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Luck Gods #1
Girl of Hearts
Four tribes of ruthless demigods rule over luck in our world. Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades. To save her mom, Aggie must join them.
A proud nerd and teen scientist, Aggie doesn't believe in gods or in luck. Her OCD is under control—mostly—and her mom, Rachel, has just finished building a dark matter machine that could win back her job as a physics professor.
When Rachel disappears, Aggie's search brings her to the dangerously handsome Jack of Hearts, a demigod with the power to control luck. Rachel may have been captured by bad luck gods. To save her, Aggie must join Jack and his fellow Valentines. She finds herself whisked into their world of opulent mansions, gorgeous people, and fancy cars.
But being a demigoddess isn't all glamor and popularity. It can be deadly. Aggie must master her newfound luck powers, battle the dark suits, and brave the unlucky underbelly of Detroit, all while keeping her OCD at bay—or risk losing her mom forever.
Girl of Hearts is book 1 of The Luck Gods Series, is a contemporary fantasy series featuring royal intrigue, slow-burn romance, and a mind-bending original magic system based on the four card suits.
A proud nerd and teen scientist, Aggie doesn't believe in gods or in luck. Her OCD is under control—mostly—and her mom, Rachel, has just finished building a dark matter machine that could win back her job as a physics professor.
When Rachel disappears, Aggie's search brings her to the dangerously handsome Jack of Hearts, a demigod with the power to control luck. Rachel may have been captured by bad luck gods. To save her, Aggie must join Jack and his fellow Valentines. She finds herself whisked into their world of opulent mansions, gorgeous people, and fancy cars.
But being a demigoddess isn't all glamor and popularity. It can be deadly. Aggie must master her newfound luck powers, battle the dark suits, and brave the unlucky underbelly of Detroit, all while keeping her OCD at bay—or risk losing her mom forever.
Girl of Hearts is book 1 of The Luck Gods Series, is a contemporary fantasy series featuring royal intrigue, slow-burn romance, and a mind-bending original magic system based on the four card suits.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2022
163 people are currently reading
870 people want to read
About the author
J. Gabriel Gates
15 books217 followersAuthor J. Gabriel Gates is a native of Marshall, Michigan. The son of an English teacher, his passion for the written word began at a young age. During college, another passion – for performing – led him to get his B.A. degree in theater from Florida State University.
During his years in Los Angeles, he appeared in a dozen national TV commercials and penned several screenplays while laying the groundwork for his career as a novelist.
J. Gabriel now lives in Michigan, where he is on the city council of his small town and is the executive director of a prominent arts organization.
His novels include horror novel "The Sleepwalkers," and dystopian sci-fi epic "Blood Zero Sky" as well as the YA fantasy books "Dark Territory: The Tracks Book 1," "Ghost Crown: The Tracks Book 2," "Shadow Train: The Tracks Book 3."
Look for his new urban fantasy novel "Girl of Hearts" coming in June of 2022!
During his years in Los Angeles, he appeared in a dozen national TV commercials and penned several screenplays while laying the groundwork for his career as a novelist.
J. Gabriel now lives in Michigan, where he is on the city council of his small town and is the executive director of a prominent arts organization.
His novels include horror novel "The Sleepwalkers," and dystopian sci-fi epic "Blood Zero Sky" as well as the YA fantasy books "Dark Territory: The Tracks Book 1," "Ghost Crown: The Tracks Book 2," "Shadow Train: The Tracks Book 3."
Look for his new urban fantasy novel "Girl of Hearts" coming in June of 2022!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
October 9, 2024
I loved this book sooooo much. There was a lot of foreshadowing, I knew the "big" twists in the story before they happened and normally that would have ruined the story for me...... but it didn't. I loved every last one of the dysfunctional characters. I adore Molly but I want to thump her in the head. I'm pretty sure I want to strangle beautiful sweet Jilly D but I don't know why. I love sixes mom, but I'd also love to smother her with a pillow. Deuce makes me giggle, he might be my favorite shhhh don't tell Jack. *sigh* Jack is by far the most infuriating, broken, insufferable, kind, loving, wanker I've ever read and I just want to hug him then shake him until his head falls off. Ten........ oooooo that one.... I'd love to have a girls night, watch a movie, gossip, paint each other's nails, and then rip her nails out and feed them to her snarky ass. Finally our MC Aggie I love her soooooo much! She's not this perfect badass that everything just comes naturally to, she is just like any normal teenage girl, she thinks she is ugly, she's full of flaws, and being in her head makes you a tiny bit homicidal.
I cannot wait to read the next book, I feel a tad bit lonely without my new friends. Seriously though which luck God do I need to talk to so I can read book 2 now?
I cannot wait to read the next book, I feel a tad bit lonely without my new friends. Seriously though which luck God do I need to talk to so I can read book 2 now?
June 16, 2022
I received this book as an ARC for my honest review. Where to begin?! First I almost DNFed this book which is very very rare for me. Slow to grab me at first but I continued on. Once I got about 25% in I was hooked! I will never look at a deck of cards the same. Also that ending has me waiting for the next book. The amazing twist on Gods and a deck of cards with the world building will have you wanting more. Several POVs in this book. At times that can be overwhelming at least for me but overall I loved this book.
June 19, 2022
I received a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This urban YA fantasy is not just for fantasy lovers. It’s perfect for readers of all genres! The world and magic system is so unique. You’ll never look at a deck of playing cards the same way! In addition to magic/fantasy, this book deals with mental health issues, grief/loss, found family, and trying to find your place in the world. The characters are really relatable, and nothing is too heavy or complex. It was a really enjoyable read, and I can’t wait for the next book to come out!
June 20, 2024
I read this book as a buddy read with my friend, so I can’t go into too much detail until after we meet up, but I really enjoyed the unique premise. The characters were fun, and I enjoyed it as an audiobook. As always, Paige was amazing!
July 23, 2022
First of all, I want to thank the author for giving me the chance to read this ARC. I am beyond thankful to have stumbled upon this book.
Girl of hearts is an absolutely amazing story.
It has Alice in Wonderland vibes, subtle hints to fandoms like Harry Potter and LOTR.
We have action, we have drama, we have an array of wonderful characters, multiple POV's. Need i say more?
Could I put this book down? NO!
Do I need more of this world? ABSOLUTELY
Now more about the story:
Aggie is a junior in high school. She and her mom like to tinker on science projects in their basement.
When one experiment doesn't exactly go according to plan, Aggie and her mom are thrown into a world that she - as a scientist - believed to be fiction.
What happens when good luck and bad luck appear to be two sides of the same coin?
Aggie is thrust into a war of luck gods and her mom has disapeared.
Learning more about her new world and seeing all these new variables, has her form new hypotheses which make her question her reality and this new life she enters.
In desperate search of her mom, Aggie meets Jack and Duece. Two luck gods of the 'Valentines', a suit that has power over good luck energy. She has to join them and train while staying out of the hands of the Blackovers, the suit that has power over bad luck energy.
She must now become one of the luck gods and use her newfound powers to rescue her mom.
Doing this and keeping her OCD under control proves to be a difficult battle throughout the book.
Join Aggie, Jack, Deuce and all the other characters during their fantastic adventure. I loved them and I know you will too!
Want to know what happens? GO READ THE BOOK!
Girl of hearts is an absolutely amazing story.
It has Alice in Wonderland vibes, subtle hints to fandoms like Harry Potter and LOTR.
We have action, we have drama, we have an array of wonderful characters, multiple POV's. Need i say more?
Could I put this book down? NO!
Do I need more of this world? ABSOLUTELY
Now more about the story:
Aggie is a junior in high school. She and her mom like to tinker on science projects in their basement.
When one experiment doesn't exactly go according to plan, Aggie and her mom are thrown into a world that she - as a scientist - believed to be fiction.
What happens when good luck and bad luck appear to be two sides of the same coin?
Aggie is thrust into a war of luck gods and her mom has disapeared.
Learning more about her new world and seeing all these new variables, has her form new hypotheses which make her question her reality and this new life she enters.
In desperate search of her mom, Aggie meets Jack and Duece. Two luck gods of the 'Valentines', a suit that has power over good luck energy. She has to join them and train while staying out of the hands of the Blackovers, the suit that has power over bad luck energy.
She must now become one of the luck gods and use her newfound powers to rescue her mom.
Doing this and keeping her OCD under control proves to be a difficult battle throughout the book.
Join Aggie, Jack, Deuce and all the other characters during their fantastic adventure. I loved them and I know you will too!
Want to know what happens? GO READ THE BOOK!
November 2, 2022
Interesting take on luck magic
Suits of cards are almost like gangs
I didn’t really buy into the love component of this book but the world building was good.
Gifted audio
Suits of cards are almost like gangs
I didn’t really buy into the love component of this book but the world building was good.
Gifted audio
July 26, 2022
I pre ordered book 2 before even finishing the first book! It’s that good. Then proceeded to devour the book in less than 24hrs. Didn’t get much sleep…
This story follows a 16 year old girl and her mom. They get immersed into a part of their world that they didn’t know existed.
The four families - suits - are luck gods and it’s all about balancing the bad luck with the good luck.
This book has magic, demigods, sassy characters, learning to deal with loss, action, oh and leprechauns!
I’m in love with this author’s writing now and can’t wait for the next book. He has a novella attached to this series that I also devoured. I highly recommend this book!
This story follows a 16 year old girl and her mom. They get immersed into a part of their world that they didn’t know existed.
The four families - suits - are luck gods and it’s all about balancing the bad luck with the good luck.
This book has magic, demigods, sassy characters, learning to deal with loss, action, oh and leprechauns!
I’m in love with this author’s writing now and can’t wait for the next book. He has a novella attached to this series that I also devoured. I highly recommend this book!
June 20, 2022
Great series starter! This is a new author for me and I am impressed! Great writing. Great flow. The story is themed on the card suits being real people! So each card and suit has a person to match it of course the reds and blacks are enemies and fight for power. They call themselves Luck Gods and they control all the good and bad luck in the world. Count yourself lucky and grab this new release! Fast paced and great world building. ♣️🃏❤️♦️♠️✨️
June 22, 2024
This book was amazing. I could hardly put it down. I kept wanting to read more to find out what was going to happen. The magic system was super unique, the characters were amazing, and the plot had me guessing throughout. I am super excited to continue reading this series.
July 12, 2022
This book is a roller coaster of "WHAT THE FUCK" and I loved it. There were places where the pacing was slightly off but it wasn't often. J wrote an amazing book, and I'm so glad I got to read it!!! ❤️
January 3, 2024
A supernatural read
The book was decent. Well paced, but lacking in feeling. Didn't love the characters, and felt like the story would have been better served in 3rd person. That being said, had good twists, a fantastic magic system, and believable circumstances. Would read the next book and recommend this one to most young women in their teens.
The book was decent. Well paced, but lacking in feeling. Didn't love the characters, and felt like the story would have been better served in 3rd person. That being said, had good twists, a fantastic magic system, and believable circumstances. Would read the next book and recommend this one to most young women in their teens.
July 22, 2024
TL;DR Review: A fun, fresh, and fast-paced urban fantasy with neurodivergent representation done right.
Full Review:
Girl of Hearts takes us for one heck of a ride into the world of the Luck Gods, mortal beings given the powers over either good or bad luck.
The story is told through the perspective of Aggie, a brilliant science-minded high schooler who is working with her mom to develop some dark matter machine. When things inevitably go awry, the results are…infinitesimal at first, but quickly grow and draw her into an adventure with some truly insane-sounding people—including a very handsome “luck god”, Jack Valentine.
Aggie is soon swept up into the world of the luck gods, where each of the suits has a different ability—Hearts have power over romance, Diamonds have power over money and business, Clubs have power over war and violence, and Spades have power over death and disease. An ages-old war between the suits has continually decimated their ranks and kept them at odds. So it’s no surprise when Aggie, who draws the attention of the Hearts, finds herself hounded and attacked by Clubs.
I found this to be an absolutely delightful and wonderfully unique flavor of urban fantasy. The use of the card suits was something I’ve never read before, and it made for a very fun and fresh story.
There’s action and magic aplenty, some great characters of all shapes and sizes around Aggie, and enough intrigue to definitely keep me reading chapter after chapter (I devoured it in two sittings).
One of my favorite parts is the way neurodivergence is treated. Aggie has developed OCD following the death of her father, and from the beginning, you see how it controls every aspect of her life. It’s her safety mechanism to help her cope with the anxieties and uncertainties of a life filled with good and bad luck.
Inevitably, it’s something that will stop her from making full use of her abilities, and may even get in the way of her saving those she loves. So we follow along on her journey through understanding and coming to terms with her OCD, and channeling the feelings that have caused it to develop into something more productive. It doesn’t give a simple “wave your hand and it’s done” solution for OCD, doesn’t magic it away, but walks Aggie through her struggle with the disorder and finding an equilibrium with it.
Though the character was young, the story never strayed into YA territory, but kept up the danger and action all the way from start to its epic finish. Her development of combat abilities felt a bit rushed—she’s never held a weapon in her life in the beginning, and by the end, she’s dueling with swords and daggers—but it wasn’t done to an excessive degree.
All in all, Girl of Hearts was an excellent urban fantasy adventure that definitely sank its hooks into me and has me wanting to dive back in and read the rest of the series to see how it all plays out. The book ended with some excellent mysteries and promises that have me needed to see what comes next.
Full Review:
Girl of Hearts takes us for one heck of a ride into the world of the Luck Gods, mortal beings given the powers over either good or bad luck.
The story is told through the perspective of Aggie, a brilliant science-minded high schooler who is working with her mom to develop some dark matter machine. When things inevitably go awry, the results are…infinitesimal at first, but quickly grow and draw her into an adventure with some truly insane-sounding people—including a very handsome “luck god”, Jack Valentine.
Aggie is soon swept up into the world of the luck gods, where each of the suits has a different ability—Hearts have power over romance, Diamonds have power over money and business, Clubs have power over war and violence, and Spades have power over death and disease. An ages-old war between the suits has continually decimated their ranks and kept them at odds. So it’s no surprise when Aggie, who draws the attention of the Hearts, finds herself hounded and attacked by Clubs.
I found this to be an absolutely delightful and wonderfully unique flavor of urban fantasy. The use of the card suits was something I’ve never read before, and it made for a very fun and fresh story.
There’s action and magic aplenty, some great characters of all shapes and sizes around Aggie, and enough intrigue to definitely keep me reading chapter after chapter (I devoured it in two sittings).
One of my favorite parts is the way neurodivergence is treated. Aggie has developed OCD following the death of her father, and from the beginning, you see how it controls every aspect of her life. It’s her safety mechanism to help her cope with the anxieties and uncertainties of a life filled with good and bad luck.
Inevitably, it’s something that will stop her from making full use of her abilities, and may even get in the way of her saving those she loves. So we follow along on her journey through understanding and coming to terms with her OCD, and channeling the feelings that have caused it to develop into something more productive. It doesn’t give a simple “wave your hand and it’s done” solution for OCD, doesn’t magic it away, but walks Aggie through her struggle with the disorder and finding an equilibrium with it.
Though the character was young, the story never strayed into YA territory, but kept up the danger and action all the way from start to its epic finish. Her development of combat abilities felt a bit rushed—she’s never held a weapon in her life in the beginning, and by the end, she’s dueling with swords and daggers—but it wasn’t done to an excessive degree.
All in all, Girl of Hearts was an excellent urban fantasy adventure that definitely sank its hooks into me and has me wanting to dive back in and read the rest of the series to see how it all plays out. The book ended with some excellent mysteries and promises that have me needed to see what comes next.
June 30, 2022
Brilliantly crafted, superbly written
I’m very careful with the books I rate 5 stars because so many factors come into play to make the perfect book for me.
Firstly, the story itself was great. It was engaging, immersive, and well-structured. The characters were real, rounded and relatable. The world and magic systems were carefully thought out and blended beautifully into the setting (place, time, and mood) in a TRULY natural way. For me, this is what urban fantasy should read like, and it isn’t even one of my favourite genres!
I’m biased when it comes to POV, because a lot of books I read don’t do justice to the 1st person viewpoint. They pick the wrong POV character, include things that would not naturally be in the character’s viewpoint, or leave things out when they should be included. Somehow, Gates made the 1st person POV flow so naturally that I found myself almost looking forward to seeing into Aggie’s mind. I mean, I loved Jack, and I adore Deuce, and even Marley (with my least favourite, surprisingly, being Rachel’s), but Aggies mind!!! Which segues nicely into my next point!
Aggie’s mind!
To capture the essence of such an intelligent character, this author used pop references like a charm. Pun intended. It felt real. Natural. And these lines of symmetry made the story even more vivid for me. It also depicted mental health in such a magical but wholesome and realistic way.
And Molly… bless her. Every girl needs a friend like Molly.
Aside from the characters, I loved the setting. At first, I thought some of the pop culture references would really limit the relatability in sense of the timing, but as the story went on, I realised it was the intention. This story would transition smoothly from an Urban fantasy to a historical fantasy with the passage of time.
What else did I like?
The narrative style. I think, for me, style is the 5 star ticket. The elements of witty banter, fused with a stunning command of words, had me hooked from chapter 1.
This book stirred both my mind and emotions, and feeling that emotional connection to the characters… “23 North” had me sobbing. Two words. Two. Words. That was all it took to break me down.
Themes, plots, subplots… I could go on for days, but I’ll stop here. All in all. It was a fantastic read. A book of substance that deserves a place on my shelf, and completely, hands down, earned my 5 stars. Can’t wait for the next book.
Oh, and, “Hey, your shoe is untied.”
I’m very careful with the books I rate 5 stars because so many factors come into play to make the perfect book for me.
Firstly, the story itself was great. It was engaging, immersive, and well-structured. The characters were real, rounded and relatable. The world and magic systems were carefully thought out and blended beautifully into the setting (place, time, and mood) in a TRULY natural way. For me, this is what urban fantasy should read like, and it isn’t even one of my favourite genres!
I’m biased when it comes to POV, because a lot of books I read don’t do justice to the 1st person viewpoint. They pick the wrong POV character, include things that would not naturally be in the character’s viewpoint, or leave things out when they should be included. Somehow, Gates made the 1st person POV flow so naturally that I found myself almost looking forward to seeing into Aggie’s mind. I mean, I loved Jack, and I adore Deuce, and even Marley (with my least favourite, surprisingly, being Rachel’s), but Aggies mind!!! Which segues nicely into my next point!
Aggie’s mind!
To capture the essence of such an intelligent character, this author used pop references like a charm. Pun intended. It felt real. Natural. And these lines of symmetry made the story even more vivid for me. It also depicted mental health in such a magical but wholesome and realistic way.
And Molly… bless her. Every girl needs a friend like Molly.
Aside from the characters, I loved the setting. At first, I thought some of the pop culture references would really limit the relatability in sense of the timing, but as the story went on, I realised it was the intention. This story would transition smoothly from an Urban fantasy to a historical fantasy with the passage of time.
What else did I like?
The narrative style. I think, for me, style is the 5 star ticket. The elements of witty banter, fused with a stunning command of words, had me hooked from chapter 1.
This book stirred both my mind and emotions, and feeling that emotional connection to the characters… “23 North” had me sobbing. Two words. Two. Words. That was all it took to break me down.
Themes, plots, subplots… I could go on for days, but I’ll stop here. All in all. It was a fantastic read. A book of substance that deserves a place on my shelf, and completely, hands down, earned my 5 stars. Can’t wait for the next book.
Oh, and, “Hey, your shoe is untied.”
August 30, 2022
4.5 stars.
This story was fun! I’d call it an urban fantasy for the most part, but I think that anyone who likes superhero books, mafia wars, or folklore would also find something they’d like here.
The story is told in multiple POV format, but the main character is Aggie, a 16-year old high schooler and aspiring scientist. Her mother is a former physics professor who lost her job due to drinking after the death of Aggie’s father. The story starts with the two of them building an invention in their basement, which they hope will impress Aggie’s mother’s former bosses enough to get her job at the university back.
When they test out this machine, they are hit by a shockwave. Aggie suddenly finds herself surrounded by good fortune, while Aggie’s mother disappears after going to a casino to cheat at poker. Assuming that her mother has been kidnapped, Aggie heads to the casino to cheat her way into enough money to buy her mother’s freedom.
Along the way, Aggie gets pulled into the world of the Luck Gods—both good and bad. She also meets mythical characters like Leprechauns and Sprites. It’s fast paced fight scenes in a war between the gods, with plotting and backstabbing.
I liked the way that the Luck Gods were very mafia-like with the different families at war. They even had card names, like Deuce, Cinco, Jack, Ace, etc. I think Deuce is my favorite. I also liked the glowing cards on their palms, and the repeated imagery of hearts, spades, clubs, and diamonds. The way that huge battles happened with ordinary people witnessing sort of gave it a superhero story kind of vibe, as opposed to a typical urban fantasy where keeping the magic community a secret is a top priority.
The very beginning of the story was a bit implausible. A disgraced physicist and her teenage daughter built a dark matter separator in their basement and it worked? Ummm… ok, I guess? 🤷♀️ Sometimes the descriptions also felt a bit odd, kind of pretentious, like “militant genuflection” or “eponymic slope.” Descriptions like that were kind of sprinkled in here and there and felt out of place with the rest of the writing.
Overall it was a good story, and I plan to keep reading the rest of the series.
This story was fun! I’d call it an urban fantasy for the most part, but I think that anyone who likes superhero books, mafia wars, or folklore would also find something they’d like here.
The story is told in multiple POV format, but the main character is Aggie, a 16-year old high schooler and aspiring scientist. Her mother is a former physics professor who lost her job due to drinking after the death of Aggie’s father. The story starts with the two of them building an invention in their basement, which they hope will impress Aggie’s mother’s former bosses enough to get her job at the university back.
When they test out this machine, they are hit by a shockwave. Aggie suddenly finds herself surrounded by good fortune, while Aggie’s mother disappears after going to a casino to cheat at poker. Assuming that her mother has been kidnapped, Aggie heads to the casino to cheat her way into enough money to buy her mother’s freedom.
Along the way, Aggie gets pulled into the world of the Luck Gods—both good and bad. She also meets mythical characters like Leprechauns and Sprites. It’s fast paced fight scenes in a war between the gods, with plotting and backstabbing.
I liked the way that the Luck Gods were very mafia-like with the different families at war. They even had card names, like Deuce, Cinco, Jack, Ace, etc. I think Deuce is my favorite. I also liked the glowing cards on their palms, and the repeated imagery of hearts, spades, clubs, and diamonds. The way that huge battles happened with ordinary people witnessing sort of gave it a superhero story kind of vibe, as opposed to a typical urban fantasy where keeping the magic community a secret is a top priority.
The very beginning of the story was a bit implausible. A disgraced physicist and her teenage daughter built a dark matter separator in their basement and it worked? Ummm… ok, I guess? 🤷♀️ Sometimes the descriptions also felt a bit odd, kind of pretentious, like “militant genuflection” or “eponymic slope.” Descriptions like that were kind of sprinkled in here and there and felt out of place with the rest of the writing.
Overall it was a good story, and I plan to keep reading the rest of the series.
June 11, 2024
The book was excellent:
I loved the reluctant hero, Aggie, who is written so consistently as an OCD character. The Magic/ Luck System and world where playing cards became demigod gangs was inspired, creative, and just plain cool. I especially love how the luck magic is explained as using probability to their advantage. Brillant! I loved all the characters. All the characters are so well thought out. I love Gates style of writing. I found it extremely easy to follow and engaging. The build up was fantastic and overall he is just a master at telling stories, which can be seen in the pages of this novel.
The book gave me a lot of things to think about and ponder, as far as what is luck and does it exist, etc.
My only complaint would be that there are two instances of underage drinking, which I felt were not necessary to have included and not only is she coerced into drinking against her will but she states valid reasons- her moms alcoholism- as why- but this is disregarded. When writing ya material- I think its important to not encourage children to go against the law and definitely not for the heroine to give into peer pressure just to see a leprocon-- which could have been written differently or aged the character up.
I am also wondering how old Jack of Hearts is? As an object of lust from the 16 year old...the same guy was thought to having an affair with The Queen of Hearts....so how old is he? Idk.
I listened to the audiobook: Here is my review of the audiobook: Paige Reisenfeld- voice narrator; but I’d call her a voice actress. Because she puts on quiet the performance in Girl of Hearts by Gabriel Gates.
Seemlessly and consistently uses over fifty unique voices in this book. My favorite was the accent she did for the Obsidian. Next was probably Jack of Clubs. The audiobook is so well performed with emotions- sadness, fear, humor, and anger. Now, the first chapter with Aggie’s voice hit me as an annoying teenager, but then that voice- I’m not sure if it was different or the writing was different, or if it just took me a chapter to acclimate to a new book, but then after the first chapter, the rest flowed and I didn’t want to stop listening to it.
Outstanding Performance.
July 8, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗝. 𝗚𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀
𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
♥️YA Book
♣️Fast-paced
♠️Adventure
♦️Supernatural
♥️Teen romance
♣️Neuro-diverse (OCD/ADHD) representation
𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
16 y/o Aggie will do anything to save her mother - even if that means committing to being a Goddess.
Aggie is your typical science nerd girl, she loves her routines, science projects and acing all things tests and exams. So when her mother disappears, she is forced out of her routine and stable life into a world of chaos - where her odds are up to chance.
The funny thing is though, she's become a luck-god and chance is up to her.
❤️🔥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 ❤️🔥
Oh my wow - I absolutely loved the premise of this novel! It was so much fun, fast-paced, we had this super sweet and quirky MC, who was a total gem!
I loved the Neuro-diverse (ADHD/OCD) representation of the MC and how beautifully and honestly it was written about. All the characters in the novel are so diverse and complex that even with the MC's in or out of the story - the other characters continue such a rich and vibrant dynamic! Bravo!
The idea of Luck-gods is such a cool concept, that lucky individuals possess more charm and power. (I really don't want to go into too much detail about the Luck Gods because it is such a joy to read!)
𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 - 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆...??? After reading this, sign me up as a valentine Luck God!
Take a chance on this one! I'm sure you'll be just as charmed as I am,
Stay safe and keep on reading,
Ellie ❤️🔥
𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗝. 𝗚𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀
𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
♥️YA Book
♣️Fast-paced
♠️Adventure
♦️Supernatural
♥️Teen romance
♣️Neuro-diverse (OCD/ADHD) representation
𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
16 y/o Aggie will do anything to save her mother - even if that means committing to being a Goddess.
Aggie is your typical science nerd girl, she loves her routines, science projects and acing all things tests and exams. So when her mother disappears, she is forced out of her routine and stable life into a world of chaos - where her odds are up to chance.
The funny thing is though, she's become a luck-god and chance is up to her.
❤️🔥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 ❤️🔥
Oh my wow - I absolutely loved the premise of this novel! It was so much fun, fast-paced, we had this super sweet and quirky MC, who was a total gem!
I loved the Neuro-diverse (ADHD/OCD) representation of the MC and how beautifully and honestly it was written about. All the characters in the novel are so diverse and complex that even with the MC's in or out of the story - the other characters continue such a rich and vibrant dynamic! Bravo!
The idea of Luck-gods is such a cool concept, that lucky individuals possess more charm and power. (I really don't want to go into too much detail about the Luck Gods because it is such a joy to read!)
𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 - 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆...??? After reading this, sign me up as a valentine Luck God!
Take a chance on this one! I'm sure you'll be just as charmed as I am,
Stay safe and keep on reading,
Ellie ❤️🔥
June 21, 2022
Ratings 3.5 stars
*I received an ARC from the author for my voluntary and honest review.
Aggie wakes up one more a normal teenager. Well as normal as a girl can be with OCD and the know-how to build a machine with her scientist mother to study Dark Matter. She follows science and doesn't believe in luck or gods. Upon turning on the machine Aggie and her mother are struck by a blastwave from a glitch in the system. Unknown to Aggie, she is now imbued with charm and good luck and her mother receives bad luck energy. That night however her mom goes missing and in an effort to find her, Aggie is thrown into a world she never would have believed existed. A world where she has become a luck goddess. And she will do whatever it takes to find her mom.
To start I will just say that I found the beginning of the book a little hard to get through. There was a lot of character introductions and building as well as world building that just felt like I had to push through it. That being said, when it was more established the world and story just started to flow. Aggie is very resilient and I enjoyed seeing her bloom and I feel like she's just going to get stronger as the series progresses. I enjoyed this book a lot and am looking forward to the next one in the series. Although given the title I am a little worried for poor Aggie.
*I received an ARC from the author for my voluntary and honest review.
Aggie wakes up one more a normal teenager. Well as normal as a girl can be with OCD and the know-how to build a machine with her scientist mother to study Dark Matter. She follows science and doesn't believe in luck or gods. Upon turning on the machine Aggie and her mother are struck by a blastwave from a glitch in the system. Unknown to Aggie, she is now imbued with charm and good luck and her mother receives bad luck energy. That night however her mom goes missing and in an effort to find her, Aggie is thrown into a world she never would have believed existed. A world where she has become a luck goddess. And she will do whatever it takes to find her mom.
To start I will just say that I found the beginning of the book a little hard to get through. There was a lot of character introductions and building as well as world building that just felt like I had to push through it. That being said, when it was more established the world and story just started to flow. Aggie is very resilient and I enjoyed seeing her bloom and I feel like she's just going to get stronger as the series progresses. I enjoyed this book a lot and am looking forward to the next one in the series. Although given the title I am a little worried for poor Aggie.
December 26, 2025
I was able to read Thief and the Lucky Boy, a short novella tied to Gates' Luck God series. It intrigued my interest enough that I had to check them out.
The Luck God series is a contemporary paranormal fantasy set in 21st century Detroit. Each "house of demi-gods" are represented by the four suits of a normal playing deck. Each member is given a rank (face value of a card in the suit) based on experience and abilities.
Aggie, the FMC, just happens to get mixed up with a couple of suits trying to win money at the casino to pay for their house and hopefully find information about her missing mother. Saving a couple with heart tattoos on their hands from certain death by the hands of the "spades", she proves herself and is given the rank of 6. Oh, and she is still in high school. The luck that follows her changes her position at school and as she learns how to control her luck-giving (both bad and good luck) abilities, she ends up climbing the ranks of the suit.
Battling her own insecurities and OCD tendencies, a boyfriend that has a hidden agenda, her mother still missing and possibly being brought into a rival suit, this book is full of suspense and turns. While some turns you can see coming, the outcome is not what you would expect. It is a great urban fantasy series that will keep you reading.
The Luck God series is a contemporary paranormal fantasy set in 21st century Detroit. Each "house of demi-gods" are represented by the four suits of a normal playing deck. Each member is given a rank (face value of a card in the suit) based on experience and abilities.
Aggie, the FMC, just happens to get mixed up with a couple of suits trying to win money at the casino to pay for their house and hopefully find information about her missing mother. Saving a couple with heart tattoos on their hands from certain death by the hands of the "spades", she proves herself and is given the rank of 6. Oh, and she is still in high school. The luck that follows her changes her position at school and as she learns how to control her luck-giving (both bad and good luck) abilities, she ends up climbing the ranks of the suit.
Battling her own insecurities and OCD tendencies, a boyfriend that has a hidden agenda, her mother still missing and possibly being brought into a rival suit, this book is full of suspense and turns. While some turns you can see coming, the outcome is not what you would expect. It is a great urban fantasy series that will keep you reading.
April 24, 2022
I am beyond thankful to have received an ARC of this book. This was the first book from this author I have ever read and I am immediately an instant number one fan. I typically do not read a lot of YA fantasy now that I’m in my 30s because sometimes the characters are not relatable but I absolutely loved and adored this book. This book was everything I could want from any fantasy. This made me feel and reminded me of the excitement I had reading Harry Potter when I was a child. Gates has created a wonderful cast of characters m, especially with Aggie and her own mental challenges which made it so much more relatable. The world and magic with the luck gods has sparked me to learn more about the other suits, how the other suits operate, what is to come of Morbus? What is to come of Aggie? What about Jack and Aggie? What does the Ace of Hearts have in store for Aggie? So many questions. There are so many possibilities that he can explore and grow this series. Gates is obviously a veteran writer and it shows is his writing style - not so fast and to the point that you get whiplash and not so slow that you forget what is going on. I truly cannot say enough good words about this. I’m obsessed and cannot wait for the next installment.
June 23, 2022
I got the ARC of this in exchange for my honest review.
I am really gonna be honest here, if it wasn't for the fact that I was an arc reader I probably wouldn't have continued this book after chapter 5. But at the same time I'm glad i pushed on. The world build and new magic was really impressive I loved the idea of Luck gods and the four suits of cards and how they each work together. The concept was amazing. What bother me at the beginning was the multiple POVs. Normally I love when there is a chance to see all side of the story however I struggled with the placements of these chapters in other POVs. Sometimes it switched what felt like randomly for a small part that didn't see super important to continue the story along. It got better after the first 25% and I appreciate that. It made it not feel overwhelming to follow the story and it didn't feel like I was reading 7 different story's because sometimes even the world's felt different. After that though I really enjoyed the story I enjoyed how your got to slowly learn about the magical world with the character and the plots twists were amazing. All I would still recommend this book and for future writing of the author maybe just pull back a little on the POVs.
I am really gonna be honest here, if it wasn't for the fact that I was an arc reader I probably wouldn't have continued this book after chapter 5. But at the same time I'm glad i pushed on. The world build and new magic was really impressive I loved the idea of Luck gods and the four suits of cards and how they each work together. The concept was amazing. What bother me at the beginning was the multiple POVs. Normally I love when there is a chance to see all side of the story however I struggled with the placements of these chapters in other POVs. Sometimes it switched what felt like randomly for a small part that didn't see super important to continue the story along. It got better after the first 25% and I appreciate that. It made it not feel overwhelming to follow the story and it didn't feel like I was reading 7 different story's because sometimes even the world's felt different. After that though I really enjoyed the story I enjoyed how your got to slowly learn about the magical world with the character and the plots twists were amazing. All I would still recommend this book and for future writing of the author maybe just pull back a little on the POVs.
June 14, 2022
I received an advanced reader copy of this book in return for my honest opinion. Thank you to J Gabriel Gates for giving me the opportunity to read Girl Of Hearts before its release.
Girl of Hearts follows Aggie, a teenage girl with OCD whose mother has recently been fired due to her alcoholism. When her mother goes missing she finds herself thrust into the world between Valentine’s, Blackover’s, Diamante’s and Spades’.
I absolutely loved the concept of this; abilities to alter a person’s luck. Like Aggie I was sceptical at first, but it honestly worked so well and I loved the action within the book.
This book does not shy away from conflict between characters, and I loved it, the twists and turns as people double crossed and manipulated each other, I was kept on my toes throughout the story and I honestly didn’t anticipate several of the events.
I loved the characters Aggie, Jack, Deuce and Lorcan, I found their interactions with each other to be great and I really grew to love each of them.
I will definitely be reading the second book when it releases, and I’ll be downloading the novella ASAP.
Girl of Hearts follows Aggie, a teenage girl with OCD whose mother has recently been fired due to her alcoholism. When her mother goes missing she finds herself thrust into the world between Valentine’s, Blackover’s, Diamante’s and Spades’.
I absolutely loved the concept of this; abilities to alter a person’s luck. Like Aggie I was sceptical at first, but it honestly worked so well and I loved the action within the book.
This book does not shy away from conflict between characters, and I loved it, the twists and turns as people double crossed and manipulated each other, I was kept on my toes throughout the story and I honestly didn’t anticipate several of the events.
I loved the characters Aggie, Jack, Deuce and Lorcan, I found their interactions with each other to be great and I really grew to love each of them.
I will definitely be reading the second book when it releases, and I’ll be downloading the novella ASAP.
September 24, 2023
First, let me say that this cover is gorgeous!
I don't read a lot of YA books because it seems like the same story is regurgitated over and over. That's just my opinion. However, the premise for this one sounded fresh and unique so I decided to give it a shot.
Ever since the death of her father, Aggie's life has been a mess. Her mom went into a downward spiral of drinking and lost her job, and now they are about to lose their home. Her mom has been working on a dark matter machine, and if she can get it to work, she could get her job back and keep the house.
Then her mom disappears. Aggie goes looking for her and instead finds the Jack of Hearts. He says he's a demigod with the power to control luck and that maybe one of the other suits took her mom.
Thrust into an unbelievable world of luck, demigods and magic, Aggie will do anything to get her mom back.
I really enjoyed this! It is indeed fresh and unique. A main character with OCD, luck magic and a found family element. And the ending left me wanting more. I will definitely continue the series.
I don't read a lot of YA books because it seems like the same story is regurgitated over and over. That's just my opinion. However, the premise for this one sounded fresh and unique so I decided to give it a shot.
Ever since the death of her father, Aggie's life has been a mess. Her mom went into a downward spiral of drinking and lost her job, and now they are about to lose their home. Her mom has been working on a dark matter machine, and if she can get it to work, she could get her job back and keep the house.
Then her mom disappears. Aggie goes looking for her and instead finds the Jack of Hearts. He says he's a demigod with the power to control luck and that maybe one of the other suits took her mom.
Thrust into an unbelievable world of luck, demigods and magic, Aggie will do anything to get her mom back.
I really enjoyed this! It is indeed fresh and unique. A main character with OCD, luck magic and a found family element. And the ending left me wanting more. I will definitely continue the series.
September 7, 2024
As a preface, I read the whole series before submitting my reviews:
Wow, this was a great first installment. It is a YA urban fantasy with a unique and intriguing magic system based of the four suits of a playing card deck. The story revolves around Agatha Van der Graaf known as "Aggie" and her mom Rachel and how they accidentally immerse themselves into the world of the Luck Gods. What would you do if your mom disappeared after a freak physics dark matter machine accident happened while you now apparently have a natural charm and innate luck. Then you are thrown into a ploy where you have a morally gray attractive male that is the Jacks of Hearts (and a possible love interest), you are immersed into the Hearts, thrown into battle and mayhem and possible demons while you are plagued by your OCD and anxiety...How does a 16 year-old overcome all of this? Read on to figure it out!
This first book is a complete story on its own, but best believe, it is only the tip of the iceberg, the rest of the books are even better in my opinion.
Wow, this was a great first installment. It is a YA urban fantasy with a unique and intriguing magic system based of the four suits of a playing card deck. The story revolves around Agatha Van der Graaf known as "Aggie" and her mom Rachel and how they accidentally immerse themselves into the world of the Luck Gods. What would you do if your mom disappeared after a freak physics dark matter machine accident happened while you now apparently have a natural charm and innate luck. Then you are thrown into a ploy where you have a morally gray attractive male that is the Jacks of Hearts (and a possible love interest), you are immersed into the Hearts, thrown into battle and mayhem and possible demons while you are plagued by your OCD and anxiety...How does a 16 year-old overcome all of this? Read on to figure it out!
This first book is a complete story on its own, but best believe, it is only the tip of the iceberg, the rest of the books are even better in my opinion.
June 22, 2022
A quirky take on Urban Fantasy – one for us nerds!
I read “The Thief and the Lucky Boy” the other day so was prepared for a more in-depth look into gods as mafia-style families right in the midst of modern-day humanity. Quite a fresh take on deities and the some of the character join us in GoH.
There was some great wordplay:
I had none of Dad’s skill in manual (womanual) labor.
“Man-” means ‘with hands’ rather than ‘male’ (e.g. manual drive as opposed to automatic), but sill witty.
The multiple POV’s kept the suspense going without running through too quickly by using only one. The author gives readers time to get to know the characters and how each fits into this world.
The author also throw in quite a few IRL references, like ‘I had no bed or bath now—only beyond.’ Literary and cinematic, as well. Kinda felt like reading ‘Ready, Player One’!
The reader even gets treated to a ball game…
Ready for the next one!
I read “The Thief and the Lucky Boy” the other day so was prepared for a more in-depth look into gods as mafia-style families right in the midst of modern-day humanity. Quite a fresh take on deities and the some of the character join us in GoH.
There was some great wordplay:
I had none of Dad’s skill in manual (womanual) labor.
“Man-” means ‘with hands’ rather than ‘male’ (e.g. manual drive as opposed to automatic), but sill witty.
The multiple POV’s kept the suspense going without running through too quickly by using only one. The author gives readers time to get to know the characters and how each fits into this world.
The author also throw in quite a few IRL references, like ‘I had no bed or bath now—only beyond.’ Literary and cinematic, as well. Kinda felt like reading ‘Ready, Player One’!
The reader even gets treated to a ball game…
Ready for the next one!
April 12, 2024
This was my first time reading a book by J. Gabriel Gates. I saw the Girl of Hearts on Book Tok and the cover grabbed my attention. I must admit it wasn’t at all what I had expected and it took me awhile to get into it. I am not much into science and it was a little over my head at first. lol. However the book drew me in against my will the more I continued to read it! The book took place in real life and fantasy, so it reminded me a little bit like being in a Marvel movie. So if you’re into Marvel , cards, and a lot of action this book is for you!! I did love some of the characters Aggie, Molly, Jack and Deuce. I feel bad for Aggie with the situation with her mom!! However there wouldn’t be another book to the series Mother of Spades!! How it left off , I can’t wait to continue the series!!!
June 21, 2022
Aggie finds herself erring on the side of luck; luck that she hopes will lead her to her missed mother. When Aggie discovers that an entire network exists of those with the ability to control luck, she hopes that aligning with them will bring her closer to her mother. But with the good must be the bad…how will luck fare for Aggie?
This book gripped me from the beginning. The magic system is unique, and the characters are well-developed. The pacing was steady and grew to a rapid level as I made my way through. I just couldn’t put it down.
For anyone looking for an exciting, new YA series, this is a fantastic read. Highly recommended!
Special thanks to the author for the ARC. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.
This book gripped me from the beginning. The magic system is unique, and the characters are well-developed. The pacing was steady and grew to a rapid level as I made my way through. I just couldn’t put it down.
For anyone looking for an exciting, new YA series, this is a fantastic read. Highly recommended!
Special thanks to the author for the ARC. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.
October 25, 2022
I’ll never think about card suits the same way again.
Love it! Saw this book on #booktok and thought I’ll give it a try. Great story, loved the characters and writing style. The author did a good job of world building without taking the entire book to build the world, before getting into the action. Aggie is deeply relatable, and the cast of characters are layered and intriguing. You can’t help but fall for Jack’s charm and wishing that you could have a buddy like Deuce. Can’t wait to see what happens next. Honestly couldn’t put it down. I think this book would be great for any young adult readers looking to get into fantasy. But also as an adult fantasy lover, it a good book.
Love it! Saw this book on #booktok and thought I’ll give it a try. Great story, loved the characters and writing style. The author did a good job of world building without taking the entire book to build the world, before getting into the action. Aggie is deeply relatable, and the cast of characters are layered and intriguing. You can’t help but fall for Jack’s charm and wishing that you could have a buddy like Deuce. Can’t wait to see what happens next. Honestly couldn’t put it down. I think this book would be great for any young adult readers looking to get into fantasy. But also as an adult fantasy lover, it a good book.
April 13, 2022
I want to thank the Author for sending me an ARC copy, I just started getting into ARC reading and it’s been a great experience
Personally, the book just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t push my way through it, the beginning was slow and overly detailed in a way that mentions somewhat unimportant information. When it got into the magic system and foundation of the book I just couldn’t continue. The idea was there and I’m sure it’ll strike many other peoples fancy but I didn’t find it very intriguing.
I do love the representation and the main character seems very lovable, so if you like disability representation and alive in wonderland vibes than I highly suggest this book for you
Personally, the book just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t push my way through it, the beginning was slow and overly detailed in a way that mentions somewhat unimportant information. When it got into the magic system and foundation of the book I just couldn’t continue. The idea was there and I’m sure it’ll strike many other peoples fancy but I didn’t find it very intriguing.
I do love the representation and the main character seems very lovable, so if you like disability representation and alive in wonderland vibes than I highly suggest this book for you
May 4, 2022
I want to thank the author for the opportunity to read this ARC copy before it goes public!
Being one of my first ever ARC reads I'm very excited this is the book that chose me to do this! It was adventurous, sad, happy, exciting. I felt every emotion through each character. It was hard to put this book down. The beginning was a little confusing because it switches between characters to get their points of view so I wasn't sure what was going on at first but as the characters were introduced the story really came together! I can say for me this book is definitely on my top 10 favorites and I can not wait for the rest of the series to come out!
Being one of my first ever ARC reads I'm very excited this is the book that chose me to do this! It was adventurous, sad, happy, exciting. I felt every emotion through each character. It was hard to put this book down. The beginning was a little confusing because it switches between characters to get their points of view so I wasn't sure what was going on at first but as the characters were introduced the story really came together! I can say for me this book is definitely on my top 10 favorites and I can not wait for the rest of the series to come out!
July 12, 2022
A great YA story, with a protagonist that many teens will be able to relate to. Aggie struggles to make friends, she has OCD, and is worried about her mum. Then she meets Jack and her world is turned upside down!
The author has created a brilliant magical world, based on luck (good and bad), where the card suits are people and there is a war between them. Aggie and her mum get sucked into this world when a machine they are making finally works - but not as they expected!
Well written, with characters you'll love or hate (or love and then hate and then love again!), and an intriguing storyline, I can't wait for the next one in the series. Highly recommend.
The author has created a brilliant magical world, based on luck (good and bad), where the card suits are people and there is a war between them. Aggie and her mum get sucked into this world when a machine they are making finally works - but not as they expected!
Well written, with characters you'll love or hate (or love and then hate and then love again!), and an intriguing storyline, I can't wait for the next one in the series. Highly recommend.
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