4.25 stars!!

WOW WOW WOW this was a unique one- from the interpersonal dynamics to the magical curses from undead gods to the slight phantom of the opera vibes to the insane character name Topp Blatz to THAT ENDING??!?!? I am obsessed, this had a little bit of a slow start but then we were OFF to the races and all across town in pleasure houses, undersea hidden chambers, tunnels through the castle, and even into other dimensions!!

Elysia Parker is cursed from the god of death to hear the siren song of secrets and lies, and her position in life has brought her to be used by the crown despite their hatred of magic. As her curse grows stronger and brings on new challenges, she's forced to step up her game of staying alive at all costs, which is especially tricky being the almost-fiancee of the crown prince!

The most fun aspect of this book to me was the inverted expectations of relationships between characters: Elysia and Prince Topp had one of the most unique romantasy dynamics I've ever read and it was fun to see the original love interest not just be a blah character we suddenly hate; Elysia and her sister Beatriz haven't been close in the past, but moments in the story bring them together and their roles in the relationship switch up in a beautiful way; Topp and animals- I mean LINA come ON!!

Every place I expected a zig in this book, I got a zag. Every place I thought it was going up, it was going down. I feel like I may have picked up on at least one specific thread (maybe a green thread?!?) that I anticipate being significant in the next book, but even that I know curveballs are coming our way. This was just an absolute breath of fresh air!!

Thank you so much to Caitlyn Battelle and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley, Twelfth House Publishing and Caitlyn Battelle for this eArc

This review will have SPOILERS 🚨
I was going to rate this three stars, but the last 15% was fantastic.
I really enjoyed the authors writing style, though sometimes I felt like what was happening wasn't clear, or could be misinterpreted. But also, could just be me needing things simplified.

I really enjoyed the relationship between the FMC and the prince, that whole storyline was 💯

I had two main issues with the story, the FMCs two best friends felt like a dead end, they didn't really bring much to the story IMO

My main issue was I felt like the stakes were not high enough. Everyone secretly had magic and everyone always seemed to just know about it, so it wasn't this big deal… no one cared. It wasn't this shocking revelation.

LOVED the ending though, so well done and definitely made me want to come back to see where the story goes!

Incredible! I will absolutely be begging my friends to read this one!! 10000000000/5 stars!
I don’t know what to do with myself after this one.. I’m in a big reading slump 😅

I loved this book! It was so well-written and really engaging. I loved the setting of the story feeling kind of Victorian/Eastern European and filled with mysteries, secrets, and just great atmosphere and vibes. I really enjoyed Elysia the FMC who was not overpowered and felt like she was realistic considering the circumstances. I enjoyed Topp as well. I really liked the Hades and Persephone angle that's just starting out towards the end of the book and I'm excited to see where that goes in the next book in the series.

There's a level of the miscommunication trope in the book, but it's done in a way that doesn't feel like an argument that could just be solved if people spoke to one another, it's more a matter of two people wanting the same thing, both feeling like they can't trust anyone, and both having very different plans to take the action they both agree needs to be done.

The ending was also amazing. I did not see the ending coming the way that it did and it's such a cliffhanger! I'm already ready for book two!

**The Undead Gods** by Caitlyn Battelle is a captivating debut set in the enchanting yet dangerous world of Kava, where magic is nearly extinct after a catastrophic event known as The Fall. In this realm, wielding magic can lead to death, creating a gripping backdrop for secrets and survival.

The story follows Elysia Parker, a clever and scrappy protagonist hiding her powers from the royal court and the crown prince, Topp Blatz, who could condemn her. As her magic becomes harder to conceal, she distances herself from Topp and her friends, determined to uncover the truth behind Kava’s lost magic and the gods’ abandonment.

Battelle’s world-building is immersive, and Elysia’s relationships evolve beautifully, particularly her complex chemistry with Topp, which I hope will spice up in future books. The novel ends on a thrilling cliffhanger that left me eager for more.

Set in an 18th-century-inspired Kava, the story explores love, loss, and the quest for freedom, enriched by vivid details of food and flowers. Despite a few slower moments, the well-developed side characters, including Elysia’s protective sister, Beatriz, and the witty banter, enhance the experience. **The Undead Gods** is a delightful blend of intrigue, humor, and emotional depth—Caitlyn Battelle is certainly an author to watch!

This will leave you wanting the next book immediately so be prepared fellow reader. The heroine Elysia, is strong and pretty easy to get behind and her love interest Topp will perhaps perplex you as he's far from perfect and I am not sure he is what the author wants for Elysia ! The magic was very well done as its minimal partly due to Elysias gift. There's still mystery to solve, a resistance and of course a God who is heavily invested in Elysia but my lips are sealed. Definitely a book for those who enjoy fantasy with a little bit of romance thrown in and a heroine who never backs down.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I started this book and it’s good but I found myself confused. I just felt like the storyline was jumping around so much I got confused.

A dystopian land devoid of magic, a cursed girl, and enough secrets to ruin a godless nation.

Elysia Parker, child of the Crown, is cursed with magic in the land if Kava, where possessing magic is a death sentence. Since she was a child, she could hear the secrets of others, sending countless magic users to their death under the order of her king and father or suffer the same fate. Now, at 24 years old, her magic is changing, threatening to reveal her secret. Elysia's world is crashing down around her, from her unwieldy magic, to the unyielding demands of her father, to her relationship with the crown prince who isn't who he seems. Can she bring magic back to her nation without losing her head in the process?

Undead Gods was a good read. Its story is unique, the characters are interesting and have depth, and the ending leaves you wanting more, setting up nicely for another book. The last 20% of the book really digs those hooks in, especially when we meet a deadly new character (who I am looking forward to learning more about).

However, I did find the book to be a little slow at parts and disjointed at others. There would be time/scene skips mid page or chapter that would not totally make sense, but they did not heavily distract from the story itself. It can feel like a long haul, but the last 100 pages make it worth it.

Overall, I enjoyed Undead Gods and look forward to the story comtinuing. Many thanks for allowing me to recieve an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll be honest, I nearly DNFed this book but, unless there is something seriously not gelling with me, I will keep going for an ARC as it deserves that sort of perseverance. I am glad I stuck with it, because the second half was significantly more enjoyable than the first half (43% was going to be my DNF point).

Reasons for almost DNFing was really because I couldn’t bond with the characters in the way I wanted to. The world building was very good but I didn’t like the vagueness of aspects of, say, the magic. I’m still not really sure what Elysia could do. Also the first half of the book was void of anything really happening of consequence. It felt like some exceptionally long and effortful introduction. Finally, the drift between 3rd person POV characters was a little jarring and I was sometimes confused about that.

Also, and this is really silly… but I can’t get behind the Prince (and MMC and love interest) being called Topp Blatz. Not for me!

However. There were a number of good twists and turns, and the pacing overall was pretty good. And, despite not totally gelling with the characters, they were complex and compelling. I like someone who is on the grey in a black-and-white spectrum. The political intrigue was nice too, and I did feel rather stressed at times for Elysia… which is the sign of a good book. So I can’t say I hated it, I definitely didn’t. But I am extremely disappointed as this book’s premise is literally all I search for in my next favourite read. It just didn’t live up to what I wanted.

This was a truly fun (while also dark!) read. The arc of Elysia and Topp was believable without being predictable. I’m fully invested in this world and will be ready for book 2!

This is the first time I read a book by this author.

The cover is striking, and the title is captivating. When I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book, I signed up so fast and didn’t regret my choice. The worldbuilding and magic system are impressive, and I appreciated how the characters and their relationships evolved throughout the story.

Objectively this book is good. Very well written.
Gothic-esque type world and the magic and political systems were great.
The characters I really enjoyed. I even loved the relationship between Elysia and Topp.
HOWEVER....
This entire book is just the miscommunication trope and I have a very livid hate for it.
The book could have progressed so much quicker if Topp had just opened his mouth and used his voice...
He even reasoned all the aspects of why she was lying to him and he still couldn't come clean...
It was infuriating.
In saying that I will be reading the next book because now that all of that ridiculous storyline is out of the way I will enjoy myself with these characters.
Also the plot twists with the king were a nice touch so
Kudos to that.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. This is my honest opinion.

PLEASE PEOPLE READ IT!! I NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS!!!

I had such a good time reading this book I struggled to put it down to go to work! A flawed and headstrong FMC, interesting side characters and a 3-legged raccoon? What more do you want?

Caitlyn Battelle did such a wonderful job with the world building and creating multi-dimensional characters that were easy to get attached to. I would love a whole book from Gage's POV just because I enjoyed his character so much! I really don't want to say too much and spoil the book but I REALLY cannot wait for it to come out so everyone can meet this wonderful world Battelle created (and suffer with me as we wait for the next book because WHAT IN THE CLIFFHANGER)

Thank you NetGalley for access to this amazing book! I even ordered a signed copy for myself so I can reread it again :)

For a debut novel this was absolutely brilliant!

It had action, adventure, a morally grey FMC, political intrigue, a pretty unique magic system and a multitude of other things that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about!

The character development of the main character Elysia was great! She started off very two-dimensional, selfish and flat and turns into a character who actually cares about her kingdom and what is happening to it! Definitely persevere if you struggle with this book as it’s so worth it!

The ending definitely has me wanting to come back and read the next book when it comes out!

Thank you so much for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This is the first book I've read by Caitlyn Battelle and it was chefs kiss amazing 🤩! This was a ummmm where have you been all my life amazing due to the characters, intense world building, and unique magic system!

Elysia lives in fear like everyday is her last day because in Kava you will be killed if you have magic! This is a Hades/persephone retelling or Greek mythology which is newer to me. I've read a few retelling and this has been my favorite so far!

I loved how Elysia is strong, sassy, and morally grey! Actually I loved how a lot of the women in the book were portrayed as strong! There is witty banter, magic, danger, secrets, betrayals, love with the dark fantasy/romantsy elements! The supporting characters and found family elements also make this book magnificent! So many tropes with a strong plot!

The cliffhanger left me mad as I wanted another chapter but I'm ready for more!

Here's a more engaging version:

What a story! This fresh take on the Persephone and Hades myth was an absolute blast. While the plot took a little time to pick up steam, once it did, it was a thrilling ride that kept me hooked from start to finish.

*spoiler alert*
I have to admit, I was a bit torn over the male love interest choice at first... until Aiden showed up. Now, I’m all in and can’t wait to dive into the next book!

Undead Gods captured me from the very beginning. It promised everything I love in a fantasy - it's dark & moody, a steampunk-esque setting, magic, gods, royal politics and intrigue and a touch of romance. What I didn't realise is just how much feminine rage is built into the story and I LOVED it.

Elysia was born in Kava - a land without magic, and where those still 'cursed' with it are hunted and killed by the Crown. Her father has exploited her curse all her life, and she fears her partner, the Crown Prince, will find out and turn her in. Elysia's powers have started to progress and she wants to learn what this means for her and Kava, making friends with rebels, committing treason and venturing to the land of the dead to do so.

The writing was fantastic. Battelle really does have a way with words. The descriptive elements and the world-building are so immersive and it really is easy to picture exactly where they are. I'm not normally one to highlight on my Kindle, but I just had to highlight some areas as they were so beautifully written.

Undead Gods is an emotional rollercoaster. The lovers-to-enemies plotline broke me; if only they'd communicated with each other properly! This wasn't a meaningless plot-point though, it only highlighted the extent that each character must go to to keep themselves safe, ultimately, despite having the same goal.

The ENDING. Oh. My. God. I can't believe it ended on that cliffhanger. I'm so excited to see what happens with Elysia next. This is also a story in which I'd love to find out more about the side characters - Beatriz obviously has some secrets and Gage is so intriguing! I hope that whatever happens next, Topp can redeem himself in the eyes of Elysia, I'm a sucker for a happy ending, but, likewise, I can see Aidan being a contender for Elysia's heart in the follow-up (hello? handsome, brooding god?)

If you enjoyed The Foxglove King, I especially think you'll love this. I'm a huge fan of both 🖤

I've got my hardcover pre-ordered, it deserves a spot on the shelf.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of an ARC in response for an honest review.

The premise was nice.. I love a good retelling but there became to a part when it felt to similar to other books i've read.. Did I liked Elysia? Yes I did.. Did I loved the world building?? Yes I did the story, the idea I did like it but it could have been better.. That doesn't mean I won't recommend because I do but for someone who wants to dive in it's first retelling

For full transparency, didn't finish the book.
I got to 40% mark and I hate, really hate DNFing books.
The world building was great, the premise, fantastic. I really appreciate when a story has a FMC but sometimes I feel some of them are too similar and felt like I was reading Throne of glass, a book that I also DNF. The writing style is not for me and I'm really sad because I enjoy the world building so much. I felt I was in a steampunk scenario, kind of like Mistborn, but wasn't enough to keep going.

Beautiful written, an intriging world building and a badass FMC! Oh and forbidden magic! Yes, please!