The Throne of Broken Gods: Gods and Monsters, Book 2

This review will also contain spoilers so proceed with caution if you have not read The Book of Azrael.I don't even know where to start, I didn't think Amber could top the first installment in this series but this book is a beautiful depiction of loss, grief, survival and betrayal. TTOBG's blew all my expectations for how this world was going to go, and while I was able to guess at a couple of the reveals that played out in this sequel, I can say for sure that there are going to be MANY more playing out in the books that follow. The world has only expanded exponentially, with so many characters to dive into now that we have introduced more POVS. I have cried so many times because of this book, my heart broke for Dianna, Samkiel and the Hand. Amber has put so much depth and life into these characters you will feel right along with them. It is worth the pain (For which you will feel much). If you enjoyed The book of Azrael, you NEED to pick up this sequel. You will break your heart doing it, but it will be so, so worth it.Dianna's story is heartbreak. That is one of the simplest ways I can describe her. She has experienced manipulation, torture, physical and emotional abuse, constant lies and loss. So much loss that you cannot think someone could come out the other side. Her story is one that could paint a villain origin story."When I burn this world to embers, and you paint me as the villain, remember, I really did try to be good...once."We pick up this installment at the breaking point. Dianna has lost her compass, her connection to her morality. Kaden who has taken so much from her has killed her sister and those she thought she could trust have all betrayed her. For most of this book we are experiencing Dianna's grief, her deep soul crushing grief.She is on the hunt, drowning in blood-lust and fueling her anger. Her soul goal is to destroy every single being involved in the death of Gabby, brutally, and without remorse. You can feel her rage, she's stuck in her rage, and the emotion that Amber is able to put into her character makes you FEEL so deeply for her loss and her rage. The way it is described, the connection of survivors guilt with grief, how they intertwine, how we can use rage, compartmentalization, to go on is done beautifully. I fully appreciated how Amber used imagery to express the concept of locking part of yourself away in order to move forward in times of trauma. Exploring mental health, trauma, the effects of self harm, suicidal ideation, bitterness, regret, sorrow and the act of pushing it so deep down that it becomes a poison to your soul is not an easy topic to show or express and can be pushed to the background because of the delicacy of such things. But this is the driving force of our FMC the entirety of the book. The utter, sometimes feeling as never ending moment of falling after so much trauma and the start of trying to find yourself with no quick fix in sight.Samkiel has so much more than just the weight of realms on his shoulders in this book. His strength and love is admiral to say the least. Not only is he fighting desperately with attempt after attempt to save Dianna, to bring her home, he has few allies on his side but the Hand. All while trying to hold his own slowly crippling mental health at bay. He has no breaks in this sequel. It seems like every turn there is something else, Kaden hunting for Dianna, and wanting to open the realms, his fracturing found family, celestials wanting to end Dianna for the chaos she has unleashed on Onuna. You see a whole new side to Samkiel, the King of the Gods, and his ever expanding layers to his character. His unyielding faith in Dianna is so damn admiral, never stopping holding out his hand to her, giving her a lifeline even when she doesn't want it.Like I said earlier, this book has multiple POVs, and I honestly think that it added so much to the world and was essential to giving a full idea of what was truly going on. It was so interesting to get takes from the Hand, and Camilla. Side characters I didn't truly originally appreciate for their found family and meaning to the future of the story. The one I was most surprised about receiving was Kaden's POV, where you gain a deeper understanding of how twisted and abusive he really is. His obsession and rage honestly just made me hate him that much more but was also fascinating to see his "motivation" and what drove him.The ending, we are left with another cliffhanger, in the middle of chaos and on the brink of feeling helpless for these characters. It was not as truly heartbreaking as TBOA but it was still heart breaking in its own right, leaving us in a precarious place for book 3.

The Throne of Broken Gods, the second installment in Amber V. Nicole's Gods & Monsters series, delivered another emotionally charged journey that had me both captivated and torn. Following the gut-wrenching conclusion of the first book, I eagerly dived into this one, fully prepared for an intense roller-coaster of emotions. And let me tell you, Amber did not disappoint!One of the standout aspects of this book is how it dives deep into the aftermath of loss and the relentless pursuit of vengeance. Dianna's descent into darkness, fueled by her overwhelming pain, was a gut-wrenching experience to witness. The way she locked away her morality and empathy to seek retribution struck a chord with me. It's a painful truth for those who've faced sudden loss - the struggle to confront trauma head-on versus seeking refuge in the blinding fire of anger and revenge. This book masterfully depicts the intricate dance between grief and guilt, showing how they often intertwine, and how, sometimes, you need that one person to help you navigate through them.Dianna's mission is an unapologetic rampage of blood and fury, her morality buried beneath layers of anger and bloodlust. She becomes an instrument of vengeance, leaving destruction in her wake without a second thought for collateral damage. While her actions were haunting, I found it refreshingly bold to witness a female main character embrace her dark side to such an extent. In this narrative, Dianna had to shatter her soul to find herself again, and it was a profoundly moving journey.The push-and-pull between Dianna and Samkiel was a joy to read. Dianna's attempts to avoid confronting her feelings for him were both frustrating and endearing. The insults she hurled at him, only for him to deflect them with flirtatious banter, made for a compelling dynamic between them. Samkiel's unwavering belief in Dianna's redemption, even in the face of her darkest actions, was a testament to his character. He is the embodiment of the cinnamon roll trope, and his determination to save her from herself was nothing short of remarkable.Samkiel's character development in this book was stellar. Juggling the weight of the realm and worlds on his shoulders, along with facing his past, he barely had a moment to catch his breath. Despite the chaos surrounding him, I loved that we got to see various facets of his character, particularly his emotional struggles. The romance between him and Dianna was a slow burn, raw and messy, and it took a long and tumultuous road to reach its peak. But when it did, it set everything ablaze, and I was here for it!Now, if I were to nitpick, the book did feel a tad longer than necessary at times, affecting the pacing. Additionally, the frequent shifts in perspective, especially through flashback scenes, disrupted the overall flow for me. As for the ending, it was a heart-racing rollercoaster of emotions, but it left me hanging with a heart-wrenching cliffhanger, leaving me impatient for the next installment.In conclusion, The Throne of Broken Gods continued to deliver an emotionally charged and enthralling narrative, exploring themes of grief, vengeance, and redemption. While it had its minor pacing issues, the story's depth, complex characters, and compelling relationships left a lasting impression. I'm eagerly anticipating what Amber V. Nicole has in store for us in the next book, and I'm excited to continue this captivating journey with these characters.

O segundo livro conseguiu ser melhor que o primeiro, sem palavras!!!Do meio para o final do livro acontece tantas reviravoltas que você fica sem folego!5 estrelass

This was such an incredible read. Just like book one. A journey about femininity rage, healing, acceptance and love. All with twists and turns and over coming evil. What a wonderful story.

The book series itself is good

⭐️5 stars⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️Omg I loved!!! I need to read the next book like right now!. This book was a rollercoaster and I’m here for it! I’m absolutely obsessed with this series so far!!! The twists perfect and some surprising. Love love love!! 🫶🫶

This series is amazing