In a world torn apart by war, one young woman learns that the gods are as real as she is...and they hold all the power.

16 year old Cassia's world has been torn apart - her brother was hanged for treason and her parents were killed in a bomb attack, both part of a war that has destroyed her home country of Kisk. When she unwittingly becomes a sacrifice to gods she doesn't believe in, she learns far more about this war than she ever dreamed of.

Theodric, the God of War, is intent on proving himself to his siblings after being stripped of most of his powers by his older brother. Young, with a big chip on his shoulder, he approachs war in the human world with little compassion, manipulating it primarily to prove his own abilities. When he meets Cassia, however, chinks begin to show in his armor, revealing a more tender hearted soul than he would like to let on. The longer he spends with Cassia, the more he begins to question his role in the war and in his family's complex dynamic.

It took me a little while to get in to this book but once I did, I was hooked. The development of a fictitious mythology was solidly done and I kept having to remind myself that I wasn't, in fact, reading about Greek or Roman gods (the jeans and t-shirts that Theo wears helped me out there!). Theo and Cassia are both complex, believable characters and the supporting cast is just the right size to be well- developed as well (I particularly enjoyed Goran's wry older-brother attitude). Cassia is a strong female lead with suspicion and sass in spades and Theo's prove himself at all costs attitude is a good foil for what is to come as the novel progresses. Amber Due has created a fascinating, complex world that mimics ancient mythology while remaining fresh and vibrant. With ample room to explore other storylines, I look forward to reading more about the gods and goddesses that rule over Kisk, Volkana and Asgya.

A great choice for YA fantasy and mythology lovers. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. If you love mythological themed books then this would be a book for you. I absolutely loved the story line. I wish they would have been more in depth with Cassia's character, but other than that it was very good. I will also be looking to purchase for our library, so our patrons can enjoy it also.

Gods don't exist. They're fairy tales created thousands of years ago by people desperate for something to believe in.

Yeah, well, Cassia, you've got thrown for a loop!

Fragile Chaos.

I feel like I start every other review of mine with "I don't know something". But to my credit, there's a whole lot going on in Fragile Chaos.
There's war (but sidelined, because love story), your local douchebag-but-he's-hot-so-it's-cool love interest, an outsider protagonist, five hundred people hanging around at this supposedly unwelcomed god's home... I have trouble telling people I know in real life, and talk to regularly, apart, I am not made to handle big character casts.

In my opinion, Fragile Chaos tried too hard. It tried to bring a love story (that makes me think of the whole Bella-Edward desaster, since one of them is 16, and one is an actual god), gods (why would you make a god a teenager? And even make the gods say "he's equivalent of a 17 year old"??), war, political intrigue/betrayal... It tried to fit all those things in 300 pages, and let me tell you, it did not work.

Cassia had one single defining character trait and that was basically
Cassia: He told me to do that
Cassias brain: Do the exact opposite
Cassia: But why?
Cassias brain: You gotta
I don't remember a single other thing about her. Sure, she broke the bread like once, and while it was recounted about three times, it didn't have any impact on her character or personality. One time she cared, the next she didn't, then she cared a whole lot again, and then she was indifferent again.
While we're at it, how come Cassia didn't believe gods were a thing, but then when she met the actual god of war, she went "alright, cool, what's for dinner?"???? I would've freaked the fuck out if I was met with the god of jackets, much less than the actual fucking god of war.
This is not only the case for Cassia, but for all the cast, I think. They had one defining trait and everything else was bound to change to make the plot work.

Unfortunately, really, really not my case.


Thanks to Aurelia Leo and Netgalley for providing this ARC!