Everything this author writes is such a hit. I love his writing. This story was giving hunger games vibes and I’m here for it. I also adored the characters and of course their diversity. I did think this book was a bit predictable but like I said it’s a good read. I also felt that the ending was a tad rushed but nothing that ruined the story for me. I feel a sequel? If so, I’ll be there

Thank you Random House Children’s and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I love a good competition story! Crow fits in the Underground in the Shallows. Where people are used to the constant flooding, overcrowding, and abuse by the Enforcers. All while the Midlevel and Godlevel citizens stand by and do nothing. Crow fits for more to help him and his uncles get by. But they also hold a secret, Crow is a Deathchild and can wield Deathmagic. Being a descendant of the god Death is outlawed and a death sentence itself. So he has to hide who they are. Every other year Escal hosts the Tournament of the Gods, a gladiator style competition where the winner can ask for a favor from the Gods. Crow is approached to be sponsored in the tournament by Chaos, a minor God descended from the God Discord. Crow refuses as they can’t afford to have the President learn who he is. Their life gets turned upside down when his uncles tell them that they have to go stay with a family friend. Before he knows it their uncles have been arrested. Ravenna and Lark, the family friends, are also Deathchildren but can’t wield magic. That’s when Crow learns his uncles have been helping Deathchildren escape. A death sentence and there is no fair trail. Crow’s only hope is to take Chaos’s offer. But no one from the Shallows has ever won the tournament, hell no one has even made it past the opening trial. Crow’s not the only one from the Shallows entering though, he’s joined by a guy named Maddox and to their surprise Lark. Who just happens to be their rival, his know Lark since they were children. The four of them will band together, hoping for a Shallows victory. But the competition is stiff and no one wants someone from the Shallows to win. Crow, Maddox, and Lark won’t just have to fight their competitors but also a society that is dead set on keeping their people oppressed. Can Crown win the competition? Can they save their uncles? Or is he doomed to lose or possibly die? And can they keep people from finding out his secret? One thing is for sure a revolution has begun but who will be the victor? Fast paced and had me hooked! I couldn’t put it down! I loved the relationship between Crow, Chaos, Maddox, and Lark! Especially Crow and Lark’s antagonism of one another! Full of real world connections that are sure to make readers pissed off at our own unjust society! Gabe Cole Novoa’s These Vengeful Gods tells the story of hope and vengeance that leads to an extremely satisfying conclusion! Highly recommend checking this book out!

Thank you for the opportunity to read an e-arc of These Vengeful Gods. I'm already calling it, that this book is my favourite 2025 read and I've pre-ordered a physical copy because I must have it in my library.

Here's some notes I took while reading. I could go on and on though because I loved this book so much:

-Arcane meets Kaos vibes.
-the banter was immaculate.
-Mouse is the cutest cat.
-oohh poly rep maybe? OOO quad rep!! Yes.
-the trans rep was everything my heart needed to read right now.
-chronic illness rep was also everything. As a trans disabled american I really needed to read this book right now.
-including masks into the world building was really important and nice to read in a fantasy book.
-encapsulates that reading is political.
-I know Vengeful is in the title and so I should have been prepared for the reveal of Crow being Vengeance, but when I tell you my jaw dropped. Incredible reveal and the aftermath was beyond words.
-pleaseeee tell me this is a series because I need more of these characters in my life.

From a deadly competition filled with god magic, to a corrupt political system, to a trans mc willing to burn it all down, this book is amazing. I've said before that Gabe Cole Novoa writes such gripping YA in a way that truly encapsulates everything it should be. This book is no different.