One of the book’s standout strengths is its sensitive handling of grief. The author portrays the complex relationship between guilt and grief with empathy, exploring how these emotions can profoundly shape a person’s life and choices.

While the plot initially grabbed my attention and kept me engaged through the middle of the book, it began to feel somewhat predictable as the story progressed. The pacing seemed to falter towards the end, with events becoming a bit chaotic and the conclusion feeling rushed

A really enjoyable and captivating read with a strong lead character who you really invest in and a world you can't help falling head first into.

This was a delicious romantasy book with unforgettable characters! Mona quickly became one of my favorite female main characters. She is perfectly imperfect and I love that about her. The romance was exceptionally well written and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I wonderful addition to most YA and new adult collections. This title was immediately purchased for collection.

Great story! Great writing! My first Amanda Helander story. I will be seeking out more. I've read several fantasy/romantasy books lately that feel very similar to one another but not Divine Mortals. Fresh story, well written.

This was a unique story with great world building. It had enough twists and turns to keep me interested and anticipating the sequel.

Such a good read with some of my favorite tropes! I adored Mona, her voice and snark added so much character to the story and I could've read her and the LI bickering and annoying each other all day. There's something about realistic characters who make mistakes and mess up big time and have to flounder their way through trying to make things better that always pulls me in. And this world was so cool, all of the gods and magic felt fresh and interesting, and I would've devoured every bit of lore I could get my hands on. Can't wait for book 2!

Mona can read soulmates. She can tell who people are supposed to love and be with. She also has agoraphobia, so those who need readings come to her… until the king is in need of a bride. The king is ill, so he sends his masters to collect Mona. Going outside is only the first hurdle Mona will face though as when she goes the reading, the king’s soulmate is…her. How will she tell him that she herself is his soulmate especially when she vehemently does not want to be queen. This fantasy novel will draw readers in from the first pages. The world building begins immediately as you find out how Mona received her powers. There is some romance, which is to be expected in a story about soulmates, but it doesn’t overpower the larger storyline of magic, mystery, and what it means to find yourself.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This writing was not good. It felt very amateurish and needed a LOT more editing. I couldn't make it past a few pages without putting it down.

I wanted to read this book because of the premise and it did deliver!
The world building is different than anything I’ve read before. I like the mythology aspect and how each god distributes a new type of magic to seven people whether they want it or not.
Mona really didn’t want her magic, but was chosen after the accidental death of her brother. She is “blessed” to divine soulmates. She is a well written character and I really enjoyed her own personal story.
The romance is a little bit too spicy for YA, but who knows, I’m sure things have changed!
I was a little disappointed that Divine Mortals doesn’t have a solid ending and had no idea this is a series. I will be picking up the next one.

This book was perfect for SJM fans. I loved this so much - the concept of being able to name a soulmate was so fun and I loved the competition aspect. I hope more people read this!

Mona Arnett is a voluntary shut-in; following the accidental death of her brother when she was 8, which she blames herself for, she refuses to leave her parents' house. Despite that, she has built a following for her services as a diviner of soulmates, a unique skill among the various magics that exist in her society. Then one day, she is visited by an emissary of the king, who needs a bride, and is seeking assistance in finding the right one. Mona is invited - perhaps coerced might be a better word - to join in a contest of seers to determine who the king's next bride should be. Thus begins a story of intrigue, romance, and magic, with a slightly odd and unique twist of its own.

Divine Mortals is book one in a duology; unlike many other novels written as the first in a series, this one comes to a conclusion, with just a teaser for the second book to come. This is something I appreciate, that this novel came to a conclusion while leaving me interested in reading the sequel, rather than being part one of a serial. Due to mature themes, this novel is recommended for readers ages 16 and up.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m a sucker for fresh mythology re-telling an and this didn’t disappoint. I think this will work well for older teens who love slow-burn romantasy books.

For teens and adults who like Fantasy books that are in the realm of Gods vs. mortals, this might be for you. Lots in this book reminiscent of Greek mythology. There's also some Romance although I found it implausible the upstanding male character would be attracted to our main heroine, who is from the start very antagonizing. Mona is secretly haunted by her brother Patrick and its her shame over his death that causes her to do many of the things she does. She is also someone who can divine people's soulmates. Whitman, an advisor to magicians and the King, brings Mona to the castle so that she can divine who the King should marry. Meanwhile, the reason Isaac the King needs to marry in the first place is because he's very ill. Lots of corrupt magicians and royal hangers on. This plot is a bit messy. It's all too predictable that the person Mona divines as being Isaac's one true love is herself. But then there are about fifty plot twists that follow that one, so I'll let you read for yourself. The book moves pretty quickly, so if you're looking for some entertainment, magic, and lots of teen melodrama, pick this one up.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Good Romantasy. I felt like book was a little slow in the middle, but once the pace picked up I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to book two.

REVIEW: Divine Mortals

Divine Mortals by Amanda M. Helander was an interesting take on a fantasy novel. The world is run by the Seven who are gods. Some of these gods have chosen a favored mortal who they give magical gifts and teach them. After the accidental death of her brother, Mona is selected as a favored mortal who can find someone’s soulmate through a reading. The king sends Master Whitman to bring her to the castle to find his soulmate since he is very ill; however, Mona does not like to leave her home after her brother’s death.

Diving Mortals is a fantasy with some romance and is listed as a young adult book. I’m not sure I would agree it is a young adult book due to some of the violence and spice within the book. I would probably put this as a new adult or adult book.

I enjoyed this world and the adventures in it. It was a different story than I had read before, but it still had some familiar fantasy and romance tropes. I love the elements of castles, kings, soulmates, and magic. There were many twists and turns along the way and I didn’t know how it would end. The conclusion just left me wanting more! Thankfully a sequel has been announced.
Mona, Master Whitman, and Byer all have dark pasts that continue to haunt them. This affects a lot of their actions throughout the story. I love all the wit the characters have and a lot of back and forth. The chemistry between the characters both romantically and platonicly hits well.

Some parts of Divine Mortals were slow: there were parts where it seemed like nothing was going on. Some of those scenes could have been removed to give more time to the ending where I wanted more. Also, the romance was quite a slow burn and at times felt really one-sided.

Overall I really enjoy Divine Mortals and I cannot wait to read the next one when it comes out!

Thank you, Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide | Disney Hyperion, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

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The first chapter of this completely hooked me--though I did find myself drifting a little after that. This was an incredibly fresh story that felt new and like something I hadn't read before.

Loved the concept, feel so-so about the execution. Apparently this was originally meant to be new adult but was aged down to YA and that might be part of the issue for me. Mona at times feels like she's written to be much younger than she is, and at other times much older. It's something I've noticed in a lot of recent YA fantasy - publishers really need to get it together and let YA be YA and NA be an actual thing.

A young woman with powers to see who one’s soulmate is is taken on an adventure of a lifetime. Trying to figure out how to avoid her own soulmate while solving the mystery of why her world’s magic is slowly disintegrating and dodging threats on her life makes for one busy woman! This l captured me quickly as its characters are unique and its creative plot held me with its detailed twists and full bodied story line. Secrets, betrayals, mystery and magic flow freely and I simply liked everything about this getting to know oneself fantasy.

2.5 stars
I didn’t love this, but I didn’t hate it either. I wanted to love it, but I just kept finding myself drifting and not getting invested. I like Mona as an overall character, as she is a bit of a hot mess and aren’t we all?? I don’t know if the book was lacking in world-building or what it was exactly that was the problem. I can’t put my finger on it. I did continue to read because I was interested in what would happen, so there is a positive to it. It was just mediocre for me.