What do you think?
Flesh and False Gods #3
Eyes of Kings
“The only thing hotter than a character written by Chloe Gong is a betrayal written by Chloe Gong.” —Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six
The action-packed finale to Chloe Gong’s New York Times bestselling Flesh & False Gods trilogy—inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra—brings readers the ultimate showdown for power among gods and men.
War beckons in the kingdom of Talin. On one side sits Calla Tuoleimi and Anton Makusa, and on the other, the recently dethroned August Shenzhi and Calla's own predecessor Sinoa Tuoleimi. Neither will rest until the opposition is buried.
Calla assumed victory would be easy. She wears the divine crown after a violent coup, wielding the most powerful weapon in the kingdom. Then the provinces start to whisper of the old gods returning to earth, and suddenly the game board is flipped upside-down.
Anton thought he aligned himself with victory. When he swore to serve as Calla’s general, he understood the battle they were waging. But he fears Calla is no longer herself with the crown. Rather, he fears that Calla is returning to who she once was.
August would sacrifice anything for victory. He has waited his entire life for the throne, and surrender is not an option. In the face of age-old immortals challenging his terrain and the possibility of betrayal from his closest and most cherished guard, he must be careful who he trusts.
Because when the war ends, there can only be one king.
The action-packed finale to Chloe Gong’s New York Times bestselling Flesh & False Gods trilogy—inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra—brings readers the ultimate showdown for power among gods and men.
War beckons in the kingdom of Talin. On one side sits Calla Tuoleimi and Anton Makusa, and on the other, the recently dethroned August Shenzhi and Calla's own predecessor Sinoa Tuoleimi. Neither will rest until the opposition is buried.
Calla assumed victory would be easy. She wears the divine crown after a violent coup, wielding the most powerful weapon in the kingdom. Then the provinces start to whisper of the old gods returning to earth, and suddenly the game board is flipped upside-down.
Anton thought he aligned himself with victory. When he swore to serve as Calla’s general, he understood the battle they were waging. But he fears Calla is no longer herself with the crown. Rather, he fears that Calla is returning to who she once was.
August would sacrifice anything for victory. He has waited his entire life for the throne, and surrender is not an option. In the face of age-old immortals challenging his terrain and the possibility of betrayal from his closest and most cherished guard, he must be careful who he trusts.
Because when the war ends, there can only be one king.
Audible Audio
First published August 4, 2026
About the author
Chloe Gong
19 books26.3k followersChloe Gong is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of critically acclaimed fantasy and science fiction novels, including These Violent Delights, Immortal Longings, and Coldwire. Her books have been published in over twenty countries and she was named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for 2024. Chloe graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in English and International Relations. Born in Shanghai and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, she is now located in New York City. Visit her online at thechloegong.com and on Instagram, X, and TikTok at @thechloegong.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
August 6, 2026
3.5 stars
Was expecting a little more tbh.
Was expecting a little more tbh.
November 10, 2022
i know it’s not out but i hate trolls
August 11, 2026
"I love you. Even if the heavens decided it." ⭐️👑💛
this wasn’t amazing, but it wasn’t terrible either. the other two books of the series were pretty good, so i am sad to say that this book disappointed me. i was expecting so much better! this book was alright though, don’t get me wrong. like i said, the book wasn’t terrible.
the plot!! ⭐️
now that sinoa has revealed herself, she teams up with august to take over the kingdom. of course, this means that calla and anton team up to dethrone them and save their kingdom from mass destruction. who will be successful in the end?
the plot was simple. there wasn’t anything that was super astonishing or exciting. i will say that the last part (maybe the last 25%???) of the book was the most exciting though since this is where the big battle takes place.
the characters!! 👑
i will say that i was happy to see calla and anton together throughout this book! it was wonderful to see them fully in love and not enemies anymore. their relationship was probably my favorite thing about this book actually.
the ending!! 💛
was i surprised about the ending? i mean, not really. this wouldn’t be my first chloe gong series i’ve read that’s ended this way! tragical endings can be beautiful though, so i wasn’t too upset.
would i recommend this series? ✨
i’m not sure…. maybe? it depends on the person, i guess.
would i read it again? ✨
probably not, sadly.
this wasn’t amazing, but it wasn’t terrible either. the other two books of the series were pretty good, so i am sad to say that this book disappointed me. i was expecting so much better! this book was alright though, don’t get me wrong. like i said, the book wasn’t terrible.
the plot!! ⭐️
now that sinoa has revealed herself, she teams up with august to take over the kingdom. of course, this means that calla and anton team up to dethrone them and save their kingdom from mass destruction. who will be successful in the end?
the plot was simple. there wasn’t anything that was super astonishing or exciting. i will say that the last part (maybe the last 25%???) of the book was the most exciting though since this is where the big battle takes place.
the characters!! 👑
i will say that i was happy to see calla and anton together throughout this book! it was wonderful to see them fully in love and not enemies anymore. their relationship was probably my favorite thing about this book actually.
the ending!! 💛
was i surprised about the ending? i mean, not really. this wouldn’t be my first chloe gong series i’ve read that’s ended this way! tragical endings can be beautiful though, so i wasn’t too upset.
would i recommend this series? ✨
i’m not sure…. maybe? it depends on the person, i guess.
would i read it again? ✨
probably not, sadly.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
੭୧ 3 stars . ۫
overall thoughts — A bittersweet finale and a solid end to a series that has meant a lot to me ☹️🤍 I went in with mixed expectations after the sequel, but I'm still glad I got to return to this universe one last time.
Immortal Longings was one of my favourite reads of 2023, and while the later books didn't quite hit the same for me, this series will always hold a special place in my heart. I loved revisiting this world and seeing my favourite characters again, even if some of them felt different from how I originally connected with them in book 1.
Many of the same elements from Vilest Things carried into this book. The prose is still dense at times, and the plot introduces a lot of new information throughout. I personally would have loved more focus on existing plot points and character dynamics, but there were still plenty of engaging moments that kept me invested.
Some character arcs didn't fully work for me, though I can see what Chloe was aiming for. I already had these sentiments building after reading the 2nd book, but this finale has only further solidified my thoughts. Calla was meant to come across as an icon of female rage, but to me, her rage feels slightly petty and unsatisfying. Anton essentially only exists to please Calla - which might be an interesting toxic dynamic to read about for others - but I do wish he had more motivation outside of Calla.
Anton and Calla's relationship in a nutshell:
Some POVs did not grab me as much as others. I would have loved more from Otta!! Especially a POV! Would have died to see that ☹ The ending wasn't bad at all - Chloe definitely delivered what she promised...🤭 I do wish the rest of the book leaned even harder into the angst, but I enjoyed the direction it took. Also, the ending felt a bit ambiguous?? Chloe, please say there could potentially be another book in this universe 🤭
Despite my mixed feelings on AntonCalla, I did however DEVOUR INHALE CONSUME every single AugustGalipei crumb. OHMYGOSH the way AugustGalipei moved me!! NO ONE IS DOING IT LIKE THEM. I WISH they had more page time because their chemistry is fucking insane!!!! Unmatched!!!! I'm happy their relationship got some closure, but selfishly I still wanted more interactions 😭 Move aside AntonCalla, the people (me, I am the people) want more AugustGalipei!!!! I would sell my soul to have more books in this universe, or a side story, or an epilogue - anything centered on them. Chloe, I'm begging <3
“ I have done awful, terrible things for you, August. The only one that will have me is you. The only person I will have is you. ”
I dropped to my knees after reading this. I am not normal about them <3
final thoughts — While not my favourite book in the trilogy, this was still a meaningful and enjoyable conclusion to a world I've loved for years. I'm grateful I got to experience this finale early and spend time with these characters once more. Patiently waiting for Chloe's next release!!
Thank you to Chloe Gong and Saga Press for the ARC! Eyes of Kings releases August 4, 2026.
CW: death, murder, minor sexual content
────
update: 04/24/26
let my thoughts marinate more, and tbh, i actually enjoyed this much more than book 2. i didn't have too bad of a time, so i'm boosting it to 3 stars!
────
finished: 04/24/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
hmmm i need to let my thoughts marinate before i set a rating 🤔
pre read: 04/23/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
cue me screaming when i got the arc!! if this finale does not RUIN me, i am rating it 1 star. you cannot, and i repeat CANNOT, tease the death trope the entire series and not deliver 😭😭😭 beyond grateful that i get to come home to this universe early 🥹
overall thoughts — A bittersweet finale and a solid end to a series that has meant a lot to me ☹️🤍 I went in with mixed expectations after the sequel, but I'm still glad I got to return to this universe one last time.
Immortal Longings was one of my favourite reads of 2023, and while the later books didn't quite hit the same for me, this series will always hold a special place in my heart. I loved revisiting this world and seeing my favourite characters again, even if some of them felt different from how I originally connected with them in book 1.
Many of the same elements from Vilest Things carried into this book. The prose is still dense at times, and the plot introduces a lot of new information throughout. I personally would have loved more focus on existing plot points and character dynamics, but there were still plenty of engaging moments that kept me invested.
Some character arcs didn't fully work for me, though I can see what Chloe was aiming for. I already had these sentiments building after reading the 2nd book, but this finale has only further solidified my thoughts. Calla was meant to come across as an icon of female rage, but to me, her rage feels slightly petty and unsatisfying. Anton essentially only exists to please Calla - which might be an interesting toxic dynamic to read about for others - but I do wish he had more motivation outside of Calla.
Anton and Calla's relationship in a nutshell:
Some POVs did not grab me as much as others. I would have loved more from Otta!! Especially a POV! Would have died to see that ☹ The ending wasn't bad at all - Chloe definitely delivered what she promised...🤭 I do wish the rest of the book leaned even harder into the angst, but I enjoyed the direction it took. Also, the ending felt a bit ambiguous?? Chloe, please say there could potentially be another book in this universe 🤭
Despite my mixed feelings on AntonCalla, I did however DEVOUR INHALE CONSUME every single AugustGalipei crumb. OHMYGOSH the way AugustGalipei moved me!! NO ONE IS DOING IT LIKE THEM. I WISH they had more page time because their chemistry is fucking insane!!!! Unmatched!!!! I'm happy their relationship got some closure, but selfishly I still wanted more interactions 😭 Move aside AntonCalla, the people (me, I am the people) want more AugustGalipei!!!! I would sell my soul to have more books in this universe, or a side story, or an epilogue - anything centered on them. Chloe, I'm begging <3
“ I have done awful, terrible things for you, August. The only one that will have me is you. The only person I will have is you. ”
I dropped to my knees after reading this. I am not normal about them <3
final thoughts — While not my favourite book in the trilogy, this was still a meaningful and enjoyable conclusion to a world I've loved for years. I'm grateful I got to experience this finale early and spend time with these characters once more. Patiently waiting for Chloe's next release!!
Thank you to Chloe Gong and Saga Press for the ARC! Eyes of Kings releases August 4, 2026.
CW: death, murder, minor sexual content
────
update: 04/24/26
let my thoughts marinate more, and tbh, i actually enjoyed this much more than book 2. i didn't have too bad of a time, so i'm boosting it to 3 stars!
────
finished: 04/24/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
hmmm i need to let my thoughts marinate before i set a rating 🤔
pre read: 04/23/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
cue me screaming when i got the arc!! if this finale does not RUIN me, i am rating it 1 star. you cannot, and i repeat CANNOT, tease the death trope the entire series and not deliver 😭😭😭 beyond grateful that i get to come home to this universe early 🥹
Want to Read
September 21, 2024My mind, body and qi needs this book
August 6, 2026
⋆.˚✮ 5 stars ✮˚.⋆
Chloe Gong needs to pay for my therapy bill omg {longer review coming soon}
Chloe Gong needs to pay for my therapy bill omg {longer review coming soon}
Want to Read
February 24, 2025Let us all SOB over the fact that this is a Cleopatra and Antony retelling and Chloe has stated multiple times it is not a romance because it doesn’t fit romance parameters and I AM TERRIFIED
SOMEONE SAVE ME FROM HEARTBREAK
SOMEONE SAVE ME FROM HEARTBREAK
August 9, 2026
#justiceforgalipei2026
every time i check the rating for this book has gone down. im so excited.
after reading:
holy. fucking shit you guys oh my goododdddd. i bought this for cheap entertainment for my weekend (cheap being $40.10) and it delivered exactly that. it is not a masterpiece. it’s not even that good. but its so fucking fun. i loved it and i hated it and im lowkey sad that the series is over.
unfortunately, i have a terrible memory. and i was in a reading slump so i didn’t have time to reread the other two books. so i basically forgot everything that wasn’t mentioned in my previous reviews, the summaries i found online, and my silly notes document of predictions. and the biggest problem i had with this book is how complicated talin is and how terribly it’s explained. okay so there are provinces and the provinces have rural people living in them… and that’s it? no reiteration on the economies or WHY it’s important to have the support of the provinces, other than the vague mention of resources. it felt more symbolic for anyone to “have control” of a province than practical. the whole world, after being the center of the first two books, was pretty much neglected in favour of my least favourite thing in the world: politics. and war. i had no sense of the environment that the characters were existing in other than that it was raining the entire freaking time, and then by the time the ending came around i realized that somewhere i missed that it probably stopped raining? or did it? it wasn’t mentioned, and if it was i totally missed it.
i also have issues with the gods. the introduction was so abrupt; there were no memorable hints towards anyone being a fallen god anywhere in the first two books. maybe if i re-read them knowing now, but i was genuinely thrown for a loop when chloe was like “hey yeah so like the gods actually fell to earth and then now they’re waking up… for some reason” yeah bro for plot reasons. we got introduced to two random ass gods and then never saw them again. AND THERE’S SO MANY??? like yeah hi i’m the god of fingernails. oh yeah i’m actually the godling of the smell of the air when its about to rain. hey look its the godling of having to cough in the middle of a silent classroom. like i appreciate the idea but if they were actually referenced in the past books prior to just showing up randomly in this book it would have been so much better. however, i did like the whole concept of the sigils and i finally understood how they work. i thought it was a really interesting power system and i wish it was explored more, because even though there are different sigils for different gods, the effects they give are basically the same (save for the godling of control sigil and i WISH that was expanded on more). it was all kinda just “yay now you can throw people around with a vague arm gesture and also jump without emitting light”... but! the backstory behind the gods was very interesting. honestly, though, i felt like chloe gong was making up the story as she went. because what was originally a story concentrated on the city of san’er and its suffering people and qi jumping expanded to include the rest of talin, and suddenly there’s gods and people can throw other people around with their qi and all the rules from the first book are basically null. it feels like she lost the plot and atmosphere of the first book in the attempt to make some grand epic war and power struggle. it seemed like chloe tried to go so intricate with the politics that it ended up falling so so flat. also guys whats the difference between a god and a godling?
the characters and character dynamics were the real treat in this book. i really love how many POVs there are, but sometimes i get thrown out of one plotline and can’t really engage with all of them meaningfully. the standouts for me were calla (obv), august, galipei, and the singular chapter that seiqi had (more on that later).
i REALLY like calla, despite her being a very typical badass fmc. she cares so deeply for the provinces and the people, but she’s also ruthless. she’s actually terrible. like she’s a terrible person. but i love her for it. and, honestly, her being the godling of greed was pretty darn genius. this is one thing that is hinted at throughout the series; that she wants and wants and wants, and that she is never satisfied. not with her revenge, not with anton, and not with the power she holds. also yay explanation on why her eyes don’t change colour when she jumps! idk, i just liked her drive and her cleverness.
anton, when compared to literally every other character (yes, even the side characters), is INCREDIBLY BORING. i have nothing to say about him. he’s dull and doesn’t do anything for the plot. it could literally be just calla for this entire book and the events would be the same. yeah he was necessary before, but now he’s literally dead ass weight. HOWEVER. he and calla had a really interesting toxic codependant relationship. i like that they wax poetic at each other and then wage psychological warfare on each other. the scene where they basically fuse while having sex was so weird but like kinda interesting, i wish they totally didn’t just forget about it. and i like how calla keeps taking from him and anton keeps trying to control her and they’re just so toxic. i’m so glad anton died though i lowkey hate his ass. in all seriousness, though, that ending was perfect for them. there is absolutely no universe where they have a long, happy, and healthy life after the events of this book. this was the best ending chloe could have given them for them to be at peace.
the antagonists are AMAZING. sinoa/otta was so comically evil but sooo fun to read about. she’s so silly omg she’s so fucking evil. she had clear motivation, a clear goal, and again, she got the ending she deserved. i liked the way she manipulated august and kinda put him out of his element. their siblingism is so important to me. also the swap between calla, sinoa, and otta was kind of genius.
and august??????? oh my god i love him so bad. i feel like he got a little nerfed, though. but it kinda makes sense because this guy is stressed the fuck out about everything. but he got it all in the end! for him my prediction was that either he died or he won. there is no way he would live in exile. so glad he won!
before i gush about how amazing galipei is i want to give a shoutout to chami, venus, and seiqi for being the best side characters. seiqi’s death genuinely devastated me because that’s twin… also the fact that no one mourned her fucked me up.
GALIPEI IS THE MVP OF THIS ENTIRE SERIES. GALIPEI IS DOING THE MOST. i LOVE galipei. he is such a strong character and he has totally grown into his own throughout the series. he is actually the sole driver of the plot tbh like he used the control sigil, he broke into the walls, he led calla and anton astray, he KILLED ANTON (i cheered), and then he got the crown and gave it to august. he STOOD ON BUSINESS. he REFUSED TO GIVE UP. and he got his man in the end. that’s right guys. he’s getting married to august. holy shit chloe gong seriously wrote yaoi 9/11 for me like three times. their relationship is absolutely everything to me. i cannot describe the mess i was when august “dismissed” galipei because wdym everything august does is intentional and has sound reasoning but he just dismisses galipei out of nowhere because he was so fucked up about galipei taking the hit for him? wdym august was constantly like “well if galipei were here” after that? and WHAT DO YOU MEAN that galipei defected and ended up winning the entire war for august just so he wouldn’t send him away again???? the way they understand each other is crazy, the way that august realizes they’re equals and always have been…… it’s got me so fucked up. hands down one of my favourite side romances in a series ever. especially because they never kiss but are just so connected in a way that is like worse than kissing. i can’t describe it. they are my yaoi 9/11.
also the plot had me hooked. i wanted to see who would win the war and how SOOO bad. i will say though like a lot of it was just them talking, i felt like it was super dialogue heavy. but all the reveals and plot twists and battles and whatnot were so super fun, even if they were backed by some of the worst worldbuilding and magic system ever. also i thought bibi was a genuinely useless character and the story would have been the exact same without her. however i ate up every bit of chami and yilas and matiyu content just because i love them and i think they’re silly. i also loved venus’ plotline, i thought it was super interesting and her being the godling of qi was so cool. i enjoyed the involvement of the forces of rincun because it felt kind of full circle, and that whole ending sequence was AMAZING. the battle between sinoa and calla, anton’s death, and august’s coronation were so cool. and the ending was exactly how it should have been. it makes soo much sense. also galipei being the king consort… august proposing to him… i was so ill. i had to get up and walk around. BUT THE ENDING WAS SO VAGUEEE UGH. i wish we saw more of what happened to the “gods,” the crescent societies, the dovetail, and also matiyu. there should have been more of an epilogue (even though i ate up august and galipei chilling in their gay king room). i want to know how august and galipei are tackling the task of repairing the kingdom and dealing with calla’s curse. (do i see a spinoff series in my future… PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE)
overall i have extremely mixed feelings about this. i am satisfied with the ending, but the foundation of the series is very flawed. i love the characters, but also some of them suck so bad (mostly just anton). the plot was engaging, but the world it takes place in is weird and underdeveloped despite being overdeveloped (don’t ask me how that works i have no fucking clue). solid 3 stars. i had a jolly good time reading it and that’s what matters the most. #JUSTICEFORGALIPEI2026 !!!!!
every time i check the rating for this book has gone down. im so excited.
after reading:
holy. fucking shit you guys oh my goododdddd. i bought this for cheap entertainment for my weekend (cheap being $40.10) and it delivered exactly that. it is not a masterpiece. it’s not even that good. but its so fucking fun. i loved it and i hated it and im lowkey sad that the series is over.
unfortunately, i have a terrible memory. and i was in a reading slump so i didn’t have time to reread the other two books. so i basically forgot everything that wasn’t mentioned in my previous reviews, the summaries i found online, and my silly notes document of predictions. and the biggest problem i had with this book is how complicated talin is and how terribly it’s explained. okay so there are provinces and the provinces have rural people living in them… and that’s it? no reiteration on the economies or WHY it’s important to have the support of the provinces, other than the vague mention of resources. it felt more symbolic for anyone to “have control” of a province than practical. the whole world, after being the center of the first two books, was pretty much neglected in favour of my least favourite thing in the world: politics. and war. i had no sense of the environment that the characters were existing in other than that it was raining the entire freaking time, and then by the time the ending came around i realized that somewhere i missed that it probably stopped raining? or did it? it wasn’t mentioned, and if it was i totally missed it.
i also have issues with the gods. the introduction was so abrupt; there were no memorable hints towards anyone being a fallen god anywhere in the first two books. maybe if i re-read them knowing now, but i was genuinely thrown for a loop when chloe was like “hey yeah so like the gods actually fell to earth and then now they’re waking up… for some reason” yeah bro for plot reasons. we got introduced to two random ass gods and then never saw them again. AND THERE’S SO MANY??? like yeah hi i’m the god of fingernails. oh yeah i’m actually the godling of the smell of the air when its about to rain. hey look its the godling of having to cough in the middle of a silent classroom. like i appreciate the idea but if they were actually referenced in the past books prior to just showing up randomly in this book it would have been so much better. however, i did like the whole concept of the sigils and i finally understood how they work. i thought it was a really interesting power system and i wish it was explored more, because even though there are different sigils for different gods, the effects they give are basically the same (save for the godling of control sigil and i WISH that was expanded on more). it was all kinda just “yay now you can throw people around with a vague arm gesture and also jump without emitting light”... but! the backstory behind the gods was very interesting. honestly, though, i felt like chloe gong was making up the story as she went. because what was originally a story concentrated on the city of san’er and its suffering people and qi jumping expanded to include the rest of talin, and suddenly there’s gods and people can throw other people around with their qi and all the rules from the first book are basically null. it feels like she lost the plot and atmosphere of the first book in the attempt to make some grand epic war and power struggle. it seemed like chloe tried to go so intricate with the politics that it ended up falling so so flat. also guys whats the difference between a god and a godling?
the characters and character dynamics were the real treat in this book. i really love how many POVs there are, but sometimes i get thrown out of one plotline and can’t really engage with all of them meaningfully. the standouts for me were calla (obv), august, galipei, and the singular chapter that seiqi had (more on that later).
i REALLY like calla, despite her being a very typical badass fmc. she cares so deeply for the provinces and the people, but she’s also ruthless. she’s actually terrible. like she’s a terrible person. but i love her for it. and, honestly, her being the godling of greed was pretty darn genius. this is one thing that is hinted at throughout the series; that she wants and wants and wants, and that she is never satisfied. not with her revenge, not with anton, and not with the power she holds. also yay explanation on why her eyes don’t change colour when she jumps! idk, i just liked her drive and her cleverness.
anton, when compared to literally every other character (yes, even the side characters), is INCREDIBLY BORING. i have nothing to say about him. he’s dull and doesn’t do anything for the plot. it could literally be just calla for this entire book and the events would be the same. yeah he was necessary before, but now he’s literally dead ass weight. HOWEVER. he and calla had a really interesting toxic codependant relationship. i like that they wax poetic at each other and then wage psychological warfare on each other. the scene where they basically fuse while having sex was so weird but like kinda interesting, i wish they totally didn’t just forget about it. and i like how calla keeps taking from him and anton keeps trying to control her and they’re just so toxic. i’m so glad anton died though i lowkey hate his ass. in all seriousness, though, that ending was perfect for them. there is absolutely no universe where they have a long, happy, and healthy life after the events of this book. this was the best ending chloe could have given them for them to be at peace.
the antagonists are AMAZING. sinoa/otta was so comically evil but sooo fun to read about. she’s so silly omg she’s so fucking evil. she had clear motivation, a clear goal, and again, she got the ending she deserved. i liked the way she manipulated august and kinda put him out of his element. their siblingism is so important to me. also the swap between calla, sinoa, and otta was kind of genius.
and august??????? oh my god i love him so bad. i feel like he got a little nerfed, though. but it kinda makes sense because this guy is stressed the fuck out about everything. but he got it all in the end! for him my prediction was that either he died or he won. there is no way he would live in exile. so glad he won!
before i gush about how amazing galipei is i want to give a shoutout to chami, venus, and seiqi for being the best side characters. seiqi’s death genuinely devastated me because that’s twin… also the fact that no one mourned her fucked me up.
GALIPEI IS THE MVP OF THIS ENTIRE SERIES. GALIPEI IS DOING THE MOST. i LOVE galipei. he is such a strong character and he has totally grown into his own throughout the series. he is actually the sole driver of the plot tbh like he used the control sigil, he broke into the walls, he led calla and anton astray, he KILLED ANTON (i cheered), and then he got the crown and gave it to august. he STOOD ON BUSINESS. he REFUSED TO GIVE UP. and he got his man in the end. that’s right guys. he’s getting married to august. holy shit chloe gong seriously wrote yaoi 9/11 for me like three times. their relationship is absolutely everything to me. i cannot describe the mess i was when august “dismissed” galipei because wdym everything august does is intentional and has sound reasoning but he just dismisses galipei out of nowhere because he was so fucked up about galipei taking the hit for him? wdym august was constantly like “well if galipei were here” after that? and WHAT DO YOU MEAN that galipei defected and ended up winning the entire war for august just so he wouldn’t send him away again???? the way they understand each other is crazy, the way that august realizes they’re equals and always have been…… it’s got me so fucked up. hands down one of my favourite side romances in a series ever. especially because they never kiss but are just so connected in a way that is like worse than kissing. i can’t describe it. they are my yaoi 9/11.
also the plot had me hooked. i wanted to see who would win the war and how SOOO bad. i will say though like a lot of it was just them talking, i felt like it was super dialogue heavy. but all the reveals and plot twists and battles and whatnot were so super fun, even if they were backed by some of the worst worldbuilding and magic system ever. also i thought bibi was a genuinely useless character and the story would have been the exact same without her. however i ate up every bit of chami and yilas and matiyu content just because i love them and i think they’re silly. i also loved venus’ plotline, i thought it was super interesting and her being the godling of qi was so cool. i enjoyed the involvement of the forces of rincun because it felt kind of full circle, and that whole ending sequence was AMAZING. the battle between sinoa and calla, anton’s death, and august’s coronation were so cool. and the ending was exactly how it should have been. it makes soo much sense. also galipei being the king consort… august proposing to him… i was so ill. i had to get up and walk around. BUT THE ENDING WAS SO VAGUEEE UGH. i wish we saw more of what happened to the “gods,” the crescent societies, the dovetail, and also matiyu. there should have been more of an epilogue (even though i ate up august and galipei chilling in their gay king room). i want to know how august and galipei are tackling the task of repairing the kingdom and dealing with calla’s curse. (do i see a spinoff series in my future… PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE)
overall i have extremely mixed feelings about this. i am satisfied with the ending, but the foundation of the series is very flawed. i love the characters, but also some of them suck so bad (mostly just anton). the plot was engaging, but the world it takes place in is weird and underdeveloped despite being overdeveloped (don’t ask me how that works i have no fucking clue). solid 3 stars. i had a jolly good time reading it and that’s what matters the most. #JUSTICEFORGALIPEI2026 !!!!!
August 18, 2026
4.75 stars (rounded up to 5)
honestly, i’m feeling sad that this trilogy is now over. eyes of kings delivers a thrilling and emotionally devastating conclusion to what has been an incredible fantasy series. the political machinations, the strategising and everything was top notch. there were so many moments that elicited a visceral reaction from me. i’ve always loved chloe gong’s writing and this book was no different. i loved how she does not shy away from showcasing how brutal and violent power struggles can be. she has some of the best depictions of political strategising and the effects of war i’ve read in a book.
it was kind of obvious where things would go, given the og source material, but when things happened, they happened in a way that leaves you so utterly shocked. like my jaw was on the floor. the best parts of the book are in those last few pages when everything we’ve experienced across the entire series comes to a head. so many plot threads, that started all the way back in book 1, get wrapped up neatly. in typical chloe gong fashion, there were a lot of twists in this book, some that i was able to guess and some that i could never have predicted. i don’t want to spoil anything, but this book and the overall plot was a confirmation of exactly why i ended up picking this series. it’s a worthwhile read that everyone should try!
now that the whole trilogy is out, i definitely want to reread the series from the beginning and experience every single thing from the start, and also see how much foreshadowing i can pick up on. all in all, eyes of kings was a perfect conclusion to this series. and i don’t know if there’s going to be any spinoffs/novellas set in the world, but the potential is there, and i sure wouldn’t mind one.
thank you hodderscape for sending me an e-arc!
honestly, i’m feeling sad that this trilogy is now over. eyes of kings delivers a thrilling and emotionally devastating conclusion to what has been an incredible fantasy series. the political machinations, the strategising and everything was top notch. there were so many moments that elicited a visceral reaction from me. i’ve always loved chloe gong’s writing and this book was no different. i loved how she does not shy away from showcasing how brutal and violent power struggles can be. she has some of the best depictions of political strategising and the effects of war i’ve read in a book.
it was kind of obvious where things would go, given the og source material, but when things happened, they happened in a way that leaves you so utterly shocked. like my jaw was on the floor. the best parts of the book are in those last few pages when everything we’ve experienced across the entire series comes to a head. so many plot threads, that started all the way back in book 1, get wrapped up neatly. in typical chloe gong fashion, there were a lot of twists in this book, some that i was able to guess and some that i could never have predicted. i don’t want to spoil anything, but this book and the overall plot was a confirmation of exactly why i ended up picking this series. it’s a worthwhile read that everyone should try!
now that the whole trilogy is out, i definitely want to reread the series from the beginning and experience every single thing from the start, and also see how much foreshadowing i can pick up on. all in all, eyes of kings was a perfect conclusion to this series. and i don’t know if there’s going to be any spinoffs/novellas set in the world, but the potential is there, and i sure wouldn’t mind one.
thank you hodderscape for sending me an e-arc!
June 14, 2026
*Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free copy for review.*
Review: Gong pens an epic conclusion with breakneck action and delicious twists!
“Eyes of Kings” follows Calla Tuoleimi and Anton Makusa as they go head-to-head with the recently dethroned August Shenzhi and Calla's own predecessor Sinoa Tuoleimi for the throne.
The die has been cast, leaving readers with no choice but to watch the inevitable unfold as Gong’s players take to her bloody political arena one last time. Divine power is the name of the game and the playing field shifts with the return of the old gods to Talin. Their entrance not only expands upon her world and the lore established in previous books, but also provides the final piece to the puzzle that is Talin and Calla’s intertwined origins. With the veil lifted, the true depth of Gong’s magic system becomes clear and an uneasy sense of foreboding begins to surface. The gods are wildly unpredictable, their temperaments ranging from benevolent to heartless, and it is fascinating to see them take to the stage. The twin cities of San-Er quickly become a pressure cooker as rebel groups, palace guards, Weisannas, and the gods poise for battle. With the stakes and tension raising ever higher, every move Calla, Anton, and August make must count, leaving readers on tenterhooks for the duration of the novel.
Like its source of inspiration, the love between Calla and Anton, twisted as it is, continues to occupy the spotlight. Qi becomes a cruel mistress in their relationship, simultaneously driving a wedge between them and creating a toxic codependency. The intense longing, angst, and fleeting moments of tenderness make it impossible to look away despite the rot that has set in.
While the explosive final chapter is anticipated, the end comes about in a woefully unexpected way. There is no softening the devastating blow Gong delivers, and yet the book is all the better for it.
➤ 5 stars
Review cross-posted to: Book Blog | Bookstagram | Amazon
Review: Gong pens an epic conclusion with breakneck action and delicious twists!
“Eyes of Kings” follows Calla Tuoleimi and Anton Makusa as they go head-to-head with the recently dethroned August Shenzhi and Calla's own predecessor Sinoa Tuoleimi for the throne.
The die has been cast, leaving readers with no choice but to watch the inevitable unfold as Gong’s players take to her bloody political arena one last time. Divine power is the name of the game and the playing field shifts with the return of the old gods to Talin. Their entrance not only expands upon her world and the lore established in previous books, but also provides the final piece to the puzzle that is Talin and Calla’s intertwined origins. With the veil lifted, the true depth of Gong’s magic system becomes clear and an uneasy sense of foreboding begins to surface. The gods are wildly unpredictable, their temperaments ranging from benevolent to heartless, and it is fascinating to see them take to the stage. The twin cities of San-Er quickly become a pressure cooker as rebel groups, palace guards, Weisannas, and the gods poise for battle. With the stakes and tension raising ever higher, every move Calla, Anton, and August make must count, leaving readers on tenterhooks for the duration of the novel.
Like its source of inspiration, the love between Calla and Anton, twisted as it is, continues to occupy the spotlight. Qi becomes a cruel mistress in their relationship, simultaneously driving a wedge between them and creating a toxic codependency. The intense longing, angst, and fleeting moments of tenderness make it impossible to look away despite the rot that has set in.
While the explosive final chapter is anticipated, the end comes about in a woefully unexpected way. There is no softening the devastating blow Gong delivers, and yet the book is all the better for it.
➤ 5 stars
Review cross-posted to: Book Blog | Bookstagram | Amazon
August 16, 2026
One of the worst books I've read.
Really liked the first two—nice power systems and intriguing—just to throw everything in the bin in the last book. What a waste of time and paper.
Really liked the first two—nice power systems and intriguing—just to throw everything in the bin in the last book. What a waste of time and paper.
Want to Read
March 21, 2022Sooo it’s a trilogy now 😋😋
July 29, 2026
In true Chloe Gong nature, the book is so incredibly vicious, and absolutely merciless. Despite knowing it would end tragically, it still had me shrieking with terror.
On the other note, I was a big fan of how messy Otta Avia was. I was LOCKED IN whenever she showed up in the page. I hate to say it but she was my favourite character 🫢
On the other note, I was a big fan of how messy Otta Avia was. I was LOCKED IN whenever she showed up in the page. I hate to say it but she was my favourite character 🫢
September 7, 2026
I'm going to give this final installment a 3.5/5 stars just because it's been a year since I read books 1&2 back to back. So my memories from book 2 aren't there all the way but this was fun to read this series again and with that I have compelted another trilogy this year!!!(:
August 18, 2026
Chloe Gong finishes her first officially adult series, her first trilogy, with a long-promised epic war between the forces of Calla and Anton, and August and Otta...but after two books of frankly uninvestable characters, this third and final book feels like it never had a chance to get off the ground and be as amazing as it ought to have been. The worldbuilding was always slow to make itself known, and while Gong was always big on sharp sociopolitical commentary - especially about the state of China throughout history and today, too - the moments of insight were never great in number themselves. I'm amazed I picked up this series to begin with, but at least it ended more or less like how I expected. But as much as I'll always go to bat for Chloe Gong, it's not going to be for this series, I'm afraid.
May 8, 2026
Eyes of Kings is the epic conclusion of the Flesh and False Gods Adult fantasy series by Chloe Gong. This series was inspired by Shakespeare’s Cleopatra and Anthony. We followed Princess Calla Tuoleimi throughout the series.
In 'Immortal Longings,' we are introduced to her, and she is living in hiding, five years after she murdered her parents. She enters a game where she can get unimaginable riches, but more importantly, her uncle greets the victor, which will give her a chance to kill him. In "Vilest Things', we follow Calla after the games and the consequences of her choices during them.
Eyes of Kings is such a great conclusion to the Flesh and False Gods series. The ending made me want to stare at a wall for five days, but I thought it was a good conclusion. I love the expansion of the lore in this book, and it's my favorite part. I love it when fantasy books have such great lore, and the expansion of that in this book made me so happy to see. Eyes of Kings is my favorite read in the trilogy. I love seeing things come together over the span of these three books, and I think people will be quite pleased with the conclusion of this series.
Thank you to Chloe Gong and Saga Press for the Advanced Reader Copy!
Eyes of Kings comes out August 4th, 2026.
In 'Immortal Longings,' we are introduced to her, and she is living in hiding, five years after she murdered her parents. She enters a game where she can get unimaginable riches, but more importantly, her uncle greets the victor, which will give her a chance to kill him. In "Vilest Things', we follow Calla after the games and the consequences of her choices during them.
Eyes of Kings is such a great conclusion to the Flesh and False Gods series. The ending made me want to stare at a wall for five days, but I thought it was a good conclusion. I love the expansion of the lore in this book, and it's my favorite part. I love it when fantasy books have such great lore, and the expansion of that in this book made me so happy to see. Eyes of Kings is my favorite read in the trilogy. I love seeing things come together over the span of these three books, and I think people will be quite pleased with the conclusion of this series.
Thank you to Chloe Gong and Saga Press for the Advanced Reader Copy!
Eyes of Kings comes out August 4th, 2026.
July 12, 2026
I support Chloe Gong’s character's rights, but I also support Chloe Gong’s character's wrongs.
Themes & Sparks: concluding book in a trilogy, adult fantasy, dystopian fantasy Antony and Cleopatra retelling, inspired by 1990s Hong Kong Kowloon Walled City, toxic and unapologetic characters, qi magic and body jumping, gods and monarchs reborn, war and civil war
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
In the grand finale of the Flesh and False God trilogy, the stage was once again set for the dramatic and theatrical essence of our main characters, Calla, Anton and August and how, after all this time, they each still had their own cutthroat agenda.
Before building up the crescendo of the war and civil war in this dystopian fantasy Antony and Cleopatra retelling, I loved how, on one hand, we had dived straight back into the story and didn’t lose any of the suspense created at the end of Vilest Things, but on the other how easy the story building in the first chapters made it to remember what happened in the two previous books.
With this being the last book in a trilogy, one would assume that predicting the character’s next moves, their secrets and hidden agendas, should come easily and feel like child play. But let me tell you, that most of us will assume wrong. Everyone could still turn on anyone at any time, which made Eyes of Kings feel like an unpredictable game of chess. Love may become secondary when the hunger for power and victory takes over and sweet nothing’s, are blurring together with lies upon lies upon lies again and again.
Overall, Eyes of Kings was a brilliantly suspenseful, page-turning and unapologetic conclusion to this trilogy. You could tell how much passion and work Chloe put not only into creating these characters to begin with, but also into giving them justice in this final novel. Looking back and remembering their stories, their personal histories and how everything and everyone is woven so deeply and unexpectedly into the history of the world and twin cities Chloe Gong created, ultimately brought to life such an astonishing and shining web of character and story arcs.
I will never not champion a Chloe Gong novel, but I especially want to champion this trilogy to everyone who loves the dreamscape jumping Paige does in The Bone Season, the cutthroat attitude of the career tributes in the Hunger Games, as well as the tangled web of gods reborn from The Jasmine Throne.
Thank you so much to Saga Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Themes & Sparks: concluding book in a trilogy, adult fantasy, dystopian fantasy Antony and Cleopatra retelling, inspired by 1990s Hong Kong Kowloon Walled City, toxic and unapologetic characters, qi magic and body jumping, gods and monarchs reborn, war and civil war
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
In the grand finale of the Flesh and False God trilogy, the stage was once again set for the dramatic and theatrical essence of our main characters, Calla, Anton and August and how, after all this time, they each still had their own cutthroat agenda.
Before building up the crescendo of the war and civil war in this dystopian fantasy Antony and Cleopatra retelling, I loved how, on one hand, we had dived straight back into the story and didn’t lose any of the suspense created at the end of Vilest Things, but on the other how easy the story building in the first chapters made it to remember what happened in the two previous books.
With this being the last book in a trilogy, one would assume that predicting the character’s next moves, their secrets and hidden agendas, should come easily and feel like child play. But let me tell you, that most of us will assume wrong. Everyone could still turn on anyone at any time, which made Eyes of Kings feel like an unpredictable game of chess. Love may become secondary when the hunger for power and victory takes over and sweet nothing’s, are blurring together with lies upon lies upon lies again and again.
Overall, Eyes of Kings was a brilliantly suspenseful, page-turning and unapologetic conclusion to this trilogy. You could tell how much passion and work Chloe put not only into creating these characters to begin with, but also into giving them justice in this final novel. Looking back and remembering their stories, their personal histories and how everything and everyone is woven so deeply and unexpectedly into the history of the world and twin cities Chloe Gong created, ultimately brought to life such an astonishing and shining web of character and story arcs.
I will never not champion a Chloe Gong novel, but I especially want to champion this trilogy to everyone who loves the dreamscape jumping Paige does in The Bone Season, the cutthroat attitude of the career tributes in the Hunger Games, as well as the tangled web of gods reborn from The Jasmine Throne.
Thank you so much to Saga Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 24, 2026
In some instances, it's good when you can't tell where a story is going. In this instance, instead of being suspenseful, it was confusing. (And I think that is evidenced by a book that would usually take me 4 days to read, instead taking me 3 weeks to read O.o)
If you had told me, based on book 1, where we would end up in book 3, I wouldn't believe you. There wasn't any build-up to lead to where we ended up (and the ending didn't even feel like an ending). It felt convoluted and confusing. I kept feeling like I was missing something. Part of that is the through-line of the three books being muddled, and part of that was the intention behind the side characters. The side characters were oddly written to me. In most books, side characters are there to make the world and main characters feel real. To give an "of course this is a real person with a real life" kind of vibe. In this series, the mentions of the side characters were sporadic, and then all of a sudden I'd read a chapter from their point of view...? These chapters felt out of left field, but of course they were important because why else would I be reading from their point of view?
I think I need to reread this series to truly "get" it, and I honestly don't like that.
The last 15% was fast-paced and intriguing. But what did we do for the first 85%? Rode around in confusion (both the characters and I).
Overall, I do like this series. The world is intriguing. But the plot arc across the three books was confusing, and by book 3 I didn't even know who I was rooting for anymore or why. A reread is in order just to figure that out, to be honest.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC for review.
If you had told me, based on book 1, where we would end up in book 3, I wouldn't believe you. There wasn't any build-up to lead to where we ended up (and the ending didn't even feel like an ending). It felt convoluted and confusing. I kept feeling like I was missing something. Part of that is the through-line of the three books being muddled, and part of that was the intention behind the side characters. The side characters were oddly written to me. In most books, side characters are there to make the world and main characters feel real. To give an "of course this is a real person with a real life" kind of vibe. In this series, the mentions of the side characters were sporadic, and then all of a sudden I'd read a chapter from their point of view...? These chapters felt out of left field, but of course they were important because why else would I be reading from their point of view?
I think I need to reread this series to truly "get" it, and I honestly don't like that.
The last 15% was fast-paced and intriguing. But what did we do for the first 85%? Rode around in confusion (both the characters and I).
Overall, I do like this series. The world is intriguing. But the plot arc across the three books was confusing, and by book 3 I didn't even know who I was rooting for anymore or why. A reread is in order just to figure that out, to be honest.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC for review.
August 12, 2026
A reasonable conclusion to the series.
My favorite entry in this series is still very much the first book. The plot is quite straight forward in this one and there's no big surprises. It's a little bitter sweet and I wish we could have developed and built on some previous storylines and character arc instead of going in this direction.
With the way August sees Anton as this ultimate carfree person who only goes after the best of his own drum, it was disappointing that his character arc got reduced down to only being a tool to Calla, an extension of her - with no motivation or arc outside of her.
I was however very happy with the direction Galipeis arc was taken. He shows that even if you don't take the expected road you could still be working towards the same road. It was so satisfying how he could handle August everything he has ever wanted and tough he could only get on his own, even tough he would never be able to if it was not for Galipei. The "I have done awful horrible things for you August. The only one who will have me is you. The only person I will have is you"???!?!!! ATE THAT UP.
Apart from that I don't have much to add. It was a fast past series trought and I am already looking forward to start reading Coldwire soon.
My favorite entry in this series is still very much the first book. The plot is quite straight forward in this one and there's no big surprises. It's a little bitter sweet and I wish we could have developed and built on some previous storylines and character arc instead of going in this direction.
With the way August sees Anton as this ultimate carfree person who only goes after the best of his own drum, it was disappointing that his character arc got reduced down to only being a tool to Calla, an extension of her - with no motivation or arc outside of her.
I was however very happy with the direction Galipeis arc was taken. He shows that even if you don't take the expected road you could still be working towards the same road. It was so satisfying how he could handle August everything he has ever wanted and tough he could only get on his own, even tough he would never be able to if it was not for Galipei. The "I have done awful horrible things for you August. The only one who will have me is you. The only person I will have is you"???!?!!! ATE THAT UP.
Apart from that I don't have much to add. It was a fast past series trought and I am already looking forward to start reading Coldwire soon.
Did Not Finish
July 31, 2026Thank you to Saga Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Unfortunately this was a very rare DNF from me. I liked the typeface, but that’s all I can really say.
Unfortunately this was a very rare DNF from me. I liked the typeface, but that’s all I can really say.
September 12, 2026
Knew what the ending would be, was still shocked by the ending
September 13, 2026
classic chloe gong mindfuckery
August 4, 2026
4.75
Rtc
Rtc
August 14, 2026
4.5 😭😭😭
August 31, 2026
A little underwhelmed. There was a lot of lore dumping in this one and surprise reveals with identities that just didn’t seem to land. I can’t help but feel that the first book was very disjointed from the following two, and I wish more of the background on the gods was set up better. The overall story was interesting but there was too much faff with too many other characters and underdeveloped plot threads that pulled focus and weakened the narrative. Not bad but not great.
September 4, 2026
This book isn't even worth the catharsis of writing a scathing review. It was a complete and total nothing.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Chloe Gong delivers chaos and heartbreak for the final time in the kingdom of Talin.
The fight for the crown of the kingdom of Talin is nearly over. Calla Tuoleimi wears the divine crown. At her right sits Anton Makusa, whose blind loyalty to Calla might just be his downfall. They are not out of the woods yet, given that August Shenzhi will not go down without a fight.
Losing the throne and the support of most of his kingdom is August’s worst nightmare come to life. Additionally, his most loyal guard, Galipei Weisanna, still has not recovered from their last encounter with Anton and Calla, and he is left with no choice but to join forces with Sinoa Tuoleimi, Calla’s predecessor. This unlikely alliance is not one built on trust, but need. After all, they both have the same goal: To rule over Talin.
As old gods find their way back to Earth looking to reclaim their territories, the fight for the crown of the kingdom suddenly has more than two camps. That is, if there even is a kingdom left to rule at the end of this war.
Personally, I loved the shift from an action-based book like Immortal Longings — with fast-paced scenes centered around the king’s games in San-Er— to a more politically focused plot in Eyes of Kings. I also really enjoyed the gradual growth of the world throughout the book, starting in the twin cities of San-Er to the setting expansion into other provinces within the kingdom of Talin. While we explored them in Vilest Things, in this installment we find out who they are backing in this war, their thoughts about the rulers of Talin, and what they are looking to gain from this conflict.
As I mentioned before, Eyes of Kings doesn’t have as many action scenes as its predecessors, but that doesn’t mean that the story is stagnant. This book reads like a chess game with the characters always moving towards a bigger goal.
One aspect of the book that I really enjoyed is that these characters are truly morally grey. There are no heroes or villains. They all manipulate and kill people with no regard, as long as they are able to reach their end goal of ruling Talin. At the end of the day, each of these characters has a motivation and a reason why they want to rule. While some reasons are better than others, the end doesn’t justify the means.
Over the years, we have seen Chloe Gong explore different genres and topics in her books, but one thing has remained consistent: her ability to deliver a plot twist. It was very easy to see where the story was headed, very similar to that feeling of impending doom where you know what will happen but the execution of how it happens is very different from any idea you could’ve come up with. And in my opinion, that is the best way to write a plot twist.
While I understand that there were many story arcs to end, I do wish we had seen a little more of the dynamic between August and Galipei in this book. Their dynamic in this book was so scrumptious and I could not get enough of it. Calla and Anton’s relationship has been fast paced and obsessive since the beginning, but it reached new heights of blind devotion in this book, which was interesting to read amid the revelations and trials these characters were going through.
Although I am sad to say goodbye to this series, I don’t think Chloe Gong could’ve written a more beautiful and devastating ending worthy of the messy world of Talin
Eyes of Kings is hitting bookshelves on August 4th, 2026, and the final installment of the Flesh & False Gods Trilogy is not one you want to miss.
Thank you Saga Press and Chloe Gong for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
The fight for the crown of the kingdom of Talin is nearly over. Calla Tuoleimi wears the divine crown. At her right sits Anton Makusa, whose blind loyalty to Calla might just be his downfall. They are not out of the woods yet, given that August Shenzhi will not go down without a fight.
Losing the throne and the support of most of his kingdom is August’s worst nightmare come to life. Additionally, his most loyal guard, Galipei Weisanna, still has not recovered from their last encounter with Anton and Calla, and he is left with no choice but to join forces with Sinoa Tuoleimi, Calla’s predecessor. This unlikely alliance is not one built on trust, but need. After all, they both have the same goal: To rule over Talin.
As old gods find their way back to Earth looking to reclaim their territories, the fight for the crown of the kingdom suddenly has more than two camps. That is, if there even is a kingdom left to rule at the end of this war.
Personally, I loved the shift from an action-based book like Immortal Longings — with fast-paced scenes centered around the king’s games in San-Er— to a more politically focused plot in Eyes of Kings. I also really enjoyed the gradual growth of the world throughout the book, starting in the twin cities of San-Er to the setting expansion into other provinces within the kingdom of Talin. While we explored them in Vilest Things, in this installment we find out who they are backing in this war, their thoughts about the rulers of Talin, and what they are looking to gain from this conflict.
As I mentioned before, Eyes of Kings doesn’t have as many action scenes as its predecessors, but that doesn’t mean that the story is stagnant. This book reads like a chess game with the characters always moving towards a bigger goal.
One aspect of the book that I really enjoyed is that these characters are truly morally grey. There are no heroes or villains. They all manipulate and kill people with no regard, as long as they are able to reach their end goal of ruling Talin. At the end of the day, each of these characters has a motivation and a reason why they want to rule. While some reasons are better than others, the end doesn’t justify the means.
Over the years, we have seen Chloe Gong explore different genres and topics in her books, but one thing has remained consistent: her ability to deliver a plot twist. It was very easy to see where the story was headed, very similar to that feeling of impending doom where you know what will happen but the execution of how it happens is very different from any idea you could’ve come up with. And in my opinion, that is the best way to write a plot twist.
While I understand that there were many story arcs to end, I do wish we had seen a little more of the dynamic between August and Galipei in this book. Their dynamic in this book was so scrumptious and I could not get enough of it. Calla and Anton’s relationship has been fast paced and obsessive since the beginning, but it reached new heights of blind devotion in this book, which was interesting to read amid the revelations and trials these characters were going through.
Although I am sad to say goodbye to this series, I don’t think Chloe Gong could’ve written a more beautiful and devastating ending worthy of the messy world of Talin
Eyes of Kings is hitting bookshelves on August 4th, 2026, and the final installment of the Flesh & False Gods Trilogy is not one you want to miss.
Thank you Saga Press and Chloe Gong for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 22, 2026
Explosive. Breathtaking. It all comes down to the wire in the action-packed conclusion to Chloe Gong’s Flesh and False Gods trilogy, "Eyes of Kings."
Inspired by Shakespeare’s "Antony and Cleopatra," the trilogy is set within the world of Talin, in which individuals can jump from body to body using their qi. In the wake of the events of "Immortal Longings" and "Vilest Things," the kingdom is in chaos. August Shenzhi has been dethroned by Calla Tuoleimi, who now bears the divine crown. At Calla’s side is Anton Makusa, and together, they find themselves in the midst of the beginnings of war, with August and Sinoa Tuoleimi–Calla’s long-ago ancestor now in the body of Otta Avia–on the other side, while the Crescent Societies exert their power in the capital city. The citizens of San-Er, as well as those who live in the provinces, have begun to hear rumblings of old gods awakening, their qi returning, as miracles and great feats of power pop up across the realm. No one is safe, and no secret will remain undiscovered. Who is a god? Who will end up wearing the crown? Will anyone even live long enough to see the victor take the throne as war and violent gods loom on the horizon? And who–truly–is Calla Tuoleimi?
In this hotly anticipated final installment, Gong pulls out all the stops. "Eyes of Kings" builds upon the exhilarating storytelling of the first two books, maintaining the fast pace, epic action sequences and delicious twists and turns, and delivers a stellar conclusion to these characters’ adventures. For any Shakespeare fans out there, this series has made fantastic use of the source material, and I was extremely satisfied with how Gong wielded the legacies of the original characters through to the end.
Calla Tuoleimi has always been a favorite character of mine. She is fiery and fierce, passionate and strong, and yet there was always the underlying layer of doubt, of the confusion and lack of details on her earliest parts of life, which made her so interesting to read. "Eyes of Kings" finally reveals all, and what a reveal it is! Gong has crafted such an intricate web of characters and relationships, and it is amazing to finally be able to step back and see the full picture in this book, after the trail of breadcrumbs that has been left throughout the pages.
I love the way that Gong gives us windows into different characters’ viewpoints in different chapters, letting us in on secrets that our main characters have not learned yet. The overlapping tidbits build great suspense, and when everything finally comes out into the light, I was practically gasping out loud with the realization of how it all connected.
This world, these characters, and the magic system that Gong has built are beautifully layered, with such depth to these individuals and their surroundings, that we are right there in the pulsing, living, breathing streets with them. We feel their pain. We see the beauty. We share their sorrows, their joy, their anger, and their revenge.
What a way to conclude an already epic series. If you love a book filled with action, powerful female characters, a stunning world, an elaborate magic system, political machinations and so much more, then "Eyes of Kings" is for you!
Thank you to the publicists and team at Saga Press for providing me with a copy!
Inspired by Shakespeare’s "Antony and Cleopatra," the trilogy is set within the world of Talin, in which individuals can jump from body to body using their qi. In the wake of the events of "Immortal Longings" and "Vilest Things," the kingdom is in chaos. August Shenzhi has been dethroned by Calla Tuoleimi, who now bears the divine crown. At Calla’s side is Anton Makusa, and together, they find themselves in the midst of the beginnings of war, with August and Sinoa Tuoleimi–Calla’s long-ago ancestor now in the body of Otta Avia–on the other side, while the Crescent Societies exert their power in the capital city. The citizens of San-Er, as well as those who live in the provinces, have begun to hear rumblings of old gods awakening, their qi returning, as miracles and great feats of power pop up across the realm. No one is safe, and no secret will remain undiscovered. Who is a god? Who will end up wearing the crown? Will anyone even live long enough to see the victor take the throne as war and violent gods loom on the horizon? And who–truly–is Calla Tuoleimi?
In this hotly anticipated final installment, Gong pulls out all the stops. "Eyes of Kings" builds upon the exhilarating storytelling of the first two books, maintaining the fast pace, epic action sequences and delicious twists and turns, and delivers a stellar conclusion to these characters’ adventures. For any Shakespeare fans out there, this series has made fantastic use of the source material, and I was extremely satisfied with how Gong wielded the legacies of the original characters through to the end.
Calla Tuoleimi has always been a favorite character of mine. She is fiery and fierce, passionate and strong, and yet there was always the underlying layer of doubt, of the confusion and lack of details on her earliest parts of life, which made her so interesting to read. "Eyes of Kings" finally reveals all, and what a reveal it is! Gong has crafted such an intricate web of characters and relationships, and it is amazing to finally be able to step back and see the full picture in this book, after the trail of breadcrumbs that has been left throughout the pages.
I love the way that Gong gives us windows into different characters’ viewpoints in different chapters, letting us in on secrets that our main characters have not learned yet. The overlapping tidbits build great suspense, and when everything finally comes out into the light, I was practically gasping out loud with the realization of how it all connected.
This world, these characters, and the magic system that Gong has built are beautifully layered, with such depth to these individuals and their surroundings, that we are right there in the pulsing, living, breathing streets with them. We feel their pain. We see the beauty. We share their sorrows, their joy, their anger, and their revenge.
What a way to conclude an already epic series. If you love a book filled with action, powerful female characters, a stunning world, an elaborate magic system, political machinations and so much more, then "Eyes of Kings" is for you!
Thank you to the publicists and team at Saga Press for providing me with a copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 28, 2024THIS IS GOING TO BE A TRILOGY?!?!
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