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Hellequin Universe
No Gods, Only Monsters: A New Novel in the Hellequin Chronicles Universe
Diana, the Roman Goddess of the hunt, lives alone on the far edge of the Roman Empire. When an old friend arrives looking for help, Diana finds herself thrust back into her old life, and old problems.
With innocent lives caught in the crossfire, Diana realizes that the only way to ensure the safety of her friends and loved ones is to do what she does best: hunt her enemies down.
With innocent lives caught in the crossfire, Diana realizes that the only way to ensure the safety of her friends and loved ones is to do what she does best: hunt her enemies down.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2022
141 people are currently reading
301 people want to read
About the author
Steve McHugh
36 books1,900 followersSteve is a bestselling author of Urban Fantasy. His book, Scorched Shadows, was shortlisted for a Gemmell Award for best novel.
Steve was born in a small village called Mexborough, South Yorkshire, but now lives with his wife and three young daughters in Southampton
Steve was born in a small village called Mexborough, South Yorkshire, but now lives with his wife and three young daughters in Southampton
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
May 6, 2022
This book, aside from being a quick read, was really fun and entertaining as well. I do enjoy a little ancient history and mythology in my fantasy reads, and NO GODS, ONLY MONSTERS is steeped in both. Not only is the main character Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, but we also get treated to many of the Greek legends like Medusa, Artemis, Zeus, and others. The story follows Diana as she is asked by Artemis to help with a terrible situation that has arisen where innocent minotaurs and others have been put in peril. Because Diana is a skilled hunter of men and beasts, it only stands to reason that she would be best to undertake this daunting task. However, she doesn't truly trust the Greek gods and goddesses, with good reason as they often use others for their own selfish gains and power plays. So her skepticism makes her very wary indeed to accept.
But accept she does and it is here where the story takes off as many pitfalls and death traps come her way. The real fun is seeing if she can defy the odds and somehow get to the bottom of the turmoil taking place and maybe even defeat those who are causing it, But she will have to fight not only her adversaries along the way, but also her own personal demons if you will. For Diana has the ability to transform into a werebear as part of her godly power. And at times the werebear takes a little more control of her than she may want. Her struggle to control this is part of the many challenges she faces.
As I said earlier, this was a fun read and part of what makes it so fun is Steve McHugh's ability to inject biting humor into a lot of the dialogue. I found it refreshing seeing how irreverently some of the gods and goddesses spoke to each other, often laced with a snarky remark or two. And coupled with the humor, we also get a bit of a history lesson as an added bonus. Although maybe not the history that we have been taught in school. Getting to experience Medusa's playful (and might I even say pleasant) side was quite eye-opening as she is always depicted as a vicious monster who turns her victims to stone at the slightest whim. McHugh turns a lot of what we know about these myths on their heads and the result is very entertaining indeed.
That being said, there are definitely moments where the joking takes a backseat and there are intense action scenes that make your insides tense up. Oh yes, there will be blood. These depictions are vivid and sometimes brutal, but when gods and monsters are involved, we should expect much of that, no? Needless to say this is what I liked the best and where I thought McHugh excelled in his descriptions of battle and conflict.
Ultimately I thought that NO GODS, ONLY MONSTERS was a fast-paced and enjoyable read that kept me interested throughout. The mythological elements to this fantasy book really gave it an added dimension that many standard fantasies do not have. I'm glad that I got the chance to check it out and I am looking forward to seeing where Steve McHugh takes future books in the Antiquity Chronicles. I will be waiting with much anticipation, that's for sure.
But accept she does and it is here where the story takes off as many pitfalls and death traps come her way. The real fun is seeing if she can defy the odds and somehow get to the bottom of the turmoil taking place and maybe even defeat those who are causing it, But she will have to fight not only her adversaries along the way, but also her own personal demons if you will. For Diana has the ability to transform into a werebear as part of her godly power. And at times the werebear takes a little more control of her than she may want. Her struggle to control this is part of the many challenges she faces.
As I said earlier, this was a fun read and part of what makes it so fun is Steve McHugh's ability to inject biting humor into a lot of the dialogue. I found it refreshing seeing how irreverently some of the gods and goddesses spoke to each other, often laced with a snarky remark or two. And coupled with the humor, we also get a bit of a history lesson as an added bonus. Although maybe not the history that we have been taught in school. Getting to experience Medusa's playful (and might I even say pleasant) side was quite eye-opening as she is always depicted as a vicious monster who turns her victims to stone at the slightest whim. McHugh turns a lot of what we know about these myths on their heads and the result is very entertaining indeed.
That being said, there are definitely moments where the joking takes a backseat and there are intense action scenes that make your insides tense up. Oh yes, there will be blood. These depictions are vivid and sometimes brutal, but when gods and monsters are involved, we should expect much of that, no? Needless to say this is what I liked the best and where I thought McHugh excelled in his descriptions of battle and conflict.
Ultimately I thought that NO GODS, ONLY MONSTERS was a fast-paced and enjoyable read that kept me interested throughout. The mythological elements to this fantasy book really gave it an added dimension that many standard fantasies do not have. I'm glad that I got the chance to check it out and I am looking forward to seeing where Steve McHugh takes future books in the Antiquity Chronicles. I will be waiting with much anticipation, that's for sure.
August 14, 2023
Basically this story is about Diana (aka the Goddess of the Hunt) and Medusa (aka the Babe of the Slithering Hairdo) slaughtering their way through Ancient Rome (blood, gore and dismemberment galore, yay!), which is a pretty cool premise if you ask me. (There’s a teenage boy fantasy element there, especially since the two Antique, Murderous, Foul-Mouthed Chicks hook up towards the end of the story but whatever and stuff.)
So yes, this could have been a bloody shrimping good story. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t 😬. I mean, it is a truth universally acknowledged that I love all things violent, brutal, and slightly blood-soaked, but it can get really old after a while, especially when there is nothing more to the story than, well, just that. You know, like an actual story or something. Yeah yeah yeah, there's a vague plot here involving minotaurs and gods and stuff but it felt more like an excuse for Diana and Medusa to go all cut cut cut chop chop chop, and petrify petrify petrify than anything else. So 🥱🥱🥱 and stuff.
Okay, now it might not be obvious when you first read the blurb, but this book here features such an extended menagerie that it truly puts Barnum & Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth to shame: We've got the Greek pantheon! The Roman pantheon! Norse dwarves! Merlin and Avalon! Minotaurs and gorgons and harpies, oh my! Zombies! Werebears and werewolves! Minos and his clique! Giant spiders! Elves! Water elementals! The Mesopotamian king of demons and many many more! Yay! Just throw in a bunch of vamps, a unicorn or two, a handful of gargoyles, some trolls and ghouls, and a couple of smurfs and we'll be all set!
Yeah, you could say this was a teensy bit too much for me. I do love mythology and having all sorts of scrumptious creatures pop up in a story is most delightful indeed (👋 waves at all the pets currently residing in her 'welcome to the zoo' shelf 👋), but trying to squish every single mythological/fantastical beings that ever existed into a book just for the sake of them being there is completely pointless. So please don't do it. Oops, too late.
Anything else worth mentioning? Well actually yes, now that you mention it: I'm getting slightly sick and tired of authors portraying gods as hypersexualized, psychotic assholes and bitches. It was fun the first few hundred times but now it just feels like...
The end.
So yes, this could have been a bloody shrimping good story. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t 😬. I mean, it is a truth universally acknowledged that I love all things violent, brutal, and slightly blood-soaked, but it can get really old after a while, especially when there is nothing more to the story than, well, just that. You know, like an actual story or something. Yeah yeah yeah, there's a vague plot here involving minotaurs and gods and stuff but it felt more like an excuse for Diana and Medusa to go all cut cut cut chop chop chop, and petrify petrify petrify than anything else. So 🥱🥱🥱 and stuff.
Okay, now it might not be obvious when you first read the blurb, but this book here features such an extended menagerie that it truly puts Barnum & Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth to shame: We've got the Greek pantheon! The Roman pantheon! Norse dwarves! Merlin and Avalon! Minotaurs and gorgons and harpies, oh my! Zombies! Werebears and werewolves! Minos and his clique! Giant spiders! Elves! Water elementals! The Mesopotamian king of demons and many many more! Yay! Just throw in a bunch of vamps, a unicorn or two, a handful of gargoyles, some trolls and ghouls, and a couple of smurfs and we'll be all set!
Yeah, you could say this was a teensy bit too much for me. I do love mythology and having all sorts of scrumptious creatures pop up in a story is most delightful indeed (👋 waves at all the pets currently residing in her 'welcome to the zoo' shelf 👋), but trying to squish every single mythological/fantastical beings that ever existed into a book just for the sake of them being there is completely pointless. So please don't do it. Oops, too late.
Anything else worth mentioning? Well actually yes, now that you mention it: I'm getting slightly sick and tired of authors portraying gods as hypersexualized, psychotic assholes and bitches. It was fun the first few hundred times but now it just feels like...
The end.
May 28, 2024
Okay, but I am in the minority on this one.
May 6, 2022
Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: No Gods, Only Monsters is a very intriguing novel that I found out when the cover was revealed by one of my favourite cover designers Shawn T. King. Having previously read a Hellequin book and a couple of novellas. I was very intrigued to jump in to this book as it focused on the Roman Goddess Diana and because it was set in the past, prior knowledge of the series was not a big requirement. This worked perfectly for me and I dived in.
No Gods, Only Monsters begins with Diana living off the land in a remote corner of the Roman Empire and she’s content with what she has become. However as with any western, we soon learn that such placid conditions are only temporary and trouble soon arrives. Forced to help Artemis with some divine trouble (and without knowing what it is), Diana is forced to set off and dig up some painful past events and confront all of it. That is the basic gist of the plot but there’s a lot more underneath and courtesy of Steve McHugh, we get an action packed story that absolutely rockets off the pages.
Firstly here’s why I enjoyed this book so much, Diana as a main character is terrifically written. Yes she’s inhuman because of her divinity but that doesn’t preclude from experiencing some very human emotions. She is also a character who is a flawed but strong hero. She doesn’t shy away from doing what’s right but she’s also smart enough to not always depend on her strength. Her tactical acumen & personal knowledge are what make her dangerous. This book is set around 1800 years ago and features a fast-paced plot that is very characteristic of Steve McHugh. The story not only features Greco-Roman mythology but also has quite a few elements of Scandinavian and Arthurian mythos. I loved this approach as it showed a magically chaotic world as possibly was the case of Europe pre-circa 200 AD. The author does his best to set up these elements fluidly and while I didn’t have much knowledge about the characters, I had no problems following the plot.
The book is also on the shorter side (around 220-pages in paperback) and after reading more and more doorstoppers in the fantasy genre. I loved that the author was able to pack so much story in such a short page count. This book very much is and behaves like an action thriller (if you ignore the historical settings, the magical creatures and mythological beings.). There are some elements of a spaghetti western with regards to Diana and her past and it plays out in a slightly predictable but ultimately fulfilling manner. Lastly I want to highlight the action sequences within this book, for those readers who like battles and magic will get plenty of both.
This book isn’t without its minor drawbacks, for one even though the settings are of ancient Rome, we don’t get to dwell on them much. Even though this is a historical fantasy, the world descriptions aren’t of the Christian Cameron kind. So readers expecting that will be sorely disappointed. Secondarily the plot while being an ingenious one has a bit of predictability to it. For new readers, this might not be easily apparent but older readers might catch on a plot twist or two. I must reiterate these are minor quibbles and would totally depend on the reader.
CONCLUSION: No Gods, Only Monsters is a wild ride and one that certainly fulfills all of its promises. Steve McHugh has succeeded in giving us an action packed, historical fantasy that is entertaining and emotionally fulfilling. As far as stories set within the action-thriller genre go, it sets itself up as a prime example of what authors should do. Jump in with both feet and find out why so many urban fantasy readers consider Steve McHugh to be one of the best storytellers writing currently.
March 8, 2024
No Gods, Only Monsters
By Steve McHugh
Wow, what can I say! I really loved this! Myths, legends, roll it around in Steve McHugh's mind and this is what happens! Action, adventure, fights between gods, Diana, Medusa, Poseidon, dwarves, and more. Love the world building. The battle scenes were spectacular! There are tender moments too. Medusa is actually a good character in here. (I loved that!) The characters are flawed and relatable, except some of the horrible ones, they were just flawed! 😂
Nice addition to the Hellequin series! If you haven't read that series then do yourself a favor and pick it up!
By Steve McHugh
Wow, what can I say! I really loved this! Myths, legends, roll it around in Steve McHugh's mind and this is what happens! Action, adventure, fights between gods, Diana, Medusa, Poseidon, dwarves, and more. Love the world building. The battle scenes were spectacular! There are tender moments too. Medusa is actually a good character in here. (I loved that!) The characters are flawed and relatable, except some of the horrible ones, they were just flawed! 😂
Nice addition to the Hellequin series! If you haven't read that series then do yourself a favor and pick it up!
Read
June 7, 2022My first SPFBO8 read, and my first Steve McHugh book.
Diana is the Roman Goddess of the Hunt. She's also had a bit of a rough life, made some shitty choices, and wants nothing more than to drink her life away in isolation. Until an old friend and fellow goddess turns up with trouble 2 steps behind her.
This is a fast-paced, action-heavy, questing romp filled with gods, monsters, blood, and heart. There's no wasted words. In the downtime, we get warming moments between characters, and in the uptime we get heads rolling and blood gushing. And the characters never stop quipping throughout. It feels very much like an urban fantasy set in Roman times, which is a blend I'd never even considered before.
Most of all, and this is a horribly dated reference, this book reminded me of watching Xena. It has the same energy and wit and emotion mixed in with over the top combat.
A fast, fun read.
Diana is the Roman Goddess of the Hunt. She's also had a bit of a rough life, made some shitty choices, and wants nothing more than to drink her life away in isolation. Until an old friend and fellow goddess turns up with trouble 2 steps behind her.
This is a fast-paced, action-heavy, questing romp filled with gods, monsters, blood, and heart. There's no wasted words. In the downtime, we get warming moments between characters, and in the uptime we get heads rolling and blood gushing. And the characters never stop quipping throughout. It feels very much like an urban fantasy set in Roman times, which is a blend I'd never even considered before.
Most of all, and this is a horribly dated reference, this book reminded me of watching Xena. It has the same energy and wit and emotion mixed in with over the top combat.
A fast, fun read.
May 2, 2022
Greek, Roman and Norse mythology are all mixed up in one wonderfully funny book. Diana isn’t a goddess anymore and is a werebear, she turns into a bear much like humans turn into a werewolf, but after an incident in her past with her werebear Diana hides out away from civilisation. That is until one day her old friend/lover Artemis shows up with a Norse dwarf asking for her help to save the Minotaurs in the realm. From here on out it’s an epic adventure as they battle new enemies that can resurrect unless their heads are severed and old enemies in the forms of gods and demi-gods. There’s even a betrayal in their little group along the way by someone they were trying to help.
“Just be careful you don’t get lost in the darkness. The more it takes control, the harder it is to get back out the other side.”
The Diana in this book is officially going to be my personality for quite a while, she’s flawed yes, but she’s empathetic and loyal and wants to protect those who cannot protect themselves. She’s also absolutely hilarious and between her and Skost (the amazing Norse dwarf) I spent most of my time laughing at the dialogue in this book.
“If you take one step inside my home without my express permission, I’m going to bounce you down the hill like a ball.”
Overall I found this be a very enjoyable read with some incredible one liners. A couple of demi-gods were mentioned in the book (Theseus and Perseus) but there were no real details about their myths, just that they were absolute tools. The author also had a different take on the myth of Pasiphae where she didn’t consummate with bull, she actually slept with another man and King Minos wasn’t amused by it so he asked Poseidon and Hera to punish her. She was pregnant with the other mans baby so they fed her gorgons blood to see what would happen to pregnant women who ingested it. The baby was born human but after a few months it changed into a Minotaur.
I only disliked two little things, the first is that Artemis seemingly doesn’t trust her twin, Apollo, “Why didn’t you go to Apollo or Persephone for help, or anyone who isn’t me?” … “I can’t ask them because I’m pretty sure that members of the Greek Pantheon are behind the attack. I don’t know who to trust.” I find it very difficult to believe Artemis would ever not be able to trust her twin. And the second is that Poseidon seems to be a cowering weakling… For me it’s interesting to see how one of the more powerful Olympians isn’t all that in this book.
“It doesn’t take too much to go from good to bad, but its much quicker when the gods are involved.”
You don’t need to know much about mythology to enjoy this book, it’s a great read! Thank you so much to the author and Graeme Williams for sending me a copy of the book and having me on the blog tour.
“Just be careful you don’t get lost in the darkness. The more it takes control, the harder it is to get back out the other side.”
The Diana in this book is officially going to be my personality for quite a while, she’s flawed yes, but she’s empathetic and loyal and wants to protect those who cannot protect themselves. She’s also absolutely hilarious and between her and Skost (the amazing Norse dwarf) I spent most of my time laughing at the dialogue in this book.
“If you take one step inside my home without my express permission, I’m going to bounce you down the hill like a ball.”
Overall I found this be a very enjoyable read with some incredible one liners. A couple of demi-gods were mentioned in the book (Theseus and Perseus) but there were no real details about their myths, just that they were absolute tools. The author also had a different take on the myth of Pasiphae where she didn’t consummate with bull, she actually slept with another man and King Minos wasn’t amused by it so he asked Poseidon and Hera to punish her. She was pregnant with the other mans baby so they fed her gorgons blood to see what would happen to pregnant women who ingested it. The baby was born human but after a few months it changed into a Minotaur.
I only disliked two little things, the first is that Artemis seemingly doesn’t trust her twin, Apollo, “Why didn’t you go to Apollo or Persephone for help, or anyone who isn’t me?” … “I can’t ask them because I’m pretty sure that members of the Greek Pantheon are behind the attack. I don’t know who to trust.” I find it very difficult to believe Artemis would ever not be able to trust her twin. And the second is that Poseidon seems to be a cowering weakling… For me it’s interesting to see how one of the more powerful Olympians isn’t all that in this book.
“It doesn’t take too much to go from good to bad, but its much quicker when the gods are involved.”
You don’t need to know much about mythology to enjoy this book, it’s a great read! Thank you so much to the author and Graeme Williams for sending me a copy of the book and having me on the blog tour.
October 17, 2022
I would have been surprised if I didn't love this, as McHugh send to be a perfect match for my reading tastes.
This time we back to times long past instead of current data, and I loved to see some backstory for favourite characters!
There's all the sarcasm, action, banter, great characters and hope you'd expect, plus so much more.
My favourite bit as always it's the amazing and inclusive cast. There might be a lot of snark and flying heads, but there's also so much friendship and loyalty, it's a perfect balance for me. I care about these ductal characters way not than is probably healthy, but it's definitely would love to have a night of drinking with them!
You can read this as a stand alone, it works on its own just as well as it does within the series. So if you want a glimpse into this world without yet committing to so many books, this is a great sample!
This time we back to times long past instead of current data, and I loved to see some backstory for favourite characters!
There's all the sarcasm, action, banter, great characters and hope you'd expect, plus so much more.
My favourite bit as always it's the amazing and inclusive cast. There might be a lot of snark and flying heads, but there's also so much friendship and loyalty, it's a perfect balance for me. I care about these ductal characters way not than is probably healthy, but it's definitely would love to have a night of drinking with them!
You can read this as a stand alone, it works on its own just as well as it does within the series. So if you want a glimpse into this world without yet committing to so many books, this is a great sample!
May 5, 2022
Today it’s my turn to review No Gods, Only Monsters by Steve McHugh. Thanks to the Escapist Book Tour for putting this together!
So first things first. What is the book about?
The Blurb
Diana, the Roman Goddess of the hunt, lives alone on the far edge of the Roman Empire. When an old friend arrives looking for help, Diana finds herself thrust back into her old life, and old problems.
With innocent lives caught in the crossfire, Diana realizes that the only way to ensure the safety of her friends and loved ones is to do what she does best: hunt her enemies down.
The Review
Fantasy really is the best genre in the world. One of the best things about the genre is how wide it is. Heroic, epic, grimdark, steampunk, urban, historical… there are just so many different avenues to go down.
Well, Steve McHugh might have invented a new one. This is historical mythological urban fantasy. Yes, that’s right. I said it.
This book is set in 200AD – and is full of mythological characters. Those from Greek mythology are the ones we see the most (Medusa, Poseidon, Ares etc.), but this world also contains the gods and characters of Norse and Arthurian legend.
So far – historical mythological fantasy.
However, in terms of writing flavour, this feels very urban. And yes, it’s not set in a city, but it does still carry that vibe. There are werewolves, cyclops, minotaurs, harpies and an array of monsters. The prose is punchy, the pace is fast. The Gods live amongst the people, though the extent of their magic is often hidden.
And at the centre of the story is Diana. A goddess wrapped in guilt who wants to be left alone. She’s an excellent character. Strong and brave – and for those who worried when I said historical in case the prose would be all ‘ye olde’ – it isn’t.
As this is a spoiler-free review, I won’t go into the story except to say if you like quests and ‘found family’ tropes, you will enjoy this.
If you are expecting a Circe or Sistersong literary type of historical fantasy, reset your expectations. This is Marvel-esque story telling. There are battles, feuds, and more battles. Though that’s doesn’t mean the book is without depth. Themes of grief, depression, and guilt are explored.
All in all – this is a great read. A great summer read, I’d say too. It’s fun and the action scenes pack a punch. If you’ve been in a reading slump or have an older teenager who is struggling to ‘get into’ reading, this would make an excellent choice.
Thanks for reading the review! Good luck with this book, Steve! I enjoyed this book – it was fun and refreshing – and I’ll certainly be picking up book 2 when it comes out.
So first things first. What is the book about?
The Blurb
Diana, the Roman Goddess of the hunt, lives alone on the far edge of the Roman Empire. When an old friend arrives looking for help, Diana finds herself thrust back into her old life, and old problems.
With innocent lives caught in the crossfire, Diana realizes that the only way to ensure the safety of her friends and loved ones is to do what she does best: hunt her enemies down.
The Review
Fantasy really is the best genre in the world. One of the best things about the genre is how wide it is. Heroic, epic, grimdark, steampunk, urban, historical… there are just so many different avenues to go down.
Well, Steve McHugh might have invented a new one. This is historical mythological urban fantasy. Yes, that’s right. I said it.
This book is set in 200AD – and is full of mythological characters. Those from Greek mythology are the ones we see the most (Medusa, Poseidon, Ares etc.), but this world also contains the gods and characters of Norse and Arthurian legend.
So far – historical mythological fantasy.
However, in terms of writing flavour, this feels very urban. And yes, it’s not set in a city, but it does still carry that vibe. There are werewolves, cyclops, minotaurs, harpies and an array of monsters. The prose is punchy, the pace is fast. The Gods live amongst the people, though the extent of their magic is often hidden.
And at the centre of the story is Diana. A goddess wrapped in guilt who wants to be left alone. She’s an excellent character. Strong and brave – and for those who worried when I said historical in case the prose would be all ‘ye olde’ – it isn’t.
As this is a spoiler-free review, I won’t go into the story except to say if you like quests and ‘found family’ tropes, you will enjoy this.
If you are expecting a Circe or Sistersong literary type of historical fantasy, reset your expectations. This is Marvel-esque story telling. There are battles, feuds, and more battles. Though that’s doesn’t mean the book is without depth. Themes of grief, depression, and guilt are explored.
All in all – this is a great read. A great summer read, I’d say too. It’s fun and the action scenes pack a punch. If you’ve been in a reading slump or have an older teenager who is struggling to ‘get into’ reading, this would make an excellent choice.
Thanks for reading the review! Good luck with this book, Steve! I enjoyed this book – it was fun and refreshing – and I’ll certainly be picking up book 2 when it comes out.
April 29, 2022
3.5 stars
Set in the same universe as McHugh’s previous series, The Hellequin Chronicles, No Gods, Only Monsters doesn’t waste any time getting to the thick of the story. For a 250-page book, I was surprised by how much McHugh can pack in without it feeling overwhelming or chaotic. There are werebears (namely Diana), werewolves, minotaurs, alchemists, sorcerers, curses, elemental powers, and the list can go on. It’s a lot, I know, but it is all woven into the story naturally with ease.
I love that this story doesn’t require extensive knowledge of mythology. I read A LOT of books centered around mythology, so it’s nice to read something a little different with other elements thrown in. Plus, it’s just more fun. I’m not always in the mood for serious books that are sometimes too epic for their own good. The writing style and tone of the story are more modern and casual than I expected. I’m just now getting back into reading urban fantasy, and books like this keep me reaching for the genre more often. No Gods, Only Monsters is definitely the type of book you can grab off your shelf for those times when you just want to get lost for a bit.
I do wonder if I am missing out by not having read McHugh’s previous series. Don’t be confused. This is 100% the start of a new series and previous knowledge is not necessary for understanding the plot or characters. But I do think there was a lack of worldbuilding and development, as a whole, which leaves me wondering if it’s more present in The Hellequin Chronicles.
Either way, this was an all-around enjoyable read. You could easily read this in one sitting, as the pacing is fast with an easy-to-follow plot. I look forward to any future installments! I recommend this to anyone who loves books multiple pantheons and fantastical creatures/elements.
Thank you to Escapist Tours and Steve McHugh for the gifted ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Set in the same universe as McHugh’s previous series, The Hellequin Chronicles, No Gods, Only Monsters doesn’t waste any time getting to the thick of the story. For a 250-page book, I was surprised by how much McHugh can pack in without it feeling overwhelming or chaotic. There are werebears (namely Diana), werewolves, minotaurs, alchemists, sorcerers, curses, elemental powers, and the list can go on. It’s a lot, I know, but it is all woven into the story naturally with ease.
I love that this story doesn’t require extensive knowledge of mythology. I read A LOT of books centered around mythology, so it’s nice to read something a little different with other elements thrown in. Plus, it’s just more fun. I’m not always in the mood for serious books that are sometimes too epic for their own good. The writing style and tone of the story are more modern and casual than I expected. I’m just now getting back into reading urban fantasy, and books like this keep me reaching for the genre more often. No Gods, Only Monsters is definitely the type of book you can grab off your shelf for those times when you just want to get lost for a bit.
I do wonder if I am missing out by not having read McHugh’s previous series. Don’t be confused. This is 100% the start of a new series and previous knowledge is not necessary for understanding the plot or characters. But I do think there was a lack of worldbuilding and development, as a whole, which leaves me wondering if it’s more present in The Hellequin Chronicles.
Either way, this was an all-around enjoyable read. You could easily read this in one sitting, as the pacing is fast with an easy-to-follow plot. I look forward to any future installments! I recommend this to anyone who loves books multiple pantheons and fantastical creatures/elements.
Thank you to Escapist Tours and Steve McHugh for the gifted ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 8, 2022
Such an enjoyable, funny book! I will be reading more of Steve's back catalogue!
dnf
August 21, 2022i really don’t care about greek/roman mythology. also it truly feels like i should read a prequel or something.
dnfed at ten percent
dnfed at ten percent
July 17, 2022
If you’ve followed me for a while or know me from discord, you probably know my brain has as many holes as a sieve. I read this book almost two months ago so I don’t remember a lot of details about it. I do remember though that this was the very first time I ever felt such a connection to a character. If you’ve ever been asked the question of which character from a book best describes you and had no answer, then hey. I see you. That has always been me as well. Until this book. Diana really struck a cord with me and I have finally found my answer to this question. I really liked the mythology that this book included and am looking forward to reading more by this author in the future.
May 8, 2022
No Gods, Only Monsters is the second book I’ve read by McHugh – the first being Blackcoat, and both times I’ve been surprised and impressed with just how much he is able to pack into relatively short books. This was a very different book, but that jump into the action with just the right amount of context to know what is happening, before hitting the throttle is still there, as is the care that takes all that is packed into this book and stops it from becoming overwhelming or too chaotic to follow. Instead, it felt like No Gods, Only Monsters had cherry-picked so many elements that I love and wove them into a story that has the air of historical fantasy, but felt fresh, almost modern (without losing that historical weight and feeling) take on mythology and history.
I adore mythology, and it was a delight to see so many elements represented here – seeing Persephone and Hades, which was one of my favourite stories when I was younger was a delight. But, what I like is that there is no need for extensive knowledge of mythology, although it does add another dimension while reading it – but this is where that modern, refreshing feeling comes in because McHugh has taken those ‘classical’ mythology elements and mixed them up with other elements like sorcerers and curses amongst others, as well as looking at the pantheons and their manoeuvring with fresh eyes. It made for a fun and varied reading, and when paired with McHugh’s writing which is so engaging, and when compared with the fast-pacing, means that you are swept up in the story – especially as the characters are written with such heart and personality. Diana really does steal the show, although I had a soft spot for Medusa (and I loved seeing the different portrayal of her here).
Despite the stakes and the fact that people do die – this book felt almost light-hearted? It certainly felt like a much-needed breath of fresh air, and honestly, it was a delight to curl up and read this one in a single session.
Reading this book has confirmed that I really need to sit down and read McHugh’s previous series that shares the same universe, although I should point out that this is the start of a new series and I certainly did not find myself adrift or not following what was happening having come to this one first. Part of it is that I just find myself wanting to read more of McHugh’s writing, as he has a way of crafting entertaining stories that consume you while you are reading them and leave you with the only complaint being that you want more (although as book one in a new series, there is more to come and I can’t wait). The other is that while it is not necessary, I love looking for links and easter eggs in shared universes.
No Gods, Only Monsters was a fantastic read, and I am looking forward to seeing where the series goes – and I will definitely be dipping into McHugh’s other books in the meantime. Perfect for anyone whole loves mythology and books that play around with multiple pantheons, and who wants a book that will sweep them away on a fantastical adventure for an afternoon.
I adore mythology, and it was a delight to see so many elements represented here – seeing Persephone and Hades, which was one of my favourite stories when I was younger was a delight. But, what I like is that there is no need for extensive knowledge of mythology, although it does add another dimension while reading it – but this is where that modern, refreshing feeling comes in because McHugh has taken those ‘classical’ mythology elements and mixed them up with other elements like sorcerers and curses amongst others, as well as looking at the pantheons and their manoeuvring with fresh eyes. It made for a fun and varied reading, and when paired with McHugh’s writing which is so engaging, and when compared with the fast-pacing, means that you are swept up in the story – especially as the characters are written with such heart and personality. Diana really does steal the show, although I had a soft spot for Medusa (and I loved seeing the different portrayal of her here).
Despite the stakes and the fact that people do die – this book felt almost light-hearted? It certainly felt like a much-needed breath of fresh air, and honestly, it was a delight to curl up and read this one in a single session.
Reading this book has confirmed that I really need to sit down and read McHugh’s previous series that shares the same universe, although I should point out that this is the start of a new series and I certainly did not find myself adrift or not following what was happening having come to this one first. Part of it is that I just find myself wanting to read more of McHugh’s writing, as he has a way of crafting entertaining stories that consume you while you are reading them and leave you with the only complaint being that you want more (although as book one in a new series, there is more to come and I can’t wait). The other is that while it is not necessary, I love looking for links and easter eggs in shared universes.
No Gods, Only Monsters was a fantastic read, and I am looking forward to seeing where the series goes – and I will definitely be dipping into McHugh’s other books in the meantime. Perfect for anyone whole loves mythology and books that play around with multiple pantheons, and who wants a book that will sweep them away on a fantastical adventure for an afternoon.
May 4, 2022
Of Gods and Monsters is a novel that I couldn’t put down, and it very much reminds me of a graphic novel in the vein of Marvel, but it has that episodic feeling of American Boys except it’s the Ancient World. And people in the Ancient World had an odd inkling I would say. They worshipped these violent Gods, but at the same time, they were sort of indifferent to them. I think this novel perfectly captures this. But of course, we still do not have the full access or thoughts of what those people really thought, because we’d need a time machine basically.
I loved the character of Diana, who is a Goddess that seems to regret what she becomes, and we get to see a lot of relationships between different pantheons which I LOVE. I am not a fan of the Ancient Gods turning on each other, however, as that is my preference as someone that likes the classical world. This novel has a 21st-century style and approach, taking characters like Medusa and Artemis more human, giving their perspective. And I love Hades in this novel. There’s a reason he was feared. But there’s also a reason why he is not truly evil compared to what his brothers have done.
It feels like a rich exploration of religion and cultures, and I want Diana to go to different realms. There’s so much that could be explored here. I really enjoyed this novel, and it was really good.
I loved the character of Diana, who is a Goddess that seems to regret what she becomes, and we get to see a lot of relationships between different pantheons which I LOVE. I am not a fan of the Ancient Gods turning on each other, however, as that is my preference as someone that likes the classical world. This novel has a 21st-century style and approach, taking characters like Medusa and Artemis more human, giving their perspective. And I love Hades in this novel. There’s a reason he was feared. But there’s also a reason why he is not truly evil compared to what his brothers have done.
It feels like a rich exploration of religion and cultures, and I want Diana to go to different realms. There’s so much that could be explored here. I really enjoyed this novel, and it was really good.
April 30, 2022
A fast-paced plot brimming with mythological figures and creatures, No Gods, Only Monsters is an enjoyable fantasy read that readers can enjoy in one sitting.
It followed Diana, the Roman Goddess of the hunt, whose reclusive life was interrupted when her old friend, Artemis, sought her help. They must investigate who was behind the turmoils on which innocent lives were caught in the crossfire. Plotwise, it was both easy to follow and intriguing because the myths that I knew were given plausible twists and turns, so it was nice to see them in a different view. Also, having vast knowledge of mythology was not required to fully enjoy the story. There were lots of fighting scenes that were brutal and bloody.
The characters were likeable as well. Diana had enough layers and background that made it easy to connect to her.
Maybe because I still haven't read The Hellequin Chronicles yet, I still had not a clear grasp of the world-building. However, it's only a minor issue on my part. On the other hand, the writing style was accessible and casual.
Overall, No Gods, Only Monsters is an action-packed novel that was truly gratifying. I'm looking forward to the next book.
4/5 stars!
A big thanks to Escapist Book Tours for the galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
It followed Diana, the Roman Goddess of the hunt, whose reclusive life was interrupted when her old friend, Artemis, sought her help. They must investigate who was behind the turmoils on which innocent lives were caught in the crossfire. Plotwise, it was both easy to follow and intriguing because the myths that I knew were given plausible twists and turns, so it was nice to see them in a different view. Also, having vast knowledge of mythology was not required to fully enjoy the story. There were lots of fighting scenes that were brutal and bloody.
The characters were likeable as well. Diana had enough layers and background that made it easy to connect to her.
Maybe because I still haven't read The Hellequin Chronicles yet, I still had not a clear grasp of the world-building. However, it's only a minor issue on my part. On the other hand, the writing style was accessible and casual.
Overall, No Gods, Only Monsters is an action-packed novel that was truly gratifying. I'm looking forward to the next book.
4/5 stars!
A big thanks to Escapist Book Tours for the galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 2, 2022
Awesome as always
Loved reading about Diana, she is such a cool character great know more about her and her first meeting with Medusa.
Loved reading about Diana, she is such a cool character great know more about her and her first meeting with Medusa.
July 18, 2023
This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: No Gods, Only Monsters
Thank you to Escapist Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!
Diana has left her days of being a Roman Goddess behind. Alone in the woods, no one bothers her and she is quite content to drink her problems away. Until the goddess, Artemis knocks on her door asking for help. The Pantheon of Gods has never been trustworthy, but now Artemis believes they may be involved in something sinister. To save the lives of innocents Diana must confront her old life, her old guilt, and try not to lose herself to the beast living inside her body.
There is so much world-building packed into No Gods, Only Monsters. Not only are there different branches of mythology involved, but also a wide variety of fantasy races such as dwarves, elementals, and were-creatures. Then add to all of these characters a dash of magic and the historical aspects of Rome’s rise to power. Despite the variety of cultures and myths coming together, there is never any confusion or dissonance in the plot. It is all carefully woven together into a fast-paced and exciting book.
Diana is quite the character to follow. Being part werebear, she has a beast inside of her that is always testing her resolve. And while Diana is a skilled fighter, there are moments when she needs to let the beast free. But the question is, who will remain in control, Diana or the bear? Each battle Diana became involved in was intense, not only in the sheer brutality that could be brought to the fight but by the ongoing battle inside Diana at the same time.
But it isn’t just the werebear side of Diana that makes her so intriguing. As the story unfolds, there are hints dropped along the way precluding a past Diana would rather forget. But it is clear in her drinking habits and reactions to others that the past weighs heavily on her shoulders. And bit by bit as the plot progresses, Diana relives memories of her worst moments. Readers will discover the complexities that makeup Diana’s character, and become all the more involved in the story because of them.
No Gods, Only Monsters was a wonderful blend of fantasy and history. If you enjoy new twists on mythology, or just want a good action-packed read, this is the book for you. I’m certainly looking forward to book two!
Thank you to Escapist Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!
Diana has left her days of being a Roman Goddess behind. Alone in the woods, no one bothers her and she is quite content to drink her problems away. Until the goddess, Artemis knocks on her door asking for help. The Pantheon of Gods has never been trustworthy, but now Artemis believes they may be involved in something sinister. To save the lives of innocents Diana must confront her old life, her old guilt, and try not to lose herself to the beast living inside her body.
There is so much world-building packed into No Gods, Only Monsters. Not only are there different branches of mythology involved, but also a wide variety of fantasy races such as dwarves, elementals, and were-creatures. Then add to all of these characters a dash of magic and the historical aspects of Rome’s rise to power. Despite the variety of cultures and myths coming together, there is never any confusion or dissonance in the plot. It is all carefully woven together into a fast-paced and exciting book.
Diana is quite the character to follow. Being part werebear, she has a beast inside of her that is always testing her resolve. And while Diana is a skilled fighter, there are moments when she needs to let the beast free. But the question is, who will remain in control, Diana or the bear? Each battle Diana became involved in was intense, not only in the sheer brutality that could be brought to the fight but by the ongoing battle inside Diana at the same time.
But it isn’t just the werebear side of Diana that makes her so intriguing. As the story unfolds, there are hints dropped along the way precluding a past Diana would rather forget. But it is clear in her drinking habits and reactions to others that the past weighs heavily on her shoulders. And bit by bit as the plot progresses, Diana relives memories of her worst moments. Readers will discover the complexities that makeup Diana’s character, and become all the more involved in the story because of them.
No Gods, Only Monsters was a wonderful blend of fantasy and history. If you enjoy new twists on mythology, or just want a good action-packed read, this is the book for you. I’m certainly looking forward to book two!
May 2, 2022
Big thank you to Escapist Book Tours & Steve McHugh for the ARC copy to review and letting me be apart of the blog tour!
When I first read the blurb for No Gods, Only Monsters I was really excited to pick it up. Over the past few years there’s been an influx in games, TV, movies and books featuring stories inspired by the Greek Pantheon, with my favourites being Hades game, Immortals: Fenyx Rising and of course, The Song of Achilles. As this book features an MC from the Roman Pantheon, I thought it would be interesting to she how she would react and engage with some of the most iconic members of the Greek Pantheon – Artemis, Ares, Hades and Poseidon to just name a few.
From the start it quickly becomes clear that No Gods, Only Monsters doesn’t only feature Roman and Greek mythos but many more mythologies and fantasy staples. The Romans, Greeks, Norse, Dwarves, Elves and werewolves; they’re all here. The mixing of all these different mythologies created a very real and believable fantasy world with an urban edge, were you can imagine Gods walking among us.
I found the initial plot hook really engaging. Not long after we meet Diana she’s approached by Artemis and a Dwarf named Skost asking her to leave her quiet life of isolation to help with their mission. Without proper time to explain everything she is ambushed by a group of warriors who transform into gruesome monsters as they have been infected with Harpy-blood. INTEREST PEAKED. From there the plot spirals into a fast-paced adventure with plenty of combat, twists, betrayals and just a hint of a blossoming romance.
I really enjoyed Diana’s commentary on the Greek Pantheon in particular, which was usually her distain for them, their actions and arrogance. I do wish we could’ve spent some more time with the various icons of mythology in this book and see them develop and interact with each other a little more. Some of the dialog I found to be lacking some depth and being pretty predictable at times. I think my favourite character was Medusa, her story is so heartbreaking but she ended up being a wonderful character. I really enjoyed Persephone and Hades too. The Greek Gods being terrified of Hades was pretty cool to see as he’s isn’t usually seen as a formidable foe in other mythos-inspired stories.
Overall, I did like No Gods, Only Monsters but just wanted more from it. I am still interested in the series as some powerful Gods were still in play at the end of the book so it’ll be interesting to see where Diana’s story goes from here.
When I first read the blurb for No Gods, Only Monsters I was really excited to pick it up. Over the past few years there’s been an influx in games, TV, movies and books featuring stories inspired by the Greek Pantheon, with my favourites being Hades game, Immortals: Fenyx Rising and of course, The Song of Achilles. As this book features an MC from the Roman Pantheon, I thought it would be interesting to she how she would react and engage with some of the most iconic members of the Greek Pantheon – Artemis, Ares, Hades and Poseidon to just name a few.
From the start it quickly becomes clear that No Gods, Only Monsters doesn’t only feature Roman and Greek mythos but many more mythologies and fantasy staples. The Romans, Greeks, Norse, Dwarves, Elves and werewolves; they’re all here. The mixing of all these different mythologies created a very real and believable fantasy world with an urban edge, were you can imagine Gods walking among us.
I found the initial plot hook really engaging. Not long after we meet Diana she’s approached by Artemis and a Dwarf named Skost asking her to leave her quiet life of isolation to help with their mission. Without proper time to explain everything she is ambushed by a group of warriors who transform into gruesome monsters as they have been infected with Harpy-blood. INTEREST PEAKED. From there the plot spirals into a fast-paced adventure with plenty of combat, twists, betrayals and just a hint of a blossoming romance.
I really enjoyed Diana’s commentary on the Greek Pantheon in particular, which was usually her distain for them, their actions and arrogance. I do wish we could’ve spent some more time with the various icons of mythology in this book and see them develop and interact with each other a little more. Some of the dialog I found to be lacking some depth and being pretty predictable at times. I think my favourite character was Medusa, her story is so heartbreaking but she ended up being a wonderful character. I really enjoyed Persephone and Hades too. The Greek Gods being terrified of Hades was pretty cool to see as he’s isn’t usually seen as a formidable foe in other mythos-inspired stories.
Overall, I did like No Gods, Only Monsters but just wanted more from it. I am still interested in the series as some powerful Gods were still in play at the end of the book so it’ll be interesting to see where Diana’s story goes from here.
May 25, 2022
Diana, Roman Goddess of the hunt is called to help out an old goddess friend (you know how they do) for the greater good. But Diana's past is haunting her. It's hard yo be the hero when the biggest obstacle you may face is yourself.
No Gods, Only Monsters is the second book I have read by McHugh (the first being Blackcoat which I also recommend) when I saw he entered it into the SPFBO8 contest, I had to pick it up.
This novel is action packed and played like a cinematic production in my head as I read. The battle/ fight scenes I would liken to Wonderwoman, or something in the DC universe of movies, but with more blood. I freaking loved it. I liked that the duration of these scenes were what one might expect from Gods, the calibre of Diana and Artemis and not unnecessarily drawn out.
This had names anyone interested in mythology knows well but with a spin on a few narratives and characters which I enjoyed. Some plot points were a little predictable but this didn't affect my enjoyment in any way.
McHugh has a knack at writing powerful and strong women with their own agency, and characters you want to get behind. I found the characters to each have their flaws and appreciated that their actions and character painted the picture of who they were and not their looks. Am I saying this because McHugh is a male? Not at all friend. I mention it because I have read a lot of fantasy in general that has paragraphs full of descriptions. For me personally, I highlight it once and move on. Also, we've all seen various depictions of each of these characters so I like the choice McHugh made of using character and strengths above hair and eye colour in detail.
The found family troupe is my favourite of all troupes and there was that in abundance here with a side of a potential sapphic romance which I am totally here for.
LGBTQIA+ positive? - Yes please
Disability rep where the disability isn't an obstacle for the character to overcome, it just is? - Heck Yes!!
This was such a fun ride and I've added the original Hallequin Series to my tbr get more of this world and the different realms.
No Gods, Only Monsters is the second book I have read by McHugh (the first being Blackcoat which I also recommend) when I saw he entered it into the SPFBO8 contest, I had to pick it up.
This novel is action packed and played like a cinematic production in my head as I read. The battle/ fight scenes I would liken to Wonderwoman, or something in the DC universe of movies, but with more blood. I freaking loved it. I liked that the duration of these scenes were what one might expect from Gods, the calibre of Diana and Artemis and not unnecessarily drawn out.
This had names anyone interested in mythology knows well but with a spin on a few narratives and characters which I enjoyed. Some plot points were a little predictable but this didn't affect my enjoyment in any way.
McHugh has a knack at writing powerful and strong women with their own agency, and characters you want to get behind. I found the characters to each have their flaws and appreciated that their actions and character painted the picture of who they were and not their looks. Am I saying this because McHugh is a male? Not at all friend. I mention it because I have read a lot of fantasy in general that has paragraphs full of descriptions. For me personally, I highlight it once and move on. Also, we've all seen various depictions of each of these characters so I like the choice McHugh made of using character and strengths above hair and eye colour in detail.
The found family troupe is my favourite of all troupes and there was that in abundance here with a side of a potential sapphic romance which I am totally here for.
LGBTQIA+ positive? - Yes please
Disability rep where the disability isn't an obstacle for the character to overcome, it just is? - Heck Yes!!
This was such a fun ride and I've added the original Hallequin Series to my tbr get more of this world and the different realms.
May 7, 2022
3.5 stars
I received a copy of this book to take part in the blog tour hosted for it, in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first book by this author, but I can say that this won’t be the last one! I was quite curious, and a tad scared by this book, because the plot, even if really short, sounded interesting, but I am in a complicated relationship with Gods and Pantheons. Once upon a time, I loved all things mythology-related, but now… not so much. Sometimes I love books with mythology in them, and sometimes they are a complete miss for me. But Diana is such an interesting Goddes, and little considered by the literary universe, especially in modern retellings. So the curiosity won. And I am really really glad to have taken the risk, and asked to be part of this blog tour!
The book is fast-paced and action-packed. It not boring at all, and it would take you on a fascinating trip to meet some really interesting characters. Diana is a good MC, but the story really starts to shine when we get to know better Skost, the dwarf, and when we finally meet Medusa. I think she was my favorite in there. The take on her character was pretty unique, and I appreciated it a lot. Also, she can turn people into stone. Cool! And we have an interesting pack of villains.
But the best thing, at least for me, was the author’s take on the Gods, and on the Pantheons. I like that we don’t have only one. It is a thing that I usually love when we get to mix and match different folklore and pantheons and such. And this book was no exception. Sure, this one is pretty centered on one of them, but there is mention of the others, and there is hope that we get to see more of them or to see them interact with each other in the next books. Or at least, I really really hope so!
The writing is smooth and as a whole the book is pretty… casual, I dare say, and we get some emotional moments too, so it is not purely an action book, but I think that this is, overall, an action book. There are other things in there, sure, but this is the core of all, and even if it is a tad different from my usual read, it was an interesting and captivating one. I devoured this book, and if you are in for something deeply engaging, and fast you are in for a treat!
I received a copy of this book to take part in the blog tour hosted for it, in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first book by this author, but I can say that this won’t be the last one! I was quite curious, and a tad scared by this book, because the plot, even if really short, sounded interesting, but I am in a complicated relationship with Gods and Pantheons. Once upon a time, I loved all things mythology-related, but now… not so much. Sometimes I love books with mythology in them, and sometimes they are a complete miss for me. But Diana is such an interesting Goddes, and little considered by the literary universe, especially in modern retellings. So the curiosity won. And I am really really glad to have taken the risk, and asked to be part of this blog tour!
The book is fast-paced and action-packed. It not boring at all, and it would take you on a fascinating trip to meet some really interesting characters. Diana is a good MC, but the story really starts to shine when we get to know better Skost, the dwarf, and when we finally meet Medusa. I think she was my favorite in there. The take on her character was pretty unique, and I appreciated it a lot. Also, she can turn people into stone. Cool! And we have an interesting pack of villains.
But the best thing, at least for me, was the author’s take on the Gods, and on the Pantheons. I like that we don’t have only one. It is a thing that I usually love when we get to mix and match different folklore and pantheons and such. And this book was no exception. Sure, this one is pretty centered on one of them, but there is mention of the others, and there is hope that we get to see more of them or to see them interact with each other in the next books. Or at least, I really really hope so!
The writing is smooth and as a whole the book is pretty… casual, I dare say, and we get some emotional moments too, so it is not purely an action book, but I think that this is, overall, an action book. There are other things in there, sure, but this is the core of all, and even if it is a tad different from my usual read, it was an interesting and captivating one. I devoured this book, and if you are in for something deeply engaging, and fast you are in for a treat!
May 4, 2022
The story begins with us meeting our main character ’Diana’ whose evening of drinking is rudely interrupted by ‘Artemis’ who has tracked her down and is in need of help. A funny little Norse dwarf also shows up and turns out to be Artemis’ companion - which I found quite amusing - Despite this only being the start of the story I knew I was going to get on with these characters.
I felt the story moved along nicely and enjoyed the way the characters were written and how they communicated with each other.
There is a lot of fighting, magic and character development. Each character is easy to tell apart and I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the world they were inhabiting. I love it when books have a badass female lead and that’s exactly what I got here!
This was a great series starter and I am looking forward to reading the second instalment!
A solid 4 stars.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
I would like to thank the author for sending me a review copy of this book.
I felt the story moved along nicely and enjoyed the way the characters were written and how they communicated with each other.
There is a lot of fighting, magic and character development. Each character is easy to tell apart and I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the world they were inhabiting. I love it when books have a badass female lead and that’s exactly what I got here!
This was a great series starter and I am looking forward to reading the second instalment!
A solid 4 stars.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
I would like to thank the author for sending me a review copy of this book.
May 4, 2022
What a fun combination of mythologies! The book’s set during the Roman empire, but the focus is on the “magical” shenanigans happening behind the scenes with spins from various pantheons. Couldn’t have had a better combo than an immortal huntress worshipped as a goddess, the goddess Artemis of Greek myth fame, and a Norse dwarf. I liked how Diana and Artemis are different people, and while the fights got gory at times, it’s fun how stuff from the myths were incorporated into them. Like rune-inscribed weapons and armor, and the Gorgon thing.
It’s an easy read, so I got through it pretty fast. I was initially confused by the setting and world since it’s not quite the standard tone for historical fantasy – or at least the ones I’ve read – and feels more fantasy than anything. But I enjoyed it nonetheless.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING: Huntress by Elephant Music
It’s an easy read, so I got through it pretty fast. I was initially confused by the setting and world since it’s not quite the standard tone for historical fantasy – or at least the ones I’ve read – and feels more fantasy than anything. But I enjoyed it nonetheless.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING: Huntress by Elephant Music
May 4, 2022
Another amazing book by Steve mchugh
There nothing to dislike in this book, steve mchugh is an awesome author, and this book does his work justice, from start to finish its full of an amazing story about Diana and some of the crew from the helliquin chronicles, it's full of great fight scenes and laughter too, I fully recommend it to any one that loves his work and I will do so with pleasure, can't wait to read the next one's when they come out.
There nothing to dislike in this book, steve mchugh is an awesome author, and this book does his work justice, from start to finish its full of an amazing story about Diana and some of the crew from the helliquin chronicles, it's full of great fight scenes and laughter too, I fully recommend it to any one that loves his work and I will do so with pleasure, can't wait to read the next one's when they come out.
May 14, 2022
Another wonderful novel by Steve McHugh featuring Diana, the Roman god of the hunt.
When it starts she's in a bad place, alone, drinking to try and forget some mistakes in her past.
She's recruited to help retrieve and save some missing minotaurs. But gods, for the most part are a duplicitous bunch and Diana will have to deal with some.
While set in the same world as the Hellequin novels, it's quite earlier in the timeline so easily can be read as a standalone.
When it starts she's in a bad place, alone, drinking to try and forget some mistakes in her past.
She's recruited to help retrieve and save some missing minotaurs. But gods, for the most part are a duplicitous bunch and Diana will have to deal with some.
While set in the same world as the Hellequin novels, it's quite earlier in the timeline so easily can be read as a standalone.
July 4, 2022
First venture into this world and author. Absoutley loved the world building but the book just missed that extra push I need with characters
I enjoyed learning about Diana and her past, but didn't particularly care for anyone else.
I also wish the book was actually longer to give the opportunity to build that character depth and give me more detail and twists and turns in the plot.
The book did however have great action sequences and this did feel like a marvel graphic novel turned into a shortish story.
World building 8/10
Characters 6/10
Prose and style 7/10
Plot 7/10
Entertainment value 6/10
34/50
I enjoyed learning about Diana and her past, but didn't particularly care for anyone else.
I also wish the book was actually longer to give the opportunity to build that character depth and give me more detail and twists and turns in the plot.
The book did however have great action sequences and this did feel like a marvel graphic novel turned into a shortish story.
World building 8/10
Characters 6/10
Prose and style 7/10
Plot 7/10
Entertainment value 6/10
34/50
May 2, 2022
Fabulous Read.
Thank you for letting us know more about Diana, I’ve always found you write wonderful strong women, never perfect, all a little flawed but each strong, independent and kickass. I appreciate that as a strong, independent, slightly flawed female.
Keep them coming. (Please!)
I love your male characters too, btw , especially the Fox and the Wolf and Nate and Mordred ……Oh I love them all. xx
Thank you for letting us know more about Diana, I’ve always found you write wonderful strong women, never perfect, all a little flawed but each strong, independent and kickass. I appreciate that as a strong, independent, slightly flawed female.
Keep them coming. (Please!)
I love your male characters too, btw , especially the Fox and the Wolf and Nate and Mordred ……Oh I love them all. xx
May 3, 2022
Welcome to the past
Set in the Hellequin universe, this is an older tale of Diana, Artemis, Medusa and other recognizable beings of power. While set in the past, modern vernacular with Roman tidbits actually makes the story fun to read. This book would also serve well as an introduction for new readers to this unique universe. The fight scenes are well crafted and there is just enough sorcery and plots and monsters to make the story flow. A very worthwhile read.
Set in the Hellequin universe, this is an older tale of Diana, Artemis, Medusa and other recognizable beings of power. While set in the past, modern vernacular with Roman tidbits actually makes the story fun to read. This book would also serve well as an introduction for new readers to this unique universe. The fight scenes are well crafted and there is just enough sorcery and plots and monsters to make the story flow. A very worthwhile read.
July 1, 2025
Not the strongest showing for the author. I kept getting lost in the timeline as they use current words to explain historic events which feels like a sloppy bit of writing since it wasn't an issue in past books.
The story is okay but doesn't feel much of an expansion on things we have already heard these characters talk about.
The story is okay but doesn't feel much of an expansion on things we have already heard these characters talk about.
May 6, 2022
I’m so happy to be able to review another book in The Hellequin Universe by Steve McHugh, with the publication of another new series The Antiquity Chronicles, starting with No Gods, Only Monsters. This is my favourite book universe with some of my favourite characters and stories, hands down. If you’ve read any of my previous reviews you’ll know that Steve McHugh quickly became my favourite author when I found the first book in The Avalon Chronicles, A Glimmer of Hope, on Amazon First Reads back in July 2018. As it turned out I’d missed an entire series that came before, The Hellequin Chronicles, and I was happy to find that I’d bought the first book, Crimes Against Magic at some point in the past but never managed to get through my TBR pile! It was instant love. The universe became my favourite place to retreat to, and I’ve read all the books in the 3 existing complete series (The Hellequin Chronicles, The Avalon Chronicles and The Rebellion Chronicles) countless times now, and it still feels as exciting and fun as it did when I first read them.
Now, onto No Gods, Only Monsters. Unlike the main novels in The Hellequin Universe which are urban fantasy, this one is historical fantasy, although I was glad to find it was still as fun to read as the others. I’m not a huge historical fantasy fan, despite studying history at uni, but this was immediately a ‘McHugh’ book and I slid straight back into the universe without a hitch. This book is about one of the best, and somewhat enigmatic characters from The Hellequin Universe, Diana. Diana was once a god in the Roman Pantheon and we finally find out why the past tense. I won’t spoil any of the story, because I don’t want to ruin it for people, but we find out a little more about Diana’s past and about a dark time that’s she working through. In the other books Diana is always the calming presence, she’s solid and strong, dependable and wise so it’s nice, if a little unsettling, to read about a time before that, and learn a little about who she was as a god. There are other familiar characters here, and one that I’m really hoping to get to know more, Medusa. I’ve been fascinated by Greek myth, and especially Gorgons, since I was a kid, and studied Classics for a while, so I love reading people’s interpretation of Medusa and her story. It’s also nice to see the beginnings of a love story bloom that we learn about in the books set in the modern era.
McHugh’s strength as a writer is his ability to craft characters that you immediately ’get’, if that makes any sense to anyone other than me - don’t worry if it doesn’t, my brain is a wonderland of mayhem! He creates good guys you can root for, who are also kick ass AF, and bad guys you love to hate (and love to finally read their demise!), but he also beautifully crafts ambiguous characters, those whose intentions aren’t fully known until later in the story. None of his characters are boring, that’s for sure! Another strength is his true equality of description. He doesn’t linger upon appearances, he doesn’t sexualise all his female characters, he doesn’t fetishise certain relationships. Even his monsters aren’t described as basically ‘ewww gross’, nor are any different species.
The really good news, for anyone wanting to pick the story up here without reading the other series, is that you don’t need to know anything about the previous story or universe as this is, technically I suppose, a prequel. You can jump straight into this book and read it and you wouldn’t be lost. It would be a shame to miss the others, but if you’re anything like me or the people I’ve introduced to the series, you’ll desperately want to read more of McHugh’s work. Obviously, without the prior knowledge you will miss the little nods to the series, but it won’t hinder your enjoyment at all.
I hope that the series goes on to cover more and more characters and their backstories because I’m fascinated by a lot of them and always want more from this universe. I especially want more from the main protagonist of The Hellequin Chronicles, Nate Garrett, who I’m told will be back at some point, so I’m ecstatic about that!
Once again, another great book and a fun read from Steve McHugh. Keep em coming and I’ll keep reviewing them and recommending them Mr McHugh!
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the book and the other series!
Reviewed on Merlin’s Cove at merlinscove.blogspot.com
Now, onto No Gods, Only Monsters. Unlike the main novels in The Hellequin Universe which are urban fantasy, this one is historical fantasy, although I was glad to find it was still as fun to read as the others. I’m not a huge historical fantasy fan, despite studying history at uni, but this was immediately a ‘McHugh’ book and I slid straight back into the universe without a hitch. This book is about one of the best, and somewhat enigmatic characters from The Hellequin Universe, Diana. Diana was once a god in the Roman Pantheon and we finally find out why the past tense. I won’t spoil any of the story, because I don’t want to ruin it for people, but we find out a little more about Diana’s past and about a dark time that’s she working through. In the other books Diana is always the calming presence, she’s solid and strong, dependable and wise so it’s nice, if a little unsettling, to read about a time before that, and learn a little about who she was as a god. There are other familiar characters here, and one that I’m really hoping to get to know more, Medusa. I’ve been fascinated by Greek myth, and especially Gorgons, since I was a kid, and studied Classics for a while, so I love reading people’s interpretation of Medusa and her story. It’s also nice to see the beginnings of a love story bloom that we learn about in the books set in the modern era.
McHugh’s strength as a writer is his ability to craft characters that you immediately ’get’, if that makes any sense to anyone other than me - don’t worry if it doesn’t, my brain is a wonderland of mayhem! He creates good guys you can root for, who are also kick ass AF, and bad guys you love to hate (and love to finally read their demise!), but he also beautifully crafts ambiguous characters, those whose intentions aren’t fully known until later in the story. None of his characters are boring, that’s for sure! Another strength is his true equality of description. He doesn’t linger upon appearances, he doesn’t sexualise all his female characters, he doesn’t fetishise certain relationships. Even his monsters aren’t described as basically ‘ewww gross’, nor are any different species.
The really good news, for anyone wanting to pick the story up here without reading the other series, is that you don’t need to know anything about the previous story or universe as this is, technically I suppose, a prequel. You can jump straight into this book and read it and you wouldn’t be lost. It would be a shame to miss the others, but if you’re anything like me or the people I’ve introduced to the series, you’ll desperately want to read more of McHugh’s work. Obviously, without the prior knowledge you will miss the little nods to the series, but it won’t hinder your enjoyment at all.
I hope that the series goes on to cover more and more characters and their backstories because I’m fascinated by a lot of them and always want more from this universe. I especially want more from the main protagonist of The Hellequin Chronicles, Nate Garrett, who I’m told will be back at some point, so I’m ecstatic about that!
Once again, another great book and a fun read from Steve McHugh. Keep em coming and I’ll keep reviewing them and recommending them Mr McHugh!
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the book and the other series!
Reviewed on Merlin’s Cove at merlinscove.blogspot.com
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