Aspects of this novel are really good; but then I'd hit a lull in the narrative and feel completely different about it. It was a bit of a rollercoaster ride for me between loving the world building and characters; but disliking all of the (most unnecessary) boring sex scenes, odd violent scenes, and a very typical, predictable plot. I could forgive the somewhat predictable plot if only there wasn't a 75 page section in the midst of the excitement of the height of the story that is each of our characters 'getting it on' with their desired romantic interest (be it g/f, wife, etc.). Let's be clear, as much as I LOVE a good queer representation, it will never make up for poorly written sexual encounters or bad plot. Books need to be more than just a trope or inclusion.

Ultimately, To Cage a God was an okay read. It's good enough I might read book two. It's not good enough that I would recommend it to anyone. It felt immature in it's delivery at times. This latest fad/trend of 'romantasy' books seems to be killing a lot of really interesting fantasy books or worlds lately. It's almost like May was forced to add some sex scenes in just because they are 'hot' right now (lol). I have no idea if that's true, but if it was it would make perfect sense as her scenes felt unnecessary (except maybe one?) and tacked on at the last minute. Don't get me wrong, sex scenes are fine; but they should further character development or the plot in some way. If it's just let's have sex because we can (or in one case here because we're married and horny?) that is a poor reason. Traditionally fantasy books don't need to have explicit sex in them; they elude to it or have a half page description to give you a sense of the urgency, desire, violence, love, or whatnot between the characters and then they carry onto what you really want to know about, the plot!

Therefore, it could just be newer books in this (poorly named) romantasy genre are going to annoy me for awhile. I'd love to direct readers (and authors) to Andrea Stewart's The Bone Shard Daughter trilogy. She really does an excellent job of having strong plot and characters with a romantic side story. Anytime the desire or love between the characters comes up it's because they are seeing them, making decisions based on their love for them, or otherwise affected by knowing and loving them. This is the kind of 'romance' that I want to see. One that makes sense, affects our characters drastically, and changes them as people. In fairness to May there are two moments where characters make different decisions because of their love interest. However, it could also be argued that they just saw the stupidity in their own hateful, prejudiced rhetoric (just sayin'...) as in both cases their previous views were quite discriminatory.

The second weak point in this first entry of a new series (These Monstrous Gods), is the ongoing use of pain and violence that could have been intense but came off bland. It's like May has amazing grimdark ideas and uses of violence; but she never goes far enough in really describing things to make it feel real, dark and gritty. If you want to truly talk about eviscerating someone or burning them alive then you need to be willing to either gloss over it in all cases or get into the gritty details. May seems to try and find a happy medium between vanilla and grimdark; sadly this choice weakened the overall narrative for me. Either embrace the dark and get into it in detail; or stay higher level and keep it quite palatable. Going halfway is just disappointing for the grimdark fans, and possible too much for your vanilla fans.

Carrying on with idea of hurting; I want to talk about May's use of pain. Interestingly one of our MC's (and one of the many POVs we read from) appears to have a disease similar in ways to my own affliction, fibromyalgia. At times I felt like May understood the sacrifices those of us with chronic pain disorders who suffer in order to 'be present' or 'do things' because others want us to. But then if it wasn't convenient for that character to be weakened based on the plot she seemed to push them too far; thus making her abilities and reactions unrealistic. If you're thinking, realistic in fantasy, say what? I have a rule that I will accept all the rules of your fantasy world; but you then must live within them and be realistic about what is possible and what is not. People can only endure so much; and if you just make it so magic regenerates them all the time then it's cheap and I'm not interested. Part of what makes a good fantasy novel great is it's ability to connect the characters and their plights back to the readers own life. This means you need to keep them alive in a semi-realistic way. For example: someone who is burned alive and then brought back from the brink of death is going to have some epic PTSD. I'd have had this character sweating uncontrollably at times, unable to close her eyes without seeing flames, or feeling a constant heat on her skin that reminds her of the incident. They should not just blow it off as 'another pain day' and move on. If in fact this is the worst torture ever, as said in the book, then make the aftermath of it that epic!
May, at times, came close here to doing that; but ultimately failed too many times to use it to her advantage in advancing her characters and plot. Maybe May needed a pre-reader that has a debilitating disease and/or PTSD to read the book and provide context or comments on where she strays too far? (as a sidenote if you want amazing fantasy with PTSD check out C. L. Polk's book Witchmark).

Overall the weak points started to out-weigh the positive ones by the end. I might read book 2; but I won't be knocking down doors or pre-ordering to ensure I have it immediately to carry this story forward. I'm sure To Cage a God will find some dire hard fans who are not as familiar with fantasy tropes and perhaps don't care about authenticity as much as I do. I believe long time fantasy readers will find this more of a YA/Teen story that tried to get epic and grimdark; but ultimately fails to really invoke the sense of dread, pain, fear, and power that someone like Joe Abercrombie or Brandon Sanderson has mastered over the years.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

To Cage a God by Elizabeth May is a decent start to a Queer Fantasy series. With dragon gods, royals, and morally grey characters there's a lot I enjoyed about the book. I liked the queer rep with both a sapphic relationship in addition to an m/f pairing. However I can't it failed to keep me invested along the way, the cliches and the YA vibe to an Adult fantasy keeps me from giving this more than 3 stars .

Rating 3.5/5 🌟

This book definitely has some heavy world building but I think with an book like this it is needed. I did have a hard time keeping up through this book for the first half due to it.

I’m a big fan of Elizabeth May’s The Falconer series and I was really looking forward to this book. Dragons trapped inside the bodies of humans is a stunning concept. While I couldn’t fully grasp the “whys” and “hows” this was my favorite part of the story!

Unfortunately, To Cage a God has one major flaw I couldn’t get past: it feels like the second book in a series. Because of this, I had a hard time connecting to the main characters. This made the first 30% of this book boring. Like, really boring. It took me months to get through. I finally made myself sit down and finish this book. The second half is way better than the first. I am glad I finished but I just wanted more out of the story. I don't see myself picking up the sequel.

If you’re intrigued by the concept I would say try this one for yourself.

*Thank you NetGalley and DAW for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced review copy.

To Cage a God follows sisters Galina and Sera in an Imperial Russia-esque setting where they are running from the curse their mother trapped them with-- Gods in their bones.

After the town they've been hiding in is attacked, Sera decides it's time to stop running and to start putting the power inside of them to use-- to save their country from war and oppressive rule.

Both sisters dance on the swords edge of love and treason and while this story had some great elements and was written well it was flat in the character building, which, this was a character heavy story for half way through the book until the main plot really picked up.

I truly think that while the story had a slow start, we are going to see one hell of a sequel, the ending was truly great and I am excited to read what is next for Galina and Sera.

I was initially super excited about this and then was really put off by the reviews, but I thought this was fun! I think it's actually more of a dark romantasy than a high fantasy, so maybe if you go in with those expectations, you'll like it too.

I loved each character (mainly the women lol) and I really enjoyed following their journeys.

To Cage a God is a gripping start to the "These Monstrous Gods" series. Elizabeth May's world, where gods are grafted into human bones, is as unique as it is captivating.

Sisters Galina and Sera, armed with forbidden powers, must lead a rebellion against a tyrannical empire. Sera reunites with her estranged lover, while Galina infiltrates the palace, where her growing feelings for a sharp-witted princess complicate her mission.

Highlights:
1. Galina's internal conflict adds emotional layers.
2. The concept of grafted gods is fascinating.
3. Fast-paced and full of twists.

While dense lore can be overwhelming, *To Cage a God* is a must-read for fantasy lovers.

I loved this book plot! She is a fantastic world builder and the romance was so good! I loved this book.

Sera and Galina are ready to take down the Empress and the rest of the ruling class after years first of being used as pawns in their mother's schemes and then on the run using political intrigue.

I really love fantasy inspired by revolutionary/imperial Russia. I thought the magic system where the ruling class gains magic by trapping gods within their bodies was really unique, and I really loved the romantic plot lines. I really look forward to reading the sequel.

If two words could convince me to read any book they'd be sapphic and fantasy. So naturally, To Cage a God was automatically one of my most anticipated releases of early 2024! I was thrilled by the chance to read a copy early for the Colored Pages Tour. To Cage a God did not disappoint! I loved the main revolutionary plot line, with its political schemes and intrigue. There were two things about this book that I would consider to be my favorite parts. First, I loved the dynamic between the two sister protagonists, Galina and Sera. They had such a realistic sisterly relationship and an excellent balance between bantering and having tender compassionate moments. My other favorite thing (which is the element that made this a five-star read for me) was the sapphic romance! I won't spoil anything, but this book is going to be a must-read for people who love queer fantasy.

My Recommendation:
If you love high fantasy books with plenty of romantic tension you need to be sure to preorder To Cage a God! I would especially recommend this book to fans of The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska (which is high praise as this is one of my other favorite books)!

This was an interesting read!

Although I initially found it a bit confusing with 5 POVs, it mainly centers around the two main sisters and how their lives are shaped in this Slavic-inspired world. I enjoyed the writing and the worldbuilding, but the characters and relationships fell a little flat. The pacing felt good for the last 30% but I feel like this was just build-up for the coming books. Overall, however, I found this an interesting read and I love the author's writing, so this was a good addition to my collection of her work!

Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for the e-arc!

I am so happy that I dove into To Cage a God!
This NA romantasy is set in imperial Russia, the world building was amazing. And there is dragons!!!!!!!!, who doesn’t love dragons!!!!!!!! Story is perfect for readers of Bardugo and Aveyard.

If you're looking for a book that sits on the cusp of romantasy and epic fantasy, combining some light inspiration from Russian history and literature with an adventure that doesn't stop, this is the book for you.

"To Cage a God" by Elizabeth May is the first chapter of a new duology. I had previously enjoyed Elizabeth May's "The Falconer" series, but unfortunately, this initial book did not live up to expectations.

Among the positive aspects is the intriguing concept of the magical system: the ability to imprison a god within a person to harness their powers. However, this power is believed to be reserved only for the nobility. I also appreciated the setting inspired by the Russian Revolution, which provided a backdrop for court intrigues and action scenes.

Despite my appreciation for the setting, I found a lack of connection with the characters. Particularly, the court-focused chapters with Galina felt cumbersome to me, as they centered around a romance that seemed a bit rushed. I found more appeal in the angst between Sera and her... companion. Romance plays a significant role in this book, but in my opinion, it wasn't the most original premise, and unfortunately, it detracted from the overall narrative.

The book has a satisfying ending, so I don't think I'll feel the need to continue this series, but never say never!

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this e-ARC! I do my reviews on my social media platforms. I am currently working on getting through my reviews so stay tuned! Leaving a rating as a placeholder for me and to not effect the books rating in order to post this. Thanks again!

Oh I highly enjoyed reading this fantastic tale where destructive dragon gods are forcefully chained to co-exist inside humans.

To Cage A God is told in multiple POVS—but it starts with Galina & Sera. These two siblings carry the burden of having caged gods living inside of them, which is an act strictly forbidden to commoners, and all for the sake of the growing rebellion that is set to end the imperial reign of the royals. The world is brutal & complex but it will have you flipping pages non-stop. Not to mention that it also has burning romances for each character that will make your heart race.

Elizabeth's May writing is beautifully dark & gripping, I cannot wait to read more of it in the sequel!

4.5 stars

This book is about rebellion, found family and magical beasts bounded to people.
I had high hopes for this book and luckily it mostly delivered. Although having magical beasts/gods bounded with humans have been done a lot, this still felt new and exciting. I loved that there was limits (at least for some people) to the power and there is the "god-complex" the people with power develop (in most cases).
But where this book shone, were the characters. I enjoyed most of them (especially the dry humor most of the had). But lets be honest, I read this book for V. and S. Only for them. And I loved how their relationship was portrayed (will not go to detailed because of spoilers). This was so refreshing. I would love to see more of them (and their past interactions.

What I had problem with this book, was the Russian inspired-ness. There are so many of them, especially when dealing with rebellion and cruel rulers. Honestly, I think this book would have benefitted with having a generic fantasy world. The russian setting was not even that much in the book (except the language, I guess; my russian is very rusty).

This book wasn’t for me.
I didn't like the plot, quite basic and without twists, and the characters were flat and with poorly written relationships (love or family ones). I'm so sorry because I love the author but this book just disappointed me

First of all, romantasy fans will probably enjoy this book. Anyone who likes Fourth Wing and Sarah J. Maas will probably like it pretty well. Unfortunately, I couldn't even finish it. It's gotten so that any book that is marketed with a romance aspect at all I'm going to need to pass up. I don't hate romance by any means, but I prefer fantasy books to be about the plot and the world first with romance secondary. A good recent example of it would be Silver Under Nightfall and Court of Wanderers by Rin Chupeco. To be fair, the romance wasn't slapped into the first part of the book, but I am just no longer interested in even trying romantasy.

Furthermore, this book had a ton of info-dumping in the first part. Similar to how I felt about Sins on Their Bones, the two main characters spent the first 40 pages reminiscing about the past. I would have rather read about the events that lead up to the beginning of the book considering the main characters seemed to think them so important. To be honest, reading about how gods are trapped inside people and why it affected the "chosen royals" differently than the two main characters would have been so intriguing. Instead, the reader barely sees it except for how it affects them in that moment. We don't see the struggle and the machinations that led to that moment.

Ultimately if you like romantasy, then sure give this a shot. It just wasn't for me.

2.5⭐️

I should have paid more attention to the “Fourth Wing meets Shadow & Bone” marketing. While I enjoyed Shadow & Bone, I haven’t read Fourth Wing, and if this book is a combination, I won’t be picking that one up.

I almost DNF this book twice within the first 25%. I promised myself that I could stop if I reached that point and it still wasn’t working for me, but thankfully the book picked up just before that point. That being said, the first 25% of the book was painful for me. It felt like I was walking into a sequel past the initial flashback with none of the knowledge I needed to actually connect. Any worldbuilding – which I NEED in a fantasy book – was brief or shoehorned in chunks that felt clunky and forced. I wish the dragons had more development and attention. I was left with more questions than answers about the most interesting points of the story, which was a real bummer.

The characters in that early section read like they were written by a young teenager trying to make the characters feel older and edgy? This improves by the halfway mark, but I couldn’t stand Galina’s italicized inner monologue that led up to that point – she was more pitiful and sad than someone who had been through trauma and was just trying to cope. Sera had the same affliction, except her role was the Badass Protective Heroine who was also the brains of the operation. Neither of these characters developed much after the 50% mark, so I wouldn’t recommend this book if you are big on character building. The only character I thought had real depth and growth was Vasilisa – I loved the chronic pain representation and the decisions she chooses to make as she recognizes her own inner power.

As for the plot, it felt very familiar – minus the Russian edge – but it was interesting enough to keep me reading. I likely won’t remember it after my next read, and even writing this review I can’t say any development through the narrative really excited me.

An ARC of this book was provided by the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

To Cage a God was Russian Empire inspired romance fantasy with rebels actions, emotional struggles and cutthroat political intrigues level. But the writing also gave us those type of story that starting with throw readers straight into the events. Very busy war events without much explanation about the worldbuilding, magic system or character background. I found out my self blank, confusing in earlier chapters to get strong ground and grasp into the plot story, the character, the lore, anything...

The book also one of the rare type that the audiobook isnt deliver the story as smooth as I want. It more confusing than helper to understand the story better. I appreciate the narrator efforts to keep the Russian accent to make readers feel the atmosphere. But the emotional narrative felt so loud, confusing with names, peoples, places and very fast pace filled with struggles. I am felt confuse so many time and must cross check the ebook version.

The premise really good and I really want to love this book. Some moment of romances is really good but lack chemistry and less flesh out. I just want better, slower and smoother information sharing during storytelling, narrative and banters

Thank you to Netgalley and DAW Books and Bolinda Audio for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Expecting Publication : 20 February 2024