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

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The premise of Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is very strong, and I love the idea of epic fantasy within Chinese culture. The main character has the power to bring death, and is faced with the moral dilemma of how to use that power amidst a colonial takeover of her home in China. Unfortunately this book just did not come together for me. The writing style is very choppy, overly flowery in some places and underdeveloped in others. It also struggled with pacing, the plot doesn’t really begin moving until 1/3 of the way in. I also agree with other reviewers that a romance with a morally gray colonizer did not sit well, and overall I felt myself taken out of the story than I was able to sit in it. Ultimately I would have liked to see more fantasy elements and tie ins with Chinese culture, as well as more development/world building of her magic. For fans of morally gray characters and strong female protagonist I think there is interesting elements, I just wish the whole thing had felt more cohesive. Thank you to Random House Ballantine for the ARC and the opportunity for an honest review.