Love, Gods and Sinners

by Camille Chong

If you've ever wished for the vibes of K-Pop Demon Hunters but queer, YA, and a little spicy - get ready for Love Gods and Sinners by debut author Camille Chong!

'Messy queers flirt and fight across the city in this fast-paced urban fantasy. Filled with back stabbing, elicit longing and the epitome of the phrase "love hurts". What more could you ask for?' - Eliza Chan, Sunday Times Bestselling author of Fathomfolk

Rule No. 1 of Not Dating Your Rules are made to be broken.

Rule No. 2 of Not Dating Your Enemy: Keep your lives separate (don't live or work together).

Rule No. 3 of Not Dating Your If you can’t imagine life without them, you’re already screwed.

Harper and Tia are roommates, and interns at the same tech company. They clash, they fight, they flirt. And, under cover of night, the two of them adopt secret identities and head out on missions across the city for their respective magical clans. Tia is the beautiful descendant of the Moon Goddess, and Harper is secretly Raven, the leader-in-waiting of the feared and villainous Foxes.

When each is tasked by their clan to kill the other, a deceitful game of cat-and-mouse begins. And Harper and Tia will start to understand that the concepts of right and wrong can be just as complicated – and dangerous – as falling in love.

Genres: Lesbian, Fantasy, LGBT, Queer, Romance, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy

Audible Audio

First published June 11, 2026

About the author

Camille Chong is a Singapore-raised, everywhere-based writer of vibrant stories and messy characters. When not reading and writing, she’s watching B-grade movies, making a mess of her kitchen, chasing a critter or battling demons at a local bouldering wall.

Her debut YA fantasy-rom-com LOVE, GODS & SINNERS comes out from First Ink (Pan Macmillan) in 2026, and is a love letter to Asian daughters and fans of punchy rom-coms and secret identity shenanigans.

She is represented by Lucy Irvine at Darley Anderson Agency.

Camille is also a recently minted Law LLB Graduate from University College London. Congratulate her on surviving on X/Twitter or Instagram.

Reviews

[Melanie Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: New Adult Urban Fantasy / Enemies-to-Lovers / Romantasy
Setting: A futuristic Singapore with magical clans

​What's it about?
​By day, Harper and Tia share an apartment and a tech internship, but by night, they clash as rival secret agents of opposing magical clans: Tia serves the Moon Goddess and the government, while Harper leads the feared Foxes and rebels as "Raven." When both are tasked with killing the other, a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse begins.

​What I loved:
• ​The Chemistry: Incredible tension, iconic humor, and the sweetest moments together. The dynamic between their secret identities is pure reading joy. 🩷

• ​The Setting: A glittering, futuristic Singapore infused with authentic cultural and linguistic vibes.

• ​Representation: Great queer representation (including a beautiful coming-out scene) and strong character writing.

• ​The Vibe: The perfect mix of action, mythology, cozy RomCom vibes, and a fast-paced story that completely hooks you.

Conclusion
​An absolute home run for sapphic fantasy fans! Clever, witty, captivating, and easy to fall in love with. To me, it has a great fanfiction vibe - I enjoyed every single page. 🎉

[zara · Rating 4 out of 5]

when i said i want a good cliche fanfic style book, THIS is what i meant. entertaining, simply written but doesn't lessen the quality, top-notch romance, and a plot that actually makes sense and kept me hooked

many, many thanks to the author for sending me a copy of the book!

[YZ (wordwanderlust) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was going to give this 3 stars after putting the book down but I got ANGRIER and ANGRIER writing this review I had to drop it to 2.

Let me cut to the chase. I am not impressed. This is a debut novel, and it definitely reads like one. Oh yeah, that’s a criticism. Call me harsh or rude or whatever. I said what I said.

I will always say yes to supporting Queer literature, especially those that are written by Singaporean authors. We don’t see many of such books and you can imagine my excitement when I received an ARC of Love, Gods & Sinners. I immediately dived into it and I must admit that the first five chapters had me somewhat hooked and amused with the banter so classic of an enemies-to-lovers romantasy. But things started to get stale for me real fast.

I am still so confused why Goodreads does not have Romance and Romantasy in three tags because this novel was literally about 90% formulaic romance. It was very much beefing, ooh why she kinda hot, beefing, kissing, more beefing, makeup kissing, beefing, *insert miscommunication”, make-up sex. Take a shot whenever one of our two MCs thinks about kissing the other and I guarantee you’ll need a new liver before the halfway mark.

I expected the tension to have lasted for at least more than 60% of the book, like it’s seriously so annoying when authors try to rush the romance part of enemies-to-lovers. It just completely destroys the payoff. Like delayed gratification is so important for me. It keeps the pages turning for me. But for Love, Gods, and Sinners, they got together too fast and too quickly, which then became such a huge snooze fest because both of them would literally just think about kissing each other. Like hello, don’t both of y’all each have your own objectives and missions????

Truly, I didn’t vibe with either Harper or Tia. They have as much personality as a piece of plain Gardenia White Bread. Seriously, their lives literally revolved around each other, and I what they had to do on behalf of their “clans”. It was truly so one-note.

I am also sorely disappointed with the fantasy worldbuilding aspect. For a book set in an imaginary Singapore, we barely got to experience the landscape or culture. Such a missed opportunity for a Singaporean author to actually talk about our country……??? I expected sights, sounds, tastes, and smells. But we get little to none of these. I expected a least some form of Singlish but nope, none of that as well. (which is crazy to me btw). I expected the magic system, political system and history to be more fleshed out and established but details were kept vague. For example, are there literally only 3 sentinels? How did Chang Er even descend from the Moon to have descendants in the first place. I can’t imagine the Chang Er I know having kids with someone else that isn’t Hou Yi. Are there more clans of different deities???? What does the government’s magical department do? Why were they only mentioned in passing????? Why did they choose to work with the SG government in the end when it was clear that they’re they real villains????

There were just so many crucial worldbuilding details left out that I couldn’t help but wonder why no one flagged this out during the editing phase(s)…. If “Fantasy” is going to be the second tag on Goodreads, well. I am giving it a 2 out of 10 on the Fantasy scale. Lowkey pissed me off ngl.

Let’s not even get to the glaring plotholes here because I think @supergirled has put them into words so well in her Goodreads review, so y’all should definitely check that out!!!.

The pacing was just…bad. And I am pretty sure it is because of the hyperfocus on the romance aspect of it all. Like we could have done away with the 673382262762 romance scenes and actually spent the word count on making the PLOT more substantial. Like, do I really need to see them kiss and argue and then kiss again repeatedly? If I took all of that out, I think this book would barely be 150 pages. Yet, the entire novel is close to 400 pages. AND FOR WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Structurally, I am just confused. It’s a dual POV, but the chapters are so long, and most contain both POVs…? Why not just make the POVs the chapters themselves?? I had to physically, mentally, and emotionally FORCE myself to finish this book. I did not have the urge to pick it up, especially after the 30% mark, when they partially stop beefing. It was torturous for me to say the very least.

I am genuinely so over this book that I don’t even feel like yapping anymore. I am SICK AND TIRED. I can sense a sequel coming given that ending scene, and from the author’s IG stories, I guess that is happening. Good lord. We need to stop normalising duologies and instead focus on writing solid standalones, tyvm. I really doubt I’d pick the sequel up unless something drastic happens to the structure and writing in it.

[Wen-yi Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

My official blurb: Flirtatious, cinematic, and sheer fun. LOVE, GODS AND SINNERS is fantasy romance at its best: deliciously witty enemies-to-lovers secret identity shenanigans, a glittery action-packed Singapore filled with magical clans, and girls that beat with the fierce, tender heart of overcoming their fears (and their mission orders) to fall headlong into love. A debut to watch--and to curl up kicking your feet to.

[selina]

tHIS WILL REWIRE THE CHEMISTRY OF MY BRAIN YES IT WILL

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cool premise, execution wasn’t quite there for me but I still enjoyed myself

[Ashli Hughes · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5*

I was actually so excited and looking forward to reading this, so I’m gutted at the fact it did not live up to my expectations.

I think my main issue with it was the lack of depth / development of the relationships (both romantic and familial), and when a book is centred on this- it kind of drags everything else down with it.

the premise of this book is two descendants of gods are both enemies when they are performing as part of their clans / gods, but in their normal life only one of them knows who the other is. raven (the fox clan member) keeps her identities a secret and separate, so no-one knows who raven is- not even tia / luna, her biggest enemy and constant battle opponent, who also happens to be her roommate.

this is where it goes down hill for me. we only get to have maybe three chapters where we see raven x luna battle it out and cross each others paths before they share an intimate moment that starts to change how they view each other. this happened so quickly that the tension we were supposed to feel about the complex dynamic of their relationship was just .. non-existent for me. I didnt feel on edge about their battling lives, because I didn’t really get to see just how dangerous and intertwined they were. then when the main relationship did begin to develop, it was at such a rapid pace that it had me genuinely getting annoyed at some parts. like look, im a lesbian and i love my girlfriend so much, but there is no way that after a WEEK of dating it would be enough for me to start considering leaving my family and the life I have always known to be someone who could date them. It felt so unrealistic to me that a person who has dedicated themselves and their life to fighting with their clan, who promised their parents as their last dying wish that she would become leader of the clan, would then after a week of dating a girl all of a sudden start debating leaving it all behind (or finding ways to betray her clan and still become leader whilst keeping the girlfriend.) i wanted more struggle, more gradual development- something to make it more realistic to add to the tension and agony of it all, but it was very fast paced that i couldn’t connect to it.

some other key issues i had:
•the sentinels exist to protect the public, yet even when our MC discovers that the government she works with is harbouring resources to make BOMBS? she still continues to work with them..
•our other MC is a fox who spent her entire life fighting against the government and police systems bc they’ve been harbouring resources away from her clan so they had to resort to underground tactics to get the materials they need… the book ends with her joining up with the sentinels??
•the fox mc does not have a single conversation of depth with her girlfriend about the difference in their lives and why foxes are “the dangerous” criminals she has been hunting because they have no other way to access the things they need due to discrimination- how is your relationship functioning?

I do think it was a cool premise and there were definitely elements of the story that kept me interested / entertained enough to enjoy it, but the relationship was too lacking for me to find myself caring much at all about the overarching plot. I can see others enjoying this more than I did though.

[rach 𝜗𝜚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,25 ☆!!

.•° ✿ °•. okay tbh i was about to dnf this… and i’m glad i didn’t :) i can’t deny that there were some things that bothered me (like why do the two mcs have pretty much the same personality?? and the plot points conveniently forgotten just to be brought back later as if they’re some big twist) and i wish i’d felt more connected to the characters (i grew a little fond of lune/tia but that’s it) howeverrrr,, i actually had quite a good time with this read. i was surprised by the structure, the pov changes constantly even within the chapters and i think that helped me flying through this story so quickly.

[Jolin (twentycharm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. As these 19-year-olds stumble through tension in close proximity and internal struggles with their conflicting ideals, they don’t hold back in combat (or a sex scene), at once hurting and healing one another.

In this world, descendants of mythical beings harness varying degrees of magic, with most not strong enough for more than a trick. In fact, descendants are growing weaker, now requiring moonstone supplements just to survive, where they were previously only needed to replenish magic use. So while the criminal Foxes are stealing these supplies, they have reason for doing so, unbeknownst to the youngest Sentinel Lune.

It doesn’t follow your typical YA arcs; instead of changing, it’s more of Tia and Harper coming to terms with who they are, as in choosing to accept instead of discussing their differing views. And while both of them have the signature YA banter, the cherry on top was both of Harper’s exes constantly giving her shit omg. Or well, especially Maria. Everywhere, every scene, every time.

I liked that their romance kept them going amidst other betrayals and turmoil, though their willingness to mutually ditch their causes for love confused me and the sociopolitical parallels left me wanting more.

I didn’t feel that strongly for the Foxes because neither did Harper, it seemed. But I trusted her motivation lay in fulfilling her promise to her dying parents, so that was her source of conflict, only for her to get over it fairly quickly in the end. I also felt that the Kiran and Niko treating Harper as family was a bit sudden given their lack of interaction in the start; she did live with them for years but it felt more like a landlord/mentor/employer vibe.

Unrelated to the novel, I’m growing out of enemies to lovers as a trope because it’s either (1) too enemies or (2) not enemies. If you’re really enemies to the extent of unforgivable hatred, you can’t be lovers. If not, it’s either a misunderstanding or just not enemies to lovers, with a fickle quick change of relationship. This falls into the latter category; although Harper and Tia have a banter-filled back and forth throughout the novel, the development from being unable to stand a regular conversation to caring for/more than tolerating one another was jarring.

It was at once too much yet too little Singapore. It’s an urban fantasy so the worldbuilding is not very prominent, which is fine, but it used lots of references to Singapore landmarks and political structure yet (as other reviews mentioned) did not fully leverage other cultural aspects. Besides familiar Asian family dynamics, there could have been more.

On a good note, the fast pace and plot unravelling were engaging and made a decent read. I also greatly appreciated the queer rep not only in the sapphic main couple but non-binary and trans characters/relationship between Niko and Kiran.

Thank you Pansing Distribution for the ARC! All thoughts are my own.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was AMAZING!! So different for me, but SO good, I loved it, SO MUCH!!
The story is so well written and there are literally no loose ends, it’s just a beautiful, complete, story. The main characters are beautiful, they are all just trying their best and they all want what is best for their people and the world. There are people being misled, people being manipulated, being lied to, it’s truly all going on, but slowly the pieces get put together and it makes SUCH a good story.
Descendants are people who are distantly related to gods or goddesses, these gods and goddesses had a lot of magical power, but it has been continuously watered down through generations, meaning newer generations have less magic. The main groups of descendants have three clans: The Foxes, The Sentinels and The Nagas. All of the descendants need moon stones to power up their power (?) give them strength. The younger descendants also need moonstones to function, to survive, the reason for this is unknown but thought to be due to the amount their magic has been watered down by time and generations. The main story is basically all the clans fighting for these moonstones, however The Sentinels aren’t told why the other clans need moonstones (for their younger descendant) so they don’t give them up willingly.
It isn’t a complicated story, but there is so much going on, it’s amazing, it’s so action packed, it truly isn’t too much though, it’s the perfect amount. I understood everything that was happening and didn’t have to lock in at all (I did though)
My favorite parts were when Harper and Tia were alone, they are so cute and comfortable together, and I love how as soon as they opened up on their feelings it felt like they had always been together, they became so comfortable so quickly, it truly felt relaxing just reading their parts? I also loved their flirty humor when they were Raven and Luna, it was SO funny and so perfect.
I loved everything about this book, truly.
It’s just so well written, it was one of those books you finish and you just think “woah.” and you just have to sit there for a minute?
One thing I do wish for, I wish Harper had a cat, she feels like someone who needs a cat.
ALSO ACTUALLY, Tias coming out scene was beautiful, I loved it, don’t make me cry. Thank you for that scene.

[Anahita Karthik]

Guys I’m actually desperate to read this book ohmygod!!

[Manon the Malicious · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this but it just didn't work for me. I found the two main characters two-dimensional and lacking depth. The world building was close to non-existent and the romance felt rushed and fell flat. I did like the family dynamics and the setting. I liked the idea of roommates having secret identities but no knowing who they really are but it didn't truly work for me. I feel like a lot of the story dragged on and I had trouble being fully invested. I don't know, I was hoping for more, I guess. I still don't think this was bad but it fell a bit short of my expectations I feel like it makes sense for a debut and I will still be looking out for whatever this author writes next.

[Hannah]

DNF'ed at the 50 page mark - I usually try to give a book a chance until at least the 30 percent mark, but I simply could not stomach the quintessential Singaporean try-to-use-as-many-difficult-words-as-possible-to-describe-the-most-mundane-things-in-my-PSLE-essay clunky-ass prose anymore!!! The secret enemies in disguise plot was also already becoming implausible by the first couple of chapters, and I knew it wasn't going to get any better.

It's so disappointing, because I definitely laughed at loud at times at the banter between Raven/Harper and Lune/Tia and I also definitely felt the chemistry. But I am so sorry iykyk this type of Singlit prose makes me want to set my books on fire.

[Nat · Rating 2 out of 5]

interesting plot idea regarding the conflict between ground-up community initiatives vs govt but everyone was so superficial and i could barely understand what was going on, like especially in the fight scenes, the person would be on the floor one line and then suddenly standing and throwing a punch ??? … also having illusion magic and telekinesis is literally bulletproof like wtf they can make illusions with sound and then “use darkness” to run away?! also tbh if i hated someone for multiple years im not sure how i would suddenly decide to have a crush on them lol i think this book is a lot more focused on the romance (rather than the fantasy)

[Emily G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder, a plot is afoot and sapphic enemies to lovers:

This was a sweet, low stakes Singaporean fantasy with elements of mythology woven into the fantasy world. We had the Foxes and Sentinel's at each others throats as the law vs the lawless. It was a unique concept of descendants of the Moon Goddess vs the Foxes, all reliant on the same resource and a whole lot of miscommunication into the reasons behind why they are feuding.

The book follows Harper/Raven and Tia through spying, plots, romance, betrayal and scheming. There's a definite exploration of agency and morality throughout the book as our main characters have to explore what it is they want for themselves, rather than what they have been told to fight for. I thought the pacing was well done and the story easy enough to follow. I dual read the audio and the physical book and really enjoyed the narrators mannerisms for the characters, it helping bring the story to life.

Unfortunately I do think the book missed the mark on a few things, the worldbuilding and scenery felt underdeveloped, it was definitely a character led story. I found the number of characters odd, we only have 3 sentinels and these people are tasked alone with protecting the whole city. The schooling system also felt odd at times and I was unsure what ages our side characters actually were. At times the plot fell flat and I think something about the characters felt slightly underdeveloped. It would have been nice to see more background to the story and world to help understand the motives more.

Thankyou to the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[zai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS !!
rtcc

[Sara. · Rating 2 out of 5]

**UPDATE: found out this is book 1 of a duology. Didn't realise because 1) I don't recall any prior indication it's a series in its marketing and 2) this does read like a standalone; even with a weird ending, it does wrap things up. Normally, I do not read sequels of books I didn't enjoy but I'll pick it up because I want to see if book 2 addresses my concerns like reparations from the government.

Original review:
2.5⭐️ rounded down. Thank you NetGalley & First Ink for the ARC. I'm a queer Singaporean woman so of course I was looking forward to to a sapphic story set in my home city. Unfortunately, I cannot get over my disappointment with the poor optics and wishy washy politics presented. Thought this would be a solid 3.5 at the very LEAST but then it rapidly went downhill.

I'm just going cut straight to my biggest problem with this. Some context first: in this alternate contemporary world, you have people known as descendants , who are descended from deities that crossbred with humans, such as Chang'e the moon goddess, Nine-tailed Foxes, Nagas. There are also yaoguai, said to be Chinese demons, but I'm not sure if they count as descendants who are human.

Foxes are stereotypically seen by society as conniving and deceitful. As early as the first chapter, we're told that they are discriminated against, and can be unlawfully fired from jobs or bullied in schools. The Fox clan operate as a syndicate, with their modus operandi at present day focusing on stealing moonstones from the government; literal stones harvested from the moon that can be used as an energy source with the rapidly depleting non-renewable sources. In pill/powder form, moonstones can supplement a descendant's magic, and more importantly, help weaker-born descendants function healthily in everyday life. One of of the novel's two POV protags, Harper AKA Raven, is a Fox being groomed to be the next clan leader.

Nagas, who are inherently in tune with nature, are eco-terrorists that carry out destructive "climate protests" (literally called so in the book) calling for cleaner energy, which are often violent and depicted as having no care to the dangers this pose to civilians and bystanders. The only ""good"", ~non-criminal~ Naga, is Kiran, one of the two founders of the Sentinels AKA govt cops, who "pledge to serve the government" (since they're sanctioned by them) and to "protect the country from magical threats". I'm using actual quotes word-for-word from the text. Our other POV protag, Tia AKA Lune, is a Sentinel who is a Chang'e descendant.

The first red flag I got from the above as early as 15% into the novel was the depiction of climate protestors as a whole as violent and uncaring whether or not civilians are hurt in the process. In Singapore, freedom of speech to protest is very much curbed, limited and criminalised, regardless of how mild, peaceful, and non-disruptive it is. The fact that Nagas are all painted as criminals despite their valid concerns on environmental issues feels like emphasising the real-life message that our government tries to push: Protesting is bad. Protestors are *harmful*. I cannot tell you how insensitive that is, and it's shocking to see this from a queer book. I was waiting for some nuance or a reveal later on that no, these climate protestors don't just needlessly endanger lives, that's just propaganda. Nope, zilch.

And the optics become even worse with the direction this story ends up taking. **SPOILERS AHEAD.** Remember moonstones? Aside from energy sources, they can also be weaponised by being made into BOMBS. We eventually find out the company that conceptualized these bombs in the first place, Ferrix, is secretly BEING FUNDED BY THE GOVT to do just that, and this is kept hidden to maintain public support. Prior to this, the govt was already receiving heavy criticism from Harper for not lifting a finger to help Foxes and other descendants that need moonstones and struggle to legally procure them (hence Foxes resorting to theft). So now we have a group of people being systemically disenfranchised, and the govt's corruption is proven to be worse with their backing a discriminatory company to make weapons. Instead of, you know, using those moonstones to actually help their people.

But did this new information lead to the Sentinels breaking off from the govt, and choose to be protectors as an INDEPENDENT entity instead? Are we getting a superhero team like the Justice League?? No, that's too much, too radical. Sentinels STILL report to the govt. And I am absolutely baffled by Tia choosing to do this despite her mentors Kiran & Niko who founded the Sentinels being so disillusioned and having their trust in the govt shattered that they literally gave their blessing for her to break laws or rebel against authority, if that serves the greater good, when she was given leadership of the Sentinels. Even more baffling is that earlier in the novel, Tia implied she even went along with the Sentinels' alignment with the govt because she trusted Kiran & Niko's judgement.

But don't worry, that's actually OKAY!! Because the Sentinels are acting as a ~neutral third party bridge~ between the govt and the Foxes+Nagas. They'll oversee moonstones being fairly disseminated between the govt to be used for energy and the Foxes+Nagas for their descendants.

ARE. YOU. SERIOUS. You cannot be a neutral third party if you do not disavow the govt and are literally still answerable to them!!! And the gall to have Harper, who has been rightfully govt-critical the entire book, AGREE TO JOIN THE SENTINELS WHEN THEY ARE *NOT* AN INDEPENDENT ORG. Because what, her freaking girlfriend is the next leader? Why would she choose to be on the govt's leash, when she's seen how corrupt they are?? How are the Sentinels even going to hold the govt to task with this moonstone distribution- oh, it's gonna be done under the table?? Just break off from them then? There's also no indication that Tia & Harper secretly plan to play the govt or anything.

What I don't understand is that author Camille Chong didn't HAVE to write it this way. LGaS govt is based off Actual Singapore govt, sure, but this is still fiction. It's still a fake govt. If this were real life, I can empathise with having to toe the line with Actual Singapore govt, but LGaS govt? It's whatever Chong wants it to be. She can have her two fictional sapphics say FUCK IT to the LGaS govt and decide what consequences arose out of it. "The Sentinels' continued existence relies on our compliance with the government's regulations." GURL YOU DECIDED THIS?? Also the fact that the Sentinels had no evidence to expose govt corruption; something entirely up to the author. Alternatively, Chong could've had Kiran & Niko fund the Sentinels independently with their CEO money and then have this team operate from a secret hideout. Vigilantes is more palatable over govt-backed cops.

All this left a bad taste in my mouth, because fiction doesn't exist in a vacuum and I cannot divorce the political implications from the story.

The above may be my major issues with the novel, but I also have a bone to pick with how the romance between Tia & Harper was handled. I'll preface though that the pre-established history of them already disliking each other from their rivalrous academy days before the story even began was a good narrative choice imo; their enmity has a foundation and isn't a case of "we see them meet for the first time and hate each other on sight". There's bickering between Tia & Harper, and ~banter~ between their alter egos Fox thief Raven & Sentinel Lune. One thing I did find potentially interesting is that Harper points out that Tia, as a Chang'e descendant, has some form of innate mystical allure and "embodied attraction". Curious how that's something brought up but never unpacked. Like did Harper ever consider that her attraction to Tia was something forced?

Anyway.

Tia is the Privileged Sheltered Rich Girl who was abused by her parents, so she now lives with Kiran & Niko instead while the three of them operate as Sentinels. Because she hasn't really touched grass, she had no idea that other descendants with little to no magic also need moonstones for their health. When she learns this from Harper, does this lead to her re-considering things like that MAYBE, just maybe, the Foxes have a more altruistic reason behind the thefts? Nope, she brushes it off as Harper being misinformed. Despite it being Harper's literal lived experience.

I do think it's wild that two people with ideological differences—especially when it's hinted at that they just don't have all the right information—didn't bother sitting down to have an honest & tough conversation on this. There's a scene where Harper confides in Naga leader Avyaan of her suspicions:

"You have got to be kidding me. You know the Sentinels have done jack shit for us. They literally hoard moonstones and help the government suppress descendants. Are you being serious right now?"

"Av, you don't get it. I don't think they know. I think they're being told something else. I'm trying to figure it out."

This made me think, oh interesting, the govt is manipulating things behind the scenes! Let's get the whole truth out! But Harper doesn't even broach this topic of potential manipulation to Tia, even after they start dating. There isn't a moment in the novel where they have this much-needed conversation. Not even a "Hey let me show you the lived experiences of descendants who are struggling and don't receive aid from the govt". Or any attempt to clear the air of whether or not the Foxes are planning to weaponise the moonstone as the Sentinels believe.

Sure, it's realistic for 19-year-olds to be avoidant and want to bask in the hormonal rush of their first girlfriend. But how do you expect me to root for them as a couple then?? How do you expect me to root for Tia to be with Harper, when she thinks Harper is ~one of the good ones~ and holds sweeping negative views of Foxes whom Harper considers family? And likewise, am I supposed to root for Harper to date someone who doesn't seem TOO concerned that her clan and other underprivileged descendants are struggling to just function well?

So for the sake of Angst & Drama, the two girls don't talk about this. Then of course that leads to an inevitable fallout, they fought like hell, and even when they FINALLY decided to collude, Tia didn't really seem to have any sort of empathy for the Foxes & Nagas wanting to help descendants get the moonstones they need. She disagrees with Ferrix & the govt wanting to make bombs, but I think it also says a lot that she didn't exactly call out the govt for it. Not even outrage that she was being used. But Harper isn't doing much either, because why aren't you tackling your girlfriend's Fox racism. Is that something she can overlook just because they're dating?

And the ending also doesn't indicate there's any societal shift in overall negative Fox/Naga perceptions, only that the public might be warming up to Harper/Raven as an individual instead, now that she's a govt-backed cop Sentinel.

I don't know. I feel like 23-year-old Chong may not have been properly equipped to handle the nuances of the politics she introduces in her story. There are ATTEMPTS to be radical but it still feels erring to the side of caution. And for a QUEER book set in Singapore? Well this is no Sister Snake , which does care to hold the government accountable in some way for their suppression.

It's really a shame because maybe if I shut my eyes and brain and truly don't think too deeply about the politics, it could be a fun book? Maybe?

Other observations:

- The worldbuilding feels weak and lackluster, and I'm not typically a stickler for thorough worldbuilding in my fantasies so long as I'm vibing. We are introduced to only descendant types that are directly related to the govt/Sentinels/crime clans conflict. But what about other regular descendants who aren't related to Foxes, Nagas, Chang'e and Indonesian nymph Dewi Nawang Wulang (applicable to just only Niko, as the sole nymph descendant)? There's a Magic Department within the govt but what else do they do? How are they different from the Department of Descendants that's said to be "basic and barely developed"?

I came away uninterested in any more potential future stories in this setting, unlike the lushness in other debut urban fantasies like Fathomfolk or even City of Others . And those were stories that I didn't end up loving either, but was impressed by their worldbuilding.

- There is an attempt to create some Found Familyism consisting of Kiran & Niko as parental figures/mentors to Tia & Harper. Which, fine, but those older adults are barely around for most of the book for me to care about this unit as a group. Also Kiran & Niko want to get married (with it being acknowledged on-page that queer marriage in Singapore isn't legalised) but we don't know if they did in the end? Also LOL at Kiran ~suspecting~ Harper's secret identity as Raven. Suspected but never acted on it, or even tried talking to Harper?? Feels like a throwaway line.

- Non-binary representation in the form of Niko. 👍👍

- The Fox clan ... well. They're said to have gotten rid of enemies that include "corrupt officials and colonialists". They steal moonstones to help weak descendants, especially children. Sounds morally flexible with their *methods*, but ultimately upright in heart. Notttt really? Maybe? They also act so cavalier with non-Fox lives, and Harper herself also says she doesn't care about saving people she doesn't love. Then there's the part where they insist time and again to "look after their own", but the elders are willing to assign Foxes to kill a fellow Fox unprovoked, as part of a test? And no remorse over carrying out under-the-table deals with bomb-making Ferrix, that led to casualities when these bombs were tested out. These are the people that Harper sees as FAMILY. And there doesn't seem to be any indication that there are Foxes that hold different morals. It's like I'm against societal sweeping views of any one race of people, but at the same time they're all portrayed the same way like this?

[Axel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This might be the easiest book I've ever had to rate. It was both enjoyable to read and severely lacking-let me explain why.

Love, Gods and Sinners is set in an urban fantasy Singapore and follows Tia and Harper-two roommates who are tech interns by day and magical operatives for rival clans by night. The plot is very liminal and straightforward. Tia, whose alter-ego is "Lune" works for a magical clan called the Sentinels who are tasked with protecting "moonstones." The lore is very underdeveloped but essentially the moonstones are powerful sources of magic and, if in the wrong hands, can be very dangerous. Harper, whose alter ego is Raven, is heir to the fox clan and her role is to take the moonstones for her own clan who need it to sustain themselves. Again, it's explained on a surface level basis so if my explanation sounds basic, the book is even worse at explaining it.

In the beginning, both Tia and Harper dislike one another. (Oh and Tia doesn't know Harper is Raven. But Raven knows Tia is Lune somehow. I don't know, it's never explained why). But, as the novel progresses they warm to each other. Queue convenient conflict. Harper is tasked by her clan leader, Ah ma, to kill Lune/Tia in order to eliminate the threat against the foxes and to secure her position as leader of the clan.

It's a very straightforward sapphic enemies-to-lovers book. Harper is torn between loyalty towards her clan and her newfound love for Tia.

That is pretty much the entire plot of the book which is why I keep describing it at surface level. It was the perfect average read which is why rating it was effortless. It wasn't insultingly bad but it was also just very safe. I think, however, it would work really well as a TV series since most of the time the scenes were set up in a way that felt like a show-reading more like a Kdrama or children's TV show.

What I did enjoy about this book was definitely how easy and fun it was. Was it Sanderson level good? Absolutely not. It definitely needed editing and rewriting in places but it was fun. Last week, I went to an outdoor pool and read this book for like two hours without ever feeling like I wanted to put it down. So despite the book lacking in many areas, it was without a doubt enjoyable. I could pick it up without ever needing to really think about what was going on, because the plot was both paper thin and uncomplicated. Again, this was both its downfall and saving grace.

The characters were a little cliche and one-note but no egregiously so. In the beginning, I could not stand how childish both characters were and I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes at all the random flirty inner thoughts and moments where they'd thinking about kissing the other person. Surprisingly, it got better? Their dialogue was still cringy and they were both definitely stereotypical protagonists, but I don't know, I ended up gelling with them around halfway through. They're not super well written but Camille Chong somehow made me care about them which was something I was not expecting to do. I especially loved Niko and Kiran! And I love that Niko was non-binary but that it didn't become this big thing, but instead was a part of their identity that was explained once and then no one questioned it. I loved that so much. Made the rep feel so much more authentic.

So why only a 3? My main issues with the book are:

1. Too surface level. What you see is what you get. There is a few sideplot-esque things going on, but they're so small and insignificant that they don't add anything substantial. The same goes for side characters. Maria was probably the most fleshed out of the side characters but she was still the one-dimensional ex girlfriend with very little backstory. Even after... well stuff. I cannot say for spoiler purposes.

2. Juvenile writing. I'll cut the author some slack since this is a debut. But yeah. The writing felt more like a middlegrade than a YA. Also there was a lesbian sex scene which... how?? I didn't think YA's were allowed to show smut. And this wasn't a fade to black scene either, there was some graphic depictions. As an adult, I'm not complaining (woo lesbians let's go), but a fourteen-year old might not be expecting such... detail.

3. Plot convenience. There are too many instances of things just happening because the plot demands it to. There are so many instances of the sentinels just knowing where the foxes will be or of both Harper and Tia surviving severe injuries. Yes, it's explained how they survive, but it's still very convenient. I will extend this point onto character choices as well. There are a couple instances where, in order for the plot to progress, grudges and previous grievances are forgiven in the space of a few chapters. There is one particular case that really angered me. If you know, you know.

4. The found family could've been so much better. I love Niko and Kiran but their parent-daughter bond with Tia felt forced. I did sort of warm up to it towards the end, but I think they needed more time together away from their respective missions. It would've been beneficial to see them spend time as a family doing normal activities. Kiran especially needed more scenes with Tia.

5. I've already touched on how basic the lore was. It was as superficial as it gets. Why is there only three sentinels? How is that even possible? A magical clan surely can't have three members. Why d the foxes hate the sentinels besides believing they want the moonstones for themselves? Where did lune get her suit from? Yes, she descended from Chang'e, the moon goddess (who, by the way, was much better depicted in Daughter of the moon goddess by Sue Lynn Tan. Here, her entire history was skewered), but how did she still get her suit? Did she make it herself? Was it gifted? Where did the Nagas come from? I believe it was briefly touched on in the book, but it must've been a blink and you'll miss it because I don't remember. What is the Nagas' goal? What is Ferrix's connection as a whole? And if you're thinking, "wow that's a lot of unanwered questions", those are only the main ones. And I read the book thoroughly, often rereading passages in case I missed something, but no, the book really did skip over a lot of important details.

I think thirteen year old me would've ate this book up. It wasn't a bad book per se, but it was severely lacking in a lot of places and often felt like a wattpad fanfiction rather than a published novel.

It's a shame because the cover is beautiful.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The main characters of this book call each other Kit and Bunny.

If that isn’t enough to immediately sell you on this book, I don’t know what to say other than I guess you and I are just built different.

What? You expect more from a review?

Picky but fine.

LGS really has three things going for it, the characters, the worldbuilding and the action.

We follow Tia and Harper, also known by the aliases (aliasi?) Lune and Raven. One tasked with dealing with the magical criminals of their city, the other, you guessed it a criminal of the city. I am a diehard for the imposter who worms their way into a tightknit group only to become more embedded in it than intended, and LGS is a superb example of that.

Essentially, if you love ride or die dynamics, run don’t walk to Barnes & Noble to preorder this book.

I especially loved this book for the fact that its characters not only stood up great in terms of their relationship, but are memorable and addictive in isolation as well. At the core of this book is definitely the pairings (Harper & Tia primarily but I also adored Niko & Kiran were a delightfully charming background feature). Chong is immediate in how she builds motives and histories in such a beautifully organic way, the setting felt super lived and breathed in. Every character is torn between the decisions and expectations of others, and watching Harper particularly step aside from the mould built for her was soooooooooooooo satisfying by the end.

That being said this is very much a, the characters drive the plot rather than the plot drives the characters, so some subplots do feel very out of left field. The plot is there to pressure-cook the characters, not the other way around. That didn’t bother me in the slightest but I can see how that might grate.

Next the worldbuilding.

Chong gives LGS enough padding for you to chew on that you’re definitely intrigued, and shes good enough at it that I was left definitely wanting more. She sets her world’s rules but isn’t afraid to break them, which adds an urgency to the writing that I could not get enough of.

We’re immersed in this fantastical, highly technological setting, I was honestly impressed with how well Chong kept up the stakes. Healing at all ends of the spectrum seems possible in this world, yet I definitely still feared for the characters which isn’t an easily done thing. Mostly, I think, because the writer does a superb job of tying stakes to the world not just the individual.

This book leans slightly sparse in terms of prose and as mentioned is very character centric. Again not something I minded in future (please, God [and sinners]) I’d love to see the world at large. LGS focuses on two very high ranking individuals of this world, and we have bits of the lower classes/less magical individuals seeded in but not thoroughly. I’d love to see this world and its magic/tech in contexts outside of the very powerful.

For how the prose is sparse, there’s a punchy rhythm to especially the action scenes that is as much addictive as it is heart racing. It’s cinematic in a way, and Chong makes sure you feel the gravity in every blow dealt. The seamless melding of stuff like hallucinations and telekinesis, with very modern tech was so much fun to read. I love how much effort clearly went into plotting out how these facets wove together, and it absolutely pays off.

For how I praise the action, however, I will say the dialogue did drag a bit for me. Everything has a dialogue tag when they’re not necessarily needed, which bogs down the sharpness of some reveals/cliffhangers for me. But that is honestly just pedantic.

If you’re looking for something with genuinely gorgeous characters set against a backdrop of warring factions, not to mention how deliciously sapphic the whole thing is. I would absolutely recommend Love, Gods and Sinners on every possible level.

For a debut this was ambitious yet intimate, action packed but meaningful. And I for one cannot wait to see what Chong has in store for us next.

[Pudsey Recommends · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hadn't read a New Adult novel in a while, and honestly, I am so glad I've picked this one up to break my YA/NA fast. Lol!

Let me open with a line, because honestly it does more work than any summary I could write:
"I spend Valentine's like any single person would: ignoring my ex-girlfriend, and stealing from the rich." That's Harper Leong. That's the whole vibe. If that line made you smile, this book is already yours.

Love, Gods and Sinners is Camille Chong's New Adult debut, and it is precisely as chaotic, warm, and unapologetically queer as its premise suggests. Harper and Tia are roommates and tech company interns by day, and secret operatives for rival magical clans by night (Harper as Raven, leader-in-waiting of the feared Foxes; Tia as Lune, descendant of the Moon Goddess). When each is tasked with killing the other, the enemies-to-lovers tension that's been simmering since page one gets a very dangerous new dimension.

The plot is genuinely cinematic: heists, mythology, moonstone magic, a futuristic Singapore rendered with real specificity and care. The setting feels integral rather than decorative. The politics of descendant communities, the social tensions around powers that are coveted in wartime and feared in peace, the urban landscape itself: it's all woven into the story's DNA in a way that makes the world feel lived-in rather than borrowed. But here's the thing: the worldbuilding is fascinating and the action lands, and still the reason I kept turning pages was entirely the characters.

This is one of those books where the plot gives the characters reasons to collide, and the characters are what make you stay. Harper's voice is a particular achievement: funny, rebellious, and quietly devastated in equal measure. The humour lands hard, and then, without warning, you get something like: "And here I am, straddled between two families, part of both and belonging to neither."

Chong does this repeatedly, places an emotionally gutting line right next to something that made you laugh two paragraphs earlier. And it works every single time, because it treats Harper as a complete person rather than an archetype. The chaotic-thief persona isn't a mask over the vulnerability; they coexist, the way they do in actual human beings.

Tia takes longer to open up, which is exactly right. Her emotional arc is slower-burning and, ultimately, more devastating. ."Receiving love and care has only ever been a currency I must earn." I mean, come on.

Tia is introduced as an ice queen and she remains difficult and guarded for most of the book, but Chong keeps slipping in moments of genuine tenderness ("The suit doesn't make me the Sentinel. You were in trouble. I had the power to help you. That's all") that show you exactly who she is underneath, long before Harper gets to see it.

The romance is exquisitely calibrated. Every conversation is a negotiation. Every fight is flirting. Every moment of vulnerability feels hard-won, which means when it lands, it lands. The progression from "it makes me hate you less" to "it makes it hard to hate you at all" is doing enormous amounts of work in a very small space, and somehow it earns it.

My only gripe is that a couple of the supporting clan dynamics didn't quite get the page time they seemed to need. But this is a debut, and the things Chong gets right she gets spectacularly right. The voice, the relationship tension, the emotional intelligence, the humour that somehow shares a book with genuine heartbreak: these are not easy things to pull off, and she pulls them off with real confidence.

If you're looking for a fast-paced, queer urban fantasy that's genuinely funny, set somewhere other than a generic Western metropolis, with an enemies-to-lovers dynamic that earns every inch of its development, hey, this one's for you.

"The world isn't always nice to people who care."

Neither is Camille Chong. That's what makes this soooooo good. #pudseyrecommends

Thanks to Panmacmillan, First Ink and Netgalley for the arc.

[Homlesreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

-----------------------------------------
♟️Rating:3.25/5⭐
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Thank you Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review!

Before I begin, let me provide some context. I used to watch Zootopia 1 on repeat when it first came out (it’s my equivalent of K-pop Demon Hunters). And I love Chappell Roan, enemies-to-lovers, and Nick Wilde. Needless to say, I’m the target audience.

The first half of the book was such a fun read, and I knew it was going to be good when it mentioned Måneskin. (Harper and Tia are MAMMAMIA coded.) I love the banter between the two of them during the various fight scenes. The power system was straightforward and not overly detailed. It had a good setup at the start, and the pacing was tight.

However, the pacing of this book became quite rushed in the second half of the book, which left me feeling somewhat conflicted while reviewing it. There were a number of plot holes in the story, such as the lack of resolution for the racism Harper faced for being a fox descendant. At the start of the story, Harper/Raven constantly faced racism for her identity, which wasn’t properly addressed in the later part of the story. There were a few instances where Tia also claimed that Harper is different from other foxes (aka not a shifty criminal), and society suddenly became ‘accepting’ of Raven when she became a ‘Sentinel’.

Ahem. Allow me to pull up some scenes from Zootopia 1 (Z1). Nick Wilde also faced something similar in Zootopia 1 when he was signing up to be a ZPD officer. In Z1, racism also takes centre stage in the story along with Nick and Judy’s relationship. However in LGS, every other aspect of the story only serves as a (misplaced) prop to the romance between Tia and Harper.

The worldbuilding and setting didn’t really expand beyond the introduction of the story and we didn’t get to see what other gods there were or the lore behind those powers. Moreover, the story could have taken place in another part of the world that’s not Singapore and it wouldn’t feel different. The story didn’t really delve into the setting of Singapore aside from a few name drops of locations located in Singapore. Not going to lie, I wished it could have delved deeper into the societal constructs and culture in Singapore.

A lot of the conflicts between Harper and Tia or Harper and Niko were quickly resolved, and there weren’t any real tensions or twists to the story, which made it fairly predictable near the end. I think this book would also have benefitted if it delved deeper into Niko’s backstory and not played ‘safe’ with his character. Also, why did Grandma suddenly accept Harper near the end of the story? Moreover, the constant usage of rain (pathetic fallacy) whenever something intense happened got increasingly repetitive. LIKE WHY IS IT ALWAYS RAINING? Also, the fight scene with Maria reminded me of Z2 when Nick Wilde went up against Pawbert, but the tension wasn’t there, and the fight wasn’t as gripping as expected.

The romance between Harper and Tia kind of lost its grip on me in the second half of the story (when they got together) because there weren’t any real conflicts to their actions that actually had lasting impacts on their relationships. As such, we didn’t get to see much growth to their character arc in the second half of the story as well.

All in all, I think the story is a solid debut novel despite its shortcomings. It can get predictable at times, but if you’re looking for a quick post-Zootopia 2 fix, then this book is for you.

[Karis · Rating 2 out of 5]

~~Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC!~~

2.5/5 stars rounded down.

To be honest, my thoughts on this is conflicting. On one hand, the romance between the leads is far better developed and explored than most enemies-to-lovers I've read in the past. But, on the other hand, I really feel like everything else in the story takes a back seat or is used to solely fuel the romance.

Tia and Harper have so much compelling elements in their characters. From the complicated and tragic bio family backgrounds to the dynamics each girl has to balance between their personal and alternate personas, these girls were dealing with so much that added layers to their relationship and the banter they share. And those layers were shown . . . some of the time. I don't know, it really felt like it was all second to the back and forth, will-they-or-won't-they drama.

For example: Harper is a Fox, a descendant that is heavily discriminated/stereotyped in this world. She constantly faces things from microaggressions to full blown racism from other descendants because of this. One of which I noticed a lot is from Tia. Despite her claims of not hating Harper because she's a Fox, Tia constantly attributes the other girl's traits to her being a Fox. She even flat out tells Harper she'd different from other Foxes because she's not a criminal. Never does Harper or the narrative confront her for her blatant racism, because that moment was about angst, not forcing Tia to confront any real prejudices she held for a persecuted class of people. This just — frustrated me so much. How could I root for a romance like this?

There's also a sorta side plot with the girls' mentors that's trying so hard to be found family. Niko constantly called Tia their daughter, but outside the bare bone backstory the narrative gave about them and Tia, there wasn't much to go off of. It all just didn't feel as natural as it should of to me. I wish there were moments the story delved deeper into the backstories in order to fully understand and get behind the found family between Tia, Harper, Niko, and their partner Kiran.

The worldbuilding, again, serves as dressing for the girls' romance. There's only, like, three major god descended races of people that were consistently mentioned throughout the story: Foxes, Nagas, and Chang'e, the last of which has the least information and other known members outside Tia. Niko and Kiran were something else, but I cannot for the life of me remember, because they were only mentioned once when they were introduced in the plot. The Foxes and Nagas were the persecuted races, while Chang'e were mostly held in a positive light (There was only one mention of Tia's dad being afraid of her powers so much she was forced to repress them, but that was about it). I just don't think the characterization of two fantasy races being constantly hated and discriminated against isn't the best way to go about worldbuilding. But that's all I have to go on in this world, because there's nothing else going on in this world, otherwise.

Overall, I'm disappointed I didn't like this. I keep trying to like enemies-to-lovers, but while this one certainly had elements that could've made it work for me, it's the rest that didn't mesh well with it.

[harriet · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Amidst last night’s nightmarish events, my mind lingers on the phantom warmth of Harper’s touch.
I tear the bandage off and scrunch it in my fist. There’s no time for sentiments, not for fiery, foul-mouthed girls.”– pg. 52

Thank you Netgalley for the arc.

This was a fun read. Described as a new-adult rom-com, set against the backdrop of a world of superpowered descendants of gods split into vigilante and government puppets, Love, Gods & Sinners offers the promise of energetic action, a enemies-to-lovers romance, and plenty of self-reflection and doubt to lock the novel firmly into the mindset of it’s young adult protagonists.

While I certainly had fun with this debut novel, I cannot say my experience was entirely good.

Many of the book’s shining moments come from Harper/Raven, who grapples with becoming the leader of the Fox clan while, at the same time, having to hide her secret identity from those around her as she begins to fall in love. She helms many of the best moments in the book and bridges the equally complex sides of a fight to secure moonstones.

Perhaps my biggest hurdle within the novel was the romance, which serves as the main plot thread connecting our two protagonists and as a larger element in their individual developments as characters. Playing on the trope of ‘rivals-to-lovers’ through Tia and Harper rather than ‘enemies-to-lovers’ through Lune and Raven makes it feel more grounded and settles the growth of affection feel more natural than it might’ve done, though for me it still felt a little rushed – most notably once the romance moved from bubbling feelings into a real relationship.

This is where my issue with Tia comes in. Like Harper, Tia is a complex individual, being a Sentinel tasked with protecting the city but also someone struggling under the weight of the expectations placed upon her and her own recklessness in putting the world ahead of her own wellbeing. All this detail lingers in the shadow of her narrative behind the romance, which almost locks Tia out of her complexity just enough to plaster a more lovesick role onto her. Sometimes the blend of romance and complexity works, showing Tia learning to manage her stress and anxiety through her romance with Harper, however, for me, the balance rarely stabilized, leaving Tia lost in her romance with Harper and losing the more complex and interesting parts of herself.

I will state that this book is not something I’d normally pick up, as such I am hesitant to say that my review is all that reliable to those who do enjoy books similar, even possibly invalid.

But I will reiterate, I had a fun reading this and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good time.

[august · Rating 4 out of 5]

“love, gods, and sinners” by camille chong is the kind of book that grabs you by the collar, drags you the floor, and pins you to the wall with the amount of sexual tension contained in this bad boy. in other words: i adored it.

from page one, the story radiates personality. it’s loud. it’s bold. it’s dramatic. it references måneskin, which means that i need the playlist the author listened to while writing this story immediately. the characters feel like they were forged in equal parts chaos and charm. their jokes land with what makes you wonder if everyone in this universe needs sleep, therapy, or both (it's both, by the way). it’s witty, sharp, and full of lines that made me stop and scream into the void in the best way.

the beating heart of the book is absolutely tia njauw and harper leong. i love them. their enemies-to-lovers arc is so catastrophically crafted that i felt like i was witnessing two stars try to orbit each other while arguing about who started the gravitational pull. their chemistry is ridiculous, electric, stubborn, tender, and edged with danger. every moment between them thrums with intensity, even when they’re denying everything to everyone including themselves. they’re the kind of characters who make you want to push them together and make kiss like they’re your barbie dolls.

chong weaves in cultural elements with such richness that the world feels deeply grounded. the traditions, language, and mythology flow through the narrative like a second skin. it adds layers to every emotional beat and makes the story feel bigger than its page count.

speaking of page count, the pacing is fast — like being-thrown-off-the-building fast. sometimes, i felt like scenes were elbowing each other out of the way to happen next. and while the magic system and worldbuilding are intriguing, i often wished the book would stop running long enough for me to fully bathe in it. i would have loved to learn more about the history of the foxes, nagas, and the moon goddess. there were moments where i could see the edges of something vast and complex, only for the plot to go “nope!” and keep moving. but honestly? i was having too much fun to be annoyed for long.

because this book is fun. it’s funny, it’s heartfelt, it’s beautifully sapphic, and it wears its heart on its book sleeve. by the time it was over, i felt like i’d returned from a wild high speed car chase that i would absolutely go on again.

[thea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, I am so late to reviewing this book that it is now out already. Slight failure on my part. Will unfortunately probably happen again.

LOVE, GODS AND SINNERS features Harper and Tia, two super powered individuals on opposite sides of the law. Harper doesn’t care about breaking the law, if she’s told to steal, she’ll steal. Tia believes in upholding the law and doing what’s right. When the two of them come across one another, a rivalry begins which has them at each other’s throats. In their civilian lives, they are scarily close to one another. But the lines blur and as their civilian identities get closer, it becomes harder to hold the line as their secret identities.

I love a good sapphic romance. Even more when it’s enemies to lovers. Especially if it’s a sci-fi featuring a dazzling city backdrop and a world full of superpowers. This book was right up my alley, fun and easy to read with lots of twists and turns. It had angst tropes that I adore and overall was very fun.

I don’t want to waffle on about the negatives for too long simply because they all boil down to Expectations. And for that, I feel bad. You give me sapphic sci-fi enemies to lovers and I’m thinking Renegades. I’m thinking marvel comics. I’m thinking a sci-fi so rich with world building it leaves me longing. But in all honesty, this was the sci-fi equivalent of a romantasy. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, it just wasn’t what I was expecting. The romance was at the forefront which honestly left me feeling like a lot of the sci-fi was underdeveloped, and I found myself wanting to know more about their powers, about the city, about how the various groups of superpowered individuals had come about. Their romance, too, was very quickly developed, and so the enemies to lovers aspect kind of faded away after a while. It felt like an important part that was just forgotten.

I did enjoy the secret identities part, as you’re always going to get my interest if you have the main character keeping a secret like that, and so that was very fun to read. Overall, I did quite like this. I feel honestly that if this was a series, it would have more time to develop.

I also feel it’s important to note that I am mutuals with the author on twitter and I feel bad saying anything mean especially since my arc of this book expired and I couldn’t get another copy of it, so I was content to wait until release when she reached out to me and sent me a copy so. I appreciate that.

Thank you Netgalley (and Cam) for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Librow0rm Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know when you’re looking for a book that just hits and transports you away from the worries and woes of real life, well Love, Gods, and Sinners by Camille Chong is most definitely that book!

From the start, I was engrossed and totally transported away from the humdrum of real life, work, home, responsibility as I was pulled into the world of Descendants, secret identities, flirtation, romance and all the contradictions of falling in love with your ‘enemy’. The world of Descendants is made up of three clans, The Foxes, The Sentinels, and The Nagas who are all distantly related to ancient Gods & Goddesses who had magical abilities. As the generations have passed these clans are now dependent on moonstones to maintain their diluted magic, and it is this source of power that the clans fight to get their hands on or retain, however, not all information about the need for the moonstones is shared, resulting in conflict between the clans that can have fatal results.

Chong delivers such an action packed, twist filled plot that overflows with flirtation, romance and fun between Harper (Raven – Fox Clan,) and Tia (Lune – Sentinels Clan,) in their daily lives and of course conflict and fighting in their opposing clan identities as Raven and Lune. Their characters are both so well formed providing depth and insight into them as individuals and as clan members with responsibilities that it was impossible to pick a side to cheer for, I loved them both. And of course the flirtation, fun and banter only added to my enjoyment of this book and most definitely them.

You’d think that with such great character developing and arc that there would be a reduction elsewhere in plot or structure but, there really wasn’t in this book, from the start the plot was so well crafted that each loose end finds it’s point of connection and there is a well-planned trajectory that balances development with the perfect amount of chaos, and of course plot twists that I really didn’t anticipate but, loved!

I absolutely adored the escapism, fun, action and romance that this read brought and would totally recommend it to anyone looking for a little escape from reality!

Thank you so much First Ink and Macmillan Children’s Books for this arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

[Denali Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

First off, let me start off by saying this was SO fun. Chloe Chong created such a fun plot that had me invested all the way to the end of the story. This book is full of so many great actions scenes that I think deserve the praise.

I also really enjoyed the romance! At first, I thought they were a little immature and corny but as we got to know them better, I understood the way our characters acted and why they had to be rivals. Harper's identity was so intriguing and made me connect with both of our main characters more. The talks of queerness in this book is absolutely Chef's Kiss! I really enjoyed seeing Tina's journey of figuring out who she is and learning to accept it.

The found family aspect was also super cute. Niko & Kiran were such good characters and were actually so helpful to to our plot which was something I loved.

Now personally, there is a few things I didn't love about this book:
- The POV's: Oftentimes, it was very hard figuring out who was who in the POV chapters because some of them were unlabled
- The pacing: It felt off at times? Like our characters would be talking about this huge event in the story and then we would brush pass it quickly without ever getting to see it and alll the sudden were thrown into an action scene, which makes no sense.
- The world-building: The world-building isn't really explained at all. We are just thrown into this world and expected to just be able to picture it right off the bat? I would've loved seeing more descriptions of the world and more scenery to help connect with the story better.
- The descendants: I would've loved to see this explained in a little bit more detail, I understood what it all meant but I feel like most people won't understand and will be confused with the plot since it's not explained very greatly.

Overall, this is a very unapologetically queer book about 2 girls finding love in opposites sides of a clan and I would absolutely still recommend it, despite it's flaws.

[star · Rating 5 out of 5]

first off thank you so much to the author for letting the read this in advance, i had a blast!!
this was genuinely so much fun!! actual enemies to lovers between two girls who are descendants from the gods, fighting on two sides of a conflict, there's dual pov and dual identities involved, urban fantasy set in singapore and there's rom-com elements and more.

the main characters really won my heart!! they were so well written to me, lots of layers and complexities, some sweet character development & coming of age and the dynamic between the two was awesome! it was fun when they were enemies, delightfully messy when they were figuring out the in-between and so sweet to see the aftermaths. (raven reminded me of gideon nav because of her personality and sense of humour and that's why she immediately won my heart). the side characters are there and i generally liked all of them but they were really more in the background and a little less fleshed out.

i'm a big fan of the writing because of how versatile it was. there was some great banter and some true rom-com lines that made me giggle, some very cheesy YA lines that lightened up the mood but there also were more serious passages with lots of angst and some beautiful lyrical passages, especially during tia's pov.

the plot was so much fun and paced really well, i was on my toes for the first half of the book, anticipating something happening the entire time, then a lot of shit happened, chaos ensued and my feelings were all over the place. excellent amount of chaos; one small critique is that i would have loved to see singapore more as a character. the story is set in singapore but i didn't really feel like i was in singapore. that's all though, go pick this up if you want some fun and messy enemies to lovers sapphics!!

[tc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love, Gods & Sinners is a highly anticipated queer romantasy that traces an enemies-to-lovers romance set in a future Singapore filled with magic and street battles (imagine that!)

We follow Harper and Tia, who are both interns at Lain & Co. by day but secretly carry out missions for rival magical clans by night (as Raven and Lune respectively). Both protagonists have compelling backgrounds - Harper/Raven is descended from the Fox Clan, while Tia/Lune is a descendant of Chang’e, the moon Goddess - giving them distinct identities that gave plenty of opportunities for rich world-building and character backstories. Combined with the enemies-to-lovers premise, these elements made for an intriguing setup, and I was excited to see where the story would go.

There is a fine line between love and hate in most enemies-to-lovers tropes, which turned out to be *too fine* in this case. This arc was resolved a little too early in the story (around ~30% mark), leaving little room for the tension, slow burn, and yearning that often make this trope so satisfying.

Much of the novel instead focuses on the banter and battles between Harper/Raven and Tia/Lune as they navigate their exes and clan rivalry. This is great if you enjoy quick-witted exchanges that develop character dynamics. I would have preferred more emotional depth and meaningful conversations that allowed their relationship and their connection with the reader to develop more naturally.

On the world-building front, there are references to familiar local landmarks (e.g., Marina Bay Sands), though they felt more tokenistic than integral to the story.

That said, this is an action-packed read, and it opened up a new genre for me. While it wasn’t quite the book I had hoped for, I’m always glad to see more diverse local stories being written and published, and I hope we continue to see more of them.

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Gods and Sinners is a Sapphic rivals-to -lovers urban fantasy set in a futuristic Singapore with Harper and Tia taking centre stage.

By day, Harper and Tia are housemates and colleagues at a tech company, where they spend their time bickering, clashing heads and every so often, flirting with one another. It’s their lives outside of work, though, that really drive the story. Both are hiding a multitude of secrets, fighting for their respective clans frequently pitting them against one another in the struggle for dominance. As the story unfolds, we learn more about the clans that have divided the city, and I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for both of them. The weight of expectation on their shoulders is immense, especially when they’re expected to destroy the very people standing opposite them.

The world-building strikes a balance between futuristic technology and mythology. The hyper-modern cityscape, with its vibrant, almost cyberpunk feel, sits effortlessly alongside the magical elements woven throughout the story. Camille Chong creates a world that feels not only immersive, but the blend of technology and magic powering everything around the characters really sells the image of this futuristic Singapore.

Harper and Tia have electric chemistry, whether they’re navigating the mundane aspects of office life, or facing one another behind their respective masks. The tension between them is palpable, but I think what I enjoyed the most was just how oblivious they both are to what’s right in front of them. As readers we’re obviously in on the secret, which made their interactions all the more entertaining. There were moments that genuinely had me laugh because they’re both so terrible at hiding who they are, even while trying to keep their identities hidden. It’s funny, but it’s also balanced by the seriousness of the situations they find themselves in, and why they’re forced to be in each other’s orbit in the first place.

There’s so much more to this story than just the two of them of course but if I went into everything I’d be here forever. Love Gods and Sinners was a fun read. I'm glad I picked it up because I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the storyline where love has to overcome everything else in the end.