The Gods Must Burn

by T.R. Moore

A disgraced war hero is transformed into the Wolf God, protector of the Forest God, and must earn her trust in this healing dark fantasy for fans of The Wolf and the Woodsman and Princess Mononoke

War hero Basuin doesn't know what to believe in anymore. All Basuin knows is life as an army captain and the pain, loss, and disgrace it has brought him. Demoted and humiliated by his legion commander, he is led into the forest for one more mission: capture a god.

But when his commander uses innocent wolf pups as bait, Basuin dies saving them. The Wolf God, impressed by his sacrifice, deifies Basuin to protect the forest and its beautiful, sharp-tongued god from the legion's deforestation.

To the Forest God, Basuin is nothing more than one of the men sent to burn her forest down. Betrayed by humans too many times, she rejects him, working alone to protect the spirits of the forest as her home disappears around her. To save the god he is growing to love, Basuin must untangle the feelings between them.

Otherwise, they'll burn together.

Genres: Fantasy, Adult, Romance

386 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 24, 2026

About the author

T.R. Moore is a queer fantasy, horror, and sometimes romance writer who mostly writes about feminine rage and god complexes. Though she started in poetry, her books now tend to feature Korean main characters, fat-positive representation, and mental health issues written responsibly. When she’s not setting her air fryer on fire (which only happened twice), she’s busy making oddly-specific Spotify playlists to complete her collection. Keep up with her at authortrmoore.com

Reviews

[Lotta Z · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Rebellion | Solaris for this ARC! All thoughts are my own.

Unfortunately this is a DNF for me. The style of writing is confusing and uninteresting in my opinion and I can already tell after three chapters that this is just not for me.

Thanks for reading!

🤍🤍🤍

[blok sera szwajcarskiego · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for honest opinion, thanks!

3,5⭐️

A charming story filled with hope for all the souls who lost themselves. The prose is simple yet effective, with a vibrant atmosphere of the world where mortals collide with gods. I have enjoyed it greatly, with a greatly written main character who have to find hope for himself after so many years of becoming the infamous Black Wolf. A very good debut, hope T.R. Moore writes more!

[Sarah SG · Rating 2 out of 5]

HOO BOY! Minor spoilers below!

Thank you to NetGalley and Solaris for the arc. I’ll preface this by saying that Princess Mononoke is one of my favorite movies ever. When I get a Mononoke comp in my media, just know that my standards are VERY raised. As for this comp, once again, she swings and she misses. Let’s break it down:

—The stream-of-consciousness writing was more stream-of-confusion for me. Often, I didn’t know if what was going on was a dream sequence, a hallucination, or an actual event. It also just lent a hazy layer over the story. Not sure if this was the intention of the author, but my confusion surrounding that speaks to how successful the writing is.

—Love the shitty, dropped potato metaphor of Elka (the sun) and Hwai-ga (the moon) of being lovers instead of enemies.

—Kensy was cartoonishly evil. He has no true motive (other than power) or nuance. He’s revealed to just be a cruel and cold fuck, because why not? It makes tying everything up easier (and lazier). Lady Eboshi should have cut this minuscule fucker down. Honestly, this entire army actually. The Irontown fucks had a real reason. In the Cedar Forest, there’s ore that the town desperately needs. In this book however, they seem to enjoy burning shit down because human bad! Power yummy! As if I haven’t seen this same “motive” in 1000 other fantasy books.

—Ren was definitely a character! She has the hotheadedness and (most) of the same beliefs as Mononoke’s fmc, San. Yet, while San had tons of nuance to her character, Ren has nearly none. She’s angry at humans, she dehumanizes herself, her primary concern is the forest, and she wants peace. Besides one big spoiler, I didn’t connect to her character that much. By the second half of the book, she became much more of a damsel. Of course, it’s because the forest is being hurt, but I swear Basuin is carrying her in his arms every other chapter. She is very small and fragile! The book will totally not tell you as much every other page! Ren is often sexualized while Mononoke’s fmc, San, is not bound to any patriarchy. She is THE Warrior Princess, while Ren has a VERY dainty neck. Shes a god too, I guess.

—The romance became real unbearable in the second half. It gets cliche and corny as fuck by the end. “I’d die for her” “I’d kill for her” I fucking get it, you wannabe Gomez Addams; Jesus Christ. This is then repeated ad nauseam throughout the book. Also wasn’t expecting some (vague) smut! That took me the fuck out! Overall, I don’t buy it. They would totally say “I wolf you.” This book ended up focusing on this dumbass romance more than anything else, making the book fall apart. Once again, the cardinal sin of romance devours and eclipses everything else.

—Let’s talk specifically about the comp. The Mononoke comp is correct, but not for the reasons you think. Actually, it’s a bit problematic in my eyes; there are a LOT of similarities, of course all of them shallow. It’s no offense to be heavily inspired by something. One or two similarities are fine, a few is side-eye worthy, and then there’s this.
•Of course, there are wolves, and not just in Bass. One of the most prominent side characters takes the shape of a wolf pup, and binds. As for the wolf god himself, his speech and temperament were very similarly to the temperament of Moro and her clan in Princess Mononoke.
•When Bass gets possessed, he calls it a curse. Of course, Ashitaka also gets cursed in the beginning of Princess Mononoke. Both receive new powers as well as painful symptoms, and both are cursed upon a god’s death.
•Many small moments are also heavily Mononoke inspired. For example, when Bass gives Ren his godstone. Very similar to Ashitaka giving San his crystal dagger necklace.
•The more I think about it, the more I see, it seems the whole bones of this story come from Princess Mononoke. There’s a cursed man who is sent on a mission he didn’t want. There’s a VERY resentful woman who used to be/is human despite her loyalties. The same resentful woman who puts anger first instead of fear, and primarily cares about her forest; often to the point of rejecting her humanity. A giant conflict between man and nature, with man choosing to colonize, and nature deciding to fight back. The cursed man and the protector of forest falling in love; as mentioned above, the entire romantic storyline and dynamic is VERY similar to Princess Mononoke’s. A wolf god who shits on protagonist, but adores the fmc. A secondary conflict revolving around peace versus war among the forest spirits. Of course, like the forest spirit in Princess Mononoke, this one also can take the form of a deer.

—Beyond EVERYTHING, Princess Mononoke worked the way it did because of its nuance, its intention, its messaging. It explores environmentalism and coexistence in a subtle yet powerful way. It puts man and nature on an equal playing field, and also delves into the interpersonal conflicts within each. It shows the good and bad within each faction as well. It speaks to nature and man being natural opposites instead of a simple good versus evil, able to live separate but peacefully with each other. It is feminist in nature. Women are powerful in this film. They are leaders, and are not bound to any patriarchy. They are complex characters, and yet charismatic. Overall, Princess Mononoke is praised and loved for its complexity, yet for The Gods Must Burn, there is absolutely nothing of the sort. Instead, we get a diluted, tired, “man bad” “man colonize.” This messaging is offensively weak and cliche given the source material. As for the characters themselves, apart from the protagonist they were one dimensional. Ren is both sexualized and ends up being a device for the mmc’s character growth. The only complexity in this narrative is the character of Basuin himself, but even then there are caveats. Bass’s complexity and PTSD needed the care it did receive. However, his character arc did not do his character justice; it was secondary to the romance.

Overall, MISS. Big fucking miss! It’s a shame, because I was mostly enjoying the first half of the book. And yet! I do really hope the author watches Princess Mononoke again, and really internalizes the themes and messaging. Princess Mononoke fans, you will need to get your fix elsewhere. -1.5 wolf pups rounded up

[bee ⭑.ᐟ · Rating 2 out of 5]

this had a great premise but lacked in its execution.

i picked this up as soon as i saw its relation to studio ghibli’s princess mononoke, which is my favourite movie of all time. but the similarities soon stopped after you find out the plot for this book.
the writing felt very disjointed and our main character constantly having flashbacks and recounting his past life really jumbled up the pace and kept taking me out of whatever was happening at the current time. because of this writing style i couldn’t connect with any of the characters, the only ones with any sort of depth seemed to be the main two so it didn’t leave much room for anyone else.
the world building was quite similar. it was really interesting but felt underdeveloped.
overall i think this has potential to be a really great fantasy book there was just a few things that didn’t work for my personal taste.
thank you NetGalley for sending me an arc.

[Chezza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous, gut-punching story that explores PTSD and fractured identities, healing through love, and the nature of duty and morality (especially when the two are at odds). Basuin and Ren’s story is both tender and riddled with angst, taking place in a beautiful forest setting that sings with both magic and grief. There is dark, visceral pain in this book—but it comes with glimmers of hope. Basuin’s character development is incredibly satisfying, and I loved watching him come to terms with his power and with himself. And Ren is so ethereal and fierce! Their dynamic is powerful, and it’s a well-earned slow-burn romance.

The poetic writing in this book constantly took my breath away, and the ecological message at its core is one that lingered with me long after reading. This is an enchanting story with a ton of heart and lines that make you pause just so you can savour them once more. Overall, a masterful debut that ponders who we are at our core, and who gets to decide our path in life.

(Review is of a copy prior to publication)

[Lisa Stoker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The blurb for this book makes it sound like a mostly romantic storyline in a dark forest setting, which isn't my thing as a rule, but, I'm happy to report, that the romantic themes in the story fall back behind it's other tropes, which include military trauma/PTSD, old gods Vs nonbelievers, nature spirits rising to protect against the destruction of man. These are all explored and depicted very well.

This story and setting reads kind of like a gorier, more violent version of Fern Gully. While there are some dark, grisly elements, this forest is described as a more magical setting than I'm used to, and the magic system is a bit on the nose and cutesy for my taste, but the characters are explored wonderfully and their conflicts, flaws and motivations very clear.

One character I really didn't care for, however, was the antagonist, who really did read more like a comic book villain, with some quite ridiculous and dramatic ambitions.

The Gods Must Burn is an easy read with some very effective visuals and nuanced characters and, although I like my forest gore more on the bleak, gritty side, I did enjoy it as a dark forest fairytale. What works well, works very well, while other aspects weren't to my taste (but that's entirely personal to me)

[Kat in Stacks · Rating 3 out of 5]

****ARC review****

Thank you Netgalley and Rebellion for an arc copy

The story follows Basuin as he learns to accept his past and overcome the trauma that comes with war. While at times slow in the beginning to get its footing, around page 40 was when the story began to really shine and made me feel like I was reading a mythological tale.

My only complaint that it felt slightly rushed towards the very end of the novel which made me pause and have to read a few pages over to understand what was going on

[Andi]

I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this one.

I usually give a book 20 - 25% to hook me in. Since that's enough time to establish plot, characters, and decisions on the prose.

Honest to god, this book is absolutely full of the character focused on his mother's idol / stone. He clutches it, he thinks about it, he focuses on it, he is reminded of it. I can't tell you how many times it came up in a page or a chapter.

Also, other reviewers mentioned that this book is a lot like Princess Mononoke. It 100% is. But I also got Ferngully and Avatar vibes from it as well.

Jumping ship on this one.

Out of respect for the author I am choosing not to rate it.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun adventure story, I enjoyed the overall plot and storyline.

My main issues with the book was the romance towards the end. It just seemed so cliche but I think that’s just personal preference, I know ALOT of people will like this sort of vibe. I also wasn’t a massive fan of Kensy as a character, he was just a stereotypical bad guy, he was just horrible for the pure sake of it. It felt a little two dimensional

Despite this though it’s still an enjoyable story, Basuin had some great character development. The writing was poetic (very quotable).

I think this book will definitely find its audience, I just personally feel I’ve read similar things one too many times. This book was by no means bad, just not anything ‘omg amazing’ new.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna - ThatPreciousPlot]

DNF - 27%

Unfortunately, I could not get on at all with the writing style of this, so my lack of enjoyment is purely on me! As overall I was SO very intrigued by the story itself and thought the author captured PTSD so thoughtfully and well in her characterisation of Basuin. I think had I continued on I would have been doing the book itself a disservice as couldn't give it the love I honestly think it does deserve.

I can see a lot of people really enjoying this, again sadly just not for me.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading The Gods Must Burn was a complex experience: visceral, tragic, beautiful, yet, at times, contradictory. Basuin, the main character, is made host to the Wolf God after being killed by his friend and commander; his story of self-hatred, guilt, and his search for purpose are the foundation for this novel. The Forest God, embodiment of the nature and spirits that Basuin’s former allies seek to destroy, is the only one who will help him find solace and home within the spirits of the island, yet she also passes judgement over him and his weaknesses. The book has themes of nature and destruction, of war and loss, of struggle and mental health, of humanity and duty. I found many aspects of this book sharp and visceral; in particular the beginning and the ending had me unable to put the book down. At the same time, I did feel that the plot dragged in the middle, in part because the book is repetitive and, at times, felt self-contradictory.

The sharp emotions of this book are one of its greatest strengths. Basuin is an extremely complicated character: he suffers from PTSD due to the losses he feels responsible for as part of his military duties; he feels immense guilt for everything bad that happens around him yet equally feels as though he is only capable of following orders and that he cannot stand on his own two feet. He hates himself in a way that is heart-wrenching to read on the page. He is both lost and feels a great sense of duty. His relationship with the Wolf God, with the Forest God, and with the other spirits are full of complex emotions that feel very real; its easy to feel his pain and devotion in the writing of this book. Overall, I enjoyed many aspects of the writing in this book. Its one of the rare books that really made me feel an ache in my chest as I was reading it. While the book is dark and tragic, the moments of hope and the feeling that the lands and its spirits are worth fighting for make the book a very emotionally driven reading experience.

At the same time, I did have some issues with the pacing and repetition of the book. The beginning felt very poignant in a way that made the book difficult to put down, but when the story transitions from setting up Basuin’s new circumstances to asking him to make meaningful decisions, I felt that the book lost some of its drive. I do think that some of this is good: Basuin is someone who has deeply embedded self-hatred and self-doubt, and someone with extremely poor mental health. I don’t expect him to overcome these challenges easily; yet, at the same time, the focus on repeated failures and blaming himself for things outside of his control became tiring. It was hard at times to distinguish between his own self-hatred and guilt and the plot blaming him for things that appeared very much out of his control. The repetition of his mental state and struggles, paired with some sentences and descriptors that were repeated frequently, made the book drag at times in a way that made me not always want to pick it up. Moreover, storytelling that employs metaphors and memories in ways that are often unclear and themselves rather repetitive in wording, making it hard at times to understand what was happening on page.

The book discusses big themes: pacifism in the face of violence, how war begets bloodshed begets war, the meaning of duty and love and loyalty. I felt that many of these were discussed in interesting, nuances ways across the book; yet, at times, I also felt that the book was contradictory in a way that made it difficult to understand its goals or purpose. I don’t expect the book to be perfectly clear or definitive in its ideas, yet at times it felt as though the message or ideals portrayed didn’t make sense. Is it wrong to use violence to protect someone who is being harmed even if they themselves are pacifists? Is it okay to destroy food but wrong to cause mental harm? I do think that, overall, the depictions in this book were thought-provoking, but at times I wished for more clarity or consistency across the book.

Overall, I do recommend this book to someone interested in a dark, poignant, and at times tragic standalone novel with strong themes of war, nature, duty, and love. It was an emotionally difficult read at times, but one that I think made complex emotions feel very real. I am rating this book 4 out of 5 stars; I am glad that I read it, but wish the pace and ideas were more consistent.

Thank you to Solaris for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Arc was a gift from Taylor as a thank you for being part of her Street Team. I will be honest, even if this reads as fangirling, because OH MY FUCKING GOD did this woman go off.

The Gods Must Burn is best described as a story about haunting. We follow Basuin through death, and watch him reminisce and mourn the life, the loves and the trail of death he left in his wake. All while he learns to navigate life as a god tasked with protecting another goddess and eventually takes the reins of his own grief in order to make right the world he helped make wrong.

I cannot understate how thoroughly, entirely and completely I fell in love with this book its world and its characters.

We'll start with the stand-outs. The characters and the world.

Basuin is gorgeous. He's introspective, powerful, poetic and just so, so well written. I love me a sentimental simp and by the Gods Bass fits that bill and so much more. Ren... well I honestly wanted her to step on me a good portion of this book [okay fine the whole book.] She's the most fantastic blend of powerful and gentle, and she walks the line between those two facets absolutely beautifully. The slow development of their relationship was genuinely incredible thing to read.

On the note of Ren, I was left wondering a good bit of this book if Taylor does in fact have access to a pantheon. Because there's something so terrifyingly realistic in how she writes gods and goddesses, like she herself has walked among them. [Probably as the Goddess of Writing.]

In terms of the wider cast this was one of the best examples of fantastical ensemble I think I've ever read, particularly from a debut. Moore was ambitious and it really paid off. There is a thick, fleshy wider cast but you get to know every single character so well, they felt absolutely real. Particular standouts were Yaelic [one of the people I cried over]

Moore is a master of words. There's several points in this book my jaw genuinely dropped like something out of a goddamn cartoon. Her themes of mourning, the effect of war and the corruption of a relationship and how you look back on things with the benefit of hindsight is powerful throughout. There's a lyricism to TGMB that has a kind of melody too it, and whilst its very much of a rollercoaster of a book, there's not a moment I felt lost or left behind.

For a magic system which at the end of the day is quite simple, I feel like it was really well done. Again the Gods were absolutely a standout here, but the world Moore has crafted here is really beautifully done. Especially how we see the different ways different [mortal as well as immortal] characters interact with the deities.

My only real gripe with the book was Moore does tend to... really reiterate her point. As we get toward the middle of the book Basuin becomes tied spiritually to Ren, meaning should he die - she dies. We then here Bass talk about, oh gods if I die she dies if I die she dies if I die she dies... approximately 43 times [for reference an exaggeration but not like a massive one.] This was not the only example. It didn't take away from my enjoyment by any stretch... but like buddy, yeah, gotcha. We can move on!

Beyond that the villain, Kensy, feels mostly fleshed out after the fact and we see his development second hand through Bass' retrospection. I would have enjoyed this more in the present, but accept in the setting of the story that would have been especially difficult.

I do not cry at books. I did not cry at Marley and Me. I cried at this goddamn piece of fiction 3 times. Not only do you become immersed in this world, Moore has a way of writing characters and emotion in the most delectable way. You feel every beat of pain, passion, fear and I was chomping at the bit for it.

Genuinely at one point dm'ed the woman [thanks for not blocking me] wanting to be loved the way her characters love.

I can genuinely say I think this is a voice to keep an eye out for, I think there are incredible things in store for someone as talented as Moore. [That wasn't meant to rhyme but you know what I'll take it.]

[MaReads Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brutal, tender, and deeply human story told through a rare and beautifully written male POV.

4⭐️/5 — 2🌶️/5 (1 chapter/37)

⚡️ Forced proximity
💚 Dislike/Reluctant ally to Lovers
❤️‍🔥 He falls first
💞 Soulmates

I absolutely loved this book. The first thing that stood out to me was the choice to tell the story entirely through a male point of view. That’s extremely rare in what I usually read, and it gives the narrative a raw, physical, and vulnerable tone.
This is a novel about survival, guilt, and emotional healing, but also about how one person’s light can reach you even when you’re convinced you don’t deserve anything anymore.

🌍 Worldbuilding & Setting
The worldbuilding is one of the book’s strongest elements.
We’re in a war-torn world where forgotten gods take possession of dead bodies, and where a ruthless colonial empire crushes everything in its path. The atmosphere is dark, immersive, and almost organic: the forest, the magic, the gods… everything feels alive, hungry, breathing.
I loved the mythology, as well as the very well-executed parallel with colonial violence. It’s a rich but clear world, easy to follow without sacrificing depth.

🗡️ Bass & Ren
Bass is a fascinating character: a broken soldier, consumed by trauma and guilt, convinced he no longer deserves love or a future. His view of the world is harsh, tired, but incredibly human.
Ren, on the other hand, is movement and light. She pushes him out of his pity party, forces him to act, to fight, to want something again.

« Basuin is scared shitless that Ren won’t accept his apology. How pathetic. A war hero, scared of a woman refusing to forgive him. »

Their dynamic is wonderful: Bass falls for her early on but refuses to admit it, terrified of attaching to someone he could lose. I loved how gentle he is with her, despite being this big, battle-worn warrior.

« All he can see anymore is the smile on her face. It’s so fucking gentle and so bright and graceful and fuck. He feels shattered by it. Like the light of her is bracing against the darkness caged inside him, trying to slip through the cracks forming in the carefully crafted amor he bears on his back. She’s trying to undo him. Break him. »

« He could cry, she’s so beautiful. Gods damn him. »

The only thing I wanted more of was tension and romantic build-up. A bit more of that and this would easily have been a five-star read.

👥 Side Characters
This is one of the few weaker points for me: some of the side characters aren’t developed enough.
Yaelic (the young wolf) especially has so much potential, but his relationship with Bass stays too underexplored. I would have loved more interactions and emotional depth there.
That said, the story intentionally stays tightly focused on Bass and Ren, so I understand the choice.

A powerful story, dark but surprisingly soft in the way it explores trauma, healing, and human connection.
The worldbuilding is excellent, Bass is unforgettable, and his relationship with Ren is beautiful in its restraint.
I just wanted a bit more romantic tension, but I still loved this book. And the happy ending? Perfect.

Thank you NetGalley and Rebellion | Solaris for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Aamira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Basuin is a soldier suffering from PTSD after the loss of the soldiers and friends he leads. Demoted by the legion commander and forced to lead a campaign to find a God, he is led into the forest where they come across wolf pups. Basuin dies while saving their lives and is rewarded for his bravery by being turned into the Wolf God, whose main purpose is to protect the Forest God and her domain. She wants nothing to do with him, as he represents the humans killing her forests. But he’s determined to protect her and save the forest at whatever cost.

I’m not going to lie, the first half of the book was tedious to get through. Though told in the third person, we are mostly in Basuin’s head and the repetitive monologue of his failings as a soldier began to get old quick. The self-pity just became too much for me. It made it difficult for me to connect with him, which doesn’t bode well in a character driven narrative. I get it, he’s suffering from major PTSD, not to mention the humiliation of being demoted, but in this weird way it didn’t add to the complexity of his character. Perhaps because it felt like more tell than show.

There’s an interesting discussion around colonialism and deforestation and its impact on the people and creatures who depend on the resources for food and shelter that the author seamlessly weaves into the magical world they’ve created. They paint a vivid and horrific picture of the brutality of colonization and the destruction it wreaks on communities. The loss of Yaelick’s brother was particularly heartbreaking.

The characters felt pretty flat to me. Especially Kensy. There was no nuance to his characterization at all. He just felt like a stereotypical bad guy. His motivations for his actions were pretty meaningless. I expected Ren to have more agency than she did. She’s the protector of the forest, and yet she’s portrayed as more of a damsel in distress. That was disappointing. So when she gets vengeance in the end her arc doesn’t feel quite earned. I also felt the romance was rushed. They go from being adversaries to suddenly in love. It’s funny because I felt like the book dragged so much in some respects, but the romance was underdeveloped and rushed, which really messed with the overall pacing.

I’m sad to say this was a miss for me. The flat characters and repetitive monologues made for an unpleasant reading experience.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Solaris Books for the ARC, it hasn’t affected my honest review. 


TW: animal death, body horror, PTSD, child death, trauma, violence, abuse


Release date: 24th Feb (USA)/26th Feb (UK) 

A disgraced war hero, Basuin, has been used as a weapon by the military for years. It’s all he knows and his wavering faith in the gods has done nothing to protect him. Now demoted and humiliated by his legion commander Kensy, Basuin is sent into a forest for one final mission: to capture a god. When the legion commander uses innocent wolf cubs as bait, Basuin dies to save them. Impressed by his sacrifice, and craving a human host, the Wolf God deifies Basuin to protect the forest from his former legion- and to protect its god, a beautiful sharp tongued woman named Ren. For Ren, Basuin represents one thing only: invasion and destruction. Consistently betrayed by humans, Ren doesn’t trust Basuin and rejects him, trying to work alone to protect her world. As their relationship deepens, and Basuin begins to understand why the Wolf God chose him, they need to untangle their feelings before the forest is burned to the ground. 


This book is a brilliant exploration of guilt and PTSD- Basuin absolutely killed me in the earliest parts when he’s struggling with what he’s had to do in the past and can't see a way forward. He’s incredibly complicated and I found his journey to gradual acceptance to be really moving and well written. I loved how he took on the role forced onto him by the Wolf God and came to recognise the better parts of himself, the descriptions of the wolf inside of him were definitely some of my favourite parts. I do wish this had been a dual POV because we only see Ren through Basuin’s eyes and some of her character felt a little unclear to me when I was reading. The setting is gorgeous, the atmosphere is a mixture of tense and romantic (Basuin and Ren’s scenes where he learns his magic were great) and the constant threat of the legion is palatable as you read. The forest and spirits within it all felt real to me and I could visualise each scene because the writing is so descriptive. I really liked how it explored colonialism, deforestation, autonomy, responsibility and trauma through strong worldbuilding though I wish more had happened plot wise and at a faster pace. 

[Sara Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story with a backdrop of industry vs nature and an undercurrent conversation of colonization, "The Gods Must Burn" follows a disgraced solider, Basuin, being drawn into a conflict between Man and Gods while struggling through his own grief and guilt. And he falls in love.

I really enjoyed how the Gods are depicted in this story - all-powerful beings with their own agendas and motivations are going to have a level of cruelty to them, at least in our eyes, and the balancing act of "cruelty" to "care" done with the Gods is very cool to see. The book has a lot of dark conversations about violent industry vs unyielding nature and what the violence of war can do and what level of responsibility soldiers bear in that, without it feeling bloated. And Basuin is the vehicle used to have these conversations, which was done very well - between his own PTSD and experience with the Gods, we get a very good set of eyes to view this world through.

For me, the weakest point in this was the romance - it felt like it took a lot of attention away from those other plot points in the back half of the book. Especially when we start getting more with the villain, who starts to feel a bit too transparently evil (which isn't awful on it's own necessarily - I think I just would've liked more with him to give that space rather than having it be something that pops in and out while we navigate the romance). The romance was well-done, it felt organic and like it fit, especially with other aspects of it that we get introduced to, it just took a lot of time and attention in the back half of the story.

Ultimately, The Gods Must Burn is a solid, character-driven fantasy story with dark tones and hard topics, where the possibility to do and be better is always on the horizon. 3.75 stars rounded up!

Thank you NetGalley and Solaris and Rebellion for the chance to read this story early!

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gods Must Burn is a gorgeous gut punch of a book. I found it so beautiful and moving and such a great example of how a story set in a fantasy world can feel so relevant to our current lives.

The story follows Basuin, a war hero struggling with intense PTSD from a mission gone horribly wrong where he was the only survivor. He still feels duty bound as a soldier, even though he only joined the forces to be able to help his sick mother, who passed while he was away at war, adding to his trauma. He’s never gone home and doesn’t know what or where home is anymore.

His commander, Kensy, leads him and their fleet onto an island they believe is uninhabited, except by spirits and gods. This is where Basuin is led into a trap where he loses his life trying to save two wolf pups after Kensy murdered their mother and set their den on fire. The Wolf God possesses him as his vessel, and Basuin’s world begins to unravel. He finds himself bound to one of the wolf pups, Yaelic, who says he will serve Basuin for saving him and his brother, Hami. Part of Basuin’s new duty as The Wolf God is to protect Ren, The Forest God, who reluctantly begins to teach Basuin how to harness his magic. They form an alliance of sorts to protect the forest from Kensy and the rest of the army. What follows is a gorgeous story that deals with themes of grief, war, colonialism, family, duty, and the most beautiful love story.

I absolutely adored this and can’t recommend it enough. The blurb references The Wolf & the Woodsman and Princess Mononoke; it personally also reminded me of The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart. Overall, such beautiful storytelling, imagery, and raw, real characters. I can’t wait to see what T.R. Moore writes next. Thank you to NetGalley & Solaris Books/Rebellion for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️3.5
Arc review:

This book follows Basuin, a ptsd suffering soldier.
Basuin travels with his fleet to an island that they believe is occupied by the spirits, where he is pulled into a conflict between Man and Gods. Here he comes across two wolf pups Yaelic and Hami (no spoilers about how or why) and he also meets the Forest God, Ren.

I feel like this book explored some good topics, PTSD, War, guilt, etc. Its dialogue is from a Male Point of view which is great as most books are heavily dominated by female perspectives.
I enjoyed the world building in this book but I have to admit that I really struggled with staying engaged.
One of the characters I was hoping to get more from was Yaelic, this would have been a great addition to the story in my opinion.
I really did enjoy some amazing sayings/dialogue in this book, I really vibed with the sentiment 🫶

Thankyou to solarisbooks for sending me this ARC in return for my honest opinion 🖤🫶

Some of my favourite quotes are below:


You are the Wolf god, chosen to protect this forest. Chosen to protect the forest god

“No matter if your choice is right, you know what you want. You follow through. That’s what it takes to be a winner, Bass.”

“Humans and their chances. You all think so little of the world.”

“They fight for someone already dead. We go to battle for someone still living.”

“You must let go if you are to ever find peace.”

“Killing people just because you can doesn’t make you a hero. It makes you selfish. Makes you a monster.”

“If you kill a king, you take his kingdom. If you kill a god, you take its home.”

“Do not be so sad. Without war, there is no peace. With everything, there is balance. Humans always struggle with balancing their scales.”

[Shafaah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
When I first saw the description of this book I knew I needed to read it. A broken man who has lost everything fighting for his chosen home and family? Spectacular, give me fifteen more of em! I loved Basuin, I loved his journey and his growth and his grief. Ren, was OK I guess. I found her to be quite annoying to begin with but she grew on me towards the end of the book when we finally find out why she is the way she is. I've seen a few reviews commenting on how people didn't like the writing style but I loved it. It was lyrical and slow, but not a bad kind of slow. I felt like I was moving through the forest the book was set in, taking my time and savouring each sentence. The only thing that did confuse me was the setting, the author says in her goodreads bio that her books tend to feature korean main characters but that wasn't obvious to me until a secondary character called his older brother "hyung". It felt so out of place and the characters themselves felt like a bit of a hodge podge of different ethnicities which were thrown together carelessly. I get that Basuin is a child of war and the army is one that colonises other countries in the name of their queen but to me it felt a bit backhanded and didn't really read well. That might just be me, another reader might see things differently and the characters might make more sense to them but to me it just felt a bit forced and left me confused. I think a map would help me to see where people are from and without it I really struggled to piece together the empire that Basuin was sighting for. That's not to say I didn't have a good time. I really really enjoyed The God's Must Burn and the ending wrapped everything up nicely. I just wish there had a been a bit more, the villain was defeated too easily for me.

[Jayde · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart wrenching tale of loss and love, the gods must burn is also a love letter to the possibility of redemption that lives in all of us.


The Gods Must Burn is a powerful character-driven fantasy that shines brightest through Basuin—our soldier-turned-Wolf God—whose journey is equal parts raw, painful, and profoundly hopeful. From the opening pages, his struggle with PTSD is handled with sensitivity and honesty. His voice feels genuine, and being inside his head is often heartbreaking, yet I rooted for him instantly. His arc toward forgiveness—both seeking it and learning to grant it to himself—is beautifully crafted.

The relationship that blooms between Basuin and Ren, the Forest God, is tender, gentle, and healing in all the places where Basuin has only ever known violence or duty. Their connection becomes this quiet, grounding force that helps him figure out who he is when the identity of “soldier” is stripped away. Watching that evolve was easily one of my favourite parts of the book.

While the story rightly centres on Ren and Basuin, I would have loved deeper exploration of some of the side characters—especially Yaelic. Basuin’s instinct to protect him is strong and intriguing, but felt slightly underdeveloped. A bit more emotional depth there could have added even more richness to the narrative.

Still, this novel handles trauma, identity, and healing with care. It’s a story that reminds us that softness is a strength of its own—and sometimes the most powerful thing a person can do is allow themselves to be vulnerable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Solaris for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝗪𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆. 𝗪𝗮𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗲.

The Gods Must Burn follows a soldier, engulfed in grief, who finds himself drawn into a rebellion as mortals start challenging gods who are losing their control.

In my opinion, the book’s strongest point is its atmosphere. Moore builds a world that feels enchanting and almost eldritch, where the cities and forests carry weight and danger is always lurking just around the corner. I loved how the story bounced between political drama, action scenes and personal moments, it really had me eager for what was going to happen next in this strange and beautiful little world!

I appreciate how the romance slipped in naturally alongside the main plot and didn’t come bulldozing in out of nowhere. I also really appreciated how the book handles PTSD. The MMC’s trauma is shown thoughtfully and realistically (at least from what I’m aware of), influencing his choices, relationships and the way he navigates through the world. It’s worked into the story in a way that feels natural rather than performative, which makes his struggles that much more heartbreaking.

Some characters fade into the background before they have a chance to make a full impact, and a few plot points feel more functional than organic. Emotional moments land, but a few could have benefited from more buildup. Still, the pacing keeps the story moving, and the tension never lets up for long.

In a nutshell, When The Gods Burn is a solid and engaging read with an immersive atmosphere, steady momentum and thoughtful attention to character and trauma. It may not hit every mark, but it’s a book that’s easy to get drawn into and difficult to put down.

[Brooklyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and rebellion for the advance readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

2.5/5 rounding out to 3 stars. This book is not going to be for everyone. The premise and the world building is spectacular. I was instantly sucked into the world that Basuin lived in and I was fascinated by how the gods worked and what their stories were.

With what little knowledge that I have of PTSD, I felt like the author wrote Basuins character with care and demonstrated the difficulty of having to live with a mental illness. I can see readers becoming bored or annoyed with the redundancy of having to reread the scene that Basuin keeps reliving while waking up or whenever he is thrusted into a stressful situation. It’s definitely confusing at points with trying to decipher what’s a flashback and what is actually happening in the present but I welcomed it.
The one thing I was tired reading about was how much Basuin loved Ren. I got it the first time so why are we spending the last 40% of the book having it run on repeat. I felt like that time spent talking about loving Ren could have been used to give a more solid reasoning about why he was going to live and save the island instead of just playing a heavy hand in how the gods love each other.
The main villain of this book was a let down. He was a stereotypical comic book villain. Bad to just be bad. It wasn’t until the very end and for like one paragraph, we had a moment of adding some complexity or humanity to him but that never happened. The ending was predictable but I still enjoyed it. Overall a decent read and I’ll definitely be watching to see what else this author puts out.

[Max A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

To start, I wasn't sure about the book as it took me a little while to get into - I think perhaps because I had been reading a lot of cosy romantasy. There was a lot of repetition at times but this eased off as the story continued. However, I am so glad that I continued!
The story follows Basuin, a soldier, who is very good at what he does. He has always followed orders, never questioning them - until now. It raises questions around who is responsible for one's actions when you are following orders. After suffering defeat at his last campaign, he is haunted by the massacre that took place, an event that is constantly referred to throughout the story. Disgraced, he is taken on a mission to capture a God.
Whilst out with Commander Kensy, he saves two wolf cubs from his superior, an act which ends with him being deified as the Wolf God. It is this act which leads him to the Forest God, a woman who knows not to trust humans.
Soon the forest begins to burn as the Gods and spirits are hunted. Kensy is on a quest and will not let anything stand in his way - he is merciless.
We then follow Basuin and Ren (the forest god) as their relationship develops and they try to strike a balance between them and their different natures - all the while, trying to save the forest.
Moore's descriptive skills are amazing, there are so many details which bring her characters to life. I was pleasantly surprised by how much more I enjoyed the story as it continued and I'm glad I persevered.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Taylor for having me on your street team and Solaris for sending me a proof copy

This book had such amazing worldbuilding, I really loved the gods and the whole idea of hosts. The war was really deep rooted throughout the book with some politics but the main focus was on the gods and how because of one kingdom are suffering.

There are some very strong topics, so please check the trigger warnings. Taylor really was not afraid to go into detail especially with Bass and his history. It was really interesting and a fresh perspective for me to read the story from Bass’ pov and to hear/see/feel everything he was with the war and his new duties as the protector.

Kensy I felt could of had a bit more of a villain arc and reason for what he did, he did feel kind of flat and towards the end it felt quite rushed with his story line but he did have potential to begin with.

Sometimes it was hard to figure out what was a nightmare, hallucinations, memory or the present as there wasn’t really a flow into it there was just a sudden jump.

Ren and Bass’ chemistry I thought was great and I couldn’t at times see the slow burn but I still feel like there wasn’t enough chemistry to warrant a relationship that wasn’t friendship, I would of liked a few more scenes of them developing their feelings.

The story had good pace until the end which did feel rushed. The writing felt very poetic which I enjoyed and suited this story. The ending was perfect and an emotional rollercoaster which I loved.

[Anika · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gods Must Burn is a story about trauma and war, about guilt and loss, but also a story about love for nature, love for other people, a story about letting go of the past, finding new meaning in life, and looking ahead.
I found the book very entertaining, and the writing style was somewhat different from what I was used to. The setting with the gods appealed to me right away. Many have pointed out the similarities to Princess Mononoke, and yes, I agree, even though it's been a long time since I saw the film. But I still think the book has a slightly different focus, simply because we get to see inside the protagonist's mind, making the story sometimes more tragic, sometimes more sensual and romantic.

However, I did have one criticism: unfortunately, I didn't have such a good mental picture. The text is primarily dialogue and Basuin's sometimes almost philosophical thoughts, flashbacks, and visions, and I sometimes missed a little more detail about the outside world and the scene where the characters are currently located. Because of this, it was sometimes difficult to follow the story and it sometimes felt a little vague, not quite tangible.

This book is therefore recommended for all fans of Princess Mononoke, Pocahontas, romantic fantasy with a beautiful love story and a broken hero in an original setting.

Many thanks to T.R. Moore and the team at Rebellion and NetGalley for the free e-ARC.

[Appel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steeped in myth, drowning in grief and fear we find something to live for in The Gods Must Burn.

A surprising book where the set up of a god killer meets Princess Mononoke, had me intrigued. We follow Basuin, a war captain, riddled with PTSD and ghosts upon his shoulders, ghosts he keeps instead of let loose. He's brought to an island where Gods are still very much real despite most of the kingdom denouncing and even destroying them. Basuin knows of the stories, his beloved mother told all about it and when he saves 2 wolf pups from a fire, the Wolf God gives him a second chance at life, whilst being a god. Not without cost: he has to protect the Forest God, who wants nothing to do with the war making and surviving captain Basuin despite him being a god now.

This book is very vibes and philosophical flashbacks due to Basuin. This makes it a harder book for most to pick up. It does fit the story and despite there being almost no descriptions I got some vivid images in my minds eye with stunning mysterious settings.
For those who wish to pick it up for the romance, be warned it's not a romantic book. It's a book about survive your own ghosts in one way or another and finding ways to survive with others. It also touched important topics like colonialism and environmentalism, which makes it a heavier book than maybe anticipated. But then again, Mononoke-hime isn't a light story either..

[Dingske · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If you kill a king, you take his kingdom. If you kill a god, you take its home.”

Drowning in the will of the gods while the fire rages high.

The Gods Must Burn by T.R. Moore is a fantasy story and so much more than that. Broken by war and haunted by ghosts from his past, Basuin is sent on a mission to an island far across the sea. In search of more land for their king and on a mission to defeat the gods. Although the gods have been banished, Basuin remains steadfast in his beliefs and the voice of his mother as a godspeaker.

In response to his commander's lust for power to lure the gods, The Wolf God will take control and transform himself into Basuin's body. He will have to do everything he can to protect The Forest God from the danger of his own former comrades. But the goddess does not want him, because of his past as a soldier.

The Gods Must Burn is a story about haunting and the search for peace within yourself. It is hard because you join Basuin in his search for a life with his PTSD and all the secrets that now seem to be slowly unraveling. Strong images and sacrifices, you follow mainly from Basuin's perspective. It is sometimes slow, just like healing is.

A slow-paced and psychological book, ideal if this is what you're in the mood for. But be warned, it is mentally demanding and repetitive in its search for peace.

This is an Arc thanks to Netgalley

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Solaris for the early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I never really connected with this book, and honestly I’m not totally sure why. It’s a great epic fantasy with gods and found family and cute wolf pups, it seemed like right up my street. But… meh.

I found the PTSD flashbacks a bit much - I think it moved past the boundary between the balance of realistic and appropriate for a novel. Like, I understand people in real life would have these thoughts a lot, but it’s not that great to read about all through the book at this rate, like it felt very repetitive to me.

Plus the relationship between Basuin and Ren did feel a bit rushed to me, I knew there was attraction there, but the shift into genuine feelings wasn’t really there in my opinion. It made me care less about their outcome in the end.

Basuin himself was a bit hard to relate to also - like I felt we only delved into the surface of his personality so I didn’t connect with him as much as I usually prefer to when reading. Since he’s the main character, this was a big negative for my enjoyment.

I did love the wolf pups and the world building around the gods and how they possess humans to continue existing after worship has dimmed over the years. That world felt really interesting and it kind of reminded me of some Greek novels I’ve read in the past.

Overall it was an okay read but I’m not sure it was my cup of tea.

[Tzia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I unfortunately really didn't get on with this. I wanted to, and I tried, but honestly I found that I was having to drag myself back to this book rather than actively wanting to continue with it.

The premise sounds super engaging - a career long soldier gets posessed by one of the gods of the land he's been sent to conquer and instead has to protect the land and its people rather than destroying it. Along the way he forms bonds, has to challenge his own views and make the ultimate decision.

Unfortunately, beneath the endless and repetitive descriptions of violence of varying kinds the plot actually ended up being very thin. Most of the characters are very incidental - the only ones apart from the narrator who are interesting are Ren and Ko, I would have liked to know them better. The narrator flits between blaming others and self-flagellation and much as I did feel for him at point, I ended up skim reading the final few chapters (except for the last one) as I fundamentally didn't care.

There are several positive points. The idea behind the book and the initial world-building is good. The representation of flashbacks and trauma is very well done, the healing power of nature and the voyage of discovery towards love are both nice too.

This will be a great read for some, it just doesn't work for me.

- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me the ARC in exchange for an honest review -

[Phoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A promising premise, likened to Princess Mononoke as a soldier resurrected by god-possession is given a task to save the forest alongside its mysterious spirit-guardian. Whilst the concept of the god-possession is very neat and I enjoyed the spirit-creatures, pacing and narration fluctuate in a confusing way and the character motivations and actions are similarly hazy.

We are told of past guilt alongside snippets of flashback interspersed with the main storyline, but no real connection to why Basuin is involved in soldiery at all, given its key opposition to his beloved mother’s way of life. We find out why Basuin feels particularly guilty over his squad about halfway through, via a single line. I was also a bit disappointed at how Basuin coming into his power seems to coincide with Ren, the forest-god, dwindling into a passive damsel role. The characterisation feels fairly flat at times and their motivations and feelings repetitively stated rather than deepened through explanation and backlog - give me more of the history; don’t just tell me why you feel bad over it.

There is something of an interesting tension between pacifism and fighting to protect what you love - I won’t spoil the ending but Ren does come into her own in the end and there’s some fine imagery. The author clearly has a knack for poetic phrasing and this was enjoyable. Overall, needs more development for me but not a bad read.