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Hell and the Heart: A No Other Gods Story
When a god loves a human...
The human became my human. Then, she became, simply, Love.
On one of my first trips from Hell to the surface, I stood on the shore of salt-crusted sea and watched a human die.
At least, I would have, before she peered through the veil, looked me in the eye, and made a simple request.
"Don't leave me."
Curiosity turned into obsession, passion, and sorrow. The chase for her soul consumes me, whether she sees me and burns for me as I for her, or if it's a life where I remain a phantom, rejected entirely.
The world should have been ours to discover...before the prophecy.
The war sees you as a tool, Love. Friends and enemies grow on every side, gods shuffling you like a pawn, testing whether or not they're truly immortal as I fight for you.
3,000 years, scores of gods, over a dozen pantheons, and the very apocalypse itself couldn't keep me away.
I will always find you, for I am yours, and you are mine.
The human became my human. Then, she became, simply, Love.
On one of my first trips from Hell to the surface, I stood on the shore of salt-crusted sea and watched a human die.
At least, I would have, before she peered through the veil, looked me in the eye, and made a simple request.
"Don't leave me."
Curiosity turned into obsession, passion, and sorrow. The chase for her soul consumes me, whether she sees me and burns for me as I for her, or if it's a life where I remain a phantom, rejected entirely.
The world should have been ours to discover...before the prophecy.
The war sees you as a tool, Love. Friends and enemies grow on every side, gods shuffling you like a pawn, testing whether or not they're truly immortal as I fight for you.
3,000 years, scores of gods, over a dozen pantheons, and the very apocalypse itself couldn't keep me away.
I will always find you, for I am yours, and you are mine.
294 pages, Paperback
Published June 6, 2026
About the author
Piper C.J.
27 books2,925 followersFantasy author with an M.A. in Folklore, who loves to take pictures, eat french fries, and live my life as an all-around creative forest nymph! I'm so excited to bring you with me on my journey as I step out of our everyday lives and into the new fantasy world within The Night and Its Moon fantasy series!
I wrote these books for an audience of one, and that audience was me. I wanted to see bi representation, love, mental health struggles, religious trauma, and overcoming the of obstacles that I needed to be modeled in my own life. At the end of the day I'm so proud of myself for creating the series that I'd always hoped I could read, and I hope someone is able to connect with them in a way that I have.
I wrote these books for an audience of one, and that audience was me. I wanted to see bi representation, love, mental health struggles, religious trauma, and overcoming the of obstacles that I needed to be modeled in my own life. At the end of the day I'm so proud of myself for creating the series that I'd always hoped I could read, and I hope someone is able to connect with them in a way that I have.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
April 27, 2026
I received an ARC of Hell and the Heart by Piper CJ, and if you’ve read the No Other Gods series… you already know this one is going to hurt.
While this can technically be read as a standalone, I think it carries significantly more weight as part of the series.
SPOILERS BELOW IF YOU HAVEN’T READ NO OTHER GODS.
We’ve been told about Love’s different cycles before, but in this book we finally live them with Caliban. Up until now, we’ve essentially been seeing the story through Marlow’s perspective. This shifts that completely.
What worked best for me was watching Caliban’s devotion unfold across those cycles. You already know, going in, that things aren’t going to end well, which gives the entire book a dark undercurrent. Even the “good” moments feel bittersweet, because you know they won’t last. And if you’ve read further into the series, that feeling only deepens.
HATH didn’t necessarily change how I see Caliban, but it added so much depth to his character. If anything, it made me want to go back and reread the earlier books to pick up on everything I might have missed with this added context. It also… made me significantly more frustrated with Marlow in hindsight. We’ve only had her side until now, and seeing what Caliban has done and endured adds a whole new layer to their dynamic.
Piper CJ also leans heavily into different cultures, faiths, and mythologies throughout the book, which adds a lot of richness, but can feel dense at times. I was able to follow the overarching story without issue, but I do think some of the nuance could be easy to miss, especially if you’re not already invested in the series. That said, it’s very much an intentional choice and part of what makes the world feel so layered.
The tone here is darker, with a strong sense of inevitability running throughout. It’s less about what happens in a given cycle, and more about what it means across time. There are a few explicit scenes, but this is more about devotion, connection and the weight of loving someone across lifetimes.
If you love No Other Gods, you need this backstory like you need a broken heart.
And if you haven’t started the series yet… go fix that NOW.
Hell and the Heart releases 6/6/(2)6.❤️🔥
While this can technically be read as a standalone, I think it carries significantly more weight as part of the series.
SPOILERS BELOW IF YOU HAVEN’T READ NO OTHER GODS.
We’ve been told about Love’s different cycles before, but in this book we finally live them with Caliban. Up until now, we’ve essentially been seeing the story through Marlow’s perspective. This shifts that completely.
What worked best for me was watching Caliban’s devotion unfold across those cycles. You already know, going in, that things aren’t going to end well, which gives the entire book a dark undercurrent. Even the “good” moments feel bittersweet, because you know they won’t last. And if you’ve read further into the series, that feeling only deepens.
HATH didn’t necessarily change how I see Caliban, but it added so much depth to his character. If anything, it made me want to go back and reread the earlier books to pick up on everything I might have missed with this added context. It also… made me significantly more frustrated with Marlow in hindsight. We’ve only had her side until now, and seeing what Caliban has done and endured adds a whole new layer to their dynamic.
Piper CJ also leans heavily into different cultures, faiths, and mythologies throughout the book, which adds a lot of richness, but can feel dense at times. I was able to follow the overarching story without issue, but I do think some of the nuance could be easy to miss, especially if you’re not already invested in the series. That said, it’s very much an intentional choice and part of what makes the world feel so layered.
The tone here is darker, with a strong sense of inevitability running throughout. It’s less about what happens in a given cycle, and more about what it means across time. There are a few explicit scenes, but this is more about devotion, connection and the weight of loving someone across lifetimes.
If you love No Other Gods, you need this backstory like you need a broken heart.
And if you haven’t started the series yet… go fix that NOW.
Hell and the Heart releases 6/6/(2)6.❤️🔥
June 7, 2026
Thank you to Piper for including me on her ARC team for Hell and the Heart.
Through the No Other Gods series we know that Caliban has been finding Marlow (Love) through many reincarnations. But now we actually get the stories. The first time he saw her and every single time after. Each life unique but always her. This book is so beautifully crafted and the attention to detail is EXACTLY what Ive come to know from Piper.
Not only does Piper give us Love's different lives each in a small window, she lays out what is going on in that part of the world. Politically, religiously, socially. Its incredible. It adds to the overall depth of the story and the building of just how critical things are in the current time of the NOG timeline. I spent the first three books wondering and hoping for something like this and of course Piper delivered. I can't recommend this prequel enough.
Through the No Other Gods series we know that Caliban has been finding Marlow (Love) through many reincarnations. But now we actually get the stories. The first time he saw her and every single time after. Each life unique but always her. This book is so beautifully crafted and the attention to detail is EXACTLY what Ive come to know from Piper.
Not only does Piper give us Love's different lives each in a small window, she lays out what is going on in that part of the world. Politically, religiously, socially. Its incredible. It adds to the overall depth of the story and the building of just how critical things are in the current time of the NOG timeline. I spent the first three books wondering and hoping for something like this and of course Piper delivered. I can't recommend this prequel enough.
May 18, 2026
Hell and the Heart WILL be the best book I read this year! I was utterly captivated from the very first page to the very last sentence, and it will stay with me forever.
Hell and the Heart gives us an intimate and heartrending account of Caliban and Love’s epic love story from Caliban’s point of view. 3,000 years of the Prince of Hell loving his human in all of her reincarnations, throughout the entirety of human history, across the entire globe, with deities from ancient pantheons from around the world. It’s SUCH a powerful story with such an epic scope—Piper’s methodical dedication to the folklore, mythology, & history of these various time periods & cultures is one of the BEST parts of this whole book. You can really tell she poured her entire soul into this one, and that makes it even more special.
Caliban’s devotion to Love (admittedly bordering on obsession) across all her lifetimes, not matter who, what, or where she is, is so touching & heartbreaking. Throughout thousands of years, he adores Love for EXACTLY who she is, whoever that may be in her current cycle. His struggles with balancing her protection from astronomical forces hell-bent on using their connection for their own personal gain while still consciously working to giver her exactly what she needs in each cycle will tear you apart, but his unflinching dedication will put you back together. I love a soulmates trope as much as the next romantasy girl, but the way Piper weaves this story feels so much more real—if you love someone to the bottom of their very soul, you love them in the way that they need most at the time. Love’s soul is very different in each cycle, & the diversity & representation in each reincarnation is expert-level (I’d expect nothing less from Piper).
I’ll NEVER forget how Caliban proves over and over and over again that he loves Love down to her very atoms, whether she recognizes him or not. This story is BEAUTIFULLY written, and there’s something for every single reader on the planet in these pages.
Hell and the Heart releases on 6/6/26–you NEED to read this one.
Hell and the Heart gives us an intimate and heartrending account of Caliban and Love’s epic love story from Caliban’s point of view. 3,000 years of the Prince of Hell loving his human in all of her reincarnations, throughout the entirety of human history, across the entire globe, with deities from ancient pantheons from around the world. It’s SUCH a powerful story with such an epic scope—Piper’s methodical dedication to the folklore, mythology, & history of these various time periods & cultures is one of the BEST parts of this whole book. You can really tell she poured her entire soul into this one, and that makes it even more special.
Caliban’s devotion to Love (admittedly bordering on obsession) across all her lifetimes, not matter who, what, or where she is, is so touching & heartbreaking. Throughout thousands of years, he adores Love for EXACTLY who she is, whoever that may be in her current cycle. His struggles with balancing her protection from astronomical forces hell-bent on using their connection for their own personal gain while still consciously working to giver her exactly what she needs in each cycle will tear you apart, but his unflinching dedication will put you back together. I love a soulmates trope as much as the next romantasy girl, but the way Piper weaves this story feels so much more real—if you love someone to the bottom of their very soul, you love them in the way that they need most at the time. Love’s soul is very different in each cycle, & the diversity & representation in each reincarnation is expert-level (I’d expect nothing less from Piper).
I’ll NEVER forget how Caliban proves over and over and over again that he loves Love down to her very atoms, whether she recognizes him or not. This story is BEAUTIFULLY written, and there’s something for every single reader on the planet in these pages.
Hell and the Heart releases on 6/6/26–you NEED to read this one.
April 17, 2026
ADVANCED READER COPY REVIEW:
Whenever I find myself (as a mood reader) in a reading slump, all I have to do is pick up one of Piper‘s books. I have yet to find a book of hers that I do not enjoy consuming. However, so far, this has been my absolute favorite series from her. The religious trauma, folklore, various pantheons, etc.-it is all so well written, well-researched, and beautifully poured out in this series. I was so excited and lucky to be chosen to read the ARC of this book before the June 2026 publish date.
Reading this book in 2026 is interesting. The current world is so heavy, so dark, so hard. It has been hard to find escape in even the best books lately. Thankfully, I found myself easily whisked away into the rich, vibrant world of this book! Having to be a responsible adult frustrated me, as I did not want to leave the beloved characters that came alive so vividly. This book is from a different character’s point of view, and it is heartbreaking, beautiful, and a jewel in the series. Many who have read this book have experienced deep grief and many tears, but as I have given so many to the real world these days, I did not find myself in that state this time. It may be a good idea to keep a box of tissues nearby just in case.
Whenever I find myself (as a mood reader) in a reading slump, all I have to do is pick up one of Piper‘s books. I have yet to find a book of hers that I do not enjoy consuming. However, so far, this has been my absolute favorite series from her. The religious trauma, folklore, various pantheons, etc.-it is all so well written, well-researched, and beautifully poured out in this series. I was so excited and lucky to be chosen to read the ARC of this book before the June 2026 publish date.
Reading this book in 2026 is interesting. The current world is so heavy, so dark, so hard. It has been hard to find escape in even the best books lately. Thankfully, I found myself easily whisked away into the rich, vibrant world of this book! Having to be a responsible adult frustrated me, as I did not want to leave the beloved characters that came alive so vividly. This book is from a different character’s point of view, and it is heartbreaking, beautiful, and a jewel in the series. Many who have read this book have experienced deep grief and many tears, but as I have given so many to the real world these days, I did not find myself in that state this time. It may be a good idea to keep a box of tissues nearby just in case.
April 23, 2026
I was gifted with an opportunity to read the advanced arc copy of this book! (Thank you Piper) I was forewarned that this was a spinoff of the No Other Gods series and that most people had read the series before this one was written. I haven’t read the NOG series yet, so I can’t confirm if it’s best to read those before reading this. What I can tell you without spoilers is that this book could be a standalone novel as well as a treat of a different perspective for the NOG universe. This book is a history and mythology lovers dream, which is my professional and educational background. The ancient history tidbits contained in each chapter are culturally appropriate and accurate enough for the genre to be considered historical fiction. You see several gods, goddesses, and areas of the world. I think the author was able to weave her fiction through showing reverence to each culture’s theology and mythology. The story line is captivating, emotional, and speaks of intense love that transcends time. If you prefer chronological order for books, and are considering the NOG universe, I strongly suggest starting here and then moving through the world that I’m told starts in present day. Absolutely loved it, can’t wait to dive into the other books!
April 21, 2026
This is a certified masterpiece. I’ve been falling for Caliban since the moment he graced the pages of ‘Deer & the Dragon;’ now, in ‘Hell & the Heart,’ I feel absolutely giddy to experience millennia with him as he falls for his Love lifetime after lifetime. The yearning! The passion! It was everything I wanted and needed it to be. I demolished it in a single afternoon, and honestly, I may just restart the series, so I can continue to steep in the universe of ‘No Other Gods.’
April 22, 2026
READ AS AN ARC.
If you are not already in love with the Prince of Hell, this will have you begging for a love like his.
Having the back story of all their lifetimes & his undying Love... ugh! Seriously indescribable how much I love him even more than I did in the first 3 books. For sure a favorite and so glad to have had the chance to read his story.
If you are not already in love with the Prince of Hell, this will have you begging for a love like his.
Having the back story of all their lifetimes & his undying Love... ugh! Seriously indescribable how much I love him even more than I did in the first 3 books. For sure a favorite and so glad to have had the chance to read his story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2026
Can I rate this higher? This was one of my best reads yet. It’s emotional, captivating, and even educational at times. It’s the perfect addition to the No Other Gods series. I will be thinking about this for WEEKS!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was so cathartic. Just when I needed to feel the grief and anger, it was here. If you have not read the other books in the No Other Gods series, it will not spoil anything per se to read this separately. There are breadcrumbs and some things you will read at the end that are a small part of the books. So, you can start with this one, and start the rest if you haven’t done so yet.
This isn’t just the story of who we have come to call Caliban, the Prince of Hell, and him following his human through time. The research poured into this book, from languages, to pantheons, to pronunciations, to what culture would have been like in each time period, I was absolutely amazed. Piper CJ put her full self into this book. I swear that most of it is highlighted and I plan to go back and study so much about cultures, regions, religions, and pantheons I didn’t know about. It also reminded me of how much history and culture has been lost through colonization and forced religious conversion.
The story spans over 3,000 years. From the first time the Prince of Hell had a human look at him and ask him, “Don’t leave me.” Some might have called it curiosity, some an obsession, some destiny/prophecy, even possessiveness, but he just called it Love. The different relationships you will see him have, or not have, during each cycle are unique. He will make allies, he will make many enemies. Only one matters.
I don’t consider this a spoiler, so I am adding it. The relationship between The Prince of Hell and his father is special. The description and portrayal of his leadership, how he listens, and even when he tries to show concern is such a different view than you are ever going to get. If you grew up in religion, there is a good reason for that. I also enjoyed in the historical information how Piper shows how one image has been twisted and combined, even at the erasure of gods from other cultures.
Time and time again, we are reminded that the gods you call upon may not be the ones who answer. One thing is for sure, through out the rest of time, I believe Caliban will keep the promise of, “I will always find you, for I am yours, and you are mine.”
The visualization of cultures, the descriptions of smells, the imagery of the various gods/pantheons, and feeling of the emotions Caliban experiences…it’s something I feel Piper does in a way no one else seems to be able to do for me. I am so fully immersed in the story, that I might as well be walking with them or even be the characters myself. I’m not just watching it play out. I am there.
This book has had me so excited for it to come out, and probably the most proud I’ve been to want to tell every person I know to run and pre-order it now, buy the hard copy and listen to the audiobook when they come out. This was a labor of love from Piper, and I felt every ounce of it.
Thank you to Piper for trusting me to be a part of the influencer team to read the eARC. While clearly I am proud, absolutely enamored by it, and will be using it to dig in and learn like it is a textbook, the review and opinions are all my own. Hell and the Heart releases on 6/6/26.
As always, READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS! You should do that for any book you read, because your mental health matters.
This isn’t just the story of who we have come to call Caliban, the Prince of Hell, and him following his human through time. The research poured into this book, from languages, to pantheons, to pronunciations, to what culture would have been like in each time period, I was absolutely amazed. Piper CJ put her full self into this book. I swear that most of it is highlighted and I plan to go back and study so much about cultures, regions, religions, and pantheons I didn’t know about. It also reminded me of how much history and culture has been lost through colonization and forced religious conversion.
The story spans over 3,000 years. From the first time the Prince of Hell had a human look at him and ask him, “Don’t leave me.” Some might have called it curiosity, some an obsession, some destiny/prophecy, even possessiveness, but he just called it Love. The different relationships you will see him have, or not have, during each cycle are unique. He will make allies, he will make many enemies. Only one matters.
I don’t consider this a spoiler, so I am adding it. The relationship between The Prince of Hell and his father is special. The description and portrayal of his leadership, how he listens, and even when he tries to show concern is such a different view than you are ever going to get. If you grew up in religion, there is a good reason for that. I also enjoyed in the historical information how Piper shows how one image has been twisted and combined, even at the erasure of gods from other cultures.
Time and time again, we are reminded that the gods you call upon may not be the ones who answer. One thing is for sure, through out the rest of time, I believe Caliban will keep the promise of, “I will always find you, for I am yours, and you are mine.”
The visualization of cultures, the descriptions of smells, the imagery of the various gods/pantheons, and feeling of the emotions Caliban experiences…it’s something I feel Piper does in a way no one else seems to be able to do for me. I am so fully immersed in the story, that I might as well be walking with them or even be the characters myself. I’m not just watching it play out. I am there.
This book has had me so excited for it to come out, and probably the most proud I’ve been to want to tell every person I know to run and pre-order it now, buy the hard copy and listen to the audiobook when they come out. This was a labor of love from Piper, and I felt every ounce of it.
Thank you to Piper for trusting me to be a part of the influencer team to read the eARC. While clearly I am proud, absolutely enamored by it, and will be using it to dig in and learn like it is a textbook, the review and opinions are all my own. Hell and the Heart releases on 6/6/26.
As always, READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS! You should do that for any book you read, because your mental health matters.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am not very good at writing reviews, so bear with me. And don’t read this if you don’t want spoilers from this book as well as other books from Piper’s No Other Gods series.
PIPER!!!!
I just finished Hell & the Heart.
The last two chapters were a fight to see the words I was reading because I could not stop the tears.
This entire book is an exquisite love letter.
At the very beginning I was a little thrown off because the stoning at the Dead Sea in The Deer and the Dragon was extremely emotional for me… and so to see Caliban witnessing it without strong emotion was confusing…..but he had not yet KNOWN Love. She was a curiosity as was his empathy.
Watching him fall in love with her was amazing. And I do mean “watching” because when a good author writes, I always SEE the words playing out as though on a screen. I got to watch their history unfold…. At times, when he found her and she was married I felt super annoyed….but also understand why he was ok with it. He loved her and it was enough to know she was also loved and safe. That’s a deeper love than most can comprehend.
And then when she, as Rauana, KNEW HIM!!!!!!
I was laying in a scalding hot bath tub while reading this part, and I got chills over my entire body that would not go away!!!!!
My heart was crushed when he had to let her die so he could exact revenge on Jarovid.
And I don’t know if it was intended but I could see a correlation to God turning his back on Jesus when he was dying on the cross. Something ugly but necessary.
And the religious trauma resonates so loudly with me. The way Caliban tells Marlow he sees her mother is scared….. I sobbed through all of that.
Like, I just sobbed through the entire last two chapters while already feeling as though I’ve been holding my breath through most of this book……
And now I need to go do dishes and cut the grass and it feels extremely mundane….like, almost surreal because I have been so lost in this other world.
The only time I’ve ever experienced that so completely before is YEARS ago. I was early 20s working at a huge law firm in Memphis. I sat in my car to read Harry Potter on my lunch break. I set an alarm so I wouldn’t lose track of time… and when the alarm went off I was disoriented because I was so caught up in the book. And that is the exact same feeling I have right now. I finished the book and looked around my house lol “where the fuck am I?” lol
You can read this book as a stand alone and it would still be enjoyable…but if you really want your full effect definitely read the rest of this series!!! I am on pins and needles now waiting for End and Evergreen!
PIPER!!!!
I just finished Hell & the Heart.
The last two chapters were a fight to see the words I was reading because I could not stop the tears.
This entire book is an exquisite love letter.
At the very beginning I was a little thrown off because the stoning at the Dead Sea in The Deer and the Dragon was extremely emotional for me… and so to see Caliban witnessing it without strong emotion was confusing…..but he had not yet KNOWN Love. She was a curiosity as was his empathy.
Watching him fall in love with her was amazing. And I do mean “watching” because when a good author writes, I always SEE the words playing out as though on a screen. I got to watch their history unfold…. At times, when he found her and she was married I felt super annoyed….but also understand why he was ok with it. He loved her and it was enough to know she was also loved and safe. That’s a deeper love than most can comprehend.
And then when she, as Rauana, KNEW HIM!!!!!!
I was laying in a scalding hot bath tub while reading this part, and I got chills over my entire body that would not go away!!!!!
My heart was crushed when he had to let her die so he could exact revenge on Jarovid.
And I don’t know if it was intended but I could see a correlation to God turning his back on Jesus when he was dying on the cross. Something ugly but necessary.
And the religious trauma resonates so loudly with me. The way Caliban tells Marlow he sees her mother is scared….. I sobbed through all of that.
Like, I just sobbed through the entire last two chapters while already feeling as though I’ve been holding my breath through most of this book……
And now I need to go do dishes and cut the grass and it feels extremely mundane….like, almost surreal because I have been so lost in this other world.
The only time I’ve ever experienced that so completely before is YEARS ago. I was early 20s working at a huge law firm in Memphis. I sat in my car to read Harry Potter on my lunch break. I set an alarm so I wouldn’t lose track of time… and when the alarm went off I was disoriented because I was so caught up in the book. And that is the exact same feeling I have right now. I finished the book and looked around my house lol “where the fuck am I?” lol
You can read this book as a stand alone and it would still be enjoyable…but if you really want your full effect definitely read the rest of this series!!! I am on pins and needles now waiting for End and Evergreen!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2026
**I was bestowed the incredible honor of receiving my second ARC for the No Other Gods series from Piper, and I’m so grateful. That said, my review (obsession) would be exactly the same regardless as I bought a printed copy and audiobook the second it released.
This series will forever have its own pedestal in my reading journey because it’s the series that solidified my favorite trope: every lifetime.
That trope alone can make a book five stars for me, even if everything else falls apart. Since this is the series that did it for me, I think of it constantly. Caliban is the standard.
AND I’m a yearning girlie to my core.
I want the man who is so hopelessly obsessed that it’s almost embarrassing.
An entire book from Caliban’s POV?
I knew I was done for.
This book follows (almost) all of Marlow’s past lives, from their very first meeting in 900 BCE all the way to her present life, but through Caliban’s eyes. And it holds your hand while it drags you sobbing through everything he endured.
Watching him lose her over and over again was devastating. Sometimes brutally. Sometimes after a long, beautiful life together. But no matter how it happened, his grief never became smaller. It became heavier. There was nothing Caliban wouldn’t do, endure, or forsake when it comes to Love.
Beyond the emotional damage, this book also gives some needed context to the prophecy and fills in pieces of the overarching story that the main novels couldn’t without stepping away from Marlow’s perspective. It sets up the final book while giving Caliban’s history the space it deserved.
I inhaled this book in one afternoon.
It completely consumed me.
I also think it’s important to recognize the sheer amount of work that went into this story.
Yes, it follows the Prince of Hell. But it’s so much bigger than that.
Lifetime after lifetime, Piper weaves together pantheons, gods, goddesses, and deities from different cultures, placing them where they’re geographically and historically relevant to each point in Marlow’s journey. As civilizations evolve, so does the spiritual landscape around them. You watch the world change over centuries, through shifting empires, cultures, and the spread of new religions all while following one heartbreaking love story.
I found myself stopping multiple times just thinking, damn.
This isn’t just an author inventing a fantasy world from scratch. It’s taking the world as we know it, layering mythology, history, and religion across centuries, and weaving it into a single, cohesive narrative. INCREDIBLE.
This series will forever have its own pedestal in my reading journey because it’s the series that solidified my favorite trope: every lifetime.
That trope alone can make a book five stars for me, even if everything else falls apart. Since this is the series that did it for me, I think of it constantly. Caliban is the standard.
AND I’m a yearning girlie to my core.
I want the man who is so hopelessly obsessed that it’s almost embarrassing.
An entire book from Caliban’s POV?
I knew I was done for.
This book follows (almost) all of Marlow’s past lives, from their very first meeting in 900 BCE all the way to her present life, but through Caliban’s eyes. And it holds your hand while it drags you sobbing through everything he endured.
Watching him lose her over and over again was devastating. Sometimes brutally. Sometimes after a long, beautiful life together. But no matter how it happened, his grief never became smaller. It became heavier. There was nothing Caliban wouldn’t do, endure, or forsake when it comes to Love.
Beyond the emotional damage, this book also gives some needed context to the prophecy and fills in pieces of the overarching story that the main novels couldn’t without stepping away from Marlow’s perspective. It sets up the final book while giving Caliban’s history the space it deserved.
I inhaled this book in one afternoon.
It completely consumed me.
I also think it’s important to recognize the sheer amount of work that went into this story.
Yes, it follows the Prince of Hell. But it’s so much bigger than that.
Lifetime after lifetime, Piper weaves together pantheons, gods, goddesses, and deities from different cultures, placing them where they’re geographically and historically relevant to each point in Marlow’s journey. As civilizations evolve, so does the spiritual landscape around them. You watch the world change over centuries, through shifting empires, cultures, and the spread of new religions all while following one heartbreaking love story.
I found myself stopping multiple times just thinking, damn.
This isn’t just an author inventing a fantasy world from scratch. It’s taking the world as we know it, layering mythology, history, and religion across centuries, and weaving it into a single, cohesive narrative. INCREDIBLE.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC reader here. I have no idea how I'm going to put into words what this book did to me...but let's go.
I'm not a person who cries at books. I get emotionally attached to the characters, the worlds, sure. But I don't cry. Well. I didn't. Guess that's not true anymore. I lost count of the number of times I cried reading this book. It is simultaneously sweet, sad, heart-breaking, empowering....the rollercoaster honestly is exhausting. I think I shall simply perish if this series ever actually ENDS.
There was some discussion in our private chats about the appropriate reading order for the series, so I suspect readers will have the same question. I'm sorry to say...there's not a concrete answer in my head for that. If you enjoy mystery and getting to know each of the characters as they appear, then read all the others first. (For context, that's what I did. 3 books currently exist prior to this one.) If you want to get inside the MMC's head and have that perspective before we even begin, read this first. That said, there are certain scenes in this one where other pretty important characters are referenced and you won't get that until later. By contrast, those who read the first three before this one, those same scenes will literally glitter and glow upon the page for you.
Sidebar - there are playlists for your favorite characters on Piper's websites if you're an immersive-style-reader.
I also personally appreciated that there was a pronunciation section. There are a LOT of foreign names in here, and I for one would have absolutely DESTROYED their names without it.
As always, the characters and their universe(s) feel fully fleshed out and so real. They're relatable, they have their own smells, it's all but tangible. I absolutely adore this book, and this series.
TLDR: If you are looking for a romantasy that will absolutely DESTROY you emotionally, you found it.
I'm not a person who cries at books. I get emotionally attached to the characters, the worlds, sure. But I don't cry. Well. I didn't. Guess that's not true anymore. I lost count of the number of times I cried reading this book. It is simultaneously sweet, sad, heart-breaking, empowering....the rollercoaster honestly is exhausting. I think I shall simply perish if this series ever actually ENDS.
There was some discussion in our private chats about the appropriate reading order for the series, so I suspect readers will have the same question. I'm sorry to say...there's not a concrete answer in my head for that. If you enjoy mystery and getting to know each of the characters as they appear, then read all the others first. (For context, that's what I did. 3 books currently exist prior to this one.) If you want to get inside the MMC's head and have that perspective before we even begin, read this first. That said, there are certain scenes in this one where other pretty important characters are referenced and you won't get that until later. By contrast, those who read the first three before this one, those same scenes will literally glitter and glow upon the page for you.
Sidebar - there are playlists for your favorite characters on Piper's websites if you're an immersive-style-reader.
I also personally appreciated that there was a pronunciation section. There are a LOT of foreign names in here, and I for one would have absolutely DESTROYED their names without it.
As always, the characters and their universe(s) feel fully fleshed out and so real. They're relatable, they have their own smells, it's all but tangible. I absolutely adore this book, and this series.
TLDR: If you are looking for a romantasy that will absolutely DESTROY you emotionally, you found it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hell and the Heart by Piper CJ is a dark fantasy novel that delves into the timeless and torturous love story between Caliban, the Prince of Hell, and a human soul he calls “Love.” Spanning across cycles of lifetimes, we get glimpses of the many lives Love has lived, and Caliban's heartwrenching pursuit to secure Love's happiness and wellbeing.The story weaves together threads of love, loss, and heartbreak against the backdrop of richly crafted mythological lore drawn from pantheons across the world and through the timelines of history. This blend of romance and infernal politics makes it a compelling read worthy of attention for anyone intrigued by epic love entangled with myth and the supernatural.
What struck me most about Piper CJ’s work is the ambitious scope and the depth of research evident in the storytelling. Integrating diverse mythologies into the narrative isn’t merely decorative; it enriches the world-building of the NOG universe and adds layers of meaning to Caliban’s journey. This, combined with the cyclical nature of the protagonists’ love — a love that breaks and rebuilds itself through countless iterations — creates a poetic resonance throughout the novel.
This book serves as a prequel to the 'No Other Gods' series, giving us a look into Caliban's background and the very beginning of his and Marlow's (Love's) timeless relationship to present day events. This story is a labor of love for Piper, who has put years of time, research, and soul into this beautiful tale of heartbreak and humanity. I think it is by far one of the best stories I've read in a long time, and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
What struck me most about Piper CJ’s work is the ambitious scope and the depth of research evident in the storytelling. Integrating diverse mythologies into the narrative isn’t merely decorative; it enriches the world-building of the NOG universe and adds layers of meaning to Caliban’s journey. This, combined with the cyclical nature of the protagonists’ love — a love that breaks and rebuilds itself through countless iterations — creates a poetic resonance throughout the novel.
This book serves as a prequel to the 'No Other Gods' series, giving us a look into Caliban's background and the very beginning of his and Marlow's (Love's) timeless relationship to present day events. This story is a labor of love for Piper, who has put years of time, research, and soul into this beautiful tale of heartbreak and humanity. I think it is by far one of the best stories I've read in a long time, and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"We were us again. A woman of faith asking a demon if he was an angel."
Disclaimer: This book was received as an ARC from Piper CJ's team, an offer that is greatly appreciated!
Hell and the Heart has been my first read of Piper writing a complete book through the lens of a male character, and I actually enjoyed it! Most male POVs are too distant for me to relate to and often times end with me hating the main character. Caliban's thought process was a breath of fresh air in comparison to those books.
The story begins with how Caliban met Marlow's first incarnation and the many lives he got to share as she continued to reincarnate. I appreciate how in depth Piper went to ensure that the other cultures showcased throughout the book were presented respectfully. My only (very slight) irk was the two-page dive into what the term "Satan" meant. For myself, I immensely enjoyed understanding the differences between the names Lucifer, Baal, and so on. For the general public reading this book, I think the majority would skip over these pages as it deviates from the fantasy lens they had become used to in the reading of this series to a scholastic lens.
There are definitely moments that will bring tears to your eyes and require you to step away from the book. There are also moments where you will cheer on Caliban and his attempts to keep other pantheons away from his Love. I will leave you with one more quote as you hopefully run to this book's Amazon page to buy a copy!
"No matter who, or where, or what, you are my only human. To me, you are Love."
Disclaimer: This book was received as an ARC from Piper CJ's team, an offer that is greatly appreciated!
Hell and the Heart has been my first read of Piper writing a complete book through the lens of a male character, and I actually enjoyed it! Most male POVs are too distant for me to relate to and often times end with me hating the main character. Caliban's thought process was a breath of fresh air in comparison to those books.
The story begins with how Caliban met Marlow's first incarnation and the many lives he got to share as she continued to reincarnate. I appreciate how in depth Piper went to ensure that the other cultures showcased throughout the book were presented respectfully. My only (very slight) irk was the two-page dive into what the term "Satan" meant. For myself, I immensely enjoyed understanding the differences between the names Lucifer, Baal, and so on. For the general public reading this book, I think the majority would skip over these pages as it deviates from the fantasy lens they had become used to in the reading of this series to a scholastic lens.
There are definitely moments that will bring tears to your eyes and require you to step away from the book. There are also moments where you will cheer on Caliban and his attempts to keep other pantheons away from his Love. I will leave you with one more quote as you hopefully run to this book's Amazon page to buy a copy!
"No matter who, or where, or what, you are my only human. To me, you are Love."
Review of advance copy received from Author
Scoring an ARC of this prequel was so exciting. No Other Gods is my favorite series, so getting a whole book inside Caliban's head? Yes, please. He will forever be my book boyfriend, and this backstory delivers everything I wanted.
Piper CJ does what she does best here: completely flipping mythology (specifically Christianity) on its head. In this universe, Heaven is a violent, colonizing force, while Hell’s demons are the rebels fighting for freedom. Spanning 3 millennia, the story shows how Caliban, the Prince of Hell, falls for a pure human soul and spends the next few thousand years committed to finding each reincarnation.
Caliban is textbook definition of the "touch her and you die" trope. He’ll literally go to war against entire pantheons of gods, just to keep her safe. But what makes him such an S-tier MMC is how fiercely he respects her autonomy in every. Single. Lifetime. (Pay attention male readers.) Seeing their connection play out across different historical eras is beautifully tragic and such depth to the world we already know from the main books.
Because the story jumps through centuries, the pacing is a bit different from the main series, and can feel a bit jarring at times. But it totally works for the epic scale of the plot.
Just a quick heads-up: it wouldn’t be a Piper CJ book without some emotional devastation. There are some very heavy themes. Especially surrounding religious trauma and abuse, so definitely check the content warnings before diving in.
If you love anti-establishment fantasy and soul-consuming devotion, you need to bump this prequel to the top of your TBR.
Piper CJ does what she does best here: completely flipping mythology (specifically Christianity) on its head. In this universe, Heaven is a violent, colonizing force, while Hell’s demons are the rebels fighting for freedom. Spanning 3 millennia, the story shows how Caliban, the Prince of Hell, falls for a pure human soul and spends the next few thousand years committed to finding each reincarnation.
Caliban is textbook definition of the "touch her and you die" trope. He’ll literally go to war against entire pantheons of gods, just to keep her safe. But what makes him such an S-tier MMC is how fiercely he respects her autonomy in every. Single. Lifetime. (Pay attention male readers.) Seeing their connection play out across different historical eras is beautifully tragic and such depth to the world we already know from the main books.
Because the story jumps through centuries, the pacing is a bit different from the main series, and can feel a bit jarring at times. But it totally works for the epic scale of the plot.
Just a quick heads-up: it wouldn’t be a Piper CJ book without some emotional devastation. There are some very heavy themes. Especially surrounding religious trauma and abuse, so definitely check the content warnings before diving in.
If you love anti-establishment fantasy and soul-consuming devotion, you need to bump this prequel to the top of your TBR.
June 5, 2026
Heart wrenching. Gut punching. Emotionally damaging.
Hell and the Heart takes you on a journey through Caliban’s life before Marlow incarnated. From her very first cycle with Caliban to her current one. We are able to see through Caliban’s eyes how he fell in love with Love, how the prophecy came to be, and everything in between. I was not emotionally prepared for how devastating it would be. The stories of each life are beautiful, the ends are equally heartbreaking, and the protectiveness Caliban has over Love is everything you could wish for.
Love’s deaths through Caliban’s point of view are absolutely devastating. You can feel how much he loves her through Piper CJs outstanding writing. I have only cried while reading three books and this is one of them. The stories of each of Love’s lives made one of the end scenes from the Serpent and the Siren (Book 3 of No Other Gods) even more emotionally devastating and now I cannot wait to see what happens.
Hell and the Heart kept me engaged and left me wanting more. I immediately wanted to dive back into the Deer and the Dragon (Book 1 of No Other Gods) and left me even more ready for End and Evergreen (Book 4 of No Other Gods). At this point I could read the entire series again but through Caliban’s point of view.
I was beyond lucky and grateful to have been chosen as an Advanced Reader for Hell and the Heart and it has meant the world to me. While I do have the digital copy in my hands, I will immediately be purchasing a physical copy because I honestly can’t get enough and I need the trophy for my bookcase ❤️
Hell and the Heart takes you on a journey through Caliban’s life before Marlow incarnated. From her very first cycle with Caliban to her current one. We are able to see through Caliban’s eyes how he fell in love with Love, how the prophecy came to be, and everything in between. I was not emotionally prepared for how devastating it would be. The stories of each life are beautiful, the ends are equally heartbreaking, and the protectiveness Caliban has over Love is everything you could wish for.
Love’s deaths through Caliban’s point of view are absolutely devastating. You can feel how much he loves her through Piper CJs outstanding writing. I have only cried while reading three books and this is one of them. The stories of each of Love’s lives made one of the end scenes from the Serpent and the Siren (Book 3 of No Other Gods) even more emotionally devastating and now I cannot wait to see what happens.
Hell and the Heart kept me engaged and left me wanting more. I immediately wanted to dive back into the Deer and the Dragon (Book 1 of No Other Gods) and left me even more ready for End and Evergreen (Book 4 of No Other Gods). At this point I could read the entire series again but through Caliban’s point of view.
I was beyond lucky and grateful to have been chosen as an Advanced Reader for Hell and the Heart and it has meant the world to me. While I do have the digital copy in my hands, I will immediately be purchasing a physical copy because I honestly can’t get enough and I need the trophy for my bookcase ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Piper CJ has created something that feels ancient, expansive, and impossibly intimate all at once. You can feel the influence of her educational background and the care of her research in every layer… from the echoes of ancient languages to the intricate weaving of pantheons and belief systems across the world.
The center of the story is the book boyfriend romantasy readers live for.
A demon, the prince of hell, and a human woman bound to him by a cruel fate. Across lifetimes, her soul moves through the world unaware of the forces surrounding her… unaware of the battles between gods and pantheons unfolding just beyond her reach. But he knows, and over centuries of life cycles he has to find her, Tries to protects her and loves her with a devotion that borders on ruin. sometimes, to save her, he has to walk away. 😭 Her soul is tied to a prophecy and he is not the only one watching, hunting.
There is something achingly cruel about the way their story unfolds… the inevitability of it, the repetition, the way love becomes both salvation and suffering. It is sweeping and devastating and so beautifully written it will leave you in tears. Ugh… the yearning! 💔❤️🔥
This is a prequel to the No Other Gods series and if you haven’t read those yet… don’t walk, run to your nearest bookstore and fix that immediately.
I didn’t want the last chapter to end. Literally restarted the book as soon as I finished! Can’t wait for the final book in this story.
The center of the story is the book boyfriend romantasy readers live for.
A demon, the prince of hell, and a human woman bound to him by a cruel fate. Across lifetimes, her soul moves through the world unaware of the forces surrounding her… unaware of the battles between gods and pantheons unfolding just beyond her reach. But he knows, and over centuries of life cycles he has to find her, Tries to protects her and loves her with a devotion that borders on ruin. sometimes, to save her, he has to walk away. 😭 Her soul is tied to a prophecy and he is not the only one watching, hunting.
There is something achingly cruel about the way their story unfolds… the inevitability of it, the repetition, the way love becomes both salvation and suffering. It is sweeping and devastating and so beautifully written it will leave you in tears. Ugh… the yearning! 💔❤️🔥
This is a prequel to the No Other Gods series and if you haven’t read those yet… don’t walk, run to your nearest bookstore and fix that immediately.
I didn’t want the last chapter to end. Literally restarted the book as soon as I finished! Can’t wait for the final book in this story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I just want to start by saying thank you very much to Piper and her team for allowing me into the ARC reader team. It has been a blessing and a lovely experience. Now to my review…
The life cycles were one of my favorite parts. They felt beautiful and I couldn’t help but wish we had gotten more of them.
Caliban’s growth really stayed with me. He begins consumed by obsession and anger, but slowly becomes something more self aware. It felt raw, real, and earned.
By the end, I just wanted more more of his perspective, more pov to the NOG books, more time in that world. I wish it didn’t have to end.
A beautifully written book that didn’t just tell a story, it made me want to understand more about gods, goddesses, and everything in between.
Some quotes that I absolutely loved:
Then, I’ll call you Star, not only because you were chipped from the heavens, or because you were the guide that led me from the darkness, but because you burn as bright as the first star in the morning. And like the heavenly bodies, you are too wonderful for any word that belongs on earthly tongues.
What a beautiful thing to be so in love that a tale like yours is too complicated to be understood.
My human on the earth, no matter how far, no matter how hard, she was mine, and I was hers.
Don’t leave me.
The life cycles were one of my favorite parts. They felt beautiful and I couldn’t help but wish we had gotten more of them.
Caliban’s growth really stayed with me. He begins consumed by obsession and anger, but slowly becomes something more self aware. It felt raw, real, and earned.
By the end, I just wanted more more of his perspective, more pov to the NOG books, more time in that world. I wish it didn’t have to end.
A beautifully written book that didn’t just tell a story, it made me want to understand more about gods, goddesses, and everything in between.
Some quotes that I absolutely loved:
Then, I’ll call you Star, not only because you were chipped from the heavens, or because you were the guide that led me from the darkness, but because you burn as bright as the first star in the morning. And like the heavenly bodies, you are too wonderful for any word that belongs on earthly tongues.
What a beautiful thing to be so in love that a tale like yours is too complicated to be understood.
My human on the earth, no matter how far, no matter how hard, she was mine, and I was hers.
Don’t leave me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am so grateful to have received this Advanced Readers Copy of Hell and the Heart! Thank you Piper and team!
"The gods you call aren't always the ones who answer" definitely rings true time and time again.
I finished up The Serpent and the Siren in tears and fought them all the way through this book. 😭😭😭 The love and loss that is shown over and over is both heart filling and heart breaking! When you think about your true love, you think of passion and a relationship. This book takes it to a whole new level and shows the lengths that these two souls go to in experiencing true love.
If you have ever wondered if a demon can love - this book is for you. Not only can he love, he is fierce, loyal, and will move Heaven and Earth for his "Love." -pun intended.
I will always remember and laugh at this quote 🤣
"I was no longer snarling. I had a legion, the patience of a hundred lifetimes, and the nonchalance of a god-killer. They had…sparkles."
If you are looking for something that blurs the lines between good and evil and shows that what is portrayed isn't always what is - Start at the beginning of the "No Other Gods" series and be sure to grab this one when it comes out to experience a love story that is almost as old as time. There isn't an emotion that you won't experience in the series.
"The gods you call aren't always the ones who answer" definitely rings true time and time again.
I finished up The Serpent and the Siren in tears and fought them all the way through this book. 😭😭😭 The love and loss that is shown over and over is both heart filling and heart breaking! When you think about your true love, you think of passion and a relationship. This book takes it to a whole new level and shows the lengths that these two souls go to in experiencing true love.
If you have ever wondered if a demon can love - this book is for you. Not only can he love, he is fierce, loyal, and will move Heaven and Earth for his "Love." -pun intended.
I will always remember and laugh at this quote 🤣
"I was no longer snarling. I had a legion, the patience of a hundred lifetimes, and the nonchalance of a god-killer. They had…sparkles."
If you are looking for something that blurs the lines between good and evil and shows that what is portrayed isn't always what is - Start at the beginning of the "No Other Gods" series and be sure to grab this one when it comes out to experience a love story that is almost as old as time. There isn't an emotion that you won't experience in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2026
*crying screaming throwing up*
You want a tortuous love story that will pull at your heart strings and possibly make you sob? A love that will born the world down and kill gods? Here you go. Imagine as an immortal loving a human throughout their life cycles across history, waiting for them to join you. When you’re a high ranking demon, aka the Prince of Hell, among many other pantheons, loving someone is a weak spot, especially when they’re set to play a role in determining the future.
“𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑜 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑜𝑑.”
This is a heavy, heart wrenching read that will linger in your mind. At the same time you get a plethora of historical and mythological information. If I didn’t have responsibilities, I absolutely would have read this in one sitting.
It is technically a prequel to the No Other Gods series, but I read after the Fox and the Falcon, and personally loved how that set me up🙂↕️
I hope this has convinced you to read the No Other Gods series :)
‼️Hell and the Heart is OUT TOMORROW 6/6‼️
vibes - 😈👹🖤👑🗡️
genre - folklore, fantasy, romance
Thank you so much Piper CJ for this opportunity to read Hell and the Heart early🖤
** Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author, but all opinions are my own**
You want a tortuous love story that will pull at your heart strings and possibly make you sob? A love that will born the world down and kill gods? Here you go. Imagine as an immortal loving a human throughout their life cycles across history, waiting for them to join you. When you’re a high ranking demon, aka the Prince of Hell, among many other pantheons, loving someone is a weak spot, especially when they’re set to play a role in determining the future.
“𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑜 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑜𝑑.”
This is a heavy, heart wrenching read that will linger in your mind. At the same time you get a plethora of historical and mythological information. If I didn’t have responsibilities, I absolutely would have read this in one sitting.
It is technically a prequel to the No Other Gods series, but I read after the Fox and the Falcon, and personally loved how that set me up🙂↕️
I hope this has convinced you to read the No Other Gods series :)
‼️Hell and the Heart is OUT TOMORROW 6/6‼️
vibes - 😈👹🖤👑🗡️
genre - folklore, fantasy, romance
Thank you so much Piper CJ for this opportunity to read Hell and the Heart early🖤
** Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author, but all opinions are my own**
June 16, 2026
Piperrrrr, what kind of dark magic are you using?! Because this novella had absolutely no business emotionally wrecking me like this. I went into this expecting a shortened retelling of Marlow’s story from Caliban’s POV (Amagi, or our nameless Prince of Hell). Instead, Piper sent me hurtling thousands of years into the past through faith, language, history, love, loss, and every version of Marlow before she was Marlow. And honestly? It was a masterpiece.
Watching Caliban follow her through each lifetime was beautiful. Some lives were filled with romance, some weren’t, and somehow the lives built on companionship hit just as hard. The fact that not every lifetime revolved around romance made their connection feel even more meaningful.
Also… when Caliban finally faced off with his stupid half sister Izi? She had it coming. 🤷🏻♀️
What amazes me most about this series is Piper’s ability to weave together mythology, reincarnation, prophecy, history, and multiple pantheons without ever losing the reader. The amount of planning and worldbuilding behind these books is honestly insane.
Meeting Piper CJ is officially on my bucket list. The woman created a universe that lives rent-free in my head.
Book fam, tell me:
✨ Which version of Marlow was your favorite?
✨ And am I the only one who would immediately read another entire book from Caliban’s POV? 👀
Watching Caliban follow her through each lifetime was beautiful. Some lives were filled with romance, some weren’t, and somehow the lives built on companionship hit just as hard. The fact that not every lifetime revolved around romance made their connection feel even more meaningful.
Also… when Caliban finally faced off with his stupid half sister Izi? She had it coming. 🤷🏻♀️
What amazes me most about this series is Piper’s ability to weave together mythology, reincarnation, prophecy, history, and multiple pantheons without ever losing the reader. The amount of planning and worldbuilding behind these books is honestly insane.
Meeting Piper CJ is officially on my bucket list. The woman created a universe that lives rent-free in my head.
Book fam, tell me:
✨ Which version of Marlow was your favorite?
✨ And am I the only one who would immediately read another entire book from Caliban’s POV? 👀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved Caliban before but after this?
There’s something deeply intoxicating about a story that blurs the line between damnation and devotion—and Hell and the Heart delivers that in the most haunting way.
Getting to see his perspective over all of Love’s life times, everything he did for her? Chefs kiss. Is he morally grey? Sure but like make it green flags and golden retriever vibes. If you touch her? You’re gonna suffer. But if she needs space in that life time? He’s gonna give it to her. He’s gonna give her whatever she needs, be whatever it is she needs him to be.
Piper CJ builds a world where desire feels dangerous, love comes at a cost, and every choice drags you closer to ruin. The push and pull between darkness and vulnerability is exquisite—you can feel the weight of every emotion, every sacrifice, every moment of weakness.
This isn’t a light read—it’s heavy, aching, and beautifully unforgiving. The kind of story that lingers long after the final page and leaves your heart a little more wrecked than before.
If you’re drawn to stories where love burns as much as it heals… this one will own you.
“I would have drowned in her one thousand times over before choosing to breathe”
There’s something deeply intoxicating about a story that blurs the line between damnation and devotion—and Hell and the Heart delivers that in the most haunting way.
Getting to see his perspective over all of Love’s life times, everything he did for her? Chefs kiss. Is he morally grey? Sure but like make it green flags and golden retriever vibes. If you touch her? You’re gonna suffer. But if she needs space in that life time? He’s gonna give it to her. He’s gonna give her whatever she needs, be whatever it is she needs him to be.
Piper CJ builds a world where desire feels dangerous, love comes at a cost, and every choice drags you closer to ruin. The push and pull between darkness and vulnerability is exquisite—you can feel the weight of every emotion, every sacrifice, every moment of weakness.
This isn’t a light read—it’s heavy, aching, and beautifully unforgiving. The kind of story that lingers long after the final page and leaves your heart a little more wrecked than before.
If you’re drawn to stories where love burns as much as it heals… this one will own you.
“I would have drowned in her one thousand times over before choosing to breathe”
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a fun backstory into Caliban and Marlowe's history, though it really focuses on Caliban's POV the entire time. I do recommend reading books 1,2, and 3 before diving into this one. This book, just as the rest of the books in the series, go heavy in the religious and mythological background of a wide-variety of deity's and gods. These parts started to slow down the book for me and pull me out of the story. But that's truly my only complaint about these books, and it's more of a personal preference rather than a drawback. Piper CJ clearly did a lot of research and it shows!
Where this book really shines is the character development. We really get to know Marlowe in the previous books and Caliban is always off fighting gods or hiding, so it was really fun to see what he was doing in the behind-the-scenes and get to know his character more before we get to book 4 in the No Other Gods series. I love all the characters in these books so I was really excited to see them from another POV.
This a quick read, but that in no way takes away from the quality or fun of this novel. If you're just as invested in the rest of the series as I am than this is a must read.
Where this book really shines is the character development. We really get to know Marlowe in the previous books and Caliban is always off fighting gods or hiding, so it was really fun to see what he was doing in the behind-the-scenes and get to know his character more before we get to book 4 in the No Other Gods series. I love all the characters in these books so I was really excited to see them from another POV.
This a quick read, but that in no way takes away from the quality or fun of this novel. If you're just as invested in the rest of the series as I am than this is a must read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I've cried from reading books exactly three times in my life
1. When I was 15 and finished Bridge to Terabithia at 4am
2. Zeno's backstory in Yona of the Dawn (iykyk)
3. When this book giving me on page explicit, positive, and beautiful representation of my alphabet soup for the first time ever
I had the absolute blessing of receiving this ARC and am so so happy that I get to help hype it up before official release.
Following the Prince of hell as he falls in love with and protects his human across many lifetimes, this book explores all the forms love can take and be fulfilling. It takes place right before the No Other Gods series (prior reading not required, but the end will make you want to continue!), and spans 300 years and numerous ridiculously well researched pantheons and cultures. I giggled. I cried. My hopeless romantic grey ace heart wouldn't calm the fuck down.
No notes, please read it when it comes out. I will be plastering a specific chapter all over my walls. That's all.
1. When I was 15 and finished Bridge to Terabithia at 4am
2. Zeno's backstory in Yona of the Dawn (iykyk)
3. When this book giving me on page explicit, positive, and beautiful representation of my alphabet soup for the first time ever
I had the absolute blessing of receiving this ARC and am so so happy that I get to help hype it up before official release.
Following the Prince of hell as he falls in love with and protects his human across many lifetimes, this book explores all the forms love can take and be fulfilling. It takes place right before the No Other Gods series (prior reading not required, but the end will make you want to continue!), and spans 300 years and numerous ridiculously well researched pantheons and cultures. I giggled. I cried. My hopeless romantic grey ace heart wouldn't calm the fuck down.
No notes, please read it when it comes out. I will be plastering a specific chapter all over my walls. That's all.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Hell and the Heart is the ultimate love story.
An incredible portrayal of unconditional love, lasting and building through many lifetimes. This book answers the question of what it means to love someone truly for their soul, even when parts of who they are change. There are so many different cultures and identities represented and honored.
As I read through this book, so many beautiful lines stuck out to me. The quotes themselves, even out of context, are already powerful and wonderful. But what really gets me about this book isn't just how beautifully written each piece of it is. It's how every chapter clicks into place a new level of context and meaning that multiplies the rest of it, including the main No Other Gods story.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"Possession is not love. And obsession, wearing love’s mask, is no different.”
"There is no gift greater than your heart"
"I was merely a star. She was the universe"
An incredible portrayal of unconditional love, lasting and building through many lifetimes. This book answers the question of what it means to love someone truly for their soul, even when parts of who they are change. There are so many different cultures and identities represented and honored.
As I read through this book, so many beautiful lines stuck out to me. The quotes themselves, even out of context, are already powerful and wonderful. But what really gets me about this book isn't just how beautifully written each piece of it is. It's how every chapter clicks into place a new level of context and meaning that multiplies the rest of it, including the main No Other Gods story.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"Possession is not love. And obsession, wearing love’s mask, is no different.”
"There is no gift greater than your heart"
"I was merely a star. She was the universe"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a book. While this can be read as a standalone to the NOG series, reading this after the first three books has a very large emotional impact.
I was gifted access to the e-arc by the author and I'm so glad because this series has meant so much to me.
We have seen Marlow's side and what she's been told in NOG, but seeing Caliban's side? Thousands of years of pining, of loss, of love... It was brutal and beautiful in so many ways.
Piper does an amazing job capturing the different pantheons, showing religious shifts across the years, and letting us see it all through the eyes of our favorite demon.
If you've read the NOG series, add it to your list. If you haven't? Add it anyways and start an Assassin's blade style debate on when to read it. It's worth it.
Thanks to Piper CJ for helping me put words to my thoughts and help me overcome my own religious trauma through this series.
The book releases 6/6/(2)6.... Add it to your TBR now 😈❤️🫶
I was gifted access to the e-arc by the author and I'm so glad because this series has meant so much to me.
We have seen Marlow's side and what she's been told in NOG, but seeing Caliban's side? Thousands of years of pining, of loss, of love... It was brutal and beautiful in so many ways.
Piper does an amazing job capturing the different pantheons, showing religious shifts across the years, and letting us see it all through the eyes of our favorite demon.
If you've read the NOG series, add it to your list. If you haven't? Add it anyways and start an Assassin's blade style debate on when to read it. It's worth it.
Thanks to Piper CJ for helping me put words to my thoughts and help me overcome my own religious trauma through this series.
The book releases 6/6/(2)6.... Add it to your TBR now 😈❤️🫶
June 7, 2026
A beautifully tragic and romantic prequel follows Caliban, a god whose love for a human soul transcends time itself. Lifetime after lifetime, Caliban finds her. Loving her through every reincarnation no matter how brief their time together. Even when she fears him, rejects him, or worships deities that place them on opposite sides, his devotion never wavers.
Caliban's unwavering love is both heartbreaking and beautiful. Watching it unfold across generations made this story impossible to put down. Piper CJ once again creates a world rich with mythology, emotion, and impossible choices.
If you're a fan of the "I'll find you in every lifetime" and some serious "touch her and die" energy, this story is a must read. A beautiful blend of gods and deities from different cultures and eras. Add in an epic war brewing between Heaven and Hell, and I was completely hooked.
Hell and the Heart is out now, if you haven't started the No Other Gods series yet, consider this your sign. You can start with Hell and the heart, I prefer to read it fourth to really nail to enduring love story home.
June 6, 2026
This book destroyed me. I loved it!! Possibly the most beautiful book I have ever read. The Forward alone gave me goosebumps. It was clear from the very beginning that Piper put YEARS of meticulous research into doing this story justice, being respectful of the ancient cultures she wrote about, and wrote something really extraordinary. I cried myself to sleep after finishing it bc I was so unwell. A story of love, in every form, without pretense or expectation. Just two souls, over centuries of lifetimes, choosing each other over and over. A story of how a Prince of Hell learned the human experience, seeing the world over centuries through the eyes of his Love, as she reincarnates into different lives and experiences and cultures. They discovery together what it means to really live, to really love, and to sacrifice. There is nothing more beautiful than this, and Piper wrote it so tragically beautiful.
Read it and weep…literally 🥹❤️
Read it and weep…literally 🥹❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you rip out my heart and make me stab it myself, it would hurt less than the emotional journey I went on in this book. Piper always throws her all into her writing but there is no doubting this story is special. The religious, mythological, and historical research in this book is enough to rival what you'd get in a classroom. The way she weaves the information drops with a tragic love story is so smooth you forget you're also sort of learning. Marlow and Caliban's history is long and full of scars and I'm so happy she decided to give us a full book just for us to witness it. I know this book is a precursor of the Marlow and Caliban we know in the main NOG series, but, we get more of Hell and Caliban's family which I loved so very much. The Prince of Hell seems so human in the interactions we are shown throughout and while we were shown some characters we already know and love, a few new ones were introduced who I hope we see later.
You will feel a wide range of emotions while reading and make sure to linger on every single heartache, tear, laugh, and gasp. Again, Hell and the Heart is just something extra special. Pls join me as we all say "Thank you Piper"
You will feel a wide range of emotions while reading and make sure to linger on every single heartache, tear, laugh, and gasp. Again, Hell and the Heart is just something extra special. Pls join me as we all say "Thank you Piper"
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶
Format: 💻 kindle 💘 Advanced Reader Copy
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Book # 12 of my 60 book goal for 2026
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Review: Where do I even begin? This book is masterfully written. Heart-achingly beautiful. Devastating and breathtaking. It works as a stand alone but I'd recommend reading it 3rd or 4th, so that it inflicts the most emotional damage, I promise, it's worth it.
Our demon anti-hero is the epitome of love and devotion and his story is worth telling.
I can't imagine another Author successfully pulling all of these pieces together. I'll be holding the pieces of my heart while I (im)patiently wait with baited breath for February 2027 when the final piece is the puzzle is expected! These characters deserve a happily ever after!!
Spice: 🌶
Format: 💻 kindle 💘 Advanced Reader Copy
.
Book # 12 of my 60 book goal for 2026
.
Review: Where do I even begin? This book is masterfully written. Heart-achingly beautiful. Devastating and breathtaking. It works as a stand alone but I'd recommend reading it 3rd or 4th, so that it inflicts the most emotional damage, I promise, it's worth it.
Our demon anti-hero is the epitome of love and devotion and his story is worth telling.
I can't imagine another Author successfully pulling all of these pieces together. I'll be holding the pieces of my heart while I (im)patiently wait with baited breath for February 2027 when the final piece is the puzzle is expected! These characters deserve a happily ever after!!
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