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Killmarth Trials #2
The Divines
Win a free print copy of this book!
26 days and 10:02:27
50 copies available
U.S. only
Sophia DeWinter will return so pre-order the sequel to the romantasy full of magic, romance and danger that everyone is reading in 2025, The Ordeals'A rich romantasy ideal for fans of dark academia'
The Mirror
'The magic system is captivating, and the ending will leave you yearning for the second book' The Express
'Combines captivating world building, a seriously twisty plot, and a steamy romance… impossible to put down' Demi Winters, author of The Road of Bones
'Deliciously dark with high stakes and a sizzling hot romance, The Ordeals is not to be missed!’ Tessonja Odette, author of A Rivalry of Hearts
Readers ADORE The Ordeals:
'Mysterious, chilling, and utterly addictive' Reader review,*****
'This completely swept me away. The world-building is absolutely stunning' Reader review,*****
'Exciting and unique, quick paced and kept you guessing throughout' Reader review,*****
'I could not put down and devoured in one sitting. I absolutely recommend this book' Reader review,*****
'A quite creepy atmosphere and… Buffy-esque vampire slaying into the mix' Reader review,*****
'The magic system is captivating, and the ending will leave you yearning for the second book' The Express
'Combines captivating world building, a seriously twisty plot, and a steamy romance… impossible to put down' Demi Winters, author of The Road of Bones
'Deliciously dark with high stakes and a sizzling hot romance, The Ordeals is not to be missed!’ Tessonja Odette, author of A Rivalry of Hearts
Readers ADORE The Ordeals:
'Mysterious, chilling, and utterly addictive' Reader review,*****
'This completely swept me away. The world-building is absolutely stunning' Reader review,*****
'Exciting and unique, quick paced and kept you guessing throughout' Reader review,*****
'I could not put down and devoured in one sitting. I absolutely recommend this book' Reader review,*****
'A quite creepy atmosphere and… Buffy-esque vampire slaying into the mix' Reader review,*****
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Rachel Greenlaw
9 books600 followersRachel Greenlaw is the author of ONE CHRISTMAS MORNING, THE WOODSMOKE WOMEN'S BOOK OF SPELLS the COMPASS AND BLADE series and THE ORDEALS duology. She lives on an island in the middle of the Atlantic, where you'll find her wandering the white sand beaches, searching for cowrie shells and writing her next story.
For up to date information on Rachel's books, giveaways and news, sign up for her newsletter at https://rachelgreenlaw.com
And follow her on instagram and TikTok @rachelgreenlaw_ for a window into her world.
For up to date information on Rachel's books, giveaways and news, sign up for her newsletter at https://rachelgreenlaw.com
And follow her on instagram and TikTok @rachelgreenlaw_ for a window into her world.
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Review of advance copy received from Author
I cannot believe we are here already!! Thank you so much for joining Sophia and Alden and the rest of the gang, I have LOVED writing this duology for you all xx
October 3, 2026
Four weeks after the attack that ended the first book, the maze outside Killmarth College is full of monsters and the newly qualified scholars are being sent in to practise on them. The war is live, the Crown's forces are split across two fronts, and the one weapon that might end the hunts for good is an elixir missing a single ingredient. Then the people who knew which ingredient are killed at a wedding. The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw picks up the Killmarth Trials at a dead sprint and does not slow down for anybody who skipped the first volume.
Where The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw Begins
This is the second half of a duology, and it is a true conclusion rather than a middle book. The grief is already in progress when it opens. One scholar has been in an armchair facing the sea for two days and has to be bathed and dressed by a friend. A professor is a shell. A mentor is dead and her books have been left outside a door with a note.
That choice pays off, because the novel is not interested in reintroducing itself. Within forty pages there is a secret meeting, a map with crosses on it, a vial of something that glows, and the admission from the woman representing the Crown that they are losing. The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw assumes you remember the taxonomy, the houses and the traitor from last time, and gets on with the business of spending the characters it has.
What Rachel Greenlaw Does With the Rules
The magic is the best-engineered element here, because it is constrained.
Alchemists change the state of things that do not grow or breathe, and they build portals and the bridges that run between them. Botanists grow and heal. Illusionists work on the senses. Masquiers change shape, including into werewolves. Every working draws on a personal well, and when the well runs dry the nosebleeds start and then the collapse. Crossing between worlds needs three wielders, and reaching the vampires' world needs a vampire, which is why the plot's engine is a theft rather than a battle.
The training scenes are where that specificity earns its keep. A blindfolded exercise in a far corner of a room, with instructions to turn every lump of matter on a distant table into silver, and the slow discovery that clay explodes and stone will not budge. A duel fought through a locked door, won by a thrown picture frame. An opponent who makes the staircase disappear a step at a time, then moves the steps to himself. These are the pages where the dark academia framing stops being a label and becomes a method.
Rachel Greenlaw and the Problem of Scripture
The best idea in the novel arrives two thirds through, in a hidden castle in the territory that executes people for having magic.
The elders there keep the gods' stories. They are not atheists; they are archivists, and they distinguish between the gods and the church that claims to speak for them. What they hand over is an account of how the vampires were made that is nothing like the official version, and the reason is simple. The scripture of this world was dictated by the gods themselves to the people who founded the church, which means it is a document written by the winners of an argument about which the losers were never consulted.
So the real history survives in the oral tale of a goddess everyone filed as minor. The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw builds its endgame on that, and it is a genuinely satisfying piece of construction: the thing that was skimmed past as a decorative little story about flowers turns out to be the key, precisely because it was written to look unimportant.
The chapter titles do similar work. They swing between funereal and flippant, from "A Garden of Graves" and "God Trap" to "Grumpy Gargoyles" and a title about what girls actually want instead of flowers. That tonal split is the whole book in miniature.
Where The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw Gives Ground
The deadline is announced rather than felt. Nine days. Ten days. A moon turn. Characters tell each other the number at intervals, and the figure keeps shifting, which drains the urgency out of the one device meant to supply it.
The romance takes up room the plot cannot spare. The sex is frequent, lengthy and structurally very similar from scene to scene, and it lands at implausible moments: the night before a battle, minutes after an injury, on a balcony with a crisis unresolved downstairs. One or two of these are electric. Six is a pacing problem.
Borrowed power is too convenient. Whenever the narrator is overmatched she reaches into another wielder's well and takes what she needs, and the rules governing that are established roughly when the plot requires them.
The cast is overcrowded with casualties. Four or five senior scholars arrive with one trait each, and several exist to die. The novel is honest enough to have a character note that one of them went unmourned, which is accurate and also the problem.
Do You Need the Earlier Book?
Yes, and unusually for a sequel, the answer is not negotiable. The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw opens on the emotional aftermath of events you have not witnessed, with a cast already bereaved, a magic system already taught and a conspiracy already resolved. Read The Ordeals first. There is no version of starting here that works.
Content Notes
Explicit sex, repeatedly and at length, including biting and blood drawn during sex. A war waged mostly against civilians: a school massacred, a wedding party slaughtered, a ballroom of guests fed on. Graphic throat wounds, broken necks, a body missing its head, a man bleeding out on stone. On-page torture, with a blade driven through a captive's hand and twisted for information, narrated by the woman doing it. A second instance described after the fact. Bereavement throughout: one character is catatonic with grief, another is hollowed out by it. Assisted death discussed at length, with one character asking a friend to kill him rather than let him become something else. Suicidal despair. A thrown blade in a shoulder and the surgery that follows. Religious persecution as a system, with a state hunting and executing people for an inherited trait, including a mother's account of her daughter's trial and death. Coercive guardianship of a child, including confinement in a vault as punishment and a blood-bound bracelet worn from the age of six.
Worth Your Shelf
What stays is not the vampires and not the war. It is the guardian: a man who clamped a bracelet on a six-year-old, locked her in a vault as punishment, trained her by making himself the wall she threw herself against, and who is slowly re-read across four hundred pages until the cruelty resolves into terror. He is the best-written relationship in the novel and he is not the love interest.
The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw announces its countdown more than it dramatises it and spends too long in bed, and it still closes the duology properly. It understands that the most dangerous thing in any mythology is not the monster the goddess made. It is the official account of why she made it, and who was allowed to write it down.
Where The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw Begins
This is the second half of a duology, and it is a true conclusion rather than a middle book. The grief is already in progress when it opens. One scholar has been in an armchair facing the sea for two days and has to be bathed and dressed by a friend. A professor is a shell. A mentor is dead and her books have been left outside a door with a note.
That choice pays off, because the novel is not interested in reintroducing itself. Within forty pages there is a secret meeting, a map with crosses on it, a vial of something that glows, and the admission from the woman representing the Crown that they are losing. The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw assumes you remember the taxonomy, the houses and the traitor from last time, and gets on with the business of spending the characters it has.
What Rachel Greenlaw Does With the Rules
The magic is the best-engineered element here, because it is constrained.
Alchemists change the state of things that do not grow or breathe, and they build portals and the bridges that run between them. Botanists grow and heal. Illusionists work on the senses. Masquiers change shape, including into werewolves. Every working draws on a personal well, and when the well runs dry the nosebleeds start and then the collapse. Crossing between worlds needs three wielders, and reaching the vampires' world needs a vampire, which is why the plot's engine is a theft rather than a battle.
The training scenes are where that specificity earns its keep. A blindfolded exercise in a far corner of a room, with instructions to turn every lump of matter on a distant table into silver, and the slow discovery that clay explodes and stone will not budge. A duel fought through a locked door, won by a thrown picture frame. An opponent who makes the staircase disappear a step at a time, then moves the steps to himself. These are the pages where the dark academia framing stops being a label and becomes a method.
Rachel Greenlaw and the Problem of Scripture
The best idea in the novel arrives two thirds through, in a hidden castle in the territory that executes people for having magic.
The elders there keep the gods' stories. They are not atheists; they are archivists, and they distinguish between the gods and the church that claims to speak for them. What they hand over is an account of how the vampires were made that is nothing like the official version, and the reason is simple. The scripture of this world was dictated by the gods themselves to the people who founded the church, which means it is a document written by the winners of an argument about which the losers were never consulted.
So the real history survives in the oral tale of a goddess everyone filed as minor. The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw builds its endgame on that, and it is a genuinely satisfying piece of construction: the thing that was skimmed past as a decorative little story about flowers turns out to be the key, precisely because it was written to look unimportant.
The chapter titles do similar work. They swing between funereal and flippant, from "A Garden of Graves" and "God Trap" to "Grumpy Gargoyles" and a title about what girls actually want instead of flowers. That tonal split is the whole book in miniature.
Where The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw Gives Ground
The deadline is announced rather than felt. Nine days. Ten days. A moon turn. Characters tell each other the number at intervals, and the figure keeps shifting, which drains the urgency out of the one device meant to supply it.
The romance takes up room the plot cannot spare. The sex is frequent, lengthy and structurally very similar from scene to scene, and it lands at implausible moments: the night before a battle, minutes after an injury, on a balcony with a crisis unresolved downstairs. One or two of these are electric. Six is a pacing problem.
Borrowed power is too convenient. Whenever the narrator is overmatched she reaches into another wielder's well and takes what she needs, and the rules governing that are established roughly when the plot requires them.
The cast is overcrowded with casualties. Four or five senior scholars arrive with one trait each, and several exist to die. The novel is honest enough to have a character note that one of them went unmourned, which is accurate and also the problem.
Do You Need the Earlier Book?
Yes, and unusually for a sequel, the answer is not negotiable. The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw opens on the emotional aftermath of events you have not witnessed, with a cast already bereaved, a magic system already taught and a conspiracy already resolved. Read The Ordeals first. There is no version of starting here that works.
Content Notes
Explicit sex, repeatedly and at length, including biting and blood drawn during sex. A war waged mostly against civilians: a school massacred, a wedding party slaughtered, a ballroom of guests fed on. Graphic throat wounds, broken necks, a body missing its head, a man bleeding out on stone. On-page torture, with a blade driven through a captive's hand and twisted for information, narrated by the woman doing it. A second instance described after the fact. Bereavement throughout: one character is catatonic with grief, another is hollowed out by it. Assisted death discussed at length, with one character asking a friend to kill him rather than let him become something else. Suicidal despair. A thrown blade in a shoulder and the surgery that follows. Religious persecution as a system, with a state hunting and executing people for an inherited trait, including a mother's account of her daughter's trial and death. Coercive guardianship of a child, including confinement in a vault as punishment and a blood-bound bracelet worn from the age of six.
Worth Your Shelf
What stays is not the vampires and not the war. It is the guardian: a man who clamped a bracelet on a six-year-old, locked her in a vault as punishment, trained her by making himself the wall she threw herself against, and who is slowly re-read across four hundred pages until the cruelty resolves into terror. He is the best-written relationship in the novel and he is not the love interest.
The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw announces its countdown more than it dramatises it and spends too long in bed, and it still closes the duology properly. It understands that the most dangerous thing in any mythology is not the monster the goddess made. It is the official account of why she made it, and who was allowed to write it down.
September 28, 2026
Thank you Ballantine for the eARC!
I was so excited to return to Sophia, Alden, and the world of Killmarth after The Ordeals. I actually really enjoyed that The Divines jumped straight back into the story and didn’t spend a ton of time rehashing what happened before, but unfortunately, the pacing ended up being one of my biggest struggles.
Everything moved so quickly that I never really felt like I had a chance to breathe and enjoy the story itself. There were so many things happening at once—the Cold Ones, the search for an antidote, the Crown, the ancient gods, and everything Sophia and her friends were trying to uncover—and at times it all felt a little chaotic and overwhelming.
I also struggled with how easily this group of young adults seemed to solve mysteries and uncover things that had been unsolved for hundreds of years. They’re still students, yet somehow they’re piecing together ancient secrets, finding what seems nearly impossible to find, and figuring out a cure when no one else had managed to do it. In some places, it just felt a little too convenient for me.
I still loved Alden and Sophia individually, and yes, those spicy scenes were definitely spicy. 🔥 But strangely, their actual relationship felt flat to me this time around. I wanted more of the emotional connection, the little moments, the depth between them. There was plenty of physical chemistry, but I was missing the feeling behind it.
Overall, I did enjoy the story and I’m glad I got to see how Sophia’s journey ended. I just felt like I was missing pieces along the way, and the storyline became a little too chaotic for me to fully settle into it. I think with a little more breathing room and development, some of these moments could have landed much more strongly for me.
I was so excited to return to Sophia, Alden, and the world of Killmarth after The Ordeals. I actually really enjoyed that The Divines jumped straight back into the story and didn’t spend a ton of time rehashing what happened before, but unfortunately, the pacing ended up being one of my biggest struggles.
Everything moved so quickly that I never really felt like I had a chance to breathe and enjoy the story itself. There were so many things happening at once—the Cold Ones, the search for an antidote, the Crown, the ancient gods, and everything Sophia and her friends were trying to uncover—and at times it all felt a little chaotic and overwhelming.
I also struggled with how easily this group of young adults seemed to solve mysteries and uncover things that had been unsolved for hundreds of years. They’re still students, yet somehow they’re piecing together ancient secrets, finding what seems nearly impossible to find, and figuring out a cure when no one else had managed to do it. In some places, it just felt a little too convenient for me.
I still loved Alden and Sophia individually, and yes, those spicy scenes were definitely spicy. 🔥 But strangely, their actual relationship felt flat to me this time around. I wanted more of the emotional connection, the little moments, the depth between them. There was plenty of physical chemistry, but I was missing the feeling behind it.
Overall, I did enjoy the story and I’m glad I got to see how Sophia’s journey ended. I just felt like I was missing pieces along the way, and the storyline became a little too chaotic for me to fully settle into it. I think with a little more breathing room and development, some of these moments could have landed much more strongly for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Magic School. Vampiric enemies. Romance.
I did not realise this was only to be a duology and though we did get that satisfying yet complicated feelings ending to a fantasy. I feel like this world still has more to offer with the impending war looming.
It was actually so refreshing to read a book where the love interests were already together from the first book and to have them be the power couple with no jealousy or break ups.
A shout out for Ezra, our complicated grump.
Tessa's grief was beautifully written, if not heartbreakingly real. Watching her go from a shell, to anger and then to acceptance was not a core part of the book bur equally as important!
Give me more Killmarth please!
I did not realise this was only to be a duology and though we did get that satisfying yet complicated feelings ending to a fantasy. I feel like this world still has more to offer with the impending war looming.
It was actually so refreshing to read a book where the love interests were already together from the first book and to have them be the power couple with no jealousy or break ups.
A shout out for Ezra, our complicated grump.
Tessa's grief was beautifully written, if not heartbreakingly real. Watching her go from a shell, to anger and then to acceptance was not a core part of the book bur equally as important!
Give me more Killmarth please!
August 2, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for an ARC copy of The Divines.
I had three main issues with this book:
1. The character development. I found myself not being invested in any of their individual stories and the “romance” between Sophia & Alden was lackluster. I never felt a true connection between them, only lust. All of the “spicy” scenes felt repetitive and almost like they were just thrown in there.
2. The scatterbrained plot. I’m sorry but where did the Gods come from? I don’t remember them being mentioned in book 1 at all. This isn’t a Carissa Broadbent book. The mix of all of these elements together didn’t mesh or make enough sense to me.
3. The believability - I cannot stand when characters have issues or problems to solve that are explained as “difficult or impossible tasks” but seem to achieve them with little to no struggle. The pacing of this book felt completely off. Some parts dragged on forever while what should have been big moments, felt rushed.
Sadly this is a 1.75/5 ⭐️ for me. I think the trials and magic system, without the Gods coming into play, along with the cold ones, would have made for an interesting enough story but too many elements were thrown together in such a small book with YA writing.
I had three main issues with this book:
1. The character development. I found myself not being invested in any of their individual stories and the “romance” between Sophia & Alden was lackluster. I never felt a true connection between them, only lust. All of the “spicy” scenes felt repetitive and almost like they were just thrown in there.
2. The scatterbrained plot. I’m sorry but where did the Gods come from? I don’t remember them being mentioned in book 1 at all. This isn’t a Carissa Broadbent book. The mix of all of these elements together didn’t mesh or make enough sense to me.
3. The believability - I cannot stand when characters have issues or problems to solve that are explained as “difficult or impossible tasks” but seem to achieve them with little to no struggle. The pacing of this book felt completely off. Some parts dragged on forever while what should have been big moments, felt rushed.
Sadly this is a 1.75/5 ⭐️ for me. I think the trials and magic system, without the Gods coming into play, along with the cold ones, would have made for an interesting enough story but too many elements were thrown together in such a small book with YA writing.
October 4, 2026
Review of advance copy received from HarperCollins via NetGalley
3.75 ⭐
Oh, I had a fun time with this book, but I have to admit - was it better than book one? I am afraid the answer is no.
It is a duology, but it definitely has potential to be a trilogy - why stop there?
While book one focuses on the trials and the FMC discovering herself and her true power while falling in love with the competition, this second book is more about saving her world, Kellend, and the people she loves.
There are no more trials. Instead, we discover a completely new reality not mentioned in book one - one made of gods and strong believers that alters the direction of the plot, which is not a bad thing. We are so used to academia books strictly sticking to that specific vibe. Here, there is very little of the school setting beyond the characters living there and occasionally attending lectures.
Where the book really drops the ball for me, though, is the romance between Sophia and Alden. Their dynamic felt so static in this one. Instead of showing us any genuine emotional growth, the book just relies on them constantly declaring how much they love each other. Aside from basic physical attraction and repeating that they cannot live without the other, there are almost no meaningful interactions or shared moments that ground their connection. It created such a disconnect for me as a reader, making their supposed epic love story feel hollow and unearned in this installment.
What saved the emotional side of the story for me was the found family dynamic. Sophia's evolving relationship with Knox was so lovely to read, giving us the warmth, trust, and real character connection that the romance was missing. That bond, paired with the new light cast on the Collector's actions, ended up being the real heart of the book for me.
I ended up crying at the end of the book. Even though I expected that outcome, it still hit me emotionally.
3.75 ⭐
Oh, I had a fun time with this book, but I have to admit - was it better than book one? I am afraid the answer is no.
It is a duology, but it definitely has potential to be a trilogy - why stop there?
While book one focuses on the trials and the FMC discovering herself and her true power while falling in love with the competition, this second book is more about saving her world, Kellend, and the people she loves.
There are no more trials. Instead, we discover a completely new reality not mentioned in book one - one made of gods and strong believers that alters the direction of the plot, which is not a bad thing. We are so used to academia books strictly sticking to that specific vibe. Here, there is very little of the school setting beyond the characters living there and occasionally attending lectures.
Where the book really drops the ball for me, though, is the romance between Sophia and Alden. Their dynamic felt so static in this one. Instead of showing us any genuine emotional growth, the book just relies on them constantly declaring how much they love each other. Aside from basic physical attraction and repeating that they cannot live without the other, there are almost no meaningful interactions or shared moments that ground their connection. It created such a disconnect for me as a reader, making their supposed epic love story feel hollow and unearned in this installment.
What saved the emotional side of the story for me was the found family dynamic. Sophia's evolving relationship with Knox was so lovely to read, giving us the warmth, trust, and real character connection that the romance was missing. That bond, paired with the new light cast on the Collector's actions, ended up being the real heart of the book for me.
I ended up crying at the end of the book. Even though I expected that outcome, it still hit me emotionally.
October 1, 2026
After the way book one ended, I was so so happy to have the ARC of book two waiting for me to jump into right away! This one let us dive deeper into the different types of magics and the other territories, as well as the the gods & monsters, which was so much fun! The writing was still beautifully descriptive and it gripped me right from the very start, the same way book one did.
We still had the brilliantly fierce friendships and close knit found family vibes but it really was great seeing those relationships deepen in this book. My favourite characters, apart from Sophia, were Knox (obviously👀) Andry & Ezra! I know that's probably an unpopular opinion but I honestly just adored them so much🥺 I kept finding myself wishing we could have some chapters from their pov!!
One thing I really loved about these books is the amount of tension that was just ALWAYS present! There was no guarantee for anyone to be safe, even in the core group and I was constantly second guessing myself over what I was thinking/hoping was going to happen, only for it to be completely twisted and turned around on the next page. It really was a stressful time but I honestly loved it🤣
Overall I really enjoyed this duology and if you haven't read it yet, I would definitely recommend it!!
Huge thanks to HQ and Netgalley for my eARC🫶🫶
We still had the brilliantly fierce friendships and close knit found family vibes but it really was great seeing those relationships deepen in this book. My favourite characters, apart from Sophia, were Knox (obviously👀) Andry & Ezra! I know that's probably an unpopular opinion but I honestly just adored them so much🥺 I kept finding myself wishing we could have some chapters from their pov!!
One thing I really loved about these books is the amount of tension that was just ALWAYS present! There was no guarantee for anyone to be safe, even in the core group and I was constantly second guessing myself over what I was thinking/hoping was going to happen, only for it to be completely twisted and turned around on the next page. It really was a stressful time but I honestly loved it🤣
Overall I really enjoyed this duology and if you haven't read it yet, I would definitely recommend it!!
Huge thanks to HQ and Netgalley for my eARC🫶🫶
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Divines is the second book in the Killmarth Trials duology and it picks up a month or two after the events at the end of book 1, The Ordeals. The Divines is really fast-paced, and the plot goes a direction I wasn't expecting. We learn a lot about the wider world and the lore in this finale, so it did end on a strong note.
With the fast pace and the number of big action scenes, I found myself wanting a few more of the quieter moments, time to slow down, and to get deep into some of the characters' emotions. You need those quieter moments to reflect on the losses, for them to deliver the impact they should.
Overall though, The Ordeals and The Divines are a twisty NA fantasy duology with a romantic subplot.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
With the fast pace and the number of big action scenes, I found myself wanting a few more of the quieter moments, time to slow down, and to get deep into some of the characters' emotions. You need those quieter moments to reflect on the losses, for them to deliver the impact they should.
Overall though, The Ordeals and The Divines are a twisty NA fantasy duology with a romantic subplot.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A fun and satisfying end to a duology I’ve very much enjoyed.
We continue on after the events of the first book, seeing our gang wielding their powers and fighting back against the vampires. The action scenes were entertaining, it was interesting to see Sophia and Ezra’s interactions after the reveal at the end of book one, and Sophia’s and Aldens romance is blossoming. There is a lot for character development in this book and the team go through a lot, such as facing past traumas, death etc, and I grew to like them more.
I recommend this duology if you want a fun, easy fantasy duology that includes:
- dark acadamia
- vampires
- interesting magic system
- magical gods
- high stakes
- mystery
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
We continue on after the events of the first book, seeing our gang wielding their powers and fighting back against the vampires. The action scenes were entertaining, it was interesting to see Sophia and Ezra’s interactions after the reveal at the end of book one, and Sophia’s and Aldens romance is blossoming. There is a lot for character development in this book and the team go through a lot, such as facing past traumas, death etc, and I grew to like them more.
I recommend this duology if you want a fun, easy fantasy duology that includes:
- dark acadamia
- vampires
- interesting magic system
- magical gods
- high stakes
- mystery
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2026
I received an eARC from Ballantine Books via NetGalley and this is my honest review.
- ☝️single POV
- 2️⃣ 2nd book in a duology
- 🏫 dark academia setting
- 😡 cruel gods
- 🧛 vampires
- ❤️ protecting those you love
- 🦄 mostly plot with some romance
I really loved book 1 so I was excited to read book 2. I will say, the storyline took me on a journey I did not expect. This book picked up four weeks after book one ended. It started immediately in the thick of the training and I was hooked. The action scenes kept coming and coming. The plot was mysterious and angsty, the pacing was moderate to fast, and this all occurred right from the start and persisted throughout. Quickly, however, the storyline took a right and did not follow the path I thought we were going. Specifically, the characters were at school, training, and earlier than expected, going to battles to kill the vampires. This continued to be the overarching plot; yet, the main story went on a little adventure, which then triggered a new side adventure that was traumatic and scary, causing another adventure. All these side adventures linked back to the main plot. The main overarching plot was still functioning in the background, but the main POV was about these adventures, which I did not see coming. These adventures continued to flow at a moderate to fast pace, and there were a ton of action scenes. Right when things would start to slow down, BAM an action scene with a twist and/or surprise would be thrown in, often with traumatic, devastating, scary, and/or sad results. I truly was surprised multiple times in this book! Hats off to the author for keeping me on my toes and surprising me with this storyline.
This book focused on the plot and I would argue this was primarily a fantasy novel. Romance is part of it, but the romance development was done in the first book, so this one focused more on the action, character development, and resolution to the problem.
Right at the beginning, I felt the calm before the storm. I think the author did an excellent job setting the tone that, although everyone was in a safer and connected space while they were training (again at the beginning), things were going to hit the fan and the world was going to burn. And let me tell you, it did!
Something I noticed and thought was really well done was the realism that the MFC and her crew were not well trained yet. They barely had any advanced skills at the start of this book; yet, had to fight. The result of that? They did the best they could and people they loved and cared about died. Many times, in this genre, during these fighting scenes, the undertrained people “miraculously“ don’t have their people die and they always beat the enemy. Here, the author really kept in tune with the training level of the MCs and their colleagues. It was so much more realistic, no matter how devastating, and I really appreciated that.
There were multiple topics I thought the author represented well in this book. For example, Tessa (the MFC's best friend) experienced soul deep grief that was life changing. How this was written was extremely realistic. Another example was how that the author provided nuance to the difficult choices people have to make, such as working with a former abuser because it is what is best for all, even if it’s not best for the individual. There’s so much complexity to making choices such as this, and I love that author demonstrated this. Someone choosing to work and engage with an abuser doesn’t absolve them of the history of abuse.
The characters were very messy in this book. They made mistakes, often huge ones. They were more impulsive in-the-moment, often driven by deep rooted fear, and did not think of the consequences until after. When you pause to reflect, these were young adults, a ton of people had been killed, many characters already had a history of trauma prior to all these recent deaths, and they were scared more people were going to die. They were doing the best they could, even though their behaviors caused harm to others and/or were selfish things to do. If you put yourself in their shoes (again, remember their age and recent trauma), I am not sure many would act any differently. At times, I would be a bit annoyed with the characters and their decisions; YET, once I read further, I saw why the author wrote it that way. You have to trust the process and the author, she does justice to the decisions made, even if you are mildly irritated in the short-term. Also, because these characters were messy and made a range of mistakes, their growth was so much more powerful. I really appreciated that each character, MC's and side characters, took time to reflect, learn from their behaviors, and APOLOGIZE. YES!!!! More MCs that could grow in their maturity and communicate they were sorry and commit to change was BEAUTIFUL!
I am also a HUGE fan of reading about couples (who are a good fit) that stick together and are loyal to each other. There was so much going on with the MC's both individually and in their relationship. But, no matter, they communicated, forgave, understood, had empathy, and were loyal to each other. They had each other's backs and were committed to each other. I LOVED THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This second book in a duology ends with an HEA that I was satisfied with. There was so much action leading up to the end, and then the ending was there and done, I wish a little bit more time had been dedicated to the final part of this story. No matter, I really enjoyed it!
- ☝️single POV
- 2️⃣ 2nd book in a duology
- 🏫 dark academia setting
- 😡 cruel gods
- 🧛 vampires
- ❤️ protecting those you love
- 🦄 mostly plot with some romance
I really loved book 1 so I was excited to read book 2. I will say, the storyline took me on a journey I did not expect. This book picked up four weeks after book one ended. It started immediately in the thick of the training and I was hooked. The action scenes kept coming and coming. The plot was mysterious and angsty, the pacing was moderate to fast, and this all occurred right from the start and persisted throughout. Quickly, however, the storyline took a right and did not follow the path I thought we were going. Specifically, the characters were at school, training, and earlier than expected, going to battles to kill the vampires. This continued to be the overarching plot; yet, the main story went on a little adventure, which then triggered a new side adventure that was traumatic and scary, causing another adventure. All these side adventures linked back to the main plot. The main overarching plot was still functioning in the background, but the main POV was about these adventures, which I did not see coming. These adventures continued to flow at a moderate to fast pace, and there were a ton of action scenes. Right when things would start to slow down, BAM an action scene with a twist and/or surprise would be thrown in, often with traumatic, devastating, scary, and/or sad results. I truly was surprised multiple times in this book! Hats off to the author for keeping me on my toes and surprising me with this storyline.
This book focused on the plot and I would argue this was primarily a fantasy novel. Romance is part of it, but the romance development was done in the first book, so this one focused more on the action, character development, and resolution to the problem.
Right at the beginning, I felt the calm before the storm. I think the author did an excellent job setting the tone that, although everyone was in a safer and connected space while they were training (again at the beginning), things were going to hit the fan and the world was going to burn. And let me tell you, it did!
Something I noticed and thought was really well done was the realism that the MFC and her crew were not well trained yet. They barely had any advanced skills at the start of this book; yet, had to fight. The result of that? They did the best they could and people they loved and cared about died. Many times, in this genre, during these fighting scenes, the undertrained people “miraculously“ don’t have their people die and they always beat the enemy. Here, the author really kept in tune with the training level of the MCs and their colleagues. It was so much more realistic, no matter how devastating, and I really appreciated that.
There were multiple topics I thought the author represented well in this book. For example, Tessa (the MFC's best friend) experienced soul deep grief that was life changing. How this was written was extremely realistic. Another example was how that the author provided nuance to the difficult choices people have to make, such as working with a former abuser because it is what is best for all, even if it’s not best for the individual. There’s so much complexity to making choices such as this, and I love that author demonstrated this. Someone choosing to work and engage with an abuser doesn’t absolve them of the history of abuse.
The characters were very messy in this book. They made mistakes, often huge ones. They were more impulsive in-the-moment, often driven by deep rooted fear, and did not think of the consequences until after. When you pause to reflect, these were young adults, a ton of people had been killed, many characters already had a history of trauma prior to all these recent deaths, and they were scared more people were going to die. They were doing the best they could, even though their behaviors caused harm to others and/or were selfish things to do. If you put yourself in their shoes (again, remember their age and recent trauma), I am not sure many would act any differently. At times, I would be a bit annoyed with the characters and their decisions; YET, once I read further, I saw why the author wrote it that way. You have to trust the process and the author, she does justice to the decisions made, even if you are mildly irritated in the short-term. Also, because these characters were messy and made a range of mistakes, their growth was so much more powerful. I really appreciated that each character, MC's and side characters, took time to reflect, learn from their behaviors, and APOLOGIZE. YES!!!! More MCs that could grow in their maturity and communicate they were sorry and commit to change was BEAUTIFUL!
I am also a HUGE fan of reading about couples (who are a good fit) that stick together and are loyal to each other. There was so much going on with the MC's both individually and in their relationship. But, no matter, they communicated, forgave, understood, had empathy, and were loyal to each other. They had each other's backs and were committed to each other. I LOVED THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This second book in a duology ends with an HEA that I was satisfied with. There was so much action leading up to the end, and then the ending was there and done, I wish a little bit more time had been dedicated to the final part of this story. No matter, I really enjoyed it!
July 28, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book.
I loved the ending and the way the final chapter tied everything together. I also enjoyed the new characters and now they added to the story. However, I did find this one to have a good bit of filler that I didn’t enjoy and I felt like this was missing that academic vibe the last novel did so well. I also didn’t really feel a connection to any of the romances in this book like I did in book one. I definitely think you should read this if you’ve read the first book, but I don’t know if I would recommend if you haven’t.
3.5 rounded up.
I loved the ending and the way the final chapter tied everything together. I also enjoyed the new characters and now they added to the story. However, I did find this one to have a good bit of filler that I didn’t enjoy and I felt like this was missing that academic vibe the last novel did so well. I also didn’t really feel a connection to any of the romances in this book like I did in book one. I definitely think you should read this if you’ve read the first book, but I don’t know if I would recommend if you haven’t.
3.5 rounded up.
September 21, 2026
Wow! This book took a turn that I was NOT expecting!! I loved book one, so I was very excited to be offered book 2 before the release date.
There is a lot going on in this book, and whilst I loved that it felt like there were no dips in action, it also left me with a few questions at the end (hence the 4 stars). It’s not often that I say it, but o think this could have been fleshed out into 3 books 🤣 and I’d have totally read them.
I loved our girl. She’s strong, determined and puts her loved ones above all else. Maybe a little too much at times? Particularly a certain someone 👀 *ahem*. However, it’s that grit and determination that keeps her alive and keeps her focused when the is loss around her.
I really enjoy the authors writing style, it feels easy to absorb whilst also being packed full of world building, action and information
Thanks to harper Collins and the author for this advanced copy
There is a lot going on in this book, and whilst I loved that it felt like there were no dips in action, it also left me with a few questions at the end (hence the 4 stars). It’s not often that I say it, but o think this could have been fleshed out into 3 books 🤣 and I’d have totally read them.
I loved our girl. She’s strong, determined and puts her loved ones above all else. Maybe a little too much at times? Particularly a certain someone 👀 *ahem*. However, it’s that grit and determination that keeps her alive and keeps her focused when the is loss around her.
I really enjoy the authors writing style, it feels easy to absorb whilst also being packed full of world building, action and information
Thanks to harper Collins and the author for this advanced copy
May 17, 2026
I was so excited to receive this arc, as I LOVED the first book, The Ordeals. The plot was very unique and yet still felt like an amalgamation of all the best parts of many different Romantasy worlds.
With this book, The Divines, I sadly did not have the same feeling. The pacing felt off (too rushed at times and way too slow at others). Also, it felt like we didn’t have one pain plot, but multiple side plots that we had to focus on as well as the main theme. This proved to be too much for me to really be able to focus and get into the story. And the relationships didn’t click as much for me this time either.
I’m sure if people go into it and vibe read, they’ll enjoy it! But it wasn’t for me.
Thank you for the ARC and opportunity!
With this book, The Divines, I sadly did not have the same feeling. The pacing felt off (too rushed at times and way too slow at others). Also, it felt like we didn’t have one pain plot, but multiple side plots that we had to focus on as well as the main theme. This proved to be too much for me to really be able to focus and get into the story. And the relationships didn’t click as much for me this time either.
I’m sure if people go into it and vibe read, they’ll enjoy it! But it wasn’t for me.
Thank you for the ARC and opportunity!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a breathtaking, high-stakes conclusion! After the intensity of The Ordeals, The Divines takes the foundation of this world and shatters every expectation.
I jumped into this right after a reread of the first book, and I’m so glad I did. Picking up just weeks after that soul-crushing cliffhanger, the story hits the ground running and never looks back. While the first installment gave us that delicious rivals-to-lovers tension and a dark academia backdrop, The Divines evolves into something much more visceral: a story about the staggering power of connection and the lengths one will go to save those they love.
What truly sets this book apart is the raw, relatable realism of the character's emotions. At the center of it all is Sophia, whose growth in this book is incredible. She is so fiercely strong-willed and determined. Sophia simply refuses to give up, no matter how much it hurts. Her resolve is unwavering as she fights to save those she loves, her people, and in a testament to her character—even the enemy, even if it kills her.
The emotional weight of this story is remarkably grounded. Tessa’s grief is heartbreakingly honest. I loved the way her friends anchored her, never quite allowing her to fully drown in her sorrow—even when the world was falling apart.
Knox continues to be everyone’s rock, providing the stability the group so desperately needs.
The complex dynamic with Ezra was one of the most fascinating parts of the story. Seeing him accepted as a respected leader and expert by the group forces Sophia into a difficult journey of healing. She has to reconcile her past perception of him as her lifelong captor with the reality of who he is now—coming to terms with the fact that things may not have been exactly as she perceived them.
And then there is Alden. He is truly the "ride or die" partner every woman wishes for. He stands beside Sophia as a complete equal, treating her like she is the only thing that matters in the entire world. Their bond is the heartbeat of this book.
The world expands beautifully with an unpredictable and dangerous new characters. Sophia finds herself entangled with everyone from lethal royalty to figures of ancient legend—some allies, perhaps one captive, and other characters who are far more dangerous. It trades the halls of academia for a wild, unpredictable journey to places I never saw coming.
While it provides closure for the duology, Rachel Greenlaw leaves many questions unanswered and the door wide open for more adventures in this world which I truly hope she will continue, because I need more! If you are ready for an adrenaline-fueled quest centered on loyalty, love, and complex healing. An absolute must-read conclusion to The Killmarth Trials. Pre-order it now—you won’t want to miss where this journey ends! Releasing October 8, 2026.
+++I have received a free eARC of this book. This is my honest review+++
I want to thank @netgalley @ballentinebooks and @rachelgreenlaw_ for allowing me to read this amazing eARC. I truly feel honored to have had the privilege to read and review it.
I jumped into this right after a reread of the first book, and I’m so glad I did. Picking up just weeks after that soul-crushing cliffhanger, the story hits the ground running and never looks back. While the first installment gave us that delicious rivals-to-lovers tension and a dark academia backdrop, The Divines evolves into something much more visceral: a story about the staggering power of connection and the lengths one will go to save those they love.
What truly sets this book apart is the raw, relatable realism of the character's emotions. At the center of it all is Sophia, whose growth in this book is incredible. She is so fiercely strong-willed and determined. Sophia simply refuses to give up, no matter how much it hurts. Her resolve is unwavering as she fights to save those she loves, her people, and in a testament to her character—even the enemy, even if it kills her.
The emotional weight of this story is remarkably grounded. Tessa’s grief is heartbreakingly honest. I loved the way her friends anchored her, never quite allowing her to fully drown in her sorrow—even when the world was falling apart.
Knox continues to be everyone’s rock, providing the stability the group so desperately needs.
The complex dynamic with Ezra was one of the most fascinating parts of the story. Seeing him accepted as a respected leader and expert by the group forces Sophia into a difficult journey of healing. She has to reconcile her past perception of him as her lifelong captor with the reality of who he is now—coming to terms with the fact that things may not have been exactly as she perceived them.
And then there is Alden. He is truly the "ride or die" partner every woman wishes for. He stands beside Sophia as a complete equal, treating her like she is the only thing that matters in the entire world. Their bond is the heartbeat of this book.
The world expands beautifully with an unpredictable and dangerous new characters. Sophia finds herself entangled with everyone from lethal royalty to figures of ancient legend—some allies, perhaps one captive, and other characters who are far more dangerous. It trades the halls of academia for a wild, unpredictable journey to places I never saw coming.
While it provides closure for the duology, Rachel Greenlaw leaves many questions unanswered and the door wide open for more adventures in this world which I truly hope she will continue, because I need more! If you are ready for an adrenaline-fueled quest centered on loyalty, love, and complex healing. An absolute must-read conclusion to The Killmarth Trials. Pre-order it now—you won’t want to miss where this journey ends! Releasing October 8, 2026.
+++I have received a free eARC of this book. This is my honest review+++
I want to thank @netgalley @ballentinebooks and @rachelgreenlaw_ for allowing me to read this amazing eARC. I truly feel honored to have had the privilege to read and review it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This how you do a 2nd book, it was a book that had me hooked from start to finish, dark academic and romantasy elements and friendship and spicy romance what more can you want.
I got an arc e book for this book from @netgalley, from HQ publishers.
I want to say a huge thank you to HQ publishers for letting me read this e book arc, it was so special that I got to read my first arc, and it being one of my anticipated reads of this year being published on 1st October and I got to read it early in September🤭.
I absolutely loved the ordeals when I read it last year, I first read it and it was a book that I always thought about wanting to do a re read for because, of the mmc and FMC Sophia and alden and their dynamic.
Reading the divines Alden is one of my top book boyfriend for me 🤭he is such a green flag.
Book 2 carried on from the events of that tragic incident from book 1 and immediately shown the aftermath of it and carried on with the transition Sophie’s and Alden and the others characters done , such as sophia and Tessa and other side character had to deal with grief that happened in book1, and any continued chaos and tragic events occurred in book 2.
It was interesting to see the transition Sophia and Alden other characters had to go through from competing for a place for killmarth academy to actually becoming scholars at the academy and have more responsibility and offer assistance by going on missions to help fight the cold ones (vampires I am assuming).
Again I loved the relationship and dynamic of Alden and Sophia, they are so well matched and made a lot of sense together. From seeing them both how they met in book 1 where they both were into each other in the first meeting has had a lot of chemistry, to now seeing them how they are now like now a proper couple in the academy together.
They are so cute together and I loved their scenes of how understanding supportive they are of each other.
Along 30-40% of the books Sophia and Alden and the other characters, go into doing the mission that becomes high stakes and alot of drama which I liked and alot of mystery to uncover like more truths and things starting to be put together like a puzzle.
It was nice to see how Sophia and Alden and the other characters used their magic ability in those high stakes suitation throughout this book.
After 60-70% til the end of the book really got good with the mysteries being uncovered and mysterious gods being involved in the mystery of trying to defeat the cold ones once and for all.
I did feel this author really did the elevate the experience of really making sure, a lot of things that were uncovered in book one were carried on or progressed into book 2 quite seamlessly where it was easy to follow the story direction such as; the collector, other side characters we got to know more in detail and potentially new characters being added into the story, adding major romantasy elements which were surprising and nice to see because this book series is expected to be just dark academia and magical academy .
Overall I found the divines amazing and I felt the author made book 2 better then book 1 for sure because it kept get better and better as we went through the book, and I felt author concluded this duology in the best possible way.
I got an arc e book for this book from @netgalley, from HQ publishers.
I want to say a huge thank you to HQ publishers for letting me read this e book arc, it was so special that I got to read my first arc, and it being one of my anticipated reads of this year being published on 1st October and I got to read it early in September🤭.
I absolutely loved the ordeals when I read it last year, I first read it and it was a book that I always thought about wanting to do a re read for because, of the mmc and FMC Sophia and alden and their dynamic.
Reading the divines Alden is one of my top book boyfriend for me 🤭he is such a green flag.
Book 2 carried on from the events of that tragic incident from book 1 and immediately shown the aftermath of it and carried on with the transition Sophie’s and Alden and the others characters done , such as sophia and Tessa and other side character had to deal with grief that happened in book1, and any continued chaos and tragic events occurred in book 2.
It was interesting to see the transition Sophia and Alden other characters had to go through from competing for a place for killmarth academy to actually becoming scholars at the academy and have more responsibility and offer assistance by going on missions to help fight the cold ones (vampires I am assuming).
Again I loved the relationship and dynamic of Alden and Sophia, they are so well matched and made a lot of sense together. From seeing them both how they met in book 1 where they both were into each other in the first meeting has had a lot of chemistry, to now seeing them how they are now like now a proper couple in the academy together.
They are so cute together and I loved their scenes of how understanding supportive they are of each other.
Along 30-40% of the books Sophia and Alden and the other characters, go into doing the mission that becomes high stakes and alot of drama which I liked and alot of mystery to uncover like more truths and things starting to be put together like a puzzle.
It was nice to see how Sophia and Alden and the other characters used their magic ability in those high stakes suitation throughout this book.
After 60-70% til the end of the book really got good with the mysteries being uncovered and mysterious gods being involved in the mystery of trying to defeat the cold ones once and for all.
I did feel this author really did the elevate the experience of really making sure, a lot of things that were uncovered in book one were carried on or progressed into book 2 quite seamlessly where it was easy to follow the story direction such as; the collector, other side characters we got to know more in detail and potentially new characters being added into the story, adding major romantasy elements which were surprising and nice to see because this book series is expected to be just dark academia and magical academy .
Overall I found the divines amazing and I felt the author made book 2 better then book 1 for sure because it kept get better and better as we went through the book, and I felt author concluded this duology in the best possible way.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Divines had all the ingredients of a book I should have loved: dark academia, dangerous magic, vampires, Greek-inspired gods and mythology, high stakes, and a found family fighting for survival. Rachel Greenlaw’s writing remains atmospheric and immersive, pulling you back into this dark world from the very first page. The mythology was one of the most intriguing aspects of the story and left me wanting to learn even more about the gods and their influence on the world.
The strongest part of the book was Sophia’s character development. Throughout the story, she is forced to confront the trauma of her past and the lasting impact Ezra had on her life. I appreciated that her healing wasn’t quick or easy. Watching Sophia grapple with painful memories while trying to move forward felt realistic and added emotional depth to the story. Some of the most meaningful moments came from seeing her reclaim her agency and begin to step out from under the shadow of her past.
I also continued to enjoy the found family dynamics and the bonds between the characters. In a world filled with danger, betrayal, and darkness, those relationships helped ground the story and provided some of its most heartfelt moments.
The romance between Sophia and Alden was a mixed bag for me. One of my biggest issues was that their relationship felt surprisingly flat in the first half of the book. Considering everything they had already been through, I was hoping for more emotional depth and connection early on. At times, I found myself wanting more meaningful interactions between them beyond the physical attraction.
That said, the romance improved significantly in the second half. As the stakes grew higher, so did my investment in their relationship. Sophia is forced to make difficult choices and take enormous risks for the person she loves, which added intensity and emotional weight to their connection. While I wasn’t completely sold on the romance at the beginning, the latter half of the book reminded me why I was rooting for them.
Fans of spice will definitely be satisfied. There are plenty of sexy scenes throughout the book, and some of them are seriously hot 🔥. The chemistry shines most during these moments, and they helped make the romance more compelling even when I felt the emotional side of the relationship wasn’t always as strong as I wanted it to be.
Where the book struggled for me was the pacing. Some sections had me flying through the pages, while others felt slower and less engaging. I also found myself wanting a little more depth from certain side characters and aspects of the worldbuilding as the stakes continued to grow.
Overall, The Divines was an enjoyable sequel filled with magic, romance, mythology, and emotional healing. While it didn’t completely captivate me in the same way as the first book, I still enjoyed Sophia’s journey and was invested in seeing how her story unfolded. Fans of The Ordeals will likely enjoy returning to this world and watching Sophia fight not only the darkness around her, but the darkness left behind by her past.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The strongest part of the book was Sophia’s character development. Throughout the story, she is forced to confront the trauma of her past and the lasting impact Ezra had on her life. I appreciated that her healing wasn’t quick or easy. Watching Sophia grapple with painful memories while trying to move forward felt realistic and added emotional depth to the story. Some of the most meaningful moments came from seeing her reclaim her agency and begin to step out from under the shadow of her past.
I also continued to enjoy the found family dynamics and the bonds between the characters. In a world filled with danger, betrayal, and darkness, those relationships helped ground the story and provided some of its most heartfelt moments.
The romance between Sophia and Alden was a mixed bag for me. One of my biggest issues was that their relationship felt surprisingly flat in the first half of the book. Considering everything they had already been through, I was hoping for more emotional depth and connection early on. At times, I found myself wanting more meaningful interactions between them beyond the physical attraction.
That said, the romance improved significantly in the second half. As the stakes grew higher, so did my investment in their relationship. Sophia is forced to make difficult choices and take enormous risks for the person she loves, which added intensity and emotional weight to their connection. While I wasn’t completely sold on the romance at the beginning, the latter half of the book reminded me why I was rooting for them.
Fans of spice will definitely be satisfied. There are plenty of sexy scenes throughout the book, and some of them are seriously hot 🔥. The chemistry shines most during these moments, and they helped make the romance more compelling even when I felt the emotional side of the relationship wasn’t always as strong as I wanted it to be.
Where the book struggled for me was the pacing. Some sections had me flying through the pages, while others felt slower and less engaging. I also found myself wanting a little more depth from certain side characters and aspects of the worldbuilding as the stakes continued to grow.
Overall, The Divines was an enjoyable sequel filled with magic, romance, mythology, and emotional healing. While it didn’t completely captivate me in the same way as the first book, I still enjoyed Sophia’s journey and was invested in seeing how her story unfolded. Fans of The Ordeals will likely enjoy returning to this world and watching Sophia fight not only the darkness around her, but the darkness left behind by her past.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Divines • Rachel Greenlaw
Killmarth Trials #2
One phrase: dark academia, vampires, and cruel gods 🧛♀️🏫
This sequel took me on a journey I did not expect.
The Divines picks up four weeks after The Ordeals, and it wastes no time throwing us right back into the thick of training, danger, and everything starting to unravel. From the beginning, there was this calm before the storm feeling, like yes, everyone is in a somewhat safer place for now, but the world is absolutely about to burn.
And it did.
I loved the dark academia setting, the vampire slaying, the cruel gods, and the way this book leaned hard into plot, action, character growth, and resolution. The romance is still there, but this one felt much more fantasy forward, which worked for where the story needed to go.
The pacing stayed moderate to fast, with action scenes constantly hitting right when things started to slow down. Every time I thought I knew the direction, the story took another turn, then another side quest, then another traumatic little detour that somehow still connected back to the bigger plot.
I was surprised multiple times, and I love when a sequel can keep me on my toes like that.
One thing I really appreciated was how realistic the fighting felt. These characters are not suddenly magically perfect warriors. They are young, undertrained, traumatized, scared, and trying to survive against impossible odds. People they love get hurt. People die. Choices have consequences. It made the stakes feel so much heavier.
The grief in this book was also written so well, especially Tessa’s. It felt soul deep and life changing, not something the story just moved past. I also loved the nuance around difficult choices, especially when characters had to work with people who had harmed them because the bigger picture demanded it. The story never treated that as forgiveness or absolution, which I really appreciated.
The characters are messy here. They make mistakes. Big ones. Impulsive ones. Selfish ones. But their growth felt earned because they actually reflected, apologized, communicated, and tried to do better.
More of that, please.
And the couple?
Loyal. Communicative. Empathetic. Committed.
There was so much chaos around them, but they had each other’s backs, and I loved that.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🏫 dark academia
🧛 vampires
😡 cruel gods
⚔️ action heavy fantasy
🖤 single POV
💔 trauma and grief
🔥 protecting those you love
🩸 dangerous battles
👀 twisty plot
💞 loyal couple
🙏 real apologies
✨ fantasy with romance
📚 Read this if you like:
Dark academia romantasy, vampire slaying, cruel gods, messy characters who grow, action packed sequels, high stakes fantasy, loyal couples, found family pain, and duology endings that bring the chaos before the HEA.
This was tense, surprising, emotional, and a strong conclusion to a dark, addictive duology.
#TheDivines #RachelGreenlaw #DarkAcademia #RomantasyBooks #BookReview @Ballentine @Delacorte
Killmarth Trials #2
One phrase: dark academia, vampires, and cruel gods 🧛♀️🏫
This sequel took me on a journey I did not expect.
The Divines picks up four weeks after The Ordeals, and it wastes no time throwing us right back into the thick of training, danger, and everything starting to unravel. From the beginning, there was this calm before the storm feeling, like yes, everyone is in a somewhat safer place for now, but the world is absolutely about to burn.
And it did.
I loved the dark academia setting, the vampire slaying, the cruel gods, and the way this book leaned hard into plot, action, character growth, and resolution. The romance is still there, but this one felt much more fantasy forward, which worked for where the story needed to go.
The pacing stayed moderate to fast, with action scenes constantly hitting right when things started to slow down. Every time I thought I knew the direction, the story took another turn, then another side quest, then another traumatic little detour that somehow still connected back to the bigger plot.
I was surprised multiple times, and I love when a sequel can keep me on my toes like that.
One thing I really appreciated was how realistic the fighting felt. These characters are not suddenly magically perfect warriors. They are young, undertrained, traumatized, scared, and trying to survive against impossible odds. People they love get hurt. People die. Choices have consequences. It made the stakes feel so much heavier.
The grief in this book was also written so well, especially Tessa’s. It felt soul deep and life changing, not something the story just moved past. I also loved the nuance around difficult choices, especially when characters had to work with people who had harmed them because the bigger picture demanded it. The story never treated that as forgiveness or absolution, which I really appreciated.
The characters are messy here. They make mistakes. Big ones. Impulsive ones. Selfish ones. But their growth felt earned because they actually reflected, apologized, communicated, and tried to do better.
More of that, please.
And the couple?
Loyal. Communicative. Empathetic. Committed.
There was so much chaos around them, but they had each other’s backs, and I loved that.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🏫 dark academia
🧛 vampires
😡 cruel gods
⚔️ action heavy fantasy
🖤 single POV
💔 trauma and grief
🔥 protecting those you love
🩸 dangerous battles
👀 twisty plot
💞 loyal couple
🙏 real apologies
✨ fantasy with romance
📚 Read this if you like:
Dark academia romantasy, vampire slaying, cruel gods, messy characters who grow, action packed sequels, high stakes fantasy, loyal couples, found family pain, and duology endings that bring the chaos before the HEA.
This was tense, surprising, emotional, and a strong conclusion to a dark, addictive duology.
#TheDivines #RachelGreenlaw #DarkAcademia #RomantasyBooks #BookReview @Ballentine @Delacorte
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've been eagerly anticipating the arrival of this novel since I read the last page of 'The Ordeals'. Sophia DeWinter, Alden Locke, and their cohort of Killmarth students captivated me from the first chapter to the last. Here, in 'The Divines' we pick up right where we left off in the first novel of this duology with Sophia and crew reeling from the Cold One's attack on their celebration and the deaths of Greg and Hester.
I like that this book dropped us right back into the story where we left off. We get to process the deaths of Greg and Hester alongside Sophia and the gang, and those moments really made me fall in love with these characters more. I loved Tessa's character arc during this novel. She was one of my favorite characters on page, even when she was making choices out of grief that were not cool.
I almost felt that Sophia was such a strong female character that she could have still had this role as a bad-ass heroine of the realm without having to drag a man along with her. While I really loved her relationship with Alden in the first novel, something fell a bit flat with it in this book for me. There's certainly a good amount of spice between the two, and we have a story line that creates a desperation and tension between them. Something undefinable just didn't seem to be there for me in that relationship this time, and that kind of made me sad.
Also, a little confused on one aspect of the Cold One storyline with Alden. Alden is in his current predicament, I thought, because he was nipped by a Cold One during battle - that all it could take is that one little nick. Yet, even knowing this, Sophia lets Alden nick her neck and taste her blood during sex. Shouldn't they be afraid that he could change her into a Cold One doing this? Or do they not have to worry about something like that until after he was fully turned? I don't remember reading something specific about it so every time Alden bit her neck I started stressing.
Altogether, 'The Divines' is an action-filled, fantasy academia book that brings together all the bits we were given in 'The Ordeals' and weaves them into a fantasy world that I felt like we were leaving just as things were getting interesting. :( (Sophia's new 'role' with the gods! She and Tessa exploring their powers more. Working for the Crown, with the mole never uncovered. New worlds that Sophia can access?) While this book gives a conclusion worthy of our story, I kind of felt like we were leaving in the middle of a party. There's so many ways Rachel Greenlaw could explore this world again, and I hope that maybe we'll see them one day.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, and Rachel Greenlaw for the eARC of this novel to read and review.
I like that this book dropped us right back into the story where we left off. We get to process the deaths of Greg and Hester alongside Sophia and the gang, and those moments really made me fall in love with these characters more. I loved Tessa's character arc during this novel. She was one of my favorite characters on page, even when she was making choices out of grief that were not cool.
I almost felt that Sophia was such a strong female character that she could have still had this role as a bad-ass heroine of the realm without having to drag a man along with her. While I really loved her relationship with Alden in the first novel, something fell a bit flat with it in this book for me. There's certainly a good amount of spice between the two, and we have a story line that creates a desperation and tension between them. Something undefinable just didn't seem to be there for me in that relationship this time, and that kind of made me sad.
Also, a little confused on one aspect of the Cold One storyline with Alden. Alden is in his current predicament, I thought, because he was nipped by a Cold One during battle - that all it could take is that one little nick. Yet, even knowing this, Sophia lets Alden nick her neck and taste her blood during sex. Shouldn't they be afraid that he could change her into a Cold One doing this? Or do they not have to worry about something like that until after he was fully turned? I don't remember reading something specific about it so every time Alden bit her neck I started stressing.
Altogether, 'The Divines' is an action-filled, fantasy academia book that brings together all the bits we were given in 'The Ordeals' and weaves them into a fantasy world that I felt like we were leaving just as things were getting interesting. :( (Sophia's new 'role' with the gods! She and Tessa exploring their powers more. Working for the Crown, with the mole never uncovered. New worlds that Sophia can access?) While this book gives a conclusion worthy of our story, I kind of felt like we were leaving in the middle of a party. There's so many ways Rachel Greenlaw could explore this world again, and I hope that maybe we'll see them one day.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, and Rachel Greenlaw for the eARC of this novel to read and review.
October 2, 2026
I feel so confused. The premise of the first book was about magic college entrance trials. The sequel starts and the trials are over, but I guess I expected to have more to do with the college they finally got into. But the college really doesn’t seem to matter at all in this book, not in any meaningful way. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg really… this book has some major issues with pacing, a complete lack of suspense, overpowered first years, a FMC without any true flaws who’s basically whatever the story needs at any moment in time, and at least one plot line which was not needed and would strengthen the story to remove it.
I think there’s two main problems that I feel like keep this series from being good: the plot is too ambitious, and the author needs to be meaner to her characters.
The overly ambitious plot is to blame for the chaotic pacing - I would’ve cut the storyline with Alloway, since we don’t have enough time to really explore the political intrigue here or get a fulfilling conclusion, and it doesn’t add anything to the other plot points. It just takes up time and space we really could use for moments of levity between the battles, or a bit more time spent at the college we spent all of book one earning a place in. We could build up more connection to characters, so deaths or risk of death would have more tension. The plot needs some heavy edits to keep what’s really needed and get rid of anything dragging it down.
And even beyond that… the characters. The author needs to be meaner to them! And I don’t mean “kill off someone else they love” because that only delivers emotional impact if we care about them. I mean that most of our main characters are too perfect. They need flaws. They need to be a little bit conflicted. They can’t all be self-sacrificial all the time, or super powerful and able to figure things out that experts with decades of experience and research hadn’t discovered just because they really really want to. The majority of the story only happened because Sophia figured something out… give this girl a single flaw, I beg of you! Even someone like Ezra who in book one is very clearly set up as her tormentor and abuser growing up gets justified. I feel a bit icky with the idea that someone’s abuser was doing it “for their own good”, but even outside of that, does Sophia really need to be the one to accept that about him?
Unfortunately this book was just a 2 star read for me, which is a bit of a bummer because the potential was there. In any case, thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the eARC of this book!
I think there’s two main problems that I feel like keep this series from being good: the plot is too ambitious, and the author needs to be meaner to her characters.
The overly ambitious plot is to blame for the chaotic pacing - I would’ve cut the storyline with Alloway, since we don’t have enough time to really explore the political intrigue here or get a fulfilling conclusion, and it doesn’t add anything to the other plot points. It just takes up time and space we really could use for moments of levity between the battles, or a bit more time spent at the college we spent all of book one earning a place in. We could build up more connection to characters, so deaths or risk of death would have more tension. The plot needs some heavy edits to keep what’s really needed and get rid of anything dragging it down.
And even beyond that… the characters. The author needs to be meaner to them! And I don’t mean “kill off someone else they love” because that only delivers emotional impact if we care about them. I mean that most of our main characters are too perfect. They need flaws. They need to be a little bit conflicted. They can’t all be self-sacrificial all the time, or super powerful and able to figure things out that experts with decades of experience and research hadn’t discovered just because they really really want to. The majority of the story only happened because Sophia figured something out… give this girl a single flaw, I beg of you! Even someone like Ezra who in book one is very clearly set up as her tormentor and abuser growing up gets justified. I feel a bit icky with the idea that someone’s abuser was doing it “for their own good”, but even outside of that, does Sophia really need to be the one to accept that about him?
Unfortunately this book was just a 2 star read for me, which is a bit of a bummer because the potential was there. In any case, thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the eARC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw, the second book in the Killmarth Trials duology, takes everything The Ordeals built and sharpens it—deeper, richer, and definitely darker.
We pick up with Sophia and the fragile, hard-won family she’s built around her, but this time the stakes aren’t just survival—they’re emotional. This book leans hard into the aftermath of book one, forcing these characters to sit in their grief, their anger, and the ugly ways both can twist you. It’s not just about who they are when they’re fighting to win anymore—it’s about who they become when they’ve already lost.
Sophia continues to be a compelling FMC. She’s still strong and driven, but there’s a rawness to her now that adds another layer. Watching her navigate grief while still clawing toward a future she’s not even sure she believes in anymore felt real and, at times, brutal.
And the darker elements? This is where the book really hits. The magic feels more dangerous, more unpredictable. The lines between right and wrong blur even further, and you start to see how easily power, grief, and vengeance can turn people into something monstrous. There’s a heaviness to this installment that wasn’t as prominent in book one, and it works—it raises the stakes in a way that feels earned rather than forced.
I still struggled a bit with Sophia and Alden’s relationship. There’s growth there, and I can appreciate how far they’ve come, especially emotionally, but it still lacks that spark—that tension or bite that would make it unforgettable. It’s good, it’s solid… but it never quite *grabs* you the way the rest of the story does.
What absolutely *did* grab me was the world-building.
Greenlaw really went all in here. The lore, the expanding magic system, the way each subplot threads back into the main story—it all feels intentional and cohesive. Nothing is wasted. Every new detail adds weight, making the world feel lived-in and complex rather than just a backdrop for the plot.
The pacing is also spot on. This is one of those books where you tell yourself “just one more chapter” and suddenly it’s 2 a.m. The tension builds steadily, never dragging, never rushing, and the payoff is worth it.
And that ending? Perfect. No notes.
Overall, *The Divines* is a strong, darker follow-up that deepens both the characters and the world while delivering an emotionally heavier story. If *The Ordeals* pulled you in, this one makes sure you stay.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book. The opinions above are my own and unbiased.
The Divines by Rachel Greenlaw, the second book in the Killmarth Trials duology, takes everything The Ordeals built and sharpens it—deeper, richer, and definitely darker.
We pick up with Sophia and the fragile, hard-won family she’s built around her, but this time the stakes aren’t just survival—they’re emotional. This book leans hard into the aftermath of book one, forcing these characters to sit in their grief, their anger, and the ugly ways both can twist you. It’s not just about who they are when they’re fighting to win anymore—it’s about who they become when they’ve already lost.
Sophia continues to be a compelling FMC. She’s still strong and driven, but there’s a rawness to her now that adds another layer. Watching her navigate grief while still clawing toward a future she’s not even sure she believes in anymore felt real and, at times, brutal.
And the darker elements? This is where the book really hits. The magic feels more dangerous, more unpredictable. The lines between right and wrong blur even further, and you start to see how easily power, grief, and vengeance can turn people into something monstrous. There’s a heaviness to this installment that wasn’t as prominent in book one, and it works—it raises the stakes in a way that feels earned rather than forced.
I still struggled a bit with Sophia and Alden’s relationship. There’s growth there, and I can appreciate how far they’ve come, especially emotionally, but it still lacks that spark—that tension or bite that would make it unforgettable. It’s good, it’s solid… but it never quite *grabs* you the way the rest of the story does.
What absolutely *did* grab me was the world-building.
Greenlaw really went all in here. The lore, the expanding magic system, the way each subplot threads back into the main story—it all feels intentional and cohesive. Nothing is wasted. Every new detail adds weight, making the world feel lived-in and complex rather than just a backdrop for the plot.
The pacing is also spot on. This is one of those books where you tell yourself “just one more chapter” and suddenly it’s 2 a.m. The tension builds steadily, never dragging, never rushing, and the payoff is worth it.
And that ending? Perfect. No notes.
Overall, *The Divines* is a strong, darker follow-up that deepens both the characters and the world while delivering an emotionally heavier story. If *The Ordeals* pulled you in, this one makes sure you stay.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book. The opinions above are my own and unbiased.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What a fantastic conclusion to this duology. I loved book 1 but this was even better.
It was a totally compelling read and I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough. Rachel's writing is so beautifully immersive and descriptive. This book is the perfect mix of dark academia with Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes. Full of mystery, suspense, magic and romance, but the tension throughout this whole book is just delicious! I honestly did not know how everything was going to unfold and leave any of the charcters in one piece! So many clever twists and turns that really had me on the edge of my seat at times. This book felt darker and grittier and
It's been a minute since I read The Ordeals so I did a brief recap before diving into this book. I wanted to be sure I hadn't forgotten anything major. I needn't have worried - Divines picks up right where Ordeals finished. It all felt so familiar once I started reading and was easy to drop straight back into the storylines. This time next The Great Hunt has begun. Everything feels darker and the stakes feel impossibly high. The race is on to defeat the Cold Ones before everyone is lost! Sophia has to earn to control and develop her magic while fighting to protect those she loves and her world.
I loved the expansion of the world building - so descriptive and atmospheric. The magic system continued to intrigue me with how intricate it was. I loved the mix of characters and their dynamics - I enjoyed the way they developed throughout the book. Tessa's story arc had me on the edge of my seat for a while! I really enjoyed the development of Sophia and Alden's relationship and how committed they were to each other. Definitely end game 💜
I really loved Ezra Darley's story arc and character development. We really hadn't scratched the surface with him in Ordeals - what a cleverly complex character. I loved that there were new characters added to the mix of familiar faces. Andry added some much needed humour to some of the scenes. I really enjoyed the introduction of the Gods as key characters, they really took the story in a different direction to what I had expected.
Absolutely fantastic storytelling! Can't recommend this book enough.
Huge thanks to Rachel Greenlaw and HQ for the privilege of reading an advanced copy through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own and voluntarily given.
It was a totally compelling read and I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough. Rachel's writing is so beautifully immersive and descriptive. This book is the perfect mix of dark academia with Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes. Full of mystery, suspense, magic and romance, but the tension throughout this whole book is just delicious! I honestly did not know how everything was going to unfold and leave any of the charcters in one piece! So many clever twists and turns that really had me on the edge of my seat at times. This book felt darker and grittier and
It's been a minute since I read The Ordeals so I did a brief recap before diving into this book. I wanted to be sure I hadn't forgotten anything major. I needn't have worried - Divines picks up right where Ordeals finished. It all felt so familiar once I started reading and was easy to drop straight back into the storylines. This time next The Great Hunt has begun. Everything feels darker and the stakes feel impossibly high. The race is on to defeat the Cold Ones before everyone is lost! Sophia has to earn to control and develop her magic while fighting to protect those she loves and her world.
I loved the expansion of the world building - so descriptive and atmospheric. The magic system continued to intrigue me with how intricate it was. I loved the mix of characters and their dynamics - I enjoyed the way they developed throughout the book. Tessa's story arc had me on the edge of my seat for a while! I really enjoyed the development of Sophia and Alden's relationship and how committed they were to each other. Definitely end game 💜
I really loved Ezra Darley's story arc and character development. We really hadn't scratched the surface with him in Ordeals - what a cleverly complex character. I loved that there were new characters added to the mix of familiar faces. Andry added some much needed humour to some of the scenes. I really enjoyed the introduction of the Gods as key characters, they really took the story in a different direction to what I had expected.
Absolutely fantastic storytelling! Can't recommend this book enough.
Huge thanks to Rachel Greenlaw and HQ for the privilege of reading an advanced copy through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own and voluntarily given.
September 29, 2026
This duology has been such a wild ride, and I have to say, I really didn’t expect the final book to take the direction that it did. There were so many twists, darker turns, and new layers added to the story that I genuinely never knew where things were going.
Sophia has come such a long way throughout this series, and I really enjoyed watching her become stronger and more confident in herself. She’s had to endure so much, and seeing how everything she’s experienced shaped her by the end of the series was really satisfying. I did find myself wishing she would trust the people around her a little more, though. There were definitely moments where I wanted to shake her and tell her that she didn’t have to carry everything alone.
And then there’s Alden…
His arc took a much darker route, and I definitely wasn’t prepared for some of the choices he made. I loved how complicated his character became because it wasn’t a simple journey of becoming better or overcoming his demons. In a lot of ways, things became darker, messier, and morally complicated. And honestly, that made his character so much more interesting to me.
I also really enjoyed finally getting more insight into Ezra and understanding more about his motivations and what was behind some of his actions. Did understanding him make me forgive everything he did? Absolutely not. But I appreciated finally getting more of that perspective and seeing the bigger picture.
There were so many new elements introduced throughout this book, and I loved watching everything come together as the series reached its conclusion. Some of the directions the story took genuinely surprised me, and I think that’s one of the things I’ve enjoyed most about this series—it never felt completely predictable.
My biggest issue was the ending. I wanted more time with the conclusion. Certain things felt a little rushed, and I would have loved to see some of those final moments given the space they deserved. I wasn’t quite ready to let these characters go yet.
Overall, though, I really enjoyed this series. It was emotional, unpredictable, dark, and full of characters who made me feel a lot of things. The final book definitely took some unexpected turns, and while I have a few mixed feelings about the way everything wrapped up, I’m still really glad I went on this journey with these characters
Sophia has come such a long way throughout this series, and I really enjoyed watching her become stronger and more confident in herself. She’s had to endure so much, and seeing how everything she’s experienced shaped her by the end of the series was really satisfying. I did find myself wishing she would trust the people around her a little more, though. There were definitely moments where I wanted to shake her and tell her that she didn’t have to carry everything alone.
And then there’s Alden…
His arc took a much darker route, and I definitely wasn’t prepared for some of the choices he made. I loved how complicated his character became because it wasn’t a simple journey of becoming better or overcoming his demons. In a lot of ways, things became darker, messier, and morally complicated. And honestly, that made his character so much more interesting to me.
I also really enjoyed finally getting more insight into Ezra and understanding more about his motivations and what was behind some of his actions. Did understanding him make me forgive everything he did? Absolutely not. But I appreciated finally getting more of that perspective and seeing the bigger picture.
There were so many new elements introduced throughout this book, and I loved watching everything come together as the series reached its conclusion. Some of the directions the story took genuinely surprised me, and I think that’s one of the things I’ve enjoyed most about this series—it never felt completely predictable.
My biggest issue was the ending. I wanted more time with the conclusion. Certain things felt a little rushed, and I would have loved to see some of those final moments given the space they deserved. I wasn’t quite ready to let these characters go yet.
Overall, though, I really enjoyed this series. It was emotional, unpredictable, dark, and full of characters who made me feel a lot of things. The final book definitely took some unexpected turns, and while I have a few mixed feelings about the way everything wrapped up, I’m still really glad I went on this journey with these characters
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars
this was a fun conclusion to this duology! I loved the ordeals so I was super excited to have been gifted this one early so thank you to HQ for sending me the netgalley link for this!! all thoughts are my own!
I loved how this book put us straight back in the action as we continued not too long after the ending of the ordeals. there were lots of things I needed to know about after the ending and it was good to be back in and seeing the fallout as well as the set up for where this book would go.
exploring characters in more depth was a strong aspect of this sequel. finding out more about Ezra and his motivations through our character perspective of Sophia was really interesting and gave us more of an insight into their dynamic and their past. we also had dealings with grief with various characters which was important to explore and I liked how it was seen instead of forgotten about.
the plot of this was intriguing. albeit not as linear or neat as the trials theme of the first book, we still had a main goal in mind, even with a lot of different things happening. we had a bit of adventure, some gods and a lot of fight scenes, to name a few. it did feel at times a little disjointed with some pacing issues BUT it kept me on my toes and still interested with what was happening, especially as I already knew and cared for the characters.
for me, my main issue with this one was the spice in the romance. I didn’t feel AS much emotional connection was being shown - it was still clearly there, but I missed having more of the heartfelt dialogue and moments compared to the first book. it felt like the majority of our scenes with Sophia and Alden were just spice scenes. I don’t have an issue with spice and some scenes felt right, however, a lot of these felt very random and were taking me out of the book a little bit, which is just a bit off-putting.
that being said, I still had a lot of fun with this book and am pleased to have concluded the duology! I do think the ordeals was the stronger book of the two but if you loved it like I did, I think you’ll still enjoy this sequel overall so I’d still recommend!!
this was a fun conclusion to this duology! I loved the ordeals so I was super excited to have been gifted this one early so thank you to HQ for sending me the netgalley link for this!! all thoughts are my own!
I loved how this book put us straight back in the action as we continued not too long after the ending of the ordeals. there were lots of things I needed to know about after the ending and it was good to be back in and seeing the fallout as well as the set up for where this book would go.
exploring characters in more depth was a strong aspect of this sequel. finding out more about Ezra and his motivations through our character perspective of Sophia was really interesting and gave us more of an insight into their dynamic and their past. we also had dealings with grief with various characters which was important to explore and I liked how it was seen instead of forgotten about.
the plot of this was intriguing. albeit not as linear or neat as the trials theme of the first book, we still had a main goal in mind, even with a lot of different things happening. we had a bit of adventure, some gods and a lot of fight scenes, to name a few. it did feel at times a little disjointed with some pacing issues BUT it kept me on my toes and still interested with what was happening, especially as I already knew and cared for the characters.
for me, my main issue with this one was the spice in the romance. I didn’t feel AS much emotional connection was being shown - it was still clearly there, but I missed having more of the heartfelt dialogue and moments compared to the first book. it felt like the majority of our scenes with Sophia and Alden were just spice scenes. I don’t have an issue with spice and some scenes felt right, however, a lot of these felt very random and were taking me out of the book a little bit, which is just a bit off-putting.
that being said, I still had a lot of fun with this book and am pleased to have concluded the duology! I do think the ordeals was the stronger book of the two but if you loved it like I did, I think you’ll still enjoy this sequel overall so I’d still recommend!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC via NetGalley, the following review is my own. I am writing the below without intended spoilers, and will speak rather vaguely.
First, I LOVED the Ordeals, but I am a Dark Academia girl at heart. I was so excited to pick one up but I have to admit I was super suprised as to the journey this one went down. After the Ordeals, and admittance to Kilmarth, I expected more of the Dark Academia setting, but what the story gave were missions, battles, loss, trickery , found family, revelations and A LOT of character growth.
While I struggled a little bit with the pacing at times ( sometimes it was all action all the time, and others it was a slow walk ) ... I appreciated the tension that existed through all of that because the author never lost sight of the fact that these were at the end of the day, students. There were mistakes made, their paths were not linear nor easy but they kept trying together, despite their wounds and losses, and it really built on the found family aspect of it all , which is my favorite trope.
I also appreciated how much of Ezra we gort in this one, in book One we know him as the Collector, but here we got to pull back the curtain and peer into a complex past full of grief, loss and fear for the future and wanting to get things right.
I love Sophia and Alden They had struggles, they faced challenges, but through it all they loved one another... deeply, imperfectly, and loyally, and I found that to add to the story, especially when faced with one of their biggest challenges through the second half of the book.
THE ENDING - is what made this a 4 star for me ultimately, the last couple of chapters made up for the pacing and shifts that were unexpected througout and brought us back full circle to exactly where the story was meant to go.
First, I LOVED the Ordeals, but I am a Dark Academia girl at heart. I was so excited to pick one up but I have to admit I was super suprised as to the journey this one went down. After the Ordeals, and admittance to Kilmarth, I expected more of the Dark Academia setting, but what the story gave were missions, battles, loss, trickery , found family, revelations and A LOT of character growth.
While I struggled a little bit with the pacing at times ( sometimes it was all action all the time, and others it was a slow walk ) ... I appreciated the tension that existed through all of that because the author never lost sight of the fact that these were at the end of the day, students. There were mistakes made, their paths were not linear nor easy but they kept trying together, despite their wounds and losses, and it really built on the found family aspect of it all , which is my favorite trope.
I also appreciated how much of Ezra we gort in this one, in book One we know him as the Collector, but here we got to pull back the curtain and peer into a complex past full of grief, loss and fear for the future and wanting to get things right.
I love Sophia and Alden They had struggles, they faced challenges, but through it all they loved one another... deeply, imperfectly, and loyally, and I found that to add to the story, especially when faced with one of their biggest challenges through the second half of the book.
THE ENDING - is what made this a 4 star for me ultimately, the last couple of chapters made up for the pacing and shifts that were unexpected througout and brought us back full circle to exactly where the story was meant to go.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
So, for me, this is a prime example of how a sequel of a really strong first book falls short by trying to achieve a little bit too much. that is not to say it's not enjoyable or good. But, overall , the whole felt unfortunately a bit disappointing and definitely makes the previous one my favourite by miles.
Let's break it down:
- Worldbuilding and atmosphere. this was brilliantly delivered/ executed in the first book, the gothic/dark academia elements were 10/10 and in her effort to up the ante, I think Rachel ends up sacrificing a bit too much of her reader's sanity. I felt that too many new elements were added to the main premise/plot, but not enough time/care was given to flesh them out for us and as a result it all felt a bit confusing? Which brings me to...
- Pace. This was a bit inconsistent. This is not too say, it needs to be full speed all the time, but the way we move from one scene to the next just felt a bit jarring and not very smooth.
- The spice. Who would've thought I( would be 'complaining' about this, but here we are! To be fair, the spice is great and I didn't mind it at all, I just wish that it either felt right at the points in the story we stumble upon it or there was an added layer of emotional connection, I really enjoyed this in the first book. But this is such a hard thing to get right, when the main couple end up together in the first book, isn't it?
In a nutshell, if you enjoyed The Ordeals (which was FAB, no notes!), you will enjoy this one, and you should read it just to find out what happens (I would have such FOMO had I not read it!), but be prepared that you will barely have a moment to breath with this one. I still recommend it as I think it's a story worth reading! Thank you to Rachel Greenlaw, HQ and NetGalley for this review copy, all opinions are my own.
Let's break it down:
- Worldbuilding and atmosphere. this was brilliantly delivered/ executed in the first book, the gothic/dark academia elements were 10/10 and in her effort to up the ante, I think Rachel ends up sacrificing a bit too much of her reader's sanity. I felt that too many new elements were added to the main premise/plot, but not enough time/care was given to flesh them out for us and as a result it all felt a bit confusing? Which brings me to...
- Pace. This was a bit inconsistent. This is not too say, it needs to be full speed all the time, but the way we move from one scene to the next just felt a bit jarring and not very smooth.
- The spice. Who would've thought I( would be 'complaining' about this, but here we are! To be fair, the spice is great and I didn't mind it at all, I just wish that it either felt right at the points in the story we stumble upon it or there was an added layer of emotional connection, I really enjoyed this in the first book. But this is such a hard thing to get right, when the main couple end up together in the first book, isn't it?
In a nutshell, if you enjoyed The Ordeals (which was FAB, no notes!), you will enjoy this one, and you should read it just to find out what happens (I would have such FOMO had I not read it!), but be prepared that you will barely have a moment to breath with this one. I still recommend it as I think it's a story worth reading! Thank you to Rachel Greenlaw, HQ and NetGalley for this review copy, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A breathtaking, high stakes conclusion that shatters every expectation and then delivers even more. The Divines picks up weeks after that soul crushing cliffhanger and hits the ground running without ever looking back.
Where The Ordeals gave us delicious rivals to lovers tension and dark academia, The Divines evolves into something far more visceral. This is a story about the staggering power of connection and the lengths people will go to for the ones they love. Sophia's growth here is incredible. Fiercely determined and completely unwavering, she fights for her people, for those she loves and even for the enemy, even when it costs her everything. She is the kind of protagonist that grabs the heart and refuses to let go.
The emotional weight is real and remarkably grounded. Tessa's grief is raw and honest, her found family anchoring her even when the world falls apart around her. Knox remains everyone's steady rock. The dynamic with Ezra is one of the most fascinating threads in the book, forcing Sophia into a genuinely complex journey of healing and reconciliation. And then there is Alden. An absolute ride or die who treats Sophia like she is the only thing that matters. Their bond is the heartbeat of this entire story.
The world expands beautifully, trading academic halls for a wild and unpredictable journey filled with lethal royalty, ancient legends and dangerous new characters that kept the pages turning at speed.
The Divines brings closure to the duology while leaving the door wide open for more and more is absolutely needed because this world is too good to leave behind.
An adrenaline fueled, emotionally rich must read. Releasing October 8, 2026. Pre-order it immediately.
Where The Ordeals gave us delicious rivals to lovers tension and dark academia, The Divines evolves into something far more visceral. This is a story about the staggering power of connection and the lengths people will go to for the ones they love. Sophia's growth here is incredible. Fiercely determined and completely unwavering, she fights for her people, for those she loves and even for the enemy, even when it costs her everything. She is the kind of protagonist that grabs the heart and refuses to let go.
The emotional weight is real and remarkably grounded. Tessa's grief is raw and honest, her found family anchoring her even when the world falls apart around her. Knox remains everyone's steady rock. The dynamic with Ezra is one of the most fascinating threads in the book, forcing Sophia into a genuinely complex journey of healing and reconciliation. And then there is Alden. An absolute ride or die who treats Sophia like she is the only thing that matters. Their bond is the heartbeat of this entire story.
The world expands beautifully, trading academic halls for a wild and unpredictable journey filled with lethal royalty, ancient legends and dangerous new characters that kept the pages turning at speed.
The Divines brings closure to the duology while leaving the door wide open for more and more is absolutely needed because this world is too good to leave behind.
An adrenaline fueled, emotionally rich must read. Releasing October 8, 2026. Pre-order it immediately.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Random House publishing for this ARC
2.5 Stars
The Divines picks up four weeks after the events of The Ordeals. We follow Sophia and Alden in the aftermath of the Ordeals and as The Great Hunt begins.
I think the main issue I had with this novel was the rushed pacing. A problem arises and then is immediately solved, leaving very little time for the story or characters to breathe. The deaths happen so quickly, and then we’re immediately thrown into another scene. The characters have almost no time to reflect on or process these deaths, so they hold very little emotional weight. This is especially frustrating because one of the main themes Greenlaw is trying to explore in this book is the impacts of grief.
I also think the relationships are severely underdeveloped. Sophia and Alden have little to no chemistry in this one. It almost felt like Sophia had more chemistry with every other character than she did with Alden. Then we have Ezra and Sophia’s relationship dynamic, which completely changes over the course of a conversation that takes place on a single page. It felt too abrupt to be plausible or impactful.
I do think the world-building improved in this one compared to The Ordeals. The concept of finding the missing ingredient needed for the elixir cure was interesting, and I wish we had focused more on the magic system and the alchemy and botany aspects of the world.
The ending was pretty solid, but once again, the rushed pacing took away from the impact of the action sequences and deaths. Overall, I think this book had some interesting concepts and improvements in world building, but the pacing and underdeveloped relationships made it difficult for me to fully connect with the story.
2.5 Stars
The Divines picks up four weeks after the events of The Ordeals. We follow Sophia and Alden in the aftermath of the Ordeals and as The Great Hunt begins.
I think the main issue I had with this novel was the rushed pacing. A problem arises and then is immediately solved, leaving very little time for the story or characters to breathe. The deaths happen so quickly, and then we’re immediately thrown into another scene. The characters have almost no time to reflect on or process these deaths, so they hold very little emotional weight. This is especially frustrating because one of the main themes Greenlaw is trying to explore in this book is the impacts of grief.
I also think the relationships are severely underdeveloped. Sophia and Alden have little to no chemistry in this one. It almost felt like Sophia had more chemistry with every other character than she did with Alden. Then we have Ezra and Sophia’s relationship dynamic, which completely changes over the course of a conversation that takes place on a single page. It felt too abrupt to be plausible or impactful.
I do think the world-building improved in this one compared to The Ordeals. The concept of finding the missing ingredient needed for the elixir cure was interesting, and I wish we had focused more on the magic system and the alchemy and botany aspects of the world.
The ending was pretty solid, but once again, the rushed pacing took away from the impact of the action sequences and deaths. Overall, I think this book had some interesting concepts and improvements in world building, but the pacing and underdeveloped relationships made it difficult for me to fully connect with the story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.
After loving The Ordeals last year, The Divines was one of my most anticipated reads. Unfortunately, this sequel didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
My biggest issue was the lack of world-building and chaotic storylines that were left unfinished. I really wish there had been a recap at the beginning because, after a year, I found myself a little lost jumping straight back into the story. I also struggled to understand the Cold Ones’ motivations and how the three realms—the human realm, the Cold Ones’ realm, and the gods’ realm—actually connect. I wanted more clarity around the portals, the realms, and the magic system. I especially missed the dark academic and magic that I loved in the first book.
I had a hard time believing these characters were still students while simultaneously being powerful enough to solve a centuries-old mystery, find a cure, and accomplish something no one else had managed to do in hundreds of years. Although I did enjoy the process of figuring out the elixir, some of their accomplishments felt a little too convenient.
The romance between Alden and Sophia didn’t work for me. I loved the tension and development of their relationship in the first book, but their progression here felt rushed and veered too much into insta-love territory. This book had way too much attention given to spice and romance when it should have been focusing on plot and wrapping up loose ends.
Overall, I’m glad I continued the duology, but The Divines didn’t capture the same magic for me as The Ordeals. I’ll still purchase a copy to complete the set, but this was ultimately a disappointing end to a duology I had really enjoyed.
After loving The Ordeals last year, The Divines was one of my most anticipated reads. Unfortunately, this sequel didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
My biggest issue was the lack of world-building and chaotic storylines that were left unfinished. I really wish there had been a recap at the beginning because, after a year, I found myself a little lost jumping straight back into the story. I also struggled to understand the Cold Ones’ motivations and how the three realms—the human realm, the Cold Ones’ realm, and the gods’ realm—actually connect. I wanted more clarity around the portals, the realms, and the magic system. I especially missed the dark academic and magic that I loved in the first book.
I had a hard time believing these characters were still students while simultaneously being powerful enough to solve a centuries-old mystery, find a cure, and accomplish something no one else had managed to do in hundreds of years. Although I did enjoy the process of figuring out the elixir, some of their accomplishments felt a little too convenient.
The romance between Alden and Sophia didn’t work for me. I loved the tension and development of their relationship in the first book, but their progression here felt rushed and veered too much into insta-love territory. This book had way too much attention given to spice and romance when it should have been focusing on plot and wrapping up loose ends.
Overall, I’m glad I continued the duology, but The Divines didn’t capture the same magic for me as The Ordeals. I’ll still purchase a copy to complete the set, but this was ultimately a disappointing end to a duology I had really enjoyed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
'" I will walk at your side anywhere, across territories, across worlds. There is nowhere else I want to be. For you, I would cross the burning stars. With you, I would do anything.'"
- The Divines, by @rachelgreenlaw_
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️|| 🌶🌶
Y'know, I do love a duology - it's not too long that you're begging for a conclusion, but it is long enough to get attached to characters and really invested in the story- and this is great duology. I really enjoyed The Ordeals, so when I was lucky enough to win a copy of a proof of The Divines, I knew it had to jump to the top of my TBR straight away- and what a way to kick off October.
The book starts pretty much where the last one left off, and the plot is PLOTTING from page 1. I loved getting reaquainted with the characters. I was worried that the romance was going to fall a bit flat now the enemies are lovers, but I needn't have worried- our MMC and FMC have some hurdles to overcome and there is plentiful chemistry in the face of imminent death and danger- I would want nothing less from a romantasy.
There are some new characters in The Divines as well and I really enjoyed how they fed into the story and helped it reach its conclusion- and what a conclusion it was! My heart was BEATING in those final pages. And don't expect to come out unscathed. There are unexpected twists and a turn that leaves you surprisingly emotional. I am not sure I would have been as strong as Sophia right at the end either. She has some pretty big decisions that firmly cement her main character status. I think readers will find this a satisfying conclusion to the duology and one that firmly puts this in the place of one of my favourite reads this year.
Thank you to @rachelgreenlaw_, @hqstories, and @harpercollinsuk for the proof just in time for release.
- The Divines, by @rachelgreenlaw_
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️|| 🌶🌶
Y'know, I do love a duology - it's not too long that you're begging for a conclusion, but it is long enough to get attached to characters and really invested in the story- and this is great duology. I really enjoyed The Ordeals, so when I was lucky enough to win a copy of a proof of The Divines, I knew it had to jump to the top of my TBR straight away- and what a way to kick off October.
The book starts pretty much where the last one left off, and the plot is PLOTTING from page 1. I loved getting reaquainted with the characters. I was worried that the romance was going to fall a bit flat now the enemies are lovers, but I needn't have worried- our MMC and FMC have some hurdles to overcome and there is plentiful chemistry in the face of imminent death and danger- I would want nothing less from a romantasy.
There are some new characters in The Divines as well and I really enjoyed how they fed into the story and helped it reach its conclusion- and what a conclusion it was! My heart was BEATING in those final pages. And don't expect to come out unscathed. There are unexpected twists and a turn that leaves you surprisingly emotional. I am not sure I would have been as strong as Sophia right at the end either. She has some pretty big decisions that firmly cement her main character status. I think readers will find this a satisfying conclusion to the duology and one that firmly puts this in the place of one of my favourite reads this year.
Thank you to @rachelgreenlaw_, @hqstories, and @harpercollinsuk for the proof just in time for release.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5 stars
I was excited to return to the Killmarth world and reacquaint myself with Sophia, Alden and their supporting cast. And while yes, it was a good ending to the duology, I just did not find myself as invested in this story as I had been with its predecessor.
There was a lot going on here and a lot to resolve (dealing with the Cold Ones, finding an antidote, discovering portals/gods, grief and despair, dealing with the Crown, becoming aware of motivations behind certain relationships, etc.), but I found myself feeling bombarded with really TOO much going on and not being able to concentrate and fully absorb it all at times. I also missed the flow of life at Killmarth from the previous book as this one felt a bit all over the place (both literally and figuratively). And while it was great that Sophia and her team were able to figure out the answers/solutions to so many questions, it also felt a little unrealistic at the pace and with the complexity and history involved in those questions.
I also did not feel the connection between Sophia and Alden that I had in the previous book. Yes, they were devoted, but the overabundance of intimate scenes (fairly explicit) took away from the actual emotional connection for me. I did not doubt their bond just did not feel it as deeply as there wasn't a lot of a deep dive into it. I wanted more from their developing relationship than simply jumping into the romantic scenes.
But like I said, overall, I found it a satisfying wrap up and am glad that I discovered these books and this author. I'll definitely give more of her books a try in the future.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine / Delacorte Press for providing the free early arc of The Divines for review. The opinions are strictly my own.
I was excited to return to the Killmarth world and reacquaint myself with Sophia, Alden and their supporting cast. And while yes, it was a good ending to the duology, I just did not find myself as invested in this story as I had been with its predecessor.
There was a lot going on here and a lot to resolve (dealing with the Cold Ones, finding an antidote, discovering portals/gods, grief and despair, dealing with the Crown, becoming aware of motivations behind certain relationships, etc.), but I found myself feeling bombarded with really TOO much going on and not being able to concentrate and fully absorb it all at times. I also missed the flow of life at Killmarth from the previous book as this one felt a bit all over the place (both literally and figuratively). And while it was great that Sophia and her team were able to figure out the answers/solutions to so many questions, it also felt a little unrealistic at the pace and with the complexity and history involved in those questions.
I also did not feel the connection between Sophia and Alden that I had in the previous book. Yes, they were devoted, but the overabundance of intimate scenes (fairly explicit) took away from the actual emotional connection for me. I did not doubt their bond just did not feel it as deeply as there wasn't a lot of a deep dive into it. I wanted more from their developing relationship than simply jumping into the romantic scenes.
But like I said, overall, I found it a satisfying wrap up and am glad that I discovered these books and this author. I'll definitely give more of her books a try in the future.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine / Delacorte Press for providing the free early arc of The Divines for review. The opinions are strictly my own.
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