned governess must rescue the child she has loved as her own, a girl who could tear down the world.
When Livy is abducted during a devastating Godstorm, Arrow must unleash years of the gladiator training she'd sworn to forget in order to save her. Defying her owner, a heartless Consul, Arrow turns to her ex-lover and the illegal druid underworld in a desperate attempt to rescue the girl she has come to think of as her own.
Her search will take her across Londinium, a city of petrol-powered chariots, to the pagan Old Town, and eventually the edge of the known the Amazon, where destiny and destruction intertwine
Facing battle and betrayal Arrow must reclaim her past as a killer—or risk everything for the child who calls her "mother."
She is the Sword.
'A highly original, vividly-imagined fantasy Roman Empire where oil is power' Ruth Downie
A Female Gladiator's Vow. A Stolen Child. A Storm to End Empires
In a petrol-fuelled Roman Empire which never fell, Arrow, a gladiatrix turned governess must rescue the child she has loved as her own, a girl who could tear down the world.
When Livy is abducted during a devastating Godstorm, Arrow must unleash years of the gladiator training she'd sworn to forget in order to save her. Defying her owner, a heartless Consul, Arrow turns to her ex-lover and the illegal druid underworld in a desperate attempt to rescue the girl she has come to think of as her own.
Her search will take her across Londinium, a city of petrol-powered chariots, to the pagan Old Town, and eventually the edge of the known the Amazon, where destiny and destruction intertwine
Facing battle and betrayal Arrow must reclaim her past as a killer—or risk everything for the child who calls her "mother."
She is the Sword.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2026
10 people are currently reading
412 people want to read
About the author
Solitaire Townsend
6 books18 followersSolitaire Townsend is a climate expert by day, and storyteller by night. After decades of teaching governments, global brands and even movie studios how to communicate sustainability, she now has stories of her own to tell.
Godstorm is her debut novel.
She regularly blogs for Forbes, has a popular TED talk, and wrote the critically acclaimed non-fiction book The Solutionists.
While some of her characters might not know that they are 'LGBTQIA+' or 'neurodivergent', Solitaire does because she’s also both. She lives in London, and once visited an oil-rig in the Amazon, which caught on fire.
Godstorm is her debut novel.
She regularly blogs for Forbes, has a popular TED talk, and wrote the critically acclaimed non-fiction book The Solutionists.
While some of her characters might not know that they are 'LGBTQIA+' or 'neurodivergent', Solitaire does because she’s also both. She lives in London, and once visited an oil-rig in the Amazon, which caught on fire.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
December 5, 2025
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via the publishers.
Godstorm is a newly imagined mix of a read that combines the Roman empire with fantasy and a modern element of petrol-fuelled transportation.
This was a very well thought out story with a fantastic, strong female lead.
Arrow is a female gladiator who stepped away from the arena and became a governess to an infant girl called Livy, to teach her, raise her, and protect her with her unique skill set. When a godstorm hits (Godstorms are storms that have been causing damage - much like a hurricane) and Arrow loses Livy in the chaos, Arrow will stop at nothing to find her. This leads her on a perilous journey across the sea, not knowing who she can trust.
Arrow is such a beautiful, flawed, and fierce woman, and I liked her instantly. I loved her progression through the book from a governess to reigniting her dangerous, gladiatrix side and fierceley protecting Livy with her life, showing that family doesn't have to be blood.
The book starts from her POV as a child and then to the present, dipping back to her younger years a few times through the book. I did feel this could have been explored a little more, but it didn't take anything away from the book for me.
Godstorm is a newly imagined mix of a read that combines the Roman empire with fantasy and a modern element of petrol-fuelled transportation.
This was a very well thought out story with a fantastic, strong female lead.
Arrow is a female gladiator who stepped away from the arena and became a governess to an infant girl called Livy, to teach her, raise her, and protect her with her unique skill set. When a godstorm hits (Godstorms are storms that have been causing damage - much like a hurricane) and Arrow loses Livy in the chaos, Arrow will stop at nothing to find her. This leads her on a perilous journey across the sea, not knowing who she can trust.
Arrow is such a beautiful, flawed, and fierce woman, and I liked her instantly. I loved her progression through the book from a governess to reigniting her dangerous, gladiatrix side and fierceley protecting Livy with her life, showing that family doesn't have to be blood.
The book starts from her POV as a child and then to the present, dipping back to her younger years a few times through the book. I did feel this could have been explored a little more, but it didn't take anything away from the book for me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Godstorm is an alternative history fantasy with an intriguing premise where the Roman Empire never fell.But sadly, as much as I wanted to love it, the execution just fell flat to me, and I had to DNF it about halfway through.
I struggled connecting with any of the characters, especially the main character Arrow, and I felt like we were given an unnecessary amount of information in the beginning where it wasn't needed and not enough where it did matter.
The pacing also felt uneven. I felt like major moments lacked impact and the romance was too sudden. (And not really earned)
So, while the concept itself is strong, I realised I unfortunately wasn't invested enough to continue. But hopefully this does find the right readers
I struggled connecting with any of the characters, especially the main character Arrow, and I felt like we were given an unnecessary amount of information in the beginning where it wasn't needed and not enough where it did matter.
The pacing also felt uneven. I felt like major moments lacked impact and the romance was too sudden. (And not really earned)
So, while the concept itself is strong, I realised I unfortunately wasn't invested enough to continue. But hopefully this does find the right readers
October 27, 2025
I’m really torn with this book- I so wanted to love it, it contains gladiators, science and feminism but there are problems. I feel there is no real main protagonist, Arrow is well rounded but we never get to know her as well as I would like. I don’t feel all her relationships are genuine and the story gets muddled and confused before hitting real edge of your seat excitement towards a disappointing end. The chapters are strangely titled and although I praise the use of Roman numerals in them I must agree with other reviewers that it adds another layer of confusion. The links to climate change are a stretch and the steam punk imagery doesn’t really work. Overall I have come away disappointed. Grateful to Net Galley for the ARC.
September 28, 2025
4.5 ⭐
This was an amazing and refreshing debut.
If you are looking for a vaguely historical slightly sci-fi novel that feels like a fantasy but isn’t, this book does that. It also has a resultantly steampunk vibe and a beautiful found family narrative with the best, most heartbreaking portrayal of motherhood that I have read so far.
Furthermore, it is a scathing commentary on our modern society, its classism, it’s dependence on fossil fuels and is wonderfully critical of colonialism.
The FMC, Arrow, goes on such a touching personal journey as well as physical and I love her so much.
One qualm I have is that I felt that sometimes the character interactions were rushed or lacking, in preference to moving the plot forward, and as a result I found some relationships felt slightly unrealistic (I hope we can explore those more in the next book).
Also, the corset slander! So many times corsets were referred to by the FMC as confining or restrictive/hard to breathe in, but this character was a Gladiator, her armour would have been far more restrictive than a corset. Please stop demonising corsets!!! (Pedantic rant over).
Even though this book isn’t even out yet I’m patiently (rabidly) waiting for the next book in her journey.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC
This was an amazing and refreshing debut.
If you are looking for a vaguely historical slightly sci-fi novel that feels like a fantasy but isn’t, this book does that. It also has a resultantly steampunk vibe and a beautiful found family narrative with the best, most heartbreaking portrayal of motherhood that I have read so far.
Furthermore, it is a scathing commentary on our modern society, its classism, it’s dependence on fossil fuels and is wonderfully critical of colonialism.
The FMC, Arrow, goes on such a touching personal journey as well as physical and I love her so much.
One qualm I have is that I felt that sometimes the character interactions were rushed or lacking, in preference to moving the plot forward, and as a result I found some relationships felt slightly unrealistic (I hope we can explore those more in the next book).
Also, the corset slander! So many times corsets were referred to by the FMC as confining or restrictive/hard to breathe in, but this character was a Gladiator, her armour would have been far more restrictive than a corset. Please stop demonising corsets!!! (Pedantic rant over).
Even though this book isn’t even out yet I’m patiently (rabidly) waiting for the next book in her journey.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC
January 16, 2026
Thank you NetGalley & Bedford Square Publishers for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Where do I even begin? As I turned the final page of this book, I already knew I would struggle to rate this. Probably also struggle to review it, too. So bear with me, and we’ll see how it goes.
Godstorm is set in an alternate world in which the Roman Empire never fell. Over a thousand years later, we find ourselves in, I assume, 1700/1800s Londinium, where oil fuels the Empire. Our main character, Arrow, is a former Gladiatrix who has spent the past 8 years as a governess for a secret child, named Livy. When a Godstorm hits and Livy is kidnapped, Arrow is forced to team up with her ex-lover and fellow Gladiator to follow the trail to find Livy, taking them into the Druidic underbelly of Londinium and across the seas…
The premise, as you may feel from my above description, was so great. Like, just the coolest concept. I loved the alternate history element, and seeing how the author imagined the Roman Empire playing out over a thousand years later. I think it was super imaginative and the imagery was excellent - I could literally see Londinium in my head. Setting the scene and making me feel firmly inside the world was a real strength of the writing.
Plot-wise… it was just a bit of a mess, but I had a lot of fun? I don’t know how to describe it but it just felt like a few different stories smooshed into one. The pacing was actually pretty good, so instead of rushing through each arc, it just felt like we were skimming over them. I think the story I went in for was not what I got, but I still enjoyed it, if that makes sense.
I think Arrow was, objectively, a great main character, but I just felt very distanced from her. I don’t know, I just didn’t feel as though I really knew who she was, other than the facts. The journey we go on has her facing some pretty emotional moments and I just didn’t feel her feeling them. Livy was pretty excellent, and I was a big fan. Barro was… uhh, okay? The other side characters were fairly forgettable and unforgettable didn’t really make an impact on me or the story.
This book also had a message to send, which I won’t go into specifically for spoilers(?) and… I don’t know. I just, again, felt it fell a bit flat. It was also pretty obvious and for me, I like a bit of subtlety in my books. I like when the author trusts me to view their work and go ‘oh damn, THAT is the point of it all!’ I just like being allowed to use my brain a bit.
Look, I had a pretty fun time with this book. It kept me interested for essentially the entire ride, but therein lies the problem. I was constantly hit with characters and problems and side plots and lore and all sorts that made me super excited and intrigued… Only for them to be explored minimally, if at all. I think this book suffers from trying to do too much, when in reality maybe less is more, because I kind of finished feeling a little cheated. I wanted to know so much more and explore more. Lots of great threads were left completely cast aside, and it’s a real shame.
Overall, I can and will recommend this book to people who love a bit of ‘what if’ and historical novels with a twist. Those who enjoy strong female characters and a book with a very relevant message.
3 🌟
Where do I even begin? As I turned the final page of this book, I already knew I would struggle to rate this. Probably also struggle to review it, too. So bear with me, and we’ll see how it goes.
Godstorm is set in an alternate world in which the Roman Empire never fell. Over a thousand years later, we find ourselves in, I assume, 1700/1800s Londinium, where oil fuels the Empire. Our main character, Arrow, is a former Gladiatrix who has spent the past 8 years as a governess for a secret child, named Livy. When a Godstorm hits and Livy is kidnapped, Arrow is forced to team up with her ex-lover and fellow Gladiator to follow the trail to find Livy, taking them into the Druidic underbelly of Londinium and across the seas…
The premise, as you may feel from my above description, was so great. Like, just the coolest concept. I loved the alternate history element, and seeing how the author imagined the Roman Empire playing out over a thousand years later. I think it was super imaginative and the imagery was excellent - I could literally see Londinium in my head. Setting the scene and making me feel firmly inside the world was a real strength of the writing.
Plot-wise… it was just a bit of a mess, but I had a lot of fun? I don’t know how to describe it but it just felt like a few different stories smooshed into one. The pacing was actually pretty good, so instead of rushing through each arc, it just felt like we were skimming over them. I think the story I went in for was not what I got, but I still enjoyed it, if that makes sense.
I think Arrow was, objectively, a great main character, but I just felt very distanced from her. I don’t know, I just didn’t feel as though I really knew who she was, other than the facts. The journey we go on has her facing some pretty emotional moments and I just didn’t feel her feeling them. Livy was pretty excellent, and I was a big fan. Barro was… uhh, okay? The other side characters were fairly forgettable and unforgettable didn’t really make an impact on me or the story.
This book also had a message to send, which I won’t go into specifically for spoilers(?) and… I don’t know. I just, again, felt it fell a bit flat. It was also pretty obvious and for me, I like a bit of subtlety in my books. I like when the author trusts me to view their work and go ‘oh damn, THAT is the point of it all!’ I just like being allowed to use my brain a bit.
Look, I had a pretty fun time with this book. It kept me interested for essentially the entire ride, but therein lies the problem. I was constantly hit with characters and problems and side plots and lore and all sorts that made me super excited and intrigued… Only for them to be explored minimally, if at all. I think this book suffers from trying to do too much, when in reality maybe less is more, because I kind of finished feeling a little cheated. I wanted to know so much more and explore more. Lots of great threads were left completely cast aside, and it’s a real shame.
Overall, I can and will recommend this book to people who love a bit of ‘what if’ and historical novels with a twist. Those who enjoy strong female characters and a book with a very relevant message.
3 🌟
November 12, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Bedford Square for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
It's a mixture of history, fantasy, and violence, death, power struggles and feminism, an alternate history and feminism and steampunk - it's a lot.
It doesn't introduce you to it slowly, oh no. This is full on from the first page and the pace doesn't let up.
She's done a good job of depicting weather, the terror of the storms, especially when they were believed to be punishments from the Gods, it adds an extra level of fear.
I loved the depiction of power struggles between the various tiers of society It's heart-breaking at times, but also quite handy when you're a lower class citizen who wants to hide - the upper class just don't see you.
We have two timelines going one. The main one, which takes up most of the book, follows our protagonist Arrow as an adult, with the other showing her as a child. I preferred the chapters that saw her as an adult, I don't think there was enough of the younger years to make it stand out.
Arrow was a great main character. Her life hasn't been easy and she's tried to move on from her past but sadly not all her secrets can be kept secret. She is flawed, but I loved her so much, I think she just owned every page.
The other characters...not so much. It's not that I felt negatively about them or anything, but they were a bit too background for me. Their interactions with Arrow was a bit on the shorter side, focussing on getting the plot moving means the characterisations were lost a bit.
At the start of some of the chapters, she has added a date in roman numerals, and whilst I don't mind a roman numeral now and again, they're not easily translatable and so I had to stop to google what each one said. It should be clear to thee reader what year we're in and it's not.
With any opening fantasy book, there is a lot of world building and character creation, but I felt this could do with a touch more. What is there is really good, but I think if the book was just a bit longer, it would give the depth the story deserved.
The cover was also beautiful! I read it in a few hours and I really hope there's at least a sequel if not a series.
I believe this is her first fiction book, and therefore her first fantasy book. And I thought it was really rather good. It wasn't perfect, but it was fun, fast-paced, violent, exciting, and just a really good entertaining piece of writing.
It's a mixture of history, fantasy, and violence, death, power struggles and feminism, an alternate history and feminism and steampunk - it's a lot.
It doesn't introduce you to it slowly, oh no. This is full on from the first page and the pace doesn't let up.
She's done a good job of depicting weather, the terror of the storms, especially when they were believed to be punishments from the Gods, it adds an extra level of fear.
I loved the depiction of power struggles between the various tiers of society It's heart-breaking at times, but also quite handy when you're a lower class citizen who wants to hide - the upper class just don't see you.
We have two timelines going one. The main one, which takes up most of the book, follows our protagonist Arrow as an adult, with the other showing her as a child. I preferred the chapters that saw her as an adult, I don't think there was enough of the younger years to make it stand out.
Arrow was a great main character. Her life hasn't been easy and she's tried to move on from her past but sadly not all her secrets can be kept secret. She is flawed, but I loved her so much, I think she just owned every page.
The other characters...not so much. It's not that I felt negatively about them or anything, but they were a bit too background for me. Their interactions with Arrow was a bit on the shorter side, focussing on getting the plot moving means the characterisations were lost a bit.
At the start of some of the chapters, she has added a date in roman numerals, and whilst I don't mind a roman numeral now and again, they're not easily translatable and so I had to stop to google what each one said. It should be clear to thee reader what year we're in and it's not.
With any opening fantasy book, there is a lot of world building and character creation, but I felt this could do with a touch more. What is there is really good, but I think if the book was just a bit longer, it would give the depth the story deserved.
The cover was also beautiful! I read it in a few hours and I really hope there's at least a sequel if not a series.
I believe this is her first fiction book, and therefore her first fantasy book. And I thought it was really rather good. It wasn't perfect, but it was fun, fast-paced, violent, exciting, and just a really good entertaining piece of writing.
October 5, 2025
*ARC received from Netgalley
I am aware that this arc is an uncorrected copy - and I dearly hope that this book is corrected and edited and then successfully published, because I genuinely feel it has potential to be truly amazing.
The first two chapters were incredibly confusing and desperately need re-writing - I nearly dnf’d from those first chapters, but am grateful that I trudged on because it improved massively and became a story that I was invested in and at times struggled to put down.
I highly suggest that the dates used are either changed to numbers or the shifts back and forth are tracked by the FMC’s age instead of using years - but the Roman numerals are too fussy and I simply couldn’t be bothered to try and interpret them after the first chapter - I fear the use of Roman numerals in this way may even lose some reader’s interest full stop - but thankfully I overlooked it and managed to know where I was from the first couple of sentences after each shift.
The world building could also use a little tweaking to help the reader feel more sure about how the different machines and clothing styles fit into whatever ‘period’ this world is set. It felt to me a little steam-punk, which I really liked, but felt uncertain about that until a little ways into the book.
The main character felt like a great blend of self-deprecating, feeling unworthy due to her station and even slightly naive (but in a good/wholesome way), and yet she was intelligent and bright and used that, not making stupid decisions like so many main characters in books seem to do. I liked her and that only increased as I continued reading.
Overall this story felt original, gripping and unique and I hope the second book (please let there be a second book!) is just as good. xx
I am aware that this arc is an uncorrected copy - and I dearly hope that this book is corrected and edited and then successfully published, because I genuinely feel it has potential to be truly amazing.
The first two chapters were incredibly confusing and desperately need re-writing - I nearly dnf’d from those first chapters, but am grateful that I trudged on because it improved massively and became a story that I was invested in and at times struggled to put down.
I highly suggest that the dates used are either changed to numbers or the shifts back and forth are tracked by the FMC’s age instead of using years - but the Roman numerals are too fussy and I simply couldn’t be bothered to try and interpret them after the first chapter - I fear the use of Roman numerals in this way may even lose some reader’s interest full stop - but thankfully I overlooked it and managed to know where I was from the first couple of sentences after each shift.
The world building could also use a little tweaking to help the reader feel more sure about how the different machines and clothing styles fit into whatever ‘period’ this world is set. It felt to me a little steam-punk, which I really liked, but felt uncertain about that until a little ways into the book.
The main character felt like a great blend of self-deprecating, feeling unworthy due to her station and even slightly naive (but in a good/wholesome way), and yet she was intelligent and bright and used that, not making stupid decisions like so many main characters in books seem to do. I liked her and that only increased as I continued reading.
Overall this story felt original, gripping and unique and I hope the second book (please let there be a second book!) is just as good. xx
October 11, 2025
I really enjoyed the concept of this book and the blend of historical fiction/ alternative history and felt the very topical and modern climate change message was well done without being preachy.
I pictured this as an ancient Roman steam punk setting though I’m not sure if that’s quite what it was meant to be, that’s what it was in my head.
I loved Arrow (though hated her name - sorry!) I hadn’t picked up on her being neurodivergent until I read the author note at the end but she felt well developed, with a good back story and values and I was rooting for her all the way.
There were some really good twisty twists I didn’t see coming which i always love, some good hatable bad guys, some complicated relationships I hope we get to explore more in any future books, and a whole lot of adventure and plot.
My one bugbear with this book was the Aurelian Calendar references at the start of each chapter to tell us what timeline we were in. These didn’t work at all and might as well have not been there. It wasn’t too hard to work out where in the story we were after the first few sentences of each chapter once I got used to the characters so this didn’t detract from the story. I understand why the author put them in to reiterate the setting, but it didn’t add anything to the actual reading experience and having finished the book I still have no idea when it was set.
I pictured this as an ancient Roman steam punk setting though I’m not sure if that’s quite what it was meant to be, that’s what it was in my head.
I loved Arrow (though hated her name - sorry!) I hadn’t picked up on her being neurodivergent until I read the author note at the end but she felt well developed, with a good back story and values and I was rooting for her all the way.
There were some really good twisty twists I didn’t see coming which i always love, some good hatable bad guys, some complicated relationships I hope we get to explore more in any future books, and a whole lot of adventure and plot.
My one bugbear with this book was the Aurelian Calendar references at the start of each chapter to tell us what timeline we were in. These didn’t work at all and might as well have not been there. It wasn’t too hard to work out where in the story we were after the first few sentences of each chapter once I got used to the characters so this didn’t detract from the story. I understand why the author put them in to reiterate the setting, but it didn’t add anything to the actual reading experience and having finished the book I still have no idea when it was set.
January 19, 2026
Godstorm
By @greensolitaire
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There is so much to talk about with this book!
What if Rome never fell?
Would the world still be falling apart?
Would the cruelties of Ancient Rome endure?
Climatologist Solitaire Townsend has some ideas!
Set in Londinium, this is Solitaire’s futuristic/Mad Max/ historical debut novel.
Turns out my Roman Empire is just the Roman Empire 😅
~Blurb~
Arrow, a gladiatrix turned governess must rescue the child she has loved as her own, a girl who could tear down the world. When Livy is abducted during a devastating Godstorm, Arrow must unleash years of the gladiator training she’d sworn to forget in order to save her. Defying her owner, a heartless Consul, Arrow turns to her ex-lover and the illegal druid underworld in a desperate attempt to rescue the girl she has come to think of as her own. Her search will take her across Londinium, a city of petrol-powered chariots, to the pagan Old Town, and eventually the edge of the known the Amazon, where destiny and destruction intertwine Facing battle and betrayal Arrow must reclaim her past as a killer—or risk everything for the child who calls her “mother.” She is the Sword.
Thank you so much @bedfordsq.publishers for the gifted copy!
By @greensolitaire
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There is so much to talk about with this book!
What if Rome never fell?
Would the world still be falling apart?
Would the cruelties of Ancient Rome endure?
Climatologist Solitaire Townsend has some ideas!
Set in Londinium, this is Solitaire’s futuristic/Mad Max/ historical debut novel.
Turns out my Roman Empire is just the Roman Empire 😅
~Blurb~
Arrow, a gladiatrix turned governess must rescue the child she has loved as her own, a girl who could tear down the world. When Livy is abducted during a devastating Godstorm, Arrow must unleash years of the gladiator training she’d sworn to forget in order to save her. Defying her owner, a heartless Consul, Arrow turns to her ex-lover and the illegal druid underworld in a desperate attempt to rescue the girl she has come to think of as her own. Her search will take her across Londinium, a city of petrol-powered chariots, to the pagan Old Town, and eventually the edge of the known the Amazon, where destiny and destruction intertwine Facing battle and betrayal Arrow must reclaim her past as a killer—or risk everything for the child who calls her “mother.” She is the Sword.
Thank you so much @bedfordsq.publishers for the gifted copy!
January 24, 2026
Thank you to Bedford Square Publishers and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The concept of this book is unique compared to other books pitched as romantasy. I would argue that this is more epic fantasy than romantasy, but I still love that our FMC is older and in a more motherly protective role than someone discovering mysterious powers. I loved the combination of climate chaos, a Victorian Roman Empire with oil being the main source of power, and the way Arrow insisted on protecting her charge, Livy at all times.
This book did start out very slow, and while I began this initially on January 2, I didn’t actually pick it up until a few days ago because after the first 10% I just felt a little bored and disinterested. However, after some time away, I pushed forward and by 20% was back to being heavily invested! I ended up loving our characters, backdrop and the plot, though the romance didn’t always come off as authentic as perhaps it was intended. I also think some of the time jumps were a bit confusing, but by the end of the flashbacks I understood their purpose as clarification and context for Arrow’s present day thoughts. Overall, I highly recommend this for fantasy readers interested in gladiator feats, a Victorian era Roman Empire, and a unique premise following an older FMC and her desire to protect her ward!
The concept of this book is unique compared to other books pitched as romantasy. I would argue that this is more epic fantasy than romantasy, but I still love that our FMC is older and in a more motherly protective role than someone discovering mysterious powers. I loved the combination of climate chaos, a Victorian Roman Empire with oil being the main source of power, and the way Arrow insisted on protecting her charge, Livy at all times.
This book did start out very slow, and while I began this initially on January 2, I didn’t actually pick it up until a few days ago because after the first 10% I just felt a little bored and disinterested. However, after some time away, I pushed forward and by 20% was back to being heavily invested! I ended up loving our characters, backdrop and the plot, though the romance didn’t always come off as authentic as perhaps it was intended. I also think some of the time jumps were a bit confusing, but by the end of the flashbacks I understood their purpose as clarification and context for Arrow’s present day thoughts. Overall, I highly recommend this for fantasy readers interested in gladiator feats, a Victorian era Roman Empire, and a unique premise following an older FMC and her desire to protect her ward!
January 15, 2026
Thank you Netgalley, Bedford Square Publishers and Solitaire Townsend for an ARC Copy of this book!
Godstorm is a interesting, gripping and exciting debut with a unique premise - cyberpunk and gladiators! We follow the story of Arrow a retired Gladiatrix tasked with being the Governess to Livy who is much more than she seems. I loved the idea that the Roman Empire never fell and is now using oil to thrive. I loved the Climate aspect of the story and how it played into the plight of our characters. I am also in love with Kepe (an Amazonian) and Baja (a pirate) so much - two badass women!
For me, I felt like the story could have been more fleshed out with more information on the world to really set the scene a bit more - I wanted MORE. The story really started picking up for me once we reached 70% of the story and that is when I really got engaged as the stakes and tension were at their highest.
Overall, a wonderful debut with a gripping world and a great adventure. I look forward to the next instalment in this series!
Godstorm is a interesting, gripping and exciting debut with a unique premise - cyberpunk and gladiators! We follow the story of Arrow a retired Gladiatrix tasked with being the Governess to Livy who is much more than she seems. I loved the idea that the Roman Empire never fell and is now using oil to thrive. I loved the Climate aspect of the story and how it played into the plight of our characters. I am also in love with Kepe (an Amazonian) and Baja (a pirate) so much - two badass women!
For me, I felt like the story could have been more fleshed out with more information on the world to really set the scene a bit more - I wanted MORE. The story really started picking up for me once we reached 70% of the story and that is when I really got engaged as the stakes and tension were at their highest.
Overall, a wonderful debut with a gripping world and a great adventure. I look forward to the next instalment in this series!
January 18, 2026
The story follows Arrow, a former gladiatrix who’s trying to stay out of trouble and live a quieter life — until a massive Godstorm hits and the child she loves is taken. From there, it turns into a fast, violent journey through a world that really doesn’t care who gets crushed along the way.
This book is dark, gritty, and pretty relentless, but the relationship between Arrow and Livy keeps it grounded and emotional. I liked Arrow a lot — she feels tough without being invincible, and her choices actually come with consequences.
It does take a bit of time to settle into the world, and some parts are heavy with detail, but once you’re in, it’s hard to stop reading.
If you like dark fantasy, strong female leads, and brutal settings, Godstorm is definitely worth a read.
This book is dark, gritty, and pretty relentless, but the relationship between Arrow and Livy keeps it grounded and emotional. I liked Arrow a lot — she feels tough without being invincible, and her choices actually come with consequences.
It does take a bit of time to settle into the world, and some parts are heavy with detail, but once you’re in, it’s hard to stop reading.
If you like dark fantasy, strong female leads, and brutal settings, Godstorm is definitely worth a read.
December 31, 2025
I’m so disappointed. When I saw this book on Netgalley, I was immediately intrigued because the concept is just SO COOL, but unfortunately the execution just wasn’t to the same level.
First of all, I’ve been made aware that this ARC is an unfinished copy and that it’s still in need of some polishing up and it DEFINITELY is. The amount of spelling issues, awkward phrasings and general inconsistencies was really distracting. One thing that kept pulling me out of the plot was that I have no idea when this is meant to be set: the women wear corsets, but use words that feel very modern, all while the Empire has invented flamethrowers and some kind of tram-like contraption that is in the air (maybe?). I think the way to fix this would be so change the dates in the book into the Gregorian calendar and alter some characters’ vocabulary and tone.
Moreover, I think there are broader problems with the writing that stem from (1) pacing: I remember feeling like the book was done at page 130 and that the author was making it up as they went for the rest, (2) the description of movements: I had no idea what the characters were actually doing, especially during fights, though I do have to say that the bits I did understand were quite believable in terms of combat, and (3) the astounding amount of unfinished endings. I get that the writer is trying to leave things open for book 2 (which I probably will still read, I have to say) but it just felt like they’d forgotten about certain characters or events entirely. I was so excited when I started reading because I kept thinking ‘oh wow, interesting foreshadowing, I wonder when that will come into play’ and it just DIDN’T.
Something else that I found somewhat irrelevant is the book’s title. There is so much more going on here than the Godstorms (which don’t actually come up very often) and I wish that it had been named for something relating to Arrow or Livy, because that’s what the story is really about for me.
Another problem that I found with the writing was that I couldn’t figure out the writer’s stance on particular things because of their inconsistent representation. For example, I understand that we’re meant to see the Amazonian warriors as strong, empowered women, representative of a different, but equally valuable way of life, but for me, these characters were just so full of stereotypes and unnecessary ‘girlbossery’ that at points, it felt like the author was saying the opposite of their own message. I also found this with Arrow, who is always mentioning the lack of gladiatrixes in the arena, and how she’s constantly subjected to misogyny, which we do see, but only in huge gestures that just feel as though they’re added for shock value; it’s hard to believe her when she tells us that this is a patriarchal society when we never see any offhand discriminatory remarks, when the main female character can get an education and battle with men—even as a slave—when the only gender-based discrimination we see is atrocities like attempted rape. To me, it’s like the writer wanted to tick off the box of ‘yes, I have acknowledged misogyny and punished this one perpetrator and I am therefore being politically correct,’ instead of actually wanting to make a comment about the every day struggles of a low-class woman experiencing sexism. I also felt the same towards the message of environmental protection in the book—like it was just something to tick off to make the book appeal to readers.
As for what I enjoyed about the book, the real standout here is the characters. Arrow may be one of my favourite protagonists of all time. She’s clever, but not omniscient; she’s in control, but she knows when to ask for help; she has real, heartfelt emotional responses, but isn’t whiny. She’s incredibly written. Her relationship with Livy is so sweet. I think it would’ve been too easy to have Arrow chasing after a love interest in a story like this so it’s refreshing to see a parent/child dynamic displayed in this way. However, for me the relationships fall down when it comes to Arrow’s ‘love interests’. Simply, I feel they had no chemistry and I was just begging that she stayed single. Barro is sweet and provides a nice contrast to Arrow as a best friend and it was interesting to know that they had a romantic past, but I was not rooting for them. I don’t remember the name of the woman on the ship who was interested in Arrow, but that’s just testament to how much that plot point didn’t matter. It was clunky and forced and felt like the writer was once again vying for representation points.
Overall, there was just too much going on. I’ve been remembering other plot points over the course of writing this review and I’ve begun confusing myself even more. I think some things need to be cleared up before the final copy because I really, really want this book to work and it just doesn’t currently.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
First of all, I’ve been made aware that this ARC is an unfinished copy and that it’s still in need of some polishing up and it DEFINITELY is. The amount of spelling issues, awkward phrasings and general inconsistencies was really distracting. One thing that kept pulling me out of the plot was that I have no idea when this is meant to be set: the women wear corsets, but use words that feel very modern, all while the Empire has invented flamethrowers and some kind of tram-like contraption that is in the air (maybe?). I think the way to fix this would be so change the dates in the book into the Gregorian calendar and alter some characters’ vocabulary and tone.
Moreover, I think there are broader problems with the writing that stem from (1) pacing: I remember feeling like the book was done at page 130 and that the author was making it up as they went for the rest, (2) the description of movements: I had no idea what the characters were actually doing, especially during fights, though I do have to say that the bits I did understand were quite believable in terms of combat, and (3) the astounding amount of unfinished endings. I get that the writer is trying to leave things open for book 2 (which I probably will still read, I have to say) but it just felt like they’d forgotten about certain characters or events entirely. I was so excited when I started reading because I kept thinking ‘oh wow, interesting foreshadowing, I wonder when that will come into play’ and it just DIDN’T.
Something else that I found somewhat irrelevant is the book’s title. There is so much more going on here than the Godstorms (which don’t actually come up very often) and I wish that it had been named for something relating to Arrow or Livy, because that’s what the story is really about for me.
Another problem that I found with the writing was that I couldn’t figure out the writer’s stance on particular things because of their inconsistent representation. For example, I understand that we’re meant to see the Amazonian warriors as strong, empowered women, representative of a different, but equally valuable way of life, but for me, these characters were just so full of stereotypes and unnecessary ‘girlbossery’ that at points, it felt like the author was saying the opposite of their own message. I also found this with Arrow, who is always mentioning the lack of gladiatrixes in the arena, and how she’s constantly subjected to misogyny, which we do see, but only in huge gestures that just feel as though they’re added for shock value; it’s hard to believe her when she tells us that this is a patriarchal society when we never see any offhand discriminatory remarks, when the main female character can get an education and battle with men—even as a slave—when the only gender-based discrimination we see is atrocities like attempted rape. To me, it’s like the writer wanted to tick off the box of ‘yes, I have acknowledged misogyny and punished this one perpetrator and I am therefore being politically correct,’ instead of actually wanting to make a comment about the every day struggles of a low-class woman experiencing sexism. I also felt the same towards the message of environmental protection in the book—like it was just something to tick off to make the book appeal to readers.
As for what I enjoyed about the book, the real standout here is the characters. Arrow may be one of my favourite protagonists of all time. She’s clever, but not omniscient; she’s in control, but she knows when to ask for help; she has real, heartfelt emotional responses, but isn’t whiny. She’s incredibly written. Her relationship with Livy is so sweet. I think it would’ve been too easy to have Arrow chasing after a love interest in a story like this so it’s refreshing to see a parent/child dynamic displayed in this way. However, for me the relationships fall down when it comes to Arrow’s ‘love interests’. Simply, I feel they had no chemistry and I was just begging that she stayed single. Barro is sweet and provides a nice contrast to Arrow as a best friend and it was interesting to know that they had a romantic past, but I was not rooting for them. I don’t remember the name of the woman on the ship who was interested in Arrow, but that’s just testament to how much that plot point didn’t matter. It was clunky and forced and felt like the writer was once again vying for representation points.
Overall, there was just too much going on. I’ve been remembering other plot points over the course of writing this review and I’ve begun confusing myself even more. I think some things need to be cleared up before the final copy because I really, really want this book to work and it just doesn’t currently.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2025
Godstorm is a compelling story that is set in a world where the Roman Empire is still standing and where petrol is seen as something to be revered and sent by God. The world building is one of the book's biggest strengths, with the display of the storms, the forest and the places we visit.
Arrow is a brilliant character, a former gladiatrix who is now a governess to Livy who is the child she is tasked to care for. We learn the dynamics of their relationship as we get further along while also seeing Arrow's past and how that shapes her current role with Livy.
Without giving too much away I feel this book really did manage to deliver on the concept of a Roman Empire that is still around.
This is a great book for those who like to experience a new world, with elements of fantasy and world-building.
Arrow is a brilliant character, a former gladiatrix who is now a governess to Livy who is the child she is tasked to care for. We learn the dynamics of their relationship as we get further along while also seeing Arrow's past and how that shapes her current role with Livy.
Without giving too much away I feel this book really did manage to deliver on the concept of a Roman Empire that is still around.
This is a great book for those who like to experience a new world, with elements of fantasy and world-building.
January 10, 2026
⭐️3.25
bit difficult to wade through but i did overall enjoy this one! felt unique and unlike books publishing right now
arc RTC soon
bit difficult to wade through but i did overall enjoy this one! felt unique and unlike books publishing right now
arc RTC soon
November 15, 2025
A brilliant concept, with a Roman Empire that invented the internal combustion engine, and an 18th-century government full of climate change deniers. There are some obvious parallels with our world, but this takes climate fiction in a truly inventive new direction.
The main character, an ex-gladiator, has tremendous depth, and her emotional journey is heart-wrenching and uplifting. Her violent past has given her first-hand knowledge that violence never brings resolution, so, although there is a lot of violence in the book, it's never glorified.
The plot was inventive and often unexpected, but for me, the heart of the book was the touching relationship between Arrow and her charge.
The main character, an ex-gladiator, has tremendous depth, and her emotional journey is heart-wrenching and uplifting. Her violent past has given her first-hand knowledge that violence never brings resolution, so, although there is a lot of violence in the book, it's never glorified.
The plot was inventive and often unexpected, but for me, the heart of the book was the touching relationship between Arrow and her charge.
January 15, 2026
ARC Review: 4.25 ⭐️
This book is set in an imaginary London, where a now petrol-fuelled Roman Empire still thrives. This background was super interesting, making this book a good mixture between fantasy and sci-fi, with a strong feminist and violent tone.
The characters were fleshed out, but Arrow really shines in this book. She has such a nice balance between strength and vulnerability; with her motherly resilience set on helping Livy. It almost made me wish that some side character had a bit of a stronger presence, as I feel like everyone faded in comparison to Arrow, and that their motivations weren’t always clear. That being said, her connection to the other characters really makes the heart of this story.
The plot was well thought out , truly like puzzle pieces starting to fit together as we go along for the ride. I only hoped we had a bit more context regarding the enemies of the Empire, as it would make certain plot points more impactful if the information was known beforehand. The last three chapters were a wild ride (in a good sense!!) with a plot twist I didn’t see coming !
Overall, a beautiful description of motherhood, with commentary on social injustice, propaganda and climate change that was very smartly done - I feel like the author managed to send her message across without having to spell it out for the reader.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for the chance to read this ARC
This book is set in an imaginary London, where a now petrol-fuelled Roman Empire still thrives. This background was super interesting, making this book a good mixture between fantasy and sci-fi, with a strong feminist and violent tone.
The characters were fleshed out, but Arrow really shines in this book. She has such a nice balance between strength and vulnerability; with her motherly resilience set on helping Livy. It almost made me wish that some side character had a bit of a stronger presence, as I feel like everyone faded in comparison to Arrow, and that their motivations weren’t always clear. That being said, her connection to the other characters really makes the heart of this story.
The plot was well thought out , truly like puzzle pieces starting to fit together as we go along for the ride. I only hoped we had a bit more context regarding the enemies of the Empire, as it would make certain plot points more impactful if the information was known beforehand. The last three chapters were a wild ride (in a good sense!!) with a plot twist I didn’t see coming !
Overall, a beautiful description of motherhood, with commentary on social injustice, propaganda and climate change that was very smartly done - I feel like the author managed to send her message across without having to spell it out for the reader.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for the chance to read this ARC
October 6, 2025
Godstorm is the story of Arrow, a gladiator-turned-governess in an alternative history where the Roman Empire never fell. When her ward is kidnapped, she must use her skills as a fighter to rescue her.
This was a brilliant read! I loved the concept of an industrial ‘ancient’ Rome still controlling much of the world, and I felt it was done very well. The worldbuilding is great, there is enough information for things to make sense without any info-dumps, but at no point did I feel bogged down. The industrial aspect was also good, and the weaving of the constant fumes in Londinium through the first section lead well into the revelations towards the end of the book.
Arrow is a complex character with plenty of trauma which impacts her relationship with Livy. There is conflict in her between the enslaved governess instructed not to coddle and the woman wanting to love the child, and ultimately she will do anything to save Livy and make her happy.
There are plenty of side characters on their adventures who add to the depth of the story, and I’d like to see more of The Flyer and her crew. I also loved the Roman numerals as chapter headings and story dates, it was perfect, especially when moving between the current date and Arrow’s flashbacks to her childhood.
Overall, this was a great book and I’m hoping there’s going to be a book two!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
This was a brilliant read! I loved the concept of an industrial ‘ancient’ Rome still controlling much of the world, and I felt it was done very well. The worldbuilding is great, there is enough information for things to make sense without any info-dumps, but at no point did I feel bogged down. The industrial aspect was also good, and the weaving of the constant fumes in Londinium through the first section lead well into the revelations towards the end of the book.
Arrow is a complex character with plenty of trauma which impacts her relationship with Livy. There is conflict in her between the enslaved governess instructed not to coddle and the woman wanting to love the child, and ultimately she will do anything to save Livy and make her happy.
There are plenty of side characters on their adventures who add to the depth of the story, and I’d like to see more of The Flyer and her crew. I also loved the Roman numerals as chapter headings and story dates, it was perfect, especially when moving between the current date and Arrow’s flashbacks to her childhood.
Overall, this was a great book and I’m hoping there’s going to be a book two!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
November 24, 2025
Ancient Rome meets Historic London where the Roman Empire did not fall & the Chariots are powered by petrol.
Arrow a female gladiatrix becomes governess to Livy, the child she was never supposed to love.
When Livy is taken Arrow wastes no time in searching for her. When the Consul refuses to help she turns to her old friend and ex lover to enlist his help in finding her.
This leads them to the Amazon when it is found that Livy is much more than just the Consul’s ward.
This gave the combined feels part mythology , part fantasy , adventure, reminded me in parts of Brandon Sandersons writing & I hope to read more from this author in the future.
Thank you to Net Galley
Arrow a female gladiatrix becomes governess to Livy, the child she was never supposed to love.
When Livy is taken Arrow wastes no time in searching for her. When the Consul refuses to help she turns to her old friend and ex lover to enlist his help in finding her.
This leads them to the Amazon when it is found that Livy is much more than just the Consul’s ward.
This gave the combined feels part mythology , part fantasy , adventure, reminded me in parts of Brandon Sandersons writing & I hope to read more from this author in the future.
Thank you to Net Galley
October 6, 2025
Godstorm was an absolute winner for me, from the first chapter I was instantly hooked by the story.
The world building was very interesting and easy to understand and the characters are lovable (unless intentionally not) and the relationships between characters are well thought out and very natural. The interactions between Arrow and her ward Livvy was very touching and did seeing how it changes throughout felt very rewarding as a reader.
I love the juxtaposition of Arrows character throughout going from a fearsome Gladiator to a Governess which leads to some very entertaining inner dialogue and makes her a very unique FMC.
Godstorm also provides some extremely relevant and important social commentary o about current situations going on in our world in a way that doesn’t take you out of the book. It reads very well and makes you think more about it after!
The plot twist towards the end was a genuine shock while also making so much sense. It was written so well that I didn’t even see it coming!!!
Overall, I am eagerly awaiting a second book and will not stop thinking about it until then!!!
The world building was very interesting and easy to understand and the characters are lovable (unless intentionally not) and the relationships between characters are well thought out and very natural. The interactions between Arrow and her ward Livvy was very touching and did seeing how it changes throughout felt very rewarding as a reader.
I love the juxtaposition of Arrows character throughout going from a fearsome Gladiator to a Governess which leads to some very entertaining inner dialogue and makes her a very unique FMC.
Godstorm also provides some extremely relevant and important social commentary o about current situations going on in our world in a way that doesn’t take you out of the book. It reads very well and makes you think more about it after!
The plot twist towards the end was a genuine shock while also making so much sense. It was written so well that I didn’t even see it coming!!!
Overall, I am eagerly awaiting a second book and will not stop thinking about it until then!!!
October 31, 2025
It was a good fun read and I would recommend to others and I loved the concept of it and it was well executed
January 24, 2026
*Thank you to the author and publisher for sharing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I might as well start off with the fact that I have a dual undergraduate degree in Classics and Archaeology, so when I see fantasy books use Ancient Rome as a worldbuilding basis, my attention is immediately going to be peaked. Throw in a beautiful cover and a blurb like this, yeah, I’ll be reading this book.
Godstorm is a fairly simple book to break down in terms of plot. Arrow is a former gladiatrix and is now a nanny of sorts for a politician’s ward. She’s raised this girl for eight years and upon the eve of her time to let the girl go to school, said girl gets kidnapped. Cue Liam Neeson’s ‘But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it.’ monologue of badassery.
Arrow is an interesting character, one I wasn’t exactly expecting based on what information I was sold on going in, and I mean that in a good way. While she definitely knows how to kill and hurt, she isn’t just that. She has a lot of depth to her, a lot of fears and anxiety about her role. She’s incredibly clever, and knows when to use her wits in place of her fists. She also cares deeply for Livy, her charge. The pair’s interactions were a highlight for me, there was real love between the two of them, so you truly do feel like Arrow would go through hell to get Livy back. And Livy is also a well-rounded character, despite only being eight years old. We do get a lot of other characters, some with some good characterization, others not so much, but that’s fine. This is Arrow and Livy’s story.
The prose and pace is fairly good, but there are times when we get some lengthy exposition that could’ve been slimmed or shown. This book is also dual timeline, where we have our present day dilemma and then interludes of Arrow’s training as a young girl. Personally, I could have used more of young Arrow as they were few and far between and only served to highlight something from her past that plays a direct role in her present day so as not to seem dues ex magica. One thing that might be confusing for readers is the transitions between the timelines uses Roman Numeral dating, so those unfamiliar might need to pop these into their phone oracles to determine the date.
So that leads us to the world, and this is where I’m torn, not only as a reader, but someone who studied Ancient Rome (I know this is a bias, so I tried to keep it shoved in the corner…). Essentially Rome never fell and this takes place over a thousands years later in a version of London. And it is steampunk, Victorian style. And while there are some great parts to this world, I do feel it wanted a foot in both but doesn’t do enough with either. There are gladiators (obviously), Roman political hierarchy, chariots powered by oil, advanced sciences, but mashed with corsets and bonnets.
And this is where my bias comes in, unfortunately for this reader, I couldn’t look past some of the inaccuracies or lack of depth, as I’m too close to the source material. The Roman pantheon is used here, but then for some reason we get the Greek versions of the gods. There is a number of mentions of Hades and Gaea, which should be Pluto and Terra respectively. And really other than the stuff mentioned above and some Latin swearing/Roman titles, there just wasn’t enough for me to feel Rome. It would’ve worked better for me if this was a secondary world inspired by Ancient Rome instead of saying it is Rome.
Now, that said, I did really enjoy this thriller plot. And the use of Druids and Amazonians was neat. I really did like how the titular ‘godstorms’ were believed to be from Jupiter and how this played into the magic system. I enjoyed the queer normative world within, the witty dialogue, and heightened emotions/tension throughout. There is a ton to like about this book.
Godstorm is perfect for fans of classical inspired stories such as Circe or Piranesi. Arrow’s drive is a treat and Townsend nails the desperation of a woman seeking her (almost)child. A quick read that breezes by. Check it out!
I might as well start off with the fact that I have a dual undergraduate degree in Classics and Archaeology, so when I see fantasy books use Ancient Rome as a worldbuilding basis, my attention is immediately going to be peaked. Throw in a beautiful cover and a blurb like this, yeah, I’ll be reading this book.
Godstorm is a fairly simple book to break down in terms of plot. Arrow is a former gladiatrix and is now a nanny of sorts for a politician’s ward. She’s raised this girl for eight years and upon the eve of her time to let the girl go to school, said girl gets kidnapped. Cue Liam Neeson’s ‘But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it.’ monologue of badassery.
Arrow is an interesting character, one I wasn’t exactly expecting based on what information I was sold on going in, and I mean that in a good way. While she definitely knows how to kill and hurt, she isn’t just that. She has a lot of depth to her, a lot of fears and anxiety about her role. She’s incredibly clever, and knows when to use her wits in place of her fists. She also cares deeply for Livy, her charge. The pair’s interactions were a highlight for me, there was real love between the two of them, so you truly do feel like Arrow would go through hell to get Livy back. And Livy is also a well-rounded character, despite only being eight years old. We do get a lot of other characters, some with some good characterization, others not so much, but that’s fine. This is Arrow and Livy’s story.
The prose and pace is fairly good, but there are times when we get some lengthy exposition that could’ve been slimmed or shown. This book is also dual timeline, where we have our present day dilemma and then interludes of Arrow’s training as a young girl. Personally, I could have used more of young Arrow as they were few and far between and only served to highlight something from her past that plays a direct role in her present day so as not to seem dues ex magica. One thing that might be confusing for readers is the transitions between the timelines uses Roman Numeral dating, so those unfamiliar might need to pop these into their phone oracles to determine the date.
So that leads us to the world, and this is where I’m torn, not only as a reader, but someone who studied Ancient Rome (I know this is a bias, so I tried to keep it shoved in the corner…). Essentially Rome never fell and this takes place over a thousands years later in a version of London. And it is steampunk, Victorian style. And while there are some great parts to this world, I do feel it wanted a foot in both but doesn’t do enough with either. There are gladiators (obviously), Roman political hierarchy, chariots powered by oil, advanced sciences, but mashed with corsets and bonnets.
And this is where my bias comes in, unfortunately for this reader, I couldn’t look past some of the inaccuracies or lack of depth, as I’m too close to the source material. The Roman pantheon is used here, but then for some reason we get the Greek versions of the gods. There is a number of mentions of Hades and Gaea, which should be Pluto and Terra respectively. And really other than the stuff mentioned above and some Latin swearing/Roman titles, there just wasn’t enough for me to feel Rome. It would’ve worked better for me if this was a secondary world inspired by Ancient Rome instead of saying it is Rome.
Now, that said, I did really enjoy this thriller plot. And the use of Druids and Amazonians was neat. I really did like how the titular ‘godstorms’ were believed to be from Jupiter and how this played into the magic system. I enjoyed the queer normative world within, the witty dialogue, and heightened emotions/tension throughout. There is a ton to like about this book.
Godstorm is perfect for fans of classical inspired stories such as Circe or Piranesi. Arrow’s drive is a treat and Townsend nails the desperation of a woman seeking her (almost)child. A quick read that breezes by. Check it out!
January 17, 2026
Alt-history climate fiction thriller meets Taken, Godstorm brims with ideas & a fierce, pained gladiatrix turned governess MC - it however plays it safe without fully committing to any of its ideas giving us a restrained book
I am a fan of alt-history based novels and this one definitely had a lot going for it. Like a Rome that did not fall and instead is now based out of London. This is also a Rome that has discovered oil/ gas and with a set story in the mid 1600s, you now have "cars" on the streets as well along with the time honored Roman tradition of Gladiators.
The story find a now retired Gladiatrix turned governess who had her ward stolen from her during a Godstorm, a storm that is possibly being caused by the pollution and climate impacts of the oil drilling going on globally. Arrow, our lead has to return to the life she left behind and that triggers her assorted trauma of blood, violence and loss while she finds an ally with her former love interest, a former gladiator. The journey post that is initially urgent and then stretches to encompass a broader story arc
What really worked well is the setting - this world, so similar to us, but still so different. A Roman Empire with gas, that still has slavery & gladiators in it, which has conquered a lot of the world. It is also an Empire that is constantly hungry and growing and looking at newer territories to conquer. Naturally, there are opponents, both in England that they have conquered and other parts of the world, that dont care for the Empire. The pacing is another element that worked - the first half has a desperate urgency to it and then it organically slows down to encompass other worldly elements.
Arrow as a character has compelling motivations and a rather interesting past that we get to see in flashes. While there is an element of predictability to her motivations behind finding her ward, it is couched in tragedy & loss and makes Arrow as a sympathetic character, even if one note in certain elements. Arrow's story as both gladiator and student is compelling. It is what Arrow did that is more interesting than who she is
I think where the book falters and a reason I had a challenge with the book is that it has too many ideas that it ties to pack in without committing itself to the kind of book it wants to be. It is a thriller, a climate fiction book, a story about roots, a story of fighting against a superior power, a succession war - its got a lot going on but it never does justice to any of them satisfactorily. Some of the relationship elements feel a bit rushed and the ending while interesting also seems a bit rushed. Like the book seemed to be heading towards a sequel, but an action packed climax gets in the way rather conveniently.
Godstorm is an interesting book brimming with ideas and a intriguing set-up. The narrative never gets boring even as the book jumps from one idea to another. However, it does falter as it tries to be a book for all the areas it tries to cover and falls short on the ideas and conflict
PS: The author is a climate expert and that explains the focus on that in the book
I am a fan of alt-history based novels and this one definitely had a lot going for it. Like a Rome that did not fall and instead is now based out of London. This is also a Rome that has discovered oil/ gas and with a set story in the mid 1600s, you now have "cars" on the streets as well along with the time honored Roman tradition of Gladiators.
The story find a now retired Gladiatrix turned governess who had her ward stolen from her during a Godstorm, a storm that is possibly being caused by the pollution and climate impacts of the oil drilling going on globally. Arrow, our lead has to return to the life she left behind and that triggers her assorted trauma of blood, violence and loss while she finds an ally with her former love interest, a former gladiator. The journey post that is initially urgent and then stretches to encompass a broader story arc
What really worked well is the setting - this world, so similar to us, but still so different. A Roman Empire with gas, that still has slavery & gladiators in it, which has conquered a lot of the world. It is also an Empire that is constantly hungry and growing and looking at newer territories to conquer. Naturally, there are opponents, both in England that they have conquered and other parts of the world, that dont care for the Empire. The pacing is another element that worked - the first half has a desperate urgency to it and then it organically slows down to encompass other worldly elements.
Arrow as a character has compelling motivations and a rather interesting past that we get to see in flashes. While there is an element of predictability to her motivations behind finding her ward, it is couched in tragedy & loss and makes Arrow as a sympathetic character, even if one note in certain elements. Arrow's story as both gladiator and student is compelling. It is what Arrow did that is more interesting than who she is
I think where the book falters and a reason I had a challenge with the book is that it has too many ideas that it ties to pack in without committing itself to the kind of book it wants to be. It is a thriller, a climate fiction book, a story about roots, a story of fighting against a superior power, a succession war - its got a lot going on but it never does justice to any of them satisfactorily. Some of the relationship elements feel a bit rushed and the ending while interesting also seems a bit rushed. Like the book seemed to be heading towards a sequel, but an action packed climax gets in the way rather conveniently.
Godstorm is an interesting book brimming with ideas and a intriguing set-up. The narrative never gets boring even as the book jumps from one idea to another. However, it does falter as it tries to be a book for all the areas it tries to cover and falls short on the ideas and conflict
PS: The author is a climate expert and that explains the focus on that in the book
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a very creative look at an alternative world that almost could have been, with an interesting story taking place in that world.
I have this weird thing with books that are set in the world I spent years of my life studying - sometimes I absolutely love them because I get thrown back into my own past; other times, I'm not a fan because they don't portray that ancient world as I saw it. This one was an odd one that sat somewhere in between. The wider world itself was fascinating - what if the Roman Empire hadn't fallen, if they'd instead discovered how oil could be burned, and used this in every possible way to succeed?
In the midst of this, you have a gladiatrix in this weird mash up of a steampunk London that feels a bit like the ancient world, but has vehicles powered by oil, who is a governess. When her charge disappears on a museum outing during a "Godstorm", Arrow will stop at nothing to get her back.
It's a book of two parts: set in both London and on a voyage across the sea and into the "Amazonian" - a different version of the jungle we know that has been touched by the Roman Empire but is set apart from it. The two parts of the book felt quite distinct from one another, but both were worlds that have been well realised and were very interesting to read.
The only reason I've knocked this book down a star is because I felt the storyline wasn't as strong as the world it was set in. There was the overarching plot of Arrow trying to find Livy, but in the timeline of the book, she's found quite quickly and another storyline takes over as they head into the jungle. At this point, it somewhat meandered into a different plot that I wasn't sure had the chance to be fully fleshed out, being around half of the book. It felt like it was either going to lead into a second book, or maybe should have been deepened and split into two books.
You can't talk about this book without mentioning the references to climate change. My husband is very into this at the moment, so though I rarely talk about fiction with him (he doesn't read fiction!), I brought this one up with him - it's the type of book that could easily be a book club read with a lively debate! It makes you see a world being destroyed through a different lens, and without losing sight of the fact that it's still an enjoyable book at its heart - very well done, I personally think.
The characters were brilliant. Arrow is a flawed, self-deprecating woman living between two worlds. The class system that is quickly introduced in the book highlights this even further; she doesn't fit in anywhere. I would love to have seen more from the child's perspective too as she seemed like a strong, interesting character.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
I have this weird thing with books that are set in the world I spent years of my life studying - sometimes I absolutely love them because I get thrown back into my own past; other times, I'm not a fan because they don't portray that ancient world as I saw it. This one was an odd one that sat somewhere in between. The wider world itself was fascinating - what if the Roman Empire hadn't fallen, if they'd instead discovered how oil could be burned, and used this in every possible way to succeed?
In the midst of this, you have a gladiatrix in this weird mash up of a steampunk London that feels a bit like the ancient world, but has vehicles powered by oil, who is a governess. When her charge disappears on a museum outing during a "Godstorm", Arrow will stop at nothing to get her back.
It's a book of two parts: set in both London and on a voyage across the sea and into the "Amazonian" - a different version of the jungle we know that has been touched by the Roman Empire but is set apart from it. The two parts of the book felt quite distinct from one another, but both were worlds that have been well realised and were very interesting to read.
The only reason I've knocked this book down a star is because I felt the storyline wasn't as strong as the world it was set in. There was the overarching plot of Arrow trying to find Livy, but in the timeline of the book, she's found quite quickly and another storyline takes over as they head into the jungle. At this point, it somewhat meandered into a different plot that I wasn't sure had the chance to be fully fleshed out, being around half of the book. It felt like it was either going to lead into a second book, or maybe should have been deepened and split into two books.
You can't talk about this book without mentioning the references to climate change. My husband is very into this at the moment, so though I rarely talk about fiction with him (he doesn't read fiction!), I brought this one up with him - it's the type of book that could easily be a book club read with a lively debate! It makes you see a world being destroyed through a different lens, and without losing sight of the fact that it's still an enjoyable book at its heart - very well done, I personally think.
The characters were brilliant. Arrow is a flawed, self-deprecating woman living between two worlds. The class system that is quickly introduced in the book highlights this even further; she doesn't fit in anywhere. I would love to have seen more from the child's perspective too as she seemed like a strong, interesting character.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
January 4, 2026
This was a tale of two halves for me. I was drawn in at the start when we meet Arrow, a former gladiator turned governess whose charge, Livy, gets stolen from a museum during a Godstorm (ferocious storms that the people believe are a sign that the gods are punishing them for a lack of piety). Told in a mixture of present day and flashbacks to Arrow’s past in the arena, I enjoyed getting to know Arrow and seeing how her time as a gladiator informed who she was today. The world did initially feel a little confusing, as it largely felt like a story set in the era of the Roman Empire (there are slaves, of which Arrow is one, women are subjugated, the clothing is of an older time with women wearing corsets etc), yet the technology they appeared to have (train-like vehicles running suspended over the city) was significantly more advanced; however, I was happy to go with it.
Unfortunately, the second half of the book (aside from the explosive ending) is where it started to lose me. There were a lot of developments that just didn’t make any sense to me. The events happen with the Green Man without providing any real context (other than Arrow’s perspective that they’re fanatics). Suddenly we’re on a pirate ship and a potential relationship is thrown in from absolutely nowhere - they’d barely spent any time on page together but Arrow saves Tor and suddenly Baja wants this near stranger to be her family??? Up until this point, it felt like Barro was there as a potential second chance romantic interest, so I couldn’t help but feel like Baja was thrown in as another potential love interest purely to provide some diversity representation. And why does Arrow immediately trust what Llund says about Livy’s heritage when she has, up until this point, written him off as a mad heretic? For me, all these events felt far too rushed and insufficiently explained, which left me feeling disconnected and fairly apathetic to where the story was going. This continued as we met Livy’s biological family, who I also found to be presented in a strange way. Are we meant to view them as savage? Are we meant to view them as strong warrior women? While I appreciate nuance, the writing of these characters didn’t come across as nuanced, it came across (to me) as confused.
That being said, I enjoyed Arrow as a character and I loved her relationship with Livy. I just wish the pacing and storytelling was more consistent.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book.
Unfortunately, the second half of the book (aside from the explosive ending) is where it started to lose me. There were a lot of developments that just didn’t make any sense to me. The events happen with the Green Man without providing any real context (other than Arrow’s perspective that they’re fanatics). Suddenly we’re on a pirate ship and a potential relationship is thrown in from absolutely nowhere - they’d barely spent any time on page together but Arrow saves Tor and suddenly Baja wants this near stranger to be her family??? Up until this point, it felt like Barro was there as a potential second chance romantic interest, so I couldn’t help but feel like Baja was thrown in as another potential love interest purely to provide some diversity representation. And why does Arrow immediately trust what Llund says about Livy’s heritage when she has, up until this point, written him off as a mad heretic? For me, all these events felt far too rushed and insufficiently explained, which left me feeling disconnected and fairly apathetic to where the story was going. This continued as we met Livy’s biological family, who I also found to be presented in a strange way. Are we meant to view them as savage? Are we meant to view them as strong warrior women? While I appreciate nuance, the writing of these characters didn’t come across as nuanced, it came across (to me) as confused.
That being said, I enjoyed Arrow as a character and I loved her relationship with Livy. I just wish the pacing and storytelling was more consistent.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2025
The Roman Empire never fell - instead crude oil was discovered, the capital was moved from Rome to Londinium, and the Empire now runs on oil filled machines. Arrow was born and raised in the Arena, an indentured slave trained to fight and kill almost from birth. Until she forces the Arena bosses to sell her contract, and becomes Governess to baby Livy. For eight years she cares for and educates the child until a trip to the museum sparks a series of events Arrow could never have predicted.
This is a peculiar book, steampunk meets Roman and a combination of alternate history, fantasy and environmentalism. Honestly this could have ended up with almost any star rating but I rounded up from 3.5 because I did genuinely enjoy reading it.
It's great to have a strong female lead, Arrow is deeply flawed but also more complex than she first appears and she does undergo some development through the story. She's fierce, conflicted stubborn, and loves deeply - all of which I enjoyed. We learn more about her past throughout the book and this helps to create the understanding of why she is how she is. Barro as the male lead is interesting but significantly less well developed, though he does get his own nice twist towards the end. Livy is somewhat absent from a lot of the book but that's rather the point I think, she's a small child being used in the games of others so she herself is insignificant in the eyes of many. There are action scenes a-plenty, pirates, and several daring escapes.
The book is obviously well researched and is definitely well written but I have to say, I came away a little disappointed. I think the main reason for that is that it doesn't feel like this book really knows what it wants to be. Is it alternate history exploring 'what if Rome hadn't fallen?' Is it an action packed fantasy tale of feminism and warrior women? Is it an environmental essay? Because it tries to be all three, the feeling of the book meanders through them all without being a truly satisfying example of any; and as a result sometimes feels repetitive and confused - and that's a shame.
It was a very enjoyable read and I am happy with the hours I spent with it; I would recommend it to a few people but not necessarily to everyone.
- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -
This is a peculiar book, steampunk meets Roman and a combination of alternate history, fantasy and environmentalism. Honestly this could have ended up with almost any star rating but I rounded up from 3.5 because I did genuinely enjoy reading it.
It's great to have a strong female lead, Arrow is deeply flawed but also more complex than she first appears and she does undergo some development through the story. She's fierce, conflicted stubborn, and loves deeply - all of which I enjoyed. We learn more about her past throughout the book and this helps to create the understanding of why she is how she is. Barro as the male lead is interesting but significantly less well developed, though he does get his own nice twist towards the end. Livy is somewhat absent from a lot of the book but that's rather the point I think, she's a small child being used in the games of others so she herself is insignificant in the eyes of many. There are action scenes a-plenty, pirates, and several daring escapes.
The book is obviously well researched and is definitely well written but I have to say, I came away a little disappointed. I think the main reason for that is that it doesn't feel like this book really knows what it wants to be. Is it alternate history exploring 'what if Rome hadn't fallen?' Is it an action packed fantasy tale of feminism and warrior women? Is it an environmental essay? Because it tries to be all three, the feeling of the book meanders through them all without being a truly satisfying example of any; and as a result sometimes feels repetitive and confused - and that's a shame.
It was a very enjoyable read and I am happy with the hours I spent with it; I would recommend it to a few people but not necessarily to everyone.
- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -
Review of advance copy
Powerful, beautiful, heartbreaking and eye opening.
Thank you Novel Books for having me on the tour for the book GodStorm that made me feel all the feels.
Set in a world where the Romans never fell but continued on, this book is rich with historical references but with a twist. I loved the authors take on the direction the world would have gone in, a world fueled by oil, with the refinements and classes of Victorian times, academies but also arenas for gladiators.
I want to try to avoid spoiling anything about this story as there were many twists and poignant moments but know, it'll take you on an emotional rollercoaster.
The story picks up with Arrow and Livy when Livy is 8 years old and their little bubble of a world where Arrow is Livys governess is turned upsidedown. Arrows history is filled in intermittently as we go through the book adding extra understanding and depth to her emotions and actions. Her past is fascinating. She is born to a slave female gladiator and raised in the arena, going on to become a renowned gladiator herself before giving it up and being bought as a governess to a mystery child she has to bring up, educate, keep safe and secret. They meet incredible characters along the way, forced into situations they can only dream of and uncovering truths they never would have seen coming. Everyone along the way is complex like the world they're learning is too. There are multilevel mysteries and hidden agendas, side characters you feel safe with and plenty you do not. Despite Arrows best efforts she is forced into many violent situations calling on her extensive fighting skills to protect her charge. Throughout the book Arrow looks back and pulls on her lessons taught to her by her mother (always with the philosophical quotes sprinkled in that were my favourite part of the book) and her education at the academy we get glimpses of too. There's so so much more I could say but without spoiling it, I cannot. This story felt so important in the world we are living in and to me personally as a mother.
Thank you Novel Books for having me on the tour for the book GodStorm that made me feel all the feels.
Set in a world where the Romans never fell but continued on, this book is rich with historical references but with a twist. I loved the authors take on the direction the world would have gone in, a world fueled by oil, with the refinements and classes of Victorian times, academies but also arenas for gladiators.
I want to try to avoid spoiling anything about this story as there were many twists and poignant moments but know, it'll take you on an emotional rollercoaster.
The story picks up with Arrow and Livy when Livy is 8 years old and their little bubble of a world where Arrow is Livys governess is turned upsidedown. Arrows history is filled in intermittently as we go through the book adding extra understanding and depth to her emotions and actions. Her past is fascinating. She is born to a slave female gladiator and raised in the arena, going on to become a renowned gladiator herself before giving it up and being bought as a governess to a mystery child she has to bring up, educate, keep safe and secret. They meet incredible characters along the way, forced into situations they can only dream of and uncovering truths they never would have seen coming. Everyone along the way is complex like the world they're learning is too. There are multilevel mysteries and hidden agendas, side characters you feel safe with and plenty you do not. Despite Arrows best efforts she is forced into many violent situations calling on her extensive fighting skills to protect her charge. Throughout the book Arrow looks back and pulls on her lessons taught to her by her mother (always with the philosophical quotes sprinkled in that were my favourite part of the book) and her education at the academy we get glimpses of too. There's so so much more I could say but without spoiling it, I cannot. This story felt so important in the world we are living in and to me personally as a mother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An interesting steam punk take on our own global warming crisis taken from the viewpoint of a world in which the sun never set on the Roman Empire - which for some unexplained reason moved it's centre of power from Italy to London.
An over reliance on oil, which is used with none of the filtration systems that we engage to reduce the harmful effluent content, gives rise to violent weather disruptions that risk harm to everything they touch - the Godstorms of the title. The weather patterns changing across our globe are bad enough, these are very nasty localised death storms!
The story takes us across the alternative London, into the high seas and deep into the Amazonian forests as a former gladiatrix turned governess fights to protect the young girl that she has cared for since leaving the arena. I'll not go into detail about the relationship or the roots of either character as I try to avoid spoilers in my reviews, suffice to say there are the red herrings and healthy coincidences that we all enjoy in a ripping yarn...and, with one minor irritation (I couldn't believe that a trained gladiator in this alternate reality would refer to himself as "just a bloke") this is indeed a ripping yarn.
The novel provides dating clues using the "Aurelian" calendar - by my reckoning it's set in what we'd see as a mid-Victorian era, the steam punk airships, road vehicles and monorail are adequately covered for a casual fan such as myself - real devotees of the genre might find the descriptive a little light.
I've given a four star rating, which I think is ok for a first released novel by the author, who is an acknowledged climate expert. I think I'd like to know where the story might go next - that's always a positive for me when discovering new joys.
I was provided an advance copy of this novel by Net Galley in return for my honest and unbiased review - please consider this as being such a response.
An over reliance on oil, which is used with none of the filtration systems that we engage to reduce the harmful effluent content, gives rise to violent weather disruptions that risk harm to everything they touch - the Godstorms of the title. The weather patterns changing across our globe are bad enough, these are very nasty localised death storms!
The story takes us across the alternative London, into the high seas and deep into the Amazonian forests as a former gladiatrix turned governess fights to protect the young girl that she has cared for since leaving the arena. I'll not go into detail about the relationship or the roots of either character as I try to avoid spoilers in my reviews, suffice to say there are the red herrings and healthy coincidences that we all enjoy in a ripping yarn...and, with one minor irritation (I couldn't believe that a trained gladiator in this alternate reality would refer to himself as "just a bloke") this is indeed a ripping yarn.
The novel provides dating clues using the "Aurelian" calendar - by my reckoning it's set in what we'd see as a mid-Victorian era, the steam punk airships, road vehicles and monorail are adequately covered for a casual fan such as myself - real devotees of the genre might find the descriptive a little light.
I've given a four star rating, which I think is ok for a first released novel by the author, who is an acknowledged climate expert. I think I'd like to know where the story might go next - that's always a positive for me when discovering new joys.
I was provided an advance copy of this novel by Net Galley in return for my honest and unbiased review - please consider this as being such a response.
September 15, 2025
DISCLAIMER: I received this book as an Early ARC through NetGalley.
Godstorm delivers something genuinely innovative in the fantasy genre – a petrol-fuelled Roman Empire that never fell, complete with climate consequences. What could have seemed a far-fetched premise instead feels realistic and naturally woven into a world that makes perfect sense on its own terms.
Arrow is a great character – a former gladiatrix turned governess with a fiery spirit. Her story unfolds throughout the book and her backstory (watching her mother die fighting in the arena) explains her protective instincts toward Livy, the child she loves as her own. The central tension between Arrow's violent past and her maternal role is what drives the narrative forward. The pacing strikes the right balance with intense action sequences interspersed with quieter character-building moments. I really cared about the characters, which made the final chapters all the more powerful.
Townsend's world-building is the book's greatest strength. The environmental themes feel organic rather than preachy, creating a unique foundation that supports everything else. I loved that the book doesn't just present problems – there are glimpses of hope for the future alongside the climate challenges. Arrow herself is beautifully written as neurodivergent representation that feels authentic. Even without initially realizing this was intentional, I was drawn to her unique perspective and fierce determination. My only minor critique is that perhaps Arrow's former teacher could have played a bigger or clearer role, given her significance in how the book ended.
This is a great book if you're looking for fantasy that feels both familiar and completely fresh.
Godstorm delivers something genuinely innovative in the fantasy genre – a petrol-fuelled Roman Empire that never fell, complete with climate consequences. What could have seemed a far-fetched premise instead feels realistic and naturally woven into a world that makes perfect sense on its own terms.
Arrow is a great character – a former gladiatrix turned governess with a fiery spirit. Her story unfolds throughout the book and her backstory (watching her mother die fighting in the arena) explains her protective instincts toward Livy, the child she loves as her own. The central tension between Arrow's violent past and her maternal role is what drives the narrative forward. The pacing strikes the right balance with intense action sequences interspersed with quieter character-building moments. I really cared about the characters, which made the final chapters all the more powerful.
Townsend's world-building is the book's greatest strength. The environmental themes feel organic rather than preachy, creating a unique foundation that supports everything else. I loved that the book doesn't just present problems – there are glimpses of hope for the future alongside the climate challenges. Arrow herself is beautifully written as neurodivergent representation that feels authentic. Even without initially realizing this was intentional, I was drawn to her unique perspective and fierce determination. My only minor critique is that perhaps Arrow's former teacher could have played a bigger or clearer role, given her significance in how the book ended.
This is a great book if you're looking for fantasy that feels both familiar and completely fresh.
Read
November 6, 2025I really wanted to like this book but I just feel slightly frustrated with it.
If you read this book as a 'vibes only' read, I think you will do great and enjoy the story. There are some really good sections and you do become invested in the characters. The plot twist between Arrow and Barro towards the end was unexpected (for me) and very well done. The scene between the Captain and Arrow felt a little unnecessary though and added absolutely nothing to the story.
However, I majorly struggled with this book because of so many conflicting elements.
Firstly, it has a very steam punk vibe which was great and I personally have not read a book with that kind of vibe so far in my reading journey. But, as others have mentioned, the author uses roman numerals to show time jumps in the story. Now, I am someone that if roman numerals are there, I will put them into Google to find out the year. All of them are between 1630s and 1650s, not the 1800s the author states in her acknowledgement at the end of the book. That did cause some confusion.
Secondly, this is set as if the roman empire never fell. So why are Hades and Gaea constantly referenced when they are from Greek mythology and not Roman? The author has clearly done due diligence in finding the Celtic equivalent to Gaea in order to create the druid aspect of the story, but not the Roman (Tellus/Terra) which for me personally really detracted from the story.
Maybe I am just being overly critical of this book, but to me it feels like a few simple changes would push this book into being a great read. As it currently stands, it is not one that I would read again and I would not read the second should there be one.
Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
If you read this book as a 'vibes only' read, I think you will do great and enjoy the story. There are some really good sections and you do become invested in the characters. The plot twist between Arrow and Barro towards the end was unexpected (for me) and very well done. The scene between the Captain and Arrow felt a little unnecessary though and added absolutely nothing to the story.
However, I majorly struggled with this book because of so many conflicting elements.
Firstly, it has a very steam punk vibe which was great and I personally have not read a book with that kind of vibe so far in my reading journey. But, as others have mentioned, the author uses roman numerals to show time jumps in the story. Now, I am someone that if roman numerals are there, I will put them into Google to find out the year. All of them are between 1630s and 1650s, not the 1800s the author states in her acknowledgement at the end of the book. That did cause some confusion.
Secondly, this is set as if the roman empire never fell. So why are Hades and Gaea constantly referenced when they are from Greek mythology and not Roman? The author has clearly done due diligence in finding the Celtic equivalent to Gaea in order to create the druid aspect of the story, but not the Roman (Tellus/Terra) which for me personally really detracted from the story.
Maybe I am just being overly critical of this book, but to me it feels like a few simple changes would push this book into being a great read. As it currently stands, it is not one that I would read again and I would not read the second should there be one.
Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews