Thank you to L.J. Shen, NetGalley, and Sourcebooks Bloom for giving me an eARC of Angry God in exchange for my honest review.

Angry God follows Vaughn and Lenora, childhood classmates who are reconnecting now that they are in high school. Right off the bat, it is apparent that these two have some sort of connection. The tension is palpable every time they interact. While it is unclear what happened in the past, it is also no secret that they hate each other. Throughout the book, they are forced time and time again into the same setting and it was only a matter of time before that tension hit its boiling point.

I enjoyed watching both Vaughn and Lenora grow throughout this book. There were times when their relationship felt sudden or like the shift was occurring out of nowhere, but looking back it did not. It happened in such a natural way, especially for two people who hate each other at the start of the book. It is apparent that Vaughn and Lenora are meant to be together, but experiencing their journey to get to that point was amazing. I binged it a day.

This is one of the best books I've read all year! The characters were multi-faceted, engrossing and addictive! Literally did not want to set this book down at all and almost cried when it was finished. I'm definitely going to be seeking out more from this author asap!

So i gave this 3 stars - I was a little disappointed with it. I loved Vaughn and the other characters. The plot kind of kept losing my attention and I continued to come back to this book over the course of a month to finish it. It didn't hold my attention like her other books have.

I was looking forward to reading this as I had heard good things and was excited for the author having the opportunity to have these books be re-releasing. Unfortunately, this book just was not for me. I found it difficult for me to get into it and struggled to connect with the characters in this story. I also do wish that there was a trigger warning for this book due to the child sexual abuse that occurs in chapter 22.

Vaughn Spencer is a genius sculptor with a broken soul and Lenora Astalis loves to make ugly things beautiful. They’ve had a connection ever since they first met as kids when he taunted her about kissing her. I love that she doesn’t let Vaughn walk all over her. Her revenge scene was hot! As for Vaughn, my heart broke for him. He may seem like a heartless prince but as the story unfolds, you’ll find out why he has every right to be an angry god. Overall, I really enjoyed their story and the banter! I just love L.J. Shen’s writing!

Angry God is the 3rd book in the All Saint’s High series, featuring Vaughn Spencer (son of Vicious and Emilia from the book Vicious) and Lenora Astalis

It’s a dual POV YA/NA bully romance, set first in senior year of high school and then during a prestigious art internship in England.

I loved the characters and the twisted but somehow perfect relationship that grew between them. I’m not typically a bully romance fan (and trust me, this book is covered in red flags) but the characters are so well written by Shen that I overlooked all my reservations and just enjoyed getting immersed in the story.

Thank you to @netgalley ,@read_bloom and @authorljshen for a chance to read this dark and sexy romance

📖 I received a gifted e-book copy in exchange for an honest review ✍🏻

Read dates: 11/06/2023 - 11/08/2023
Goodreads review: 11/08/2023
Instagram review: 11/09/2023
Blog review: 12/19/2023

"Angry God" by L.J. Shen is a compelling New Adult romance that delves into the tumultuous relationship between Vaughn Spencer and Lenora Astalis. The narrative revolves around passion, grudges, and the haunting secrets of their pasts.

Vaughn Spencer is known as an "angry god," carrying the reputation of a heartless prince in a town ruled by his parents. Lenora, on the other hand, nurses a deep grudge against Vaughn for a past incident that almost cost her life. Their senior year is marked by confrontations, heartbreak, and a complex dance of emotions.

Unexpectedly, Vaughn and Lenora find themselves living together in a castle in London, participating in an art program. The castle, Carlisle Castle, is said to be haunted, and as Lenora and Vaughn's paths intertwine, the narrative takes unexpected turns. The story explores their shared secrets, the ghosts of their pasts, and the undeniable connection between them.

The novel weaves together elements of romance, suspense, and coming-of-age as Vaughn and Lenora navigate their complicated relationship. The setting of a haunted castle adds a layer of mystery and intrigue to the story, creating an atmospheric backdrop for their emotional journey.

Lenora, despite her initial resistance, finds herself entangled with Vaughn in ways she never anticipated. Vaughn, portrayed as a dangerous genius with a tumultuous past, is on a quest to escape the ghosts that haunt him. The narrative explores themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the impact of one's actions on personal relationships.

The book is rich in emotional depth, exploring the vulnerabilities and complexities of its characters. The tension between Vaughn and Lenora is palpable, and the author skillfully develops their dynamic throughout the story. The haunted castle becomes a metaphorical space for confronting their own ghosts and finding a way to heal.

"Angry God" promises readers a passionate and emotionally charged romance with elements of suspense and mystery. L.J. Shen's storytelling captures the intensity of love, grudges, and the journey toward redemption. Fans of New Adult romance and complex characters are likely to find this novel engaging and satisfying.

This book will give you a roller coaster of emotions. This series is so fantastic. This one had all the angst and all of the emotion. I love the way L.J. Shen writes. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for the arc of this book.

When I requested to read this book on NetGalley, I hadn't realized that this book has already been published in 2020! L.J. Shen is an automatic click for me even though I'm probably way to old to read her books! This story focused on Vaughn Spencer and his relationship with Lenora. They have known each other since they were children and have a hate-hate relationship. This book deals with a lot of dark issues. Vaughn has his demons and he has them for a very good reason. I think that I enjoyed this book the most of the second generation books!!!

I love the first two saints high books and I can’t wait to get this edition to match my others. I want more of her books to be released

𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥 follows Vaughn and Lenora through an age of emotional struggle and it's repercussions. After the torment Lenora has dealt with, she flies off to London for a new start only to be followed by Vaughn. Now as they go over the mistakes of the past their future together seems more bleak than ever.

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What a beautiful, heartwrenching and incredible story. I have no words to put into all the feelings I felt in the duration of this read but that alone should tell you volumes.

I can't exactly delve deeper into the plot because it'll spoil the experience but let's just say it's best to go into this blind.

Also, I cannot wait for Bailey and Lev's story with them all grown up and I just know it's going to hit the spot.

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3.97 / 5✩

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

Between the sexual tension, the themes in the book and the storyline. Phewww!!! This is apart of a series and I now want to backtrack and read more of this world.

Angry God is a continuation in a series but can be read as a standalone. You will read about character from the previous books as well as read about their parents from LJ Shen's previous series. If you have yet to read those books, run! Do not walk to read them because you will not want to put the series down until you have read every last book. This book is full of emotion and angst. What you think you know, just may be wrong.

Vaughn Spencer is not the bad boy everybody thinks he is. While his family rules the town, along with their best friends, not everything is as it appears. Vaughn is a broken boy. He is an angry god. He takes that anger out in any way possible and the person he takes that anger out on just happens to be Lenny. While it may seem like hate, it may just be love.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy of Angry God by LJ Shen in exchange for my honest review. I love this series and all things LJ Shen.

Angry god by L.J. Shen is hands down a captivating read that you won’t regret. This book was everything and the best in the all saints high book series. I loved when the two main characters find themselves within each other dealing with heartbreaking loss and pain but leaning on one another for support.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. My main problem with this book was the way sexual assault was handled. It felt very insensitive to me and discomforting, which prevented me from enjoying the book as a whole. I just felt very unsettled by the way it was dealt with throughout the book. Otherwise, I enjoyed the female protagonist a lot and watching her growth throughout the book. This wasn’t enough to make me enjoy the book though, so this read was a let down.

I didn't realize this was a dark romance, but holy shit. This was gut wrenching. I cried so much, it was ridiculous. Vaughn , my poor baby, UGH his inner thoughts destroyed me. Lenny is a precious gem.

Lenora has had a rocky relationship with Vaughn since childhood, from being friendly acquaintances to enemies when she saw something she shouldn’t have. When Lenora is uprooted from London to California, her path once again intersects with Vaughn, the reigning figure in their high school.

Lenora's determination to pretend she doesn't know Vaughn and to keep his secrets is met with resistance as Vaughn embarks on a mission to make her life a living nightmare. Their rivalry is further fueled when they both vie for the same spot at an art school, leading to a complicated entanglement when Vaughn wins the scholarship and Lenora becomes his assistant. As their relationship deepens, they uncover secrets more profound than they initially thought, propelling them toward a path of destruction.

“Angry God” by L. J. Shen was one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. I was so emotional with all the trauma and my heart broke for Vaughn towards the end of the book. It seriously took turns that I saw coming but absolutely didn’t at the same time. I cannot explain how amazing this book actually was and will forever have a place in my soul. 5 out of 5 stars and I’d give it more if I could.

If you don’t like dark romances, keep strolling. I don’t know how a book that’s 99% nothing but a red flag with trauma thrown in, could have 1% with such a good happy ending. What a ride!

I’ve read all the books in this series so far, so I knew Vaughn was going to be a hard character to read about and man if he wasn’t. After finding out about the trauma he went through when he was younger, it put so much into perspective.
If any character could have broke him, it would have been Lenny. She’s a Good Girl who just doesn’t care anymore. Their relationship wasn’t easy and very challenging but I’m glad it worked out. Vaughn had so much character growth by the end of this book and that’s what really made the ending so good.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for my arc copy. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

"A fellow intern. A prodigal sculptor. A bloody genius."

LJ Shen once again floored me with a beautifully written story that is haunting, heartbreaking and poetic. Angry God will take you on the darkest journey that has yet to be told in the All Saints High series. This is Vaughn’s story. He is known for many things. An outrageously talented artist but also a very angry one. Fury often pours out of him. It is no secret that there is a reason why Vaughn is so angry. He exhibits so much underlying emotion and pent up anger.

"There was no mistaking the energy Vaughn Spencer brought into a room, because it sucked up everything else like a Hoover."

Lenora Astalis aka Lenny is also an artist. She has a small history with Vaughn. Their story is told between past and present. Both have had tragedies in their lives, and are dealing with extremely emotional issues. Their lives weave together, not necessarily by choice.

"Nothing scared me anymore. Not even an angry god."

The buildup is a slow and steady climb. As the story progresses, you think that you have an idea of what happened to Vaughn. But the culmination, the revelation, slams into you like a tsunami destroying every bit of your heart and sucking it out to sea.

What a story! Angry God is book #3 of the All Saints High series. A spinoff or second generation of the Sinners of Saint series. Each of the three books in the series are completely different. It can absolutely be read without first reading any of the Sinners of Saints – Vicious, Defy, Ruckus, Scandalous or Bane.

There are not many cameos in Angry God. But the epilogue was amazing! I don’t want it to end! I want to know what happens next! And thank you once again to paying homage to The Smiths ~ Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me.

"No one could take my pain away. No one."

5 angry stars

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