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frantically's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Cursing and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual content, Animal death, Death of parent, and Violence
Minor: Death, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Classism
lady_moon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really wanted to give this book the full writing but there were a few little things that bothered me. The biggest one: the pace was a little bit off at times. There were some times were literal hours has passed in the time of one paragraph. I really appreciated it fast-paceness but it could have been done more smoothly when a scene passed into another. Also, I could leave without Pip's POV tbh but this let us know my aromantic queen Temi better so I'm not complaining.
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8/5/2022: I HAVE BEEN WAITING AGES FOR A BOOK INSPIRED BY APOLLO AND HYACINTH'S MYTH, I'M SO HAPPY I FOUND THIS
Graphic: Cursing and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Animal death, and Death of parent
Minor: War and Body shaming
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A Veil of Gods and Kings by Nicole Bailey is book one in the Apollo Ascending series. This is a NA romance reimagining of the Apollo and Hyacinth myth. I have been loving retellings lately, and this one gave me The Song of Achilles vibes minus all the tragedy.
We get POVs from Apollo, Hyacinth, and Epiphany (Hyacinth's sister). Each character, including Temi, Apollo's sister, struggles with their lot in life vs. what they actually want. For Apollo, he is destined to ascend as the sun god, but wants nothing more than to stay on earth with his sister. Hyacinth is destined to become king after his father, and struggles with the pressure of duty and trying to be with the one he loves. Epiphany is constrained by the patriarchal laws that make it so she must marry or have male patronage, when all she wants is freedom.
The enemies to lovers between Apollo and Hyacinth is so wonderful! I love all the witty repartee and the "gods I hate him, but can't stop fantasizing about him." I had very "just kiss already!" Vibes the whole time lol. I loved the friendship between Temi and Pip! Temi is aroace and is not here for all the patriarchal bullshit and encourages Pip to do what she wants despite what is proper. Temi is absolutely my favorite character. She's me, except I'm allosexual lol. As Nicole said, definitely a Sagittarius 😆.
I'm not usually a huge fan of NA romance, mostly because a lot of enemies to lovers in this genre read as abusive, but Nicole doesn't do that! This was a sweet relationship with plenty of steamy moments that were not gratuitous, but loving. I'm impatiently waiting for June to come so I can have the next book to see more of Temi's story.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Cursing, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood and Animal death
Minor: Sexual assault
irlchaosdemon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A Veil of Gods and Kings is a reimagining of Apollo and Hyacinth set in a fantasy world inspired by Greek mythology.
Moderate: Sexual content, Death, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Animal death, Physical abuse, and War
anntharai's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Death, and Domestic abuse
spookieboogie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
A Veil of Gods and Kings follows young godling Apollo prior to his ascension as he’s tasked by his entirely unlikable father Zeus to mentor under the industrious Prince Hyacinth (“my friends call me Cyn”) of Niria in hopes of instilling Apollo with a more agreeable disposition. Apollo and Cyn’s younger sisters, Temi and Epiphany (Pip) respectively, feature prominently as the secondary plotline with Pip rounding out the third viewpoint throughout the book. Written in the first person following Apollo, Hyacinth, and Pip, A Veil of Gods and Kings takes place largely within the Kingdom of Niria with most scenes occurring within the castle grounds.
All in all, I really did enjoy the read and plan to read the next book. Fans of both Simon Snow and The Song of Achilles will like this series as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and author Nicole Bailey for providing an advance copy for review.
Check out my book blog for the full review.
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Violence
pagesofnay's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Cursing, Sexual content, and Misogyny
Moderate: Blood, Animal death, and Physical abuse