Review by Booklist Review
Atia is the last Nefas in existence--a monster who feeds on human fear. Though she doesn't pretend not to enjoy sifting through her victims' memories for their greatest fears, she is careful not to go too far, until she breaks the one rule the Gods have for her kind and becomes a target of their wrath. Her only option for survival is a partnership with Silas, an angry Herald conscripted to ferry souls and hunt monsters for the Gods for all eternity with no memory of his own identity, which he is desperate to regain. With witty banter, succinct (if occasionally thin) world building, and well-crafted chemistry between characters, Christo's latest is another excellent choice for teen readers looking for fantasy that isn't a doorstopper series; it's a fairly quick read with Greek mythological influences and a big twist. Despite a few slower expository sections, Silas and Atia's questing group encounters much action, and the majority of the story is fast-paced and exciting. A plethora of mythical creatures, a warm found-family secondary cast, and a heady, slow-burn romance round out a balanced offering that asks intriguing questions about morality and the monster in all of us.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A monster who's the last of her kind and a Herald of death team up to kill a God in this electrifying fantasy romance from Christo (To Kill a Kingdom). Seventeen-year-old Atia is the last Nefas--a creature who subsists on fear--and she has lived in hiding ever since the Gods, who seek to wipe Nefas from existence, murdered her parents. After feeding off a human's terror, Atia crosses paths with Gods-cursed Silas, a shepherd of lost souls whose century-long punishment for his unremembered mortal sins is to guide departed spirits to the afterlife. When Silas dooms Atia for committing an unforgivable act, he offers her a trade: he will help her break her curse if she aids him in escaping his own so that he may once again be human. But to break each other's enchantments, they must kill a vampire, a banshee--and a God. Complexly layered worldbuilding gives way to a fast-paced quest rife with ascending stakes and richly nuanced characters at the center. Via Atia and Silas's alternating POVs, Christo expertly volleys between snarky banter and gory horror while spinning a memorable enemies-to-lovers romance set amid a page-turning adventure. Characters are racially diverse. Ages 13--up. Agent: Emmanuelle Morgen, Stonesong Literary. (Oct.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--This stand-alone fantasy is sure to appeal to fans of Tricia Levenseller's The Shadows Between Us or anyone seeking a fresh take on the standard heroic quest story. Atia, 17, is a monster, the very last of her kind, who feeds on fear. She has lived in exile since the Gods murdered her parents, disguised among humans unless she's feeding; that's when her blue skin, white eyes, wings, and silver hair appear. When Atia accidentally draws the attention of the Gods, she has to team up with Silas, a Herald of Death, who must ferry souls for all eternity as punishment for mortal sins he does not remember. They make a deal to help break each other's curses and set off across kingdoms to kill creatures of myth, legend, and even a God. While the worldbuilding is thin at times, the nuanced characters propel the plot through rising stakes and excellent action sequences with distinct, alternating points of view. Atia's confidence and competence make her easy to root for despite her monstrous choices, and she never loses her sense of self as the romance evolves. Christo has written an interesting fantasy that occasionally edges into horror, with inspiration drawn from mythology. Silas is cued white; other characters are diverse in race and orientation. VERDICT Recommended for general purchase, this novel is a fun adventure from beginning to end and an easy sell to fantasy readers suffering from series fatigue.--Emmy Neal
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
"She is a monster and a miracle." Atia is the last of the blue-hued, silver-haired Nefas monsters that feed on fear and nightmares. She lives an exiled, nomadic life disguised among mortals as one of them, while nursing a grudge against the Gods who killed her parents. As a Herald, Silas is a messenger for the Gods and an escort for souls to the After. His role stems from a sentence for crimes committed in a prior life he cannot recall. When Atia violates the Gods' laws while protecting a human scholar of magic and monsters, Silas must dutifully place the Gods' curse upon her, quashing her powers and marking her kind for extinction. Yet the Nefas and the Herald choose to tentatively unite against the Gods, who have stolen from them both. With help from mortals and monsters alike, Atia and Silas travel across kingdoms to unmask the truths of the theocracy that governs Gods, monsters, and mortals. Atia's fortitude and unwavering self-acceptance embolden her allies and perhaps will inspire readers as well. The narratorial duties shared between Atia and Silas are a natural exchange that showcases the mutual respect between the begrudging partners. While romance simmers throughout, it doesn't come at the expense of Atia's identity, making this narrative a standout in a spate of female-led mythological tales. Silas is cued white; some secondary characters have brown skin, and there is some queer representation. An inspired take on monsters and myths. (Fantasy romance. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
