Kissed by the Gods

The Eternal Wars #1

by Caty Rogan

She might be deadly, but she is not their weapon. Fourth Wing meets Dire Bound in this captivating romantasy, brimming with romance, deadly stakes, and unforgettable magic.
 
Survivor. Rebel. Weapon.
 
Leina has spent a lifetime submitting, starving amid wheat fields reserved for the king, standing by while his men crush her loved ones. When soldiers come for her brother, her divine fury erupts in a bloody massacre.
 
She expects to be executed for her crimes—her people have met bloody ends for far, far less. Instead, Ryot, a gods-blessed warrior born to privilege, delivers her to a military fortress renowned for its brutality.
 
There, a gift from a goddess drags Leina into a realm of war, where her survival depends on her ability to ride a winged horse.
 
As Ryot pushes her to master the power she never asked for, a battle rages within her heart. Each lesson, every touch, binds them tighter—but love is a dangerous weakness in a world designed for war.
 
Soon, Leina must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect the family she has found…and the one she left behind. Because while her divine gift could save the kingdom, it could also shatter its very foundation.
 
With immersive lush writing, an unflinching heroine, and an inventive fantasy world, Kissed by the Gods is the gripping fantasy debut you won’t want to miss.
 
Featuring iconic romance He falls first Forbidden romance Found family Trial by combat She saves him Spicy slow burn Feminine rage

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Magic, Gods, Fiction

619 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 24, 2025

About the author

Caty Rogan wrote her first story at five—with crayons, dramatic flair, and a firm belief the Power Rangers were the villains. She later became an award-winning journalist, chasing stories across Texas, England, Indonesia, South Africa, and Equatorial Guinea.

Now she writes spicy romantasy full of badass heroines and he-falls-first heroes. Caty lives in Arizona with her two boss-girl daughters and her husband—her real-life he-falls-first hero—and survives on caffeine, popcorn, and pure chaotic energy.

Find her at www.catyrogan.com and on Instagram and TikTok @CatyRogan

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

STOOOOOP IT RIGHT FREAKING NOW!
That ending, whaaaaat! A cliffhanger to torment me with.
This book is a great first book to what I know will be an epic fantasy series.
I needed this!
The world building, characters, found family, magic system, all of it is so good.
I loved the relationships between the characters.
This is a book with fantastic side characters. I love so many already.
Tension, some spice, yearning and dream walking, or would it be Veil walking? 🤌🏼 Tropes I always enjoy.
The FMC is already a badass, but I can't wait to see her character develop even more.
Our MMC is super likable, broody, and a past full of trauma, I'm sure.
I'll be impatiently waiting for the release of book #2

[Karly · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS is why I read so much damn romantasy—it’s because there are books like this. Kissed by the Gods better blow up on BookTok/Bookstagram because I need everyone to be obsessed with it, too.

📖 ARC Review 📖
🗓️ Pub date: September 24, 2025

What to expect:
🪶 Fantasy romance
🪶 1st person, dual POV (primarily the FMC's POV)
🪶 Mentor x mentee
🪶 Forbidden romance
🪶 Political intrigue
🪶 Feminine rage
🪶 Found family

Spice rating: 🌶🌶 (slowish burn)

This book made me realize I love a certain type of world building, which is diegetic world building. Each chapter begins with excerpts from in-world books, letters, and more—making the universe feel more real and the world building more digestible.

The pacing of this book was perfect—shorter, fast-paced chapters. I can't recall being bored for a single second, and I knew less than 50 pages in that this would be a 5-star read.

I LOVE our FMC, Leina. She's a powerful, independent, and admirable character. She also uses a scythe to slay her enemies and gives us readers a heavy dose of feminine rage (my favorite).

Our MMC, Ryot? I'm also in love. The dynamic between these two is almost reminiscent of Max and Tisannah (from Daughter of No Worlds and my favorite couple of all time) because they're both mentor x mentees, but he doesn't overpower her or belittle her. In both cases, these MMCs are reluctant to be the FMCs mentors but then become their biggest and most steadfast supporters. Ryot knows Leina is powerful and makes sure she knows it, too.

There is a scene in this book that is probably one of my favorites I've read all year because it was so relatable, tension-filled, and vulnerable. The chemistry between these two is palpable that I was hanging onto every word between them.

I say this is a slow-ish burn because he absolutely falls first and this isn't an enemies to lovers situation. This is a forbidden love situation, and the best way I can describe it is delectable.

This book has predictable moments that made me feel smart rather than spoon fed the answers. The moments I didn't guess had me yelling and more eager to get my hands on book 2.

A sincere thank you to Inkspire Author Services and Caty Rogan for gifting me a physical ARC ahead of its release. I cannot wait for other readers to fall in love with this story!

[muhgooo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok so I loved/hated this book. Why the low score? I’ll get to that in a second.

I loved this FMC. She knew what she wanted, and she was going to lay her life on the line to get it. DAMN IT ALL she was going to save her people, even if it killed her. She was a REFRESHING breath of fresh air in a genre full of bratty, annoying, whiny FMCs who make stupid decisions to drive the plot. Leina is NOT that girl.

This story is so captivating and UNIQUE! I have never read anything like it. Although, it did give very strong Fourth Wing vibes in certain places, this story stands on its own and was very interesting. I loved the scythe, the magic, THE FARAVARS, the veil, and the war and I was definitely gobsmacked more than once by a plot twist.

I thought the writing was beautiful and interesting. The world building was good. I wish we got more descriptions of the locations, sometimes I couldn’t picture where they were. But I really enjoyed the writing (mostly).

But this book does have some issues that drove me nuts and took me out of the story. I’m not one to be bothered by grammar or typos, but there were definitely issues with describing actions in this book. It was prevalent on almost every page. Characters appearing in one room and then on their faravars from one paragraph to the next, people being in the room that weren’t there before, etc. It was disjointed and incredibly distracting. I’m not sure how to describe it, but the author didn’t describe characters getting up from a chair, or entering a room, or approaching another character. For example, there was a scene where the FMC found out something terrible and very abruptly, she is on the floor crying and crawling away from everyone. When literally the paragraph before that, the MC was describing her laugh in glorious detail and how it made him feel… and then in the next sentence she’s on the floor, crawling, saying “don’t touch me” and then it’s literally end scene. It was so JARRING to go from the detail of describing her laugh, to describing her falling apart in less words than it took to describe her laughter. I don’t know how to describe it. And just the characters constantly appearing from no where or getting from place to place with no warning or description…. I often found myself reading back to see if I had missed something, but I wasn’t. It was just… odd and disjointed.

Also, I thought the romance was very poorly done. There was nuance, no magic, no connection between them. Not only was it very much insta lust, the characters barely, BARELY interacted and seemed to jump to love very quickly. Insta lust is fine, but there was nothing else between them. The MMC was also very flat. All he seemed capable of was growling, being jealous, and occasionally mentioning some sort of trauma in he had in his past without giving details. He was singlemindedly “hers” from very early on, and his POV was consumed with risking it all for “her”. He was willing to give up his oaths and his life for her, after barely exchanging a few sentences. He had no other motivations or convictions. He was just boring, when there was such an opportunity for a slow burn to watch their relationship grow. I wish he had more dimension to him, he could have been a good character.

I feel like a team of beta readers and a good editor could EASILY turn this book into a New York Times best seller, because the story here TRULY is fantastic. That cliffy?! I audibly screamed and scared the crap out of my husband.

But the issues I had with this book were so irritating to me it was hard to get through it. I honestly thought I was losing my mind and thought about putting the book down more than once.

I am glad I pushed through it, because I genuinely can’t wait for the next book! I really loved this unique story and the FMC and her boldness, and I hope the author continues to improve because this story has incredible potential!

Thank you to the Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC!

[Dayna | daynas.bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY SHIT- Leina and Ryot are going to take the epic fantasy world by storm.

i don’t say this lightly, but the battle scene in this book made me feel like i was watching The Lord of the Rings. this book was so insanely vivid to me, it felt like a movie in my mind. EPIC is the only word i could use to describe it. ok maybe “extremely painful, traumatizing, and anxiety inducing” too… if i had to.


Leina is a serf in a brutal world where young men are stolen away to mine for ore that powers the kingdoms’ strongest warriors. her childhood love and brother have already been taken and killed, and she must work to hide her unusual fighting instincts to remain unnoticed by those who come to take her youngest brothers. In an effort to protect her loved ones she finds herself taken by Ryot, an Altor chosen by the gods as a warrior, to train as one herself- the first female Altor in history. she must forsake all relationships besides her new brotherhood and bond with a mentor who will be her guide in this brutal and war torn world. the odds are stacked against her, but the gods seem to have bigger plans for her. Leina’s bond with her mentor seems to be different from everyone else’s, as they can feel each others’ minds and feelings through their bond (totally nothing to see here).


one thing that struck me immediately about this book is how well written it is. i felt immersed from the first page, the pacing was wonderful, the characters were lovable and complex, and the lore we get that leads us into waiting for book 2 is AMAZING.

the romance is definitely a smaller subplot, but once it picks up it HITS. nothing like a fit of jealous rage to heal the soul 🙂‍↕️

i’m landing on a glowing 4.5 ⭐️!




thank you to the author for sending me an ARC for my honest review!

[Bea27x · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let it be angry. I’m angry too.
I keep going, because if the gods think I’ve come to beg, they’re wrong.
I’ve come to demand.

I adored this book, I got into the world, the story and bonded with the characters so much that it’s one of my newest obsessions, so I don’t care about imperfections, this is a 5 stars.

“I was hollow long before a death demon ever touched me. You think you can beat fear into me? You can threaten me with whips, with death, with the gods’ own wrath—but I’ve walked through Lako’s hells with nothing and I’ve come out with less. I have no fear left to give you.”

The base of the plot is a classic one, I have read things with similar elements, but the execution, the mix of all these elements, is done and works so well. The Gods and monsters plotline is interesting, but my favorite is the political one. The story talks about injustices, oppression, lies, I could feel the fmc anger for the abuses the system she lives under inflicts on her country and I’m invested in her fight; that was the first element that completely sucked me in. The king, his court, the Synod (because the Altor are, in a different way, deprived of freedom too), they are all twisted, I’m eager to watch Leina and her cast fight to change things and I can’t wait for the group to eventually meet with the rebels.

I’m not disciplined like they are, not honed into a weapon through years of training.
But I do know how to survive. I know how to take the hits that won’t stop coming, how to grit my teeth through the pain and the grief and keep moving. I know what it means to endure.
---
I know what it means to be broken into pieces and still be dangerous.

Other than the story, what won me was the fact that I got very attached to the characters.
I completely adore Leina, she’s such a badass, from the start I fell in love with her and wanted to see her succeed. She’s tough as hell, so determined, a force to be reckoned with, kind of reckless and stubborn, but also quick, sharp and good at thinking on her feet; she struggles and trains her ass off, because she has a goal and she won’t give up. She carries so much pain and anger, for her life, for a system that enslaves and oppresses, and she wants to tear it all down, even if that means fighting her way through the most powerful institutions in existence to at least make them see what’s happening. All those men who expects her to fail, back down and obey, yet she keeps her head up and refuses to bow down to anyone: she’ll get what is owned to her and her people.

“You are a very special person, Leina Haverlyn. Because you claim refuse to be broken. Because of your unwavering resolve to overcome obstacles that were meant to hold you down, and the quiet defiance that drives you to create a better path. You are special to me, Leina Haverlyn, because of the place you hold in my heart.”

Ryot for a chunk of the book I thought was alright, but I didn’t feel much for him because I didn't really know him beside serious, hard, honorable and loyal; he came out later in the book, and then I grew more attached to him. I started to understand that he’s not as rigid as it seems, he doesn’t blindly follow, he has his own motivations and he’s capable of going to the heart of the oaths he made and doing what he thinks it’s right even if it bends the rules; he also starts breaking all the rules, because he falls in love with Leina and because he sees things are much different than he thought. He’s disgusted by the cruelty of his kingdom, carries a lot of guilt (more on that later) and he wants to do something about it. I’m curious to explore him more.

“You made me whole, Leina Haverlyn.”
Her smile is radiant—not a smirk of bravado, not a grimace of grim determination, but a real smile, pure and blinding, a sunbeam slicing through the darkness of a dying world.
“I make you whole, Ryot,” she says simply. “We’re not dead quite yet.”

Absolutely adored the found family, I’m so fond and attached to them; I love how loyal they are toward each other and how they welcomed Leina. Even between those who had few scenes I still felt how much the bonds meant. There were also some really funny interactions that sell that they are a family. Beside Leina, my favorite character is Nyrica, he’s the best. And I have to mention that despite been seen is snippets, I fell completely in love with the romance between Nyrica and Thalric, I melt for them, they are my otp, the standard, true love 💙​, they have loved each other all of their lives and managed to have a life together that is not what they dreamed, but they made the best of it because being together is what matters. All of their moments had me in a chokehold (“Let them call love a weakness if they must. But I know the truth. I’ve never fought more fiercely than with Thalric’s life in the balance.”), and they are so the dads of the team.
“Is it worth it?” There’re a few men who have formed bonds, like Thalric and Nyrica. They risk so much to be together, but they do it anyway.
Thalric looks down the hallway where Nyrica disappeared. “I don’t know that ‘worth it’ is the right question. The real question is whether it’s inevitable.” 🫠
If one of them dies I will not be responsible for my actions. Nyrica has his forehead pressed to Thalric’s. “Stay with me,” he murmurs, no teasing. A plea. “You’re not done yet. We’re not done yet.”

P.S. I can’t believe Caius died, my heart breaks for Faelon, he’ll never be the same.
Faelon presses a kiss to Caius’s now-cold forehead—a whisper of a touch, the kind meant for someone still breathing, for someone who might come back if you loved them hard enough. The kind meant for a father.
And the Elder… he was so amazing, and the only one in power that was good and could be trusted.

“Kiss?” He echoes, bewildered. “That’s what you call that? That wasn’t a kiss, Leina. That was a fucking confession.”

The romance→ I’m gonna be honest, in the first half it got me 95%: I really liked their scenes, they have great chemistry, they worked together from the start, but I wasn’t swooning. In terms of what happens between them it’s a slow burn, but in terms of feelings, those develop fast, Ryot’s especially, they are drawn to each other almost immediately, this didn’t bother me tho, because it managed to do one key thing: I adored and was impressed by Leina very fast, so I believed and understood why Ryot was too. I think what kept that 5% was that I liked Ryot, his actions are all great, but I didn’t feel it with him, probably because like I said earlier, he was so stoic that I didn’t know him enough. In the second half of the book tho, once I started to feel a stronger attachment to Ryot, I also started to really FEEL for the romance.
Leina and Ryot work well together, she manages to push past his icy and grumpy exterior so who he really is comes out, his view of the world changes because of her, and, like I said, he’s completely starstruck and impressed by her, her resilience, her boldness and strength. He tries to fight it, but cares so much about her, how she feels, and he’s so protective 🖤​, strong touch her and die, but never limits her, he trains her as hard as possible so she can protect herself, he was the first to believe in her, listen to her, know she could make it and helped her and stood up for her. There are a strong forbidden aspect (Altor can’t have attachments) and a mentor/apprentice dynamic to add delicious tension, and the bond that forms between them is felt: the love, the devotion, the need, how much the other means. And the chemistry in the spice scene 🥵​🔥​.

“Don’t make me beg,” she says.
And that vulnerable courage—that essence of Leina—is my undoing.
“By the Veil, Leina, you don’t beg for anything. You command and it’s yours. Tell me what you want.”
“You,” she says.

Now, about the ending: always knew Ryot was going to be revealed as the king son, (it was clear by what he says about his sisters and his interactions with Rissa and Elowen) and that made me understand more why he tried even harder to not cross the line with Leina, being the son of the man responsible for all her suffering makes him feel even more guilty, for not knowing, not seeing, and I get why he didn’t tell her, Altor abandon all family ties, and he probably didn’t want her to look at him differently, but he should have told her. Now Leina rightfully feels devastated, betrayed, angry, how could she not? Ryot is nothing like his father, he doesn’t stand with him, I know he’ll always choose Leina, but he still is the son of the man responsible for every horrible thing ever happened to her, he grew up with the privileges derived from her people’s blood, and he hid it. The situation is very complicated and I can’t wait to see how it’ll unfold. Ryot will have to grovel and make a choice, he thinks his father can be deposed, maybe it’s because despite finding out he’s a monster he’s still his father and he doesn’t want him dead, maybe it’s for his sisters... but the man deserves to be killed.

2027 for the second book?! It’s so far away! I need it.

“But fuck the gods,” he whispers. “Fuck the Synod. Fuck the throne and every cursed thing that’s come from it.”
His thumb brushes under my eye. I hadn’t realized I was crying.
“You don’t belong in my world. Leina, you are my world.”

[E.H · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first 5⭐️ read of 2026!

Let me say this book hooked me in quick; intense action scenes, quieter emotional beats, and enough mystery to keep you turning pages “one more chapter” at a time. The pacing balances plot and romance beautifully, with enough twists to make every chapter feel meaningful.

Leina is the kind of protagonist I love following: stubborn, hurting, determined, and constantly growing. And Ryot? Listen…for some reason I usually hate a blonde MMC but he definitely scored in mysterious and morally gray.

If you like fast-paced romantasy where romance and plot both matter, badass heroines, gods meddling in mortal lives and cliff hangers that make you say “Excuse me? We’re stopping there?” then this deserves to be on your TBR.

[Nina Quill · Rating 5 out of 5]

À peine prévisible et un peu trop ressemblant à des Romantasy qu’on connaît (Dire Bound + Blood and Steel) mais ça a grave marché sur moi !!! Also : des chevaux ailés !!!!!

[JensBookishWays · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I loved this book! Leina Haverlyn is one of my favorite FMC’s to date. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Kissed By The Gods by Caty Rogan is an action-packed, fast-paced Romantasy that follows Leina as she is taken from her home and set on a path to become an Altor, warriors committed to serving the Gods in a war against enemies called the Kher’zenn. Leina fights for justice for her people, the Selencians, while also using her fury and stubborn determination to survive the pain and trials of becoming an Altor. This story includes gods, monsters, and flying warrior horses.

This story gave me some serious Blood & Steel, Dire Bound, and Lord of the Rings vibes!

Characters: Leina, the FMC, is a strong, stubborn, and damaged badass. Ryot, the MMC, is possessive and grumpy, but in a delicious way. The side characters create a found family that is entertaining and endearing. The Elder reminded me of a mix between Gandalf and Yoda with his insightful one liners!

Plot: The plot was fast paced with several plot twists. Although I predicted one of the twists early on, it was enjoyable seeing everything play out. The ending was well done.

World building: I was really impressed with the world building in this story, which introduces multiple areas/kingdoms, ideologies, gifts, and political systems. Kissed By The Gods is book 1 in what I believe will be a 6 book series, so lots to look forward to!

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Some of the Tropes:
Forbidden Romance
He Falls First
Found Family
One Tent
One Horse (flying)

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and connected with the characters. I would definitely recommend this book and author.

Thank you to TheNerd Fam and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book as an eARC.

[AshReadThis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a (few) hot minute(s) to process this story.

FIRST of all, Leina is one of the most likable FMCs in a Romantasy for me. She didn’t just lay down and play the defenseless victim card, she took her trauma and grief and became fierce and relentless, and I am HERE for it.

“I have no fear left to give you.” 😭

The slow burn was *chef’s kiss*. The angst and yearning was absolutely delicious.

Ryot was another likable MMC, but I especially appreciate that his character and description isn’t written as a carbon copy of another popular, previously existing story. I felt he was original and refreshing.

The world building is so immersive, every time I tried to read anything else, this story overtook it in my mind. The winged war horses? 10/10.

The plot twist was a jaw dropper. That’s an understatement and I just spent several minutes trying to think of a better phrase, but came up empty so you’re going to have to just use your imagination.

Beyond that, I think romantasy readers should go in blind to enjoy this to its full potential. ❤️

What to expect:
🖤 He falls first
🖤 Forbidden romance
🖤 Found family
🖤 Fierce FMC/feminine rage
🖤 Touch her and ☠️
🖤 Forced proximity
🖤 Meddling gods, magic and war
🖤 Unique mythical creatures
🖤 First person / Dual POV
🖤 One tent

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kissed by the Gods (The Eternal Wars #1) by Caty Rogan

Book Blurb:Leina has spent a lifetime submitting. Kneeling. Enduring.
Then soldiers come for her brother, and divine fury surges through her veins. She expects execution for the bodies she left in her wake. Her people have met bloody ends for far, far less.

Rating: ****
Feels: Adventure, Heat, Fun, Rage
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance
First published September 24, 2025: 558 pages

This read is packed with action, adventure , twists , romance , politics and all the things that make for an amazing fantasy read. The world building and deity system was really unique and engaging. I really enjoyed how the magic system was so varied between each person in the story. Leina is a warrior through and through and I adore her. The chemistry with Ryot is off the charts. The found family aspect paired with warrior training was just perfect !!! Such a great read. Can not wait for book two !!!

Favorite Quote: "the gods never ask what you're willing to give. I don't think they care."

This book has:
Chosen One
Forbidden Love
He falls first
Found Family
Slow Burn
Military Academy
Forced Proximity
Touch her and die
Burn it all down FMC
Possessive MMC
Mentor/Mentee
Flying War Horses
Meddling gods/goddesses

[TwinreadsandReds-Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best romantasy books I have read in along time! I loved the tension, yearning, and slow burn between Leina and Ryot. It reminded me a little bit of fourth wing with them having their own Faravar, which I LOVED! Also that ending reminded me of the ending to Fourth Wing! 🤯 I loved it so much cannot wait for the next one!

[Kilikina · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO GOOD???????

I went into this blind and could not have loved this more. I really think this book is going to blow up massively, and rightfully so. I’m dying for more people to read this!

Need book two SO BAD.

[Helen Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ✨

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, how do I even begin to process everything?!

Listen. I have read over 250 books this year alone, so needless to say I’ve read a lot of romantasy. But this was honestly so good. Definitely one of my absolute favorite reads this year.

The prequel started us off so strong, and I was a little worried when it switched focus to new characters in this book, but it delivered time and time again.

Both the FMC and MMC were written to perfection. I am LIVING for their slow burn romance. The world building was so great. The storyline was extremely captivating. The ending though… has me absolutely feral.

Thank you so much to Caty Rogan and The Nerd Fam for the physical copy!

[Sandra's Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

INFINITY STARS 🌟 My first read of 2026 did not disappoint! I was immersed in a action packed world of magic and mythical creatures. The world building was incredible with divine armies, demons, and my favorite winged war horses, aka faravars! The characters were unforgettable, Leina, the FMC she is fierce, strong, fiesty, and stubborn. Ryot is a grumpy warrior, fierce, protective, and possessive. The slow burn, forbidden romance, forced proximity, and found family are incredible. All the side characters create a family you will feel part of and will love them all! If you love royal secrets, meddling gods, sacred power with touch her and die and an epic plot twist, dual POV and one hell of a cliff hanger don't miss this read! I loved everything about this book!

[Readwithri · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC. It's insane that it took me this long to pick up this book. I did in fact re read after finishing it, because it was that good. Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing and Direbound.
I have in fact preordered this baby.

[Blaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s almost 2am and all I can do is lay here in the dark reeling over this book. It was AMAZING. Truly one of the most epic Romantasies I’ve read in a long time. It had me hooked from the very beginning.

This book has it all. Epic battles. Winged warhorses. Forbidden romance. So much feminine rage it hurts. All the yearning out of an MMC who falls hard, fast and first. There were so many devastating emotions here that it left my heart and soul aching. And through it all Caty Rogan delivered this story beautifully.

What do I do now?? How do I move on? I need the next book like I need air and water.

What you get:
- only female warrior
- forbidden romance
- looming war
- winged war horses
- meddling gods
- yearning + pining
- mentor x mentee
- he falls first
- found family

[Linz_loves_books (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying that I finished this book days ago and I am still processing! Can't get it out of my head

This book had me in an unrelenting chokehold from the very beginning! Days later and I'm still in it! I can't get this story out of my mind. One of my top reads of this year...yes I said it! A Romantasy that was beautifully written and packed full of action, adventure, twists, and politics. The worldbuilding was out of this world, the pacing was perfection, the chemistry and yearning.....through the roof!

What to Expect
👑Fantasy/Romantasy
👑Forbidden Romance
👑Mentor x Student
👑Found Family
👑Feminine Rage
👑Gods and Monsters
👑Slow Burn
👑One Tent

Leina and Ryot🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Thats all I can say!!
The ending....Mindblowing(I am still processing)
The excruciating torture I am going to have to go through until the second book comes out..why do I do this to myself?


Huge Shoutout and Thank You to Caty Rogan and Inkspire Services for giving me the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

[sam | sammylou.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Unwritten by the Gods (#0.5) first and immediately knew I was going to love this series!! If you haven't read it yet, go do that right now!! It's the perfect novella 🤌🏻 and I definitely do recommend reading it first!!

Now on to Kissed by the Gods 🫡
This book deserves every bit of hype it's getting and more!! If you take a rec from me, let it be this one. It’s one of my top reads of 2025. It’s so well written and sucks you in from the very first chapter.

Ryot Ryot Ryot 🙂‍↔️ What a mannn. I am FERAL for him, you hear me!! FERAL. 👹 & I know y’all will be too!! And my girl Leina? Also feral for her. She’s a strong willed, stubborn, scythe-swinging baddie and I will go to war for her.

Speaking of war, the fantasy aspects of this book were my favorite!! Like I’m obviously here for the romance, but it’s more of a subplot and baby I am A-OK with that bc THE WINGED WAR HORSES?? Obsessed. I need one 😂 The plot twists though?? 😩✋ I'M ILL. UNWELL. SICKKK. Didn't see any of that coming 😂

“By the Veil, Leina, you don’t beg for anything. You command and it’s yours. Tell me what you want.”
“You.”

If you're a fan of Romantasy, you NEED to read this!

“That wasn’t a kiss, Leina. That was a fucking confession.”

What to expect:
-Romantasy
-Winged war horses
-Forbidden love
-Found family
-Slowish burn
-Dual POV

[Gabi Koz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book!!!!! 5 easy stars!!!
One of my favorite romantic fantasy books I have read all year. This has the PERFECT balance of plot, magic and world building while still having an achingly beautiful forbidden romance. Neither part of the story outshines the other - it was SO well balanced.

The training aspects felt so real and so well done. It made the war training setting completely come to life. The tension between Leina and Ryot was PALPABLE especially during these scenes. And the side characters/found family were also AMAZING. I am so invested in all of them.

The dreams element was so creative and fed into the magic system so well, while still allowing a true slow burn while still having some fun steamy moments 👀

I just loved this book & NEED BOOK 2 NOW PLS !!!!!

Ps: I read the novella, Unwritten by the Gods first & highly recommend 🥰

[DeannaK ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ “We fight not for victory, but for purpose. Every moment we stand, we defy the darkness. Every breath we take, we steal those we love from the enemy’s grasp.”

This was fantastic! I absolutely loved the world building, the creatures, the magic system and the relationships throughout this story.

The pacing is steady, yet there is always something happening to keep you hooked. Lots of tension, yearning, forbidden love with some spice. I really liked both the FMC and the MMC. The FMC is the epitome of girl power and female rage! 💪🏼

“Time spent in rest is not lost. Is it the foundation upon which strength is built.”

Left on a cliffhanger of course, give me book 2 now please!!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 STARS!!!
Review: I’ll admit—I was both nervous and excited to pick up this ARC after seeing how highly rated it already was on Goodreads. But now that I’ve turned the final page, I can confidently say: everyone is right. This book deserves every ounce of love it has (and will continue to get).

Leina is such a fierce, strong-willed FMC. She’s one who stays true to herself while carrying her values like a torch, reflecting them in every choice she makes for her loved ones. And Ryot? He recognizes that strength and meets it, lifting her up instead of trying to diminish it. Their dynamic had me hooked from the very beginning.

And that ending?! Let’s just say I was screaming at Caty through my phone that I need book two yesterday. For my high fantasy and epic fantasy girlies, this is a story you’re going to want to strap in for. The found family element tugged on my heartstrings in the best way, and the way Caty weaves her world is rich, dangerous, and bingeable, leaving me completely obsessed.

I cannot wait to see this book (and its characters) get all the love they so deserve. This story is something truly special, and I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on it!

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kissed by the Gods by Caty Rogan is a captivating fantasy that weaves together themes of survival, love, and sacrifice against a backdrop of existential warfare. The story follows Leina, a fierce and resilient young Selencian woman. Chosen to become an Altor—elite warriors serving the Gods—Leina must navigate the brutal training and emotional turmoil that comes with this new life, all while grappling with the mounting pressures of a war against the Kher’zenn, an ancient and formidable enemy.

Rogan’s world-building is rich and immersive, offering a blend of political intrigue, divine intervention, and a society deeply rooted in duty.

Leina's fierce determination and unyielding spirit make her an incredibly compelling protagonist. And the forbidden romance with Ryot is done wonderfully. The slow-burn tension between them simmers with anticipation, making their eventual connection feel both well-earned and profoundly satisfying.

Kissed by the Gods is an enthralling blend of action, romance, and heartache, and that ending... I can't wait to continue Leina’s journey.

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Gosh. This book had me in a chokehold from page one and did not let go!! The pacing is wild in the best way and I tore through it so fast because I had to know what happened next.

Leina is an absolute powerhouse. She’s fierce, loyal, and refuses to back down, and I adored following her journey. And Ryot?? Broody, morally gray, and full of that enemies-to-lovers tension that makes me weak. Their banter and slow burn chemistry had me kicking my feet and squealing.

The world is so vivid and unique gods, prophecies, and giant winged war horses (yes, WINGED WAR HORSES). Add in the found family vibes, the epic battles, and that ending that left me screaming, and this is easily one of my favorite fantasy romances this year.

I am not okay after that cliffhanger. I need Book two, please and thank you. Thanks to the nerdfam and inkspire for the gifted Arc.

[Kha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhh-kayyy. This has been a fun read! I couldn’t put it down. And that ending! Now I’m intrigued for what's to come.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need a minute, because OH. MY. GOD?!

Where do I even begin?! I feel hollow. Like l've been cracked open, rearranged, and left gasping. This book was a storm of emotions. I felt everything. The confusion, the angst, the never ending tension, the yearning?! fe The kind of aching that curls in your chest and refuses to let go. Then when the unspoken truths finally hit, devastating, pure, emotional whiplash.

Right from the start this story explodes into motion and never lets up. This book has officially carved itself into my soul, ano I fear the slump it might leave behind. Like, how do I read something else after this when the only thing I want to read is book two?! lol. I was superglued to this story. Devouring it.
Breathing it.

Okay and Leina?! A force. A woman carved from fire and forged in steel. The drop that causes the tidal wave. She starts as a nobody, but becomes everything. She's the soul of this story, and watching her rise? Electric. You can't not root for her. Then Ryot? THIS. MAN. You want to talk about a swoon worthy, ride or die MMC? Ryot is the blueprint. His loyalty & love is all consuming. The kind of man who would burn the world down and then carry the ashes to her feet.
Every moment, every choice, always her. ALWAYS HER 😫

And that ending?! I was not okay. I am not okay.
It gutted me. It shattered me. I feel like l've been thrown into the veil myself and left there to scream in silence. My heart aches, truly aches for these characters.

If you're looking for a book that will consume you whole, ruin you and leave you breathless and begging for more, This is it.

Read it. Devour it. Obsess over it.
Just don't expect to come out unscathed.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top 2025 read. Absolutely loved it. Loved everything about it.

[Hold-my-beer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only exciting thing in this story was the cliffhanger for me.

Formulaic to the core. It's a walmart version of fourth wing but bland.

Every character is paper-thin, the story is recycled from many other books in the genre. I failed to connect with any of the cookie-cutter characters.

The romance was the biggest yawn. Would have been better without it at all.

I suffocated while reading this, constantly checking which page I was on and how much was left.

The line-writing was also awkward. It's like the author heard somewhere that it's ok to use the same word in the same paragraph twice and abused it mercilessly. Some passages are also disconnected, lacking the cohesive link between them - the character is in one spot and suddenly in the next paragraph she's somewhere else. How did she get there?

Nothing managed to hook me in this book. I've read this all before and in a much better package.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I wanted to read Fourth Wing, I’d just read Fourth Wing.

For starters, thank you to the Nerdfam for the eARC!!

There’s definitely potential here. The premise is strong, the world has interesting elements, and I liked Leina and Ryot as characters. But this ended up being a tough read for me, and I’m officially DNF’ing at 71%.

At first, I thought it might just be me, but the further I got, the more it felt way too close to Fourth Wing... and not in a good way. Some of the overlaps:

❥ a warrior academy (fair, nothing unique there)
❥ excerpts from ancient texts/letters at the start of chapters (familiar, but again, not uncommon in romantasy)
❥ 'inntinnsic' abilities—sensing emotions/intentions (wait a minute... Xaden??)
❥ bonded winged horses instead of dragons (hmm... I'm sensing a pattern)
❥ a Jack Barlow–style villain who hates the FMC for existing (…)
❥ and, last but not least — spoiler for both Kissed by the Gods and Onyx Storm: the FMC eventually discovers she can “veilstride” (aka dreamwalking), which is, you guessed it, Violet Sorrengail’s second signet.

Maybe that’s just me, but the overlap felt excessive. And beyond the comparisons, my bigger issue was the sheer weight of the worldbuilding. We had gods, demons, bonded animals, bonded weapons, multiple types of magic (regular Altor vs. gifted Altor), different warrior ranking systems, and about 50 character names to keep track of, all packed into one book. I was overwhelmed. It felt like all of Fourth Wing’s worldbuilding jammed into one book, with extra info-dumping on top.

The story itself isn’t bad, and I could see readers who want a dense romantasy world enjoying it. But for me, I just kept asking myself, why read this when I can just read Fourth Wing?

2.5🌟

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um, hi?? Still screaming about this a week later??

Thank you Nerd Fam for the ARC!

Y'all I LOVED this book. The ending was what y'all told me Metal Slinger was going to be--it took me a week to pick my jaw off the floor, and I want to reread this IMMEDIATELY.

I loved the world building, the little journal entries between each chapter. I loved Leina's choice of weapons. I loved how her family was her motivation, but she wasn't annoying about it (I'm sorry!!! Family relationships are not my thing!!!). I loved WINGED HORSES. I loved the found family--the cast of side characters was just A+ all around. I even loved Ryot EVEN THOUGH he's blond. I'll forgive that transgression.

If you love a female rage moment, and an FMC that wants to burn everything down to the ground (and I mean EVERYTHING), you're going to love this!! Leina is everything, and she's not even going to let the Gods get in her way.

I'd love to expand upon what I really enjoyed about it, but honestly, I just loved everything. And I think the story is better the more blind you are to the plot, so I don't want to ruin that for everyone. So if you trust my book recommendations, you need to read this IMMEDIATELY.

I am so ready for the next book, I don't know what I'm going to do until it comes out. Absolutely not a single note for this one.