If you sin, make it count.

4.5 stars

“Hemlock Queen,” Amelia scoffed. “Such a fierce name for someone ruled by fear. Who damned the world because she was afraid.”

So, most of this is spoilery for this book and book 1, so I’ll start with some general non-spoilery thoughts.

It sounded like something she’d heard before. All of this did, really—something that had happened before and would happen again.

I was using my brain so much in this book, trying to figure out what was happening and what would happen, even if some of it sounded obvious, other things were revealed and I was like well, there goes my theory and my IQ😂

Seems like allowing one god to tell all the stories before disappearing wasn’t the best plan.

It was a very solid book 2 and I am very very much needing book 3, especially after how the end was set up. We got more backstory and magic system explanations, which was long-awaited (well, not that long) and it was pretty satisfying, but that’s a spoiler, so I’ll wait.

“I could never lie to you, Gabe, could I? Not like you could lie to me.”

I flipped between liking Gabe and thinking he was a little bitch. It ended on me liking him so I guess that’s all that matters, but still, I need more growth from him.

The attraction between them was obvious. The want was there. But this situation was already fucked through all seven days without adding actual fucking to the equation.

The tension between Lore, Bastian, and Gabe is killing me slowly. This better end up happy otherwise I’ll riot. This also brings up the good queer rep in this book! I think the majority of characters are bi (or FF or MM pairings) and no one bats an eye. It’s nice to see it accepted in their society.

“I can take care of myself.”
“You have demonstrated over and over again that you absolutely cannot.”

Okay, so that’s not much but I don’t know what else to say without being spoilery so, spoilers below

“Neither Gabe nor Bastian answered, still staring at each other with a heat in their eyes that could mean anything.”

But, like, I need it to be MMF, but they love each other so much and are so tortured and I need it to not be feeling forced on them by the gods, because ohmygod that would be disappointing. Also, don’t be a love triangle in the end, 3 way or no way.

At first, Bastains behaviour was really pissing me off, but then Apollius is revealed and I was literally so happy that it was him being a controlling dick and not Bastian! Like, phew.

“There are two stages to truth. When you first know it, and when you finally speak it aloud to another.”

The way the gods were made!? That was shocking! A fountain, or the soul of the world? I actually laughed a little oops. I loved it though, it gave Apollius such character and I hate him so much more now! Hopefully, with Lore on her way to the Isles now she’ll get closer to finding a cure for them all.

“I will never be apart from you,” he said, the waters of the Fount streaming from his mouth. “You will be mine forever, and you will never speak against me, never share my secrets or betray me. You will never try to leave me, ever.”

But, let’s talk about Apollius…like, the most Ick man and Ick god. Wanting to conquer death by conquering the world too? Ick. The way he treated his friends (obviously not friends) and Nyxara (his possession, not a person, just an object of his ego) ICK

Caius is Jax!?

My jaw full on dropped when that was revealed! Hate that guy and he BETTER not end up marrying Alie, I will also riot.

And Alie is Bastians half sister!?

Literally, all the reveals throughout the book had me gasping 😂

“Part of him wants it,” Apollius whispered into her hair, like He could read her mind. “Wants the release, the rest, of letting Me take over.

Reading Bastian fighting for control with Apollius was so heartbreaking 😭 and learning how much control he didn’t actually have in the end, all the things kept from him😭

“He refuses water sometimes,” Gabe continued. “It’d been a hot day, that time you saw me here, and I was making sure he drank something.” The image of Gabe watering his mentor like a plant in a pot made her shudder.

The above spoilery quote - I almost spit my water out 😂
Anton. That creepy fucker. He deserved the end he got.

Okay, I’m gonna stop here, this is long enough 😂

Thank you to Orbit and the author for providing me with an ARC!!