Chapter 38 made me cry and I hadn't cried reading a book for a while. The writing in this books was beautiful and I enjoyed reading it for the prose, even if sometimes the main character, Ruying, made me want to scream at my phone. When I first realized the romance was between her and the colonizer prince, I had my reservations, but the ending made up for it. I can't wait to read the next book!

4.5. To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods was one of my most anticipated books this year, and it did not disappoint.

Ruying is a common woman blessed with the power of death in a world where many are blessed with unique magic. She has lived a quiet life under the colonial rule of a futuristic Roman empire. When a Roman prince sees her performing hr gifts, she is given a choice. She must work as the prince's assassin or face the wrath of the empire.

This will be a book for a particular kind of person who really means it when they say they want the main character to fall in love with a villain. Many folks will morally struggle with it, and I am happy to say that To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods really begs the question "what if the boy the girl falls in love with is truly a horrible piece of shit". Interesting, engaging, dark, mysterious, and uniquely written yes, but absolute garbage.

Focusing first on characters, To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is a book that goes all in with its two leads. I will address the side characters in a moment.

Ruying is a messy and complex girl willing to do anything to protect her family, but she is also complacent. She has learned to live under the thumb of Rome and does not feel motivated to take to resistance like some of those around her. As she is drawn into the Roman royalty's world, she finds herself finding ways to justify assisting in their cruelty. If you liked Nezha from The Poppy War, expect a similar arc but with a female main character. Her corruption and devolution into a more complicated character is extremely unique in the world of Young Adult fantasy and handled with a tremendous amount of care.

Antony is the second prince of Rome, and our secondary lead. He is a dark brooding green eyed monster, both literally and figuratively. While he comes off as the "less bad" of his family, he has his eyes on the throne- it can be challenging to read his motivations. He is a masterclass in manipulative behavior and he is the "gaslight" in Gaslight, Girlboss, Gatekeep. Antony never really becomes your quintessential cool Rhysand YA boyfriend. Hes not a particularly pleasant person, but hes big sad boy energy has both Ruying and me in a chokehold.

The side characters are all quite well written, though at times I found myself a little disappointed with where their journeys ended up. This includes Ruying's childhood friend who has a crush on her and now works for the enemy, her sister who is ravaged by addiction, her wise grandmother, and the twisted eldest prince. Chang also does a wonderful job painting a tapestry of off screen characters- primarily from the Roman side. I assume we will meet some of these characters in the next book and I am very much looking forward to it. None of these characters exist to advance the romance in the book, they all have their own thing going on and you can watch their journeys unfold through Ruying's POV.

The romance in the book is top tier if you are an enemies to lovers junkie, though I am worried there is actually a chance Change may pivot the romance to another character (Miss Chang I am begging you not to do this) This is easily one of the slowest burn young adult romances I've ever read and will be satisfying to anyone who needs a cleanse from romantic speedruns.

Antony and Ruying have a hard-to-define bond based on trauma, duty, and broken power dynamics. Antony has near complete control over her to the point where you could argue her affection resembles Stockholm syndrome. He is why she is forced to kill countless of her countrymen, though he is always there to comfort her when she starts to feel overwhelmed by what she is made to do to protect her family and herself. It's extremely hard to make a clear case for Antony's motives right down to the last pages of the book. Molly Chang does a great job writing Antony from Ruying's perspective, making it hard for you as the reader to trust him while your heart stirs at his most genuine moments.

The pair also regularly discuss the nature of power and explore their desire and fear of it together. Ruying is seduced by Antony's vision for peace, however flawed. This creates some fascinating character moments that extend far beyond attraction, as these two characters truly end up influencing each other's visceral core. My love for this pairing started with "slow burn enemies to lovers good" and evolved into something more watching their romance become a philosophical and psychological reflection on war, power, and domination. I would not recommend this book to folks who are uncomfortable with relationships with destructive dynamics, particularly emotional abuse and manipulation. I however, fucking ATE.

The pacing starts off a little infodumpy but quickly starts to naturally expand on the world to the point where its extremely well fleshed out and easy to follow the conflict. Chang introduces us to a complex and messy world of clear-cut heroes and villains but does not shy away from asking you to reflect on the motivations of those villains. Rome is an interesting case in this regard, as they are a hyper-advanced society that holds many secrets while still sucking the soul out of Pangu.

My main criticism of the book is that while Chang builds an extremely interesting world, a lot of flavor on colonizers is borrowed from The Poppy War, The Unbroken, Children of Blood and Bone, etc, and looks a lot like new titles coming out as well (Jasad Heir, Hurricane Wars) Pangu is a magical society brimming with joy and life, while Rome is a soulless science obsessed war machine society where everything is superficial. These two character traits, especially magic vs science, are pretty played out in this type of fantasy. That said, this is my only gripe, and it is small.

My experience reading this book was just total engagement. I finished it in 2 days, and I was camping at the time. I was staying up late to read, desperately hi-lighting quotes like someone was paying me. Any flaws this book has are made up for tendfold by the richness of the characterwork and character relationships. I can not wait for the next installment.

I’m giving this book a neutral 3 stars. Given the premise of this book, I really thought it would easily be a high 4 or 5 stars, but it fell short for me. The writing style just wasn’t for me, it was super repetitive and I often found myself skimming instead of reading.

There was a lot of hypocrisy in this book. Ruying judges everyone around her so harshly, but when she starts working for the Romans (the same thing she was judging Baihu for) she can’t understand why her sister is upset. And her sister is hypocritical too, saying their mother would be disappointed in Ruying when their mother would have also been disappointed in her for her opian use.

I also did not enjoy the “romance”. No part of Antony was redeeming. He treats Ruying like a prisoner, but acts like he’s doing her a favor and like she has a choice in the matter. I don’t understand at all how Ruying can be falling for him. It feels like straight up Stockholm syndrome.

This book just was not for me, although I think the premise of the plot could have been amazing. I just did not connect with any of the characters and did not enjoy the writing style.

It's always very disheartening to be given the chance to read one of your most anticipated books early and then not enjoy it. I was so excited to read To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods, as it seemed right up my ally. I mean morally grey characters? A Chinese fantasy world? Magic vs. Science? I thought I would eat this right up. Unfortunately, while its premise is both enthralling and exciting...its execution is not.

Right off the bat from the very first chapter, I could already tell it wasn't for me. Not only was the first chapter incredibly repetitive, it was also an extremely long monologue about the main character info dumping on the worldbuilding, and how her people have been oppressed. I think practically every single paragraph had a mention about how the Romans had taken everything away from them, and yet it failed to really give us an actual insight on the world. Not only that, but we are unable to see really anything about the main character, other than the fact that she has powers and she has a horrible life. I could not find a single reason to root for her, because there were none given.

However, I tried to give this one a chance, especially seeing that this is a debut book and author. But as I read on, I just put it aside and DNFed it about 20% of the way through. Because of the long and excessive description, I entirely skimmed what I read up to, and I just stopped knowing what was going on in the book.

I think that this book definitely has potential! The idea is incredible, and the book seems very promising. However, I think it is also in need of some major editing, and the wordy description seriously needs to be cut down. Thank you so much to Penguin Random House in exchange for an eARC of this book. Although I didn't enjoy it, I'm grateful for the opportunity to read it!

I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine; all opinions expressed are exclusively my own.

"Heroes die, cowards live."
Ruying's constant refrain is only one of the many ways To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods stares unflinchingly at the brutality, humiliation, and despair faced by her and her people from the colonizing "Romans". There are no good choices for Ruying, only different routes to attempt to secure survival for her and her family, most of them humiliating at best and deadly at worst. The reader is swept along with Ruying, and even while her decisions are entirely sympathetic, the question of whether or not she truly has any choices is raised at multiple points, and, I would say, never truly resolved in this book. However, the ending leaves the reader aching for more, to know whether Ruying manages to completely be free. This is not a comfortable read, but I think it's a vital one, if for no other reason than to acknowledge as the author notes that a great deal of this story, while science fiction/fantasy, is based heavily on real events that happened to real people.

For sensitive readers, due to the nature of the story, there are a wide array of content warnings: violence, racism, death, addiction, and more. As far as sexual content goes, assault and coercion are referenced but do not happen "on screen" as it were, and nothing of a graphic nature occurs.

First, thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Oh boy, this book. There are parts I loved and parts I hated.

Let's start with loved. The world in this book is lovely! The book follows Ruying, who lives in a conquered world that appears similar to a feudal China with magic. The invaders? A heavily-industrialized Rome. The mix of the two peoples/cultures and the tastes we get of Ruying's homeland are very nice. I also enjoyed the magic in this world, though unfortunately we don't go too deep into it outside of Ruying's own gifts (hopefully more in a sequel?).

Now the bad parts. I really had a hard time with Ruying. She flopped back and forth so much, seeming to be unable to just make a decision and take a side and had to be led through things by both of the main male characters. Considering the book followed her, this could make some parts really frustrating to get through. On top of that, her priorities were really skewed in my opinion.

Would I read a sequel? Yes, if just simply because I want to know how things end up, not because I really like any of the characters

I appreciated this book more than I enjoyed it. I'm all for slow-burn stories and plots that take their time to develop, but in this case it should have been done in a more skillful way. However, the ideas presented by the author and some of the character work here were fantastic. I could recommend it to certain readers.

An ambitious debut that is undermined by the protagonist’s wool gathering; a tighter editing session and elaboration on world building could produce a better and more engrossing world.

You can read the full review with the link.

I was super excited for this one! The cover was absolutely stunning and the book was even more amazing! I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

I received an advance copy of this book for review!

The cover is gorgeous - 10/10, stunning, love it.

I really enjoyed the world building in this book and thought it was a unique take on quite a few different stories. I could have used more descriptions of the world itself to highlight the differences between the two sides of the city. I also liked the magic system and how it tied into the plot. The prose was quite good as well, but I could have done without the one chapter from the prince’s POV.

I truly do not think this should be categorized under romance at all. The romance in this book is not what I expect when I pick up a book categorized under romance. I also think that this particular romance won’t go over well with a certain set of folks - I think it’ll definitely divide people.

I don't want to do this... but I think I have to now.

I'm really struggling with this one. I'm so disappointed because this was a highly anticipated release. And I'm just sad that I didn't end up liking it.

I started reading the book in August (it's October now) and I just never felt the need to get back to it. And I might never, I'm afraid to admit.

DNF @ 39%

We all have a soft spot for morally ambiguous characters, especially when they're strong female figures in fantasy novels. It's a testament to the complexity of their journeys. Ruying fits right into this mold.

In my view, I stand firmly behind Ruying, no matter the circumstances. She's acutely aware that her magical abilities are essentially a double-edged sword, condemned to be seen as a weapon, regardless of her intentions. This realization sets her apart from others. Despite not conforming to conventional expectations, she is unwavering in her commitment to protect her remaining family during times of war.

Some may label her as selfish because she's forced to collaborate with her world's adversaries. But when survival is at stake and you lack power and connections, what choices do you truly have? Ruying did what was necessary to ensure her family's safety, even as she grappled with profound self-doubt.

Reading about Ruying's pain is undeniably difficult. She never wanted to align herself with the enemy, nor did she desire to harness her magical abilities. However, the harsh reality of war leaves her with little choice. The toll it takes on her is evident.

I must express my admiration for Ruying's unwavering commitment to safeguarding her family. She's doing everything within her means to protect them, even if her sister fails to comprehend the depth of her sacrifices. Personally, I hold little regard for her sister, finding her self-centered, driven solely by power and indulgence, oblivious to the immense emotional turmoil Ruying endures to protect them. Life during wartime is far from easy, and it's something her sister fails to grasp.

I wanted to love it more than I did. I was instantly intrigued by Ruying’s gift and I love the dynamic between her and Baihu! Unfortunately I didn’t love how long it took to get to the plot and the way it ended was good but I wanted more

TO GAZE UPON WICKED GODS is a phenomenal debut by Molly X. Chang, where loyalty, love and lore become hopelessly entangled for a young woman with the power of death itself.

A YA fantasy like this one is both rare and worthy of accolades. In TO GAZE UPON WICKED GODS, Chang deftly creates a magic world where the lasting toll of colonialism is a plot centerpiece, where Rome has occupied Jing-City and rules in tyranny over the Er-Lang Empire. In doing so, she leaves a broad audience of readers not just more informed about the destruction wrought by colonization when they finish, but empowered and engaged with an incredibly important real-world issue. Chang also beautifully pays homage to Asian mythology while spinning a brand new tale featuring morally grey characters, enemy princes and a slow-burn forbidden romance that helps move the plot along.

My biggest complaint is something I expect will be taken care of before this publishes, but there are regular appearances of long blocks of dialogue in this that would benefit from being broken up by more descriptive scene-setting that communicates characters emotions, body language and how they’re interacting with their environment as they’re speaking. Unyielding stretches of dialogue lacking this kind of nuance happens so frequently in the text that it does somewhat make it difficult to fully immerse yourself in the story. Numerous copy errors and an inconsistent POV change also contribute to that disconnect.

My only other complaint is really a camouflaged compliment encased in a plea: A 2025 release date for book two is so far away!?! I’d love to see the sequel dropped next year. Whenever it does hit bookshelves, I’ll definitely be back for more.

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

While I appreciate the opportunity to read this, unfortunately I will not be finishing this one. I couldn't get into the story at all.

This was one of my most anticipated releases for 2024 based on the cover alone, and I was not disappointed! It's such a beautifully complex exploration of colonization and I found Ruying and Antony's relationship to reflect that.
Ruying is faced with a world of no "right" choices, from dealing with her sister's addiction, to working with Antony and all of the various empires' responses to Rome invading Pangu. Most of the book is dedicated to exploring this moral ambiguity, so readers who are looking for an action-packed military/assassin fantasy à la Poppy War would probably not find what they were looking for here. The prose is wonderfully lyrical, which I adored, but again not everyone's cup of tea. It's very much Ruying's stream of consciousness. I found her a fascinating, complex, even unreliable narrator as she grapples with her intense desire to do the right thing. I'm excited to see more of the worldbuilding and magic system; we get a taste of a world that feels like it exists beyond Ruying's limited experience.
The other main (and most controversial) focus of the book is the relationship between Ruying and Antony. To avoid spoiling anything, I'll just say it's not about romance, it's about the themes of colonization. There's an incredibly unbalanced power dynamic and toxicity so readers with triggers around abuse may want to tread carefully.
Overall, I found it a promising start to the trilogy, which could easily end up as one of my favorites if it delivers.

The premise of Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is very strong, and I love the idea of epic fantasy within Chinese culture. The main character has the power to bring death, and is faced with the moral dilemma of how to use that power amidst a colonial takeover of her home in China.

Unfortunately this book just did not come together for me. The writing style is very choppy, overly flowery in some places and underdeveloped in others. It also struggled with pacing, the plot doesn’t really begin moving until 1/3 of the way in. I also agree with other reviewers that a romance with a morally gray colonizer did not sit well, and overall I felt myself taken out of the story than I was able to sit in it.

Ultimately I would have liked to see more fantasy elements and tie ins with Chinese culture, as well as more development/world building of her magic. For fans of morally gray characters and strong female protagonist I think there is interesting elements, I just wish the whole thing had felt more cohesive.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine for the ARC and the opportunity for an honest review.

For me, it’s clear that this author is a fan of Mafi, their prose is very similar in its expression & repetition. I’m not a fan of the style at all.

Even as I enjoyed the addition of mandarin & the culture of the world, the prose threw me out of the story as well as the so called morally grey MC being the overbearingly judgmental type of person with only sympathy for themself in a world of chaos and brutality.

As important as her family was to the MC, seeing them on the page would have added depth to their characters and perhaps would have connected me better to this story.

As Ruying was someone who suppressed her abilities, seeing no on page training, no explanation of how or who trained her to use her powers, really threw me out of the story as it tanked the believability of the assassinations.

I think what really sunk it for me was the addition of the ‘romance’ plot. It is adult fiction, so I don’t need it to be all light and sunshine, but if the love interest is a colonizer, you’re going to have to do better than making your MC the only one of the colonized he can see any value in.

The book isn’t out until next year, so I’m desperately hoping that the very needed adjustments to this story can be made.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fantasy book with its roots in Manchuria’s colonial history, To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is both poetic and wrenching. Ruying has grown up in Roman-occupied Er-Lang with her grandmother and twin sister. Although Ruying was blessed by Death and has the ability to pull the life from mortal bodies, her family lives in poverty, fearing the Roman invaders and their vastly superior technology. Although some in Er-Lang possess magical powers like Ruying, Rome’s might has overwhelmed the kingdom, and Ruying lives in a divided city.

When her gift is discovered by the Roman prince Antony, he offers her a deal: become his private assassin and eliminate his political rivals, and he will make sure her family is protected and prosperous. Against her better judgment, she agrees, particularly because Antony convinces her he wants to keep the peace between their countries — unlike his warmongering brothers and grandfather. The catch: for every soul she harvests, Ruying shaves time off her own life.

Over time, Ruying finds herself developing feelings for Antony. But can she trust him? She hears whispers that the Roman prince may not be the good guy he claims to be. Eventually, Ruying must make a choice between following her heart and protecting her people.

Over the course of the book, Ruying makes a believable transition from scared girl to empowered young woman. Her journey takes place in an imaginative world, rendered in colorful, poetic language by Molly X. Chang. Worth a read by all who love epic YA fantasy.

3.5 -

LIKES:
- Writing quality
- Magical and cultural intricacies
- Internal vs. external conflict

DISLIKES:
- Random POV change for < 2 pages

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods asks the reader the following questions: 1.) what am I willing to do for the people I love, 2.) what does this mean within the greater context of “the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many,” and 3.) if I become numb to the atrocities that I commit, is that something I can come back from?

The main character was deeply conflicted about her part in this war and the horrors she is manipulated into committing, her growing feelings for a man who is actively complicit in the subjugation of her people, and the ongoing struggle between the notion of survival at the cost of your culture and rebellion with the potential cost of unknown numbers of lives lost. I do think these subjects were well-explored and handled carefully, although I found myself consistently confused over her attraction to the man who black-mailed her into his service against her own people.

The writing quality was great, but my reading experience itself suffered a bit from the slow pace and an extremely thinly veiled metaphor that I think might have been better served by either being more firmly integrated in the fantasy world at large or, on the other side, addressed more directly. This is entirely a personal opinion and does not affect my enjoyment of the plot in any way.

All in all, a very good read in a new fantasy setting with an unflinching look at a lot of hard choices that people may make in the name of survival.