Well this book is BLOODY marvellous, I mean, it’s literally bloody and also marvellous.

Whilst there are no spoilers in this review, if you are yet to read Nevernight please go and do that immediately. You will not regret it, these books are incredible. Although, dear friend, if you are repulsed by murder, gore, explicit sexual scenes and bad language, maybe this series would be best avoided. If all of those things interest you, then what are you waiting for?

Godsgrave was easily one of my most highly anticipated books of 2017 after falling head over heels in love with Nevernight last year. When this book arrived on my door step I could easily have combusted with excitement and anticipation (luckily I didn’t!). The cover itself is absolutely stunning and the insides were even more wonderful than I had anticipated!

Luckily for me (and surely many others), Kristoff starts Godsgrave with a recap of the many characters we came to love and loathe in Nevernight. So much happened in that first book that it was great to have this recap and I really appreciated it. I was able to ease myself back into this fantastic world by reminding myself where all the characters were left at the end of book 1. So if you are hoping to go into Godsgrave without rereading Nevernight then do not fear, all will be well.

As I discovered when reading Nevernight last year, Kristoff really does not mess around with easing us in at the beginning of these books. By the end of chapter one I had read an explicit sex scene and a gory, bloody murder at the hands of my favourite assassin. I was squealing with excitement as it all came rushing back to me why I loved the first book so, so much.

From beginning to end Godsgrave is full of action, revenge and lust. Mia is on a mission to bring down those who killed her family and nothing will get in her way. Mia is as badass, sassy and unforgiving as ever whilst still managing to be deeply caring and emotional behind her mask. She made huge leaps and bounds of character development in this book and we see even more of her many layers being peeled back as she kills her way to the top after selling herself off as a slave.

There are so many twists, turns and huge revelations in this book that I found myself spending a lot of time cursing aloud to myself, which was very Mia-esque of me! The darkness and deception of those around Mia just amps up her thirst for bloody revenge even further and brings into question her trust of all those around her. Even right up to the end there were enormous twists that I didn’t see coming and left me with my jaw hanging wide open. I do not know how I will wait another year for the next book!!!

Mia Corvere is easily one of my favourite badass leading ladies. I know I certainly wouldn’t mess with her. She is absolutely unforgiving in her manner and will fight until the end of her days to avenge her family and get her revenge upon those who took them away from her. I’m a sucker for a flawed character and Mia is the Queen of flawed characters. But this book showed so much more of her character and her emotional, loving side and that really choked me up. There are some very touching, emotionally charged moments in this book and I loved what that added to her character.

As well as an incredible main character, we also have a whole host of complex and layered secondary characters. As well as some old faces, we are introduced to a whole new cast of characters in Godsgrave. Some of these I grew to love, like little Maggot and Furian, others I was more wary of after being swept into Mia’s circle of distrust.

The settings of this book are so gorgeous and the descriptions so vivid and this really brought them to life for me. There is a selection of gorgeous maps at the front of the book and I loved taking some time to look over them and study the world that Mia lives in. Having grown accustomed to the writing style in Nevernight, I never found some of the more floury wording a problem in this book and loved jumping back into the story. The footnotes are still there to glean extra information about the world, but you could just as easily not read them if you preferred not to.

Something that I did not expect but completely LOVED was that there is an f/f relationship in this book and it was a relationship that I didn’t see coming at the very beginning of the novel but I am SO glad it did. I am totally behind shipping this couple and it was also refreshing to see that the explicit sexual scenes we had grown accustomed to in Nevernight did not shy away from an f/f romance either.

Godsgrave is everything I loved about Nevernight but dialled up a notch. It is bloody, murderous and sexy. It is dark and unforgiving, full of revenge and lust. Mia Corvere is a fucking badass. Incredible!

WELL SHIT HAS CERTAINLY HIT THE FAN HASN’T IT LADS?

Falling in love with Nevernight was such a surprise for me. I hadn’t heard of it, was given an ARC, and fell head over heels with the language, concept, the setting, and just everything about it. I still can’t decide whether to call it YA or not, and whether it would be insulting to assume that this is not for adults just because of the violence, swearing and sexual scenes (like come on, young adults watch Game of Thrones, it’s not like they’re new to it), but at the same time, I can never find these books in the YA sections of bookstores, so the marketing is different, who knows.

But I’ve always shied away from adult fantasy because of some of the content; primarily male writers who can’t or won’t write female characters, with plots that are all just Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones regurgitated en masse. And while Nevernight and it’s sequel, Godsgrave, don’t have the most unique plot you’ve ever heard of, I am still enthralled by the twists and turns that this series has, and what it will do to keep you on your toes.

It’s getting better and better too, I cannot wait to stick this on lists of fantasy reads you SHOULD be reading this year and talking about it lots all over my social medias. If you love foul mouthed, bloody thirsty anti-heroines who possess the magic of shadows and will stop at nothing for revenge against the death of her family, including competing in one of the deadliest fighting matches in the country, then look no further than Mia Corvere.

https://lynns-books.com/2017/09/18/godsgrave-by-jay-kristoff/
Godsgrave – what an absolute blast of a book, packed with action, drenched in blood, sweat and tears and full of surprises. Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed this, it’s a great second instalment in series with not a whiff of ‘middle book syndrome’ to be found.

At the start of the story we have a dual timeline that follows Mia working as an assassin, and captured by slavers and on her way to training to become a gladiator. I do enjoy dual timelines and I think this one eventually comes to a head in a most satisfactory way. I won’t spoil the enjoyment of discovery for you but suffice to say that Mia is still hell bent on revenge against the two men responsible for the death of her parents.

I’m not going to really elaborate on the plot too much but discuss other things that I really enjoyed about this instalment.

Firstly, I must address the footnotes. I made no secret of the fact that they weren’t my favourite aspect of Nevernight – however that was very much due to the formatting and that particular niggle has been resolved wonderfully here. Each time a footnote appears the text is hidden, clicking on the footnote displays the content. I really liked this as you don’t lose your place in the book. Just a small thing but it did make me happy I can’t deny it.

Secondly, this story firmly takes us to an alternate Rome resplendent with Gladiatorial games and more to the point the training and competition that act as a fore runner to the main event. I loved the training school, the trials and tribulations and the friendships that sprung up – in spite of Mia’s protestations to the contrary and determination to remain aloof.

Thirdly, the action, the drama, the pace. All amazing. You can barely put this book down because it’s constantly cranking up the level and forcing you to stay amongst the pages. Put simply it’s an exciting and exhilarating book to read.

Finally, the characters. Kristoff certainly made me care about them and I love that in a book, that choked up feeling when you’re so worried that something bad is going to happen to your favourite characters. This book definitely puts you through the wringer in that respect. And, I loved the darkin characters – they bring a wonderful argumentative banter to the pages and the whole darkin element is quite fascinating to read about and I’m pleased to say is developed further here.

Criticisms. Well, nothing major to be honest. I think the writing is different in this book, the pacing certainly is and I think the author has tried to cull his tendency towards ‘purple prose’ – frankly, I like the descriptiveness and, okay, flowery writing, so, whilst I wasn’t disappointed to see that this book was a bit more to the point, I would equally have been happy with the more ‘wordy’ approach of Nevernight.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was highly entertaining, gripping and had twists and turns that I didn’t see coming plus it packs a great emotional punch.

Highly recommended – although I think you must read Nevernight first. I don’t think this would be as good without the background of the first.

I received a copy through Netgalley courtesy of the publisher for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
Also posted to Amazon and Goodreads

It doesn’t happen very often that I enjoy the second book in a series more than the first book. But damn .. Godsgrave was one hell of a book.

We continue Mia’s story. After being named a blade for the Red Church a few months ago, Mia is back in Godsgrave. Back in the city where everything started, Mia makes a discovery that turns her world upside down. What follows is a story of blood, violence and badassery.

Jay Kristoff’s writing was once again brilliant. The footnotes he added just gave the story an extra depth. The characters were awesome and so lovable.

All in all the book was simply amazing. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Godsgrave's opening line "Nothing stinks quite like a corpse" shows us we're in for more of the writing that gave Nevernight it's dark excellence; it is just as graphic and gory as its predecessor.

Jay Kristoff uses the same technique of telling the story in the present with flashes to the past, so we start with Mia in an unexpected situation and it is some time before we discover how she found herself there. Jay's world building is epic. We learn a lot more of the history and the customs and it is so detailed that it feels like a real world as you read. The battle scenes are so well written that my nerves were shot to pieces and I was physically nervous for Mia's safety.

There are some familiar characters, friendships and rivalries and some new ones. We see Mercurio and Mia's almost father-daughter relationship in a lot more details and the relationship between Mister Kindly and Eclipse which is hilarious. One of the characters (who we are familiar with from Nevernight) gives Mia some information that forces her to question everything that she has been living for, but it comes from someone she isn't sure she can trust and this storyline keeps us on our toes for most of the novel.

Mia  herself is at times familiar and at other times makes decisions that seem unfathomable. We get to see more of her compassionate side and her morality as she finds herself living alongside slaves, then she makes decisions that seem heartless, but also not entirely unexpected. Mia remains unpredictable to the end.

Godsgrave has some serious shocks for readers. The one at the end floored me. I cannot wait for the next installment.

While I did have a few issues with the first book, I enjoyed it enough to want to check out it's sequel. Unfortunately it didn't work for me. It dragged quite a bit throughout and I just felt that this one lacked something. It didn't seem quite as good as it's predecessor. I definitely preferred the school setting to the gladiator type one in this book, but other than that I can't really pinpoint the reason. The characters are well written, but I don't particularly care about them. If you're not a fan of sex scenes and vulgar language than I would probably avoid this series. I don't mind them but it's something to be aware of. I love the concept of this series and I love Mister Kindly and Eclipse but I've come to the conclusion that this series just isn't for me.

Jay Kristoff is going from strength to strength. If Nevernight was good (and it was), Godsgrave is better – Mia Corvere is back and as badass as ever. Now a fully-fledged assassin and member of the Red Church, she still has only one thing on her mind: finding the men who destroyed her family and making them pay. And, boy, does she have a daring plan. To sell herself into slavery as a gladiator and win the most dangerous tournament of them all, bringing her close enough to Scaeva and Duomo to kill them. All she has to do is survive . . .

Look. Let’s be honest: it’s not the most original plot. Neither was Nevernight. Neither was Stormdancer, for that matter (and Kristoff does seem to have an obsession with girls seeking revenge for the deaths of their families, but that’s probably a discussion for another time). It’s Gladiator, if Russell Crowe was a girl and had chosen to be become a slave, rather than being betrayed and/or getting a really disgusting infected wound. And Mia isn’t that different from the whole host of other awesome assassin ladies we’ve been graced with in the last few years. And her animal companions are somehow quite reminiscent of Northern Lights.

But, to be equally frank, I don’t care. I don’t care if it’s not the most original story. I don’t care if it’s not the most original setting – although Kristoff does well to mish-mash enough variety together that it feels original even when it’s not. I don’t care if they’re not the most original characters. I don’t care if I’ve read it before. Because it’s fun and it’s sassy and damn has it got style.

It’s style that carries Godsgrave and it was style that carried Nevernight. From Mr Kindly and Eclipse’s insults to Mia’s quips to Kristoff’s footnotes, everything about the way Godsgrave is written works. It feels epic and larger than life and I want to see what will happen to Mia next. Even when I know what will happen, I still want to read it and experience it first hand – and that, my friends, is the sign of an accomplished writer.

So if you want angst a-plenty, witty banter, blood and gore and twists and turns, this is the book for you. This is one of the most addictive, engaging, stylish series I’ve read in a long time and I’m so looking forward to reading number three!

YES YES YES

I requested Nevernight last year and immediately pre-ordered the physical book on finishing it. If possible, somehow, Godsgrave might even be better. I didn't like I could like Mia any more than I already did, but I could follow along on her ill-advised, excellent, terrible adventures forever

And so dear reader, we pick up where we left off...

I'll end up talking like the narrator in these books if I keep losing myself in them this way! You can read my review of Nevernight on the following link, be aware that though this review holds no spoilers for Godsgrave it will contain some for Nevernight so if you've not read it yet, a) go and do so as soon as possible, and b) don't read any further until you have. https://lifehasafunnywayofsneakinguponyou.wordpress.com/2017/09/08/nevernight-by-jay-kristoff-review/

Godsgrave picks up where Nevernight finished. Mia has become a blade through a fluke, defending the ministry from the harm threatened them by Ash one of Mia's own friends and along the way inheriting a new dark passenger; Eclipse the wolf who previously belonged to the now deceased Lord Cassius. (Is it just me or does Dark Passenger just make you think of Dexter?)


The story is split into two parts which eventually come together. One tells the tale of Mia's current position as a Gladitor in a collegium, essentially a slave. Meanwhile the story backtracks to show how Mia got from the point of her initiation as a blade, to being a slave. I'm guessing if you know Mia at all, there is little doubt in your mind that her motive is as always revenge.


Godsgrave and Nevernight are equally as fast paced. Kristoff's unusual but effective use of footnotes prevents the need for masses of worldbuilding and character building in both books which allows the story to get on with the action and suspense. Have I come out with more questions than I went in with? Thousands. Have I got answers to any of the questions I had when I finished Nevernight? Nope. But then that's what makes the reader want to read more after all, and I am now seriously excited for the final book in this trilogy!!

Review

The Cover

Kerby Rosanes nailed it, didn't he? Just look at the detail on Eclipse's fur, the helm with the plume, the cat that isn't a cat. All of it. I just want to keep looking at it. I want to keep drawing out every little detail and relaying it to the contents of the book. I think that's why these covers work. They are so simple, but for a UK cover are so detailed that it forces you to see it on the table, and on the shelf.

If Nevernight featured the red sun, and Godsgrave featuring the blue, my guess is that Book 3 will contain a certain golden sun. Completing the three sun's of Aa.

*flaps arms in fangirly mess*

The Content

Jay Kristoff, I fucking hate you. In the best possible way. You utter bastard.*

Last year in my Nevernight review, I wrote these words: "This book left me broken and hurt. A double edged blade- one side left you broken and crying, the other giggling long into the night." WEEEEEEEELL... Kristoff upt'd the anti.

I would take this as broad statement as to what the whole trilogy will equate to because boy, the sarcasm humour, the stabby stab parts, the brutal Roman influences, the quick shortening of breaths as I fail to reach the end of the page in less than a minute, all of it and more is why these books have stolen what is left of my wrecked heart.

These characters you will grow very attached to, very very quickly. Which is unfortunate as there is a tendency to GRRM them. If you catch my stabby-stab drift. I even have a fondness for a certain grumpy, old tough-nut cookie of a prick, that acts like an emotionless bastard, but like a cookie has a soft and warm centre. It seems that I have a weakness. Shit. They are authentic, and several layers of complications.

Plot? Think twists and turns, now add some 'what the fu-?!!' and a little flavouring of blood. Nope, not even close. That's just your starters. Main and pudding is to follow. Although if you're anything like Mia, you'll hand it to the dog.

Something that I really love about these books is the layers. (I promise, I won't do a shrek metaphor.) It's one thing to point out the complicated plot or characters, but one thing I really admire is Kristoff's narrative voice. Flashbacks, in balance with the present storytelling and then there is the footnotes which adds humour, musings and further world building. It's storytelling, at its best!

If you want a sequel that is more ruthless than the first, isn't afraid to be savage AF both killing and sarcasm-wise and you fancy practically shitting yourself every time you turn a page, then gentlefriends, this is the book for you.

Did this review make sense? Probably not.
Did the book leave laying on the floor, feigning death? You bet your silver cigarillo case.

*Okay, I might have been a tad harsh. I don't hate you. Just a current mild distrust and dislike.

The sequel to Nevernight is jaw dropping! It's got everything I liked about the first book and yes a whole lot more besides. The sheer imagination behind this brutal and bloodthirsty tale just knocks me for six. The drama in the first book might have reminded me of a really scary Hogwarts but this time school is most definitely out! Mia is about to become a gladiator no less and it's a role that will bring her closer to her goal of avenging the deaths of her parents and brother. You don't need me to tell you that it's going to be a crazy ass kicking ride and you surely don't need to know that both old friends and enemies will show up here. What you do need to know though is that Mia is courageous, focussed and about to realise that she's just a pawn but as she's starting to get pretty good at games just who will be left standing at the end?
Oh my trying really hard not to give unnecessary spoilers here. First the two shadow daemons are back which is fun all the way as they just never seem to agree but as they eat Mia's fear they have been vital in her quest. There's a hard lesson here and that is that fear holds you back more than you know and if you can rise above and conquer it then what you want is there for the taking. Ok I won't say who else is present but I will say that Mia struggles very hard not to make friends with her fellow gladiators who are vividly described making them each stand out in my mind. The amount of things I didn't see coming is astounding and I loved that in the midst of so much death and chaos Mia could still find the time to remember her own beginnings and even when it might be easier to kill innocents she gives them a chance but alas I can't say more.
Such an intricate and nonstop story that simply had me gripped. I love the narrators voice that guides readers through and this time I really enjoyed the footnotes included. Not just because they expanded the world building but because they are ribald , funny and just plain rude! Yes humour finds its place, perhaps there is love too but as it ended I'm left adrift . How could the author do that? Oh you evil, sneaky man but honestly it was a fabulous instalment and lord do I need to know what happens next.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

GODSGRAVE has all the twists, turns, betrayals, and blood that made NEVERNIGHT such a standout fantasy last year. Back once more is the stellar world-building and the clever footnotes; the snarky shadow pets and the girl who wants to slake her revenge. In truth, if you loved NEVERNIGHT, you are bound to love GODSGRAVE.

Unfortunately, I wish I had loved it more. Don't get me wrong, this sequel has its highlights and I'd have to be a robot to not be left reeling and on the floor in a fit of screams over those last few chapters (seriously, so cruel and yet so good!). Our protagonist Mia Corvere is here in fine form. Watching Mia grow and develop over the course of these two books has been a marvel. She's complicated and contradictory; fearless and vulnerable; resilient, stubborn, and yes, even lovable on the right occasion. Her arc is very much about the dangers of potentially losing your heart and pieces of yourself for your art and for a goal that might not be as satisfying as you'd like it to be. Mia learns and she learns a lot and, despite my letdown, that's a story I will continue to the last.

My disappointment can be distilled into one reason: the balance between plot-driven and character-driven felt more skewed towards the former for my liking. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of character to be had, but those moments were ultimately lost in the shuffle of repetitive fight scenes and bloody battles (though there was one or two of those I admit had me on the edge of my seat). It made the distribution of characters and relationships I had an emotional stake in all the more uneven. Still, kudos to Kristoff for instilling some much needed sexual diversity into the fantasy genre. That's something the genre could always use more of.

Overall, while GODSGRAVE may have left me with mixed emotions, I would still recommend this series in a heartbeat for those who crave fantasy fiction with a touch of dark humor and meta. It's a series I have no hesitations about continuing with to see its final bow.