No Gods West of Here

Mythcycle #1

by Hanna Gaard

A people-pleasing scholar. A dangerous cult leader. Good luck picking sides.

Talia Salaren is a brilliant scholar and obedient eldest daughter with a bright future decided by everyone but her.

Then she finds a dead god's salacious journal.

The secrets inside could unravel four centuries of empire. The gods were jerks, and their power was stolen, claimed by five families who built legacies on a lie. Families like hers.

With her life's work outlawed, Talia flees to Gateway, a frontier boomtown where divine magic is clawed from the earth like gold. She walks straight into a trap — a dangerous expedition led by a cult leader who is very good at making people want things they shouldn't. He has no interest in studying the gods. He plans to become one.

As their uneasy company pushes deeper into godforsaken territory, the myths she was raised to believe begin to fracture — along with the careful version of herself she's always performed.

The cult leader is wrong. She knows it.
For once, she wants to be wrong too.

If Talia doesn't choose what she stands for — and who she's willing to lose — she won't just have her heart broken. She'll become someone else's weapon.

Genres: Romantasy, Romance, Historical, Fantasy

384 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2026

About the author

Hanna writes romantic fantasy books about messy people who think they're the heroes. A lifelong fantasy reader, she adores character-driven plots, unique magic systems, and twisting popular tropes.

No Gods West of Here is Hanna's debut novel. It follows Talia, a people-pleasing scholar who has to get sharp to survive in a frontier world where shards of divine magic are mined like gold, and a dangerous cult leader would turn her into a weapon.

Reviews

[Gabriela]

“When all your other choices got burned down, picking the last door wasn’t really choosing.“

You know those books that renew your faith in reading? Not that I’ve recently lost any, but I read a fair number of ARCs and frequently lament that I can’t keep up with my TBR and anticipated new releases. So my goal recently has been to slow down on ARCs…and I will. Soon. However, this is one of those cases where I’m glad I took the chance. I genuinely love supporting indie authors and finding those hidden gems.

So maybe I should actually talk about the story.

Talia is a scholar who joins cult leader Lore and a gunslinger named Dawn in a quest to find an abandoned city and learn more about a forbidden magic and the long dead beings who wielded it. Along for the ride are Talia’s mysterious bodyguard Riven and her childhood friend Holloway.

This gave me gold rush meets Indiana Jones vibes (yes I know these took place in different centuries, but humor me). Also, make the protagonist an eldest daughter who is privileged, quietly rebellious, and definitely less world wise than Indiana. I don’t always need a story that breaks the mold, and I love my comfort tropes, but the writing and execution of this story are so refreshing it makes me giddy.

The writing is such that we are dropped right into the action without any handholding, almost all show and minimal tell so to speak. The atmosphere feels gritty, set within the danger of western saloons, dirty alleys, and the uncomfortable disparity between the haves and have nots. Talia’s ultimate and noble goal between research and rebellion is to bridge this divide.

This is one of those narratives that highlights how even the best intentions can set off a chain of events that can yield unfortunate consequences. A story that makes you feel empathy and pain for both sides, to the point that you may not even know who you want to root for. This also trickles down to the messiness of the characters. Everyone’s got guilt, secrets, and possibly a hidden agenda.

I love that this is written in third person, with the POV’s alternating between the two FMC’s Dawn and Talia. This keeps an air of mystery in deciphering everyone’s intentions, particularly the male characters. I operated purely on instinct while reading this, with a feeling that I had little proof for my suspicions. And yet, this is not a story that pulls twists out of left field. The clues are well hidden, but not impossible to find.

I do have a couple of minor quibbles. While the pacing of the story and side eying some of the characters kept me on the edge of my seat, the ending and one of the romantic entanglements felt mildly rushed. For being so sheltered, Talia’s got more game than Indiana. But I’m also taking off my hat to her for going after what she wants after spending most of her life trying to please others. This is also one of those stories where my feelings about the ending might change, because the setup for the next book is both chilling and compelling with a cliffhanger that doesn’t necessarily make me want to throw my Kindle like a toddler.

Overall, this is an incredibly well written debut and so unique in the romantasy world. Villain origin story and non-heroic characters that you can still root for? DELIVERED. I can’t wait to see where this world takes us.

4.5 ⭐️’s

A big thank you to Hanna for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

*for ARC readers, I believe this is up on NetGalley until July 27 if you are interested!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pre-read: an empath scholar joins a cult leader in this villain origin story promising gold rush vibes, forbidden magic, and no true heroes.

[Rebecca ~ readinginNZ]

“No one here knew her name, let alone what she was running from. The laugh that escaped was half sob, unsteady and hers. It felt like something cracking open inside her. She was twenty-six years old, and for the first time in her life, no one was telling her who to be.”

✨ Villain origin story
✨ Enemies with benefits
✨ Love rectangle
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Gold rush vibes

I ate this book up. It was so good I inhaled about 60% of it before I even realised how much I’d read.

Talia is a scholar trying to uncover secrets that were never meant to see the light of day, and in the process she more or less walks straight into Lore’s orbit. Lore happens to be a cult leader with ambitions that are, frankly, concerning, and from that point on things just keep escalating.

“A cage is a cage… even if the bars sparkle.”

The plot is packed with secrets, twists, and discoveries that constantly change what you think you know. The deeper Talia digs into the history of the gods, the messier everything becomes, and I was completely invested in seeing where it would all lead.

“Survival is just another language, and you’re already learning it… You have remarkable potential. That’s more interesting than perfection.”

Dawn was easily my favourite. I loved her relationship with Talia, and her own story ended up being one of the most compelling parts of the book. Every time she was on the page I wanted more.

Riven brings a steadiness to the group that balances out some of the chaos. He has that dependable protector energy that makes him impossible not to like.

“Safe was an illusion. She couldn’t afford to pretend.”

Then there’s Holloway, Talia’s childhood best friend and ex-fiancé, who spends a good portion of the book yearning, trying his best, and finding himself wildly out of his depth. Watching him get dragged further and further into everything was honestly great.

And Lore, who somehow manages to be charismatic, manipulative, dangerous, and impossible to ignore all at the same time.

“Three men. Three different versions of who she could be with each of them.”

It’s got humour, it’s got spice, it’s got queer rep, it’s got dragons, and it has characters making increasingly questionable decisions. Basically all the ingredients for a really good time.

“What’s the point of surviving if you have to be a monster to do it?”

Chaos, vibes, and opinions are all my own ✨ please give credit if you share.

[badger baddie]

DNFd 30%. Several things irked me - certain character connections came across as shallow and unearned, which was even alluded to by the characters in the text. If it's that obvious to them...
And one character name in particular really bugged me as a bad choice.

[↠ ryli ☽]

This book was absolutely fantastic! It has everything a fantasy novel needs: messy characters & relationships, mythical creatures, and a new world to dive into. I loved each character (Dawn a little more lol) and how complex each one was! The friendships, romances, and the manipulation were all written so well. I cannot wait to keep reading this series and see where it goes.

*Thank you NetGalley & Hanna Gaard for the ARC*

[Evie Oliva]

When I think about the book, No Gods West of Here, the first thing that catches my attention is the title. There is something almost lyrical about the way the words flow for the title of this book. It caught my attention and just held it, called to the poetic pieces of my soul, made me so invested in reading this book. Having just finished the book again, because yes, I went back a bit to just read the last quarter of the book for a second time, I am still left with the same resounding thought. That thought?

When is book 2 available?

I'm still reeling from the reveals, from the intricate details of the world-building, from the gamut of emotions I felt for every character in this book. I was devoted to this story by the second chapter and I blazed through this entire adventure in a day and a half. That's how much I truly LOVED this book. I am so grateful that there will be a second installment, I can't wait to try requesting it to read and I can't wait for my official copy to arrive.

And now, for the rest of the review.

No Gods West of Here follows Talia Salaren, a young scholar who wishes to continue her research but has been doing what everyone else wants from her for her entire life. Talia has discovered a journal that was written by one of the dead god's and everything she has found in those pages changes everything about the world as she knew it, proving that the gods are not what she was raised to believe. Talia decides to travel across the sea to Gateway for a fellowship, hoping to find more sources that would prove that the information she has found in the journal is the truth. While there, Talia ends up caught up in the schemes of a prophet/cult leader, a man who claims to have the same interest in the gods that Talia has focused her research on. Except that he's not interested in only studying the gods or finding the truth, he wants to become a god himself and he believes he knows exactly how to do that and he will use Talia to do that. Talia joins his expedition to the location he thinks will have everything that they would need to learn about the gods, but as they travel, Talia begins to see things differently about everyone in her company and everyone she knew back home. Talia is tempted by the promises cult leader has claimed he can fulfill but at the same time, Talia understands that if she chooses that path, she will become a tool under someone else's control, and now she has to understand what it will take for her to become something more than she has ever let herself want or even consider she could become ever before.

Back to the title, I love the scope it seems to suggest. The idea is that the gods once existed, something concrete that is still in evidence, but now they are gone and having that as this as fact expands the world before the opening line of the book even hits. Once the story starts, we're already on a boat, leaving everything behind for something new. Gaard has this perfect setup, with the ship and the journal that Talia has. We know that what was left behind was worth escaping from and we know that Talia has ambition if she's willing to leave everything she once knew behind. Gaard handles the introduction to her world with ease, allowing the reader to move along with the journey without overwhelming the reader with loads of information about this book world. We know what we need to know and we get every answer we need when we need it. At the same time, the writing is practically effortless, able to keep the reader engaged with every reveal and emotion, the pace moving at a steady clip that makes it so easy to lose track of time while reading this wonderful book. I sincerely loved the pull of the writing, the way it was easy to step into the pages and watch everything unfold. It takes talent to draw readers in like this and Gaard proves that within pages of the opening.

I loved the people of this book. I loved them so much it bears repeating with the caps lock on; I LOVED THESE CHARACTERS. I loved Talia and her eldest daughter tendencies that felt familiar as an eldest daughter myself. I adored Dawn, with her snipe and her revolvers and especially her pink hair. I thought Riven was brilliant and I loved the quiet strength he represented for his friends. I eventually came to enjoy other characters but I feel if I name specifics, I might give too much away so I'll leave that statement where it is. I loved the banter between the characters, the way each one worked with someone and then worked against them. There is no clear line of good versus evil in this book, every character is flawed, they've made mistakes, they've gotten people hurt and then turned around and made sacrifices to save one another. It's that balance that leant a nuance to this book, a feeling of recognition and understanding that can exist when reading about characters that could exist just as easily outside the book as they do within its pages.

Gaard made the wonderful choice to give various characters a voice in this book and I greatly appreciated the opportunity to spend time inside so many different views. I would be so frustrated with one character at one moment only to be defending them a paragraph later and seeing their every thought, their reasonings for what they do, was the ideal way to make me devoted to this group, this found family who fought and loved and breathed and exist in these pages and in my heart. There is no absolute ideal for each character as a villain or a hero and it's that messiness that makes these characters worth following and believing in. Seeing events from different angles helped fill in details that kept building the tension, kept our focus, so that when things culminated in the end, the payoff in the aftermath hit in such a way that I'm still so impressed with. I want to go back and read the book again, just to see every detail to these characters once more and to see if there was anything that I missed. I might need to take notes so that I'm ready for when I get to spend time with these people again in the future.

As for the plot, I was intrigued from the start. Again with the title, the fact that the gods existed is one thing but then Talia finds proof that the gods were different than what everyone believes, that they were jerks and horrible overall, and I wanted to know more about EVERYTHING. Every discovery made, every moment, felt earned and I loved the journey this book took with its characters and their expedition. Everyone was at risk, losses felt like they needed to be mourned, triumphs left me cheering as quietly as I could in the small hours of the night. I want to study every aspect of this story just to be sure I've absorbed every detail this book has given me. And that ending? It left me with both a feeling of elation and trepidation because the reveals that Gaard pulled out by the end were world-shifting in scope. Sincerely, truly, honestly, I LOVED this book. I can't find any other way to say it and I can only sit here waiting, somewhat patiently, to find out what comes next. It's an adventure I can't wait to behold.

In the end, I hope so many people find their way to this amazing adventure. Gaard has a fan for life from this reader and I can't wait to have a shelf dedicated to keeping every book release from Gaard in a place of honor in my library for the rest of time.



Rating on my Scale: a full 10 Stars!! All questions were answered, lines have been drawn in the sand, and I am counting down the days until the next installment is in my greedy hands. I NEED to know what happens next!!

[Amelia]

Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had such high hopes for No Gods West of Here but unfortunately this fell very flat for me.

NGWOH follows Talia Salaren, a character born into privilege who chooses to up roots when her livelihood and passion in scholarlyhood (scholarship? I've sat staring at this word for five minutes) is threatened by an increasingly anti-academic place of origin. When her path crosses with a cult-leader who, as is the way of all cult-leaders, has big plans and dirty way of achieving them, she sets off on an adventure to discover the truth of the western frontier and its myths.

That, you may be thinking, sounds fucking incredible.

So too, did I think.

You, like I, may be reading my star rating with an arched eyebrow.

Yeah... so.

As always we'll jump off from the positive foot.

The dragons.

I know another reviewer has also mentioned this as a highlight and I promise I'm not just copying homework. But I always love dragons and while they don't have a tonne of page-space in NGWOH, I thought Gaard's take on them was refreshing and fun I just wish they'd come on page earlier and more. The other creatures particularly the gods were also done in an interesting enough way.

I adore books with cult-leader characters (I'm trying to write one myself) and Lore functions very well in this archetype. Gaard writes a manipulative character really, really well.

The writing is beautiful, and functionally very correct. However, it ended up tasting like a feast built from styrofoam. Yes the writing itself is lovely, but so much of it ended up being prose for the sake of prose. Little of it actually did something, whether that be give me a new way to look at something, press the plot onward, give me an inside look into a character mind. It ended up just plumping out the book for me, and we'd have chunks of lovely writing with intermittent "okay lets actually tell the reader the important bit" in much sparser prose. I would have enjoyed this far more if everything kept that same lovely prose.

However, this felt like DND as played with your most distractable friends and a chaos-reaper for a DM. Which, as a player is great fun. As a reader, however, that does not a good book make. NGWOH is pitched as a villain origin story, which I guess is true. However, the stakes end up being completely lack-lustre and it feels like we're wandering around in search of a plot and things to do for so much of the book.

There's lots of relationship building going on, but Gaard does herself no favours in cramming an ensemble cast that is so packed with similar voices and senses of humour that it's hard to decide who we should be rooting for.

It felt like Gaard went into this with ideas for character dynamics (if I had to guess based on Fourth Wing and ACOTAR, but that might just be me) and a rough idea for plot beats she wanted to follow. Then set out with the intention of getting there at all costs. The result is the 'banter' feels paint by numbers, the relationships felt straight copy and pasted from other places and nothing felt authentically Gaard. Just Gaard trying to be Maas or Yarros. If Gaard had tried to be her own writer I think this book could have been so so good.

I was intrigued and excited at the idea of a fantasy novel set on the frontier, however, the Wild West ends up functioning as little more than set dressing. The first 10-15% of this novel felt very frontloaded with exposition and setting info, and then we really don't go into much detail after that mark.

Another example of incredible premise with poor execution.

[Grem Reeds]

An ARC was freely provided to me by the author - thank you!

I straight up DO NOT KNOW what I just read, I just know I need MORE. Instant buy book, instant read author, everything. This is my new white whale except I’ve already found it. I’m not even making SENSE, this book has fried my brain in the best way.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) | 🌶️🌶️ (2)

Please keep in mind that although ARCs don't often change much, if at all, before publishing: it is possible, and this review is based on pre-released content.

This was so much more than I expected, than I could have hoped for. It’s got all the goods I like, some small things that I almost never see but LOVE OMG, and plenty I didn’t realize I needed. I’ve been procrastinating this review for almost 12 hours because - I don’t know. I don’t. WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

I’m just gonna lay it out. The writing is good. Great, got it. Characters? Interesting, unique or a great spin; motives all there, amazing backstories, gives context to their actions. Love it. What I always look for. Epigraphs are out of this WORLD, and I’ll be re-reading just to take a closer look at those. They’re genius.

Plot? Fuck off, honestly, I can’t even. Just read it. My breathing is going a little wonky just thinking about it. I MIGHT BE DEVELOPING A WHEEZE.

Okay okay okay. Okay. Worldbuilding, absolutely. Amazing, one of the most unique I’ve read in a long, long time. A bizarre melting pot of things that you don’t think someone could make fit together, but Gaard DOES, somehow. I mean…

It’s western. Gold rush, saloons, wanted posters. Frontier boomtowns. Desolate mined out areas. Riches hoarded by the top, struggling lower cities, rebellion brewing.

It’s fantasy. It’s got fae (?!), it’s got ruins and a Civilization of Old. There’s ROYALTY.

It’s oddly sci-fi?! I dunno. I’m not asking questions at this point.

It’s - also! we’re not done! - D&D-ish. There’s weeks long travel, they SPLIT THE PARTY. There are campfires and - well, not guard rotations because Dawn always takes first watch. But there is OBVIOUSLY a solid adventuring party here. A bard, a cleric, a rogue, a paladin, aaaand a warlock. Come back when you’ve read it - I’m NOT pulling these out of nowhere and I’ll ONLY take criticism on the rogue classification.

IT’S GOT DRAGONS AND A LITTLE SQUIRREL SHAPED FRIEND AND QUEERS AND A GRASS FLOWER CROWN! 😭

I haven’t even started in on any specific characters. What really amazed me is, yes, Talia is the main character… But every other character is also written amazingly. I definitely felt a few of the main five were a bit on the light side at first; maybe the first 40%? At around 60% I was like no, okay, the author definitely knows what she’s doing, I’m gonna let her do her thing - and by the END? I can’t. Any time I get close to thinking about what Gaard has done with this story and these characters my brain just goes to static. What a fucking masterpiece.

No Gods West of Here has a planned publication date of July 30, 2026!

[୨୧○• Erin •○୨୧]

Review of advanced reader copy sent by the Author.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars

What to expect:
Villain origin story • Love triangle • Enemies with benefits • Dragons & monsters • Found family + campfire banter • Gold Rush-inspired dark romantasy

Perfect for those who enjoy books that are character driven, written in third person, multiple pov's great worldbuilding and fantastic banter.

We follow our FMC Talia Salaren, obedient eldest daughter and a brilliant scholar. She finds a forbidden journal that once belonged to a dead god. The secrets inside could change everything.

With her life's work outlawed he flees to Gateway, a frontier boomtown where divine magic is clawed from the earth like gold.
There she meets a dangerous cult leader Lore, who needs her to accomplish his mission.
A gunslinger called Dawn, and she is a total badass.

She also has a mysterious bodyguard named, Riven. Who she can't seem get a read on his emotions and intentions.
And finally, Holloway her childhood friend joins them on their journey.
She will need to decide who she can trust and how far she is willing to go.

The character development in this book was fantastic. Especially for Talia, she goes from a meek girl who lets everyone else make the decisions for her to finally standing up for herself and saying no and choosing how she wants things to go. 👏🏽
The characters are all messy and relatable and I loved that.

The 'romance' definitely takes the backseat to the plot and worldbuilding it's a slow burn.
There is a love triangle in this book, and I couldn't decide who I thought she was going to end up with.

“Three men. Three different versions of who she could be with each of them.”

The plot is interesting, full of twists and turns, fast paced and action packed. The world building was immersive and atmospheric. It was dark and gritty where it needed to be which I loved.

The writing style was evocative. I could picture and feel everything I was reading, but I loved didn't tell me everything, I still needed to think and try and figure some things out on my own. And I definitely didn't figure it all out 😂

The banter in this was soo good! 👏🏽
"Well, that's not ominous as fuck."

We get quite a few time jumps throughout the book and I have always been a fan of that. Going back and seeing what happened then and how it shaped them into who they are now.

I adored Dawn, she is a fantastic complex character, and I loved her personality and vibe.

Holloway, I wasn't the biggest fan of. He had his future already laid out and it just didn't feel right.

Riven, loved him. He was protective, thoughtful and loyal. I found myself rooting for him to succeed.

Lore, nope not for me! He was dodgy and only cared about himself, and what others could do for him.

The magic system was complex and interesting. I enjoyed learning about the different types and how they worked.

The ending got me, did not see some of those reveals coming and I was shocked.

Thank you to the Author for sending me a copy of your book 🩷

[Ink]

No Gods West of Here by Hanna Gaard is the perfect type of Romantasy. Yes, it falls into the Romantasy genre, but, and this is a huge but, it has created an original and unique sub-genre (I am was thrilled, utterly thrilled to experience it)

Talia Salaren is our FMC, bright, intelligent, but also a people pleaser which is central to the book. Talia is a brilliant scholar who comes across a rather salacious journal. The main problem with this, is that it belonged to a god, a dead one. This sounds innocuous, but this journal is the cornerstone to five of the most powerful families in the empire, one of which, Talia is the eldest daughter of. Forced to flee everything she knew, Talia finds herself in Gateway, a frontier town, and soon falls under the allure of a cult leader. However, the further she travels with the group, the more she realises that there are those who wish to learn about the gods, and there are people that will do anything to become one...

There is so much to experience from this novel, not least a delicious blending of Western/ Frontier fiction, Dark Fantasy, Mythology and of course Dark Academia and Core Fantasy elements, a magical concoction the likes of which I have never experienced. (How about, you get a gorgeous bath bomb, it smells wonderful in the store, you yeet it into your bath and get a beautiful, rich colour pallette and at the centre, is a little packet of glitter that floats to the surface as it melts! Not only do you feel rested, but it also makes your skin feel like velvet.

Ok, that was a long analogy, but essentially, wonderful elements come together in a strong storyline, phenomenal world building, rich magic lore, gritty western vibes (the exfoliator) and as for the characters, well they are mostly the glitter, apart from a couple who are the stain on the bath that you have to scrub off! As previously mentioned, this is a unique sub-genre and I am besotted

This isn't just a journey story, it is a full blown original style of adventure and magic lore that throws all manner of antisocial creatures in the way of our heroes. These encounters are dealt with in all manner of ways which kept the pace strong and my eyeballs riveted to the page

As for character development, well, in all honesty, there were times when Talia needed a bit of a talking to but her growth throughout was a highly engaging part of the story for me. She learned how to say no which was a good life lesson to have so deep in the story that it is almost imperceptable. Ofc I love a multi pov book, especially when it is woven tighter than tensile steel and just as strong, especially when it holds up the weight of an exceptional story

This book was incredible and is going to be a keeper. No Gods West of Here is one of those books you will return to over and over again

Thank you to Hanna Gaard for this incredible piece of literature. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own .

[Tina Esther]

Oooooooh boy. This one got it's hooks in me. Solidly one of the best books I've read this year.

Easily 5 freakin' stars from me. This book did frustrate me though. Because here is the thing... Books are personal. Our likes and dislikes are varied... and I didn't like the FMC for a fair chunk of the time I was reading this book. I found her a little annoying. As a academic (former) myself I don't think I was ever as naive as our FMC here is through a strong majority of the book. Like girl, you're SO smart and you've have been waaaaarned so many times not to trust this person. You're in a new place. You've already done had been warned. Why are you trusting so many people?!? WHY? However, she did grow. And I overall liked her a lot by the end of the book. I did write "Gurl..." and "wtf" as a note a fair few times in my e-reader tho. But this did move the story along and in such interesting ways.
The world building really really sucked me in though. I love the magical but "American Old West" vibes going through this whole book. I also love that Gaard just dropped us into it and wove the lore throughout the whole book. There was no info dump. For the characters backstories (read: trauma) or the world's history. I love that. Info dumps are awful, imo, I'd rather be dumped in the world and taken on a journey of discovery. Reads more naturally and gives us something to look forward to later in the book. The characters were interesting (yes, even if they annoyed me), exciting, and fun. Oh and it had a one bed moment. Which is my fav thing ever in a book. "Only got one." ... "Big enough if you don't mind sharing." Tee hee.

Long story short: This book took me somewhere. And I enjoyed it. To quote the book itself:
"The stories took her hand, and they led her home. The rest of the world couldn't hurt her here."


What made my weirdo heart happy: The world and the lore.


Will I read more books by this author?: Yes. 100%


Would I recommend this book to a friend?: Absolutely. Will be making a few read it.


Favorite quotes:
"Not bad, professor. First rodeo's always the roughest."
"The man approaching was striking in a way that scattered her thoughts, which was inconvenient, because she needed those."
"History is not faithful to events. It is faithful to those in power."
"Well, that's not ominous as fuck."



[I received an ARC copy of this book from the NetGalley. However, All opinions are my own.]

[Samantha Gagen]

Thank you Hanna Gaard for sending this ARC. This review is voluntary; all opinions are my own.

“She wasn’t sure she could trust Riven. Lore terrified her. And here, in Holloway’s arms, she felt safe - and utterly alone.”

No Gods West of Here is THE perfect true romantasy - the perfect blend of fantasy- and romance-driven arcs, and perfect for readers (like me) who can’t choose which they love more.

Let’s start with the worldbuilding. Built like a Western but layered with magic, monsters, and mythos, this isn’t your typical fantasy realm. After some googling (because I’ve never read this sub-genre before and the closest match my brain could come up with was steampunk-but-not), I can see this would be similar to a “weird Western” story, which admittedly I have little to no experience in. Based on my quick search, this sub-genre is also not quite a perfect match, though, because this world is far more fae-and-gods based than what google is showing me. Either way, I like it. I like Western settings (hello, Dr. Quinn and that perfectly terrible and terribly perfect Wild Wild West movie from my childhood), I like fae and gods and whatnot, I like the magic-based tech and blending of science/tech/academia and fantasy…I like it!

Overall, the fantasy elements are immersive, unique twists on the familiar, and captivating. Now, let’s talk about the characters.

(Note: I tried to keep this all as vague as possible so I don’t spoil anything, but if you’re concerned, hop down to the next paragraph.) While we do have multiple POVs, we’re first introduced to Talia and most of the story is driven by or based around her (though perhaps it’s just personal bias because I relate strongest to her). As we begin to get to know Talia and meet the rest of the cast, it’s clear that they are a broken lot, though all in very different ways. As my back cover said: “A people-pleasing scholar. A dangerous cult leader. Good luck picking sides.” That’s a great introduction to two of our characters and also a great summary of the tension built throughout everyone’s arcs. These people have sordid and painful pasts, tragic histories, SO MANY secrets, and goals that at times complement but more often than not conflict. Trust is hard-earned and betrayals are shocking but poignantly portrayed. The characters get messier before they get anywhere, and between that and their external conflict…whew.

The character development is painful (meant as a compliment to the author’s skills, as in it was beautifully well-done and also hurt my feelings) and realistically complicated yet satisfying. There are several twists throughout, both in the external plot and the individual character arcs, that knocked me to my knees. If I was the kind of person who audibly gasps while reading, I would have SEVERAL times. And beware: there is a HEA/HFN, but the ending…you are not prepared. That’s all I’ll say about that.

If you’re a romantasy fan, particularly one that enjoys (or at least doesn’t mind) a smidge of spice sprinkled throughout the plot, you absolutely NEED to read No Gods West of Here.

[Meredith]

I loved how different this book felt. It was like a Western, complete with saloons, shootouts, and Gold Rush vibes, combined with a fantasy adventure story. The studious, sheltered FMC sets out on her own journey to the west in the pursuit of advancing her research. This, combined with an explosive ending with consequences that have tons of implications for the world and its characters make me eager to read the next book.

I found some things predictable, like how the bodyguard we meet on the first page is the love interest. I could tell just by how he was described. The same for a few of the big ‘reveals’, but I don’t want to go into spoiler territory. However, there were also many surprises that I couldn’t guess. Everyone has their own motivations and secrets, don’t know who to trust even as a reader.

Unfortunately, large parts of the setting and motivations were poorly defined and very unclear without having to try and read between the lines, which the reader shouldn’t have to do for the setting of a book. There was a lot of talk of rebellions and rebel sympathizers, but no actual talk about what they are rebelling against. Was it just generally “the government”? Why? It really takes the meaning out of meeting the supposed rebellion’s leader if we don’t know a single one of their demands.

That leads into my issue with the message about history, religion, and who’s telling the story. I love that the book tries to say meaningful things about this, but it ends up lost in the confusion of what the actual religion and beliefs are. Maybe the rebellion is about the cult’s belief in “true gods”? It’s never explicitly said. The full origin story of the gods (as approved by the government) is poorly defined, just in bits and pieces, and there is no mention of the prophet’s own deities or why they are the true ones. “Talia didn’t believe in Lore’s gods”. Okay, but what even are they? And what’s different from the normal religion? The reader should know the current religion/myths so that we appreciate the contrast better when learning what really happened. Talia is supposedly pushing the bounds of the law with her research, but we don’t even know that until other characters point it out. There’s not even information on how it is considered heretical other than “it’s too close to faerie stories”.

I hope that the next book clears things up about the setting, because other than my issues with that, this book was a great read!

[S. N. Brown]

I received an ARC of this book from the author. These thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
This book hooked me from the start! I read just over half of it in less than twenty-four hours, nine of which I was at work and seven I was sleeping.
This was what I would have to classify as a fantasy Western, which was unique and fresh. There were underlying secrets and corrupt political power, both of which I would have loved to see more of.
The FMC is a soft, naive scholar type who learns to be more outspoken and confident in herself as the story progresses.
There are multiple male romantic interests, three to be exact. My favorite was quickly out of the running since he was seen as more of a brother than lover. The other two, I honestly don't care for either as a love interest and they were almost a "why choose" situation.
Lore was a manipulative piece of work (who apparently many ARC readers loved) but whom I hated the whole time. I get that he's a complex character and thinks he's doing "the right thing" and so is willing to hurt or sacrifice anyone and everything that gets in the way. But I just can't get behind that kind of behavior, no matter the reasons.
Riven, I loved as a character. Strong, kind, and he encouraged Talia to do and be her best self without exerting pressure based on his own personal feelings or preferences. But as a love interest, I just don't care for him either. He felt more like a kind uncle (especially since he seemed quite older than her). So when it came to romance in this book, I was personally disappointed. I'm sure plenty, if not most, other people won't share my opinion on that.
Out of all the characters Dawn was my favorite. Tough, takes no prisoners, and doesn't mince words. Plus her background and secrets were the most intriguing (she's looking for her previously assumed dead mate[ff]). She was the POV I enjoyed the most.
For the spice, I'll be the first to admit I didn't like it. For me it almost felt unnecessary to the storyline and I didn't feel like it really added to the characters or their development. Also anyone saying "Just take what you need" is my biggest ick.
Moderate frequent language, moderate spice-but mildly detailed.

[Ashley Martin]

I enjoyed this read. The author does a good job with her world building and allowing us to see characters in present time and also past to understand their journeys. You will come to love the characters & all of their unique personalities as individuals despite their flaws and questionable decisions. The betrayal in this book was as gutwrenching to me the reader as it was for the characters. This book will make you laugh and grieve with the characters along with everything in between. The book does not shy away from dark topics and themes.

Spoilers ahead:
No Gods West of Here is an exciting story following Talia, a scholar who is looking to continue her research through a Fellowship that turns out is not at all what it seems. She uncovers truths that the ones in power do not want her to know. She joins a rebellion on a whim. Her journey to discover more on flux channeling leads her to meet people along the way that become her found family. Talia grows so much throughout this book, from the girl overwhelmed by everyone’s emotions to someone who stands up for herself, resists and fights back. Lore’s betrayal at the end was gut wrenching right there with Holloway’s! Obviously I didn’t trust Lore, just didn’t expect him plan out leading them to turn them over to Elanwei. Dawn and Ehrue working together break the flux channels was heartbreaking and poetic. Dawn finding her mate only to lose her again was soul crushing. That final battle was epic. The fact that Talia studied the fae stories to basically be in the plot of one was a nice twist. “The hero, the dragon & the villain ready for the final clash.” They win the battle, and still have grief to deal with following loss and betrayal. I loved that Riven is the one who can make it all quiet for her at the end because he is a shield and allows her to feel emotions & pleasure that are hers alone!

Meeting Holloway again in the final chapter and seeing him in the process of “becoming a god” and under the control of Lore is sad. We see Holloways memories taken from him and see him under Lore’s spell only remembering what he allows. The next book will be very interesting with their journey to find Merit. I hope Holloway can fight it and redeem himself.

[The Reader of Books]

5 stars! (Would also rate this higher if I could!)

*~*~*~*~*

I found this book by chance and the premise of it sounded amazing:

~A people pleasing older daughter who wants to forge her own path
~A cult leader who is as mysteriously charming as he is dangerous
~A journal that could unravel the entire fate of their world.

And let me tell you, I was hooked to this book! I was lucky that I received not only a digital, but a physical copy of this book. (It has a place of honor on my shelf as I'm afraid to ruin it!)

And when I say that I devoured this book in a matter of days and lost sleep because of it...

I rarely say that a book is unputdownable (I despise that word! I feel it's over used) but this is truly one of those books. (I can say that about 3 or 4 books I've read this year.) I kept saying one more chapter before bed, but then that became me reading until nearly dawn.

While it may start off a little slow with the world building for others, it never felt that way with me. There was such a diverse cast of characters that I felt that their introductions and the set up for the plot weren't at all a hinderance.

Talia is one of my favorite FMC's that I've read this year. I felt that I could really relate with her as I'm also an eldest daughter who people pleases more than she should. (Aside from her backstory, while sad, didn't feel over done!) She is flawed, she makes mistakes. She's so wonderfully written that I found myself wondering what a cosplay of her would look like!

Riven is your typical broody bodyguard, while I found myself annoyed by him at first, he did grow on me. He has reasons for all of his actions and he keeps them to himself, until he feels he needs to reveal them.

Lore. My oh my. What can I say about that man? I can honestly say that if he was real, I probably would have joined his cult.

The world building is superb! We get just enough information that, as I said earlier, doesn't feel that it's over whelming! The magic is a nice change of pace from what I've read before and I can't wait to see how it evolves next!

The dragons? Oh my! I have to say, I love these dragons better than Fourth Wings. (I said what I said!)

But I'm not going to give too much away because WHAT EVEN IS THAT ENDING?!?!?!?!?!

I eagerly await book 2 and can't wait to see what will happen next!

*~*~*~*

Thank you Hanna, for allowing me to be apart of this exciting journey. As I stated with another review, this is one of the books that got me out of a reading slump that made me almost give up ARC reading.

I truly am honoured and can't wait to see what you have in store next!!!

[Ashley Jurczak]

When I received my physical ARC of *No Gods West of Here* by Hanna Gaard, I knew I was in for a wild ride—but this book exceeded every expectation.

From the very first page, I was completely immersed in the gritty Gold Rush-inspired setting and western atmosphere. The combination of lawlessness, magic, and mystery created a world unlike anything I've read before. The magic system felt fresh and unique, and I honestly can't think of another book that compares.

One of my favorite aspects of this story was how morally gray the characters were. I spent the entire book questioning who the heroes and villains truly were. Our FMC, Talia, is a scholar researching flux channeling, a journey that leads her to a dangerous new town and into the orbit of Lore. Dark, brooding, and endlessly intriguing, Lore is the kind of character who makes you question everything you thought you knew. Then there's Riven, our bodyguard MMC, whose own complicated past adds another layer of depth to an already incredible story.

I also have to talk about Dawn. I absolutely loved the contrast between her and Talia. Where Talia is driven by her research and pursuit of knowledge, Dawn brings a completely different perspective and energy to the story. Watching their friendship develop throughout the book was one of my favorite parts. Their bond felt genuine, and the way they challenged and supported each other added so much heart to an otherwise ruthless world. And that twist involving Dawn at the end? My jaw was on the floor. I never saw it coming, and I’m still thinking about it.

Without giving too much away, this is the kind of book that will have you glued to the pages from morning until night. The twists, the tension, the characters, and the world-building all come together to create an unforgettable reading experience.

Do yourself a favor and add *No Gods West of Here* to your TBR immediately. This book is absolutely god-tier reading.

[Nicole Lynn]

When Hanna reached out and invited me to read an ARC of No Gods West of Here, she described it as "an ode to pent-up eldest daughter rage." Tell me that as an eldest daughter and expect me not to immediately say yes? Impossible.

Then she surprised me with my very first physical ARC, which automatically made this book one I'll always remember.

I saw so much of myself in Talia. She's an eldest daughter, an empath, and the kind of person who buries her own wants and needs because taking care of everyone else just feels... easier. Or maybe more familiar. That hit me harder than I expected because I've absolutely been there.

Did I agree with all of her decisions? Absolutely not. There were several times I wanted to shake Talia. But that's also what made her journey so rewarding. Watching her slowly stop living for everyone else and start making choices based on what she wanted made me ridiculously proud.

The rest of the cast was just as compelling. Everyone felt layered and real, the Gold Rush-inspired setting was such a fun backdrop, and I was hooked by the world-building and magic almost immediately. Every time I thought I had things figured out, the story gave me another reason to keep turning the pages.

One of my biggest frustrations wasn't with the writing at all—it was with Talia's first romantic interest. I just did not like him for her. Which, honestly, is probably a credit to Hanna's writing because I had very strong opinions.

Most of all, this book reminded me that choosing yourself isn't selfish—especially when you've spent your whole life believing everyone else should come first. That's the part of Talia's journey that I'll be thinking about for a long time.

And honestly? The fact that this was my first physical ARC just makes it that much sweeter.

If you're an eldest daughter who's spent a lifetime putting everyone else first, I have a feeling Talia's story will resonate with you, too.

[Kate Catling]

Loved it - I've already gone looking for a physical copy, which for me is the review enough. But here's the rest.
Everyone in this book is different shades of morally grey, and that's the appeal. Talia is a people-pleasing runaway scholar, and we watch her make some questionable choices along her journey. That's not a complaint - I didn't need to like her or climb inside her head. I was happy to watch from the side while she chose badly and stopped letting other people write her story. That last part is what the book is actually about, and it lands. The world is quite unique - a lost language, ancient technology - but it isn't fully explained here; I suspect that's being saved for later books, but I wanted some more of it now. The gold rush setting is more backdrop than engine - fine by me, the atmosphere still did its job - and a couple of the smaller turns I saw coming.
The romance is a knot rather than a couple. Three men circle Talia: Holloway, her childhood friend and fiancé, who loves her more than she loves him; Riven, her bodyguard, where the real pull is, though it's more a work in progress than a couple by the end; and Lore, the cult prophet. The main line we got, Talia and Lore, didn't sit right with me, but I think that's a feature, not a bug: he's a way for her to test her own edges, and I was glad when she ended it. The one thread I still can't read is a strange, late beat between Lore and Holloway. Spice is explicit, but there's not much of it.
What stayed with me most: the part when the group explores what I'd call a ghost city - an abandoned sprawl they pick through street by street, quiet in a way that feels less empty than waiting. It's the one stretch where the atmosphere takes over completely, and the part I keep coming back to. And Dawn, the book's co-lead, was quietly my favorite.
A very strong debut and series opener.

[Ina_koffen_Reads Jessica]

It was honestly an honor and a pleasure to get to ARC read "No Gods West Of Here" by Hanna Gaard.

This story developed in such an exciting and tension-ramping way! The story starts following Talia, an impressive scholar who spent her life sheltered and planned by others. She runs from tradition to seek her own career goals and educative pursuits, trailed (much to her dismay) by a stoic and curious bodyguard Riven. Once we get a feel for the setting and for Talia, we are introduced to Dawn and her perspective as an assassin for Lore, a 'prophet' running a rebellion.

Battling displeasure at her new work and developing feelings towards both Lore and Riven are all complicated enough for Talia, and then Gaard introduces us to Holloway, guard captain, heir to a seat of power, Talia's childhood friend and the fiance that she ran away from.

Add in several wildly orchestrated run-ins, mysterious monsters with magic, corruption in law enforcement and entertainment and a mysterious ancient city and you have one absolutely wild horseback ride!

The magic system is unique and well balanced. The monsters are intriguing, and the way that the corrupt systems handle them is even more so!

The relationships between Talent, Dawn, Riven, Lore and Holloway are all so well defined and one of the best parts of the story. Each has meaningful interactions with the other and complicated feelings about them. Friendships are as important as romantic entanglements. The friendship bond between Talia and Dawn is one of the best written, naturally evolving ones I've ever read.

"No Gods West Of Here" was full of incredibly satisfying moments. It honestly has one of the most deeply satisfying big battles that I have ever read! I had to slip into Hanna's DMs about it!

I truly hope more people read "No Gods West Of Here" and that Hanna has the best release day! I really loved the book!

[TattedmomREADS]

As someone who grew up watching old westerns with my dad, I loved that this fantasy book—with ‘gods,’ fae, and magical crystals— had a frontier style setting, complete with saloons, covered wagons, fiddle-playing, and horse-wrangling. This book was just so incredibly different from anything else I have read in the dark fantasy genre.

I love a multi-POV and I think it worked really well in this book, along with some time jumps, there are a lot of layers. The world-building, especially the lore was very complex. It was a slower read for me just for the sole fact that I really had to make sure I was processing all of the information as it was being revealed. It never felt like an info-dump though, but more like putting puzzle pieces together. Nothing about this story was predictable for me and I love that!

I found the characters really intriguing and enigmatic. The characters are caught between fae mythology (or what they have been told is mere myth, anyway) and their society’s established orthodox religion. The story unfolds as a collective seeking of truth. There is a lot revealed at the end of the book--and I did not predict any of it.

There is a bit of romance in here, but it felt mostly secondary to the plot/worldbuilding. I kind of wanted Talia to just ditch all the men and get with Dawn. But I guess I will settle for team Riven ;)

Overall, I enjoyed this one. It really pulled me out of reality and into this interesting world. I think it is a fantastic debut, and I am very curious to see what happens next in this creative world that Hanna Gaard has built.

I recommend this one to dark fantasy readers who enjoy more complex/dense magic systems and lore, multi POV, and are looking for something that really breaks away from the popular formulas.

[The Vulgar Vicinity]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️

Themes:
One Bed 🛏️
Love Triangle 🔺
Dragons & Monsters 🐉
Found Family 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒

Summary:
Talia Salaren is a brilliant scholar and obedient eldest daughter with a bright future decided by everyone but her. Then she finds a dead god's salacious journal, and the secrets inside put her on the wrong side of four centuries of false history. Her life's work outlawed, Talia flees to Gateway, a frontier boomtown where divine magic is clawed from the earth like gold. She walks straight into a trap—a dangerous expedition led by a cult leader who is very good at making people want things they shouldn't. He has no interest in studying the gods. He plans to become one. As their uneasy company pushes deeper into godforsaken territory, the myths she was raised to believe begin to fracture—along with the careful version of herself she's always performed. The cult leader is wrong. She knows it. For once, she wants to be wrong too. If Talia doesn't choose what she stands for—and who she's willing to lose—she won't just have her heart broken. She'll become someone else's weapon.

Review:
This book was an amazing read! It had intrigue, mystery, betrayal, bonds, magic, and lore. It’s storyline is unique and you’re able to step into a world that have not 1 but 3 men who would do anymore for our main character! A friend who test their limits on what is right vs. what is needed. A FMC who is just trying to find the answers in a world where everything just brings more questions. If you like a female baddie, broody males, and a bunch of mythical characters you would love this book! Can’t wait to see where the story goes from here.

Favorite Quote:
“Pain is the gateway through which we access the divine.”

Thank you to Hannah Gard for the gifted eARC/ARC

[Stina Bradley]

I have been sitting with this review for hours because I genuinely do not know where to begin. This book was so much more than I expected and I am still not fully recovered.
Talia is a scholar chasing secrets that were never meant to be found, and in the process she walks straight into the orbit of Lore, a cult leader with deeply concerning ambitions. From that moment everything escalates, and it never stops.
The plot is packed with twists and discoveries that constantly shift what you think you know. The deeper Talia digs into the history of the gods, the messier and more compelling everything becomes. I was completely invested from beginning to end.
The characters are where this book truly shines. Dawn was my absolute favorite, her relationship with Talia and her own story becoming one of the most compelling threads in the entire book. Riven brings a steady, protective energy that grounds the chaos. Holloway, Talia's childhood best friend and ex-fiancé, spends the book yearning and wildly out of his depth in the most entertaining way possible. And Lore manages to be charismatic, manipulative, dangerous, and completely impossible to ignore all at once.
Now the worldbuilding. It is a bizarre and brilliant melting pot of western frontier grit, high fantasy, fae mythology, hints of science fiction, and full D&D adventuring party energy complete with dragons and a little squirrel shaped companion. It should not work. It absolutely works.
Spice, humor, queer rep, dragons, and characters making increasingly questionable decisions. This is a masterpiece and you simply need to read it.

[Danielle]

When I came across the description of “No Gods West of Here” a while back and saw that part of the description for this fantasy novel was “gold-rush era” vibes, I had a hunch it would be right up my alley and WOW was I right.

From the first moments we meet Talia when she arrives in Gateway with Riven to the first meeting with Dawn and Lore and the introduction of Holloway, Hanna Gard brings you into the hearts and minds of her main cast of characters while also doing a phenomenal job of world-building and setting a backdrop. She is able to give both character development and world-building equal stage time, bringing the reader into the pages and feeling like we have a front-row seat to the action.

When arriving in Gateway with her hired protector Riven as a scholar devoted to her life’s work, Talia has no idea that her passion will lead her on a trek across rocky prairies and mountains with a ragtag crew that includes a cult leader, a vigilante, and her childhood best friend. While she’s not exactly sure what they’re looking for at the outset - both collectively and individually - what she and the rest of the crew discover far surpasses anything they could have imagined.

With plot twists you may not see coming, comic relief when you most need it (my favorite quote made me cackle out loud to the point of tears, but I can’t share it here because it’s a massive spoiler), and quest adventures that will leave you cursing life for not letting you read one more chapter, “No Gods West of Here” is truly a beautiful work. Gard has given us something that feels very different in the fantasy realm, and I for one and so very grateful for it.

[Ashleigh B]

Huge thanks to Hanna Gaard for the physical ARC! Getting to really dive in and annotate this one made the whole experience so much better. I’m honestly still thinking about it.

This book is a total standout. I don’t think I’ve ever read a fantasy that nails the gritty, dusty feel of a Gold Rush-era Western like this one does. It’s a bold mix of lawless frontier vibes and some really inventive magic, and it pulled me in from the very first page.

The way the story unfolds is just brilliant. It’s structured so that you’re constantly learning new things, and it actually makes you want to flip back to previous chapters to catch all the clues you missed the first time around. It’s super rewarding to piece together the truth alongside the characters, and since you’re never really sure who to trust, the suspense stays high until the very end.

I was instantly attached to Dawn and Talia, and Riven ended up being a huge favorite of mine, too. Lore is a much trickier character to pin down, but that just added to the intrigue. And I have to mention—there’s this one specific part that gave me major Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy energy, which was such a fun, weirdly satisfying touch I didn't see coming.

I never realized I needed a Romantasy/Western hybrid, but this totally hit the mark. I was dying for answers from chapter one, and the way the mystery kept building was addictive. If you’re looking for something that breaks the mold and keeps you guessing, you need this on your shelf.

Rating: 5 Stars. Original, gritty, and a total must-read.

[bexbooklover]

Talia is a scholar who along with cult leader Lore and a gunslinger named Dawn are on a quest to find an abandoned city and learn more about the forbidden magic and the long past ones who wielded it. Along this journey you also have Talia's mysterious bodyguard Riven and her childhood friend Holloway.

This is such a well written book! It's one of the rare exceptions of an action book that pretty much has no lead up and you almost immediately get dropped into the hot water of the story but there's no confusion you know exactly what's going on and I love the fact that you also don't get any info dumping in this book. You learn what you need to know when you need to know it so everything's very well paced and plotted.

There were a couple moments in this book that I had a tiny bit of a problem with. The only one really being that towards the end of this book some of the romantic moments felt a little rushed but I understand why they were the way they were. And I will say this was one of the few exceptions to my dislike of cliffhangers. This is still definitely a cliffhanger and it leaves you wanting answers but not as aggressively as you would with some other books. I didn't want to throw the book across the room and annoyance because I didn't have booked too. So I'm going to count that as a win 😂

Thank you so much to the author for the Arc of this book I loved being a part of your writing journey and able to read such an amazing book and I'm looking forward to book two to continue in this amazing world!

[Louise Karolina]

No Gods West of Here had a very interesting and unique premise and I was very excited to read it, but unfortunately, it did fall a bit flat and didn't work for me.

We get dropped straight into the story as we get introduced to Talia, a professor who is on the run when a man breaks into her cabin. While I will give this book props for non-stop action, I wish we would have gotten to know the world a bit more. The characters felt a bit shallow and I just wasn't that interested in them. Riven's introduction especially felt abrubt and he never grew on me—it kind of felt like he was just... there. Talia was interesting at first and I liked that she was a professor and that she alone could read this ancient, lost language. However, many dumb decisions later she eventually started grating on me and I also didn't care much for the romantic attraction between the characters.

The writing is lovely but I just wanted a bit more from the characters, the world-building and the story. It did pick up towards the end though and I really liked the dragons—probably my favorite part of the book.

Even though this one wasn't a hit for me, I feel like a lot of readers will really enjoy this wild western-inspired romantasy and any upcoming sequels. I'm just sad to say that it wasn't for me. 2 stars.

I’d like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.

[Sam Cortez]

No Gods West of Here is a layered, dark fantasy with romance filled with morally gray characters, political intrigue, and a unique magic system that left me eager for more.

We follow Talia as she navigates the complexities of being a woman in a society that constantly pits expectations against her desires. Her journey is one of identity, ambition, and survival. I was rooting for her every step of the way.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was how wonderfully flawed Talia is. She makes difficult choices, stumbles, and sometimes frustrated me, but that only made her feel more real. I constantly wanted to jump into the pages and tell her to set the record straight, yet her imperfections made her character arc all the more compelling.

The relationships are equally well crafted. The love triangle is handled with nuance, adding emotional tension without overshadowing the larger story. The novel explores how difficult it is to trust someone when every instinct tells you not to.

The magic system is another standout. We only get a glimpse of its full potential, but what the author reveals is fascinating and leaves plenty of room for expansion in future books. I'm excited to see how it develops alongside the world and its characters.

Overall, this is a compelling dark fantasy with romance. You will love this story if you like strong character work, complex relationships, and an intriguing world that has me eagerly waiting to learn more.

[Bailey]

I recieved an ARC of this book and this is my honest review. This book sucked me in from the first chapter. I wanted to know more about these characters and this world, and the book did not disappoint.

Readers who love complicated characters who are trying to find their way and are just doing their best will love "No Gods West of Here." This is a book for readers who love interesting and complex fantasy worlds, readers who love stories that you puzzle together page by page (but are tightly woven), and readers who love a story that will get them on the edge of their seat.

The characters were layered and complicated, with everyone dealing with some sort of trauma that was revealed as the book went on. Things were revealed at the best time for a huge impact. The two main leads, Talia and Dawn, were complex women with unique motivations and different quests who found themselves tied together.

The spicy scenes all enhanced the plot in some way and weren't just spice for the sake of spice. Talia's three love interests also all fulfilled a purpose in the story which I appreciated (normally, I don't love a love square, but this one was well-done, in my opinion).

It was a novel I flew through. Once I reached the end, it became even more clear that everything in it had a purpose. Throughout the novel everything was beautifully woven together, with main characters who are dynamic, complicated, and interesting. I would highly recommend "No Gods West of Here."

[Lindsay Watson]

A FANTASTIC debut!

Have you ever gone through a dry spell while reading where book after book is just…okay, but then you find one that checks ALL the boxes? This is the story of my summer until I read No Gods West of Here and was absolutely floored by the characters, world, and storyline Hanna Gaard created.

The novel follows Talia, a scholar, whose curiosity drives her to dig deeper into the “truths” she’s been raised to believe and the evidence that calls those truths into question. Her decision to challenge the narrative is a dangerous one since the answers she’s after have been carefully and intentionally hidden. Ultimately, in her quest for knowledge, she and her companions experience love and loss, loyalty and betrayal, and a truth that’s difficult to accept.

Gaard writes in a way that makes you want to go back and reread chapters because although clues about the characters and the truth they’re chasing are present, you only realize their significance as the story unfolds. Because of this, you’re never sure who to trust which only adds to the novel's mystery and suspense.

This is a book that I will definitely recommend to my fantasy/romantasy-loving friends. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series because I’m invested in the characters and their world.

Thank you, Hanna Gaard, for providing an advanced copy for review. All opinions are my own.

[Ceri]

4.5 stars rounded up! ⭐

No Gods West of Here is a fantasy romance novel which follows Talia, a scholar who travels overseas to carry out her research into the lost fae language of Starscript in order to unlock the secrets of their ancient technology.

This was excellent, especially for a debut novel! I loved the author’s choice to include little excerpts from in-world academic texts and folktales at the beginning of each chapter, like neat little embellishments to the worldbuilding whilst you’re engaged in the story.

If you like the sound of these vibes you will probably love this book as much as I did:
• steampunk / wild-west / post-apocalypse setting
• long journey/quest with found family dynamics between the five MCs
• fae with their own ancient technology & language
• dragons and magical monsters
• rich folklore and mythology
• scholarly FMC who learns to take back her power
• badass second FMC who is a hired assassin and has a troubled past
• a DELICIOUS love triangle: MMC 1 is a broody oathsworn bodyguard who’s very Geralt of Rivia coded; MMC 2 is a dark cult-leader-stroke-prophet figure who ensnares people with his charisma and manipulates them to his own ends.
• the spice is SPICY 🌶️ too, and not just for the sake of it

I will definitely be picking up the sequel, whenever it comes!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.