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The Younger Gods #1
The Younger Gods
Danger looms when a former priestess sails to the realm of the dead to find her fallen lover, only to discover the gods she thought she defeated are preparing for war.
Iona Night-Singer thought she’d overthrown the gods. Her mortal rebellion eked out a painful victory by using the gods’ own powers against them—though she lost her betrothed, Taran, in a final battle with the god of death. Months later, the war doesn’t feel over. Not with Taran gone. Especially not when the gods still answer the prayers she sings.
Angry, grieving, and with a gnawing dread that the gods will return, Iona strikes a deal with her former patron if Iona can convince Taran to follow her home from the Underworld, he’ll be free to live again. If she fails, they’ll both be trapped there forever.
No sooner does she find him, she makes a horrible discovery. The dead gods have been reborn, they are plotting revenge—and Taran, it seems, was always one of them. This reincarnated trickster god with Taran’s face no longer remembers her or the war they fought together, and she doubts not just his loyalties but his love.
Determined to stop the next war without revealing her part in the last one, Iona enters her deadliest battle yet, one where she fights to bring Taran home without him even knowing it.
Iona Night-Singer thought she’d overthrown the gods. Her mortal rebellion eked out a painful victory by using the gods’ own powers against them—though she lost her betrothed, Taran, in a final battle with the god of death. Months later, the war doesn’t feel over. Not with Taran gone. Especially not when the gods still answer the prayers she sings.
Angry, grieving, and with a gnawing dread that the gods will return, Iona strikes a deal with her former patron if Iona can convince Taran to follow her home from the Underworld, he’ll be free to live again. If she fails, they’ll both be trapped there forever.
No sooner does she find him, she makes a horrible discovery. The dead gods have been reborn, they are plotting revenge—and Taran, it seems, was always one of them. This reincarnated trickster god with Taran’s face no longer remembers her or the war they fought together, and she doubts not just his loyalties but his love.
Determined to stop the next war without revealing her part in the last one, Iona enters her deadliest battle yet, one where she fights to bring Taran home without him even knowing it.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 13, 2026
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10522 people want to read
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒐, 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒋𝒐𝒃 𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕. 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆.”
This book was beautifully written ✨ What I love about Greek mythology retellings 🏛️ (in this case reverse Orpheus and Eurydice) is how the author creates a world with gods that you are familiar with enough to not be completely lost so when it begins with a war ⚔️ is easy to understand what is happening. Not only doing that but also slowly taking us through the backstory to fully understand the actions our fmc takes throughout the book. MY SHAYLA IONAAAA
I loved how Iona was determined to get back to her loved one 💔 and how she would even go to the realm of the dead to find him. But alas… we do love a twist 😮💨, and that’s exactly what you get here.
The adventure and Iona’s journey through the realm while trying to make her way back home was so good. It was a bit of a slow burn in the romance subplot 🔥, but when it came to the gods’ war, that was definitely the most entertaining part and the main show in my opinion.
Even though it was super addictive to read about a world of gods 🖤 and how a mere mortal wants to save the world, I do want to say it dragged a bit for me. I think her “secret” took SO LONG to be revealed 😭 it was honestly insane for me as a reader how long it took lmao. She also spent a lot of time just wandering around 🫠, which AGAIN slowed the pacing a bit. That said, I really enjoyed the ending A LOT 🥹✨ and will probably ready the second book lmao
If you love a world filled with gods, war, and a sprinkle of romance, then YES pick this one up! 🔥
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ greek mythology before the end of year, say less
thank you Berkley for my eARC
This book was beautifully written ✨ What I love about Greek mythology retellings 🏛️ (in this case reverse Orpheus and Eurydice) is how the author creates a world with gods that you are familiar with enough to not be completely lost so when it begins with a war ⚔️ is easy to understand what is happening. Not only doing that but also slowly taking us through the backstory to fully understand the actions our fmc takes throughout the book. MY SHAYLA IONAAAA
I loved how Iona was determined to get back to her loved one 💔 and how she would even go to the realm of the dead to find him. But alas… we do love a twist 😮💨, and that’s exactly what you get here.
The adventure and Iona’s journey through the realm while trying to make her way back home was so good. It was a bit of a slow burn in the romance subplot 🔥, but when it came to the gods’ war, that was definitely the most entertaining part and the main show in my opinion.
Even though it was super addictive to read about a world of gods 🖤 and how a mere mortal wants to save the world, I do want to say it dragged a bit for me. I think her “secret” took SO LONG to be revealed 😭 it was honestly insane for me as a reader how long it took lmao. She also spent a lot of time just wandering around 🫠, which AGAIN slowed the pacing a bit. That said, I really enjoyed the ending A LOT 🥹✨ and will probably ready the second book lmao
If you love a world filled with gods, war, and a sprinkle of romance, then YES pick this one up! 🔥
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ greek mythology before the end of year, say less
thank you Berkley for my eARC
Currently reading
January 14, 2026⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ I need something to fill the void that Fallen City left in me a few months ago and until Chosen Son comes out in November, so I think this Greco-Roman mythology-inspired romantasy will scratch that itch for me! The synopsis is very much giving Orpheus and Eurydice, but with a twist where if she fails, she gets trapped in the Underworld WITH him. I'm so excited to read this!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing | Ace Books, Katie Shepard, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Younger Gods is out now!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing | Ace Books, Katie Shepard, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Younger Gods is out now!
January 26, 2026
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Fantasy / Romance
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Thoughts*
The Younger Gods, by Katie Shepard, is the first of a two-part duology called The Night-Singer Duology. This story is the author's romantasy debut in the epic fantasy space, blending Greek-inspired mythology, a gender-swapped Orpheus-and-Eurydice retelling, high-stakes adventure, and deeply emotional romance. At its core, the story follows Iona, a former priestess who once led a rebellion against the tyrannical gods—particularly the God of Death—and seemingly won.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Fantasy / Romance
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Thoughts*
The Younger Gods, by Katie Shepard, is the first of a two-part duology called The Night-Singer Duology. This story is the author's romantasy debut in the epic fantasy space, blending Greek-inspired mythology, a gender-swapped Orpheus-and-Eurydice retelling, high-stakes adventure, and deeply emotional romance. At its core, the story follows Iona, a former priestess who once led a rebellion against the tyrannical gods—particularly the God of Death—and seemingly won.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
April 15, 2025
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book (so grateful!) and oh my god, I can't wait for it to be released so I can gush with friends about it. If you don't read the rest of this review, just know that you need to pre-order the moment you can!
What you’ll love:
A character for everyone. The female main character is feisty and strong-willed in a way that will have you cheering for her, and the author strikes the perfect balance with her (I get easily frustrated with FMCs who are helpless or inexplicably overpowered!). The male main character is hot and sure of himself without being cocky, and the banter between them is so good. The side characters add dimension to the story without veering into name soup territory.
World building that is so well integrated into the story. You get what you need to know when you need to know it, and it’s naturally woven into the narrative (absolutely zero scenes where the FMC goes to the library to read up on history!)
Trials that feel new, high stakes, realistic, and push the story forward, with NO RIDDLES. ‘Aha’ moments that feel earned and reward you for paying attention.
And, best of all, a romance that you’ll be rooting for from the first chapter, with a twist that keeps the delicious slow-burn tension turned up to ten.
What you might not like
Honestly? I can’t think of a single thing—the first book ended on a satisfying spot, but I’m salivating for the next/final installment (oh, and I love that this is a duology, which means the final resolution isn’t five books and however many years away).
What you’ll love:
A character for everyone. The female main character is feisty and strong-willed in a way that will have you cheering for her, and the author strikes the perfect balance with her (I get easily frustrated with FMCs who are helpless or inexplicably overpowered!). The male main character is hot and sure of himself without being cocky, and the banter between them is so good. The side characters add dimension to the story without veering into name soup territory.
World building that is so well integrated into the story. You get what you need to know when you need to know it, and it’s naturally woven into the narrative (absolutely zero scenes where the FMC goes to the library to read up on history!)
Trials that feel new, high stakes, realistic, and push the story forward, with NO RIDDLES. ‘Aha’ moments that feel earned and reward you for paying attention.
And, best of all, a romance that you’ll be rooting for from the first chapter, with a twist that keeps the delicious slow-burn tension turned up to ten.
What you might not like
Honestly? I can’t think of a single thing—the first book ended on a satisfying spot, but I’m salivating for the next/final installment (oh, and I love that this is a duology, which means the final resolution isn’t five books and however many years away).
January 13, 2026
I mean...YES!
The year may be young but The Younger Gods is already topping my favorites list! I was enthralled, hypnotized, riveted, and shocked a few times over! I was also left wanting, needing, praying (heck, singing!) for more! I am already seated for that sequel. I am *that* ready for more! But The Younger Gods is in of itself a ready made delicious meal, so let's serve up some thoughts!
To briefly summarize, Iona is a priestess who never took her final vows as she fell in love. In love with a man who supported her as she led the charge to take down the gods, specifically Death. In the midst of battle, it is her beloved, Taran, who sacrifices himself for the mortals' cause. But love knows no bounds when it comes to the strength of Iona's heart, and so with a bargain with her patron goddess, the Maiden Wesha, she travels the Underworld to resurrect Taran...only to find him alive and much changed. Completely changed, for it turns out her mortal lover is immortal...and has no memory of his time with mortals. Or with Iona.
Cue the confusion, the betrayal, the angst, and that show of strength from Iona again who buries deep the truth of their relationship to bring back to life her Taran. What Iona has traversed, what she sacrifices right at the start for the sake of retrieving her beloved, is nothing short of strength. Strength of heart and will, and that carries her through, even when she's breaking. There were times I desperately called through the page Iona simply tell the truth to Taran of who he was to her and vice versa, but I understood her hesitation and subsequent choices. The Taran of now is not her Taran of then. I'd say she begins her journey wanting to find *her* Taran again, seeing bits of him beneath the mask of rakish new version, but she also comes to contend and then embrace the fact there are parts of the immortal Taran who are true to his self, in the now. And so she must learn him too.
This is my favorite facet of the story. Iona falls in love twice. With both mortal and immortal Taran.
And truly, what love can top that of two souls who will always choose each other no matter how changed? I originally lamented not knowing the mortal Taran, for it's implied he's much different for his godly version, but I ended up falling in love with the immortal Taran. No surprise Iona followed suit! He's a man in the realm of gods who must navigate it with great care and politics, even if it means wearing many different masks to survive. And yet, he is as fierce in heart as Iona when it comes to protecting that which he cherishes most. Which, as it so happens to turn out, becomes her. Becomes Iona. However, unlike Iona, he holds no memory of their time together. Which makes many of his choices so selfless...so perhaps not quite as different to the Taran Iona once knew.
I loved both our leads so much! I easily engaged in their love story, in the devotion they felt towards one another. Taran's yearning heart wanting to keep Iona with him, and Iona's desperate heart wanting to take him away for harm, and to build the future they once envisioned. Plum tree and all.
The world-building is exquisite, I especially love the nature of godly rebirths. I honestly would gladly stay in the gods realm just to learn more about it. Admittedly, I think I stumbled in envisioning the way song is used, but it ultimately did not detract from how my eyes were constantly wide open wanting to consume every detail left for us readers. I need this book to become a movie! I am so thrilled by it.
I recommend this one to all fantasy romance lovers! This is an adventure that will thrill, even if at times anxiety spikes, and this is a love story journey you will want to follow to the very end of the line. I know I will!
Thank you Berkley Romance, Ace, and NetGalley for this complimentary ARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily. 4.5
The year may be young but The Younger Gods is already topping my favorites list! I was enthralled, hypnotized, riveted, and shocked a few times over! I was also left wanting, needing, praying (heck, singing!) for more! I am already seated for that sequel. I am *that* ready for more! But The Younger Gods is in of itself a ready made delicious meal, so let's serve up some thoughts!
To briefly summarize, Iona is a priestess who never took her final vows as she fell in love. In love with a man who supported her as she led the charge to take down the gods, specifically Death. In the midst of battle, it is her beloved, Taran, who sacrifices himself for the mortals' cause. But love knows no bounds when it comes to the strength of Iona's heart, and so with a bargain with her patron goddess, the Maiden Wesha, she travels the Underworld to resurrect Taran...only to find him alive and much changed. Completely changed, for it turns out her mortal lover is immortal...and has no memory of his time with mortals. Or with Iona.
Cue the confusion, the betrayal, the angst, and that show of strength from Iona again who buries deep the truth of their relationship to bring back to life her Taran. What Iona has traversed, what she sacrifices right at the start for the sake of retrieving her beloved, is nothing short of strength. Strength of heart and will, and that carries her through, even when she's breaking. There were times I desperately called through the page Iona simply tell the truth to Taran of who he was to her and vice versa, but I understood her hesitation and subsequent choices. The Taran of now is not her Taran of then. I'd say she begins her journey wanting to find *her* Taran again, seeing bits of him beneath the mask of rakish new version, but she also comes to contend and then embrace the fact there are parts of the immortal Taran who are true to his self, in the now. And so she must learn him too.
This is my favorite facet of the story. Iona falls in love twice. With both mortal and immortal Taran.
And truly, what love can top that of two souls who will always choose each other no matter how changed? I originally lamented not knowing the mortal Taran, for it's implied he's much different for his godly version, but I ended up falling in love with the immortal Taran. No surprise Iona followed suit! He's a man in the realm of gods who must navigate it with great care and politics, even if it means wearing many different masks to survive. And yet, he is as fierce in heart as Iona when it comes to protecting that which he cherishes most. Which, as it so happens to turn out, becomes her. Becomes Iona. However, unlike Iona, he holds no memory of their time together. Which makes many of his choices so selfless...so perhaps not quite as different to the Taran Iona once knew.
I loved both our leads so much! I easily engaged in their love story, in the devotion they felt towards one another. Taran's yearning heart wanting to keep Iona with him, and Iona's desperate heart wanting to take him away for harm, and to build the future they once envisioned. Plum tree and all.
The world-building is exquisite, I especially love the nature of godly rebirths. I honestly would gladly stay in the gods realm just to learn more about it. Admittedly, I think I stumbled in envisioning the way song is used, but it ultimately did not detract from how my eyes were constantly wide open wanting to consume every detail left for us readers. I need this book to become a movie! I am so thrilled by it.
I recommend this one to all fantasy romance lovers! This is an adventure that will thrill, even if at times anxiety spikes, and this is a love story journey you will want to follow to the very end of the line. I know I will!
Thank you Berkley Romance, Ace, and NetGalley for this complimentary ARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily. 4.5
Read
January 29, 2026the scene where she's finally telling him all the things he did during the mortal rebellion and he's threatening to kill her and she's just like hysterically laughing... genuinely was in tears. halfway through the book iona went 'i mean at this point, who cares.'
November 6, 2025
What if your betrothed died and came back w̶r̶o̶n̶g̶ kind of annoying and possibly evil?
Iona’s hard-won victory in the rebellion against the gods came at the cost of her lover Taran’s life. Grieving and despondent, she sails to the Summerlands and begs entry to the Underworld so she can bring Taran back. But her plan is soon complicated by the reveal that Taran isn’t dead at all—he is actually a reincarnated trickster god, with no memory of Iona at all, and is hell-bent on making her his first priestess, which in the Summerlands amounts to an unbreakable vow of servitude.
Iona is much more than romantasy’s standard reckless heroine who creates more problems than she solves. She actually has good reason to be Like That—her anger with the gods and willingness to disobey them and die for it are what started and fueled the rebellion, and she’s not going to start listening to them (and most certainly not Taran!) now.
While the old Taran was gentle, funny, selfless, and sad, the new Taran is an arrogant, lying kleptomaniac who would rather party and hide forever than have anything to do with the still-simmering conflict between gods and mortals. He wants Iona to sing and play dress-up for him, and he grows frustratingly jealous and sensitive about Iona’s dead lover—who he has no idea is actually his old self.
The story of how they fall for each other again and peel back Taran’s layers to see if his good heart is still there, while still letting him be his new self and in constant disagreement with Iona (there are no annoyingly perfect characters here!!), is a vivid and beautiful exploration of love that reaches beyond death and reincarnation. And I had so much fun along the way! I’m already sat for book 2!
Iona’s hard-won victory in the rebellion against the gods came at the cost of her lover Taran’s life. Grieving and despondent, she sails to the Summerlands and begs entry to the Underworld so she can bring Taran back. But her plan is soon complicated by the reveal that Taran isn’t dead at all—he is actually a reincarnated trickster god, with no memory of Iona at all, and is hell-bent on making her his first priestess, which in the Summerlands amounts to an unbreakable vow of servitude.
Iona is much more than romantasy’s standard reckless heroine who creates more problems than she solves. She actually has good reason to be Like That—her anger with the gods and willingness to disobey them and die for it are what started and fueled the rebellion, and she’s not going to start listening to them (and most certainly not Taran!) now.
While the old Taran was gentle, funny, selfless, and sad, the new Taran is an arrogant, lying kleptomaniac who would rather party and hide forever than have anything to do with the still-simmering conflict between gods and mortals. He wants Iona to sing and play dress-up for him, and he grows frustratingly jealous and sensitive about Iona’s dead lover—who he has no idea is actually his old self.
The story of how they fall for each other again and peel back Taran’s layers to see if his good heart is still there, while still letting him be his new self and in constant disagreement with Iona (there are no annoyingly perfect characters here!!), is a vivid and beautiful exploration of love that reaches beyond death and reincarnation. And I had so much fun along the way! I’m already sat for book 2!
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January 22, 2026The Younger Gods by Katie Shepard
📚The Younger Gods, Book 1
Adult • Romantasy
📖464 Pages
🗓️Out Now!
📚gods and humans
📚second chance
📚amnesia
📚slow burn
📚close proximity
📖”And I’ll love you till the stars fall out of the sky.”
Mythology-inspired paranormal romance that delivers a sharp, funny and somewhat unexpected romance between our two MCs. Sure, they were engaged at the beginning of the book. But then he is gone and nothing is how she believes it to be.
Our FMC Iona has been underestimated her entire life, put to test, and somehow she’s still coming back every time to fight for who she loves. Our MMC Taran starts off making you swoon and honestly even when he’s not *himself* anymore, he still keeps us rooting for him.
I liked both of them, but more important than that.. I liked them together. We also have a war that seems to be over but... maybe there’s more to it. The stakes are high, the banter is rich, and the romance is delightful.
📚The Younger Gods, Book 1
Adult • Romantasy
📖464 Pages
🗓️Out Now!
📚gods and humans
📚second chance
📚amnesia
📚slow burn
📚close proximity
📖”And I’ll love you till the stars fall out of the sky.”
Mythology-inspired paranormal romance that delivers a sharp, funny and somewhat unexpected romance between our two MCs. Sure, they were engaged at the beginning of the book. But then he is gone and nothing is how she believes it to be.
Our FMC Iona has been underestimated her entire life, put to test, and somehow she’s still coming back every time to fight for who she loves. Our MMC Taran starts off making you swoon and honestly even when he’s not *himself* anymore, he still keeps us rooting for him.
I liked both of them, but more important than that.. I liked them together. We also have a war that seems to be over but... maybe there’s more to it. The stakes are high, the banter is rich, and the romance is delightful.
September 25, 2025
The Younger Gods⚡️🏛️🗡️🌌
5 🌟
2.5 🌶️
The Younger Gods is a poetic and mythological story reminiscent of a gender-bent Eurydice and Orpheus retelling. From the very first page, I was drawn into the world, writing style, and monologue of Iona. The feeling of overwhelming nostalgia back to the days when I read Percy Jackson and the Olympians for the first time as a child followed me through this entire novel, and helped me to reconnect with my love for reading about mythology.
This book is made up of magic. Every single little twist and turn in the plot was unexpected, and each piece shocked me. The Younger Gods doesn’t read like the typical fantasy romances that are on the market right now: it is going to transcend trends and become an instant classic amongst readers who yearn for the feeling they got while reading similar stories as children.
While this book does feature a Eurydice and Orpheus retelling energy, the romance in this book really takes a back-seat, which I appreciated. I really appreciated the glimpses of the past that we were given, and I loved the parallels between the past and the present, even when it wasn’t obvious at first. You can tell that Shep put a lot of time and heart into this book, it really truly shows and shines. I can’t rave about this book enough, and I can’t wait until I can get my hands on a copy of its sequel: I’m ready to know what comes next for Iona and Taran!
Trigger Warnings:
Death (heavy on this)
Mention of torture
Mentions of child loss
Fire/Fire-Starting
Mention of surgical procedures
(I may have forgotten some, but these were at the top of my mind)
5 🌟
2.5 🌶️
The Younger Gods is a poetic and mythological story reminiscent of a gender-bent Eurydice and Orpheus retelling. From the very first page, I was drawn into the world, writing style, and monologue of Iona. The feeling of overwhelming nostalgia back to the days when I read Percy Jackson and the Olympians for the first time as a child followed me through this entire novel, and helped me to reconnect with my love for reading about mythology.
This book is made up of magic. Every single little twist and turn in the plot was unexpected, and each piece shocked me. The Younger Gods doesn’t read like the typical fantasy romances that are on the market right now: it is going to transcend trends and become an instant classic amongst readers who yearn for the feeling they got while reading similar stories as children.
While this book does feature a Eurydice and Orpheus retelling energy, the romance in this book really takes a back-seat, which I appreciated. I really appreciated the glimpses of the past that we were given, and I loved the parallels between the past and the present, even when it wasn’t obvious at first. You can tell that Shep put a lot of time and heart into this book, it really truly shows and shines. I can’t rave about this book enough, and I can’t wait until I can get my hands on a copy of its sequel: I’m ready to know what comes next for Iona and Taran!
Trigger Warnings:
Death (heavy on this)
Mention of torture
Mentions of child loss
Fire/Fire-Starting
Mention of surgical procedures
(I may have forgotten some, but these were at the top of my mind)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
THE YOUNGER GODS has the bones of classic mythology, the heart of an epic romance, and the twists of a good mystery.
At it's heart is Iona, the last surviving priest of the Maiden Goddess after defending the mortal realm against the wrath of the Death God. Though she lived, her betrothed was lost along with her will to move on. Bereft, she sails across the sea to the god's realm to barter for his return. And there begins an intrigue or hidden identities, vows, secrets, and betrayals. She has to unlearn the ideal images she held of her gods, and relearn the true nature of her beloved.
I loved knowing nothing, or rather, having all my preconceived nations of the gods shattered. Living through Iona adapting her wants and needs as she goes made each page an adventure. She had a clear goal to start, but everything has to change from the moment she sets sail. And these course corrections, her changing perspective, and her very few non-negotiables make Iona a wonderful character to journey with.
The surrounding gods are as brilliant and as terrifying as you can imagine. Fickle and tricksy as any fae. Bored and devious as any immortal. They may present as benevolent or good but there is always a price. I caught myself falling for their honeyed-tongue or affable countenance more times than I'd like to admit.
And Taran! It feels like a spoiler (it's not), to talk about the "two" Tarans. That's all on me for not reading the synopsis–I have a tendency to do that. This time it elevated the feeling of "betrayal" and my confusion was perfectly aligned with Iona's. Dude had me in love with him for his cinematic self-sacrifice and then he's a lil godling having a little nosh under the sun after we sailed across a whole sea to rescue him. So. Very. Betrayed. I loved it. Perfectly executed "you know nothing" fake out.
THE YOUNGER GODS will enchant you with an epic quest for true love then wreck you with devastating twists like a knife to the gut. And you'll love every moment.
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for the advance digital copy to read and review.
At it's heart is Iona, the last surviving priest of the Maiden Goddess after defending the mortal realm against the wrath of the Death God. Though she lived, her betrothed was lost along with her will to move on. Bereft, she sails across the sea to the god's realm to barter for his return. And there begins an intrigue or hidden identities, vows, secrets, and betrayals. She has to unlearn the ideal images she held of her gods, and relearn the true nature of her beloved.
I loved knowing nothing, or rather, having all my preconceived nations of the gods shattered. Living through Iona adapting her wants and needs as she goes made each page an adventure. She had a clear goal to start, but everything has to change from the moment she sets sail. And these course corrections, her changing perspective, and her very few non-negotiables make Iona a wonderful character to journey with.
The surrounding gods are as brilliant and as terrifying as you can imagine. Fickle and tricksy as any fae. Bored and devious as any immortal. They may present as benevolent or good but there is always a price. I caught myself falling for their honeyed-tongue or affable countenance more times than I'd like to admit.
And Taran! It feels like a spoiler (it's not), to talk about the "two" Tarans. That's all on me for not reading the synopsis–I have a tendency to do that. This time it elevated the feeling of "betrayal" and my confusion was perfectly aligned with Iona's. Dude had me in love with him for his cinematic self-sacrifice and then he's a lil godling having a little nosh under the sun after we sailed across a whole sea to rescue him. So. Very. Betrayed. I loved it. Perfectly executed "you know nothing" fake out.
THE YOUNGER GODS will enchant you with an epic quest for true love then wreck you with devastating twists like a knife to the gut. And you'll love every moment.
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for the advance digital copy to read and review.
January 17, 2026
was instantly taken in by this world of gods & mortals and this story of love, loss, sacrifice and fate.
Iona Night-Singer is healing light singer who leads a revolution against the god of Death, which ultimately leads to the death of her fiancé, Taran. A grief stricken Iona sails to the realm of the dead and makes a deal with her former patron that will bring Taran back home with her, if she is successful. If she isn’t, they will both remain trapped in the realm of the dead forever.
Iona finds Taran alive but with no memory of himself, her or their relationship. I really enjoyed how this unfolded and watching Iona come to terms with this new version of the man she loved. It was heartbreaking, tender, angsty and filled with complicated family dynamics.
I really enjoyed how this all came together and the ending leaves us breathlessly awaiting book 2.
Iona Night-Singer is healing light singer who leads a revolution against the god of Death, which ultimately leads to the death of her fiancé, Taran. A grief stricken Iona sails to the realm of the dead and makes a deal with her former patron that will bring Taran back home with her, if she is successful. If she isn’t, they will both remain trapped in the realm of the dead forever.
Iona finds Taran alive but with no memory of himself, her or their relationship. I really enjoyed how this unfolded and watching Iona come to terms with this new version of the man she loved. It was heartbreaking, tender, angsty and filled with complicated family dynamics.
I really enjoyed how this all came together and the ending leaves us breathlessly awaiting book 2.
August 24, 2025
Life changing. Captivating. Mesmerizing.
A fast paced slow burn romantasy giving serious Orpheus x Eurydice vibes. Absolutely fantastic.
The Younger Gods by Katie Shepard is a future release, expected in January 2026, but I was lucky enough to receive the traveling ARC. This book has it all - a journey, the best banter, danger, and so much more. Even at nearly 500 pages, it doesn’t let up for even a moment and is close to impossible to put down. The amount of time and research that was put into this work is obvious - the world building is impeccable, the magic system is unique, and the characters are complex and fascinating. The only bad part about having read this ARC? Knowing that I have to wait double time for the second half of this duology. I can’t recommend The Younger Gods enough, it was a ♾⭐️ read for me, and I have a feeling it will be for you too! I can’t wait to see what happens next and additionally, I’ve spent a lot of time daydreaming about what happened before - I’ll be the first to vote for a prequel!
Full review (with collage that I put my entire being into) here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DMOB_aSSz...
A fast paced slow burn romantasy giving serious Orpheus x Eurydice vibes. Absolutely fantastic.
The Younger Gods by Katie Shepard is a future release, expected in January 2026, but I was lucky enough to receive the traveling ARC. This book has it all - a journey, the best banter, danger, and so much more. Even at nearly 500 pages, it doesn’t let up for even a moment and is close to impossible to put down. The amount of time and research that was put into this work is obvious - the world building is impeccable, the magic system is unique, and the characters are complex and fascinating. The only bad part about having read this ARC? Knowing that I have to wait double time for the second half of this duology. I can’t recommend The Younger Gods enough, it was a ♾⭐️ read for me, and I have a feeling it will be for you too! I can’t wait to see what happens next and additionally, I’ve spent a lot of time daydreaming about what happened before - I’ll be the first to vote for a prequel!
Full review (with collage that I put my entire being into) here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DMOB_aSSz...
Want to read
October 8, 2025"A romantasy duology inspired by Eurydice and Orpheus in which a rebellious ex-priestess travels to the underworld to rescue the man she was going to marry, discovering that not only does he not remember her, he lied about who and what he really was"
Want to read
July 21, 2025a gender-swapped retelling where the heroine must go to the underworld to save her fallen lover
January 13, 2026
🎧📖𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌📖🎧
𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇 𝒢𝑜𝒹𝓈 ʙʏ ᴋᴀᴛɪᴇ sʜᴇᴘᴀʀᴅ
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🌶🌶 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴏᴘᴘʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴅs ᴀᴛ ᴀ ᴅᴇᴠᴀsᴛᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴄᴏsᴛ, ᴀ ɢʀɪᴇᴠɪɴɢ ғᴏʀᴍᴇʀ ᴘʀɪᴇsᴛᴇss ᴠᴇɴᴛᴜʀᴇs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟᴍ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴄʟᴀɪᴍ ʜᴇʀ ғᴀʟʟᴇɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀ—ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀʀɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴅs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʀᴇʙᴏʀɴ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʀ ɪsɴ’ᴛ ᴏᴠᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɴ sʜᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇs ᴍᴀʏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴍᴏʀᴛᴀʟ ᴀᴛ ᴀʟʟ.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀʜ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇 𝒢𝑜𝒹𝓈 ɪs ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴅʀɪᴠᴇɴ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ʀᴏᴏᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ɢʀɪᴇғ, ғᴀɪᴛʜ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴʙᴇᴀʀᴀʙʟᴇ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ ᴏғ ᴜɴғɪɴɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴡᴀʀs. ɪᴏɴᴀ’s ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ ɪsɴ’ᴛ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴄᴏɴǫᴜᴇsᴛ ᴏʀ ɢʟᴏʀʏ—ɪᴛ’s ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʟᴏss, ɢᴜɪʟᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇsᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ᴜɴᴅᴏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʀᴇʙᴇʟʟɪᴏɴ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴡᴏʀʟᴅ sᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ɪs ʙʟᴇᴀᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍʏᴛʜɪᴄ, sᴛᴇᴇᴘᴇᴅ ɪɴ ɪɴᴇᴠɪᴛᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴠᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ sᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴀʀᴀɴ ʀᴇғʀᴀᴍᴇs ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴅᴇᴠᴀsᴛᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴇʟʟɪɴɢ.
ᴛʜɪs ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ғᴀsᴛ-ᴘᴀᴄᴇᴅ, ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ-ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ; ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ, ɪᴛ ᴛʜʀɪᴠᴇs ᴏɴ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇxɪᴛʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ɪs ᴛʀᴀɢɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇsᴛʀᴀɪɴᴇᴅ, ᴅʀɪᴠᴇɴ ʙʏ ʟᴏɴɢɪɴɢ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴘᴀssɪᴏɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴇɴᴛʀᴀʟ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ—ᴄᴀɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ sᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀʏ, ɪᴅᴇɴᴛɪᴛʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴠɪɴɪᴛʏ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴠᴇɴᴇ?—ᴄᴀʀʀɪᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs ғᴇᴇʟ ɪɴᴛɪᴍᴀᴛᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛ ɪs ᴄᴏsᴍɪᴄ, ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ʀᴇsᴏɴᴀᴛᴇ ᴏɴ ᴀ ᴅᴇᴇᴘʟʏ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟ ʟᴇᴠᴇʟ.
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ɪs sᴏᴍʙᴇʀ, ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟʟᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ, ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛʟʏ ᴍᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ’s ᴇʟᴇɢɪᴀᴄ ᴛᴏɴᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀ ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴜʀᴇs ɪᴏɴᴀ’s ɢʀɪᴇғ ᴀɴᴅ sɪᴍᴍᴇʀɪɴɢ ʀᴇsᴏʟᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴜʙᴛʟᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇɴsɪᴛʏ, ᴀʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ǫᴜɪᴇᴛ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴛᴏ ʟɪɴɢᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪᴛ ʜᴀʀᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀʏ sʜɪɴᴇs ᴍᴏsᴛ ɪɴ ɪɴᴛʀᴏsᴘᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴘᴀssᴀɢᴇs ᴀɴᴅ sᴄᴇɴᴇs ᴏғ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ʀᴇᴄᴋᴏɴɪɴɢ, ᴇɴʜᴀɴᴄɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍʏᴛʜɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴠᴇᴇʀɪɴɢ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍᴇʟᴏᴅʀᴀᴍᴀ. ᴀ sᴛʀᴏɴɢ ᴘᴇʀғᴏʀᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ғᴏʀ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴᴇʀs ᴡʜᴏ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴅᴇᴘᴛʜ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇᴀᴛʀɪᴄs.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝐸𝓁𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈:
✨ᴍʏᴛʜᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ
✨ɢᴏᴅs ᴠs ᴍᴏʀᴛᴀʟs
✨ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴡᴏʀʟᴅ
✨ʟᴏsᴛ ʟᴏᴠᴇ/ɢʀɪᴇғ-ᴅʀɪᴠᴇɴ ǫᴜᴇsᴛ
✨ᴀᴍɴᴇsɪᴀ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
✨ʀᴇʙᴇʟʟɪᴏɴ ᴀғᴛᴇʀᴍᴀᴛʜ
✨ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ ᴠs ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ
✨ᴛʀᴀɢɪᴄ ʟᴏᴠᴇ
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇 𝒢𝑜𝒹𝓈 ɪs ᴀ ʜᴀᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ, ɪɴᴛʀᴏsᴘᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ʟᴏss ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏsᴛ ᴏғ ᴅᴇғʏɪɴɢ ᴅɪᴠɪɴɪᴛʏ. ʙᴇsᴛ sᴜɪᴛᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴᴇʀs ᴡʜᴏ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ ᴍʏᴛʜ-ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ, ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇx ʜᴇʀᴏɪɴᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇs sʜᴀᴘᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀʏ, ɪᴅᴇɴᴛɪᴛʏ, ᴀɴᴅ sᴀᴄʀɪғɪᴄᴇ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʜᴇᴀᴛ ᴏʀ ᴄᴏɴsᴛᴀɴᴛ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
+++++++++
READING NOTES:
“I'll love you till the stars fall out of the sky.”
TROPES:
Forced proximity
“Animal” companion
Trickster god x rebellious priestess
Music as Magic
Slow burn
JOURNEY TO THE UNDERWORLD
SO. MUCH.LONGING.
A LITTLE...CANNIBALISM?
ORPHEUS X EURYDICE VIBES
🌶️🌶️
𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇 𝒢𝑜𝒹𝓈 ʙʏ ᴋᴀᴛɪᴇ sʜᴇᴘᴀʀᴅ
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🌶🌶 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴏᴘᴘʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴅs ᴀᴛ ᴀ ᴅᴇᴠᴀsᴛᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴄᴏsᴛ, ᴀ ɢʀɪᴇᴠɪɴɢ ғᴏʀᴍᴇʀ ᴘʀɪᴇsᴛᴇss ᴠᴇɴᴛᴜʀᴇs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟᴍ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴄʟᴀɪᴍ ʜᴇʀ ғᴀʟʟᴇɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀ—ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀʀɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴅs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʀᴇʙᴏʀɴ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʀ ɪsɴ’ᴛ ᴏᴠᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɴ sʜᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇs ᴍᴀʏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴍᴏʀᴛᴀʟ ᴀᴛ ᴀʟʟ.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀʜ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇 𝒢𝑜𝒹𝓈 ɪs ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴅʀɪᴠᴇɴ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ʀᴏᴏᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ɢʀɪᴇғ, ғᴀɪᴛʜ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴʙᴇᴀʀᴀʙʟᴇ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ ᴏғ ᴜɴғɪɴɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴡᴀʀs. ɪᴏɴᴀ’s ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ ɪsɴ’ᴛ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴄᴏɴǫᴜᴇsᴛ ᴏʀ ɢʟᴏʀʏ—ɪᴛ’s ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʟᴏss, ɢᴜɪʟᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇsᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ᴜɴᴅᴏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʀᴇʙᴇʟʟɪᴏɴ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴡᴏʀʟᴅ sᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ɪs ʙʟᴇᴀᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍʏᴛʜɪᴄ, sᴛᴇᴇᴘᴇᴅ ɪɴ ɪɴᴇᴠɪᴛᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴠᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ sᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴀʀᴀɴ ʀᴇғʀᴀᴍᴇs ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴅᴇᴠᴀsᴛᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴇʟʟɪɴɢ.
ᴛʜɪs ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ғᴀsᴛ-ᴘᴀᴄᴇᴅ, ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ-ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ; ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ, ɪᴛ ᴛʜʀɪᴠᴇs ᴏɴ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇxɪᴛʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ɪs ᴛʀᴀɢɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇsᴛʀᴀɪɴᴇᴅ, ᴅʀɪᴠᴇɴ ʙʏ ʟᴏɴɢɪɴɢ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴘᴀssɪᴏɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴇɴᴛʀᴀʟ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ—ᴄᴀɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ sᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀʏ, ɪᴅᴇɴᴛɪᴛʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴠɪɴɪᴛʏ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴠᴇɴᴇ?—ᴄᴀʀʀɪᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs ғᴇᴇʟ ɪɴᴛɪᴍᴀᴛᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛ ɪs ᴄᴏsᴍɪᴄ, ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ʀᴇsᴏɴᴀᴛᴇ ᴏɴ ᴀ ᴅᴇᴇᴘʟʏ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟ ʟᴇᴠᴇʟ.
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ɪs sᴏᴍʙᴇʀ, ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟʟᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ, ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛʟʏ ᴍᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ’s ᴇʟᴇɢɪᴀᴄ ᴛᴏɴᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀ ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴜʀᴇs ɪᴏɴᴀ’s ɢʀɪᴇғ ᴀɴᴅ sɪᴍᴍᴇʀɪɴɢ ʀᴇsᴏʟᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴜʙᴛʟᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇɴsɪᴛʏ, ᴀʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ǫᴜɪᴇᴛ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴛᴏ ʟɪɴɢᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪᴛ ʜᴀʀᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀʏ sʜɪɴᴇs ᴍᴏsᴛ ɪɴ ɪɴᴛʀᴏsᴘᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴘᴀssᴀɢᴇs ᴀɴᴅ sᴄᴇɴᴇs ᴏғ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ʀᴇᴄᴋᴏɴɪɴɢ, ᴇɴʜᴀɴᴄɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍʏᴛʜɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴠᴇᴇʀɪɴɢ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍᴇʟᴏᴅʀᴀᴍᴀ. ᴀ sᴛʀᴏɴɢ ᴘᴇʀғᴏʀᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ғᴏʀ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴᴇʀs ᴡʜᴏ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴅᴇᴘᴛʜ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇᴀᴛʀɪᴄs.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝐸𝓁𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈:
✨ᴍʏᴛʜᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ
✨ɢᴏᴅs ᴠs ᴍᴏʀᴛᴀʟs
✨ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴡᴏʀʟᴅ
✨ʟᴏsᴛ ʟᴏᴠᴇ/ɢʀɪᴇғ-ᴅʀɪᴠᴇɴ ǫᴜᴇsᴛ
✨ᴀᴍɴᴇsɪᴀ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
✨ʀᴇʙᴇʟʟɪᴏɴ ᴀғᴛᴇʀᴍᴀᴛʜ
✨ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ ᴠs ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ
✨ᴛʀᴀɢɪᴄ ʟᴏᴠᴇ
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇 𝒢𝑜𝒹𝓈 ɪs ᴀ ʜᴀᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ, ɪɴᴛʀᴏsᴘᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ʟᴏss ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏsᴛ ᴏғ ᴅᴇғʏɪɴɢ ᴅɪᴠɪɴɪᴛʏ. ʙᴇsᴛ sᴜɪᴛᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴᴇʀs ᴡʜᴏ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ ᴍʏᴛʜ-ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ, ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇx ʜᴇʀᴏɪɴᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇs sʜᴀᴘᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀʏ, ɪᴅᴇɴᴛɪᴛʏ, ᴀɴᴅ sᴀᴄʀɪғɪᴄᴇ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʜᴇᴀᴛ ᴏʀ ᴄᴏɴsᴛᴀɴᴛ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
+++++++++
READING NOTES:
“I'll love you till the stars fall out of the sky.”
TROPES:
Forced proximity
“Animal” companion
Trickster god x rebellious priestess
Music as Magic
Slow burn
JOURNEY TO THE UNDERWORLD
SO. MUCH.LONGING.
A LITTLE...CANNIBALISM?
ORPHEUS X EURYDICE VIBES
🌶️🌶️
December 5, 2025
I am so sad that I have to wait for the second book.
This was a great read.
Hopefully I’ll come back and review better 🙃
This was a great read.
Hopefully I’ll come back and review better 🙃
October 20, 2025
For much the same reasons that I enjoy playing D&D (and watching others play), I enjoy those qualities in this book. The world building (including creation of an entire pantheon of deities) and the character creation (especially the strong Iona whose story this is) registers at top tier with me.
If you loved Percy Jackson and want more, this could be the book.
"Despite knowing that nothing I said would really matter. Where the gods had failed, there was still me."
If you loved Percy Jackson and want more, this could be the book.
"Despite knowing that nothing I said would really matter. Where the gods had failed, there was still me."
September 15, 2025
Thank you to the author for this traveling ARC. It was so fun to see what other readers connected with in the story.
What a fresh take on Greek mythology retelling and the gods. I thought that Katie Shepard wrote in such a way that you were wrapped up in the story, and her words pulled on your heartstrings. The world building is superb, and there were a few twists that I never saw coming.
I thought the characters were complex and made you care. The FMC was fierce, brave, and fought for those around her. The MMC made you swoon.
I thought this book really captured the question of what a person does with a collection of choices? How two people with the same choices could choose for good or for bad? And the exploration of grief and longing. The yearning was chef’s kiss.
Out in January 2026, and I very much think it’s worth picking up.
What a fresh take on Greek mythology retelling and the gods. I thought that Katie Shepard wrote in such a way that you were wrapped up in the story, and her words pulled on your heartstrings. The world building is superb, and there were a few twists that I never saw coming.
I thought the characters were complex and made you care. The FMC was fierce, brave, and fought for those around her. The MMC made you swoon.
I thought this book really captured the question of what a person does with a collection of choices? How two people with the same choices could choose for good or for bad? And the exploration of grief and longing. The yearning was chef’s kiss.
Out in January 2026, and I very much think it’s worth picking up.
Read
April 16, 2025Hi friends! I wrote this book. The content warnings below contain spoilers. I hope you enjoy it.
Content Warnings for The Younger Gods:
Explicit sexual content, graphic depictions of violence and injury, sexual and physical abuse of non-POV character, brief references to pregnancy of non-POV character, threats of sexual violence, religious indoctrination, child abuse, forced labor, cannibalism, and human sacrifice.
Content Warnings for The Younger Gods:
Explicit sexual content, graphic depictions of violence and injury, sexual and physical abuse of non-POV character, brief references to pregnancy of non-POV character, threats of sexual violence, religious indoctrination, child abuse, forced labor, cannibalism, and human sacrifice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2025
4.5 stars
Katie Shepard's The Younger Gods, the first installment in the series, is a stunning piece of fantasy that will immediately captivate readers who love stories about the divine, fate, and the power of devotion. This is a masterfully crafted book, perfect for fantasy readers who enjoy stories about gods with great world-building and some romance, as Shepard delivers a rich mythological canvas interwoven with an emotionally charged love story.
The novel introduces us to Iona Night-Singer, a mortal who already has a legendary history. She was a former priestess who helped lead a mortal rebellion that, through painful victory, managed to overthrow the ruling gods. This triumph, however, came at an unbearable cost: the loss of her betrothed, Taran, in a final battle with the god of death.
Months later, Iona is consumed by grief and haunted by the uneasy feeling that the war is far from over. Driven by anger and a dread that the deities she fought will return, Iona undertakes a desperate quest. She strikes a dangerous deal with her former patron god: if she can convince Taran to follow her home from the Underworld, he will be freed to live again. If she fails, both will be eternally trapped in the realm of the dead.
Iona's perilous descent into the realm of the dead immediately yields a horrible discovery: the gods she thought she defeated are plotting a vengeful return, having been subtly reborn. Worse still, she finds that Taran was not merely a fallen mortal. He was—and is—one of them: a reincarnated god. This new Taran has the face of her lost love, but none of his memories, leaving Iona to doubt his loyalties, his nature, and the love they once shared. The plot becomes a deadly, clandestine race against time, where Iona must fight to stop the next divine war without revealing her part in the last one, all while attempting to bring her god-turned-lover home.
The core of the story is driven by the characters of Iona and Taran. Iona's story is one of transformation through loss and resilience. She starts as a fierce, grieving warrior who defines herself by the mortal rebellion. Her journey into the Underworld forces her to shed her identity as a champion and take on the role of a desperate supplicant and secret strategist. Her strength is found in her unwavering devotion to Taran and her commitment to protecting the mortal realm from the renewed divine threat. She is forced to operate in the shadows, battling deities and fate itself, driven solely by love and fear.
Taran has been stripped of his mortal memories. He has immense power but doesn't remember the mortal woman who fought for him. His journey revolves around the fragmented echoes of his past, the pull of his innate divinity, and the bewildering connection he feels to Iona. This sets up an incredibly compelling romance, built on a foundation of true love struggling to survive amnesia. Their forced proximity in the Underworld is charged with tension, danger, and the heartbreaking question of whether an immortal god can ever truly feel the love of a mortal.
Shepard's world-building is well done, providing a fully realized mythology where the line between life and death, god and mortal, is fluid and constantly contested. The narrative delves deep into the inner workings of the pantheon, focusing on the Younger Gods and making the mythology feel fresh. The central romance is the engine of the entire plot; the fate of the world hinges on Iona’s desperate pursuit of Taran’s heart and memories. The tension, the secrets, and the powerful emotional conflict create an unforgettable read.
The Younger Gods is a brilliant and addictive novel featuring high drama, complex relationships, and truly exceptional world-building. Given the satisfying blend of action, mythological depth, and powerful romance, I can confidently say I will definitely be picking up the next installment in this series.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Katie Shepard's The Younger Gods, the first installment in the series, is a stunning piece of fantasy that will immediately captivate readers who love stories about the divine, fate, and the power of devotion. This is a masterfully crafted book, perfect for fantasy readers who enjoy stories about gods with great world-building and some romance, as Shepard delivers a rich mythological canvas interwoven with an emotionally charged love story.
The novel introduces us to Iona Night-Singer, a mortal who already has a legendary history. She was a former priestess who helped lead a mortal rebellion that, through painful victory, managed to overthrow the ruling gods. This triumph, however, came at an unbearable cost: the loss of her betrothed, Taran, in a final battle with the god of death.
Months later, Iona is consumed by grief and haunted by the uneasy feeling that the war is far from over. Driven by anger and a dread that the deities she fought will return, Iona undertakes a desperate quest. She strikes a dangerous deal with her former patron god: if she can convince Taran to follow her home from the Underworld, he will be freed to live again. If she fails, both will be eternally trapped in the realm of the dead.
Iona's perilous descent into the realm of the dead immediately yields a horrible discovery: the gods she thought she defeated are plotting a vengeful return, having been subtly reborn. Worse still, she finds that Taran was not merely a fallen mortal. He was—and is—one of them: a reincarnated god. This new Taran has the face of her lost love, but none of his memories, leaving Iona to doubt his loyalties, his nature, and the love they once shared. The plot becomes a deadly, clandestine race against time, where Iona must fight to stop the next divine war without revealing her part in the last one, all while attempting to bring her god-turned-lover home.
The core of the story is driven by the characters of Iona and Taran. Iona's story is one of transformation through loss and resilience. She starts as a fierce, grieving warrior who defines herself by the mortal rebellion. Her journey into the Underworld forces her to shed her identity as a champion and take on the role of a desperate supplicant and secret strategist. Her strength is found in her unwavering devotion to Taran and her commitment to protecting the mortal realm from the renewed divine threat. She is forced to operate in the shadows, battling deities and fate itself, driven solely by love and fear.
Taran has been stripped of his mortal memories. He has immense power but doesn't remember the mortal woman who fought for him. His journey revolves around the fragmented echoes of his past, the pull of his innate divinity, and the bewildering connection he feels to Iona. This sets up an incredibly compelling romance, built on a foundation of true love struggling to survive amnesia. Their forced proximity in the Underworld is charged with tension, danger, and the heartbreaking question of whether an immortal god can ever truly feel the love of a mortal.
Shepard's world-building is well done, providing a fully realized mythology where the line between life and death, god and mortal, is fluid and constantly contested. The narrative delves deep into the inner workings of the pantheon, focusing on the Younger Gods and making the mythology feel fresh. The central romance is the engine of the entire plot; the fate of the world hinges on Iona’s desperate pursuit of Taran’s heart and memories. The tension, the secrets, and the powerful emotional conflict create an unforgettable read.
The Younger Gods is a brilliant and addictive novel featuring high drama, complex relationships, and truly exceptional world-building. Given the satisfying blend of action, mythological depth, and powerful romance, I can confidently say I will definitely be picking up the next installment in this series.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2026
I enjoyed reading Katie Shepard’s The Younger Gods, the first book in The Night Singers Duology. It’s a gender-swapped retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice, where former priestess Iona Night-Singer sails to the realm of the dead to retrieve the love of her life after he is killed during their rebellion against the gods (particularly Death). She makes a deal with her former patron goddess: if she fails, she’ll be stuck in the realm of the dead with Taran with no way to get back home.
When Iona arrives to take him back, he doesn’t remember her. She then discovers that the gods they rebelled against are alive and preparing for war. Everything she knew about her beloved is a lie, making Iona unsure whom to trust, especially with everyone at home still suffering after the rebellion. Despite this, she’s determined to face the gods again and save everyone and bring back Taran, even if he is not who she thought he was.
I found the story interesting and loved the author’s gender-swapped retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice. The book is told from Iona Night-Singer’s POV, who is determined to oppose the gods even at great personal risk. She’s willing to defy anyone to retrieve Taran, the love of her life, who later turns out to have lied to her. I liked that Iona confronts several gods despite Taran’s warnings, as he still doesn’t remember her, but it’s obvious he cares for her, even though he tries to make her his priestess, initially.
I enjoyed the action-packed scenes and world-building, though I do have a small gripe with the latter, which I’ll mention later. Learning about the other gods was fascinating, even when they were plotting, especially Death.
My main issue was how long it took Iona to tell Taran the truth. He thought she was there to retrieve someone else, not knowing she had come for him. Her secrecy was frustrating. I understood Taran’s confusion before and after he learns the truth. I wish I’d had his POV, since he seemed interesting and I wanted to see his reactions.
Another thing, I struggled with the book’s beginning, starting in the middle of a battle, which made me feel lost. Once Iona traveled to the realm of the dead, I could follow the story easily, but that beginning part made me feel like I missed out on some world-building. It also took me a while to finish the book, partly because I recently lost one of my pets and struggled to read, but that was on me. (I still miss my cat, Midnight. I had her for 17 years, and she was my reading buddy.)
Even though I had some issues with the book, I’m glad I picked it up and now have another author to follow. This book has inspired me to read more mythological retellings, which I’ve always enjoyed. I’ve loved learning about Greek and Roman mythology since I was young, and I appreciate when authors put their own spin on it. (I need more gender swaps like this book.)
Overall, I give the first book in The Night Singer Duology 3.5-stars, and I can’t wait to pick up the next book, especially since the ending left me with a cliffhanger, and also check out other books Katie Shepard has written.
Cliffhanger: Yes.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If Greek Mythology retellings are your thing, especially gender-swapped stories, add this to your TBR right now. Fans of strong, determined female main characters will find Iona Night-Singer especially compelling.
When Iona arrives to take him back, he doesn’t remember her. She then discovers that the gods they rebelled against are alive and preparing for war. Everything she knew about her beloved is a lie, making Iona unsure whom to trust, especially with everyone at home still suffering after the rebellion. Despite this, she’s determined to face the gods again and save everyone and bring back Taran, even if he is not who she thought he was.
I found the story interesting and loved the author’s gender-swapped retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice. The book is told from Iona Night-Singer’s POV, who is determined to oppose the gods even at great personal risk. She’s willing to defy anyone to retrieve Taran, the love of her life, who later turns out to have lied to her. I liked that Iona confronts several gods despite Taran’s warnings, as he still doesn’t remember her, but it’s obvious he cares for her, even though he tries to make her his priestess, initially.
I enjoyed the action-packed scenes and world-building, though I do have a small gripe with the latter, which I’ll mention later. Learning about the other gods was fascinating, even when they were plotting, especially Death.
My main issue was how long it took Iona to tell Taran the truth. He thought she was there to retrieve someone else, not knowing she had come for him. Her secrecy was frustrating. I understood Taran’s confusion before and after he learns the truth. I wish I’d had his POV, since he seemed interesting and I wanted to see his reactions.
Another thing, I struggled with the book’s beginning, starting in the middle of a battle, which made me feel lost. Once Iona traveled to the realm of the dead, I could follow the story easily, but that beginning part made me feel like I missed out on some world-building. It also took me a while to finish the book, partly because I recently lost one of my pets and struggled to read, but that was on me. (I still miss my cat, Midnight. I had her for 17 years, and she was my reading buddy.)
Even though I had some issues with the book, I’m glad I picked it up and now have another author to follow. This book has inspired me to read more mythological retellings, which I’ve always enjoyed. I’ve loved learning about Greek and Roman mythology since I was young, and I appreciate when authors put their own spin on it. (I need more gender swaps like this book.)
Overall, I give the first book in The Night Singer Duology 3.5-stars, and I can’t wait to pick up the next book, especially since the ending left me with a cliffhanger, and also check out other books Katie Shepard has written.
Cliffhanger: Yes.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If Greek Mythology retellings are your thing, especially gender-swapped stories, add this to your TBR right now. Fans of strong, determined female main characters will find Iona Night-Singer especially compelling.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
The Younger Gods is one of those books that swings big. Sometimes it stumbles mid-flight, but I respect the ambition enough to applaud when it lands.
At its heart, this is a grief-driven descent into the underworld, powered by longing, guilt, and the kind of love that refuses to stay politely buried. Leila is raw and furious and aching, and that emotional core is what kept me invested even when the plot got a little… tangled in divine bureaucracy. Her decision to walk straight into the land of the dead to bargain for her lover felt reckless in the exact way grief usually is. Messy. Human. Convincing.
This is an obvious play on Greek mythology, but with all the names sanded down and reshaped into something new. You won’t recognize the gods, but you’ll absolutely recognize the vibes. The underworld. The bargains. The power hierarchies. The eternal pettiness. I loved the supporting gods in particular. They’re brilliant and terrifying and deeply untrustworthy. Fickle as fae. Bored as immortals always are. They smile, they flatter, they help… and there is always a price. I fell for their sweetly spun lies more than once, which honestly felt very on-theme.
The chemistry and pull between Iona and Taran was a standout for me. There’s a magnetic tension there that crackles whenever they’re on the page together, the kind that makes you lean in a little closer because you feel something shifting. Even when alliances were unclear, that emotional throughline worked.
Where the book lost a bit of momentum for me was in the worldbuilding and pacing. The hierarchy of the gods and the rules governing their world weren’t always clear, and by the middle-to-late stretch, the story started to drag. The random side quests and increasingly confusing mythology made it harder to track what each character was actually trying to accomplish. I found myself rereading sections, not because they were dense in a rewarding way, but because the narrative focus had blurred.
That said, the atmosphere, the emotional stakes, and the sheer audacity of the premise carried me through. This is a story about love surviving betrayal, gods wearing familiar faces, and the danger of believing you can outsmart immortals. It isn’t flawless, but it’s bold, moody, and memorable.
If you enjoy myth-inspired fantasy, morally gray gods, and romances tangled up with grief and fate, this one is worth the journey, even if the path winds more than expected.
The Younger Gods is one of those books that swings big. Sometimes it stumbles mid-flight, but I respect the ambition enough to applaud when it lands.
At its heart, this is a grief-driven descent into the underworld, powered by longing, guilt, and the kind of love that refuses to stay politely buried. Leila is raw and furious and aching, and that emotional core is what kept me invested even when the plot got a little… tangled in divine bureaucracy. Her decision to walk straight into the land of the dead to bargain for her lover felt reckless in the exact way grief usually is. Messy. Human. Convincing.
This is an obvious play on Greek mythology, but with all the names sanded down and reshaped into something new. You won’t recognize the gods, but you’ll absolutely recognize the vibes. The underworld. The bargains. The power hierarchies. The eternal pettiness. I loved the supporting gods in particular. They’re brilliant and terrifying and deeply untrustworthy. Fickle as fae. Bored as immortals always are. They smile, they flatter, they help… and there is always a price. I fell for their sweetly spun lies more than once, which honestly felt very on-theme.
The chemistry and pull between Iona and Taran was a standout for me. There’s a magnetic tension there that crackles whenever they’re on the page together, the kind that makes you lean in a little closer because you feel something shifting. Even when alliances were unclear, that emotional throughline worked.
Where the book lost a bit of momentum for me was in the worldbuilding and pacing. The hierarchy of the gods and the rules governing their world weren’t always clear, and by the middle-to-late stretch, the story started to drag. The random side quests and increasingly confusing mythology made it harder to track what each character was actually trying to accomplish. I found myself rereading sections, not because they were dense in a rewarding way, but because the narrative focus had blurred.
That said, the atmosphere, the emotional stakes, and the sheer audacity of the premise carried me through. This is a story about love surviving betrayal, gods wearing familiar faces, and the danger of believing you can outsmart immortals. It isn’t flawless, but it’s bold, moody, and memorable.
If you enjoy myth-inspired fantasy, morally gray gods, and romances tangled up with grief and fate, this one is worth the journey, even if the path winds more than expected.
January 28, 2026
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The Younger Gods by Katie Shepard sees Iona Night-Singer trying to live without Taran.
Can Iona get Taran to come home?
Iona Night-Singer
Iona was once going to be a maiden-priest until the war broke out. Well, the one that she caused to start, since she didn't like what Death did. Now, Iona has succeeded in ending his tyrannical rule, but she doesn't really know how to keep living. Iona is an interesting character, and I like her. She knows what she wants and is too stubborn to change her mind. The one thing that gets me every time I think about her is how she wants a peaceful life with Taran, yet she won't allow herself to make that choice just quite yet.
Taran
Taran is Iona's betrothed, who died fighting against Death and killing him as well. Iona finds him still alive in the place where all the gods live. Taran doesn't remember Iona or the time that they fell in love while battling Death with everyone else in the mortal world. I have to say that both Taran and Iona are very hard-headed individuals. Taran, though, also had his own secrets that Iona had started to realize when she finally met up with him again. We only see Taran through Iona's eyes, and I love that he is a good character, and I hope that things get better for the two of them.
The romance between the two of them gets a second chance to rekindle as they get to know each other again. I do have to say they are cute together, and I hope they get to stay together.
Four Stars
My rating for The Younger Gods by Katie Shepard is four stars, and I do recommend this book. I like how Ms. Shepard made the myth she was retelling her own. Ms. Shepard did a great job worldbuilding and creating her magic system, which made me feel like I was part of the story and helping Iona.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Younger Gods by Katie Shepard.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Can Iona get Taran to come home?
Iona Night-Singer
Iona was once going to be a maiden-priest until the war broke out. Well, the one that she caused to start, since she didn't like what Death did. Now, Iona has succeeded in ending his tyrannical rule, but she doesn't really know how to keep living. Iona is an interesting character, and I like her. She knows what she wants and is too stubborn to change her mind. The one thing that gets me every time I think about her is how she wants a peaceful life with Taran, yet she won't allow herself to make that choice just quite yet.
Taran
Taran is Iona's betrothed, who died fighting against Death and killing him as well. Iona finds him still alive in the place where all the gods live. Taran doesn't remember Iona or the time that they fell in love while battling Death with everyone else in the mortal world. I have to say that both Taran and Iona are very hard-headed individuals. Taran, though, also had his own secrets that Iona had started to realize when she finally met up with him again. We only see Taran through Iona's eyes, and I love that he is a good character, and I hope that things get better for the two of them.
The romance between the two of them gets a second chance to rekindle as they get to know each other again. I do have to say they are cute together, and I hope they get to stay together.
Four Stars
My rating for The Younger Gods by Katie Shepard is four stars, and I do recommend this book. I like how Ms. Shepard made the myth she was retelling her own. Ms. Shepard did a great job worldbuilding and creating her magic system, which made me feel like I was part of the story and helping Iona.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Younger Gods by Katie Shepard.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
November 8, 2025
Thank you for the arc, Ace books!
In the first of a new duology, author Katie Shepard takes the classic Greek tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice and flips it. Iona Night-singer has worked tirelessly to fight the god of Death from overtaking the mortal world when her beloved Taran is ripped away from her. While the rest of the world celebrates victory, Iona grieves and travels to the underworld to beg the gods to return Taran. The journey that awaits her, and Taran himself, are completely different from anything Iona has ever known or expected.
I read nearly five hundred pages in one day because I simply couldn’t stop turning the pages. I felt so consumed by the story, and even after it ended, I wanted more. It’s beautifully written, embodies classic themes and tales, while also being original and building its own unique world. It is clearly well researched and written for readers to catch tiny clues dropped along the way.
Let’s talk about my favorite aspect of the book: the romance. It is almost like a second chance romance plus an amnesia trope because they are building a new relationship but it’s also already happened, but one of them doesn’t remember. The characters are so lovable and the banter, flirting, and caretaking between them is top-notch throughout. Forced proximity is obviously at play, which is always a good time. Taran is my favorite type of charming, funny, flirtatious, but good hearted and caring main character that is impossible not to love. Meanwhile Iona is tough, determined, and loyal in her pursuits.
The ending is jaw-dropping but also completely fitting and I thought to myself, of course! There were SO many clues, how did I miss this? In my opinion, though, that’s the perfect sign of a well-written ending because it still managed to surprise me but made all the sense in the world to the plot and the storyline. I cannot wait for book two!
In the first of a new duology, author Katie Shepard takes the classic Greek tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice and flips it. Iona Night-singer has worked tirelessly to fight the god of Death from overtaking the mortal world when her beloved Taran is ripped away from her. While the rest of the world celebrates victory, Iona grieves and travels to the underworld to beg the gods to return Taran. The journey that awaits her, and Taran himself, are completely different from anything Iona has ever known or expected.
I read nearly five hundred pages in one day because I simply couldn’t stop turning the pages. I felt so consumed by the story, and even after it ended, I wanted more. It’s beautifully written, embodies classic themes and tales, while also being original and building its own unique world. It is clearly well researched and written for readers to catch tiny clues dropped along the way.
Let’s talk about my favorite aspect of the book: the romance. It is almost like a second chance romance plus an amnesia trope because they are building a new relationship but it’s also already happened, but one of them doesn’t remember. The characters are so lovable and the banter, flirting, and caretaking between them is top-notch throughout. Forced proximity is obviously at play, which is always a good time. Taran is my favorite type of charming, funny, flirtatious, but good hearted and caring main character that is impossible not to love. Meanwhile Iona is tough, determined, and loyal in her pursuits.
The ending is jaw-dropping but also completely fitting and I thought to myself, of course! There were SO many clues, how did I miss this? In my opinion, though, that’s the perfect sign of a well-written ending because it still managed to surprise me but made all the sense in the world to the plot and the storyline. I cannot wait for book two!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
as someone who finds greek mythology interesting, this was up my alley. iona was so determined to get her love back, including going to the realm of the underworld to find him. this is definitely more of a slow burn, which works well because once she finds him, he doesn’t remember their past/history 🤯 i also want to point out i love marit, the sea god (one of the side characters)
the only thing for me was that at some parts, it really dragged and could have picked up pacing just a bit at times. i would have loveeeed taran’s pov 🤭
however, it was still an enjoyable read that had me wanting to see what was going to happen between the two as well as the war among the gods!
iona thought she’d overthrown the gods. her mortal rebellion eked out a painful victory by using the gods’ own powers against them, though she lost her betrothed, taran, in a final battle with the god of death. months later, the war doesn’t feel over, not with taran gone. especially not when the gods still answer the prayers she sings.
angry, grieving, and with a gnawing dread that the gods will return, she strikes a deal with her former patron goddess: if she can convince taran to follow her home from the underworld, he’ll be free to live again. if she fails, they’ll both be trapped there forever.
no sooner does she find him, she makes a horrible discovery. the dead gods have been reborn, they are plotting revenge, and taran, was always one of them. this reincarnated trickster god with taran’s face no longer remembers her or the war they fought together, and she doubts not just his loyalties but his love. determined to stop the next war without revealing her part in the last one, she enters her deadliest battle yet, one where she fights to bring taran home without him even knowing it.
tropes: slow burn, journey to the underworld, orpheus x eurydice vibes, music as magic, rebel priestess x trickster god
🏛️🗡️⚡️🌌🎶
the only thing for me was that at some parts, it really dragged and could have picked up pacing just a bit at times. i would have loveeeed taran’s pov 🤭
however, it was still an enjoyable read that had me wanting to see what was going to happen between the two as well as the war among the gods!
iona thought she’d overthrown the gods. her mortal rebellion eked out a painful victory by using the gods’ own powers against them, though she lost her betrothed, taran, in a final battle with the god of death. months later, the war doesn’t feel over, not with taran gone. especially not when the gods still answer the prayers she sings.
angry, grieving, and with a gnawing dread that the gods will return, she strikes a deal with her former patron goddess: if she can convince taran to follow her home from the underworld, he’ll be free to live again. if she fails, they’ll both be trapped there forever.
no sooner does she find him, she makes a horrible discovery. the dead gods have been reborn, they are plotting revenge, and taran, was always one of them. this reincarnated trickster god with taran’s face no longer remembers her or the war they fought together, and she doubts not just his loyalties but his love. determined to stop the next war without revealing her part in the last one, she enters her deadliest battle yet, one where she fights to bring taran home without him even knowing it.
tropes: slow burn, journey to the underworld, orpheus x eurydice vibes, music as magic, rebel priestess x trickster god
🏛️🗡️⚡️🌌🎶
January 26, 2026
The angst and tension in The Younger Gods, by Katie Shepard, had me in an absolute chokehold. I am a sucker for love gone wrong, and boy, did Shepard deliver. The priestess, Iona, is caught in a war started by her own rebellion against the God of Death. The book starts with Iona, her betrothed Taran, and the rest of the humans defeating and killing the Death god. Unfortunately, Taran sacrifices himself and dies in the process. Obviously, Iona is grief-stricken and devastated. After a few months, she decides that sailing to the realm of the gods to ask for her love back is the best course of action. She strikes a promise and is dropped into the land of the gods. Taran is there, and that’s when she realizes, one, he’s been reborn, two, he’s actually a god, and three, he doesn’t remember her at all. Rip my heart out!
This book is packed with Iona learning about the politics of the gods, and how not everything is as it seems. The Gods are vicious and cruel, and she realizes they like to project a specific image rather than highlight their underbelly of flaws. Some big pieces of plot get thrown at you, and not everything is clear in the moment. It may feel like there is a 180 shift in the direction of the story at times, but if you continue to read on, you will unravel some of the threads, and more answers will be revealed. There is a lot that is left hanging at the end, and the story seems to be set up for a multi-book series. It was interesting how Iona remained very consistent in her ideology and beliefs, at times a detriment to herself and her relationship with the “new” version of Taran. The question remains. Can you fall in love with two very different versions of the same person?
If you like a little Greek mythology sprinkled into a romantasy book, then this is definitely the book for you! Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted earc.
This book is packed with Iona learning about the politics of the gods, and how not everything is as it seems. The Gods are vicious and cruel, and she realizes they like to project a specific image rather than highlight their underbelly of flaws. Some big pieces of plot get thrown at you, and not everything is clear in the moment. It may feel like there is a 180 shift in the direction of the story at times, but if you continue to read on, you will unravel some of the threads, and more answers will be revealed. There is a lot that is left hanging at the end, and the story seems to be set up for a multi-book series. It was interesting how Iona remained very consistent in her ideology and beliefs, at times a detriment to herself and her relationship with the “new” version of Taran. The question remains. Can you fall in love with two very different versions of the same person?
If you like a little Greek mythology sprinkled into a romantasy book, then this is definitely the book for you! Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted earc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Younger Gods is a haunting, emotionally charged fantasy that blends myth, rebellion, and love into a story that feels both epic and deeply personal. From the first page, the novel pulls you into a world where victory comes at a devastating cost—and where even defeated gods are never truly gone.
Iona Night-Singer is a compelling, fiercely human protagonist. Her grief over losing Taran and her simmering anger toward the gods give the story real emotional weight, and her journey into the Underworld feels tense, dangerous, and heartbreakingly intimate. The stakes are high, not just for the world, but for Iona’s heart, especially when she discovers that the man she loves may no longer be the man she knew.
The reimagining of gods as reborn, vengeful, and deeply flawed adds a fascinating layer to the mythology, and the reveal surrounding Taran is both shocking and tragic. Watching Iona navigate love, loyalty, and sacrifice—while trying to prevent another divine war—keeps the tension razor-sharp throughout the story.
What truly sets The Younger Gods apart is its balance of epic fantasy and raw emotion. The Underworld is richly imagined, the plot is full of unexpected turns, and the central love story is aching, complex, and unforgettable. This is a powerful tale about grief, defiance, and choosing hope even when the gods themselves stand in the way. Fans of myth-inspired fantasy with strong heroines and high emotional stakes will absolutely devour this book.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Iona Night-Singer is a compelling, fiercely human protagonist. Her grief over losing Taran and her simmering anger toward the gods give the story real emotional weight, and her journey into the Underworld feels tense, dangerous, and heartbreakingly intimate. The stakes are high, not just for the world, but for Iona’s heart, especially when she discovers that the man she loves may no longer be the man she knew.
The reimagining of gods as reborn, vengeful, and deeply flawed adds a fascinating layer to the mythology, and the reveal surrounding Taran is both shocking and tragic. Watching Iona navigate love, loyalty, and sacrifice—while trying to prevent another divine war—keeps the tension razor-sharp throughout the story.
What truly sets The Younger Gods apart is its balance of epic fantasy and raw emotion. The Underworld is richly imagined, the plot is full of unexpected turns, and the central love story is aching, complex, and unforgettable. This is a powerful tale about grief, defiance, and choosing hope even when the gods themselves stand in the way. Fans of myth-inspired fantasy with strong heroines and high emotional stakes will absolutely devour this book.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
January 28, 2026
Book review - Fiction - ebook - Fantasy
I just finished The Younger Gods by Katie Shepard and here are my musings.
Iona headed the rebellion of mortals to overthrow the Gods… Losing her betrothed has broken her more than that last battle ever could have. In a moment of grief, ione makes a deal with her former patron goddess… If she can convince Taran, her love, to follow her home from the underworld, he can live again. If she fails… she will be trapped there forever.
As soon as she arrives she finds the dead gods have been reborn and are out for revenge and the worst part.. Taran is one of them and his reincarnation does not remember her…
Can she stop the next war? Can she get Taran out of the underworld?
That was one beautifully fun ride!! I really like the story of Opheus and Eurydice and this one loosely fits their Greek mythology… It is loosely.. Very loosely based and I really liked how this story panned out.
It was totally heartbreaking. She travels to the underworld in her heartbreak just to find out he has no clue who she is but dang it hurts my heart.
I thought the characters were well written and I fell in love with Taran and Iona and the love they had before he forgot her.
I thought the writing was so beautiful and the slow burn worked really well. I usually like a more expedient pace but this was clever and I felt drawn right into the story.
4.5 stars
I cannot wait to see what happens next!!
Thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for my gifted copy.
I just finished The Younger Gods by Katie Shepard and here are my musings.
Iona headed the rebellion of mortals to overthrow the Gods… Losing her betrothed has broken her more than that last battle ever could have. In a moment of grief, ione makes a deal with her former patron goddess… If she can convince Taran, her love, to follow her home from the underworld, he can live again. If she fails… she will be trapped there forever.
As soon as she arrives she finds the dead gods have been reborn and are out for revenge and the worst part.. Taran is one of them and his reincarnation does not remember her…
Can she stop the next war? Can she get Taran out of the underworld?
That was one beautifully fun ride!! I really like the story of Opheus and Eurydice and this one loosely fits their Greek mythology… It is loosely.. Very loosely based and I really liked how this story panned out.
It was totally heartbreaking. She travels to the underworld in her heartbreak just to find out he has no clue who she is but dang it hurts my heart.
I thought the characters were well written and I fell in love with Taran and Iona and the love they had before he forgot her.
I thought the writing was so beautiful and the slow burn worked really well. I usually like a more expedient pace but this was clever and I felt drawn right into the story.
4.5 stars
I cannot wait to see what happens next!!
Thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for my gifted copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙮.”
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗:
After her beloved dies, Iona travels to the realm of the dead to get him back, only to find out he doesn’t remember her and nothing is what she thought it was.
𝙼𝚢 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎:
As someone who has always loved mythology, I wanted to love this one. Unfortunately I was confused as frick for most of it.
Trying to navigate all the gods/goddesses was a nightmare for me. I couldn’t remember who was on who’s side and who did what. There was just SO many of them and because the FMC called on the power of many of them, I just got confused time and time again.
The biggest problem though? Iona holds on to her secret for WAYYYY too long.
Taran was definitely the highlight of the book, and I really enjoyed his relationship with Iona. I think this one would’ve benefited from a dual pov, especially towards the end. Taran “remembers” but its all so rushed that I didn’t even feel any emotional pay off from it.
That being said, there are a lot of seriously swoony moments from Taran. He definitely is the reason why I kept reading!
𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
💕“𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙄 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙤, 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙟𝙤𝙗 𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩. 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚.”
💕“𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙. 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪”
💕“𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 - 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚. 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩. 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥. 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣.”
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁:
✨book 1 of duology
✨orpheus x eurydice vibes
✨second chance-ish
✨slow burn
✨music as magic
Thank you to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗:
After her beloved dies, Iona travels to the realm of the dead to get him back, only to find out he doesn’t remember her and nothing is what she thought it was.
𝙼𝚢 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎:
As someone who has always loved mythology, I wanted to love this one. Unfortunately I was confused as frick for most of it.
Trying to navigate all the gods/goddesses was a nightmare for me. I couldn’t remember who was on who’s side and who did what. There was just SO many of them and because the FMC called on the power of many of them, I just got confused time and time again.
The biggest problem though? Iona holds on to her secret for WAYYYY too long.
Taran was definitely the highlight of the book, and I really enjoyed his relationship with Iona. I think this one would’ve benefited from a dual pov, especially towards the end. Taran “remembers” but its all so rushed that I didn’t even feel any emotional pay off from it.
That being said, there are a lot of seriously swoony moments from Taran. He definitely is the reason why I kept reading!
𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
💕“𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙄 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙤, 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙟𝙤𝙗 𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩. 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚.”
💕“𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙. 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪”
💕“𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 - 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚. 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩. 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥. 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣.”
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁:
✨book 1 of duology
✨orpheus x eurydice vibes
✨second chance-ish
✨slow burn
✨music as magic
Thank you to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Oh The Younger Gods had a little bit of everything and was one of the most beautifully written books that I've had the chance to read. I was obsessed with Greek mythology in high school and it was a treat to be able to return to it with the twist Katie crafted.
Iona Night-Singer is a former priestess who sets off to the Underworld with the hopes that she will find her fallen soulmate, Taran. Her journey brings to light many things, including that Taran is not who she thought he was and that he has no memory of her from their time together above ground. Further, Iona learns that the gods she thought she once defeated are not only alive, but preparing to wage war one more.
The Younger Gods is a beautiful exploration of love between two people that touches on the emotional impacts of death and reincarnation. The romance between Iona and Taran is one that you will root for from the very beginning and it's full of yearning and slow burn that makes the twist that much more satisfying at the end. It was so sweet to watch Iona and Taran fall for each other again. And the world building was so naturally built into the story that I never felt lost as the two stories of love and utter destruction of the mortal world played out on the pages in front of me.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for the e-ARC!
Iona Night-Singer is a former priestess who sets off to the Underworld with the hopes that she will find her fallen soulmate, Taran. Her journey brings to light many things, including that Taran is not who she thought he was and that he has no memory of her from their time together above ground. Further, Iona learns that the gods she thought she once defeated are not only alive, but preparing to wage war one more.
The Younger Gods is a beautiful exploration of love between two people that touches on the emotional impacts of death and reincarnation. The romance between Iona and Taran is one that you will root for from the very beginning and it's full of yearning and slow burn that makes the twist that much more satisfying at the end. It was so sweet to watch Iona and Taran fall for each other again. And the world building was so naturally built into the story that I never felt lost as the two stories of love and utter destruction of the mortal world played out on the pages in front of me.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for the e-ARC!
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