I enjoyed the world building and magical elements in this book but I did not enjoy the oppressed and oppressor dynamic. The male characters, mainly Antony, treated Ruying like a prize or object to be won and controlled. There was very little romance and it was hard to even picture Ruying ever falling for Antony after the way he treats her. Also, the plot twist with Antony was predictable but also very disturbing. Overall, I think this type of fantasy is just not for me.

Overall, 2.75 stars

Molly X. Chang crafts a phenomenal Asian fantasy story full of action, romance and intrigue with To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods which I feel is a standout in the fantasy genre.

3.5 rounded up to 4⭐️

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is an enthralling YA fantasy/sci-fi debut steeped in Chinese culture and mythology. Molly Chang’s prose is absolutely brilliant and I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of Chinese proverbs throughout her characters’ dialogues. I think this is a very promising beginning to a riveting series.

Things I liked:
— Morally grey FMC
• For the safety of her remaining family, Ruying accepts a deal with the prince of the colonizing forces of Rome to work as his personal secret assassin. Her magical prowess gives her a lethal edge that operates as a double edged sword giving her a taste of power she could easily access…but at what cost? Ruying battles personal convictions of her morals and loyalties and is faced with decisions that could alter the course of her country’s future.

— Cultural imagery
• Molly did an excellent job of infusing cultural values within her story. Familial loyalty, honor, and respect all displayed so beautifully in her storytelling!

— World building
• At times, I felt the method of world building veered more towards info-dumping but I see this as something that can be easily improved upon for the next installment(s)! I found this world to be so interesting with a clear depiction of a very unique magic system. Each scene played in my head like a movie and I still find myself replaying certain parts - the arena, the water ship, the hostel in the woods. Really loved how so much of this world is inspired by Chinese history.

Things I’m thinking about:
— Stronger pacing
• Some chapters could definitely be interpreted as repetitive and I felt this made it difficult to fully engage with the story.

— Consistent POV
• I saw one other review that mentions a sudden switch in pov for one chapter and honestly…I kind of liked it! But definitely think if a different pov is going to be included, it should remain equal if not somewhat consistent with the main pov to help with pacing.

— Colonizer love interest?
• I understand why the author chose to go this route for a love interest because the story is loosely based on the colonization of Manchuria. And as a woman of color, it is well within Molly’s rights to create a storyline within this realm as this was most certainly a reality that captives experienced with their captors. While it was definitely conflicting, I wasn’t completely turned off by this, as the nature of Antony’s character felt similarly to the early days of Tahereh Mafi’s Aaron Warner (the book girlies love him 🫶🏻) but I still feel very conflicted with his character as the writing seems to encourage the reader to root for him and Ruying as a unit while there are some major red flags that make it difficult to know how we as readers are meant to feel towards him. If this lack of clarity is intentional, I hope the next book solidifies where exactly our loyalties should lie.

This book is marketed as a “romantasy” but the romance takes up maybe 15% of the story, with one very chaste kiss and the rest is mainly ideation (also very chaste). I don’t mind this because I thought the plot was strong enough to keep me drawn in, but if you’re reading this for the sake of “romantasy,” this might not be the best book for you. Think more historical fiction fantasy with some romance elements and you’ll more likely enjoy this a lot more!

Will very excitedly look forward to future installments!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine, Del Rey for this advanced copy!

Chang takes readers on an exciting journey that explores a world filled with magic that has been colonized by the Romans and their use of science. This pairing of magic versus science is one that I don't see often, which I appreciated and enjoyed reading about. The FMC, Ruying, has the ability to take a person's life by draining their qi and the MMC, Antony, is one of the princes of Rome. Antony forces Ruying to become his personal assassin through threats towards those that Ruying loves.

What I think Chang does really well is helping readers understand why Ruying makes the choices that she does. We get a great sense of family and the need to protect them at all costs. We also see Ruying's internal struggles being forced to kill but justifying it to keep her loved ones safe. Ruying loves her people and her land and wants to believe those who present an option for peace. It is this love though that keeps her entrapped in a loop of bad decisions and is the main driver for this book. I personally think this was so well done. One of my biggest gripes in books is when I can't understand why a character makes the choices that they do, which I'm very happy to say was not the case here.

My biggest complaint is the romance. I wish readers had more chances to see them interact on page instead of being told of the time our leads were spending together off page. This would have made the "romance" more believable to me. Instead we hear about how hot Antony is even though he's forcing her to kill for him and she knows its wrong. It's a never ending circle of he threatens her, she kills for him, he promises her peace and to be a hero, and then repeat. Ruying is aware that he's not a good guy but it is okay because he's attractive. I've seen reviews that complain about the romance between oppressor and the person being oppressed. I will say yes, that is the case. I would not classify this as a romantasy, but maybe more dark romance? I'm not exactly sure. I think the Stockholm Syndrome would have been more believable if we saw them interact more on page? This is where I'm ultimately struggling. I didn't feel like Chang was championing us to fall for Antony either. She makes it pretty clear that he's not a good person and manipulates Ruying the entire book. I never sympathized with his character and I believe Ruyling was more in love with his ideals and the world he promised and that was coupled with feeling like she owed him something for saving her life.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and am intrigued about the direction it is going, especially after the last 10% of the book.

Thank you to Ballantine, Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the ARC!

I don't know how to explain this but I'd say a 3 star rating in the sense that I was irritated with Ruying and the overall colonizer romance, but I have faith that the second book will make everything worth it... so maybe a hopeful 3 stars.

I liked it! A quick note, this isn't YA, but I do think it is meant to be a crossover. The MC is 19 and the LI is 20. I see lots of people calling it YA.

This hit all my favorite boxes. It's a true enemies-to-lovers setup, though since it is the first in a series so I can only guess as to what the ending for the ship here will be. These guys are definitely enemies. There's a clear oppressed/opressor setup, which isn't for everyone. It's a dark romance in that sense. The power dynamics are tilted in one direction. But, I was totally here for it. I see people comparing it to Warner/Juliet in Shatter Me, which I would hesitate to do until I see the ending, but I can definitely see where they're getting that idea. If you don't like the power dynamic issues in your ships or are upset by true enemies-to-lovers arcs, this story might not be for you.

I'm always a fan of war plots. I love seeing how they're setup, I love seeing the internal politics of each side, and I love seeing the chess game play out. We see very little of Rome, only getting that they are dying from natural disasters (implied climate crisis?) and are desperate to save themselves and found some kind of portal to a new multiverse that has magic, but not science and there is major conflict of how they want to go about saving themselves. And then on Pangu's side they have been invaded and there are five prominent countries that are trying to fend off the invasion. These five countries have different ideas on how to do that. The emperors and the heirs of these countries have different ideas of how to do that. Basically, it's realistic. There are many ideas on how to handle everything and who will win out is where the biggest intrigue comes for me.

At the center of our point of view is Ruying, whose magic is in weilding death and manipulating qi. She takes it from people and they die because of it. (I have some spoilerish thoughts about how her power might solve some larger scale issues later) and she struggles to find her place in the conflict. She is torn on how to put her power to use. How can she make a difference?

Idk the story really worked for me. Who hasn't found themselves trying to navigate politics and figure out where they stand and how to 'be the change'? Ruying is pulled in lots of different directions and has lots of internal conflict trying to pick the right choice out of a handful of bad choices. It would be great if the world had black and white choices, but things are never that simple.

It's also the first book of a trilogy, so there's so much room for her to grow and learn and decide. I actually can't wait to see how it will all play out.

Would recommend if you like dark fantasy, enemies to lovers, and political intrigue.

Thank you to Ballantine, Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the arc!

thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc read in exchange for an honest review! this review has been posted to goodreads as of 2/12/2024

i was really anticipating this read, the cover is lovely, the description is captivating and unfortunately it falls off from there. the first chapter alone took me an agonizing amount of time to read. the writing structure felt very choppy and disengaging. the premise of a girl with death powers living in a colonized country under Rome felt like the perfect set up for the most vivid and unique world building. and i was disappointed that instead, the world building was a lot of repetitive info dumping that wasn’t actually saying much of anything.

i absolutely see the appeal in this book, which is why i am so bummed that i felt as though, overall, the writing was very one dimensional.

"To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods" by Molly X. Chang combined elements of romantic fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction to explore themes of power, cultural conflict, and nuanced dynamics of relationships under duress.

The story is set in a fictional universe where two distinct civilizations, the Romans and the Chinese, collide. The Romans greedy and technologically advanced empire has exhausted their resources which leads them to Ruyang's world connected through a portal connecting the two planets. The Romans oppressed the Chinese and kept them in line by getting them addicted to opium. It reminded me of the crack epidemics in the inner city.

While this book does present a romance between a member of an oppressed group and the oppressor, Chang shows us that relationships are complex, especially when there is a power imbalance. The power imbalance makes for an exciting story as the reader sees how the two sides understand each other and work together

In giving my rating, I felt that the way Ruyang and the Roman prince's relationship develops might not be everyone's cup of tea. While Chang addressed deep thoughts about tough topics like colonization romance, this issue alone might make it less enjoyable for some readers.

In my opinion, "To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods" is not a simple love story. It shows how complicated our feelings can be. This is a great book for anyone who likes stories that make you think. It demonstrates how to look deep into who are are and how we connect with others.

This was one of, if not my MOST anticipated reads of this year, and I felt let-down. Here are my general thoughts in bullet-points:


- This should have started halfway through, with Death’s chapter in the Interlude as a prologue of sorts. Everything before this point could just be used as backstory in flashbacks or exposition
- We’re supposed to think Ruying is smart but she’s so dumb??? Why would you think that escape attempt was smart girlie? Did u RLLY think you’d escape? Stfu. And going to the Emperor?? Why did Antony just let her get away with that, after basically confessing it to him likeeee?? At that point it’s her own fault
- I hate the portals so so much
- Beautiful prose & writing style
- The historical elements don’t rlly make sense to me? Like just make up fantasy country names and the story would have been the same, I din’t understand the point of trying to make it vaguely historical
- Maybe I’ve just been spoiled by Samantha Shannon but why is there misogyny? It doesn’t do anything for the story other than depress me. Fantasy social system’s don’t have to be misogynistic, and it’s just irritating to see it so much in here for no reason. Again, just drop the historical charade and let this be high fantasy
- I really wish that it was more so framed that Antony was grooming her; bc it feels creepy & weird that he has a crush on her when he treats her like a pet, especially in the beginning
- The magic VS science motif would’ve worked better if she had put more effort into the worldbuilding of Er-Lang. the Romans’ lives are surrounded by seemingly vast technology, so why isn’t Er-Lang like that but with magic? It should be more like Avatar the Last Airbender’s world, and since most ppls gifts are unique, they could run buisnesses around that—so why don’t they? Maybe since the Romans cane they stopped, but it’s never mentioned that in the past Er-Lang was any more magical, just wealthier. But the mere presence of Xianlings changes EVERYTHING that would develop in their society. It feels like they just showed up randomly & everyone just kinda nodded along and continued life as usual
- I like that we see Ruying slowly crumble as a person, hating herself for who she is now
- The setting is SO confusing
- Without all of these unnecessary paragraph breaks I feel like this book could’ve been like 50 pages shorter
- The end was my favorite and I might actually read the second book bc it gives me hope <3 the last couple chapters were like 4-stars, but the rest of the hook drags it down

I received this book as an advance reader copy, for which I am grateful for.. It will be the first in a series based on the ending. It’s a sci-fi fantasy book, where two world collide science and magic. Ruying has the gift of death, her land has been conquered by the Rome. The book is enemies to lovers, I don’t like the dynamic of oppressor and oppressed love story. The book takes place over months but the writing didn’t portray that, felt like everything happened so quickly. I don’t know if I would read the next book since I didn’t like/connect to any characters and the writing sometimes jumped around making it hard to follow in some chapters. I did not connect with the main character Ruying, there were not any characters I was connected to other than the grandmother. I wish we got to see more of her grandmother, I did like her backstory and how she was able to protect her granddaughters. It was slow world building, but I felt like it was being set up for more political world building, sadly that never happened.
I did enjoy the legends of the gods in the story and how their magic came to be.

2/5
i really wanted to like this but i feel like the scifi aspect came a little too late and the story telling aspect felt quite rushed.
I felt as if the characters felt a little bland and flat. I also disliked the whole coloniser trope, i mean who falls in love with someone who tortured them? I feel like this was lacking a lot of visual description and left me very unfulfilled.

3.5 stars rounded up.
This book was hard for me to rate as I enjoyed the story and loved the writing but had a few issues.
My main issue was with Ruying being willfully ignorant. She believes every word Antony tells her despite it being obvious that he isn’t a good man like he pretends to be. Both Ruying’s sister and her childhood friend, Baihu, tell her that she is being stupid for trusting this man and she still continues to hang onto his every word.
Another issue I had was with a large portion of this book happening off page; a six month time jump is ridiculous. We’re expected to believe and even root for this romance between Ruying and Antony but we were denied any scenes of actual build up and development between them. All of the interactions we get to read just involves Antony telling Ruying that they are equals with the same desires then in the same breath telling her she isn’t on the same level as him to receive answers to her questions. I hope that this romance is completely dropped in the sequel, I’m fine with a villain romance but this is a colonizer romance and I can’t find a single redeemable quality in Antony.

I will be continuing the series however there needs to be more showing rather than telling in the sequel.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods: A Gripping Debut Steeped in Magic and Rebellion
Molly X. Chang's "To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods" is a debut that demands attention. From the opening pages, this high fantasy adventure plunges you into a world brimming with magic, rebellion, and complex characters that leave a lasting impression.

Ruying, our protagonist, is a force to be reckoned with. Haunted by the past and burdened by a powerful but dangerous gift, she embodies the struggle against an oppressive regime. Her journey is one of self-discovery, sacrifice, and learning to navigate the murky waters of power and manipulation. Chang masterfully portrays her internal conflicts, making Ruying a character you root for with every twist and turn.

The world-building is rich and immersive, drawing inspiration from various cultures and weaving them into a tapestry that feels both familiar and unique. The magic system is intricate and fascinating, with its own set of rules and consequences that add depth and intrigue to the narrative.

Chang's prose is evocative and lyrical, painting vivid pictures of battlefields, bustling marketplaces, and serene temples. She masterfully balances action-packed sequences with moments of quiet reflection, allowing the reader to truly connect with the characters and their emotions.

The romance, while present, doesn't overshadow the larger themes of colonialism, resistance, and personal growth. It's a complex and nuanced relationship that sparks debate and introspection, adding another layer to the story's richness.

However, it's the author's note at the end that truly elevates the experience. Learning about Chang's grandfather and her dedication to honoring his legacy adds a personal touch that resonates deeply. It's a reminder that stories have the power to connect us across generations and cultures, and "To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods" is a testament to that connection.

"To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods" is a compelling debut that marks the arrival of a talented new voice in the fantasy genre. With its captivating story, unforgettable characters, and powerful themes, this is a book that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
4 out of 5 stars

P.S. I believe your grandfather would be incredibly proud of the story you've woven, Ms. Chang. You've created a world that inspires, challenges, and leaves a lasting impact.

I have very mixed thoughts on this. While I enjoyed and devoured this book, I can also see how the colonizer romance side is kind of off putting. Also, I expected something a little bigger plot wise. But maybe that’ll be in book 2. Anyways, I still did enjoy this one. I thought Qi was interesting and Ruying was a unique character. You hate her but love her at the same time.

I have to admit I expected more from this. There was so much promise in the synopsis but with a very stilted pacing problem and not much character development, this left much to be desired.

While I can tell the author put a lot of heart into this story and effort into the world building, there were many glaring problems with this novel. In particular, the plot felt very messy and the dynamic between the two main characters were very unbelievable. The development simply was not there to explain why a girl who had suffered oppression at the hands of his people her entire life would have any sort of positive feelings towards him when he has done nothing to earn it.

So I had heard a lot of mixed things about this book, primarily surrounding the romance, and I wanted to check it out myself.
My issues with the book started way before this aspect came to fruition. Everything felt extremely stiff and I couldn't connect to any of the characters. I also felt like a lot of what was said was repetitive, and it was very difficult to get a grasp of the world.

I can see a very interesting story in here if it went through a few more rounds of editing to get the world building more concrete and to get the characters a bit more fleshed out. I'll look forward to this authors future work as I'm interested in her ideas!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Power meant different things to different people. To me, power meant safety, stability. The opportunity to indulge in joy without fear of tomorrow. Power was being able to protect those I loved. Power meant I could punish those who wronged me. A life free of consequences, like the Romans lived."

This book is absolutely stunning! Oh my gosh I cannot express my love and excitement I had for this book. I love everything about it. To the world, the characters, the plot, my heart just couldn't stop racing.

There is a bit of info dumping for the first few chapters, but it wasn't too bad and wasn't overwhelming. I got the hang of it pretty quickly. I really like the idea of magic and science clashing, even though it was very minimal. I would think that magic has won out between the two, but it seems not. This series still needs to prove that magic will be a powerful force against the Romans. I also really enjoyed the clash of worlds. Ancient Chinese customs to the Roman customs. It's the clashing of modern technology with magic and I really loved it. I didn't expect to love it this much. I think that's what I love the most about this book. The clash between time period and technology. The author does very well integrating the two together.

The main character, Yang Ruying, is a coward. Or that's what she believes. But I would say stealing and trying to escape the Romans isn't really coward behavior. But compared to her sister, it is coward behavior. But she has a sharp tongue and argues with Antony on occasions. The cowardice that she claims to have is in regards to following the Roman's orders and not fighting back. Not fighting with the Phantom like her sister wants to. The Phantom is a rebel group against the Romans who believes that they must fight for their freedom and not live mindlessly under their presence. She does execute the orders well with her powers and she becomes closer to Antony. He comforts her. He says they are the same and I can see that. I hate that I can see that, despite my hatred that I have for the Romans and that same hatred runs through Ruying. Yet, she has come to see and accept such things. I like the main character, but I don't have a love for her. Nothing really sticks out from her, personality-wise.

Now Antony, he's an interesting character. I really love him. He isn't cruel, not like his brother, but he can be cruel to get what he wants. Yet, there is a softness to him. The cruel and soft nature intertwine so perfectly in which you don't want to paint him as a villain, but there is a hint of doubt if that softness is really true. He has a heart, but he also has a goal. It clashes on occasions, but he's willing to reach his goal, maybe not sacrifice his heart in the process, but hurt it. I think the author describes his personality perfectly here.

"I told you that you wouldn't like my plan B. Your power is exquisite-and you are beautiful. But there are plenty of pretty things in this world. Don't think for a second that I, Antony Augustus, am someone who sees a pretty girl and loses his head or grows soft. If I were like that, I would have been killed a long time ago, and Rome would never meet its greatest ruler. I like you, Yang Ruying. I admire your magic and your will to survive and everything that make you dangerous and untrustworthy. But you are disposable, like everything else in my life."

The plot is intense. It was so hard to put this book down. I want to see what choices Ruying picks. What actions Antony will take. Whether or not they like each other. And finally how he plans to save both worlds. After all, Ruying is killing people for him and he hasn't given a good reason as to how he plans to save both worlds and not just his. What will he do differently than his brother? What will he do to not be the villain of this story? And I'm still waiting for that answer after finishing this book. I want to read the next book so badly. I can see Antony's kindness towards Ruying and my heart tugged for their relationship, but I'm still hesitant if I really want them to be together. I mean, after that ending how can he still be trusted?

This book was just so amazing. I have to know what happens next. I NEED to know. Antony and Ruying. How will their partnership/relationship shatter? Can Er-Lang really be save? It seems so unlikely. The Romans are too powerful. How will the tide of magic change that? There's also the question of the possibilities of Ruying possibly living a longer life despite using her power. I believe Antony believes it is possible at the beginning when he first meets her. I want to see if there's a solution to the deal broker with magic. I want Ruying to live so badly. I want her life to be fulfilled. There's so much to hope for and I want to see if this hope results in happiness or bitter sweetness.

"Trust is a two way street. I want to trust you and want you to trust me in return. Some that won't happen unless I show you my cards, let you see the man under the armor."

"Why?" I whispered. "As long as you have my family lives in the palm of your hand, I will obey your every command. You don't need my trust. You don't need me as your ally."

"But what if I do? What if I see the pieces of you that you don't want the world to see? All the demons that dwell in the shadows of your consciousness, Death with his inviting words at your ear... What if I look at your demons and see my own reflecting back? Someone who's terrified to one day be seen as a villain, to exist on the wrong side of history?"

4/5

I would definitely recommend To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods! This debut novel from Molly X. Chang was a unique and compelling story that dealt with themes of survival and resilience while one's land is being colonized, as well as the dangers of humans playing gods. The magic system is also very unique, and I hope to learn more about it in the next book.

My only real complaint about the book was the writing style. While I enjoyed the story and characters, I wasn't a fan of the extremely concise writing and short (often just one sentence long) paragraphs. I understand that sounds quite nitpicky though, and I recognize that this is just a personal preference.

Nonetheless, I recommend the book to anyone interested in reading a good story about a morally-gray assassin blessed by Death and a book with strong thematic elements due to the MC's many ethical quandaries. It's an enjoyable read!

(And thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey for the eARC!)

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this debut book written by Molly X. Chang. As far as debut books go I loved it so much. The characters, world building and magic system are all well described and well thought out. This book grabbed a hold of me and I couldn't stop reading it has all the elements of a great fantasy series it is interesting, engaging, and will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more!