A review by literaryelle
To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is a compelling story about a world at odds and what happens when science is pitted against magic. The novel follows Yang Ruying, a woman with the magical gift of death, as her magic is discovered by Roman royalty — her colonizers. She stares down a harrowing choice: become the prince’s personal assassin to further his political goals with the guarantee of the safety of her family. The story focuses on Ruying coming to terms with the consequences of her powers, her actions, and what it means to be on the right side of history. 

This story has an explicit central message about colonialism, the environment, and revolution that I appreciated — it does not dance around its subject matter. This is exactly the kind of book that I love. 

If you know me, you know that stories that focus on politics are my bread and butter, so I was over the moon to find out that the politics of this world are the heart of the novel and they are incredibly well executed. There is meaningful commentary about human greed and complicity in the face of violence. I was delighted at how rich the writing itself was, Chang is a skilled wordsmith. 

There are a few things that I would’ve liked to see developed on the page rather than spoken about afterward because they come across as strangely paced, but overall this book does a fine job of showing rather than telling.  

I would highly recommend this book to fantasy fans who cannot get enough of political intrigue in a unique setting. While it seems to be marketed as more of a romantasy, I don’t know if this is entirely accurate, but it’s hard to dig into this point without heavy spoilers so I’ll refrain. 

Overall, I really enjoyed To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods. This is a very promising debut from Chang and I’m so excited to see where she takes Ruying next.