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!

This book sucked me in more and more as it went on. The world building was phenomenal. It was so easy for me to picture the scenes in my head as I read, which heightened my experience. As soon as she met the death god from her dreams, there was no turning back for me. That cliff hanger ending has me craving MORE! I will be anxiously awaiting a book 2 announcement.

I haven't had a book work me up this much in a long time, so please forgive me but there is going to be more swearing than usual, and maybe a little more sass too. Maybe I'll come back and edit this in a couple of days when I've cooled down, who knows...

If you want a book where nothing big happens and miscommunication is the name of the game, then this is for you.

A lot of words are used to say very little, at least regarding the plot. 30% of the way through and I still don't know what the goal of the FMC/book is. 60% of the way through and the first plot relevant thing happens. kinda?
Across the whole book nothing really happens, in terms of an overaching plot for the book. It doesn't stand alone as a book. There are a bunch of smaller events we read about, but I'm not sure that they were are really necessary.
It does however, create a very cool, beautifully grim world. The writing is flowery and really paints a picture of the dark desolate city of Kava, exceptionally well. It seems this books was just made to set up the real and future stories, to give the characters backstory, and I'm a little disappointed by that.

The verbose writing and slow plot made it difficult for me to get through the book. At times it felt swimming through syrup. But if you don't mind slow burn stories and romances (she hasn't even met her love interest at the 80% mark) then this is for you! As much as this book frustrated me, I will still read the next one. I'm a sucker for the God of Death in all their incarnations. Though I am hoping it picks up now that the backstories have been set up. I'm not sure I could take another book this slow for this story.

I was told there we would have a morally grey FMC, and those are jus the best. But I'm not sure she's actually morally grey. Is she badass? Yes. Is she tortured? For sure. Has she had a hand in numerous deaths? Absolutely. Is she happy or indifferent about it? Not even close. Does she try to do the right thing when she can? Yes (as long as it let's her live another day).
If she could get what she wanted, stay alive, and be free, all without hurting people. She would. If she could save as many people as she could, she would. She's just a girl who wants to sell her flowers. But despite her privilege has been put in an unthinkable position, and every thing she does, she does for survival. There's nothing grey about it. And yes she makes bad decisions sometimes, but don't we all? Especially when survival, addictions and vices are involved...While I might not relate to her as much as I do some other characters I've read about, I understand her. And that's all that matters to me.

Gage, you're my man and I love you. Like Dimitri for Vampire academy but better and an older brother, not the weird creepy teacher vibes. I don't know how you made it this far and if I could vote on turning you into the God of Patience, I would.

Is there death, violence, parental abuse... yeah sure whatever, but the most important warning for me is the MISCOMMUNICATION. That is the most blaring off-putting thing for me in this book.

Now usually I'm pretty good at avoiding spoilers, but this time I can't. They're not big, but if you prefer knowing anything, don't go past this point. It's just not possible for me to talk about about what's his name without revealing a little bit...

----------- MINOR SPOILERS BELOW ------------

Pretty sure this Prince, the MMC for this book, and what I assumed was the love interest, has shit for brains.
If you know her secret and you're not gonna hurt her and you want her to trust you, why not fucking tell her that instead of running after her, teasing her cruelly, and letting others hurt her. And listen I love dark romances, this is not the fun and sexy cruel actions your thinking about, this is just plain dumb. He wa to to uncover the secrets and possibly save his country, but he has no solid plan. He's the best tracker but can't tell when he's being tracked. Loves our heroine but refuses to do anything that would actually help her. Contradicts himself over and over again. In the end it made sense, he wasn't so insufferable he couldn't be left behind.

One of my top reads of this year. At 40% I could not get enough and knew this was going to be a 5⭐️ read and it did not disappoint. The world building was fantastic without being overly complicated.

Kava, a kingdom where magic once thrived in its people and land, mysteriously disappears overnight. For those who still have some of it remaining, it is considered a curse and is an immediate death sentence by the Crown.

Elysia, the FMC is secretly one of those who are “cursed” but is also openly seeing the Prince, Topp, whose father will not tolerate any inkling of magic in his kingdom. She lives in constant fear of hiding her curse while maintaining court life to ensure her survival.

The relationship btwn Elysia and Topp was a roller coaster of emotions. I hated him, then loved him, and then also wanted to chuck my kindle at him. I loved seeing their relationship play out and I can’t wait to see where this goes with the twisty end.

The other characters were also great and the author, Caitlyn weaves their personalities and plots with the overall story so well. Please give us more of Gage in the next one!

Amazing fantasy read that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book. Cannot wait for the second!

✨Undead Gods✨

So much plotting and scheming and political intrigue! These characters are vipers! Morally grey! Fierce! And delightful. It’s like a new adult cruel prince/wicked king deviance and Elysia is like Jude, but maybe more unhinged. At least definitely has less self preservation. Ha!

In UG, we enter a kingdom where several years ago magic was suddenly stripped from their people. Now only occasional people harbor the “curse” of magic and those are all publicly executed unless kept secret. Elysia is one of those secrets. But secrets are also how she thrives and earns her living. Hiding in plain site, Elysia works for her father, collecting ways to bring others down within the Crown and court. But when her magic shifts, she finds herself in a race to figure out how to stop it, how to stay alive, and how to keep her secrets from those around her- especially her cunning boyfriend, the prince- before he truths are laid bare.

This story is full and descriptive. It is plot driven with a touch of romance. Everyone is morally grey. The setting describes almost Victorian but feels modern. Elysia and her crew (if you can call them that) are straight cut throat. I’m not sure there’s a soft edge here and I loved it.

About 85% the intrigue triples. I was clutching the kindle, seeming more answers and time with these new revelations and theories, and the ending has me aching for what transpires on the other side of that cliffhanger.

Tropes you may find are morally grey FMC, court intrigue, romance subplot, a raccoon, lovers to enemies, you know what- everyone is morally grey, all the scheming, low spice, strong women, lots of secret keeping, touch her and die, and knife to the throat.

I’m so thankful to get to be an arc reader for this gifted arc. I’m so curious for what happens next!

In Undead Gods, Caitlyn Battelle spins a captivating tale set in the decaying realm of Kava, where magic is both coveted and condemned. Elysia Parker, a royal with a hidden magical gift, finds her secret increasingly difficult to maintain, especially as her forbidden romance with Crown Prince Topp Blatz intensifies and the mysteries of Kava unravel.

Battelle’s world-building is rich and immersive, blending intricate details with a dark, atmospheric setting. The story strikes a great balance between vivid descriptions, engaging dialogue, and Elysia’s internal struggles. Although I’m eager for more clarity on how Elysia’s magic works, the enigma adds to the book’s allure.

The secondary characters, particularly the banter between Gage and Maya, are a highlight. Gage’s chemistry with Elysia occasionally feels more charged than her romance with Topp, and Adrian adds an extra layer of intrigue.

Despite a slow start, Undead Gods is a compelling introduction to the series, and I’m looking forward to seeing where Battelle leads us next!

“Some choices were irredeemable, not even time able to soften the damage or pain.”

“Undead Gods,” by Caitlyn Battelle

I absolutely loved this book so much! All the characters, even the side characters, were so good. I loved how Elysia and Topp interacted, so much bickering and so many secrets. The romance kept me glued to the book hoping for a resolution and the suspense with it killed me. The fantasy story plot was unique and interesting, and it was super easy to picture all of it. Elysia is one of my favorite FMC I’ve read, she is independent and strong but desperately wants to be loved and fit in. This book is definitely one of my top faves for September and this year. I cannot wait for book two!!!! 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

“It’s a lonely life, putting your love into the wrong hands.”

“Sometimes the truth was more powerful than any lie.”

That ending has almost made writing this review impossible lol. In short, 𝗦𝗢 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗.

Elysia is perfectly fleshed out as our main character, and her internal battles are undeniably relatable in the way that Battelle crafts them. On that note, the writing in this book is genuinely so, so beautiful. For example: (I have 96 individual highlights, even with actively trying to stop myself)

”The feeling of his fingers, his nails pulled her from the glacial, immoveable depths of fear holding her body captive and plunged her back into the flames of wrath. And with that, several things happened all at once. The most important of which was Elysia Parker exploding through her porcelain mask. Shards and fragments of the doll she had been flew like shrapnel through the air. Composure broken, she found a vicious, vengeance-bent version of herself waiting to emerge. The Crown-welded collar and leash lay demolished, brittle pieces scattered on the floor.”

These metaphors are as exquisite as the validated feminine rage that soon drips from these pages. I can’t adequately express how much I loved the balance that Battelle achieved between violent rage and internal conflict within Elysia Parker. A brilliant and easily adored fmc.

”A reverie of rage.”

The love interest in this story is extremely unique in that they already have an established relationship from page 1, and then…things happen. As they do lmao but most likely 𝗻𝗼𝘁 in the way that you’d expect. Which is why I’m 110% recommending this book to anyone who’s even remotely interested:
𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙡𝙡 𝙇𝙊𝙑𝙀 𝙞𝙩 ♥︎

I literally cannot wait to get my hands on book 2!

Book Review: Undead Gods by Caitlyn Battelle

I’d like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Undead Gods, and I have to say, this book captivated me from the very first page. Set in the intriguing world of Kava, where magic has become a dangerous secret, I found myself drawn into Elysia Parker’s tumultuous life.

Elysia is a fascinating protagonist—cursed and hiding her magic while navigating the treacherous royal court. Her fear of discovery is palpable, and the stakes couldn't be higher as she finds herself in love with a prince who could condemn her to death. I was on the edge of my seat, wondering how she would maneuver through the complexities of her heart and her curse.

The writing is lush and immersive, perfectly capturing the dark, moody atmosphere of Kava. Battelle has a way with words that painted vivid scenes in my mind, from the underground tunnels to the allure of pleasure houses. The world-building is intricate and compelling, creating a backdrop that enhances the tension of the narrative.

I also loved the Hades and Persephone inspiration woven throughout the story. It added a rich layer to Elysia's journey as she navigates love, betrayal, and self-discovery. The themes of sacrifice and truth resonate deeply, making Elysia’s quest not just about survival, but about finding her place in a world that feels unforgiving.

While I found the pacing a bit uneven in spots, the twists and turns kept me engaged, and I was constantly surprised by where the plot led. The character dynamics are complex, and the supporting cast adds depth to Elysia’s story, making every encounter significant.

Overall, Undead Gods is a dark fantasy that expertly blends romance and danger. If you’re a fan of intricate world-building and strong character arcs, this book is a must-read. I can’t wait for the next installment to see where Elysia’s journey takes her!

In Kava, magic has disappeared and any trace remnants are outlawed, punishable by death. Cursed with the remains of some magic, Elysia Parker lives in fear every day that her secret will be revealed. Elysia believes her salvation lies in the crown prince. In love with Topp Blatz and hopeful that his love will protect her from her curse, Elysia's very existence is precarious. When her magic suddenly changes, Elysia is forced to search for an answer before her secret reveals itself.

"The fates do have their jokes, don't they?"

Immediate thought upon finishing this was that to the lovely Caitlyn Battelle, I need the next book IMMEDIATELY. RIGHT NOW. (Spectacular, give me fourteen of them.) Undead Gods was MAGNIFICENT. It gave serious Throne of Glass vibes in the best possible way. I read A LOT of romantasy and I've read most of the currently popular romantasy books out there and I firmly believe that Undead Gods will have a VERY big moment.

The beginning took a little bit of time to get into but this didn't surprise me because world building in unique fantasy environments can take some time and I wasn't upset about it either. One of my favourite aspects of Undead Gods was how vivid the storytelling was, I really felt like I was in Relclave and I could picture every aspect of it. I love love love intense world-building personally, so I really enjoyed how in-depth the descriptions were. Once the scene was set, this was an incredible, intricate story with an amazing cast of characters. I loved the found-family aspect of this and I hope that is built on more in a subsequent book. I L O V E Elysia, Lina, and Topp (I can't tell if I'm supposed to though?????)

THE END. Like the last 80 pages? I'm a) STUNNED and b) distraught that I don't immediately have the answers that I want. I LOVED the circle on Elysia's new magic, that aspect was just unbelievable, I didn't expect that to happen the way it did.

All of this is to say if you like:
- fantasy with plenty of world-building
- found family
- strong women
- forbidden magic
- lovers to enemies to questions???
- secrets and mysteries

You will LOVE Undead Gods by Caitlyn Battelle and you should absolutely pick it up!

"To the women whose names are never known, who fix the mistakes of men."

Thank you to Caitlyn Battelle, Twelfth House Publishing, and NetGalley for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

UNDEAD GODS - CAITLYN BATTELLE

I hadn't read much dark fantasy before reading Undead Gods, but I loved this book so much and it's made me want to read more in this sub-genre. Here's a synopsis:

Elysia Parker lives each day in fear it will be her last. The magic the gods carelessly gifted mortals disappeared years ago, and Elysia is all too familiar with what happens when someone is found to be harboring magic in her land. Death. Cursed but hiding in plain sight within Kava’s royal court, Elysia has her eyes on the crown and its prince. But an unexpected change in her magic throws her carefully laid plans into chaos.

If you love books that have a strong vibe, you'll love Undead Gods. This book has an atmosphere, where you can almost physically feel the gloomy, lamplit and ash-flecked surroundings as you follow Elysia's story.

While the novel doesn't only show Elysia's point of view, it feels like we, as the readers, don't have access to all the information at play. And that makes sense. The Kava Court runs on fear and secrets, and this applies to us too, where we're never entirely sure what Elysia or other characters are planning to do next. This makes for an intense but exciting read, right up until that ending.

Feisty and practical, Elysia reminded me a lot of Celaena from the Throne of Glass series. So, naturally, I'm a fan of Elysia, as well as all the other major and minor characters. In fact, I liked all of these characters so much, I wanted more time with them. No spoiler on what it is, but there's also a super-cute animal sidekick, which I wish was introduced a lot earlier in the book!

By the time I got to the ending, my jaw genuinely dropped and I quickly reached out to Caitlyn, who confirmed that there's a book two in the works. Expect a major cliffhanger!

All in all, this is an excellent start to a new dark fantasy series, and I can't wait to get my hands on book two. Thank you to Caitlyn Battelle, NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC.

Release date: 1 October 2024

Review score: 4/5

TW: violence, s*xual content, death, drug use, s*xual assault

For complete transparency - I did not finish this book.
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing outwardly 'bad' about this book but it just wasn't for me and I found myself struggling to want to pick it back up and keep going. The premise is excellent, the writing is good. But the story itself is slow, and some of the chapters are excessively long. I also didn't feel myself making a connection with the main character, or any of the others.
I would go back to this and try again at some stage, but for now I'm not continuing. I feel like upon finishing, I'd give a 3/3.5 star rating.

This might be my favorite read this year. The vibe, the characters, it just hit in a way I REALLY need a book to hit for me.

The world was fascinating to me. While there are many stories with gods and magic, the spin on this was so unique, it had me engrossed IMMEDIATELY. The abilities are unique, and I loved learning about new ones.

From the first sentence of this, I couldn't stop reading. Until I finished it, I stayed up until 3am three nights in a row 🫣

I love Elysia. Morally grey, wants to survive. She is selfish in a beautiful and understandable way. Her life has been spent under the control of her father, and she is a grown woman in this story, wanting to stop living in fear. There were many many times I teared up solely because her desire to be safe, to be able to trust someone, and especially her relationship with her father (all the girls with daddy issues know 🫶🏼) Usually it takes a big emotional event to happen to make me cry while reading, but I cried multiple times reading this because of how attached I grew to the characters.

Now, Topp... oh man. I can't say much. So many spoilers if I do. BUT I LOVE HIM OKAY AND I KNOW MAYBE I SHOULDN'T BUT I DO

I devoured this book and loved all the characters. They had their own personalities, goals, lives. They all felt perfectly fleshed out. And the WORLD 🤌🏼 It was easy to understand but also fascinating. I am so so excited to learn more and dive back in whenever book two comes. It'll be worth the wait, but I will be rereading book one while I wait 😂🫣

Set in Kava, a land that is essentially dying after its magic has been taken by the Undead Gods. Anyone found still possessing or suspected of using magic is sentenced to death.

Elysia Parker, our FMC and a member of the Crown, has been secretly living with the power of magic. As she grows older, her magic evolves, making it harder to keep her secret. This leads her to uncover the truth about Kava’s magic and the Undead Gods.

Elysia is already in love with the one person who could sentence her to death—Crown Prince Topp Blatz. This relationship becomes increasingly complicated as hiding her magic from Topp becomes nearly impossible. Meanwhile, Topp has his own motives to discover what happened to Kava.

The world-building was easy to follow yet detailed, giving off gothic, steampunk vibes. I felt there was a perfect balance of description, dialogue, and inner thoughts. I did wish for a bit more detail about Elysia’s magic so I could fully understand it, but I understand that it adds to the mystery—this is only book one, after all, so hopefully there’s more explanation in book two.

The side characters were great, especially the banter between them. I want more of Gage and Maya in book two! And… was it just me, or did anyone else feel some weird tension between Elysia and Gage? At times, I thought there was more chemistry between the two of them than with Topp.

Also—Adrian? Hello, I’m here for it.

Although this did take me a little while to get into it, it was an enjoyable read and I will definitely continue the series.

Thank you NetGalley, Caitlyn Battelle and Twelfth House Publishing for an eARC in exchange for a honest review.

Elysia is a woman trying to survive in a realm where her magic is forbidden and her love, the Crown Prince, could kill her if he knew of it.

I loved the characters in this book, they were funny and calm and emotional and complex. The plot lines kept me pulled in and hoping my guesses were wrong.

I don’t want to spoil anything - but ahhhh! 😱