Godsgrave – Jay Kristoff

★★★★★

You can keep the glory. I’m just here for the blood.

I’m so motherf*cking dead right now.

Mia Corvere, once a wealthy heiress, now a ruthless assassin, has received her first assignment.

But her heart is not in her work – she only wishes to extract revenge on those who killed her family.

Thus, the greatest monsters get their way, she realized. By looking just like the rest of us.

Consul Scaeva and Cardinal Duomo are responsible for her family’s ruin and she will do whatever’s necessary to murder them.

The Grand Games, a result of the gladiatorial collegium, are set to happen in Godsgrave this year and both Scaeva and Duomo are to make an appearance in person.

And so, after making excuses to the Red Church (the guild of assassins), Mia does the only logical action, she sells herself into slavery and takes over a collegium.

If she becomes the head gladiator of a collegium then she will be in the same arena, on the same sands, as both her targets.

Silver at her throat. Stone at her feet. Iron in her heart.

But anyone can betray her, the rivals are fierce and if she is exposed, everyone she knows will die. 

But, that is a risk she is willing to take.

Patience, she’d tell herself, whispering the word like a prayer. If Vengeance has a mother, her name is Patience.

Ohhh my gosh. I just can’t, the stress! Oh the stress! *breath, just breath.*

In short – my heart can’t take this and my head is overwhelmed.

I am absolutely in love with how fully fleshed out this world is – all of the little tidbits and notes about their ceremonies or other aspects of their country really brings it to life.

The plot this time around (the gladiators) was really well done, though (and this could just be me) but the ending did feel a tad bit predictable…but I was having SO much fun getting there that I hardly minded.

Mia is such a crazy bada** that I am seriously just blown away by her. The lengths she is willing to go – nothing short of truly stunning.

Also, after going through so many YA novels over the years, can I mention HOW much of a RELIEF it is when you hear the characters swear. It’s refreshing. Motherf*cker.

One more thing, I love Kristoff’s take on books – there’s this:

The heavens grant us only one life, but through books, we live a thousand.

and this:

That’s the power of words; twenty six little letter can paint a whole universe.

I just love characters that love books!

Audiobook Comments
Simply stunning – the narration was absolutely engaging and the tone was perfect. Highly recommended.

Interested in this one from Jay Kristoff? Buy it here:  Amazon