Member Reviews
I’m obsessed with this book and I need the next one NOW!!! The sea setting was exquisitely done, the mythology and magic system surrounding this new world is extremely cool, and the characters are just amazing!!! I love Leander, Selly and Keegan with all my heart and I hope we get a ton more of Jude in the next one.
This story is full of adventure, magic, high stakes, banter and romance, and it’s definitely a must read.
Amie Kaufman is well-known to YA booklovers for co-authoring incredible bestsellers such as The Illuminae Files with Jay Kristoff and the Starbound trilogy with Meagan Spooner. The Isles of the Gods is a rare solo outing for this author in her YA fantasy debut, which kicks off a brand new series set in a world with slumbering gods, scheming religious orders and capricious elemental spirits.
Selly is the daughter of Stanton Walker, a well-renowned captain and also an absentee father, having left Selly in the care of Captain Rensa when he headed north a year ago to scout out new trading routes and recruit new talent for his fleet of ships. Bristling under the tyrannical mentorship from Rensa, who has relentlessly stuck her with all the worst menial chores on the Lizabetta, Selly is determined to make her escape north to join her father.
Unfortunately, the disruptive arrival of Prince Leander ruins her plans when he derails the Lizabetta’s course to embark on a secret voyage to the Isles of the Gods. There, Leander must uphold the Alinor royal family’s tradition of performing a sacrifice to strengthen their goddess Barrica the Sentinel who maintains vigil to keep Macean the Gambler god of risk bound in sleep. But Macean’s followers crave his release and now, when Barrica is at her weakest, they will do whatever it takes to prevent Leander from reaching his destination so they can free Macean to walk amongst mortals once more.
This is a well-crafted story with a snappy, briskly paced plot that takes the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions, careening from one action-packed sequence to the next. There’s no shortage of heart-pounding, adrenaline-fueled chase scenes that will seize the reader’s heart in a vice-like grip, rooting for the protagonists to overcome their latest obstacle safely. The author’s writing style is engaging and effortlessly polished with lush, vibrant descriptions that transport you into the scene.
Rather than offer up yet another take on the good versus evil fantasy cliché, The Isles of the Gods provides a carefully nuanced view on the conflict between Alinor and Mellacea, delving into the history between those countries and how their respective religions have shaped their people. While we cannot condone the homicidal actions of the antagonists, their viewpoint is showcased and treated with respect, making us see them as real people motivated by understandable goals and desires instead of being reduced to an evil stereotype. It’s a fascinating choice by the author and makes this book stand out from its peers by highlighting how its ‘villains’ are just as capable of love, compassion and vulnerability as the heroes, without crossing the line of excusing their actions.
While the blurb and cover image highlights Selly’s importance, there are five alternating character perspectives throughout the book which is arguably two or three too many. The inclusion of Selly and Leander’s perspectives makes sense as does Laskia to offer insight into the opposing force, however it feels unnecessary to also include chapter POVs from Jude, an old school friend of Leander’s who is blackmailed into assisting Laska, and Keegan, another schoolmate of Leander’s who despised him and is unfortunate enough to be on board the Lizabetta when Leander commandeers it for his mission. Jude could’ve been removed from the book with minimal impact and although Keegan is delightfully dry and disdainful in his interactions with Leander, a switch to his perspective really isn’t needed. As they are minor characters with far fewer chapters than the others, it felt jarring to come to a Jude or Keegan chapter because their voice wasn’t as distinct and could be confused for one of the others.
A noteworthy highlight of the book is how it features multiple queer characters in queernormative societies where there is no stigma attached to their sexuality—Leander’s sister, Queen Augusta, is married to a woman; Laskia and Jude openly flirt with their own sex without any fear of judgment, and the only reason that Keegan’s sexuality poses an issue is because it interferes with an arranged marriage his family is pushing onto him. It’s refreshing to see a fantasy novel prominently feature a diverse cast of characters and choose against incorporating prejudice or angsty plotlines relating to being queer.
The Isles of the Gods delivers an exhilarating cat-and-mouse chase of epic proportions with world-shattering consequences, a nuanced take on religious and political conflict that avoids black-and-white reductionism and fleshes it out in shades of grey, plus entertaining and chaotic characters with complicated histories and different fascinating dynamics between them. Be warned—a cheeky cliffhanger ending will leave you screeching desperately for the sequel!
Fun introduction to a new series! I loved the pirate/early 20th century world. The story is told from multiple POVs, with Selly being the main protagonist. I thought that the different POVs kept things interesting although it is a little slow moving in the first 100 pages. The magic system is unique and I’m curious to learn more about it and the gods of the world. I think fans of Shadow and Bone will enjoy this a lot. Can’t wait for the next book! Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the arc.
<b>Quick Stats</b>
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 2 stars
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Setting: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
- 1 star because of some weird race stuff and also because of pacing, world building, plot holes, etc.
I’m going start this review by saying that the only reason I requested an ARC of this book was because I was told it would be a future illumicrate pick (my source was incorrect), and because of past controversies surrounding this author’s association with Jay Kristoff*, I wanted to read a copy before I decided whether to pass or not—normally, when an author is controversial I would just pass, but I wanted to give Amie Kaufman a chance, since her controversy is by association.
That said, I was interested in the premise of this book, and I saw many people hyping it up. After reading it, I’m not sure why that is. I think that at its core, this book is average. Reading this made it clear that the real talent behind Illuminae and Aurora Rising are Kristoff.
This book is told in five first person POVs, but the characters are bland and voiceless. I couldn’t tell one character from another while reading. If I skipped over the chapter heading, or set down the book in the middle of a chapter, I had to go back and check which character’s POV it was, because unless they addressed the other characters, it was unclear. I don’t think a single one of our characters had a personality outside of the most basic archetype: the tomboy sailor, the flirty prince, the socially awkward bookworm, the ambitious one, and the one whose just trying to save himself. The characters did, for the most part, have clear motivations (although Keegan and Selly’s weren’t the most convincing). However, that wasn’t enough to make them compelling to read about.
The plot of this book was interesting, but the execution made it fall flat. The stakes were high, but the pacing was off. It dragged for much of the book, except for a couple of chapters near the middle and the very end. Similarly, there were a lot of plot holes. Some came from the plot itself being underdeveloped (I can’t address those without spoiling things), and others came from the fact that the world building was… weird. The magic system is twofold: the spirits and the gods. We get explanation of the gods, but we never get any worldbuilding about the spirits. What are they? Why do they help people? Why are some people magicians and others not? It seems like it’s hereditary, but where did it come from originally? How are the spirits and gods connected? It felt like two different magic systems thrown into one book that don’t make sense together. The worldbuilding and plot were both very weak overall.
The last thing I want to address is the fact that the villain POV character is Black. This is a book written by a white woman. Of the five POV characters 3 are good guys (2 white, one POC), one is a villain (Black), and one is sort of a good guy but working for the bad guy under threat (POC). Mainly it makes me uncomfortable that the villains of the story are two Black girls who are evil because they used to be impoverished, and now that they’re not, they’re so desperate for power they’d commit countless atrocities and mass murder in order to gain more power for themselves. Also found it uncomfortable that the one fully good guy who is a POC specifically describes the villain POV character as being darker skinned than him.
Now, I don’t think this was purposeful racism, but it was weird, and it was uncomfortable, and I wanted to point it out.
I adored this so much, full of adventure , very fast paced and enjoyable story, an engaging abd accessible YA book. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and the end was full of twists , I am so looking forward to book two. This is a great YA read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wow what a fantastic adventure! Amie Kaufman is one of my favorite authors of all time! When I saw she was writing a new fantasy series, I never requested a book so fast in my life. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to read an early copy.
This was everything I could have hoped for and more! If you love a fantasy book with an epic quest, this is the one for you. The world-building, lore, and magic systems are all brilliantly crafted and completely immersive. The plot is engaging and high stakes.
The multiple points of view add depth to the characters and expand our understanding and investment in the story. All the characters are so loveable and relatable. The found family aspects are so heartwarming and the budding romance relationship is adorable.
I have not one negative thing to say about this book. You will love it; it is absolutely a must read!
The cliffhanger!? Ahhhh I’m dying for the next book already and this one isn’t even out yet. I’m so excited for everyone else to read this and hear what everyone thinks. I hope this one gets the hype it wholly deserves.
I have read all of Amie Kaufman's previous work and I am a huge fan. Her writing is super accessible and easy to follow. This book reminded me of the first two Pirates of the Caribbean movies and I really enjoyed Selly as a main character. I adored the found family aspect of this book and enjoyed the combination of different personalities and the bantering. I think YA audiences particularly those wanting to get into fantasy will really enjoy this book. I cannot wait to read the next installment.
I was so intrigued by the prologue but sadly the book didn't live up to its promise.
The story dragged too long so I struggled to keep going or to DNF it.
Unfortunately, this book just didn't grip my attention.
Selly's plans to stow away on the last ship traveling towards her father's last known location are foiled when her ship is commandeered to run a secret mission. She and the crew are very unhappy about their lot, until the discover just how important their journey is to keeping the peace between realms and stopping a war that could kill them all.
A great start to a new series. I love most anything Kaufman writes, and will be waiting for the next installment. Each series is different, but this is a huge step away from her usual writings. Can't wait to see more and learn about where Selly's new-found skills will take her and how she grows as a character.
Recommended for fans of Laini Taylor's Strange the Dreamer series and Kristin Cashore's Graceling companions Winterkeep and Seasparrow.
I received a DRC from the publisher via Netgalley.com.
~ eARC provided by NetGalley
I want to start by saying that the time it took me to finish this does not reflect the actual interest I had in it - Uni is rough and it's semesters end now - I actually *loved* this book! This is the first work of Amie's that I've read and I certainly want to read more now. She has a way with dialogue not many authors have, and I felt myself clinging on to everyone word - each one felt important and held my attention. The depth of the world building and the heavy religious tone made if feel so unique and it kept my intrigue the entire time. Of course, I fell down the reading hole during the week of finals which made balancing my attention difficult, but it made me acknowledge just how much I needed to read more of this book, and I still want more! And now I have to wait another year to see my favourite sailor, prince, and scholar once more.
Speaking of the trio, this mini found-family thing they've got going on made me feel so many emotions and in all the right ways. It is exactly what I look for in that area: a bunch of unhinged, loyal, snarky friends who realise very quickly what great lengths they'd go to just to keep the others safe. Selly, our unofficiated Captain of the Bunch, is a delightfully complex character, still hiding a lot of secrets by the end, but it does not make you feel unsatisfied, instead rather hungry for more content. Her headspace was such a good place to be, especially when her and the boys grow closer and closer. Leander, our clueless, goofy, and charming Prince with a soft heart and a deep trust in the two willing to do anything to save him. He does not let their efforts go unnoticed, taking every possible chance to thank them, even if it is in his own silly way. Keegan, the wise, witty historian who has fallen back into a life he thought he escaped, a one involving Leander giving him a hard time and Leander also very much enjoying it. The three fill in the gaps the others lack, and they all learn and grow off of the other. They really are the perfect little family. I can't wait to see them more.... and see a certain someone teach another certain someone how to dance ;)
If you love oceans, sailing, and anything to do with finding your family on the rocky sea, then I'd highly suggest this book! Fans of Adalyn Graces' "All the Stars and Teeth" or Victoria Aveyards' "Realm Breaker", this is perfect for you.
Happy reading, and happy happy pub day to this delightful book!
You always know what you are going to get with a Kaufman novel and this one is no exception: decent hearted protagonists who have to find their own inner strengths in order to save the world. While this is a first book, it does have a complete arc but sets up at the end the groundwork for book 2. It is an easy, entertaining, and quick read that would be especially suitable for audiobook.
Story: Selly wants nothing more then to join her father across the seas and show him she is ready to lead one of his ships. But fate intervenes when the ship she is on is sent on a secret mission: bring the prince to the Isles of the Gods so he can make a sacrifice that will prevent a war. This shouldn't have been a difficult job: except there are those who would greatly profit from a war and want the prince dead. Selly soon finds that keeping the prince alive is going to be more dangerous than she could have imagined.
The subplot is that Selly should have elemental magic but can't get it to work - making her a failure to her father who needs a captain who can control the wind or sea. The prince, Leander, is also a failure: he did not do the sacrifice a year earlier - put it off and now things are in a dire straight for the country as a result. Scholar Keegan, meanwhile, wants only passage to the great library so he can withdraw from the world and enjoy his beloved books; he gets stuck escorting the prince.
There are several side characters from the antagonists: young Laskia who needs to kill the prince in order to prove to her sister she is worthy and Jude - a bastard son who has been forgotten by his father and is desperately trying to provide for his mother. Laskia forces Jude to accompany her since he is the only one who can identify the prince - having gone to school with him at one time. But it is not something Jude wants to be involved in since he just wants to survive.
The story has plenty of adventure and it wouldn't be a Kaufman novel without a hidden dungeon/temple to be explored. There really are no slow times and this is very accessible YA with fun protagonists who you will root for as they are tested and always rising above. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
Please Note: This is posted on my Goodreads and will be posted on my book blog/instagram on the publication date (tomorrow). Thank you!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
✈️ to: the sea, a fantasy land
Pub Date: TODAY!
The Isles of the Gods was my first book by Amie Kaufman and I have to say, I understand the hype!
While, this wasn’t the first book I’ve read this year about awakening gods and an impending war, it was a complete delight and a standout in the fantasy genre. Growing up around the water, “The Isles of the Gods” felt equal parts a tale about a small rag tag crew on a fantastical quest, as well as an ode to the sea. Throw on the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack, crack the spine open, and you’re transported.
The magical system was also unlike any I’ve read yet, which was very refreshing — right when you think you’ve read them all!
But my favorite thing about Kaufman’s newest read was the chemistry between the two main characters, Selly and Leander. Selly is no damsel in distress and frequently does the saving. Leander is the charming prince who’s more than he seems. The other characters were great as well, but these two cinched it for me.
All in all? I pretty much adored this book and am impatiently awaiting the sequel!
***3.5 stars ***
I'm so glad I pushed through the first few chapters because after that I was hooked. Each character is fleshed out, with their own choices and motivations that feel real, even if you hate their choices, you understand them.
There are multiple gods in this story, but we mainly hear about two as they are the main sources of conflict, trying to prevent a bound god from rising again.
The Characters:
Selly- a merchant's daughter who wants nothing more than to one day be a captain of a vessel of her own, chaffing at the bit for the chance.
Keegan- a high born son who is running away from a life of politics for a life of books and knowledge.
Leander- the prince who is destined to strengthen the god of his kingdom, who has made some bad decisions in his past that will come bad to haunt him.
Laskia- a gang leaders sister, with a determination to prove herself to her sister no matter the cost.
Jude- a fighter who does the gang's bidding and feels like he has few options forward.
This was a fun and engaging story, I would definitely reccomend it.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a review!
Amie Kaufman does it again! There's a reason that she's absolutely one of my authors. I am in LOVE with these characters and this world! She's built it so amazingly, and presents it in a way that's not over explaining - it's all woven into the prose, and ughhh it makes me want to live in this world!!!!
I cannot wait for more, I am so so excited to see where this goes!!
This is my first fantasy by Amie Kaufman, I usually read her sci-fi.
Our story is told from the perspective of our 5 main characters, Selly, Leander, Keegan, Jude, and Lasika. The gods are real and they used to walk among us. Selly ends up having to help Leander on a secret mission to pay tribute to his God and Lasika will do ANYTHING to stop him. I like the character of Keegan the best as I would rather have my head buried in a book that have to deal with the world around me. As for Jude I'm going to assume that he will eventually portray a bigger role but for now he was kinda just filler for me. I appreciated that the typical teenage love triangle didn't happen.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
The Isles of the Gods is the first book in a new young adult fantasy series from Amie Kaufman full of political intrigue, romance, and found family. Fans of Six of Crows will enjoy this ensemble cast of characters. Fans of Fable will love the high seas adventure.
The premise of this story was incredibly intriguing and the plot was very fast paced, which I love for a young adult book. The story is told from five different POV’s and, unfortunately, I did not enjoy all of them which made it hard to want to keep reading when I got to chapter of a character I didn’t care as much about. I also did not love that they were all told in the first person. The transition from chapter to chapter was awkward and I would have preferred 3rd person limited for this book. Despite my issues with those writing choices, I still had a lot of fun getting to know (most of) our characters and discover the intricacies of this world. The magic system and gods were very interesting kept me wanting more.
I was hugely appreciative of Kaufman’s choice to have our young protagonists attempt to get the help of an adult. The YA genre is often criticized for lack of this and I think Kaufman incorporated it very well and gave us a very good explanation for why these young people were on their own at points throughout the story which made them feel more believable as teenagers.
Unfortunately, the romance in this story did not do it for me. It developed far too quickly for my taste and I would have preferred the characters as friends rather than a rushed romance. The story happened over too short a time period to build up any tension or feelings between the characters who had just met one another.
The end of this story was full of action and twists that kept me on the edge of my seat and I am very much looking forward to seeing where this goes in book two. Overall, I think this is a great YA story and I would recommend it to anyone who primarily reads young adult fantasy. As someone who is starting to gravitate toward the adult genre, this felt a bit young to me, but I really liked it for what it was supposed to be and think it fits its genre perfectly.
The Isle of the Gods
Amie Kaufman
⭐4.5⭐
This books was given to me as and ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much to the NetGalley and the publisher!
This book follows the journey of an unlikely group as they travel to make a sacrifice needed to strengthen their god and attempt to avoid a war that has been growing on the horizon. This story is one of friendship, trust, loyalty and duty. Magic and elemental spirits assist in making what seems to be an impossible journey happen. Twists and turns make what was supposed to be a simple enough task into a dangerous race against time and distance to save the world from a devastating battle between gods, who’s prior warring destroyed whole civilizations.
My only complaint is the number of POVs in the book. Why I do see how they all provided a purpose and came together, starting off it was a lot of different people that didn’t seem to be linked at all. In the end, it was linked together and made more sense, but it made for a slow start reading for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it kept me interested. I can’t wait to read the next installment!
“Sometimes one must study history, Your Highness. But sometimes one must make it. What it costs.”
Kaufman’s latest novel details a world in which Gods once roamed and sparred on land. A land where now they lay dormant while their follower’s beliefs remain strong. The land is fill of magic and wonder.
Selly is a sailor by heart and birth. When her father doesn’t come back from his trading post she tries to scurry on a ship to visit him. Things go awry when her plans are completely upended by a secret mission she’s forced to join.
This book enthralled me since the beginning. The imagery of the sea transported me there. The interactions between the main trio was intriguing. The antagonist lead was even good.
Overall, I really liked this book. I’ll definitely check out her other books. My only issues were that it could have been a bit shorter and that ending left way too many questions. Until the next book in this series.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
I really wanted to enjoy this having read Kauffman’s other books and enjoying them but this just moved too slow for me and I couldn’t get into it.
Stupid good book. I really like Selly. She's a strong, yet sensitive protagonist that deserves better than the hand life deals her. Leander is a loveable cad of a prince, and Keegan is just what they need to survive with his brains and kind heart. The piracy is phenomenal and I didn't feel overwhelmed by any of the terms used I didn't quite understand as I'm not sea savvy. Really enjoyed the different perspective each chapter for a richer, deeper story. Will be adding the author's other titles to my TBR asap!