Undead Gods was a dark, immersive fantasy with a unique mythological twist. The concept really stood out—gods, death, and a crumbling world where nothing is quite as it seems. I was drawn in by the eerie atmosphere and morally complex characters, especially as the lines between hero and villain began to blur. Some parts felt a little dense or abstract, but overall the story was gripping and thought-provoking. If you enjoy your fantasy with high stakes, a touch of horror, and gods who don’t play fair, this one’s worth the read.

There is already many versions of Hades romantic life but this is a different take on it! I came into this because it seemed dark, mysterious, and it did not disappoint. Topp is a great new MMC to fall in love with, the characters did not annoy me as several MFC do. I appreciate the authors writing style was not childish, and kept me entertained throughout the whole story.

Review: Undead Gods by Caitlyn Battelle (DNF at 40%)

My thanks to NetGalley, Twelfth House Publishing, and the author for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s never easy to step away from a book, especially one with as much potential as Undead Gods. The premise—dark, intriguing, and rich with promise—initially drew me in, and the opening chapters held my attention with their atmospheric world-building and compelling setup. Yet, despite these strengths, I found myself disengaging as the story progressed.

By the 40% mark, the narrative began to feel cyclical, lacking the forward momentum needed to sustain my interest. While the world itself was vividly rendered and meticulously explained, my inability to connect with the characters made it difficult to remain invested. Without that emotional anchor, even the most imaginative settings can feel hollow.

Additionally, though I typically appreciate straightforward prose, the writing here left me wanting more—whether in depth, lyricism, or narrative tension. There was a persistent sense that something intangible, yet crucial, was missing from the storytelling.

Ultimately, Undead Gods may find its ideal readers, but regrettably, I wasn’t among them.

Rating: DNF (2.5/5 for elements that showed promise) ⭐

What i really loved about this read was that the focus was more on the fantasy element than the romance which is a bit hard to find lately. The world this book is set in is very complex and descriptive what i appreciated very much,

Our fmc is a morally grey badass but still relatable. For people who love banter in their fantasy books, this is the right place for you. I was actually laughing out loud a few times!

The magic we encounter in this book was intriguing and elusive. We don't have all the information yet which makes it a lot more intruiging.

Sometimes the book got a bit slow and the ending was a tiny bit predictable but it still had me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read an e-arc of this book.

there's something about a brand new take on a hades x persephone retelling that makes me so excited. UNDEAD GODS is a cross between SERPENT & DOVE and WHAT WE DEVOUR. just completely enticing, hard to put down, and an fmc you're always rooting for while swooning over the enigmatic mmc.

The book was so exciting. You’d think that the old Persephone and hades thing is played out but the author was able to put their own spin on things and kept my attention.

I enjoyed the story and it kept my attention. I loved Elysia’s character and the banter between her and Topp. I’m looking forward to seeing where this story goes from here!

This is a must-read book I don't want to give any spoilers, but you won't regret getting this book, you won't put it down till you're done reading the whole this.

Being inspired by Hades and Persephone, this story brings a lot of originality, especially when it comes to the world of Kava. Kava is a kingdom where magic is a curse, and those who possess it live in constant fear of death (nothing new there). However I just ate up the setting of Kava being this dark and beautifully grim world. The authors writing really painted the picture of Kava and how it’s just this dark desolate city. With magic coming from the gods.

Our FMC Elysia is secretly cursed with the ability to sense secrets. She is forced to navigate the living in the royal court and hiding her magic while sleeping with The Prince. Our FMC is a bad ass 100%, she's calculating, doesn't trust easily, and is a bit dramatic in her plans. However we also get to see how she’s vulnerable and how her heart does warm to some. The romance is incredibly bittersweet and complicated but in the best of ways. I love the banter we get between the prince and her.

Oh also you will fall in love with Lina! 🦝

The magic part was so intriguing to me. Idk if that was due to magic being so elusive or not. I hope we will get to see this side a little more in next book. To me it did seem this books was more of a set up for future books where the real heft of the story and character backstory will be. So with that being said this book did start out a little slower for me and not being first person perspective I do take a little longer to connect with characters.

I loved this book!

Living in a land where magic has disappeared and all traces of it are forbidden, Elysia hides in plain sight - as part of the royal court. Elysia's magic has changed, and she is thrown into chaos as she tries to get a grasp on what's happening and save herself. This book is dark and moody with well done world building, and the setting is immaculate for the story that's being told.

"The world wanted her to be gentle and quiet. Pliable with her eyes wide shut. Moldable to their every whim without thought or complaint. And she had been. For so long...But what they hadn't realized was that they created a court-trained nightmare instead of a pet."

I love, love, love these characters! Elysia is complex: Having lived her life under the control of her parents, in fear of being discovered gives her a unique background that makes it even more incredible that she's a strong-willed woman, capable of taking care of herself. Beatriz, Jessa, and the Doorman create a cast of supporting characters who all have unique quirks and underlying secrets to be discovered. And I can't leave Gage out - he is interesting and unfailingly loyal to Elysia, and the familial love they share is beautiful.

The story starts out a little slow (but it's necessary for the world building and to get to know the characters and their histories), but it ramps up with an excellent payoff toward the end. There's a LOT of court politics and complex scheming, which I love to see in books like this, and it's all important to the plot.

The ending blew me away. I loved the way it sets up for the next book, and from the way the plot is moving, I'm willing to bet book 2 will be even better. I can't WAIT to find out what comes next!

Wow, wow, wow. Those were the first words that came to mind after finishing this book. I’ve always loved stories rooted in mythology, and this one was no exception—it was absolutely perfect. The romantic elements were beautifully crafted, and the main female character completely stole my heart. Her journey felt so relatable—navigating the world as you imagine it, only to be confronted with harsh realities and forced to make difficult choices about your identity and your future.

This book stood out for its raw authenticity, creativity, and the fresh spin it put on the Hades and Persephone myth. It wasn’t just a retelling; it was a reimagining that breathed new life into the story while remaining grounded in themes that felt deeply human.

Caitlin, this was truly a masterpiece. Your writing is stunning, and it’s clear that your heart and soul are poured into every word. I can’t wait to read more of your work—this was a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

Loved this book so much! My first read by this author, but it had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. 10/10 would read and recommend

I think this was a good debut, and I think this author has tons of potential and will definitely be following her works in the future.

This book got a little clunky, and the pacing got a little touch and go here and there, but for the most part I had a really great time!

I didn’t realize I had been approved for this arc otherwise I would’ve dived into it ASAP. I had been hoping for approval and really missed the ball on this one. I will be purchasing on my own as I’ve missed the window to download and review the arc I had been originally sent. I apologize.

Love that it was a Hades and Persephone retelling!! The characters were okay, Topp’s miscommunication really got to me! Loved the Banter though! The fantasy aspect definitely outweighs the romance which I was okay with but the plot just seemed a bit slow paced in my opinion.

This book was a thrilling ride from start to finish! The world-building was immersive, and the plot was packed with action, intrigue, and supernatural twists. The characters were strong and well-developed, each adding something unique to the story. The pacing was perfect, keeping me hooked the whole way through. A fantastic read for fans of dark fantasy and urban fantasy alike!

The plot was intriguing but the story itself felt a bit slow to me. I enjoyed the banter between topp and elysia but for some reason had difficulty connecting much to the characters.

Another Hades and Persephone retelling? Sign me up. I love that story, and for the most part I enjoy the retellings. Battelle has created a retelling that is interesting and just a bit dark. The fantasy element in this book outweighs the romance part - which for me is fine, and it is a bit different from the other retellings of this classic tale of twisted and forbidden love. I found the world building to be done very well, beautifully descriptive.
I can't wait for more.

Such a good read! I enjoyed this book a lot. The characters were compelling, and so many secrets were there! Elysia was a firecracker, and I loved it! I even started to enjoy the banter between the two sisters, Elysia and Beatriz. Topp, on the other hand, kind of frustrated me at times. If he had just COMMUNICATED, things would have been so different! But of course, he's a guy, soooo.. The ending is what really got me going. It really started picking up and getting tense! Now I can't wait for the next book to come out!

I will be honest....I almost DNF'ed this book at about 39% in. Instead I set it aside for a couple weeks and then finally made myself come back to continue reading and I am glad I did. The entire second half of the book had me hooked. The first half of the book was mostly world building and character introduction. While I enjoyed the writing style of the author and our main character it was hard to stay engaged in the book when I wasn't even sure what the plot was. By about 50% in it becomes more clear and more plot driven. You start to root for characters and understand the mystery some more. It is a shame that it has such a slow start because I do think that will discourage some people from reading it but I am here to say stick with it. All the build up is worth it and the author has definitely set up for a strong sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ebook in exchange for an honest review.