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Who Calls Me Villain
Centuries ago, the Mirian Goddess of Death was known by a hundred names whispered through the realm like secrets; now she’s Raven.
When the death of a queen drags her from exile, she’s forced into a blood bargain with the manipulative King of Tyrlas. He expects her to restore the broken pieces of her godhood and return to full power in service of his kingdom.
In the king's demand, Raven sees an opportunity to thwart fate and put herself and the loathsome power of the gods to rest. However, in order to succeed, she must find the pieces of her godhood and restore the powers she'd given up by retracing her immortal past with the help of sworn knight, Orion Blackthorn—the much too talkative wolf-shifter.
As she reclaims her power, she finds herself reluctantly drawn to Orion. The gravity of her attraction only gets more complicated when they encounter Adler, the mysterious fae prince with a vested interest in her survival.
Will Raven save the realm from herself and end the power of gods, or will love be her downfall, as it was so many times before?
When the death of a queen drags her from exile, she’s forced into a blood bargain with the manipulative King of Tyrlas. He expects her to restore the broken pieces of her godhood and return to full power in service of his kingdom.
In the king's demand, Raven sees an opportunity to thwart fate and put herself and the loathsome power of the gods to rest. However, in order to succeed, she must find the pieces of her godhood and restore the powers she'd given up by retracing her immortal past with the help of sworn knight, Orion Blackthorn—the much too talkative wolf-shifter.
As she reclaims her power, she finds herself reluctantly drawn to Orion. The gravity of her attraction only gets more complicated when they encounter Adler, the mysterious fae prince with a vested interest in her survival.
Will Raven save the realm from herself and end the power of gods, or will love be her downfall, as it was so many times before?
- GenresRomantasy
557 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 27, 2026
5 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
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February 1, 2026The ending of this book still has me reeling hours later and I need the next one ASAP if I’m ever to recover from the anguish I feel right now for the FMC!
This book follows the goddess of death, who’s spent years as a wraith, with most of her power removed and the rest tampered by the cuffs of a mortal king who thinks to control her. When he requests she go get the rest of her power back so she can give it to one of his daughters, she must set out to face her past and history with the help of knight of the kingdom she is not sure she can trust. On this adventure she not only learns more about herself but the state of the realm around her she’s mostly abandoned since the time that she killed her father and the rest of the gods.
This book had me all over the place, with time jumps and flash backs to previous battles and losses that had me feeling all the emotions on every page. I really enjoyed both the flashbacks to different parts of Ravens life tied into hints about it via a line or two at the start of every chapter. The explorations of different kingdoms and traveling sequences built an ever growing world in my mind and had such beautiful world building I wish I could be there too. I also enjoyed all of the different side characters from Ravens previous life coming back to her along with new characters like the healer she met along the way. Seeing her slowly loose her grasp on her humanity as she slowly became a god again and how much she resented her own power and had self hatred for the things she’d done and regrets made her feel all the more human to me. I really enjoyed the budding romance between her and the knight along with the steam of old flames sprinkled throughout and of course plenty of banter between them all. Overall I really enjoyed this book and after the cliffhanger ending I cannot wait for the next one! My rating 4.8/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinion given are my own!
This book follows the goddess of death, who’s spent years as a wraith, with most of her power removed and the rest tampered by the cuffs of a mortal king who thinks to control her. When he requests she go get the rest of her power back so she can give it to one of his daughters, she must set out to face her past and history with the help of knight of the kingdom she is not sure she can trust. On this adventure she not only learns more about herself but the state of the realm around her she’s mostly abandoned since the time that she killed her father and the rest of the gods.
This book had me all over the place, with time jumps and flash backs to previous battles and losses that had me feeling all the emotions on every page. I really enjoyed both the flashbacks to different parts of Ravens life tied into hints about it via a line or two at the start of every chapter. The explorations of different kingdoms and traveling sequences built an ever growing world in my mind and had such beautiful world building I wish I could be there too. I also enjoyed all of the different side characters from Ravens previous life coming back to her along with new characters like the healer she met along the way. Seeing her slowly loose her grasp on her humanity as she slowly became a god again and how much she resented her own power and had self hatred for the things she’d done and regrets made her feel all the more human to me. I really enjoyed the budding romance between her and the knight along with the steam of old flames sprinkled throughout and of course plenty of banter between them all. Overall I really enjoyed this book and after the cliffhanger ending I cannot wait for the next one! My rating 4.8/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinion given are my own!
December 28, 2025
Thank you to Allison Trebacz for allowing me a chance to read this as an arc reader!
Raven is a 784-year-old, jaded, grumpy goddess of death who was thrown into her role without any say. Pulled from exile, she finds herself forced into a blood bargain with King Tyrlas to raise an undead army. Before she can do that, Raven must restore her lost power by locating the pieces of her godhood she scattered throughout the realm. Accompanied by her newly assigned bodyguard, Orion Blackthorn—tasked by the king to ensure her return—they embark on a journey where nothing goes as planned. Raven has her own dark agenda, and she is not easily controlled.
The world-building was immersive and complex, with Allison Trebacz doing an excellent job of weaving history and politics naturally throughout the story. The magic system involving the gods of the Pantheon was especially intriguing. Character development was well executed, and the inclusion of flashback chapters from Raven’s long life added meaningful depth and emotional weight to her character.
My only critique is that some sections felt slightly overwritten and could have been condensed into fewer pages rather than full chapters. That said, I truly enjoyed the opportunity to read this beautifully written book.
The cliffhanger is heartbreakingly unfair, and I cannot wait for the next installment to see what awaits Raven.
Spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rating 3.5 stars
Raven is a 784-year-old, jaded, grumpy goddess of death who was thrown into her role without any say. Pulled from exile, she finds herself forced into a blood bargain with King Tyrlas to raise an undead army. Before she can do that, Raven must restore her lost power by locating the pieces of her godhood she scattered throughout the realm. Accompanied by her newly assigned bodyguard, Orion Blackthorn—tasked by the king to ensure her return—they embark on a journey where nothing goes as planned. Raven has her own dark agenda, and she is not easily controlled.
The world-building was immersive and complex, with Allison Trebacz doing an excellent job of weaving history and politics naturally throughout the story. The magic system involving the gods of the Pantheon was especially intriguing. Character development was well executed, and the inclusion of flashback chapters from Raven’s long life added meaningful depth and emotional weight to her character.
My only critique is that some sections felt slightly overwritten and could have been condensed into fewer pages rather than full chapters. That said, I truly enjoyed the opportunity to read this beautifully written book.
The cliffhanger is heartbreakingly unfair, and I cannot wait for the next installment to see what awaits Raven.
Spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rating 3.5 stars
February 4, 2026
I got completely lost in this book. The world building and the characters were well written and the story of Raven was a complex and intriguing one.
It doesn't start off slow, but at a pivotal point in her long life. Throughout the book we learn about her past and her history as well as the present she is living. Her ties with both Adler and Orion are not new, but something is buried there that Raven discovers and has to choose to accept.
She is on her own mission to reclaim what she has lost and is incredibly hard on herself. She didn't ask for her power of longevity and wants to rid the world of all gods. including herself. Only now, while on her mission from a king and with the company of a knight, does she begin to question what she wants.
This was a breathtaking journey and those last few chapters really got my heart rate going. I felt Raven's rage and await when she shows the gods that she's not to be messed with. Her or her Sould bonds!
It doesn't start off slow, but at a pivotal point in her long life. Throughout the book we learn about her past and her history as well as the present she is living. Her ties with both Adler and Orion are not new, but something is buried there that Raven discovers and has to choose to accept.
She is on her own mission to reclaim what she has lost and is incredibly hard on herself. She didn't ask for her power of longevity and wants to rid the world of all gods. including herself. Only now, while on her mission from a king and with the company of a knight, does she begin to question what she wants.
This was a breathtaking journey and those last few chapters really got my heart rate going. I felt Raven's rage and await when she shows the gods that she's not to be messed with. Her or her Sould bonds!
February 2, 2026
After some 30-odd years being imprisoned then cuffed, Raven is being sent on a journey to restore her godhood and get her cuffs taken off. Orion Blackthorne is the handsome knight who just so happens to be the one person with the keys to her cuffs and is King Tyrlas' insurance plan to make sure Raven comes back to Micaor City after she's successful.
Overall, I enjoyed my read! I think the journey was well-paced. Raven has a lot of depth and emotion for a god that tells us the godhood numbs anyone to most emotions. The banter she has with the people around her, even if it's a king, is humorous and quick. I think the why-choose trope is well written and none of the men surrounding Raven give off any toxic vibes, which I adore.
The cliffhanger of an ending threw me for a loop. We're told this whole time that these people are dead and surprise! They're not. I wish we got to see more of Adler, for my own selfish reasons. I assume we'll get answers and more of Adler in the next book! I will be continuing with this series.
Thank you to Allison Trebacz for allowing me the chance to advance review.
Overall, I enjoyed my read! I think the journey was well-paced. Raven has a lot of depth and emotion for a god that tells us the godhood numbs anyone to most emotions. The banter she has with the people around her, even if it's a king, is humorous and quick. I think the why-choose trope is well written and none of the men surrounding Raven give off any toxic vibes, which I adore.
The cliffhanger of an ending threw me for a loop. We're told this whole time that these people are dead and surprise! They're not. I wish we got to see more of Adler, for my own selfish reasons. I assume we'll get answers and more of Adler in the next book! I will be continuing with this series.
Thank you to Allison Trebacz for allowing me the chance to advance review.
February 6, 2026
First of all, I’d like to say thank you for the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book. Now, moving on to the review itself…
“I’d crawl through fire to kiss you again.” I mean… okay🥵🥵🥵
This book has everything a fantasy book should have (in my opinion): action, a strong protagonist, good world-building, and… what can I say… good spice🥵❤️🔥
In this book, we follow the journey of Foriana (or Raven), Goddess of Death and the last living goddess (or is she?🫣).
After living imprisoned for years without her power, a human king makes a deal with her: she would recover her missing power and grant it to one of his daughters.
On this path, she is accompanied by who became my favorite character: the knight Orion Blackthorn. Of course, neither of them trusts the other, and this journey ends up defining the fate of both (or is fate already written exactly as it is supposed to be?).
The world-building is very well constructed, and the magic system is very different.
Like any first book in a fantasy series, it’s HARD to get into. At first, it was hard to understand everything and I found myself going back many times, but I feel like this whenever I start a new series, so nothing new there.
The writing is very good, very immersive, considering I often felt literally inside the book.
It was a great experience for me, a very solid 4.5 stars🙌🏻❤️🔥
“I’d crawl through fire to kiss you again.” I mean… okay🥵🥵🥵
This book has everything a fantasy book should have (in my opinion): action, a strong protagonist, good world-building, and… what can I say… good spice🥵❤️🔥
In this book, we follow the journey of Foriana (or Raven), Goddess of Death and the last living goddess (or is she?🫣).
After living imprisoned for years without her power, a human king makes a deal with her: she would recover her missing power and grant it to one of his daughters.
On this path, she is accompanied by who became my favorite character: the knight Orion Blackthorn. Of course, neither of them trusts the other, and this journey ends up defining the fate of both (or is fate already written exactly as it is supposed to be?).
The world-building is very well constructed, and the magic system is very different.
Like any first book in a fantasy series, it’s HARD to get into. At first, it was hard to understand everything and I found myself going back many times, but I feel like this whenever I start a new series, so nothing new there.
The writing is very good, very immersive, considering I often felt literally inside the book.
It was a great experience for me, a very solid 4.5 stars🙌🏻❤️🔥
February 1, 2026
ARC - WHO CALLS ME VILLAIN
by: Allison Trebacz
ARC REVIEW | 4 for me.
A dark romantasy book with complex characters, and unique world building.
At first pacing was a bit slow. I really enjoyed how all the info dumps just makes sense aroung 50% of the book; made me read faster and easier.
At around 80% of the book, the twist and turns just happens in every page, not to mention the cliffhanger that I did not see coming.
The tension of the characters and the yearning were really crazy -- a mortal, a god, a fae and a shifter.
by: Allison Trebacz
ARC REVIEW | 4 for me.
A dark romantasy book with complex characters, and unique world building.
At first pacing was a bit slow. I really enjoyed how all the info dumps just makes sense aroung 50% of the book; made me read faster and easier.
At around 80% of the book, the twist and turns just happens in every page, not to mention the cliffhanger that I did not see coming.
The tension of the characters and the yearning were really crazy -- a mortal, a god, a fae and a shifter.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Who Calls Me Villain by Allison Trebacz [ARC REVIEW]
★★★★☆
4/5 stars
Release date: January 1st, 2026
What is love to an immortal god? Everything, it turns out.
IF YOU LIKE:
• Fallible gods
• Morally grey characters
• YEARNING …but denying it
• So. Much. Banter.
• Love as an escape
• Angst :(
YOU’LL LOVE Who Calls Me Villain
≪ I’d found love too many times and let it ransack my reason. Love led me to stand in the ashes of my mistakes, soaked in blood that never should have spilled. ≫
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Lady Raven (Queen Foriana, Goddess of Death)
→ Ancient, powerful, exhausted, and desperate for an escape, Raven is a complicated and beautiful character. She is hero and villain, moral compass and morally corrupt, resilient and ready to die, broken and rebuilt time and time again. Love is her driving force and her greatest weakness. Her self-loathing is equal only to her need to be held, and she is haunted by a thousand lifetimes of mistakes. She is, to put it mildly: everything.
• Miria and its cities
→ From the gold-soaked marble of the Untouchable Library to the shelves of Vharos; from Linvia, wrapped in mountains to the labyrinthine layers of Avilla; from the god-trees surrounding Reen to the eternal spring of Belfiante; this world is stunningly beautiful, highly detailed, and full of wonder.
• The characters (all of them)
→ The chemistry between Raven and Orion is electric and lived-in, scalding but comfortable. Alder’s self-confident charm is threatening in the best possible way. Ophie is a burst of light, Henry is pure warmth, and the myriad gods and ghosts that find their way into Raven’s memories and mind are all uniquely interesting. There is not a single character whose presence isn’t necessary, and each of them brings more depth to Raven and the story.
• Raven’s plan
→ The longer she commits to it, the more you realize that it’s not as selfish as she thinks it is. She isn’t running away from her responsibility (anymore): she’s trying to return power and control to the mortal people of Miria who she loves so much. She thinks she’s a villain, but she’s trying to be a martyr: trying to build a better world for those who come after. I love her.
≪ What if he gave me the will to keep going? ≫
WISHLIST:
• More exposition
→ It is rare that I want more info-dumping in a novel, but this book could really benefit from just a little more point-blank explanation. The intentional ambiguity starts as intrigue but could eventually twist into confusion.
≪ There weren’t any gods left to ask for forgiveness. The primordials long ceded their power. Only Fate remains and he could go fuck himself. ≫
--
*I received an Advance Review Copy of this book from the author
★★★★☆
4/5 stars
Release date: January 1st, 2026
What is love to an immortal god? Everything, it turns out.
IF YOU LIKE:
• Fallible gods
• Morally grey characters
• YEARNING …but denying it
• So. Much. Banter.
• Love as an escape
• Angst :(
YOU’LL LOVE Who Calls Me Villain
≪ I’d found love too many times and let it ransack my reason. Love led me to stand in the ashes of my mistakes, soaked in blood that never should have spilled. ≫
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Lady Raven (Queen Foriana, Goddess of Death)
→ Ancient, powerful, exhausted, and desperate for an escape, Raven is a complicated and beautiful character. She is hero and villain, moral compass and morally corrupt, resilient and ready to die, broken and rebuilt time and time again. Love is her driving force and her greatest weakness. Her self-loathing is equal only to her need to be held, and she is haunted by a thousand lifetimes of mistakes. She is, to put it mildly: everything.
• Miria and its cities
→ From the gold-soaked marble of the Untouchable Library to the shelves of Vharos; from Linvia, wrapped in mountains to the labyrinthine layers of Avilla; from the god-trees surrounding Reen to the eternal spring of Belfiante; this world is stunningly beautiful, highly detailed, and full of wonder.
• The characters (all of them)
→ The chemistry between Raven and Orion is electric and lived-in, scalding but comfortable. Alder’s self-confident charm is threatening in the best possible way. Ophie is a burst of light, Henry is pure warmth, and the myriad gods and ghosts that find their way into Raven’s memories and mind are all uniquely interesting. There is not a single character whose presence isn’t necessary, and each of them brings more depth to Raven and the story.
• Raven’s plan
→ The longer she commits to it, the more you realize that it’s not as selfish as she thinks it is. She isn’t running away from her responsibility (anymore): she’s trying to return power and control to the mortal people of Miria who she loves so much. She thinks she’s a villain, but she’s trying to be a martyr: trying to build a better world for those who come after. I love her.
≪ What if he gave me the will to keep going? ≫
WISHLIST:
• More exposition
→ It is rare that I want more info-dumping in a novel, but this book could really benefit from just a little more point-blank explanation. The intentional ambiguity starts as intrigue but could eventually twist into confusion.
≪ There weren’t any gods left to ask for forgiveness. The primordials long ceded their power. Only Fate remains and he could go fuck himself. ≫
--
*I received an Advance Review Copy of this book from the author
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is a BEAST! I loved it, I yearned for it, I stayed up late reading and am desperate for more. Raven is an extremely complex character with hundreds of years of atrocities. She is immortal but in her heart still mortal; a human woman who doesn't want to get hurt again, but has been hurt more than anyone should ever be. She is cunning and thoughtful and pained and guilty and full of stories and memories. She clings to a previous fling as desperate as a desert elephant clings to water, but is grieving a historical husband with her whole soul.
I think her and Dianna from The Book of Azrael would be fast friends.
When a book has a scene in it that makes me do a full body shudder/chills, that makes me gasp and then cry and feel so deeply that I find myself thinking of the scene when I'm stuck at a red light - WOW. I cannot put into words what it felt like to read this scene (Leander's ghost). I felt Raven's heartbreak as it was my own. This is incredible writing and storytelling.
Yes, the beginning felt very rushed and I felt really confused as to why she's striking a deal with a mortal king, or cares about anyone else around her, but after about 5 or 6 chapters I felt myself pulling towards reading more. By about 1/6th in I knew I'd be giving an amazing review.
I loved Ophie, I loved that Raven loved her also. I wish we got more of her, more of her stories and her experience and her future.
I felt more connected to Adler than Orion, I think I got their connection more. The immortality and the similarities. He had a lot more depth as a character, but I am coming onto Orion. Then BAM that ending twist!!!
I really enjoyed reading about the depths of being the Goddess of Death and the things she could do and things she could see. I felt sorry for the souls she hadn't helped in 500 years.
Save this book for a time when you can really sit with it and focus and don't have distractions. I loved sitting on the sofa or in bed and just diving in, especially if my partner was out for a few hours or asleep already. I could 100% focus in and that's exactly what I needed. What a beautiful, complex, heartbreaking book.
My one irritation is the repeated 'trope' of characters dying (or historically have died) and suddenly resurrected. Surely death is death. This seems to be a recurring theme to Romantasy books, one that I am not a fan of personally!
I think her and Dianna from The Book of Azrael would be fast friends.
When a book has a scene in it that makes me do a full body shudder/chills, that makes me gasp and then cry and feel so deeply that I find myself thinking of the scene when I'm stuck at a red light - WOW. I cannot put into words what it felt like to read this scene (Leander's ghost). I felt Raven's heartbreak as it was my own. This is incredible writing and storytelling.
Yes, the beginning felt very rushed and I felt really confused as to why she's striking a deal with a mortal king, or cares about anyone else around her, but after about 5 or 6 chapters I felt myself pulling towards reading more. By about 1/6th in I knew I'd be giving an amazing review.
I loved Ophie, I loved that Raven loved her also. I wish we got more of her, more of her stories and her experience and her future.
I felt more connected to Adler than Orion, I think I got their connection more. The immortality and the similarities. He had a lot more depth as a character, but I am coming onto Orion. Then BAM that ending twist!!!
I really enjoyed reading about the depths of being the Goddess of Death and the things she could do and things she could see. I felt sorry for the souls she hadn't helped in 500 years.
Save this book for a time when you can really sit with it and focus and don't have distractions. I loved sitting on the sofa or in bed and just diving in, especially if my partner was out for a few hours or asleep already. I could 100% focus in and that's exactly what I needed. What a beautiful, complex, heartbreaking book.
My one irritation is the repeated 'trope' of characters dying (or historically have died) and suddenly resurrected. Surely death is death. This seems to be a recurring theme to Romantasy books, one that I am not a fan of personally!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank your to Allison Trebacz for the eARC of this book. Receiving the eARC did not, in any way, influence following the review.
4.5/5 stars
I absolutely devoured this book! It's a dark romantasy -- so it deals with some heavy themes -- which the author has addressed, so be sure to read the Author's note and trigger warnings.
Raven, our FMC, is a complex character whose had a long life (784 years old, you guys). So she is bound to have a lot of emotions, but also a different take on events than other characters. But the more I read about her, the more I was pulled in, the more I understood her and the more I cared. She is not your perfect FMC, which I loved about her. She's done plenty of good, but she has also done plenty of bad.
Orion Blackthorn, being younger than our FMC, obviously has a very different view on things and information on events. The differences between him and Raven were really well executed and you can see where each of them comes from. Even if he is loyal to his principles and is a consistent character, I would have liked maybe a little bit more personality coming from him. Not to say he doesn't have one, it was just not fully explored in my opinion, especially at the beginning. Which leads me to the next character...
Adler Ilverleigh, on the other hand, has a strong presence and personality -- which may be the reason why Orion's seemed less present, in contrast. He is funny, witty and offers something completely different from Orion. The dynamic between the three of them works really well!
I loved that -- no matter how brief of an apparence they made -- we got a good feel of the side character's relationships with Raven and how she felt about them. For some reason, each felt justified.
Plot-wise, this book offers a lot of twists and turns. I was a bit confused sometimes in the book world, as Raven is navigating a world she knows but also one that has changed a lot, but overall it was good. And that ending is just cruel! I cannot wait to see the next book.
4.5/5 stars
I absolutely devoured this book! It's a dark romantasy -- so it deals with some heavy themes -- which the author has addressed, so be sure to read the Author's note and trigger warnings.
Raven, our FMC, is a complex character whose had a long life (784 years old, you guys). So she is bound to have a lot of emotions, but also a different take on events than other characters. But the more I read about her, the more I was pulled in, the more I understood her and the more I cared. She is not your perfect FMC, which I loved about her. She's done plenty of good, but she has also done plenty of bad.
Orion Blackthorn, being younger than our FMC, obviously has a very different view on things and information on events. The differences between him and Raven were really well executed and you can see where each of them comes from. Even if he is loyal to his principles and is a consistent character, I would have liked maybe a little bit more personality coming from him. Not to say he doesn't have one, it was just not fully explored in my opinion, especially at the beginning. Which leads me to the next character...
Adler Ilverleigh, on the other hand, has a strong presence and personality -- which may be the reason why Orion's seemed less present, in contrast. He is funny, witty and offers something completely different from Orion. The dynamic between the three of them works really well!
I loved that -- no matter how brief of an apparence they made -- we got a good feel of the side character's relationships with Raven and how she felt about them. For some reason, each felt justified.
Plot-wise, this book offers a lot of twists and turns. I was a bit confused sometimes in the book world, as Raven is navigating a world she knows but also one that has changed a lot, but overall it was good. And that ending is just cruel! I cannot wait to see the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Who Calls Me Villain by Allison Trebacz is a dark, emotionally heavy fantasy romance and the start of the We Were Immortals duology, and it landed at 3 stars for me. The story follows Raven, a 784‑year‑old goddess of death pulled out of exile and forced into a blood bargain with the manipulative King of Tyrlas: restore the fragments of her shattered godhood and raise an undead army in service of his kingdom—or never be free. Accompanied by Orion Blackthorn, the knight assigned to make sure she returns, Raven sets out across a richly built world full of gods, politics, and old wounds, all while hiding a secret agenda of her own.
Raven herself is the strongest element of the book. She is ancient, exhausted, morally grey, and deeply self‑loathing, yet still driven by a fierce, complicated love for the mortal world she’s meant to shepherd. The use of flashbacks across her long life adds meaningful emotional weight, showing betrayals, great loves, and the many ways she’s been both weapon and victim, hero and villain. The magic tied to the Pantheon and the broader worldbuilding feel immersive and thoughtful, and readers who love dense lore, tragic immortals, and why‑choose dynamics (with Raven soul‑bound to more than one love interest) will find a lot to enjoy here.
For me, the reason this sits at 3 rather than a higher rating comes down to pacing and emotional balance. The book leans hard into angst and tragedy, and at times the narrative felt a little too heavy and sprawling, with certain sections dragging and some relationships and plot threads not landing as strongly as the premise promised. That said, the ending is bold and shocking, clearly setting up a second book that will raise the stakes even further.
Overall, Who Calls Me Villain is a solid start to a dark romantasy duology with a complex, unforgettable FMC and a richly built world; it just didn’t quite hit the emotional sweet spot for me all the way through. I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review
Raven herself is the strongest element of the book. She is ancient, exhausted, morally grey, and deeply self‑loathing, yet still driven by a fierce, complicated love for the mortal world she’s meant to shepherd. The use of flashbacks across her long life adds meaningful emotional weight, showing betrayals, great loves, and the many ways she’s been both weapon and victim, hero and villain. The magic tied to the Pantheon and the broader worldbuilding feel immersive and thoughtful, and readers who love dense lore, tragic immortals, and why‑choose dynamics (with Raven soul‑bound to more than one love interest) will find a lot to enjoy here.
For me, the reason this sits at 3 rather than a higher rating comes down to pacing and emotional balance. The book leans hard into angst and tragedy, and at times the narrative felt a little too heavy and sprawling, with certain sections dragging and some relationships and plot threads not landing as strongly as the premise promised. That said, the ending is bold and shocking, clearly setting up a second book that will raise the stakes even further.
Overall, Who Calls Me Villain is a solid start to a dark romantasy duology with a complex, unforgettable FMC and a richly built world; it just didn’t quite hit the emotional sweet spot for me all the way through. I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review
December 29, 2025
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. I loved this book. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting, which made me love it even more. I was pulled into Raven’s story right away and found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next.
Raven is the God of Death who has lost parts of her godhood. She makes a deal with the King to find and regain her godhood so she can make shades for him and in exchange, he’ll spare her traveling companion and his sister’s lives. Early on, Raven realizes that Orion, the knight who is accompanying her, is her soul bound. Raven will not allow herself to form any sort of attachment to him for fear of falling in love and losing someone yet again. Raven has lived over 700 years and has been through too many losses, betrayals, and inflicted too many wrongs. You can feel her self-loathing throughout this story and throughout her journey with Orion to regain her godhood.
This is a why choose book with Raven having a second soul bound. I enjoyed the dynamics between the 3 of them and the spice was well done. The end was shocking and leaves us with a cliffhanger, but Allison warned that was going to happen.
I was expecting a story with a badass FMC with feminine rage but this was not that. Raven comes off very cold and detached but is very sad and defeated underneath. I loved the complexity of her character. Check the trigger warnings before reading this because it does delve into suicidal thoughts and ideation quite a bit. I loved WCMV and can’t wait for the next book. I hope Raven gets her HEA.
Raven is the God of Death who has lost parts of her godhood. She makes a deal with the King to find and regain her godhood so she can make shades for him and in exchange, he’ll spare her traveling companion and his sister’s lives. Early on, Raven realizes that Orion, the knight who is accompanying her, is her soul bound. Raven will not allow herself to form any sort of attachment to him for fear of falling in love and losing someone yet again. Raven has lived over 700 years and has been through too many losses, betrayals, and inflicted too many wrongs. You can feel her self-loathing throughout this story and throughout her journey with Orion to regain her godhood.
This is a why choose book with Raven having a second soul bound. I enjoyed the dynamics between the 3 of them and the spice was well done. The end was shocking and leaves us with a cliffhanger, but Allison warned that was going to happen.
I was expecting a story with a badass FMC with feminine rage but this was not that. Raven comes off very cold and detached but is very sad and defeated underneath. I loved the complexity of her character. Check the trigger warnings before reading this because it does delve into suicidal thoughts and ideation quite a bit. I loved WCMV and can’t wait for the next book. I hope Raven gets her HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
I received this book for free as an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Raven is the god of death… well kind of. She has lost pieces of her godhood, refused to do the duties of the god of death for centuries, and been locked in power dampening cuffs for decades.
When the king who locked her up proposes a deal: restore your godhood, make one of his daughter’s a god or raise him and army in exchange for her freedom, she takes the deal but clearly with her own plan in place. But will the knight who is forced to travel with her help her with her new plan or only stop her because of their complicated past?
This was a very long book with a ton of stuff going on. I will admit that the very beginning and very end were a bit confusing. They could have used better explanation. I also noticed an uptick in grammar errors about halfway through. These further confused things because they took away some clarity at times and made me wonder what else had I understood wrong because of how it was written.
Ultimately, the story has some spice, does an excellent job of world building, and has good character interactions. Although it was quite a long book, I didn’t find myself dragging as I read it.
Raven is the god of death… well kind of. She has lost pieces of her godhood, refused to do the duties of the god of death for centuries, and been locked in power dampening cuffs for decades.
When the king who locked her up proposes a deal: restore your godhood, make one of his daughter’s a god or raise him and army in exchange for her freedom, she takes the deal but clearly with her own plan in place. But will the knight who is forced to travel with her help her with her new plan or only stop her because of their complicated past?
This was a very long book with a ton of stuff going on. I will admit that the very beginning and very end were a bit confusing. They could have used better explanation. I also noticed an uptick in grammar errors about halfway through. These further confused things because they took away some clarity at times and made me wonder what else had I understood wrong because of how it was written.
Ultimately, the story has some spice, does an excellent job of world building, and has good character interactions. Although it was quite a long book, I didn’t find myself dragging as I read it.
February 17, 2026
ARC Read
From the first chapter, I was completely pulled in. The story immediately immerses you in a dark, atmospheric world where gods, fae, and mortals collide.
Raven is a strong FMC; a goddess of death cast into exile and bound by a blood bargain, determined to reclaim what was taken from her. I was invested in her journey right away. Her grief, regret, and simmering rage feel authentic and layered, and the gradual blending of her past with her present added depth that kept me flipping pages.
Orion, the chatty and unexpectedly lovable wolf shifter, is perfect with Raven’s intensity. Their dynamic is filled with tension, sharp banter, and undeniable chemistry. And yes the spice definitely delivers (a cold shower may be required).
The worldbuilding is expansive and steeped in divine history and lore. It’s a substantial read, packed with flashbacks, exploration, and emotional weight. While a few sections felt slightly repetitive, it never pulled me out of the story for long.
The ending is an emotional whirlwind; heartbreaking, shocking, and powerful. If you’re a fan of dark fantasy with morally grey characters, layered mythology, and high-stakes emotion, this one is absolutely worth adding to your TBR.
From the first chapter, I was completely pulled in. The story immediately immerses you in a dark, atmospheric world where gods, fae, and mortals collide.
Raven is a strong FMC; a goddess of death cast into exile and bound by a blood bargain, determined to reclaim what was taken from her. I was invested in her journey right away. Her grief, regret, and simmering rage feel authentic and layered, and the gradual blending of her past with her present added depth that kept me flipping pages.
Orion, the chatty and unexpectedly lovable wolf shifter, is perfect with Raven’s intensity. Their dynamic is filled with tension, sharp banter, and undeniable chemistry. And yes the spice definitely delivers (a cold shower may be required).
The worldbuilding is expansive and steeped in divine history and lore. It’s a substantial read, packed with flashbacks, exploration, and emotional weight. While a few sections felt slightly repetitive, it never pulled me out of the story for long.
The ending is an emotional whirlwind; heartbreaking, shocking, and powerful. If you’re a fan of dark fantasy with morally grey characters, layered mythology, and high-stakes emotion, this one is absolutely worth adding to your TBR.
January 19, 2026
Allison Trebacz has done it again, folks! Who Calls Me Villain, out on Jan. 27, invites you into the world of the Goddess of Death Foriana, whose godhood has been ripped out of her and left her a shell of her former self. Now known as Raven, she’s sent on a quest to restore her godhood and relive the most painful moments of her long life, the very last thing she’s ever wanted to do.
The world-building in this book is so good. The history of the Mirian realm and Raven’s 700+ years of life are revealed in a non-linear fashion, but exactly on time for what is happening in the present. It astounds me how complete and real the history, the figures, and the mythos of this story feel.
Trebacz always does an excellent job of crafting a fully immersive book, and this was no different. My only complaint here is that I wanted more, but knowing this is a duology, I expect the answers I’m seeking will come in book two.
If you’re like me and love to read stories about gods and history (even if it’s fictional), I cannot stress how highly I recommend Who Calls Me Villain. I’m obsessed with literally everything Trebacz writes, and this new release is no exception.
The world-building in this book is so good. The history of the Mirian realm and Raven’s 700+ years of life are revealed in a non-linear fashion, but exactly on time for what is happening in the present. It astounds me how complete and real the history, the figures, and the mythos of this story feel.
Trebacz always does an excellent job of crafting a fully immersive book, and this was no different. My only complaint here is that I wanted more, but knowing this is a duology, I expect the answers I’m seeking will come in book two.
If you’re like me and love to read stories about gods and history (even if it’s fictional), I cannot stress how highly I recommend Who Calls Me Villain. I’m obsessed with literally everything Trebacz writes, and this new release is no exception.
January 24, 2026
What would you do if you lived forever? Raven lives with the knowledge that no matter what she does, she’s forced to face life year after year while things continue to change around her. Even though she never asked for this life, she was forced to be the goddess of death. Throughout her life she is forced to make hard decisions until she finally has a chance to end it all. End her immortality, end the reign of Gods, and end the ability of others to use her for her power.
Who Calls Me Villain is unlike any fantasy I’ve read before making it an intriguing read. Through the distinctive world building, you become attached to the tribulations that Raven faces. Regardless of her power, at the end of the day she is a woman who has had to face the reality of her situation. She’s had to kill those she’s loved, been crossed by those she trusted, been chained and imprisoned, and is ready to give it all up. Will finding her soul bound and ending her life save what used to be her kingdom or will she be left to stay in her perpetual hell?
If you like new fantasy worlds, deep character introspection, and a little spice, this is a must read!
Who Calls Me Villain is unlike any fantasy I’ve read before making it an intriguing read. Through the distinctive world building, you become attached to the tribulations that Raven faces. Regardless of her power, at the end of the day she is a woman who has had to face the reality of her situation. She’s had to kill those she’s loved, been crossed by those she trusted, been chained and imprisoned, and is ready to give it all up. Will finding her soul bound and ending her life save what used to be her kingdom or will she be left to stay in her perpetual hell?
If you like new fantasy worlds, deep character introspection, and a little spice, this is a must read!
December 25, 2025
I absolutely loved this one. I was a little confused at the beginning, but I think that was intentional. The world building is fantastic and you can tell how much thought went into creating it. The cold, wintry atmosphere throughout the story makes this an especially great winter read.
Raven is such a great character. She steps into the role that most MMCs usually fill in other books, and I really appreciated that switch. She’s done so many good things, but also plenty of bad things as well, which is what she dwells on. I loved the flashbacks because they helped me understand her on a deeper level. I also loved how she falls in love so hard and so fast.
Both Orion and Adler offer her something different, and she doesn’t shy away from admitting to herself that she wants them both.
And the spice is absolutely spice-ing. Since this is a why choose, you get scenes with her, Orion and Adler 🤤
There are so many twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The ending was absolutely wild, and I cannot wait to see Raven get her HEA.
Raven is such a great character. She steps into the role that most MMCs usually fill in other books, and I really appreciated that switch. She’s done so many good things, but also plenty of bad things as well, which is what she dwells on. I loved the flashbacks because they helped me understand her on a deeper level. I also loved how she falls in love so hard and so fast.
Both Orion and Adler offer her something different, and she doesn’t shy away from admitting to herself that she wants them both.
And the spice is absolutely spice-ing. Since this is a why choose, you get scenes with her, Orion and Adler 🤤
There are so many twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The ending was absolutely wild, and I cannot wait to see Raven get her HEA.
February 13, 2026
First of all if you’re walking into this expecting sparkly immortality and morally gray flirting… buckle up. This book said, “Oh you want angst? I’ll give you generational trauma with a side of gods watching.”
We follow Raven immortal, powerful, and emotionally exhausted. And honestly? Same, girl.
This isn’t your cute little fantasy romp. This is taverns soaked in tension, gods playing chess with people’s lives, and a heroine who’s been alive long enough to know that eternity is not the blessing mortals think it is. She’s not just powerful she’s hurting. Her internal battles feel raw and painfully real. You don’t just read about her trauma, you sit in it with her. From gritty taverns to mythic realms, the atmosphere is thick enough to drink.
This is a dark fantasy that asks, what if being immortal doesn’t fix anything? What if power doesn’t heal the wounds?
It’s broody. It’s introspective. It’s heavy.
And honestly? I respect a book that isn’t afraid to sit in the uncomfortable.
We follow Raven immortal, powerful, and emotionally exhausted. And honestly? Same, girl.
This isn’t your cute little fantasy romp. This is taverns soaked in tension, gods playing chess with people’s lives, and a heroine who’s been alive long enough to know that eternity is not the blessing mortals think it is. She’s not just powerful she’s hurting. Her internal battles feel raw and painfully real. You don’t just read about her trauma, you sit in it with her. From gritty taverns to mythic realms, the atmosphere is thick enough to drink.
This is a dark fantasy that asks, what if being immortal doesn’t fix anything? What if power doesn’t heal the wounds?
It’s broody. It’s introspective. It’s heavy.
And honestly? I respect a book that isn’t afraid to sit in the uncomfortable.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Allison Trebacz’s Who Calls Me Villain is a dark, gripping story that pulls you into a world of intrigue, secrets, and complex characters. The novel is full of twists that keep you guessing, with an atmosphere that’s both tense and immersive.
The protagonist is layered and conflicted, making it easy to empathize with their struggles even as they make morally gray choices. Trebacz does a great job of balancing suspense, emotional depth, and plot momentum, so you never feel like the story is slowing down.
I really appreciated how the book explored themes of trust, betrayal, and identity, without ever becoming predictable. It’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve finished the last page. 🖤
The protagonist is layered and conflicted, making it easy to empathize with their struggles even as they make morally gray choices. Trebacz does a great job of balancing suspense, emotional depth, and plot momentum, so you never feel like the story is slowing down.
I really appreciated how the book explored themes of trust, betrayal, and identity, without ever becoming predictable. It’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve finished the last page. 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have loved Allison's other books so was very excited to read this one. I loved how different this story was. The FMC was the morally grey character for a change. The world building was great and easy to follow. I did get lost a bit with the jumping between past and present and I did feel like certain aspects of the story were lost as a result. I also wanted to see the love story fleshed out a bit more, it felt forced. However, the promise for a kick ass book 2 is definitely there. That ending. Did not see that coming. I enjoyed this and look forward to book 2 in Raven's story and hopefully more on Adler and Orion.
December 5, 2025
I am absolutely devastated why can't she be happy at last with her two soul bounds? I'm crying on the sofa rn and I can't move. Why oh why you had to leave me like this at the very end? Orion, Foriana and Adler😭😭😭😭😭please don't make them suffer in the next one and let them have their happy ending 😭🤍 please please please
Absolutely brilliant 5 stars
Absolutely brilliant 5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2026
This book has it all! So many twists and turns, I was like, huh? and what? and how in the world?! We have the goddess of death, and her magic and crazy! We have a shifter and a fae prince! Lovely! Definitely will need to know what happens in the next book! There are some really sad scenes and the tension is perfection!
January 10, 2026
Arc review
Very interesting world and world building. But I did spent most of the book confused if I was even learning anything useful to the story. The ending I did not see coming and that more than made up for any confusion I had been feeling. I’m excited for book 2.
Very interesting world and world building. But I did spent most of the book confused if I was even learning anything useful to the story. The ending I did not see coming and that more than made up for any confusion I had been feeling. I’m excited for book 2.
January 27, 2026
Highly recommend
If you like a strong fmc and not having to choose with magic and tragic this is the book to read. To go through and loose all the fmc has and still be willing to love still. So well written. I cant wait for the second book to come out!
If you like a strong fmc and not having to choose with magic and tragic this is the book to read. To go through and loose all the fmc has and still be willing to love still. So well written. I cant wait for the second book to come out!
January 30, 2026
Omg.. how dare you Allison, this was incredible, it was dark and messy and the longing you get from Raven not allowing herself to enjoy the things and people in her circle is so palpable, I can’t wait for book 2, also that twist??? Hello????
February 1, 2026
This was soooo good! I’m glad I got to meet Raven, Orion, and Adler and read about the journey they went on! That ending was mind blowing!!!! I can’t wait to read the next book to see what happens next!
February 3, 2026
This was a good book. I love that she found both of her people. I was worried a couple of times about how everything would work out for them but it seems to be going well. I can’t wait to read the next one.
February 11, 2026
Wow! What a ride. The world building was on point. The why choose was immaculate. Last 25% had me on the edge of my seat. The twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I audibly gasped. I can’t wait for the next one.
February 16, 2026
Raven is an interesting character. Goddess of Death, who loves so fiercely. She had gone thought so much, and I'm sure more to come.
This definitely had an unexpected ending! I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds next.
This definitely had an unexpected ending! I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds next.
January 10, 2026
rating: 4.5 • i simply could not put this book down!! read it. read it. read it. you will not be disappointed!! thank you Allison Trebacz for the opportunity to ARC read this amazing story!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
**ARC Copy**
4.5 ⭐️
That was a lot. I'll be honest I struggled a bit to follow along. That was particularly my fault. I need to stay away from dense fantasy books when I'm having flare ups. The brain fog makes me feel so dumb. It's an amazing book. Highly recommend just take your time and don't push yourself on this one. Definitely gonna reread this one.
4.5 ⭐️
That was a lot. I'll be honest I struggled a bit to follow along. That was particularly my fault. I need to stay away from dense fantasy books when I'm having flare ups. The brain fog makes me feel so dumb. It's an amazing book. Highly recommend just take your time and don't push yourself on this one. Definitely gonna reread this one.
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