First, a huge thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
I was captivated on the spot by the drop-dead gorgeous cover! It is stunning and when I read the synopsis I was intrigued for good!
Unfortunately, despite the good idea with the magic system, gods it couldn't immerse me in the story or captivate me.
The plot unfolded too slow and, combined with all the different POV's in different time periods, it became a little challenging and sometimes boring. At some point, I was expecting the plot to move, but instead, the next chapter was introduced to a new POV starting a new story, and it became a bit frustrating.
The characters felt one—dimensional, and it was challenging to connect with them on an emotional level and live the story through them.
And the information that was given thorough the story, in my opinion, was too little and leaves you with too many questions, and you're struggling to build the world in your head.

3.5⭐
This is the kind of book that I liked many things about it, disliked a few things but unfortunately didn't love anything about it. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it (I mostly did) but I wanted more..
I'll start with what I liked. A very interesting beginning (reminded me of a non-fantasy book, White Chrysanthemum, that I really like) has us, mainly, following the story of two sisters who get separated and try to reunite. We are slowly introduced to the world and it's history and that is one of the most beautiful and interesting parts. The lore is explained nicely and it's quite intriguing. There is also an allegory on climate change, that many readers will appreciate. More POV's are introduced and we find out about the magic system which is clever and in a way similar to Mistborn's.
I must add that we also quite a few action scenes, also done quite well.
So as I said before, many things worked for me but..
The character work unfortunately were below par. They are almost all prety one-dimensional, each one driven by a single motive and when finally they have to make some hard choices their actions are not believable and defy their previous behaviours.
There are two romantic sequences that were totally out of the blue and made me question if they were at all necessary or presented in some more believable way.
And finally it's the plot. This being the second trilogy of Andrea Stewart, I would expect her to take some risks, but instead I felt that, even though I enjoyed the story, there is nothing new added to the genre. Everything felt overly familiar.
In conclusion The Gods Below is a good start to the trilogy, that if the author had played it less safe, could have been much better. As it stands I believe that newcomers to fantasy will certainly enjoy it more, as will people who are fans of Sandersonian magic systems.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me with the ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. The premise of this one sounded really promising and I do have to give the author credit for her truly imaginative ideas. The issue I have is that if you have these really unique magic systems and world building/lore you need to provide sufficient information for it to feel truly immersive, and I think this book does not quite pull that off. I have a lot of questions after the initial installment and yes many of these will probably be found in the sequels, but it I still wanted a little bit more from the first book. I would also say that some of the character development/relationships seem rushed/underdeveloped. Having said all that, I did enjoy the book for its unique concept and story and would recommend for fantasy fans.

My thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Group UK for a free e-ARC of "The Gods Below" the first book in an new trilogy, "The Hollow Covenant" by Andrea Stewart.
The gorgeous cover and the premise of "The Gods Below" convinced me to give the author another chance.
While I could see the author's evolution in this work I still had most of the same issues as with her debut: the plot and the characters did not captivated me at all.
I just found myself not motivated to continue reading and not emotionaly invested. The charcarter voices did nothing for me as a reader.
The Eco-Fantasy world and the gods were intreaguing, but that was just not enough.
Maybe I'll try the author again if she will write a standalone....

I was supremely bored, reading this. The worldbuilding had potential – there were a couple of details I was intrigued by, especially the underground realm of the gods, which has its own star and also a sea?

But absolutely none of the characters held my interest at all – even as the cast started to expand towards the 20% mark. It was the very odd sensation of, all their various plotlines/goals *should* interest me – a woman trying to get back to her younger sister; said younger sister training to become a godkiller; a guy out to find the path to the underground god realm; a woman who wants justice for her executed father and also to save her clan from its decline – there was even an actual god amongst the PoV cast!

And they all bored me. Each one seemed so one-dimensional; none felt like fully developed people. They each had one defining goal/personality trait, and that was it. Any interest I had in the aforementioned goals was drained away by their monotone first-person perspectives (this book might have worked a lot better if it had been written in third-person instead).

The slight interest I had in the underground world of the gods just wasn’t enough to keep me reading. DNF.

Andrea Stewart’s “The Gods Below” is a mesmerizing entry into the realm of epic fantasy, weaving a spellbinding tale that captivates from the first page. Stewart, already celebrated for her prowess in fantastical storytelling, delivers a narrative that is as rich and multifaceted as the mythical world it inhabits. This novel is a triumph of world-building, where ancient deities stir beneath the earth, their power and wrath shaping the destinies of mortals.

The plot unfolds in a realm where magic and legend intertwine, chronicling the journey of Elara, a warrior with a mysterious past, and Kaelen, a scholar obsessed with uncovering the secrets of the ancient gods. Their quest to understand and control the dark forces lurking below the surface propels the story into a crescendo of tension and revelation. Stewart’s prose is both lyrical and vivid, painting a world that feels simultaneously familiar and wondrously alien, filled with intricate societies, towering cities, and ominous landscapes.

What sets “The Gods Below” apart is Stewart’s masterful characterization. Elara and Kaelen are drawn with a depth that makes their struggles and triumphs resonate profoundly. Their personal arcs are seamlessly interwoven with the grand tapestry of the plot, blending their growth with the unfolding epic. Stewart’s characters are imbued with a raw humanity that adds emotional weight to their heroic endeavors.

Thematically, the novel explores the delicate balance between power and responsibility, the lure of forbidden knowledge, and the enduring struggle between destiny and free will. Stewart’s exploration of these motifs is both thought-provoking and exhilarating, adding layers of meaning to the gripping narrative.

“The Gods Below” is an epic triumph of fantasy literature, a tale that transcends the genre’s conventions to deliver a story that is as emotionally resonant as it is thrilling. Andrea Stewart has crafted a world and narrative that will linger in the minds of readers long after the final page is turned, a true testament to her talent and vision as a storyteller. For fans of epic fantasy, this book is an absolute must-read, a journey into a realm where gods and mortals clash in a dance as ancient as time itself.

Actual Rating: 4.5

As someone who devoured ’The Drowning Empire’ series last year I was incredibly excited to pick up ’The Gods Below’ and it did not disappoint. If you want a new, fascinating, danger filled fantasy world to explore then this is undeniably the book for you. Gods, monsters, magic, scheming, Godkillers, perilous journeys; what more could you possibly ask for in a fantasy read?

For me the standout feature of this book has to be its deeply intriguing world which managed to reel me in from the very first page. It’s taken the perils of climate change and pushed them to magical extremes with mystical components and a Godly solution that’s downright terrifying. There are intriguing glimpses of varying cultures but given the danger filled way that this world is divided you don’t see too much of some of them. There’s a strong religious following too and the previously mentioned Godkillers which I’m sure will pull many a fantasy fan in. There’s so much more that I’d love to say about the setting of this world but personally I think half the fun of this novel is in discovering it for yourself so I’ll keep things somewhat vague.

Narrative wise you follow five vastly different perspectives, all on very different paths. The main one is Hakara a reckless young woman who dives into danger without thought and is driven pretty solely by one mission. Then there’s Rasha and Sheuan; one training to become a Godkiller, the other desperate to save her failing clan. These three tales tie together in ways that you’ll uncover fairly early on and form the bulk of the story. Mullayne chapters, although on a very different path, never failed to fascinate me and I was always excited when his perspective popped up. Whilst Nioanen’s story gives you a harrowing and insightful look into the past – through the eyes of a God, no less. Needless to say I was invested in all sides of this complicated story.

Character wise everyone was fairly well fleshed out and offered vastly different personalities. The back stories that you uncover over the course of the book can be particularly harrowing. There are lots of twists and turns throughout too. One I’ll admit I saw coming fairly early on but it did twist upon itself later in unexpected ways. Others caught me completely off guard.

Honestly the only thing I struggled with at times is the feeling that some bonds between characters seemed to form too quickly and the occasional moment felt slightly out of previously established character. This wasn’t in any way enough to derail my excitement but it does hold me back from giving <i>’The Gods Below’</i> a full five stars. Regardless I’ll certainly be eagerly awaiting the sequel though; the ending left lots of intriguing lines of interest that I can’t wait to uncover more of.

Ultimately I absolutely recommend ’The Gods Below’, particularly to anyone who loves to explore fascinating, danger filled fantasy realms. The inclusion of Gods, and those with the ability to hunt them, adds a fascinating new layer of intrigue. There are multiple trails to follow but I didn’t once lose track of them. Plus there are so many secrets that I can’t wait to uncover. Needless to say I’m hooked.

This is an excellent book!

The world-building and setting for this story were really interesting and unique. The world felt rich, and had real depth and intrigue to it. It's definitely a world I want to keep returning to!

The two main characters, Hakara and Rasha, were both so well written, rounded characters, with their own desires, flaws, strengths and weaknesses. By the end of the book, I was rooting for both of them to succeed. There are multiple different points of view throughout the book, and each thread of the story is intriguing as the last. I was pleasantly surprised by this, as I often find books with multiple points of view has one that I find much less interesting.

The plot was detailed, with lots of inter-connecting parts, and I really enjoyed discovering how things all fit together (though, there are still lots of questions unanswered, so I'm looking forward to the next book already!) The intrigue and plot twists were wonderful, and definitely kept me hooked.

I found that it took a little while for me to get into the book, and wasn't sure whether I'd end up enjoying the book, but after a short while I found myself thinking about the book when I wasn't reading, and wondering what happened. That's when I realised I was hooked!

The bone shard series is one of my favourite books series ever, so I was so happy when I heard Andrea Stewart had a new book coming out.
And I have to say this book didn't disappoint. Andrea Stewart seems to just get better with every book.
The Gods Below has been on of my favourite reads this year so far.
Solidified now as an auto buy author :)

DNF at 25%. I tried this from 02/06/24 to 04/06/24. I am choosing to DNF this because I’m really just not enjoying it. It’s not bad at all, just not my thing. I have tried a book from this author before and I didn’t finish that one either so I just don’t think this author is for me. I am glad I tried this though but I just don’t find the world interesting and I haven’t connected to any of the characters.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars
This was a really cool concept- gods residing in a hollow earth and a war between them. Restoration which turns people into god-like creatures, two sisters trying to find each other, etc. I feel like I should have loved it, but I never really connected to the plot or any of the characters. I feel like a lot of the cool ideas were just sort of touched upon, and I really wanted them to be explored in more depth. The world building was so good but I just wanted more!!
The plot was fun for the most part and the action scenes were all well written. The plot twists were mostly pretty predictable though, which isn’t a bad thing necessarily but it didn’t really help me get invested in the story. Some of the characters were also pretty one-dimensional and there was a fair bit of just sort of stating what they’re like without properly showing it.
I will say that Kluehn was a really cool villain! Delightfully creepy and I really loved the scene with him, Rasha and the child god early on.
There was some really great stuff here, but it wasn’t all connected well and, though it was fine overall, I wouldn’t say I really enjoyed it. However, I feel like the series as a whole has a huge amount of potential with the unique ideas. I think I’d still recommend this to fans of modern fantasy with really cool world building, even if it wasn’t necessarily all for me.

Reading this, I loved learning about the magic of the world. It was so interesting to read and I loved seeing the different perspectives of the characters.

The world building was interesting and the magic system would appeal to Brandon Sanderson fans but I found the main character really annoying and preferred the sub-plots to the main one of the sisters trying to find each other. It also took a long time for the story to get going but, when it did, it certainly left me wanting more.

The start of a new trilogy from Andrea Stewart. Two sisters are separated in a world in turmoil. After ten years apart, will they still be able to find each other or have the years driven a wedge between them that cannot be reconciled?
Stewart has certainly come up with an original story and created a complex world where magical gem stones and gods dominate. There are multiple story lines and the chapters alternate between the differing viewpoints of the main characters.
I really enjoyed the first book in Stewart's previous trilogy, but felt that the second and third books tailed off. I had high hopes for this new trilogy but sadly it was an anticlimax. The story seemed to take ages to get going. The world that had been created was hard to relate to. It seemed confusing and difficult to picture. There were numerous characters that didn't feel distinguished enough from each other and they all seemed to blur into one another. The main characters weren't very appealing and I didn't really care for them. So all in all, for me, the book was a disappointment.

This was a really interesting start to a new series. The magic system was original and I generally wanted to learn more about it, whilst also being explained well (no info dumping, the lore was gradually placed within the book.) The pacing was mostly good, and the book read quickly, but I will say that some of the chapters were too short- as in they would cut off during the action, then start a new chapter from the same POV picking straight back up- why the need for a new chapter? The characters were alright, but one of the main problems I had with this book is that none of the characters particularly stood out to me, and could have done with more fleshing out. Similarly, parts of the book felt rushed and would have benefitted from more development.

Overall, however, this was a fun and quick read that I'd recommend for those looking for a new fantasy series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart
Book One of the Hollow Covenant
Rating:4/5
Release Date: 5 September 2024

“The Gods Below” unfolds within a realm scarred by the remnants of ancient sorcery, where rare gemstones grant mystical prowess to the select few who can wield them. Amidst covert power dynamics and clashes among deities, we shadow Hakara, a determined young woman on a quest to locate her vanished sister. Her resolve drives her to daringly challenge the divine hierarchy itself, igniting a rebellion in her pursuit to reunite with her kin.

Stewart skilfully portrays a world on the verge of chaos, yet pulsating with resilience and an unwavering drive for love and survival. The characters are expertly crafted, captivating the reader with their depth and keeping us thoroughly entertained.

I highly recommend.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group UK | Orbit, and the author,Andrea Stewart, for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.

The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart

Book One of the Hollow Covenant

Release Date: September, 5th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars


The series unfolds in a world shattered by ancient magic, where rare gemstones grant extraordinary powers to a select few. Amidst clandestine power struggles and conflicts among deities, the narrative centres on Hakara, a determined young woman on a quest to locate her vanished sister. Her journey leads her to confront the gods directly, as she spearheads a rebellion in her relentless pursuit to reunite with her sibling.

This book is like diving headfirst into a whirlwind of environmental chaos and divine drama!

Picture two sisters, Hakara and Rasha, caught in the midst of a world turned upside down by the god Kluehnn's meddling. When they get separated by a wall of funky magic, Hakara kicks off a wild adventure to find her sis, encountering all sorts of craziness along the way – think theft, secrets, and some seriously tough challenges. But amidst the chaos, there's a glimmer of hope and determination that shines through, making this story a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

Stewart's writing paints a vivid picture of a world teetering on the edge, yet bursting with resilience and the undying quest for love and survival.

Highly recommend!

Thank you to The Publisher Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit ,The Author Andrea Stewart & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.