Review by Ronny
Series Name: The Crucible, # 2
The Things Gods Break is another addictive and thrilling story by the talented Abigail Owen.
Favourite Quote:
Fuck the universe. I knew it hated me. I just didn’t think it would be this petty.
Book Synopsis:
The gods want her dead…Hades will bury them.
You’d think I’d have learned by now:
Don’t mouth off to deities.
Don’t fall for the King of the Underworld.
And definitely don’t get dragged into a divine death match where I’m the cursed mortal prize.
But here I am―trapped in Tartarus, humanity’s worst pit stop, squaring off against monsters who make the gods look merciful. Titans, twisted by centuries of rage and ruin, are sealed behind seven ancient locks.
And guess what?
I’m the key.
To escape, I’ll have to survive every horrifying trial they throw at me.
To win, I might have to become something the gods never saw coming.
Oh, and Hades?
He’s about to break every rule the gods ever wrote.
Because to save me…the god of death will burn the world.
But if I break free? So do the Titans.
And the world won’t just suffer―it’ll beg for the end.
Review:
Wow, this book blew my bookworm socks right off! First of all, this review will be vague in some areas to avoid spoilers. But man, does this book go in a direction I wasn’t expecting. It’s not too often that I am surprised, but this book surprised me, in the best possible way. For those who have read the first book in the series, you know it ended on quite a cliff-hanger. This book picks up seconds after the second book ends, with Lyra and Boone now trapped in Tartarus with the Titans. Now, this is where I am going to have to be vague: the story doesn’t unfold the way you might assume it would. That saying, “things are never as they appear,” describes this story perfectly. Abigail took those traditional myths, gods, and Titans, and she made them her own. I loved the unique spin this book took; it really came out of nowhere and had me on the edge of my seat. The direction Abigail took made the story mind-bogglingly complex. I personally don’t know how she manages to keep everything organized, because every decision, action, and event happens for a reason. As the story progresses, you begin to realize why things have unfolded the way that they have. I adore it when a story has this complex reveal that has you speechless and excited at the same time. The ending is also great and ends on an unexpected cliffhanger. Overall, this book was perfection from beginning to end.
We get to spend time in both Lyra and Hades POVs, which was great. I loved being in Hades’ head because he was such a mystery in the first book, and it was great getting to see what was going on in that big, broody head. Both of their characters continue to grow, both individually and as a couple. I thoroughly enjoy both characters. They aren’t perfect; they have their flaws, and both of them go through some major growing pains. But their imperfections are what make them so great and real. All the secondary characters continue to add so much to the story. I am just as invested in their stories as I am in Lyra and Hades.
This is a romantasy through and through. Romance plays a major part in the story. But I would say that the book and series have a different feel to them, compared to other romantasy series. First, it’s not bursting with spice. The romantic lusty tension between Lyra and Hades is there, but it doesn’t consume the story. This is not a Sarah J. Maas or Jennifer Armentrout spice level; it is much tamer, which makes it a great fit for bookworms looking for something a little less spicy. I liked how the romance, in a way, felt different. It made it a little less predictable and, in my mind, made it stand out more.
The Things Gods Break was an unput-downable book, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment.
