Genre: Fantasy, Gaslamp Fantasy, Steampunk
Length: 649 Pages
Goodreads | Amazon
Summary
When the saints call, the sinners answer.
Chaos stalks the steam-powered city of Chime and threatens the existence of the gods and their domains. Kayl swore to protect Chime’s mortals from their gods’ cruel whims, but when she agrees to represent the mortals of a god long thought dead, Kayl is thrust into a political role that goes against everything she’s ever stood for.
As the newly appointed ambassador to the god of time, Quen’s goal is clear – protect Chime and the domains by any means necessary. But as the gods make their demands, Quen is caught between his loyalties and his conscience.
To ensure a future for all mortals, Kayl and Quen must unite the gods against the threat of chaos and decide what they’re willing to sacrifice for Chime – before the gods choose for them.
For the gods are capricious and have their own divine plans.
The Children of Chaos is the second book in The Cruel Gods series—a gaslamp fantasy featuring magical portals, gothic cosmic deities, quaint Britishisms, and steampunk vibes. This is an adult book containing strong language and mature themes that some readers may find disturbing. For a full list of content warnings, visit Trudie Skies’s website.
Review
Thank you to author for sending me both books signed!
The Thirteenth Hour was my favourite book of the year in 2022 (Read my review here). So I was really excited about the sequel. Due to other commitments, I hadn’t been able to finish the book until a few days ago. The wait was worth it.
Children of Chaos leaves off where The Thirteenth Hour. A lot has happened in the last few chapters of the first book but I don’t want to spoil them. Kayl, Quen, and Jinx are dealing with the aftermath of the big incidents. All the mortals are talking about it. The three characters have their own struggles to face in addition to the gods being absolute jerks, messing up their lives even more.
One thing that I loved about Children of Chaos is finally seeing some of the domains up close. Kayl and Quen visit most of them, risking their own lives more than once, mostly due to Kayl’s big mouth. She’s still the loveable walking disaster, while Quen is quiet and order impersonated. Jinx is… Jinx. If you’ve read the first book, you got a taste of what she’s like. Now she has more freedom and her dedication to her mother is admirable.
It probably won’t be a surprise that I want to preliminary name Children of Chaos as my favourite book of the year. It’s a great sequel, with more world-building, more chaos, and more sacrifice. I sent Tru a message as I got closer to the end to compliment their writing. There are so many layers, plot threads, and character arcs to remember, and they do it perfectly. By the end, most of the plot threads are wrapped up. Others are left open because they’ll continue in the third book, that much is obvious. Tru weaves it all together in a beautiful tapestry with vibrant and bold colours.
If you loved The Thirteenth Hour, what are you waiting for? Go read this book! You won’t regret it!
About the Author
Trudie Skies is a British indie author who has been living inside fantasy worlds ever since they discovered that reality doesn’t quite live up to the hype. Through the magic of books, they wish to share these worlds of hope and heroes with other weary souls. You can chat with Trudie on Twitter @TrudieSkies, or to find out more about Trudie and her fantasy worlds, visit www.TrudieSkies.com
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