The Isle of the Gods by Amie Kaufman

A fantastic new young adult novel. A rich world filled with whimsical elemental magic and warring Gods long since put to slumber. There is plenty of danger, lush descriptions, and a sweet romance.

This story takes you on a journey. The world building is a little heavier than some but that only ensured you could taste the salt of the sea on your tongue and the wind in your hair.

Like other Kaufman books there are several points of view (5 to be specific.) For some people the switch might be jarring but I thought they flowed well and story continued without any problems.

Read if you like: high sea adventures, gangsters willing to do whatever it takes, the last air bender vibes, LGBTQ+ rep, found family, YA appropriate romance,

Content: Guns, on page death, grief, sacrifice, kisses

This was a 4-star read!

I am an absolute Kaufman fan - especially her Illuminae Files and Aurora Cycle (with writing partner JKristoff), so I wanted to give this one a shot. I was first caught by the beautiful cover and the synopsis of this book - so why not dive in?!

I think my biggest issue with The Isles of the Gods is the fact that the synopsis itself was misleading. I read that synopsis and thought I would be getting a couple of POVs, but in the end, it was a total of FIVE, which got very overwhelming. This was the same issue with the other series she has been involved in. There are always SO many characters to follow. YES - It's so much fun but it's also very overwhelming when the story and world-building are so complex and slow-paced. Although I LOVED the overall plot, world, characters, and Kaufman themself, the story was slow at times and I felt myself losing interest throughout the book.

This was a brilliant fantasy story with a cliffhanger that will make you want more. I will definitely be waiting for book 2 because I am invested in the story and finding out what happens next in this captivating story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thoughts: I was so hooked on my kindle that when I went to the next page and got the acknowledgments.. I WAS DISTRAUGHT 😭 the first couple chapters get you acclimated to the world, the gods, magic and character POVS. But once it got going, it was exciting as hell!! I loved the magic system! It was a little confusing at first, but once I understood, it was super cool and unique! The banter between Selly, Leander and Keegan had me GIGGLING the entire time!! Everyone in this book has so much heart & character you grow to love them so FAST💙 I was in the edge of my seat the entire time and the romance ugh 😭 it’s PRECIOUS. There are several different POVS that are highly developed and give the plot that much more background, which made it that much more real.


Blurb in my words: We learn about the sleeping gods, that the people of Alinor and Mellacea have worshiped for centuries. Stayed sleeping because of timely sacrifices made every year from the royal family, except for this year…. However with the threat of war looming in the horizon something must be done.

Meet Selly, a frustrated magician who can’t do magic & restless manning her fathers merchant ship, has tried it all. When she attempts the slip to see her father her path crosses with Prince Leander. Who is charming, witty, spoiled and just wants to have a good time. Selly of course wants nothing to do with Leander and his charm but it’s too late when they meet again on the Elizabeth set sail for the isles of the gods. But what kind of voyage would it be without some storms on the horizon??

If you like: YA, romance, action, found family, ocean/ coastal vibes, banter, mythology, LGBTQ+ rep, Avatar: the last airbender, running away from trouble with your friends and magic💙 you’ll love this!!

Ps. if anyone tells you YA can’t have good romance YOU’RE WRONG 👊🏻

I received a free ARC of The Isles of the Gods and am leaving this review of my own volition and without compensation.

An epic story from start to finish, The Isles of the Gods will whip you off your feet from the first page and not set you down, breathless and heart pounding, until the very last. Full of dangerous sea voyages, a fantastically whimsical magic system, engaging characters and a wild chase that left me breathless and grinning at the end.

Synopsis (no spoilers):
All Selly wants to do after months at sea with a cantankerous captain is head north to be reunited with her father. While the sea is her home, she still feels unsettle, given her magic is dormant and refuses to manifest. A chance encounter with an entitled prince sets Selly off on an adventure she never asked for with a prince and a scholar she could not have less in common with. But the trip will prove to be more of an adventure than Selly bargained for, with vengeful gods to deal with and the future of the world at stake.

While historically I've never been a huge fan of multiple POV stories, it REALLY works here. I absolutely love how Amie Kaufman is able to show so many facets of the characters by portraying them through multiple eyes. By having POVs from the protagonists AND the antagonists, she makes it downright impossible to root against any one character. Each one has their faults, their reasons, their traumas which give some credence to their behaviors (except maybe Dasriel. Screw that guy). This story pulled at my heart strings like a gale pulls at a sail, giving simultaneous tastes of the salt of from the sea (and tears), and sweetness from the balm of friendship and the capacity for change.

This story is enchanting and beautiful from start to finish and I could not put it down. Very excited for more of Selly and Leander's story!

Amie Kaufman's newest series starter, The Isles of the Gods, was thoroughly captivating from start to finish. The story takes place in a fantastical world full of magic, romance, and danger and follows the journey of Selly, a headstrong and independent sailor with saltwater in her veins.

As Selly sets out to follow in her father's footsteps, she encounters unexpected challenges, including the arrival of Prince Leander, a handsome, seemingly frivolous royal with a mission to complete. Despite their initial disagreements and clashes in personality, Selly and Leander must work together to navigate the high seas and follow through with a task that grows more dangerous at every turn.

With a deft hand, Kaufman brings the story to vivid life with colorful and memorable characters and locations. The plot was complex and full of twists and turns, and the stakes continued to rise with each passing chapter, leaving me on the edge of my seat.

Kaufman's writing is engaging, and the story is original and well-executed, bringing her readers what promises to be a thrilling fantasy series. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new epic adventure to sink their teeth into.

I really enjoyed this book. It has a wonderful high seas adventure, an interesting magical system and some very likable characters, even the villains. I am really looking forward to reading the next book, which can’t come soon enough.

There are many multiple points of view for this story, maybe too many. It was hard to keep straight who was telling the story at times. But I did like all of the characters, and there were a couple I would have liked to hear more from. Selly gets the most page time, which was fine as she was a great character. She starts off being very self-centered, but she really starts to grow and seeing more than how things affect her as the book develops. The relationship between her and Leander, was developed nicely although perhaps a little too quickly. But I enjoyed them together and could totally get behind them both. Leander also shows some nice growth, but he has a lot more to go.

My favorite two characters, unfortunately didn’t get as much page time as I would have liked. I really enjoyed Keegan’s and Jude’s pov and their character development. Both of them are put into situations they cannot control, but they persevere through it all. I really feel sorry for Jude and hope that things get better for him in the next book. Laskia, the villain of our tale, was someone I could empathize with, even when she was doing something evil. But I still kind of liked her.

The story was fast paced, with some slower parts at times, which were needed. This was a hard book to put down at times. I loved the magical system and found it to be pretty unique. You need to sacrifice something important to you in order to get the spirits to help you. It is elemental based, earth, air, water, and fire, but we mostly only saw the air and water magic being used. I also liked the mythology that has been developed for this story. The world building was good, but maybe some things could have been better explained.

Overall, I really enjoyed this fast paced fantasy with a wonderful cast of characters and a very intriguing and interesting magical system. I can’t wait to see how things work out in the next book.

This book was pretty awesome. Fast and easy. Loved it. I loved the characters and the world so much. I will definitely buy this book
10/10 would recommend

Absolutely amazing as I expected it to be! I am so excited to get back into this world! When is book 2 out! LOL

Thank you for the chance to read early!

The book was enthralling! I love how the author creates the story and builds on it. It was such a great read and made me feel all the feels! I would 100% recommend reading this book!
This book was gifted to me by NetGallery, all opinions are my own.

The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman is an engaging and thrilling fantasy novel that will leave readers eager for more. The story is full of magic, adventure, and romance, and it takes place in a richly imagined world that spans the high seas, forgotten temples, and gangsters' dens. Kaufman has crafted a compelling narrative that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end.

The two main characters, Selly and Prince Leander, are complex and well-developed, with their own distinct personalities and motivations. Selly is a strong and independent young woman who is determined to make her own way in the world, even if it means defying her father's wishes. Prince Leander, on the other hand, is initially presented as an entitled and somewhat arrogant aristocrat, but as the story progresses, readers will come to see him in a different light.

Overall, The Isles of the Gods is a fantastic start to what promises to be an epic and captivating fantasy series. Kaufman has once again proven herself to be a master storyteller, and readers who enjoy richly imagined worlds, complex characters, and thrilling adventure will not be disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the eARC!

Amie Kaufman delivers again! I’ve been reading her books for a long time and I absolutely fell in love with this high stakes, high sea adventure. Kaufman has this amazing ability to write easily likable, relatable characters and The Isle of the Gods is no different. Her power really lies in the multiple POV, makes for a compulsive and exciting read. Looking forward to future installments!

I love and adore Amie Kaufman, but I found this book rather less compelling than others I've read by her. The characters, the setting, the plot are all... just fine. I liked the story. I have nothing to nitpick about. I can't point to any faults. I just found it somehow mediocre. I feel unsure if I will continue the series or not, even though I want to know what happens. I guess I'll have to wait to see?

This was a good book! I loved the writing and the characters were great. Overall, I felt like there were too many characters and I got confused at times, also with the world a little bit too. But it was good, and I enjoyed it for the most part.

This book is a phenomenal start to a potentially great series. Even as an adult reading it, it was intriguing and enraptured me as a reader.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you NetGalley for this review copy.

Brilliant book full of magic and fast-paced adventure. It hooked me right from the start. I was a little concerned when I noticed that it is labeled a children's book but was glad that I read it anyway. The only thing I found difficult about the book was the several first person point of views

This is such a gripping fantasy novel and I was thrust in headfirst and loved it!! There was really great world building in The Isles of the Gods, and I was able to catch on to the magic systems and background pretty quickly which I really appreciated. The atmosphere of this entire book was incredible!! I just love a novel set at sea! There were tense moments and sweet moments and it all came together to create a really well rounded story. I adored our main character, Selly, who is a sailor who hasn't been able to access the magic gifted to her for her whole life. The tension between her and Leander was SO GOOD! And the one bed trope!!! It was so perfect. There was also really lovely casual queer rep sprinkled throughout the world!
One of the things that was a little bit more difficult for me while reading was the amount of character perspectives. It was confusing for me to figure out who was who at the beginning of the book, especially since it's written in first person. I personally prefer my multi POV fantasy novels to be set in third person just because it make sit easier for me to separate the characters and gain a more objective view of the world (though the characters are all pretty distinct so it wasn't too hard after a bit). Also I do recognize that the first person was helpful because of the magic system and how each person's interaction with magic is different (which is also a detail I loved).

I've been in the mood for a good fantasy and this book absolutely satisfied that need. I've read Amie Kaufman's sci-fi, so I was so excited to see her fantasy. This was such a good read. I can't wait to read the other books in the series as they come out as this was a strong start!

When I think of AK, I think of sci-fi collaborations. So I was really interested in reading a fantasy story written by just her. And I think this is a success!

The concept of old sleeping gods waking up to start a war is always a winner when it comes to fantasy. I had fun with the majority of the story taking place at sea and thought it was a very fitting atmosphere for both the characters and plot. The characters themselves have a lot of depth to them, the plot is engaging, and the writing is just so lovely and fluid.

The only thing that lessened my reading experience was the slow pacing. This is a pretty decent length novel with multiple POVs and an entire storyline taking place over only 2-3 days, so all that made it feel super slow. So much page time is spent setting the scene, building the world, and developing the characters. And it's done really well! But as a plot person, I just prefer more than exposition, especially for a first book in the series.

But if you enjoy character-driven fantasies about warring gods and appreciate AK's storytelling, then look no further! I have a feeling this series is going to be one of her best.

So so good. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity. I was thoroughly immersed into the story by chapter 5. I held in and rode out what is quite possibly the only YA book I’ve read this year that I even liked. Highly recommend

WOW. Thank you a million times over to NetGalley and the publishers for this e-ARC. The Isle of the Gods was absolutely AMAZING. The pacing was steady and the characters well rounded, though it did take a little adjustment for me to get used to the many POV's. I'm already dying for the sequel! Formal review will be available on GoodReads, socials & Amazon.