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isles of the gods amie kaufman magic system world building next book wait to see selly and leander high seas points of view multiple povs felt like really enjoyed young adult prince leander highly recommend wait for the next new series random house well developed high stakes
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Joy J.
4.0 out of 5 stars sailors, royalty, criminals and gods
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2023
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The Isles of the Gods is the fourth fantasy book I've read this year that takes place on a ship. Although all of these heroines have father's with questionable parenting skills, The Isles of the Gods is much different from Fable, Namesake, and Daughter of the Pirate King. Most importantly, the MC, Selly, is a sailor, not a pirate. The Isles of the Gods is about sailors, royalty, criminals, and even gods. The story is told from multiple POVs, which I really enjoyed. The audiobook narrator does an excellent job with changing the voices and accents.
The characters are really well developed and they pulled me into each of their stories. The history of the gods and the current tension between them was really interesting. Amie did an excellent job of world building in a way that felt very natural and her storytelling of both the current plot and the history of the gods was captivating. This book is full of adventure, coming-of-age discoveries, and even some romance. The last 25% of the book was intense and I stayed up until 3am to finish the book. As with many fantasy books, it ends in a way that makes me desperate for book 2 to come out already!
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Joy J.
4.0 out of 5 stars sailors, royalty, criminals and gods
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2023
The Isles of the Gods is the fourth fantasy book I've read this year that takes place on a ship. Although all of these heroines have father's with questionable parenting skills, The Isles of the Gods is much different from Fable, Namesake, and Daughter of the Pirate King. Most importantly, the MC, Selly, is a sailor, not a pirate. The Isles of the Gods is about sailors, royalty, criminals, and even gods. The story is told from multiple POVs, which I really enjoyed. The audiobook narrator does an excellent job with changing the voices and accents.
The characters are really well developed and they pulled me into each of their stories. The history of the gods and the current tension between them was really interesting. Amie did an excellent job of world building in a way that felt very natural and her storytelling of both the current plot and the history of the gods was captivating. This book is full of adventure, coming-of-age discoveries, and even some romance. The last 25% of the book was intense and I stayed up until 3am to finish the book. As with many fantasy books, it ends in a way that makes me desperate for book 2 to come out already!
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Sofia
3.0 out of 5 stars Selly got lost
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2023
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I honestly tried to read this book. I gave it my all. The book cover is outstanding, so lovely, and well done. And the book blurb speaks of a story that I know my heart will thoroughly enjoy. The writing is so beautiful and enchanting that how could I not give it a try?

However, the biggest flaw this book has is the author's choice to introduce multiple characters, all of them in 1st person. Each chapter is one character's voice. We started with Selly, the MC, and then we switched to Leander, Laskia, Keegan, Jude, and I simply got lost. We were told this was Selly's story and that a romance with the prince was a promise. All these other characters, as beautifully crafted as they were, took me out of the story. I wanted Selly and Leander, and yet, we are interrupted by these other characters.

Although I don't particularly like the 1st person, present narrative that permeates fantasy these days, as long as we are following ONE CHARACTER, it works. There are other aspects that I do enjoy. The world-building in this book struck me as phenomenal. I wanted to know more about the sacrifice to the gods. From the prologue up to the first chapter, where we are introduced to Selly, her dilemma, and then her 'antagonist' (Prince Leander), I was swept away.

Given the multiple characters, 3rd person narrative would've given justice to Selly's story. Had the author stuck to Selly in 1st person all the way through, I would've finished this book. The author's choice, and the introduction of characters I didn't feel for (except maybe Jude), turned me off.

If this is your thing, give this book a try. The writing is lovely. The world-building was impressive and engaging. And given the bantering we initially get between Selly and Leander, I can imagine the slow-burn romance would be fantastic. I just didn't care for Laskia and Keegan, or Ruby, or the other characters (except Jude, since his backstory intrigued me enough).

I'll give this book a try later, but I may end up skipping chapters just to get to Selly's and Leander's stories. It's what the book blurb promised me as a reader.
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Cindasue
5.0 out of 5 stars An adventure For The Ages.
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2023
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Great characters, well written, humorous and engaging - so what are you waiting for, get reading and start the adventure!
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Thomas Vanleeuwen
5.0 out of 5 stars great but I don’t want to wait for the next book
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2023
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Wow can’t wait for the next book in this series! Very fresh story. This book Keeps you coming back for more!
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Ms K
4.0 out of 5 stars YA pirate fantasy!
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2023
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Fun introduction to a new series! I loved the pirate/early 20th century world. The story is told from multiple POVs, with Selly being the main protagonist. I thought that the different POVs kept things interesting although it is a little slow moving in the first 100 pages. The magic system is unique and I’m curious to learn more about it and the gods of the world. I think fans of Shadow and Bone will enjoy this a lot. Can’t wait for the next book!
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Michelle
5.0 out of 5 stars Kept Me on the Edge of My Seat!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2023
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I could NOT put this book down. The author, Amie Kaufman, takes us on a [literal] ride across the seas where dangers, excitement, drama, and love await! There are some plot twists to keep you guessing, and you will definitely want more! Get this book now if you're looking for some excitement, great writing, and excellent storytelling!
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John Pappas
5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Author With Another One That Cost Me Some Sleep
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2023
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I won’t go into many details as the other reviews are loaded with them. But Amie Kaufman is my favorite author bar none. I would heartily recommend any of the books she’s written on her own as well as with her frequent writing partner Meagan Spooner. You will never be disappointed. I knew that this would be the start of a series but even so at the end I was still yelling “noooooo!” All of the characters are portrayed brilliantly with several that will stir your anger, and others your affection. Some would characterize this as Young Adult fiction, well I’m decades past that description and I can’t recommend this highly enough!!
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Jo
3.0 out of 5 stars eh
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2023
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I wanted to love this book. The concept and characters are interesting but it felt so slow in so many parts. Initially the book kept my interest but in the time I read this I also read two other books because I just couldn’t keep my eyes on the pages and after about 85% I really started skimming until things got slightly more interesting but even the ending didn’t leave me wanting more. It just kind of was.
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Top reviews from other countries

Katie Soderlund
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible fantasy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 17, 2023
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Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Rock the Boat for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: death, violence, injury, major character death, aquaphobia

"The Isle of the Gods" is the incredible new fantasy from Amie Kaufman, set in a world where centuries ago the god of risk was forced into sleep to prevent a war. Ever since then, the first ruler of Alinor's sibling has been sent to the Isle of the Gods, to sacrifice something in exchange for protection from the god of war. This has prevented conflict from breaking out and is the only guaranteed way to keep the peace and prevent gods from clashing once again. Selly Walker, the daughter of one of the greatest sailors, has no natural aptitude for magic and wants nothing more than to join her father in the north, but she's stuck working as a deckhand on the 'Lizabetta' for the rest of the year. After finding out that her father isn't coming back until after winter, Selly decides she's going to sneak away and find him herself- she won't miss out on any more adventures.

Things are ruined when a stranger commandeers her ship and it's someone she already dislikes. Prince Leander, brother to the Queen, needs to cross the ocean without being spotted so he can make his sacrifice. He's already a year late, having put it off, and tensions are beginning to rise. Selly doesn't want to be part of this, nor does the other passenger on board- a school friend of Leander, Keegan, who wants nothing more than to become a scholar. When the decoy fleet sent alongside Leander is attacked, Selly and the 'Lizabetta' must protect him long enough to reach the Isle of the Gods, even if it means losing everything in the process. Fast behind them, and with their own grudges to bear against both Alinor, their god and Leander, are Laskia, sister of a gang boss, and Jude, the boy who believed Leander abandoned him.

I adored this book from the first page, the world was so inviting and easy to slip into. Selly is a brilliant lead character, she's stubborn and hurting but so brave and kind deep down, with enough belief that things will be better. I loved her development from thinking she's not enough and that's why she's abandoned to realising that she doesn't need other people's validation. Her gradual relationship with Leander, tied in with her experience of having to protect him and Keegan, was one of my favourite parts of this book, because they were truly never supposed to meet but it works. Keegan, Laskia and Jude are just as interesting and I'm hoping that the sequel will have more of them- I especially liked that everything came back around to wanting and needing acceptance but never fully getting it, which drove Laskia to terrible lengths to gain her sister's attention. Amie Kaufman has written the ultimate adventure, full of magic and gods, of sailing and romance, and I can't want to see what might happen next, because the ending was incredible.
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Readinginpyjamas
4.0 out of 5 stars Gripping and immersive read!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 18, 2023
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Another great story by Amie Kaufman. This author never disappoints!
The Isles of The Gods is a captivating seafaring adventure, with a richly imaginative world filled with mythology, magic, and danger.
The story revolves around a young protagonist who embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth behind a hidden island inhabited by powerful deities.
What stood out most in this book is the world building. The author's attention to detail and immersive descriptions brought the setting to life, making it easy to imagine myself amidst the lush landscapes and majestic temples. The characters were also well-developed and multi-dimensional, each with their own desires, flaws, and motivations.The protagonist's personal journey of self-discovery and growth was particularly compelling, as they navigate the treacherous waters of divine politics and face moral dilemmas that test their integrity.
The story was fairly paced, though there were moments when it slowed down and certain plot elements felt predictable, but overall it was a gripping and enjoyable read and i can't wait for the next book in the series!
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Shannon Whitwell
4.0 out of 5 stars Magic, gods, spirits & an impending war
Reviewed in Canada on July 31, 2023
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There was a lot I enjoyed about this one and I’m definitely excited to continue on with the series. It was close to a 5 star for me but I didn’t feel obsessed with it the way I do other books but it was pretty darn good.

It’s told from varying perspectives which I don’t always love. I did occasionally have to flip back to the beginning of the chapter to see who’s pov we were in but overall it worked for the story.

I loved the banter between Selly and Leander. It definitely has a fable vibe if you enjoyed that series, while still being its own different story.
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Shannon Whitwell
4.0 out of 5 stars Magic, gods, spirits & an impending war
Reviewed in Canada on July 31, 2023
There was a lot I enjoyed about this one and I’m definitely excited to continue on with the series. It was close to a 5 star for me but I didn’t feel obsessed with it the way I do other books but it was pretty darn good.

It’s told from varying perspectives which I don’t always love. I did occasionally have to flip back to the beginning of the chapter to see who’s pov we were in but overall it worked for the story.

I loved the banter between Selly and Leander. It definitely has a fable vibe if you enjoyed that series, while still being its own different story.
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Amber Cook
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book
Reviewed in Canada on June 5, 2023
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Outstanding book, if you’re a fan of any of Leigh Bardugo’s books ( Shadow & Bone, Six of Crows, etc) you’ll love this one. The book itself is very beautiful underneath the cover, I’d recommend getting the hardcover.
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Amber Cook
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book
Reviewed in Canada on June 5, 2023
Outstanding book, if you’re a fan of any of Leigh Bardugo’s books ( Shadow & Bone, Six of Crows, etc) you’ll love this one. The book itself is very beautiful underneath the cover, I’d recommend getting the hardcover.
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