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The Reborn Empire #4
We Dream of Gods
"A complex tale of war, politics, and lust for power." —The Guardian
The fate of the world will be decided when heroes and gods march into battle one last time in the searing conclusion of this bold and bloody epic fantasy series.
There are no gods. Only men.
Betrayed by her closest allies, Empress Miko Ts’ai is thrust from ruler to pawn. But she won’t suffer the whims of men. A string of dangerous gambles could win Miko her empire for good, but to take back the throne, she must become everything her ancestors failed to be.
Rah e’Torin leads a herd again. Now he seeks to honor a promise he made a lifetime ago—to safely bring his Swords home. Yet Rah’s loyalty to the past may be his ultimate undoing.
Cassandra Marius is lost. Ensnared by memories that aren’t her own, Cass must decide who she really is, but the answer lies beyond one final confrontation with Leo Villius.
And trapped in the heart of the Chiltaen army, Dishiva e’Jaroven is handed unexpected power. The dream of a new homeland is within her grasp—if she risks everything and trusts her former enemies.
Praise for The Reborn Empire:
"Imaginative worldbuilding, a pace that builds perfectly to a heart-pounding finale and captivating characters. Highly recommended." —John Gwynne, author of The Shadow of the Gods
"An exciting new author in fantasy." —Mark Lawrence, author of Red Sister
The Reborn EmpireWe Ride the StormWe Lie with DeathWe Cry for Blood
We Dream of Gods For more from Devin Madson, check out: The Vengeance TrilogyThe Blood of WhisperersThe Gods of ViceThe Grave at Storm's End
The fate of the world will be decided when heroes and gods march into battle one last time in the searing conclusion of this bold and bloody epic fantasy series.
There are no gods. Only men.
Betrayed by her closest allies, Empress Miko Ts’ai is thrust from ruler to pawn. But she won’t suffer the whims of men. A string of dangerous gambles could win Miko her empire for good, but to take back the throne, she must become everything her ancestors failed to be.
Rah e’Torin leads a herd again. Now he seeks to honor a promise he made a lifetime ago—to safely bring his Swords home. Yet Rah’s loyalty to the past may be his ultimate undoing.
Cassandra Marius is lost. Ensnared by memories that aren’t her own, Cass must decide who she really is, but the answer lies beyond one final confrontation with Leo Villius.
And trapped in the heart of the Chiltaen army, Dishiva e’Jaroven is handed unexpected power. The dream of a new homeland is within her grasp—if she risks everything and trusts her former enemies.
Praise for The Reborn Empire:
"Imaginative worldbuilding, a pace that builds perfectly to a heart-pounding finale and captivating characters. Highly recommended." —John Gwynne, author of The Shadow of the Gods
"An exciting new author in fantasy." —Mark Lawrence, author of Red Sister
The Reborn EmpireWe Ride the StormWe Lie with DeathWe Cry for Blood
We Dream of Gods For more from Devin Madson, check out: The Vengeance TrilogyThe Blood of WhisperersThe Gods of ViceThe Grave at Storm's End
625 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2023
14 people are currently reading
928 people want to read
About the author
Devin Madson
14 books559 followersDevin Madson is an Aurealis Award-winning fantasy author from Australia. After some sucky teenage years, she gave up reality and is now a dual-wielding rogue who works through every tiny side-quest and always ends up too over-powered for the final boss. Anything but zen, Devin subsists on tea and chocolate and so much fried zucchini she ought to have turned into one by now. Her fantasy novels come in all shades of grey and are populated with characters of questionable morals and a liking for witty banter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 30, 2023
3.5 Stars
Video Review https://youtu.be/yJuEtLpNYNw
This was a solid conclusion to an enjoyable fantasy series. I enjoyed the previous books and probably found this one to be the best of the quartet.
The story has good characters and plot, but perhaps is not a memorable or unique fantasy series. I enjoyed my time reading each entry but don't necessarily have strong emotional attachment to the characters or their subsequent fates.
I would primarily recommend this one to avid fantasy readers looking for a newer, lesser hyped series.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher
Video Review https://youtu.be/yJuEtLpNYNw
This was a solid conclusion to an enjoyable fantasy series. I enjoyed the previous books and probably found this one to be the best of the quartet.
The story has good characters and plot, but perhaps is not a memorable or unique fantasy series. I enjoyed my time reading each entry but don't necessarily have strong emotional attachment to the characters or their subsequent fates.
I would primarily recommend this one to avid fantasy readers looking for a newer, lesser hyped series.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher
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January 27, 2023
2023
June 12, 2024📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit
March 9, 2023
This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum with my choice of song.
I received an eARC from Orbit via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It’s hard to believe that our journey with The Reborn Empire series has come to the end. And what a journey it was! As always, finishing a series you’ve enjoyed is always a bittersweet feeling. Since this is my last opportunity, I’d like to say thank you to Devin Madson for bringing these characters to life.
Since We Dream of Gods is the 4th and last book in the series, this review might contain mild spoilers for the previous books. I’ll try to make it as spoiler free as possible, though. It also probably will be much shorter than any I usually write, because, ugh, it’s hard to find new things to say at this point.
We pick up the threads right where they were dropped at the end of We Cry for Blood. Things aren’t looking very well for either of the main characters, and the time for final confrontations is drawing even nearer. And frankly, it’s very hard to predict what fate (or more like Madson) has in store for each of them. This eventually makes you sit on the edge of your seat and fly through the pages, because once you start going and get back into the flow – took me a bit to reconnect with the characters and place myself back into the story – it’s just impossible to stop. At the end of each chapter, you just want to keep on, to find out what happens next. And you also keep guessing what the endgame will be and how all the plotlines will eventually meet. Even though each unexpected turn of events brings us closer to the finish line, it’s just impossible to tell who is going to be victorious.
Will Leo be able to make the prophecy come true and lead his own holy empire? Will Ezma rule the plains as she planned for years? Will Rah lead his people home in peace and keep Gideon’s head on his neck? Will Miko finally have the power she always wanted and prove that women can be just as good – or better – at ruling? Will Cass and Kaysa make peace and fulfill their contract of killing Leo at last? Will Dishiva find a way out of Leo’s clutch and bring Gideon’s dream into a reality? Will any of them survive? So many questions, and then some that are waiting to be answered. Rest assured, Madson tucks all loose ends in nicely, and although it takes some extra curves – maybe a bit too many for my liking – all plotlines get a resolution one way or another.
Knowing how many years of hard labor went into creating and bringing this series to life, it’s all the more impressive how Madson was able to pull off this story of epic proportions. Through the lens of three very different cultures crashing – the Chiltaens with their faith of The One True God, the Kisians and their reverence with which they treat their emperors as gods, and the Levanti with their tenants and respect toward every living creature – Madson brings very relevant societal issues to the fore. Such as the political (and general) treatment of women, the different types of ruling systems, LGBTQ rights, diaspora, personal and national integrity including the way we handle refugees, just to name a few.
Miko, Dishiva, Cass and Rah all stand for something, they are not always on the same side, nor are they making the right decisions all the time or are easy to label one way or another, but they each have to teach something to us if we dig deep enough.
Throughout the series, Cass remained my favorite of the main characters. Partly because of her sass and sarcastic humor and partly because of her character arc in general. It was easy for me to connect with her and root for her until the very end.
With more than 600 pages, We Dream of Gods is a big book, and yet, I don’t think there was a time when it felt dragging. Madson’s style of writing is smooth and easy to fall into. If you’ve come this far, then you already know what to expect. It’s a worthy finale to The Reborn Empire series. And although I found myself slightly disappointed by the ending – I had certain expectations I was bracing myself for, that never happened as Madson took a slightly different path which is not necessarily a bad thing, just one I did not anticipate – I will walk away from these books with a sense of closure and fond memories.
I received an eARC from Orbit via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“Somewhere along the way, reason and honour had been consumed by hurt, leaving us raw and broken.”
It’s hard to believe that our journey with The Reborn Empire series has come to the end. And what a journey it was! As always, finishing a series you’ve enjoyed is always a bittersweet feeling. Since this is my last opportunity, I’d like to say thank you to Devin Madson for bringing these characters to life.
Since We Dream of Gods is the 4th and last book in the series, this review might contain mild spoilers for the previous books. I’ll try to make it as spoiler free as possible, though. It also probably will be much shorter than any I usually write, because, ugh, it’s hard to find new things to say at this point.
We pick up the threads right where they were dropped at the end of We Cry for Blood. Things aren’t looking very well for either of the main characters, and the time for final confrontations is drawing even nearer. And frankly, it’s very hard to predict what fate (or more like Madson) has in store for each of them. This eventually makes you sit on the edge of your seat and fly through the pages, because once you start going and get back into the flow – took me a bit to reconnect with the characters and place myself back into the story – it’s just impossible to stop. At the end of each chapter, you just want to keep on, to find out what happens next. And you also keep guessing what the endgame will be and how all the plotlines will eventually meet. Even though each unexpected turn of events brings us closer to the finish line, it’s just impossible to tell who is going to be victorious.
Will Leo be able to make the prophecy come true and lead his own holy empire? Will Ezma rule the plains as she planned for years? Will Rah lead his people home in peace and keep Gideon’s head on his neck? Will Miko finally have the power she always wanted and prove that women can be just as good – or better – at ruling? Will Cass and Kaysa make peace and fulfill their contract of killing Leo at last? Will Dishiva find a way out of Leo’s clutch and bring Gideon’s dream into a reality? Will any of them survive? So many questions, and then some that are waiting to be answered. Rest assured, Madson tucks all loose ends in nicely, and although it takes some extra curves – maybe a bit too many for my liking – all plotlines get a resolution one way or another.
Knowing how many years of hard labor went into creating and bringing this series to life, it’s all the more impressive how Madson was able to pull off this story of epic proportions. Through the lens of three very different cultures crashing – the Chiltaens with their faith of The One True God, the Kisians and their reverence with which they treat their emperors as gods, and the Levanti with their tenants and respect toward every living creature – Madson brings very relevant societal issues to the fore. Such as the political (and general) treatment of women, the different types of ruling systems, LGBTQ rights, diaspora, personal and national integrity including the way we handle refugees, just to name a few.
Miko, Dishiva, Cass and Rah all stand for something, they are not always on the same side, nor are they making the right decisions all the time or are easy to label one way or another, but they each have to teach something to us if we dig deep enough.
Throughout the series, Cass remained my favorite of the main characters. Partly because of her sass and sarcastic humor and partly because of her character arc in general. It was easy for me to connect with her and root for her until the very end.
With more than 600 pages, We Dream of Gods is a big book, and yet, I don’t think there was a time when it felt dragging. Madson’s style of writing is smooth and easy to fall into. If you’ve come this far, then you already know what to expect. It’s a worthy finale to The Reborn Empire series. And although I found myself slightly disappointed by the ending – I had certain expectations I was bracing myself for, that never happened as Madson took a slightly different path which is not necessarily a bad thing, just one I did not anticipate – I will walk away from these books with a sense of closure and fond memories.
Want to read
August 8, 2022We have a cover! I'm LOVING the color!
August 24, 2023
продолжаю считать, что это очень крутая серия, с интересными героями и необычной магической составляющей, но финалка оставила некий налет недоумения, особенно в романтической своей части. стоило ли во второй и третьей книге так работать над slow burn - а он был реально хорош! - чтобы в четвертой всё пустить по наклонной и свести героев с партнерами, с которыми никакой химии всю дорогу не было? закатывание глаз по этому поводу несколько отвлекло меня от сюжета
October 31, 2023
Garbage …..I really enjoyed the first 3 books. I hate forced gayness in books. 2 of the main male characters were never hinted to being gay now they wanna screw other. It destroyed this book for me. This book is trash.
May 25, 2024
I loved this series so much!
Kind of sad to let go of these characters now, hello book hangover 😅
Kind of sad to let go of these characters now, hello book hangover 😅
April 14, 2023
** I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book was published on March 21, 2023 in the US. **
Possible Triggers:
Death | Violence | Rape
Summary:
This is the fourth book of the ’The Reborn Empire’ series, starting immediately where the third book left off.
Characters:
Can you absolutely love a character and still wanna slap them upside the head for being too darn principled? Rah, I am looking at you.
Cassandra was my favorite character of this series and I was glad we got to spend quite a bit of time with her in this book. Lots going on with her in both growth and just pure activity.
Positives:
+ Yay for having an “up till now” included in the very front of the book to refresh your memory of the story thus far. I really appreciate when long series have a little reminder of all the awesomeness that has happened so far. Another A++ for the dramatis personae included as well.
+ The epilogues were great, by far my favorite chapters in the entire book.
Final Thoughts:
Ultimately this was my least favorite book of the series. It didn’t further the cool magic that was in the entirety of the other books, all of the neatly tied endings were good, but somehow underwhelming, and the romance/sex scenes in this book felt very much like a checklist. Did we tick off all the big sexual preferences in as short of a time as possible? Nevermind the fact that some of the feelings/dynamics between the characters were like a whiplash of confusion. After the amount of pain and suffering and strife the characters all suffer throughout the series, it felt weird. It felt almost like sex was an afterthought that was put in for no other reason than that it is an adult fantasy.
Possible Triggers:
Death | Violence | Rape
Summary:
This is the fourth book of the ’The Reborn Empire’ series, starting immediately where the third book left off.
Characters:
Can you absolutely love a character and still wanna slap them upside the head for being too darn principled? Rah, I am looking at you.
Cassandra was my favorite character of this series and I was glad we got to spend quite a bit of time with her in this book. Lots going on with her in both growth and just pure activity.
Positives:
+ Yay for having an “up till now” included in the very front of the book to refresh your memory of the story thus far. I really appreciate when long series have a little reminder of all the awesomeness that has happened so far. Another A++ for the dramatis personae included as well.
+ The epilogues were great, by far my favorite chapters in the entire book.
Final Thoughts:
Ultimately this was my least favorite book of the series. It didn’t further the cool magic that was in the entirety of the other books, all of the neatly tied endings were good, but somehow underwhelming, and the romance/sex scenes in this book felt very much like a checklist. Did we tick off all the big sexual preferences in as short of a time as possible? Nevermind the fact that some of the feelings/dynamics between the characters were like a whiplash of confusion. After the amount of pain and suffering and strife the characters all suffer throughout the series, it felt weird. It felt almost like sex was an afterthought that was put in for no other reason than that it is an adult fantasy.
March 25, 2023
4 stars. I can't not give the last book of a beloved series 4 stars.
That said...this entry to the series took a while to get going. The characters felt like slightly different versions of themselves. It was odd. Almost felt like someone else had taken over as author.
Once I hit the halfway mark, things clicked and felt familiar again. I was pleased with the ending. Could it (should it?) have been more thrilling? Yes. But, for me, it was still enjoyable. I really enjoyed her take on an epilogue and liked where the characters were left.
I hope this isn't the end for Mama Madson as an author. You write it, Devin, and I will read it. Huge fan.
That said...this entry to the series took a while to get going. The characters felt like slightly different versions of themselves. It was odd. Almost felt like someone else had taken over as author.
Once I hit the halfway mark, things clicked and felt familiar again. I was pleased with the ending. Could it (should it?) have been more thrilling? Yes. But, for me, it was still enjoyable. I really enjoyed her take on an epilogue and liked where the characters were left.
I hope this isn't the end for Mama Madson as an author. You write it, Devin, and I will read it. Huge fan.
June 1, 2023
Thank god it's finished. I don't have it in me anymore. The book should've been called "We Dream of Sex" for everyone suddenly became horny teenagers. Such a drag and let down from what the first two books had held. Promise. Excitement. Now it was just me begging all the gods to let me finish this book because my frustration was mounting. If it had mounted further I would've hated the entire series.
Oh well. At least I had fun with the 3 previous books.
Oh well. At least I had fun with the 3 previous books.
November 29, 2025
I was so worried when I started this because even though I didn't really like the first book, especially with more time passing, I really liked the sequels but this book has quite the low average rating comparatively.
For the most part, I really liked the story here. There was betrayal and some character growth but ultimately I feel the author didn't go deep enough and left too much open for a conclusion.
There was a big reveal for which there was no resolution for, which felt really meh.
Also, compared to other characters I think Miko needed to grow some more because she has some growing to do and I would have liked to see that. I did really like the ending that Gideon got, as well as Sichi cause those felt really deserved.
Another thing that I would have wished, is some more information on a character from the first series that got a really quick nod but nothing after that and I feel we could have gotten something there.
For the most part, I really liked the story here. There was betrayal and some character growth but ultimately I feel the author didn't go deep enough and left too much open for a conclusion.
There was a big reveal for which there was no resolution for, which felt really meh.
Also, compared to other characters I think Miko needed to grow some more because she has some growing to do and I would have liked to see that. I did really like the ending that Gideon got, as well as Sichi cause those felt really deserved.
Another thing that I would have wished, is some more information on a character from the first series that got a really quick nod but nothing after that and I feel we could have gotten something there.
September 5, 2023
This was a good, satisfying, wholesome ending to this series. I'm not sure I LOVED this ending, but there was closure, and it gets points for that. Book 3 is easily, hands down my favorite of the series.
A lot of elements of this book and series were well done and fleshed out. Religion, magic, relationships, politics, war, betrayals and twists. I think I've just been ruined by Steven Erikson and his habit of killing off characters.
Probably a strong 3.5 for me, but I will give it the extra half 😁👌
I'd strongly recommend this series!
A lot of elements of this book and series were well done and fleshed out. Religion, magic, relationships, politics, war, betrayals and twists. I think I've just been ruined by Steven Erikson and his habit of killing off characters.
Probably a strong 3.5 for me, but I will give it the extra half 😁👌
I'd strongly recommend this series!
March 8, 2023
A disappointing conclusion to an otherwise great series. On the surface, this book has everything I love in a fantasy series: political intrigue and tension; a woman fighting for power in a world dominated by men; and a captivating and unique magic system. However, all of these elements fell flat in this final installment. The plot dragged at a slow pace, with Rah, Miko, and Cassandra just wandering around for 3/4 of the book. Even the villains fell flat; we kept being told why we should hate them, but mostly I was bored whenever they were on the page. Unfortunately, I stopped caring about most of the characters, and during pivotal moments in the plot when such characters were in danger, I found myself not caring.
Despite these drawbacks, I enjoyed several aspects of the book. My favorite character arc was Dishiva’s and her relationship with Secretary Aurus. Her strength and her determination for a better life for her people was amazing. Additionally, the magic system is truly fascinating and unique. I just wish it could have been explored a bit further. I also really enjoyed the way different sexualities were depicted and discussed. Whether it was one character defending his asexuality (of course, such a modern term was not used in the book), or another character coming to terms with her sexual attraction towards both men and women, I appreciate the presence of such discussions. A part of me wishes that these conversations were explored more in depth as they were definitely some of my favorite moments in the book.
Overall, I disappointed as this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I had really high hopes.
I received an advanced copy from Orbit in exchange for an honest review
Despite these drawbacks, I enjoyed several aspects of the book. My favorite character arc was Dishiva’s and her relationship with Secretary Aurus. Her strength and her determination for a better life for her people was amazing. Additionally, the magic system is truly fascinating and unique. I just wish it could have been explored a bit further. I also really enjoyed the way different sexualities were depicted and discussed. Whether it was one character defending his asexuality (of course, such a modern term was not used in the book), or another character coming to terms with her sexual attraction towards both men and women, I appreciate the presence of such discussions. A part of me wishes that these conversations were explored more in depth as they were definitely some of my favorite moments in the book.
Overall, I disappointed as this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I had really high hopes.
I received an advanced copy from Orbit in exchange for an honest review
April 26, 2023
I really liked this series, but this last book just didn't work for me. It was all so messed up I was actually frustrated and almost quit reading about halfway through. But I wanted to see how it ended. And can't say I liked the ending, but not sure how else it could have ended. More of a whimper than anything else. Nobody really go what they wanted...anyway, good writing and I will look forward to more from this author.
April 19, 2023
Series started off well but devolved into a hot mess. Will not waste my time on anything from this author again.! You sold out!!!!!
October 2, 2024
Once again with the same perspectives as the second and third books – however with subtle changes. Each character has been slowly beaten down by all the choices they must make and the ones they are forced to take. However, the surrounding casts are slowly changing and the balance of power shifts.
Miko, now devoid of powers thanks to Manshin’s betrayal, works to build allies and prays that Ryoji returns with the previously reported Kisian troops. Rah is stuck between his love for Gideon, his love of his people and his love of Miko. Having left Miko’s side with half of the Levanti, the other half following Ezma out the door when Miko couldn’t deliver Gideon to her. Cassandra lost half of herself with the death of Empress Hana, her soul returned to Kaysa, but changed. The influence of Hana and the continued influence of Yakono – another assassin met while in custody of Leo – forces Cassandra to confront who she once was and decide who she will be. Dishiva remains forever one step ahead and three steps behind, having been named the Hieromonk of Chiltae. The prime power of the church, but with hands tied by Leo given she can’t speak the language or communicate with anyone.
Outside of the culture, one of the strongest elements of the series has been the will of the individual. Each character feels like they have their own motivations and alliances tend to run thin, only persisting for as long as they’re of benefit to everyone involved. This sees most characters failing to execute their plans, generally suffering two downfalls for every victory.
There had been some undertones of feminism through the first couple of books, but it becomes a much bigger element of the story through the last two books. With the majority of the PoV characters being female and a large amount of the general cast being women in positions of power who are undermined purely because of their gender. This also ties neatly back into the initial conflict between Hana and Kin was the catalyst of the storm in the first place.
Ultimately, the series feels like it tackles sense of identity, be that culture, religion, gender or anything else and the compromises you need to make with yourself and others to reach your goals. So much of what goes wrong happens due to either excessive selflessness or selfishness. In trying to uphold honour, ideals and reputation above the needs of the individuals involved and making decisions on expectation drove everyone wrong at every turn.
Endings can be difficult, but here there was significant foreshadowing around some of what was due to happen. I had worries through some points of the book that it would feel unearned, but everything was neatly tied together, characters grew and changed, and I’d like to stay with them. I really enjoyed being served an epilogue to tie up every character a bit more neatly. But this is not the end. Much like the start of the story where we didn’t pick up at a neat beginning, we’ve not tied a fine bow on the story either. This has been a window into a period of time in this world, but the wheels turn on and on, and I look forward to my next window (which luckily for me is the original trilogy).
Miko, now devoid of powers thanks to Manshin’s betrayal, works to build allies and prays that Ryoji returns with the previously reported Kisian troops. Rah is stuck between his love for Gideon, his love of his people and his love of Miko. Having left Miko’s side with half of the Levanti, the other half following Ezma out the door when Miko couldn’t deliver Gideon to her. Cassandra lost half of herself with the death of Empress Hana, her soul returned to Kaysa, but changed. The influence of Hana and the continued influence of Yakono – another assassin met while in custody of Leo – forces Cassandra to confront who she once was and decide who she will be. Dishiva remains forever one step ahead and three steps behind, having been named the Hieromonk of Chiltae. The prime power of the church, but with hands tied by Leo given she can’t speak the language or communicate with anyone.
Outside of the culture, one of the strongest elements of the series has been the will of the individual. Each character feels like they have their own motivations and alliances tend to run thin, only persisting for as long as they’re of benefit to everyone involved. This sees most characters failing to execute their plans, generally suffering two downfalls for every victory.
There had been some undertones of feminism through the first couple of books, but it becomes a much bigger element of the story through the last two books. With the majority of the PoV characters being female and a large amount of the general cast being women in positions of power who are undermined purely because of their gender. This also ties neatly back into the initial conflict between Hana and Kin was the catalyst of the storm in the first place.
Ultimately, the series feels like it tackles sense of identity, be that culture, religion, gender or anything else and the compromises you need to make with yourself and others to reach your goals. So much of what goes wrong happens due to either excessive selflessness or selfishness. In trying to uphold honour, ideals and reputation above the needs of the individuals involved and making decisions on expectation drove everyone wrong at every turn.
Endings can be difficult, but here there was significant foreshadowing around some of what was due to happen. I had worries through some points of the book that it would feel unearned, but everything was neatly tied together, characters grew and changed, and I’d like to stay with them. I really enjoyed being served an epilogue to tie up every character a bit more neatly. But this is not the end. Much like the start of the story where we didn’t pick up at a neat beginning, we’ve not tied a fine bow on the story either. This has been a window into a period of time in this world, but the wheels turn on and on, and I look forward to my next window (which luckily for me is the original trilogy).
May 20, 2025
Финал длиною в книгу
Борьба продолжается. Лео Виллиус хоть и утратил позиции, готовится к последнему броску. Его не волнуют ни жертвы, ни интриги, ни разрушенные судьбы — он готов на всё, чтобы стать мессией. И только наша четвёрка протагонистов, приняв свои роли в этой истории, может ему помешать.
При чтении «Мы воплотим богов» не покидало ощущение, будто во время работы над прошлой книгой Девин Мэдсон забыла о заранее запланированных сюжетных элементах — и спохватилась лишь после отправки рукописи в редакцию. В результате — всё, что не уместилось в третью часть, спешно вливается в четвёртую. Постельная сцена между Мико и Рахом? Пожалуйста. Осознание чувств Раха к Гидеону? Тут. Остатки феминистической тематики? Не пропадут. Всё это подаётся в сжатом, скомканном виде.
Главное разочарование — резкое смещение акцента с Лео, к которому нас вели три книги, на Эзму. И не с помощью яркого сюжетного поворота — вроде того, что она была за кулисами всё это время, — а простым заявлением: теперь она злодейка. Это обесценивает наработанный конфликт. Пророчество, на котором строилось полкниги — не имеет значения. Лео, обещанный антагонист — вдруг теряет вес. Финал превращается в малопонятную, сумбурную кашу.
Отдельная боль — невозможность автора передать масштаб происходящего. У нас есть три армии: кисийская, чилтейская и левантийская. Но представить их численность, силу и состояние невозможно. Один пример: левантийцы. После потерь при переходе, в лагерях и на полях сражений, после дезертирства и внутренних конфликтов — их, казалось бы, осталось мало. Однако в какой-то момент половина армии Эзмы уничтожает чуть ли не всё чилтейское подкрепление. И всё это — без напряжения. Так сколько же их было? То Мико боится чилтейцев, то чилтейцы боятся нападения на город c небольшим гарнизоном. Почему это важно? А потому, это важно самим героям. Сюжетно, у кого перевес в мощи, тот и правит балом.
Если бы цикл закончился на третьей книге — это была бы крепкая, даже впечатляющая трилогия. Представьте: Дишива погибает, убивая Лео. Кассандра жертвует собой, уничтожая связующую копию Лео, и в результате от мессии остаётся пустая оболочка. Рах помогает Мико вернуть трон, но выбирает своё племя. Мико остаётся одна, но не позволяет себе упасть духом, ведь нужно объединить Кисию Эпично и сдержанно. Но нет — мы получаем пресный, вымученный хэппи-энд.
Хотя первая половина книги и правда внушала надежды — интересные интриги, грамотная расстановка сил — во второй всё разваливается. Герои мечутся от города к храму, из лагеря в лагерь. Меняют планы, потом возвращаются к первым. Полный бардак.
Финальная оценка: 2 из 5. Слишком вялый финал для такой амбициозной истории.
Борьба продолжается. Лео Виллиус хоть и утратил позиции, готовится к последнему броску. Его не волнуют ни жертвы, ни интриги, ни разрушенные судьбы — он готов на всё, чтобы стать мессией. И только наша четвёрка протагонистов, приняв свои роли в этой истории, может ему помешать.
При чтении «Мы воплотим богов» не покидало ощущение, будто во время работы над прошлой книгой Девин Мэдсон забыла о заранее запланированных сюжетных элементах — и спохватилась лишь после отправки рукописи в редакцию. В результате — всё, что не уместилось в третью часть, спешно вливается в четвёртую. Постельная сцена между Мико и Рахом? Пожалуйста. Осознание чувств Раха к Гидеону? Тут. Остатки феминистической тематики? Не пропадут. Всё это подаётся в сжатом, скомканном виде.
Главное разочарование — резкое смещение акцента с Лео, к которому нас вели три книги, на Эзму. И не с помощью яркого сюжетного поворота — вроде того, что она была за кулисами всё это время, — а простым заявлением: теперь она злодейка. Это обесценивает наработанный конфликт. Пророчество, на котором строилось полкниги — не имеет значения. Лео, обещанный антагонист — вдруг теряет вес. Финал превращается в малопонятную, сумбурную кашу.
Отдельная боль — невозможность автора передать масштаб происходящего. У нас есть три армии: кисийская, чилтейская и левантийская. Но представить их численность, силу и состояние невозможно. Один пример: левантийцы. После потерь при переходе, в лагерях и на полях сражений, после дезертирства и внутренних конфликтов — их, казалось бы, осталось мало. Однако в какой-то момент половина армии Эзмы уничтожает чуть ли не всё чилтейское подкрепление. И всё это — без напряжения. Так сколько же их было? То Мико боится чилтейцев, то чилтейцы боятся нападения на город c небольшим гарнизоном. Почему это важно? А потому, это важно самим героям. Сюжетно, у кого перевес в мощи, тот и правит балом.
Если бы цикл закончился на третьей книге — это была бы крепкая, даже впечатляющая трилогия. Представьте: Дишива погибает, убивая Лео. Кассандра жертвует собой, уничтожая связующую копию Лео, и в результате от мессии остаётся пустая оболочка. Рах помогает Мико вернуть трон, но выбирает своё племя. Мико остаётся одна, но не позволяет себе упасть духом, ведь нужно объединить Кисию Эпично и сдержанно. Но нет — мы получаем пресный, вымученный хэппи-энд.
Хотя первая половина книги и правда внушала надежды — интересные интриги, грамотная расстановка сил — во второй всё разваливается. Герои мечутся от города к храму, из лагеря в лагерь. Меняют планы, потом возвращаются к первым. Полный бардак.
Финальная оценка: 2 из 5. Слишком вялый финал для такой амбициозной истории.
May 29, 2023
Thank you to Orbit and Angela Man for sending me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
CONTENT WARNING: grief, violence, mention of a past rape, murder, blood, PTSD, gore, homophobia
Wow. I’ve been trying to organize my thoughts after finishing this book, and after two days, I’m still having a hard time. I just want to put up signs near every book store and library shelf saying “YOU NEED THIS SERIES” because it is that good. And this was the perfect ending to this rollercoaster ride of a series.
One of the strengths of this series, and it’s especially prominent in this book, is the way the author makes it so easy to get attached to the characters equally. The four characters only intersect in short bursts throughout the book, and they each have such a different voice, tone, and character arc, yet they are all so interesting and endearing in their own way. That way, there’s never that feeling of having to slog through a chapter about a character who bores me until I get back to the ones I like. And I loved seeing the changes in each character from who they were at the beginning and who they ended up becoming.
There’s more direct queer representation in the story, and I was thrilled when the character was revealed to be LGBTQ.
For all the planning and plotting and switching alliances that were occurring in the last book, this is where everything all comes to fruition. It’s a bumpy ride from start to finish, and don’t think that the political machinations stop just because this is the last book—they carry on in this book as well. I never quite knew what to expect, because everyone seemed to have a trick up their sleeve.
By the end of this chonk, every thread was wrapped up, and I was thrilled with how it ended, but also sad to say goodbye to everyone that I’ve gotten to know over the course of this wonderful series. I’m so glad that I’ve read it, and I kind of just want to throw this book at people and shout “READ IT!” in their faces. So do both of us a favor and read the book.
CONTENT WARNING: grief, violence, mention of a past rape, murder, blood, PTSD, gore, homophobia
Wow. I’ve been trying to organize my thoughts after finishing this book, and after two days, I’m still having a hard time. I just want to put up signs near every book store and library shelf saying “YOU NEED THIS SERIES” because it is that good. And this was the perfect ending to this rollercoaster ride of a series.
One of the strengths of this series, and it’s especially prominent in this book, is the way the author makes it so easy to get attached to the characters equally. The four characters only intersect in short bursts throughout the book, and they each have such a different voice, tone, and character arc, yet they are all so interesting and endearing in their own way. That way, there’s never that feeling of having to slog through a chapter about a character who bores me until I get back to the ones I like. And I loved seeing the changes in each character from who they were at the beginning and who they ended up becoming.
There’s more direct queer representation in the story, and I was thrilled when the character was revealed to be LGBTQ.
For all the planning and plotting and switching alliances that were occurring in the last book, this is where everything all comes to fruition. It’s a bumpy ride from start to finish, and don’t think that the political machinations stop just because this is the last book—they carry on in this book as well. I never quite knew what to expect, because everyone seemed to have a trick up their sleeve.
By the end of this chonk, every thread was wrapped up, and I was thrilled with how it ended, but also sad to say goodbye to everyone that I’ve gotten to know over the course of this wonderful series. I’m so glad that I’ve read it, and I kind of just want to throw this book at people and shout “READ IT!” in their faces. So do both of us a favor and read the book.
April 14, 2023
There are series where you can pick up the fourth book, pick your way through the story and make sense of what is going on. This isn’t one of them. Each book follows on directly from the previous one – and so much has befallen all our main characters, both the protagonists and antagonists, that you’ll be short-changing yourself and the series if you persevere. My firm advice is to go back to the first book We Ride the Storm, then work through the series with We Lie With Death and We Cry for Blood.
I was very concerned that our three heroines and hero weren’t going to prevail in the final fallout – after all, a steady stream of likeable and undeserving characters have met grisly ends throughout the series. And no – I’m not going to give any Spoilers away, because Madson does put our protagonists through the wringer, ably assisted by the despicable Leo, who has to be one of the most magnificently horrible villains I’ve met in a while.
The action alternates between the four main characters as they each battle against insanely difficult odds and I was just about to relax and think that Miko, at least, was on her way to achieving her goals, when there was a sudden, almighty wrench in the works… It’s all cleverly done and I found myself reading until the wee small hours to find out what happened next. I love the vivid writing, the strong characters and the ongoing narrative drive that keeps the pacing up with plenty of plot twists and surprises along the way. There are shafts of humour that had me sniggering aloud, and a couple of poignant scenes that left me with a lump in my throat. I love it when a book involves me to such an extent. All in all, this is a triumphant conclusion to a memorable and well executed epic fantasy adventure and comes very highly recommended. While I obtained an arc of We Dream of Gods from Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
10/10
I was very concerned that our three heroines and hero weren’t going to prevail in the final fallout – after all, a steady stream of likeable and undeserving characters have met grisly ends throughout the series. And no – I’m not going to give any Spoilers away, because Madson does put our protagonists through the wringer, ably assisted by the despicable Leo, who has to be one of the most magnificently horrible villains I’ve met in a while.
The action alternates between the four main characters as they each battle against insanely difficult odds and I was just about to relax and think that Miko, at least, was on her way to achieving her goals, when there was a sudden, almighty wrench in the works… It’s all cleverly done and I found myself reading until the wee small hours to find out what happened next. I love the vivid writing, the strong characters and the ongoing narrative drive that keeps the pacing up with plenty of plot twists and surprises along the way. There are shafts of humour that had me sniggering aloud, and a couple of poignant scenes that left me with a lump in my throat. I love it when a book involves me to such an extent. All in all, this is a triumphant conclusion to a memorable and well executed epic fantasy adventure and comes very highly recommended. While I obtained an arc of We Dream of Gods from Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
10/10
April 2, 2023
What a storm they rode.
This book is the culmination of every foundation laid down in the 3 before it. It's painful and bittersweet, and it's not an ideal ending. It's sad and it hurts and everyone's exhausted, including me. But it's probably the perfect ending to this series.
These books pulled me in because of fantastic, flawed characters. They've made me cheer and yell in equal measure from the first book, and in this one, it was finally, FINALLY mostly cheering. None of them start out perfect, and none of them end perfect, but they do grow as people, becoming, by the end, something better than they were at the start. The journey to get there is often fraught and harrowing, but I found every moment of it worthwhile by the end.
Like the earlier books, there's no easy path here. No simple choice. No singular decision that can solve every problem. And that means that the story is gripping from page one. I read it in just over a day, unable to put it down, unable to take a proper breath. By the end, I finally felt like the story would let me breathe again. There are passages and character arc culminations that I wanted to settle on for a bit to savour and enjoy, but I couldn't stop the forward momentum.
This book probably isn't for everyone, but that was true for every book before it, too. Yet this is certainly a triumph of careful plotting in both the story and in the character building. So many things that started or were hinted at back in book 1 finally came to a head. So many little threads finally make sense. And the wildest thing about the end of this book is that it feels like a beginning.
This book is the culmination of every foundation laid down in the 3 before it. It's painful and bittersweet, and it's not an ideal ending. It's sad and it hurts and everyone's exhausted, including me. But it's probably the perfect ending to this series.
These books pulled me in because of fantastic, flawed characters. They've made me cheer and yell in equal measure from the first book, and in this one, it was finally, FINALLY mostly cheering. None of them start out perfect, and none of them end perfect, but they do grow as people, becoming, by the end, something better than they were at the start. The journey to get there is often fraught and harrowing, but I found every moment of it worthwhile by the end.
Like the earlier books, there's no easy path here. No simple choice. No singular decision that can solve every problem. And that means that the story is gripping from page one. I read it in just over a day, unable to put it down, unable to take a proper breath. By the end, I finally felt like the story would let me breathe again. There are passages and character arc culminations that I wanted to settle on for a bit to savour and enjoy, but I couldn't stop the forward momentum.
This book probably isn't for everyone, but that was true for every book before it, too. Yet this is certainly a triumph of careful plotting in both the story and in the character building. So many things that started or were hinted at back in book 1 finally came to a head. So many little threads finally make sense. And the wildest thing about the end of this book is that it feels like a beginning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2023
Mmmm love me some grand finales. This one was grand grand grand!
I won’t spoil the series for you, but some considerable shenanigans have gone down that have lead us to this volume. Each of the narrators in the story are now more-or-less in the same place, which is interesting. Things are starting to happen between them.
I love love love Cassandra as a character. I love her snark and the complex relationship between her and Kaysa. Her relationship in this volume to a fellow assassin becomes deeper and I really liked how their relationship changed.
But most of all, there was a thing that happened in this one. There was finally a thing. The thing finally happened. It happened and it was everything I had been waiting for. The heavens opened up and gay rainbows just erupted all over the place.
*ahem*
Anyway, this was a fantastic end to a fantastic series, and I really do recommend it to anyone that likes epic fantasy with characters that just come to life. The setting has a place in my imagination, the characters are beloved, and the writing was so very easy to just slip into for hours at a time.
I squee about a lot of books, and this one is no exception. Squee, squee, read the book.
superstardrifter.com
I won’t spoil the series for you, but some considerable shenanigans have gone down that have lead us to this volume. Each of the narrators in the story are now more-or-less in the same place, which is interesting. Things are starting to happen between them.
I love love love Cassandra as a character. I love her snark and the complex relationship between her and Kaysa. Her relationship in this volume to a fellow assassin becomes deeper and I really liked how their relationship changed.
But most of all, there was a thing that happened in this one. There was finally a thing. The thing finally happened. It happened and it was everything I had been waiting for. The heavens opened up and gay rainbows just erupted all over the place.
*ahem*
Anyway, this was a fantastic end to a fantastic series, and I really do recommend it to anyone that likes epic fantasy with characters that just come to life. The setting has a place in my imagination, the characters are beloved, and the writing was so very easy to just slip into for hours at a time.
I squee about a lot of books, and this one is no exception. Squee, squee, read the book.
superstardrifter.com
September 15, 2023
I’m still hesitating between 4 and 5 stars. On its own, this book has some flaws the others didn’t have.
The pacing is often off, the first half of the book really drags.
The magic system isn’t explored anymore which is a shame as it was one of the things that hooked me from book 1. Part of me likes that we never see the Witchdoctor again, and part of me wishes we had seen him again just because that character was key to knowing more.
The villains felt extremely redundant in this book and fewer scenes with them would actually have helped maintaining their auras, as the previous entries had succeeded in establishing them as cruel, ambitious and threatening. Sometimes not saying things is actually better, go figure.
The characters often act out of character because the writer wrote them in a corner and now has to move the plot forward … yet I can appreciate the attempt at correcting that and choosing to move the plot forward even at the sacrifice of your character’s integrity, rather than having a character be a tree in a cave for two solid books because you don’t know what to do with them (if you know, you know 🤣)
Nonetheless it was still a great conclusion to the series. The epilogues were genuinely great and satisfying. I must admit I did not see that thing with Rah coming and that was really nicely played.
I also applaud the author for not succumbing to the temptation of writing a freaking trilogy just because it’s fashionable or something and actually give the story the time it needed to be properly told. For all the things one could say about this series, one can’t deny that all the relationships are developed and evolve naturally over time and trials and feel earned in the end. Cassandra needed all those chapters in Hana’s body so her character could in the end be who she became, and her finally saying those words to Kasya, it didn’t feel cheap, or a shortcut.
Despite my complain that a lot of the characters had to act out of character to save the plot, I genuinely enjoyed all the tandems we have in this book, especially Dishiva and Aurus.
So all in all, maybe that’s worth a 5, for not jumping the shark somewhere along the way
The pacing is often off, the first half of the book really drags.
The magic system isn’t explored anymore which is a shame as it was one of the things that hooked me from book 1. Part of me likes that we never see the Witchdoctor again, and part of me wishes we had seen him again just because that character was key to knowing more.
The villains felt extremely redundant in this book and fewer scenes with them would actually have helped maintaining their auras, as the previous entries had succeeded in establishing them as cruel, ambitious and threatening. Sometimes not saying things is actually better, go figure.
The characters often act out of character because the writer wrote them in a corner and now has to move the plot forward … yet I can appreciate the attempt at correcting that and choosing to move the plot forward even at the sacrifice of your character’s integrity, rather than having a character be a tree in a cave for two solid books because you don’t know what to do with them (if you know, you know 🤣)
Nonetheless it was still a great conclusion to the series. The epilogues were genuinely great and satisfying. I must admit I did not see that thing with Rah coming and that was really nicely played.
I also applaud the author for not succumbing to the temptation of writing a freaking trilogy just because it’s fashionable or something and actually give the story the time it needed to be properly told. For all the things one could say about this series, one can’t deny that all the relationships are developed and evolve naturally over time and trials and feel earned in the end. Cassandra needed all those chapters in Hana’s body so her character could in the end be who she became, and her finally saying those words to Kasya, it didn’t feel cheap, or a shortcut.
Despite my complain that a lot of the characters had to act out of character to save the plot, I genuinely enjoyed all the tandems we have in this book, especially Dishiva and Aurus.
So all in all, maybe that’s worth a 5, for not jumping the shark somewhere along the way
July 30, 2023
This was a satisfying conclusion to a long and complex series with a lot of interesting viewpoint characters. I was a bit wary this would all end in tragedy, but without anything too crazy everything seemed fairly well sorted, even good, by the end. There's not much magic or anything particularly unusual in the world building, so this is more like character driven historical-ish fiction. The characters are all so flawed and not very likeable, and don't particularly change much, though as you come to understand them better they become more sympathetic. My favorite is Dishiva, probably because even though she has an awful time of things, half blinded and effectively trapped, she somehow maintains a sense of humor and is able to make a well placed friend among her enemies. That unlikely alliance is instrumental in the great sorting out of the ending. The series altogether is well written, well conceived, and interesting.
May 2, 2024
Full review posted at Thoughts Stained With Ink:
It’s over! It’s done! 😭 My main reading goal this year was to read this series, so long overdue. Reading the fourth and final book, We Dream of Gods, I was absolutely not prepared. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Then, I spent half the month ignoring this book because I wasn’t ready for it to be over. Only to then read the entire second half in one sitting. 😭
Y’all, I loved We Dream of Gods so much. I am so, so sad to not have another book to be in this world with.
We Dream of Gods was an amazing conclusion to an incredible series. Seeing where these characters started and how they ended was such a reward. The politics were incredible, the nuances, the challenges, the stakes. If you have ever loved epic fantasy a day in your life, your reading will not be completed with The Reborn Empire series. I guarantee it.
It’s over! It’s done! 😭 My main reading goal this year was to read this series, so long overdue. Reading the fourth and final book, We Dream of Gods, I was absolutely not prepared. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Then, I spent half the month ignoring this book because I wasn’t ready for it to be over. Only to then read the entire second half in one sitting. 😭
Y’all, I loved We Dream of Gods so much. I am so, so sad to not have another book to be in this world with.
We Dream of Gods was an amazing conclusion to an incredible series. Seeing where these characters started and how they ended was such a reward. The politics were incredible, the nuances, the challenges, the stakes. If you have ever loved epic fantasy a day in your life, your reading will not be completed with The Reborn Empire series. I guarantee it.
December 3, 2023
This book 2 rating.
Overall series rating 3
It’s a pretty standard political fantasy with magic type archetypes put into the plot lines. However nothing really happens for the majority of all four books. There is a lot of filler and a lot of talking with no action. Unfortunately most of the book dragged and I have to agree with most people that all of the sudden the characters are hormonal teenagers who can’t keep their hands off each to the point where it’s annoying because it’s not this way in any of the other books.
It’s a forgettable series. A good palette cleanser, but I wouldn’t recommend them. They are too long for no reason and honestly this series could have been cut down to three books or even two if you removed all the unnecessary filler.
Overall series rating 3
It’s a pretty standard political fantasy with magic type archetypes put into the plot lines. However nothing really happens for the majority of all four books. There is a lot of filler and a lot of talking with no action. Unfortunately most of the book dragged and I have to agree with most people that all of the sudden the characters are hormonal teenagers who can’t keep their hands off each to the point where it’s annoying because it’s not this way in any of the other books.
It’s a forgettable series. A good palette cleanser, but I wouldn’t recommend them. They are too long for no reason and honestly this series could have been cut down to three books or even two if you removed all the unnecessary filler.
January 28, 2023
4.5/5 stars! This is the fourth entry in the "Reborn Empire" series. As the conclusion of the series, there are many loose ends to wrap up and this book handled them with expertise. And let's pause for a second and admire this stunning cover; shades of purple GASP! I loved catching up with these characters and watching them fight to the finish. I really enjoyed this series and would highly recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
November 5, 2023
There's a lot of love polygon (much more complicated than your average love triangle) shenanigans going on in this book, and I felt it took focus away from what's really interesting: How does an Empire become reborn? Did I get my answers? Maybe not as many as I wanted. I got options.
The Deathwalker and Entrancer magic is some of the best fantasy I've read in a long time. That goes for the Levanti culture.
The first three books are brilliant.
The fourth and final is good.
Cassandra is so fucking badass.
I want to give Miko a hug.
There. That's my review of this book and this series.
The Deathwalker and Entrancer magic is some of the best fantasy I've read in a long time. That goes for the Levanti culture.
The first three books are brilliant.
The fourth and final is good.
Cassandra is so fucking badass.
I want to give Miko a hug.
There. That's my review of this book and this series.
March 14, 2023
You know a series has been fantastic when you finish the last book and you're confronted with conflicting emotions. There's the joy of completeness, but also a deep sadness that this is the end. "We Dream of Gods" is the perfect conclusion to "The Reborn Empire", with loose ends wrapped up neatly. This is definitely a series to revisit often.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
May 4, 2025
3.5? A pretty good conclusion. Certainly not great. The action is ok. The wrap up is mostly satisfactory. Kiko continued to just not be cool/good enough. Rah continued to be pretty frustrating, although he did at least change some here. The girls/guys romance stuff was ok. The bad guys were ok.
Pretty good.
Pretty good.
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