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!

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review

TO GAZE UPON WICKED GODS by Molly X. Chang is a sci-fi/fantasy novel set in the fictional world of Pangu. Twenty years ago, the Romans arrived through a portal ripped in the sky. Since then, they have quickly seized more power, easily overpowering Pangu’s magic with Roman science and technology.

Overall, I liked the book. There is a unique magic system - rare, changed based on the person, lots of different manifestations, and use eventually kills the user (magic is not an infinite resource). I loved the Chinese, specifically Manchurian, influence. There are tons of relevant themes: climate change, subjugated population, radicalization, addiction. I liked Chang’s world-building and writing style.

That being said, I had some issues. The colonizer/colonized relationship was a bit off-putting. Chang tries to make him morally gray, but we only see him patronizing and talking down to Ruying. In that vein, we don’t see much of Antony and Ruying’s interactions. They’re just suddenly in love and we get a single chapter from Antony’s perspective to tell us his feelings are real. We never see the interactions that bring us to this point. The relationship, itself, is full of gaslighting, brainwashing, and Stockholm Syndrome, which makes me feel for Ruying. But it’s toxic and we’re expected to romanticize it.

Ruying knows too much about the Roman culture. She’s supposedly poor and has had minimal interaction with the Romans, yet she knows all the names and behaviors associated with Roman technology.

There was a lot of telling, not a lot of showing: Meiya is kind, Taohua is strong, etc. We rarely or never saw the characters behaving in that way. The pacing was off: the first 20% and the last 20% were good, but the middle was quite slow. The language was very repetitive: constant reference to people acting like “wicked Gods;” Ruying’s internal monologue was the same set of thoughts and we rarely saw her perspective outside of those thought patterns; and the few bits of dialogue between characters were, essentially, the same conversation over and over.

All in all, I love the concept. The book just needs more editing. I’ll probably pick up the next book in the series, as I do want to know what happens, and am excited to see how Chang grows as a writer.

This book was okay but there were a lot of issues that kept me from fully enjoying it.

The overall plot was fun. I didn’t expect this book to be science fiction, but I thought the idea of people from another world coming to destroy another through a portal in the sky was an interesting concept. What I didn’t like about this setup was the execution. I felt like the book waited too long to tell us it was science fiction. It was a quarter of the way through before technology like cars and guns and keycards and helicopters were introduced. That late in the game, it felt jarring and out of place. And worse, the main character, who is from a seemingly historical period of time, knows all too well what all these foreign gadgets are called. If she is part of the oppressed people of Pangu being colonized by alien invaders, she shouldn’t know foreign words or concepts like remote controls, or understand that that hand movements her enemies are doing on tablets is called typing and swiping. She’s too knowledgeable.

I did really like the magic in the book. Nobody seems to know where it came from and it manifests differently for different people. Unfortunately, we only get to see one example of another person’s magic besides the main character’s. I feel like it was a missed opportunity to showcase some unique supernatural abilities and present some conflicts, which the book was sorely lacking. Chinese proverbs are scattered throughout the story. I enjoyed those, but it was often the invaders who were using them. Ruying felt too fluent in the Roman tongue and they too fluent in hers. Linguistic miscommunication could have added some conflict as well.

I am sorry to say I did not enjoy the storytelling in this book at all. It started off really good, introducing us to the main character’s friends and family members, and explaining how Ruying’s life has changed since the invaders arrived from Rome. But most of the book seemed comprised of the main character’s inner thoughts. I grew bored with the lack of action and dialogue, and the repetitiveness of her internal struggles. I felt like I was reading a teenage girl’s diary, page after page about her crush on her enemy and her conflicted feelings towards him and his people. But there was very little interaction with other people, and absolutely no witty banter between characters at any point in the story.

I did not like the romance at all. In the beginning of the book, a character named Baihu was introduced. He and Ruying grew up together and there was an attraction there that I assumed would turn into an enemies-to-lovers romance, since they were both from Pangu but Ruying disagreed with Baihu working for Rome. But then Baihu just disappeared from the story, as did all the other side characters, including Ruying’s friends and relatives. All we were left with was Ruying’s internal complaints about having to work for the Roman prince Antony. I expected some hostility between them or for some chemistry to spark, something to explain the enemies-to-instant love between them, but nothing really happened. He used her as his personal assassin against her own people, and she fell into his arms to weep about it, and that made her love him. It didn’t make sense to me that she would find his presence comforting when he was the cause of her pain. Every time he spoke to her, he sounded like he was mansplaining why he was superior to her race, and it felt gross. I couldn’t buy them as a believable couple, not only because of their situation as captor/captive but also because they never had any interaction that wasn’t him being threatening or condescending. He would refer to himself as “I, Antony Augustus” when speaking to Ruying, as if she didn’t already know his name. He even called her “honey” one time and I felt my skin crawl. He might be the most repulsive love interest I’ve ever read in a book.

I was glad when the story finally picked up around the 80 percent mark. The action was fairly fast-paced after that and some interesting scenes finally occurred. I was just disappointed the bulk of the book felt so empty and repetitive. And then the ending itself just kind of petered out. There was no explosive climax, no anxiety-inducing cliffhanger. I really don’t feel compelled to continue the story when the other volumes to the series are released, after what I have read.

Finally, I noticed a lot of grammatical errors throughout the entirety of the text. Tense kept changing mid-sentence and made the phrasing sound so awkward. Words like “at” and “to” were often omitted entirely. This felt like an early draft of a book that still needs a lot of work.

This is an Arc Review. Thank you Net Galley and Molly X Chang for this opportunity!

I read a lot of fantasy and this definitely feels different than most I have read. I spent most of the book trying to decide if Ruying was too easily manipulated. I don’t know how I feel about Antony. Some parts of this moved very fast (like when Ruying first becomes Antony’s assassin) and other parts went into more detail. All in all I would read the next books. I want to know what happens and I am invested in the characters. 3.5 stars


Trigger Warning
Drug addiction
Experimentation on people

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is a good book. Molly X. Chang's writing is great, her world-building is excellent, and the plot focuses on the messy intersection of interpersonal relationships and politics, which is ALWAYS the fun part. Perhaps most importantly, it showcases the dilemmas that can arise from colonization, especially when a colonizer and one of the colonized catch feelings for each other, and that's frankly not something I've seen discussed in fantasy fiction, or at least not that I can recall. It's an important thing to talk about, and certainly something that gets glossed over in both real life and fiction. All in all, I can safely say that To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is a solid option for a YA reader who wants to read a book that connects to real-life cultural circumstances, or maybe just a doomed romance.

That being said.... it was not MY book. Maybe it was because it's written in the first person, which I don't tend to like at the best of times and I just could not shove myself into Ruying's head. Maybe it was because I disagreed with Ruying's understanding of the political situation and what she should do about it, especially at the end. Or maybe it was that I just wanted something with a happier ending. For whatever reason, I had issues enjoying this book. However, I think those issues were very subjective, and probably wouldn't affect most readers, especially not in the target audience. In my opinion, To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is well worth giving a shot, even if you don't end up loving it.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This is a fictional story about a future with Rome and Pangu – sort of China – as the only remaining powers. Pangu isn’t doing well holding out against Rome. Rome has their science-based technology: Pangu as their Xianlings – who use magic.

Our protagonist, who tells the story first person, steals gold from a Roman Prince. Her magic is Death. She is captured, but makes a deal with the prince who wants her to propel him into power, promising an end to war. He talks a good story. Can she trust him? Her childhood sweetheart, viewed as a traitor, lives a good life having allied himself to the Romans. Can she trust him? How about her sister, who is addicted to the Roman’s drug, yet has posters of the brewing Pangu insurgency, the Phantom?

There are choices to be made, and sides to take. Will she make the right choice? What happens after she realizes she’s made the wrong choice?

It is honestly quite unfortunate that yet another abusive colonizer romance is being published. Most especially from an author who has been radiosilent on the genocide that has been happening in Palestine and other atrocities that are happening across the world.

I think the worst thing about this is that in addition to all of that this is a YOUNG ADULT book. I find it absolutely disgusting that we are glorifying abusive colonizer romances in books for kids.

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods was enjoyable. I thought the characters were interesting and I really liked the writing style. There were some things about the plot that I would have liked to have seen tightened up a bit. I stalled about 60% in the book but I did think the last 20% really picked up and I liked it.

The book does deal with addiction. I have witnessed addiction in my life but I’m not going to go into the book's representation of it. As a reader though just be aware it’s in there and a main plot point.

Ruying was interesting to me because she often says so and so would be disappointed in me if they saw me do this. So I wondered what she actually thought because it felt like she wasn’t really thinking for herself. That she was making decisions based on what other people thought of her and what others told her was right.

I started to hate everyone. Ruying had people who screamed things at her but told her nothing. People may have lied but treated her with more kindness in a strange way. Ruying was being used and manipulated by everyone. I didn’t think of her as weak but someone who didn’t know what it’s like to have a true bond. Ruying’s character did develop a bit as the story went on but the problem that I have always had with betrayal in books is that often a character will then just switch to the other side. Like oh this side betrayed me, so I’m going to go to this side instead of just saying. Listen both these sides are crap, I’m going to take my own side. I wished I had seen more development in Ruyings character in this way.

I felt confused about the portal. Was it an actual portal? I know it mentioned ships. I didn’t understand how it was made or how it got there or if it really was a portal or if it was just ships flying over from another continent. I would have liked a little clearer back story on that. It confused me throughout the book. Are Romans Aliens from another planet?

I had so much hate for Meiya for most of the book. Mostly because some things didn’t make sense to me. Like being really judgemental of Ruying when it seemed like Meiya was seeing everyone's cards and Ruying was only seeing her own. This also made the plot feel a little off kilter because I was really sure why Ruying was left in the dark. Certain things Ruying had to do didn’t quite make sense and the sacrifices she made Meiya just kind of brushed off. It super bugged me so I had to stop reading for a bit and then go back.

I like “villains” like Anthony because his actions seem villainous but his motivations seem more noble. You really don’t know though. There are evil people in the world and there are people who do not know they are villains because they truly believe their actions are based in good.

So the ending was fine. I will read book 2 because I would like to see Ruying free herself of everyone. So I will be curious how that all plays out.

I think this book suffers from bad timing. There are so many parallels to current events that the main character having a very "both sides" position where she sides with her oppressor is uncomfortable. I do think based on the end that the series as a whole will not be like that, so I'm interested to see where the sequel goes.

Prose-wise, it is very repetitive. So much introspection that is more or less there same over and over. Instead of plot, we got the MC thinking about her woes.

World building is really cool. I just wish for a clearer answer as to who the Romans are. Are they a nu-Rome in Earth's future, or is this an alternate history where Rome never fell? What about Earth's China? It can be spelled out in the sequels, but I wish there were more hints because it was kind of confusing.

Full review will come later in a video but....

This story had so much to love in its premise, and knowing the author's inspiration I can see how much of herself was put into the story. That's why I am so heartbroken by how let down I was by this book. I genuinely wanted to love it, begged for it to get better, only to read the last page and say "wait, that's it? That's the cliffhanger?"

TGUWG has some great elements and a strong authorial voice that I can vibe with, but this story needed another round or two of edits. Pacing, character development, world-building, and core plot ALL need improvement, and at the end of the day I can't identify the target audience...which isn't great. Some parts feel like it's supposed to be YA, but the age of the characters and some other elements feel more New Adult.

I think most of my disappointment comes down to the fact that I just didn't like Ruying as a character. I understood her inner conflict and her motivations, but I didn't sympathize or find myself rooting for her. I didn't agree with her choices and was frequently irritated by her behavior, especially her hypocrisy in her treatment of Baihu and her ridiculous crush on Antony.

I hope Chang keeps writing, because I see incredible potential in her writing, but I don't think I'll bother with the sequel for this one.

Small Business BookTok ARC Reviews: "To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods" by Molly X. Chang

Note: This ARC was given to me for free by the author and I am reviewing this book voluntarily.

What would you do for your family in a world where war is brewing?
Which side would you choose to protect those you love?

Ruying is a girl born with the magical ability to take away life in a world where her people are oppressed and discussion of war starts to brew between her people and the Romans, the colonizers of her world. When she is taken from her home by Antony, the Prince of Rome, Ruying is given a difficult proposition; to use her ability as a weapon for him in exchange for the protection of her family and to prevent a war that could “end worlds”! Could she work with the prince and possibly betray the people of Pangu in the process in order to save the lives of many?

Wow, this was quite a heavy read packed with Imperial Chinese mythos and something akin to Shakespearean gravitas! The worldbuilding established in the conflicting tension between Pangu and the Romans felt extremely real in its tackling of themes of colonialism, oppression, and war. Chang’s writing and emphasis on the detrimental and destructive impact of these practices within the fictional context acts as a reminder for readers to be wary about the repetition of history’s horrific mistakes and consequences.

Ruying and Antony also act as symbolic characters to the commentary within the worldbuilding; While Ruying is part of a restricted society in which she is forced to kill and commit treasons in the name of preserving peace, Antony acts as the oppressor who allegedly wants to break his family’s vicious cycle of inflicting pain on her people, but will make vicious, calculated moves in order to do so. While their dynamic can be upsetting to read, I believe Chang is emphasizing the duality of these two characters and how both characters suffer from being caught in a broken system that was forced onto them since childhood. If you’re looking for a YA book that combines historic commentary with Chinese mythology, don't miss out on this book when it hits online and in-store shelves on April 16, 2024!

Rating: 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Meter: No Spice

-Tropes to Expect: Magic-Wielding Protagonist, Magic Vs Science, Assassin/Prince Duo, Covert Missions Narrative, Implied Forbidden Romance, Humans vs Nature,
Imperialism Period Narrative, and YA Fantasy.

-Trigger Warnings: Colonization, Emotional and Physical Abuse, Manipulation, Self-Sacrifices, Deaths of Family Members, Addiction, Discussions of War, Toxic Relationship, Family Conflicts, Near Death Experiences, and Forced Human Experimentation.

Even with my reservations about the colonizer and colonized dynamic, I trudged through To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods, mainly driven by the allure of the slow-burn will-they-or-won't-they romance between Ruying and Antony. Their relationship's twists and turns proved compelling, despite my discomfort with the underlying themes of power, trauma, and corruption.

However, the novel left me with mixed feelings, reflected in my rating of 3.8 out of five stars. The persistent uncertainty and discomfort surrounding the central romantic theme were the driving force that kept me engaged. The plot's major gaps, particularly the sudden revelation of Antony's Rome as another planet, felt jarring and inadequately explained. The world-building further added to my confusion, with an unclear timeline and technological mix between ancient China and modern Rome.

Additionally, the writing style's repetitive, short, choppy sentences proved to be a constant annoyance. While the slow-burn romance held its allure, these various elements left me with a sense of frustration and a less than stellar overall impression of the novel.