~ BOOK REVIEW ~ Lost and Stolen Gods by Debbie Cassidy

 

Lost and Stolen Gods
by Debbie Cassidy

~ Blurb ~

Gods aren’t born, they’re made.

I should have died the same night that a monster murdered my grandmother, but I was saved, stolen from my world, and thrown into a realm ravaged by an endless war between ancient gods called Asura.

I’m told that I’m a demigod, that there are others like me, brought to this world to replenish their dwindling numbers. They want us to prove we’re worthy of ascension and fight alongside them.

I don’t give a damn about their war. All I want is vengeance on the monster that killed my only family. A monster from their world. And if the only way to kill it is to become a god, then I’m all in.

But the path of ascension is paved with dangerous tests, culminating in a lethal trial called the labyrinth of gods.

Only an ancient fire elemental has the power to help me survive it.

His wicked mouth sets my pulse racing, and his dark threats turn my blood to ice. Charismatic and terrifying, he attracts and repels me in equal measure, and I have no doubt he’d snap my neck in a heartbeat if freed from the magical bonds that compel him to aid me.

He hopes to be my undoing, and if I’m not careful I may not make it to the labyrinth alive.

To claim the vengeance that I desire, I’ll need to protect my body and shield my mind, but most of all, I’ll need to guard my heart.

Enter an Otherworldly realm filled with gods, monsters, and mystical beings. Opposites attract and love and conflict collide, in this forced proximity romance.

 

~ My Review ~
5 out of 5 Stars

Well. This one took me by surprise! I knew I’d like it, because I like everything Debbie Cassidy writes, but I had NO IDEA I would absolutely fall in love with this one. I wasn’t sure at first, because it really is different. But with each page the story picked up, the action picked up, and boy howdy, did the surprises keep coming!

One of the first things that will stand out about this story is the mythology it’s based on. The layers of multiverses with Gods, Monsters, and everyone in between are enough to keep readers pulled in. But add in the Demigods that thought they were humans, kidnapped, and brought to this whole other world, and find out they can’t leave, are expected to fight a seemingly winless war, and train to pass tests – sometimes fatal – to become ascended to full God status? Oh, and we’re all working together for the same goal, not competing with each other (yeah right). That’s a massive story right there, right? Nope. Cassidy’s not done. Here come the drohi.

The drohi, also forced to fight the war, are powerful elementals who’ve known nothing their entire lives but to be trained to become bonded to a demigod one day, protecting and serving – for the rest of their lives. They don’t get to choose who they’re bonded to, nor do the demigods. A soul-entwining-with-a-stranger situation. Enter Araz, the drohi never bonded, and one day away from the freedom he’s always wanted over bonding. As luck (misfortune?) would have it, this is the day he’s bonded to Leela. His outrage, of course, turns on her, and while all her new friends are bonding with and enjoying their time with their drohi, Leela is trying not to get killed by hers. But of course, the bond is strong, and for them, it’s enhancing an attraction that just makes him even more angry.

Even that only scratches the surface! The familiars each one of the demigods has are phenomenal, and Leela’s is absolutely the best (I won’t spoil it and say what it is), with the best personality! Plus, there are the others that take Leela under their wings (so to speak – these guys don’t have wings), and help her train, and take care of her, doing all the things Araz refuses to do. They’re amazing, and I fell in love with them, too.

All of this, plus the non-stop action, culminates in the most…*sigh*….indescribable ending. SO MANY tears. Like, nose running, sobbing tears. But at the exact same time, shock and excitement, and I cannot WAIT to read the next book!