I had a hard time gathering my thought into a coherent thoughts. As I was reading I took notes, but after finishing I left the review unwritten. But coming back to it I still couldn’t write. MC not a villain, just a victim. I’m not a fan of this troupe. A lot of inner dialogue and exposition makes scenes feel long. Long dialogue dumps/chunks. Repetitive, same information, makes story slow. Not a fan of the female main character, she gives up so much just to listen to her sister and everyone complain and belittle her. Male main character is an awful person, if the author was trying to make him more likeable, hard miss. Themes like racism and sexism is approached but put in a poor light.
The ending was too little too late for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for ARC. I received my copy in exchange of an honest review.

To Gaza Upon Wicked Gods is the first book in a new Dystopian Fantasy series which contains:
Enemies to Lovers
Science Vs Magic
Slow Burn Romance
There is just One Bed!
Shatter Me Vibes
And Asian history inspiration.
When I requested for this book, I didn't know anything about it. I just saw a gorgeous and stunning cover and a title that below my mind. So I sent my request and thankfully my request was approves.
Our heroine is Ruying, a yung girl who can control Death. She can kill a man just with moving her fingers.
Ruying lives in a world that is conquered by ruthless invaders from another world. One day, a portal opend up in the sky and then those invaders came from it with their flying machines based on scince, A thing that is unknowable for people who lived their entire lives with magic and supernatural powers.
Now, in this war between since and magic, and the war between invaders and those who lost their homes and land, Ruying must decide how to play her role in all of this...
This book was different from all the fantasy books I read before. I really enjoyed the plot line. Those differences between this two world's cultures, religions and believes.
My heart get broken when I read about the people who their world, their land and their homes were got conquered by foreigners but they couldn't do anything. They must kneel and obey the rules cause their hands was empty and the enemies hands was full of guns and bombs.
But, is there "A life on the knees a life at all" ?!
I liked our main characters, Ruying and Antony. Despite all the monologues that Ruying was saying throughout the story and reminded me of Juliet from the Shatter Me series. Oh, come on girl. Stop that. You are too much talkative -_-
After all of this, I really want to say that I enjoyed reading this book and I absolutely want to read the next book ASAP.

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang🪐

You’ll Like This If You’re Into:
1. Slow plot movement with lots of internal monologue 💭
2. Enemies to Allies to lovers…(?!?) 🔪
3. Dark and twisted themes
4. Asian inspired worlds


This Wasn’t for Me Because:
1. World Building 🪐: The premise of this book seemed promising, but it left me feeling disappointed. It felt like a rough first draft that needed more characterization, depth, and refined world-building.
2. Info Dumping 📖: The excessive info-dumping and reliance on "telling, not showing" made it challenging to immerse myself in the story.
3. Off Page Action 🎥: The action often felt summarized or occurred off-page, leaving me wanting a more immersive experience.
4. Character Motivations 📜: The character motivations needed further development, especially given the importance of family in the story.
5. Bland Romance 💔: The romance felt bland, lacking the depth and trust-building required to make it believable.


Character Chemistry: ★☆☆☆☆
Plot Progression: ★★☆☆☆
Writing Style: ★★☆☆☆
Memorability: ★★☆☆☆
Overall: ★★☆☆☆

I really wanted to find something to appreciate in "To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods" by Molly X. Chang, but it proved to be a slow and repetitive journey. The protagonist's constant dwelling on themes and emotions left me unengaged, and I struggled to find any likable characters. The story's potential could be better realized in an adult novel, as the mature themes hinted at aren't explored deeply enough for a teen audience. The world-building, though intriguing, lacks depth, and the conflict resolution between the two cultures appears bleak. This novel seems uncertain about its identity and feels unoriginal.

I was initially excited about this book, drawn in by its intriguing concept of magic versus science and its exploration of environmental themes and moral dilemmas. However, the execution fell short for me. The writing was decent, but the initial info-dumping might be off-putting for some readers. The main character, Ruying, came across as naive, and her unwavering refusal to kill, even in life-or-death situations, hindered my engagement. The romance was unconvincing, and the characters felt ill-suited for each other, with trust developing too quickly. Overall, I see potential in the story, but I'm uncertain if it will come to fruition. I am unlikely to continue reading the next book in the series.

Rating: ⭐️2

The premise of this book was exactly something I should have loved and devoured....except I ended up being so disappointed in this. I don't say this lightly, but this very much felt like a first draft that needed a few more rounds of edits to add more characterization and depth and to make the world-building and plot more seamless.

The info-dumping was atrocious. I normally don't mind info-dumping but even this was too much for me. There was also frequently a lot of "telling, not showing".

So much of the action and events felt like they were summarized or happened off-page instead instead of having the action unfold on-page. And there were quite a few times where RuYing would explain away some info she knew or some talent of hers as "something her Grandmother taught her" instead of taking the time to explain. Perhaps using a flashback of her being taught, or inserting a personal annodcate would have help. Doing that could have also helped make the readers care more towards RuYing's family. For the character being all about family, the readers sure aren't given any crumbs from them to endear them to us. They weren't developed at ALL and seem to only be served as a vague reason for the MC to obey/ work for Anthony. I needed to feel her terror for her family and for her life, but instead I felt nothing. I think the motivations behind the characters need to be developed more and expanded upon because a fantasy book can't hold up with something this philmsy.

And don't get me even started on the romance. It's bland. It gives nothing!! She's so quick to trust him just because he "comforts her" after she kills somebody....and that seems to be it? He's given no personality besides being a colonizer that is using her so I truly can't fathom the ending or why she decides he's trustworthy....

A fun read with a unique story, this novel was one that I didn't want to put down. Ruyang is a very likeable character and it's very easy to sympathize with her as she's forced into making life-altering decisions. We definitely spend a lot of time in her head - learning how each side works/thinks, the internal struggles she faces as she tries to do what she believes is right. While I enjoyed the story, and am interested in reading the sequel, I wish more had happened. I understand the need to explain the world and set up certain events but I feel like more could've happened story-wise. This book is nearly 400 pages and there was so much filler that there wasn't any more space for plot. Again, definitely enjoyed it but it fell short.

"To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods" provides an interesting perspective, in a fictional setting, on colonialism and the subjugation of those deemed “lesser” by those who have the power to claim to be greater. The magic in Er-Lang and neighboring kingdoms on the continent of Pangu has been fading and was no match for the might of Rome with its scientific and technological advancements, especially after Rome got the people of Er-Lang hooked on opian. It is interesting how great a gulf the author creates between the knowledge and power of the two groups. The Er-Lang Empire is portrayed as in essence an Asian nation. However, Er-Lang also appears to exist on another planet (maybe an alternate earth) accessed through a portal. Rome needs what Er-Lang has because the people of Rome have ruined their own world through greed, polluting their own lands and suffering the ravages of climate change.

In Er-Lang resides Ruying, one of Xianling or Gifted, who possesses the power of death, which makes her feared. However, it is a power she is loath to use and has not been taught how to properly harness. She hates the Romans because opian addiction caused the death of her father and could cost her sister's life as well. She is determined to protect her sister and grandmother. She has no interest in the brewing rebellion being led by the mysterious Phantom, convinced that war will just lead to the destruction of their country. However, an impetuous decision will bring her to the attention of Antony Augustus, one of the Roman princes, and force her into a situation where she has to use her power to advance his agenda, which she only partially understands. She will discover how much she does not know and understand about the Romans, the actions and inactions of the Er-Lang Emperor, and why Rome is so interested in the Xianlings — those with magical abilities. Antony is an enigma -- he has learned the Pangu language and has some knowledge of Pangu culture, and he claims he wants peace between Rome and Er-Lang and neighboring kingdoms, but he is hiding lots of secrets from Ruying and the actions he expects Ruying to take are not necessarily ideal for creating a lasting peace. The story ends at a crossroads for Ruying, as the true nature of Prince Antony has been revealed to her. I look forward to the sequel.

This dark fantasy inspired by the plight of Manchuria during the early 20th century is an interesting mixed bag that’s worth a read.

I was instantly hooked at the beginning of the book. The story pulled me in, and it never dragged. I was intrigued by the world and was left wanting to learn more.

Important to note: this is not a colonizer romance. Antony instantly came across as a manipulative creep and was almost cartoonishly villainous. It was clear Ruying was suffering from some sort of PTSD when she viewed him with twisted affection. This was not enemies to lovers, and there was no spice. This was not a case of “morally gray” characters; Ruying was obviously good, and Antony was evil, and that’s not a spoiler.

The writing was easy and poetic, but it was very repetitive, with short, choppy single-sentence paragraphs that were there for unnecessary emphasis. This reminded me of Kindle Unlimited books with padded pagecounts. More editing could help condense this. Also, the dialogue felt unnatural at times.

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods (To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods, #1)
by Molly X. Chang
A fractured history, a story that embraces history but adds to it. The story reflects the nature of European expansion and the manipulation of the far east. Exchanging the characters of the British empire, with the Roman empire. The use of opium, to control the population for economic manipulation by the British has been changed. The Roman conquest of this new world uses a drug to change the people, make them dependent on the concurring and dominating the country.
The beautiful magic, and society is corrupted by drugs, and economic domination.
It shows the conflict between cultures because of cultural norms and stories change the viewpoint of the people.

Oh, how I wanted to love this book. The combination of fantasy (magic!) and scifi (Romans traveling through time & space to steal from the magic people!) was totally fascinating. I appreciated how easily parallels were drawn to our climate crisis, and the themes of who owns what, and who has power, and what that power means. Is it possible to colonize another people, or exploit others for their resources, and not be morally wrong is a question that pops up over and over again.

Unfortunately, the protagonist of this book takes the entirety of the book to decide how she feels about that question. And the powerful character she's drawn to isn't quite richly developed enough or compelling enough for me to want her to choose him. And the end of the book, with clear implications about what her decision is but no details about how it turns out, was incredibly frustrating for this reader.

I loved the setting, enjoyed seeing how Molly X. Chang discusses the consequences of magic. The various lands the characters travel through seem like they'd be worthy of their own explorations in more detail. I could have used much less internal turmoil and more decisiveness from the protagonist before the final chapter.

This book put me through a whirlwind of emotions. Chang ripped my heart out, stomped on it, dusted it off, replaced it and then stabbed it, and twisted the knife. Then Chang leaves the knife there after I finish the book with a cliffhanger ending. I need the other book. I need to know how the story ends.
I was immediately drawn into this book when I realized the subject matter she was tackling (opium crisis). This is a historical event that has always bothered me, and I was interested to see how Chang would address it in a fantasy setting for this age group (YA). She does an amazing job of showing addiction and the hurt it not only causes the individual but the family members involved. I do think this is on the far end of YA leaning to Adult. Though the character development and the decisions our MFC makes, I feel that it keeps it in YA.
As readers, we have no idea who we can trust, thus making us feel just as unsure and backed into a corner as our MFC Ruhying. I have never actively disliked so many characters, and Anthony gives a whole new name to morally grey, but part of me is still unsure if it applies to him or if he is straight up just the villain?
In war and situations that Ruhying is presented with, it's easy to understand how tough it is to make decisions doing what is morally right and what must be done to ensure survival for oneself and those we love. We follow Ruhying as a young adult, having to make decisions she is not ready for nor wants to make for self-preservation and is constantly questioned for them. It forces her to choose what she feels is right even when others are apposed. She has to trust herself, and as a young adult, that is hard. When you have the put aside noise of parents, friends, teachers, siblings, significant others, and whoever else feels that their opinion matters.
The magic system gives you enough to understand, but I hope that with further installments, we are able to get more information. I liked how Ruhying's death magic is explained and how there is a more visceral reaction to taking a life. It really makes the reader see how tough that should be and a decision not made on a whim.
I found myself, though, getting annoyed with how much she repeated, needing to protect her family and do the right thing. I know it shows her struggling to stay afloat, making her own morally grey decisions, but it felt like we were hearing it on every page. It wasn't till the last 20% that she dropped talking about what was wrong and what was right and saving her family, and she started being more confident in her decisions. The last 20% of this book was absolute perfection. The pacing was perfect. We had a lot of plot and character development. So I hope the second book continues this pacing and plot building storyline and leaves the repetitive inside Ruhying's head, thought patterns behind. I like that she is constantly at war with herself, but we need to phrase it differently.

3.5 stars!

I love stories that have such diametrically opposed elements as Wicked Gods has... The science of Rome, the magic of the Xianlings. The traditional roles of men vs the traditional roles of women. The wealth and privilege of the conquerors set against the poverty of the conquered. It creates such a sense of conflict in me as I read. And it's uncomfortable! But in good ways, because it forces me to learn more about the atrocities humanity is capable of.

The magic system (and subsequent revelations about qi-cells) was fascinating - I would have loved to learn more about it, but hopefully we'll see more of that in the next book. And Ruying was such an interesting protagonist - I found myself alternately rooting for/sympathizing with her and then wanting to figuratively shake some sense into her. Honestly, I have very complicated feelings about nearly all of the characters at this point!

And all of this conflict/complication set against a visually striking backdrop... Definitely a book that paints a clear mental picture of it's environs.

What was I missing? I personally could have used more context in some areas and less in others. I *think* some of that will resolve in the coming sequels - and I get it, you don't just info dump all the details straight into book one. But I do think some of Ruying's inner conflict could have been trimmed and additional info provided to flesh out other areas of the story.

Can you read the story without reflecting on what the colonization of Manchuria meant to the native people? Can you read without reflecting on the ongoing disparity between traditionally recognized gender roles? Sure. But I think taking the time to reflect on and learn a bit about the history that informs the fiction adds a level of nuance that enriches the story. Plus, the state of the world today.....do we really want to continue these patterns of behavior?

All in all, an enjoyable book regardless of how deep you want to dig. Will I read the sequels? Yes - I'm a sucker for the end of the story.

It was a great book. I could really feel the anger, the sorrow of the protagonist Ruying. I loved the enemies-to-lovers approach where prince Anthony took over her world. Also, a love triangle with Baihu would be interesting. I have to say the content shows a view of a dark romance-type fantasy, considering the power inbalance so far. Maybe we'll see more positive power balances.

This book was great. The story took so many turns and the romance wasn’t too heavy, it was sprinkled right in there perfectly. The only complaint I would have is the writing style was a little too flowery and over descriptive for me personally. I still really enjoyed this book and would recommend this to everyone.

I would like to thank Random House Publishing, Del Rey, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to review.

I really wanted to find something I liked about this book but it was a slog for me. Very slow - themes, thoughts and feelings are so over-repeated by the protagonist that I quickly lost interest. I couldn't find any characters likeable and Ruying herself is morose and whiney. If this was not a YA novel but an adult one it would be better - there's nothing as a teen I would have been interested in here either but diving deeper into the mature themes could help carry things along. The world could be interesting but the two cultures aren't dived into deep enough - it's dark but not dark enough and there's little hope for conflict resolution between the two sides. It's hard to tell what this novel wants to be and some ideas from other books are played at so it doesn't feel new or exciting for me.

This Asian inspired fantasy will have your heart racing. I am absolutely a sucker for books like this one and it's such a wonderful read. Highly recommend!

In a world invaded by Romans, we meet Ruying, a girl with a deadly gift from Death itself - the power to drain life. Captured due to her power, she's forced to ally with Antony, a mortal prince, in a bid to protect her family. The narrative unfolds slowly, heavy with information and repetitive thoughts.

The romance between Antony and Ruying feels forced. He's her captor and tormentor, making their supposed love hard to believe. Ruying's sudden affection for Baihu, a symbol of her oppression, is equally perplexing. Baihu is part of the Roman Empire, the very force brutalizing Ruying and her people.

"To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods" is a stark exploration of heavy themes. That takes a look at Magic vs Science. Overall I wanted to enjoy this book more than I actually did which is unfortunate because I was excited to read this.

This was SO good. The ending was *chefs kiss* I loved the dynamic between the main characters. I loved the world building and the culture. I loved the magic system. The only thing I need is more!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
⭐️2.5

I was excited to read this book as soon as I heard from it, it looked like something I would love. And I really like the idea, I loved the idea of magic versus science, thought it was interesting the themes about enviroment, imperialism and the moral dylemma if peace is really always the best option. But overall I had problems with the execution.

- The writing: It was fine. Easy to read. I think my biggest issue was the info dump at the beginning — thought it didnt bother me that much I think this could be an issue for someone else, since fantasy is a genre that its a bit harder than usual to get into.
- The characters: I found Ruying to be too naive and her refusal to kill even in life or death situations its something I find tiring to read in higher stakes stories. I understand when using her powers but even when shes not using it not so much. I think she could have developed more (overall) in this book but theres room for that in the next one.
I Loved her sister for the little we saw of her — I wish I could have seen her more.
The others are fine, Not sure what to think of Anthony as a character yet,
- The romance: I think this was my biggest issue in this. I can love villain romances, enemies to lovers, or any kind of relationship similar. But I dont like any character that just fits in the two boxes, I nedd for them to make sense to be together as individual characters (in any relationship, of course, but specially these ones) and I dont think this was the case. Specially by how fast I thought Ruying started to trust Anthony. I probably would have enjoyed the book more if there was no romance at all and it focused more on the main characters' dilemma of war x peace. Her feelings having any influence in some of her decisions felt silly.
Also, I think its worth mentioning: I have seen some reviews mentioning slowburn. I dont know where people are getting this so Im not sure if its the books' fault, but if slowburn to you means "slow development of feelings" and not just "how long it takes for them to get together" you could be disappointed by this. Specially when there was a bit of time jump not long after they met and we miss some early development that I think it was important to see.

Overall I can see a potential, I think i could enjoy more depending of the direction the story takes, but Im not sure it it could go to a direction I want, so im not certain I will pick up the next book.

This book made Molly Chang one of my auto buy authors! I loved this book. Such a fast pace read. I haven’t read a book this good in a while.

My hopes were sky high stumbling upon this cover and description. Truly one of the most beautiful covers I’ve seen in awhile. I really try to seek out asian authors and settings, I’m filipino so I love any asian representation is something I gravitate towards.

While the cover invites you in, I found the writing style a bit brash. There was lots of telling and not enough showing. What really did not sit right with me is the colonizer love interest. The romance was toxic & I just could not get passed it. In ways I felt like this book’s premise was striving to be on the same plane as The Poppy War series. There simply wasn’t enough depth in the characters for such heavy subject matter, and the world building wasn’t executed strongly in my opinion. Unfortunately the lore and history was so far off that it was hard for me to fully immerse myself.

I was looking forward to this one so much but unfortunately it fell short for me :/

As always these opinions are my own, and thank you kindly to Netgalley and Del Rey for the advanced copy.