Title: Godsgrave
Author: Jay Kristoff
Series: The Nevernight Chronicle, book 2
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Warm
Page Count and Format: 421 pages, Hardcover
Published: September 7th, 2017 by Harper Voyager UK
Source: Purchased
My Rating:
Blurb (from Goodreads):
A ruthless young assassin continues her journey for revenge in this new epic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff.
Mia Corvere has found her place among the Blades of Our Lady of Blessed Murder, but many in the Red Church hierarchy think she’s far from earned it. Plying her bloody trade in a backwater of the Republic, she’s no closer to ending the men who destroyed her familia; in fact, she’s told directly that Consul Scaeva is off limits. But after a deadly confrontation with an old enemy, Mia suspicions about the Red Church’s true motives begin to grow.
When it’s announced that Scaeva will be making a rare public appearance at the conclusion of the grand games in Godsgrave, Mia defies the Church and sells herself to a gladiatorial collegium for a chance to finally end him. Upon the sands of the arena, Mia finds new allies, bitter rivals, and more questions about her strange affinity for the shadows. But as conspiracies unfold within the collegium walls, and the body count rises, Mia will be forced to choose between love and revenge, and uncover a secret that could change the very face of her world.
If you thought Nevernight was a torturous read, wait until you’ve read Godgrave because the wait for the next book is literally unbearable…
“If Vengeance has a mother, her name is Patience.”
HOLY GUACAMOLEYYY!! This book simply took everything to a different level. I expected that, but not thaaaat much. I remember falling into a slump after finishing Nevernight because no other book was living up to my expectations after reading that one and the experience was quite similar to this book too (fortunately, I’m out of the slump now…). I also feel like it’s best to go into this book without knowing anything, even the blurb for the best reading experience.
After everything went down in the previous book, Mia is finally working for the Red Church but when she comes face to face with an old enemy, her perception towards the Red Church begins to sway and when the actual truth comes out, the line between right and wrong begin to blur. Not there was anything, to begin with, but now it’s up to Mia to decide where she wants her final destiny to be.
Interesting writing style!
In Nevernight, the writing style felt a little way too much in the beginning but I didn’t feel like that for a second while reading Godsgrave, I was hooked from the very first page and the jumping between the past and the present was actually quite fun, I usually don’t like when that happens but that very fact made things much more interesting in this book.
An Intense Plot!
The plot was bloody awesome! And intense! How does Kristoff do that? Everything was a bloody mess but it was amazing at the same time. It was really hard to put this book down, I just wanted to leave everything and read this book for the whole day! Okay, so in Nevernight, we saw Mia entering the Red Church as a student and now in Godsgrave, she is a full-fledged blade, who still wants revenge for her family despite the warnings from her masters. But as the book proceeded, things became just so much more than just revenge. But this book was sooo bloody, oh so bloody and dark. Oh, oh and I also missed Mister Kindly soooo freaking much. Also, wolfie was a nice addition, the constant bickering of those two provided the necessary relief and it was quite humorous and funny at times.
Character growth!
We are introduced to a lot of new characters in this book as Mia takes on a new journey and becomes a gladiator. I loved Mia’s character growth as a person in this book. She was a closed-off character in the first book and here we get to see a whole new side of Mia, she also discovers her sexual orientation in this book and I definitely enjoyed how everything was executed. It’s so hard to review this book without spoiling anything. So. Freaking. Hard. People.
Mia closed her eyes.
Raised her blade.
‘O, Mother, blackest Mother, what have I become?’
Anyway, I freaking loved the new characters and the relationship Mia shared with them. It was amazing but heartbreaking at the same time. Jay Kristoff is cruel, people. And that’s not a fact but a reality. How am I supposed to live until the next book?
Plot-twist that’ll ruin your life! (if you still have any after finishing this book…)
And the FREAKING PLOT TWIST!! Who does that!!! My goodness, there are some plot twists you are amazed at and some are too much to handle. Combine those two! That’s exactly how I felt after turning the last page. 2 major plot twists and I have no freaking idea what’s going to happen next. I had 1% hunch about the 2nd twist but the 1st one was out of completely nowhere. It smacked me right in the goddam face!! I mean, it completely changed the whole game dude!
I have to stop now otherwise my rambling will never end!!
Overall,
Godsgrave was an amazing, heart-pounding read. This was a fast-paced read and I enjoyed every moment of it. Also, this book was more dark and intense than the first book, so brace yourself guys! This series is absolutely perfect for fantasy and action lovers!
Congratulations if you have made it to the end of my endless screaming, screechingly fangirling review where I simultaneously want to hug the book and throw it at the wall.
*SPOILER* Who the freaking saw that coming at the end???? The one she hated the most and now she shares blood relation with him? LIKE SERIOUSLY???!!! Alsoooo, I loved the romance between Mia and the Ashlinn though she did the one thing I hated the most in the previous book but THAT ENDING people!! That bloody freaking ending!! *END OF SPOILER*
Recommend it?
Jinjja! Do I still need to say that?!
So guys, what are your thoughts on this book? Did you love it or did it felt flat for you? Or are you still waiting to read this book?
Also, if you want to discuss spoilers in the comments, please write spoilers before you state your thoughts. 🙂
Reblogged this on The Biblioanthropologist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
AH THIS BOOK! reading your review just made me re- live it over again, THE ACTION AND PACE AND WRITING SKILL HOLY HECK ITS GOOD! I love Mia, I love her character growth and OMG at the ending?! Kristoff is mean but I love it so much and I’m so hyped for the final book, I’m prepared to cry my eyes out, I’m ready, just let me have it already XD. Awesome review for an awesome book ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true!!! AAAAAGHHH! I can’t wait for it, it sure is going to be EPIC!!!
Thanks! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh gosh this sounds so so good!! I’m still yet to read the first one- I’m really looking forward to it though- especially knowing the sequel is so epic!! Great review 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thaaanks! I hope you love it as much as I did! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I see a lot about this series… I’ll need to slot it in my lineup next year! It sounds so good… though I wonder if assasin MCs are a little like zombies… overplayed now?! I’m anycase that is the only thing giv8ng me pause! ♥️ The best most excited review Poulami!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no, Mia is nothing like a zombie, she is a kickass assassin and I have lost the body count in this book! You have to read this series asap!!!!
Thanks Dani!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here I go: the comment on the right post…at last! I really, really, really do need to read this series Poulami. Just maybe wait for the last book to be out? LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe you should wait and start the series a few weeks before book 3 comes out because the wait for it is pure torture!!!
I should have done that too but I couldn’t resist!
LikeLike
*SPOILER* I’m so glad you loved it as much as I did! It totally blew my mind away. That bloody freaking twist at the end really made me quite happy! I expected his re-appearance to be pretty much badass but damn that was pretty awesome. I never saw that coming! I’m hoping there’s going to be a triangle in the next book. I wonder whom she chooses at the end. I’m so so excited for the next book. Wonderful review! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeeeeeah!! That was completely unexpected like that.
Me too. Thanks Raven!! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read the spoiler, nooooo. i pray i forget it, when I read the books. Awesome review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Didn’t you notice I stated spoiler beforehand. 😦 Or do you have the same tendency as me to peak more so if spoiler is written? XD
Anyway, hope for that. And thanks!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fast-paced, good and strong development of characters ?! These are like THE KEY SUCCESS FOR A SEQUEL ! 😀 I always love it when I can’t predict what’s going to happen, like putting some twists in there especially in a fantasy YA novel is so hard. Since all the authors have AT LEAST exploited one idea or another already. Great review love ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
This book is definitely one of the most satisfying sequel I’ve ever read in my entire life!!
Thanks Trang. ❤
LikeLike