Island of the Dying Goddess

by Ronit J.

On the island of eternal grief
Even the gods have died a thousand deaths

My name is Anawar, and I am an immortal explorer. A few days ago, I was stranded on Sawarrgh, an island where everything looks twisted and the air smells of mourning. The atmosphere has forced suppressed memories to resurface. I have to consciously keep them at bay, or I won’t be able to survive this island’s horrors.

There’s Ghaph, the mad warmongering god who mutilates his enemies and patches on their dismembered limbs. Then there’s Ndraja, the goddess who can enslave entire kingdoms with just her thoughts. But the worst is the nameless Goddess who created Sawarrgh a millennium ago, caging it in a barrier that reverses time, forcing the island to relive the same year over and over.

Sawarrgh is a nightmare come alive. Here, existence itself is a curse. The living are barely alive. The stranded, condemned.

I need to escape this island, and in doing so, free Sawarrgh from its perpetual punishment.

And the only way to do that is to kill the Goddess.


Elden Ring meets A Fistful of Dollars in this stand-alone horror grimdark fantasy

Genres: Fantasy

358 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2025

About the author

Get a FREE copy of Abandoned by the Gods by joining Ronit's mailing list: https://ronitjauthor.com/newsletter/

Ronit J is a fantasy author and indie filmmaker based in Mumbai. He decided to write fantasy books at the age of 11, and at 29 he's finally self-publishing his debut book, Help! My Dog is the Chosen One!
He's a fantasy nerd with big dreams and bigger anxieties, all struggling to make themselves be heard within the existential maelstrom that is his mind.

Reviews

[Wolfmantula · Rating 5 out of 5]

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🚨 I received an advanced review copy, provided by the author for an honest review. 🚨
This did not impact my rating in any way.

————————————————————————————————

MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5
FORMAT: Advanced Review Copy

I’m not sure this will suit everyone due to its edgier themes that may unsettle some, but Ronit crafts an incredible fusion of a dark, near-horrific storyline with a strong, character-driven narrative. He calls Island of a Dying Goddess a speculative exploration of grief and loss, and that rings true. This is a story that plummets you into a miasma of loneliness and despair, where hope feels like an impossible reach away. It reminds me of Luke Tarzian’s shadowy, metaphorical style, weaving meaning beyond the words, with Ronit’s grief flowing just as deep in his own way.

In the preface, Ronit bares his personal struggle with his father’s gradual decline from a stroke. This raw vulnerability bleeds into the pages of Island of a Dying Goddess, where Anawar, an immortal urja wielder and a clear stand-in of the author himself, wrestles with his father’s death. From this turmoil, the author weaves a story both strange and beautiful, the strangeness in its twisted metaphors and the beauty in its hidden truths.

This is pitched as ”Elden Ring meets A Fistful of Dollars”, and it delivers that promise perfectly. Sawarrgh channels Elden Ring’s shattered desolation, a cursed island of eternal grief where time loops annually in a cruel reset, its jagged ruins and grotesque gods locked in a brutal, endless clash. Yet it carries the gritty bite of A Fistful of Dollars, with weary souls scraping by, pitting gods against each other in a desperate bid to break free and back to their original mission.

“Sometimes things don’t need to have meaning. Like death. When your loved one dies, you don’t need it to mean something, do you? You cherish the good, pat yourself on the back for surviving the storm, and then move on.”

Reading this dark tale, I found myself drawn into a quiet solace, piecing together the story like a puzzle begging to be solved, where deeper meanings ripple through the inhabitants of the cursed island. The twisted gods mirror strokes devastation: Ghaph an echo of body’s ruin and Ndraja, a theft of mental clarity. Humda, the hermaphrodite goddess, seems to stand for Ronit’s family as a whole, not just a single person, while The Nameless Goddess feels like his father, and Sawarrgh itself his fractured mind, and Kalma, the embodiment of death itself.

Anawar and Amos shine as mirrors of each other, though Anawar is a man, Amos is a humanoid-crustacean known as a reptonide. Anawar shoulders the crushing weight of grief, while Amos embodies the brighter side that may have been lost. Both play a vital role in the story though they are split a majority of the book as two halves of one soul navigate the same hellscape of horrors as they seek to break the island’s curse. One deals with it through grit while the other flashes the liveliness of witty, sarcastic quips that infuse scenes with some reckless fun.

I found myself contemplative after finishing this book. Ronit lays his soul bare with incredible skill, the grief raw and piercing. A decision he wrestles with struck me hard, one I might deal with someday, and I’m unsure of what I’d do. The message within is beautiful, hitting right where it needed to. This is a great work of speculative fantasy that closes on a bittersweet note as they set sail into the sunset, a quiet farewell to his father.

[Athena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never know how to approach rating indie books, but I feel the need to try.

Island of the Dying Goddess is a brutal, bleak, grim exploration of grieving, and what it means to have mercy.

For the most part, I enjoyed each of this book's major players. They were all interesting and varied, and while many of them suffered from rotting, degrading minds, the ways in which this affected them didn't feel like it was too similar.

I discovered this book after digging through search after search for a book that would satisfy my recent Elden Ring obsession, which was listed as inspiration for this book. An inspiration that while obvious in a few characters, I didn't find distracting or too derivative.

I was actually very happy to see more done with the concept of Grafting with Ghaph, who seems to be based on Godrick the Grafted from Elden Ring. Being an early boss in the game, the player doesn't get much time or space to think about Godrick, but Ghaph *demands* it. The grafting of Ghaph, while similar, feels like it plays with the idea of greed, power-hunger, and exploitation much more, something I feel makes for an interesting metaphor.

Kalma and Ndraja are perhaps my favorite characters.

I often found myself more excited hoping to see Kalma kill her father than for anyone else to kill him. She felt much more human than her father or her Aunt, something I feel contrasted them well and, especially with Ghaph, provided a much-needed character to break from Ghaph's aggression and madness, a character to offset it just enough. (She definitely deserved a better father, though).

Ndraja is also fascinating to me. I can't pin down her specific inspirations, though they hardly matter for the purposes of my review. The specific horror she enacts to her Vault of Minds to is fairly unique, and I like the concept. Vault of Minds is probably one of the most ominous and chilling sets of words I can think of.

Only character I found myself not liking as much at times was Amos, and most of it is characters like him can be very hit or miss for me. Some of it was how Amos treats Humda, an intersex goddess when he meets her, though Anawar sets him straight.

Anawar was a good main character for me, and I generally liked him. I found his desire to help innocents admirable.

as with its inspiration, Island of the Dying Goddess's world building and lore are fairly loose and sparse, though I don't think this is a bad thing, here. The Island takes place in its own time, almost in its own world, meaning world building can afford to be a bit more sparse.

The themes of grief are all over in this novel. Anawar grieving his father. Kalma grieving a life she can't remember. Humda grieving her mother. Ndraja and Ghaph, who are either unwilling or unable to grieve. we don't know these people's back stories .. and we don't really need to.

I could talk a while, and maybe at some point I will. but as is, it's very late. I'll likely edit this at some point and make it make sense.

I'm not likely to forget Sawarggh, or the mad goddesses and god who called it home.

[E. P. Soulless · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on r/GrimDarkEpicFantasy by u/SoullessEddie.

So, is it any good? I’d lean yes, but the story is not for everyone. The writing can surface as a little heavy-handed, slightly confusing, and mopey at times, given the serious topics woven into the book. That said, Island of the Dying Goddess is an original piece of speculative fiction with Grimdark and Metaphysical hues that will charm those readers who enjoy this niche. I know, I did. Though, before you strap yourself in and begin digesting what it is those pesky deities are up to, make sure you’re feeling kind of upbeat and bring a few tissues as well. You’ll need ‘em.

Divine Intervention: I forgot who I’m talking to, you won’t weep, but be warned, this is a tragic and deeply personal story.

Now, let Eddie tell you why this book is worth your time without spoiling anything major...

I’ve read Ronit’s short stories, Abandoned by the Gods, so I had somewhat of a notion of what I was getting myself into—or so I thought... Needless to say, I wasn’t ready. The way the story meanders from wholesome to gruesome is something to behold. The author channels his personal struggles into the pages, which manifest as both flashes of genius and cheap thrills. I’ve likely missed a few nods or hints during my reading/note-taking, as this is a layered narrative, but for better or for worse, here goes:

1.00 | Themes — Life is finite, so live deliberately. Grief is the echo of love, not a chain. Carry it forward as a tribute, not a weight. Coping is not surrender, it’s the method by which we remain human in the face of loss. Even if the world offers nothing in return, your actions are not diminished, they are declarations of self in a silent universe. The loop may seem endless, but awareness is the knife that severs repetition. In a world where meaning isn’t handed down, you forge it. Through intention, through resilience, through the decision to act anyway in the face of pointlessness. Exceptional!

0.75 | Characterization — Gods, gods (think demi-gods like Hercules or Perseus), everything in between and under with agency. Now, my knowledge of Hinduism is limited, but I’ve noticed some inspiration, which is to say, some of it feels familiar, but sufficiently contorted to have a whiff of freshness or foulness—you choose. Amos and Anawar feel like two sides of the same coin, but each deals with their troubles along the journey very differently. I’ve enjoyed the depictions of the various deities and the non-humanoid inhabitants. It gives the whole world a Kafka-esque feel, where nothing is impossible, but remains firmly grounded in Eastern mythology.

0.65 | Plot — Island of the Dying Goddess plunges us next to divinity mid-strife on a mysterious island, and before we can kind of figure out what’s going on, it’s all over. I’ll shy away from spoilers. Unlike most Grimdark-adjacent authors, it is the quiet moments that shine in Ronit’s work, whereas the action sequences could be a bit more dangerous. I’d say, the plot comes off as secondary to the emotional toll the story delivers, and while it is ever-churning with forward momentum, the author’s focus is aimed elsewhere. To balance all 5 elements in a book is close to impossible, few have succeeded, and Ronit’s attempt is one of the better ones I’ve seen.

0.60 | World-building — Sort of self-constrained and limited by the setting. The author didn’t give himself many chances to show off in this department. That said what is there is great. The island is a mosaic, a puzzle to be pieced together by the eagle-eyed reader. It has similar vibes to the Lost TV show, where we get to explore alongside the protagonists, theorize, and experience the dangers, crude beauty, or even more transcendent ideas like the Vault of Minds.

0.80 | Prose — Ronit over-rellies on shock value and profanity. I’d urge a bit of restraint in those departments. Restatements of the events of the past few paragraphs reign in the jittery reader, and languish in passages that needn’t be pages, but would suffice as two paragraphs to state the intent. I’d like to see a bit leaner and meaner pacing in places, especially in those long, marathon-like chapters towards the end, but otherwise, the prose achieves what it set out to do—makes us wallow in misery as we dive deeper into the story, become enveloped by its cocoon, only to be left breathless and suffocating.

This book will be a hit or miss for general audiences. Even those skewed towards the grimmest topics might struggle, but it will land home with the few who get it. The heavy themes are an artificial filter for fans. Ronit tried something courageous and unfamiliar, something different. For that alone, he has my respect. He dared, not only himself, but you as well—the reader. Yes, not everything works, but he had chanced to venture where many wouldn’t. This is not the kind of book that will please the masses. It’s the kind that is personal, makes you think, reevaluate your life choices and time spent idling, gives you a taste of the unspeakable and the forbidden, where the only way forward is through. And, once you emerge on the other side, you’ll become a better person for it.

Running Total: 3.80 / 5.00 — Grief-stricken Journey to Distant Lands

[Paul Zareith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up after seeing it described as a grimdark fantasy that draws aesthetic inspirations from Indian culture. So imagine my surprise when I find myself facing a half-human half-crab reptonide erupting out of a blazing temple. Beautiful.

As is likely clear from the blurb, this is a book for dark fantasy enthusiasts. More specifically this is written for people who actually relish the grimdark elements in such books. I emphasize this because there are quite a few books in this genre where the authors offset the bleak ambiance and gory storyline with poetic prose or a thick layer of gallows humor. This is not one of them. The focus on grief and pain is pervasive and all encompassing from beginning to end. If you have enjoyed books like the Gunmetal Gods this may very well be your next favorite read.

All in all, I found the premise of the story fantastic and the presentation rich in detail. There is also a lot of action, but the author's depictions primarily shine when it comes to portrayals of suffering and pain. In Ronit's paradise, grief is omnipresent and presses down upon you, suffocating you, twisting and warping your mind in the most unexpected ways.

The characters are more or less interesting. Amos's brazen recklessness complements Anawar's more scholarly and balanced personality very well.

Read full review on SFF Insiders

[Joshua Dharmawan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book uses the concept of euthanasia as the driving narrative. At first, I couldn’t see the link and the idea did feel forced in the beginning. But once the plot really starts to kick in, the message Ronit is trying to tell shines in the dark, gritty world. While the book’s pacing sometimes felt too fast for me, leading to moments and events falling flat, the emotional exploration weaved in the plot was something I looked forward to reading and kept me hooked until the end.

Kalma is definitely my favourite character in this book. To me, she is the heart that makes this book really intriguing to read. The perspective provided by this demi-god is significantly different from the others. But more importantly, it highlights the problems and troubles a grandchild would experience when facing death in the family. She is the character I could relate with the most, having lost my grandma recently. In fact, I would’ve preferred this story to be told entirely through Kalma’s perspective and issues be kept internally within the family. But hey, this is more of a nitpick and Anawar’s POV doesn’t break my enjoyment when reading the book.

There are, of course, problems I had with the book’s plot structure. I often felt the inclusion of Amos to be excessive. The story can get messy and incoherent with two main characters whose motivation is unclear throughout the book. This is honestly the one thing preventing me from giving it a 5 star. But the book effectively covers a very sensitive topic in an entertaining way, which left me pondering even after I’ve turned the last page. Through this achievement alone, it is very difficult for me to give this book anything less than a 4 star.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, at it’s core, is an exploration of grief. But it’s also so much more. There are so many layers, the world-building and characters are complex. Although I’ve read other works by this author, this one has touched me the deepest. I know this was inspired by a dark event in Ronit’s life, but the way he explored and expressed his grief in these pages and through the things these characters experienced had a dark beauty to it. Don’t get me wrong - this is very dark. Don’t go into this expecting anything different. I can’t imagine the horror of being forced to live the same dark year over and over again, yet that’s exactly what the inhabitants of this island do, and Ronit does an excellent job of bringing it to life around you. For all the darkness, there is some light within the story. However, please make sure you are in a good headspace before you dive in to this beautiful, dark, unforgettable story that will take root in your soul.