Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Genocide, War, Colonialism, Violence, Racism/bigotry, Death, Murder, Drug use, Addiction, Torture, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse
To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods
by Molly X. Chang
Book 1 in Gods Beyond the Skies
A death-blessed heroine, the villain prince who conquered her homeland, and a corruption arc that refuses to flinch. Slow-burn dark romantasy for readers who want the politics to cut as deep as the longing.
goodreads 3.41/5 8,027 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length368 pages
Series statusOngoing series
Spice1/5 · Closed door / fade to black
PacingMedium
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Enemies to lovers
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- Slow burn
- Low
- Closed door / fade to black
- The angst delivered
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- Villain
- Morally gray love interest (LI)
- Adrenaline rush
- Morally gray
- Forbidden love
- Book hangover
- Brooding prince
- Power imbalance
- Expanded empathy
- Captor/captive
- Perspective shift
- Push and pull
Fantasy promise
- Ya romantasy
- High fantasy
- Gods/deities
- Love triangle
- Corruption arc
- Captive romance
Reading experience
- First person
- Medium
- Dark
- Lyrical
- Heavy
- High
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- Necromancer / death magic user
- Asian MC
- Intense
- BIPOC MC
- Angsty
- Emotional
- Survivor
- Atmospheric
- Yearning
- Introspective
- Gritty
- Morally complex
- Crumbling empire
- Slow descent into darkness
- Forbidden desire
- Power corrupts
- Series binge material
Similar stories
Similar in ways that matter
Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
496 pages Completed
Cruel Is the Light
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Similar because
Ya romantasy · Low · Gritty
Different because
A longer read (496 vs 368 pages).
670 pages Completed
Rain of Shadows and Endings
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Similar because
Brooding prince · Power corrupts · Power imbalance
Different because
Spice is higher (3/5 vs 1/5). A longer read (670 vs 368 pages).
751 pages Standalone
Land of the Beautiful Dead
R. Lee Smith
Similar because
Power corrupts · Villain · Power imbalance
Different because
It is standalone rather than completed. Spice is higher (5/5 vs 1/5).
Book details
- Length
- 368 pages
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book