I struggled a bit with this book. I found it better as I read on but it was not the enjoyable read I was looking for. I was interested in how it all panned out but basically I didn't like the characters. It would be fairer to say that I did not care enough about them and had no investment in wanted them to succeed or fail.. The premise of two sisters (slight spoiler) who are split apart and seek to find each other was a good basis for the story. The way magic and the use of gems was intriguing but that was as far as it went for me.

I had very mixed feelings about The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart. I really liked Stewart's Drowning Empire series, so I was very hyped for this book,but it didn't quite work for me. The book follows two sisters who end up on opposite sides of a war in a world that is being remade by a god after ecological collapse.

First, the things that I liked about the book: I liked the analogy about climate change and how we have a world where technology and society basically collapsed because humans depleted all the natural resources. We also had these magic layers where the world was being slowly transformed back into lush, green paradises by a god but where humans get transformed into monsters in the process. So in this, one of the sisters, Rasha, got caught in this transformation and separated from her older sister Hakara I had very mixed feelings about The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart. I really liked Stewart's Drowning Empire series, so I was very hyped for this book,but it didn't quite work for me. The book follows two sisters who end up on opposite sides of a war in a world that is being remade by a god after ecological collapse.

Magic also came in the forms of gemstones that had to be mined in sinkholes and consumed to get certain powers. This felt unique and reminded me a bit of the magic system in Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.

The pacing here was also really good. We had fast-paced action and short chapters which made this really readable.

My main gripe were the characters. While I did feel for each of them and understood their motivations, the romances in this were so bad. There was barely any buildup and some of it happened out of nowhere for me. The book started out being more about familial relationships and I wish it had stayed that way. I'd have honestly preferred it if there wasn't any romance at all. Some POVs also seemed to meander more, especially Rashas. Another POV Mullayne I found extremely interesting and important regarding the lore of the world but didn't lead anywhere exciting and I would have loved to see more from him. You could clearly tell who the authors favourites were and it didn't align with who my faves were. Hakara I loved, she was so funny but her romance ruined it for me.

I saw a lot of potential in the world and the characters but the execution fell flat for me. I will probably still pick up the sequel however since I want to know more about the lore. I gave The Gods Below 3 out of 5 stars.

"The Bone Shard Daughter" is still one of my favourite fantasy reads ever, and while I didn't end up loving the whole trilogy as much as I wanted to I absolutely fell in love with Stewart's unique ideas, settings and characters. She's an amazing writer and excels at building new worlds, and "The Gods Below", the first installment in her new trilogy, proves this once more.

I had so much fun with this. This time around, the story takes place in a world that was shattered and is now fractured into different realms. Once there were the gods living, you guessed it, below, but after the humans managed to destroy their world by stripping it egoistically of its most important resources, thus leading to the Shattering, those gods allegedly abandoned them. All but one, that is, and that remaining God demands to be worshipped as the only existent God. For that honor, he promises to remake the world, make it liveable again. And he does, in a way - from ashes sprouts new nature in each realm he restores, but alas, that restoration does come with a price. Most of the population simply ceases to exist, while the others are turned into Altered, humanoid mutants if you will.
Our multiple pov characters all give us different perspectives in this world. Haraka and Rasha are the main ones, both perspectives written in first person (the rest in third person, which Stewart did in her Drowning Empire trilogy as well). They are sisters, separated by the restoration of their home realm and now on different sides of an inevitable war between those that fight for the one true God and those that oppose him. The other three perspectives are more or less interesting, though I really enjoyed Mull's chapters who's on an expedition to find the old home of the gods. All of the povs provide more insight, none of them feel superfluous.
The world-building is dense and exciting, the writing top-notch as expected, and the pacing kept me on my toes. Now, I did feel like some characters had dull tendencies and their plots felt a bit repetetive, but I'm sure this will be addressed in the sequel. I wouldn't mind one less pov in the next book either, because while they all added something to the story, I felt like it took away from the character development of some of the characters.
Still, I'll definitely read the rest of the trilogy because once again I've fallen in love with Stwart's world.

The world building and concept of 'The God's Below' was unique and interesting, quickly pulling me into the novel. There are echo's of climate-disaster, but with a well-established magic system, strange God's who walk among men, competitive for worship, and a world altering event which moves through realms 'restoring' them, fed by the destruction of many lives.
My interest soon wavered as I struggled to connect, or care about the characters, with five main POVs followed as we alternate in short chapters between them. While the prose were good, the character development lacked depth making them feel one-dimensional. The love-story subplots were slightly rushed and uninteresting.
Overall, while the concept and world was strong, the simple characterisation and lack of humour or realism in the interactions between characters made the strong opener, falter for me. This is a very personal preference, I need strong characters to care about plot!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Anything Andrea writes, I will read!

The worlds and magic and creatures that Andrea creates are insane.

When we first start the book we are introduced to the two sisters Hakara and Rasha. They were abandoned by their mother who ran towards the black wall that is known as the “restoration”. The restoration is the promise the god Kluehnn made to the humans to restore the land. When it comes it changes everything inside of it. The grass, the animals, the people, the air, everything.

We are seeing the sisters trying to escape. Think an evacuation point but only certain people can go through and you have to have a guide who can give you a mask so you don’t die from the fumes of the border of the next land.

I don’t wanna go into much more detail because I don’t want to spoil anything, but this book was amazing. There are light religious undertones, where you see our two sisters fight for the their warring gods.

This book brought me to tears on a few occasion’s.

I DNF'ed due to triggers about a third way in. I really enjoyed what I read. Love the characters, the world, the story, but I couldn't get past this one thing.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Orbit for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review. 


TW: genocide, religion, death, violence, body transformation, blood, grief, gaslighting, cults


‘The Gods Below’ is the start of a brand new series by Andrea Stewart, who wrote the incredible Drowning Empire trilogy. Set in a world destroyed by humanity and now the battleground of a vicious war between gods, humanity swore an oath of allegiance to the god Kleuhnn. In exchange for his protection and the “restoration” of their lands, humanity will provide an endless supply of magical gems from deep in the ground to aid in his power. However Kleuhnn’s cleansing of the land means that people who can’t flee fast enough are also changed- some with horns, some with wings and others with magic that can’t be defined- if they survive to become “altered”. Hakara and her younger sister Rasha are orphans, surviving only because of Hakara’s diving into sunken ruins. When the announcement comes that their land will be cleansed, Hakara and Rasha attempt to flee from their home, but at the border Hakara makes a terrible deal that sees her taken away and Rasha abandoned to possible oblivion. Ten years later, Hakara is still trying to earn enough to get back to the former border and to learn what happened to her sister. After she discovers that she can control the power of the gems she’s forced to dig for, she is invited to join a plot to destroy the remaining Gods for good. Hakara discovers that Rasha is alive, “altered” and now an acolyte of a murderous cult that worships Kleuhnn, even if she is no longer the little sister Hakara remembers. Convinced that aiding the rebels- who all have their own motivations, particularly the winged and mysterious Thassir- against Kleuhnn will help her to rescue Rasha, Hakara decides to risk it all and go to war with the same god they’ve all blindly worshipped for so long. 


I was a huge fan of Andrea Stewart’s first series so I was delighted to read this book, and it didn’t disappoint. From the first page the high stakes are so clear and the multiple perspectives really helped to show what the world is like. I loved the idea of humanity making a deal with a god for protection and how some people who aren’t lucky enough to escape Kleuhnn’s restoration- the way they become afterwards was so original and different. Hakara is a powerful main character, she wants so badly to do right by her sister, and after she fails to protect Rasha she’s driven by guilt and responsibility to try and get back to her even if it means being relentlessly driven and rough. The scenes where Hakara dives into the caves and digs for gems are incredibly claustrophobic. When she becomes involved with the rebellion, and begins to associate with more characters I really did feel like she came into herself more. I really enjoyed Rasha’s chapters, especially as she rises out of the “little sister” role and becomes a person entirely of her own, even if it means following the god that ruined her life. I loved Thassir, who is one of the altered aiding the rebellion, he just wants to be left alone and to love his cats but Hakara keeps putting him in situations; the gradual development of their trust was really well written. I felt deeply for Mull, who wants to save his friend from a painful death by chronic illness, and for Sheuan who is trying to restore her family’s reputation and ends up with Rasha. One thing that I so loved about the Drowning Empire trilogy was the slow burn and build up of the world and characters, we see this here again in ‘The Gods Below’ in a much deeper, morally grey and complicated way. The way that Andrea Stewart weaves together stories that seem to have little connection is just gorgeous. I loved the idea of a team coming together to wage war on the gods and found each of the new characters we met- even if their roles isn’t fully clear yet- deeply compelling, especially the gods Nioanen and Irael who apparently died years before this book starts. I can’t wait to see where this series might go next, especially with the reveals towards the end.

The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart takes readers on an epic journey into a world shaped by ancient magic, gods in hiding, and powerful gemstones that bestow magical abilities on the fortunate few. Through the eyes of multiple characters, we are immersed in a richly built world of political intrigue, environmental destruction, and survival.

Stewart weaves a tale of love, loyalty, and rebellion as Hakara, a determined young woman, embarks on a perilous quest to find her missing sister and battle against the gods themselves.

The Gods Below introduces us to a sprawling, intricate world where each region is shaped by the will of an all-powerful god. This god, responsible for “restoring” parts of the world to their former environmental glory, does so at the cost of human lives, raising deep moral and existential questions. The book begins with Hakara, a diver into the dangerous magical substance called “aether,” who is separated from her sister, Rasha, and taken to another realm. From here, the story follows multiple characters across different regions as they navigate the challenges of their world.

Hakara, the protagonist, whose quest to find her sister forms the emotional core of the novel. Her relationship with Thassir adds depth to her character as they work together to defeat their enemies using the world’s complex magic system.

When left behind when Hakara is taken, her sister Rasha is transformed physically and emotionally as she becomes part of a cult-like group that worships the gods. Her shifting loyalty is particularly intriguing, as she grows attached to her new family while holding onto memories of her past life with Hakara.

Sheuan is a noble from a disgraced family, she is ambitious and ruthless in her desire to regain favor in her kingdom. Her interactions with the barrier separating different realms raise important questions about the world’s magic and politics.

Mullayne’s plotline feels somewhat disconnected from the others, as an inventor, he explores the god’s cave systems to save a loved one. While his story showcases excellent world-building, it could have worked better as a standalone novella due to its separation from the central narrative.

A grumpy character with a heart of gold and a love for cats, Thassir provides some of the most enjoyable character dynamics in the book. His evolving relationship with Hakara, and his mysterious backstory, make him a standout character.

The book’s plot is multi-layered, featuring a blend of political intrigue, divine power struggles, and personal journeys of growth and transformation. While Hakara’s quest to reunite with her sister drives the main narrative, Stewart also explores the repercussions of the god’s destructive “restorations” on the world’s people. The inclusion of multiple POVs helps build out the world but can at times limit the character development, as the story switches between timelines and perspectives frequently.

One of the book’s highlights is its exploration of romance. Stewart includes several subplots that are handled with depth and maturity, allowing the characters’ relationships to unfold naturally without detracting from the larger epic fantasy plot. These relationships add emotional weight to the story, particularly through the conversations and communication between the characters.

As with Stewart’s previous work, Bone Shard Daughter, her writing is immersive and detailed. Her descriptions of the different regions, magic systems, and gods are compelling and paint a vivid picture of the world. However, the narrative can feel slightly overwhelming due to the number of characters and plotlines. Readers who enjoy multi-POV stories will find this engaging, but those looking for more streamlined character development may struggle.

The Gods Below touches on several key themes, including environmental destruction, identity, and transformation. The notion of “restored” regions, where the land is healed but at the cost of human lives, provides a rich backdrop for exploring how people adapt to these changes. Rasha’s transformation, both physical and emotional, raises questions about identity – whether someone can truly remain the same after such profound change.

The book also delves into survival, showing how different regions and people cope with the god’s whims. This plays out not just in the characters’ external struggles but in their personal growth as well, particularly with Hakara and Rasha’s evolving sense of self and loyalty.

Positives of The Gods Below
Strong World-Building: Stewart creates a deeply immersive world with intricate politics, divine beings, and unique magic systems.
Complex Characters: Hakara, Rasha, and Thassir stand out for their emotional depth and moral complexity.
Unique Magic System: The use of gemstones and “aether” diving adds a fresh element to the fantasy genre.
Thought-Provoking Themes: Themes of identity, transformation, and environmental consequences give the novel a deeper philosophical layer.
Interesting Romance Subplots: The romance is subtle yet meaningful, adding emotional stakes to the larger plot.
Negatives of The Gods Below
Multiple POVs: While enriching the world, the numerous character perspectives can detract from character development.
Disconnected Subplot: Mullayne’s story, though intriguing, feels somewhat separate from the main plot and could have been explored more fully in its own narrative.
Pacing Issues: The book’s middle section slows down due to heavy exposition and less action.
The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart is an epic fantasy that will appeal to fans of intricate world-building, divine power struggles, and morally complex characters. While the multiple POVs and subplots can feel overwhelming at times, Stewart’s masterful creation of a magical, politically charged world makes this a compelling read. For those who enjoyed Bone Shard Daughter, this novel is a must-read that builds on Stewart’s signature style of thoughtful, immersive storytelling.

Unfortunately not for me. I enjoyed the world building and lore. However, I could not connect with the characters and the insta love aspect. Great effort, ultimately not for me.

I really enjoyed the worldbuilding of this story. Stewart’s writing is engaging and easy to read through. I am excited to read any follow up books in this series and I likely am going to check out Stewart’s backlist!

A new series from Andrea Stewart! I really enjoyed this world and I can’t wait to read more of it!

First off - plot. I did like the plot to this one. We follow quite a few points of view and I really enjoyed seeing them all weave and cross over with each other. I think some of the points of view were stronger than others - I think Hakara was definitely my favourite plot, which I think is down to the fact she had the most chapters and came across to me as the main character.

As for the characters, Hakara was also my favourite character. I enjoyed her motivations and her journey through the book as she tries everything to find her sister. I also enjoyed Rasha’s pov, as she is brought into this cult-like God organisation and seeing how she navigates the brutal landscape. Nioanen’s chapters were good for providing the insight for the past and the reveal in his plot was also really good. Then Sheuan and Mullayne’s POVs were less relevant to me. They didn’t seem to play to much into the overall plot of this book. You could take them out and I feel the book would probably be the same. Although, I feel they are there to serve as setting up plot points for the sequel so I guess I understand why they’re there.

One of the best bits about this book was the worldbuilding. It was super interesting having Gods being at war and having them come from inside the earth (hence the gods below). The concept of one god trying to wipe out the others was fun to explore - and I also enjoyed the concept of the world being broken and this god believing he is saving people by wiping out half the population of each section of earth, and transforming the rest of the population into these strange forms to survive the new land he’s made for them.

While I did enjoy this, and I’ll definitely read book 2, I did have a couple of minor issues with it so it’s landed at a 4 stars from me.

Started off strong, with intricate, layered worldbuilding and the promise of intrigue. Unfortunately, I didn't feel connected to any of the characters and it felt as if the plot was meandering in too many places for me.

Another stunning fantasy book from Andrea Stewart. After The Drowning Empire series I thought she could do no wrong, and I was right!
Can't wait for the next book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

A lot of fantasy authors seem to have embraced the current trend for romantasy - which is fine in moderation! But I like the fact that Stewart skews more towards the traditional fantasy genre with copious worldbuilding and characters developing naturally before a hint of romance appears. The magic system in The Gods Below is refreshingly unique and I look forward to seeing where the story goes in the next installment.

I really liked this first installment of this new work of Andrea Stewart. The multiple POV was well done, all character were engaging and interesting enough for me to wanting to continue on their story line, but I am not quite sure how the following books will look like. To me, (although i loved them) the second and third book of her previous series read very different from the first, and I wonder if this will happen again.
Said that, I am really looking forward to continue my journey above and below it. I... I am struggling to write anything about the actual plot without ending in spoilering something to someone, the only bits that I could mention are already part of the blurb... but I can say something else instead. I decided to experience this book in immersion reading, and the audiobook is a fantastic companion to the written pages. If you have the possibility of doing so I'd highly recommend this method - it doesn't always work well but for this title is perfect.

Bestselling author Andrea Stewart introduces her readers to a new epic fantasy world in her latest book The Gods Below; the first instalment of The Hollow Covenant series. The Gods Below depicts a world that suffered a devastating ecological disaster that left humanity in ruins. A bargain with one of the gods, Kluehnn, promised restoration of the world to its former glory, but at a price not everyone is willing to pay.

Although the book has multiple POV protagonists, at its heart are two sisters - Hakara (the elder) and Rasha (the younger), who were separated after fleeing the promised restoration. Their struggles and story slowly weave and merge with the story of the other POV characters as the author gradually unfurls the tantalising (back)story of the rich and fascinating world she created.

The book is slow to start, which might bother some readers, but the author lays the necessary groundwork for the world and the characters for the reader(s) to connect with them. Her characters are complex and complicated, flawed and human and the reader will easily find something to relate to with every character. The worldbuilding is as fresh as it is intriguing and I am curious to find out more about the lore and history of the world and the protagonists of this series.

Of Gods, Monsters & (Wo)men……

The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart is a richly imagined deeply divided world populated by the conflicts of Gods, Monsters & Women that trades momentum for conflict setting & world-building before culminating in an emotionally charged climax

“I am going to do what I do best – I’m going to make trouble”

A dystopian magical world and a deal with a devilish devious God that decimates half the population & transforms the other half into half-human hybrid monsters frames the landscape for this tale of two sisters, Hakara and Rasha, who find themselves on the opposite sides of the conflict. This central conflict is accompanied by other PoVs that build this rich world and magic system while lending greater heft to the aftermath of a divine conflict and its after-effects on the people and the world.

“Sometimes I wasn’t sure which was stronger: my grief or my anger”

The book starts extremely sprightly in a Hunger Games mode with Hakara and Rasha trying to flee a land that is about to get converted only to get separated with each landing on either side of the border. Unaware of each other and falling victim to the activities on their side of the border, the sisters have their own paths to forge. This journey is driven by their stubbornness & survivor skills while also being victims and pawns in certain regards. Juxtaposed with the sister’s journeys are a few other PoVs – an explorer and inventor who wants to ask the gods a favor for his sick friend, a scion of a disgraced family trying to spy her way back into good standings, and a god whose PoV spans across periods. Some of the supplementary PoVs bring together the narrative threads together while others serve to expand our viewpoint on this world and help tremendously in world-building

“Sometimes a heart breaks all at once. Sometimes it is chipped away in pieces until you wake up and notice it is no longer the same”

World-building is the key aspect where this story excels. Andrea Stewart has created a fabulous world that is in equal parts magical as it is terrifying. The land keeps on changing and these changes impact people living in these lands transforming some of them. There are tantalizing hints peppered through the book on the nature of gods, their role in this place and the conflicts that ensued. The world-building is as dense as it is intriguing. The author finds ways to link through the PoVs with some of the world-building expositions and it is fabulously synergistic throughout the book. The nature of the worlds, the links and passages to them as well as the explorations are extremely engaging and the information is also doled out in a manner that doesn’t feel heavy while building anticipation steadily

“Threaten a tired populace with death often enough and it just starts to sound like a nice nap”

Desperation is a key theme that permeates the book. Key characters make desperate choices and then have to live with the consequences of those choices. Hakara is a desperation catalyst, the prime mover, the disruptor. Hakara’s choices and actions come from a place of desperation of wanting to unite with Rasha. She therefore tends to leap before looking. Rasha is desperate in a different way – with no elder sister to protect her, she is desperate to prove her strength among other things. Characters are flawed and make mistakes and take foolish decisions giving a lived-in feel for them. What this also does kind of negatively is to add depth to characters in a very limited way and not holistically or differently. Character actions are almost predictable when their buttons are pushed

“You’re a thorn. You’re the spine of a cactus driven deep, where you cannot be dislodged, but where you cause pain with the slightest jolt”

All of which brings me to a key challenge with the book. Despite the desperate, stake-heavy start, the focus on world-building and character positioning comes at the cost of the book’s momentum. The book almost grinds to a halt as the pieces are positioned and that can be a significant mountain to overcome for the readers. This level of momentum grind can only be surmounted if the payoff is worth the cost. In that way, The Gods Below brings the pieces together in an emotionally charged last quarter. While there is action, the character interaction and subsequent actions build that tension and leave you tearing through the pages in a breathless rush. The slump in momentum is worth plowing on in order to hit truly high notes as we reach the end – the rush of the end and the positioning of the characters make this a series that you will want to continue

“You are pinning everything you have, everything you are, on hope”

The Gods Below is a fascinatingly crafted world with some truly exquisite magical elements and multiple interesting PoVs – the true heart of the book lies in the conflicts built up in the hearts and minds of Gods, Monsters, and Humans. I am thankful to the author and NetGalley for this ARC and wait with bated breath on the path that Hakara and Rasha will take

4 Gemstones on 5

This was the bookmail I was most excited to receive this month. A beautifully sprayed edge digital design from Fairyloot.

I loved Andrea Stewart's first series The Drowning Empire so I was so excited to see there was a new series in the works with The Gods Below starting it off.

It reminded me of a video game with the gem magic, travels to the centre of the earth and 'boss battles' with gods and other factions along with the ever shifting worlds.

It is a very interesting setting with the world being in the process of being remade and seeing both the before and afters at the same time from the two sisters Hakara and Rasha points of view.

The other two main characters who's stories are in the 'civilised' and unchanged as of yet part of the world inject a bunch of politics as well as Journey to the Centre of the earth vibes which I'm interested to see where it does end up further on in the series to come.

There is some LGBTQ+ rep in this as well as a crazy cat guy that injected some humour into an otherwise rather serious situation.

A genuinely enjoyable and easy read of a story and thank you very much to the publisher and Netgalley for an early ebook copy of this to read.

I absolutely adored Andrea Stewart's Bone Shard trilogy, so when I picked up The Gods Below, I had high expectations. However, I found that I couldn't quite connect with the story and the characters. It felt like I was wading through long, meandering paragraphs filled with excessive details. It was a bit of a letdown, to be honest. Despite this, I'm willing to give it another chance after a re-read.

The last 30 percent had me not wanting to put it down but unfortunately my job got in the way. I loved so many of the characters it took me a little bit to get my head around who was who and with who. Once I had it all settled in my head I was obsessed. I NEED SOME REUNIONS IN BOOK 2. I am really excited to see how this series continues. I LOVED HAKARA AND THARRIS. SHEUAN and RASHA I NEED MORE. The unexpected trope at the end honestly I am hooked.