To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods
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3.9 • 8 Ratings
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected Apr 22, 2025
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
She has power over death. He has power over her. When two enemies strike a dangerous bargain, will they end a war . . . or ignite one?
“A thrilling tale of magic and murder, intrigue and betrayal.”—Cassandra Clare, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Sword Catcher
Heroes die, cowards live. Daughter of a conquered world, Ruying hates the invaders who descended from the heavens long before she was born and defeated the magic of her people with technologies unlike anything her world had ever seen.
Blessed by Death, born with the ability to pull the life right out of mortal bodies, Ruying shouldn’t have to fear these foreign invaders, but she does. Especially because she wants to keep herself and her family safe.
When Ruying’s Gift is discovered by an enemy prince, he offers her an impossible deal: If she becomes his private assassin and eliminates his political rivals—whose deaths he swears would be for the good of both their worlds and would protect her people from further brutalization—her family will never starve or suffer harm again. But to accept this bargain, she must use the powers she has always feared, powers that will shave years off her own existence.
Can Ruying trust this prince, whose promises of a better world make her heart ache and whose smiles make her pulse beat faster? Are the evils of this agreement really in the service of a much greater good? Or will she betray her entire nation by protecting those she loves the most?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Chang's heavy handed debut and series launch chronicles a power struggle on a conquered world. Before Yang Ruying was born, the magical world of Pangu was invaded by a foreign power, Rome, which emerged from a portal in the sky and conquered Pangu's people in a single day. Their dwindling magical powers were no match for the Romans' high-tech weaponry. Ruying's magic, however, is strong, a fact she tries to hide from the colonizers. When Roman prince Antony Augustus discovers Ruying's deadly gift, he offers safety for her and her family in exchange for becoming his personal assassin. Ruying accepts after Antony convinces her that his plan to rule both their worlds will bring a better life for her people. But can he be trusted? The worldbuilding is delivered through clunky info dumps and repetitive proselytizing about the plight of Ruyung's people, drowning out nuance. The plot feels largely like setup for future installments, especially as the mild cliff-hanger ending leaves few questions answered. This one is a tough sell.
Customer Reviews
Great fantasy!
Wow, I really liked this book! It was a bit slow in the beginning but then really picked up steam, The story is set in a world that was once filled with magic but it is now waning. Our main character , Ruying, lives with her twin sister, Meiya, and their grandmother. Their country was invaded and taken over by people from another world who continue to take from them.
Ruying has a magical gift but has been told by her grandmother not to use it. As things get worse , Ruying wonders if she should use it. She doesn’t know what to do. What lengths will she go to to protect her family? At what cost? Who can she trust?
The book is filled with adventure and intrigue. I was sorry to see it end but happy to know that this will be a series. I look forward to reading book two and finding out what happens to Ruying. Happy reading!