I love the premise but don't think this was for me. I don't mind miscommunication as a trope but it infuriated me here. I also felt like we were going in circles a lot.

This book!!!
This is the perfect mix of dark & moody fantasy with the added allure of forbidden magic!
Filled to the brim with secrets, lies & magic, Undead Gods is everything you want a dark Romantasy novel to be and more.
The world building was gorgeous and the politics really added to the tension of the story.
Learning about Elysia’s past was gut wrenching and definitely allowed you as a reader to better understand her decision making surrounding her curse.
The friendships in this book are everything! (get yourself a friend that will capture the sun for you)
Talk about a cliffhanger!

Memorable Moments
🗝️ Welcome to Kava, where the undead gods neither hear nor care, but you'd best pray to them anyway lest they curse you with their gifts.  
🗡️ She collected secret after secret with no one the wiser. Because no one pays attention to sweet, soft girls in the corner.  
🗝️ Because Elysia Parker never did things by halves.
🗡️ “Hello, sweet liar”

Undead Gods started so strong, and the synopsis sounded like something I would love. The premise is so interesting and I loved the gas lamp fantasy elements. The main issue for me was that the story and the characters felt like they didn't go anywhere. There was no motivation to like any of the characters. The way the story was structured made all the characters feel unbelievable for me. The first fourth of the book felt like I was just meeting characters that I was supposed to feel for and just supposed to believe in a complex relationship that they had with Elysia instead of it being shown through the story. I felt this issue a lot with the love interest, Topp. Their fighting didn't really have any emotional impact because you never see why they fell in love or are genuinely invested in their relationship. I really liked the premise and the magic system, but the characters were lacking. There were also pacing issues for me as well. I felt like nothing happened in this book except in the first and last 50 pages. Overall, this book had a great premise but it didn't work for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 🌶️🌶️

I was hesitant when I saw miscommunication listed as a trope. This trope has always bothered me, because it is so easy to fix. However, in this book, when Caitlyn says miscommunication done right, it makes complete sense as you read the story. The miscommunication is needed to stay alive and keeps secrets hidden until ready to be revealed.

Inspired by Hades and Persephone, this story has a fresh take on this beloved couple. I went through so many emotions while reading this book, I still don’t know how to sort them all. The ending of this book has stuck with me! I think about it all the time and want book 2 asap. A debut novelist who knew what she wanted to say and said it!

Elysia holds magic inside of her, but in a world where magic is forbidden. She is used by her father as her magic allows her to sense secrets and then compel them to reveal them. She knows the risk this puts her in as it could cost her life if the right person found out. Why magic has disappeared is a mystery though. Elysia does everything she must to survive and to just keep going. She is strong, resilient, fierce, and someone I definitely want in my corner.

Although not heavy on the physical romance, there is romance between our FMC and the crowned prince of the kingdom. Topp cares for Elysia and is sweet to her, although I can’t wait to get to know him more as this series continue. I believe he truly cares for Elysia, but will that care stay once he knows all her secrets?

As always, review any author notes before reading.

Tropes:
💀Dark Fantasy
💀Hades x Persephone Retelling
💀Forbidden Magic
💀Hidden Identity
💀Dual POV

I do enjoy Hades and Persephone retelling and Undead Gods was a hit! A great storyline, interesting characters, and a quick pace.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Thank you for providing me with it a copy of Undead Gods. I enjoyed reading this book and loved the dark and moody setting of the book. I really liked that the story is a mystery but set in a fantasy world and that the main characters have to try to uncover the secrets of the world. I liked the way that the society was set up and the idea of forbidden magic. However, I would say that the book seemed to end just as things were starting to pick up so this is a little bit of a slower read (but this is likely to set up a future book).

First off, the writing in this book is truly lovely. The characterisation is great, and I absolutely felt that I was on board for the journey with our heroine and her challenges (which are MANY). The setup seemed good and I looked forward to the world-building.

But... at halfway, I had to put the book aside. I may well return in future, but it's so very slow. Chapters go past with nothing really happening, and while it's good to set foundations and establish setup, I found myself wishing things would move a little more swiftly. It's interesting to see the day-to-day life of a character in a magical(ish) world, but not every single aspect helps move the story along.

As I say, I'll likely return. The vibe of the book was excellent and I'm a mood reader, so may well be back to speed through to the end. It just didn't grab me enough right now.

Wasn’t really for me.
Slow burn. Lack of communication. Nothing rant happening but yet we go in circles

I absolutely loved this as I have always been obsessed with hades and persephone. I loved this rendition of it and thought it was action packed and an easy read!

This was a fun read full of twists and turns. A FMC who is raised to hide her secret unless it benefits the crown and a prince hiding his own secrets, Lys does know who to trust. Through the curves if this storyline we get answers that lead to more questions and possibly some allies along the way.

This book had a slightly slow start but ramps up the action in a fluid story. I really enjoyed it

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Twelfth House Publishing for an ARC of Undead Gods in exchange for an honest review. I have no big feelings on this book. It was a fun retelling and the premise captivated me, but there were definitely bits I had to slog my way through. Overall it’s an entertaining read and the book did fly by the last 60% or so. Will be on the lookout for book 2

I absolutely loved the writing style, and the story kept me hooked from the very beginning. Elysia was a headstrong FMC, and every moment of the story was captivating. This was an incredible debut! As for Topp—his name made it hard to take him seriously at first, but wow, he turned out to be a dream come true. Their relationship was toxic, but honestly, they were made for each other. That ending though—I was completely taken aback! I’ll always recommend this story.

So grateful to Caitlyn Battelle for an ARC of this fabulous fantasy read!

This book contains a lot of early world building, but none of it feels like an info drop,instead it really sets the stage for the rest of the series.

The distrust and miscommunication between the FMC and MMC never feels overdone, and in fact is, in my opinion, wholly justified given the political climate of the story.

Elysia is a complex, morally grey character - developed theory circumstances largely outside her control. It's only when she begins to take steps to live for herself and her own beliefs that the reader can fully grasp the extent of the manipulation she's been subjected to in her life.

While there is romance present, the book reads like high fantasy - and I’m not upset! Caitlyn has done an amazing job setting the stage for the rest of the series, and the foreshadowing for what's to come is deliciously written. I'm liking forward to more from this fabulous debut author.

Also - wondering where to find my own Lina!

Perfect for readers who love:

moody, gaslamp vibes
life-changing secrets
deals with a god
forbidden magic
hidden identity
animal sidekick
strong, morally grey FMC
feminine rage

4.5 ⭐️

This captivating read draws inspiration from the tale of Hades and Persephone, but it brings its own unique twist, particularly in the haunting world of Kava. Magic is treated as a curse in this dark, beautifully grim kingdom, where those who possess it live in constant fear of death. The author does a fantastic job painting the desolate landscape of Kava, making it feel alive and oppressive, with magic tied to the whims of the gods.

Our main character, Elysia, is secretly cursed with the ability to sense secrets, navigating the treacherous royal court while hiding her powers—often complicating her relationship with the charming Crown Prince, Topp. Elysia is a total badass: calculating, dramatic, and fiercely independent, yet she reveals her vulnerabilities as her heart opens to a select few. The romance between her and Topp is incredibly bittersweet and layered, filled with witty banter that adds depth to their complicated dynamic.

While the story starts off a bit slow and isn’t told from a first-person perspective, making it harder to connect with the characters right away, it builds beautifully as Elysia grapples with her father’s expectations and her own curiosity about the magic that has vanished from their land. The tension and moral ambiguity of both Elysia and Topp create a fresh take on the genre, keeping you on your toes about who to trust.

The world-building is richly dark and gothic, with a strong visual impact that makes you yearn for character and setting art. The last quarter of the book ramps up the intensity, leaving readers breathless and desperate for more. If you’re a fan of intricate plots and morally grey characters, this is definitely a story you’ll want to dive into. I’m eagerly anticipating the next installment to see how the mysteries of the Undead Gods unfold!

When I saw that this was a Hades and Persephone retelling I jumped at the opportunity to read this because it sounded right up my alley!

The authors writing in this is so beautiful and descriptive and really helped me paint the picture of this world, however I really struggled with the pacing of the plot and would have enjoyed more romance. This is 100% personal preference as I don't enjoy slow burns. I feel like goldilocks; I like it somewhere in the middle burn!

I can see how this book perfectly sets up for future books in the series, but I am unsure if I will continue unless the romance plot line is going to develop more in the next book.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the eARC and the opportunity to share my thoughts.

This story follows the country of Kava that's been under a lot of tragedy due to magic (or so they'd want citizens to think).
This leads to a massive amount of people being hunted down and persecuted because of their own usage of magic.
Whether they can control it or not if they are found out they are sentenced to death.

Elysia's particular magical ability to be attracted to/ trace secrets has led her to assist in the hunting of others who use magic in service to her father.

She's from a very prominent family and her father (an important merchant thanks to the barren land theat relies upon trade goods & imports) is a cruel,abusive, and manipulative man addicted to status. He's constantly reminding her that she's a curse upon the family and could wind up dead. Pretending in public to treat her with affection.
Her mind has been so twisted by his thoughts that she truly believes that she is a curse upon the family and that she must do what they say.

Her mother is less physically abusive than the father and more emotionally abusive.
She is a perfectionist who pretends to care about people in order to keep up her status.
She carves out the face of the Crown through social events.

They were a great many details to observe throughout the story. Details such as the fact that soot falls from the sky creating illnesses, secrets are like currency to families of status, modern style clothing existing in an industrial revolution (early to electricity) era with fantasy weaponry.

Topp's claustrophobia, attention to animals, & secretive nature brought more to the character.

Undead Gods had me feeling fascinated with the societal constructs, relatibility of family dynamics, and darkness of a soot covered world. The mentorship was a solid point of story for survival as well.

Copy recieved was an ARC.
My opinion is my own and is left voluntarily.

DNF. I just couldn't get into the writing style of this book. Kava was not that interesting to me and neither was the main female character.

This book is a standout in the genre! Elysia's captivating journey through a richly crafted fantasy world had me hooked from start to finish. With her morally grey character and sharp wit, the banter had me laughing out loud. The blend of rustic fantasy with modern vibes is simply brilliant.

The magic is intriguing and mysterious, leaving me eager for more in future installments. Just when I thought I had the plot figured out, surprises kept me on edge. While the ending feels somewhat predictable, the execution left me gasping and craving the next book!

A book which is slow-paced but the description is very well-written. I was enchanted by journey of Elysia and it spins around so tactically that made me go and read it in my own sweet time as I wanted to savour it!
There was also a feeling of modern days woven in fantasy setting which is so cool. The complexity is something that makes your mind go haywire but it was worth it!