No Gods, Only Monsters

Thank you to Escapist Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!

Diana has left her days of being a Roman Goddess behind. Alone in the woods, no one bothers her and she is quite content to drink her problems away. Until the goddess, Artemis knocks on her door asking for help. The Pantheon of Gods has never been trustworthy, but now Artemis believes they may be involved in something sinister. To save the lives of innocents Diana must confront her old life, her old guilt, and try not to lose herself to the beast living inside her body.

There is so much world-building packed into No Gods, Only Monsters. Not only are there different branches of mythology involved, but also a wide variety of fantasy races such as dwarves, elementals, and were-creatures. Then add to all of these characters a dash of magic and the historical aspects of Rome’s rise to power. Despite the variety of cultures and myths coming together, there is never any confusion or dissonance in the plot. It is all carefully woven together into a fast-paced and exciting book.

Diana is quite the character to follow. Being part werebear, she has a beast inside of her that is always testing her resolve. And while Diana is a skilled fighter, there are moments when she needs to let the beast free. But the question is, who will remain in control, Diana or the bear? Each battle Diana became involved in was intense, not only in the sheer brutality that could be brought to the fight but by the ongoing battle inside Diana at the same time.

But it isn’t just the werebear side of Diana that makes her so intriguing. As the story unfolds, there are hints dropped along the way precluding a past Diana would rather forget. But it is clear in her drinking habits and reactions to others that the past weighs heavily on her shoulders. And bit by bit as the plot progresses, Diana relives memories of her worst moments. Readers will discover the complexities that makeup Diana’s character, and become all the more involved in the story because of them.

No Gods, Only Monsters was a wonderful blend of fantasy and history. If you enjoy new twists on mythology, or just want a good action-packed read, this would be the book for you. I’m certainly looking forward to book two!