Book Reviews: The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart & The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean

Title: The Gods Below
Series: The Gods Below #1
Pages: 512
Publication Date: Sept. 5, 2024
Publisher: Orbit
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy
Synopsis:

The series is set in a world ravaged by ancient magic, where precious gemstones bestow magical abilities on the few individuals able to harness their power. Full of clandestine power struggles and the battles between gods, the story follows Hakara, a young woman searching for her missing sister and who will do anything to find her — even lead a rebellion against the gods themselves.

LINKS: Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon | Bookshop.org

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MY THOUGHTS ON THE GODS BELOW:

What a great series starter! I loved the different POVs and the distinct voices of each perspective. Hakara and Rasha’s stories gripped me from the start, though there were a couple that took me a bit longer to get invested in. Towards the beginning, I struggled a bit to keep track of who was who and how some of the characters were connected, but it didn’t take long to become fully invested in all of them. And I like that we have one POV that takes place in the past. It definitely gives you more understanding of the gods and past struggles. Plus, there were some jaw-dropping revelations that are absolute stunners!

The world-building is immersive and richly detailed, as is the mythology and magic. And the plot is dark and twisty and atmospheric. It’s so tense and suspenseful, and the way Stewart ties all the plots and sub-plots together to make one cohesive story with so many different perspectives and settings is absolutely brilliant. And that ending!! I definitely need to read the next book because that end left me with my mouth hanging open!

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Andrea Stewart is the Chinese American daughter of immigrants, and was raised in a number of places across the United States. Her parents always emphasized science and education, so she spent her childhood immersed in Star Trek and odd-smelling library books. When her (admittedly ambitious) dreams of becoming a dragon slayer didn’t pan out, she instead turned to writing books. She now lives in sunny California, and in addition to writing, can be found herding cats, looking at birds, and falling down research rabbit holes.

MY THOUGHTS ON THE PHOENIX KEEPER:

The Phoenix Keeper is a unique and magical read with an endearing protagonist and a dynamically developed setting. I absolutely loved the setting! It’s so unique and incredible, and I WISH we had magical zoos where we could see all these amazing mystical creatures.

I also loved the anxiety rep. It was done really well and felt true to life. Aila is strong and intelligent, but she really struggles with her anxiety which presents itself in many different ways. I felt for her since I struggle with the same things, and I know how debilitating it can be. Luckily, Aila has a wonderful support system!

The secondary characters are fantastic, especially Aila’s best friend, her non-human friends, and her parents. There’s also a rival turned potential love interest that I have some strong feelings about, though they change over the course of the story. I didn’t think I’d grow to love this character, but by the end I did! The story also has a love triangle, which isn’t my favorite trope. I’m surprised Aila didn’t see through some of the shenanigans, but it all worked out right in the end.

I did find the story a little difficult to get into. It took me a good 25% of the book before I became attached to the characters and story. But once I did, I found it hard to put the book down. It was cosy and magical, and the bit of mystery added some suspense and intrigue, which I enjoyed.

Thanks to Orbit Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

S. A. MacLean is a romantasy author from Southern California. Her stories feature spiky banter, sassy animal companions, and queer casts who represent her voice as a chaotic bisexual woman.