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Acts of Deicide
300 years ago, a god was murdered.
Blue, once the deity's most faithful general, made immortal through her service, has wandered the fractured land ever since.
Her inability to die is a curse she strives to end.
Chance has her collide with Sarai, a guard captain who possesses an ancient memoir detailing the events of the god's death. If Blue can find the weapon used in that divine assassination, perhaps it can end her life, too.
Fuelled by a death drive developed over centuries, Blue seeks out the blade with Sarai at her side. Their hunt will take them across the blood-soaked extents of the broken empire, where the violently faithful battle for the right to name themselves the next God-Emperor.
But a blade that can kill one god can also make another, and Blue isn't the only one who desires that weapon.
Acts of Deicide is a dark, visceral fantasy that explores immortality, the unreliability of memory, and the nature of faith and godliness in a world destroyed by the death of its divine ruler.
Blue, once the deity's most faithful general, made immortal through her service, has wandered the fractured land ever since.
Her inability to die is a curse she strives to end.
Chance has her collide with Sarai, a guard captain who possesses an ancient memoir detailing the events of the god's death. If Blue can find the weapon used in that divine assassination, perhaps it can end her life, too.
Fuelled by a death drive developed over centuries, Blue seeks out the blade with Sarai at her side. Their hunt will take them across the blood-soaked extents of the broken empire, where the violently faithful battle for the right to name themselves the next God-Emperor.
But a blade that can kill one god can also make another, and Blue isn't the only one who desires that weapon.
Acts of Deicide is a dark, visceral fantasy that explores immortality, the unreliability of memory, and the nature of faith and godliness in a world destroyed by the death of its divine ruler.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 16, 2026
About the author
L. E. Garrison
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Auteur
This was really a great story! Great plot and premise. Great character drive. Lovable MCs and supporting cast. An immortal and a guard captain goes in search of a weapon that can kill immortals.
I found the beginnings quite slow but understandable: the introductions getting to know each other and everyone else, the backstory, the journey, the planning and plotting, the torturings, etc. The real entertainment and action starts just after the halfway mark.
The term deicide refers to the act of killing a god as opposed to genocide which is the act of killing people because of ethnic, religious or political reasons. The former is merely referenced to in the past while the latter is something that is happening at present.
The book touches on the dangers of blind faith and the bigotry and violence that follows these fanatics when opposing beliefs collide.
There's a lot of violence, killing, torture, mutilation, cannibalism and talks of suicide and attempts at it so if you're sensitive to any of these discretion is advised.
As for the romance, both MCs were drawn to each other early on though they did not actually commit until after halfway through the book due to numerous distractions and reluctance.
I loved the plot twists in the story. Very well done, It was really interesting lol.
The end was climactic and nerve wracking and was satisfying in the end. I would recommend this book for those who love the clean dark sapphic epic fantasy genre.
I would like to thank L. E. Garrison for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I found the beginnings quite slow but understandable: the introductions getting to know each other and everyone else, the backstory, the journey, the planning and plotting, the torturings, etc. The real entertainment and action starts just after the halfway mark.
The term deicide refers to the act of killing a god as opposed to genocide which is the act of killing people because of ethnic, religious or political reasons. The former is merely referenced to in the past while the latter is something that is happening at present.
The book touches on the dangers of blind faith and the bigotry and violence that follows these fanatics when opposing beliefs collide.
There's a lot of violence, killing, torture, mutilation, cannibalism and talks of suicide and attempts at it so if you're sensitive to any of these discretion is advised.
As for the romance, both MCs were drawn to each other early on though they did not actually commit until after halfway through the book due to numerous distractions and reluctance.
I loved the plot twists in the story. Very well done, It was really interesting lol.
The end was climactic and nerve wracking and was satisfying in the end. I would recommend this book for those who love the clean dark sapphic epic fantasy genre.
I would like to thank L. E. Garrison for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2025
Dark, gritty and fast paced. Very interesting world that I was able to get lost in. Character development was good and relatable.
Review of advance copy
Hundreds of years after the violent death of a god, the world is still broken from the fallout. One of their former followers cannot die and desperately wants to. She crosses paths with Sarai, a guard captain carrying a memoir about the god's assassination, and the two set out to find the weapon that slew a deity. Blue hopes it will finally grant her the ending she’s been chasing for hundreds of years.
I am an absolute sucker for immortals who hate being immortal, especially when their memories have started to fade. It makes perfect sense that the centuries would blur together, and the book really leans into that fact. Blue isn’t some all-knowing ancient warrior. She’s exhausted, prickly, and kinda just done with existence. This is thoughtful in how it explores the horror of living forever. It's not glamorous. The slow erosion of purpose, memory, identity.
Blue’s death wish isn’t treated as melodrama. It feels like the logical endpoint of centuries of loss and loneliness. The “sad sack who just wants to be left alone but gets dragged back into things” archetype always works for me, and it’s done especially well here. Watching her stumble toward something resembling a connection again feels like a quiet second chance at life she never wanted and does not believe she deserves.
The sapphic romance between Blue and Sarai is surprisingly tender given how bleak everything else is. It develops slowly, with plenty of hesitation and emotional baggage on both sides. There are a few morally messy aspects to their connection, which I appreciated because the story actually addresses them instead of pretending they aren’t there. It feels like two very lonely people recognizing something familiar in each other and clinging to it. And that's beautiful in such a violent world.
The fact that there is a fallen theocracy is another plus. This is a land still haunted by fanaticism and cults, where people cling to scraps of belief and justify truly awful behavior in the name of righteousness and power. The book doesn’t shy away from how ugly that can get. There is a lot of violence and body horror, and it earns its grimdark subgenre. It all reinforces how thoroughly this world has been shaped by the loss of its god. This feels like a fantasy and post-apocalypse blend and I'm here for it!
This one kept throwing curveballs after the halfway point. Several twists genuinely caught me off guard. The journey across the fractured empire constantly reveals new layers of history and competing agendas, so it never settles into predictability. Overall, I had a fantastic time with this. It’s dark, violent, emotionally raw, and unexpectedly heartfelt in places. If you like grim fantasy with complicated characters, sapphic tension, and big questions about faith and meaning, this is a standout. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite standalones in a long time.
Thanks so much to booksirens and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
I am an absolute sucker for immortals who hate being immortal, especially when their memories have started to fade. It makes perfect sense that the centuries would blur together, and the book really leans into that fact. Blue isn’t some all-knowing ancient warrior. She’s exhausted, prickly, and kinda just done with existence. This is thoughtful in how it explores the horror of living forever. It's not glamorous. The slow erosion of purpose, memory, identity.
Blue’s death wish isn’t treated as melodrama. It feels like the logical endpoint of centuries of loss and loneliness. The “sad sack who just wants to be left alone but gets dragged back into things” archetype always works for me, and it’s done especially well here. Watching her stumble toward something resembling a connection again feels like a quiet second chance at life she never wanted and does not believe she deserves.
The sapphic romance between Blue and Sarai is surprisingly tender given how bleak everything else is. It develops slowly, with plenty of hesitation and emotional baggage on both sides. There are a few morally messy aspects to their connection, which I appreciated because the story actually addresses them instead of pretending they aren’t there. It feels like two very lonely people recognizing something familiar in each other and clinging to it. And that's beautiful in such a violent world.
The fact that there is a fallen theocracy is another plus. This is a land still haunted by fanaticism and cults, where people cling to scraps of belief and justify truly awful behavior in the name of righteousness and power. The book doesn’t shy away from how ugly that can get. There is a lot of violence and body horror, and it earns its grimdark subgenre. It all reinforces how thoroughly this world has been shaped by the loss of its god. This feels like a fantasy and post-apocalypse blend and I'm here for it!
This one kept throwing curveballs after the halfway point. Several twists genuinely caught me off guard. The journey across the fractured empire constantly reveals new layers of history and competing agendas, so it never settles into predictability. Overall, I had a fantastic time with this. It’s dark, violent, emotionally raw, and unexpectedly heartfelt in places. If you like grim fantasy with complicated characters, sapphic tension, and big questions about faith and meaning, this is a standout. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite standalones in a long time.
Thanks so much to booksirens and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book as an ARC from the Author.
This book surprised me in being a lot more contemplative than I expected. The premise of an immortal general wanting to follow their deceased god in death, made me think of the overpowered MCs you often find in certain fantasy sub-genres. I had an almost anime-like caricature in my head...
But this story wasn't like that at all.
Blue, the 500 year old FMC, can't die, no matter what, but that doesn't give her any additional powers, an oversized sword or an oversized ego. Instead, her memories are muddled, she's tired of being alive and so her main focus is on finding a way to end her now meaningless existence. She's plagued by the person she once was and the things she did. All in all she lives a gloomy and pitiful existence.
The story begins when Blue meets a woman who offers information on a possible way to kill herself — in exchange for the opportunity to travel with her.
The two women develop an interesting bond (with sapphic romance involved) while we learn about Blue's past, the god who gave her immortality and the state of the world after he was killed.
The book centers on redemption, the choice between life and death, and the search for meaning—alongside grimdark’s perennial obsession: humanity’s gory, terrifying talent for justifying ANY cruelty in the name of the “right” ends, typically decided by whoever wields the bigger sword.
Whether self-righteous or just power hungry, this book has no shortage of villainous figures who serve as foils to the female duo and their choices/perspectives in the present. But in the past Blue might have been one of those she now faces. Readers are granted a view into a mind that once stood on the other side of violence—following orders without question, devoted to a tyrannical god—but now burdened with doubt, shame and guilt, and subjected to real torture at the hands of those who took up the mantle she abandoned long ago.
I found this story interesting and different (which means I liked it). It moved at a strange pace—an enjoyable slow, molasses-like flow of dark, broody and sometimes violent scenes. Some scenes were gruesome and intense, but even so, they were told through the detached and numb perspective of the immortal: An impassive witness that had seen it all before, probably felt it all before, and couldn't find a good reason to care, but wished she could. And whether it was joy or pain, the endlessness of her own existence stripped everything of meaning.
You'll have to read it to find out if her new friendship, or something else, can change that, or if suicide is the only answer to her void.
In terms of writing, this is a polished and well written story, great for fans of bleak and introspective themes who don't mind graphic violence. The ending, the resolution and its reveals, was especially satisfying for me.
This book surprised me in being a lot more contemplative than I expected. The premise of an immortal general wanting to follow their deceased god in death, made me think of the overpowered MCs you often find in certain fantasy sub-genres. I had an almost anime-like caricature in my head...
But this story wasn't like that at all.
Blue, the 500 year old FMC, can't die, no matter what, but that doesn't give her any additional powers, an oversized sword or an oversized ego. Instead, her memories are muddled, she's tired of being alive and so her main focus is on finding a way to end her now meaningless existence. She's plagued by the person she once was and the things she did. All in all she lives a gloomy and pitiful existence.
The story begins when Blue meets a woman who offers information on a possible way to kill herself — in exchange for the opportunity to travel with her.
The two women develop an interesting bond (with sapphic romance involved) while we learn about Blue's past, the god who gave her immortality and the state of the world after he was killed.
The book centers on redemption, the choice between life and death, and the search for meaning—alongside grimdark’s perennial obsession: humanity’s gory, terrifying talent for justifying ANY cruelty in the name of the “right” ends, typically decided by whoever wields the bigger sword.
Whether self-righteous or just power hungry, this book has no shortage of villainous figures who serve as foils to the female duo and their choices/perspectives in the present. But in the past Blue might have been one of those she now faces. Readers are granted a view into a mind that once stood on the other side of violence—following orders without question, devoted to a tyrannical god—but now burdened with doubt, shame and guilt, and subjected to real torture at the hands of those who took up the mantle she abandoned long ago.
I found this story interesting and different (which means I liked it). It moved at a strange pace—an enjoyable slow, molasses-like flow of dark, broody and sometimes violent scenes. Some scenes were gruesome and intense, but even so, they were told through the detached and numb perspective of the immortal: An impassive witness that had seen it all before, probably felt it all before, and couldn't find a good reason to care, but wished she could. And whether it was joy or pain, the endlessness of her own existence stripped everything of meaning.
You'll have to read it to find out if her new friendship, or something else, can change that, or if suicide is the only answer to her void.
In terms of writing, this is a polished and well written story, great for fans of bleak and introspective themes who don't mind graphic violence. The ending, the resolution and its reveals, was especially satisfying for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Given the industry demand for sapphic fantasy right now, I was kind of surprised to see this was being self-published, as I thought the world-building, tension, and writing style were easily strong enough to help this book secure an agent and a major publishing house if the author had wanted to go down that road. But I think the authenticity of the attraction that develops between the two leading women attests to the fact that the author did not write the characters this way to tick the right boxes or increase the book's commercial appeal; this was the story she genuinely wanted to tell, and as a result, nothing about it feels forced or inconsistent. Now, to be perfectly honest, it is a very dark and violent book - not the sort that I would usually pick up. We see that the immortal main character is determined to kill herself in the opening pages, as she acquires and tries out a new kind of weapon to see if it might be the thing that can finally end her. Her efforts are graphic, as is the torture she undergoes later, and her particular brand of unkillable-ness spares her none of the pain or damage - it all just heals up afterward. So, if you're sensitive to violence, this probably isn't for you, but I found myself drawn in by Blue's inability to make meaning out of an indestructible life that had long outlived both everyone she had once cared for and the reason she had been made immortal to begin with. What would it be like for the most significant parts of your life to have been lived hundreds of years ago? How well would you even remember who you were, or what you did - especially if you spent much of your time trying to forget? What would atonement look like, if you realized you were ashamed of your distant past, and would it even feel worth pursuing? Is it worth it to love and lose, again and again and again, or is mortality really the only thing that makes life precious and worth living? I really liked how the book engaged with these questions. And for a book that presents a dark version of faith, I appreciated how well it explained that the thing that people were putting faith in, in this particular fantasy world, was unworthy. The story also presented people of no faith as perfectly capable of being just as violent and dangerous in their will to power as people of blind faith, and that feels about right. Of course, I hope human nature, on the whole, is a little less overwhelmingly violent and thoughtlessly tribal as it appears to have become in this world in the wake of the Theocracy, but after a reign like Elo's, who can say? Plus, it is a dark fantasy, so some liberties must be allowed.
Review of advance copy
I read Acts of Deicide and finished it genuinely impressed. This is an ambitious, thoughtful fantasy that takes its themes seriously and largely succeeds in delivering on them.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its pacing. The story progresses steadily throughout, with a good balance between worldbuilding, character development, and action. It never felt like it stalled or padded for time, and the momentum carries through to a climactic ending that brings the various strands of the narrative together in a way that feels intentional and earned.
The worldbuilding is strong and consistent. Lore is revealed gradually rather than dumped, and the rules of the world clearly matter to the story. Themes of belief, power, authority, and the consequences of collapsed systems are explored with nuance rather than easy answers. The book is particularly effective at showing that removing a source of power does not automatically lead to something better, and that violence and brutality often persist under new leadership.
This is also a very dark novel, and that is worth flagging. There are depictions of torture, execution, suicide and death, as well as the psychological effects of fanaticism and violence. However, none of this felt gratuitous to me. The darkness serves a purpose and reinforces the themes the book is exploring. The restraint shown in how these scenes are written actually makes them more impactful rather than less.
Characterisation is generally strong, especially through Blue, whose perspective carries much of the emotional weight of the novel. Her internal struggle feels grounded and consistent, and her overall arc makes sense within the story being told. Sarai is also an engaging character, and the relationship between them forms an important emotional thread alongside the wider political and philosophical questions.
My only criticism lies in the later handling of Blue and Sarai’s relationship. While the novel is excellent at examining manipulation and moral compromise at a systemic level, the emotional fallout within this relationship is sometimes glossed over more quickly than I would have liked. It does not detract significantly from the overall experience, but it did feel like a missed opportunity for deeper emotional reckoning.
Overall, this is a well-crafted, often bleak, and intellectually confident fantasy with strong pacing, solid worldbuilding, and a conclusion that aligns with the ideas developed throughout the novel. I enjoyed it a great deal and would happily recommend it to readers comfortable with darker themes.
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its pacing. The story progresses steadily throughout, with a good balance between worldbuilding, character development, and action. It never felt like it stalled or padded for time, and the momentum carries through to a climactic ending that brings the various strands of the narrative together in a way that feels intentional and earned.
The worldbuilding is strong and consistent. Lore is revealed gradually rather than dumped, and the rules of the world clearly matter to the story. Themes of belief, power, authority, and the consequences of collapsed systems are explored with nuance rather than easy answers. The book is particularly effective at showing that removing a source of power does not automatically lead to something better, and that violence and brutality often persist under new leadership.
This is also a very dark novel, and that is worth flagging. There are depictions of torture, execution, suicide and death, as well as the psychological effects of fanaticism and violence. However, none of this felt gratuitous to me. The darkness serves a purpose and reinforces the themes the book is exploring. The restraint shown in how these scenes are written actually makes them more impactful rather than less.
Characterisation is generally strong, especially through Blue, whose perspective carries much of the emotional weight of the novel. Her internal struggle feels grounded and consistent, and her overall arc makes sense within the story being told. Sarai is also an engaging character, and the relationship between them forms an important emotional thread alongside the wider political and philosophical questions.
My only criticism lies in the later handling of Blue and Sarai’s relationship. While the novel is excellent at examining manipulation and moral compromise at a systemic level, the emotional fallout within this relationship is sometimes glossed over more quickly than I would have liked. It does not detract significantly from the overall experience, but it did feel like a missed opportunity for deeper emotional reckoning.
Overall, this is a well-crafted, often bleak, and intellectually confident fantasy with strong pacing, solid worldbuilding, and a conclusion that aligns with the ideas developed throughout the novel. I enjoyed it a great deal and would happily recommend it to readers comfortable with darker themes.
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was SUCH a good read - absolutely loved the main characters, the plot, the setting, alll of it. There were a few fun turns that just worked so well, definitely would recommend 10/10 for sure. Almost managed to read the entire thing in one sitting but sleep finally won out sometime after 5am, but I dove back in and didn't stop til I'd finished once I woke, and absolutely loved it all.
The forced proximity (kinda) of the unlikely pairing, one or two fun turns along the way, including an unexpected ally, a few secrets, memories, even a little spice (nothing graphic but slightly more than just implied or behind closed doors - it added a very nice touch to the relationship between the Elokoi renamed as Blue and Sarai - it was just lovely, such a good and fun read, and I definitely hope we get to see some of what happens after if there's ever a sequel.
There's some very dark scenes/actions - even some that are quite graphic - cannibalism, torture, violence/fighting, and more, but they fit with the journey of rediscovery/remembrance/redefinition as Blue and Sarai travel hundreds of miles from Sarai's little hidden remote town of Aspire to the former capital of the entire continent essentially with a few unplanned detours along the way of course. Add a bit of romance between them, a few fun secrets/revelations/truths that get discovered and/or revealed, a fun twist at the end, the slow start to the journey for an immortal warrior general of the great fallen Theocracy to finally find peace in death after over 500 years on the planet turns into far more as she finds that there might just be some things (and even people) worth living for and sticking around to try and help foster, guide, grow into something more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The forced proximity (kinda) of the unlikely pairing, one or two fun turns along the way, including an unexpected ally, a few secrets, memories, even a little spice (nothing graphic but slightly more than just implied or behind closed doors - it added a very nice touch to the relationship between the Elokoi renamed as Blue and Sarai - it was just lovely, such a good and fun read, and I definitely hope we get to see some of what happens after if there's ever a sequel.
There's some very dark scenes/actions - even some that are quite graphic - cannibalism, torture, violence/fighting, and more, but they fit with the journey of rediscovery/remembrance/redefinition as Blue and Sarai travel hundreds of miles from Sarai's little hidden remote town of Aspire to the former capital of the entire continent essentially with a few unplanned detours along the way of course. Add a bit of romance between them, a few fun secrets/revelations/truths that get discovered and/or revealed, a fun twist at the end, the slow start to the journey for an immortal warrior general of the great fallen Theocracy to finally find peace in death after over 500 years on the planet turns into far more as she finds that there might just be some things (and even people) worth living for and sticking around to try and help foster, guide, grow into something more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
It’s a well paced dark fantasy story focusing on an immortal soldiers quest to end her existence and the guard captain who knows where the dagger is that could do it. The world is still teetering on a fragile edge following the death of the God-Emperor three hundred years prior and Blue has been wandering through different traumas for much of that. It’s an interesting take on immortality, the damage is done but heals almost in the same moment or is restricted to stop damage entirely. That the remnants of the God-Emperor’s body can also give a quasi-immortality is a really nice addition to the worldbuilding.
Overall, the world created is solid. The book is dark, the damage shown leans towards the physical primarily and there are scenes of torture both on-page and mentioned, including cannibalism. Both sides of religious fervour are shown which felt like a very human reaction to display and include. Throughout it all, there’s undercurrent of hope, initially in a grim fashion but it morphs into something sweet and good.
My major complaint lies with the relationship, specifically the identity reveal that occurs. I’ll be vague to avoid spoilers but I would’ve preferred if they didn’t have that level of prior partially unknowing connection, as needed for the plot as it might’ve been in the end. Otherwise, it’s sweet and wholesome and surprise sapphic which was unexpected but nice to see.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the ARC!
Overall, the world created is solid. The book is dark, the damage shown leans towards the physical primarily and there are scenes of torture both on-page and mentioned, including cannibalism. Both sides of religious fervour are shown which felt like a very human reaction to display and include. Throughout it all, there’s undercurrent of hope, initially in a grim fashion but it morphs into something sweet and good.
My major complaint lies with the relationship, specifically the identity reveal that occurs. I’ll be vague to avoid spoilers but I would’ve preferred if they didn’t have that level of prior partially unknowing connection, as needed for the plot as it might’ve been in the end. Otherwise, it’s sweet and wholesome and surprise sapphic which was unexpected but nice to see.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the ARC!
February 13, 2026
A yes from me on this one.
Kept delaying this ARC read A.because of the trigger warnings (and they are there for a good reason so please check them out before reading) and B. The world has been as it is and I have been leaning heavily into more comfort/escape reads.
I’m glad I delayed it in some ways because the book comes out next month and I’m a little sad about how little I hear people talking about it (let’s fix that!) also there are some crazy parallels in this book to what is happening in the world right now… my brain understands it is a fictional fantasy book written over the last few years but really isn’t it about today and what we are/about to go through?
For a book where the main themes are not focused on the romance, it is fairly spicy. The romance was stronger than I initially expected. It is well timed and not forced.
The writing and pacing was great, it would have been so easy to spend the first few chapters world building and introducing the characters but it got right in and let us the reader explore and experience as the main characters.
I’m not a gamer, but it almost read like an RPG plot at times? Need my gamer reader friends to confirm this one, but all the side quests and things happening I could imagine myself playing the scenarios out as the characters discovered themselves.
Kept delaying this ARC read A.because of the trigger warnings (and they are there for a good reason so please check them out before reading) and B. The world has been as it is and I have been leaning heavily into more comfort/escape reads.
I’m glad I delayed it in some ways because the book comes out next month and I’m a little sad about how little I hear people talking about it (let’s fix that!) also there are some crazy parallels in this book to what is happening in the world right now… my brain understands it is a fictional fantasy book written over the last few years but really isn’t it about today and what we are/about to go through?
For a book where the main themes are not focused on the romance, it is fairly spicy. The romance was stronger than I initially expected. It is well timed and not forced.
The writing and pacing was great, it would have been so easy to spend the first few chapters world building and introducing the characters but it got right in and let us the reader explore and experience as the main characters.
I’m not a gamer, but it almost read like an RPG plot at times? Need my gamer reader friends to confirm this one, but all the side quests and things happening I could imagine myself playing the scenarios out as the characters discovered themselves.
March 4, 2026
Thank you to Book Sirens and the publisher for an ARC copy and the opportunity to early review this book.
4.25 stars
A dark and gritty fantasy story Acts of Diecide follows Blue, the former general of a now dead god, who is seeking a way to end her life after 300 years of immortality. She learns of a weapon that may be the answer she is looking for and sets off on a quest to find it.
I loved this one because it’s so different than what you normally get out of a fantasy novel. We’re already 300 years after the downfall of the Big Bad and throughout the book we see the fallout of that event. Blue is darkly humorous, like a less lively Deadpool character, and she’s actively seeking a way to die. The magic system (not really a magic system more like lingering magic in the world) is really cool and the storyline is unique. I very much enjoyed the two FMCs and Blue’s character growth.
As a warning, this contains lots and lots of on page, graphic violence and gore. There are also many consistent themes of wanting to end one’s own life which includes descriptions of attempts both on and off page. Be sure to check your trigger warnings.
If you’re looking for something super dark, with sarcastic humor, and bada$$ FMCs, you need to pick this up ASAP.
4.25 stars
A dark and gritty fantasy story Acts of Diecide follows Blue, the former general of a now dead god, who is seeking a way to end her life after 300 years of immortality. She learns of a weapon that may be the answer she is looking for and sets off on a quest to find it.
I loved this one because it’s so different than what you normally get out of a fantasy novel. We’re already 300 years after the downfall of the Big Bad and throughout the book we see the fallout of that event. Blue is darkly humorous, like a less lively Deadpool character, and she’s actively seeking a way to die. The magic system (not really a magic system more like lingering magic in the world) is really cool and the storyline is unique. I very much enjoyed the two FMCs and Blue’s character growth.
As a warning, this contains lots and lots of on page, graphic violence and gore. There are also many consistent themes of wanting to end one’s own life which includes descriptions of attempts both on and off page. Be sure to check your trigger warnings.
If you’re looking for something super dark, with sarcastic humor, and bada$$ FMCs, you need to pick this up ASAP.
Review of advance copy
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the e-ARC of this title.
Wow, what a brilliant debut.
This story follows Blue, a once avid follower of her God, now hunting an end to her immortality after the death of her God. We meet Sarai a local guard captain who has a book that might be able to help Blue find the weapon to put her out of her misery and answers to the life Blue once had. Together this pair travel across the land in the hunt for this weapon and to try and prevent the creation of another brutal God.
A tale full of action, adventure, comradery, and romance, considering the impact of faith, and humanity. How much does your past impact who you are today? Can people change?
Great plot, characters, worldbuilding, pacing, and twist! I was reading a debut book from a now-established author at the same time and this genuinely had me more hooked.
Highly recommend to any fantasy lovers looking for something new. In particular, if you liked The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow I think you will enjoy this :)
*Please note there are some quite serious and triggering themes, so please check warnings beforehand*
Wow, what a brilliant debut.
This story follows Blue, a once avid follower of her God, now hunting an end to her immortality after the death of her God. We meet Sarai a local guard captain who has a book that might be able to help Blue find the weapon to put her out of her misery and answers to the life Blue once had. Together this pair travel across the land in the hunt for this weapon and to try and prevent the creation of another brutal God.
A tale full of action, adventure, comradery, and romance, considering the impact of faith, and humanity. How much does your past impact who you are today? Can people change?
Great plot, characters, worldbuilding, pacing, and twist! I was reading a debut book from a now-established author at the same time and this genuinely had me more hooked.
Highly recommend to any fantasy lovers looking for something new. In particular, if you liked The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow I think you will enjoy this :)
*Please note there are some quite serious and triggering themes, so please check warnings beforehand*
March 25, 2026
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
So grimdark isn't usually my genre but this premise sounded way too interesting to pass up. And it truly is a loaded and unique premise: an immortal, longing to die, agrees to travel with an optimistic companion in order to achieve this end.
The themes here are heavy and the author doesn't shy away from that. There is a heaviness to the story, where it feels like we're sharing the burden our MC carries. It gives every event a dark mist over it but it never feels heavy-handed; it feels natural.
The pacing is slow at first but it's deliberate. At times, it was almost too much for me but the purpose is to let the atmosphere really soak in and soak in it does. It really helps orient you to the unfairness of the world. So, if you struggle some like I did, hang in there, it's worth it.
I adore a world with history and the brilliant blend of religion, belief, history and pessimism here crafts such a darkly gorgeous balance. It doesn't feel too much, nor not serious enough but rather the perfect emotional blend that it needs ti be.
So grimdark isn't usually my genre but this premise sounded way too interesting to pass up. And it truly is a loaded and unique premise: an immortal, longing to die, agrees to travel with an optimistic companion in order to achieve this end.
The themes here are heavy and the author doesn't shy away from that. There is a heaviness to the story, where it feels like we're sharing the burden our MC carries. It gives every event a dark mist over it but it never feels heavy-handed; it feels natural.
The pacing is slow at first but it's deliberate. At times, it was almost too much for me but the purpose is to let the atmosphere really soak in and soak in it does. It really helps orient you to the unfairness of the world. So, if you struggle some like I did, hang in there, it's worth it.
I adore a world with history and the brilliant blend of religion, belief, history and pessimism here crafts such a darkly gorgeous balance. It doesn't feel too much, nor not serious enough but rather the perfect emotional blend that it needs ti be.
Review of advance copy
Thank you BookSirens for the eARC!
I overall enjoyed this story and how dark and gritty it was. The main character was initially interesting and I found the premise of an immortal left in the wake of her dead god so fascinating. I loved the queer romance aspect, though I felt that the chemistry between the two characters were lacking and later on a bit weird (to say without any spoilers). I loved the twists and turns of this book. Some of the pacing also felt a little rushed at times and at other times prolonged in areas I didn't expect it to be. But, overall, I had a really good time reading this!
I overall enjoyed this story and how dark and gritty it was. The main character was initially interesting and I found the premise of an immortal left in the wake of her dead god so fascinating. I loved the queer romance aspect, though I felt that the chemistry between the two characters were lacking and later on a bit weird (to say without any spoilers). I loved the twists and turns of this book. Some of the pacing also felt a little rushed at times and at other times prolonged in areas I didn't expect it to be. But, overall, I had a really good time reading this!
February 28, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Acts of Deicide was a gritty, sometimes very dark epic fantasy.
The story was a fast paced adventure and the characters were likeable.
The skill with which the author was able to write about such a vast topic as theology and make it all make sense, while still keeping the reader entertained was so well done.
The torture scenes made me cringe, even when I knew the MC was going to be ok.
The romance between Blue and Sarai was sweet and melded nicely with the plot without taking away focus.
Would highly recommend and I’m excited to see what more L.E. Garrison will write!
Acts of Deicide was a gritty, sometimes very dark epic fantasy.
The story was a fast paced adventure and the characters were likeable.
The skill with which the author was able to write about such a vast topic as theology and make it all make sense, while still keeping the reader entertained was so well done.
The torture scenes made me cringe, even when I knew the MC was going to be ok.
The romance between Blue and Sarai was sweet and melded nicely with the plot without taking away focus.
Would highly recommend and I’m excited to see what more L.E. Garrison will write!
Review of advance copy
Acts of Deicide is an exciting and thoughtful book, dealing with difficult topics like religious extremism and what constitutes a life well lived. Blue was an excellent main character, and seeing her character development and how Sarai helped her see life from a different perspective was a treat. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but I’m glad I read it, and I’m interested to see what other stories Garrison will write. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 9, 2026
I absolutely loved this. The story was instantly engaging - disillusioned immortals, misguided fanatics, just the right amount of brutality. It was an easy read to get into, the prose is beautiful throughout. I would highly recommend this to anyone that likes their fantasy on the grimdark side of things
March 16, 2026
Note: I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a nice change of pace from my normal reading. I enjoyed how the author handled an immortal who no longer wants to live, as sometimes these plot lines can get a little contrived or silly. I loved being in the world and learning about the characters as the story progressed.
This was a nice change of pace from my normal reading. I enjoyed how the author handled an immortal who no longer wants to live, as sometimes these plot lines can get a little contrived or silly. I loved being in the world and learning about the characters as the story progressed.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5/5
Reminded me of Tamsyn Muir’s The Locked Tomb Series and NK Jemisin’s The Broken Earth Trilogy in terms of pacing, down-to-earth language, complex magic systems and influence of religion.
Reminded me of Tamsyn Muir’s The Locked Tomb Series and NK Jemisin’s The Broken Earth Trilogy in terms of pacing, down-to-earth language, complex magic systems and influence of religion.
Review of advance copy
Thank you, Book Siren and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating.- 3.75
I want to start this review by saying that Acts of Deicide is definitely a book out of my comfort zone. The book follows the FMC as she is trying desperately to end her immortality 300 years after the world she knew ended. Since she roamed without aim, and was subjected to the worst of humanity until she met Sarai, a small town guard, who says they have the solution to end her life.
From the start, I really like the idea of the book - in a world destroyed after God was killed, humans are left to scramble and attempt to rebuild civilisation. This is made impossible by the fact that different factions exist between the Godless (who do not believe in God) and those who believe in the God-Emperor. I like how this was expanded and how it really builds up the world as brutal, dark and gritty.
I liked that the FMC was cynical and eager to die - she has no goal, no one to be with, her memories mostly erased due to centuries of life mashed up together. I thought the topic of immortality and how much it can be a burden when carried alone was well described, and I liked how the FMC evolved throughout the story. And I liked the contrasts between her and Sairai - an eternal positive person, able to balance her darkness and sadness.
The writing was also really good - this book read super easily, the writing is clear and engaging, and I did not have any issues following the action scenes.
On the things I was less a fan of. First, I thought the book lacked an overarching plot driving the story. This book was definitely more of a "quest leading to discovering things" type of story rather than driven by the main mystery/plot. I know that some fantasy readers really liked this type of structure, but it was just less for me. I also liked the romance element, but it did feel rushed - I do assume that they were travelling for a long time (?), but it's hard to know for sure, and maybe having more temporal clues could have helped highlight how slowly the romance was built whilst they were travelling together. I was also a bit confused by the ending - it was super interesting, but I wish we had had more information about the magic and how everything occurred.
This book was also very brutal at times, with a lot of descriptions of torture, so I would definitely keep that in mind if you're sensitive to this type of scene.
Overall, a strong fantasy book and I definitely had a good time reading it!
Actual rating.- 3.75
I want to start this review by saying that Acts of Deicide is definitely a book out of my comfort zone. The book follows the FMC as she is trying desperately to end her immortality 300 years after the world she knew ended. Since she roamed without aim, and was subjected to the worst of humanity until she met Sarai, a small town guard, who says they have the solution to end her life.
From the start, I really like the idea of the book - in a world destroyed after God was killed, humans are left to scramble and attempt to rebuild civilisation. This is made impossible by the fact that different factions exist between the Godless (who do not believe in God) and those who believe in the God-Emperor. I like how this was expanded and how it really builds up the world as brutal, dark and gritty.
I liked that the FMC was cynical and eager to die - she has no goal, no one to be with, her memories mostly erased due to centuries of life mashed up together. I thought the topic of immortality and how much it can be a burden when carried alone was well described, and I liked how the FMC evolved throughout the story. And I liked the contrasts between her and Sairai - an eternal positive person, able to balance her darkness and sadness.
The writing was also really good - this book read super easily, the writing is clear and engaging, and I did not have any issues following the action scenes.
On the things I was less a fan of. First, I thought the book lacked an overarching plot driving the story. This book was definitely more of a "quest leading to discovering things" type of story rather than driven by the main mystery/plot. I know that some fantasy readers really liked this type of structure, but it was just less for me. I also liked the romance element, but it did feel rushed - I do assume that they were travelling for a long time (?), but it's hard to know for sure, and maybe having more temporal clues could have helped highlight how slowly the romance was built whilst they were travelling together. I was also a bit confused by the ending - it was super interesting, but I wish we had had more information about the magic and how everything occurred.
This book was also very brutal at times, with a lot of descriptions of torture, so I would definitely keep that in mind if you're sensitive to this type of scene.
Overall, a strong fantasy book and I definitely had a good time reading it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Quick Thoughts
When one picks up a debut, it’s always hard to know what to expect. Often, new writers are still finding their footing, from a storytelling perspective. And confidence is one of those intangibles that can make a major difference in when it comes to writing a compelling story. The ability to commit to ideas and themes with unflinching conviction often yields a far more interesting and rewarding piece of literature than one with a tepid suggestions of an idea. In this respect, L.E. Garrison is hitting above her weight class as a debut indie author with Acts of Deicide. This book has some serious things to say about life, love, belief, redemption and the weight of humanity, and it says them without stuttering. Full of heavy themes, visceral worldbuilding and some truly dark and intense scenes, Acts is the type of story that is not for the faint of heart. Sufficed to say, the potential horrors of immortality are well explored within these pages. But for those with a strong constitution, there is deft balance of brutal darkness and inclusive romance for a story that delivers both action and genuinely touching moments.
For my Full Review, please visit; https://mikecahoon.com/book-review-ac...
When one picks up a debut, it’s always hard to know what to expect. Often, new writers are still finding their footing, from a storytelling perspective. And confidence is one of those intangibles that can make a major difference in when it comes to writing a compelling story. The ability to commit to ideas and themes with unflinching conviction often yields a far more interesting and rewarding piece of literature than one with a tepid suggestions of an idea. In this respect, L.E. Garrison is hitting above her weight class as a debut indie author with Acts of Deicide. This book has some serious things to say about life, love, belief, redemption and the weight of humanity, and it says them without stuttering. Full of heavy themes, visceral worldbuilding and some truly dark and intense scenes, Acts is the type of story that is not for the faint of heart. Sufficed to say, the potential horrors of immortality are well explored within these pages. But for those with a strong constitution, there is deft balance of brutal darkness and inclusive romance for a story that delivers both action and genuinely touching moments.
For my Full Review, please visit; https://mikecahoon.com/book-review-ac...
April 23, 2026
Amazing book! It made me come out of my reading slump. The story flows and it’s easy to read, never would’ve thought it was a debut novel.
There’s trigger warnings which are appreciated but personally I didn’t think there was anything particularly triggering.
There’s trigger warnings which are appreciated but personally I didn’t think there was anything particularly triggering.
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