DNF @ 10%

I was really excited for this book when I came out but I've tried reading this book four times now and find myself skimming over the words. The writing style just isn't engaging and I find myself drifting off as I read it. It's a pass for me.

4.5 stars

Oh but this was so good! This is the first Elizabeth May book I've read, but I am so excited to read more by her now. This was such a character-driven story and I completely fell in love with these characters. There's a second chance romance that I devoured, there's a forbidden romance I adored. The worldbuilding is intense but fascinating (dragon gods, hello!), the magic system is very interesting, the writing style made it so easy to read (could've finished it in one sitting if there weren't such a thing as work!). I would however, have loved a map - I don't know if the finished copies have a map, but my ARC copy didn't and I found all the different places very confusing to keep track of!

There's a beautiful sisterly love at its core, between Sera and Galina, and it made me quite emotional at times. There's also a singular character in Katya, the handmaiden to the empress, who is on her own for much of the story, and I felt so awful for her and what she was going through; I wish she had had more time with the other characters so that she hadn't felt so separated from them.

This book is dark, and features ableism and torture very prominently, so do bear that in mind when going into this; I wonder if this is where many of the bad reviews of this book are coming from? Because I do not understand all of these low ratings and DNFs; I had such a good time and would really recommend!

I really tried to love this book. It was a really great concept and it had a lot of great characters, but sadly I just found myself really forcing to continue reading it.

The characters weren't particularly likeable and I found myself not very invested in their story or where they'd go, so sadly I didn't continue this story.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

3,75★

To Cage a God was a fascinating book that definitely wasn't perfect, but had such incredible characters and romances that it was still worth a read.

I absolutely adored the concept of dragon-gods caged into ruthless nobles, and the plot centered around two sisters (with their own gods) and their unexpected allies trying to destroy an Empire in a fascinating Russian-inspired setting, cold and cruel yet absolutely captivating.
The main problems were that often the world felt a little bit underdeveloped, and that there was too much "tell" when the foundation of the story and the characters' motivations could have been "shown" more subtly, without saying things world by world.

Still, what truly saved the book and made me want to never stop reading, were the characters.

I especially liked Sera, for the way she seems to carry the weight of the world on her shoulder, constantly fighting with a god that makes her bleed, and yet never weavers- unless a certain assassin sweet-talk her in the most unique ways. Oh, how incredibly beautiful is the relationship between her and Vitaly (he is my chaotic violent baby and I adore him very much): they love each other so deeply, even despite the years of distance and the apparently unsurmountable obstacles thrown in their way, and every scene with them in it made me either cry, scream or giggle like an idiot.

And the sapphic relationship was just as good: Galina, ridden with infinite guilt and countless nightmares, and Visalia, shamed into hiding because of her disability and yet doing everything she could to leave a positive legacy in the world even when she felt at her worst, found solace and comfort in each other, a love like a fairytale that was so heartwarming thing to read.

I'm really curious to see how the plot will be developed, and the consequences these characters will face for their actions, in the next installment of the trilogy.

I recommend To Cage a God for those looking for a quick fantasy novel with a charming magical system and delightful romances to make up for some writing flaws.

Elizabeth May's To Cage A God is a breathtaking tale that weaves together mythology, adventure, and profound themes of identity and sacrifice. From the very first chapter, May immerses readers in a richly detailed world, filled with gods, magic, and an unforgettable cast of characters.

The story follows a fierce protagonist who is both relatable and inspiring. Her journey is not just a quest for power but also a deeply personal exploration of self-discovery and resilience. May’s character development is one of the standout elements of the novel; each character is intricately layered, with motivations that resonate on a human level. The relationships they form, especially those marked by conflict and loyalty, are compelling and add depth to the narrative.

May's writing is both lyrical and evocative, transporting readers into a vibrant world where the line between the divine and the mortal is beautifully blurred. The pacing is expertly crafted, balancing exhilarating action sequences with moments of introspection that allow readers to catch their breath and reflect on the themes at play.

One of the novel’s most captivating aspects is its exploration of the consequences of power and the complexities of godhood. May challenges traditional notions of divinity, presenting gods that are flawed and multifaceted. This thought-provoking approach invites readers to consider what it truly means to wield power and the responsibilities that come with it.

The plot is filled with unexpected twists, keeping readers engaged and eager to turn the pages. May expertly weaves together elements of suspense and intrigue, ensuring that the stakes feel high and personal throughout the journey.

Overall, To Cage A God is a stunning addition to the fantasy genre that showcases Elizabeth May's talent for storytelling. It’s a tale of bravery, love, and the struggles that define us, making it a must-read for fans of rich, character-driven narratives. Prepare to be captivated and enchanted—you won’t want to put this book down! Highly recommended!

I loved this one! The magic system is interesting and unique, I love the concept of gods living inside the MCs. The characters are intriguing and easy to empathize with and I loved their dynamic. The story jumped straight in from the start and kept me hooked the whole time

Thank you to netgalley and publishers for sending me an eArc of this book. I did go ahead and buy the illumicrate edition too before reading the eArc.
Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one due to pow intrigue. For me, I found the characters to be annoying and predictable. Whilst I enjoyed the world and the premise of having the power of a God, it was quite confusing to grasp.

I was excited for another Slavic-centered fantasy story, but I think To Cage a God was not the book for me. It had no glaring flaws, but it also did not have outstanding strengths. The worldbuilding was interesting, but the pacing was slow and, at times, disjointed; and I had a hard time caring about the characters outside of the obligatory 'ah, they are the main cast'.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

3.5 stars
Steady world building, I was definitely invested by about half way. The characters grew on me in the same building way. I will definitely be reading on.

A Title I was incredibly excited for. The sapphic romance is lovely. The other ones a bit, meh. Story wise certain parts feel unexplained and left far too open to be resolved in just one more book. I think this idea would have been better formulated as another YA novel, it would have got away with a lot of the openess left. It was a fun read, in that it was definitely a step towards high fantasy romantasy, but at times it felt like it was trying too hard without success. I loved the disability rep! I like the fact it could easily be read as a standalone, rather than the oft done cliffhanger of a duologuy or trilogy. It was enjoyable.

I never rolled my eyes so much while reading a book. This book is a compendium of clichés and made me gag. The only good thing about it was that it was short and easy to read; otherwise, I would have DNF it below 20%. This is YA, even if the author insists it's not YA, because the writing and the overall superficiality of the worldbuilding and plot are full of YA vibes. The "dark" content doesn't make it any less YA-like or formulaic, either. PLEASE brand your books correctly because it will create unnecessary negative reviews if I knew this was YA probably, I would not have requested it

When I first saw the description for this book, I was really excited for the queer representation. However, it seems like there wasn't as much as advertised, which was a really big turn-off. I couldn't get very far into the book, but I'm keeping it on my list for a future read.

This is another book I've been meaning to read for ages.
I think my favourite part of To Cage A God are the character's development and interactions.
Isidora is a brilliant villain - she's practically unhinged.
I enjoyed all the characters' storylines and am happy with how they ended up.
I loved Galina and Vasilisa together as well as Sera and Vitalik. I would like to find out more about Anna though.
I have hope for them for the future and so I would definitely read a sequel.

So sadly this book wasn’t for me. I really wanted to like it but i couldnt push myself. I did like the writing style

Thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed this book it was captivating and easy to read the world and the characters were interesting and not overly exhausting to keep up with. I was intrigued when I read that disability representation was in this book especially Chronic pain, as a person who has the long term condition it was interesting to see how it was handled, it was done ok but could've been fleshed out more.
Exciting story with well rounded characters and world building, a good start will definitely read more from this author. Will definitely buy for Brompton library. Solid 4 Stars for me ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Unfortunately I just couldn't get into this one, although I did finish it. The plot is all over the place. Part fantasy, part romance, part thriller at times instead of settling on one strong genre to flourish in, it stagnates by trying to combine the three. The world building is muddled, not well explained and the characters seem to be without motive for a lot of the plot. I'll admit it took me a long time to read this one due to me being perpetually confused and at a loss to what was going on.

Some interesting ideas, but unfortunately I just didn't enjoy this one.

Thank you to Daphne Press and Elizabeth May for an arc copy of To Cage a God. Apologies for the late review.

The prologue was a great start to the book, leaving me wanting to know more. However, as much as I enjoyed the book's premise, I think the writing wasn't for me. It somehow read too "simple" which did not help the world building in my opinion.
This was a book I was very excited to read (although I did end up picking it up too late) and also my first Elizabeth May book, am unsure if her writing style is for me or if it was just the wrong time to pick it up.
Something I really appreciated was the sisterly bond between Sera and Galya

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for this review.

Apologies for my delay, I’ve had a very hectic few months.

Long story short: this wasn’t for me and not what I’d hoped for.

Unfortunately, I DNF'ed this book as I couldn't get myself into it, and it actually put me into such a reading slump. The writing style wasn't for me, I found the plot quite slow and couldn't get into the characters - the MC was quite annoying to me 🙈
However as I have not fully read this book, I am leaving a star rating to match the average.

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!