Time for a new book review! This was a book I was very excited for and I was so thrilled to be included as an ARC reader for When Gods Fall! From the first page I was enchanted – S. E. Bouvier’s writing style is extraordinary. Before we get into the nitty gritty of the pros and cons of this book – here is the blurb…

Two sisters. Both destined for greatness. One will rise. One will fall.

In the Freefolk camps, magic is forbidden, and the gods are dead.

Alena has lived in the camps all her life but is fascinated by the Old Lands and their magic.

When her father is injured in a hunting accident, that same magic is his only hope of survival. Alena has no choice but to break Freefolk law to save him—a crime for which she is swiftly captured. Now, only her older sister, Katell, can help her.

But Katell, a Freefolk huntress, discovers she has magical abilities of her own, and in the camps, being Marked is a death sentence. The sisters are forced to leave their home and venture into the war-torn Old Lands in search of answers. Their journey takes a dangerous turn when slavers capture them.

Alena escapes slavery and finds an unlikely ally—a rebel warrior, fighting against the oppressive Rasennan Empire. Katell, a slave, is sold to an arena to fight for the entertainment of the Rasennan crowds. Her life is on the line with each ferocious fight.

Alena vows to rescue her sister, but amidst awakening gods, scheming rebels, and a power-hungry Emperor, the sisters’ bond will be tested, and each must decide how far she is willing to go to save the other.

If you crave strong heroines, elemental magic, ancient Greek and Roman influences, tortured heroes, and a heart-wrenching romance, get ready to dive into this gripping upper YA fantasy.

WHEN GODS FALL is the first book in a new epic fantasy series, perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, An Ember in the Ashes, and Air Awakens.

Note: When Gods Fall is an upper YA fantasy that contains moderate violence, some gore, and mild adult situations.

From the moment I opened the book I was very captivated. I actually read the first page sat the book down and just thought “Wow, someone was able to write such an enchantingly beautiful opening.” I had to sit and stew in that moment before continuing! I’ve read a lot of Ancient Greek/Roman mythology inspired fantasy lately as a beta reader and as a writer of the subject – and nothing comes close to When Gods Fall. S. E. Bouvier’s writing balanced worldbuilding, vivid descriptions, and badass female main characters (it’s dual POV!) The story is tense, action packed, and an absolute emotional rollercoaster! Not to mention it has slow-burn romance and handles morally grey characters very well.

There were a few aspects of the book which I wanted more in, but as this is a series I believe some things were left open for the sequel so honestly I have no cons to list for this book. If you are mega squeamish with violence, this might be too much. Though, I personally didn’t find the violence to be excessive in any way, shape, or form. She handled it quite well!

This is the first book in a planned series, so be prepared for more! She definitely set up for a lot of tension and plot twists in the next book which I cannot wait to see.

I’d rate it 4.5/5. This is a fantastic debut which deserves recognition and for her first book – S. E. Bouvier blew it out of the park with this!

Interest in the book? Well it just released today! Happy publication day to S. E. Bouvier, be sure to go hype up her social media and purchase a copy! Be sure to check it out if you love Ancient Greek or Roman inspired fantasy novels!