Reviews

When Gods Fall by S.E. Bouvier

monpat00's review

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

lianareadsromantasy's review

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

WOW! This author really surprised me. This book contains big world building and gets a bit confusing at times but it is SOOO good!! Bouvier created such an epic fantasy world. I am so in love with it and its characters.  

Some key words to describe the book: Fantasy, Gods, Humans, Slavery, Powers, Survival, Family, Found Family, Politiques, War, Romance, ... It has so many good elements!!

I instantly fell in love with the 2 sisters, Katell and Alena. I enjoyed every bit of their story. Not only do I love these 2 FMC'S but ofcourse I also fell in love with our 3 main boys Leukos, Dorias and Nik. This story has a variety of amazing characters and I felt the empathy towards every single one of them. I was connected to the story the entire time and I love when that happens while reading.

It has a great plot and some unexpected but crazy good plottwists! Can't stop saying how much I loved it all. Really looking forward to the 2nd book!

books_jenn_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

bbroome's review

4.0

I really enjoyed reading this book! The relationship between the sisters, their undying loyalty to each other was incredible. This is a very long book and it was kind of hard to get into at first but it quickly became intense and riveting. I love a good slow burn romance and this book gave me that. The world building was fantastic and immersive. I will definitely be recommending to everyone!

Thank you BookSirens for the advanced reader copy!

mandy_bookingchaos1's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

kitsune42's review

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

curlyquinnreads's review

3.0

It’s a good book! Don’t get me wrong.

3.7 stars, I just can’t make it at 4. I’m really struggling on it.

I loved the premise, the characters. I just had a bit of a hard time with getting into it at some points. Took some time to become attached to the characters.
However, I did get become so invested further on, wanting to know what happened next.
There quite a bit of action scenes. Use of magic.

I like how the power is earned and the lore.

I love the dynamic of both sets of FMC and the MMC.

I did cry a tiny bit with the last chapter. Those kind of scenarios always get me emotional. All and all I still cant wait for the next book and it was a good read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Thanks you to the author for letting me add another book to my collection.

andrees72's review

4.0

Alena and Kattell are sisters living in a Freefolk camp in the Forbidden Lands. The freefolk adhere to no godly beliefs and shun those they call the marked ones. Out of desperation to help her ailing father, Alena sneaks away to find a marked-one known as a healer setting in motion a chain of events that will change their lives forever.
I was pleasantly surprised that I liked (more than liked!) S. E. Bouvier’s When Gods Fall. I usually don’t read books that lean heavily into Roman and Greek mythology, but When Gods Fall pulled me in and still hasn’t let me go. I did struggle at times keeping track of the characters surrounding the Emperor which is the reason for the four star review.
I loved the character development throughout this book. Strengths became weaknesses and weaknesses became strengths. I fell in love with so many of S.E. Bouvier's characters. The themes present in When God's Fall are well placed and developed. You will find strong female characters, found family, enemies to lovers, slow burn romance and my all-time favorite, morally gray characters. The book is fast paced while still allowing for character development and world building all the while captivating the reader!
The twists and turns in this book had me reading with my eyes wide and knuckles white! I am looking forward to Bouvier’s second installment of The Gifts of the Gods series in 2024!
Reviewed after reading advanced reader copy. The opinions herein are my own.

mellisatri's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

goodeyreads's review

slow-paced

5.0

MORE PEOPLE NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.

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I love finding indie gems. AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM. I loved it so much. I loved all of the Greek & Roman inspired dynamics and how those + the meddling gods played into the larger plot. I loved both of these sisters and how much they cared for each other but also how they have to pursue their own paths for now.

I’m also weak for the subtle slow burn romances. The longing glances and heated kisses, good heavens, if I could ask for one thing, MORE of this. I loved both dynamics (each sister has a romantic sub plot). And the reveals??? I kept thinking I had figured something out and then was hit with new information that made me GASP. And tear up, let me tell y’all, things get emotional.

I loved all of the more prevalent side characters. I loved how much action and politicking was involved. I loved seeing glimpses of the emperor and the big journey these characters went on. The magic is really cool, and is one of those thick fantasy books I crave. It absolutely deserves all the love and I need more people to find it.

Overall audience notes:
- Upper YA/NA Fantasy
- Language: low
- Romance: one closed door
- Violence: moderate-high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: war themes, loss of life, near death experiences, weapons violence